MANILA, Philippines — Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO) on Friday said that water rates would rise again in the 2nd quarter, starting in April, due to foreign currency and tariff adjustments. Read: tmt.news/2299439

MANILA, Philippines — The government will include motorcycle taxi riders among those eligible to receive the P5,000 financial assistance intended for individuals in crisis situations, according to Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez. Read more: https://mrf.lu/dJKY

Based on data as of Dec. 31, 2025, the system shows that 30,525.13 kilometers are provincial roads, 16,784.66 kilometers are city roads, 15,965.73 kilometers are municipal roads, and 103,828.26 kilometers are barangay roads.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — A record 280 political parties and counting had registered by Thursday’s deadline to participate in Haiti’s first general election in a decade, although not all will make the cut.

MANILA, Philippines — Unemployment in the country reached its highest level in over three years in January, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Read more: https://mrf.lu/dJjP

Four Filipino athletes have secured spots in the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships slated on March 20-22, 2026 in Kujawy-Pomorze, Poland. Read: tmt.news/2299405

UPPSALA, Sweden — Armand Duplantis broke the pole vault world record on Thursday for the 15th time at the meet that bears his name in Uppsala, Sweden, clearing 6.31 meters on his first attempt. Read more: tmt.news/2299402

MANILA, Philippines — Tennis sensation Alex Eala of the Philippines will return to the tournament that changed the trajectory of her pro tennis career — the Miami Open. Read: tmt.news/2299404

SANTIAGO, Chile — The government of Chile's new right-wing president Jose Antonio Kast signed a memorandum with the United States on Thursday to cooperate on the supply of critical minerals and rare earths. Read: tmt.news/2299401

WASHINGTON, D.C. — One person was killed and two others injured Thursday when a gunman who supported the Islamic State extremist group opened fire at Old Dominion University in Virginia, US authorities said. Read: tmt.news/2299381

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang summoned oil industry executives to ensure a steady supply of fuel products and prevent excessive price increases amid global oil market volatility. Read more: https://mrf.lu/dJcx

MANILA, Philippines — Singapore has extended seats to other countries, including the Philippines, in the repatriation of Singaporeans stranded in the Middle East as a result of the United States-Israel war with Iran. Read more: https://mrf.lu/dJTr

MANILA, Philippines — More than 252,000 registered voters in the second legislative district of Antipolo City will head to the polls on Saturday to elect heir representative at the House of Representatives following the death of Congressman Romeo Acop in December 2025.

MANILA, Philippines — Veteran singer-actress Sharon Cuneta revealed that she recently underwent a spine procedure in Singapore after suffering from persistent pain affecting her hip and leg for nearly two years. Read more: https://mrf.lu/dKnq

MANILA, Philippines — Maynilad Water Services Inc. on Friday announced that the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System - Regulatory Office (MWSS RO) has ordered a rebate of P42,569,790.85, to its consumers over service interruptions that affected the southern portion of its concession area.

MANILA, Philippines — A fire swept through a residential area in Pasay City on Thursday evening, leaving two people dead and dozens of families displaced. Read more: https://mrf.lu/dKYh

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has begun preparing for the distribution of fuel subsidies to thousands of public utility vehicle (PUV) operators affected by the continuing increase in oil prices due to the conflict in the Middle East. Read more: tmt.news/2299355

JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday the joint US-Israeli campaign was 'crushing' Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah and called for Iranians to rise up and overthrow the Islamic republic. READ: https://mrf.lu/d4Y5

JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday the joint US-Israeli campaign was 'crushing' Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah and called for Iranians to rise up and overthrow the Islamic republic. READ: https://mrf.lu/d4Y5

JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday the joint US-Israeli campaign was 'crushing' Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah and called for Iranians to rise up and overthrow the Islamic republic. READ: https://mrf.lu/d4Y5

NEW YORK — Tinder said Thursday that it is testing a 'Chemistry' option that uses artificial intelligence to help with matchmaking in the popular dating app. READ: https://mrf.lu/d4jV

DETROIT — An unidentified assailant was dead after ramming his pickup truck on Thursday into a synagogue on the outskirts of Detroit, Michigan, and causing a blaze, police said. READ: https://mrf.lu/dWl8

WASHINGTON — Since starting a war with Iran caused oil and gasoline prices to spike, President Donald Trump has pivoted from a focus on keeping energy prices low to painting high oil prices as a positive. READ: https://mrf.lu/dWbc

JERUSALEM — Israel's military said Thursday it had struck checkpoints set up in Tehran by the Basij paramilitary force of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, as part of efforts to undermine control by the authorities. READ: https://mrf.lu/dWk8

Searchlight Pictures’ “Rental Family,” a drama set in modern-day Tokyo, will begin streaming on Disney+ through Hulu on March 18. READ: https://mrf.lu/d9lL

Pro-Iranian hackers are targeting sites in the Middle East and starting to stretch into the United States during the war. READ: https://mrf.lu/d9Vj

Oil prices have soared since the US and Israel launched their war against Iran, and President Donald Trump is now turning to America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve as part of a wider agreement from many of the world’s wealthiest countries to tap into emergency stockpiles. READ: https://mrf.lu/d9SW

BAGUIO — Electricity prices could go up by as much as P4 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) next month due to the war in the Middle East and other factors such as summer demand, regulators said on Thursday. READ: https://mrf.lu/d9RR

Oil price volatility could push countries like the Philippines to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles and renewable energy, Asian Development Bank (ADB) economists said on Thursday. READ: https://mrf.lu/dyJC

(UPDATE) MALACAÑANG on Thursday confirmed the exit of Christina Garcia Frasco as secretary of the Department of Tourism (DOT). READ: https://mrf.lu/dyM3

BEIRUT, Lebanon — Israel renewed its strikes on Beirut on Thursday, as it threatened to expand operations and seize territory in Lebanon if Hezbollah did not stop its attacks. https://mrf.lu/dyVM

THE Middle East war is creating the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market, as Iran’s choke hold on regional supplies forces Gulf producers to slash production, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said Thursday. READ: https://mrf.lu/dyr1

BEIRUT, Lebanon — An Israeli strike on a campus of Lebanon's public university killed two academics, Lebanese state media said on Thursday. READ: https://mrf.lu/dyjf

WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump warned Iran's football team Thursday their 'life and safety' would be at risk if they took part in the upcoming World Cup in North America. READ: https://mrf.lu/dyNr

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine is awaiting White House approval for a major drone production agreement proposed by Kyiv last year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday, as countries scramble to modernize their air defenses after the Iran war exposed shortcomings. READ: https://mrf.lu/dP_P

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court Thursday decided not to pursue allegations by Venezuela that US sanctions had led to crimes against humanity, saying there was 'no reasonable basis' for this accusation. READ: https://mrf.lu/dPqp

PVL 2026 All-Filipino Conference Nxled def. Zus Coffee (3-1) Brooke Van Sickle Player of the Game Game summary: tmt.news/2298930 Full story: tmt.news/2299003 #PVL2026

Iran’s new supreme leader released his first statement since succeeding his late father, saying Thursday that Iran would keep up its attacks on its Gulf Arab neighbors. READ: https://mrf.lu/dP2r

Over P12 million worth of vehicles and quarry materials valued at P12,000,000.00 were seized during a crackdown on illegal quarrying in Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental on March 9 resulting in the arrest of four individuals, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said. READ: https://mrf.lu/dBMY

FRANKFURT, Germany — German carmaker BMW reported solid profit Thursday despite US tariffs and tough competition in China -- delivering a far better result than the heavy falls reported by rivals Volkswagen Group and Mercedes-Benz. READ: https://mrf.lu/dBv8

Illicit trade is threatening Southeast Asia’s economic growth and sustainability goals, prompting the EU-Asean Business Council (EU-ABC) to urge the Philippines to use its Asean chairship to demonstrate stronger regional safeguards against smuggling and illegal commerce. READ: https://mrf.lu/dB8s

Google Maps will depend more heavily on artificial intelligence to help people figure out where they want to go and the best way to get there as part of a major redesign unveiled on Thursday. READ: https://mrf.lu/dBLZ

MANILA, Philippines—Sen. Francis Pangilinan urged the Department of Agriculture (DA) to fast track the drafting of the implementing guidelines for the release of the P10 billion cash aid to farmers and fishermen. READ: https://mrf.lu/dBxh

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos has declared March 20 a regular holiday throughout the country in observance of Eid’l Fitr, Malacañang said on Thursday. Read more: https://mrf.lu/dMYm

Marcos certifies as urgent a bill granting emergency powers to reduce excise tax on fuel Watch: youtu.be/GySN5GTBXUk

PVL 2026 All-Filipino Conference Akari def. Creamline, 3-1 Justine Jazareno Player of the Game Game summary: tmt.news/2298630 #PVL2026

Leaders and representatives from various state universities and colleges (SUCs), local universities and colleges (LUCs), and Read: tmt.news/2298636

The manager of the weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz said that the fuel incentive given to her as reward for winning the country’s first Olympic gold medal is good for two years only and not a lifetime supply. Read: tmt.news/2298574

MANILA, Philippines — The Arellano University Chiefsquad reigned supreme anew. Arellano University extended its dominance in the NCAA cheerleading competition as it clinched its seventh consecutive title on Thursday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. Read: tmt.news/2298567

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Thursday confirmed that Christina Garcia-Frasco has resigned as secretary of the Department of Tourism (DOT). She, however, will continue to serve in government as Presidential Adviser for Sustainable and Resilient Communities. Read more: tmt.news/2298568