South Korean Leader Says He Will Not Send Troops to Iran, Despite Trump’s Call

New York Times - Sep 19, 2026

President Lee Jae Myung’s comments followed President Trump’s repeated demand for “a little hand” from South Korea, a decades-old American ally.

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Korea, US vow to strengthen cooperation to accelerate wartime OPCON transition in defense talks

Sep 19, 2026

Korea, US vow to strengthen cooperation to accelerate wartime OPCON transition in defense talks

Korea and the United States pledged to reinforce cooperation to accelerate the transition of wartime operational control (OPCON) to Seoul from Washington during their senior-level defense talks this week, a joint statement said Friday. The allies held the 29th Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue (KIDD) in Korea's southeastern city of Busan from Wednesday to Friday, as President Lee Jae Myung's administration seeks to retake wartime OPCON before the end of its term in 2030. "Both sides evaluated the work to modernize the alliance in the face of an evolving security environment," they said in the statement. "They also assessed progress on the Conditions-based Wartime Operational Control Transition Plan, and pledged to strengthen cooperation to accelerate the transition of wartime OPCON," they added. Seoul and Washington have been working on the conditions-based OPCON transfer since they agreed on it in October 2014. The conditions include Korea's capabilities to lead combined Korea-U.S. forces, its strike and air defense capabilities, and a regional security environment conducive to suc

Victorias City rolls out pest-tolerant sugarcane variety

Sep 19, 2026

Victorias City rolls out pest-tolerant sugarcane variety

BACOLOD CITY — The city government of Victorias in Negros Occidental has distributed PSR 03-171, a high-yielding and pest-tolerant sugarcane variety, to 50 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Barangay V to help farmers cope with the destructive Red-Striped Soft Scale Insect (RSSI). The high-quality cane points were turned over to the farmers on Thursday, Sept.

1,800 cops to secure MassKara Festival

Sep 19, 2026

1,800 cops to secure MassKara Festival

BACOLOD CITY — About 1,800 police officers will be fielded to secure the MassKara Festival here, which kicks off on Oct. 1 and runs until Oct. 18. The festival peaks on Oct. 16 with the Electric MassKara, followed by the arena and street dancing competitions for schools and barangays on Oct. 17 and Oct. 18.

Palace to Pia: ‘No need to panic if you’ve done nothing wrong’

Sep 19, 2026

Palace to Pia: ‘No need to panic if you’ve done nothing wrong’

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Friday said Sen. Pia Cayetano need not panic if she has done nothing wrong. This was after Cayetano said she “fears” for her liberty and right to speak after discovering that the National Bureau of Investigation tracked her travel movements and return from Singapore. Citing NBI Director Melvin Matibag’s recent

Ilocos Norte logs 32 leptospirosis cases with 1 death

Sep 19, 2026

Ilocos Norte logs 32 leptospirosis cases with 1 death

SAN ILDEFONSO, Ilocos Sur — A total of 32 leptospirosis cases, including one death, have been recorded in nearby Ilocos Norte this year, according to the Provincial Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (PESU). Of the reported cases, 26 were classified as suspect cases, three as probable cases, and three as confirmed cases. One death was also recorded,

DND welcomes House OK of New Espionage Act

Sep 19, 2026

DND welcomes House OK of New Espionage Act

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of National Defense (DND) on Friday welcomed the House of Representatives’ approval of the proposed New Espionage Act, which, the agency described as “critical and [a] long-overdue modernization of antiquated laws.” House Bill 9642 was approved on third and final reading Thursday night by 247 favorable votes against 10 unfavorable.

DBM cuts UP’s proposed P53.5-B budget by half

Sep 19, 2026

DBM cuts UP’s proposed P53.5-B budget by half

MANILA, Philippines — The University of the Philippines (UP) will push for amendments to its P26.5-billion budget for next year—a huge cut from its original proposed budget, which its leader said could jeopardize the completion of long-delayed infrastructure projects and the capacity-building of its research program. UP President Angelo Jimenez told reporters on Friday they

NBI taps Meta to identify netizens mocking Cendaña

Sep 19, 2026

NBI taps Meta to identify netizens mocking Cendaña

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has tapped Meta to trace the individuals behind at least 30 social media accounts mocking the disability and sexual orientation of Akbayan Rep. Percival Cendaña, Director Melvin Matibag said. This is in response to the Sept. 15 complaint filed by Cendaña — a stroke survivor and

Media watchdog CMFR writes 30 

Sep 19, 2026

Media watchdog CMFR writes 30 

MANILA, Philippines — The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), a monitor of the state of the Philippine press in the last 37 years, announced on Friday that it is winding down operations due to funding issues. CMFR said that while it weathered different political environments and challenges since its founding as a nonstock,

Ombudsman: Villars under investigation concerning water firm

Sep 19, 2026

Ombudsman: Villars under investigation concerning water firm

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman has initiated a preliminary investigation focusing on members of the Villar family and executives of the water utility firm that they previously owned for possible violations of the anti-graft law. In a statement on Friday, the Ombudsman said criminal and administrative complaints against Senators Mark and Camille

South Cotabato school shooting kills 3, hurts 6

Sep 19, 2026

South Cotabato school shooting kills 3, hurts 6

BANGA, SOUTH COTABATO — Another shooting rampage in school involving a teenage attacker, this time in this town some 15 kilometers from the provincial capital of Koronadal City, left three students dead and six others wounded on Friday. The 1 p.m. attack at Banga National High School was the third fatal campus attack in as

Bangsamoro IP leaders seek stronger voice in first parliament

Sep 19, 2026

Bangsamoro IP leaders seek stronger voice in first parliament

COTABATO CITY — A tribal leader who will serve as a member of the regular Bangsamoro Parliament expressed optimism that the long-neglected concerns of indigenous peoples (IPs) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will finally be heard and addressed now that non-Moro indigenous peoples (NMIPs) have representation in the regional legislature. “Our

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