Liam Demafelix
Reporting from the TSR newsroom.
Oil prices rise above $1 as US-Iran strikes continue
SINGAPORE, June 11 (Reuters) – Oil prices jumped on Thursday as Tehran declared the critical energy chokepoint, the Strait of Hormuz, closed after the U.S. launched additional strikes against Iran and as President Donald Trump vowed even more attacks if no peace deal is secured. Brent futures…
Water levels in Angat Dam nearing critical level
Water levels at Angat Dam are nearing critical levels, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). As of 8 a.m. on June 11, the dam’s water elevation was recorded at 168.89 meters, lower than Wednesday’s level of 169.39 meters. Angat…
Brazil suspends dengue vaccine following two deaths
RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazil said Monday it was temporarily suspending use of the world’s first single-dose dengue vaccine following two suspicious deaths. More than half a million people have received doses of the vaccine this year, which was developed publicly in Brazil and approved by health…
Luxury ‘katol’ worth ₱4,000 sold by French perfume home fragrance brand Diptyque
Paris-based luxury perfume and home fragrance brand Diptyque has sparked reactions from Filipinos after its “spiral incense” product was compared to the Philippines’ traditional mosquito coil, locally known as katol. According to the company’s website, the product—Citronelle (Lemongrass)…
Study finds reading books for 30 minutes a day linked to longer life
A study has found that people who read books for at least 30 minutes a day tend to live longer than those who do not. The research, published in the journal Social Science & Medicine, examined the reading habits of 3,635 individuals aged 50 and above over a 12-year period. Participants were…
DHSUD orders moratorium on housing loan payments after magnitude 7.8 quake
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has ordered the implementation of a moratorium on housing loan payments following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Mindanao. DHSUD Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling said the move was in response to President Ferdinand Marcos…
Study shows global nuclear weapons spending hit record high in 2025
GENEVA, Switzerland — Nuclear-armed countries swelled their spending on atomic weapons by a fifth last year to a record high of nearly $119 billion, with plans to ramp up those investments for decades, campaigners said Tuesday. The world’s nine nuclear-armed states jointly increased their spending…
El Niño conditions now present, likely to persist until early 2027: PAGASA
El Niño conditions are now present in the tropical Pacific, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said. “In May 2026, the observed relative sea surface temperature anomaly (rSSTA) reached the +0.5°C threshold,” PAGASA said. “Additionally, most…
Killing the mood: Smartphones reduce birth rate, studies say
WASHINGTON, United States — As governments around the world struggle with ways to reverse plunging birth rates, new US studies suggest they have ignored a key culprit—the smartphone. “Is the iPhone Birth Control?” a paper published Monday by the National Bureau of Economic Research, delved into…
Manila opens doors to Ilocos Sur as city hosts three-day ‘One Ilocos Sur Bazaar’
The City of Manila and the Provincial Government of Ilocos Sur opened the “One Ilocos Sur Bazaar in Manila” on Tuesday morning, June 9, at the Kartilya ng Katipunan, bringing together farmers, fisherfolk, artisans, and MSMEs from the heritage province for a three-day showcase running until June…
AstraZeneca obesity pill helps patients lose 10.5% of body weight in trial
AstraZeneca said on Monday that patients lost 10.5% of their body weight after 26 weeks in a mid-stage trial of its experimental obesity pill, as the drugmaker seeks to challenge Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly in the fast-growing weight-loss market. The company said the weight loss continued over…
Unemployment down to 2.41 million in April 2026 — PSA
The number of unemployed Filipinos declined to 2.41 million in April 2026, down from 2.58 million in March, despite the ongoing energy and oil crisis. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed the unemployment rate eased to 4.7% in April from 5.0% in the previous month. However…
ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan suspended over allegations of sexual misconduct
The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor Karim Khan has been suspended pending a vote by member states on his fate, the court’s governing body said on Monday, following a probe into accusations of sexual harassment made against him. A diplomatic source briefed on the decision told…
First AI-designed ‘universal vaccine’ tested in humans: U.K. researchers
A vaccine targeting a broad range of viruses that was designed using artificial intelligence had a “modest” effect on immune systems in a small, early trial, according to a new study. The trial marks the first time a vaccine whose active ingredient was entirely designed by AI has been tested in…
Deped’s three-term calendar to improve student learning, boost teacher support: Angara
The Department of Education (DepEd) has opened School Year 2026–2027 with a comprehensive package of reforms aimed at improving student learning and strengthening support for teachers. Education Secretary Sonny Angara issued guidelines covering the implementation of the agency’s three-term school…