Indonesia faces reckoning over maritime safety after deadly ferry disaster

South China Morning Post - Sep 17, 2026

Indonesia’s latest ferry disaster has exposed persistent weaknesses in maritime safety oversight, experts have said, with poor enforcement and inadequate supervision continuing to leave passengers vulnerable across the sprawling archipelago. The capsizing of the Virgo Transport 8 in the Java Sea on Sunday has intensified scrutiny of a system that analysts say too often comes under pressure only after deadly accidents, rather than preventing them. Six people have been confirmed dead and 129...

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Jackie O's manager gives cryptic response to relapse rumours... plus, an update on the Silvagnis' marriage - and an insider reveals moment Karl turned on Keshnee Kemp: INSIDE MAIL

Sep 17, 2026

Jackie O's manager gives cryptic response to relapse rumours... plus, an update on the Silvagnis' marriage - and an insider reveals moment Karl turned on Keshnee Kemp: INSIDE MAIL

Jackie O's manager Gemma O'Neill gave an unusual response when we asked her to address rumours Jackie is drinking again. Plus, we reveal insider details about the Karl and Keshnee drama.

Pictured: Brit facing life in prison in Hong Kong after £1.5m of ketamine found in his suitcase

Sep 17, 2026

Pictured: Brit facing life in prison in Hong Kong after £1.5m of ketamine found in his suitcase

Paul Squire, 50, from Askern, Doncaster, was arrested in June at Hong Kong International Airport alongside a Japanese man after they tried to sneak 42kg of the drug into the region.

Kyle Sandilands suggests cocaine should be legalised and sold at Chemist Warehouse: 'Who cares if someone's blasting some lines?'

Sep 17, 2026

Kyle Sandilands suggests cocaine should be legalised and sold at Chemist Warehouse: 'Who cares if someone's blasting some lines?'

The shock jock named Australia's largest pharmacy retailer while calling for cocaine to be legalised and supplied through regulated outlets on his new Kyle Sandilands Live show.

Andy Burnham urged to rule out tax rises in next month's Budget - after being stung by jibe that he's just 'another tax and spend socialist'

Sep 17, 2026

Andy Burnham urged to rule out tax rises in next month's Budget - after being stung by jibe that he's just 'another tax and spend socialist'

Shadow chancellor Andrew Griffith called for a moratorium on further tax rises, warning they are 'crushing' the economy.

Inquiry into SAS 'war crimes' in Afghanistan has already cost £58million as special forces troops say three-year probe is hurting nation's defence

Sep 17, 2026

Inquiry into SAS 'war crimes' in Afghanistan has already cost £58million as special forces troops say three-year probe is hurting nation's defence

The inquiry was commissioned to investigate alleged war crimes committed by soldiers serving with the SAS in Afghanistan between 2010 and 2013.

DOE eyes Zamboanga for oil storage facility site

Sep 17, 2026

DOE eyes Zamboanga for oil storage facility site

The Department of Energy (DOE) said on Thursday that it is considering a larger area in Zamboanga to set up a storage facility that can handle 50 million barrels of oil.

Hundreds of forecourts already charging £2 a litre for fuel as near-record prices threaten to further stoke inflation, piling pressure on Labour to abandon planned Fuel Duty hike

Sep 17, 2026

Hundreds of forecourts already charging £2 a litre for fuel as near-record prices threaten to further stoke inflation, piling pressure on Labour to abandon planned Fuel Duty hike

Analysis of thousands of forecourt prices found 236 were selling diesel at more than £2 a litre, with a further 633 pricing it at 199.9p.

Marcoleta won't ask court to let him participate in VP Sara impeachment trial

Sep 17, 2026

Marcoleta won't ask court to let him participate in VP Sara impeachment trial

Senator Rodante Marcoleta on Thursday said he won"t ask the Sandiganbayan Third Division to allow him to participate in the impeachment trial of his ally, Vice President Sara Duterte.

Macalintal asks Marcos to veto 5-year term for barangay, SK officials

Sep 17, 2026

Macalintal asks Marcos to veto 5-year term for barangay, SK officials

Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal on Thursday asked President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to veto the measure seeking to "fix" the term of office of barangay officials and members of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) to five years.

Lovers are flogged 100 times each for adultery with girlfriend begging for mercy then collapsing in pain during brutal Sharia caning in Indonesia

Sep 17, 2026

Lovers are flogged 100 times each for adultery with girlfriend begging for mercy then collapsing in pain during brutal Sharia caning in Indonesia

A couple was flogged 100 times each for adultery under an Indonesian province's strict Sharia laws.

Means-test disability benefits to save £8billion and cut handouts to middle-class youngsters with anxiety, Labour told

Sep 17, 2026

Means-test disability benefits to save £8billion and cut handouts to middle-class youngsters with anxiety, Labour told

Andy Burnham could slash a further £2.2billion from Britain's bloated benefits bill by limiting disability benefit claims in under-30s to those with the most severe conditions, a report found.

8 ex-NPA rebels surrender in Northern Samar

Sep 17, 2026

8 ex-NPA rebels surrender in Northern Samar

TACLOBAN CITY — Eight former members of the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered to authorities in Northern Samar and turned over 13 high-powered firearms. The Philippine Army described this development as another significant development in its campaign against communist insurgency in the province. The 8th Infantry Division (8ID), based in Catbalogan City, Samar, said the

EU Commission proposes under-13s social media ban

Sep 17, 2026

EU Commission proposes under-13s social media ban

Under the proposal, which will need to be negotiated with EU countries and the European Parliament in the coming months before it can become law, accounts for children between 13 and 15 will be under parental control

Two Brits are among three dead after plane crashed in Swiss Alps

Sep 17, 2026

Two Brits are among three dead after plane crashed in Swiss Alps

The small single-engine aeroplane crashed high in the mountains near the town of Leukerbad in the southern canton of Valais, Switzerland on Tuesday.

The Fed Raised Rates. What Comes Next?

Sep 17, 2026

The Fed Raised Rates. What Comes Next?

Kevin M. Warsh, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, on Wednesday left open-ended how much more interest rates may have to rise to tame inflation.

NEA seeks extra P7 billion to eliminate non-technical system losses

Sep 17, 2026

NEA seeks extra P7 billion to eliminate non-technical system losses

NEA says eliminating non-technical system losses will require a phased transition, with cooperatives needing billions in loans for metering and other upgrades before they can absorb the costs

Senators to have caucus on impeachment voting threshold 

Sep 17, 2026

Senators to have caucus on impeachment voting threshold 

Following a consultation with amici curiae or friends of the court, the senator-judges will have a meeting regarding the voting threshold needed to either convict or acquit Vice President Sara Duterte in her impeachment trial.

Global Economy Is Running Out of Wiggle Room

Sep 17, 2026

Global Economy Is Running Out of Wiggle Room

Many countries blunted the most painful effects of the energy shock from the war in Iran. But prices remain elevated and risks are multiplying.

Senators react to Rodrigo Duterte's first in-person appearance before ICC

Sep 17, 2026

Senators react to Rodrigo Duterte's first in-person appearance before ICC

Some senators on Thursday shared their reactions after former president Rodrigo Duterte made his first in-person appearance before the International Criminal Court.

Taipei donates coastguard vessel to Manila amid South China Sea tensions

Sep 17, 2026

Taipei donates coastguard vessel to Manila amid South China Sea tensions

Taiwan has quietly acknowledged donating a coastguard vessel to the Philippines, potentially adding to Manila’s maritime patrol capacity amid its long-running stand-off with Beijing in the South China Sea. Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration said on Wednesday that “this case” was being handled in line with previous transfers of vessels to the Marshall Islands, Palau and Tuvalu. Unlike those three Pacific states, which all maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taipei, the Philippines recognises...

The 'forgotten' migrant route into Britain: I'm the boss of a haulage company - and while everyone is outraged by small boats, THIS is what I find in the back of my lorries... and my drivers get the blame!

Sep 17, 2026

The 'forgotten' migrant route into Britain: I'm the boss of a haulage company - and while everyone is outraged by small boats, THIS is what I find in the back of my lorries... and my drivers get the blame!

When you open up the trailer, it's a disgrace,' says Lorenzo Zaccheo, standing in the yard of his international haulage company in Kent, just ten miles from the Channel Tunnel.

ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office releases the 2026 ASEAN+3 Financial Stability Report

Sep 17, 2026

ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office releases the 2026 ASEAN+3 Financial Stability Report

Join the launch of the ASEAN+3 Financial Stability Report 2026 on October 5. It assesses financial resilience, explores risks, and discusses policy priorities amid geopolitical uncertainties and AI investment optimism. Upcoming Launch of the ASEAN+3 Financial Stability Report 2026 On Monday, October 5, at 10:30 am Singapore time, the ASEAN+3 Financial Stability Report (AFSR) 2026 […]

Ohio house of horrors mom-of-16 pleads not guilty to child abuse charges as she cradles stomach in court - but lawyer refuses to say if she's pregnant again

Sep 17, 2026

Ohio house of horrors mom-of-16 pleads not guilty to child abuse charges as she cradles stomach in court - but lawyer refuses to say if she's pregnant again

Elizabeth Siders, 34, appeared to be cradling a protruding bump under her bright orange prison garb during her court appearance on Wednesday in Ohio.

Osama bin Laden's eldest son 'FAKED his death in 2019 with the help of mafia clan dubbed the Sopranos of Afghanistan - and is plotting to attack the West'

Sep 17, 2026

Osama bin Laden's eldest son 'FAKED his death in 2019 with the help of mafia clan dubbed the Sopranos of Afghanistan - and is plotting to attack the West'

Osama bin Laden's eldest son faked his death in 2019 with the help of al-Qaeda and a ruthless mafia clan dubbed 'the Sopranos of Afghanistan', according to a new intelligence assessment.

Makati’s No. 4 most wanted arrested in Puerto Princesa

Sep 17, 2026

Makati’s No. 4 most wanted arrested in Puerto Princesa

CALAPAN CITY — Police arrested Makati City’s No. 4 most wanted fugitive, who is facing a robbery with homicide case, during a manhunt operation in Puerto Princesa City on Wednesday afternoon. The 22-year-old suspect, a resident of Puerto Princesa, was arrested in Barangay Model based on a warrant issued on June 11, 2024, by the

Marcos wants scaled-up manufacturing, production for small businesses

Sep 17, 2026

Marcos wants scaled-up manufacturing, production for small businesses

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday said that he is hoping to scale up the manufacturing and production processes for small businesses.

Thailand Emphasizes Maritime Boundary as a Key Focus in UNCLOS Talks

Sep 17, 2026

Thailand Emphasizes Maritime Boundary as a Key Focus in UNCLOS Talks

Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister emphasized maritime boundary delimitation as key in UNCLOS proceedings with Cambodia, while addressing land border tensions and confirming readiness for upcoming meetings in The Hague. Key Points Deputy Prime Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow emphasized Thailand’s commitment to maritime boundary delimitation in conciliation proceedings with Cambodia under UNCLOS, following the first Commission meeting […]

First chemotherapy center in Occidental Mindoro to rise in Mamburao

Sep 17, 2026

First chemotherapy center in Occidental Mindoro to rise in Mamburao

CALAPAN CITY — Occidental Mindoro’s first chemotherapy center is set to be established in Mamburao, giving cancer patients access to treatment without having to travel outside the province, local officials said. The planned Prime Care Mamburao Chemotherapy Center is expected to provide chemotherapy services to patients from Mamburao and nearby municipalities. Among the services announced

Tourist is hit with 7 euro surcharge for background music at café in Venice's St Mark's Square

Sep 17, 2026

Tourist is hit with 7 euro surcharge for background music at café in Venice's St Mark's Square

An Italian tourist who dined at a café in Venice's famous St Mark's Square was forced to pay extra for background ambient music.

Hanoi residents bail out homes, paddle boats through flooded streets

Sep 17, 2026

Hanoi residents bail out homes, paddle boats through flooded streets

Hanoi residents blocked doorways with wooden boards, bailed out homes with buckets and took aluminum boats onto the streets on Thursday as floodwater stalled vehicles en masse.

Samoa charges two over killing of Australian in Vietnam

Sep 17, 2026

Samoa charges two over killing of Australian in Vietnam

Police in Samoa have charged two men over the killing of a Sydney gangland figure outside a seafood restaurant in Vietnam in May, they said Thursday.

‘Depraved’ Singaporean paedophile, who abused daughter, granddaughters, jailed

Sep 17, 2026

‘Depraved’ Singaporean paedophile, who abused daughter, granddaughters, jailed

A diagnosed paedophile who sexually abused 11 girls over 33 years, with the acts ranging from molestation to rape, was sentenced by a Singapore court on Thursday to 21 years’ jail. The victims were as young as five, and included his daughter, granddaughters, nieces and students at an enrichment centre he ran with his wife. The judge noted that the jail term should not be crushing or amount to a life sentence for the 71-year-old man, who suffers from a rare blood cancer called myelofibrosis. At...

4 more listed passengers did not board MV June Aster

Sep 17, 2026

4 more listed passengers did not board MV June Aster

Puerto Princesa City — Four more individuals listed in the passenger manifest of the ill-fated MV June Aster have been confirmed to have not boarded the vessel when it left Baseco Port in Manila on Sept. 8, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Wednesday night. PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemi Cayabyab said the Emergency Operation Center

Family of Greek heiress, 30, who died from 'toxic insect bite' after being discharged from London hospital condemn 'outrageous' wait for answers a year after her death

Sep 17, 2026

Family of Greek heiress, 30, who died from 'toxic insect bite' after being discharged from London hospital condemn 'outrageous' wait for answers a year after her death

Marissa Lemos, 30, was tragically discovered in bed by a housekeeper at the townhouse she lived in with her shipping tycoon father and mother in upmarket Knightsbridge.

Lancashire man's family issues message after he's paralysed in Turkey holiday horror

Sep 17, 2026

Lancashire man's family issues message after he's paralysed in Turkey holiday horror

Will Ponter seriously injured himself on holiday in Turkey

Donald Trump presses China on fentanyl precursors ahead of US summit

Sep 17, 2026

Donald Trump presses China on fentanyl precursors ahead of US summit

US President Donald Trump has urged Beijing to take “more aggressive action” to curb the export of drug precursor chemicals, noting to the US Congress that he had raised the issue “directly” with his Chinese counterpart. Trump’s call comes just days ahead of a planned summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and just a week after security agencies from the two countries praised progress in cooperation on counternarcotics law enforcement. The call was noted in an annual list sent to the US...

FACT CHECK: No lockdown in Malacañang after court ordered VP Sara’s arrest

Sep 17, 2026

FACT CHECK: No lockdown in Malacañang after court ordered VP Sara’s arrest

No credible reports confirm that barricades and barbed wire were installed around Malacañang due to the issuance of Duterte's arrest warrant, contrary to the claim

Coronation Street's Samia Longchambon details wanting to quit as new role away from soap supported

Sep 17, 2026

Coronation Street's Samia Longchambon details wanting to quit as new role away from soap supported

Corrie actress Samia Longchambon had told how she once considered quitting her role on the ITV soap

Labour's union paymasters to set out 'wish list' on tax and Brexit in meeting with Chancellor John Healey… amid fears he will hike CGT to fill £10bn black hole

Sep 17, 2026

Labour's union paymasters to set out 'wish list' on tax and Brexit in meeting with Chancellor John Healey… amid fears he will hike CGT to fill £10bn black hole

Chancellor John Healey will host the party donors with just six weeks to go until a potentially pivotal Budget.

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