Author: WWC NEWSDESK

Entertainment

Roblox, Meta Agree to Tougher Child-Safety Rules in PH — But the Biggest Test Starts When the New Controls Go Live

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government has secured new child-safety commitments from two of the world’s biggest digital platforms, with Roblox and Meta agreeing to tighten protections for young Filipino users amid growing concern over online grooming, abusive content, deepfakes and violent material. But the more important question now is whether those promises can be translated into safeguards that actually work. Philippine officials met executives of Meta and Roblox in Singapore on A

August 29, 2026

Asia

China-Nepal Flood Lake Shrinks by 21,000 Sq M — But a Larger Threat Is Still Sitting Below the Glacier

BEIJING/KATHMANDU — A dangerous lake formed in the wreckage of this week's catastrophic Himalayan flood is beginning to shrink, easing fears that another wall of water could sweep through the devastated China-Nepal border region. But the danger is far from over. Chinese authorities said Saturday that satellite images showed the barrier lake gradually draining, reducing its surface area to about 99,000 square meters, or roughly 14 football fields. That is about 21,000 square meters smaller than

August 29, 2026

Business

Philippine Airfares Expected to Rise in First Half of September as Fuel Surcharge Returns to Level 13

MANILA, Philippines — Travelers planning to fly in the first half of September may need to prepare for higher airfare costs after the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) raised the allowable passenger fuel surcharge to Level 13. The higher surcharge will apply for the period September 1 to 15, 2026, replacing the Level 12 surcharge implemented from August 16 to 31, according to the aviation regulator. For domestic flights, airlines may impose a passenger fuel surcharge ranging from ₱423 to ₱1,237, d

August 29, 2026

Philippines

Abra de Ilog Declares Calamity After ₱69-M Habagat Damage — But a ₱232-M Flood Project Raises an Even Bigger Question

ABRA DE ILOG, OCCIDENTAL MINDORO — The northernmost municipality of Occidental Mindoro is facing a massive recovery effort after days of intense southwest monsoon rains left more than ₱69 million in estimated damage, affected tens of thousands of residents and disrupted roads, farms, homes and water systems. The Philippine Information Agency reported that the Abra de Ilog local government declared a state of calamity on August 24, allowing local officials to mobilize emergency resources and tap

August 29, 2026

Entertainment

October Will Be a Pageant Battlefield in Asia—And the Philippines Has Everything to Play For

MANILA, Philippines — October is shaping up to be one of the most exciting months on the international pageant calendar, with Asia once again taking center stage as beauty queens from around the world prepare to compete for some of the industry's most coveted crowns. From India to Japan and beyond, the region is expected to become a global hub for pageantry, bringing together national representatives, reigning queens and millions of passionate fans following every preliminary event, runway appe

August 29, 2026

Entertainment

Gilas Erases 18-Point Deficit, Stuns Jordan 82-81 in OT as Kai Sotto Delivers Game-Saving Block

MANILA, Philippines — Gilas Pilipinas pulled off one of its most dramatic victories of the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers, storming back from an 18-point deficit to escape Jordan, 82-81, in overtime on Friday night, August 28, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. The victory was more than another dramatic finish for the national team. It snapped a four-game qualifying losing streak, lifted the Philippines to a 3-4 record in Group E, and kept its increasingly difficult ro

August 29, 2026

Philippines

165 Measles Cases Hit Occidental Mindoro in 2025 — Now Health Officials Are Turning to Tribal Chiefs for What Could Be the Hardest Part

SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro — Health authorities in Occidental Mindoro are turning to some of the most trusted voices in Indigenous communities—their tribal chieftains—as the province intensifies efforts to close dangerous vaccination gaps following a measles surge that hit Sablayan particularly hard in 2025. The Provincial Health Office said Indigenous leaders are playing a crucial role in persuading families to have their children immunized against measles and rubella, particularly in commun

August 29, 2026

Business

Go-Ahead Bus Captain Allegedly Assaulted on Duty in Second Case in Three Months, Union Raises Alarm

SINGAPORE — A Go-Ahead Singapore bus captain was allegedly assaulted while on duty earlier this month, marking the second reported assault involving one of the operator’s bus captains in just three months and renewing concerns over the safety of frontline public transport workers. The latest incident occurred at about 5.20pm on Aug 16, while the bus captain was operating Service 2, which runs between Changi Village Terminal and Kampong Bahru Terminal, according to Go-Ahead Singapore. The journ

August 29, 2026

Philippines

Lacson Flags 4 Taguig Reclamation Titles as Allegedly Fraudulent — But the Bigger 85-Hectare Question Is Still Unanswered

MANILA, Philippines — The controversy surrounding reclamation and flood-control projects along the Taguig side of Laguna Lake has taken another turn after Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson disclosed that four parcels of reclaimed land covering nearly 38.83 hectares are tied to land titles he alleges were fraudulently issued. The disclosure raises a potentially bigger question than the infrastructure projects themselves: How did portions of reclaimed lake area obtain land titles, and who ultimately has

August 29, 2026

Philippines

DENR Taps Private Sector to Fight Philippines’ Garbage Crisis as Waste Continues to Clog Waterways

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government is looking beyond traditional cleanup operations in its fight against the country’s growing garbage problem, with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) pushing for stronger private sector participation to stop waste before it reaches drainage systems, rivers and waterways. Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna said businesses could play a bigger role in addressing plastic pollution through existing laws and programs, particul

August 29, 2026