Philippine authorities on Saturday said one of the suspects in the Bondi Beach mass shooting in Sydney, Australia, visited a gun shop in Davao City during a nearly month-long stay in Mindanao, as investigators examined the men’s movements, contacts, and activities before the attack that killed 15 people.
Philippine medical societies have urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Congress to increase funding for the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) and to phase out the Department of Health’s Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) program. The groups called for reallocating resources to strengthen PhilHealth as the primary vehicle for public health financing, particularly for indigent and financially incapacitated patients. They plan to submit formal position papers and engage with lawmakers and agencies to manage a transition that avoids service disruption while consolidating government support for medical care under a single, adequately funded national health insurance system.
Duterte’s lawyers have asked ICC judges to reject a court-appointed medical panel’s finding that the former Philippine president is fit for pre-trial proceedings, arguing that his short-term memory impairment prevents him from meaningfully instructing counsel and following complex hearings. The defense filing cites alleged contradictions in the experts’ reports, questions their evidentiary standards, and claims the panel failed to fully consider detention staff observations and Duterte’s co-morbid conditions. The defense requested an evidentiary hearing to question the experts before the ICC rules on Duterte’s fitness.
Gilas Pilipinas defeated host Thailand, 70-64, at Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok to win the men’s basketball gold medal at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games. Robert Bolick led the Filipinos in the title-clinching victory and issued strong remarks after the game about the hostile atmosphere. Players and coaches celebrated on the court and during the medal ceremony as organizers awarded gold to the Philippines and silver to Thailand. The win added another gold to the Philippine campaign in the regional meet.
A YouTube content creator’s investment livestream appeared for at least eight minutes on the official White House live video page on Thursday night, temporarily replacing standard programming on whitehouse.gov/live. The unexplained incident raised questions about how the external stream accessed the site, who was responsible, and whether it involved a technical error or unauthorized intrusion. Officials did not immediately identify the creator, announce an investigation, or confirm any cybersecurity impact, and the livestream ended with the page returning to normal operations.
Texas A&M University has appointed Dr. Angela Wilson as vice president for research to direct the institution’s research strategy, interdisciplinary initiatives, and external funding efforts. She will oversee grant administration, compliance, and commercialization support while working with faculty and administrators to expand collaborative projects and increase research expenditures across the university.
Several Central Texas cities have removed automated license plate readers after years of using the technology to aid police investigations. Local officials ended contracts, deactivated devices, and took down equipment following reviews of costs, performance, and policy priorities. Police departments reported that the systems had helped locate suspects and vehicles in past cases, while investigators in other jurisdictions, including in the Brown University shooting case, continue to use license plate reader data. Central Texas agencies now rely on other investigative tools and traditional policing methods and say any future use of license plate readers would require new public discussions and approvals.
Houston Landing, a nonprofit news outlet in Houston, Texas, shut down operations on May 15, 2025, citing financial challenges after more than two years of independent, nonpartisan reporting. Launched in February 2023, the newsroom produced thousands of stories that reached millions of readers and recently received dozens of journalism awards recognizing the impact of its coverage. CEO Peter Bhatia confirmed the closure in a farewell note, expressing gratitude to readers, supporters and staff while emphasizing the lasting influence of the outlet’s work.
The Philippines finished sixth overall at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, held from Dec. 9 to 20, 2024, with a 50-73-153 gold-silver-bronze haul for 276 total medals. Host Thailand dominated the 10-nation meet, while Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore completed the top five. Gilas Pilipinas swept the men’s and women’s basketball golds, and the Philippine women’s football team captured the country’s first SEA Games football title. Athletics, shooting, swimming, triathlon, and modern pentathlon led the medal charge, as the Blu Girls and Blu Boys completed a softball sweep and the men’s baseball team secured a third straight crown.
The Department of Health (DOH) in the Philippines reports a rise in hypertension cases among young Filipinos, linking the trend to higher consumption of ultra-processed, salty, fatty and sugary foods, especially during the holidays. Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa and National Nutrition Council official Dr. Eileen Blanco cite increasing emergency room cases involving youth with high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes. The DOH urges the public to prepare healthier meals with more vegetables, fruits and lean proteins, to read nutrition labels and to limit daily salt intake to less than one teaspoon as part of efforts to prevent hypertension and related complications.