Philippine News

MANILA, January 14 ------ Lower transmission charges led to a PHP0.1637 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) reduction in Manila Electric Company’s (Meralco) power rates for January 2026, the Pangilinan-led firm announced. This marks the second consecutive month of rate cuts, reducing the monthly bill of customers consuming 200 kWh by about PHP33, according to Meralco Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications Joe Zaldarriaga. “While there were upward pressures on certain cost co

January 14 ------ A Filipino fishing boat was harassed by a China Coast Guard vessel and a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ship near Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea, the Philippine Navy said.  Navy spokesperson for West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said the incident occurred around 12 noon on Monday in the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc, and lasted until 3 p.m. “There was a harassment incident yesterday, vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc. A fishi

Dubai, UAE, January 14 ------ The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), led by Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac, and DataFlow Group Chief Strategy Officer Amit Gupta officially signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) at the Conrad Hotel in Dubai. This event marks the global launch of the Online Employment Contract Verification System (OECVS), a fully digital platform that enables overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to submit, pay for, and download verified employment contracts online.

ABU DHABI, January 14 ------ President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday evening headlined a historic shift in Philippines-UAE relations, witnessing the signing of a landmark trade deal while honoring the hundreds of thousands of Filipinos in the Emirates. Addressing a Filipino community gathering during his working visit to the United Arab Emirates, the President emphasized the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The deal, which aims to eliminat

NEW YORK, January 14 ------ The Japanese yen tumbled to its weakest level against the U.S. dollar since July 2024 on concerns about looser fiscal and monetary policy in the country. The dollar was broadly higher following a brief dip on data showing that consumer prices were largely as economists expected last month. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi may call an early general election, the head of her party's coalition partner said on Sunday, after media reported she was

LONDON, January 14 ------ The U.S. government has filed for court warrants to seize dozens more tankers linked to the Venezuelan oil trade, four sources familiar with the matter said, as Washington consolidates control of oil shipments in and out of the South American country. The U.S. military and Coast Guard have seized five vessels in recent weeks in international waters that were either carrying Venezuelan oil or had done so in the past. The seizures were part of Washingt

January 14 ------ Ukraine’s parliament voted to dismiss Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal, approving a major wartime government reshuffle that President Volodymyr Zelensky says is aimed at making the military more technologically advanced as Russia escalates missile and drone attacks. A total of 265 lawmakers in the Verkhovna Rada backed Shmyhal’s dismissal. Shmyhal, who became defense minister in July 2025 after serving five years as prime minister – the longest tenure since Uk

January 14 ------ Russia’s army in 2025 failed to make useful ground gains at the price of crushing and, at times, debilitating casualties, vindicating the Ukrainian strategy of inflicting maximum losses against Kremlin forces in a war of attrition, Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) General Oleksandr Syrsky said in a statement. Russia’s top military leadership over the past twelve months set itself the objective of ending its war against Ukraine with the total co

January 13 ------ The 11th edition of the Wish Music Awards was undeniably TJ Monterde‘s night, who was declared Artist of the Year and KDR Icon of Breaking Boundaries. The awards followed the continued success of his smash hit, “Palagi,” the successful “Sariling Mundo” tour, and collaborations with various artists. Other artists who also won big at the ceremony were Cup of Joe and SB19, winning Group of the Year and Wishers’ Choice, among other awards. Despite the P-pop powe

January 13 ------ Lea Salonga performed fairytale classics such as “A Whole New World” and “Reflection” at a concert in celebration of Hong Kong Disneyland’s 20th anniversary. Salonga was the headline act of the concert called the “Disney Legend Live in Concert Presents Lea Salonga” held on Saturday, January 10, at the magical Castle of Magical Dreams in the Hong Kong-based theme park. Among the songs included in the Broadway star’s set were “Almost There,” “Someday My Prince

BEVERLY HILLS, California, January 13 ------ Paul Thomas Anderson’s ragtag revolutionary saga “One Battle After Another” took top honors at the 83rd Golden Globes in the comedy category, while Chloé Zhao’s Shakespeare drama “Hamnet” pulled off an upset over “Sinners” to win best film, drama. “One Battle After Another” won best film, comedy, supporting female actor for Teyana Taylor, and best director and best screenplay for Anderson. He became just the second filmmaker to swe

MANILA, Philippines, January 13 ------ Alden Richards is among the local tinseltown’s eligible bachelors and resident dreamboats. It doesn’t limit him in what roles to take on. He can disappear in and “deglamorize” himself for a portrayal. The Sparkle GMA Artist Center actor will be seen as a medical practitioner in the primetime TV series “Code Gray.” What also complements his charming personality on- and off-screen, besides his kind heart, on the other hand, is that bedimpl

January 13 ------ The Philippines holds the title of the world’s largest supplier of seafarers to international shipping, a designation that President Marcos Jr. emphasized during the ‘Shaping the Future of Shipping: Seafarer 2050’ event in Manila. He expressed pride in the country’s status as the seafaring capital of the world and highlighted the economic opportunities it generates. The President committed to enhancing maritime-related policies and protecting the welfare of

January 13 ------ President Donald Trump announced that the White House will impose a 25 percent tariff on all countries that transact with the Islamic Republic of Iran. China is Iran's biggest trading partner by a wide margin, and if the administration follows through in full, Trump's announcement would require a new 25 percent tariff on all Chinese goods - across the board. "Effective immediately, any country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a tarif

January 13 ------ The inaugural meet and greet of Seatrade Maritime, conducted in partnership with Tommy Olofsen, conference chair of Seatrade Maritime Crew Connect Global, and Carl King, founder of Seafarer Social, showcased a significant gathering of aspiring and established maritime professionals. Notably, 15 cadets from the Philippines’ prestigious Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP) attended, alongside 10 emerging seafarers, some of whom are influential socia

January 13 ------ A small container ship arrived in Camden, New Jersey last week with a dead fin whale on the bulbous bow, and an investigation into the cause of death is under way. Late Sunday night, Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay reported a deceased whale on the bow of a reefer boxship at the north end of the Gloucester City Marine Terminal, next to the Walt Whitman Bridge. NOAA and the nonprofit Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) were alerted, and MMSC tentatively iden

WASHINGTON, January 13 ------ The US State Department said it has revoked more than 100,000 visas since President Donald Trump took office last year, setting what it said was a new record as his administration pursues its hardline immigration policy. The extent of the revocations reflects the broad immigration crackdown initiated when Trump returned to the White House last year, deporting an unprecedented number of migrants, including some who held valid visas. The administra

CANBERRA, January 13 ------ Meta has removed nearly 550,000 user profiles of users under the age of 16 as part of Australia's ban on minors accessing social media platforms, the first measure of its kind in the world. Between Dec. 4 and 11, over 330,000 Instagram accounts, approximately 173,000 Facebook accounts, and nearly 40,000 Threads accounts were deleted. The ban officially went into effect on Dec. 10, but Meta began removing users a week earlier, notifying affected use

January 13 ------ ALEX Eala has found no better way to start the year than by recording a career-high ranking in the WTA, rising four spots to No. 49 in the latest update released. The 20-year-old Filipina, previously ranked No. 53, surpassed her personal best of No. 50, which she set toward the end of 2025. The jump came after her semifinal exit at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand — her first tournament of the 2026 season. In the WTA 250 event, which served as her in

January 13 ------ Fuel retailers announced another round of hikes in pump prices of petroleum products, marking the third straight week of hikes for both diesel and kerosene. In separate advisories, Chevron Philippines Inc. (Caltex), Flying V, Petron Corp., Seaoil Philippines Corp. and Shell Pilipinas Corp. said they will hike prices per liter of gasoline by P0.30, diesel by P0.20, and kerosene by P0.30. Cleanfuel, Petro Gazz, PTT Philippines Corp., and Unioil Petroleum Phili