Author: WWC NEWSDESK

Philippines

Three Asian Changemakers Just Won Asia’s Highest Honor—Here’s Why Their Stories Matter

MANILA, Philippines — Three remarkable figures from Singapore, Bangladesh and Myanmar have been named the 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees, receiving one of Asia’s most prestigious recognitions for service, leadership and work that has helped communities confront some of the region’s most difficult challenges. The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation announced the three recipients on Monday, August 31: Singaporean diplomat and scholar Tommy Koh, Bangladeshi social entrepreneur Runa Khan, and Myanmar h

August 31, 2026

Entertainment

Jaggy Glarino Turned ‘Yero’ and ‘Kumot’ Into High Fashion — But Filipinos Are Fighting Over What the Designs Really Say About Poverty

One of the pieces now attracting attention is Glarino’s Yero Top, part of his IGNO collection. In an earlier interview with Vogue Philippines, Glarino explained that the design began when he encountered a corrugated, gold-toned material that immediately reminded him of the roofs he had seen along the Manila Skyway. Rather than leave the material pristine, he distressed and altered it to resemble sheets of galvanized iron weathered by years of sun and rain. For Glarino, those rooftops were tie

August 31, 2026

Philippines

Fajarda’s Testimony Delayed After Stroke—Now Prosecutors Reveal What They’re Willing to Wait For

MANILA, Philippines — The House prosecution panel in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial said it will not rush former Department of Education (DepEd) special disbursing officer Edward Fajarda to testify, as the key witness continues to recover from a reported stroke. House Deputy Speaker and prosecution counsel Paolo Ortega V said Fajarda needs time to rest and recover before appearing before the Senate impeachment court. The prosecution’s position was echoed by Manila 6th District

August 31, 2026

Business

ICTSI’s Manzanillo Terminal Can Now Take 24,000-TEU Megaships — But the Bigger Prize Is Still 1.5 Meters Deeper

International Container Terminal Services Inc. has secured a major competitive advantage at Mexico’s busiest container gateway, with its Contecon Manzanillo terminal now authorized to handle deeper-draft vessels and some of the largest container ships deployed on global trade routes. Contecon Manzanillo S.A. de C.V. (CMSA), the Mexican subsidiary of Philippine port giant International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), has been cleared to receive vessels with drafts of up to 15.5 meters,

August 31, 2026

Philippines

El Niño Is Tightening the Philippines’ Food Supply—And the Bigger Risk May Still Be Ahead

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is heading into a potentially tougher food-supply environment as El Niño intensifies, threatening agricultural production, putting upward pressure on food prices and forcing the government to prepare for possible disruptions well into 2027. The Department of Agriculture (DA) has ordered its agencies to continuously update their El Niño response plans as new weather, water, crop and market data emerge, with the goal of protecting food security while limiting

August 31, 2026

Politics

Unification Church Leader Gets 2 Years Over Political Cash and Luxury Gifts — But the Court’s Bigger Finding Could Haunt the Church

SEOUL — One of the most powerful figures in the global Unification Church has been sentenced to prison in South Korea, delivering another major blow to a religious movement already facing extraordinary legal and political pressure across Asia. The Seoul Central District Court on Monday, August 31, sentenced 83-year-old Han Hak-ja, leader of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, widely known as the Unification Church, to a combined two years in prison over illegal political fund

August 31, 2026

Philippines

Man Caught on Video Dumping Dead Dog Into Marikina River to Face Complaint—But What Happens Next Could Be More Serious

MARIKINA CITY, Philippines — A man caught on video throwing a sack reportedly containing a dead dog into the Marikina River has been located and is expected to face an appropriate complaint, according to Marikina City Mayor Maan Teodoro. The incident quickly drew public outrage after a video of the act circulated online, showing the man carrying what appeared to be a sack containing the animal’s remains before dumping it into the river. According to the report by INQUIRER.net, the video was up

August 31, 2026

Business

Oil Jumps Toward $90 After US-Iran Strikes Return — But the Biggest Threat Is What Happens Next in Hormuz

Oil prices surged toward the psychologically important $90-a-barrel level on Monday as renewed military exchanges between the United States and Iran abruptly shattered a period of relative calm around the Strait of Hormuz. But for energy markets, the biggest question is no longer simply whether Washington and Tehran will exchange more strikes. It is whether the latest confrontation will once again choke one of the most important oil shipping routes on Earth. Brent crude futures climbed roughl

August 31, 2026

Entertainment

Yeng Constantino Serenades Ryan Bang With “Sabihin Mo Na” — Then the Crowd Saw What Happened Next

MANILA, Philippines — What happens when an old “what if” suddenly takes center stage? That question once again had fans talking after Yeng Constantino personally serenaded Ryan Bang during her milestone “Biyaheng Bente” concert at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on August 29. During the performance, Yeng went down from the stage and sang “Sabihin Mo Na” directly to Ryan, who was seated in the audience. The playful moment became one of the most talked-about portions of the concert, especially becaus

August 31, 2026

Malaysia

Sarawak’s Air Hit a Hazardous 475 on National Day — But the Number Authorities Are Watching Is 500

KUCHING, Malaysia — Malaysia’s National Day arrived under dramatically different skies on Monday, with celebrations continuing in Putrajaya while parts of Sarawak were swallowed by some of the worst haze the state has experienced in years. In Serian, close to the Indonesian border, Malaysia’s national Air Pollutant Index monitoring system recorded a reading of 475 at 9am on August 31, putting the district deep inside the “hazardous” category and perilously close to the level at which authoritie

August 31, 2026