Category: Asia

Asia

ASEAN Pushes Stronger Nature Protection Across Southeast Asia—The Question Is Whether Governments Can Deliver

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — Southeast Asia is being urged to move beyond simply declaring protected areas and focus on whether these places are actually being protected, restored and sustainably managed. The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) is calling for stronger protected-area management and expanded ecosystem restoration efforts as ASEAN member states work toward regional and global biodiversity targets. The push comes as Southeast Asia continues to face mounting pressure from habitat loss, clim

August 18, 2026

Asia

JB-Singapore RTS Link: High-Tech Bukit Chagar Station Targets Faster Border Checks Before 2027 Launch

JOHOR BAHRU — The long-awaited Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link is moving closer to reality, with the Bukit Chagar station now taking shape as a high-tech cross-border transport hub designed to make the journey between Malaysia and Singapore faster and more efficient. During a media tour on Aug. 17, Malaysian authorities unveiled key features of the Bukit Chagar station, including advanced security scanners, electronic immigration gates, joint monitoring facilities and a 40

August 18, 2026

Asia

Thailand Has Millions of Guns—Now a Deadly School Shooting Is Forcing a Tough Question: Can Bangkok Finally Stop the Violence?

Thailand is tightening its grip on firearms after a devastating school shooting exposed a problem that goes far beyond one teenager, one weapon and one tragic day. 7 attack at Debsirin Nonthaburi School, northwest of Bangkok, has reignited a national debate over how Thailand regulates guns—and whether stricter laws can actually keep firearms out of the hands of people who are not legally allowed to use them. The attack involved a 14-year-old student who police said first killed his grandparent

August 18, 2026

Politics

Trump Orders Major Cut to U.S.-South Korea War Drills as Kim Jong Un Ties Take Center Stage

Donald Trump, South Korea military drills, US South Korea military exercises, Kim Jong Un, North Korea, Ulchi Freedom Shield 2026, US South Korea alliance, Korean Peninsula, Trump military drills A major shift is unfolding on the Korean Peninsula after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to substantially reduce U.S. participation in joint military exercises with South Korea, just as the annual drills were about to begin. Trump said he was unhappy with the exercises, describing the

August 17, 2026

Asia

Singapore’s Yellow Tactile Tiles Are Being Replaced—But HDB Residents Say the Bigger Problem Is Still Under Their Feet

SINGAPORE — A nationwide move to replace Singapore’s familiar yellow tactile tiles is drawing fresh attention to a safety concern that residents say extends beyond pedestrian crossings and into HDB estates. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has begun a four-year programme to progressively replace tactile pavement tiles at signalised pedestrian crossings across Singapore. The new tiles are designed to be more durable and more resistant to skidding and slipping, with the programme expected to be

August 17, 2026

Asia

Lee Yi Shyan Takes Aim at WP’s Economic Plan—Then Kenneth Tiong and Jamus Lim Fire Back

SINGAPORE — A fresh political clash over Singapore’s economic future has erupted after former Senior Minister of State Lee Yi Shyan questioned the Workers’ Party’s economic strategy, prompting a direct rebuttal from WP MPs Kenneth Tiong and Jamus Lim. At the heart of the dispute is a bigger question: Should Singapore continue relying heavily on its established MNC-led, foreign-investment-driven model, or should it place greater weight on home-grown companies, productivity and domestic demand?

August 17, 2026

Asia

Eastern Visayas Braces for the Next Disaster—But This ASEAN Push Could Change How Communities Prepare

TACLOBAN CITY — The Philippines’ ASEAN 2026 chairship is moving closer to the grassroots as the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Eastern Visayas prepares to host a forum focused on one urgent question: How can regional cooperation help ordinary communities survive, respond to, and recover from disasters? PIA Eastern Visayas will hold the “ASEAN Forum: Building Resilient Communities from Early Warning to Recovery,” bringing together community leaders, government information officers, and othe

August 17, 2026

Asia

South Korea Landslide Kills One After 800mm Deluge — But Geoje Faces an Even Bigger Threat

GEOJE, South Korea — A deadly landslide has struck southern South Korea after an extraordinary burst of rainfall, killing one person and injuring three others as authorities scramble to evacuate residents and prevent further casualties. The landslide hit a residential apartment building in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, early Monday, Aug. 17, burying the building's first floor under mud and debris. Rescue teams pulled three residents from the affected structure, but one was later pronounced

August 17, 2026

Asia

Anwar’s High-Stakes Political Reset: RM1 Million for Every Constituency as DAP Stays in Government

AYER KEROH, MELAKA — Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is attempting to turn a turbulent political moment into a fresh start. At the PKR national congress on Aug 16, Anwar announced an additional RM1 million for each of Malaysia’s 222 parliamentary constituencies, saying the allocation would be used to address local needs — including in opposition-held areas. The announcement comes after a bruising run of state election results for Anwar’s Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition and growing questi

August 17, 2026

Asia

Singapore Braces for Haze as N95 Mask Supplies Remain Sufficient—But Retail Shelves Tell a Different Story

Singapore is preparing for a potentially tougher haze season, with major retailers reassuring the public that N95 mask supplies remain sufficient even as authorities closely monitor worsening regional fire activity and the risk of transboundary haze. The reassurance comes as Singapore enters a period when haze risks traditionally increase, particularly during the Southwest Monsoon season. The inter-agency Haze Task Force has been engaging major retailers and advising them to monitor inventory a

August 17, 2026