Peso Slides to 8-Year Low; PH Stocks Tumble

The peso Monday slid to an eight-year low, a level of weakness previously achieved at the height of the global financial crisis in 2008. The close of 49.20 to $1 at the start of the week was the weakest since the local currency ended at 49.37 on Dec. 4, 2008, reports Inquirer.net

PH Trimming, Not Scrapping Military Work with US -- Defense Official

President Rodrigo Duterte has decided to retain the Philippines' security alliance with former colonial power the United States, according to the country's defense minister, but joint military activities will be scaled back and less combat-focused, reports ABS-CBN News.

Most Women OFWs in Malaysia In Vulnerable Work Situations

The majority of the 66,000 overseas Filipino workers in Malaysia are women who are vulnerable to abuses by their employers --  about 40,000 plus are household service workers, a Filipino labor attaché said, reports Inquirer.net.

UN Honors Staff, Including Filipino, Who Died in Line of Duty

The United Nations has honored the memory of its Filipino staff and other personnel who died in the line of duty. The 210 UN personnel who died in the line of duty during the period Jan. 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016 were honored in a solemn ceremony at the United Nations at its Headquarters in New York City. Among those honored was Jacinto Bala, who died while serving as security officer in the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, reports Philstar.com.

US Halts Gun Sales to PH, Duterte Turns to Russia

President Duterte has belittled the decision of the US state department to halt the planned sale of more than 27,000 assault rifles to the Philippine National Police, saying the Philippines could just turn to Russia for firearms, reports Inquirer.net.

University of the Philippines Top in Nation in 4 Subjects

The University of the Philippines (UP) is the country's premier university across four subjects, according to the latest figures published on Tuesday by the independent international rankings agency Quacquarelli Symonds (QS). UP was ranked between 101-150 in English Language and Literature; in the 151-200 category for both Modern Languages and Agriculture and Forestry; and between the 301-400 range in the field of Medicine, reports Interaksyon.com.

Metro Manila May Be Facing a Water Crisis

A private water concessionaire says Metro Manila faces a water crisis unless the government finds a source to supplement the Umiray–Angat–Ipo or Angat reservoir system, which will not be able to meet the needs of its more than 15 million inhabitants four years from now, reports Inquirer.net.

PH Is 3rd 'Most Optimistic' Economy -- Global Survey

The Philippines emerged as the 3rd most optimistic economy among 37 countries driven by strong prospects in revenues, exports, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) integration, said The Grant Thornton International Business Report. The survey said optimism of Philippine businesses stood at 84% in the 3rd quarter of 2016, way above the average of 42%, reports Rappler.