Author: WWC NEWSDESK

Philippines

Palace Budget Slashed by 64% for 2027—Recto Says Operations Won’t Be Affected, But One Issue Is Drawing Fire

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the President (OP) is seeking a significantly smaller budget for 2027, but Executive Secretary Ralph Recto insists the sharp reduction will not hamper Malacañang’s ability to run government operations. Recto said the Palace can continue overseeing government agencies, responding to emergencies, supporting public services, monitoring economic programs and protecting national interests despite the proposed ₱10.156-billion budget, which is about 64% lower than t

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Philippines

BARMM Is Days Away From Its First Parliamentary Election — But What Happens After the Votes Could Decide the Future of the Peace Process

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — After decades of armed conflict, negotiations, ceasefires and political transition, the Bangsamoro is approaching a moment its peace process was ultimately designed to produce: an elected regional government chosen at the ballot box. On September 14, 2026, roughly 2.39 million registered voters are expected to participate in the first regular parliamentary elections of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, or BARMM. But with election day only days a

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Entertainment

Elijah Canlas Confirms Miles Ocampo Breakup — But What Really Happened After Their Second Chance?

MANILA, Philippines — Elijah Canlas has finally broken his silence and confirmed that he and longtime partner Miles Ocampo have ended their relationship once again, putting an end to weeks of speculation surrounding the former couple. But amid persistent rumors online, Elijah made one thing clear: their breakup was mutual, there was no third party, and there was no cheating involved. The actor confirmed the split during an interview with entertainment personality Ogie Diaz, explaining that he

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Asia

37 Reported Dead in Nigeria After Suspected Oil Theft Turns Deadly—Many More Still Missing

OKRIKA, NIGERIA — What began as an alleged attempt to siphon petroleum products from an oil-loading facility in southern Nigeria has ended in a deadly tragedy, with at least 37 people reportedly dead after inhaling toxic fumes, according to a Nigerian environmental advocacy group. The incident happened around midnight on September 3, 2026, at the Okari Jetty in Okrika, Rivers State, in the oil-rich Niger Delta. The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) said its network of volu

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Entertainment

Patrick Garcia’s 13-Year-Old Daughter Flies to Singapore Every Week for K-Pop Training—And This May Be Just the Beginning

MANILA, Philippines — At just 13 years old, Michelle Celeste Garcia, the daughter of actors Patrick Garcia and Nikka Martinez, is taking her K-pop dream to an international level. Michelle has been traveling from the Philippines to Singapore every Friday for a 10-week K-pop training program at SM Universe Singapore, an academy established under the training system of South Korean entertainment powerhouse SM Entertainment. But this is more than just a weekend hobby. For 10 consecutive weekends

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Asia

Two Workers Survived Nine Days Inside Nepal’s Flood-Buried Tunnel — Then Rescuers Found Another Man Alive

KATHMANDU — For nine days, there was almost no reason to believe anyone buried deep inside the wreckage of Nepal’s devastated hydropower network could still be alive. Then rescuers heard something. Voices. On Friday, September 4, emergency crews pulled Sanjay Sah and Kabir Maharjan alive from the Upper Trishuli 3A Hydropower Station after they had spent nine days trapped following the catastrophic August 26 flash flood that ripped through the Himalayan valley. The men became the first worker

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Politics

Europe Just Put Satellites Into Orbit From Continental Soil — But SpaceX Still Dominates the Launch Race

ANDØYA, Norway — Eighteen months ago, Germany's Isar Aerospace watched its first Spectrum rocket lose control shortly after takeoff and plunge back toward the Norwegian coast. On Saturday night, the company's second rocket did something dramatically different. It reached orbit. Spectrum lifted off from the Arctic Andøya Spaceport at 10:12 p.m. Central European Summer Time on Sept. 5, successfully reaching orbit and deploying payloads on a mission Isar Aerospace called “Onward and Upward.” Th

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Business

Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala Meets Davao Leaders—Is a Major Ayala Partnership Next?

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — What could the Ayala Group be planning next in Mindanao? Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala, the chief executive officer of ACMobility and one of the younger-generation leaders of the Ayala Group, recently met with local officials in Davao City to explore potential partnerships that could support the city's long-term development priorities. But while the meeting has sparked interest over the possibility of a larger Ayala presence or new initiatives in Davao, officials have

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Asia

Bolivia Military Base Blasts Kill 3 as Soldiers Remain Missing — But Rescuers Found Something Dangerous Beneath the Rubble

VIACHA, Bolivia — What began with an explosion authorities initially linked to stored pyrotechnic material has turned into a deadly military disaster involving three confirmed deaths, scores of injuries, missing young soldiers and unexploded military ordnance scattered through a wrecked army facility. Two powerful blasts tore through the Centro General de Mantenimiento of the RAM-2 “Bolívar” military complex in Viacha on Friday afternoon, Sept. 4, sending a massive shock wave into surrounding n

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Politics

Trump’s Iran Strategy Takes a Dangerous Turn—Could the War Become America’s Next “Forever War”?

WASHINGTON — What began as a campaign that U.S. President Donald Trump had portrayed as a short military operation is increasingly raising a very different question: What if the war with Iran has no clear ending? Six months into the conflict, the Trump administration is confronting a difficult strategic dilemma. Washington has demonstrated that it can repeatedly destroy Iranian military infrastructure, but eliminating Iran’s ability to rebuild those capabilities is a far more difficult proposit

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