Author: WWC NEWSDESK

Business

Glorietta and Greenbelt Are Getting Busier—But Ayala Land’s Bigger Bet Is Only Beginning

MANILA, Philippines — Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) is beginning to see the payoff from its multibillion-peso makeover of some of the country’s most established malls, with higher shopper traffic, stronger same-mall revenues and improved occupancy giving fresh momentum to its leasing business. The company’s shopping-center portfolio reached a 90% lease-out rate in the first half of 2026, up from 87% a year earlier. At the same time, same-mall revenues increased 7% while visitor footfall climbed 5%, sig

September 5, 2026

Asia

Sydney Swelters at 33°C as ‘Extreme’ Bushfire Risk Triggers Total Fire Ban

Sydney is facing an unusually dangerous start to spring, with temperatures forecast to reach 33°C on Saturday, September 5, nearly 13°C above the September average, as hot, dry conditions and strong winds sharply raise the threat of bushfires. Authorities have responded with a Total Fire Ban across the Greater Sydney Region, where the official fire-danger rating has reached Extreme—the second-highest level under Australia's fire danger system. Why Sydney is suddenly at high risk The heat is

September 5, 2026

Business

Doctor Gave Him 30 Days to Live — 8 Years Later, This Cancer Survivor Is Serving Ban Mian in Yishun

SINGAPORE — September 5, 2026 — Eight years ago, Tan Yong Cheng was preparing himself for the possibility that he might not have much time left. Today, the 48-year-old is behind the counter of Xiao Wen Ban Mian in Yishun, serving bowls of noodles to customers after surviving a devastating battle with late-stage nasopharyngeal cancer. His story began in 2018, when the former technician noticed that he was losing weight. His trousers were becoming increasingly loose, prompting him to seek medica

September 5, 2026

Asia

US Midterms Begin With Ballots Already Going Out—Then a Court Fight Throws Mail Voting Into Uncertainty

WASHINGTON — The 2026 U.S. midterm elections have officially entered a critical phase, but voters and election officials are facing an unusual problem: the rules governing millions of mail-in ballots remain caught in a legal battle as ballots are already being sent out. North Carolina became the first state to begin sending mail-in ballots on Friday, Sept. 4, formally opening the voting period ahead of the Nov. 3 congressional elections, which will determine control of the U.S. House and Senate

September 5, 2026

Sport

Aryna Sabalenka Stops US Open Match Over Strong Weed Smell — Then Reveals What Really Distracted Her

NEW YORK — Aryna Sabalenka has dealt with pressure, powerful opponents and the expectations that come with being the world No. 1. But during her third-round match at the 2026 US Open, it was something far more unexpected that briefly stopped the two-time defending champion: a strong smell of cannabis. Sabalenka interrupted play during her match against Uzbekistan's Kamilla Rakhimova at Louis Armstrong Stadium on Friday after the odor became difficult for her to ignore. While serving early in t

September 5, 2026

Business

Pantler Patisserie Was Days Away From Closing — Then a Mystery Investor Stepped In

SINGAPORE — September 5, 2026 — Singapore dessert lovers who thought they had eaten their last Pantler pastry may have to put that goodbye on hold. The 12-year-old Japanese-French patisserie will continue operating after an unnamed investor stepped in to take over the business, saving the River Valley institution from an imminent closure. Pantler had originally planned to close on Aug. 30 after its founders said difficult market conditions had made the business unsustainable. But a wave of cu

September 5, 2026

South Korea

South Korean Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Spying for North Korea After Crypto-Funded Intelligence Operation

SEOUL, South Korea — A South Korean man has been sentenced to five years in prison after a court found that he gathered information on North Korean defectors and active-duty military personnel under instructions from a North Korean operative. The Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 21 sentenced the 43-year-old man, identified only as A, on charges including espionage under South Korea's National Security Act. He was also given five years' suspension of civil rights, according to So

September 5, 2026

Politics

Trump Signs Sweeping Beef Orders—But His Wolf Move Could Trigger a Bigger Battle

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a pair of executive orders aimed at reshaping the American beef industry, giving ranchers greater support against livestock predators, expanding access to meat processing and putting mandatory country-of-origin labeling back on the policy agenda. The actions, signed on September 4, come as U.S. beef prices remain at record levels and the national cattle herd sits at a 75-year low. The administration is under pressure to bring grocery costs dow

September 5, 2026

Business

US Jobs Surge by 162,000 in August, Beating Forecasts — Now Inflation Holds the Key to the Fed’s Next Move

WASHINGTON — September 5, 2026 — The US labour market delivered a surprise burst of strength in August, with employers adding 162,000 jobs, dramatically exceeding economists’ expectations and potentially complicating the Federal Reserve’s next interest-rate decision. The August increase was nearly triple the 56,000 jobs forecast by economists surveyed by Reuters and far above the 65,000 median expectation in a FactSet poll cited by The Associated Press. The unemployment rate remained at 4.1%.

September 5, 2026

Philippines

Teen Mom Clinics Could Soon Rise Nationwide—But the Bigger Question Is What Happens Inside DSWD Shelters

MANILA, Philippines — A new legislative push seeks to give pregnant teenagers and young mothers more specialized medical care, social protection and support, with a proposal calling for dedicated “Teen Mom Clinics” in public hospitals and stronger facilities under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The measure was filed by Quezon City 5th District Rep. Patrick Michael D. Vargas as House Bill No. 3988, formally titled the “Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Act.” The House of

September 5, 2026