Today on Rappler – the latest news in the Philippines and around the world:

• Comelec halts fact-checking deal with Rappler a day after defending it

The Comelec succumbs to pressure from Solicitor General Jose Calida, moving to suspend its fact-checking memorandum of agreement with Rappler.

• Supreme Court issues TRO vs Comelec’s Oplan Baklas

The Supreme Court on Tuesday, March 8, issues a temporary restraining order to stop the Commission on Elections’ Oplan Baklas.

• Duterte names Saidamen Pangarungan as new Comelec chair

President Rodrigo Duterte names Saidamen Balt Pangarungan as the new Comelec chair, two months ahead of the 2022 elections. He also names veteran election lawyer George Garcia and Duterte government official Aimee Torrefranca-Neri as the two new commissioners.

• Russia warns on oil import ban as little progress is made at Ukraine talks

Moscow warns that the price of oil may rise to $300 dollars a barrel due to a Western ban on Russian oil imports. This follows as talks on Ukraine hardly advance amid efforts to agree on civilian safe passage.

• Final decision: PATAFA drops EJ Obiena from SEA Games roster

Pole vault star EJ Obiena is not on the list of athletes the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association, or PATAFA, intends to send to the 31st Southeast Asian or SEA Games in Vietnam this May. – Rappler.com