Category: Asia

Philippines

Flood Control Plans Still Incomplete Nationwide—Dizon Reveals What Could Happen Next

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines’ long-running battle with flooding is facing another major hurdle: many of the country’s flood-mitigation master plans remain unfinished or outdated, Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon told lawmakers on Wednesday. Dizon made the disclosure during the House Committee on Appropriations’ briefing on the Department of Public Works and Highways’ proposed 2027 budget, saying the government cannot simply continue relying on old flood-control studies w

August 26, 2026

Philippines

VISAYAS POWER ALERT: Red Alert Set for 6 Hours Today—Could Your Area Be Next to Lose Electricity?

The Visayas power grid has been placed under red and yellow alerts on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, as the region faces a tightening electricity supply situation that could increase the risk of temporary power interruptions during peak demand hours. According to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), the Visayas grid is scheduled to be under a yellow alert from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., followed by a red alert from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Another yellow alert is scheduled from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m

August 26, 2026

Philippines

Sara Duterte Confidential Funds Trial: OVP Aide Says VP Knew of Operations as ‘Mastermind’ Remark Sparks Court Clash

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial took another dramatic turn after a senior Office of the Vice President official testified that Duterte knew about the activities involving hundreds of millions of pesos in confidential funds—while prosecutors and the defense clashed over an explosive attempt to describe her as the operation’s alleged “architect” and “mastermind.” The Senate impeachment court ultimately ordered those loaded terms removed from the official reco

August 26, 2026

Philippines

17-Year-Old Dalaga, Patay Matapos Makuryente Habang Tumatawid sa Baha sa Bulacan

CALUMPIT, BULACAN — Nauwi sa trahedya ang pagtatangkang kumuha ng mga gamit para sa evacuation center matapos mamatay ang isang 17-anyos na dalaga na nakuryente at nahulog sa baha sa Barangay San Miguel, Calumpit, Bulacan. Naganap ang insidente noong Agosto 19, 2026, habang tumatawid ang biktima sa isang pansamantalang tulay na gawa sa kahoy sa Sitio Bagong Barrio, ayon sa mga ulat na batay sa impormasyon mula sa Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO). Madul

August 26, 2026

Entertainment

Meta and U.S. States Discuss Possible Settlement in Explosive Teen Social Media Harm Trial

Meta Platforms and a group of U.S. states have reportedly discussed a possible settlement as a landmark trial over allegations that Facebook and Instagram harm young users continues—raising questions about whether one of Big Tech's biggest courtroom battles could end before a final verdict. According to a Bloomberg News report cited by Reuters and Channel News Asia, Meta and state attorneys general have held discussions about potentially settling the case during the ongoing trial. However, no s

August 26, 2026

Singapore

Man Confronts NEA Officers Over Alleged HDB Void Deck Smoking: ‘What Do You Want Me to Do?’

SINGAPORE — A confrontation between a man and National Environment Agency (NEA) enforcement officers over alleged smoking at an HDB void deck has sparked discussion online, with viewers divided over whether the man had a point — or whether the officers were simply enforcing Singapore’s smoking rules. The incident was captured on video and circulated online. AsiaOne reported that the footage was seen on Reddit before being shared on Instagram on Aug. 24, 2026. The exact HDB estate where the enco

August 26, 2026

Singapore

Singapore Gives Parents More Childcare Leave—But Will Singles End Up Paying the Price at Work?

SINGAPORE — More time for parents. More support for families. And a question that is already stirring debate across Singaporean workplaces: when working parents take more childcare leave, who will pick up the slack? Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's latest push to make Singapore a more family-friendly nation has been widely welcomed. But the announcement of expanded childcare leave has also exposed a sensitive fault line between employees with children and those without them. The concern is not n

August 26, 2026

Philippines

Rare Pygmy Sperm Whale Rescued and Released Off Pagudpud After Dramatic Stranding

PAGUDPUD, Ilocos Norte — A rare pygmy sperm whale that was found stranded and struggling along the coast of Pagudpud has been given a second chance at life after a coordinated rescue effort successfully returned the marine mammal to the open sea. The live whale was discovered at around 10 a.m. on August 18 at Sitio Namnama in Barangay Burayoc, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in the Ilocos Region. Responders found the animal having difficulty staying afloat, pro

August 26, 2026

Philippines

Two Men Gunned Down Hours Apart in Negros Occidental—Then Police Uncovered a New Lead

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental — Two men were killed in separate shooting incidents in Negros Occidental on Sunday, August 23, with the attacks occurring just hours apart in the towns of Calatrava and Manapla. Police are investigating the two killings separately and have not established any connection between them. Motives also remain unclear as authorities continue efforts to identify and apprehend the gunmen. The first shooting happened at around 9:45 a.m. in Sitio Panggiasgiasan, Barangay

August 26, 2026

Philippines

Nearly ₱244M Push Could Turn Iloilo Provincial Hospital Into Major Women and Children’s Healthcare Hub

ILOILO, Philippines — A nearly ₱244-million healthcare push is taking shape in Pototan, where Iloilo officials are betting that a new specialized hospital building can give mothers, newborns and children access to advanced treatment without automatically sending them to Iloilo City. The Iloilo Provincial Hospital (IPH) broke ground on August 24 for a ₱143.78-million Mother and Child Building, a two-story facility designed to accommodate up to 90 patients and substantially expand the province's

August 26, 2026