Category: Asia

Philippines

DOJ’s ₱1.5-B Confidential Fund in 2025 Under Fire—Vida Says Every Peso Was Liquidated, But Lawmakers Want Answers

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) is facing renewed scrutiny over the ₱1.5 billion in confidential funds allocated in 2025, after a lawmaker questioned the sharp increase and pressed the agency to explain how the money was used. During the House Committee on Appropriations’ deliberations on the DOJ’s proposed 2027 budget, ACT Teachers Party-list Representative Antonio Tinio questioned why the department’s confidential funds had ballooned from ₱168 million in 2024 to about ₱1

August 25, 2026

Business

Wall Street Sends a Warning as Tech Stocks Slide—But the Bigger Market Shock May Still Be Coming

Wall Street ended Monday, August 24, on uneasy footing as technology stocks came under pressure, Treasury yields eased and investors confronted a fresh wave of uncertainty over U.S. trade policy, government debt and the outlook for interest rates. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 140.15 points, or 0.26%, to 53,417.16, while the S&P 500 slipped 21.51 points, or 0.28%, to 7,652.86. The technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite dropped 200.26 points, or 0.76%, to 25,980.19. The contrasting performan

August 25, 2026

Philippines

9,597 Philippine Classrooms Were Damaged by Storms — But the Bigger Crisis Was Already There Before the Rain Began

MANILA, Philippines — More than 9,500 classrooms across the Philippines have been damaged by recent typhoons and the intensified southwest monsoon, creating another major challenge for a public school system already struggling with a massive classroom shortage. The Department of Education said its latest assessment showed that 1,594 schools nationwide were affected, with 9,597 classrooms sustaining damage ranging from minor to major structural problems. Central Luzon emerged as the hardest-hit

August 25, 2026

Philippines

BSKE 2026 IN LIMBO: SENATE PANEL APPROVES MOVE TO 2028—BUT ₱8 BILLION HAS ALREADY BEEN SPENT

MANILA, Philippines — The 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) could be pushed back once again after a Senate committee approved a measure seeking to move the polls to November 2028 and establish a five-year term for barangay and SK officials. The Senate Committee on Local Government, led by Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, approved the proposal on Monday, August 24, clearing the way for the measure to be tackled by the full Senate. Under Senate Bill No. 2387, Escudero wants

August 25, 2026

Entertainment

Chelsea’s Alonso Era Starts With a Bang — But One Major Problem Could Threaten Everything

Chelsea have opened the Xabi Alonso era with a statement victory — but not without a warning. The Blues edged West London rivals Fulham 3-2 at Craven Cottage on Monday, August 24, in a breathless Premier League opener that showcased Chelsea’s attacking firepower while exposing defensive weaknesses Alonso will need to address quickly. The result gave Alonso three points in his first Premier League match as Chelsea head coach and provided an immediate glimpse of the high-energy, transition-focus

August 25, 2026

Business

Philippine Farm Damage Just Hit ₱1.91 Billion — But What Happens to Rice and Food Prices Next Could Matter More

MANILA, Philippines — The economic toll of weeks of destructive weather is rapidly mounting across Philippine farms, with agricultural damage and losses from the enhanced southwest monsoon, or Habagat, and tropical cyclones Luis, Maymay and Neneng reaching approximately ₱1.91 billion, according to the Department of Agriculture. The latest assessment paints a troubling picture for thousands of Filipino farmers already vulnerable to volatile weather, production costs and fluctuating commodity pri

August 25, 2026

Business

Oil Prices Plunge After New Iran Sanctions — But Tehran’s Next Move Could Change Everything

Oil prices fell more than 2% on Monday as investors digested the latest U.S. sanctions pressure on Iran, even as Tehran warned that Washington’s moves could trigger retaliation and further threaten energy supplies. Brent crude settled down about 2.4% at US$92.17 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell about 2.4% to US$85.01. The decline came after a six-session rally that had pushed oil prices sharply higher amid growing concerns over disruptions to Middle Eastern energy flows.

August 25, 2026

Philippines

2026 BARANGAY, SK ELECTIONS COULD BE MOVED TO 2028 — BUT THE ₱8-BILLION QUESTION ISN’T GOING AWAY

MANILA, Philippines — The 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) could be pushed back to November 2028 after a Senate panel advanced a proposal that would also increase the regular term of barangay and SK officials from four years to five years. The Senate Committee on Local Government approved the measure on August 24, allowing the proposal to move toward plenary deliberations. But the move does not mean the 2026 elections have already been cancelled. The proposed reset stil

August 25, 2026

Philippines

Prosecution Still Weighing Lachica Testimony as Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial Turns to P500-M Confidential Fund Trail

MANILA, Philippines — The House prosecution team is still deciding whether to call Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, former security chief of Vice President Sara Duterte, to testify in her impeachment trial, despite repeated testimony identifying him as the person who received hundreds of millions of pesos in confidential funds. The issue took center stage after former Office of the Vice President (OVP) special disbursing officer Gina Acosta repeatedly told the Senate impeachment court that she turne

August 25, 2026

Entertainment

Hawk Fire Near Reno Forces Mass Evacuations as 32 Homes Burn — But Firefighters Are Finally Gaining Ground

RENO, Nevada — A fast-moving wildfire that raced toward residential communities near Reno has forced tens of thousands of people from their homes, destroyed at least 32 houses and left firefighters battling a dangerous combination of dry vegetation, heat and shifting winds. The Hawk Fire, which ignited on August 22 near the Hawk Meadow Trail northwest of Reno, rapidly expanded across the Sierra Nevada foothills, threatening neighborhoods in and around the city. At its height, authorities urged

August 25, 2026