Category: Asia

Asia

Johor’s RTS Link Is Almost Ready — But One Missing Piece Could Decide Whether It Really Eases Singapore Traffic

JOHOR BAHRU, Aug. 18, 2026 — The long-awaited Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link is entering its final stretch, but Malaysia now faces a critical question: Will Johor’s transport network be ready to absorb the thousands of commuters expected to arrive when the cross-border rail service opens? Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke said Tuesday that the physical infrastructure at the Bukit Chagar RTS station and its Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex is essent

August 18, 2026

Asia

Taiwan Crosses a Historic Defence Line — Lai Unveils NT$1.12 Trillion Plan as China Pressure Intensifies

TAIPEI — Taiwan is preparing to spend more than NT$1 trillion (about US$35.2 billion) on defence in 2027, marking a historic escalation in military spending as President Lai Ching-te seeks to strengthen the island’s ability to deter a potential Chinese attack. Lai announced on Aug. 17 that Taiwan’s proposed 2027 defence budget will reach NT$1.1225 trillion, including both the regular defence allocation and special funding. The figure would push defence spending above 3% of Taiwan’s gross domest

August 18, 2026

Asia

Singaporeans Are Watching Aug 23 Closely — PM Wong Could Unveil a Major Shift in Family Support

SINGAPORE — Prime Minister Lawrence Wong is set to deliver his National Day Rally speech on Aug 23, with Singaporeans watching closely for details on how the Government plans to ease the growing pressures faced by families. Mr Wong will deliver his third National Day Rally as Prime Minister at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) Headquarters in Ang Mo Kio, with the speech beginning at 6.45pm. He will speak first in Malay, followed by Mandarin, before delivering his English speech at 8pm

August 18, 2026

Asia

Singapore Let Clarke Quay Drink Until 4am — But What Happened Next May Decide the Future of Nightlife

SINGAPORE: Singapore’s nightlife experiment is entering a crucial phase. A government pilot introduced in August 2025 allowed eligible nightlife and food-and-beverage operators in Clarke Quay, Boat Quay and Upper Circular Road to apply to extend liquor trading hours until 4am on Fridays and Saturdays. The move was designed to inject new energy into Singapore’s after-dark economy — but the bigger question now is whether staying open later is enough to bring the crowds back. The answer so far i

August 18, 2026

Asia

Singapore’s Stock Market Is Hitting Records — But 3 Banks Are Doing Most of the Heavy Lifting

SINGAPORE — Singapore’s stock market is enjoying a remarkable run in 2026, with the Straits Times Index (STI) repeatedly reaching new highs. But beneath the headline numbers lies a more complicated picture: much of the rally is being driven by just three companies — DBS, OCBC and UOB. According to SGX data cited by CNA as of Aug 17, the STI had generated a 24 per cent total return year-to-date, ahead of the broader Asia-Pacific market at 19.4 per cent and global equities at 13.8 per cent. For

August 18, 2026

Asia

Singapore’s Fake Think-Tank Web Is Getting Bolder — Now It’s Targeting Ex-Diplomats and RSIS Talent

SINGAPORE — A growing network of suspicious think-tank and consultancy websites is raising fresh concerns about attempts to exploit Singapore’s reputation for diplomacy, policy expertise and national-security research. The latest case involves Great Vision, a supposedly Singapore-based consulting firm that claimed one of its senior figures was a former Singapore diplomat. Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), however, told CNA that the woman identified as “Dr Jade Chan” had never worke

August 18, 2026

Asia

America’s Water Lifeline Is Running Dangerously Low — And the Next Battle Could Be Over Who Gets the Water

The American West is confronting a worsening water crisis as Lake Mead and Lake Powell, the two largest reservoirs in the United States, sink to record-low levels, intensifying pressure on a Colorado River system that supplies water to tens of millions of people. Recent data show the reservoirs have reached their lowest combined levels on record, highlighting the growing strain on a river system already battered by prolonged drought, rising temperatures and decades of heavy water use. Lake Pow

August 18, 2026

Asia

Oil Surges as U.S.-Iran Peace Hopes Fade — What Happens If the Strait of Hormuz Stays Shut?

Oil prices climbed for a third consecutive session on Tuesday as hopes for a lasting U.S.-Iran peace agreement weakened, reviving fears that disruptions around the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz could keep global energy supplies under pressure. Brent crude futures rose 89 cents to $91.76 a barrel, reaching their highest level since July 30, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained $1.05 to $85.55 a barrel, its highest level since July 31. The latest rally came after Iran sig

August 18, 2026

Business

Massive Cigarette Haul Stopped at Changi: 81,750 Cartons Bound for Mexico Were Not What They Claimed to Be

SINGAPORE — Singapore Customs has seized a staggering 81,750 cartons of counterfeit cigarettes after officers intercepted a suspicious consignment at a warehouse in the Changi Free Trade Zone, authorities said on Tuesday (Aug 18). The cigarettes were discovered during an inspection on June 9, when Customs officers examined a consignment that had been declared as cigarettes under a transshipment permit. The shipment was destined for Mexico. But the contents raised immediate suspicion. The ciga

August 18, 2026

Politics

Trump Turns Down the Drills and Looks to Kim Jong Un—Is a New Korea Strategy Taking Shape?

WASHINGTON/SEOUL — A new security dispute is rippling across Asia after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea, while simultaneously signaling that he wants to maintain a positive relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The decision has put fresh attention on the future of the U.S.-South Korea alliance—and prompted Japan to emphasize that cooperation among Washington, Seoul and Tokyo remains essential to regi

August 18, 2026