Imee: Does Ping want hair pulling match? FB image posted the other day shows Sen. Imee Marcos getting her hair done. A word war recently erupted between Marcos and Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson (inset) over the national budget and the handling of the flood control investigation. MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Imee Marcos dismissed Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson’s claims linking her to budget “allocables,” saying the items attributed to her were merely proposals that were never funded. She said Lacson appeared to be daring her to a “hair pulling” match that she could never win: “Parang masyadong gigil itong si Senator Ping sa akin, baka makipagsabunutan.

ICI in limbo, seeks clarity from PalaceIn an interview on One News’ “Storycon,” Azurin said the ICI is currently operating with only one commissioner following the resignation of Rogelio Singson and Rossana Fajardo, which prevents it from holding hearings. MANILA, Philippines — The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) remains in limbo, as it has yet to receive any notice from Malacañang regarding its fate, special adviser Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said yesterday. In an interview on One News’ “Storycon,” Azurin said the ICI is currently operating with only one commissioner following the resignation of Rogelio Singson and Rossana Fajardo, which prevents it from holding hearings. According to Azurin, reports suggesting the ICI may be abolished by Feb. 1 remain unconfirmed, noting that new appointments are needed for the body to function fully. Despite the uncertainty, he vowed that the ICI will continue to perform its mandate, including coordination with law enforcement agencies on asset recovery and related investigations.

Xpeng taps banks for possible Hong Kong IPO of flying car unit, Bloomberg reportsA logo of XPeng is seen on the electric flying car XPeng Voyager X2 by XPeng AeroHT, before a demonstration flight in Beijing, China June 18, 2024.

Fed's Powell says administration has threatened him with a criminal indictment over his Senate testimonyU.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speaks during a press conference, following the issuance of the Federal Open Market Committee's statement on interest rate policy, in Washington, D.C., U.S., September 17, 2025. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz/File Photo

Rohingya refugee Salma speaks to the press as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) starts two weeks of hearings in a landmark case brought by Gambia, which accuses Myanmar of committing genocide against the Rohingya, a minority Muslim group, in The Hague, Netherlands, January 12, 2026. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw

Families of Traslacion fatalities not suing Quiapo ChurchDevotees flock the image of the Black Nazarene on Hidalgo St. in Manila on January 10, as it is en route to the San Sebastian Church for the 'dungaw.' MANILA, Philippines — Families of devotees who died during the Traslacion of the Black Nazarene on February 9 and 10 have not expressed any intention to sue the Quiapo Church, the Philippine National Police said. (According to our homicide investigators, the family members have no plans or specific reasons at this time to sue the church over what happened to their relatives.) Deaths on the processionFour individuals died during the nearly 31-hour Traslacion procession from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church. It began on January 9 at 4 a.m. and ended on January 10 at 10:50 a.m. — with reports from The STAR/Mark Villeza

Electric cable theft disrupts power to 8,000 in Quezon CityMANILA, Philippines — Manila Electric Company (Meralco) warned the public against the theft of electrical facilities, citing serious safety risks and service disruptions it could cause. In a statement on Monday, January 12, Meralco said a recent attempt to steal power cables in Quezon City temporarily disrupted electricity service to nearly 8,000 customers. Safety risks and penalties“This incident underscores the grave dangers of stealing power cables and electrical facilities. In 2025, Meralco recorded 285 incidents of theft involving electrical facilities, including power cables. The company said stealing power cables, electric meters, and other electrical facilities violates Republic Act 7832, or the Anti-Electricity Pilferage Act, which carries penalties including imprisonment and fines.

Cebu trash site operator ordered to stop operations after fatal landslideMembers of the search and rescue team look for people after a landslide at the landfill in Barangay Binaliw, Cebu City on January 11, 2026. MANILA, Philippines — After the deadly landslide at a Cebu City landfill killed and injured many, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) ordered landfill operator Prime Integrated Waste Solutions Inc. (PIWSI) to suspend its operations. As of Monday, eight people have been confirmed dead, while 28 remain missing, according to the Cebu City Disaster Council. It was the primary drop station for garbage in Cebu City, according to Mayor Nestor Archival. LGUs are mandated by the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 to provide a 10-year plan to the Solid Waste Management Commission, detailing measures for waste collection, recovery and reduction.

ICC blocks Duterte appeal bid over medical records anewThis photograph taken on March 14, 2025 shows the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. The panel members were appointed to conduct a medical examination of Duterte under the court's Rules of Procedure and Evidence. Court: Defense sought to relitigate issuesThe chamber said, however, the defense was largely attempting to relitigate issues already addressed in the December disclosure decision. On January 7, the pre-trial chamber also rejected Duterte's request for an additional expert report on his medical condition. RELATED: ICC rejects Duterte's expert report bid

Fuel prices rise despite rollback projectionsMotorists fill their tanks in a gas station along Philcoa in Quezon City before the Holy Week in 2023. MANILA, Philippines — Fuel prices rose this week instead of declining as industry experts earlier projected. Local industry experts and the Department of Energy’s Oil Industry Management Bureau had anticipated a slight drop in fuel prices this week after global oil prices softened on expectations of increased crude supply, including the possibility of higher output from Venezuela. According to a Reuters report, oil prices were volatile over the past week, with Brent crude showing little movement, according to the latest data. As a result, fuel prices in the Philippines are now over P20 per liter higher for gasoline and diesel compared with the start of 2025.

Relentless Eala reaches career-high No. 49 world rankingAlexandra Eala of the Philippines hits a return against Wang Xinyu of China during their women's singles semifinal match at the WTA Auckland Classic tennis tournament in Auckland, New Zealand on January 10, 2026. Relentless in her drive to the top, Eala zoomed to a new career-high ranking of No. 53 with 1159 points, thanks to a semifinal finish at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand over the weekend. 121 and home bet Priscilla Hon and the 42-year-old legend Daniela Hantuchova, a multiple Grand Slam mixed doubles champion from Slovakia.

De Lima offended by comparison to BatoMANILA, Philippines — Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima was offended when Senate President Tito Sotto compared her absence in the Senate with that of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, saying theirs are entirely different cases. “Our non-attendance in Senate sessions during our incumbency was involuntary,” De Lima explained, referring to her time as senator during the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte, now detained in The Hague. “With due respect, SP Sotto should not compare me or senator Trillanes with Senator Bato’s situation. I could not be physically present in the Senate because I was in detention to face the fabricated charges filed against me then by the Duterte administration,” she said. De Lima pointed out that “Senator Bato is running away from possible arrest by the International Criminal Court” while she did not, choosing to face the trumped up charges head on, and which eventually paid off as the criminal charges have all been dismissed.

Survival modeIn case you missed it, there has been a shift in President Marcos’ view on the impeachment of his estranged UniTeam partner, Vice President Sara Duterte. Maybe that’s why this year’s “cleanest budget ever” still contains unprogrammed appropriations (“hard pork”) and a much-expanded pile of “soft pork” ayuda for every need that politicians can endorse for patronage. Malacañang has expressed confidence that the unprogrammed appropriations will withstand SC scrutiny. * * *Over the holidays, BBM must have had an epiphany and realized the nightmare that he and his family would face in case VP Sara wins the presidency in 2028. BBM added: “Not only the legacy of my father, but even our own survival required that somebody go into politics.”These days, with his arch foe seen as the strongest contender for the 2028 presidency, and none of his relatives and supporters looming as a credible challenger, BBM is again on survival mode.

Immigration stops Russia-bound trafficking attempt at NAIAPhoto showing an immigration clearance lane at the airport from the Bureau of Immigration. MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration intercepted two Filipino men at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on January 2, preventing them from becoming victims of a human trafficking scheme bound for Russia. Immigration officers said the two initially presented themselves as tourists, but a secondary inspection showed their travel was intended to facilitate illegal employment abroad. The BI said it had received prior intelligence about a larger group targeted for trafficking to Russia, prompting officers to closely monitor passengers with inconsistent travel accounts. The two men were turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for assistance and to support the filing of criminal charges against their recruiters.

Korean actress Koo Hye Sun has completed her master's program! The K-star excitedly shared the news in an Instagram post as she shared her graduation photo and gave a look at her thesis submitted to the Korean Institute of Science and Technology. "Passed my master's thesis and graduated early. In a previous Instagram post, Koo revealed that her eco-friendly hair roller, "Kurool," was selected for the 2025 Excellent Patent Award. In 2024, she pursued a master's degree in engineering at KAIST’s Graduate School of Science Journalism.