KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit is expected to trade in a tight range, hovering around RM3.95 to RM3.96 next week as the market anticipates more catalysts, including the upcoming US economic data. Read full story

MANILA, Philippines — The agreement between the Philippines and the United States to develop rare earth and critical minerals could worsen large-scale mining and lead to land conversion and displacement of indigenous communities in mineral-rich areas, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) warned on Saturday. KMP, in a statement, expressed concern that the memorandum of

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Imee Marcos tried to lead a move to reorganize the Senate on Friday, but failed because the “coup attempt” was unable to secure the required number of votes, Senate President Vicente Sotto III revealed over the weekend. The Senate President also hinted that one senator, whom Senate observers identified as Sen.

MANILA, Philippines — A total of seven applicants have filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) for the second congressional district of Antipolo City, including two incumbent councilors. The period of COC filing ran from Feb. 5 to Feb. 7 for the special elections to be held on March 14, following the passing of Rep. Romeo

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives is set to review how billions of pesos in travel tax collections have been spent to see whether the funds were truly reaching the areas that need them most. This was according to House tourism committee vice chair and Palawan Rep. Gil Acosta, who said lawmakers should examine

(First of three parts) LABRADOR, PANGASINAN — This quiet coastal town on the western edge of Pangasinan sits where hills loosen their grip and the land yields to the wide breath of the Lingayen Gulf, a place where life is shaped by water and soil. At dawn, fishing boats return from an all-night haul, their

Feb. 9, 2018 The National Historical Commission of the Philippines unveiled a marker at Iloilo-Acacia Lodge No. 11, located on Calle Real, Iloilo City. The construction of the masonic lodge was led by WB Thomas N. Powell in 1927 to 1928. The lodge was originally called Ilo-Ilo, named after the town and the river on

KUALA LUMPUR: McDonald's Malaysia is planning to invest RM1 billion to open 100 new restaurants, modernise existing outlets and strengthen digital capabilities over the next five years. Read full story

KUALA LUMPUR: Nestle Malaysia has partnered with Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) to introduce a Halal@STEM learning programme for secondary school students, reinforcing its Halal commitment while empowering young Malaysians with industry-relevant knowledge. Read full story

Washington Post publisher and CEO Will Lewis is leaving the newspaper, it announced on Saturday after carrying out widespread layoffs this week.

Police arrested a 48-year-old man wanted for frustrated murder in Pasay City on Feb. 7. Pasay City Police Chief Col. Joselito De Sesto identified the suspect as Arnel, who was ordered arrested by the court on Jan. 17, 2025. Arnel, ranked No. 7 on the city’s list of Most Wanted Persons, was apprehended at the corner of EDSA and Taft Avenue at around 4 p.m. De Sesto said the arrest was carried out by personnel of Pasay City Police Substation 5 through the service of a warrant of arrest. The warrant was issued by Judge Ronald August Tan of the Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 297, with bail recommended at P200,000. After his arrest, Arnel was turned over by Substation 5 personnel to the Warrant and Subpoena Section.

Authorities arrested two drug suspects and seized P112,000 worth of marijuana kush during a buy-bust operation conducted by the Parañaque City Police Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU). The suspects were identified as Dagul, 23, and Joshua, 20, both residents of Barangay Baclaran, Parañaque City. Police said the operation was launched after the SDEU received intelligence reports regarding the suspects’ alleged involvement in illegal drug activities.  The two were apprehended after selling marijuana kush to an undercover police operative. Recovered from the suspects were 76 grams of marijuana kush valued at P112,000, marked buy-bust money, a cellular phone, and a black pouch. Dagul was charged with illegal sale and possession of dangerous drugs, while Joshua was charged with unlawful possession of dangerous drugs under Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Both suspects are currently detained at the Parañaque City Police custodial facility.

JOHOR BARU: The Pasir Gudang World Kite Festival has made it into the Malaysia Book of Records (MBOR) after receiving participation from 56 countries across the globe. Read full story

Forrester research reveals critical disconnect as organizations chase AI innovation while core IT capabilities lag behind

Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso returned to Tondo to pay his respects to Tatay Recto Talapian, the man he fondly remembers as his first employer and the one who gave him a chance to earn a living as a sidecar driver when he was just 14 years old. Domagoso visited the wake of Talapian along Kagitingan Street, where he expressed gratitude to the man who helped him and his family during a time of deep financial struggle. The mayor recalled that Talapian owned the sidecar he drove as a teenager, allowing him to support his household when opportunities were scarce. According to Domagoso, Tatay Recto was more than an employer, describing him as family and a guiding presence during his formative years. He said the trust he received from the trust at a young age played a crucial role in shaping his values of hard work and perseverance. The mayor also reflected on how his journey, from being known as “Scott,” a sidecar boy in Tondo, to becoming the city’s chief executive, serves as a reminder of the importance of remembering those who helped at the beginning of one’s story. Domagoso said honoring Tatay Recto was his way of showing gratitude and respect to the people who quietly contribute to the lives of others, often without expecting anything in return.

Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon on Sunday said future flood control projects will be done according to plan and will be closely monitored.

June Mar Fajardo has practically won it all in the PBA, and yet, he remains the same unassuming guy who entered the league in 2012

The National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) announced that starting the first quarter of 2026, a pilot bank transfer system will be implemented to distribute cash gifts to eligible senior citizens.

KUALA TERENGGANU: A sales executive lost RM50,750 after falling victim to a fake tender scam. Read full story

MUAR: Two small explosions were detected during operations to extinguish a peatland fire at a plantation here. Read full story

Energy Star, the program that helps guide consumers to more energy-efficient appliances and electronics, has survived the Trump administration\'s plans to cut it. The program received sufficient support in Congress that it was included in budget legislation signed this week by President Donald Trump. Environmentalists and advocates called it good news for consumers and the planet, but raised concerns over how the program will be administered under a shrunken Environmental Protection Agency. But Energy Star is not the only energy efficiency program targeted by Trump. Here\'s what to know about the outlook for that program and others. What\'s Trump got against energy efficiency? Trump has regularly said efficiency standards for household items and appliances — many strengthened under predecessor Joe Biden\'s administration — rob consumers of choice and add unnecessary costs. His first executive order upon returning to office last year outlined a vision to "unleash American energy." In it, he emphasized safeguarding "the American people\'s freedom to choose" everything from light bulbs to gas stoves to water heaters and shower heads. At the same time Trump has targeted efficiency, he\'s also sought to block renewable energy development such as wind and solar and boosted fossil fuels that contribute to warming, including gas, oil and coal. What happened with Energy Star? Energy Star is a voluntary, decades-old EPA-run program that informs consumers about how efficient home appliances and electronics are, including dishwashers, washing machines and more. The idea is to simultaneously reduce emissions and save consumers money on their energy bills. The Department of Energy develops product testing procedures for Energy Star, while the EPA sets performance levels and ensures the certification label is reliable for consumers. It also applies to new homes, commercial buildings and plants. EPA says the program has saved 4 billion metric tonnes (4.41 billion tons) of planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions since launching in 1992, and can save households an average of $450 annually. Last May, EPA drafted plans to eliminate Energy Star as part of a broader agency reorganization that targeted air pollution regulation efforts and other critical environmental functions. The agency said the reorganization would deliver "organizational improvements to the personnel structure" to benefit the American people. Many groups advocated against the potential closure of the program, citing its benefits to consumers. The legislation Trump signed this week allocated $33 million for the program, slightly more than 2024\'s $32.1 million, according to the Congressional Research Service, but it continues the general trend of declining funding for the program over the past decade. The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, among many industry groups to advocate for keeping the program in letters sent to Congress, said it was "very pleased" to see the funding continue. Some concerns remain Experts say uncertainty around the program likely didn\'t impact consumers much over the past year. They note that manufacturers can\'t change their product lines overnight. Amanda Smith, a senior scientist at climate research organization Project Drawdown, said the uncertainty may have had a bigger effect on EPA\'s ability to administer the program. She was among experts wondering how staffing cuts may affect EPA\'s work. EPA spokesperson Brigit Hirsch didn\'t address a question about that, saying in a statement only that EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin "will follow the law as enacted by Congress." What other energy efficiency rules are still in limbo? The Department of Energy has proposed rolling back, weakening or revoking 17 other minimum efficiency standards for energy and water conservation as part of 47 broader deregulatory actions. Those are standards that must be met for the products to be sold legally. That includes air cleaners, ovens, dehumidifiers, portable air conditioners, washers, dishwashers, faucets and many more items that have been in place and updated over the years. "These are standards that are quietly saving people money on their utility bills year after year in a way that most consumers never notice," said Andrew deLaski, executive director of the Appliance Standards Awareness Project. "The striking thing is that consumers have a huge array of choices in appliances in the market today. Repealing these standards would simply increase cost. It just doesn\'t make sense." Changing efficiency measures also drives up energy demand at a time when utilities are already challenged to meet the growing needs of data centers, electrification and more. While Congress has supported Energy Star and these separate appliance standards, it also has advanced legislation that would give the president new powers to roll back rules. Manufacturers are likely to continue making efficient consumer appliances, but weakened rules could negatively impact the U.S. marketplace. "The problem for U.S. manufacturers is that overseas competitors making inefficient products elsewhere could now flood the U.S. market," deLaski said, noting that would undercut American manufacturers. (AP)

Some 467,000 individuals were affected by the impacts of tropical cyclone Basyang in Visayas and Mindanao, the Office of Civil Defense said Sunday.

SIBU: Artificial intelligence should be seen as a tool to strengthen journalism rather than replace it, Lanang MP Alice Lau said, as she highlighted the evolving role of technology in the media industry. Read full story

HONG KONG—Tim Ho Wan has always carried the paradox of a global brand rooted in something deeply local: the unmistakable comfort of Cantonese dim sum. With the opening of its 10th store in Hong Kong, the Michelin-star dining chain is leaning into that identity even as it prepares for its next chapter of international growth.

MANILA, Philippines – After years of relying on imports to meet domestic demand, the National Dairy Authority (NDA) is ushering in a new era for the Philippine dairy sector. The recently enacted Republic Act No. 12308, or the Animal Industry Development and Competitiveness Act, is seen to boost the livestock sector for sustainable long-term growth.

MANILA, Philippines – For Navy Cmdr. Juphett Navida, service once meant distance—long deployments, unfamiliar terrain and years spent away from the people who mattered most. After two decades in uniform, the 48-year-old officer reached the quiet crossroads familiar to many in the armed services: the moment when duty to country begins to share space with

The intention is to still serve you the really important breaking news, but do it in a form that doesn't unnecessarily lengthen what can be said in a sentence or two

The sister of the slain policewoman, Police Senior Master Sergeant Diane Marie Mollenido, defended her brother-in-law, saying he was not involved in the crime.  Daisie Gabres, sister of Diane Marie, 38, and aunt of eight-year-old John Ysmael, posted on Facebook to clear Police Senior Master Sergeant John Mollenido\'s name.  Gabres earlier filed a motion to withdraw her complaint against John.  Diane Marie and John Ysmael, both Taguig residents, were found dead after they went missing on Jan. 16. John reported them missing to the Taguig police on Jan. 19.  Diane Marie\'s body was found in Pulilan, Bulacan on Jan. 24 while John Ysmael\'s body was found on Jan. 29 in Victoria, Tarlac.  "Bakit namin tinutulongan si John? Dahil gusto namin ng hustisya. Gusto namin na yung totong taong gumawa sa ate ko ang managot at hindi s John Mollenido (Why are we helping John? Because we want justice. We want the real person who did this to my sister to be held accountable and not John Mollenido)," she said.  **media[77659,77660]** During a press conference on Feb. 3, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said John, who is under restrictive custody, is not yet off the hook in the case.  The Philippine National Police identified four suspects in the case: Pia Katrina Panganiban, former policeman Christian Suarez Panganiban, Gil Valdemoro Dy Jr. and Maribel Suarez Panganiban. They are facing charges for robbery with homicide and theft.  Police investigations showed the victims were killed in connection with a vehicle transaction.  **media[77662,77666,77663]** Remulla cited John\'s hasty decision to cremate his wife\'s remains and his media interview in which he showed no emotions.   “Una, pinilit niya na macremate agad iyong asawa niya with yung clothes ha, yung clothes na namatay siya. E pulis siya, dapat alam niya iyon. Pangalawa, nung interview parang wala siyang remorse. Imagine mo anak mo namatay, ni hindi ka naiiyak. Wala kang…parang balewala sa kanya. So we are digging further into the possible angle na kasali yung asawa niya (First, he insisted that his wife be cremated immediately with the clothes, the clothes she died in. He\'s a police officer, he should know that. Second, during the interview, he seemed to have no remorse. Imagine your child dying, you didn\'t even cry. You didn\'t have...it seemed like he didn\'t care. So we are digging further into the possible angle that her husband was involved),” said Remulla.  But Gabres said it was not John’s decision to cremate the remains of Diane Marie.  "Bakit sinisisi siya sa pag papa cremate agad? Hindi po niya desisyon ang pagpapa cremate agad (Why is he being blamed for cremating her immediately? It was not his decision to cremate her immediately)," said Gabres.  She said they were told that Diane Marie\'s remains should be cremated immediately as these were in an advanced stage of decomposition and were no longer fit for viewing.  "Ang sinabi sa amin ay kelangan na icremate agad dahil advance stage na ng decomposition at hindi na ito pwede for viewing. Napag desisyonan namin na sundin nalang kung ano sinasabi samin (We were told that she needed to be cremated immediately because it was in an advanced stage of decomposition and it was not fit for viewing. We decided to just follow what we were told),” she said.  She said it was their decision, including her sibling, to cremate the remains of Diane Marie.  “Ang pagpapa cremate ng damit ay desisyon namin kasama ang kapatid ko at wala kaming idea na pati ung mga gamit na kasama sa crime scene ay isinama din sa pag cremate (Cremating her clothes was our decision with my sister and we had no idea that even the items from the crime scene were included in the cremation),” she said.  She said before they arrived at the funeral home, they were told by the Taguig police not to touch the items belonging to Diane Marie and not include them in the cremation.  “Wala po ako sa tamang pag iisip noong oras na yon kaya kung ako tatanuningin kung isasama ang damit nya ay oo ang nasagot ko dahil akala ko ok lang ito. Kung alam ko lang na pati ung mga kumot kung sinabi lang nila skin sa tingin niyo na papayag ako? Papayag kami? Hindi! (I was not in my right mind at that time so when they asked me if I would include her clothes, I said yes because I thought it was okay. If I only knew even the blankets, if they just told me, do you think I would agree? Would we agree? No!),” she said.  Gabres said the police already had instructions to the funeral home even before they arrived.  She hopes that John will be given the chance to clear his name. John and Diane Marie have two other children: a four-year-old and a 15-year-old.  “Sana mabigyan ng pagkakataon na malinis ang pangalan niya ng hindi siya jinujudge agad ng tao dahil lang sa hindi niya pag iyak din. Kung my sobrang nasasaktan sa nangyare siya po. Sana matulongan natin siya, my mga anak pa po silang 15yrs old at 4yrs old, wala na po silang nanay sana naman. Kailangan po nila ng tatay ngayon (I hope they give him a chance to clear his name without people judging him immediately just because he didn\'t cry. If there is someone who is really hurting about what happened, it’s him. I hope we can help him, they still have children, 15 yrs old and 4yrs old, they don\'t have a mother anymore. They need a father now),” she said.  John attended the inurnment for the cremated remains of his estranged wife and son at Heritage Park in Taguig on Feb. 5.  **media[77661,77664]**

A ranking congressman is calling for a House inquiry on how travel tax collection--estimated to be worth P4 billion to P5 billion annually--have been utilized, particularly on tourism developing in the countryside. Palawan 3rd district Rep. Gil “KABARANGAYJR” Acosta, a vice chairman of the Committee on Tourism in the House of Representatives, called this an "important issue that must be looked into by Congress". Acosta made the call even as the House leadership--particularly Majority Leader Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep. Sandro Marcos--pushed tor legislation to abolish the travel tax, which had turned into a burden for Filipinos according to him. “Yes definitely [we have to review in Congress] kung saan napunta [ang travel tax collections], especially pre-pandemic kasi from 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 wala halos koleksyon in terms of palabas, so dapat natin balikan kung tama ba ’yung nagamit. Kung saan nagamit at kung ano ang naging epekto sa tourism Industry,” Acosta said in a news forum in Quezon City over the weekend. (Yes, definitely we need to review in Congress where the travel tax collections went, especially before the pandemic, because from 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 there was hardly any collection from outbound travel. So we should go back and check if the funds were used properly, where they were spent and what impact they had on the tourism industry.) Acosta said travel tax collections average ranged from P4 billion to P5 billion every year, with proceeds divided among the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the cultural sector. The Palawan solon said the inquiry should cover both pre-pandemic and post-pandemic periods to determine whether travel tax proceeds were properly spent and whether they translated into meaningful improvements for the tourism sector. He added that the issue also requires closer coordination among government agencies, citing delays and bottlenecks in infrastructure projects. “’Yan po yung dapat pag-usapan ng mga inter-agency ng ating gobyerno dahil nasabi n’yo na din po ang DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) minsan nga po ang project natitigil kasi ‘yung DPWH project walang ECC (Environmental Compliance Certificate), Dapat bago mo i-propose sa DPWH kinunan mo muna ng ECC so dapat kung gobyerno ka ikaw una dapat ang sumunod sa mga patakaran ng ating pamahalaan,” he said. (That’s what should be discussed among the government’s inter-agency groups, because as you mentioned, sometimes DPWH projects are halted due to the lack of an ECC. Before proposing a project to DPWH, you should first secure an ECC. So if you’re the government, you should be the first to follow the rules of our own administration.) “In all fairness naman po sa DOT (Department of Tourism), I could only speak of my province, meron hong dalawa, one in the north and one in the south. Maganda naman po, maganda, but sa probinsya ko ho iyon. Dalawa,” he said, referring to tourism comfort room facilities in Palawan," he added. (In all fairness to the DOT, I can only speak for my province, there are two facilities, one in the north and one in the south. They’re good, they’re well-built, but that’s in my province. Two,” he said, referring to tourism comfort room facilities in Palawan.) While acknowledging the efforts of the DOT, Acosta stressed that the scale of infrastructure support remains inadequate for a province consistently promoted as a top island destination. “Kasi ho dapat talagang mag-invest ng malaki. For example kung kayo pupunta sa aming lalawigan, pupunta kayo ng Puerto Princesa, ang akala ng tao ang El Nido ay 30 minutes away. But it’s not. It’s almost four hours. Kung mabagal-bagal mga five hours,” the House leader explained. (Significant investment is really needed. For example, if you visit our province and go to Puerto Princesa, people often think El Nido is just 30 minutes away. But it’s not. It’s almost four hours. If you travel slowly, it can even take five hours.) For Acosta, the gap between Palawan’s tourism potential and the actual state of its facilities underscores the need to revisit how travel tax funds are allocated and whether they are reaching destinations that need them most. Acosta said the tourism panel intends to look closely at these issues to ensure that revenues collected in the name of tourism genuinely support infrastructure, accessibility and long-term growth of the industry. He has expressed support for Marcos\' move to scrap travel tax, embodied in the latter\'s House Bill (HB) No. 7443. Under HB No.7443, the travel tax imposed under Presidential Decree (PD) No.1183 and related provisions of the Tourism Act of 2009 would be repealed, ending the collection of charges that now reach P2,700 for first-class passengers and P1,620 for economy travelers. Marcos says the levy has outlived its purpose and now works against economic recovery, mobility and regional competitiveness.

PETALING JAYA: A woman was told to leave after turning up in a skirt and a low-cut top at the RXZ Forever Legend motorcycling gathering in Kota Baru, Kelantan. Read full story