Plus Picks Archives - newswatchplus.ph

Exclusive: No room for corruption in France-backed PH projects – ambassador

Tristan Nodalo — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 09:41:29 +0000

Metro Manila, Philippines – French-funded development projects must be free from corruption, France’s outgoing ambassador said, as the Marcos administration intensifies scrutiny of alleged irregularities in government infrastructure spending. French Ambassador Marie Fontanel said Paris supports the anti-corruption campaign as France expands its development and infrastructure cooperation with Manila. “Obviously, we can only praise the

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Exclusive: France ready to help PH develop nuclear energy program

Tristan Nodalo — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 09:36:46 +0000

Metro Manila, Philippines – France is positioning its decades of nuclear expertise to support the Philippines as the Marcos administration moves toward adding nuclear power to the country’s energy mix. In an exclusive interview on The Newsmaker, outgoing French Ambassador Marie Fontanel said the energy company, Électricité de France, commonly known as EDF, has had

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No more Filipinos in Israel seeking repatriation – PH ambassador

Tristan Nodalo — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 09:31:16 +0000

Tel Aviv, Israel – There are no standing requests for repatriation from Israel given the stable security in major population centers in light of the Middle East ceasefire, Philippine Ambassador Aileen Mendiola said. In an interview on The Newsmaker, Mendiola said while the government repatriation program is still in place, the Philippine embassy has not

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PH eyes easing Israel travel restrictions for business

Tristan Nodalo — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 15:05:42 +0000

Tel Aviv, Israel – The Philippines is considering easing restrictions to Israel for business travelers as the security situation stabilizes, with Manila’s envoy saying it is time to revive bilateral economic engagement. Philippine Ambassador to Israel Aileen Mendiola said the embassy could recommend allowing business travel even as restrictions remain in place for non-essential trips.

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Duterte camp wanted to pick ES, Senate president, speaker in exchange for backing Marcos 2022 bid — Sandro

NewsWatch Plus Staff — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 10:30:01 +0000

Metro Manila, Philippines – House Majority Floor Leader Sandro Marcos has revealed conditions allegedly set by former President Rodrigo Duterte’s camp in exchange for supporting his father, then-presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in the 2022 elections — a claim the Palace has apparently confirmed. In an interview with PRTV over the weekend, the Ilocos Norte

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US extradition request for Quiboloy needs weeks of study – Palace

NewsWatch Plus Staff — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 07:19:18 +0000

Metro Manila, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sees the need to carefully study the United States request for the extradition of detained religious leader Apollo Quiboloy, who is wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation over sex trafficking charges. In a briefing on Monday, August 10, Palace press officer Claire Castro said a decision

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Netanyahu, Gaza war loom over Israel’s election campaign – analyst

Tristan Nodalo — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 07:36:19 +0000

Jerusalem, Israel – The political aftershocks of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political future and growing frustration over military service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jews are expected to dominate Israel’s parliamentary elections in October, a political analyst and expert on Middle East politics said. Speaking to international journalists in Jerusalem, Neil

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Bill seeks to extend barangay, SK official terms, move polls

Eimor Santos — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 11:03:41 +0000

Metro Manila, Philippines — Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero has filed a bill seeking to extend the terms of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials and postpone the November 2026 elections. The bill, filed on Thursday, Aug, 6, proposes a five-year term for barangay and SK officials instead of four years. It also seeks to move

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Palace calls out senator-judges ‘lawyering’ in Duterte trial

Eimor Santos — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 10:21:14 +0000

Metro Manila, Philippines — Some senator-judges appear to be acting as lawyers in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte instead of remaining impartial, Malacañang said on Thursday, Aug. 6. Palace press officer Claire Castro said the Presidential Communications Office has observed some senator-judges taking on the role of counsel, but declined to identify

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BIR expands VAT-exempt medicine list to 2,277 products

NewsWatch Plus Staff — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 03:34:13 +0000

Metro Manila, Philippines – The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has expanded the list of value-added tax (VAT)-exempt medicines to 2,277 products, adding 14 more medicines to help reduce healthcare costs for Filipinos. The updated list was published under Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 87-2026, which implements the VAT exemption for medicines endorsed by the Food

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