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Super Typhoon Ragasa Slams Northern Philippines

Michael Esparza
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Super Typhoon Ragasa Slams Northern Philippines

Thousands were evacuated Monday as Super Typhoon Ragasa, described as potentially “catastrophic,” made landfall over Panuitan Island in Cagayan province with gusts up to 230 km/h (143 mph). The storm threatens life-threatening storm surges of more than 3 meters (10 feet), widespread flooding, and landslides.

Schools Closed and Communities at Risk

Classes and government offices shut across large areas, including Manila. The remote Batanes and Babuyan islands—home to about 20,000 residents, many in poverty—were hit first. Authorities warn of heavy damage to homes and infrastructure as Ragasa barrels west toward southern China.

Regional Impact Beyond the Philippines

Taiwan, about 740 km (460 miles) north, expects torrential rain despite not taking a direct hit. Forest trails and ferry services have been suspended, and nearly 300 people have evacuated Hualien County.

China and Hong Kong Prepare

China’s Guangdong province urged residents to brace for a “large-scale disaster,” planning evacuations ahead of Ragasa’s expected landfall later this week. In Shenzhen, officials aim to move 400,000 people. Hong Kong authorities warned weather will “deteriorate rapidly,” prompting Cathay Pacific to cancel 500 flights and Hong Kong Airlines to suspend all departures from Tuesday evening.

Storm Strikes Amid Flood Fatigue

The Philippines is already reeling from weeks of intense monsoon flooding. Over the weekend, tens of thousands protested government corruption and a lack of flood-control infrastructure, underscoring frustration as yet another major storm bears down on the region.

For more headlines from around the globe that you must know, tune in to Que Onda Magazine.

It’s a summery start to fall, but a midweek cool front will usher in a fall-feel later this week

ABC13 Houston
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It’s a summery start to fall, but a midweek cool front will usher in a fall-feel later this week


HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Welcome to Fall, y’all!

Fall officially begins at 1:19 p.m. Monday, but it will still feel like summer. Monday looks slightly drier than what Southeast Texas experienced Sunday, but a few showers and storms can’t be ruled out with this summery airmass overhead. Best chance for rain Monday will be south of I-10 and along the coast. Otherwise, look for a partly cloudy and warm day with afternoon highs climbing into the low 90s.

What’s the latest on this incoming “cool” front?

Good news is that it’s looking more and more likely that a cool front will move through Southeast Texas later this week. As for a temperature drop, don’t get your hopes up. This time around, this front will first provide the chance for showers and storms Wednesday evening and night, few of which could be on the stronger side with gusty winds and heavy rainfall. Then as the front slowly pushes offshore, a few showers could linger for Thursday morning. By Thursday afternoon you may start to feel the second impact of this front, which is lower humidity. Friday through Sunday then we get to experience drier, sunnier days with lower humidity and season temperatures… which means morning lows in the upper 60s and afternoon highs in the upper 80s.

When does fall begin?

The autumnal equinox is on Monday, September 22, at 1:19 p.m. marking the end of astronomical summer and the beginning of astronomical fall. Meteorological Fall began on September 1st.

What is happening in the tropics?

Hurricane Gabrielle is moving over the central Atlantic with two more tropical waves to monitor in the Atlantic. For a thorough update and in-depth video on what’s happening in the tropics, head to our tropical update page.

This story comes from our news partner ABC13 Houston.

For more Houston headlines, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine!

Colleges Scramble to Retain International Students

Edward Saenz
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Colleges Scramble to Retain International Students

American universities are working overtime to keep international students enrolled as visa delays and new restrictions cut into admissions. The State Department’s pause on visa interviews this summer and heightened scrutiny under the Trump administration have left schools racing to help students secure entry to the U.S.

Davidson College’s All-Out Effort

When visa appointments halted in May, Davidson College President Douglas Hicks and his team personally guided three dozen international students through alternative consulates and paperwork. Nearly all arrived by August, preserving the liberal-arts school’s 11% international population.

National Enrollment Slump

Despite individual successes, many campuses report steep declines. Saint Louis University’s international enrollment dropped 45%, largely among graduate students. The University of Cincinnati saw a 25% decline in international graduate students, while Arizona State University—normally the top public destination—reported a 3% dip of about 500 students.

Economic Stakes

International students contributed $43.8 billion to the U.S. economy in 2023–24 through tuition and living expenses. Universities rely on these full-tuition-paying students to subsidize scholarships for domestic peers, making sudden declines a serious financial strain.

Visa and Policy Barriers

The State Department defends its intensified screening as a security measure. Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted concerns about Chinese students with potential ties to the Communist Party. Broader travel bans now block applicants from 19 countries, including Iran, Afghanistan, and Haiti, leaving many aspiring scholars in limbo.

Shifting Global Landscape

Administrators warn that uncertainty is pushing top students toward other nations. Cornell’s vice provost for international affairs, Wendy Wolford, called the U.S. “a highly unpredictable landscape,” noting competitors abroad are seizing the moment to recruit admitted students.

Changing Demand

Some schools also cite waning interest in certain tech-related master’s programs, particularly those that rapidly expanded in recent years. The University at Buffalo lost over 1,000 graduate-level international students, mostly in STEM fields, despite a record undergraduate class.

Holding on to Optimism

Davidson continues to draw thousands of international applications with a 3% admission rate. Hicks says he reassures families that their students will find not just an education but a welcoming home, even as U.S. policies make the path to campus more uncertain.

For more on international students’ retention at American colleges during the Trump era, tune in to Que Onda Magazine.

Trump Expected to Approve U.S.-Based TikTok Deal

Indira Zaldivar
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Trump Expected to Approve U.S.-Based TikTok Deal

President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order this week approving a new agreement that places TikTok’s U.S. operations under majority American ownership. A senior White House official said the move will keep all U.S. user data stored in a secure domestic cloud and under American oversight.

Majority-American Ownership

The plan creates a joint-venture company that will run TikTok in the United States. ByteDance, TikTok’s Beijing-based parent, will hold less than 20% of the stock. A seven-member board—mostly U.S. citizens—will manage the company, with one ByteDance-appointed member barred from serving as board chair or on the data security committee.

Oracle as Trusted Security Provider

Oracle will become TikTok’s official security partner, monitoring data operations and safeguarding information. The company will handle source code review, algorithm retraining, and application development while storing Americans’ data in a dedicated U.S. cloud environment protected by perimeter controls and machine learning systems.

Algorithm Secured and Retrained

TikTok’s U.S. algorithm will be duplicated, leased to the joint-venture, and fully separated from ByteDance control. Oracle will retrain and monitor the system to prevent foreign influence and ensure content integrity.

Continuous Global Access

Despite the ownership changes, the app will remain globally interoperable, allowing American users to view international content while keeping their data secure in the United States. The user experience will remain uninterrupted.

Economic and Legal Impact

White House officials project the agreement could generate $178 billion in economic activity over four years and sustain thousands of American jobs. The executive order will delay enforcement of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act for up to 120 days, following months of negotiations and previous extensions.

Background of the Ban

Congress passed a law, signed by President Biden, banning apps controlled by foreign adversaries over national security concerns. After surviving a Supreme Court challenge, the law took effect in January 2025. Trump granted multiple enforcement delays as talks with ByteDance continued, culminating in this pending deal.

For more on this story, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Bad Bunny Honors Puerto Rico and Hurricane Maria Survivors

Indira Zaldivar
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Bad Bunny Honors Puerto Rico and Hurricane Maria Survivors

Bad Bunny closed his 30-concert Puerto Rico residency Saturday with a powerful tribute on the eighth anniversary of Hurricane Maria. The sold-out show celebrated resilience and the island’s enduring spirit, streaming globally for the first time via Amazon Music, Prime Video and Twitch.

A Night of Pride and Remembrance

The superstar raised a glass “for you,” dedicating the night to Puerto Ricans who survived the 2017 storm that killed nearly 3,000 and left communities without power for months. Fans waved flags bearing the death toll and wore shirts honoring those lost, while chronic power outages and slow reconstruction remain pressing issues.

Star-Studded Finale

Puerto Rican icons Ñengo Flow, Jowell y Randy, Dei V, Arcángel and De la Ghetto joined Bad Bunny on stage. The biggest surprise came when Marc Anthony appeared for a rare duet of the classic “Preciosa,” bringing the crowd to a roar of “Yo te quiero, Puerto Rico!”

Fans Flock to Celebrate

Thousands gathered hours early, some wearing Puerto Rico’s national flower and traditional straw hats. Many were moved by personal milestones: birthdays, cancer remissions and memories of Maria. Demand for tickets was so intense that some waited online for hours without success.

Economic and Cultural Impact

The residency drew about half a million attendees and generated an estimated $733 million for the island, with visitors traveling from the Dominican Republic, Colombia and Spain. Around 70% of concertgoers were women, with an average age of 33.

Farewell Before Global Tour

Bad Bunny thanked fans for their love, promising to carry the island’s spirit on his upcoming world tour, which will skip the mainland U.S. in protest of federal immigration policies. As the show ended, the crowd erupted in the traditional chant: “Yo soy boricua!”—“Pa’ que tú lo sepas!”—a proud declaration of Puerto Rican identity.

For the latest news on our Latino and Hispanic stars, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

France, UK, Canada Recognize Palestinian Statehood

Indira Zaldivar
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France, UK, Canada Recognize Palestinian Statehood

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced that the United Kingdom now formally recognizes a Palestinian state, marking a major shift in foreign policy. He said the move aims to “keep alive the possibility of peace and a two-state solution” amid escalating violence in Gaza.

International Support

Australia, Canada, and Portugal joined the UK in recognising Palestinian statehood, with France expected to follow. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the decision, calling it a step toward a future of “security, peace and good neighbourliness.”

Israeli and U.S. Backlash

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the decision, warning it “rewards terrorism.” The U.S. echoed concerns, saying recognition benefits Hamas, which carried out the deadly 2023 attacks in southern Israel. Families of hostages still held in Gaza called the move a “betrayal.”

Starmer’s Defense

Starmer stressed the recognition is “not a reward for Hamas,” insisting the group “can have no future, no role in government, no role in security.” UK officials said the recognition is based on 1967 borders with land swaps to be settled in future negotiations.

War and Humanitarian Crisis

The announcement comes amid a worsening conflict. Israeli strikes in Gaza have killed more than 65,000 people, according to Gaza’s health ministry, while famine and mass displacement grip the territory. UN investigators recently accused Israel of genocide, a charge Israel rejects.

Divided Political Reactions

At home, Conservatives labeled the decision “disastrous,” while Liberal Democrats called it “long overdue.” Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy admitted the move will not end hostilities immediately but said “now is the time to stand up for a two-state solution.”

Broader Context

Roughly 75% of UN member states already recognise Palestine, though it lacks defined borders or a standing army. Analysts say the UK’s action is largely symbolic but signals growing international pressure for a negotiated peace and a lasting two-state solution.

For more on this story, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Cyberattack Hits Major European Airports

Edward Saenz
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Cyberattack Hits Major European Airports

A cyberattack targeting airline check-in and boarding systems disrupted air traffic across several major European airports on Saturday, exposing weaknesses in aviation security.

Systems Forced to Manual Check-In

The attack began late Friday, striking the third-party provider Collins Aerospace, which supplies self check-in and baggage-drop software. Airports in Brussels, Berlin, and London Heathrow were among those affected, forcing agents to process passengers manually.

Limited but Widespread Impact

Brussels Airport initially reported a “large impact,” canceling nine flights and redirecting four others. Berlin’s Brandenburg Airport and Heathrow said delays were minimal, but passengers faced long waits. One traveler at Heathrow described staff handwriting baggage tags and long lines at under-staffed counters.

Expert Concerns Over Vulnerabilities

Cybersecurity experts warned that aviation’s dependence on shared digital systems makes it an attractive target. “These attacks often strike through the supply chain, exploiting third-party platforms,” said Charlotte Wilson of Check Point.

Investigation Underway

Officials have not identified the perpetrators. Some analysts suspect hackers or state actors, while others believe it may be digital vandalism rather than an extortion attempt. Collins Aerospace said it is working to restore full functionality and emphasized that manual check-in remains a backup option.

For more on this story, tune in to Que Onda Magazine.

AOC Weighs Presidential or Senate Run

Indira Zaldivar
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AOC Weighs Presidential or Senate Run

Allies of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) say she is exploring major moves for her political future, including a 2028 presidential bid or a challenge to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

Progressive Momentum

Supporters highlight her unmatched small-dollar fundraising, massive social media following, and national name recognition. Strategist Joel Payne noted her “built-in constituency” and generational appeal, while others see her as the natural heir to Sen. Bernie Sanders’s progressive base.

Signs of a Senate Challenge

Ocasio-Cortez spent the summer hosting upstate New York town halls and touring with Sanders on a “Fighting Oligarchy” campaign, signaling serious consideration of a Schumer challenge. Some Democrats believe she could replicate her 2018 upset of Rep. Joe Crowley.

Opportunities and Obstacles

Strategists say the political landscape in 2028 is unpredictable. While her policies could energize younger voters, critics argue they may be too far left for a national electorate. Others caution that Schumer’s decades-long relationships and deep party ties would make a Senate race tough.

Star Power Remains

Regardless of the path she chooses, observers agree Ocasio-Cortez’s ability to raise funds, command media attention, and mobilize supporters ensures she will remain a central figure in Democratic politics for years to come.

For more on AOC, tune in to Que Onda Magazine.

Another chance for a few showers and storms Sunday

ABC13 Houston
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Another chance for a few showers and storms Sunday

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A few summertime showers and storms close out the last weekend of summer.

It’s a muggy morning on Sunday with a few storms developing early along the coast. Isolated showers and storms then could develop in the afternoon and evening Sunday across the region, though the best chance for rain on Sunday will favor our coastal communities. Besides that it’ll be a warm afternoon, fitting for the last day of summer with highs in the low 90s.

What’s the latest on next week’s “cool” front?

Don’t get your hopes too high with this one. The timing is still a little iffy, and assuming it does arrive as expected, it’s more of a humidity drop than a temperature drop. For now we have a the front arriving on Wednesday and deliver a brief dose of slightly drier and slightly cooler air through Saturday morning. The timing of the front’s arrival can still shift, but eventually we expect that slight temperature and humidity drop to arrive. As for temperature, we might get a few mornings in the 60s and a couple afternoons in the 80s out of this one.

When does fall begin?

The autumnal equinox is on Monday, September 22, marking the end of astronomical summer and the beginning of astronomical fall. Meteorological Fall began on September 1st. The fall “feeling” of cooler air still isn’t anywhere in sight.

What is happening in the tropics?

Tropical Storm Gabrielle is moving over the central Atlantic and a tropical wave over Africa could develop as it heads westward toward the Caribbean. For a thorough update and in-depth video on what’s happening in the tropics, head to our tropical update page.

This story comes from our news partner ABC13 Houston.

For more Houston headlines, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine!

Fatal Stabbing Outside Phish Concert

Indira Zaldivar
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Fatal Stabbing Outside Phish Concert

One person was killed and two others injured during a stabbing outside Phish’s Friday night show at Hampton Coliseum in Hampton, Virginia.

Police Response

Officers arrived shortly after 9:30 p.m., finding a violent altercation had occurred. Investigators said the suspect fled but emphasized the incident appeared isolated and that “all parties involved” were identified.

Victims’ Conditions

Cpl. Shaun Stalnaker reported the first victim died at a hospital. A second person remains hospitalized, while a third man later sought treatment for a non-life-threatening cut.

Band’s Statement

Phish expressed heartbreak on Instagram, noting they had no details beyond the police report but called the situation “deeply saddening.”

Shows Continue

Despite the tragedy, the band’s Saturday and Sunday concerts at Hampton Coliseum, closing their summer tour, were scheduled to proceed as planned.

For more weekend headlines, tune in to Que Onda Magazine.

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