Two men were injured on Thursday afternoon after their private car collided with a medium-duty truck truck in Tuen Mun, police said. ADVERTISEMENT SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENTThe incident occurred around 5pm when a car traveling along Lung Mun Road towards Lung Kwu Tan crashed into a truck at the junction with Ho Suen Street. The 48-year-old male driver and a 48-year-old male passenger sustained forehead abrasions and were taken conscious to Tuen Mun Hospital for treatment. Online footage shows the black car traveling at high speed before slamming into the side of the truck, which was preparing to turn right from Lung Mun Road onto Ho Suen Street. Part of Lung Mun Road towards Lung Kwu Tan near Ho Suen Street was temporarily closed following the accident but later reopened.

A 34-year-old Indonesian domestic helper has been arrested on Thursday in connection with the death of a newborn baby boy who was discovered in a Causeway Bay shopping mall restroom on Monday. ADVERTISEMENT SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENTAuthorities took the woman, believed to be the infant's mother, into custody today in the Eastern District. The arrest was made by the Wanchai District Crime Squad following an investigation that was launched after the baby was found. The woman is being held on suspicion of concealing birth of child and is being detained for questioning. Paramedics rushed the baby to Ruttonjee Hospital, but he was tragically pronounced dead after resuscitation efforts failed.

Denying the crisis exists reduces his credibility when it becomes full blown. The crisis became officially serious after BBM told Bloomberg that grounding planes is a “distinct possibility.”“Several countries have already told our airlines they cannot fuel their aircraft, so they have to carry fuel there and back.”Even as BBM’s spokesperson is still saying there is no crisis, BBM has declared a state of energy emergency. If this oil crisis sticks long enough, even our electricity supply will be affected. Petron has processed Russian crude before the Ukraine crisis. It took BBM a while to recognize a crisis but better late than later.

House launches free rides for commutersCommuters endure long lines for modern jeepney rides at Araneta City terminal in Cubao, Quezon City on Wednesday, as limited transport units struggle to meet passenger demand. MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives launched yesterday a free ride program for commuters traveling from San Jose del Monte in Bulacan to Welcome Rotonda in Quezon City, as part of a transport relief initiative to ease the burden of rising costs on workers, students and other daily commuters. The free rides will cover two linked routes in the morning: San Jose del Monte, Bulacan to Quezon City Rotonda and on to Fairview Terraces. In the afternoon and evening, the return trip will run from Quezon City Rotonda to Fairview Terraces and vice versa, allowing passengers to move through one of the busiest commuter corridors in northern Metro Manila and nearby Bulacan. At least four House buses will serve the route every Monday, Thursday and Friday.

Market tumbles on profit takingThe Philippine Stock Exchange index shed 0.99 percent or 59.97 points, closing the session at 5,984.20. MANILA, Philippines — The local stock market’s two-day climb was cut short yesterday after investors engaged in profit taking. The Philippine Stock Exchange index shed 0.99 percent or 59.97 points, closing the session at 5,984.20. “The local market pulled back as investors took profits following two straight days of rallying. Market breadth was negative, with decliners overpowering advancers, 100 to 78, while 71 stocks were unchanged.

China open to talks on joint oil exploration, if…“Setting aside differences and pursuing joint development is the right path to uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea and deliver benefits to countries in the region and their peoples,” a statement from the Chinese embassy read. MANILA, Philippines — China is open to restarting talks on a potential joint oil and gas exploration with the Philippines in the South China Sea, the Chinese embassy said yesterday, if there is “sincerity” in the initiative. “As stated by (Foreign Affairs) Secretary Tess Lazaro, for now there is no joint exploration with China, but it does not mean it will not happen. Lazaro said on Wednesday that talks between the Philippines and China for a possible joint oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea may be “forthcoming.”She said the negotiators are mindful of the pitfalls in the talks which have been stalled for years. President Marcos said in an interview with Bloomberg that he is open to restarting talks with Beijing on a joint oil and gas project.

Transport groups seek removal of fuel VATA woman places a placard on a jeepney during the transport strike along Aurora Boulevard in Quezon City yesterday. MANILA, Philippines — Transport groups called yesterday for the removal of the 12-percent value-added tax (VAT) and excise taxes on petroleum products, as they staged a two-day strike in various parts of the country. Manibela chairman Mar Valbuena called on the government to expedite the removal of the excise tax and VAT on petroleum products. They urged other drivers to join the strike, warning that rising oil prices continue to erode their industry and income. Meanwhile, lower courts in Metro Manila dismissed their work early as the first day of a two-day transport strike started yesterday.

High fuel demand lifts Shell income to P2.1 billionIn a stock exchange filing yesterday, the company reported a net income of P2.1 billion in 2025, up by 69 percent from P1.25 billion a year ago. MANILA, Philippines — Oil giant Shell Pilipinas Corp. (SPC) ended 2025 with robust earnings, driven by increased fuel demand and prudent capital management. In a stock exchange filing yesterday, the company reported a net income of P2.1 billion in 2025, up by 69 percent from P1.25 billion a year ago. In the fuel business, SPC saw a two-percent uptick in volumes on the back of stronger contributions from the business-to-business and commercial segments. This reinforces the company’s position as the country’s second-largest downstream player in the domestic market despite persistent hypercompetition and aggressive pricing.

40 degrees Celsius heat index seen in 4 areasPAGASA said the town of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro may feel “danger level” heat index of 42 degrees Celsius. MANILA, Philippines — Four areas in the country are expected to experience heat indeces of 40 degrees Celsius and above, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. PAGASA said the town of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro may feel “danger level” heat index of 42 degrees Celsius. The “danger level” heat index ranges from 42 to 51 degrees Celsius and may cause people to experience heat cramps and exhaustion. Meanwhile, border “extreme caution” heat index of 41 degrees Celsius is projected in Dagupan, Pangasinan, while Echague in Isabela, Coron in Palawan and Borongan in Eastern Samar may experience a heat index of 40 degrees Celsius.

MRT passengers increase after 50% discountCommuters enter the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 in Taft Avenue station last May 2022MANILA, Philippines — Daily ridership in the Metro Rail Transit 3 grew by 1,000 to 2,000 passengers within the first three days of implementation of the 50-percent across-the-board fare discount, the MRT-3 said yesterday. MRT-3 general manager Michael Capati said 466,735 passengers used the trains on March 24 and another 467,328 the following day. Days prior to the discount implementation, the MRT had a daily ridership of 452,382. Capati said the increase is still manageable for the train line, citing the 450,000 to 475,000 average daily ridership in MRT-3. The standard three-car train has a capacity of 1,050 passengers only,” Capati said.

Remember Lot’s wifeThe story of Lot and his wife fleeing Sodom is well known. It is found near the Dead Sea in Israel in Mount Sodom and it is popularly nicknamed “Lot’s wife.” Biblically, scripture tells us this story in Genesis 19. Like Lot’s wife, we long for the way things are, hesitate to fully commit and worse, doubt God’s plan. Just as Lot’s wife couldn’t let go of Sodom, bad governance and bad government officials often cling to corrupt systems. To remember Lot’s wife is to remember that halfway obedience is just another form of staying behind.

Power spot market trading suspendedOil crisis seen to push electricity cost by P5/kWhMANILA, Philippines — The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has suspended spot market electricity trading as the global oil crisis threatens to push power prices higher by over P5 per kilowatt-hour (kWh). In effect, a temporary pricing mechanism will be implemented for power purchased from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) during the suspension. The administered prices aim to protect consumers from sudden spikes while keeping power generators financially viable to sustain reliable electricity supply, the ERC said. Amid surging fuel prices, the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines estimates that power from WESM could exceed P9 per kWh, more than double the P3.50 per kWh recorded in February. At the same time, power supply from bilateral contracts is also expected to rise due to higher fuel costs.

Tagle to preside over Fulton Sheen beatificationMANILA, Philippines — Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the Vatican’s pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, will represent Pope Leo XIV and preside over the beatification mass for US Bishop Fulton Sheen in September. According to the Vatican News, Sheen will be beatified on Sept. 24 in St. Louis, Missouri. Sheen was declared “venerable” in 2012 by then Pope Benedict XVI. Sheen was known for his dynamic preaching, especially on television and radio, and was described as a gifted teacher and speaker. In 1951, he began hosting the weekly television series “Life is Worth Living” on matters of faith, attracting 30 million viewers.

If anything, the SC should really investigate who or what companies are really behind the petitions to place a TRO on the DOTr-NNIC project. More than just surveys, studying the movement of local and foreign tourists at our summer peak season can be a sign of hope or an omen or ill tidings. In the Philippines, tourism is back to two main markets: the European backpacking digital nomads and the ever-resilient Turistang Kanin. Among the many failures of the Department of Tourism is simplifying land travel in the country. The Digital Nomads can’t go where there is no internet, and local tourists always want to be connected with home.

Marcos: Camago-3 well to boost gas supply“The Camago-3 well has been successfully drilled and tested, producing up to 60 million standard cubic feet of gas per day. Marcos noted that Camago-3 holds an estimated 2.5 times more recoverable gas than the Malampaya East-1 discovery. The two wells are expected to extend the life of the Malampaya gas field by an estimated six years. According to Marcos, the Malampaya gas costs the Philippines roughly P4.80 per kilowatt-hour while liquefied natural gas costs more than double at P10.30 per kilowatt-hour. And it is how we protect every Filipino from the burden of rising global fuel prices,” he added.