Category: Asia

Philippines

ICC Prosecutors Hand Duterte’s Lawyers 6,909 Evidence Items—But 57 Could Actually Help His Defense

MANILA — Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s lawyers are facing a massive new batch of material ahead of his crimes-against-humanity trial at the International Criminal Court, with prosecutors disclosing 6,909 evidence items to the defense between January 7 and July 31, 2026. But buried inside the thousands of records is a detail that could become just as important as the evidence prosecutors intend to use against him: 57 items have reportedly been classified as potentially exonerating or otherw

August 20, 2026

Lifestyle

A 17-Year-Old Was Bitten by a Rat, Then Swam in Navotas Floodwater—What Happened Next Is a Warning for Every Parent

NAVOTAS CITY, Philippines — What began with a rat bite and was followed weeks later by a swim in floodwater ended in tragedy for a 17-year-old student in Navotas, underscoring the potentially deadly threat of leptospirosis during the rainy season. Justin Espinosa died just four days before his 18th birthday after developing symptoms associated with leptospirosis, according to a GMA News report published on August 20. His parents, Leilani and Allan Espinosa, said their son had earlier been bitt

August 20, 2026

Philippines

BIR Hits Hongsheng Gaming With ₱2.2-Billion Tax Evasion Complaint—But Its Name Is Already Tied to a Much Bigger POGO Scandal

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Internal Revenue has filed a ₱2.228-billion tax evasion complaint against Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc. before the Department of Justice, adding a massive tax case to the long list of controversies surrounding the offshore gaming company previously linked to the notorious Bamban, Tarlac POGO compound. According to the BIR, Hongsheng allegedly committed several tax violations covering taxable years 2021 to 2023, including the underdeclaration of income, inc

August 20, 2026

Philippines

Fake Accounts Linked to Ateneo de Zamboanga Shooter Are Spreading Online—But Police Spotted a Major Red Flag

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — As investigators continue piecing together what led to the deadly shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University, police are confronting another problem unfolding online: social media accounts and posts claiming to belong to—or contain information from—the student involved and members of his family. Police Regional Office 9 (PRO9) warned the public on Thursday, August 20, not to immediately believe or circulate accounts, videos and posts whose authenticity has not been

August 20, 2026

Philippines

Romualdez Camp Denies Pressuring ‘Maleta Boys’ to Recant—But the Ombudsman Says 28 More Witnesses Are Ready

MANILA, Philippines — The legal battle surrounding the Philippines’ multibillion-peso flood-control controversy has taken another dramatic turn, with former House Speaker Martin Romualdez’s camp firmly denying allegations that it pressured former security aides of ex-Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co into withdrawing testimony that had linked Romualdez to alleged cash-filled suitcase deliveries. But even as witnesses reverse their stories, the Office of the Ombudsman says its investigation is far from co

August 20, 2026

Philippines

DepEd Will Roll Out Active-Threat Drills Nationwide on August 25—But the Most Crucial Part Happens After Students Escape

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) is set to begin rolling out active-threat drills in schools nationwide on August 25, expanding emergency-response protocols as the country confronts renewed concerns over violence inside campuses. The planned exercises will test how schools respond to a “human-induced threat,” including how quickly students and personnel can secure themselves, evacuate when safe, coordinate with police and medical responders, and eventually reunite child

August 20, 2026

Philippines

DOJ Says ‘Mentors’ May Be Targeting Kids Through Violent Gaming Spaces—But What Happens After They Enter the Group Chat Is More Alarming

MANILA, Philippines — The government is investigating a disturbing possibility behind the growing concern over youth violence in the Philippines: children spending time in violent online gaming spaces may be deliberately identified, contacted and groomed by outsiders who later draw them into private groups centered on increasingly extreme behavior. Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said Thursday, August 20, that authorities are working to verify information about supposed online “mentors” who e

August 20, 2026

Asia

Hyundai Is Betting Billions on ‘Physical AI’ to Move Beyond Cars—But Its Biggest Gamble Hasn’t Reached the Factory Floor Yet

SEOUL — Hyundai Motor Group is preparing for a future in which its most important products may no longer have four wheels. The South Korean automotive giant is accelerating an ambitious transformation that could eventually take it far beyond the business of manufacturing Hyundai, Kia and Genesis vehicles. At the center of the strategy is what Hyundai calls “Physical AI” — artificial intelligence that does not merely generate text, images or software responses, but interacts with the physical w

August 20, 2026

Philippines

Ateneo Zamboanga Shooter Slipped Past Security Through an Open PWD Ramp—But the Senate Probe Exposed an Even Bigger Gap at the Gate

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — The deadly shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University is raising an increasingly troubling question: How did an armed student get past a campus that already had guards and security checkpoints? A school official has now disclosed that the student linked to the August 18 attack entered the Junior High School building through an accessibility ramp normally used by persons with disabilities, allowing him to avoid the regular security screening at the building entrance

August 20, 2026

Asia

CK Hutchison Wants $1.5 Billion From Panama Over Seized Canal Ports—But the Bigger Fight May Be Between Washington and Beijing

HONG KONG/PANAMA CITY — The battle over two strategically located ports beside the Panama Canal has entered a far more expensive phase, with Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison seeking more than $1.5 billion in damages from Panama after losing control of terminals it operated for nearly three decades. CK Hutchison said it has launched international arbitration accusing Panama of violating an investment-protection treaty through measures that ultimately dismantled its concession arrangements for

August 20, 2026