Author: WWC NEWSDESK

Asia

AI Is Reaching India’s Most Remote Villages — But the Biggest Test Isn’t the Technology

BENGALURU — In parts of rural India, a smartphone is starting to do jobs that once required specialist equipment, trained technicians or a long trip to a hospital. In Chagallu village in Andhra Pradesh, community health workers are asking residents to cough into a phone. Hundreds of kilometres away, other frontline workers are recording short videos of newborn babies so artificial intelligence can estimate their weight and other body measurements. And in Goa, AI is being added to routine ches

September 4, 2026

Business

Aeroline Restarts Singapore–KL Bus Service After 4-Month Break — But There’s a Catch for TRX Passengers

SINGAPORE — Travellers heading between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur have another option again, but the familiar Aeroline journey comes with a major change. Premium coach operator Aeroline has resumed its Singapore–Kuala Lumpur cross-border service from Sept. 1, 2026, following a roughly four-month halt to its Kuala Lumpur operations. The comeback will be welcome news for travellers who prefer travelling by coach rather than flying. However, passengers expecting the old seamless journey into cent

September 4, 2026

Philippines

9 Houses Swept Away by Raging Floodwaters in Bataan—Hundreds Forced to Flee as Habagat Intensifies

DINALUPIHAN, Bataan — Raging floodwaters swept away nine houses near the Pita River in Barangay Pita, Dinalupihan, as persistent rains from the southwest monsoon, or Habagat, intensified across Bataan. The incident was reported Thursday, September 3, with the force of the floodwaters destroying the homes located close to the river. As of the latest report, it remained unclear whether anyone was inside the houses when they were swept away. Dinalupihan Mayor German Santos said hundreds of resid

September 4, 2026

Business

Artek’s Iconic Stool 60 Gets Tiny Leather “Shoes” From Hender Scheme — And Design Fans Are Loving the Unexpected Twist

A legendary piece of Finnish furniture is getting a very unexpected fashion upgrade. Finnish design house Artek has teamed up with Japanese leather specialist Hender Scheme for a new collaboration that puts handcrafted leather “shoes” on the legs of Alvar Aalto’s iconic Stool 60. The unusual partnership brings together two design cultures — Finnish modernism and Japanese leather craftsmanship — with a shared focus on materials that become more beautiful through use. The collaboration, announce

September 4, 2026

Sport

Argentina Makes a Bold Fly-Half Gamble to Save Wallabies Series — But Australia Is Bringing Back Its Heavy Artillery

MENDOZA, Argentina — Argentina have responded to their painful opening-Test defeat to Australia with a significant tactical reshuffle, handing inexperienced fly-half Nicolás Roger one of the biggest assignments of his young international career as Los Pumas try to stop the Wallabies from completing a rare clean sweep on Argentine soil. Felipe Contepomi has altered both his forward pack and backline for Saturday’s second Test at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas in Mendoza after Australia claimed a 27

September 4, 2026

South Korea

Seoul Stocks Jump as U.S. Rate-Hike Fears Ease — But One Major Test Could Change Everything

SEOUL — September 4, 2026 — South Korean stocks surged at the start of Friday’s trading session as investors breathed a sigh of relief after Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller signaled that the U.S. central bank could keep interest rates unchanged if inflation continues to cool. The benchmark KOSPI was up 96.9 points, or 1.47%, at 6,676.38 as of 9:16 a.m. Seoul time, according to Yonhap. The rise followed a strong overnight performance on Wall Street, where all three major U.S. indexes

September 4, 2026

Business

FERRY TRIPS CANCELLED: Habagat Disrupts Sea Travel in Key Philippine Routes—Here’s the Full List

MANILA, Philippines — Travelers planning to cross the sea on Friday, September 4, are being urged to check their ferry schedules first as several voyages were cancelled amid weather conditions associated with the southwest monsoon or “Habagat.” The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) reported several cancelled trips at ports in Mindoro and Western Leyte-Biliran as of 8 a.m. Friday, with authorities prioritizing passenger safety as unfavorable weather conditions continue to affect parts of the coun

September 4, 2026

Business

Ovolo South Yarra Turns a Melbourne Hotel Into a 1970s Rock Fantasy — But Its Biggest Change Isn’t in the Rooms

MELBOURNE, Australia — In a city already famous for turning coffee, fashion, dining and design into cultural obsessions, one South Yarra hotel is betting that travellers want something else from their accommodation: personality — and a lot of it. Ovolo Melbourne, South Yarra, at 234 Toorak Road near Chapel Street, has built its identity around the excess and glamour of the 1960s and 1970s. Think lava lamps, vinyl records, velvet, chrome, pop art, neon installations and suites inspired by some o

September 4, 2026

Entertainment

HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk Sent to Prosecutors Over Alleged IPO Scheme—₱11 Billion in Gains Under Scrutiny

HYBE founder and chairman Bang Si-hyuk, the music executive behind global K-pop powerhouse BTS, has been referred to South Korean prosecutors over allegations that investors were misled ahead of HYBE’s 2020 stock-market debut. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on September 3 referred Bang and four other individuals to the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office without detention, recommending prosecution over alleged fraudulent unfair trading under South Korea’s Capital Markets Act. The

September 4, 2026

Asia

Driver Spots Elderly Man Walking on Singapore’s AYE — Then Makes a Split-Second Decision to Get Him to Safety

A routine drive along Singapore’s Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE) turned into a potentially life-saving intervention after a motorist spotted an elderly man walking dangerously close to fast-moving traffic. The incident, which was captured on dashcam footage and shared online, has drawn praise from members of the public who said the driver's decision to stop may have prevented a serious accident. Elderly man spotted walking against traffic According to a report by AsiaOne, the driver was travell

September 4, 2026