World News by Wild Rose

Philippine firefighters ⁠found charred remains aboard a burned-out ferry on Friday, more than a day after the ship caught fire on its way from Manila to the western province of Palawan, killing five people and leaving more than 80 missing. Thick smoke and extreme heat had earlier prevented firefighters from entering the vessel, which was carrying more than 130 people when it was engulfed in flames on Wednesday night. The fire was declared out at 10.15am local time. Coastguard spokeswoman...

President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr is set to be the first Philippine leader to join the Brics Summit in New Delhi this weekend – presenting him with the perfect “low-risk opportunity” to engage the grouping as Manila continues to diversify its ties, analysts say. “The president seeks to ensure that our modern partnerships remain open, resilient and capable of delivering prosperity to our people,” Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Analyn Ratonel said in a press briefing on...

Dozens of passengers are missing after a fire tore through a ferry in the Philippines, killing at least 5 people.

Thick, toxic fumes and extreme temperatures pose a challenge to rescuers who have boarded the ship.

We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Beijing tells Manila to ‘stop lying’ after minister exposes South China Sea note China has accused Philippine officials of “grandstanding and lying” after Manila’s defence secretary publicly read aloud a Chinese diplomat’s note on the...

The Chinese military appeared to fire flares near a Philippine aircraft operating close to the Subi and Mischief Reefs, according to the Philippines’ coastguard, as tensions continue to spread to other South China Sea hotspots. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) released video clips on Thursday of footage which it said had been filmed from the aircraft on Monday. PCG spokesman Jay Tarriela said on social media that the unarmed plane was on a maritime domain awareness flight over part of the...

Drone video from the Philippine Coast Guard shows smoke rising from the burned out MV June Aster off Palawan.

A survivor has told the BBC of the chaos onboard as the ferry caught fire near the popular tourist spot of Coron.

The fire broke out as the vessel nearing its destination at the tourist hotspot of Coron in Palawan.

Coastguard says the ferry had 134 listed passengers and crew when it sank off the coast of Palawan.

Video from the Philippine Coast Guard shows a ferry engulfed in flames near Palawan.

At least five people were killed and 87 remain unaccounted for after a fire erupted aboard a ferry near a tourist hotspot in the Philippine province of Palawan, the coastguard said on Thursday. The fire aboard the MV June Aster broke out on Wednesday evening about 2.2km (1.3 miles) offshore, the coastguard said, adding that five casualties had been brought ashore. Video shared by the coastguard on social media showed the vessel completely engulfed in flames. “Based on the data we have right now...

The Philippines’ military modernisation road map is set for delays over budget constraints, with critics calling out what they say is President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s “lip service” approach and questioning his commitment to the ambitious project. In 2024, Marcos approved a revised 1.9 trillion Philippine pesos (US$30 billion) plan to acquire newer military assets until 2034, aiming to enhance the capability of the military to project power in parts of the South China Sea that Manila considers...

At least five people died and 87 remained unaccounted for Thursday after a ferry caught fire off the Philippine island province of Palawan, with 42 passengers and crew rescued. Coast guard teams continued search and rescue operations as officials warned the figures could change while they worked to establish what happened.

Philippine Defence Secretary accused China of coercion, bullying and aggression after being handed a note mid-panel.

Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy holds talks with Philippines Cabinet member

A former Philippine lawmaker was arrested for allegedly stealing millions of dollars intended for flood control.

The Philippines has launched a five-year road map to expand its share of the global semiconductor and electronics sector, but capacity challenges and political stability are potential stumbling blocks, analysts say. The Philippine Semiconductor and Electronics Industry road map, launched by the Philippines’ Semiconductor and Electronics Industry Advisory Council (SEIAC) on September 2, aims to grow annual exports of chips and electronics to US$110 billion by 2030, and move beyond manufacturing...

Martin Romualdez, a cousin of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, accumulated so much wealth over the past three years that he had to convert it into mansions and shares to avoid scrutiny, the Office of the Ombudsman alleged on Tuesday – a day after filing a plunder case against the former House speaker. The Ombudsman filed the case on Monday against Romualdez, former House appropriations committee chairman Zaldy Co and two others, accusing them of accepting at least 7.44 billion pesos...

Vista Land & Landscapes Inc., owned by Philippine billionaire Manuel Villar, said it’s evaluating options to raise funds including the sale of assets to ensure it’s able to meet obligations, including a $420-million bond that will fall due next July.

Philippine prosecutors filed a criminal charge on Monday against a lawmaker and cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr over his alleged involvement in a massive corruption scandal involving bogus flood-control projects. The case came more than a year after Marcos put the so-called “ghost” infrastructure projects, believed to have cost Filipino taxpayers billions of dollars, centre stage in a public address. Several construction firm owners, government officials and politicians have been...

The Philippines’ Office of the Ombudsman on Monday filed a plunder case against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, a cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., according to a court filing.

Philippine Finance Secretary Frederick Go discusses Manila's economic ties with Beijing. He is in Hong Kong to conduct an economic briefing and speaks exclusively on "Bloomberg: The China Show.” (Source: Bloomberg)

Manila defence chief says Washington gave 'definite assurances' that its commitments to the Philippines remain.

The Philippine peso just can’t catch a break.

After being stranded in the South China Sea following a power failure in July, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Benfold was towed to Subic Bay in the Philippines for emergency repairs. The facility is among the repair and maintenance hubs the US Navy has been developing in the region, strategically pushing for allies to perform major maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) work on US naval vessels given the decline of its shipbuilding base at home. The repair work on the Benfold in the...

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte posted bail for a criminal case accusing her of threatening to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. She said she fears for her own life.

Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio posted bail at a Manila courthouse on Saturday, a day after an arrest warrant was issued over her alleged death threat against the country’s president. Duterte-Carpio was charged last month with “grave threats” stemming from a late-night news briefing in which she claimed to have hired a hitman to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, his wife and a congressman cousin should she be cut down first. She later said the comments had been misconstrued. The...

A couple chose to get married in the middle of severe flooding in the Philippines.

Warrant follows charge she threatened to have Marcos, his wife and a cousin killed by a hitman.