The Philippine Star - December 15, 2024

In this issue

December 15, 2024

S. Korean president impeached over ML debacle

SEOUL - South Korean lawmakers yesterday impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed martial law bid, with the opposition declaring a \"victory of the people.\"

2 mins

Cops ready for Simbang Gabi crowds

With the start of the traditional Simbang Gabi tomorrow, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has put in place security measures to ensure the safety of the public who will attend the dawn masses.

1 min

BI expects 110,000 travelers for holidays

More people are expected to flock to airports for their travels this holiday season compared to last year, according to the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

1 min

Seized mackerel is 1st case under Agri Economic Sabotage Act

The government will have its first case of agricultural economic sabotage under Republic Act 12022 or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act against smugglers of P178.5 million worth of frozen mackerel seized by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in October, President Marcos said yesterday.

3 mins

PhilHealth: P138 M for anniversary, not Christmas party

Contrary to allegations of lavish holiday activities, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) yesterday said it is complying with Malacañang's directive to scale down Christmas celebrations.

1 min

David on elevation to cardinal: No big deal

His elevation into the College of Cardinals was \"no big deal\" for the Philippines' 10th cardinal, said Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David.

2 mins

House justifies slashing of DepEd's 2025 budget

The House of Representatives has stood firm on slashing P10 billion from the Department of Education (DepEd)'s 2025 computerization budget, calling out the agency's alleged glaring inefficiency and fund mismanagement.

5 mins

New loan facility for pensioners, gov't workers lauded

A new loan program of the Land Bank of the Philippines will dissuade needy Filipino pensioners and government workers from turning to loan sharks in times of emergency, Rep. Fidel Nograles said yesterday.

1 min

Fight continues for 'comfort woman'

Lola Estelita Dy knew that she might not get justice in her lifetime for being repeatedly raped by Japanese soldiers during World War II. But she fought on anyway.

2 mins

Maynilad partners with UP to advance water safety, quality

West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services has partnered with the University of the Philippines to enhance research on emerging pollutants in Metro Manila's water sources and wastewater systems.

1 min

Climate change causing more destructive typhoons

Climate change has increased by 25 percent the likelihood of at least three destructive typhoons hitting the Philippines annually, according to a study by the World Weather Attribution.

2 mins

Over 13,000 apply for online campaign platform registration

Over 13,000 political aspirants and party-list groups have filed applications for registration of their respective online campaign platforms to be used in the May 2025 national and local polls, according to the Commission on Elections.

1 min

Expanded rice-for-all timely for Christmas

Expanding the Rice-for-All program to make rice cheaper is \"timely for Christmas,\" Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco said yesterday.

1 min

Taguba exposes BOC money-making scheme

Customs officials and personnel are too powerful, especially when they are backed by the powers-that-be in government, businessman Mark Taguba said during the 13th hearing of the quad committee of the House of Representatives.

2 mins

'World-class' AFP

EDITORIAL - From aiming for minimum credible defense capability, the government is now aspiring for a \"world-class\" Armed Forces of the Philippines. The AFP can only hope that this objective, announced by President Marcos, will soon go beyond aspiration.

1 min

Luxonomy

EYES WIDE OPEN

3 mins

Economic diplomacy

BABE'S EYE VIEW

4 mins

Human rights: The cornerstone of strong and stable societies

DIPLOMATIC POUCH

3 mins

5 dead, including minors, in Navotas fire

Five people, including minors, were killed in a fire that razed a house in Navotas City yesterday.

1 min

Makati cited for good governance, emergency response

Makati was recently recognized for its excellence in governance and disaster preparedness, receiving the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) from the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Gawad Kalasag Seal of Excellence from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

1 min

Over 1,000 kids benefit from BBM feeding program

More than 1,000 children benefitted from the Batang Busog Malusog (BBM) program of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Poverty Alleviation (OPAPA), which resumed last Thursday.

1 min

50 amnesty applications eyed for approval

Up to 50 applications for amnesty filed by former communist insurgents and violent extremists are expected to be approved before the end of the year, according to the National Amnesty Commission.

1 min

10 tourism bills OK'd on final reading

The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading measures declaring 10 areas in the country as ecotourism sites and tourist destinations.

1 min

Mandatory evacuation ordered in Kanlaon

Mandatory evacuation is ongoing for remaining residents living within the six-kilometer-radius expanded danger zone of Kanlaon Volcano on Negros Island.

2 mins

Japan space firm postpones 2nd attempt at orbit

TOKYO (AFP) - A company aiming to become Japan's first private firm to put a satellite into orbit postponed its rocket launch on Saturday, after its first try ended in a mid-air explosion.

2 mins

Ex-US speaker Pelosi injured in Luxembourg

WASHINGTON (AP) - Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been hospitalized after she \"sustained an injury\" during an official engagement in Luxembourg, according to a spokesman.

1 min

Israeli troops to remain in Syria buffer zone

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has ordered the military to \"prepare to remain\" throughout the winter in the UN-patrolled buffer zone that is supposed to separate Israeli and Syrian forces on the Golan Heights.

1 min

Unidentified drones spotted over German military, industrial sites

BERLIN (AFP) - German authorities said on Friday that unidentified drones had been spotted flying over sensitive military and industrial sites including the US Ramstein airbase.

1 min

France's Macron names Bayrou as PM

PARIS (AFP) - President Emmanuel Macron on Friday named centrist Francois Bayrou as prime minister, handing him the daunting task of hauling France out of months of political crisis.

3 mins

BBC complains to Apple over fake news AI notification

The BBC on Friday said it had filed a complaint with US tech giant Apple over AI-generated fake news that was shared on iPhones and attributed to the British public broadcaster.

1 min

Retired cop finds trove of unreleased Michael Jackson songs

A retired California highway patrolman has stumbled into possession of a trove of unreleased Michael Jackson songs - which the world may never have a chance to hear.

1 min

Chinese spy claims add to Prince Andrew's woes

A former UK security minister on Friday said that it was \"extremely embarrassing\" that a suspected Chinese spy had become a confidant of disgraced royal Prince Andrew.

1 min

Syria celebrates end of Assad

Syrians rejoiced into the night as fireworks exploded on the first Friday - the Muslim day of rest and prayer - since the ouster of president Bashar al-Assad.

2 mins

Swift makes surprise visit to Kansas City children's hospital

Taylor Swift has made a surprise stop at a Kansas City children's hospital, shocking parents and patients alike as she laughed with them, posed for photos and exchanged gifts.

1 min

Embiid sustains sinus fracture

PHILADELPHIA - Joel Embiid's tough season took another turn for the worse on Friday as Philadelphia's star center exited early in the 76ers' 121-107 NBA loss to Indiana after being struck in the face.

1 min

Repeat or revenge?

The war for the UAAP men's basketball championship is down to one last battle and at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight, Season 87 will come to a climactic close.

2 mins

Pinoys face tough match in Laos

Match today (Laos National Stadium, Vientiane) 5:30 p.m. - Laos vs Philippines

1 min

Eastridge triumphs

Eastridge Primehomes softened Manila Southwoods' final-day charge with balanced scoring to capture its first Fil Championship title and denied the latter a piece of history in the 74th Januarius Fil Am Invitational at the Baguio Country Club.

1 min

LAST DANCE AT BIG DOME

And it boils down to one last dance.

2 mins

Romero boosts Phl volleyball

The future of Philippine volleyball and finding the next Alyssa Valdez is clear as day.

1 min

Crossovers end year with five-set win

Chery Tiggo survived a pesky Galeries Tower and escaped with a 30-28, 20-25, 19-25, 25-16, 15-8 victory yesterday to barge into the magic four in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the PhilSports Arena.

1 min

Proposed marketing plan seen boosting FDI

The Philippines is aiming for a five percent increase in foreign direct investments (FDI), and an additional one-percentage-point growth annually until 2028, through a proposed implementation of a foreign investment promotion and marketing plan (FIPMP).

1 min

World Bank Urges Phl to Empower LGUs

Empowering local government units (LGUs) is crucial to the development of human capital in the Philippines and attaining the goal of becoming a middle-class society by 2040, according to the World Bank.

2 mins

UBS highlights power of women entrepreneurs

UBS Philippines remains committed to its efforts to empower women and their financial confidence as it recently another held a dialogue which put the spotlight on homegrown female entrepreneurs.

2 mins

Samsung, Union Bank launch app-based financing program

Samsung Electronics Philippines, in collaboration with Union Bank of the Philippines, has introduced a dedicated payment option for its Galaxy devices in the Philippines.

1 min

JICA, BSP roll out phase 2 of credit risk database

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) have launched phase two of the credit risk database to help financial institutions better assess the creditworthiness of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

1 min

Canada emerging as key player in Phl energy transition

Canada's support for the Philippines' energy transition and decarbonization efforts continues to gain momentum.

2 mins

Indo-Pacific infra group launches Phl platform

The Coalition for Emerging Market Infrastructure Investment has met with Philippine government officials for the launch of its inaugural country platform aimed at catalyzing infrastructure investments in the Philippines, particularly in the energy sector.

2 mins

Worsening trade deficit

The Philippine government is the single largest procuring entity in the local economy, allocating at least a trillion pesos each year of taxpayers' money to acquire goods and services for its projects and to deliver services to its citizens.

4 mins

FIGARO COFFEE GROUP AND PEPSI SPREAD HOLIDAY CHEER

Figaro Coffee Group and Pepsi Cola Philippines are spreading festive cheer with a Christmas raffle promo ongoing until Dec. 31.

1 min

FOR BEA ALONZO, DIAMONDS REPRESENT SOMETHING ETERNAL

Known for her grace, sophistication, and genuine character, Bea Alonzo embodies the essence of My Diamond, making her the perfect muse to represent the brand's legacy and vision for the future.

1 min

JOR-EL ESPINA OPENS ATELIER MANILA

Jor-El Espina Atelier Manila is more than just a space for shopping. It's also a creative sanctuary for unique design collaborations, sharing of stories about the craft, and continuous discovery of Filipino ingenuity.

1 min

LEVEL UP YOUR GIFT-SHOPPING EXPERIENCE AT SPATIO

Spatio is a great gift-shopping spot in Opus Mall with diverse brands and offers a unique wellness experience in the heart of QC.

2 mins

MORTON'S: THE SEXIEST STEAK ON THE PLANET

Here, you can have a perfect slab of steak, paired off with a rare vintage wine, fresh seafood, plus fresh salads, rare appetizers, and decadent desserts baked on-site—in other words, an incredible beginning-to-end dining experience—in just one posh setting.

3 mins

TGI FRIDAYS: 30 YEARS OF MAXIMUM FUN. FOOD & STORIES THAT SIZZLE

Thirteen years ago, on her first day at a restaurant in Glorietta 3, she dyed her hair a blazing red—not just to embody the brand's color, but also its fiery spirit.

4 mins

A SEASON OF WISHES: Revel in the Spirit of Christmas with Meaningful Gifts for Everyone

Children are singing, hymns are playing, and lights are twinkling—truly it's here, the most wonderful time of the year!

3 mins

A REFRESHED RUSTAN'S KIDS BY A HOMEGROWN RUSTAN'S KID

Isabella Fernandez, granddaughter of the late Criselda Lontok, is the new designer for Rustanette and Rustan Jr.

5 mins

OGIE PENS NEW SONG FOR WIFE REGINE, TAKES PRIDE IN DAUGHTER LEILA

Ogie Alcasid is among the best people I've known in the industry.

2 mins

Maureen Wroblewitz plays Pinay beauty queen in 'FBI: Most Wanted' episode

Model and beauty queen Maureen Wroblewitz expands her acting career with an appearance on the popular police procedural series \"FBI: Most Wanted.\"

1 min

The best of Michael Bublé

Twenty years or so ago, producer, songwriter, and arranger David Foster was riding high on the popularity of his new discovery.

3 mins

ENHYPEN marks 4th anniversary with Pinoy fans, gears up for Coachella 2025

K-pop boy band ENHYPEN was filled with gratitude when they celebrated their fourth year as a group with their fans, called ENGENES, in the Philippines.

3 mins

BREAKING TRADITION. VIC SOTTO STARS IN FIRST DRAMA PROJECT 'THE KINGDOM'

VIC SOTTO HAS DECIDED TO take the drama route for his Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) comeback with \"The Kingdom.\"

4 mins

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The Philippine Star Newspaper Description:

The Philippine STAR is the flagship title of the country's largest and most successful print media enterprise, the Philstar Media Group. Owned and published by Philstar Daily Inc., The Philippine STAR is a vaunted pillar of Philippine journalism whose integrity is anchored on the Biblical motto, “Truth Shall Prevail”. The Philippine STAR is a two-time winner of the prestigious Newspaper of the Year award given by the Rotary Club of Manila.