Category: Asia

Business

Singapore’s S$700 ‘Pocket Rooms’: How Tiny Can a Rental Get? — and Is It Legal?

As housing costs remain a concern, some renters are choosing to give up a significant amount of floor space in exchange for a lower monthly bill and a location closer to work, transport and amenities. The result is a niche but increasingly visible segment of Singapore’s rental market: ultra-small rooms sometimes marketed as “pocket rooms.” Some are former utility rooms, bomb shelters or spaces originally designed for domestic helpers. Others are simply extremely compact rooms inside private ap

August 18, 2026

Asia

Anne Curtis Finally Speaks Up After Fans Notice Lump on Her Neck—Her Answer Has Everyone Talking

MANILA, Philippines — Anne Curtis has finally addressed growing concern among fans after a noticeable lump on her neck became the subject of online discussion—but the actress-host made it clear that she is not ready to publicly discuss the personal matter behind it. During an interview on August 15, following her contract signing as a new ambassador for ZION Group, Curtis was asked about concerns raised by netizens regarding what appeared to be a lump on her neck. Her response was brief but re

August 18, 2026

Asia

ALEX EALA STUNS ANISIMOVA? Filipina Star Takes Command as Cincinnati Thriller Reaches Decisive Set

MASON, Ohio — Alex Eala is once again knocking on the door of another major Top 10 upset — and this time, Amanda Anisimova is standing in her way. The Filipina tennis sensation has seized the momentum in a tense Cincinnati Open Round of 32 showdown against the ninth-seeded American, with the latest live update showing Eala ahead 2–1 in the deciding third set after the two players split the opening sets. Eala took the first set 6–4, but Anisimova answered with a 6–4 second-set victory, setting u

August 18, 2026

Asia

China Lowers Flags for Zhu Rongji as Former Premier’s Funeral Revives Debate Over His Reform Legacy

BEIJING — China lowered national flags to half-mast on Tuesday, August 18, as the country mourned former Premier Zhu Rongji, the outspoken economic reformer whose tenure helped reshape China’s economy and accelerate its integration into the global market. The official mourning came as Zhu’s remains were taken toward Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery in Beijing, where top Chinese leaders are traditionally cremated. Security was tightened around key areas of the capital, particularly Tiananmen Squ

August 18, 2026

Asia

Malaysia Airlines Pilots All Pass Drug Tests—But the Screening Isn’t Over Yet

KUALA LUMPUR — All 1,260 active Malaysia Airlines pilots have tested negative for drugs following a mandatory screening programme introduced after one of the carrier’s pilots was arrested in Indonesia in connection with an alleged drug-trafficking case. Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), the parent company of Malaysia Airlines, said on Aug. 17 that the first phase of the intensified screening programme had been completed. The company will now turn its attention to cabin crew, with testing of about

August 18, 2026

Asia

A “NATO of the East” Is Taking Shape in Mecca — What Happens If One Member Is Attacked?

Saudi Arabia Turkey Pakistan defence pact, Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, Saudi Pakistan Turkey alliance, NATO of the East, Middle East security, Mecca defence pact, Iran regional security A new security arrangement linking Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan is raising questions about whether the Middle East and South Asia are entering a new era of regional military cooperation. The three countries signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement in Mecca on August 7, 2026, committing to regard an arm

August 18, 2026

Business

Trump’s Indonesia Golf Resort Is Back in Business After Environmental Halt — But What Happens Next Could Be Bigger Than Golf

LIDO, West Java — A Trump-branded luxury resort project in Indonesia is moving forward again after months of uncertainty, with construction resuming inside the sprawling Lido Special Economic Zone (SEZ) south of Jakarta. The development, tied to the Trump Organization and Indonesian conglomerate MNC Group, had faced a major setback in February 2025 when Indonesian authorities ordered development work to stop over environmental and water-management concerns. Now, more than a year later, the pro

August 18, 2026

Asia

ZAMBOANGA SCHOOL SHOOTING: 2 DEAD — What Happened Inside the Ateneo Campus?

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — A shooting at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University Junior High School on Tuesday, August 18, left two people dead, triggering a police response and the suspension of classes as authorities moved to secure the campus. The incident happened at the school in Zamboanga City, in the southern Philippines. The city government later said the situation was under control and urged the public to remain calm while investigators continued their work. According to Associated Pres

August 18, 2026

Asia

500 Hospitalised in Yangon as Cholera Outbreak Grows — But Only 9 Cases Are Officially Confirmed

YANGON, Myanmar — At least 500 people have been hospitalised with severe diarrhoea in Yangon since Aug. 9, as health authorities confront a growing cholera outbreak in Myanmar’s largest city. Yangon Regional Social Affairs Minister Bo Htay told the regional parliament on Monday, Aug. 17, that 149 patients had tested positive for cholera in rapid tests. However, officials said only nine cases had so far been formally confirmed as Vibrio cholerae infections by Myanmar’s National Health Laboratory

August 18, 2026

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