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Metro Manila, Philippines – The tropical depression east of the country may bring rains and stormy weather in parts of northern Luzon this weekend, the weather bureau said on Friday, June 19. The weather disturbance, to be called Tropical Storm Francisco, may reach typhoon category by Sunday, though a  landfall scenario is unlikely at this time, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration or PAGASA. The bureau said it is also monitoring the still-tropical depression over waters west of Guman, for its possible enhancement of the southwest monsoon (habagat) by the middle of next week. PAGASA said the tropical cyclone’s closest approach to land mass may trigger raising Wind Signal No. 1 over parts of northern Luzon. As of 10 a.m., the weather disturbance was spotted 1,850 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas, with center winds of 55 kilometers per hour (km/h0 and gusts of up to 70 km/h.

Metro Manila, Philippines – Filipino tennis ace Alex Eala stunned World No. 2 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, 7-5, 6-4, in the WTA 500 Berlin Tennis Open on Wednesday, June 18. The higher-ranked Rybakina came out strong, using her powerful serve to build a 4-1 lead in the opening set. The Kazakh star fired several aces and looked in control early. Eala, however, remained composed and cut down on her errors. She broke Rybakina’s serve to trim the deficit to 4-3, then leveled the set at 4-4 with a strong serving of her own. The Filipina completed the comeback late in the set, capitalizing on a string of Rybakina errors to take the opener, 7-5. Eala carried that momentum into the second set, earning an early break for a 2-1 advantage and maintaining control with steady serving and aggressive shot-making. The world number 35 eventually sealed the match after forcing another…

Metro Manila, Philippines — Spokespersons of the House prosecution panel criticized the submissions made by Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team during the Impeachment Court’s pre-trial conference, saying they lacked substance and failed to address the allegations against her. “It’s purely general denial and basically ang nakasaad doon sa kanilang [what was stated in the] pre-trial brief ay pagko-question mismo nung proseso [is questioning the process] which basically it’s (the) narrative of the defense from the very start,” Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said in a press conference on Thursday, June 18.  “Wala silang naipresenta na [They did not present] substantive controverting evidence,” he added.  Adiong said the defense failed to present evidence to rebut allegations of misuse of confidential funds, accumulation of ill-gotten wealth, and bribery. “Maganda sana kung meron silang maiprepresenta na mga witnesses namagpapatunay kumbaga na sila si Kokoy Villamin, sila si Mary Grace Piattos,”…

Metro Manila, Philippines – There is no deadlock between the Senate and the House of Representatives on the bill to institutionalize the social welfare program Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) that failed to clear the special session, the head of a House panel said. Davao Oriental 2nd district Rep. Cheeno Almario, chairperson of the House committee on social services, said this in response to a statement of Sen. Erwin Tulfo before the Senate adjourned on Wednesday. “It’s part of the reconciliation in the formative process of legislation. I don’t think it makes sense to call it a deadlock,” Almario said in an interview on Thursday, June 18. AICS is an ongoing program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), which aims to provide cash aid and other forms of assistance to Filipinos in crisis. The bill institutionalizing the program wasn’t ratified at the special session of…

Metro Manila, Philippines –  The Philippines is the world’s top retirement destination for 2026, according to the latest Retirement Abroad Index released by United Kingdom-based insurer Expatriate Group. The country topped 20 nations evaluated in the index, which measures retirement destinations based on healthcare quality, visa accessibility, insurance requirements, cost of living, and expat integration. The recognition follows the Philippines’ earlier win as Best Retirement Destination in Asia at the 2025 TripZilla Excellence Awards, reinforcing its appeal among foreign retirees. At the center of the country’s retirement program is the Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV), a flagship initiative of the Philippine Retirement Authority that allows qualified foreign nationals to reside in the country long-term. Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said the recognition reflects ongoing efforts to improve tourism services and position the Philippines as a global destination for all age groups. “Beyond our natural attractions, the Philippines offers warm hospitality, affordable…