Category: Asia

Singapore

Singapore Graduates Are Entering a Job Market Transformed by AI — And NTUC Is Making a Major Move Before They Even Graduate

SINGAPORE — For students preparing to leave the classroom and enter Singapore’s workforce, landing that first job could become more complicated as artificial intelligence reshapes the skills employers need. The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) is responding by expanding career support for young people before they graduate, with greater emphasis on job matching, career coaching, industry connections and AI readiness. NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng announced the push on Aug. 19 as NTUC

August 19, 2026

Entertainment

The Atlantic Is About to Witness a Sailing Race Like Never Before — But Winning Won’t Be Just About Speed

On September 1, six elite IMOCA teams will leave New York City for Lorient, France, in the inaugural The Ocean Race Atlantic 2026—a roughly 3,200-nautical-mile transatlantic sprint that will combine high-speed offshore racing with an equally competitive battle over sustainability, ocean science and inclusion. But there is a twist. The teams will not be competing only to reach France first. They will also compete in the Racing for the Ocean Teams Challenge, which evaluates how effectively each

August 19, 2026

Business

TRUMP IS BRINGING CRYPTO’S BIGGEST PLAYERS TO THE WHITE HOUSE—WHAT COMES NEXT COULD RESHAPE U.S. DIGITAL ASSETS

WASHINGTON — August 19, 2026 — The Trump administration is moving to reshape the U.S. cryptocurrency landscape, with President Donald Trump set to host major crypto executives at the White House as federal regulators push forward with a new framework for digital assets. The meeting comes at a critical moment for the industry. Just one day earlier, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed long-awaited rules that could make it easier for certain cryptocurrency companies to issue

August 19, 2026

Singapore

WILD BOAR ATTACK LEADS TO LAWSUIT AGAINST NPARKS — BUT THE AGENCY SAYS THERE’S MORE TO THE STORY

SINGAPORE — The National Parks Board (NParks) is facing two separate negligence lawsuits involving public safety — one brought by a woman who says she suffered serious injuries after being attacked by a wild boar in Bukit Panjang, and another involving two people who allegedly fell over a temporary cable cover at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Both cases are pending before Singapore’s State Courts, meaning the allegations have yet to be tested and no finding of negligence has been made against

August 19, 2026

Asia

Israel Reopens the Hind Rajab Case — What Its New Criminal Probe Could Reveal

Israel's military has ordered criminal investigations into two high-profile incidents in Gaza: the killing of Palestinian girl Hind Rajab and her relatives in January 2024, and the deaths of 15 Palestinian emergency and aid workers in Rafah in March 2025. The decision, announced Wednesday, August 19, 2026, follows a review of about 150 exceptional operational incidents by the Israel Defense Forces' Fact-Finding and Assessment Mechanism. Military prosecutors ultimately selected five cases for de

August 19, 2026

Entertainment

China Investigates Comedy Star Guo Degang After One Changed Lyric—But What Made Authorities Take Notice?

Chinese comedy star Guo Degang is facing an official investigation after an improvised change to the lyrics of a well-known revolutionary-era song during a performance in Wuhan sparked a complaint and questions over China’s strict rules governing commercial performances. The incident took place on July 24, 2026, when Guo performed Jigong Huofuo at the Zhongnan Theatre in Wuhan. During the show, he improvised part of the classic song “Playing My Beloved Pipa” (Tanqi Wo Xinqi De Tu Pipa), a song

August 19, 2026

Asia

AI Is Building More Than Data Centers in America — And the Biggest Impact May Be Somewhere Else

The U.S. artificial intelligence boom is no longer confined to technology companies and massive data centers. Its impact is spreading deep into America’s manufacturing and industrial supply chains, creating a surge in demand for generators, transformers, cooling equipment, steel components, cables, pipes, construction machinery and other infrastructure needed to power the AI economy. At the center of the trend is the rapid expansion of U.S. data centers, which require enormous amounts of electr

August 19, 2026

Philippines

‘Time to Leave?’ More Filipinos Are Looking Abroad as Floods, High Prices Test Life in the Philippines

For a growing number of Filipinos, the question of whether to build a future at home or seek opportunities overseas is becoming harder to ignore. Recent flooding, rising household expenses, concerns over public services and limited opportunities have reignited a long-running conversation online: Is it time for more Filipinos to consider moving abroad? The debate intensified on social media after several Filipinos shared posts encouraging younger people to pursue careers overseas, while others

August 19, 2026

Singapore

Singapore’s Rough Sleeper Count Is Falling — But the Real Homelessness Problem May Be Hiding in Plain Sight

SINGAPORE — Singapore is stepping up efforts to help people sleeping rough move toward stable housing and employment, with 17 community-led projects receiving support under a new government fund aimed at tackling homelessness. The initiatives, announced by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) on Aug. 19, cover housing, employment, outreach, social reintegration and youth support. Eleven of the projects will specifically test new approaches to provide more tailored assistance to r

August 19, 2026

Business

Nebius Unleashes $4.5 Billion AI Funding Bet—But the Real Number Could Be Even Bigger

Amsterdam-based AI cloud company Nebius Group is making another massive push into the artificial intelligence infrastructure race, announcing plans to raise $4.5 billion through a private offering of convertible senior notes as it races to expand data centers, computing capacity and its full-stack AI cloud platform. The proposed financing, announced Wednesday, August 19, 2026, comes as demand for AI computing continues to surge and companies scramble to secure scarce GPU and data-center capacit

August 19, 2026