Philippines

Rising electricity costs and frequent blackouts in the Philippines have led businesses like Dream Latte Cafe to adopt solar power as a practical necessity. The cafe, run by Joab Jorge and his mother Ces, has raised prices by 10% to offset higher costs driven by an energy crisis linked to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in February.

Vice President Sara Duterte is facing impeachment in a trial that could influence the 2028 presidential race and assess public confidence in the Philippines' democratic institutions.

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte faces an impeachment trial on charges including threatening President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and others. She declared she would be 'bloodied but unbowed' during the trial, which began in the Senate and includes accusations of making violent threats in a 2024 online news conference.

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte is facing an impeachment trial and expects to be 'bloodied but unbowed' by the process.

India and Indonesia have expanded their defense ties with a deal for New Delhi to supply BrahMos missiles. This follows similar agreements between India and Vietnam, as well as India and the Philippines.

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio did not attend her impeachment trial, with her lawyers defending her against charges that could remove her from office and bar her from politics, potentially reshaping the 2028 presidential race. Legal experts suggest conviction would require at least 16 senators but may be difficult to achieve.

The Philippine Senate has initiated an impeachment trial against Sara Duterte. The trial is part of a growing conflict between the country's leading political families and may influence the 2028 presidential election.

The impeachment trial of Philippines Vice President Sara Duterte has begun. The trial is related to allegations against her, though specific charges are not detailed in the provided text.

The Philippines' government approved a record 85-peso wage increase for Metro Manila's minimum-wage workers, calling it 'historic,' but labor groups criticized it as insufficient. The increase will be implemented in two stages and is barely enough to buy a meal for one, highlighting workers' dissatisfaction.

Super Typhoon Bavi, a massive cyclone, is approaching the Mariana Islands east of the Philippines and is forecast to strike Rota early Monday morning local time with extreme, life-threatening winds.

Super Typhoon Bavi, a massive cyclone, is approaching the Mariana Islands east of the Philippines and is expected to strike Rota early Monday morning local time. The typhoon brings extreme, life-threatening winds near Guam.

Beijing deployed a new coastguard task force into waters east of Taiwan, the second such deployment in about a month. The move follows China’s top diplomat urging Washington to exercise caution on Taiwan and high-level talks with the Philippines to address South China Sea tensions.

China has increased its territorial claims in the sea east of Taiwan. Beijing argues that Japan-Philippines maritime border negotiations violate international law.

Vietnam and the Philippines were reclassified as upper-middle-income countries by the World Bank in 2025 based on their GNI per capita of $4,970 and $4,850, respectively. The upgrade reflects Vietnam's 8% economic growth driven by exports and foreign investment, and the Philippines' 4.4% growth despite natural disasters. Both nations now face challenges in avoiding the middle-income trap to reach high-income status.

China issued a legal warning to Japan and the Philippines over their planned maritime border talks, calling the negotiations 'internationally wrongful.' The talks aim to delimit overlapping exclusive economic zones and continental shelf areas claimed by China.

China continues to view the United States as its primary geopolitical rival despite a report highlighting increased military activity by Japan and the Philippines in the South China Sea. The report noted Tokyo and Manila's growing defense cooperation with Washington, which Beijing perceives as threats to its territorial claims and regional influence.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. pledged to strengthen trade, energy, and security ties as Canada seeks to diversify its economy beyond the United States. The two leaders announced plans for a Canada-Philippines free trade agreement and deeper Indo-Pacific defense cooperation, supported by the Filipino-Canadian community.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. pledged to strengthen trade, energy, and security ties, including pursuing a Canada-Philippines free trade agreement and deepening Indo-Pacific defense cooperation. Canada aims to diversify its economy beyond the U.S. and double non-U.S. exports, supported by its one million Filipino-Canadian community.

Canada and the Philippines have agreed to sign a trade deal this year and expand their defense ties. The agreement was announced during a meeting between Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Vancouver on July 2, 2026.

A Chinese think tank reported that Philippine military bases open to US troops have expanded more slowly than expected, based on satellite imagery. The analysis focused on nine sites under the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the Philippines and the US, noting Washington's efforts to reposition the Philippines strategically.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr is visiting Canada to strengthen ties in trade, labor, energy, tourism, defense, and maritime cooperation. The visit highlights Canada's efforts to expand its influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Philippines' near-total abortion ban has led women to seek underground services, exemplified by the arrest of a 65-year-old woman selling abortion pills in Manila. Access to end pregnancies relies on informal networks like online sellers, market vendors, and uncertain-quality pills outside formal medical care.

The Philippines has set a record pay hike for workers in Manila in response to rising inflation.

The Philippines is positioning itself as a gateway for Greater Bay Area businesses into Southeast Asia, according to Trade Secretary Cristina Aldeguer-Roque, who highlighted the country's young, digitally fluent workforce to attract investors.

The US Army is exploring drone boats to address declining readiness and size of its watercraft fleet in the Pacific. It plans to test an autonomous vessel by next summer and potentially acquire 30-100 medium-sized uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) for supply and transport missions. The Army's current watercraft mission-capable rate dropped below 40% in 2024 due to maintenance issues.

The article discusses the downfalls of would-be autocrats in Hungary, Brazil, and the Philippines and draws parallels to Donald Trump, highlighting potential lessons for America.

The Philippines, a major nickel producer in Southeast Asia, faces a critical juncture in its nickel policy. Weak policy design risks depleting nickel resources instead of leveraging them for national industrialization.

The Philippines has become the world’s largest spender on solar panels as rising electricity prices drive households to adopt rooftop solar power. Power distributor Meralco increased rates by 10% following the Middle East conflict, leading to 12% of median household income being spent on electricity for average consumers.

The Philippines is experiencing slower economic growth and a weak peso, with these issues expected to persist beyond the term of Marcos. A vegetable market in Taguig City, Metro Manila, is depicted as part of the local context.

A school shooting in the Philippines killed three students and injured dozens, highlighting the country's long-standing gun proliferation problem and easy access to weapons despite strict laws. Videos showed the shooters' familiarity with firearms, with 21 cartridge cases recovered.

The Philippines, UAE, and Indonesia are set to begin accession talks for the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The Port of Cebu in Cebu City, Philippines, is mentioned in the article.

Philippine authorities prevented a second potential school attack in Leyte province following a recent shooting in Tacloban City. A tip from Senator Bam Aquino led to the thwarted plan, which involved reported chatter about an impending mass shooting.

The Philippine Bond Relief Rally is experiencing skepticism from institutional investors. The rally's effectiveness remains uncertain due to institutional doubts.

The US, UK, France, and Germany criticized China's Coast Guard patrols near Taiwan's east coast, claiming they threaten regional stability and freedom of navigation. China justified the patrols as a response to Japan and the Philippines' maritime boundary talks, which it asserts involve its exclusive economic zone, while Taiwan reported merchant ships being harassed by Chinese vessels.

Chinese researchers discovered hawksbill sea turtles near Scarborough Shoal, a contested area in the South China Sea, with experts suggesting the scientific findings aim to legitimize China's territorial claims. State media coverage of marine research and conservation efforts in disputed waters, including coral reef surveys, is framed as strategic signaling to reinforce Beijing's presence and sovereignty assertions over the shoal, which is also claimed by the Philippines.

Chinese-Filipino business groups have sent aid to earthquake victims in the southern Philippines, maintaining their tradition of disaster relief amid strained Manila-Beijing relations. Local officials in General Santos City, one of the hardest-hit areas, stated politics has not interfered with recovery efforts following the 7.8-magnitude earthquake on June 8.

A school shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, Leyte province, killed three students and injured 20 others, prompting lawmakers to focus on internet restrictions rather than gun control. The incident has renewed calls to limit Filipino children's access to social media and online games.

The Philippines temporarily blocked the GoreBox gaming app following a school shooting that killed three students and injured 20. Investigators found that one of the two teenagers accused of the shooting regularly used the app, which features graphic violence and weapon use.

Niger has formally left the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing it of selective justice. This follows similar exits by Mali and Burkina Faso, with Niger's withdrawal effective 12 months after notifying the UN. The ICC expressed disappointment, citing the departure as undermining efforts to combat impunity for serious international crimes.

Philippine authorities temporarily blocked the online gaming app Gorebox, which one of two students responsible for a deadly school shooting had used, to assess its potential role in fostering violence. The suspects, aged 14 and 15, opened fire at San Jose National High School, killing three students and wounding 20 others, and obtained firearms from family members.