Author: WWC NEWSDESK

Singapore

Geylang Pasar Malam Crash: Man Charged Over Alleged Etomidate-Impaired Driving That Killed Stall Attendant

SINGAPORE — September 2, 2026 — A 41-year-old man has been charged over a fatal Geylang pasar malam crash that killed a stall attendant after a rental car allegedly lost control and smashed into a temporary night-market stall in July 2025. Muhammad Shafiq Razali faces seven charges, including driving under the influence of drugs, dangerous driving causing death as a serious offender, driving without a valid licence, and using a vehicle without insurance coverage. He also faces charges for alleg

September 2, 2026

Business

SIA Keeps Betting on Loss-Making Air India — But a US$1.5 Billion Funding Request Could Test How Long the ‘Long Game’ Can Last

SINGAPORE — Singapore Airlines’ investment in Air India is entering perhaps its toughest test yet: the Indian carrier is burning through billions during a massive overhaul, its owners have been approached for another US$1.5 billion in fresh equity, and Tata Sons has warned that a full turnaround could take as long as a decade. Yet SIA is showing no sign that it is ready to abandon the bet. The Singapore carrier holds a 25.1% stake in Air India, with Tata Sons controlling the rest. SIA obtained

September 2, 2026

Entertainment

Tommy Koh Retires From Singapore MFA After 55 Years — But His Next Chapter Is Already Underway

Veteran Singapore diplomat and international lawyer Professor Tommy Koh has officially retired from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) after 55 years of service, closing one of the longest and most influential diplomatic careers in Singapore’s history. But Koh’s departure is not a complete retirement. From Sept. 1, the 88-year-old has been based at the National University of Singapore’s Centre for International Law, where he remains involved in international law and policy work. From a 30-

September 2, 2026

Singapore

Lev Panfilov Acquitted of Rape and Sexual Assault Charges After Singapore Court of Appeal Finds Reasonable Doubt

SINGAPORE — September 2, 2026 — A major legal reversal has cleared former Wah!Banana scriptwriter-actor and TikToker Lev Panfilov of four sexual-offence convictions after Singapore’s Court of Appeal found that inconsistencies in the complainant’s evidence created reasonable doubt in the prosecution’s case. The three-judge Court of Appeal on Wednesday allowed Panfilov’s appeal and acquitted him of all four charges: two counts of rape, one count of sexual assault by penetration and one count of o

September 2, 2026

Entertainment

GEORGE CLOONEY SOUNDS THE ALARM: AI Could Make Truth Impossible to Prove—And Hollywood May Pay the Price

VENICE, Italy — George Clooney used the spotlight of the 2026 Venice Film Festival to deliver a warning that reaches far beyond Hollywood: as artificial intelligence becomes more powerful, society could face a future where people can no longer confidently tell what is real from what has been manufactured. The Oscar-winning actor, filmmaker and political activist made the remarks on Wednesday while in Venice to receive the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 83rd Venice International Fil

September 2, 2026

Business

Tigbauan Poultry Farm Ordered Shut — But Linobayan Residents Say the Real Fight Is Far From Over

ILOILO, Philippines — A suspension order has temporarily stopped operations at a controversial poultry farm in Tigbauan, Iloilo, but residents of neighboring Barangay Linobayan say temporary relief is no longer enough. Their demand is now unmistakable: they want GT Poultry Farm permanently closed. The dispute, driven by long-running complaints of foul odor and fly infestation allegedly linked to the facility in Barangay Sipitan, has escalated far beyond an ordinary neighborhood nuisance case.

September 2, 2026

Philippines

Western Visayas Contraceptive Use Hits 44.9% — But One Number Shows the Family Planning Story Isn’t Over

ILOILO CITY — Western Visayas is undergoing a quiet but significant demographic shift, with more married women using modern contraceptives and the region’s fertility rate falling further, according to the latest government survey. Modern contraceptive use among currently married women aged 15 to 49 in Western Visayas reached 44.9 percent in 2025, slightly above the 44.5-percent national average, figures from the 2025 National Demographic and Health Survey show. The comparable PSA Region VI seri

September 2, 2026

Philippines

TALISAY ATTACK: Two Wounded, 16-Year-Old Escapes Unhurt After Group Allegedly Strikes on Motorcycle — Police Hunt for Answers

TALISAY CITY, Negros Occidental — A late-night attack in Talisay City left two young men injured while a 16-year-old boy who was with them escaped unharmed, after several unidentified individuals allegedly confronted and assaulted them early Monday morning. The incident happened at about 1:15 a.m. on August 31 at Bangga Bat-os in Barangay Zone 9, according to the Talisay City Police Station. Police identified the injured victims only by the aliases “Gringo,” 24, and “Jonas,” 18, both residents

September 2, 2026

Philippines

Antique Seafarer Finally Comes Home 43 Days After Deadly Black Sea Strike — But His Death Raises a Bigger Question

ANTIQUE, Philippines — After more than six weeks of uncertainty, appeals and painful waiting, Filipino seafarer Jude Prado Pagunsan has finally returned home to Antique. But not in the homecoming his family had prayed for. The remains of the 37-year-old seafarer from Sitio Wayang, Barangay Ubos in Valderrama, Antique arrived at Iloilo International Airport on August 30, more than a month after the commercial vessel he was serving aboard was caught in a deadly Russian attack in the Black Sea ne

September 2, 2026

Business

Taiwan’s Semiconductor Industry Targets NT$8 Trillion as AI Boom Drives Record Growth — But the Next Challenge Is Already Emerging

TAIPEI — Taiwan is setting its sights on another major semiconductor milestone, with the government pushing to lift the industry’s total output above NT$8 trillion (about US$251.8 billion) in 2026 as artificial intelligence and high-performance computing continue to reshape global chip demand. The ambitious target underscores Taiwan’s critical position at the heart of the global semiconductor supply chain, particularly as demand accelerates for advanced processors, high-bandwidth memory, advanc

September 2, 2026