DA to include typhoon-resistant infrastructure to reduce pricesAgriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the move is part of a broader effort to stabilize supply and make chili production more predictable amid the Philippines’ volatile weather. MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) is introducing typhoon-resistant farm infrastructure as part of its strategy to stabilize chili pepper prices, which often surge when heavy rains and storms damage crops. “We need to know how much we consume, how much we produce and where the gaps are,” Tiu Laurel said. Tiu Laurel said stabilizing chili output could benefit restaurants, food processors and retailers, particularly during peak demand periods like holidays. To maintain transparency, the DA has ordered weekly public updates on prices and supply starting this month, using articles and short-form videos.

DOF urged: Return P107 billion in PDIC fundsCiting a Supreme Court (SC) decision that struck down the transfer, 1Sambayan said the P107.23 billion remitted to the BTr in January 2025 is not a government property but trust funds held for bank depositors, who are the rightful beneficial owners. PDIC’s P107.23 billion was transferred under the same provisions already declared void by the Supreme Court. The DOF and the National Treasury are therefore under a clear legal duty to return the funds without delay,” it said. “The P107.23 billion does not belong to the government. It added that the ruling has become final, placing the DOF and the Treasury under a clear legal obligation to immediately return the funds.

Scattered rains expectedMANILA, Philippines — Filipinos returning from the holiday weekend should brace for rain today as three weather systems affect different parts of the country, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported. A shear line will affect the Visayas and the eastern section of Southern Luzon, bringing cloudy skies with scattered rains and isolated thunderstorms. Meanwhile, the northeast monsoon will continue to influence the rest of Luzon, including Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley and the Cordillera Administrative Region, with light to moderate rains expected in most areas. The rest of Luzon is forecast to have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains. Mindanao will generally have light to moderate winds with slight to moderate seas.

Philippines calls for restraint amid US-Venezuela conflictA person flutters a national flag in Caracas on January 3, 2026, after US forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines yesterday called on the United States and Venezuela to exercise restraint following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro in a US military operation in Venezuela’s capital Caracas. In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Philippines is closely monitoring the evolving situation in Venezuela. “The Philippines urges concerned parties to resolve disputes through peaceful means, and to exercise restraint to prevent escalation of conflict,” the DFA said. The Venezuelan government denounced the act of “extremely serious military aggression” by the US, which followed months of increasing tension.

Taal logs 55 earthquakesMANILA, Philippines — Taal Volcano in Batangas experienced intensified seismic activity with 55 volcanic earthquakes logged over the past 24 hours, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported. Phivolcs said its monitoring data indicate fluctuating volcanic activity over the past few days, with 25 earthquakes and six tremors on Jan. 3 and 51 earthquakes and 13 tremors on Jan. 1.

It’s more of an emotional reaction to a period and a milieu I happen to have some familiarity with. “Manila’s Finest” is set in a precinct of the Manila Police from 1969 to 1972, a time of great social and political turmoil. I covered murders and suicides, visited the city morgue at three in the morning and joined cops on their drives along Ermita, checking on vagrants, just like in the movie. Most of all, “Manila’s Finest” deserves and indeed demands a sequel, into the time of tokhang, when the moral choices facing the police became even starker. But as it is, at least for me, “Manila’s Finest” may indeed have been the finest of its kind this year.

Trump: US will run VenezuelaVenezuelans living in Argentina celebrate at the Obelisk in Buenos Aires after US forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Trump said he was “designating people” from his Cabinet to be in charge in Venezuela but gave no further details. But Trump was surprisingly cold about expectations that Machado could become Venezuela’s new leader, saying she doesn’t have “support or respect” there. But Trump told the New York Post that “many” Cubans in Maduro’s security detail were killed. Trump has offered several justifications for the aggressive policy toward Venezuela, at times stressing illegal migration, narcotics trafficking and oil.

Tyson Fury comes out of retirement againTyson Fury has not fought since losing to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024.

Small Laude denies husband's involvement in flood control mess linked to Edvic YapMANILA, Philippines — Content creator Small Laude, through the law firm Divina Law, denied any involvement of his husband, Philip Laude, in illegal activities, following recent reports linking him to a controversial joint bank account with Rep. Edvic Yap (ACT-CIS Partylist). “The joint venture was never implemented, no business operations were commenced, and no government project, pocurement, or transaction was ever pursued or undertaken. While a bank account was opened in connection with this potential venture, the law firm was established when Yap was still a private citizen. It said that the account was opened lawfully with the sole intent of exploring a private business opportunity. “Any attempt to link Mr. Laude to alleged irregularities or controversies involving public officeholders is therefore factually baseless and misleading,” it said.

Woman dies from cobra bite during New Year’s Day picnicCOTABATO CITY, Philippines — A 34-year-old woman died in only about three hours after she was bitten by a cobra along a river in an upland area in Kulaman Valley in Arakan town in Cotabato on New Year’s Day. Employees of the Arakan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office confirmed reports on Sunday of the incident, which resulted in the death of Jenisa Clambog Mandi, who, along with friends, was on a picnic at a downstream stretch of a river in a hinterland area in Kulaman Valley. Her companions killed with stones the seven-foot cobra that attacked her, according to barangay officials. Municipal and barangay officials said on Sunday that Mandi, a resident of Barangay Binoongan in Kitaotao, Bukidnon, died in a medical dispensary in only about three hours after a cobra bit her in the leg. Local executives said Mandi travelled all the way from her hometown in Bukidnon to Arakan to visit friends and relatives and celebrate New Year’s Day with them.

Philippines urges US, Venezuela to exercise restraint amid conflictA person flutters a national flag in Caracas on January 3, 2026, after US forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government urged restraint amid the actions by the United States in Venezuela following the arrest of its president, Nicolas Maduro. "The Philippines urges concerned parties to resolve disputes through peaceful means, and to exercise restraint to prevent escalation of conflict," it added. The DFA also said that the Philippine Embassy in Colombia is prepared to assist Filipinos in Venezuela. The following are the contact numbers of the Philippine Embassy in Colombia, in case Filipinos need assistance:

There is perhaps no greater national lie than the promise of “free education.” The Constitution enshrines it as a right and politicians routinely weaponize it as a talking point. For millions of learners, “free” means learning under collapsing roofs, sharing textbooks that arrive late or not at all, and crowding 50 to 70 students into rooms built for 30. They are the daily geography of inequality, carved into our school system by decades of neglect. This is the real price of “free” education: a country where opportunity is sold to those who can afford it, and withheld from those who cannot. Ad infinitum, free education is at risk.

PCG: Fishers recover suspected rocket debris in SuluAlleged rocket debris discovered in Sulu on Dec. 30, 2025, according to the Philippine Coast Guard. MANILA, Philippines — Fisherfolk have recovered debris believed to be from a rocket floating in waters off Barangay Suang Buna in Pangutaran, Sulu, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said. According to the PCG, the debris was recovered and towed by fisherfolk on Dec. 30, 2025. “The recovered debris is currently under the custody of Barangay Suang Buna,” the PCG Sub-Station Pangutaran said. The PCG added that it is actively coordinating with barangay officials to facilitate the transfer of the debris for “proper handling and disposition.”In its statement, the PCG did not identify the country of origin of the alleged rocket debris.

The button allows users to modify any image on the platform—with some users deciding to partially or completely remove clothing from women or children in pictures, according to complaints. Complaints of abuses began hitting X after an "edit image" button was rolled out on Grok in late December. Grok maker xAI, run by Musk, replied to an AFP query with a terse, automated response that said: "the mainstream media lies." The public prosecutor's office in Paris, meanwhile, expanded an investigation into X to include new accusations that Grok was being used for generating and disseminating child pornography. The initial investigation against X was opened in July following reports that the social network's algorithm was being manipulated for the purpose of foreign interference.

The Miss Universe Organization has denied claims that ownership of the pageant has changed, refuting recent statements made by ex-Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson that it is now up for possible acquisition. "Had a good chat with my daughter, Congresswoman Richelle Singson and Shawn McClain, former Miss Universe Vice President. He updated us with possible acquisition talks on Miss Universe Organization," Singson wrote. Miss Universe Organization also made a formal statement on its official social media pages reaffirming its "ownership, leadership, and long-term vision." "Such actions appear designed to deceive the public, improperly solicit investments, and exploit the Miss Universe brand for personal benefit, visibility, or advantage."