‘Get vaccinated vs super flu’A man wears face mask as he buys a Jesus Nazareno merchandise from a vendor outside Quiapo Church in Manila on Jan. 5, 2026 as the Feast of Jesus Nazareno nears. MANILA, Philippines — An infectious disease expert yesterday urged the public to avail themselves of updated flu vaccines to have better protection from the super flu detected in the country last year. That is why more people infect each other, more are getting sick particularly those who aren’t vaccinated,” Solante said in a radio interview. Solante warned that this super flu can lead to mortality including complications in the heart and brain. Data from the Department of Health showed that there were 41 super flu cases detected in the country.

Rains, cloudy weather to greet devotees in traslacionA boy touches the foot of the Jesus Nazareno image during the traditional ‘Pahalik’ at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila ahead of the grand procession scheduled today. In its 24-hour public weather forecast issued at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, PAGASA said a shear line affecting Southern Luzon, the northeast monsoon or amihan prevailing over most of Luzon, and easterlies influencing other areas will bring generally unsettled weather conditions. Meanwhile, Ilocos Region, the rest of Central Luzon and the remaining areas of Calabarzon will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains caused by the northeast monsoon. In a separate special weather forecast, PAGASA noted that weather conditions in Metro Manila will remain generally cloudy throughout the day, with rain chances increasing from late morning to early afternoon. Sarao Motors has added more wheels made of solid rubber, fully welded and installed, to prevent hitting the feet of devotees.

The Chinese ambassador ‘speaks’ “Being a friend of China does not prevent the Philippines from also being a friend of the US and vice versa. Last Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, CEPA or the Chinese Enterprises Philippine Association welcomed the New Year with business partners and the new Chinese ambassador was the guest of honor. Jing Quan could be mistaken more for a general than an ambassador. In his speech to the CEPA audience, the ambassador shared three observations based on his one-month dialogues with concerned sectors. “Second, sustained cooperation depends on a sound and stable business environment.

Showcase yearThis is supposed to be a year for showcasing the Philippines, as the country takes its turn as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and prepares to host the summits and numerous other ASEAN meetings during the year. That 5.6 million is way below the pre-COVID foreign arrivals of 8.26 million in 2019 in the Philippines. And then it details disincentives to visiting the Philippines, from considering travel destinations to arrival at the NAIA and the travel experience itself. But in the first 11 months of 2025, arrivals from South Korea plummeted by 21 percent. Locals told me that only South Koreans were still traveling and keeping the tourism industry afloat.

De Lima, Erice ask Supreme Court to strike down P150-B unprogrammed fundsReps. 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. "Since the budget consists of line item, the Unprogrammed Appropriations which are lump-sum in character, deviates (sic) from the line-item appropriations," the petition read. How unprogrammed funds workUnprogrammed appropriations are funded only if excess revenues are generated, new taxes are imposed and collected, or additional loans and grants become available. This means projects or programs under unprogrammed appropriations can proceed only if funds materialize. The unprogrammed appropriations have existed in the national budget since 1989.

Duterte loses bid anew at ICC, this time over a new expert reportUndated photo of former President Rodrigo Duterte's standee in front of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands. "In light of the above, the Chamber rejects the Defence's Request for an Expert Report," the resolution read. The Pre-Trial Chamber I has yet to schedule a hearing for the periodic review. Duterte's request for urgent interim release was also turned down on Sept. 26, 2025, a decision later upheld by the ICC Appeals Chamber on Nov. 28, 2025. The chamber rejected all three grounds presented by the defense, agreeing with the pre-trial chamber that Duterte remains a flight risk and could potentially interfere with ongoing investigations.

Rene Haas, CEO of chip tech provider Arm Holdings, holds a replica of a chip with his company's logo on it, during an event in which Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim officially announces a $250 million deal with the company, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia March 5, 2025.

If you've ever dreamed of your own royal wedding, soon you can do so; King Charles III will open his Ayrshire estate to host luxury weddings. According to a BBC report, the $8.7 million (~P514 million) Dumfries House in East Ayrshire, Scotland, will be built with a public events place positioned as a "go-to venue for high-end, luxury weddings and private events" both nationally and internationally. The new space will be built using locally sourced materials and designed to complement the 300-year-old estate. Dumfries House was bought by King Charles' consortium in 2007. The estate offers free public access to its walled garden, arboretum, and playground.

Christian author Philip Yancey has admitted to an eight-year "sinful" affair with a married woman. He also announced that he would retire from writing and speaking in a statement sent to Christianity Today. Yancey has been married to his wife Janet for 55 years. Yancey is the author of books The Jesus I Never New and What's So Amazing About Grace? which earned the Christian Book of the Year title from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association.

Alex Eala is advancing to the quarterfinals of the ASB Classic after defeating Croatia's Petra Marčinko with a decisive win. She's obviously a very good player, and she's been doing really well, so I'm happy with how I played and how I handled it," she said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by WTA (@wta)"I think every start of the year comes differently. I’m happy with how I’m starting,” Eala added. Other than defeating Marčinko, Eal and USA's Iva Jovic came victorious from the Jan. 8 doubles match, defeating foes Jesika Malečková of the Czech Republic and Renata Zarazúa of Mexico via walkover.

He also argued that his son's action, while a traffic violation, doesn't constitute reckless driving. "Reckless Driving isn’t just a heavier fine—it can also be a criminal offense under Philippine law that goes on permanent record. LTO chief Markus Lacanilao reiterated that Deakin's son committed reckless driving for crossing the double solid yellow line, as well as for driving an unregistered vehicle. A subpoena was served on Wednesday, Jan. 7, requiring Deakin's son to explain why the incident should not be classified as reckless driving. What does the law say about reckless driving?

For first time, DepEd feeding program to include pregnant studentsFourteen-year-old Maria (not her real name) stays at home in Payatas, Quezon City after she stopped attending school due to her pregnancy, in this photo taken January 17, 2025. MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education will provide meals to pregnant students enrolled in public schools for the first time this year, part of a broader expansion of its feeding program that it says targets 4.6 million learners nationwide. DepEd will coordinate with the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Department of the Interior and Local Government to provide maternal and child health support alongside the feeding program. “That’s why we are expanding the School-Based Feeding Program so more learners can receive adequate nutrition.”The bulk of the program targets early grades: 1.52 million kindergarten students and 1.79 million Grade 1 students will receive meals for 200 days. Another 1.18 million students in Grades 2 to 6 classified as wasted or severely wasted will also get 200 feeding days.

The Indian flag flies in front of the new logo of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) at its headquarters in Mumbai, India, April 19, 2023.

DepEd urged to review classroom observation policy after teacher's deathA teacher (L) works inside an empty classroom after in-person classes were suspended due to dangerous levels of heat, at an elementary school in Iloilo City on April 2, 2024. MANILA, Philippines — Two major teachers' groups are pressing the Department of Education to review its conduct of classroom observations after a teacher in Muntinlupa City died earlier this week during a scheduled classroom observation. The Teachers' Dignity Coalition called on DepEd to "urgently review its policies on classroom observations as an integral part of the teachers' performance rating system," while the Alliance of Concerned Teachers demanded the immediate suspension of the practice. ACT went further, calling on DepEd to suspend classroom observations, especially as educators are returning from the holiday break. Teachers' groups have long questioned the volume of administrative requirements DepEd imposes on top of classroom instruction.

A worker transfers newly made copper slugs, to be pressed into bullets, at Barnes Bullets in Mona, Utah, in this January 6, 2016 file photo. Traders have been raising their bets on an even steeper decline in copper prices in the coming months, worried that Chinese demand is dwindling just as investment made when markets were booming unleashes a new wave of supply. REUTERS/George Frey/Files