CATEGORIES

Firefighter's tale

With wildfires raging in Southern California, \"Pasko Sa Enero\" first-prize winner and Guimaras deputy provincial fire officer Danilo Animas was asked why he chose his profession during our Christmas Contest awarding program in Molito, Alabang, last Sunday.

Medvedev destroys racket, survives Thai opponent

Last year's runner-up Daniil Medvedev smashed his racket and avoided a huge shock at the Australian Open on Tuesday before joining a rampant Taylor Fritz and veteran Gael Monfils in the second round.

Gaza ceasefire deal close in Doha

Negotiators will meet in Doha this week seeking to fi nalize details of a plan to end the war in Gaza after US President Joe Biden said a ceasefi re and hostage release deal he has championed was on “the brink of coming to fruition.”

Pope Francis downplays health issues: 'I am well'

Pope Francis, who turned 88 last month and asked an aide to read a major speech last week due to a cold, says in a new book that he feels healthy and has no plans to resign as leader of the global Catholic Church.

NoKor fires ballistic missiles before Trump return

North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles into the sea on Tuesday, according to Seoul's military, in what experts said could be a message to US president-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration.

SoKor's Yoon Snubs His First Impeachment Trial

South Korea's Constitutional Court adjourned the opening session of the impeachment trial of suspended President Yoon Suk-yeol within minutes yesterday, after the embattled leader did not attend court.

Grammys to Proceed, Will Support LA Fire Relief

The Grammys, slated for Feb. 2, will \"proceed as planned\" despite the devastating fires scorching Los Angeles, the Recording Academy said Monday.

Underwood, Village People to perform at Trump's inauguration events

Country music star Carrie Underwood will perform \"America the Beautiful\" at Donald Trump's inauguration next week and the 1970s hitmakers Village People will perform at two inaugural events.

Montag Tops iTunes Chart After Losing House in LA Wildfires

Reality television star Heidi Montag's 2010 album \"Superficial\" has hit No. 1 on iTunes' all-genre songs and albums charts — 15 years after its release and just after Montag and husband Spencer Pratt lost their home in the Palisades fire.

Japanese tourist magnet Kyoto to hike hotel taxes

Kyoto authorities announced yesterday plans to hike lodging taxes, as Japan's ancient capital seeks to assuage grumbles from locals about too many tourists.

Small airborne embers play role in spread of wildfires

While authorities still don’t know what sparked the deadly fires in the Los Angeles area, they do know one clear way the flames have spread: embers.

Winds pick up, threatening fire-ravaged LA anew

Los Angeles firefighters braced for high winds overnight into Tuesday, gusts that could fuel two monstrous wildfires that have already leveled entire neighborhoods, killed at least two dozen people and burned an area the size of Washington.

US TikTok Refugees Flee to Chinese Alternative App

With TikTok facing an imminent shutdown in the United States, American content creators have taken flight — to another Chinese social media app.

Mystery balls close 9 Sydney beaches

Australian authorities closed nine Sydney beaches yesterday after mysterious white and gray balls washed up along the coast.

US Prosecutor Jack Smith Defends Criminal Case Against Trump

US Special Counsel Jack Smith concluded that Donald Trump engaged in an \"unprecedented criminal effort\" to hold on to power after losing the 2020 election, but was thwarted in bringing the case to trial by the president-elect's November election victory, according to a report published on Tuesday.

Baguio flagged over P4.43-B savings

The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the city government of Baguio for having P4.43 billion in time deposits and several high yield savings accounts (HYSA) amid unpaid obligations and unimplemented priority development projects.

Comelec Ensuring Negros Elections Amid Kanlaon Threats

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has ordered officials of provincial joint security coordinating centers in Negros provinces to ensure that the elections will push through in May despite threats posed by Kanlaon Volcano.

Central Luzon to Have 3 New Bishops

Three Catholic bishops will be installed in separate dioceses in Central Luzon in the first quarter of the year.

QCPD Rounds Up 173 in Anti-Crime Drive

Up to 173 people were apprehended during an intensified campaign against crime in Quezon City in a span of one week.

Gov't Probes OFW Cadaver Switch in Kuwait

The Philippine government is looking into the alleged switching of the remains of Filipina worker Jenny Alvarado who died in Kuwait on Jan. 2.

Manila Unveils Rent-to-Own Public Condominiums

Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna inaugurated yesterday the city's first rent-to-own public condominiums.

Speed limit at NAIAx, Skyway now 80 kph

Tollway builder San Miguel Corp. (SMC) has increased the speed limit at the NAIA Expressway (NAIAx) and at straight sections of Skyway Stage 3 for faster vehicular movement on both roads.

3 PAF Units Get New Commanders

The Philippine Air Force announced yesterday the designation of new commanders for the PAF's strike, supply and operations units.

UP-PGH Acquires PET-CT Scanner

The Philippine General Hospital (PGH) has acquired the first state-owned positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) scanner, benefitting indigent patients who need access to advanced diagnostic services.

NBI nabs 12 Chinese in alleged scam hub

The National Bureau of Investigation arrested 12 Chinese allegedly involved in online scams and five Filipinos for reportedly attempting to bribe the NBI agents in Paranaque last week.

A budget by dynasties, for dynasties

In my column last week, I stated that our political leaders and the political system they created have failed us.

Overhauling the 2025 GAA

So PBBM reviewed and went over so many times the fine print before and after he signed the 2025 GAA.

Beware of rice shortage when gov't sets price cap

Rice control on rice is dangerous. Once the Department of Agriculture sets a maximum suggested retail price starting Monday, Jan. 20, the staple will vanish from market stalls. Retailers will stop selling rather than lose money.

Biden Promotes His Foreign Policy During His Final Week in Office

President Joe Biden kicked off his final week in office Monday with a robust defense of his foreign policy, arguing in a speech that America had grown stronger on his watch and had \"the wind at our back.\"

Deposit insurance, too

The financial predators in government failed to get their claws on our pension funds to finance the Maharlika sovereign wealth fund or whatever creature this non-performing project turns out to be.