Category: Asia

Business

He Has Designed 200+ Hotels—But Bill Bensley’s Next Projects Could Be His Wildest Yet

From a 200-year-old sake brewery in Japan to a 99-room palace in India and his first-ever museum, legendary hotel designer Bill Bensley is doubling down on a philosophy that has made him one of Asia’s most distinctive creative forces: luxury should never be boring. In a hospitality industry increasingly filled with polished minimalism, neutral interiors and hotels seemingly designed to photograph the same way on social media, Bill Bensley has spent decades heading decisively in the opposite dir

August 18, 2026

Asia

Martin del Rosario Wins Cinemalaya Best Actor—But It’s the Powerful Message Behind His Victory That’s Turning Heads

MANILA, Philippines — Martin del Rosario has added another major acting honor to his career after winning Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role at Cinemalaya 2026, earning the Balanghai trophy for his deeply emotional performance in Tayo Lang Ang Nakakaalam. Del Rosario received the award during the 22nd Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival awards ceremony at Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong City on August 17. The festival ran from August 6 to 18. But beyond the trophy, the

August 18, 2026

Singapore

Kim Woo-bin Is Returning to Singapore After 9 Years — And Fans Have Just One Chance to See Him

SINGAPORE — Korean drama fans have a major date to mark on their calendars: South Korean actor Kim Woo-bin is returning to Singapore on Thursday, August 20, 2026, making what is expected to be his first public appearance in the city-state in nearly nine years. The 37-year-old actor will appear at ION Orchard for the opening of Swiss luxury watchmaker Jaeger-LeCoultre’s flagship boutique, according to CNA Lifestyle. Kim currently serves as a global ambassador for the prestigious watch brand. K

August 18, 2026

Asia

Doctors Removed a 3.1-Kilo Stone From a Man’s Bladder—Now It Could Break a World Record

TRINCOMALEE, Sri Lanka — Doctors in Sri Lanka have successfully removed an extraordinary 3.1-kilogram bladder stone from a patient, a medical feat that could potentially set a new world record if formally verified. The massive stone was removed at Trincomalee District General Hospital in eastern Sri Lanka during an operation performed in August. The surgical team was led by consultant urologist Dr. Prahalahan Balakrishnan. The stone reportedly measured roughly 17 centimeters and has been compa

August 18, 2026

Asia

AI Abuse No Longer “Just a Fake”: Singapore Can Now Jail Those Behind Non-Consensual Intimate Images

Singapore is sending a clear warning to people who use artificial intelligence to create sexually explicit images of others without their consent: using AI does not put you outside the reach of criminal law. Under amendments to Singapore's Penal Code, the definition of an intimate image was expanded to expressly include synthetic AI-generated images. The law also created a specific offence for producing an intimate image—including an AI-generated image—without the depicted person's consent. Th

August 18, 2026

Asia

They Were “Just” the Second Leads—Until K-Drama Fans Made Them Impossible to Ignore

In the world of K-dramas, getting the second lead can sometimes feel like a consolation prize. The character may not get the final confession, the grand kiss or the happily-ever-after ending. But every so often, the supposedly “second” character becomes the one viewers remember most. That phenomenon—often called second-lead syndrome—has helped turn several supporting performers into some of Korean entertainment's most recognisable stars. Some broke out by making audiences root against the off

August 18, 2026

Lifestyle

Pope Leo Makes Key Move in Western Visayas as Jaro Archbishop Takes Charge of Kabankalan

ILOILO CITY — A major leadership transition is underway in the Catholic Church in Western Visayas after Pope Leo XIV appointed Jaro Metropolitan Archbishop Midyphil Billones as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Kabankalan in Negros Occidental. Billones will temporarily oversee the Kabankalan diocese following the transfer of Bishop Louie Patalinghug Galbines to the Diocese of Bacolod, leaving Kabankalan awaiting the appointment and installation of a permanent bishop. The appointment wa

August 18, 2026

Asia

Southeast Asia’s Borders Are Quiet—But These Flashpoints Could Explode Next

Southeast Asia may appear relatively stable on the surface, but beneath that calm are a series of unresolved territorial and maritime disputes that continue to test the region’s diplomacy—and raise the risk of sudden military confrontations. A recent analysis by The Diplomat highlights how Southeast Asia’s territorial disputes extend far beyond the internationally prominent South China Sea. Several long-running land and maritime claims remain unsettled, creating potential flashpoints that could

August 18, 2026

Asia

ABBA Fever Sweeps the Philippines as Björn Again Brings Back the Hits—But What Happened When ‘Dancing Queen’ Started?

MANILA, Philippines — ABBA nostalgia came roaring back to life in the Philippines as Australian tribute act Björn Again brought its internationally acclaimed “The ABBA Forever Tour” to Cebu and Manila this August. The group first performed at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino on August 7, before heading to The Theatre at Solaire in Parañaque for two Manila shows on August 8 and 9. The Philippine leg was part of Björn Again’s continuing global run celebrating the music of Swedish pop lege

August 18, 2026

Asia

Vietnam’s Energy Transition Is Entering a New Phase — And the Biggest Test Has Just Begun

Vietnam’s clean-energy boom is entering a more complicated chapter as Hanoi tries to balance renewables, battery storage, LNG, nuclear power and a rapidly expanding electricity demand. Vietnam’s energy transition is no longer simply a race to build more solar and wind farms. The country is moving into a new phase in which grid capacity, energy storage, market reforms and reliable power supply could matter just as much as the speed of renewable-energy deployment. That shift is becoming increas

August 18, 2026