MANILA — In a significant blow to maritime drug trafficking, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) jointly seized an estimated ₱127 million worth of suspected cocaine floating off the coast of Palawan. According to authorities, the seizure resulted from immediate action after local reports of suspicious packages either washed…
Government-employees across the country will receive their annual bonus and cash gift beginning this November, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said. The year-end bonus is equal to one month’s salary and the cash gift is set at P5,000. Eligibility conditions include: • Being in government service as of October 31 and having rendered at…
Lockheed Martin has announced it is working to accelerate the delivery of new F-16V fighters to Taiwan, following the island’s defence ministry reporting that the programme has been delayed due to supply-chain disruptions. Taiwan, which faces increasing military pressure from China, has raised concerns about repeated postponements of U.S. arms deliveries. According to Taiwan’s defence…
A Romanian worker who was trapped for several hours under rubble after the partial collapse of a medieval tower near the Colosseum in Rome has died, local media reported. Rescue crews freed him late Monday and took him to hospital in critical condition, said Rome police chief Lamberto Giannini. The 29-meter high Torre dei Conti…
China’s foreign ministry has brushed aside safety worries expressed by Taiwan regarding next year’s Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, which will be hosted by China in Shenzhen in 2026. Taipei officials had sought written assurances from Beijing that participants—including those from Taiwan—would be safe and treated equally. In response, China affirmed that as the…
The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has formally urged the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate alleged anomalies involving former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) linked to a flood-control project estimated at PHP 72 million. According to the ICI’s referral, irregularities may have occurred during the bidding and execution phases…
Typhoon Typhoon Tino (international name Kalmaegi) has impacted more than 42,555 families, or approximately 133,554 individuals, across 789 barangays in 56 local government units in the Western Visayas region, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Of these, around 30,120 families (94,324 people) are currently taking shelter in 1,304 evacuation centres, while…
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 up in nine areas as Tino heads to Panay Island PAGASA has raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 in nine areas as Typhoon “Tino” (international name: Kalmaegi) advances toward Panay Island, according to its 8 a.m. bulletin. The areas under Signal No. 4 are: 1. Western portion of…
Manila – The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Monday said most Philippine banks are likely to maintain their lending standards for both businesses and households in the fourth quarter of 2025. According to the latest Senior Bank Loan Officers’ Survey (SLOS), 58 banks participated, sharing insights on how they expect to handle credit and…
Agents from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in the Zamboanga Peninsula successfully apprehended a high-profile drug suspect on Sunday during a buy-bust operation in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay. They confiscated about P6.8 million worth of suspected shabu, equivalent to approximately one kilogram packaged in ten heat-sealed sachets. The arrested individual, known by the alias “Boy…