Author: WWC NEWSDESK

Business

Thailand Offers Air Travellers Free 10KG Fruit Check-In for One Year — Here’s Who Qualifies

Thailand has launched an unusual new travel incentive that could be especially appealing to passengers heading home from the country’s fruit-producing provinces: eligible domestic air travellers can check in one box containing up to 10 kilograms of fresh fruit without paying an additional transportation charge. The year-long programme began on September 1, 2026, and is scheduled to continue until August 31, 2027. However, the offer is not available to every passenger flying from every airport

September 4, 2026

Philippines

PH Inflation Eases to 6.1% in August—But Why Are Prices Still Pinching Filipino Households?

MANILA, Philippines — There is a small measure of relief for Filipino consumers as the country’s headline inflation rate eased to 6.1 percent in August 2026, extending its decline for a fourth consecutive month. The latest figure, released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Friday, September 4, was slightly lower than the 6.2 percent recorded in July. But while inflation is moving in the right direction, the numbers still point to a difficult reality for households: prices are con

September 4, 2026

Entertainment

After 286 Days at Sea, 5,000 US Sailors Flood Pattaya as USS Abraham Lincoln Crew Finally Gets Shore Leave

PATTAYA, Thailand — After months at sea and an unusually long military deployment, thousands of U.S. sailors and Marines have finally stepped onto Thai soil — and Pattaya is feeling the impact. Crew members from the USS Abraham Lincoln began pouring into Pattaya this week after the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier arrived at nearby Laem Chabang Port on September 2, marking its first full port visit since the start of its current deployment. The carrier and its strike group have spent 286 days

September 4, 2026

Politics

US Investigates Deadly Iran Wedding Strike as Evidence Points to American Weapon — But the Real Target May Have Been Just 135 Metres Away

KUHESTAK, Iran — What was supposed to be a family wedding in a small coastal community overlooking the Strait of Hormuz ended in rubble, bloodied belongings and dozens of casualties — and now mounting evidence is putting the United States under scrutiny over exactly what its forces struck. A visual investigation published by Reuters found that the explosion that tore through a home hosting the wedding in Kuhestak, southern Iran, on September 1 was most likely caused by a direct hit from a U.S.

September 4, 2026

Business

Tesla’s Cybercab Just Hit Austin Without a Steering Wheel — But NHTSA’s Next Move Could Decide How Far It Goes

AUSTIN, Texas — Tesla has taken one of its biggest steps yet toward Elon Musk’s driverless future, putting its purpose-built Cybercab into limited passenger service in Austin. But almost immediately, the rollout drew attention from the top U.S. auto-safety regulator, raising a question that could determine how quickly Tesla can turn a handful of futuristic taxis into a nationwide network. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, confirmed that it is in contact with Tesla an

September 4, 2026

Asia

Nha Trang’s New Luxury Escape Is Turning Heads — Two Meliá Resorts Now Share Vietnam’s Stunning Coastline

NHA TRANG, Vietnam — A new chapter in Nha Trang’s luxury-travel scene has arrived, with Meliá Aurea Nha Trang opening beside the already established Villa Le Corail, a Gran Meliá Hotel, creating a striking oceanfront pairing on Vietnam’s central coast. The development is part of Meliá Hotels International’s continued expansion in Vietnam, as international hotel groups increasingly target travellers looking for a more elevated coastal experience beyond the traditional city beachfront. Bangkok Po

September 4, 2026

Asia

Nepali Survivor Describes Terrifying Escape From Flooded Tunnel: ‘I Thought I Was Going to Die’

TARKESHWAR, Nepal — A Nepali worker has described a terrifying struggle for survival after a sudden flood wave swept into an underground hydropower tunnel, forcing him and other survivors to fight their way through darkness, debris and bodies before finally reaching daylight. Dhan Bahadur Tamang, 32, was working at the Upper Trishuli 1 hydropower project near Nepal's border with China when he noticed something was wrong. Dust began rising under the tunnel's industrial lights and the air pressu

September 4, 2026

Politics

Canada Is Turning Trump’s Tariff War Into a Midterm Election Weapon — But Ottawa’s Biggest Gamble Could Backfire First

The relationship between the United States and Canada — two countries tied together by one of the world’s deepest trading relationships — has entered territory that would have seemed almost unimaginable only a few years ago. After trade negotiations broke down in August, the Trump administration moved ahead with additional tariffs of up to 50% on selected Canadian imports. Canada responded with a promise to hit back dollar for dollar. Ottawa says its new counter-tariffs, scheduled to take eff

September 4, 2026

Entertainment

Meta’s $18 Billion Teen Safety Deal Could Reshape Social Media in Singapore — But One Major Problem Remains

SINGAPORE — Meta’s landmark settlement with U.S. states over allegations that Facebook and Instagram were designed in ways that encouraged compulsive use among children may have been reached thousands of kilometres away, but its biggest regulatory aftershock could soon be felt in Singapore. The Facebook and Instagram owner agreed in August to pay up to US$18 billion over the next decade through a collection of settlements while imposing sweeping restrictions on how teenagers use its platforms.

September 4, 2026

Politics

Tommy Koh Ends 55 Years at Singapore’s MFA — But His Biggest Warning Is About What Small Countries Must Never Do

SINGAPORE — After more than half a century representing Singapore on some of the world’s biggest diplomatic stages, Professor Tommy Koh has stepped away from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a message that reaches far beyond his own retirement. For the 88-year-old veteran diplomat, Singapore’s survival has never depended simply on economic success, military strength or relationships with powerful countries. It depends on something more difficult to maintain: relevance. Reflecting on 55 ye

September 4, 2026