Category: Asia

Philippines

Philippines Moves to Expand Military Drone Capabilities as South China Sea Tensions Rise

The Philippines is preparing to expand its military drone capabilities as Manila accelerates efforts to modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and strengthen the country's ability to defend its territory and maritime interests. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. told lawmakers on August 25 that the Philippines plans to develop and acquire additional unmanned systems as part of a broader military modernization program. The move comes as the Philippines faces increasingly comple

August 25, 2026

Singapore

Singapore Man Says He Was Turned Away From Sengkang Polyclinic — Hours Later, Doctors Found a Vision-Threatening Corneal Ulcer

SINGAPORE — A Singaporean man in his 30s says he was turned away from Sengkang Polyclinic without being clinically assessed, only to be diagnosed hours later with a serious corneal ulcer that required urgent treatment to reduce the risk of permanent vision loss. The incident, reported by Mothership on Aug. 25, has raised questions about how walk-in patients with potentially urgent symptoms are screened when appointment slots are already full. SingHealth Polyclinics, however, says patients requi

August 25, 2026

Philippines

OVP OFFICIAL LEMUEL ORTONIO DECLARED HOSTILE WITNESS IN SARA DUTERTE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL — CASH TRAIL NOW UNDER SCRUTINY

MANILA, Philippines — The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte took another dramatic turn on Tuesday after the Senate Impeachment Court declared Office of the Vice President (OVP) Assistant Secretary and Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio a hostile witness, giving House prosecutors greater latitude to question him about the handling of the office’s confidential funds. The ruling came during the 18th day of Duterte’s impeachment trial, as prosecutors pursued allegations involvin

August 25, 2026

Singapore

Singapore Man Jailed and Caned After Filming Couples and Using Sex Videos to Threaten Victims

A Singapore man who secretly filmed couples engaged in sexual acts and later used the footage to threaten one victim has been sentenced to two years and 10 months in prison and three strokes of the cane. Mohammad Sharulnaim Miswan, 33, pleaded guilty to three charges, including putting a person in fear of harm to commit extortion, obstructing justice and wrongful confinement. Two additional charges were taken into consideration during sentencing. The case came to light after Sharulnaim secretl

August 25, 2026

Philippines

Kidapawan Is Giving Away Free Fruits and Ice Cream at Kalivungan — But There’s One Date Visitors Shouldn’t Miss

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines — Visitors heading to North Cotabato’s Kalivungan Festival may want to make an extra stop at Kidapawan City’s booth, where hundreds of kilos of locally grown tropical fruits — plus fruit-flavored ice cream — are set to be given away for free. Kidapawan City is bringing a smaller version of its hugely popular Fruit-Eat-All-You-Can attraction to the provincial capitol grounds in Barangay Amas as North Cotabato celebrates its 112th founding anniversary through the Kaliv

August 25, 2026

Philippines

72% of Filipinos Say They Feel Safe in Their Communities—But the PNP Says the Fight Isn’t Over

MANILA, Philippines — Public confidence in community safety is showing signs of improvement, with a majority of Filipinos saying they feel safe where they live, according to the latest OCTA Research survey cited by the Philippine National Police (PNP). The second-quarter 2026 OCTA Research survey, conducted among 1,200 adult respondents nationwide, found that 72% said they felt safe in their neighborhoods. The survey also found that 68% said they were not afraid to walk alone at night, while 5

August 25, 2026

Business

Mat Yeung’s New Malaysia Restaurant Shut Just 10 Days After Opening — Here’s What Happened

Hong Kong actor Mat Yeung’s new roast-meat restaurant in Petaling Jaya has hit an unexpected setback, just 10 days after officially opening its doors. Six Hub Roast House, the TVB star’s Hong Kong-style roast-meat eatery in the SS2 area of Petaling Jaya, was ordered to temporarily stop operations by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) on Aug. 24. A closure notice was posted at the restaurant, requiring it to cease operations from 1pm that day. The development quickly attracted attention onli

August 25, 2026

Business

P1,200 Minimum Wage Push Gains Momentum in Cebu as Piston Backs Workers’ Demand

CEBU, Philippines — The campaign for a ₱1,200 daily minimum wage across Central Visayas is gaining momentum after transport group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) Cebu threw its support behind the proposal during the region’s ongoing wage review. Piston Cebu joined labor groups in a picket outside the Department of Education Ecotech Center in Cebu City on August 24, where the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board 7 (RTWPB 7) conducted its first pub

August 25, 2026

Asia

She Went Swimming in a Louisiana Lake. Days Later, an 8-Year-Old Girl Was Fighting a Rare Brain Infection

An 8-year-old Louisiana girl has died after contracting a rare and almost always fatal brain infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, a microscopic organism commonly known as the “brain-eating amoeba.” Lillian Smart of Ruston died over the weekend after being hospitalized with primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), the severe brain infection associated with Naegleria fowleri. Her family said she had been fighting the infection since being hospitalized on August 15. The Louisiana Department of

August 25, 2026

Philippines

NBI Uncovers Online ‘Groomers’ Targeting Minors for Violence—But Are They Behind the School Shootings?

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine authorities are investigating an alarming online network allegedly targeting minors and gradually pushing them toward violent behavior, as the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) works to determine whether the group is connected to a string of school-related attacks. NBI Director Melvin Matibag said investigators have identified a group of alleged “groomers” operating through online group chats and targeting young people, including minors as young as 12. The

August 25, 2026