Philippine News

NEW YORK, December 16 ------ “Zootopia 2” regained the No. 1 spot at the domestic box office with $26.3 million in its third weekend of release, according to studio estimates Sunday, as The Walt Disney Co. animated sequel became the year’s second film to gross $1 billion worldwide. With “Avatar: Fire and Ash” arriving Friday, it was a relatively quiet weekend in theaters. There were no major new releases, leaving holdovers “Zootopia 2” and “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” to duke

December 16 ------ Charo Santos, Boots Anson-Roa, and Barbie Forteza will star together in a new movie with award-winning director Brillante Mendoza. Barbie shared the news on her Instagram Stories, reposting the post of film director Real Florido. "Auteur Brillante Mendoza is back with a film that will surely break your hearts into pieces, starring the awe-inspiring performances of Charo Santos, Boots Anson-Roa, and Barbie Forteza," Real wrote. Other details of the movie pr

BRUSSELS, December 16 ------ The European Union adopted fresh sanctions against Russian oil interests, targeting traders Murtaza Lakhani and Etibar Eyyub for helping Moscow to circumvent Western sanctions on crude exports that help to fund Russia’s war in Ukraine. The EU has imposed 19 packages of sanctions so far, but Moscow has managed to adapt to most measures and is still selling millions of barrels of oil to India and China, albeit at discounts to global prices. Much of

December 16 ------ Australians are hailing a "hero" whose daring struggle with a gunman led to the disarming of an attacker during the country's worst mass shooting in years. He even earned a shout-out from US President Donald Trump, who said the man's brave actions "saved a lot of lives" during a shocking assault on a Jewish gathering to celebrate Hanukkah. Following the deadly shooting on Sydney's Bondi Beach, footage emerged on social media of a man risking his own life by

BERLIN, December 16 ------ European leaders are expected to cement support for Ukraine as it faces Washington’s pressure to swiftly accept a US-brokered peace deal. After Sunday’s talks in Berlin between US envoys and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukrainian and European officials are set to continue a series of meetings in an effort to secure the continent’s peace and security in the face of an increasingly assertive Russia. Zelensky sat down Sunday with US Presiden

December 16 ------ More than half of Ukrainians believe national elections should be held only after a final peace agreement is signed and the war with Russia has fully ended, according to a new survey. The poll was conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) between Nov. 26 and Dec. 13. According to the findings, just 9% of respondents support holding elections before a ceasefire – down from 11% in September. Another 25% favor elections only if hostilit

PATTAYA, Thailand, December 16 ------ The Philippines produced eight gold medals, the most by-far for a day to continue its nip and tuck race with Malaysia in the middle of the overall standings of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games. The PH contingent switched places with Malaysia throughout Day 6 of competition before ending up at sixth place with 25 golds, 38 silvers, and 80 bronzes. Malaysia is in fifth with 26-28-80. Four gold medals came from the practical shooting team with

CHONBURI, Thailand, December 16 ------ Gilas Pilipinas completed another come-from-behind victory to earn an outright spot in the semifinals of the 2025 Southeast Asian Games. Seeking a 20th men’s basketball gold medal in the regional showdown, the Philippines moved within two wins of that goal after turning back Vietnam, 78-67, at the Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok. Robert Bolick poured 10 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter and added 6 rebounds and 4 assists as the defendin

December 16 ------ Alex Eala wasted little time asserting her presence, rolling to a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Shihomi Leong of Malaysia in the women’s singles quarterfinals of the 33rd Thailand Southeast Asian Games in Nonthaburi. “I’m very happy with the first round, it presented challenges and happy with how [it went], wala masaya ako sa crowd, maraming nag-support, masaya ako sa suporta,” the WTA campaigner told the media after the game. With the win, Eala, who didn't see act

December 16 ------ RAIN or Shine banked on Jhonard Clarito’s fiery start and a sizzling shooting from three-point range to dominate Magnolia, 101-92, and claim the first twice-to-beat bonus in the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals in Bahrain. Clarito finished with a game-high 21 points, 16 of them came in the first half, before the Elasto Painters sustained his effort by bombing the Hotshots from the outside behind Gian Mamuyac, Stanley Pringle, and Caelan Tiongson to preserve

MANILA, Philippines, December 16 ------ Motorists can expect slight relief at the pump today as diesel and kerosene prices go down. Gasoline prices, however, will rise for a third straight week, marking another record net increase. Oil firms announced the mixed price adjustments. After remaining unchanged last week, diesel and kerosene prices will go down by P0.20 per liter. Gasoline prices, meanwhile, will increase by P0.20 per liter, bringing the total hike this month to P1

MANILA, December 16 ------ The three fishermen injured in the Chinese vessels' water cannon attack in Escoda Shoal are already "in better condition," the National Maritime Council (NMC) said. The Philippine Coast Guard said the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese maritime militia (CMM) ships over the weekend attacked the Filipino boats with water cannons and used dangerous blocking maneuvers near Escoda Shoal within the Philippine exclusive economic zone. The PCG said the t

MANILA, Philippines, December 16 ------ The Philippine embassies in Bangkok and in Phnom Penh had advised Filipinos in the Cambodia-Thailand border to avoid areas affected by the armed conflict between the two countries. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Cambodia has an estimated 10,000–12,000 Filipinos, including 87 in its two border provinces. Thailand has 38,509 Filipinos, with 125 in seven border provinces. Cambodia and Thailand, both members of the Association

MANILA, Philippines, December 16 ------ The Marcos administration is open to tapping an anti-corruption convention of the United Nations to track down fugitive resigned lawmaker Zaldy Co, who has been charged with graft and malversation of public funds over an anomalous flood control project. The suggestion to explore the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) was made by Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson, who said it would be easier to find and arrest

December 15 ------ She sails, CMA CGM’s internal program designed to accelerate the presence of women in maritime careers, is celebrating its first anniversary. One year after its launch in December 2024, the program, which seeks to significantly increase the number of women on board CMA CGM vessels, has successfully doubled the number of female seafarers. Building on this momentum, the Group has now set a target of 1,000 women at sea by 2030, while promoting the wide range o

December 15 ------ The 2025-2026 cruise season started with a bang for PortMiami, with the port, which likes to call itself the cruise capital of the world, setting its third record this year for the number of passengers handled in a single day. It is the start of what promises to be a very busy season as the cruise industry continues its dramatic growth. The port highlights that on November 30, it set a new daily passenger record with 75,201 passengers (embarking and disemba

December 15 ------ The Canadian Coast Guard released a series of pictures showing the damage to the hull of the MSC Baltic III, which has been grounded in a remote part of Newfoundland since February 2025. The hull shows significant additional damage after having been pounded by the high surf during a storm in early November and again in early December. It was the same high surf and winter weather which had driven the ship ashore in February after it lost power while bound fo

December 15 ------ Galveston LNG Bunker Port (GLBP), a Texas-based developer of what is said to be the first U.S. Gulf Coast dedicated LNG bunkering facility, has signed a commercial commitment with an international shipping company for the provision of LNG bunker fuel in Galveston Bay. The Heads of Agreement with the undisclosed client covers the use of LNG as a marine fuel to be delivered via a Jones Act–compliant LNG bunker vessel, commencing in 2029. GLBP’s new terminal,

BANGKOK, December 15 ------ Gilas Pilipinas Men went on a blistering run to close the second quarter to beat Malaysia 83-58 in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games basketball tournament at the Nimibutr Stadium. Ray Parks fueled a 20-0 run for Gilas Pilipinas to end the half up, 42-26, and claim the victory to start the campaign. Robert Bolick and Thirdy Ravena also made key shots to keep their lead. Gilas Pilipinas won even as the team also showed qualities of a hastily-assembled s

CHONBURI, Thailand, December 15 ------ For the first time in Southeast Asian Games history, the Philippines will play in the final of women’s football. The Filipinas accomplished the breakthrough feat after outlasting host Thailand, winning 4-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in a nail-biting semifinal clash at the Chonburi Daikin Stadium. Jael Marie Guy, Alessandrea Carpio, Sara Eggesvik, and Hali Long converted in succession in the penalty shootout while two Thais misfire