SAN FERNANDO, Philippines — In the Christmas-mad Philippines, thousands cheer as hand-crafted lanterns towering six meters (20 feet) high light up the night sky in San Fernando, northwest of the country's capital. The dazzling display of lights, accompanied by religious and festive imagery and soundtracked by Filipino rap and Christmas carols, is part of the annual Giant Lantern Festival. The giant lanterns, submitted for competition at the festival, use 12,000 50-watt bulbs synchronised by 15 kilometers (9.2 miles) of electric cables and symbolise the Star of Bethlehem. Firefighters carrying extinguishers could be seen patrolling the area, as sparks flew from the rotors of at least three lanterns, AFP journalists at the event saw. "Almost all the lantern-makers here are related to each other or are friends with the others," said Florante Parilla, 55, who has been designing the giant lanterns for 30 years.

Police: Autopsy confirms Cabral’s identityOfficial portrait of Catalina Cabral when she was undersecretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways. LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — Cordillera police confirmed the identity of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Ma. Catalina Cabral following the results of an autopsy conducted Saturday. The confirmation through autopsy provided greater clarity to the case, allowing authorities to move forward with a more thorough investigation. Sources said the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has lifted its relief order against Benguet police director Col. Lambert Suerte after he successfully negotiated with Cabral’s family to allow the autopsy, which they had earlier refused.

Family seeks compassion, privacy after Cabral’s deathMANILA, Philippines — The family of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Maria Catalina “Cathy” Cabral appealed for compassion and restraint following her sudden death, urging the public to respect their need for privacy as they grieve. It also dismissed claims that Cabral and her family faked her death as “reckless and baseless.”In the same statement, the family reiterated Cabral’s “consistent and unequivocal” denial of any involvement in alleged anomalous flood control projects. The family also slammed allegations made by former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, describing his testimony as uncorroborated and self-serving. She denied facilitating kickback schemes but was included among officials recommended for possible administrative charges over a P95-million flood control project in Bocaue, Bulacan. Cabral’s death has raised concerns among officials, with Rep. Perci Cendaña asking whether she would become the “fall guy” in the broader flood control scandal.

Online illegal recruitment modus rises in DMW’s 4th full yearMAKATI CITY, Philippines — The Illegal recruitment of prospective and current overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) rose using Facebook and TikTok pages, dwarfing the Department of Migrant Workers’ efforts to curb all sorts of IR activities. Illegal recruitment activities, especially when affecting at least three workers, are outlawed by the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 (or Republic Act 8042, amended into RA 10022). DMW, created through Republic Act 11649, runs current-day anti-illegal recruitment activities that were the task of the now-defunct Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) from 1982 to 2021. Illegal recruitment activities, Bracero added, affect “not just the vulnerable sector (such as less-skilled workers) but also skilled workers and professionals.”Director Atty. Geraldine Marquez of DMW’s Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB) said that the Philippines’ anti-illegal recruitment and trafficking efforts are well in-place and respond to the realities of cyber-induced recruitment.

"What we've seen is one of them visiting a gun shop," Davao regional police spokeswoman Catherine Dela Rey said on Saturday, adding later that it was 50-year-old Sajid Akram who had been seen. One of the two alleged Bondi Beach shooters visited a gun store during their stay in the Philippines, police said on Saturday as they attempted to retrace the pair's movements. Police inquiries had also revealed that neither of the men had visited any of the city's seven gun ranges, he said. President Ferdinand Marcos has criticised media reports that he said misleadingly portrayed the Philippines "as a training hotspot for terrorism". The Philippine military has said Mindanao's remaining jihadists now number little more than 50, from a high of 1,257 in 2016.

Among the trove are numerous photographs depicting former Democratic president Bill Clinton and other luminaries, including Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson, in Epstein's social circle. Even so, the files shed some light on the disgraced financier's intimate ties to the rich, famous, and powerful—Trump among them. Photographs, including of former US president Bill Clinton, Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger, Virgin Group chairman Richard Branson and Ghislaine Maxwell. Undated picture of former US president Bill Clinton with US singers Michael Jackson and Diana Ross at an undisclosed location. An undated picture of former US president Bill Clinton in a jacuzzi at an undisclosed location.

Beyond its cuisine and historic temples, many tourists visit Japan to witness the beauty of its sakura blossoms. \Each spring, travelers gather at famous viewing spots such as Ueno Park, Maruyama Park, Hirosaki Castle, and the Meguro River, where the cherry trees bloom at their peak. According to the Japan Meteorological Corporation’s first forecast for spring 2026, cherry blossoms are expected to appear from as early as March 19 in Nagoya until May 1 in Sapporo. If you're planning to see the cherry blossoms in 2026, here's a forecast of their expected peak bloom so you can time your visit. You can still enjoy cherry blossom beauty in other places, such as Atok in Benguet, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Tourists will have to pay a two-euro entrance fee to get close to Rome's famous Trevi Fountain, which draws vast crowds daily, Mayor Roberto Gualtieri said on Friday. The monument, located in a public square, will still be able to be viewed from a distance for free, but closer access will be only for ticket holders, Gualtieri told a press conference. "From Feb. 1 we are introducing a paid ticket for six sites" in the Italian capital, including the Trevi Fountain, he said. The backdrop to the most famous scene in Federico Fellini's film La Dolce Vita, when actress Anita Ekberg takes a dip, the 18th-century fountain is top of the list for many visitors exploring the Eternal City. As a result of the fountain's fame, the crowds in the square surrounding the Baroque masterpiece are often so deep that it is hard to get a proper look.

Gilas golds cap Team Philippines strong finishAfter Gilas women, Gilas men also subdued host Thailand, 70-64, to complete a twin championship in the 33rd SEA Games basketball competitions. CHONBURI — Before totally checking out, the Gilas Pilipinas men made sure Team Philippines is coming home with the gold medal that their kabayans wanted so badly to keep. Team Philippines, however, got stuck at sixth behind Singapore’s 52-62-86 collection. Hours before the Gilas men gunned for the cherished 5-on-5 gold, the Filipina cagebelles took care of business by beating the Thais for the women’s plum, 73-70. Meanwhile, the Alas men earned a podium finish in indoor volleyball after rallying past Vietnam, 23-25, 23-25, 25-18, 25-22, 16-14, for the bronze.

DNA testing on body, retrieval of Cabral’s gadgets orderedPhoto provided by the Benguet police shows officers inspecting the spot where former DPWH undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral (top inset) fell to her death in Sitio Marammal, Barangay Camp 4, Tuba, Benguet. Cabral was among the government officials being investigated by the ombudsman in connection with the flood control project anomalies. A career DPWH official, she resigned from her post last September after being implicated in the alleged budget insertions for ghost flood control projects in exchange for kickbacks. “Because she was the one who supposedly inserted (flood control projects) in the NEP (National Expenditure Program),” he said. Remulla explained the positive identification by Cabral’s family is not enough, given that there have been other wanted fugitives who faked their own deaths to elude arrest.

Ex-PNP chief Torre named MMDA general managerMANILA, Philippines — Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Nicolas Torre III has been named general manager of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro confirmed yesterday that President Marcos has appointed Torre to the post. “The MMDA expresses its full support to the decision of President Marcos Jr. in his trust for Gen. Torre, whose extensive experience in public service and law enforcement is expected to further strengthen the MMDA’s mandate in traffic management and public safety, among others, across Metro Manila,” said the agency in a statement. MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said Torre’s “welcome addition” to the agency would be a “big help.”The agency also vowed to “remain committed to continuing its mission of ensuring safe, efficient and orderly mobility and development in Metro Manila with the appointment of General Torre.” — Helen Flores

Photo by BING GUAN / AFP A Salem Police Department cruiser is parked outside the storage facility where the suspect behind the mass shooting at Brown University was found dead, in Salem, New Hampshire, on December 19, 2025.

Photo by - / HOUSE OVERSIGHT DEMOCRATS / AFP This undated and unlocated handout image released by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee on December 18, 2025 shows late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein (R) cooking with CEO of DP World Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem.

Mountain lake is home of Bulgaria's 'king of caviars'Photo by NIKOLAY DOYCHINOV / AFP An employee shows an opened box of caviar at the Caviar de Neuvic boutique in Paris on December 11, 2025.

For most, what has been approved at the bicameral committee is the same old corruption-prone budget. We were promised a cleaner national budget, but those responsible for drafting it did not put in enough work. The national budget is a huge document and it is not easy to run a fine comb through it. One expensive piece of equipment sent out by the mining company upon the request of local officials was a wheel excavator. Employees of the mining company, meanwhile, were subjected to an endless stream of threats, coercion and intimidation.