SBS News

China Transforms Submerged South China Sea Reef into 6km Artificial Island with Port Facilities A coral reef area in the South China Sea that was almost entirely submerged has been transformed into a massive artificial island stretching 6 kilometers long. SBS Aug 20, 2026 5:22 PM

Western Nations Concerned Over South Korea's Arctic Sea Route Initiative, Wondering About Cooperation with Russia Western countries are showing signs of discomfort over the South Korean government's push for a pilot navigation project along the Arctic sea route, Reuters reported on the 20th . SBS Aug 20, 2026 4:45 PM

Fearing "Government Nationalization of Deposits," Russians Rush to Withdraw Cash Despite 10% Annual Interest More than 45 trillion won has reportedly been withdrawn from banks in Russia this year. SBS Aug 20, 2026 4:25 PM

"757 U.S. Soldiers Injured, 18 Killed Since Outbreak of War with Iran" Department of Defense headquarters The number of U.S. service members injured in the war since the United States launched attacks against Iran on February 28 has reached 757. SBS Aug 20, 2026 3:56 PM

Smoke Seen From Engine of Malaysia Airlines Plane Preparing for Takeoff at Narita Airport, Runway Closed A Malaysia Airlines passenger jet preparing for takeoff at Narita International Airport near Tokyo experienced an engine issue, prompting a canceled takeoff and the temporary closure of a runway. SBS Aug 20, 2026 3:38 PM

Chinese Court Sentences Founder of Evergrande, Symbol of Real Estate Crisis, to Life Imprisonment According to China Central Television , the Intermediate People's Court of Shenzhen in southern Guangdong Province sentenced the former chairman Hui today on charges including illegal public deposit solicitation, fundraising fraud, illegal loans, fraudulent issuance of securities, violation of important information disclosure obligations, illegal capital management, embezzlement, and bribery. SBS Aug 20, 2026 3:35 PM

"My Son Was Murdered"... 'Trial of the Century' Begins A long banner was unfurled in front of a federal court in California, U.S. Parents who lost their children to social media addiction took to the streets in protest, holding banners bearing the names and ages of their children. SBS Aug 20, 2026 3:27 PM

"Older Adults Living with Dogs Face 48% Lower Risk of Dementia" According to the Tokyo Shimbun on August 20, a research team consisting of the National Institute for Environmental Studies, the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Gerontology, and the University of Tokyo analyzed the health data of 11,200 men and women aged 65 and older living in Tokyo from 2016 through 2023 to examine the correlation between dog ownership and the onset of dementia. SBS Aug 20, 2026 2:42 PM

NYT: China Wants Leading Tech Companies to Raise Funds Domestically The successful Shanghai stock market debuts of memory chip maker ChangXin Memory Technologies and humanoid robot manufacturer Unitree illustrate China's dual ambitions: harnessing investor enthusiasm for domestic companies riding the artificial intelligence boom while reducing dependence on U.S. SBS Aug 20, 2026 2:29 PM

Israel Decides Against Criminal Investigation into Airstrike That Killed Australian Aid Worker; Australia Furious The Australian government has expressed fierce outrage after Israel decided not to launch a criminal investigation into a mistaken airstrike in the Gaza Strip that killed an Australian aid worker and other staff members. SBS Aug 20, 2026 2:26 PM