An influencer in the US announced the death of his five-year-old son after contracting a severe case of the flu. In a two-part video message posted on his Instagram, Paul Kim shared that his son Micah died on Dec. 31 "after fighting 11 long, hard days." On Dec. 22, Kim shared on the platform that his son Micah experienced a medical emergency and was on the way to the hospital in an ambulance. A day after his son was rushed to the hospital, Kim shared Micah was on life support. By the eighth day of Micah being on life support, Kim shared his son's vitals were steady even as his lungs were on a respirator and his kidney "needs help."

Lacson to Marcos: Don’t waver against corruptionComposite photo of Sen. Ping Lacson (L) speaking at a Senate plenary session in Pasay City in November 2025, and President Bongbong Marcos leading the oath-taking of new military generals on Dec. 18, 2025. MANILA, Philippines — As President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. faces slipping public trust amid corruption controversies, Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson said national leaders must be prepared to confront growing public anger over the misuse of public funds. Lacson made the remarks as multiple reputable survey firms showed waning popularity for Marcos, a trend Malacañang has attributed to the administration’s efforts to make difficult decisions against corruption. Lacson, a presidential candidate in the 2025 elections, said he hoped Marcos would remain firm in pursuing accountability. Following a leadership shuffle in the Senate, Lacson assumed the chairmanship of the Blue Ribbon Committee and oversaw the investigation into the alleged infrastructure scam.

3 types of supermarket food to never buy - Risks of food poisoning, dehydration, and even death revealed

What's taking gov't so long to verify Leviste's 'Cabral files'? Nearly two weeks after the existence Cabral files was unveiled, agencies have yet to confirm whether the files match official records. The Office of the Ombudsman, on the other hand, said Leviste had shared only portions of the alleged Cabral files. However, the Ombudsman has not responded to queries from reporters on whether they will compare the so-called “Cabral files” with documents it and the DPWH have in their possession. In doing so, he said the government should first check if the projects listed in the alleged Cabral files match those in the 2025 General Appropriations Act.

Advance alerts foil 2 fugitives' attempt to enter PhilippinesComposite photos of Ercan Mutlu, 37 and Battulga Ganbold, 30, a Mongolian national, who are both considered fugitives from law as they were intercepted the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, according to a Bureau of Immigration statement on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration has intercepted two foreign fugitives attempting to enter the country after advance screening flagged them as wanted abroad, the agency said Friday. Agents identified one of the intercepted passengers as Battulga Ganbold, 30, a Mongolian national who arrived from Vietnam. Immigration deputy spokesperson and APIS Operations Center chief Melvin Mabulac said the system generated advance alerts while the two passengers were still airborne. Mabulac said the APIS enables authorities to identify high-risk passengers even before they land in the Philippines.

China rejects Kiko Pangilinan statement on Taiwan military exercisesSen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, during the continuation of the public hearing on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, says there is sufficient circumstantial evidence to believe that local businessmen and government officials are in connivance with Chinese smuggling syndicates. MANILA, Philippines — The Chinese Embassy in Manila rebuked Sen. Kiko Pangilinan's criticism of Beijing's recent military drills around Taiwan, saying his "wrongful" remarks go against the Philippines' commitment to the one-China policy. “It is the season of goodwill, but China’s two-day military drills encircling Taiwan have brought ill will all around,” he said in a statement Thursday, January 1. Drills draw regional concernChina earlier this week closed the year with two days of live-fire military drills around Taiwan, including missile launches and simulations of a blockade of key ports. Taiwan condemned the exercises as highly provocative, while Beijing said they were aimed at deterring separatism and foreign interference.

“Wiggle Wiggle is a brand that is full of happiness and positive energy, with different characters, vibrant colors and practical products with good artwork and good design,” said Lily Park, CEO of BMSmile (Business Makes the Earth Smile), the parent company of Wiggle Wiggle. Belly Gom X Wiggle Wiggle soap trayIn the Kitchen Zone, you’ll see Wiggle Wiggle products for cooking, dining and chilling at home. Stop watches, calculators, beer glasses, nail care sets, even pimple patches got the Wiggle Wiggle treatment. Wiggle Wiggle X Belly Gom slippersThere are lunch boxes, key rings, hair accessories, stationery, phone cases and phone grips—so many ways to give your life a dose of Wiggle Wiggle. Hair bandsShoppers can earn Wiggle Wiggle points from every purchase that can be used to redeem items.

New York Mayor Mamdani sworn in with progressive agenda aheadZohran Mamdani is sworn in as mayor of New York City at Old City Hall Station.

DepEd: Budget reenactment won’t affect educationMANILA, Philippines — Teachers and learners will be unaffected by the week-long reenactment of last year’s national budget beginning yesterday, the Department of Education (DepEd) said yesterday. Existing programs are funded under the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), ensuring uninterrupted operations, DepEd chief media relations officer Dennis Legaspi said. “Reenactment of the budget would only affect the rollout of new programs and the brief period will be used by the DepEd to finalize the necessary implementation guidelines,” he said. Malacañang has begun a “thorough review” of the 2026 budget, ratified on Monday by Congress as the nation continues to reel from the multibillion-peso flood control scandal. Education Secretary Sonny Angara, meanwhile, said 2025 was a year of action in education.

Flood control scam raps filed; no big fishWhen reports of the diversion of public funds to alleged ghost flood control projects began dominating headlines in the latter half of the year, the ombudsman’s office was without a permanent head, following the end of Samuel Martires’ seven-year term on July 27. He also reversed policies of his predecessor Samuel Martires, notably allowing the release of public officials’ statements of assets, liabilities and net worth. Remulla, a former justice secretary, also deputized prosecutors from the Department of Justice to conduct preliminary investigations into several flood control projects in Bulacan involving public officials with Salary Grade 26 or below. Still, the ombudsman managed to file two sets of cases linked to the flood control scam, although none involved incumbent or former senators or top-ranking government officials. The examination aims to retrieve and authenticate files allegedly detailing budget insertions for flood control projects.

DOT gets flak after Frasco lands on magazine coverMANILA, Philippines — The Department of Tourism (DOT) is in hot water again, this time after an advertising and production executive took a swipe at a magazine that prominently featured Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco on its cover. “You made us shoot Region 1 to Region 13… (that’s) almost 320 tourist spots, 236,000 photos, 6,500 video materials. Then this is the one you use, DOT,” wrote Max Abasolo on his Facebook account with around 6,300 followers. The post has since been taken down, but a screenshot of it made the rounds on social media, with comments mostly criticizing Frasco for being the “main attraction” instead of the country’s tourist destinations, based on a report by news website InterAksyon. Pages four to 13 of the magazine featured the DOT and Frasco, as well as the Philippine Pavilion at the Osaka World Expo 2025, the National Tourism Development Plan 2023-2028 and the issues and prospects for Philippine tourism from the Japanese traveler market.

3 types of supermarket food to never buy - Risks of food poisoning, dehydration, and even death revealed

The day I quit smoking — cold turkeyMy New Year’s resolution was realized early in May last year. That was also the time I began to meet the strongest version of myself when I quit smoking cold turkey. Back to the LB hospital, I was in high spirits when the radiology attendant took my chest X-ray. I already stopped smoking today; it’s my gift to you because you had long wanted me to stop smoking. But when the disgusting stench in my hands slowly disappeared, I was encouraged all the more to stop smoking.

2 ‘New Year babies’ born in ManilaSally Alburo with her baby boy Yuri, one of two ‘New Year babies’ delivered at the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila. MANILA, Philippines — Two “New Year babies” were born on Wednesday at the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila as the country welcomed the new year. Sally Alburo, 25, of Carmona, Cavite, gave birth to a baby boy named Yuri at 12 a.m. yesterday. After 10 seconds, another baby was born – a girl named Zamara. According to the doctor at Fabella Hospital, both babies were born through normal deliveries.

For the holidays, he also returned to the committee on accounts a check for P2 million, which he described as a Christmas bonus given to each House member. Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno said it was not a Christmas bonus, but additional funds – recorded and subjected to state audit –for “Christmas requirements” in a congressman’s district. Puno said these “requirements” include Christmas parties with barangay captains, health activities and consultations. But if lawmakers want to be generous during the holidays, why should they charge it to taxpayers, to the tune of P2 million each? At least this Grinch stole only his colleagues’ Christmas.