Photo by LIONEL BONAVENTURE / AFP This photograph taken on January 13, 2025 in Toulouse shows screens displaying the logo of Grok, a generative artificial intelligence chatbot developed by xAI, the American company specializing in artificial intelligence and it's founder South African businessman Elon Musk.

Why is Myanmar's junta holding an election during a civil war? Myanmar soldiers from the 77th light infantry division walk along a street during a protest against the military coup in Yangon, Myanmar, February 28, 2021. Picture taken February 28, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo

Recharge your body and soul, Hong Kong styleStand-up paddling is a popular activity on the coastlines of rural villages Yung Shue O and Sham Chung. And if you find yourself in Hong Kong at the start of 2026, you've just ticked the first item off your self-care to-do list. The feeling of the wind, the beautiful scenery of Hong Kong, seeing the wildlife, such as the pink dolphins. Designed for calorie burns“The wonderful thing about Hong Kong is how easy it makes it for anyone to embrace an active lifestyle,” said Ryan Maniago, 50, a Hong Kong local for the past 25 years. Lion Rock and Pat Sin Leng are also epic hikes, as is Tai Mo Shan, the highest peak in Hong Kong,” he added.

But with LGUs being granted more money and autonomy, could epal politicians keep their faces off vital government projects? “tyong anti-epal campaign, hindi ho sa amin nakasalalay iyan kung hindi sa mamamayan. (The anti-epal campaign, it is not just up to us but to the citizens. Remulla said that politicians caught violating these anti-epal policies may face administrative sanctions, which may include suspension. “We do not have a codified conduct for the Anti-Epal campaign.

Anti-Iranian regime protesters burn an image of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during a gathering outside the Iranian Embassy, central London, on January 12, 2026. (Photo by Henry NICHOLLS / AFP)

Philippines seeks return of Zaldy Co from PortugalMANILA, Philippines (Updated 3:50 p.m.) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wants a study of all the possible means to return resigned House lawmaker Zaldy Co to the Philippines — from special repatriation to the creation of an extradition treaty with Portugal. An extradition treaty is a formal agreement between countries that they will return a person accused of crimes to their home nation for trial. “Nagbigay na ng instructions ang president na formally mag-apply na kami ng extradition treaty sa kanila kahiit wala pang formal extradition treaty between the two countries. But through Interpol (International Police), mag request na kami ng repatriation ni Zaldy Co kung nasa Portugal talaga siya,” Remulla said. The president instructed [us] to study the possibility of applying for extradition of Zaldy Co with Portugal," Remulla said.

Sabrina Von B, the actress who has gone viral for her portrayal of Snow White's Evil Queen at Disneyland, confirmed that she has now been terminated from the theme park after eight years working with them. "It was a dream getting to do my own spin on a character that really wasn't popular or viral or well-known before videos of me really started going around," she said. "I read a lot of comments about people saying they would've never loved this character, but now it is their favorite character. While she also played other villainous characters such as Maleficent, Agatha Harkness and Lady Tremaine, she most commonly portrayed the Evil Queen. As the character, Sabrina would roam around the park and try to interact with the guests in her Evil Queen persona, often engaging in savage roasts and hilarious insults.

Going on a reading spree this year? If you're looking to up your reading this 2026, you'd be happy to know that you can buy books as low as P99 for a limited time. National Bookstore's Warehouse Sale is being held in one of its Greenhills branches until March 31. Aside from good reads, the sale also includes discounted items like stationery, school supplies, and beyond. The offer is available at National Bookstore's branch located on the second floor of Virra Mall at Greenhills Shopping Center.

Set every Saturday from Feb. 21 to March 21 at 7:30 p.m. along MOA’s Seaside Boulevard, the month-long event will showcase elite pyrotechnic teams from Europe, Asia, and North America in synchronized fireworks displays. You can experience the magic as fireworks light up the sky again in the 13th Philippine International Pyromusical Competition happening early this year. The opening night on Feb. 21 begins with an exhibition by local favorite Platinum Fireworks Inc., which will be followed by Spain’s Hermanos Caballer. It will end with a closing exhibition by Platinum Fireworks Inc.Tickets are priced from P200 to P3,000 for most show dates, while March 21 ticket prices begin at P250 for Silver seats. Interested viewers may contact the organizers at 09453791503, 09453602223, or 09754834946 for Globe/TM users or 09084807947 or 09614065565 for Smart users.

Thankfully, that's not the case anymore as the e-wallet platform has launched in-app OTPs. You can now receive OTPs directly via push notifications within the GCash app for better security against phishing, scams, and fraud. According to a BusinessWorld report, GCash Chief Information Security Officer Miguel Geronilla said that the move was made "to put an end to phishable SMS OTPs." The company pointed out that scammers have been using SMS-based authentication to enter user accounts illegally. "By sending OTP requests directly to the user’s authenticated GCash app, GCash ensures that only the intended users can receive and use the unique OTPs, protecting them from unauthorized access," GCash said.

NUP to sue Kiko Barzaga over claims of bribery for RomualdezMANILA, Philippines — Rep. Kiko Barzaga (Cavite, 4th District) has already been suspended in the House of Representatives for behavior deemed “unbefitting of a lawmaker.” Now, he may have to face a legal complaint in court over his social media posts. Puno was referring to Barzaga’s claims that NUP members accepted bribes from tycoon Enrique Razon to back former House Speaker Martin Romualdez in the 2025 midterm elections. Barzaga made the allegation on January 9, according to news reports, but the post has since been deleted from his Facebook page. The lawmaker has also shared disinformation online, with multiple posts later debunked by fact-checkers for making misleading and false claims about the corruption investigation. Separately, Barzaga is also facing a criminal complaint filed by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group for allegedly inciting sedition and rebellion.

Henry Alcantara won’t recant flood control statements — lawyerMANILA, Philippines (Updated 4:00 p.m.) — Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) district engineer Henry Alcantara said he will stand by his earlier statements on the anomalous flood control projects. Lawyer Emil Karlo Joven, legal counsel for Alcantara, in a statement denied claims that Alcantara had recanted testimonies previously given before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. Alcantara is not recanting his prior statements,” he added. Alcantara arrived at the Department of Justice on Tuesday, January 13, for the continuation of the preliminary investigation on the flood control projects in Bulacan. However, when asked if he would recant his statement, he did not answer.

DILG seeks to axe 20 BFP officials over 'bid-rigging,' corruptionMembers of the Bureau of Fire Protection-National Capital Region (BFP-NCR) conduct a send-off deployment on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024 at Quirino Grandstand, in preparation for the upcoming New Year celebration. MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government recommended the dismissal of 20 senior officials of the Bureau of Fire Protection over alleged corruption, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said. Remulla said the department is also preparing to file complaints against the 20 officials involved, adding that both the dismissals and the filing of cases could be implemented as early as next week. How does the alleged corruption work? He said the alleged corruption scheme involves BFP inspectors compelling business owners to buy fire safety equipment from preferred suppliers at inflated prices, with threats of withholding permits for noncompliance.

Travel tax reform pushed anew at Senate amid rising airport feesPassengers crowd Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025 as Filipinos rush to catch flights while others arrive in Manila ahead of the Christmas celebration. MANILA, Philippines — A measure to remove the travel tax on economy class passengers has been pushed at Senate, arguing that it adds an undue financial burden on ordinary Filipinos. “This legislative measure seeks to exempt economy class passengers from the payment of travel tax.”Under current rules, the full travel tax amounts to about P1,620 for economy class travelers and P2,700 for first-class passengers. Another travel tax reform measure filed in 2025 sought to abolish the levy altogether. While supporters of reform argue that reducing barriers like the travel tax could ease the overall burden on Filipino travelers.

Donald Trump versus the Federal Reserve - what you need to knowFILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speak during a tour of the Federal Reserve Board building, which is currently undergoing renovations, in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 24, 2025. REUTERS/Kent Nishimura/File Photo/File Photo