Abbey M.

LONDON — Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly planning to move back to the United Kingdom later this month, more than six years after stepping away from royal duties and relocating to the United States.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expected to live in a private, non-royal residence outside London with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The children are also reportedly set to begin school in Britain in September.

Despite the move, Harry and Meghan are not expected to resume official duties as working members of the royal family.

The couple is also expected to keep their home in California while making the UK their main residence for an extended period.

Harry and Meghan stepped back as senior working royals in 2020 and later settled in California. Their status as nonworking members of the royal family remains unchanged.

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MANILA, Philippines — Fewer Filipinos were living in poverty in 2025 as household incomes grew faster than the cost of basic needs, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

The PSA said 11.08 million Filipinos, or 9.7 % of the population, were classified as poor in 2025. This was down from 17.54 million, or 15.5 percent, in 2023.

Among families, poverty incidence fell to 6.4 percent, equivalent to about 1.9 million families, from 2.99 million in 2023. It was the first time the country’s family poverty rate dropped below 10 %.

A person is considered poor if their income falls below the poverty threshold needed to meet basic food and non-food needs.

For a family of five, the average monthly poverty threshold increased from P13,873 in 2023 to P14,634 in 2025.

The PSA attributed the decline in poverty mainly to income growth outpacing the increase in the poverty threshold. Mean annual per capita income rose 22 % from 2023 to 2025, while the poverty threshold increased by 5.5 %.

The median per capita income also increased from P85,291 in 2023 to P104,072 in 2025.

Department of Economy, Planning and Development Secretary Arsenio Balisacan welcomed the decline but said the government must ensure families who have moved out of poverty do not fall back into it.

He also warned that poverty reduction could slow in 2026 as the country faces a more challenging economic environment.

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First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos is facing online criticism after her social media post about taking a break drew comparisons to the ongoing flooding crisis affecting thousands of Filipinos.

The backlash came after Araneta-Marcos announced her weeklong "birthday sabbatical" last Monday, August 17. 

"Happy Monday, everyone! Excited to start my birthday sabbatical. No makeup. No hairspray. No terno. No heels. No speeches. No official photos. No meetings. No schedule. No stress. Just me & Mother Nature. Time to slow down, recharge and enjoy the quiet. Stay safe & dry, everyone! See you next Monday!" she wrote, alongside a photo of herself in a garden setting.

Critics online questioned the timing of the post, pointing out that Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon and the Visayas were dealing with flooding and disruptions caused by the southwest monsoon which has brought persistent rains since the start of August.

The sabbatical comes ahead of the First Lady's 67th birthday on August 21. 

This is not the first time she has taken a similar break, she has done so in past years as a pause from her duties as First Lady.

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MANILA – The Department of Education (DepEd) has committed to providing psychological first aid to students and staff affected by a shooting incident at Ateneo de Zamboanga University on Tuesday.

Two students died in the incident, which occurred at the school's Junior High School campus in Barangay Lunzuran, Zamboanga City. Authorities identified those involved as including a Grade 9 student classified as a child in conflict with the law (CICL).

DepEd said it is working with mental health partners to deliver psychosocial support to those affected by what it called a distressing incident. 

The agency also pledged additional assistance to affected families, learners, and school personnel as needed, and asked the public to avoid circulating unverified reports or sensitive images and videos related to the shooting.

Ateneo de Zamboanga, for its part, said it had coordinated with parents and guardians on picking up their children and was working to ensure the safety of students who remained on campus at the time. 

The university appealed to the public to respect the privacy of those involved and said a fuller account of the incident would be released once available. It added that official communication channels have been set up to relay updates to the public.

Classes at the university have been suspended until Wednesday. The campus had already canceled in-person classes on Monday due to the high heat index.

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The Social Security System (SSS) is urging members affected by Tropical Storm Maymay and the enhanced Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) to avail of its Emergency Loan Program (ELP).

SSS President and CEO Robert Joseph M. de Claro said the ELP remains open to qualified members nationwide, giving them quick access to financial help during calamities and other emergencies.

Members may borrow up to P20,000 at an interest rate of 7 percent per year. The loan is payable over 30 months, with no payments due for the first six months. Regular monthly payments start on the seventh month.

To qualify, members need at least 18 monthly contributions, with at least six of those posted in the last 12 months. This is lower than the usual requirement of 36 contributions.

Self-employed, voluntary, non-working spouse, and land-based OFW members must have at least six monthly contributions under their current membership type before applying.

For more details, members may visit the SSS website or its official social media pages.

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