Author: WWC NEWSDESK

Philippines

308 TUPAD Workers Received ₱2.3 Million for Just 15 Days of Work—But What Some Did With Their Wages Could Be the Bigger Story

A government program designed to provide short-term work to struggling Filipinos is taking on a potentially bigger role in Nueva Vizcaya, where several beneficiaries are choosing not to spend all of their wages immediately—but to put part of the money back into businesses they hope can keep earning long after their TUPAD jobs end. A total of 308 farmers, ambulant vendors, and parents or guardians of child laborers received around ₱2.3 million in wages after completing 15 days of work under the

August 20, 2026

Politics

Trump Just Cut U.S.–South Korea Military Drills From 11 Days to 5—But the Real Reason May Have More to Do With Kim Jong Un

SEOUL — One of the most important annual military exercises between the United States and South Korea is being dramatically shortened after President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to scale back the drills — a surprise move that comes as Washington explores another diplomatic opening with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The 2026 Ulchi Freedom Shield, originally scheduled to run for 11 days from August 17 to August 27, will instead conclude on August 21, reducing the main exercise to just fi

August 20, 2026

Business

Skanska Just Landed a $1.2-Billion Deal for Four U.S. Data Centers—But the Biggest Name in the Project Is Being Kept Secret

Swedish construction giant Skanska has landed a massive $1.2-billion contract to build four new data centers in the southeastern United States, putting the company squarely in the path of one of America's fastest-growing infrastructure booms. The deal, valued at roughly SEK 11.2 billion, was signed with an existing Skanska client and will be recorded in the company's U.S. order bookings for the third quarter of 2026, according to Skanska's August 20 announcement. But there is one major piece o

August 20, 2026

Entertainment

Vanness Wu Says His Wife Is 31, Not 35—But One Detail in Emi Aramaki’s Old Profile Changes the Story

F4 star Vanness Wu has stepped forward to defend his new wife, Japanese singer-actress Emi Aramaki, after online allegations questioned both her age and educational background — but the controversy may have begun with an inaccurate age that was repeatedly published by the media. Wu’s camp, through his record label B’in Music, rejected claims that Aramaki had lied about her age or fabricated her academic credentials. According to the statement, Aramaki is 31 years old, not 35, and graduated fro

August 20, 2026

Philippines

ICC Prosecutors Hand Duterte’s Lawyers 6,909 Evidence Items—But 57 Could Actually Help His Defense

MANILA — Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s lawyers are facing a massive new batch of material ahead of his crimes-against-humanity trial at the International Criminal Court, with prosecutors disclosing 6,909 evidence items to the defense between January 7 and July 31, 2026. But buried inside the thousands of records is a detail that could become just as important as the evidence prosecutors intend to use against him: 57 items have reportedly been classified as potentially exonerating or otherw

August 20, 2026

Lifestyle

A 17-Year-Old Was Bitten by a Rat, Then Swam in Navotas Floodwater—What Happened Next Is a Warning for Every Parent

NAVOTAS CITY, Philippines — What began with a rat bite and was followed weeks later by a swim in floodwater ended in tragedy for a 17-year-old student in Navotas, underscoring the potentially deadly threat of leptospirosis during the rainy season. Justin Espinosa died just four days before his 18th birthday after developing symptoms associated with leptospirosis, according to a GMA News report published on August 20. His parents, Leilani and Allan Espinosa, said their son had earlier been bitt

August 20, 2026

Philippines

BIR Hits Hongsheng Gaming With ₱2.2-Billion Tax Evasion Complaint—But Its Name Is Already Tied to a Much Bigger POGO Scandal

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Internal Revenue has filed a ₱2.228-billion tax evasion complaint against Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc. before the Department of Justice, adding a massive tax case to the long list of controversies surrounding the offshore gaming company previously linked to the notorious Bamban, Tarlac POGO compound. According to the BIR, Hongsheng allegedly committed several tax violations covering taxable years 2021 to 2023, including the underdeclaration of income, inc

August 20, 2026

Philippines

Fake Accounts Linked to Ateneo de Zamboanga Shooter Are Spreading Online—But Police Spotted a Major Red Flag

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — As investigators continue piecing together what led to the deadly shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University, police are confronting another problem unfolding online: social media accounts and posts claiming to belong to—or contain information from—the student involved and members of his family. Police Regional Office 9 (PRO9) warned the public on Thursday, August 20, not to immediately believe or circulate accounts, videos and posts whose authenticity has not been

August 20, 2026

Philippines

Romualdez Camp Denies Pressuring ‘Maleta Boys’ to Recant—But the Ombudsman Says 28 More Witnesses Are Ready

MANILA, Philippines — The legal battle surrounding the Philippines’ multibillion-peso flood-control controversy has taken another dramatic turn, with former House Speaker Martin Romualdez’s camp firmly denying allegations that it pressured former security aides of ex-Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co into withdrawing testimony that had linked Romualdez to alleged cash-filled suitcase deliveries. But even as witnesses reverse their stories, the Office of the Ombudsman says its investigation is far from co

August 20, 2026

Philippines

DepEd Will Roll Out Active-Threat Drills Nationwide on August 25—But the Most Crucial Part Happens After Students Escape

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) is set to begin rolling out active-threat drills in schools nationwide on August 25, expanding emergency-response protocols as the country confronts renewed concerns over violence inside campuses. The planned exercises will test how schools respond to a “human-induced threat,” including how quickly students and personnel can secure themselves, evacuate when safe, coordinate with police and medical responders, and eventually reunite child

August 20, 2026