US restricts visas for birth tourism ahead of Xi Jinping’s summit with Trump

MANILA, Philippines — The proposed public-private partnership (PPP) aimed at modernizing and sustaining the country’s fuel marking program (FMP) has advanced after securing P19.16 million in technical and transaction advisory support. The provisional approval by the Project Development and Monitoring Facility (PDMF) committee was made during its sessions on July 12 and Aug. 12. The

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Water Non-East Zone operating unit Boracay Water reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Boracay Island’s fragile environment as it joins the newly reorganized Wastewater Management Council (WMC) of the Municipality of Malay, a multi-stakeholder body tasked with strengthening wastewater governance, environmental protection, and public health initiatives across the island. The reorganization of

MANILA, Philippines — The House prosecution is relying on its evidence to convict Vice President Sara Duterte in her impeachment trial — not a modified voting threshold, former Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, House prosecution adviser and spokesperson, said on Wednesday. Barbers stressed that point during a post-trial news briefing after being asked about Senator-Judge Imee Marcos’

BAGUIO CITY — A 62-year-old driver died while his three passengers were hurt after a van plunged into a 10-meter-deep ravine in the Benguet farming town of Atok on Wednesday. The accident occurred at 11:10 a.m. along Km. 38 in Barangay Abiang, but police were notified at about 1:40 p.m. Initial police investigation showed that

CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela — After allegedly parking in a no-parking area, the husband of an Ilagan City councilor reportedly became furious and allegedly assaulted a traffic enforcer along a road in San Vicente village on Sept. 21. Bernardino Baldoz, 80, a former barangay chair, said he was managing traffic when he saw Policarpio Gaoiran,

MANILA, Philippines — A progressive group is seeking the assistance of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) in tracking and retrieving the mobile phones of two activists allegedly stolen during a martial law rally, with one supposedly traced from Camp Crame in Quezon City to Greenhills in San Juan City. In a letter dated Wednesday, Sept.

MANILA, Philippines — The new impeachment trial voting threshold of 14 can only be challenged in the Supreme Court if the senator-judges actually convict Vice President Sara Duterte, House prosecutor Chel Diokno said on Wednesday. Diokno stated that position after Senator-Judge Alan Peter Cayetano asked whether the Senate impeachment court or the SC should settle

RAMON MAGSAYSAY, Zamboanga del Sur — What began nearly two decades ago as a modest local association in Barangay Bobongan here has grown into a major engine driving Zamboanga Peninsula’s sustainable bamboo-based furniture making industry. The Ramon Magsaysay Bamboo Producers Cooperative (RAMAGBA) stands as the region’s sole bamboo processing facility capable of manufacturing engineered bamboo

US President Donald Trump has been very eager to show off to Chinese leader Xi Jinping his new US$5 million White House helipad, his latest bid to stamp his image on Washington. While Xi might act impressed and compliment the US president on his latest building project – part of Trump’s bid to match Xi’s splendour-filled hosting four months ago in Beijing and show the Chinese that Americans can build infrastructure too – do not count on Xi actually trying it out with a chopper ride this week...

MANILA, Philippines — The trough of a tropical depression will continue to affect Visayas and Mindanao, while localized thunderstorms may prevail over the rest of the country on Thursday, Sept. 24. This is the forecast from Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) at 5 p.m. today (Wednesday). The weather bureau reported that the

A grand military welcome, a state dinner, tea at the White House and a tour of the National Archives: Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington will see his American counterpart, Donald Trump, roll out the pomp and pageantry. The United States’ capital is bracing for high-level bilateral discussions served with a side of symbolic gestures, marking Xi’s first state visit to the country since 2015. But what exactly makes this a state visit, and how does it differ from other official...

MANILA, Philippines — The tropical depression (TD) off Southeastern Luzon may intensify as it enters the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Thursday morning, Sept. 24, the state weather bureau said.  The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported in its 5 p.m. weather advisory that the TD is likely to enter the