South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas on Monday, as the allies seek to resume diplomacy with North Korea while ensuring a robust combined defense posture. The defense chiefs visited Observation Post Ouellette, the U.N. Command’s military facility close to the…
Globally, more than 140 million girls are considered “missing” as a result of prenatal gender selection against girls, according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The majority, around 100 million, are “missing” in Asia, a figure first highlighted in 1990 by Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen. The UNFPA defines the sex ratio at birth…
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) Pangasinan provincial office is targeting to register around 100,000 new voters from October 20, 2025, to May 18, 2026. Pangasinan provincial election supervisor Atty. Marino Salas said the province currently has around 2.1 million registered voters, and the goal is to further increase participation, not only for regular elections but…
Negros Oriental Governor Manuel Sagarbarria has ordered all provincial government offices to brace for the impact of Typhoon Tino (international name Kalmaegi) as it moves toward the Visayas. According to Adrian Sedillo, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), the Emergency Operations Center has been activated, with members of the Sangguniang…
Fifty out of 128 barangays in Baguio City have been awarded the Seal of Good Local Governance for Barangays (SGLGB) for upholding transparency, accountability, and quality public service. Mayor Benjamin Magalong said the recognition reflects the barangay officials’ dedication to good governance and their commitment to the city’s development goals. “It shows the initiatives of…
DoTr secretary ‘Banoy’ Lopez (center) with Office for Transportation Security administrator Gilbert Cruz (right) and Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange corporate affairs and government affairs director Jason Salvador at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay media forum hosted by veteran newshen Marichu Villanueva. Grappling with Metro Manila’s notorious traffic—ranked among the world’s worst by the 2025 TomTom…
Senator ‘Win’ Gatchalian. (Photo from Tarlakenyo) Aiming to strengthen the zero-balance billing program for equitability in hospital care, Senator Sherwin ‘Win’ Gatchalian has proposed to realign the government’s ₱49-billion medical assistance fund for indigent patients. According to the Senate finance committee chair, health care access should not depend on politicians’ discretion even as he urged that…
Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th. — American actress Julie Andrews With the XXXIII Southeast Asian Games barely a week away, sports fans are awaiting for Filipina tennis sensation Alexandra ‘Alex’ Eala to join the national delegation that would compete for top honors in what is considered the region’s biennial Olympiad. However,…
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has recognized seven Filipinos who gave their lives for their faith as “new martyrs” of the 21st century. CBCP Secretary General Msgr. Bernardo Pantin said the names were submitted to the Commission of the New Martyrs-Witnesses of the Faith in Rome. “These individuals shed their blood between…
The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has directed all prisons nationwide to take precautionary measures ahead of the expected impact of Typhoon Tino. BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said the agency has implemented proactive steps to ensure the safety and preparedness of correctional facilities. He specifically ordered officials at the Iwahig Prison and Penal…