Category: Asia

Business

She Started With a $700 Used Bass Guitar—Now This Singaporean’s Cat Designs Are Taking the Guitar World by Storm

SINGAPORE — What began as an attempt to make an old bass guitar look less ordinary has turned into an international business for Singaporean entrepreneur and product designer Julia Becker. Becker, 24, is the founder of ThreeStools, a Singapore-based business creating custom and 3D-printed guitar and bass pickguards featuring unconventional designs—including her now-famous cats. Her creations have attracted customers from the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Japan, South Korea

August 22, 2026

Singapore

Singapore’s Marriage-and-Parenthood Reset Is Coming — But What Will Change After Sunday’s National Day Rally?

SINGAPORE — Singapore’s struggle to get more people to marry and have children is moving into a new phase, with marriage, parenthood and the rising pressures of family life expected to take centre stage at Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s 2026 National Day Rally on Aug. 23. But this year’s discussion is shaping up to be about more than simply encouraging Singaporeans to have more babies. Instead, analysts expect the Government to address a much broader question: How can Singapore make marriage a

August 22, 2026

Sport

Australia Choose to Bowl First Against Bangladesh—But What Happened in Darwin Has Turned This Mackay Test Into Something Much Bigger

MACKAY, Australia — Australia captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bowl first against Bangladesh in the second and final Test in Mackay on Saturday, setting up a high-pressure showdown as the hosts fight to avoid what would be a stunning home series defeat. The decision to field first at the Great Barrier Reef Arena comes only days after Bangladesh shocked Australia by nine wickets in Darwin, recording their first-ever Test victory on Australian soil and taking a 1–0 lead in the two-

August 22, 2026

Business

Australia Is Buying Back Guns After the Bondi Beach Attack—But Canberra’s Decision Could Trigger a Much Bigger National Shift

CANBERRA/SYDNEY — Australia’s sweeping response to the deadly Bondi Beach terror attack is expanding, with the Australian Capital Territory agreeing to join a national gun-buyback program as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pushes states and territories toward tougher and more consistent firearms laws. The ACT, which includes the national capital Canberra, has reached a funding agreement with the federal government to participate in the proposed buyback, adding momentum to reforms introduced aft

August 22, 2026

Lifestyle

Manila’s Weekend Is Packed: Seafood Chefs, GMMTV Stars and Museum Secrets — Here’s Where to Go

MANILA, Philippines — Looking for something exciting to do this weekend? From a seafood cooking battle at Farmers Market to a much-anticipated Philippines-versus-Thailand celebrity showdown and curator-led museum tours, Metro Manila is packed with events on August 22 and 23, 2026. Here are some of the weekend activities worth checking out. Seafood chefs face off at Farmers Market Foodies have a reason to head to Dampa at Farmers Market on August 22, where the Farmers Market Culinary Showdown

August 22, 2026

Philippines

Lacson Wants Harsher Penalties After Flood-Control Witnesses Recant—But the Bigger Question Is Who Made Them Change Their Stories

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson is pushing for tougher punishment not only for people who lie under oath, but also for those who allegedly pressure, pay or persuade witnesses to give false testimony—a move triggered by the increasingly tangled battle over witnesses in the country’s controversial flood-control investigation. Lacson said he intends to propose heavier penalties for what is commonly called subornation of perjury, or inducing another person to commit perjury, fol

August 22, 2026

Business

Johor Bahru’s Roadside Cafes Are Packed Until 3AM—But the Real Reason People Keep Coming Back Isn’t Just the Coffee

JOHOR BAHRU — Forget marble countertops, designer interiors and reservations weeks in advance. One of Johor Bahru’s most distinctive cafe trends is being built beside highways, inside car parks and on patches of gravel — often with little more than a coffee machine, folding tables and rows of camping chairs. Across the Malaysian border city, a growing generation of late-night roadside cafes is turning once-overlooked spaces into social destinations, drawing young Malaysians, night-shift workers

August 22, 2026

Philippines

Gatchalian Vows Tighter Watch Over Billions in Infrastructure Funds—But the Spending Slump Reveals a Bigger Problem

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian has pledged tighter congressional scrutiny of the government’s massive infrastructure program as the Marcos administration attempts to accelerate public works spending without reopening the door to questionable projects and misuse of taxpayers’ money. Gatchalian said the Senate would continue exercising strict oversight over infrastructure expenditures, putting accountability at the center of the government’s effort to revive spending on

August 22, 2026

Lifestyle

Love Bombing Can Feel Like a Fairytale — Until the Attention Turns Into Control

At first, it can feel like the relationship you have always dreamed of. The messages never stop. Your new partner tells you that you are their soulmate, showers you with compliments, sends unexpected gifts and talks about a future together almost immediately. It can be exciting. It can feel flattering. And sometimes, it can be completely genuine. But relationship experts warn that when overwhelming affection comes with pressure, rapidly escalating commitment or attempts to control your time a

August 22, 2026

Philippines

Hontiveros Wants Tighter Gun Rules After Zamboanga Shooting—But One Question Could Change Everything

Sen. Risa Hontiveros is pushing for tougher firearms regulation and stricter gun-safekeeping rules after the deadly shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University raised a disturbing question: How did a child gain access to firearms connected to a government employee? Speaking at a press conference in Iloilo on Aug. 21, Hontiveros said Congress should revisit Republic Act No. 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, particularly provisions involving the access, storage an

August 22, 2026