The Filipina bowed out of the ASB Classic women’s singles’ semifinal after absorbing a tough 7-5, 5-7, 4-6 defeat against Wang Xinyu Saturday in Auckland. Eala had a spirited run in the first set, and held the lead in the second set, but the Filipina could not capitalize. Wang held a 5-1 lead in the first set, as she grabbed the momentum right from the get-go. In the second set, Eala trailed early, 0-2. It was Wang’s time to mount a comeback, as she won the next four games and get the second set, 7-5, to force the third frame.

Why it matters: Such attacks seek to drown out calls for justice while flooding the digital space with noise to obscure the reality of the drug war. Left unchecked, this synchronized noise erodes public trust in institutions and replaces evidence-based discourse with orchestrated propaganda. Through his “Project Paghilom,” he facilitated the exhumation and dignified reburial of drug war victims while providing holistic support to their grieving families. During a Senate hearing, he candidly admitted to surviving past drug use to demonstrate that redemption is possible and to advocate for restorative justice . The narratives: The attacks against Villanueva hinge on a two-pronged strategy designed to discredit both his past and his moral character.

Britain's future queen, Princess Catherine, marked her 44th birthday Friday with a video about the healing power of nature, almost a year since she revealed she was in remission from cancer. Mother-of-three Catherine, who is married to heir-to-the-throne Prince William, released "Winter," the final instalment of her year-long "Mother Nature" video series, on her official Instagram and X. "Even in the coldest, darkest season, winter has a way of bringing us stillness, patience and quiet consideration," Catherine, also known as Kate, says in the video's voiceover. Weeks later, however, on March 22 an emotional Kate revealed in a video message that she had been diagnosed with an unspecified cancer and had begun preventative chemotherapy. Her diagnosis coincided with King Charles III, her father-in-law, also being diagnosed with cancer, which was revealed by Buckingham Palace on February 5, 2024.

Brooklyn Beckham reportedly sent his parents, David and Victoria Beckham, a legal notice to only contact him via his lawyers amid their rumored feud. According to a report by The Sun, Brooklyn had told his estranged parents he would only talk to them via his lawyers and instructed them not to tag him on social media. It also reported that their eldest blocked David and Victoria on social media because Victoria allegedly violated the "desist" letter by liking a post on Instagram. Meanwhile, an exclusive report by People said David and Victoria have "repeatedly" tried to make amends with Brooklyn and his wife, actress Nicola Peltz. As of this writing, Brooklyn and Nicola do not follow David and Victoria, as well as his younger siblings Romeo, Cruz, and Harper, on Instagram.

Drug war critic priest targeted by coordinated smear campaignMANILA, Philippines — Dozens of social media accounts deployed identical messages, suspicious comment patterns and AI-generated content to attack a Catholic priest known for championing drug war victims, an examination of posts across Facebook, TikTok and YouTube shows. Smear accounts exploited his candid admission of past substance use to falsely label him a criminal or claim that he remains an active user. Through his "Project Paghilom," he facilitated the exhumation and dignified reburial of drug war victims while providing holistic support to their grieving families. During a Senate hearing, he candidly admitted to surviving past drug use to demonstrate that redemption is possible and to advocate for restorative justice. Villanueva's testimony about his past drug use, a story he openly shares as part of his ministry to those recovering from substance abuse, gave operators something plausible to distort.

Photographer retracts claim vs Frasco over magazine cover choiceMANILA, Philippines — Photographer Max Abasalo has retracted his earlier social media claims alleging that the Department of Tourism (DOT) favored an image of Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco over destination photographs for the cover of Philippine Topics, an accusation that drew online criticism. That engagement, according to data gathered, did not include any editorial authority or role in determining magazine content or its cover. Editorial decisions, including the choice of its cover, were made independently and without direction or coordination from any government office. While magazine covers typically reflect editorial intent and access, the DOT clarified that it had no participation in the publication’s production process. “The Department did not contract, pay, commission or direct the magazine to produce its cover or feature story.

President Marcos launches DepEd’s AI programPresident Marcos looks at AI-integrated projects during the launch of the Department of Education’s Project AGAP.AI at the Quezon City Science High School yesterday. Joining him are Education Secretary Sonny Angara, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and Asean Foundation executive director Piti Srisangnam. MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos yesterday launched a new Department of Education (DepEd) program aimed at ensuring the responsible and productive use of artificial intelligence (AI) in basic education. The guidelines are being crafted through consultations with students, parents, teachers, AI experts and education partners. With support from the ASEAN Foundation and Google.org, DepEd will roll out a national AI skills training program.

Erice hopes unprogrammed funds will be gone for goodReps. Leila de Lima (ML Party-list) and Edgar Erice (Caloocan, 2nd District) file a petition for certiorari and prohibition before the Supreme Court, challenging the constitutionality of the unprogrammed appropriations on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. MANILA, Philippines — A Supreme Court ruling on the illegality of unprogrammed funds may lead to the permanent removal of unprogrammed appropriations (UA) in the annual national budget, according to Caloocan 2nd district Rep. Edgar Erice. Erice, along with Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, filed a petition on Thursday asking the Supreme Court to strike down the P150.9-billion UA remaining in the 2026 outlay. The Department of Budget and Management has touted this year’s unprogrammed funds to be the lowest in seven years, but President Marcos’ first enacted budget in 2023 contained P807 billion. “In the last Congress, the congressmen were incentivized to really pursue Sara,” he said.

Sandigan junks garlic cartel graft rap vs ex-DA chiefMANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has dismissed the graft case against former Department of Agriculture secretary Proceso Alcala in connection with the alleged monopolization of garlic importation and supply, which caused a spike in prices in the market in 2014. Of the total 8,810 IPs issued by the DA, 5,022 were secured by VIEVA and VIEVA-affiliate importers, the ombudsman said. The ombudsman added that VIEVA’s monopolization of garlic importation caused the price of imported garlic to surge to P260 to P400 per kilogram from January to July 2014, up from P165 to P170 per kilogram in 2010-2013. The price of native garlic also rose to P250 to P450 per kilogram from April to June 2014. In dismissing the case against Alcala, the Fifth Division said the prosecution failed to establish that he acted in conspiracy with the other accused to favor VIEVA and its affiliated importers.

51 percent of Pinoy families feel poor – SWSResidents of Barangay San Nicolas in Binondo, Manila go about their daily routine. MANILA, Philippines — A slim majority of Filipino families rated themselves poor at the end of 2025, according to the fourth quarter survey conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS). Results of the Nov. 24 to 30 survey released yesterday showed that 51 percent of the respondents rated their families as poor, almost similar to the 50 percent obtained in a similar survey in September.a poor families in November, from 14.2 million in September. The latest survey found that 37 percent of the respondents considered their families as “not poor,” almost similar to 38 percent in the previous poll. According to SWS, the country’s average self-rated poverty for 2025 was at 51 percent, lower than the 57 percent annual average in 2024.

Gold falls as commodity index adjustments weigh ahead of US jobs dataGold bars are stacked in the safe deposit boxes room of the Pro Aurum gold house in Munich, Germany, January 10, 2025.

Eala barges into semisMANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala finally solved the puzzle of Polish ace Magda Linette with a 6-3, 6-2 masterclass and rolled into the semifinals of the ASB Classic singles yesterday at the ASB Tennis Center in Auckland, New Zealand. Eala, currently WTA No. Eala and Jovic, however, could not make it a twin milestone later in the day after bowing to the third-seeded Chinese tandem of Xu Yifan, WTA No. 40, and Yang Zhaoxuan, WTA No. Eala trailed 0-1 in the first set but owned her old rival the rest of the way.

Senate ready to defend constitutionality of unprogrammed funds – SottoEmployees enter the Senate of the Philippines as seen in this photo release on August 5, 2024. MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Vicente Sotto III said the Senate is ready to defend the constitutionality of the unprogrammed appropriations (UA) in the 2026 national budget that has been questioned before the Supreme Court (SC). Unprogrammed funds are constitutionally valid based on SC decisions,” Sotto said in a Zoom press briefing yesterday. Sotto said the petitioners were just “nitpicking” when they assailed the legality of UA before the SC. Sotto stressed the need to set aside standby funds for foreign-assisted and other big-ticket projects, like the Metro Manila Subway and modernization of the military.

Extraction and refining of what is basically sludge will be costly to the planet. In a word, Venezuela’s oil may be abundant but it can never be cheap. Given the looming global oil surplus, it might not even make sense to invest in modernizing the cursed country’s oil sector. So there: Venezuela’s oil is not about to be flowing generously to flood the market and push prices down. The cost of extracting and refining thick and viscous sludge sets a basic price for the commodity that the global market may not be willing to pay.

ICI initiated operation seizing Co-linked luxury carsThe Independent Commission for Infrastructure temporarily holds custody of eight luxury vehicles linked to former congressman Zaldy Co, which are now parked at the ICI’s compound in Taguig City. MANILA, Philippines — The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) received a tip during the holiday season that 15 luxury cars, owned by companies linked to fugitive ex-lawmaker Zaldy Co, were parked in a condominium building in Taguig. After verification, the BOC found nine cars lacked proper documentation and had unpaid taxes and dues, the ICI said. On Thursday night authorities executed search warrants, issued by First Vice Executive Judge Rosalyn Mislos-Loja of the Metro Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 41, and confiscated a total of 12 luxury cars. It’s the first major operation initiated by the ICI in 2026, amid rumors that the fact-finding body could already cease to exist.