Category: Asia

Lifestyle

Bataan Floodwaters Rise as 8,000 Residents Seek Shelter—Now a State of Calamity Is on the Table

BATAAN, Philippines — Bataan is moving closer to a province-wide state of calamity declaration after days of persistent Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) rains triggered flooding in several areas and forced thousands of residents to seek shelter. Bataan Governor Jose Enrique Garcia III said the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (PDRRM) Emergency Council has recommended placing the province under a state of calamity. The recommendation was expected to be discussed by the Sangguniang Pa

August 20, 2026

Singapore

Singapore Just Changed Its Arrival Card—7 New Languages and One New Feature Could Make Your Entry Much Easier

Singapore is making its arrival process easier for international travellers with a major update to the SG Arrival Card (SGAC), introducing a refreshed interface, seven additional language options and a new passport-scan autofill feature. The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) announced that the enhanced SG Arrival Card will be available from August 26, 2026, through the official SGAC e-Service and the MyICA mobile application. The changes are designed to make submitting arrival informat

August 20, 2026

Politics

Trump Nagbanta na BOBOMBAHIN ang Oman—Iran Deal sa Strait of Hormuz ang Ugat ng Tensiyon

WASHINGTON — Muling uminit ang tensiyon sa Middle East matapos magbanta si US President Donald Trump na magsasagawa ng military action laban sa Oman kung, ayon sa kanya, hahadlangan ng Gulf state ang pagsisikap na wakasan ang digmaan at magkaroon ng kasunduan sa Iran. Sa isang panayam kay Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst noong Agosto 17, sinabi ni Trump na “if Oman gets in the way, we'll bomb the s— out of them,” ayon sa mga ulat ng Reuters, Associated Press at iba pang international news org

August 20, 2026

Asia

Higit 100 Patay sa Gumuho Umagang Minahan sa Central African Republic—Pero Mas Marami Pa ang Pinangangambahang Nakatabunan

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC — Higit 100 katao ang nasawi matapos gumuho ang isang artisanal gold mine sa western Central African Republic, malapit sa hangganan ng Cameroon, habang nagpapatuloy ang search-and-rescue operations para sa mga posibleng nakaligtas at mga minerong nananatiling nakabaon sa ilalim ng lupa. Naganap ang insidente noong Agosto 18, 2026, sa mining site sa Zamboye village, Nana-Mambéré prefecture, humigit-kumulang 50 kilometro mula sa bayan ng Baboua at malapit sa Cameroon bord

August 20, 2026

Lifestyle

Poverty Sentiment Surges in the Philippines: 1.1 Million More Families Say They’re Poor—What’s Driving the Change?

MANILA, Philippines — More Filipino families are saying they are struggling to make ends meet, with both self-rated poverty and hunger rising sharply in the second quarter of 2026, according to the latest Tugon ng Masa survey by OCTA Research. The survey found that 39% of Filipino families considered themselves poor in July, up from 35% in March. That four-percentage-point increase translates to roughly 1.1 million additional families identifying themselves as poor. OCTA estimates that about 1

August 20, 2026

Business

CK Hutchison Takes Panama to Arbitration Over Canal Ports — And the Bill Could Top US$1.5 Billion

HONG KONG — The dispute between Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison and Panama over two strategically important ports near the Panama Canal has entered a new legal phase, with the company seeking more than US$1.5 billion in damages through international arbitration. CK Hutchison said Thursday that it had initiated arbitration proceedings against Panama, alleging that actions by the Panamanian state violated an investment-protection treaty and ultimately resulted in the destruction of its invest

August 20, 2026

Lifestyle

Kanlaon Volcano Erupts Another Ash Plume—But PHIVOLCS’ Latest Warning Has Authorities Watching Closely

NEGROS ISLAND, Philippines — Kanlaon Volcano released another ash emission early Thursday, August 20, sending a grayish plume approximately 200 meters above the summit crater as the volcano continues to show signs of unrest. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said the ash emission occurred at around 5:24 a.m. and was observed by the Nature's View Observation Station in Sitio Old Fabrica, La Castellana. The plume later crept downslope toward the east. The latest a

August 20, 2026

Philippines

Kanlaon Spews 200-Meter Ash Plume as 4 Volcanic Quakes Strike—But PHIVOLCS Warns of What Could Come Next

MANILA, Philippines — Mount Kanlaon showed renewed signs of unrest Thursday morning after the volcano released a grayish ash plume that rose about 200 meters above its summit crater, while state volcanologists recorded four volcanic earthquakes during the latest 24-hour monitoring period. According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the ash emission occurred at around 5:24 a.m. on August 20, based on observations from the Nature’s View Observation Station in S

August 20, 2026

Philippines

Peso Nears ₱62 Per Dollar as Record Low Raises Fresh Economic Concerns

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine peso has fallen to another record low against the US dollar, coming within a fraction of a centavo of the psychologically important ₱62-per-dollar level as renewed Middle East tensions, rising oil prices and uncertainty over US interest rates continue to pressure Asian currencies. The peso weakened to an intraday record low of ₱61.995 against the US dollar on Wednesday, August 19, before recovering slightly to close at ₱61.815. That was still 3 centavos weak

August 20, 2026

Philippines

“If You Want Transparency, Start With Yourself”: Kapunan Puts Sara Duterte on the Spot Over Confidential Funds

MANILA — A call for greater government transparency has triggered a sharper confrontation in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, with House prosecution counsel Lorna Kapunan telling the vice president to “start with yourself.” Kapunan made the pointed remark on Wednesday, August 19, after Duterte challenged Malacañang to disclose government travel authorities and the public funds used for official trips. “If you want transparency, start with yourself,” Kapunan said, urging Duterte

August 20, 2026