Author: WWC NEWSDESK

Philippines

Zambales Under Calamity: Flood Damage Nears ₱690 Million

ZAMBALES, Philippines — Zambales has been placed under a province-wide state of calamity after weeks of heavy rain, flooding and other weather-related impacts caused extensive damage to infrastructure, agriculture and homes. Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. approved the declaration following the recommendation of disaster officials, as the province continues to assess the full extent of damage caused by the enhanced southwest monsoon (Habagat) and recent tropical cyclones Luis and Maymay. Damage cl

August 23, 2026

Business

Fishmonger Punched a Man at Least 6 Times at Limbang Shopping Centre—What Doctors Found Around His Eye Made the Case Far More Serious

SINGAPORE — What began as an ordinary afternoon at a neighbourhood wet market turned violent when a fishmonger repeatedly punched a 52-year-old man in the face, leaving him with a fracture around his eye and two weeks of hospitalisation leave. Malaysian national Mok Siaw Yong, 35, was sentenced to 12 weeks in jail on Aug. 20 after pleading guilty to one charge of voluntarily causing hurt. He was also ordered to pay S$872.65 in compensation, according to court documents reported by Mothership.

August 23, 2026

Business

Etihad Said ‘Taiwan’ in English—But Three Extra Words in the Chinese Announcement Triggered a Diplomatic Backlash

TAIPEI — Etihad Airways has apologized and changed the wording of an in-flight announcement after a passenger said the airline welcomed travelers to “Taiwan, China” in Mandarin while using simply “Taiwan” in its English-language announcement — a discrepancy that quickly escalated from a passenger complaint into a diplomatic dispute. Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration said it received a letter from Etihad’s headquarters apologizing for the controversy after Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affai

August 23, 2026

Philippines

TULFO WANTS GUN OWNERS HELD CRIMINALLY LIABLE: After Two School Shootings, Could Negligent Firearm Custodians Soon Face Jail?

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Erwin Tulfo is pushing for tougher accountability for firearm owners and legal custodians whose negligence allows children to gain access to guns, arguing that gun ownership must come with a clear legal responsibility to keep firearms out of unauthorized hands. Tulfo renewed the call after two recent school shootings in Tacloban City and Zamboanga City put renewed scrutiny on how minors were able to obtain firearms traced to adult family members. In a privilege speec

August 23, 2026

Asia

Massive Taiwan Explosion Injures 15 — But What Was Really Hidden in the Burning Waste?

TAIPEI, Taiwan — What began as a fire at a vacant lot in Tainan's Annan District quickly escalated into a terrifying series of explosions early Saturday, sending shockwaves through nearby neighbourhoods and leaving 15 people injured. The blast erupted roughly 90 minutes after firefighters were first called to the scene near Haidian Road. Residents said the explosion was so powerful it could be heard from as far as one kilometre away, while homes closest to the site suffered shattered windows, d

August 23, 2026

Singapore

Singapore-Bound Ship Sinks Off India With 24 Aboard — 2 Rescued, Then the Search Took a Dramatic Turn

A major search-and-rescue operation is underway in the Bay of Bengal after the Panama-flagged bulk carrier MV Ocean Winner sank off India's eastern coast, leaving 22 crew members missing. Two people have been rescued so far, while Indian authorities continue searching for the remaining 22 people who were aboard the vessel when it went down on Saturday, Aug. 22. The ship was carrying 24 crew members — 20 Chinese nationals, three Myanmar nationals and one Bangladeshi national, according to India

August 23, 2026

Politics

Taiwan Unveils Record $35 Billion Defense Budget—But the Bigger Message May Be for Beijing and Washington

Taiwan is preparing to make its biggest defense-spending push yet, with the government proposing a record NT$1.1225 trillion (about US$35.2 billion) defense budget for 2027—a move designed to strengthen the island's military capabilities while sending a clear signal to both Beijing and Washington. The proposed allocation represents about 3.01 percent of Taiwan's projected GDP and an increase of roughly 18 percent from the previous year's level. Taiwan's Cabinet approved the proposal on Thursday

August 23, 2026

Politics

Lai’s Powerful Warning From Kinmen: “Peace Doesn’t Fall From the Sky” — What’s Taiwan Preparing For?

TAIPEI/KINMEN — Standing on one of Taiwan's most sensitive frontline islands under heavy rain, President Lai Ching-te delivered a message that reached far beyond a memorial ceremony: peace, he said, cannot simply be wished into existence—it must be protected. Lai travelled to Kinmen on Sunday to mark the 68th anniversary of the August 23 Artillery Battle, also known internationally as the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis, paying tribute to the servicemen who fought and died during the 1958 conflict

August 23, 2026

Asia

MALAYSIAN MOM STORMS SCHOOL TO CONFRONT HER CHILD’S ALLEGED BULLY — Then She Pins Him Down on Camera

A Malaysian woman has sparked a heated online debate after reportedly entering a primary school and physically confronting a student accused of bullying her child. According to reports cited by Mothership.sg and Malaysian Chinese-language media, a video circulating online shows the woman pinning the boy to the ground while holding his wrist and pulling at his collar. She reportedly demanded to know why he had bullied her child. The incident reportedly began after the woman’s child came home cr

August 23, 2026

Asia

Australia’s Bird Flu Outbreak Just Crossed Into a Mammal—And What Scientists Fear Could Happen Next Is the Bigger Story

Australia’s battle with the highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu virus has entered a troubling new phase, after authorities confirmed the country’s first known detection of the virus in a mammal on the mainland. The case involved a long-nosed fur seal found dead at Beachport in South Australia, roughly 310 kilometres southeast of Adelaide. Testing confirmed that the animal was infected with H5N1, marking the first time the virus has been detected in a mammal during Australia’s current mainland outbr

August 23, 2026