People, Positions and Obituaries · 1 September 2026

Tommy Koh, Runa Khan, Bo Kyi Receive 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Award

Exam-focused facts from the 1 September 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

  • The Ramon Magsaysay Foundation announced the 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Award laureates: Tommy Koh, Runa Khan, and Bo Kyi.
  • Tommy Koh is a Singaporean diplomat and international legal expert who presided over negotiations during the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
  • Runa Khan is a Bangladeshi social entrepreneur who founded Friendship Bangladesh, which delivers healthcare, education, and climate adaptation programs to marginalized communities.
  • Bo Kyi is a Myanmar human rights advocate who co-founded the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) in 2000.
  • The Ramon Magsaysay Award is widely regarded as Asia's highest honor and is often described as the region's equivalent of the Nobel Prize.
  • The award was established in 1957 in honor of the late Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay.
  • The 68th Ramon Magsaysay Awards Presentation Ceremonies will be held in November.