Category: Asia

Philippines

Marawi Goes on High Alert: Army Reinforces Security as Historic BARMM Vote Draws Near

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur — Security preparations in Marawi are intensifying as the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) moves into the final days before its first parliamentary elections on September 14, 2026. The Philippine Army’s 4th Mechanized Infantry “Kalasag” Battalion has stepped up preparations through troop briefings, rehearsals and coordination with government agencies involved in election security, according to Lt. Col. Eugene Flores, the battalion’s commanding o

September 6, 2026

Business

PH Inflation Falls to 6.1% for the Fourth Straight Slowdown — But Rice Prices Are Moving in the Opposite Direction

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine inflation eased for a fourth consecutive month in August, offering another sign that the country's severe price pressures may be losing some momentum. But underneath the encouraging headline figure lies a more complicated—and potentially more painful—story for Filipino households. The Philippine Statistics Authority said headline inflation slowed to 6.1% in August from 6.2% in July, primarily because food, electricity and other household costs rose more slowly.

September 6, 2026

Business

The Philippines Just Put Its Investment Permits Into One Digital Guide — But Investors Still Have to Survive the Actual Approval Process

MANILA, Philippines — For years, one of the frustrations facing investors in the Philippines has not necessarily been a lack of opportunity. It has been figuring out which permit comes first, which government office issues it, which document another agency requires—and whether the rules changed while the project was still being processed. The Board of Investments is now trying to make that maze easier to navigate. The BOI has formally received a Digital Investor’s Guidebook that consolidates

September 6, 2026

Politics

Trump’s Envoys Took a New Ukraine Peace Plan to Putin — But Three Hours of Talks Produced No Breakthrough

MOSCOW/KYIV — Donald Trump's latest attempt to end the Russia-Ukraine war has moved from announcement to face-to-face diplomacy — but the first major meeting has already shown how difficult the road to peace remains. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential adviser Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, held more than three hours of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Saturday, carrying what Trump has called a new proposal aimed at ending the conflict. The Kremli

September 6, 2026

Politics

TRUMP ENVOYS LAND IN KYIV AFTER PUTIN TALKS—NOW THE REAL TEST BEGINS

KYIV, Ukraine — A major diplomatic push by the Trump administration entered a critical stage Sunday after U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Kyiv for their first official visit to Ukraine as Washington attempts to revive negotiations aimed at ending Russia's war. Their arrival came just one day after the two U.S. negotiators held more than three hours of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The Kremlin described the discussions as productive, while Washingt

September 6, 2026

Entertainment

Prince Harry Is Back in Britain After Saying It Was Too Dangerous — But the Security Battle He Lost Is Starting Again

LONDON — Six years after Prince Harry and Meghan walked away from frontline royal duties and built a new life in California, the Duke of Sussex is back in Britain with his wife and children. But one of the biggest arguments surrounding their departure never went away. Who should protect them — and who should pay for it? Harry, Meghan, seven-year-old Prince Archie and five-year-old Princess Lilibet returned to Britain on Aug. 26, landing at Birmingham Airport before beginning what is expected

September 6, 2026

Business

Diesel Could Jump ₱5.50 a Liter Tuesday — But the Philippines’ Fuel Problem Is Getting Bigger Than One Price Hike

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino motorists who thought this week's pump-price rollback offered some breathing room may have to give much of that relief back almost immediately. Fuel prices are expected to surge again on Tuesday, September 8, with the latest full-week industry calculations pointing to an increase of approximately ₱4.50 to ₱5.50 per liter for diesel and ₱4.00 to ₱4.50 for gasoline. Some estimates reported by ABS-CBN put the possible diesel increase as high as roughly ₱6 per liter,

September 6, 2026

Philippines

Senate Ratings Fall, House Gains Ground—But What Happened to Public Trust?

MANILA, Philippines — Public trust and satisfaction ratings for the Philippine Senate declined in the second quarter of 2026, while the House of Representatives posted modest gains, according to the latest OCTA Research Tugon ng Masa survey. The results reveal a shifting public mood toward the two chambers of Congress—with the Senate still holding slightly higher overall ratings than the House, but losing ground as the lower chamber begins to recover. Senate Trust and Satisfaction Ratings Dec

September 6, 2026

Philippines

BUTUAN RUNS DRY: Nearly 100,000 Residents Hit as City Declares State of Calamity—What Happens If the Water Doesn’t Return?

BUTUAN CITY — A worsening water shortage has pushed Butuan City into a state of calamity, with more than 91,000 residents now experiencing low water pressure or no water service as prolonged dry conditions continue to drain the city's water sources. The Sangguniang Panlungsod approved the declaration on Saturday, September 5, 2026, through Resolution No. 17-444-2026, as officials confronted what authorities described as a severe and continuing disruption to the city's water supply. The latest

September 6, 2026

Philippines

Philippines Revives Old Flood Master Plan as Climate Threats Worsen—But Will It Finally Work?

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government is once again revisiting long-standing flood management plans as increasingly extreme rainfall, destructive flooding and the growing impact of climate change expose the country's vulnerability—and raise difficult questions about why previous solutions were never fully implemented. Malacañang confirmed that the government is reviewing earlier flood-control strategies, including the so-called Aquino-Singson Master Plan, while the Department of Publi

September 6, 2026