Severe Tropical Storm Fung-Wong has intensified significantly over the Pacific Ocean and is on track to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by midnight or early Saturday morning, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). Once inside PAR, the weather disturbance will be locally named Uwan. The storm poses an…
ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Thursday destroyed some ₱1.1 billion worth of illegal drugs in this city, marking the largest drug destruction ever conducted in the Zamboanga Peninsula. The destruction was led by Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Chairperson Secretary Oscar Valenzuela and PDEA Director General Undersecretary Isagani Nerez, along with…
DAVAO CITY – Authorities seized PHP2.1 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in an operation in Toril District, the Davao City Police Office reported Thursday. The suspect, identified as alias Rodel, was apprehended around 7:20 p.m. on Nov. 5 in a joint operation by Task Force Davao and DCPO personnel. Rodel faces charges for violating the…
More than P35M humanitarian aid given to Tino-hit families in Caraga BUTUAN CITY – Humanitarian assistance amounting to more than PHP35 million has been provided to families in the Caraga Region recently affected by the onslaught of Typhoon Tino, the regional office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Thursday. The…
TOKYO – Honda Motor Co. has unveiled its new hybrid system for large sport utility vehicles (SUVs), with an eye on the North American market, where large vehicles are in strong demand and hybrid vehicles are popular. The Japanese automaker aims to launch vehicles with the new hybrid system from 2027. The new system is designed…
A man has been arrested after groping and attempting to kiss Mexico’s president Claudia Sheinbaum during a public appearance, officials confirmed. The incident occurred on Tuesday as President Sheinbaum walked from the National Palace toward the Ministry of Education in Mexico City and greeted on-lookers and supporters. A video of the encounter shows a man…
The Taal Volcano in Batangas logged 49 volcanic earthquakes in the past 24 hours, but authorities say the alert level remains at Level 1. According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the recorded seismic activity reflects “low-level unrest” and does not warrant raising the alert status. “We recorded 49 volcanic earthquakes in…
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has filed criminal complaints against three former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials—collectively dubbed the “BGC Boys” or Bulacan Group of Contractors—for alleged tax deficiencies amounting to ₱1.6 billion covering taxable years 2020 to 2024. Named in the complaint were former DPWH–Bulacan District Engineer Henry Alcantara, former Assistant…
The Philippine unemployment rate slipped to 3.8 percent in September, down from 3.9 percent in August, according to data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The decline equates to approximately 1.96 million unemployed persons, compared with about 2.03 million in the previous month. Despite the easing of unemployment, the underemployment rate increased during the…
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday declared a national state of calamity in the aftermath of Typhoon Tino, signalling an urgent pivot to relief and rehabilitation efforts. The President authorized the measure following a recommendation from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), citing widespread damage across multiple regions. As Tino ravaged the…