Category: Asia

Asia

A “NATO of the East” Is Taking Shape in Mecca — What Happens If One Member Is Attacked?

Saudi Arabia Turkey Pakistan defence pact, Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, Saudi Pakistan Turkey alliance, NATO of the East, Middle East security, Mecca defence pact, Iran regional security A new security arrangement linking Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan is raising questions about whether the Middle East and South Asia are entering a new era of regional military cooperation. The three countries signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement in Mecca on August 7, 2026, committing to regard an arm

August 18, 2026

Business

Trump’s Indonesia Golf Resort Is Back in Business After Environmental Halt — But What Happens Next Could Be Bigger Than Golf

LIDO, West Java — A Trump-branded luxury resort project in Indonesia is moving forward again after months of uncertainty, with construction resuming inside the sprawling Lido Special Economic Zone (SEZ) south of Jakarta. The development, tied to the Trump Organization and Indonesian conglomerate MNC Group, had faced a major setback in February 2025 when Indonesian authorities ordered development work to stop over environmental and water-management concerns. Now, more than a year later, the pro

August 18, 2026

Asia

ZAMBOANGA SCHOOL SHOOTING: 2 DEAD — What Happened Inside the Ateneo Campus?

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — A shooting at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University Junior High School on Tuesday, August 18, left two people dead, triggering a police response and the suspension of classes as authorities moved to secure the campus. The incident happened at the school in Zamboanga City, in the southern Philippines. The city government later said the situation was under control and urged the public to remain calm while investigators continued their work. According to Associated Pres

August 18, 2026

Asia

500 Hospitalised in Yangon as Cholera Outbreak Grows — But Only 9 Cases Are Officially Confirmed

YANGON, Myanmar — At least 500 people have been hospitalised with severe diarrhoea in Yangon since Aug. 9, as health authorities confront a growing cholera outbreak in Myanmar’s largest city. Yangon Regional Social Affairs Minister Bo Htay told the regional parliament on Monday, Aug. 17, that 149 patients had tested positive for cholera in rapid tests. However, officials said only nine cases had so far been formally confirmed as Vibrio cholerae infections by Myanmar’s National Health Laboratory

August 18, 2026

Asia

ASEAN Pushes Stronger Nature Protection Across Southeast Asia—The Question Is Whether Governments Can Deliver

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — Southeast Asia is being urged to move beyond simply declaring protected areas and focus on whether these places are actually being protected, restored and sustainably managed. The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) is calling for stronger protected-area management and expanded ecosystem restoration efforts as ASEAN member states work toward regional and global biodiversity targets. The push comes as Southeast Asia continues to face mounting pressure from habitat loss, clim

August 18, 2026

Asia

JB-Singapore RTS Link: High-Tech Bukit Chagar Station Targets Faster Border Checks Before 2027 Launch

JOHOR BAHRU — The long-awaited Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link is moving closer to reality, with the Bukit Chagar station now taking shape as a high-tech cross-border transport hub designed to make the journey between Malaysia and Singapore faster and more efficient. During a media tour on Aug. 17, Malaysian authorities unveiled key features of the Bukit Chagar station, including advanced security scanners, electronic immigration gates, joint monitoring facilities and a 40

August 18, 2026

Asia

Thailand Has Millions of Guns—Now a Deadly School Shooting Is Forcing a Tough Question: Can Bangkok Finally Stop the Violence?

Thailand is tightening its grip on firearms after a devastating school shooting exposed a problem that goes far beyond one teenager, one weapon and one tragic day. 7 attack at Debsirin Nonthaburi School, northwest of Bangkok, has reignited a national debate over how Thailand regulates guns—and whether stricter laws can actually keep firearms out of the hands of people who are not legally allowed to use them. The attack involved a 14-year-old student who police said first killed his grandparent

August 18, 2026

Politics

Trump Orders Major Cut to U.S.-South Korea War Drills as Kim Jong Un Ties Take Center Stage

Donald Trump, South Korea military drills, US South Korea military exercises, Kim Jong Un, North Korea, Ulchi Freedom Shield 2026, US South Korea alliance, Korean Peninsula, Trump military drills A major shift is unfolding on the Korean Peninsula after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to substantially reduce U.S. participation in joint military exercises with South Korea, just as the annual drills were about to begin. Trump said he was unhappy with the exercises, describing the

August 17, 2026

Asia

Singapore’s Yellow Tactile Tiles Are Being Replaced—But HDB Residents Say the Bigger Problem Is Still Under Their Feet

SINGAPORE — A nationwide move to replace Singapore’s familiar yellow tactile tiles is drawing fresh attention to a safety concern that residents say extends beyond pedestrian crossings and into HDB estates. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has begun a four-year programme to progressively replace tactile pavement tiles at signalised pedestrian crossings across Singapore. The new tiles are designed to be more durable and more resistant to skidding and slipping, with the programme expected to be

August 17, 2026

Asia

Lee Yi Shyan Takes Aim at WP’s Economic Plan—Then Kenneth Tiong and Jamus Lim Fire Back

SINGAPORE — A fresh political clash over Singapore’s economic future has erupted after former Senior Minister of State Lee Yi Shyan questioned the Workers’ Party’s economic strategy, prompting a direct rebuttal from WP MPs Kenneth Tiong and Jamus Lim. At the heart of the dispute is a bigger question: Should Singapore continue relying heavily on its established MNC-led, foreign-investment-driven model, or should it place greater weight on home-grown companies, productivity and domestic demand?

August 17, 2026