Philippine News

VIENNA, Austria, December 1 ------ OPEC nations and oil-producing allies reaffirmed plans to keep current oil output levels unchanged until March, and agreed on a mechanism to assess members' maximum production capacity, without giving any details. The announcements were made after ministers of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allied nations (OPEC+) held a string of virtual meetings, including the alliance's biannual ministerial meeting. The meetings

JAKARTA/BANGKOK, December 1 ------ The death toll mounted to over 600 from floods and landslides caused by torrential rains across three countries in Southeast Asia, officials said, as relief efforts for tens of thousands of displaced people continued over the weekend. Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand faced large-scale devastation after a rare tropical storm formed in the Malacca Strait, fueling heavy rains and wind gusts for a week. There were 435 deaths in Indonesia, 170 i

HALLANDALE BEACH, Florida, December 1 ------ US and Ukrainian officials sat down in Florida to discuss outlines of a peace deal with Russia, talks that Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he expected to yield progress toward ending the more than 3-year-long war. “It’s about creating a pathway forward that leaves Ukraine sovereign, independent, and prosperous, and so we expect to make even more progress today,” Rubio said in Hallandale Beach, Florida, where the meeting took pl

KYIV, December 1 ------ Ukrainian negotiators are due to hold talks in the United States on Washington’s plan to end the war with Russia, with Kyiv facing pressure on both the military and political fronts. As Russia advances on the front line, its forces targeted Ukraine’s capital and the region for two nights in a row ahead of the talks in the US. A drone attack in the outskirts of Kyiv killed one person and wounded 11 on Saturday night, the regional governor said. Hours ea

PARIS, France, November 30 ------ The bird flu virus that has been spreading among wild birds, poultry, and mammals could lead to a pandemic worse than COVID-19 if it mutates to transmit between humans, the head of France's Institut Pasteur respiratory infections center said. The highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly called bird flu, has led to the culling of hundreds of millions of birds in the past few years, disrupting food supplies and driving up prices, though huma

MANILA, November 30 ------ A Women's Tennis Association (WTA) tourney will officially be hosted in Manila next year. This, as Philippine Women's Open is officially added to the WTA calendar, setting the stage for Manila's first-ever WTA 125 tournament. It will take place from January 26-31, 2026, and will be held at hard courts with a 32-player singles draw and 16-team doubles. The total prize commitment is at $115,000. In an interview with a handful of reporters at the sidel

November 30 ------ Catriona Gray ushered in the holidays with “sad girl” vibes as she released her newest track, “Every Christmas.” The beauty queen-singer released the song as well as its official music video. “Lights just don’t glow like they used to / All is the same except for me and you / Could feel it getting colder since summer or fall / Didn’t think that we would lose it all,” the song begins. “Smiling ’cause that’s what I’m used to / Hiding the cracks when they start

November 30 ------ Explosive gas atmospheres are a constant consideration in the design and operation of ships, FPSOs and offshore platforms. From cargo pump rooms to vent masts, every area where flammable vapor might occur must be identified and managed. This process, known as Hazardous Area Classification, forms the basis for safe design under IEC 60092-502, IEC 60079-10-1, and class rules such as those of ABS and Bureau Veritas. Why Hazardous Area Classification Exists Whe

November 30 ------ President Marcos has unveiled the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) transparency portal, which he branded as a digital wall against corruption related to the implementation of infrastructure projects in the country. Marcos announced the rollout of the portal on Monday afternoon, Nov. 24, stressing that it was a part of the government's response to the massive flood control corruption. "Ito mas komprehensibo sa ating Sumbong sa Pangulo website d

WASHINGTON, USA, November 30 ------ The Trump administration announced that it would review every permanent residency status, known as Green Cards, for people from over a dozen countries following the attack on National Guard troops in Washington." I have directed a full-scale, rigorous reexamination of every Green Card for every alien from every country of concern," said Joseph Edlow, director of the US Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS), on X. President Donald Trump p

MANILA, Philippines, November 30 ------ Philippine cue artist Carlo Biado was formally inducted into the Billiard Congress of America (BCA) Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Florida. Biado, who was fresh off an appearance at the International Open in the same city, received 91 percent of the votes in his second year of eligibility into the hall. His induction followed his win at the 2025 World Pool Championship back in August. During his speech, Biado said he was thankful to his

November 30 ------ The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonization (GCMD) and partners have closed the world’s first fund for vessel retrofits with a pay-as-you-save repayment mechanism, securing total commitments of up to $35 million and exceeding its initial target. The Fund for Energy Efficiency Technologies (FEET) offers up to 100% upfront financing for retrofits and introduces a pay-as-you-save repayment mechanism, directly linked to verified fuel and regulatory savings.

November 30 ------ San Miguel-backed New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) announced it will start activating new biometric immigration e-gates in phases at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) starting December. In a news release, the NNIC said the planned activation of e-gates at the country's main gateway forms part of its efforts to improve passenger processing. The company said the e-gates are powered by Amadeus, a global travel-technology provider, and will be operated b

November 30 ------ For Sue Ramirez, the timing could not have hit harder. Six years after her run as a GSM Blue ambassador, she now takes on a larger role as the face of all Ginebra brands, officially launched as the 2026 Ginebra San Miguel Calendar Girl. During her official launch on Wednesday, Ramirez said the news overwhelmed her. “When I received the wonderful news, I cried tears of pure joy. I honestly didn’t expect to come back or get this chance again. It was something

SYDNEY, November 29 ------ Asian shares are set to end a tough November on steadier ground as revived hopes of an imminent U.S. rate cut helped soothe valuation jitters and sent Treasuries rallying for a fourth straight month. U.S. markets, which were closed overnight for the Thanksgiving holiday, are due for a shortened session on Friday, so activity is more muted than usual across the major asset classes. European stocks traded mostly higher, while currencies were much more

MANILA, Philippines, November 29 ------ A revolutionary history that is both feminine and feminized is at the core of Lakambini: Gregoria de Jesus, a full-length feature co-directed by Arjanmar Rebeta and Jeffrey Jeturian, which screened earlier this month in local theaters and recently at the 2025 QCinema International Film Festival. The story of Ka Oryang, as she’s commonly known, has already been translated on stage this year: first as a period romance drama in Boni Ilagan

MANILA, November 29 ------ Naval and air units from the Philippines and India conducted their second bilateral maritime cooperative activity (MCA) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) highlighting the growing security partnership between the two nations. In a statement Thursday night, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said the MCA was conducted in one of the most strategically important maritime zones in the region. "The activity aimed to deepen defense cooperation, enhan

MANILA, Philippines, November 29 ------ The Abra Solid North Weavers overpowered the Pangasinan Heatwaves, 99-74 to clinch the North Division crown via a sweep in the 747 Live presents Manny Pacquiao MPBL 2025 Season at the Robert B. Estrella Memorial Gymnasium in Rosales, Pangasinan. Abra also prevailed in Game 1, 77-58, and Game 2, 66-59, both held in Bangued, Abra, and cut short the best-of-five series. The Weavers, drawing firepower from Top Gun Dave Ildefonso, Encho Serr

November 29 ------ Conversations about seafarer welfare rightly focus on life at sea: safety, rest, and fair pay. But there is another, often overlooked, element that shapes how seafarers feel about their work and their lives: what happens when they send money home. For most seafarers, supporting loved ones through their earnings is not just a financial act but one of care and responsibility. Yet the simple process of transferring funds can be slow, expensive, and unpredictab

November 29 ------ An estimated 11 billion tons of cargo pass through global ports and harbors every year, illustrating the importance of maritime facilities to international trade. However, as with other examples of critical infrastructure, this importance can introduce unique security challenges. Port security teams face continual threats of theft, unauthorized access, smuggling, and acts of sabotage that often require continuous observation to reliably address. In high-tra