https://www.scmp.com/rss/522491/feed The latest news and top stories on the Philippine Senate, a prominent governmental body that serves as the upper chamber of the bicameral Congress, primarily responsible for legislative functions and oversight. Currently located in Pasay City, Metro Manila, its mission includes enacting laws, promoting good governance, and strengthening democracy. Key activities involve proposing legislation, ratifying treaties, trying impeachment cases and confirming appointments. It plays a crucial role in the... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Sam Beltran Sam Beltran Officials from the Philippines-claimed Kalayaan group of islands within the disputed Spratly Islands archipelago plan to expand its civilian population amid a war of words with the Chinese embassy in the country. Local authorities in Kalayaan, which falls under the jurisdiction of Palawan province, were working on plans to grow the population beyond its current outpost on Thitu Island, known locally as Pagasa, and to the six other land masses under its administration, Vice-Mayor Maurice Phillip... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3343273/philippines-expand-civilian-population-disputed-spratly-islands-amid-diplomatic-row?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3343273/philippines-expand-civilian-population-disputed-spratly-islands-amid-diplomatic-row?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 05:10:37 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage of Asia over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Grab halts Mandarin driver trial in Malaysia after backlash, government warning 2. Malaysia orders Zara’s body to be exhumed amid protests over student’s death 3. India and Australia unite to challenge China’s rare earth reign 4. Did US missiles in Philippines trigger... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/3321522/grab-halts-mandarin-driver-trial-malaysia-orders-zaras-exhumation-7-asia-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/3321522/grab-halts-mandarin-driver-trial-malaysia-orders-zaras-exhumation-7-asia-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Aug 2025 04:30:16 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Days after the Philippine Senate declined to launch the impeachment trial of the country’s vice-president, two interviews with Filipinos arguing for and against the move went viral. Neither were real. The schoolboys and elderly woman making their cases were AI creations, examples of increasingly sophisticated fakes possible with even basic online tools. “Why single out the VP?”, a digitally created boy in a white school uniform asks, arguing that the case was politically motivated. The House of... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3315777/philippines-ai-fakes-duel-over-vp-sara-dutertes-impeachment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3315777/philippines-ai-fakes-duel-over-vp-sara-dutertes-impeachment?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Jun 2025 08:33:15 +0000