Category: Asia

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

Yen Crashes Past ¥160 Again as Dollar Surges — Is Japan About to Strike Back?

TOKYO — The Japanese yen has weakened beyond the closely watched ¥160-per-US-dollar level again, putting Japan’s currency authorities back in the spotlight as investors weigh competing signals from the Bank of Japan and the US Federal Reserve. The yen traded around ¥159.99 per dollar on Tuesday after briefly breaking through ¥160 for the third consecutive session, according to Reuters reporting carried by Channel NewsAsia. The move comes despite growing expectations that the Bank of Japan could

September 1, 2026

Philippines

Bohol Disappears Behind Thick Haze as Indonesia Fires Send Smoke Toward PH — But When Will the Skies Finally Clear?

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol — Familiar island and mountain views vanished behind a gray curtain Tuesday as thick haze spread across parts of Bohol, prompting authorities to warn residents to limit outdoor exposure and wear protective masks while environmental officials track smoke believed to have traveled hundreds of kilometers from massive fires in Indonesia. Residents of Tagbilaran City and surrounding municipalities woke on September 1 to unusually hazy skies. From several vantage points, Pangla

September 1, 2026

Philippines

Speaker Dy’s “Bagong Kongreso” Promise: Can the House Really Win Back Filipinos’ Trust?

MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III is doubling down on his call to build a “Bagong Kongreso”, urging lawmakers and House employees to work together to restore public confidence in the institution. Speaking during a surprise birthday gathering organized by House leaders, officials and employees on Tuesday, September 1, Dy said the effort to rebuild Congress has only begun and that the House must remain committed to doing what is right. “Mahaba pa ang laban natin. Nakaka

September 1, 2026

Business

COLOMBO’S LUXURY TOWERS ARE SELLING FAST.WHAT HAPPENS IF THE PROPERTY BOOM TURNS?

Sri Lanka’s Luxury Property Boom Is Accelerating—But Regulation May Not Be Keeping Up Colombo, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka’s luxury property market is entering a potentially decisive phase as high-end condominium prices climb, major developments advance in Colombo Port City and investors increasingly view apartments as financial assets rather than simply homes. But behind the glittering towers is a growing regulatory question: Can Sri Lanka’s institutions keep pace with a property market that is bec

September 1, 2026

Asia

LATIN POISON’ KAZAKHSTAN LATINIZATION IN RUSSIAN MEDIA DISCOURSE

Kazakhstan’s Latin Alphabet Shift Is Becoming More Than a Language Reform Kazakhstan’s long-running plan to move the Kazakh language from Cyrillic to Latin script is increasingly becoming a battleground over national identity, Russia’s cultural influence and the future direction of Central Asia. A recent The Diplomat analysis, “‘Latin Poison’: Kazakhstan’s Latinization in Russian Media Discourse,” argues that the hostile language used by parts of Russian media goes well beyond a technical deba

September 1, 2026

Philippines

San Roque Dam to Open 2 Gates as Water Hits 283.68 MASL — But What Happens Next Along the Agno River?

PANGASINAN, Philippines — San Roque Dam is set to open two gates Wednesday morning, September 2, in a controlled release aimed at bringing down its rapidly rising reservoir level, putting communities along the Agno River on heightened watch as rains continue to affect Northern Luzon. The San Roque Power Corporation announced that two gates of the massive reservoir in San Manuel, Pangasinan will be opened beginning at 8 a.m. Wednesday, releasing an estimated 300 cubic meters of water per second

September 1, 2026

Business

Jollibee Makes a Major Listing U-Turn—Why Hong Kong Could Beat the U.S. for Its Global Business

MANILA, Philippines — Jollibee Foods Corp. is shifting course on one of its biggest corporate moves, with the Philippine fast-food giant now planning to list its international business in Hong Kong instead of the United States. The company said Tuesday that it is progressing with the separation of its international operations under Jollibee Foods Corporation International (JFCI), which is being prepared for a planned spin-off and listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX). The move marks a

September 1, 2026

Philippines

Agana Bridge Tragedy Deepens: Missing Passenger Found Dead in Pangasinan — But the Search for 3 Others Is Far From Over

TARLAC CITY, Philippines — What began as a desperate search for four people swept into the raging Tarlac River has taken a heartbreaking turn. One of the four passengers reported missing after a vehicle plunged into the river during the collapse of the Agana Bridge in Tarlac City has been found dead in Dagupan City, Pangasinan, authorities confirmed — leaving three people still unaccounted for days after the disaster. The victim was identified by the Tarlac City government as James Patrick Tab

September 1, 2026

Philippines

DepEd Sets Nationwide School Safety Drill on Sept. 3—But This Time, There’s a Major Change

MANILA, Philippines — Students and teachers nationwide are set to take part in a simultaneous school safety drill on September 3, 2026, as the Department of Education (DepEd) moves to strengthen preparedness for possible active-attack incidents while placing greater emphasis on the psychological well-being of learners. The nationwide drill, which was originally scheduled for August 25, has been rescheduled to Thursday, September 3, at exactly 9 a.m. DepEd has directed public and private element

September 1, 2026