Category: Asia

Entertainment

Facebook Ban in the Philippines? DICT Says Blocking Meta Platform Is Only a ‘Last Resort’

MANILA, Philippines — A possible Facebook ban in the Philippines is being discussed by government officials, but the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) stressed Wednesday that blocking the platform would be considered only as a “last resort.” DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said the government would first exhaust other measures to push Meta, Facebook’s parent company, to comply with Philippine requests concerning harmful online content and the protection of Filipino users

August 26, 2026

Philippines

Escudero Draws the Line: Public Statements on Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial Now Under Strict Rule

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate impeachment court has drawn a firmer line on what participants in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial may say publicly, with Presiding Officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero ordering the strict enforcement of a rule barring public comments on the merits of the ongoing proceedings. The directive covers senator-judges, prosecutors, Duterte as the respondent, their respective lawyers, and witnesses involved in the impeachment trial. Escudero issued the order

August 26, 2026

Philippines

GMRC Under the Spotlight: Lawmaker Calls for Stronger Values Education as School Violence Raises Alarm

MANILA, Philippines — As bullying and violence continue to raise concerns inside Philippine schools, Parañaque Rep. Brian Yamsuan is calling for a stronger and more meaningful implementation of Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC) and Values Education—arguing that academic excellence alone is not enough to shape the country's future. Yamsuan urged the Department of Education (DepEd) and Congress to revisit and strengthen policies designed to build the moral foundation of Filipino students, str

August 26, 2026

Business

Philippines Wins Back-to-Back Credit Rating Affirmations—But Can Filipinos Feel the Economic Benefits?

The Philippines has received a fresh vote of confidence from two international credit rating agencies—but the bigger question for millions of Filipinos is whether that confidence will eventually translate into more jobs, lower borrowing costs, and better public services. In a back-to-back boost for the country, Japan-based Rating and Investment Information, Inc. (R&I) affirmed the Philippines' A- investment-grade credit rating with a stable outlook, followed days later by Moody's Ratings, which

August 26, 2026

Business

From Vacuum Cleaners to the World’s Fastest Car—Then Everything Changed: What Happened to Dreame’s EV Dream?

BEIJING — Just months after making headlines with bold promises to build one of the world's fastest electric cars, Chinese smart appliance maker Dreame Technology is reportedly winding down its ambitious automotive venture—raising fresh questions about the risks of jumping into China's fiercely competitive electric vehicle industry. According to recent reporting by Reuters and Chinese state media, Dreame's carmaking project, which had once assembled a workforce of nearly 1,000 people, has been

August 26, 2026

Philippines

Senate Impeachment Court Tightens Rules on Sara Duterte Case as Senator-Judges, Lawyers Barred From Discussing Merits

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate impeachment court has tightened restrictions on public statements surrounding the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, barring senator-judges and lawyers for both the prosecution and defense from publicly discussing the merits of the case while proceedings are ongoing. Presiding officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero announced the ruling on Wednesday, August 26, as the Senate impeachment court continued hearing the case against Duterte. The restriction is

August 26, 2026

Philippines

LTO Moves Against Viral Himamaylan Tricycle Driver After Traffic Enforcer Assault

HIMAMAYLAN CITY, Negros Occidental — The Land Transportation Office–Negros Island Region (LTO-NIR) has served a Show Cause Order (SCO) on a tricycle driver who was caught on video allegedly punching a traffic enforcer during a confrontation over a roadside parking violation. The incident, which quickly circulated online, happened at around 11 a.m. on August 19, 2026, behind Himamaylan Central School. According to the LTO and reports from local media, the confrontation reportedly started after

August 26, 2026

Business

DEATH TOLL RISES TO 31: Luis, Maymay, Neneng and Habagat Leave 7.7 Million Filipinos Affected — And the Damage Keeps Mounting

The death toll from the combined effects of Tropical Cyclones Luis, Maymay and Neneng, together with the prolonged Southwest Monsoon or Habagat, has climbed to 31, according to the latest figures from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) released Wednesday, August 26. The OCD reported 19 injuries and three people still missing as of 6 a.m., as heavy rains, flooding and landslides continued to affect several parts of the country. Benguet records highest number of deaths Benguet recorded the high

August 26, 2026

Philippines

South Korea Scrambles Fighter Jets After Russian Military Aircraft Enter Air Defense Zone

SEOUL — South Korea scrambled Air Force fighter jets after several Russian military aircraft briefly entered the country’s air defense identification zone (KADIZ) over the East Sea, prompting a military response and renewed attention to rising military activity around the Korean Peninsula. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said the Russian aircraft entered and later exited the KADIZ on Tuesday, August 25. The aircraft reportedly approached from the southeast and entered the zone near Ul

August 26, 2026

Business

DICT Pulls the Plug on GoreBox Nationwide—The Troubling Questions Behind the Ban

MANILA, Philippines — Access to the controversial online game GoreBox has been blocked in the Philippines, with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) saying the platform failed to adequately respond to government concerns over potential harmful effects. DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said the government had reached out to the game’s developer, provided notice and evidence concerning its concerns, and asked what safeguards would be put in place to prevent harmful effects

August 26, 2026