Category: Asia

Singapore

20-Year-Old SCDF NSF Dies Weeks After Becoming a Firefighter — But Police Still Haven’t Said What Happened in Marina Bay’s Training Yard

SINGAPORE — A 20-year-old Singapore Civil Defence Force full-time National Serviceman has died after he was found unconscious inside the training yard of Marina Bay Fire Station on Sunday morning, triggering a police investigation into what happened during one of his first weeks at an operational fire station. Lance Corporal Muhammad Nur Ilham Mohammed Iswadi was on duty when he was discovered unconscious at about 8.10 a.m. on Sept. 6, according to SCDF. Colleagues immediately began cardiopulm

September 6, 2026

Politics

The Taliban Is Offering America Access to Afghanistan’s $1 Trillion Mineral Wealth — But the Biggest Risk May Be Who Controls It

KABUL — Five years after retaking Afghanistan as the United States ended its longest war, the Taliban is making Washington an extraordinary new proposition: Come back — not with soldiers, but with mining companies. Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has publicly welcomed American investment in Afghanistan's mining, infrastructure, agriculture and trade sectors, arguing that relations between Kabul and Washington should no longer be judged exclusively through the 20 years they spent fig

September 6, 2026

Philippines

COA Flags P279 Million in Child Care Funds — But Can Agencies Explain Where the Money Went?

MANILA, Philippines — State auditors have flagged approximately P279 million in child care-related funds, raising fresh concerns over the monitoring, liquidation and accountability of government money intended to support early childhood care and development. The Commission on Audit's findings, reported by BusinessWorld on September 3, put renewed attention on how funds transferred to implementing agencies and local government units are tracked and eventually accounted for. The audit observation

September 6, 2026

Philippines

Philippine Coast Guard Turns to Spain and Airbus for Its Next Fleet Upgrade — But No Purchase Has Been Announced Yet

MANILA — The Philippine Coast Guard's modernization drive is opening another door in Europe. The PCG has explored possible cooperation with the Spanish government and Airbus Defence and Space as it seeks to strengthen the aircraft, ships and technology available for maritime surveillance, search and rescue and other Coast Guard missions, according to a Sept. 6 report by Manila Bulletin. The development comes as the Philippines rapidly expands one of the most consequential Coast Guard moderniza

September 6, 2026

Philippines

‘Marcos’ Office Budget Is Being Slashed 64% to ₱10.15 Billion — But One ₱4.5-Billion Allocation Barely Changes”

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s office is preparing to operate next year with nearly two-thirds less money than it received in 2026. But there is a striking detail buried inside the dramatically smaller budget: the President’s confidential and intelligence funds are barely changing. The Office of the President is proposing a ₱10.156-billion budget for 2027, compared with approximately ₱28.029 billion under the 2026 General Appropriations Act. That translates to a reduct

September 6, 2026

Philippines

Marcos Just Put 4Ps Students First for College Subsidies — But Free Tuition Was Never the Biggest Cost

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines already made tuition free for millions of students in public colleges. Now the government is confronting a harder problem: what happens when a student can enter college for free—but still cannot afford to stay there? President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed Republic Act No. 12325, a major expansion of the country's Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education framework that redirects government subsidies toward financially disadvantaged students and ext

September 6, 2026

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

September 6, 2026

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

September 6, 2026

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

September 6, 2026

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

September 6, 2026