Category: Asia

Philippines

Divinagracia’s ‘Comfort Cross’ Draws Attention as Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial Intensifies

MANILA, Philippines — Amid the tense proceedings of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, one small personal object carried by prosecution lawyer Atty. Mae Divinagracia has captured public attention: a wooden cross she held during her questioning of a witness. Divinagracia, one of the private lawyers assisting the House prosecution panel, was seen holding the cross while conducting her direct examination during the 18th day of the Senate impeachment trial on Tuesday, August 25. When

August 25, 2026

Philippines

DepEd Delays Nationwide Active-Attack School Drill as Safety and Trauma Concerns Grow

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — A massive school-safety exercise intended to prepare thousands of students and teachers in Western Visayas for shootings, bomb threats and other violent emergencies has been postponed — raising a larger question for education officials: How can schools prepare children for extreme danger without frightening or traumatizing them in the process? The Department of Education (DepEd) had initially ordered all public and private elementary and secondary schools nationwide,

August 25, 2026

Business

India’s Push for Food Warning Labels Faces Big-Food Fight as Supreme Court Demands Answers

India’s plan to put prominent health warnings on popular packaged foods—including chips, sugary drinks and other products high in sugar, salt and saturated fat—has become the center of a growing battle between public-health advocates, regulators and some of the world’s biggest food companies. The controversy intensified in August 2026 after India’s food-safety regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), moved away from the idea of simple, colour-coded warning labels on

August 25, 2026

Business

CEBU CITY WARNS 61 DEVELOPERS: Only 4 of 65 Submitted Flood Plans—Now Legal Action Could Be Next

CEBU CITY — Cebu City is preparing to take a tougher legal route against property developers after only four of 65 developers identified for a flood-mitigation review had submitted the documents requested by the city government. The latest development has intensified scrutiny of hillside and upland developments in Cebu City, particularly amid recurring flooding in low-lying communities following heavy rains. According to Cebu City Chief of Staff Kenneth Siasar, the city had sent formal letters

August 25, 2026

Entertainment

Naruto and Jujutsu Kaisen Are Taking Over Singapore—But Anime Fans Have Two Very Different Nights to Choose From

Singapore’s anime fans are getting not one, but two major live concert experiences inspired by some of Japan’s biggest anime franchises this year. The Esplanade Theatre will host FLOW’s NARUTO THE ROCK WORLD TOUR 2026 on Sept. 24, followed by Jujutsu Kaisen in Concert on Oct. 31. The back-to-back events are set to give fans a chance to experience iconic anime music in a live setting, with FLOW bringing Naruto’s rock anthems to the stage and Jujutsu Kaisen combining live music with scenes from

August 25, 2026

Philippines

₱9.9-MILLION CEBU HEALTH CENTER STILL IDLE: Built to Serve Thousands, But One Missing Document Is Keeping It Locked

CEBU CITY — A ₱9.9-million Super Health Center in Barangay Labangon, Cebu City remains unused more than a year after it was turned over to the city government, raising fresh questions over why a completed public health facility has yet to open its doors to residents. The facility was formally turned over by the Department of Health (DOH) on May 5, 2025, with the center envisioned as a way to bring more medical services closer to communities and reduce pressure on major hospitals such as the Ceb

August 25, 2026

Politics

Singapore High Court Clarifies Probation Rules: Employees May Still Be Entitled to Notice Pay

Singapore workers on probation may have more protection than they realise Being on probation does not automatically mean an employee can be dismissed without notice or salary in lieu of notice, according to a recent Singapore High Court ruling. The decision, released on Aug. 24, 2026, clarified that simply describing an employee as being on probation does not automatically make the employment contract a fixed-term agreement that ends when the probation period expires. Instead, the court must e

August 25, 2026

Philippines

GWEN GARCIA BREAKS SILENCE ON 2028: “BUHAT ANG PASULTION” — But Her Next Move Could Reshape Cebu Politics

CEBU — Former Cebu governor Gwendolyn “Gwen” Garcia is refusing to get drawn into the growing speculation over the 2028 gubernatorial race, saying there is still plenty of time before voters return to the polls. Instead, Garcia is putting the spotlight on education, skills training and livelihood opportunities—particularly programs aimed at helping Cebuanos gain practical skills and better economic opportunities. During a media interview in Mandaue City on August 24, Garcia was repeatedly aske

August 25, 2026

Business

Nvidia Earnings Could Trigger a $280 Billion Stock Swing — Wall Street Is Watching What Comes Next

Wall Street is bracing for another major Nvidia earnings event — and options traders are preparing for a potential $280 billion swing in the company's market value once the AI chip giant reports its latest results. Nvidia is scheduled to release its fiscal second-quarter 2027 earnings after the U.S. market closes on Wednesday, August 26. With expectations for another huge jump in revenue, investors are watching closely for signs that the artificial-intelligence boom can continue supporting the

August 25, 2026

Philippines

Nearly Half of Philippine State Universities Face 2027 Budget Cuts as Students Warn of Deeper Education Crisis

MANILA, Philippines — Nearly half of the country’s state universities and colleges could enter 2027 with less government funding, raising fresh concerns over classrooms, laboratories, faculty support and the ability of public universities to accommodate thousands of Filipino students. Under the proposed 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP), 49 of the Philippines’ 113 state universities and colleges (SUCs), or 43.46 percent, are facing lower individual allocations compared with 2026, accordin

August 25, 2026