Category: Asia

Philippines

Western Visayas Rape Cases Drop 56% as Focus Crimes Fall Nearly 23% — But PRO-6 Says the Region Cannot Relax Yet

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Reported rape cases in Western Visayas have fallen by more than half over a three-month period, while the region’s most closely monitored crimes dropped by nearly 23 percent — one of the clearest signs yet that the region’s crime numbers are moving downward. But Western Visayas’ top police official is warning that the improving statistics are not a signal for authorities or communities to lower their guard. Data from the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) showed that 3

August 26, 2026

Philippines

COA Seeks ₱2.2 Billion to Bring Back Pre-Audit System Amid Government Project Concerns

The Commission on Audit (COA) is seeking an estimated ₱2.2 billion in additional funding and more personnel to revive its pre-audit system for government projects, as lawmakers push for stronger safeguards against alleged irregularities, including the discovery of purported “ghost” infrastructure projects. COA Chairperson Gamaliel Cordoba said during the House Committee on Appropriations’ deliberations on the agency’s proposed 2027 budget that the commission currently does not have enough perso

August 26, 2026

Business

U.S. Plans Mass Visa Revocation for Up to 200,000 Asylum Seekers — Here’s Who Could Be Affected

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is preparing to revoke the U.S. business and tourism visas of as many as 200,000 foreign nationals who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum in the United States, a move that could become the largest mass visa revocation in American history. The planned action targets B-1 business and B-2 tourist visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to people who entered the United States as temporary visitors and subsequently filed asylum claims. The State Departm

August 26, 2026

Philippines

M4GG Mayors Renew Push for Good Governance, Transparency as Accountability Takes Center Stage

MANILA, Philippines — More than 100 local chief executives under the Mayors for Good Governance (M4GG) have renewed their commitment to transparent, accountable and people-centered leadership, putting responsible management of public funds and stronger citizen participation at the center of their governance agenda. The commitment was reaffirmed during the M4GG 3rd Anniversary Good Governance Summit and General Assembly held on August 22, 2026, at the Diamond Hotel Manila. The gathering brought

August 26, 2026

Entertainment

Zoom Beats Q2 Expectations—but Its Next-Quarter Forecast Raises a New Warning

SAN JOSE, California — Zoom Communications delivered better-than-expected second-quarter results, but investors quickly shifted their attention to what comes next after the company issued a third-quarter profit forecast below Wall Street expectations. The video-conferencing company forecast adjusted third-quarter earnings of $1.46 to $1.48 per share, below the $1.50 average analyst estimate, according to LSEG data. Its shares fell 3.8% in extended trading after the outlook was released. The wa

August 26, 2026

Philippines

Western Visayas LGUs Are Being Told to Stock Up on Something Disasters Can’t Wait For — And Iloilo Still Has a Big Target to Reach

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — When a major accident, typhoon, disease outbreak or other emergency strikes, hospitals may have little time to search for blood donors. That is why authorities in Western Visayas are pushing local governments to treat blood supply not merely as a hospital concern, but as an essential part of disaster preparedness. The Department of the Interior and Local Government in Western Visayas has urged local government units across the region to regularly support voluntary bl

August 26, 2026

Philippines

Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial Day 19: Hostile Witness Returns as Confidential Funds Take Center Stage

MANILA, Philippines — The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte enters Day 19 on Wednesday, August 26, with a key Office of the Vice President official set to return to the witness stand as senators continue examining allegations involving the use of confidential funds. The Senate impeachment court is scheduled to resume the testimony of Lemuel Ortonio, OVP assistant secretary and assistant chief of staff, who was declared a hostile witness during the previous day's proceedings. Ort

August 26, 2026

Singapore

More Than 28kg of Cocaine Found Hidden on Vessel Transiting Singapore — Weeks After Another Ship Yielded 8kg

SINGAPORE — A routine-looking commercial vessel passing through Singapore waters has become the centre of another major maritime drug investigation after authorities discovered more than 28kg of cocaine concealed deep inside the ship’s seawater filtration system. The discovery, announced by Singapore police on Tuesday, August 25, is the latest in a series of cocaine seizures involving commercial vessels travelling through the city-state’s busy maritime routes. Police Coast Guard officers board

August 25, 2026

Business

Singapore Shoppers Can Get Up to S$3 Back Every Saturday From Aug. 29 — But There’s a Catch

SINGAPORE — A popular weekend savings perk is coming back, and Singapore shoppers may want to check their PayLah! app before paying for their next hawker meal, market purchase or heartland shopping trip. DBS is bringing back its PayLah! S$3 Cashback campaign from Saturday, Aug. 29, giving eligible customers the chance to receive up to S$3 cashback every Saturday at participating hawker stalls, wet markets, coffee shops and heartland shops. But there is one important detail: the cashback is ava

August 25, 2026

Singapore

Singapore Tests New Ceramic-Membrane Technology That Could Cut Desalination Pre-Treatment Energy by 50%

SINGAPORE — Singapore is testing a new ceramic-membrane technology that could significantly reduce the energy needed to prepare seawater for desalination, in a move that could reshape how the city-state produces one of its key sources of water. The large-scale trial at PUB’s Tuas Desalination Plant is examining whether flat-sheet ceramic membranes developed by Japanese technology company Meiden can replace parts of the conventional multi-stage pre-treatment process used before seawater undergoe

August 25, 2026