Philippine News

SEOUL, January 20 ------ South Korea and Italy agreed to expand cooperation in artificial intelligence, space, and the defense industry, pledging to confront “global challenges” at a bilateral summit in Seoul. President Lee Jae Myung hosted Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for the summit at his office in the first visit by an Italian leader to South Korea in almost two decades. Speaking alongside the far-right leader following their meeting, Lee said the two countries would “fur

PARIS, January 20 ------ Countries including France and Britain are considering following Australia’s lead by banning children and some teenagers from using social media, but experts are still locked in a debate over the effectiveness of the move. Supporters of a ban warn that action needs to be taken to tackle deteriorating mental health among young people, although others say the evidence is inconclusive and want a more nuanced approach. France is currently debating bills f

January 20 ------ President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the government would adopt additional measures to support energy workers during the winter season. Russian strikes on energy infrastructure have, as usual, intensified across Ukraine as temperatures have fallen – causing blackouts across the country. Last Wednesday, Zelensky announced a state of emergency in Ukraine’s energy sector. In a video address posted on Telegram, Zelensky said on Monday that he had agreed with U

January 20 ------ Ukraine’s military intelligence and energy experts warn that potential Russian missile strikes on substations linked to nuclear power plants could trigger a major disaster. Serhiy Beskrestnov, a Ukrainian expert in electronic warfare known as “Flash,” said key substations that connect nuclear plants to the power grid are often located very close to reactors – sometimes within a kilometer (0.6 miles) and, in some cases, just 300 meters (984 feet) away. That m

January 19 ------ The world’s first global treaty to protect ocean life in international waters enters into force on January 17, 2026, bringing into effect legally-binding rules for the sustainable use and management of marine resources in the high seas. Formally known as the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), the trea

January 19 ------ Tsuneishi Shipbuilding’s Philippines-based yard Tsuneishi Heavy Industries has delivered the world’s first methanol dual-fuel KAMSARMAX bulk carrier, Brave Pioneer. By adopting methanol as a propulsion fuel, the vessel achieves a reduction of approximately 10% in carbon dioxide emissions, 80% in NOx and 99% in SOx compared with conventional vessels. The use of green methanol further enhances the vessel’s potential to reduce environmental impact. The vessel f

January 19 ------ Spanish authorities are reporting that they successfully broke up a large drug smuggling operation that had been responsible for bringing large amounts of cocaine from Colombia. They described a number of methods, including so-called “monkeys” to get the drugs aboard the containerships, dropping off near Spain, and hijacking vessels and small boats to retrieve the smuggled narcotics. The investigation involved the National Police, Civil Guard, and Tax Agency

January 19 ------ The ultra-large Disney Adventure (208,108 gross tons) is making a brief appearance in the United States during its delivery run to Asia. The cruise ship pulled into Port Canaveral, Florida, on January 15 for a reported 12-day stopover before she resumes the trip, which will ultimately arrive in Singapore, her year-round homeport. Acquired by Disney in November 2022 from the bankrupt MV Werften shipbuilding, the ship was completed by Meyer Werft and reconfigu

LOS ANGELES, United States, January 19 ------ Victor Wembanyama scored 39 points as the San Antonio Spurs overcame a magical career-high 55-point display from Anthony Edwards to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 126-123 in the NBA. French prodigy Wembanyama was backed by 25 points from De'Aaron Fox in a high-scoring heavyweight duel against the Edwards-inspired Timberwolves. Minnesota had clawed their way back from a 25-point half-time deficit, with Edwards leading an astonis

MANILA, Philippines, January 19 ------ Miguel Tabuena brings a more compelling dimension to this year’s The Country Club Invitational – not as a former champion chasing a repeat, but as a player who has fully established himself as a bona fide world-class contender. While he fell just short of securing a spot in the lucrative LIV Golf League, Tabuena’s strong finish to the 2025 season and his gritty showing in the LIV Golf Promotions underscored his resilience, maturity and r

MELBOURNE, Australia, January 19 ------ No. 7 seed Jasmine Paolini got the dominant start she wanted, defeating Aliaksandra Sasnovich, 6-1, 6-2, in just over an hour at the Rod Laver Arena as the Australian Open got started. Paolini took the first set in just 27 minutes on the main show court at Melbourne Park, giving the crowd what they wanted as the first Grand Slam of the season got underway. On the men’s side at Melbourne Park later Sunday, No. 3 seed Alexander Zverev fac

MANILA, January 19 ------ The national 3x3 wheelchair basketball and cerebral palsy football teams will compete for the Philippines in the 13th ASEAN Para Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. The men's squad will be the first in line as it faces Indonesia while the women's side will take on hosts Thailand. Both games will be held in the fourth floor of the Terminal 21 Korat as both squads look to dominate the preliminary rounds. Pilipinas Warriors head coach Vernon Perea sai

January 19 ------ Zoe Saldaña has officially claimed the top spot as the highest-grossing actor of all time, overtaking Scarlett Johansson after the latest installment of the Avatar franchise pushed her career box office total to new heights. According to box office tracker The Numbers, the Oscar winner’s films have now earned more than $15.46 billion (around ₱918 billion) worldwide. The milestone was reached after Avatar: Fire and Ash added more than $1.2 billion (around ₱71

January 19 ------ Maymay Entrata is not one to be vulnerable. She often keeps things to herself because, according to her, it is how she is. With the release of her new single, “Masunog Man,” she hopes it’s a step forward in being open. “Knowing me, hirap ako mag-open up lalo na pagdating sa personal kong buhay,” Entrata confessed to Inquirer Entertainment during a launch event for her latest single. “Siguro isa na ‘tong way to open up with what I’ve been through.” 2025 has b

January 19 ------ Yeng Constantino opened up about how Taylor Swift inspired her to take ownership of her music catalog. In an interview on MYX NOW, Yeng shared that Taylor’s decision to reclaim ownership of her master recordings made a strong impression on her as a brave and empowering move. "Meron akong contract with Star Music that sila 'yung magha-handle ng songs ko for fifteen years, I think. Si Taylor Swift 'to eh nung nakita namin na nilaban niya talaga na maging own n

January 19 ------ Candidates of the 2026 Miss World Philippines pageant have more crowns to fight for as the organizers added another title at stake in the competition. Originally, the pageant will also award the Universal Woman Philippines and Miss Global Philippines titles aside from the Miss World Philippines crown. But at the presentation of the 2026 national pageant’s 24 delegates held at Okada Manila in Parañaque City on Jan. 16, ALV Pageant Circle president Arnold Vega

MANILA, January 19 ------ NLEX announced a toll hike starting Tuesday, January 20, as approved by the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB). Motorists traveling anywhere within the open system will pay an additional P6 for Class 1 vehicles (regular cars and SUVs), P12 for Class 2 vehicles (buses and small trucks), and P16 for Class 3 vehicles. The open system runs from Metro Manila in the cities of Navotas, Valenzuela, and Caloocan to Marilao, Bulacan, while the closed system covers th

MANILA, Philippines, January 19 ------ The University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP MSI) has detected elevated levels of iodine-129 – an isotope commonly used as an indicator of nuclear activity – in seawater samples from the West Philippine Sea (WPS). UP MSI said the concentrations found in the WPS were higher than in any other part of the country, despite the Philippines having no active nuclear power plant or nuclear weapons program. The findings are base

MANILA, January 19 ------ The Philippines will allow Chinese nationals to enter the country visa-free for up to 14 days, the Department of Foreign Affairs announced. The DFA said the move is in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to facilitate trade, investments, and tourism, and to strengthen people-to-people exchanges between the Philippines and China. Under the new policy, Chinese nationals traveling to the Philippines for tourism or business purposes may

MANILA, January 19 ------ Tropical cyclone Ada (international name Nokaen) has weakened into a tropical depression, the weather bureau said in its 5 a.m. bulletin. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Ada packs maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph. It was last tracked 380 km east of Casiguran, Aurora, moving northeast at 10 kph. No tropical cyclone wind s