Cna

• Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong, 29, has pleaded guilty to charges of colluding with foreign entities under Beijing's sweeping national security law. • Prosecutors alleged that Wong and the now-disbanded political party Demosisto led an international campaign between 2019 and 2020 to pressure foreign governments into imposing sanctions on China and Hong Kong. • This legal action follows Wong's previous conviction for conspiracy to commit subversion related to his participation in an unofficial primary election in 2020.

• Starting September 15, Thailand will reduce visa-free stays to 30 days for citizens of 60 countries and territories, including Singapore, China, the US, and 27 EU nations. • Thai officials stated the policy change is intended to curb crime involving foreign nationals. • In contrast, visitors from South Korea, Brazil, and Peru will see their visa-free stay limits increase from 60 to 90 days.

• Mediacorp won 15 accolades at the ContentAsia Awards held in Bangkok, with CNA securing eight of those wins. • Notable winning programs include "One 'Orphan' Every Hour," named Best Current Affairs Programme, and "Inside the Great ATM Heist," which focused on Taiwan's first remote bank ATM hacking spree. • "Rail Life Story: Bangladesh" also earned the award for Best Factual Entertainment Programme Made in Asia for a Single Asian Market.

• Most Asian stocks rose on Friday, August 28, as investors shifted their focus from recent Nvidia earnings euphoria back to macroeconomic indicators. • Markets are closely monitoring an upcoming speech by Federal Reserve official Kevin Warsh for signals regarding the future outlook of U.S. interest rates. • The economic climate remains volatile due to persistent inflation and the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, fueling debate over potential monetary policy tightening.

• Technology stocks rose on Thursday, Aug 27, following blockbuster earnings from Nvidia that alleviated investor concerns regarding the sustainability of the AI investment boom. • While Asian chip firms saw gains, the positive momentum was tempered by new US economic data indicating stubbornly high inflation. • The market reaction was mixed globally, with European stocks mostly trending lower following a volatile session in Asian markets.

• Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced during the 2026 National Day Rally that Singapore will allow more room for Chinese dialects while continuing to promote Mandarin. • While free-to-air broadcasts will remain primarily in Mandarin, restrictions on dialect content will be eased for cinemas and paid television services. • To support this cultural shift, a new initiative will be managed by the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre and housed at the Singapore Conference Hall in Shenton Way.

• Asian stock markets rallied on Thursday, Aug 20, following a surprise intervention by the US Treasury to stabilize bond markets. • The US Treasury announced it will "at least double" the issuance of long-term bonds to lower borrowing costs, which had recently surged to near two-decade highs. • This move is critical as it addresses investor fears regarding spiking yields and provides necessary stability to global financial markets.