Zhang Youxia: veteran princeling caught in China's military purge
Photo by PEDRO PARDO / AFP Zhang Youxia, first-ranked vice chairman of the CMC, attends the opening ceremony of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 4, 2025.
Source:The Standard
February 04, 2026 14:39 UTC
Lotto results for February 4, 2026
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Source:Philippine Star
February 04, 2026 14:33 UTC
Edvic Yap resigns from House amid flood control scandal
Edvic Yap resigns from House of RepresentativesMANILA, Philippines — Rep. Edvic Yap (ACT-CIS Partylist) has resigned from the House of Representatives. Yap is one of the lawmakers under investigation for his alleged ties to anomalous flood control projects. Ombudsman Boying Remulla named him as one of three lawmakers linked to the unfinished P275.9-million La Union flood control project, whose contractor, Silverwolves Construction Corp., faces malversation and graft complaints. Edvic's brother, Rep. Eric Yap (Benguet, Lone District), reportedly holds an indirect and beneficial stake in Silverwolves Construction Corp., which had over P16 billion worth of transactions from 2022 to 2024, mostly in relation to flood control projects. In December, President Bongbong Marcos said the personal accounts of the Yap brothers were included in the freeze order covering the assets and accounts of Silverwolves Construction Corp. and Sky Yard Aviation Corp.
Source:Philippine Star
February 04, 2026 14:16 UTC
Marcos survives first impeachment attempt as justice panel kills complaints
Marcos survives first impeachment attempt as justice panel kills complaintsMANILA, Philippines (Updated 4:29 p.m.) — Both impeachment complaints filed against President Bongbong Marcos failed to pass the initial stage after the House Committee on Justice found them insufficient in substance, effectively dismissing the case. In a 42-1-3 vote, the justice committee found the first impeachment complaint against Marcos insufficient in substance. Erice agreed with De Lima, saying the second complaint laid out verifiable facts alleging the president allowed budget manipulation, insertions and diversions to proceed unchecked. What the ruling meansWith both impeachment complaints dismissed, the justice committee will conduct no further proceedings, including hearings, affidavits, or evidence presentation. If the plenary chooses to do so, the justice committee will be "constrained to come up with articles of impeachment in view of that reversal."
Source:Philippine Star
February 04, 2026 13:58 UTC
Ford and Geely in talks for manufacturing, technology partnership, sources say
Ford and Geely in talks for manufacturing, technology partnership, sources sayThe blue Ford oval logo is displayed on the new Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan, US November 16, 2025. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook/File Photo
Source:The Standard
February 04, 2026 13:14 UTC
Drumming, selfie-taking Japan PM charms Gen-Z voters
Photo by HANDOUT / VARIOUS SOURCES / AFP This handout photo taken on January 13, 2026 and released from Japan's Government Public Relations Office via Jiji Press shows South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung (L) and Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi playing drums, in Nara, Nara Prefecture.
Source:The Standard
February 04, 2026 13:06 UTC
Impeachment against Marcos had no merit — Malacañang
Impeachment against Marcos had no merit — MalacañangPresident Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met with overseas Filipino workers based in Singapore during his state visit on September 6, 2022. MANILA, Philippines — The Palace on Wednesday, February 4, welcomed the House of Representatives’ junking of the impeachment charges filed against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the committee level, saying they held no merit from the start. In a media interview, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that Marcos was pleased that the process was followed properly. The Palace executive denied that Marcos held influence over the House of Representatives, even if his son Sandro Marcos was the Majority Leader. The House Committee on Justice deliberated on the two impeachment complaints filed against Marcos.
Source:Philippine Star
February 04, 2026 12:32 UTC
Signal No. 1 raised in eastern Mindanao due to 'Basyang'
1 raised in eastern Mindanao due to 'Basyang'MANILA, Philippines — Signal No. In a weather bulletin, PAGASA said that Basyang was last monitored 735 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur. 1 over Surigao del Sur and the eastern portion of Surigao del Norte (Claver, Gigaquit, Bacuag), including the Siargao-Bucas Grande Islands. Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Davao Oriental can expect rainfall of up to 100 mm. An initial landfall is expected over eastern Mindanao by Thursday or Friday.
Source:Philippine Star
February 04, 2026 12:22 UTC
Over 400,000 kids in BARMM vaccinated vs measles, rubella
Over 400,000 kids in BARMM vaccinated vs measles, rubellaCOTABATO CITY, Philippines — Health workers in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have vaccinated 400,740 children against measles and rubella in the past two weeks, regional officials and local executives announced on Wednesday, February 4. Jet Lim, spokesperson of the BARMM parliament, said the feat was achieved with the support of Muslim religious leaders who helped disprove fallacies and superstitions about vaccines via lectures on Islamic teachings on health care and obligatory cross-sectional disease prevention efforts. “That was achieved with the help of local government units in the autonomous region and with the active involvement of the office of our chief minister in that health initiative,” Sinolinding said. Sinolinding said the MoH-BARMM is also grateful to all physicians managing the Integrated Provincial Health Offices in Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi and their personnel for actively pushing forward the measles and rubella vaccination thrusts in all towns in the five provinces. He said the mayors in BARMM's three cities, Lamitan, Marawi and Cotabato are also in the forefront of the measles and rubella vaccination campaign, to last until February 13.
Source:Philippine Star
February 04, 2026 11:40 UTC
Seaside Tawi-Tawi village razed by fire
Seaside Tawi-Tawi village razed by fireAlmost all of the houses destroyed by the fire that hit Barangay Lamion in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi were made only of semi-permanent materials. COTABATO CITY, Philippines — A fire of still undetermined origin razed no fewer than a thousand stilt houses in the seaside Barangay Lamion in Bongao island town in Tawi-Tawi in the Bangsamoro region on Tuesday night, February 3. Bongao is the capital town of Tawi-Tawi, one of the five provinces in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, whose regional capitol is in uptown area in Cotabato City. BFP regional officials and Brig. “Our units in Tawi-Tawi are helping in relief works for the residents who are now in evacuation sites,” De Guzman said.
Source:Philippine Star
February 04, 2026 11:30 UTC
US hosts countries for talks to weaken China's grip on critical minerals
US hosts countries for talks to weaken China's grip on critical mineralsA sample of bastnaesite ore, a mineral used in the rare earth industry to extract elements such as cerium, lanthanum, and neodymium, is displayed at the Geological Museum of China in Beijing, China, October 14, 2025. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
Source:The Standard
February 04, 2026 10:34 UTC
Tawi-Tawi seaweed industry gains major boost in 'SEAGIFT' program
Tawi-Tawi seaweed industry gains major boost in 'SEAGIFT' programSpecial Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo Jr., conveying the message of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., led the ceremonial turnover on Wednesday at Bongao Port, Barangay Poblacion, underscoring that the initiative reflects the administration’s commitment to bring meaningful development to geographically isolated and conflict-affected communities. TAWI-TAWI, Philippines — Malacañang has brought a fresh wave of economic momentum to the country’s southernmost province as the Office of the Special Assistant to the President (OSAP) formally delivered the Seaweed Economic Assistance and Government Initiative for Tawi-Tawi (SEAGIFT) — a program designed to transform the local seaweed industry into a pillar of peace and rural prosperity. “Seaweed farming has sustained households, supported local economies, and provided a dignified source of income across our island communities. “We envision a Tawi-Tawi where the seaweed industry goes beyond raw production and becomes a driver of value-adding, enterprise development, and job creation — especially for women and the youth,” the presidential aide said. Implementation will proceed in two phases:Phase I (2024–2026) focuses on production enhancement and capacity building with a P44-million allocation under BFAR’s Enhanced Philippine Seaweed Development Program.
Source:Philippine Star
February 04, 2026 09:41 UTC
Xi, Putin to hold video talks on Wednesday: China state media
Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their meeting on the sidelines of a BRICS summit, in Brasilia, Brazil, November 13, 2019. Sputnik/Ramil Sitdikov/Kremlin via REUTERS
Source:The Standard
February 04, 2026 09:24 UTC
The changing face of retail malls
Banks now also secure branches within the shopping malls and adjust their working hours for the convenience of weekend mall-goers. However, while I thought that the transformation of our shopping malls was unique to the Philippines, apparently not. The same goes for the once upscale Millenia Walk that used to house only luxury fashion boutiques. I have always been amazed and envious of the underground malls of Japan and Singapore, providing relief from the heat during summer, and in Japan — from the freezing temperature in winter. Unfortunately, for us, because of our location within the typhoon belt, underground malls would be prohibitively expensive to build to ensure that they do not flood.
Source:Philippine Star
February 04, 2026 08:29 UTC
MV Trisha Kerstin 3 death toll rises to 45
MV Trisha Kerstin 3 death toll rises to 45Authorities recover bodies from the sunken MV Trisha Kerstin 3 on February 4, 2026. MANILA, Philippines — The death toll from the sinking of MV Trisha Kerstin 3 rose to 45 after two more bodies were recovered by authorities, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Wednesday, February 4. This brought the death toll from 43 to 45. The sinking of MV Trisha Kerstin 3 prompted authorities to suspend the operations of its parent company, Aleson Shipping Lines, with a full-blown investigation underway. MV Trisha Kerstin 3 is not the first of the company’s vessels to be involved in an accident, with Aleson linked to at least 31 other maritime incidents.
Source:Philippine Star
February 04, 2026 06:56 UTC