Philippine News

SINGAPORE, November 3 ------ Oil prices climbed in early Asian trade on Monday after OPEC+ decided to hold off production hikes in the first quarter of next year, easing rising fears of a supply glut. Brent crude futures rose 47 cents, or 0.73%, to $65.24 a barrel by 2336 GMT after closing 7 cents higher on Friday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $61.43 a barrel, up 45 cents, or 0.74%, after settling up 41 cents in the previous session. The Organization of the Petro

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, November 3 ------ U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged Southeast Asian nations to stand firm and strengthen their maritime forces to counter China's increasingly “destabilizing” actions in the South China Sea. Hours later, he struck a notably softer tone online, saying that U.S.–China ties have “never been better” and that both sides agreed to set up direct military communication channels. Speaking at a Saturday meeting in Malaysia with his counte

LONDON, November 3 ------ Russia has in recent months attacked Ukraine with a cruise missile whose secret development prompted Donald Trump to abandon a nuclear arms control pact with Moscow in his first term as U.S. president, Ukraine's foreign minister said. Andrii Sybiha's comments are the first confirmation that Russia has used the ground-launched 9M729 missile in combat - in Ukraine or elsewhere. Russia has fired the missiles at Ukraine 23 times since August, a second se

SEOUL, November 3 ------ Two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) held in Ukraine have pleaded to live in South Korea, a human rights organization told AFP. The prisoners made the request during an interview for a documentary film that the organization, Gyeore-eol Nation United, helped coordinate. Around 10,000 North Korean troops were sent in 2024 to fight for Russia in its war against Ukraine, according to South Korean and Western intelligence agencies. “The two (POWs) aske

TORONTO, Canada, November 3 ------ The Los Angeles Dodgers rallied to beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 5-4, in extra innings of a decisive seventh game of the World Series to become Major League Baseball’s first repeat champion in 25 years. The Dodgers, who were down to their final two outs when Miguel Rojas hit a game-tying homer in the ninth inning, got what proved to be the winning run in the 11th inning when Will Smith hit a solo homer off Shane Bieber. “I was fired up. I knew

MANILA, Philippines, November 3 ------ Barangay Ginebra rediscovered its winning form following a 104-74 romp of NLEX in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, Rizal. Japeth Aguilar and Stephen Holt showed the way as the Gin Kings got back on track after dropping three of their first four games of the conference — a tough stretch that included losses to Magnolia, Meralco, and San Miguel. And the victory came at the expense of a red-hot Red Warriors side that

MANILA, November 3 ------ The Alas Pilipinas girls put up a strong effort against defending champion Japan before falling in four sets in their opening game of the 2nd AVC Asian Women's U16 Volleyball Championship. The Alas Girls stunned Japan in the second set but could not sustain their form, absorbing a 17-25, 25-21, 16-25, 20-25 loss at Princess Sumaya Hall. Xyz Rayco and Nadeth Herbon introduced themselves on the Asian stage by leading Alas girls' impressive debut in the

MANAMA, Bahrain, November 3 ------ The Philippines wrapped up its finest campaign in the Asian Youth Games with a seven-gold, seven-silver, 10-bronze haul. From a two-gold finish in the previous edition in 2013 in Nanjing, China, the Philippines more than tripled its golden loot thanks to strong performances by athletes in athletics, jiu-jitsu, mixed martial arts, muay, and pencak silat. The last of those golds came on the final day of competition on Thursday, October 30, cou

MANILA, Philippines, November 3 ------ The weather bureau warned several provinces to brace for intense to torrential rain as Severe Tropical Storm Tino (Kalmaegi) intensified further offshore before dawn on Monday, November 3. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in a briefing past 5 am on Monday that Tino now has maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour from the previous 100 km/h. Its gustiness is now up t

November 3 ------ A magnitude 5.5 earthquake jolted Candoni, Negros Occidental, early Monday, Nov. 3, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported. In its Earthquake Information No. 2, the agency said the quake struck at 3:06 a.m., with the epicenter located 16 kilometers south of Candoni, Negros Occidental. It added that the quake had a depth of focus of 89 kilometers and was of tectonic origin, indicating movement of the earth’s crust. Phivolcs

MANILA, November 3 ------ Provinces in Visayas and one city in Mindanao suspended classes on Monday due to the expected impact of Severe Tropical Storm Tino, the country’s 20th tropical cyclone this year. According to the Philippine Information Agency report, many areas have suspended classes up to Wednesday as Tino is forecast to move generally westward over the next three days. It will make its initial landfall over Eastern Samar or Dinagat Islands late Monday evening or ea

November 3 ------ In a rare intercept and boarding operation, Philippine personnel seized alleged illegal fishing equipment from a Chinese boat near the BRP Sierra Madre, the decaying WWII landing ship that serves as a makeshift outpost at Second Thomas Shoal. The Sierra Madre is a longtime flashpoint between Chinese and Philippine forces: China claims Second Thomas Shoal as its own and has demanded that Manila withdraw and remove the wrecked landing craft from the reef. Chin

November 2 ------ The loss of a beloved causes a void that can never be filled. In the case of celebrities, it leaves a mark both on those who have admired them and on the industry that housed their legacies. But even long after they are gone, their radiant stars will continue to shine through those whose lives they have inspired. To mark All Souls Day, let us look back at some of those we have lost this year. Local Celebrities Gloria Romero Gloria Romero, an award-winning ac

November 2 ------ JIA de Guzman will again be at the forefront of Alas Pilipinas’ bid to end a 20-year medal drought at the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand in December. The PNVF formed a 20-player pool featuring PVL standouts, UAAP top guns and overseas-based aces. Leading the Nationals’ offense come the biennial meet are decorated outside hitters Angel Canino, Bella Belen, Shaina Nitura, Eya Laure, Vanie Gandler and Alleiah Malaluan. A newcomer in Kat Tolentino

ROME, November 2 ------ Pope Leo XIV urged Catholic teachers to focus less on pre-professional outcomes and more on educating students to have rich spiritual lives and use technology in ways that keep human dignity front and center. Leo issued a set of marching orders to Catholic educators during a special Holy Year celebration that has brought thousands of teachers, students, and administrators to Rome. The brief text, which Leo signed at a Mass for Jubilee pilgrims on Monda

November 2 ------ The Philippines and Japan reaffirmed their deepening partnership in defense, economic, and regional cooperation as President Marcos held his first bilateral meeting with newly elected Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae on the sidelines of the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits in Malaysia. During their meeting, Marcos personally congratulated Takaichi on her recent election, saying he looked forward to working

November 2 ------ The never-ending controversy over commercial ships' threats to endangered whales and other species in the Californian waters has flared up again after conservationist groups sued the Trump administration for failure to protect the mammals. With reports showing that at least 10 gray whales have been killed by probable ship strikes in the San Francisco Bay Area so far this year, while several more whales have died from undetermined causes, the Center for Biolo

November 2 ------ More than 10 years after facing unbeaten Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas, Filipino boxing legend and senator Manny Pacquiao is still eyeing a rematch with his former rival. Pacquiao said his camp is in talks with several potential opponents, including Mayweather. The two boxing icons previously clashed on May 2, 2015, with Mayweather winning via unanimous decision. Netflix, the giant streaming company, had earlier reported on the potential rematch. Pacquiao, w

November 2 ------ At 75, American singer Patti Austin proved she ages just like fine wine during her impressive performance as a special guest at the Babyface concert held last October 27 at the SM MOA Arena in Pasay City. The Grammy Award-winning artist, who started her singing career at the age of four, entertained the crowd with anecdotes in between her songs. “This is old lady music. Well, I hope you enjoy the rest of the show. We’re going to just plow through lots and lo

November 2 ------ The energy sector is often front and center when the discussion revolves around breakbulk and heavy-lift cargoes. Windmills, on land or anchored to the ocean floor, have been all the rage for the past several years. And why not? Energy makes the world go around - whether it's green or liquid gold. Dry bulk is another sector critical to our developing society. However, dry bulk products, like breakbulk cargoes, would not be available or accessible were it no