Category: Asia

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

Business

AIA’s New Business Value Jumps 10% to US$3.21B — But One Asian Market Is Starting to Raise Questions

AIA Group delivered another strong financial performance in the first half of 2026, with its value of new business climbing 10% to a record US$3.21 billion. But while growth was broad-based across its Asian operations, Thailand stood out as the one major exception. AIA Group, one of Asia’s largest life and health insurance groups, reported a 10% year-on-year increase in value of new business (VONB) for the six months ended June 30, 2026, reaching US$3.212 billion on a constant exchange rate bas

August 20, 2026

Philippines

NUEVA VIZCAYA TURNS TO COMICS TO TEACH CHILDREN DISASTER PREPAREDNESS—BUT WHAT THEY LEARN COULD GO BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — Disaster preparedness is getting a new classroom makeover in Nueva Vizcaya, where the Department of Education (DepEd) is using comic-based learning materials to teach public-school students what to do before, during and after disasters. The initiative, unveiled by Nueva Vizcaya Gov. Jose V. Gambito and Schools Division Superintendent Orlando Manuel, will bring localized disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) information to public schools across the province. A

August 20, 2026

Politics

U.S. Drops “Indo” From Pacific Command — Is Washington Quietly Leaving India to Face China in the Indian Ocean?

The United States has restored the name U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM), reversing the 2018 decision to rename it the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) — a move that is fueling fresh questions about Washington’s strategy toward China, India and the wider Indian Ocean. The Pentagon announced the change on June 16, 2026, saying the restoration of the Pacific Command designation honors the command’s long military history and regional partnerships. The command was originally established in 194

August 20, 2026