Category: Asia

Philippines

Samar Fisherman Saves 2 Green Sea Turtles Caught in Net — But the Rescue Highlights a Bigger Threat in Philippine Waters

Two green sea turtles accidentally caught near Basey, Samar were examined, tagged and returned alive to the sea after a fisherman chose to surrender them to authorities rather than keep them. The successful rescue comes amid continuing concern over fishing-gear entanglement and other threats facing marine turtles across the Philippines. TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — What could have ended as another fatal encounter between endangered wildlife and fishing gear instead became a successful rescue af

September 1, 2026

Entertainment

They Were Told to Postpone the Wedding—Then the Bride Walked Into a Flooded Church

HAGONOY, BULACAN, Philippines — Floodwaters may have swallowed the streets of Hagonoy, Bulacan, but they did not stop one couple from saying “I do.” Leian Lieza Galang and Gilbert Chico went ahead with their wedding on Tuesday, September 1, at St. John the Baptist Parish in Hagonoy despite floodwater reaching roughly hip level inside the church. Images and videos of the unusual ceremony quickly spread online, showing the bride, groom and a small group of guests navigating murky floodwater on t

September 1, 2026

Business

₱16B for Farm-to-Market Roads vs. a 55,000-Km Need — But the Budget Gap Is Only Part of the Problem

MANILA, Philippines — The government is proposing ₱16 billion for farm-to-market roads in 2027, but the Department of Agriculture says the amount is nowhere near enough to close a road network gap that still stretches roughly 55,000 kilometers nationwide. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. raised the warning during the House Committee on Appropriations' deliberations on the DA's proposed 2027 budget on September 1. As of August 31, the agriculture chief said around 55,000 kilometer

September 1, 2026

Thailand

Thailand Just Cut Visa-Free Stays in Half — And Singapore Tourists Are Among Those Affected

Thailand has tightened its visa-exemption rules, cutting the maximum visa-free stay for tourists from 60 days to 30 days for citizens of 60 countries and territories, including Singapore, the United States, India, the United Kingdom, Australia and much of the European Union. The change marks a significant rollback of Thailand’s expanded 60-day visa-exemption policy, which was introduced in 2024 as part of efforts to encourage international tourism. The latest rules were published by Thailand’s

September 1, 2026

Philippines

Mayon SO₂ Surges to 7,115 Tons a Day — But the Warning Signs Aren’t Coming From Gas Alone

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay — Mayon Volcano is showing another combination of warning signals just weeks after authorities lowered its alert status, with sulfur dioxide emissions surging to 7,115 tonnes per day and instruments detecting renewed signs of pressure beneath parts of the volcano. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the Aug. 31 measurement was the second-highest sulfur dioxide emission recorded since Mayon’s volcanic gas concentrations began declining on July 16. It w

September 1, 2026

Entertainment

Scott McTominay Facing Heart Procedure as Napoli Reveal Shock Medical Update — Here’s When He Could Return

NAPLES, Italy — Napoli have confirmed that Scott McTominay will undergo a corrective heart procedure after the Scotland international developed a mild, benign cardiac arrhythmia, ruling the midfielder out for around a month. The Serie A club announced the medical update on Tuesday, September 1, saying the 29-year-old midfielder is expected to undergo cardiac arrhythmia ablation using pulsed field ablation (PFA) in the coming days. Napoli said McTominay should be available again after the upcom

September 1, 2026

Lifestyle

BIR Destroys 240,550 Illegal Vapes With ₱1.539-B Tax Liability — But the Bigger Crackdown May Be Just Beginning

MANILA, Philippines — More than 240,000 illicit vape products carrying an estimated ₱1.539 billion in tax liability have been permanently destroyed as the Bureau of Internal Revenue intensifies a crackdown that is increasingly moving beyond small retailers and into warehouses and major distribution networks. The Bureau of Internal Revenue’s Revenue Region No. 6, which covers the City of Manila and Palawan, destroyed 240,550 illicit vape products on August 24 at the DIGAMA Waste Management Facil

September 1, 2026

Philippines

6 Dead After Van Reportedly Loses Brakes in Zamboanga del Sur—What Happened on the Highway?

DUMALINAO, Zamboanga del Sur — Six people were killed and several others were injured after a passenger van reportedly lost its brakes and crashed into multiple vehicles along the national highway in Barangay Paglaum, Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur, around noon on Tuesday, September 1. According to the latest police account cited by INQUIRER.net, the silver-colored passenger van was traveling from Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, toward Pagadian City when the incident happened. Investigators said the va

September 1, 2026

Philippines

9-Year-Old Boy Swept Away by Raging Pampanga Floodwaters Found Dead—What Happened Days Earlier

GUAGUA, PAMPANGA — A nine-year-old boy who was swept away by strong flood currents in Guagua, Pampanga, was found dead three days after he went missing, as persistent monsoon rains continued to inundate communities across the province. Rescuers recovered the Grade 2 student’s body on August 31 in Barangay Santa Monica, Lubao, after floodwaters carried him downstream from neighboring Guagua. According to the Guagua Information Office, the boy was in Barangay San Jose, Guagua, on August 29 when

September 1, 2026

Business

Marina Square to Close in March 2027 — But Some Tenants Say They Found Out From Their Customers First

SINGAPORE — Marina Square, one of Singapore’s best-known downtown shopping destinations, will close on March 31, 2027 for a sweeping redevelopment that will add luxury homes, serviced apartments, offices, a new hotel and major public spaces to the Marina Bay precinct. But behind the ambitious transformation, some tenants say the announcement has left them scrambling for answers about leases, relocation costs and what happens next. Singapore Land Group (SingLand) confirmed on September 1 that Ma

September 1, 2026