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    MANILA, Philippines --- Even with the start of the new year, some bays in the country have still tested positive for toxic red tide, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said on Thursday. According to the BFAR, four bays in Visayas and Mindanao have tested positive for Paralytic Shellfish Poison or toxic red tide beyond the regulatory limit. These bays are: Coastal waters of Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur Coastal waters of San Benito in Surigao del Norte The agency said that shellfish or alamang (small shrimp) gathered from the areas mentioned are not saf...

Keep on reading: BFAR: Red tide warning up in four bays in Visayas and Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines --- Nxled young setter Kamille Cal can't wait to set the place for Ivy Lacsina inside the court when the former National University teammates reunite and lead the Chameleons in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) season in February. The Chameleons on Wednesday shared a video of Cal, who is excited to team up again with Lacsina for the first time since the UAAP Season 84 women's volleyball tournament in 2022. The young playmaker, who made her PVL rookie debut in the second All-Filipino Conference last year, admitted that she helped Nxled recruit her best friend Lacsina after F2 Logistics disbanded. "Somehow yes [our friendship contributed to her decis...

Keep on reading: PVL: Kamille Cal can’t wait for reunion with Ivy Lacsina

    MANILA, Philippines --- More than one hundred organizations filed their manifestation of intent to participate in the 2025 midterm elections , the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Thursday. The Comelec said that a total of 106 sectoral parties, sectoral organizations, political parties, and coalitions submitted their statements of intent to participate in the party-list system of representation elections for the 2025 national and local elections as of December 29, 2023. Each party list group was only allowed to file one manifestation of intent to participate, Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia told reporters. "'Pag more than one ibig sabihi...

Keep on reading: Over 100 party-list groups eyeing 2025 midterm polls

Iga Swiatek will be a hot favorite to win a first Australian Open when it begins on Sunday, but could face a stiff challenge from former champions Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka. AFP Sport highlights five women to watch at first Grand Slam of the year at the Australian Open 2024: Iga Swiatek The world number one is a four-time Grand Slam champion but has never been beyond the semi-finals at Melbourne Park. The Polish player rocketed back to the top of the rankings after winning her first WTA Finals trophy in November. She enjoyed a stellar season in 2022, recording 37 straight wins, but faltered last year, with her 75-week run as number one ending in September. Swi...

Keep on reading: Swiatek to Raducanu: Five women to watch at Australian Open 2024

  MANILA, Philippines --- Senator Imee Marcos on Thursday said he warned his brother --- President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. -- against the supposed destabilization plots against the administration, which she believes also "comes from the inside." In a radio interview, the senator said her brother sometimes gets irked when she advises him against these alleged destabilization efforts. "Napagsasabihan [at] kung minsan naiirita [siya] syempre. Ganyan naman ang papel ng manang, hindi ba? Sasabihin mo 'yung totoo. E palagay ko hindi naman pwede 'yung sistemang ganito. Mabait ang kapatid ko pero mahirap magalit kaya mag dahan dahan sila," said Marcos over DZBB....

Keep on reading: Sen. Marcos says she advised, cautioned President on destab plots

BEIRUT --- An Israeli airstrike killed an elite Hezbollah commander Monday in southern Lebanon, the latest in an escalating exchange of strikes across the border that have raised fears of another Mideast war even as the fighting in Gaza exacts a mounting toll on civilians. The strike on an SUV killed a commander in a secretive Hezbollah unit that operates along the border, according to a Lebanese security official who spoke on condition of anonymity in keeping with regulations. The commander, Wissam al-Tawil, was a veteran of the Iranian-backed Lebanese force who took part in the 2006 cross-border kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers that triggered the last war between Israel and ...

Keep on reading: Israeli strike kills elite Hezbollah leader in latest Gaza escalation

Sarah Lahbati unfollowed her husband Richard Gutierrez, his mom Annabelle Rama, his siblings Ruffa and Raymond Gutierrez on Instagram, a day after dating rumors involving the actor and actress Barbie Imperial arose. While Richard, Rama, Ruffa and Raymond can no longer be seen on Lahbati's following list, the four of them still follow the actress on the platform as of Tuesday morning, Jan. 9. Eagle-eyed netizens also noticed that Lahbati changed her Instagram name from "SLG"---which stands for Sarah Lahbati-Gutierrez---to "Sarah Lahbati." Sarah and Richard, who have been together for 11 years, share two sons together, namely Zion and Kai. ...

Keep on reading: Sarah Lahbati no longer follows Richard Gutierrez on Instagram

SINGAPORE - The dollar paused its rally on Tuesday, as traders reaffirmed their bets for a slew of Federal Reserve rate cuts this year on the belief that inflation in the U.S. is slowing sufficiently. In cryptocurrencies, bitcoin hovered near its strongest level since April 2022 on growing anticipation of imminent approvals of spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETF). The euro last stood at $1.0950, away from its recent three-week low of $1.0877, while the Japanese yen distanced itself from the 145 per dollar level following a broad decline in the greenback as U.S. Treasury yields slipped. The moves were partly driven by the New York Fed's latest Survey of Consumer Expectati...

Keep on reading: Dollar pulls back, bitcoin jumps ahead of ETF approval deadline

MANILA, Philippines ---There were fewer unemployed Filipinos in November last year, as the seasonal surge in economic activity during the Holiday season triggered increased hiring. A nationwide survey of 11,233 households showed there were 1.83 million Filipinos who were either jobless or out of business in November, down from 2.09 million recorded in October, the PSA reports. That translated to an unemployment rate of 3.6 percent, down from 4.2 percent in the preceding month. READ: PH unemployment rate down to 4.2% in Oct On an annual basis, the industries with the largest increase in employment were agriculture and forestry, construction, and transportation and storage. ...

Keep on reading: Jobless rate down to 3.6% in November —PSA

  MANILA, Philippines --- More than 1.3 million devotees flocked the Quirino Grandstand where the procession for the image of the Black Nazarene began. As of 5:00 am, Tuesday, the Quiapo Church Command Post said in its report that there are a total of 1,340,000 devotees in the grandstand. The image of the Black Nazarene was displayed there for the "Pahalik," during which devotees were allowed to touch and kiss the image. READ: Some Nazarene devotees figure in minor medical cases at Quirino Grandstand Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula Jr. then presided over a "Misa Mayor" before the beginning of the procession. The carriage containing the Black Nazaren...

Keep on reading: Quirino Grandstand draws 1.3 million Nazareno devotees

BENGALURU - The Bank of Korea will keep its key policy rate unchanged at 3.5 percent for an eighth consecutive meeting on Thursday as inflation eases and until at least the third quarter despite some concerns around financial stability, a Reuters poll found. With inflation currently at 3.2 percent, above the central bank's 2 percent target, and the Korean won down around 1.8 percent against the dollar so far this year, the BOK is unlikely to change its hawkish stance anytime soon. However, Governor Rhee Chang-yong said in a New Year speech the BOK would adopt a "policy mix" to bring down inflation and needed to prepare for the possibility of financial uneasiness that may be tri...

Keep on reading: Bank of Korea to hold base rate on Jan 11 and not cut until Q3

MANILA, Philippines --- Black Nazarene devotees gathered around Quiapo Church on Tuesday as the Traslacion started its return journey to the famous shrine in Manila. The believers were awaiting the arrival of the holy image to Quiapo Church amid prayers. According to the Quiapo Church Command Post, approximately 11,500 people have assembled along streets around Quiapo as of 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday with the church itself reaching its maximum capacity. The crowd filled Plaza Miranda as they spread from the church. Large monitors were set up outside for the live streaming of events happening inside the religious building. READ: Nazareno 2024: Traslacion Live Updates of the Feast o...

Keep on reading: LOOK: Black Nazarene devotees gather around Quiapo Church

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvxlA0NJ9gE&ab_channel=INQUIRER.net The procession of the Black Nazarene passes through Quezon Boulevard as it goes through its traditional route from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church....

Keep on reading: Nazareno 2024: Black Nazarene passes through Quezon Boulevard

TOKYO ---Core inflation in Japan's capital slowed for the second straight month in December, data showed on Tuesday, taking some pressure off the central bank to rush into exiting ultra-loose monetary policy. The Tokyo inflation data, closely watched as a leading indicator of nationwide price trends, is among key factors the Bank of Japan (BOJ) will scrutinize at the next policy-setting meeting on Jan. 22-23. Separate data showed household spending fell for the ninth straight month in November, underscoring the fragile nature of Japan's economy that may also keep the BOJ cautious about phasing out its massive stimulus too soon. Tokyo's core consumer price index (CPI), which excl...

Keep on reading: Inflation in Japan’s capital keeps slowing, takes pressure off BOJ

United Launch Alliance launches its next-generation Vulcan rocket on its maiden flight at 2:18 a.m. EST Monday, January 8, 2024, from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. (Malcolm Denemark/Florida Today via AP) CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida --- The first US moon landing attempt in more than 50 years appeared to be doomed after a private company's spacecraft developed a "critical" fuel leak just hours after Monday's launch. Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic Technology managed to orient its lander toward the sun so the solar panel could collect sunlight and charge its battery, as a special team assessed the status of what was termed "a failure in the propulsion sy...

Keep on reading: Moon landing try by US firm seems doomed after ‘critical’ fuel leak

Hewlett Packard Enterprise is in advanced talks to buy network gear maker Juniper Networks for about $13 billion to bolster the nearly 100-year-old technology company's artificial intelligence (AI) offerings, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday. A deal between the two companies could be announced as soon as this week, according to the report, citing people familiar with the matter. Shares in HPE fell 7.7 percent, while Juniper jumped 21 percent in extended trading. Hewlett Packard Enterprise declined to comment on the report, while Juniper Networks did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. READ: Tech giants jockey for position at dawn of AI age ...

Keep on reading: Hewlett Packard Enterprise nears $13-B deal to buy Juniper Networks- WSJ

NEW YORK -Oilpricesfell over 3 percent on Monday on sharp price cuts by top exporter Saudi Arabia and arisein OPEC output that offset supply concerns generated by escalating geopolitical tension in theMiddleEast. Brent crude settled down $2.64, or 3.4 percent, at $76.12 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures lost $3.04, or 4.1 percent, at $70.77 a barrel. Both contracts climbed more than 2 percent in the first week of 2024 as geopolitical risk in theMiddleEastintensified after attacks by Yemen's Houthis on ships in the Red Sea. On Sunday, rising supply and competition from rival producers prompted Saudi Arabia to cut the February official selling price (O...

Keep on reading: Oil falls over 3% as Saudi price cuts add to demand doubts

NEW YORK --- Wall Street rallied Monday to claw back almost all the losses from its slow start to the year. The S&P 500 jumped 1.4 percent to pull within 0.7 percent of its all-time high set two years ago. It's a return of momentum for Wall Street's main measure of health, which was coming off its first losing week in the last 10. The Nasdaq composite shot 2.2 percent higher for its best day in eight weeks, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average lagged the market with a more modest gain of 0.6 percent, or 216 points. Boeing dragged on the Dow in its first trading after one of its jets suffered an inflight blowout over Oregon. It fell 8 percent. Spirit AeroSystems, which bu...

Keep on reading: Wall Street rallies near record heights as Big Tech stocks recover

FORT WORTH, Texas --- An explosion at a historic Texas hotel in Fort Worth on Monday blew out windows, littered downtown streets with large piles of debris from the building, and injured 11 people, including one person who is in critical condition, authorities said. Investigators believe the blast was caused by natural gas, said Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives spokesperson Sara Abel, who was briefed by local police. Two people were in serious condition and the rest had minor injuries, authorities said at a news conference. Medics also treated four more people on the scene but did not take them to a hospital, said Desiree Partain of MedStar, which provides am...

Keep on reading: Explosion at historic Texas hotel injures 11

MANILA, Philippines ---The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is reminding local companies exporting food to China to renew their registration as the Chinese trade regulatory body has issued the notice of approaching deadline. According to the DTI, the Import and Export Food Safety Bureau of General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) had specifically noted that some Philippine aquaculture production enterprises have exceeded or are approaching their registration expiry date. "The (GACC) requires overseas food production enterprises exporting to China to have their registration renewed, with the application for renewal to be filed within three to ...

Keep on reading: Food exporters urged to renew China registration