Category: Asia

Philippines

DepEd Secures All 105 Textbook Titles for 2026—but Nationwide Delivery Still Awaits

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) has reached a major milestone in its long-running effort to address textbook shortages, announcing that it has completed procurement of all 105 textbook titles targeted for public elementary and secondary schools in 2026. The achievement marks a dramatic turnaround from years of delays in acquiring learning resources. According to DepEd, the 105 titles represent nearly four times the number of textbook titles procured during the previous

August 26, 2026

Philippines

Greenland Is Melting—And the Philippines Could Feel the Consequences Sooner Than You Think

What happens in the Arctic doesn't stay in the Arctic—and as Greenland's ice disappears, the warning signs could eventually reach coastlines thousands of kilometers away. Greenland may seem like a world away from the Philippines. But scientists are warning that the dramatic changes unfolding across the Arctic's vast frozen landscape could carry consequences far beyond the North Pole—including for some of the world's most vulnerable coastal communities. As Greenland's ice sheet continues to los

August 26, 2026

Business

Mediacorp Wins Singapore Environmental Achievement Award 2026—But Its Biggest Climate Impact Could Be What Millions Watch

SINGAPORE — Mediacorp has been recognised for its environmental leadership at the Singapore Environmental Achievement Awards (SEAA) 2026, but the national media network says its greatest potential to drive change may extend far beyond reducing emissions from its own operations. The company received the Singapore Environmental Achievement Award for Leadership and Advocacy on Wednesday, August 26, joining a group of organisations recognised for their contributions to environmental sustainability

August 26, 2026

Singapore

Singapore Scam Cases Fall in 2026—But S$410 Million Lost Shows the Threat Is Far From Over

Singapore’s war against scammers may finally be showing results—but the numbers reveal a more troubling reality: criminals are still finding new ways to steal millions, and ordinary victims remain their biggest target. Singapore recorded a significant decline in both scam cases and financial losses in the first half of 2026, extending a downward trend that began last year. But despite the encouraging figures, more than S$410 million was still lost in just six months—proof that the scam epidemic

August 26, 2026

Politics

Switzerland Is About to Make a Historic Choice on Neutrality—And NATO Could Be Caught in the Middle

ZURICH — Switzerland is heading toward a potentially consequential referendum that could fundamentally tighten how the country interprets its centuries-old policy of neutrality, with the proposed constitutional changes potentially restricting cooperation with NATO and limiting Switzerland's ability to impose economic sanctions on countries involved in wars. Swiss voters will decide on September 27, 2026, whether to approve the so-called Neutrality Initiative, which seeks to write a stricter def

August 26, 2026

Philippines

Palace Calls for Deeper Probe Into Alleged China-Backed Politicians: “Who Is Really Behind Them?”

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has called for a deeper investigation into allegations that some Philippine politicians may be receiving support from China, stressing that no individual should be publicly identified or accused without sufficient evidence. The issue surfaced after Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. told lawmakers that authorities have grounds to suspect that some elected officials may be receiving support from Beijing, potentially including efforts to amplify narrati

August 26, 2026

Philippines

NUJP, CenterLaw Renew Push to Decriminalize Libel, Warn of Chilling Effect on Press Freedom

MANILA, Philippines — The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) and human rights lawyers are renewing calls to remove criminal penalties for libel, arguing that the possibility of imprisonment can discourage journalists, critics and ordinary Filipinos from speaking on matters of public concern. The renewed campaign comes as the debate over libel and cyberlibel continues to draw attention from media groups, human rights advocates and members of the judiciary. NUJP Secretary-Ge

August 26, 2026

Philippines

Jinggoy Estrada’s Knee ‘Snaps’ Before Scheduled X-Ray as Detained Senator Heads to Hospital

MANILA, Philippines — A medical trip for detained Sen. Jinggoy Estrada took an unexpected turn Wednesday after his left knee reportedly “snapped” while he was preparing to leave detention for a scheduled X-ray at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan. Estrada’s office confirmed the incident but said it had no further information on his condition at the time. His orthopedic doctor is expected to provide additional details following the medical examination. The development came just days af

August 26, 2026

Philippines

Marcos Brings PCUP, NAPC Back Under Malacañang in Major Anti-Poverty Reshuffle

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has placed two key anti-poverty agencies back under the administrative supervision of the Office of the President, reversing a Duterte-era reorganization and putting programs involving the urban poor and poverty reduction closer to Malacañang. Under Executive Order No. 123, signed on August 18, 2026, administrative supervision over the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) and the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) was transf

August 26, 2026

Business

Third 8-Car NSCR Trainset Arrives From Japan as Philippines Pushes Toward 2027 Partial Opening

MANILA, Philippines — Another major piece of the Philippines’ long-awaited North-South Commuter Railway has reached the country, bringing the massive rail project another step closer to carrying passengers. The third eight-car Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) trainset for the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) has arrived from Japan and is now undergoing the required importation process through the Bureau of Customs, according to the Department of Transportation. Once customs processing is comple

August 26, 2026