The US-Israeli strikes against Iran and reprisals by Tehran could severely disrupt the global supply of crude oil and send prices soaring to levels not seen in years. AFP looks at the risks. Major producer Iran remains just inside the world’s Top 10 oil producers even though its output has fallen sharply since the 1970s, …
OPINION
Belated ICC withdrawal
By Ade S. Fajardo The International Criminal Court (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber began the four-day confirmation of charges hearing for former President Rodrigo Duterte. The world knows that Duterte is set to face trial in the crimes against humanity charges linked to his government’s anti-drug campaign. This is alleged to be a national amplification of the …
Bring justice home
By Herman M. Lagon Justice does not travel well when it is wrapped only in slogans. This reflection feels especially apt as we mark the 40th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution on February 25. Four decades ago, Filipinos filled a highway not merely to chant, but to insist that institutions must answer to …
Why authoritarianism won’t fix corruption in Southeast Asia
At a recent Jakarta economic forum, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto revived a familiar Southeast Asian argument that only a strong state can uproot corruption, framing tougher executive power as a practical tool against graft. “Some groups keep complaining, saying things like ‘Prabowo is authoritarian,’” he told attendees at the 2026 Indonesia Economic Outlook forum. “But …
Schadenfreude in the workplace
By Herman M. Lagon There is a German word that sounds heavier than it looks: schadenfreude. It means taking quiet pleasure in someone else’s misfortune. It is usually used to describe a classmate smirking when his rival slips on stage. But it also lives in more ordinary places — like a cramped registrar’s office on …
In the world but not worldly
By Fr. Roy Cimagala In that gospel parable describing the kingdom of heaven as a treasure buried in a field and as a merchant searching for fine pearls for which the main characters would be willing to sell everything they had just to get that treasure and those fine pearls (cfr. Matthew 13:44-46), we are …
Crucial safety info missing on AI ‘agents’: study
AI developers are happy to hype up the purported capabilities of autonomous “agents” but are failing to disclose potential safety problems and risks, a study found. Researchers urged more transparency about and study of autonomous systems as growing numbers of people gain access to agents — chatbots using AI that are designed to tackle complex …
The Philippines in 2050: Are we ready for a Top 20 economy?
By Ignacio R. Bunye Global analysts now project that by 2050, the Philippines may stand among the world’s 20 largest economies. It is an encouraging forecast — but also a challenge. Because if we are to be brutally honest, the biggest threats to this future are not global headwinds. They are political habits we have …
The line we defend
By Herman M. Lagon Some campaigns fade once the hashtags cool down. “Atin ang Kinse” refuses to. It keeps resurfacing because the issue is not symbolic; it is daily rice, tuition and ulam. In many coastal towns, the 15-kilometer municipal water line is where the morning begins: a father warming a small engine that coughs …
Could insight from cats lead to breast cancer cures?
Owning a cat offers many health benefits, including reduced stress and emotional support, and new research suggests our feline friends might also offer clues to better treat certain cancers. That’s according to a new study published in the journal Science, which investigated cancers in cats and found significant parallels with how the disease plays out …