PH still deadliest country in Asia for environmental defenders for 13th straight year

Rappler - Sep 17, 2026

The latest report from watchdog group Global Witness says violence against defenders in the Philippines in 2025 was linked to the government's counterinsurgency programs and extractive projects

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House halts DICT budget talks over online safety concerns

Sep 17, 2026

MANILA, Philippines – The House of Representatives late Wednesday held off from further discussing the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s (DICT) proposed 2027 budget, as lawmakers flagged online safety concerns during floor debates on the agency’s spending plan. Philreca party-list Rep. Presley de Jesus motioned that debates on DICT’s P10.68 billion be deferred as

Vietnamese woman arrested for stealing Chinese tourist's luggage at Bangkok airport

Sep 17, 2026

A 27-year-old Vietnamese national was arrested on Sept. 15 for allegedly stealing a luxury suitcase from a baggage carousel at Suvarnabhumi airport, Thai authorities said.

DOE: High initial costs of renewable energy only temporary

Sep 17, 2026

The high initial costs for new technologies for clean energy are temporary, the Department of Energy (DOE) said Thursday that amid skepticism about switching to renewable energy sources.

Bayan to Palace: Focus on anti-corruption drive, not Sept. 21 rallies

Sep 17, 2026

MANILA, Philippines — Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) on Thursday slammed Malacañang for urging protesters to maintain peace in rallies expected to mark the 54th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law on Monday, September 21. “Ang dapat na rendahan nila yung mga kurakot, yung mga abusado sa kapangyarihan,” Bayan Secretary-General Mong Palatino said on the

China opens its first major river-to-sea canal since 1949 as $10.8B shortcut to Southeast Asia

Sep 17, 2026

China opened a major canal on Wednesday that will provide landlocked areas with direct access to the sea, state media said, reducing transport times and costs as the country aims to bolster trade ties with regional neighbors.

Legal scholar urges review of legitimacy rules in Philippine family law

Sep 17, 2026

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine family law should look beyond traditional labels of legitimacy and give greater weight to the actual circumstances and best interests of children, a legal scholar and human rights advocate said. Ateneo de Manila University professor Atty. Amparita S. Sta. Maria raised the issue at the opening of the university’s new “Ateneo

Team Japan forced to look at alternate accommodation options at home Asian Games

Sep 17, 2026

Abandoning plans to set up an Athletes' Village, 2026 Asian Games host Nagoya sets up alternative accommodation options, including a chartered cruise ship and shipping-container style huts

DOE scraps 2026 coal mine auction, eyes rule overhaul

Sep 17, 2026

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Energy (DOE) has terminated its planned coal mine auction set for this year, including the highly coveted Semirara Island, as it seeks to overhaul awarding rules and ensure greater economic gains for the government. In an advisory dated September 15, the agency scrapped the 2026 coal bid round covering

Camarines Norte robbery-shooting suspect nabbed after 8 hours

Sep 17, 2026

LEGAZPI CITY — An eight-hour manhunt ended with the arrest of a man suspected of shooting a driver of a public utility during a robbery in Basud town, Camarines Norte, on Tuesday, a belated report says. Police cornered the suspect at 5:35 p.m. in Purok 1, Barangay Napolidan in the municipality of Lupi, about 43

New FAM president pledges to rebuild trust, strengthen leadership

Sep 17, 2026

Ghani says he will do his utmost to restore trust in the organisation.

Passengers rescued after vessel runs aground in Occidental Mindoro

Sep 17, 2026

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — A passenger ship ran aground after midnight on Thursday near Sitio Sigman in Barangay Udalo, Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro, local disaster management officials said. The shipping company of the distressed vessel Roromaster 5 had initially reported that the grounded ship was carrying 80 passengers and 24 rolling cargo units from

SNAPSHOT | PMO: North-South Expressway widening project letter is fake; minister pans Umno leader's joke

Sep 17, 2026

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[READOUT] Where businesses can plug into the Luzon Corridor

Sep 17, 2026

Of the initiative’s roughly $20 billion worth of disclosed opportunities, 99% are in transport, logistics, and energy projects, underscoring how much of the corridor’s high-tech potential still depends on getting the basics right first

Gov't work on September 28 suspended starting 1 p.m. for National Family Week

Sep 17, 2026

Malacañang on Thursday suspended government work on September 28, starting at 1 p.m. to commemorate the 34th National Family Week.

Rohingya blame game: PAS leader accuses Anwar of 'amnesia'

Sep 17, 2026

Unfortunate that PM plays the blame game when problems arise, Fadhli says.

DFA alarmed by Israel's West Bank settlement plan, says it could violate int'l law

Sep 17, 2026

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday expressed alarm over the Israeli government's settlement plan in the West Bank, citing it could violate international law.

Peso, PSEi climb after Fed rate hike

Sep 17, 2026

The Philippine peso appreciated against its US counterpart for the third straight trading day following the Federal Reserve"s first rate hike in three years.

DOE eyes Zamboanga for oil storage facility site

Sep 17, 2026

The Department of Energy (DOE) said on Thursday that it is considering a larger area in Zamboanga to set up a storage facility that can handle 50 million barrels of oil.

Marcoleta won't ask court to let him participate in VP Sara impeachment trial

Sep 17, 2026

Senator Rodante Marcoleta on Thursday said he won"t ask the Sandiganbayan Third Division to allow him to participate in the impeachment trial of his ally, Vice President Sara Duterte.

Macalintal asks Marcos to veto 5-year term for barangay, SK officials

Sep 17, 2026

Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal on Thursday asked President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to veto the measure seeking to "fix" the term of office of barangay officials and members of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) to five years.

8 ex-NPA rebels surrender in Northern Samar

Sep 17, 2026

TACLOBAN CITY — Eight former members of the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered to authorities in Northern Samar and turned over 13 high-powered firearms. The Philippine Army described this development as another significant development in its campaign against communist insurgency in the province. The 8th Infantry Division (8ID), based in Catbalogan City, Samar, said the

EU Commission proposes under-13s social media ban

Sep 17, 2026

Under the proposal, which will need to be negotiated with EU countries and the European Parliament in the coming months before it can become law, accounts for children between 13 and 15 will be under parental control

NEA seeks extra P7 billion to eliminate non-technical system losses

Sep 17, 2026

NEA says eliminating non-technical system losses will require a phased transition, with cooperatives needing billions in loans for metering and other upgrades before they can absorb the costs

Senators to have caucus on impeachment voting threshold

Sep 17, 2026

Following a consultation with amici curiae or friends of the court, the senator-judges will have a meeting regarding the voting threshold needed to either convict or acquit Vice President Sara Duterte in her impeachment trial.

Senators react to Rodrigo Duterte's first in-person appearance before ICC

Sep 17, 2026

Some senators on Thursday shared their reactions after former president Rodrigo Duterte made his first in-person appearance before the International Criminal Court.

ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office releases the 2026 ASEAN+3 Financial Stability Report

Sep 17, 2026

Join the launch of the ASEAN+3 Financial Stability Report 2026 on October 5. It assesses financial resilience, explores risks, and discusses policy priorities amid geopolitical uncertainties and AI investment optimism. Upcoming Launch of the ASEAN+3 Financial Stability Report 2026 On Monday, October 5, at 10:30 am Singapore time, the ASEAN+3 Financial Stability Report (AFSR) 2026 […]

Makati’s No. 4 most wanted arrested in Puerto Princesa

Sep 17, 2026

CALAPAN CITY — Police arrested Makati City’s No. 4 most wanted fugitive, who is facing a robbery with homicide case, during a manhunt operation in Puerto Princesa City on Wednesday afternoon. The 22-year-old suspect, a resident of Puerto Princesa, was arrested in Barangay Model based on a warrant issued on June 11, 2024, by the

Marcos wants scaled-up manufacturing, production for small businesses

Sep 17, 2026

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday said that he is hoping to scale up the manufacturing and production processes for small businesses.

Thailand Emphasizes Maritime Boundary as a Key Focus in UNCLOS Talks

Sep 17, 2026

Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister emphasized maritime boundary delimitation as key in UNCLOS proceedings with Cambodia, while addressing land border tensions and confirming readiness for upcoming meetings in The Hague. Key Points Deputy Prime Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow emphasized Thailand’s commitment to maritime boundary delimitation in conciliation proceedings with Cambodia under UNCLOS, following the first Commission meeting […]

First chemotherapy center in Occidental Mindoro to rise in Mamburao

Sep 17, 2026

CALAPAN CITY — Occidental Mindoro’s first chemotherapy center is set to be established in Mamburao, giving cancer patients access to treatment without having to travel outside the province, local officials said. The planned Prime Care Mamburao Chemotherapy Center is expected to provide chemotherapy services to patients from Mamburao and nearby municipalities. Among the services announced

Hanoi residents bail out homes, paddle boats through flooded streets

Sep 17, 2026

Hanoi residents blocked doorways with wooden boards, bailed out homes with buckets and took aluminum boats onto the streets on Thursday as floodwater stalled vehicles en masse.

Samoa charges two over killing of Australian in Vietnam

Sep 17, 2026

Police in Samoa have charged two men over the killing of a Sydney gangland figure outside a seafood restaurant in Vietnam in May, they said Thursday.

4 more listed passengers did not board MV June Aster

Sep 17, 2026

Puerto Princesa City — Four more individuals listed in the passenger manifest of the ill-fated MV June Aster have been confirmed to have not boarded the vessel when it left Baseco Port in Manila on Sept. 8, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Wednesday night. PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemi Cayabyab said the Emergency Operation Center

FACT CHECK: No lockdown in Malacañang after court ordered VP Sara’s arrest

Sep 17, 2026

No credible reports confirm that barricades and barbed wire were installed around Malacañang due to the issuance of Duterte's arrest warrant, contrary to the claim

Fire hits part of Angeles City public market

Sep 17, 2026

MABALACAT CITY, Pampanga – A fire hit a portion of the Pampang Public Market in Angeles City on Wednesday night, displacing dozens of stall owners. The Bureau of Fire Protection in Angeles City declared the blaze “contained” early Thursday, although firefighters were still working to fully extinguish it. READ: Pampanga helps ease floods at NLEx

Malacañang notes Rodrigo Duterte's 'good condition', acceptance of situation after ICC appearance

Sep 17, 2026

Following Rodrigo Duterte"s personal appearance before the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague in the Netherlands on September 16, the Palace on Thursday said the former president appeared to be in good condition and appears to have accepted his current legal situation.

How Thai King Rama X and Queen Suthida qualify to fly their own jet

Sep 17, 2026

Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida flew their own Boeing 737-800 into Hanoi on Sept. 14, five days after the country's aviation regulator renewed their qualifications to fly the jet.

KINIGUIDE | Negeri Sembilan royal rumble: What's going on?

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Malaysiakini details timeline of what has been happening with state royal institution.

After Senate passes bill, will 2026 barangay, SK polls be postponed?

Sep 17, 2026

The measure fixes the term of all elected barangay and SK officials to five years and moves the village and youth polls to the second Monday of November starting in 2028

LPA off Palawan to bring rains across parts of PH

Sep 17, 2026

MANILA, Philippines — A low pressure area (LPA) being monitored inside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) has a low chance of developing into a tropical depression but it will bring rains over parts of the country on Thursday, according to the state weather bureau. In its 5 a.m. weather forecast, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical,

PH still deadliest country in Asia for environmental defenders for 13th straight year

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Legal scholar urges review of legitimacy rules in Philippine family law

Team Japan forced to look at alternate accommodation options at home Asian Games

DOE scraps 2026 coal mine auction, eyes rule overhaul

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Peso, PSEi climb after Fed rate hike

DOE eyes Zamboanga for oil storage facility site

Marcoleta won't ask court to let him participate in VP Sara impeachment trial

Macalintal asks Marcos to veto 5-year term for barangay, SK officials

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EU Commission proposes under-13s social media ban

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