Author: WWC NEWSDESK

Asia

Indonesia Turns to Cloud Seeding as El Niño Fuels a Worsening Wildfire Crisis

Indonesia is turning to the skies for help as a powerful El Niño-driven dry season fuels widespread forest and peatland fires, with authorities deploying firefighters and preparing weather-modification operations in an effort to bring desperately needed rain. More than 100,000 hectares of land had burned across Indonesia in the first half of 2026, according to government figures cited by CNA. Independent fire and deforestation monitoring group Nusantara Atlas put the area affected through July

August 18, 2026

Asia

Everyone Said It Was Terrible’—So Why Is China Suddenly Buying Tickets to Niu Lai?

A Chinese animated film that was initially dismissed for its crude visuals and confusing storyline has pulled off one of the most bizarre box-office turnarounds of the year — and the secret may have been the internet laughing at it. Niu Lai (牛来), also translated as The Arrival of the Ox or The Cow Is Coming, was released in China on Aug. 5 with virtually no conventional marketing. For its first 10 days in cinemas, the film earned only around ¥7,700, with fewer than 300 people reportedly buying

August 18, 2026

Asia

Anwar Reopens Malaysia’s GST Debate — And What Comes Next Could Affect Millions

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 18, 2026 — Malaysia is once again weighing changes to its consumption-tax system, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim signaling that elements of the country’s former Goods and Services Tax (GST) could potentially form part of a new approach. But despite the renewed discussion, Malaysia has not announced a return of GST, and no new GST rate or implementation date has been set. Anwar, who is also finance minister, said Tuesday that the government is studying ways to create a tax

August 18, 2026

Asia

Park Eun-bin’s ‘Spooky In Love’ Takes Over Singapore—But Did You Spot These Iconic Locations?

SINGAPORE — Singapore has landed a starring role of its own in Park Eun-bin and Yang Se-jong’s hit supernatural romance “Spooky In Love,” with Episodes 9 and 10 transporting the drama’s central couple from Korea to some of the city-state’s most recognizable landmarks. The latest episodes follow hotel heiress and CEO Cheon Yeo-ri, played by Park Eun-bin, as she travels to Singapore for a business conference. Her love interest, attorney Ma Kang-wook, played by Yang Se-jong, follows her—turning wh

August 18, 2026

Business

Cebu Startup Gets P2.9-M DOST Boost to Connect Farmers With Hotels—But Its Bigger Goal Could Change Philippine Agriculture

CEBU CITY, Philippines — A Cebu-based agritech startup is using science and technology to tackle one of Philippine agriculture's most persistent problems: getting farm products from producers to reliable buyers. ARKA Inc., an agricultural technology company founded in Cebu, has received a P2.9-million research grant from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to develop a system designed to strengthen the connection between farmers and institutional markets, including hotels. The proj

August 18, 2026

Asia

China Lets Couples Say “I Do” at a Bank as Officials Try to Reverse Marriage Slump

A bank branch in China has become an unlikely wedding venue as local authorities experiment with unconventional marriage-registration sites in a broader effort to encourage young people to tie the knot. In Tianjin’s Hexi District, a branch of the Postal Savings Bank of China (PSBC) on Sishui Road is now offering marriage-registration services on Wednesday and Thursday mornings, making it one of the country’s latest unusual locations for couples to obtain their marriage certificates. The site h

August 18, 2026

Asia

ALEX EALA FALLS IN CINCINNATI—BUT THE WAY SHE FOUGHT BACK MAY BE THE BIGGER STORY

CINCINNATI, USA — Alexandra Eala's latest giant-killing run has come to an end, but not before the Filipina tennis star once again showed why she has become one of the most dangerous young players on the WTA Tour. Eala fell to American ninth seed Amanda Anisimova, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, in the third round of the 2026 Cincinnati Open on Tuesday, August 18. The defeat ended Eala's bid to advance deeper into another WTA 1000 tournament and, more significantly, stopped her remarkable streak of five consec

August 18, 2026

Lifestyle

Oriental Mindoro Expands Free Cancer Care as OMPH Becomes DOH Cancer Assistance Fund Site

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — Cancer patients in Oriental Mindoro now have another lifeline as the Oriental Mindoro Provincial Hospital (OMPH) expands access to free chemotherapy medicines and government-funded cancer assistance under the Department of Health (DOH) program. The initiative is aimed particularly at qualified and indigent patients who face the steep cost of cancer medicines and treatment. The program was initially announced in January, when OMPH began making free chemotherapy

August 18, 2026

Politics

Legarda’s Extended Leave Raises Ombudsman Alarm—But Her Son’s 2-Month Request Adds a New Twist

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Loren Legarda’s extended medical leave is drawing renewed scrutiny from the Office of the Ombudsman, even as her son, Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste, has sought a two-month leave from the House. Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said on Tuesday, August 18, that Legarda’s latest request to extend her medical leave abroad was “quite suspicious,” as the senator remains under preliminary investigation together with Leviste and former Energy Secreta

August 18, 2026

Politics

₱7.2-T Budget Under Watch: Lawmaker Flags ‘Padding’—But Where Could the Money Go Next

MANILA, Philippines — A fresh controversy is emerging over the proposed ₱7.2-trillion national budget for 2027, after a House lawmaker questioned whether unusually large allocations in the government’s National Expenditure Program (NEP) could later be reduced to create room for congressional budget insertions. ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio raised the issue as the House began scrutinizing the 2027 NEP, warning that a pattern seen in previous budgets may be repeated. Tinio said cert

August 18, 2026