Category: Politics

Business

Shein Is Going Public With a $27 Billion Valuation — But Its Biggest Problem Isn’t the Stock Market

Shein is finally heading to the public markets — but its long-awaited Hong Kong IPO may not be enough to silence the questions that have followed the fast-fashion giant for years. The Singapore-headquartered, China-founded online fashion retailer is preparing to list in Hong Kong on September 1, 2026, at a valuation of about $27 billion, dramatically below the nearly $100 billion valuation associated with the company at its private-market peak in 2022. Shein plans to offer 280 million shares at

August 25, 2026

Politics

U.S. Removes Syria From Terrorism Sponsor List as Washington Moves to Reset Ties With Damascus

WASHINGTON — The United States has formally removed Syria from its list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, ending a designation that had been in place since 1979 and marking one of the most significant shifts in Washington’s policy toward Damascus in decades. The decision, authorized by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on August 24, 2026, followed the completion of a mandatory 45-day congressional notification period. Washington also removed Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) from its designation as a

August 25, 2026

Business

PH Has 47 Days of Fuel Supply Left—But the Bigger Threat to Drivers May Already Be at the Pump

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines still has enough fuel to cover roughly 47 days of average consumption, according to the Department of Energy (DOE), easing immediate fears of a domestic fuel shortage even as renewed tensions in the Middle East continue to push global oil prices higher. DOE data showed that the country had an estimated 47.22 days of total available fuel supply as of August 21, 2026. The figure includes existing stocks and available supply based on current inventory and deli

August 25, 2026

Philippines

Philippines Has Already Recorded 4,285 Leptospirosis Cases — But DOH Says the Most Dangerous Numbers May Not Have Appeared Yet

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health has intensified nationwide monitoring for leptospirosis following weeks of heavy rain and flooding, activating 33 special hospital fast lanes as health officials prepare for the possibility that more infections could emerge in the coming days. The move comes despite nationwide leptospirosis cases remaining significantly lower than last year's level — a contrast that could give a misleading picture of the immediate threat following the latest floods

August 25, 2026

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

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

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