Gateway to the Middle EastPresident Marcos’ recent working visit to the United Arab Emirates represents a fundamental shift in our country’s economic diplomacy, one that would actually change the numbers back home. This is not merely a milestone because it is the country’s first free trade agreement in the Middle East. However, this is expected to drop to 6,000 units in 2026, then to 3,000 units in 2027 and to 2,000 units in 2028. Meanwhile, the residential market remains soft, according to Leechiu, with demand hitting a six-year low and with current inventory expected to be cleared in 3.5 years. That should be a much-welcome development for the property sector, investors, and property users alike.

Truce called in Ping-Imee word warMANILA, Philippines — Sen. JV Ejercito called for a truce in the word war between Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson and Sen. Imee Marcos. Speaking to Bilyonaryo News Channel on Friday, Ejercito said senators should debate in the proper forum like in the Senate. “Senators like us should respect each other despite our differences in opinion,” Ejercito, who chairs the Senate ethics committee, said. He lamented that Lacson and Marcos had resorted to “below the belt personal attacks.”“We are a democracy. The senators’ word war started when Marcos claimed that the minority were being prevented by Senate Blue Ribbon chair Lacson from linking former House speaker Martin Romualdez to the flood control anomaly.

Palay prices decline as harvest season startsMALOLOS, Bulacan, Philippines — Palay prices have declined by an average of at least P1 per kilo as farmers who planted early for the dry cropping season started harvesting their crops. The current palay prices are still above the National Food Authority (NFA)’s buying price of palay, which is at P23 per kilo. NFA administrator Larry Lacson confirmed that palay prices imposed by private traders are higher than the agency’s procurement price. As palay harvest for the dry season peaks, the NFA is expecting prices to settle between P21 and P23 per kilo, which is beneficial to farmers and consumers, Lacson said. NFA-Bulacan manager Rhona Talens said that based on their monitoring, palay prices at the two trading centers have slightly gone down.

LGUs told: Prepare for lahar flowsResidents of Barangays Iraya and Maninila set up temporary sleeping areas inside classrooms of the Guinobatan East Central Elementary School in Guinobatan, Albay yesterday, after evacuating their homes due to the threat of possible lahar flow and flooding, following the torrential rain brought by Tropical Storm Ada. MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) ordered local government units in Albay and Negros to prepare for possible lahar flows from Mayon Volcano and Mt. The DILG ordered LGUs to convene their local disaster risk reduction and management councils and conduct pre-disaster risk assessments, particularly on lahar hazards. According to the agency’s 24-hour observation summary yesterday, 338 rockfall events plus 72 pyroclastic density currents were recorded from the volcano since Friday. The figures were an uptick from the 308 rockfall events and 68 pyroclastic density currents in the previous 24 hours last Thursday.

Hunger, not revenge, is keyThe TNT Tropang 5G under coach Chot Reyes are plotting ways to beat the San Miguel Beermen this time. Then there’s the strong desire to satiate the hunger of the likes of Jordan Heading and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, who emerged from their maiden finals appearances on the losing end in the said faceoff. “I don’t believe in revenge as a motivator. Sa panandalian, short-term, yes, but long-term, there are deeper and more lasting motivators than revenge. For us, the sooner that we forget that previous series, the better,” Reyes said in the Power and Play program on Cignal.

LTO suspends license of drivers in viral videosMANILA, Philippines — Videos of traffic offenses that went viral have led to the suspension of the driver’s licenses of two violators by the Land Transportation Office. The LTO reported flagging drivers of a sedan and a truck for traffic offenses in the past week, after their violations were caught on video that eventually became viral on social media. Meanwhile, a trailer truck that looked dilapidated and unstable was caught on video traversing a residential road and almost hitting other vehicles, in Sapang Bato in Valenzuela. The video recording of the incident was posted by Visor motoring page on social media. The LTO ordered a 90-day suspension of the licenses of the unnamed drivers and their cars placed under alarm.

Nuclear elements detected in West Philippine SeaUP MSI said the concentrations found in the WPS were higher than in any other part of the country, despite the Philippines having no active nuclear power plant or nuclear weapons program. MANILA, Philippines — The University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP MSI) has detected elevated levels of iodine-129 – an isotope commonly used as an indicator of nuclear activity – in seawater samples from the West Philippine Sea (WPS). UP MSI said the concentrations found in the WPS were higher than in any other part of the country, despite the Philippines having no active nuclear power plant or nuclear weapons program. Researchers found iodine-129 levels in the WPS to be about 1.5 to 1.7 times higher than those recorded in other sampling sites. The study was conducted by experts from the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, UP MSI’s Geological Oceanography Laboratory and the University of Tokyo.

Cebu trash landslide: Search continues for 1 missing as death toll climbs to 35Local authorities continue their search, rescue and retrieval operations at the Binaliw landfill on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026 after the deadly landslide buried several sanitation workers and killed 35. MANILA, Philippines — Nine days after a fatal landslide struck Cebu City’s Binaliw landfill, local authorities have counted 35 deaths and 18 injuries as of Saturday, January 17. The deadly landslide led to a cease-and-desist order against Razon-owned Prime Integrated Waste Solutions Inc., the operator of the 20-hectare trash site. The trash site operator, however, suggested that the landslide may have also been caused by the 6.9-magnitude earthquake in September 2025, which potentially weakened the ground supporting the towering piles of trash. Cebu City declared January 16 as the day of mourning for the victims of the landfill landslide.

Teves' acquittal does not cover 2023 Pamplona massacre, says Degamo familyMANILA, Philippines — Although expelled lawmaker Arnolfo Teves Jr. was acquitted in the 2019 murder case of a Negros Oriental provincial board member, he still faces several other cases, including the killing of former governor Roel Degamo in 2023. Rep. Janice Degamo (Negros Oriental, 3rd District), the late governor's widow, sought to clarify that Teves' acquittal did not pertain to the so-called "Pamplona massacre" involving her husband and nine others killed. "The multiple murder cases arising from the Pamplona massacre remain pending and actively prosecuted in another court in Manila. Janice urged the public to stay vigilant and not be misled into thinking that Teves' acquittal in one murder case applies to the Pamplona massacre. "Our family remains committed to pursuing justice for Governor Degamo and all the other victims," she added.

2 up over 4 areas as 'Ada' continues to lash BicolSatellite rendering shows Tropical Storm Ada taken as of 4:40 p.m. on Jan. 17, 2026. MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Storm Ada continues to bring stormy conditions over most of Bicol Region as it moves north-northwestward over the coastal waters of Catanduanes, state weather bureau PAGASA said. 3 is possible if the storm further intensifies into a severe tropical storm. Track, intensityAda is expected to continue moving northwest on Saturday before slowly turning north to northeast on Sunday, January 18. Despite remaining a tropical storm, further intensification is not ruled out before weakening into a tropical depression by Tuesday, January 20.

Death toll in Iran protests over 3,000, rights group saysMembers of the Iranian police stand guard at a protest in front of the British embassy following anti-government protests in Tehran, Iran, January 14, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS

Greenlanders put faith in Europe's troops and US CongressPhoto by ALESSANDRO RAMPAZZO / AFP A woman walks her dog in the Old Nuuk neighbourhood on January 16, 2026 in Nuuk, Greenland.

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