Category: Asia

Politics

New Zealand Just Shielded Companies From Climate-Damage Lawsuits—But the Case That Triggered It Raises a Much Bigger Question

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand has made a major—and deeply controversial—change to its climate laws, effectively shutting down a legal route that could have allowed individuals and communities to hold major greenhouse-gas emitters liable in court for climate-related harm. The country's Parliament passed the Climate Change Response (Tort Liability) Amendment Bill, legislation designed to prevent courts from imposing tort liability on businesses for damage or harm linked to greenhouse-gas

August 19, 2026

Politics

Israel Bombed a Syrian Airbase Over Alleged Turkish Plans—Türkiye’s Response Shows This Crisis Could Get Much Bigger

ANKARA/DAMASCUS — Türkiye has rejected Israel’s claim that a possible Turkish military deployment at a Syrian airbase threatened Israeli security, escalating a dispute that is rapidly becoming about much more than a damaged runway in northwestern Syria. The confrontation follows Israeli airstrikes on the Abu al-Duhur military airbase in Syria on Tuesday, August 18, an attack that drew condemnation from Damascus and Ankara — and unusually sharp criticism from Washington. Syrian state television

August 19, 2026

Philippines

A Newly Built Tarlac Dike Failed After Just Six Months—Now Officials Want Answers About What Happened Beneath It

TARLAC CITY, Philippines — A flood-control structure designed to shield communities along the Tarlac River has itself become an emergency after a portion of the dike in Barangay San Isidro collapsed amid powerful river currents and days of heavy monsoon rain. The failure has triggered emergency sandbagging, round-the-clock monitoring and calls for a permanent engineering solution—with local reporting putting renewed attention on the age and cost of the recently completed project. According to

August 19, 2026

Business

Unitree’s IPO Was Already Oversubscribed Thousands of Times—What Happened on Its Shanghai Debut Took the Robot Frenzy Even Further

SHANGHAI — China’s humanoid robot boom has moved from technology showcases to the stock market — and investors are showing just how much they are willing to pay for a piece of it. Unitree Robotics, one of China’s best-known makers of humanoid robots and robotic dogs, was set for an extraordinary debut on Shanghai’s STAR Market on Wednesday, August 19, with pre-open indications pointing to its shares opening more than 600% above their IPO price. The dramatic move puts a spotlight not only on Un

August 19, 2026

Politics

Trump Just Scaled Back US-South Korea War Drills—But North Korea’s Response Shows Kim May Want Much More

SEOUL — North Korea has delivered another sharp warning over joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises, calling the drills an immediate threat and promising to continue strengthening its defenses — despite an unexpected move by U.S. President Donald Trump to scale back American participation. The criticism, carried by North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), puts fresh attention on the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield, one of the most important military exercises conducted by Wash

August 19, 2026

Sport

The Wallabies Just Got Their Best Centre Back—Now Comes Les Kiss’ Toughest Test Yet

SYDNEY — The Wallabies are getting one of their most important midfield weapons back at exactly the right time. Australia have recalled star centre Len Ikitau for their two-Test tour of Argentina, giving head coach Les Kiss a major boost as the Wallabies prepare to step up in class following their successful series against Japan. Ikitau, the 2025 John Eales Medallist, has been included in a 34-player squad for the Tests against Los Pumas, marking his return after an ankle injury kept him out o

August 19, 2026

Business

That Scar Cream May Not Be Doing What You Think—Doctors Reveal What Actually Works and When It’s Too Late to Wait

SINGAPORE — From silicone sheets and petroleum jelly to Vitamin E creams, retinoids, steroid injections and expensive laser procedures, consumers have no shortage of products promising to make scars less noticeable. But dermatologists say there is one uncomfortable reality behind the booming scar-treatment market: no treatment can simply make every scar disappear. What doctors can often do, however, is make scars flatter, smoother, less discoloured and considerably less conspicuous — particula

August 19, 2026

Singapore

Singaporeans Are Walking Away From Stable Careers—And the Real Reason Has Little to Do With Money

SINGAPORE — For decades, the conventional career formula in Singapore appeared relatively straightforward: get a good education, secure a stable job, climb the corporate ladder, save consistently and eventually retire. But a growing number of Singaporeans appear to be questioning one crucial part of that formula — whether a “stable job” can still be considered truly stable. Stories of professionals leaving well-paying corporate careers, young workers building side hustles and people pursuing e

August 19, 2026

Singapore

Singapore F1 Is Preparing for a Threat Beyond the Racetrack—And 2019 Shows How Bad It Could Get

SINGAPORE — The Singapore Grand Prix is preparing for a threat that has nothing to do with tyre strategy, mechanical failures or tropical rain: haze. With authorities warning of an elevated risk of severe transboundary haze in the second half of 2026, organisers of Singapore's Formula 1 race have confirmed that haze scenarios are already covered by the event's contingency planning. The preparations come as dry weather and strong El Niño conditions raise concerns that fires in parts of Indonesi

August 19, 2026

Business

Ferrari Removed the Engine From Its Most Radical Gamble—Then One Collector Paid a Record $40 Million

MONTEREY, California — Ferrari's controversial leap into the electric era has just produced an extraordinary result: US$40 million for a single car. A one-of-a-kind version of the Ferrari Luce, the Italian marque's first fully electric production vehicle, sold for US$40 million at a charity auction during Monterey Car Week, establishing a record for a new car sold at auction. The result is particularly striking because the Luce arrived amid debate over whether an electric, four-door Ferrari co

August 19, 2026