Philippine News

MANILA, March 13 ------ The Philippines needs to prepare plans for Filipinos in California after the Federal Bureau of Investigation warned against Iran’s possible retaliation in the United States’ western coast, Malacañang said. “Kapag may ganiyan na mga impormasyon, kailangan din maghanda ang ating bansa para sa ating mga kababayan,” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a Palace briefing. “Hindi po ito maaring ipagsawalang bahala o tulugan,” she said. US auth

MANILA, March 13 ------ Malacañang announced that Friday, March 20, has been declared a regular holiday nationwide in observance of Eid’l Fitr, the Islamic feast marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan. The announcement was made as President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. joined members of the Muslim community and leaders from across the country during the Grand Iftar in Malacañang. According to the Palace, the declaration recognizes the significance of Eid’l Fitr, which conclu

March 13 ------ Attacks on commercial shipping are escalating as the Middle East conflict enters its 13th day. Overnight, Iranian explosive-laden boats reportedly attacked two fuel tankers in Iraqi waters, setting both vessels ablaze and killing one crew member. In the past 48 hours, six vessels have reportedly been struck by projectiles or missiles, leaving several ships on fire and seafarers at the center of the unfolding crisis. To remind, on 11 March, three vessels were r

March 13 ------ The Norwegian Maritime Authority has announced the strictest step yet made by any government agency or industry association to address the risk of Iranian attack in the Strait of Hormuz: an inbound transit ban. Effective Thursday, no Norwegian-flagged ships are permitted to enter the Arabian Gulf, regardless of the shipowner's own risk assessments. "We do not believe any shipping companies are planning to sail into this area in the near future, but as the situ

March 13 ------ This week, CMA CGM and SIPG Energy successfully completed the bunkering of 3,643 tons of bio-methanol for the CMA CGM Osmium at Yangshan Port in Shanghai. This operation marks CMA CGM’s first bio-methanol bunkering worldwide and sets a new national record for the largest single bio-methanol bunkering operation carried out at a Chinese port. As part of its commitment to achieving Net Zero Carbon by 2050, the CMA CGM Group is preparing to operate around 200 dual

March 13 ------ The IMO has called an Extraordinary Council meeting to discuss situation in Middle East. The meeting will focus on the impact on shipping and seafarers in the Arabian Sea, the Sea of Oman and the Gulf region, particularly in and around the Strait of Hormuz. The session will be held on March 18 to 19 at the IMO headquarters in London, United Kingdom, to be chaired by Victor Jiménez of Spain. The Extraordinary Session (C/ES.36) is convened following requests fro

March 13 ------ Saudi forces intercepted more than two dozen drones after Iran vowed to attack oil resources in the Middle East and said it would maintain a chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz that has sent crude prices soaring. Israel also came under attack early Friday from missiles launched by Iran, with the Israeli military saying its air defenses were working to intercept them. The International Energy Agency has warned that the Middle East war could lead to "the largest s

BAKU, March 13 ------ The United Nations has warned of significant risks to global trade and development, including higher food prices and cost-of-living, if the Strait of Hormuz is closed amid the West Asia conflict, according to The Economic Times. The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said in a report that the ongoing military escalation in the region due to the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, and retaliation by Tehran has disrupted shipping flows through the Str

March 13 ------ Ukraine’s battlefield experience in drone warfare is now being sought by countries confronting Iran’s increasingly capable drone attacks. According to a report by The Guardian, Ukraine has “dispatched interceptor drones and operators to protect US bases in Jordan”, one of several countries that have requested Kyiv’s assistance in countering Iranian drone threats. The move comes as the United States and Gulf states search for more effective ways to intercept Ir

KYIV, March 13 ------ Ukraine is opening access to its battlefield data for its allies to train drone AI software, the defense ​minister said as Kyiv seeks to harness the experience it has ‌garnered fending off Russia's four-year, full-scale invasion. The move comes as militaries across the globe start to use automated systems which can guide drones to their targets without a pilot, or quickly analyze vast pools of ​data. Foreign allies and companies have sought access to Ukr

As global tensions in the Middle East continue to push fuel prices upward, motorists are encouraged to adopt fuel-saving practices that can help households manage expenses while supporting energy conservation efforts. One way to maximize fuel efficiency is by choosing vehicles that provide higher mileage per liter. In general, the more kilometers a vehicle can travel per liter of fuel, the more efficient it is. Plan trips ahead While daily travel for work and other responsib

You open your laptop for the exam you’ve studied for all week… battery at 20%. You check Maps for directions to your dinner plans… battery at 10%. You pull out your phone to film the Aggies scoring the game-winning touchdown… battery dead. We’ve all experienced devices running low at the worst moments. While technology has become more cutting-edge and seamless, these advancements often lead to quicker battery drain. Here are five ways to proactively protect your iPhone’s® bat

How Common Are Fire Incidents in the Philippines? Fire incidents remain a serious concern across the Philippines, with thousands of cases reported each year. According to the Bureau of Fire Protection, residential fires, small business fires, and community incidents account for the majority of fire-related emergencies. These incidents often lead to significant property damage and economic losses, affecting both homeowners and business owners. Implementing proper fire preventi

The hardest working person in public service. Last Saturday, during the launch of Go Negosyo’s newest program, Trabaho@Negosyo, I gladly said this of Sec. Cris Roque of the Department of Trade and Industry during my welcome speech. Imagine my surprise when President Marcos Jr. paid me the same compliment during his speech. To be given such a compliment, by and in front of people I admire and respect, is, I think, a moment I will not soon forget. And what a time to receive suc

MANILA, Philippines, March 12 ------ Alex Eala went down to a crushing defeat at the hands of world No. 14 Linda Noskova, 6-2, 6-0, in their Round of 16 duel in the Indian Wells Open in Indian Wells Garden in California yesterday.   Eala, WTA No. 32, was in the thick of the fight at 2-3 in the first set against the Czech powerhouse but couldn’t win another game in the match ending inside one hour. The 20-year-old Filipina was up 2-0 in head-to-head duels with Noskova back in

MIAMI, March 12 ------ It’s Wilt, then Bam.   Bam Adebayo had a night for all time on Tuesday, with a point total second only to Wilt Chamberlain in the NBA record books. Adebayo scored 83 points, setting league marks for free throws made and attempted in a game for the Miami Heat in a 150-129 win over the Washington Wizards. “An absolutely surreal night,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.   Adebayo started with a 31-point first quarter and never stopped rolling. He was up to 4

March 12 ------ Olympics Silver medalists France gave Gilas Pilipinas a harsh welcome to the world stage after hacking out a 115-66 decision in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament Thursday morning (Manila time) at the Astroballe in Lyon.   Seattle Storm’s Dominique Malonga was one rebound away from a double-double outing after pacing France with 21 points and nine boards. Sumayah Sugapong led Gilas with 13 points while team veteran Afril Bernardino del

March 12 ------ Converge came from behind to spoil the debut of Macau, 102-94, for a winning start to its PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup campaign Wednesday night.Sports Analytics Software   The FiberXers leaned on the troika of Alec Stockton, Kylor Kelley, and Justine Baltazar to turn things around after finding themselves trailing by four, 92-88, following Damian Chongqui’s freebies for the Black Knights with 5:47 to spare.   Kelley cleaned up Mikey Williams’ missed jumper

March 12 ------ Miss Universe Philippines 2020 titleholder Rabiya Mateo posted a 741 General Performance Score (GPS) on the National Medical Admission Test (NMAT), placing her in the Top 1% of test-takers nationwide and prompting comparisons to the viral fictional character “Linda Walker.”   Mateo took to her Instagram Story on Tuesday, March 10, to repost a screenshot announcing that she topped the NMAT with a score of 741. The art card included the actress’s NMAT results. T

March 12 ------ Rachel Alejandro hopes that portraying powerful women on screen will help push Filipino singers to the next level, as she takes on a new role that reflects both the empowering and dark sides of the music industry.   Fresh from winning Best Supporting Actress at the Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) in Hollywood for the musical drama “Song of the Fireflies,” Alejandro returns to the big screen in “Songs for Selina,” which opens in local cinemas on March