Philippines Business News

Wave of syringe attacks mar France's street music festival

PARIS, France — French police have detained twelve suspects after 145 people reported being pricked with syringes during the country's annual street music festival, officials said Sunday. Millions of people took to the streets across France on Saturday evening for the Fete de la Musique, with authorities reporting "unprecedented crowds" in Paris. Before the party, posts on social media had called for women to be targeted during the festivities. The interior ministry said 145 victims across

Suu Kyi's release key to peace formula for Myanmar

LAST Friday, on the 81st birthday of Aung San Suu Kyi, 134 former and current legislators from 11 countries wrote an open letter to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., this year’s Asean chair, calling on the regional bloc to demand that Myanmar release immediately and unconditionally the Nobel laureate and other political prisoners from detention. Suu Kyi has been in military custody for nearly 20 years of her life. She was first arrested in July 1969, after she co-founded the National League

African Swine Fever detected in Capiz towns, prompts strict biosecurity measures

ILOILO CITY — Swine blood samples collected from three towns in Capiz have tested positive for African swine fever (ASF), prompting provincial authorities to intensify disease control measures and urge hog raisers to strictly observe biosecurity protocols. In an advisory issued on June 18, the Capiz Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) said laboratory testing conducted by the Regional Animal Diseases Diagnostic Laboratory 6 confirmed the presence of ASF in samples retrieved from Roxas City,

Impeach pre-trial conference resumes

THE pre-trial conference for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte will resume today, June 22, with the defense and prosecution finishing the marking of documents. The pre-trial serves as the initial meeting of both panels before the senator-judges begin the trial proper. The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, is expected to start the trial on July 6. The defense and prosecution panels met on July 18 at the Senate to present their evidence related to the four Articles of Imp

Henry the hero as New Zealand level England series in style

LONDON, United Kingdom — Matt Henry did the damage as New Zealand thrashed England by 253 runs in the second Test at the Oval on Sunday for a series-levelling victory as England confirmed that Ben Stokes would return as captain for the deciding third Test. Stokes was dropped for breaching a team curfew following his side's win in the series opener at Lord's. "Ben will be back. He'll be back as captain," said England head coach Brendon McCullum after the match. Fast-medium bowler Henry's se

Infrastructure spending yet to recover as of April

GOVERNMENT infrastructure disbursements have yet to recover this year as tighter review procedures implemented in the wake of last year’s corruption scandal continue to weigh on project execution and payment processing. Data released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) showed that overall disbursements rose by 11.1 percent to P505.4 billion in April from P454.8 billion a year earlier, buoyed by higher subsidies, transfers to local government units (LGUs), interest payments and

BSP seen pausing if inflation reverses

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) could pause its tightening cycle if inflation slows faster than expected and lower global energy costs feed through more quickly into domestic prices. This contrasts with the prevailing expectation of continued but gradual tightening as inflation pressures remain elevated and second-round effects continue to shape policy decisions. Citi, which still expects the BSP to deliver two additional 25-basis point hikes this year, said a change in the inflation momen

DA launches Animal Vaccine Development Program to boost livestock industry

THE Department of Agriculture has launched the Animal Vaccine Development Program that will focus on developing vaccines against animal diseases to improve animal health and support the country’s livestock industry. The launch was formalized through the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Central Luzon State University (CLSU). A marker at the Center for Transboundary Animal Diseases (CenTrAD) was also unveiled at the CLSU. Under the partnership, CLSU’s CenTrAD will lead r

DPWH completes Samar and Iloilo infrastructure projects ahead of sked

THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has completed two critical infrastructure projects in Samar and Iloilo ahead of time, as the Marcos administration ramps up efforts to fast-track stalled public works and improve mobility across the country. Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon disclosed over the week that the rehabilitation of the first phase of the Calbiga Bridge in Samar has already been completed, and the reopening of the long-delayed East Timawa Road in Iloilo City after just

Global cues, policy signals to drive investor sentiment

THE stock market could take a breather this week as investors weigh developments in the Middle East against lingering inflation pressures and a still-restrictive monetary policy environment. The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) closed Friday at 6,135.35, up 3.81 percent week-on-week, holding above its established 5,800 to 6,150 consolidation range. Sentiment had improved as a US-Iran peace deal helped stabilize global oil prices and supported risk appetite, but this could change after Iran

Strait of Hormuz closed again as US, Iran talks begin

DUBAI — Iran's Fars news agency cited a military source as saying on Sunday that the Strait of Hormuz remains closed and the Revolutionary Guards Navy has not issued permission for any vessels to transit until further notice. The United States and Iran had agreed to a 60-day ceasefire for peace deal negotiations, but Tehran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Saturday declared the Strait of Hormuz shut in response to Israeli strikes in Lebanon, though the US military said commercial ves

Tight security as India holds exam retest after leak scandal

NEW DELHI — India’s 2.2 million aspiring medical students sit a re-examination under tight security on Sunday, after the last test was scrapped following a paper leak that triggered widespread outrage. The failure of the hugely competitive exam, along with a separate marking fiasco in high school tests, sparked an outcry and fueled youth protests demanding the education minister’s resignation. The authorities say they have deployed more than 200,000 officials, including police,

Marc Marquez wins Czech MotoGP to close gap on banned Bezzecchi

PRAGUE, Czech Republic — Seven-time MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez won the Czech Grand Prix in Brno on Sunday, scoring a second straight win after dominating in Hungary two weeks ago. Pole sitter Ai Ogura of Japan finished second ahead of Marquez's factory Ducati teammate Francesco Bagnaia. Championship leader Marco Bezzecchi sat out the race as a penalty for slapping a track steward in the face following a crash in Saturday's sprint. But the Italian on a factory Aprilia still leads th

Come inside Iran's World Cup hotel in Tijuana, Mexico, where fans turn out to cheer

TIJUANA, Mexico — Less than 150 miles (240 kilometers) from Los Angeles' World Cup stadium sits the hotel housing Iran's team. The entrance to the Marriott in Tijuana, Mexico, is barricaded, flanked by police and members of the Mexican National Guard, guns held close. No one enters without a hotel reservation or special permission. Despite the tensions and challenges surrounding Iran's participation in the World Cup, early Saturday morning finds the mood inside the four-star hotel relaxed,

Extreme heat expected again at the Grand Canyon after 3 hikers die in heat-related incidents

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Arizona — Visitors to Grand Canyon National Park are being warned about extreme temperatures that will hit the popular destination early next week after a recent increase in heat-related incidents in the inner canyon, including the deaths of three hikers. The National Weather Service issued an extreme heat watch at the Grand Canyon for midday Monday through Tuesday, forecasting temperatures that could reach or exceed 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius) a

PCSO Lotto Results | June 21, 2026

International Yoga Day

Yoga enthusiasts perform in a mass gathering across India and other parts of Asia on Sunday to mark the International Yoga Day.

Vance meets top Iranian officials as US looks to get negotiations back on track

OBBUERGEN, Switzerland — U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Sunday is meeting with top Iranian officials as the White House looks to build out the interim deal to end the war in Iran reached by the two sides last week. Vance was expected to meet with Tehran’s negotiators, including parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, at a Swiss mountainside resort near Lake Lucerne. Mediators from Pakistan and Qatar were also in the room for the direct enga

CFI backs community-led research in the North with $10 million in investments

New Northern Fund advances health and environmental management research while supporting regional economies OTTAWA, Ontario, June 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On National Indigenous Peoples Day, the Government of Canada is pleased to announce $10 million in investments in the future of research in Canada’s North with the first awards from the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s (CFI) Northern Fund. Developed in consultation with Northern research institutions, this program funds labs and equipmen

Ukrainian attacks prompt Russian-held Crimea to halt civilian gasoline sales

UKRAINE — Officials in Russia-occupied Crimea suspended civilian gasoline sales Sunday as Ukraine ramped up attacks on fuel supplies on the Black Sea peninsula. Gov. Sergey Aksyonov, the Kremlin-appointed head o Crimea, said that overnight Ukrainian strikes killed four people and wounded 28 others. He did not specify the target of the attack. He later wrote on social media that local gas stations would halt all sales to non-state companies and individuals for an undefined period. “Fu

This woman 'managed to not be bored' during the COVID lockdown and planted a vineyard at home

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — Like millions of others, Natasha Jacka went stir-crazy during a COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, until it dawned on her that there might be great opportunity in having nowhere to go. Jacka used the pandemic and the suspension of her studies at an agricultural college to plant her own vineyard at her family home in South Africa. It was a way to fast forward her dream of becoming a winemaker by bringing it, literally, within reach. Nothing in the wine world moves too fast

Father's Day Gifts Are Shifting Toward Wellness: CINCOM Encourages Families to Give Dad a Moment to Recover

NEW YORK, June 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As Father's Day approaches, more families are rethinking what makes a meaningful gift for dad. While classic choices such as ties, wallets, grooming tools, grilling accessories, and sports gear remain familiar, many shoppers are now looking for gifts that feel more practical, personal, and useful beyond the holiday itself. This shift reflects a broader change in how consumers view fatherhood and self-care. Today's fathers are often balancing work, househol

Walk to Earn? AIXAlpha Launches a New Daily Investment Program That Feels Just as Simple

The phrase "Walk to Earn?” has been trending across social platforms-not because people believe walking literally generates income, but because it reflects a broader desire for financial participation that feels simple, intuitive, and effortless. LOS ANGELES, June 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The phrase "Walk to Earn?” has been trending across social platforms-not because people believe walking literally generates income, but because it reflects a broader desire for financial participation that

Australia and Philippines conduct joint military exercises for regional defense

LEGAZPI CITY — Australian and Philippine forces conducted a live-fire drill aimed at strengthening the interoperability, capabilities and arms operations on Friday, capping a monthlong joint military drill dubbed “Exercise Kasangga 2026” in Camarines Sur. The Australian Army (AUSA) and the troops from the Philippine Army’s 9th Infantry Division (9ID) launched the territorial defense capabilities in war scenario simulation on Wednesday. Maj. Frank Roldan, spokesman of the