Author: WWC NEWSDESK

Philippines

SEC Chief Francis Lim to Mica Tan: Surrender First—But What Happens to the Money After She Faces the Charges?

MANILA, Philippines — Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairperson Francis Lim is drawing a hard line on any possible settlement involving MFT Group founder Maria Francesca “Mica” Tan: face the criminal charges first, then talk about repayment. Lim’s latest position, reported by Bilyonaryo, reinforces what he has previously told The Philippine Star—that Tan and the MFT Group cannot expect regulators to negotiate a resolution while she remains outside the Philippines and subject to outst

August 20, 2026

Business

US Treasury Doubles Bond Buybacks as Global Yields Retreat — But What Happens Next Could Be Bigger

NEW YORK — August 20, 2026 — Global bond markets received a sudden jolt after the U.S. Treasury announced it would significantly increase its purchases of longer-dated government debt, helping push U.S. and European bond yields lower after a sharp selloff had sent borrowing costs to multi-year and, in some cases, multi-decade highs. The Treasury said it will at least double the maximum size of liquidity-support buyback operations for longer-dated nominal Treasury securities from $2 billion to $

August 20, 2026

Business

Sy, Consunji Go All-In on Mining: Dominion Eyes Tampakan Control as Capital Plan Nears ₱30 Billion

MANILA, Philippines — The Sy and Consunji families are making a much bigger bet on Philippine mining, with Dominion Holdings Inc. emerging as the vehicle at the center of an increasingly ambitious strategy that could eventually put the group behind some of the country's biggest copper and gold assets. The latest move adds another layer to the rapidly developing story: Dominion is reportedly preparing to dramatically expand its capital base as the group positions itself for larger mining investm

August 20, 2026

Philippines

DTI-7, DMW-7 Team Up for One-Window OFW Assistance System in Central Visayas

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Central Visayas may soon find it easier to access government reintegration services as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 7 and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Region 7 strengthen their partnership through a new One Window Bayanihan Assistance Program (OWBAP) Referral and Tracking System. The two agencies signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on August 12, 2026, at the DTI Region 7 office in Cebu City

August 20, 2026

Asia

China Is Moving AI Data Centers Into the Countryside—What Beijing Is Building There Could Change the Tech Race

China is taking an unconventional route to power its artificial-intelligence ambitions: moving more of the infrastructure behind AI away from its biggest cities and into the country’s vast interior. The strategy is not simply about finding cheap land. It is increasingly about securing the one resource AI systems cannot operate without—electricity. A recent report carried by the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Global Nation, based on an AFP report, highlighted how China is building data-center cap

August 20, 2026

Business

AIA’s New Business Value Jumps 10% to US$3.21B — But One Asian Market Is Starting to Raise Questions

AIA Group delivered another strong financial performance in the first half of 2026, with its value of new business climbing 10% to a record US$3.21 billion. But while growth was broad-based across its Asian operations, Thailand stood out as the one major exception. AIA Group, one of Asia’s largest life and health insurance groups, reported a 10% year-on-year increase in value of new business (VONB) for the six months ended June 30, 2026, reaching US$3.212 billion on a constant exchange rate bas

August 20, 2026

Philippines

NUEVA VIZCAYA TURNS TO COMICS TO TEACH CHILDREN DISASTER PREPAREDNESS—BUT WHAT THEY LEARN COULD GO BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — Disaster preparedness is getting a new classroom makeover in Nueva Vizcaya, where the Department of Education (DepEd) is using comic-based learning materials to teach public-school students what to do before, during and after disasters. The initiative, unveiled by Nueva Vizcaya Gov. Jose V. Gambito and Schools Division Superintendent Orlando Manuel, will bring localized disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) information to public schools across the province. A

August 20, 2026

Politics

U.S. Drops “Indo” From Pacific Command — Is Washington Quietly Leaving India to Face China in the Indian Ocean?

The United States has restored the name U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM), reversing the 2018 decision to rename it the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) — a move that is fueling fresh questions about Washington’s strategy toward China, India and the wider Indian Ocean. The Pentagon announced the change on June 16, 2026, saying the restoration of the Pacific Command designation honors the command’s long military history and regional partnerships. The command was originally established in 194

August 20, 2026

Asia

INDONESIA IS BRINGING MONKEY EXPORTS BACK — BUT WHAT HAPPENS TO THE MACAQUES NEXT COULD SPARK A GLOBAL FIGHT

Indonesia is reviving its role in the international trade of long-tailed macaques, reopening a controversial debate over biomedical research, animal welfare and the conservation of a species now classified as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The Indonesian government has established a new breeding facility in Lampung and set a 2026 export quota of 1,920 long-tailed macaques, marking the first recorded quota for the species since 2022, according to Channel

August 20, 2026

Philippines

Nueva Vizcaya’s ₱85-Million Hospital Expansion Could Transform Healthcare Access in the North

DUPAX DEL NORTE, Nueva Vizcaya — A major hospital expansion is underway in Nueva Vizcaya as the provincial government moves to increase bed capacity and reduce congestion at the Dupax District Hospital (DDH), giving residents of Dupax del Norte and nearby municipalities greater access to hospital care closer to home. Governor Jose V. Gambito recently led the groundbreaking for a ₱85-million, three-story multipurpose building at DDH, a project funded by the Provincial Government of Nueva Vizcaya

August 20, 2026