Category: Asia

Asia

South Korea Sends 400 MT of Rice to Habagat-Hit Philippines—Here’s Where the Aid Is Going

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay — South Korea has delivered 400 metric tons of rice to the Philippines as the country continues to deal with the impact of the southwest monsoon, or Habagat, which has disrupted livelihoods and placed additional pressure on families in affected communities. The assistance was formally received during a ceremony hosted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Legazpi City, Albay, on August 14, 2026, according to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA). T

August 19, 2026

Business

Alphabet’s $3.9 Billion Australian Bond Deal Signals the Next Phase of the AI Spending Race

Alphabet has tapped Australia’s bond market for the first time, raising A$5.5 billion (about US$3.9 billion) as the Google parent accelerates funding for its massive artificial intelligence build-out. Alphabet has raised A$5.5 billion, equivalent to roughly US$3.89 billion, through its inaugural Australian-dollar bond sale, according to a term sheet reviewed by Reuters and reported by Channel NewsAsia. The landmark transaction comes as Alphabet and other technology giants ramp up borrowing to

August 19, 2026

Asia

9 Dead, 6 Injured in Kolkata Hotel Fire — Then Rescuers Discovered What Was Trapping Guests Inside

KOLKATA, INDIA — A pre-dawn fire tore through a cramped five-story building housing several hotels in central Kolkata on Wednesday, killing at least nine people, including a four-year-old child, and injuring six others, authorities said. The blaze erupted at around 1:45 a.m. on Aug. 19 along Mirza Ghalib Street, an area known for budget hotels and accommodation frequented by visitors to the city. The building was reportedly close to the West Bengal Fire Department headquarters. The fire proved

August 19, 2026

Business

Singapore COE Premiums Surge, Open Category Hits S$135,000 — Now All Eyes Turn to the Next Bidding Round

SINGAPORE — Car buyers are facing another expensive round of Certificate of Entitlement (COE) bidding after premiums closed mostly higher on Wednesday (Aug. 19), with Category A rebounding sharply and the Open Category reaching S$135,000. The latest results delivered a fresh warning for motorists hoping that COE prices would finally cool. Category A, covering smaller cars and qualifying electric vehicles, climbed S$4,611 to S$128,501, up from S$123,890 in the previous exercise. The increase ma

August 19, 2026

Asia

A Routine Ship Inspection Turned Into a Massive Drug Bust—Then Officers Found 2.6 Tons of Meth

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesian authorities have seized 2.6 tons of liquid methamphetamine from a Tanzanian-flagged vessel in one of the country's largest recent narcotics busts, arresting 10 crew members in an operation that authorities say was triggered by intelligence about a suspected drug shipment from Malaysia. The joint operation involving Indonesia's National Narcotics Agency (BNN), Customs authorities and the Riau Islands Regional Police intercepted the vessel on Aug. 17 after receivin

August 19, 2026

Politics

IRAN ISSUES STARK WARNING TO GULF STATES: “HELP THE US, AND YOU’RE PART OF THE WAR” — WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

TEHRAN — Iran has issued a fresh warning to countries bordering the Persian Gulf, saying any assistance or facilitation provided to the U.S. military could be treated as participation in American military operations. Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Ali Abdollahi delivered the warning on Wednesday, August 19, as military activity and tensions across the Gulf continue to intensify. According to Iran’s Mehr news agency, Abdollahi said that any form of assistance to U.S. forces w

August 19, 2026

Philippines

DOH Assures Filipinos: Medicines Ready as Rainy-Season Diseases Loom—But There’s More Help Coming

MANILA, Philippines — As heavy rains and flooding raise the risk of dengue, leptospirosis and other rainy-season illnesses, the Department of Health (DOH) is assuring Filipinos that hospitals and health facilities are preparing essential medicines and medical supplies while the government strengthens financial protection for patients through expanded PhilHealth benefits and its Zero Balance Billing (ZBB) program. The health department's latest preparations come as flooding and prolonged rains c

August 19, 2026

Business

Japan’s Bond Market Is Breaking Its Old Rules—And Tokyo May Be Running Out of Options

TOKYO — Japan’s bond market is sending an increasingly uncomfortable warning to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s government: ambitious spending and tax-cut plans are becoming harder to finance as borrowing costs surge. Japan’s benchmark 10-year government bond yield has climbed to levels not seen since the 1990s, briefly approaching the psychologically important 3% threshold. Reuters reported that the yield reached 2.945%, its highest level since September 1996, as investors reassessed Japan’s i

August 19, 2026

Philippines

FLOODWATER ALERT: DOH Warns of Deadly Leptospirosis — PhilHealth Coverage Now Reaches ₱411,000

MANILA, Philippines — As heavy monsoon rains continue to trigger flooding in parts of the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) is warning Filipinos not to underestimate the health risks hidden in floodwaters, particularly the potentially deadly bacterial infection leptospirosis. The warning comes as the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) rolls out a significantly expanded leptospirosis benefit package that can provide up to ₱411,000 in coverage for qualified patients wh

August 19, 2026

Asia

CHINA JUST LANDED A ROCKET LIKE SPACE X — AND THE NEXT MOVE COULD CHANGE THE GLOBAL SPACE RACE

BEIJING — China’s commercial space industry has just scored a breakthrough that could reshape the global race for cheaper and more frequently reusable rockets. Chinese private aerospace company LandSpace successfully launched its Zhuque-3 Y2 rocket and recovered its first-stage booster on land on August 19, 2026, marking China’s first successful land-based recovery of an orbital-class rocket stage using powered vertical landing and landing legs. The achievement puts LandSpace alongside SpaceX

August 19, 2026