Running as independents, senators Grace Poe and Escudero are eyeing a senatorial slate that is composed of politicians from different parties. There are only 11 names so far. At least 5 of the tandem’s bets are shared candidates with the administration, UNA slates. 

Find out who made it to the Poe-Escudero list

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday, October 18, hailed progress in helping Turkey deal with the refugee crisis and vowed to push forward its long-stalled EU membership bid, as Slovenia warned it would have to slow a rising influx of migrants. Merkel held talks in Istanbul with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on a critical one-day visit, which came with Germany reeling from a bloody knife attack on a pro-refugee politician. The European Union wants Turkey to do more to tighten its border security and help contain the historic influx of Syrians and others escaping conflict, persecution and poverty.

Read: Merkel hails refugee progress with Turkey, vows to push EU bid

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is seeking the immediate assistance of the government and members of the Philippine Army to help resolve right-of-way (ROW) issues involving one of its lines that threatens power supply to Mindanao. Sustained tripping of the Agus 2-Kibawe Line 1 in Mindanao has been observed since Saturday morning, October 17. The situation is aggravated as the NGCP said that landowners have refused to allow NGCP personnel to enter their properties to clear and restore these lines which are vital to the grid.

More about right-of-way (ROW) issues affecting Mindanao grid maintenance

Up to 26.4 million voters in Canada will be voting on Monday, October 19, following what is considered one of the longest campaign periods in the nation’s history. The 11-week campaign gave Canadians unprecedented exposure to party leaders and their viewpoints in 5 debates and almost daily stump speeches. On Sunday, October 18, political party leaders criss-crossed Canada in a last-gasp attempt to sway many still undecided voters, the final chapter in a gripping and hard-fought 3-way election fight. Among the key issues during the campaign period: the record influx of people fleeing war in Syria, a court ruling quashing a veil ban and an economy in recession.

Read more about Canada’s elections

Business groups are resigned to the fact that a bill rationalizing the country’s incentives offered to business would have to wait until the next administration. Peter Perfecto, executive director of the Makati Business Club (MBC), said the group would rather stay with the status quo than rush passing legislation on incentives that would only weaken the country’s competitiveness. The rationalization of fiscal incentives bill is pending with the ways and means committees of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. According to Perfecto, the MBC thinks the bill on fiscal incentives rationalization has a difficult road to negotiate before being passed. A key issue during deliberations on the bill is on whether economic zones outside those administered by PEZA should grant income tax holidays (ITH) to companies located in their areas. The Department of Finance (DOF) is against the proposal, as this would expand the number of economic zones that would grant ITH.

Read more about the Makati Business Club’s recent statement on fiscal incentives rationalization bill

Japanese investors reportedly threatened to relocate factories and reconsider investment plans following the award of a 150-km fast-train project from Jakarta to Bandung to Chinese investors. The Japanese side thought they had won the deal. Neither China nor Indonesia first announced the US$5 billion project. The two countries officially signed the deal on Friday, October 16.  It was a Japanese official who told local media first that his country had lost the project. Yoshihide Suga, the Japanese chief cabinet secretary complained late last month in Tokyo that “the policy suddenly changed — it’s hard to understand how the Chinese plan was adopted.”

Find out more about the Indonesia-China train deal

Egyptians voted Sunday, October 18, to elect a new parliament that will bolster President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s grip on power after he crushed all opposition since ousting his Islamist predecessor two years ago.

The vote for the much-delayed 596-member parliament is being staged in two phases ending on December 2, with Egyptians abroad casting their votes for the first round from Saturday, October 17. But with an absence of opposition parties – including the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood that has faced a deadly government crackdown overseen by Sisi – polling has inspired none of the enthusiasm witnessed for Egypt’s first democratic elections in 2011. Experts say the election’s outcome is a foregone conclusion and only voter turnout will be a gauge of popularity for Sisi, who has enjoyed a cult-like status since toppling president Mohamed Morsi in 2013.

More on Egypt’s parliamentary elections

Hillarie Danielle Parungao was crowned Miss World Philippines 2015 at the Theater at Solaire on Sunday, October 18. Hillarie, who hails from Nueva Vizcaya, succeeded last year’s winner Valerie Weigmann. Hillarie will represent the country in the Miss World pageant in Sanya, China on December 19. Find out more about the Miss World Philippines 2015 winners through the stories below. 

Read about Hillarie Parungao‘s Miss World Philippines 2015 win 

FULL LIST: Winners, Miss World Philippines 2015 

IN PHOTOS: Miss World Philippines 2015 swimsuit competition 

Comedian Willie Revillame is facing arrest over a previous child abuse case after the Court of Appeals (CA) affirmed the order from the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Quezon City. Quezon City RTC Branch 86 presiding judge Roberto Buenaventura found probable cause to issue a warrant of arrest against Revillame. In a decision written by Associate Justice Maria Luisa Quijano-Padilla, the CA’s 13th Division did not find any abuse of discretion on the part of Buenaventura when he issued the warrant of arrest in October 2013. The CA said that the case was delayed because of Willie’s “refusal to submit to the trial court’s jurisdiction and his erroneous invocation of the Rules in his favor.”

More on the child abuse case against Willie Revillame