Philippine News

HOUSTON, January 8 ------ Oil prices settled lower for a second straight session as investors digested U.S. President Donald Trump's deal to import up to $2 billion worth of Venezuelan crude, a move that would lift supplies to the world's largest oil consumer. Brent crude futures closed down 74 cents, or 1.2%, at $59.96 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell $1.14, or 2%, to $55.99 a barrel. Both benchmarks slid more than $1 a barrel during the previous tradi

TOKYO, January 8 ------ Japan's real wages fell in November at the fastest pace since last January, dragged down by a sharp drop in one-off bonus payments, preliminary government data showed on Thursday. The underlying trend of inflation outpacing wage growth, meanwhile, has not changed, posing a challenge for the Bank of Japan, which has signaled it would continue interest rate hikes through this year. Labor ministry data showed inflation-adjusted real wages, a key barometer

PARIS, January 8 ------ American and Ukrainian officials will continue talks over security guarantees for Kyiv, both sides said, after meetings with Western allies yielded breakthroughs, including a United States-led monitoring mechanism and a European multinational force to be deployed after any ceasefire with Russia. Following the largest meeting yet of the so-called Coalition of the Willing in Paris, both European leaders and American envoys hailed progress that hid tensio

January 8 ------ Air combat tactics taught to Ukrainian pilots during F-16 training abroad did not fully match the realities of the war against Russia, forcing pilots to develop their own methods near the front line, a Ukrainian pilot said. Speaking in a video released by the Ukrainian Air Force, the pilot said the training was based on conflicts fought by Ukraine’s partners in the past and did not account for the intensity and conditions of the current war. “After we returne

January 7 ------ An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.2 hit the western Chugoku region of Japan on Tuesday, followed by a series of sizeable aftershocks, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. The epicenter of the first earthquake was in eastern Shimane prefecture, the agency said, adding that there was no danger of a tsunami. Chugoku Electric Power, which runs the Shimane Nuclear Power Station about 32 km (20 miles) away, said operations were continuing as usual at

COPENHAGEN, January 7 ------ Leaders from major European powers rallied behind Greenland on Tuesday, saying in a joint statement that the Arctic island belongs to its people, following a renewed threat by US President Donald Trump to take over the Danish territory. Trump has in recent weeks repeated that he wants to gain control of Greenland, an idea first voiced in 2019 during his first presidency, arguing that it is vital for the US military, and that Denmark has not done e

PARIS, France, January 7 ------ France, the U.K. and Ukraine signed a “Declaration of Intent” to send their forces to Ukraine in the event of a peace deal with Russia. British, French and partner forces would be on the ground, establishing “military hubs” across Ukraine, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky. Ukraine’s armed forces would use the protective facilities to retain Ukraine’s defensive nee

PARIS, January 7 ------ Ukraine’s allies were meeting in Paris for key talks that could help determine the country’s security after a potential ceasefire with Russia, but prospects for progress are uncertain with the United States’ focus shifting to Venezuela. Before the US capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, France’s President Emmanuel Macron had expressed optimism about the latest gathering of “coalition of the willing” nations. For months, they have been exploring

January 6 ------ US President Donald Trump on Sunday issued a pointed warning to Colombian President Gustavo Petro, suggesting that Petro “is not going to be doing it for very long.” When asked about the possibility of a US military operation against Colombia, Trump responded, “It sounds good to me.” Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump criticized Colombia’s leadership, alleging involvement in drug production. “Colombia is run by a sick man who likes making cocai

TOKYO, January 6 ------ Japan's Environment Ministry plans to compile by March an action plan aimed at reducing large amounts of clothing waste from households. The action plan is expected to include measures that should be taken by consumers, local governments and businesses at a time when large parts of used clothes from households are disposed of as waste. The ministry hopes to promote effective use of secondhand clothing and encourage production and consumption of appropr

January 6 ------ Russian strikes on Ukraine killed two people and forced night-time evacuations into freezing temperatures, a day ahead of Ukrainian allies meeting in Paris to revive diplomatic efforts to stop the fighting. US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner will attend the Paris meeting, the latest in a US-led push to end the Russian invasion, which began four years ago next month. French President Emmanuel Macron is hosting

January 6 ------ The spy chief who led Ukraine’s most audacious behind-the-lines operations in its war with Russia has been forced to resign by Volodymyr Zelensky. Vasyl Malyuk, who was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine last year, reportedly fought to stay in post as head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) but relented at a meeting with the president. Announcing his resignation on the SBU’s official Telegram channel, Malyuk said he would remain in the agency to lead

MEXICO CITY, January 5 ------ A powerful earthquake shook southern Mexico damaging roads and hospitals and briefly interrupting President Claudia Sheinbaum's first press conference of the new year. A woman, aged 50, died in the southwestern state of Guerrero when her home collapsed due to the tremors, the state's governor, Evelyn Salgado, said. Local media also reported that a 67-year-old man died in Mexico City while going down the stairs as he tried to evacuate his apartmen

NEW DELHI, India, January 5 ------ At least nine people have died and more than 200 have been hospitalized in the central Indian city of Indore after a diarrhea outbreak that officials said was linked to contaminated drinking water, according to a lawmaker and local health authorities. Kailash Vijayvargiya, a lawmaker, said nine people had died in Indore. Indore's chief medical officer, Madhav Prasad Hasani, told Reuters by phone that drinking water in the Bhagirathpur area o

January 5 ------ Russia finished 2025 with what Ukraine described as an information operation designed to avoid engaging in peace talks and continue its war, despite suffering staggering casualties for meagre territorial gains this year. On Monday, December 29, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Ukraine of attempting to assassinate Russian President Vladimir Putin at his residence at Lake Valdai, 140km (87 miles) northeast of Moscow. “The Kyiv regime launched a te

January 5 ------ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has named spy chief Kyrylo Budanov as his new chief of staff, just over a month after his previous top aide resigned amid a corruption row. "At this time, Ukraine needs greater focus on security issues," Zelensky said in a post on social media, publishing a photo of his meeting with Budanov in Kyiv. Budanov, 39, has until now led the Hur military intelligence, which has claimed a number of highly-effective strikes agains

January 4 ------ The Japanese Government is seeking to raise its visa issuance fees starting fiscal year 2026. It is the first hike in over 48 years. Lawmakers already approved it as part of their 2026 budget proposal. Currently, visa processing fees cost 3,000 yen (₱1,125). Under the new proposed hike, it will rise up to 15,000 yen (₱5,625). For multiple-entry visas, the price can go as high as 30,000 yen (₱11,250). Though these prices are not yet final, as the Japanese Gove

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia, January 4 ------ Thailand released 18 Cambodian soldiers held for five months as prisoners of war, days after a fresh truce between the nations ended weeks of deadly fighting along their contested frontier. A decades-old border dispute between the Southeast Asian neighbors erupted into military clashes several times this year, with the latest round of fighting in December killing dozens of people and displacing more than a million. Some of the 18 soldier

SEOUL, January 3 ------ South Korea will extend the waiver on visa processing fees for group tourists from six countries, including the Philippines, for another six months, Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol announced. Under the plan, the exemption for C-3-2 group tourist visas—originally set to expire Wednesday—will remain in effect until the end of June next year. Aside from the Philippines, the visa fee waiver also covers group travelers from China, India, Vietnam, Indonesia a

JERUSALEM, January 3 ------ Israel has said 37 aid organizations will be banned from operating in Gaza unless they comply with guidelines requiring detailed information on Palestinian staff, drawing criticism from the United Nations and the European Union. Several NGOs have told AFP the new rules will have a major impact on food and medical shipments to Gaza, at a time when humanitarian organizations say the amount of aid getting in is inadequate to the devastated territory's