Author: WWC NEWSDESK

Business

Trump’s Venezuela Oil Deal Puts the U.S. Near 65 Billion Barrels—But the Real Battle May Be Over Who Controls It

WASHINGTON/CARACAS — The Trump administration is defending a sweeping new oil agreement with Venezuela that could give the United States unprecedented influence over a huge portion of the South American country’s petroleum industry—but the deal is already facing questions over sovereignty, transparency, legality and how quickly it can actually deliver cheaper fuel to Americans. U.S. officials said Tuesday that the agreement is designed to advance American energy security, weaken Chinese and Rus

September 2, 2026

Philippines

Fire Hits Manila Vice Mayor Chi Atienza’s City Hall Office Before Dawn — But Investigators Still Have One Big Question

MANILA, Philippines — A predawn fire damaged the kitchen area inside the Office of Manila Vice Mayor Angela Lei “Chi” Atienza at Manila City Hall on Wednesday, September 2, triggering an emergency response before most government workers had arrived for the day. The blaze struck the vice mayor’s office on the second floor of the historic city government building, according to reports from ABS-CBN News and other local media outlets. ABS-CBN reported that the kitchen inside the office sustained da

September 2, 2026

Business

BOJ Signals More Rate Hikes as Yen Flirts With ¥160 — But September’s Decision Could Change Everything

TOKYO — The Bank of Japan is sending one of its clearest signals yet that Japan’s era of ultra-cheap money is fading — and its next move could arrive sooner than markets once expected. Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said the central bank intends to continue raising interest rates if the economy and prices develop broadly in line with its forecasts, while warning that policymakers must pay particularly close attention to the risk that inflation could run hotter than expected. Speaking after

September 2, 2026

Singapore

HAZE MAY HIT SINGAPORE IN NEXT 2 WEEKS AS DRY CONDITIONS IN REGION EXPECTED TO PERSIST: MET SERVICE

Singapore Could See Haze in Next Two Weeks as Dry Weather Persists SINGAPORE — Singapore could experience periods of haze over the next two weeks as dry conditions continue across the region and fires in parts of Indonesia remain a concern, according to the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS).  The latest fortnightly outlook, issued on Sept. 1, 2026, says the Southwest Monsoon is expected to persist into the first half of September, with winds mainly blowing from the southeast or southwest

September 2, 2026

Indonesia

INDONESIA,UNITED STATES KICK OFF ANNUAL MULTINATIONAL MILITARY EXERCISES

Indonesia and U.S. Launch Major Super Garuda Shield Military Exercise BANDUNG, Indonesia — Indonesia and the United States have launched the 2026 edition of Super Garuda Shield, bringing together thousands of military personnel from Indonesia, the U.S. and partner nations for nearly two weeks of multinational training across Indonesia. The exercise officially opened in Bandung, West Java, on August 31, with training scheduled through September 11, 2026. U.S. Pacific Command says approximately

September 2, 2026

Business

Telstra’s July Outage Was Triggered by One Wrong Date — But the External Review Found a Much Bigger Failure

SYDNEY — A routine maintenance job, an incorrect date and a network system that Telstra admits was not treated as critical enough have emerged as the key ingredients behind one of Australia’s most disruptive telecommunications failures of the year. An external investigation into Telstra’s massive July 8 mobile outage has confirmed that the incident was triggered when incorrect date information spread through parts of the company’s mobile network following planned maintenance on its network timi

September 2, 2026

Business

AJINOMOTO,DAIKIN EXPAND CHIP MATERIALS TIES WITH TAIWAN

Ajinomoto, Daikin Expand Taiwan Chip-Materials Operations as AI Boom Drives Demand TAIPEI — Japan’s Ajinomoto and Daikin Industries are expanding their operations in Taiwan as surging demand for artificial intelligence chips pushes semiconductor manufacturers and their suppliers to strengthen local partnerships. The moves put two major Japanese materials companies deeper into one of the world's most important semiconductor ecosystems, where demand for advanced packaging and AI-related chips is

September 2, 2026

Business

Dollar Holds Firm as Middle East Fighting Sends Oil Above $95 — But the Bigger Shock Could Come From the Fed

The U.S. dollar stayed firmly supported on Wednesday as renewed fighting between the United States and Iran sent oil prices higher, rattled global bond markets and revived fears that another inflation shock could force central banks to keep interest rates higher for longer. The market reaction is no longer just about geopolitics. Investors are increasingly confronting a much larger question: Could another surge in energy prices push the Federal Reserve into raising interest rates again just as

September 2, 2026

Asia

He Told a Neighbour’s Son “You’ll Achieve Good Things” — Hours Later, the 68-Year-Old Was Dead in a Flat Fire

SINGAPORE — A simple exchange between neighbours on Tuesday morning has become a heartbreaking final memory after a 68-year-old man died in a fire at his Lorong Lew Lian flat just hours later. On the morning of Sept. 1, the elderly man stopped to speak to his neighbour's son. His message was simple. “Don’t worry, you be a good boy, and you will achieve good things in your life.” Those words, recalled by 46-year-old Siti Aisyah Abdul Rahman, would become the last words she remembers hearing f

September 2, 2026

Uncategorized

GOV’T BETS BIG ON AI,CHIPS FOR 2027 BUDGET RO COMPETE IN GLOBAL TECH RACE

SEOUL — South Korea is making a major bet on artificial intelligence and semiconductors as the government proposes its largest-ever annual budget, seeking to strengthen the country's position in the rapidly intensifying global technology race. The government has proposed ₩820.9 trillion ($597 billion) in total spending for 2027, representing a 12.8% increase from this year's original budget. The proposal marks the largest year-on-year increase in South Korea's budget since comparable records be

September 2, 2026