Category: Asia

Lifestyle

America’s Debt Has Hit a Historic $40 Trillion — But the Next Number Could Be Even More Alarming

WASHINGTON — The United States has crossed a financial milestone that was once almost unimaginable: the nation’s gross federal debt has surpassed $40 trillion for the first time. U.S. Treasury data showed total outstanding federal debt reaching approximately $40.047 trillion on Wednesday, August 19, marking another record for the world’s largest economy. The figure includes both debt held by the public and debt held by government accounts. Reuters reported that roughly $32.27 trillion was held

August 20, 2026

Sport

Tommy Paul Was One Point From Defeat Against Zverev — Then Everything Changed in Cincinnati

Tommy Paul, Alexander Zverev, Cincinnati Open 2026, Cincinnati Open quarterfinals, Tommy Paul Zverev, ATP Cincinnati, tennis news, Masters 1000, Cincinnati tennis MASON, Ohio — Tommy Paul produced one of the biggest upsets of the Cincinnati Open, rallying past top seed Alexander Zverev 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-4 on Wednesday to book his place in the quarterfinals. But this was far from a routine victory. Paul had to survive a match point, overcome a rain interruption of nearly 90 minutes and recover fr

August 20, 2026

Asia

Nearly 1 in 4 U.S. Students Are Chronically Absent—But Schools May Be Missing the Real Reason Kids Stay Home

Millions of American students are still missing enough school to put their education at risk—and researchers say the problem may involve much more than transportation, illness or family circumstances. About 23% of U.S. K-12 students were chronically absent in the 2024-25 school year, according to recent national data covering 39 states and Washington, D.C. Chronic absenteeism generally means missing at least 10% of the school year, or roughly 18 days, for any reason. That means nearly one in e

August 20, 2026

Business

More Than 600 Young Singaporeans Want In, But There Are Just 100+ Rooms — Is Singapore’s Housing Model About to Change?

Singapore’s new co-living initiative for young adults is attracting far more interest than the number of rooms available, highlighting a growing demand among younger Singaporeans for greater independence — even as homeownership remains at the heart of the country’s housing policy. The pilot, introduced under the SG Youth Plan, offers more than 100 co-living rooms to Singapore citizens aged 21 to 35 at discounted rental rates. As of Aug. 12, more than 600 people had expressed interest, according

August 20, 2026

Business

Hong Kong Designer Kinyan Lam Is Turning Ancient Craft Into the Future of Fashion — And the Reason Is More Powerful Than You Think

Hong Kong designer Kinyan Lam is proving that fashion does not always have to move faster to move forward. At just 31, the Guangzhou-born, Hong Kong-based designer has built a growing international reputation around something increasingly rare in the fashion industry: slowing down. Lam was named one of 20 semi-finalists for the 2026 LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers, selected from more than 2,400 applicants worldwide. His inclusion placed him among a new generation of designers being watc

August 20, 2026

Entertainment

Harry and Meghan Are Returning to Britain With Their Children — And the Reason Has Royal Family Watching Closely

Prince Harry Meghan Markle UK move, Harry Meghan return to UK, Archie Lilibet UK school, King Charles Harry Meghan, Sussexes Britain 2026 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are preparing for a major new chapter in their family life: the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are reportedly moving back to Britain with their two children for an extended period, six years after stepping away from royal duties and relocating to the United States. According to reports from PEOPLE, Reuters, The Associated Press and

August 20, 2026

Business

US Treasury Doubles Bond Buybacks as Global Yields Retreat — But What Happens Next Could Be Bigger

NEW YORK — August 20, 2026 — Global bond markets received a sudden jolt after the U.S. Treasury announced it would significantly increase its purchases of longer-dated government debt, helping push U.S. and European bond yields lower after a sharp selloff had sent borrowing costs to multi-year and, in some cases, multi-decade highs. The Treasury said it will at least double the maximum size of liquidity-support buyback operations for longer-dated nominal Treasury securities from $2 billion to $

August 20, 2026

Business

Sy, Consunji Go All-In on Mining: Dominion Eyes Tampakan Control as Capital Plan Nears ₱30 Billion

MANILA, Philippines — The Sy and Consunji families are making a much bigger bet on Philippine mining, with Dominion Holdings Inc. emerging as the vehicle at the center of an increasingly ambitious strategy that could eventually put the group behind some of the country's biggest copper and gold assets. The latest move adds another layer to the rapidly developing story: Dominion is reportedly preparing to dramatically expand its capital base as the group positions itself for larger mining investm

August 20, 2026

Philippines

DTI-7, DMW-7 Team Up for One-Window OFW Assistance System in Central Visayas

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Central Visayas may soon find it easier to access government reintegration services as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 7 and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Region 7 strengthen their partnership through a new One Window Bayanihan Assistance Program (OWBAP) Referral and Tracking System. The two agencies signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on August 12, 2026, at the DTI Region 7 office in Cebu City

August 20, 2026

Asia

China Is Moving AI Data Centers Into the Countryside—What Beijing Is Building There Could Change the Tech Race

China is taking an unconventional route to power its artificial-intelligence ambitions: moving more of the infrastructure behind AI away from its biggest cities and into the country’s vast interior. The strategy is not simply about finding cheap land. It is increasingly about securing the one resource AI systems cannot operate without—electricity. A recent report carried by the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Global Nation, based on an AFP report, highlighted how China is building data-center cap

August 20, 2026