Author: WWC NEWSDESK

Philippines

Zambales Boat Capsize Death Toll Rises to 8 as Search Continues for Missing Pregnant Woman

SAN MARCELINO, Zambales — What began as a routine trip home for members of an Aeta community has become one of Zambales’ most devastating recent water tragedies, after authorities recovered the bodies of two missing children from Mapanuepe Lake on Saturday, raising the confirmed death toll from a motorbanca capsizing to eight. One passenger — a 26-year-old pregnant woman — remained missing as search and rescue teams continued operations on August 29. The Philippine Coast Guard said the two chi

August 29, 2026

Entertainment

Once Excluded From PE, Singapore’s Nur Sabrina Became a National Wheelchair Rugby Star — Her Story Is Breaking Barriers

SINGAPORE — She once believed sports were no longer part of her life. Today, Nur Sabrina Suhaimi is crashing into opponents on a wheelchair rugby court while representing Singapore at international competition. The 25-year-old is Singapore’s only female national wheelchair rugby player, a remarkable transformation for someone who was advised as a schoolgirl to stay away from physical education because of her declining mobility. Sabrina lives with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a rare genetic neu

August 29, 2026

Business

What Happens When Philippine Business Titans Share One Room? The Guest List at This Manila Gathering Says It All

MANILA, Philippines — It was a gathering that brought some of the biggest names in Philippine business out from behind their boardroom doors and into the same room. Leechiu Property Consultants recently hosted “Cocktails & Connections,” an exclusive networking gathering that drew an unusually high concentration of the country's most influential entrepreneurs and corporate executives—including Lance Gokongwei, Andrew Tan and Paolo Villar. Also seen at the event were prominent business leaders H

August 29, 2026

Philippines

Convicted but Still Free? Ombudsman Orders Sandiganbayan Inventory — And What It Finds Could Put Courts Under the Spotlight

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman is preparing a sweeping inventory of people convicted by the Sandiganbayan, with Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla seeking answers to a politically explosive question: How many people found guilty by the anti-graft court are actually behind bars? Remulla said his office wants to determine which convicted defendants are serving their sentences, which remain free on bail, and, according to separate reporting by DZRH, which judges approved t

August 29, 2026

Philippines

Philippines’ 2027 Infrastructure Push Hits ₱1.47 Trillion as Government Tightens Anti-‘Ghost Project’ Safeguards

MANILA, Philippines — The Marcos administration is preparing another massive infrastructure push in 2027, proposing roughly ₱1.467 trillion for its Build Better More infrastructure program while promising tighter controls meant to stop duplicate, poorly planned and potentially “ghost” projects from slipping into the national budget. The proposed infrastructure allocation is equivalent to about 4.4 percent of gross domestic product and is ₱178 billion, or 13.8 percent, higher than the ₱1.29 tril

August 29, 2026

Philippines

HABAGAT TRIGGERS NEW VOLCANIC THREAT: PHIVOLCS Warns of Lahar From Pinatubo and Taal—These Communities Are at Risk

MANILA, Philippines — The relentless rains brought by the southwest monsoon or Habagat have prompted state volcanologists to issue a lahar advisory for Mount Pinatubo and Taal Volcano, warning that intense and prolonged rainfall could transform volcanic sediments and ash into dangerous mudflows, muddy streamflows and runoff. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) issued the advisory at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 29, as heavy rainfall continued over western and centra

August 29, 2026

Sport

NFL Eyes Japan Next as Record-Breaking Global Expansion Signals a Major Shift

The National Football League is looking toward Japan as it continues an unprecedented push beyond the United States, with the 2026 season set to feature a record nine regular-season international games across seven countries. Brett Gosper, the NFL’s head of Europe and Asia-Pacific, said the league is exploring new markets as international interest in American football continues to grow. Japan has emerged as a market of particular interest, although the league has not announced a timetable or co

August 29, 2026

Philippines

8 Million Filipinos Hit by Weeks of Habagat and Tropical Cyclones — And the Crisis Isn’t Over Yet

MANILA, Philippines — The number of Filipinos affected by weeks of relentless southwest monsoon rains and successive tropical cyclones has now crossed 8 million, underscoring the extraordinary scale of a weather crisis that continues to flood communities, damage infrastructure and threaten more parts of Luzon. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported the new milestone on Saturday, August 29, according to ABS-CBN News. The latest figure represents another significant

August 29, 2026

Philippines

Palace Eyes National Flood Control Master Plan as DPWH Pushes River Basin Strategy

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang is leaving the door open to a nationwide flood-control master plan as the Philippines confronts another season of widespread flooding, but the Marcos administration says the final strategy may still depend heavily on separate plans tailored to the country’s major river basins and urban centers. The debate gained urgency after Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon acknowledged during the House Committee on Appropriations’ deliberations on the Department

August 29, 2026

Business

S$3 BILLION MONEY-LAUNDERING HAUL GOES UNDER THE HAMMER: Luxury Bags, Diamonds and 80+ Properties Set for Auction

SINGAPORE — Luxury handbags, high-end watches, fine jewellery and more than 80 properties linked to Singapore’s landmark S$3 billion money-laundering case are about to enter the market, with auctions scheduled to begin in September 2026. Professional services firm Deloitte, which was appointed by the Singapore Police Force to manage and realise the forfeited non-cash assets, said more than 1,000 luxury items and 80 real estate properties will be sold in phases from September 2026 through mid-20

August 29, 2026