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Vietnamese rice exports stall after Philippine ban

Vietnamese rice traders and exporters are holding back purchases after the Philippines, their biggest market, suspended all imports. “Prices remain low, but we dare not buy much,” Nguyen Chi Thanh of Angimex said , noting that traders in the Mekong Delta had scaled down to buying a few tons compared to hundreds previously. Vietnam exported 6.3 million tons of rice worth $3.17 billion in the first eight months of 2025, with the Philippines accounting for 2.6 million tons, making it the largest buyer.

Senate shake-up won’t derail legislative agenda

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed confidence that his administration’s priorities remain intact despite a change in Senate leadership. Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto reassumed the chamber’s top post, replacing Francis “Chiz” Escudero. Marcos called the reshuffle an internal matter, “The Senate knows how to organise itself; the Senate also knows how to do the work. If Senator Sotto is now the SP again, then I do not see that it will change very much from our agenda,” he added .

Philippines, Japan boost defence tech ties

Defense ministers from the Philippines and Japan agreed in Seoul to deepen cooperation on defense equipment and technology amid China’s growing assertiveness in regional waters. Japan may transfer retired Abukuma-class destroyers and air surveillance radar systems to Manila. “The two ministers concurred to promote defense equipment and technology cooperation,” Japan’s Ministry of Defence said. Experts noted the deal would be a significant step in strengthening Manila’s defence industry with Japanese support.

Duterte ‘not fit to stand trial,’ lawyer tells ICC

Former president Rodrigo Duterte’s legal team has petitioned the International Criminal Court to adjourn proceedings indefinitely, citing severe cognitive decline. His lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, wrote that Duterte suffers from impairments that limit memory, reasoning, and orientation: “Mr. Duterte is not fit to stand trial as a result of cognitive impairment in multiple domains. Mr. Duterte’s condition will not improve,” the Enquirer quotes. The ICC is investigating Duterte’s bloody “war on drugs,” which left thousands dead.

Philippines eyes Indian underwater drones

Manila is weighing the acquisition of Indian underwater drones as an alternative to traditional submarines, part of efforts to modernize its maritime defenses amid South China Sea tensions. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro highlighted their cost-effectiveness, as India’s autonomous underwater vehicles offer surveillance, reconnaissance, and mine-countermeasure capabilities, Indian Defense News reports. The move affirms the close defense ties between Manila and New Delhi, including cooperation on missile systems and unmanned platforms.

Source : msn