Philippine News

MANILA, Philippines, November 18 ------ The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) announced yesterday the official shortlists in 12 categories for the 98th Academy Awards. Unfortunately, none of the Philippines’ submissions advanced to the next round. Lav Diaz’s historical epic “Magellan” failed to make the shortlist for Best International Feature Film, where 86 films from various countries and regions were eligible this year.   Set in the 16th century, “Magella

MANILA, Philippines, November 18 ------ Young actress Ashtine Olviga opened up on working with Piolo Pascual in the Metro Manila Film Festival 2025 entry "Manila's Finest."   In an interview with the media, Ashtine — who plays Piolo's daughter in the film — said she was pressured to work with established names, but the actor eased the pressure by filling her. "Si Sir Piolo sobrang bait niya po. Sobrang overwhelming yung nangyayari sa akin, yung pressure, yung kaba. Siyempre p

MANILA, November 18 ------ The Senate and the House of Representatives early Thursday concluded the bicameral conference committee deliberations on the proposed 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA), capping six days of discussions aimed at producing a transparent and responsive national budget. The bicam wrapped up its work at around 2:22 a.m., reconciling the disagreeing provisions of the PHP6.793-trillion General Appropriations Bill.   The Senate panel was led by Committee

November 18 ------ AN anti-corruption civil group filed a P1-billion class suit against former speaker Martin Romualdez, resigned congressman Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, and Quezon City Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas, demanding that they compensate flood victims, especially in Novaliches.   The United People Against Corruption (UPAC) filed the civil case before a Quezon City regional trial court. “We filed a class suit for damages of P1 billion against these officials for abuse of righ

MANILA, Philippines, November 18 ------ There is no evidence that the suspects behind the Bondi Beach attack in Australia trained, coordinated, or carried out terror-related activities while in the Philippines, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), citing a prolonged decline in local terrorist groups.   AFP chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said on Tuesday in a chance interview at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City that the military “can’t see” how the men in

MANILA, Philippines, November 18 ------ After months of delays, the rehabilitation of EDSA will push through beginning Christmas Eve, with an eight-month timeline and a much lower budget. The Department of Public Works and Highways has junked the planned two-year EDSA repair and cut the budget from P17 billion to just P6 billion, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said.   Fixing Metro Manila’s busiest thoroughfare will be implemented in two phases of four months each, with the second

December 18 ------ In the first half of 2025, the Trump administration made an unprecedented effort to shake loose China's grip on the American import market, employing sky-high tariffs to deter importers from buying Chinese goods. It worked, but not by reducing China's exports overall. Chinese manufacturers are making and shipping more finished goods than ever before - but they're now selling to other countries.    China's trade surplus in goods has broken an annual record:

December 18 ------ The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reports that it has seized another cargo ship that it accuses of having transported grain from Crimea since the beginning of the Russian occupation. Ukraine has in the past seized several ships on similar allegations and, with a court order, seeks to sell the ships, while it has also moved to prosecute the masters of the vessels, resulting in fines for their actions.   The latest seizure took place in recent days in the

December 18 ------ Norway-headquartered Odfjell Group, a player in seaborne transportation and storage of chemicals and other specialty bulk liquids, has bankrolled and put into operation mode what it describes as the first operational green shipping corridor between Brazil and Europe.   With a fleet comprising approximately 70 ships that trade globally and a tank terminal division encompassing four tank terminals located at select international shipping hubs, Odfjell has lau

December 18 ------ The eighth and final CO2 storage tank has been installed on Carbon Destroyer 1, the first dedicated offshore CO2 carrier built in the EU, set to work on the Greensand project in Denmark.   Once operational next year, the vessel will be prepared for its carbon capture and storage (CCS) duties, working on Project Greensand by transporting captured CO2 from the CO2 terminal in Port Esbjerg, creating a virtual pipeline to the offshore storage site, under the se

Dubai, November 18 ------ Oil prices climbed sharply after US President Donald Trump ordered a blockade of oil tankers heading to and departing from Venezuela that are deemed to be in breach of US sanctions. Both Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose by more than 2% in early trading, before giving up some of those gains later in the session, as investors assessed the broader geopolitical implications for global supply.   “The big news is the oil-price rally after

BANGKOK, November 18 ------ Thailand said that Cambodia must be first to announce a truce to halt fighting between them after more than a week of deadly clashes in a reignited border conflict. “As the aggressor onto Thai territory, Cambodia must announce the ceasefire first,” Thai foreign ministry spokesman Maratee Nalita Andamo told reporters in the capital Bangkok, adding that Cambodia must also cooperate in de-mining efforts at the border “sincerely.”   Renewed fighting be

December 18 ------ EU leaders are under pressure to hammer out how to keep financing Ukraine at a summit starting Thursday – with key player Belgium resisting a push to use frozen Russian assets.      Here is what’s at stake during a crucial week for the 27-nation bloc: Keeping Ukraine afloat The European Union is scrambling for ways to keep funding flowing to Ukraine as the war-wracked country faces yawning shortfalls four years into Russia’s invasion. While the United State

December 18 ------ The Kremlin rejected a proposal by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for a Christmas truce in Ukraine, saying it would only give Kyiv a pause to prepare for continuing the war. “We want peace. We do not want a truce just to give Ukraine a breather and prepare for continuing the war,” Russian President Vladimir Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov told Interfax.   Peskov said Moscow’s position is “consistent, transparent, and well known both in the US and in

December 17 ------ The regional authorities governing the ports along the French Riviera signed the new decree, which makes effective the limitations on the number of cruise passengers at the popular ports, including Nice and Villefranche. It comes after a tumultuous year in which the local authorities attempted to impose their own restrictions on cruise ship calls. While pressing the efforts at the local level, the local government had said it required the action of the regi

December 17 ------ A severe, rapidly-intensifying storm is forcing ships to divert southwards to avoid serious conditions. A massive low of just 938 millibars is churning south of Greenland, bringing winds of up to 80 knots and "phenomenal" seas of up to 54 feet - genuinely difficult weather, even for large merchant ships. AIS data provided by Pole Star Global suggests that almost all transatlantic shipping has diverted well to the south in order to avoid the worst wave heigh

December 17 ------ Venezuela's oil exports are coming under heavy pressure after the U.S. seized the VLCC Skipper off the country's shores last week. The boarding netted 1.85 million barrels of oil and one 20-year-old supertanker for the United States, satisfying a court-ordered arrest warrant and generating millions for the U.S. Treasury, but its more significant impact may be to deter other tanker operators from engaging in Venezuelan trade. According to TankerTrackers.com,

December 17 ------ The ferry Ciudad de Mahon encountered rougher conditions that she was expecting when she left the port of Algeciras and sailed out into the Strait of Gibraltar. Force 7 winds from Storm Emilia was blowing hard, tossing the ro/ro ship about in unexpectedly high waves. Late Saturday night, the vessel made an attempt to depart Algeciras for Ceuta, leaving the dock three hours behind schedule. But she didn't make it far. After heavy pitching and rolling in the

BANGKOK, December 17 ------ EJ Obiena led the Philippines’ four-gold haul in Day 7 of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games but the contingent stayed at sixth place in overall medal tally. Another Paris Olympian Joanie Delgaco teamed up with Kristine Paraon for the gold in the women’s rowing double sculls, Zyra Bon-as captured the women’s 48kg low kick kickboxing title, and Jasmine Althea Ramilo seized the rhythmic gymnastics all-around crown. After winning half of output from last

December 17 ------ A MEDAL upgrade is guaranteed for Alex Eala. The WTA campaigner stormed into the women’s singles final of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Nonthaburi after dispatching Thailand’s Thasaporn Naklo, 6-1, 6-4, to book a place in the gold-medal match. Still in Eala’s way to the gold is another home bet in Mananchaya Sawangkaew, the world no. 240, who advanced via walkover after Indonesia’s Janice Tjen, the WTA No. 53, retired midway through their semifinal due