Author: WWC NEWSDESK

Business

China Tightens Its Mineral Grip — Now the U.S. and Japan Are Racing to Protect the Chips That Power the World

U.S. and Japan race for critical minerals as China tightens grip on chip supply chains The next major battle in the global technology race may not be fought inside a semiconductor factory — it may begin with the minerals needed to make the chips in the first place. The United States and Japan are accelerating efforts to build alternative supplies of critical minerals and rare earth materials as China's export controls continue to create uncertainty for semiconductor, defense, aerospace and oth

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China

Miss World 2026 Coronation Night Underway in Vietnam—Then the Philippines’ Asia Rose Simpson Makes the Cut

NHA TRANG, Vietnam — The highly anticipated Miss World 2026 coronation night has officially begun in Vietnam, with 111 delegates from around the world competing for the coveted blue crown in the pageant's 75th Anniversary Edition. The grand finale is taking place at April 2 Square in Nha Trang, where thousands of spectators are watching the outdoor spectacle unfold. The event marks the culmination of weeks of competitions, advocacy activities, cultural showcases and challenges involving contest

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Entertainment

Luka Modrić Was Supposed to Be Near the End — Now Croatia Has a Stunning Nations League Decision

The legendary midfielder remains available for international duty, keeping alive his remarkable career with the national team even as questions continue to surround how much longer he will remain at the highest level. Modrić, who turned 40 in September 2025, has already established himself as one of the most decorated players in Croatian football history. According to the Croatian Football Federation, he has made 202 appearances for Croatia and scored 29 goals since making his senior debut in 2

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Philippines

Supreme Court Challenges Ombudsman Remulla: File the Case, Show the Evidence—What Happens Next?

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has challenged Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla and other concerned parties to take allegations of judicial bias, misconduct and corruption out of the public arena and into the proper legal process: file a formal complaint and present evidence. The High Court's position came after Remulla publicly called for a closer examination of the judiciary, citing what he described as a troubling pattern in which decisions of the Office of the Ombudsman and, previous

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Philippines

PH Debt Hits Record P19.39 Trillion—But the Bigger Problem May Be What Comes Next

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines’ national government debt has climbed to a fresh record of P19.39 trillion, putting renewed pressure on policymakers to tighten fiscal discipline, strengthen revenue collection and make sure every peso borrowed delivers measurable benefits to Filipinos. The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) reported that outstanding national government debt reached P19.39 trillion by the end of July 2026, up P323.53 billion, or 1.7 percent, from the P19.07 trillion recorded at t

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Business

Global Banks Back San Miguel’s ₱740-B Bulacan Airport — But Foreign Financing Comes With a Tougher Test

MANILA, Philippines — San Miguel Corp.’s massive New Manila International Airport in Bulacan is drawing financial and technical support from some of the world’s biggest banking and engineering groups, giving one of the Philippines’ most ambitious infrastructure projects a significant international vote of confidence. But the foreign money comes with something else: intense scrutiny over whether the airport can meet global environmental, social and climate-resilience standards while rising from

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Philippines

DOH Budget Faces Massive Cut in 2027—Now Lawmakers Want Congress to Put Billions Back

MANILA, Philippines — A proposed 21-percent reduction in the Department of Health’s (DOH) 2027 budget is drawing growing concern from lawmakers and health officials, with calls mounting for Congress to restore funding for hospitals, health facilities and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth). The proposed health-sector allocation currently stands at about ₱353.8 billion, significantly lower than the ₱448.1 billion appropriated for 2026. The reduction comes even as the government co

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Thailand

Thailand Arrests Alleged Child-Sex Broker Linked to 50 Victims as Police Uncover Online Exploitation Network

SAMUT PRAKAN, Thailand — Thai authorities have arrested a 38-year-old man accused of operating an online network that recruited girls under 18 for commercial sexual exploitation, with investigators saying the suspect may be linked to around 50 young victims. The arrest, carried out in Samut Prakan on September 5, 2026, followed an investigation by Thailand's Crime Suppression Division's Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division into an alleged online child-exploitation network. Thai media identified

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China

5 Chinese Warships Spotted Near Eastern Samar and Ilocos Norte—What Were They Watching?

MANILA, Philippines — The presence of Chinese naval vessels near two strategically important maritime approaches of the Philippines is drawing renewed attention after five People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels were reportedly monitored off Eastern Samar and northern Luzon in recent days. The sightings, first reported by The Manila Times, involved four Chinese warships observed off Hilabaan, Eastern Samar, on August 31, followed the next day by another PLAN vessel monitored near Ilocos No

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Philippines

BIR Turns Up Heat on Tax Audits—But This Time, the System Decides Who Gets Flagged

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is tightening the way it conducts tax audits, shifting further toward a system-assisted, risk-based approach designed to identify taxpayers who show potential compliance red flags while reducing unnecessary discretion among revenue officers. The latest development comes with the implementation of the BIR's consolidated Audit Program under Revenue Memorandum Order No. 22-2026, issued on August 24. The order brings together earlier audit

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