Death Toll Rises to 39 After Two High-Speed Trains Collide in Southern Spain
ADAMUZ, Spain — The death toll from a collision between two high-speed trains in southern Spain rose to 39 on Monday, with 152 people injured, state broadcaster RTVE reported, citing police sources. The crash occurred Sunday evening near Adamuz in Córdoba province when an Iryo train traveling from Málaga to Madrid derailed and veered onto an adjacent track, where it...
OWWA Pledges Enhanced Welfare Support as Trust Fund Reaches P21.3 Billion
MANILA — The Philippines’ Overseas Workers Welfare Administration reported a sharp rise in its trust fund and membership Friday, crediting transparent management and pledging to expand services for millions of overseas Filipino workers. Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan told reporters in Pasay City that OWWA’s trust fund grew by 1 billion pesos ($17.5 million) to 21.3 billion pesos by the end...
Galleria Camaya Returns to Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre for National Arts Month 2026
In a celebration of Filipino artistic excellence, Galleria Camaya returns to the prestigious Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre (HKVAC) in Central with a compelling showcase of contemporary Philippine art. Timed to coincide with the Philippines' National Arts Month (NAM) in February 2026, this exhibition honors the breadth and vitality of Filipino creativity, culture, and heritage across diverse artistic disciplines. The...
OFW Remittances Rise 3.6% in November Despite Monthly Decline
Cash remittances sent home by overseas Filipino workers rose 3.6% in November from a year earlier but fell from the previous month, central bank data showed Thursday. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reported that cash remittances reached $2.91 billion in November 2025, compared with $2.81 billion in November 2024. The amount was down from $3.17 billion recorded in October 2025. For...
Modular Tents Deployed to Albay Evacuation Centers as Mayon Volcano Unrest Continues
LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines — Authorities have deployed dozens of modular tents to evacuation centers in Albay province as families remain displaced by ongoing volcanic activity at Mayon Volcano, officials said. The Department of Social Welfare and Development installed at least 25 family tents at the San Jose Evacuation Center in Malilipot and 10 additional modular units at the Buang Evacuation...
Filipino Bowling Club Hosts Successful Open Tournament in Hong Kong
HONG KONG — The Filipino Bowling Club of Hong Kong (FBCHK) concluded its 2026 Open Invitational Tournament on Sunday, bringing together dozens of bowlers for an afternoon of competitive play at the SCAA Bowling Centre. The tournament, held January 11 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., drew a diverse field of participants representing the vibrant Filipino bowling community in Hong...
Philippines, UAE Sign Landmark Free Trade Agreement
United Arab Emirates — The Philippines and the United Arab Emirates signed a comprehensive free trade agreement on Tuesday, marking Manila’s first such pact with a Gulf nation and a significant step in expanding its global trade network. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan witnessed the signing of the Philippines-UAE Comprehensive Economic...
Philippines Boosts Budget for Overseas Workers by 34% in 2026
The Philippine government significantly increased funding for its overseas workers program, allocating 11.745 billion pesos ($205 million) for 2026, a 34% jump from the previous year, officials announced Monday. The expanded budget for the Department of Migrant Workers aims to provide broader coverage and enhanced services for millions of Filipinos working abroad, Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said at a presidential palace...
Hong Kong health officials urge precautions amid cold weather
Hong Kong health authorities reminded residents Saturday to take measures against cold weather, particularly the elderly, people with chronic illnesses, outdoor workers, pregnant women, infants and children. The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health issued the advisory, noting that colder temperatures can pose greater risks to vulnerable groups. A spokesman for the center said elderly people generally have...
Anti-Government Demonstrations Spread Across Iran Amid Currency Collapse and Violent Crackdown
Anti-government protests sweeping across Iran entered their 14th day Saturday, with demonstrators defying an intensifying crackdown and nationwide internet blackout that has severed the nation of 92 million from the outside world. The demonstrations, which began as economic protests in late December, have evolved into the most significant challenge to Iran's clerical establishment since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The death...
