Philippine News

SEOUL, August 16 ------ Incheon Airport overtook London Heathrow and Singapore Changi to become the world’s busiest international passenger hub in the first half of 2026, reaching No. 1 just 25 years after its opening, latest data showed. Incheon handled 38.39 million international passengers over the six months, according to preliminary data covering 1,234 airports compiled by Airports Council International. The airport has risen steadily from 10th place in 2002 to fifth in

TOKYO, August 16 ------ The administration of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is moving fast to tighten regulations on foreign residents in the country, as it seeks to ease concerns among some Japanese people about a sharp increase in foreigners. The government last month announced a plan to significantly increase fees for residence status applications. Earlier this month, it unveiled a plan to tighten conditions for obtaining permanent residence. Under the immigratio

August 15 ------ The top US priority now in the Iran war is no longer its nuclear program but to bring gasoline prices down for American consumers, the vice president said with the treasury secretary adding that new economic punishment to wear down Tehran is imminent. The comments by Vice President JD Vance and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent illustrate the powerful leverage Tehran has gained by shutting down the Strait of Hormuz. Preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear wea

August 15 ------ Kuwait's once prosperous oil sector has stood largely paralyzed for months, with petroleum exports plummeting as fighting raged across the Gulf -- triggering the country's largest crisis in decades. Half a year into the war, Kuwait remains a hostage to its uncompromising need to access the Strait of Hormuz -- where the war between the US and Iran has choked off the once plentiful energy exports that moved across its waters. Oil has long been the bedrock for t

August 14 ------ Months of blockades and uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz have pushed energy exporters to look for ways to bypass the key shipping lane. Iranian officials had insisted the waterway would remain closed and negotiations would not resume unless the United States complied with a June framework agreement and offered compensation to Tehran for alleged violations. US President Donald Trump, however, said on Monday that the US Navy already controls the Strait o

KINSHASA, August 14 ------ An Ebola outbreak that is on track to become the deadliest in the Democratic Republic of Congo's history has spread to a sixth province, raising fears it could spill into South Sudan. The outbreak, which began in the conflict-scarred northeastern province of Ituri, is already considered the largest ever in the unstable, vast central African country. Declared on May 15, it is thought to have already been spreading for several weeks and is the DRC's 1

KYIV, Ukraine, August 14 ------ Ukraine has sent Russia an offer suggesting they both halt attacks on civilian targets in the Black Sea, a source said, after mounting strikes on vessels and ports there raised fears over global food supplies. The offer to suspend attacks was transmitted by Kyiv via a third party, and Ukraine was still waiting for a response, the source who is familiar with the matter told Reuters. Both Russia and Ukraine, major players in the world agriculture

August 14 ------ Russia is increasingly relying on ballistic missiles for its attacks on Ukraine - precisely the weapons that Ukraine’s armed forces depend heavily on Western support to ward off. However, the crucial US-produced Patriot interceptor missiles are often in short supply. How urgently does Ukraine need new Patriot missiles? Extremely urgently. While Ukraine has set up a well-functioning defense network against drones, its armed forces are reaching their limits whe

ISTANBUL, August 13 ------ The US and Iran have "agreed" to extend a 60-day ceasefire under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding as the agreement is set to expire on Aug. 17, Pakistani government sources told Anadolu on Wednesday. "Both sides have conveyed their consent to the mediators to extend the deadline," a source close to the mediation process said. "However, the two sides are exchanging messages to decide on the extension period," the source added. The US and

TOKYO, August 13 ------ Tropical storm Chan-hom moved westward Wednesday after making landfall in the greater Tokyo region the night before, knocking down trees and leaving thousands of homes without power. Five people suffered minor injuries. Chan-hom was significantly weakened after making landfall in southern Ibaraki prefecture late Tuesday. It was near Gifu, in central Japan, early Wednesday as it headed toward Wakasa Bay on Japan's north-central coast. The storm was pa

August 13 ------ President Volodymyr Zelensky marked Ukraine’s Youth Day by calling on the government to prioritize youth policy as part of a broader push to support civilian life. Zelensky made the remarks after meeting with participants of the Ukrainian Youth Forum “Youth in Action,” saying Ukraine’s newly formed government is drafting the Cabinet of Ministers’ action program. “This is not simply about something the state can provide,” Zelensky said. “It is much more than

August 13 ------ Estonia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced it will provide €340,000 ($392,000) to help Ukraine prepare for the upcoming winter, with the funds directed particularly toward frontline areas. According to the Foreign Ministry’s statement, the assistance will be delivered through non-governmental organization (NGO) partners – such as civil society groups, charities, or non-profit entities that collaborate with governments – and will focus on supporting dis

NEW YORK, August 12 ------ The U.S. dollar was steady ahead of today's highly anticipated consumer inflation report for July, which could shape near-term expectations for Federal Reserve policy. Traders trimmed bets on a September Fed rate hike after Friday's U.S. jobs report showed employers unexpectedly cut payrolls last month. A resurgence inflation could revive those bets as the central bank continues to battle price pressures that are keeping inflation stubbornly above

August 12 ------ The US State Department said that it has revoked more than 175,000 visas from foreign nationals under President Donald Trump’s administration, as it continues a sweeping immigration crackdown that has stripped travel and immigration privileges from tens of thousands more people. The department said in a statement the revocations targeted foreigners who “violated the terms of their visas, committed crimes, called for violence against US citizens, defrauded A

August 12 ------ President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russian intelligence documents confirm the Kremlin is preparing a massive wave of mobilization for this fall, timed to follow staged parliamentary elections. Zelensky said this in a statement on Telegram, after receiving a report from Oleh Ivashchenko, head of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR). “Everything is confirmed by internal Russian documents,” Zelensky said. “They are preparing it for the fall,” he c

UNITED NATIONS, August 12 ------ The United Nations estimates that more than 16,000 civilians detained by Russia during its war in Ukraine are still being “deprived of their liberty,” many held incommunicado and on grounds that don’t comply with international law. “Widespread and systematic torture and ill-treatment” of both Ukrainian civilian detainees and prisoners of war by Russia are continuing, including sexual violence, said Claudia Fuentes Julio, the U.N. assistant s

CALI, Colombia, August 11 ------ A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, killing at least 111 people, damaging hundreds of buildings and leaving many trapped under debris while their loved ones and rescue workers searched through rubble. Search teams and civilians picked through the remains of destroyed buildings in the country’s third-largest city, Cali, passing large pieces of concrete and other rubble down a long line of volunteers. “Our building has b

NEW YORK, August 11 ------ Stock markets were little changed, holding near record highs amid thin summer volumes, as investors awaited inflation data this week while mostly shrugging off the latest spike in oil prices. Iran issued a litany of conditions to a potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. US President Donald Trump responded by saying the United States would seek conflict compensation from Iran. The back-and-forth sent oil prices about five percent higher, weighi

KYIV, August 11 ------ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia was preparing to station more North Korean troops on its territory and had received more ballistic missiles from Pyongyang. Zelensky has repeatedly warned of deepening military ties between Moscow and Pyongyang, often while appealing for more Western air-defense supplies. "This is the first time they cannot wage war without supplements from North Korea," he said in his nightly address, referring to

August 11 ------ Russia's monthly production of key missiles is running 10–20% above target, while output of some models is even higher, Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy head of Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR), said in an interview with RBC-Ukraine. The statement comes as Ukraine faces a significant shortage of air defense capabilities needed to intercept Russian ballistic missiles. ‌‌While Ukrainian forces have maintained high interception rates against other missile ty