Category: Asia

Philippines

BAR EXAM JITTERS TURNED INTO A FIESTA: What Happened Outside UST After Hundreds Finished Day 1

MANILA, Philippines — What could have been a tense and exhausting end to the first day of the 2026 Bar Examinations turned into a celebration outside the University of Santo Tomas (UST), as fellow law students, families and supporters gathered to welcome examinees and remind them that they were not facing the grueling test alone. More than 600 Bar examinees emerged from UST after completing the first day of the three-day examination on Sunday, September 6, greeted by banners, balloons, cheering

September 7, 2026

Sport

Tiafoe Finally Solves Medvedev Puzzle at US Open — But an Even Bigger Test Now Awaits

NEW YORK — Frances Tiafoe finally found the answer to one of the toughest questions of his tennis career — and he did it on the court he calls the “people's court.” The American star produced one of his finest performances at the 2026 US Open, defeating former champion Daniil Medvedev 7-6(1), 6-4, 7-6(6) to storm into the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows. For Tiafoe, the victory carried far more weight than simply reaching the last eight. Medvedev had repeatedly frustrated the American over

September 7, 2026

Philippines

BAGUIO’S BUILDING BOOM FACES A NEW TEST: No Water, Forest or Safe Roads—What Happens to Future Projects?

BAGUIO CITY — The future of construction in Baguio City could look dramatically different as city planners move to make water supply, environmental protection, disaster risks and neighborhood capacity central requirements for new developments. Under the city’s updated Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) and proposed zoning reforms now being discussed by the Baguio City Council, developers may no longer be able to pursue high-density projects simply because a property is available for constructio

September 7, 2026

Japan

Japan Burns Through $79.6 Billion in a Month to Defend the Yen — But Can It Keep Fighting?

Japan has suffered the largest monthly drop in its foreign exchange reserves on record, after authorities deployed unprecedented firepower to defend the weakening yen. Government data released Monday showed that Japan's foreign reserves fell by $79.6 billion, or 6.18%, in August, dropping to $1.208 trillion from $1.287 trillion in July. The sharp decline came after Tokyo carried out another massive round of dollar-selling and yen-buying intervention to support its currency. Record Interventio

September 7, 2026

Sport

Football Without Messi and Ronaldo? The Game’s Biggest Question May Finally Be Here

For nearly two decades, world football has revolved around one unforgettable question: Messi or Ronaldo? Now, the sport is being forced to confront an even bigger one: What happens when neither of them is there anymore? The era of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo is rapidly approaching its final chapter. Messi has officially stepped away from international football, while Ronaldo has openly suggested that the current season could be his last as a professional player. For a generation of fa

September 7, 2026

Philippines

PSA Witness Takes the Stand: Will Sara Duterte’s ‘Ghost Payees’ Finally Be Identified?

MANILA, Philippines — The scrutiny surrounding Vice President Sara Duterte’s confidential funds enters another critical phase Monday as a Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) official is expected to testify on the identities of people listed as recipients of millions of pesos in confidential-fund disbursements. PSA Assistant National Statistician Marizza Grande is scheduled to take the witness stand on the 22nd trial day of Duterte’s impeachment case, with prosecutors seeking to establish whet

September 7, 2026

Entertainment

From 3 Awkward Friends to Millions of Streams: How Singapore’s Brb. Became a Global Pop Force

SINGAPORE — When three Singaporean musicians first decided to make music together in 2018, they were not setting out to become one of the country's most-streamed pop acts. They were simply friends and fellow musicians experimenting with a new sound. Eight years later, the trio known as Brb. has built a global following, released multiple EPs and an album, performed in countries across Asia and the United States — and even discovered that some fans were willing to make their connection to the b

September 7, 2026

Entertainment

In the Age of AI, Laika Bets on Handmade Magic With Its Most Ambitious Film Yet, ‘Wildwood’

NEW YORK — As artificial intelligence continues to reshape Hollywood and digital tools can now generate entire worlds with a few clicks, one animation studio is taking a dramatically different path. Laika is building its next world by hand. The stop-motion studio behind Coraline, ParaNorman and Kubo and the Two Strings is preparing to release what it calls its most ambitious film yet: Wildwood, a sprawling fantasy adventure that took years of development and required hundreds of handcrafted pu

September 7, 2026

Entertainment

‘Asking for Forgiveness?’ Man Caught on CCTV Allegedly Taking Temple Donations — Then Prays Before Leaving

SINGAPORE — A 77-year-old man is assisting police with investigations after he was allegedly caught on CCTV taking cash from a wishing bowl at a temple in Eunos — before clasping his hands and praying in front of the deity statue. The unusual incident, which was captured on surveillance cameras at Hoon Sian Keng Temple along Changi Road, has drawn attention in Singapore after footage of the man was shared online by the temple. The incident happened on Aug. 28 at around 1.30pm, according to rep

September 7, 2026

Philippines

2 Pampanga DPWH Engineers Relieved After Man Dies in Open Drainage Canal—But Questions Are Growing

MANILA, Philippines — Two officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Pampanga have been relieved of their posts following the death of a 25-year-old man who was swept into a flooded, open drainage canal along the Fil-Am Friendship Highway in Angeles City. DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon ordered the immediate relief of Aser S. Mallari, officer-in-charge of the Pampanga 3rd District Engineering Office, and Agustin R. Dagsaan Jr., officer-in-charge of the assistant district engi

September 7, 2026