Photo courtesy of Office of the Chief PNP/Facebook. The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday said the transition to 2026 passed without major security concerns across the country. Acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez said authorities recorded no serious threats or significant incidents before and during New Year celebrations, particularly in major urban…
France in January will examine a bill aiming to ban social media for under-15s and cellphones in high schools, Anadolu Agency reported citing broadcaster Franceinfo. The French Council of State will examine the bill on Jan. 8 with an aim to ban access to social media for young people under age 15 and prohibit the…
The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) expressed confidence in building on peace gains in 2026. Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the agency is entering the new year with renewed determination to strengthen the country’s peace efforts. In a New Year message, Galvez underscored the importance of pushing the comprehensive…
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged Filipinos to begin 2026 with discipline, confidence, and a collective sense of responsibility toward national progress. In a New Year message, the President framed the coming year as an opportunity to strengthen shared values beyond personal goals. He encouraged the public to look back on 2025, citing its trials, lessons,…
Map data by Google Maps. Local authorities in Pangasinan said Thursday that at least 29 people were hurt by firecrackers during New Year festivities. Two of the victims suffered severe injuries, with one losing a finger and another a toe. Dr. Maria Camila Rosario of the Region I Medical Center (RIMC) reported that 11 patients…
Photo courtesy of Philippine News Agency (PNA). New Year’s Day saw a fresh increase in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) rates across the country. Petron announced that its LPG price rose by P2.18 per kilogram, taking effect just after midnight Thursday, citing changes in the global market. Solane followed with the same adjustment, which started at…
The Manila city government deployed 160 garbage trucks on Thursday to clear the massive volume of waste generated during the New Year’s Eve celebrations. As of 8:00 a.m. on Jan. 1, the city’s Department of Public Services (DPS) and private contractor Leonel Waste Management reported a combined collection of 956 metric tons of garbage. According…
This photo taken on July 27, 2023 shows the Euro sign in Frankfurt, Germany. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan) Bulgaria joined the eurozone and adopted the euro as its official currency on New Year’s Day. SOFIA — Bulgaria joined the eurozone and adopted the euro as its official currency on New Year’s Day, becoming the 21st member of…
Photo courtesy of CBCP. Archbishop Gilbert A. Garcera, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, urged Filipinos to carry the spirit of hope into the new year. “While we have formally closed the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope across many dioceses in the Philippines, the spirit of hope remains,” he said in his…
New Year’s Eve in Metro Manila passed with minimal incidents, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) reported Thursday. Police Major Hazel Asilo said early deployment and visible police presence helped maintain order during celebrations across the capital. A total of 147 incidents were recorded, mostly involving people startled or lightly injured by fireworks, with…