DSWD Grants P600,000 Seed Capital to OFW Vendors Association in Negros Occidental
BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development has disbursed 12.925 million pesos in seed capital funds to sustainable livelihood program associations across six local government units in Negros Occidental to bolster community enterprises and boost local economies. The funds, released under the DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program, were distributed to associations in the municipalities of Ilog and...
Health Department Declares Summer Flu Season Over in Hong Kong With 342 Deaths, Warns of Approaching Winter Wave
Hong Kong health authorities declared Thursday that the summer influenza season has ended, while warning residents that the winter flu season is likely approaching as temperatures drop. The Centre for Health Protection said influenza activity has declined in recent weeks and has fallen below baseline levels. Controller Edwin Tsui told reporters the summer season began in early September, peaked in mid-to-late...
20 Detained in Hong Kong Sweep Operation Against Illegal Employment
immigration authorities arrested 20 people, including 12 suspected illegal workers and eight employers, in a four-day citywide crackdown on unlawful employment that ended this week. The Immigration Department operation, which ran from Saturday through Tuesday, targeted 42 locations across the city, including restaurants, retail shops, food factories, guesthouses and commercial and residential buildings. The 12 suspected illegal workers — 10 women...
Eala, Jovic Upset Venus Williams and Svitolina in ASB Classic Doubles Opener
AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Filipina tennis star Alex Eala and her American partner Iva Jovic scored a stunning upset in the women’s doubles at the ASB Classic on Monday, defeating seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams and former world No. 3 Elina Svitolina in straight sets. The unseeded pair of Eala and Jovic prevailed 7-6 (7-3), 6-1 over the...
Philippine Embassy Warns of Security Risks Following Trump’s Maduro Capture Announcement
MANILA — The Philippine government urged its citizens in Venezuela to stay vigilant and remain indoors amid deteriorating security following a reported U.S. military operation that President Donald Trump said resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform Saturday that U.S. forces had successfully carried out the operation and...
Around 47 killed, 115 injured in New Year’s fire at Swiss ski resort bar
CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland - A fast-moving fire tore through a crowded bar in the upscale Swiss Alpine ski resort of Crans-Montana early Thursday, killing about 47 people and injuring at least 115 others — many with severe burns — as revelers celebrated the arrival of the new year, authorities said. The blaze erupted around 1:30 a.m. at Le Constellation, a popular...
Hong Kong’s Lan Kwai Fong Offers Big Discounts to Lure Revelers for New Year’s Eve
As Hong Kong prepares to welcome 2026, the iconic Lan Kwai Fong nightlife district is rolling out aggressive discounts, with many bars and restaurants slashing prices to levels not seen since before the COVID-19 pandemic in a bid to boost business amid cautious consumer sentiment. Anthea Cheung, director of the Lan Kwai Fong Association, said operators are being generous with...
Hong Kong to Double Smoking Fines, Expand No-Smoking Zones Starting Jan. 1
Hong Kong authorities will double the fixed penalty for smoking offenses to HK$3,000 (about US$385) and extend no-smoking areas to within three meters of entrances and exits at sensitive venues such as hospitals, schools, child-care centers and residential care homes beginning Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. The changes, part of the phased implementation of the Tobacco Control Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 2025,...
Palace Cabinet Officials Not Immune in 2025 Budget Scandal
Malacañang said Sunday that no Cabinet official would be spared from anti-graft and corruption investigations if credible evidence emerges linking them to alleged irregularities in the 2025 national budget, emphasizing that accountability applies equally to all public servants regardless of position. Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro, the Palace press officer, issued the statement amid escalating allegations that several Cabinet...
BOC to Process 21 Stranded Containers This Week as OFW Holiday Shipments Resume
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is accelerating the processing of 21 additional container vans filled with abandoned "balikbayan" boxes sent by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), with deliveries to families nationwide expected to continue into early 2026. In a social media update, the BOC reported that 15 containers of these long-delayed shipments have already been released and are being distributed door-to-door...
