November 29, 2025 6:00 pm | Page 6 of 43

Houston Ship Channel sees 1 million-gallon sulfuric acid spill

LAWIN.newsDecember 28, 2025041 views

Authorities in Harris County, Texas, report that about 1 million gallons of sulfuric acid leaked into the Houston Ship Channel from an industrial facility, sending two people to a hospital and triggering a multi-agency emergency response. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo says responders contained the incident and began environmental testing, with early indications that the most significant impact may affect water quality and marine life.

Sofronio Vasquez teams up with Michael Bublé for debut EP

LAWIN.newsDecember 28, 2025037 views

“The Voice” winner Sofronio Vasquez started recording his debut EP in August 2024 in Los Angeles with guidance from coach Michael Bublé and support from music legends David Foster and Paul Anka. A “Beyond The Voice” episode shows Vasquez tracking a new version of “My Grown-Up Christmas List,” working on a mix of Christmas songs, show favorites, and an original Bublé composition. The feature also highlights Bublé’s request for Tagalog lyrics in a duet to reflect Vasquez’s Filipino roots and documents his return to “The Voice” stage on December 16 to perform “Superman.”

Taylor Swift opens up on avoiding athletes before dating Travis Kelce

LAWIN.newsDecember 28, 2025037 views

Taylor Swift details why she avoided dating athletes and how she began her relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce in episode four of her Disney+ docuseries “The Eras Tour: The End of an Era.” In a conversation with her mother, Andrea, Swift explains her past reluctance to date in the sports world, her emotional state after two breakups during the Eras Tour, and how Kelce’s friendship bracelet gesture and strong character references led her to give the relationship a chance. She also describes how falling for Kelce sparked an unexpected obsession with learning football.

Filipino tech icon Dado Banatao dies at 79

LAWIN.newsDecember 28, 2025040 views

Filipino engineer and Silicon Valley pioneer Diosdado “Dado” Banatao died on Dec. 25, 2024, at age 79 in Stanford, California. Banatao earned recognition for key contributions to microchip and computer technology that helped shape the modern personal computer industry. His work in Silicon Valley and his continued ties to the Philippines highlighted his role as one of the most influential Filipino figures in global technology. Authorities and family confirmed his death, as tributes from technology and academic communities noted his decades-long impact on engineering and innovation.

6.6-magnitude quake jolts area off Taiwan, USGS confirms

LAWIN.newsDecember 28, 2025046 views

A 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck off Taiwan’s northeastern coast on Saturday at 11:05 p.m. local time, according to the US Geological Survey, while Taiwan’s weather agency measured it at magnitude 7.0 and a depth of 73 kilometers. The offshore quake, the second major tremor to hit the island within days, prompted authorities to assess potential damage, monitor for aftershocks, and review seismic data. No tsunami warning was immediately issued, and early checks focused on infrastructure, transportation, and local reports of shaking across affected areas.

Texas law offers relief for health insurance as federal aid expires

LAWIN.newsDecember 27, 2025043 views

A little-known Texas law gives state regulators flexibility over how insurers price Affordable Care Act marketplace plans, using a method known as silver loading. As enhanced federal subsidies expire in the coming days, the law may help some Texans keep net premiums lower by concentrating rate increases in silver-tier plans, which determine federal tax credits. The measure applies to individual and family marketplace coverage across Texas and affects how premium changes interact with federal financial assistance.

Trump announces U.S. strikes vs ISIS in Nigeria

LAWIN.newsDecember 27, 2025042 views

The United States has carried out airstrikes on Islamic State–linked targets in Nigeria, following weeks of public criticism by former President Donald Trump over violence against Christians. U.S. defense officials describe the operation as part of wider counterterrorism efforts in West Africa and have not released detailed casualty figures or target locations. Nigerian authorities face ongoing scrutiny over their response to extremist attacks, communal violence, and rising insecurity in several regions.

‘Last Christmas as a Miss’: Carla Abellana treats herself pre-wedding

LAWIN.newsDecember 27, 2025044 views

Filipino actress Carla Abellana marked her “last Christmas as a Miss” in 2024 by indulging in self-care and beauty treatments in the Philippines as part of her bridal preparations. She shared photos and videos of her pampering routine on social media, describing the period as “another bridal era” while she readied herself for her upcoming wedding during the holiday season.

2026 sees SSS pension hike, new micro-loan program

LAWIN.newsDecember 27, 2025037 views

The Social Security System (SSS) in the Philippines announced it will implement another pension increase, launch a micro-loan program, and maintain its emergency loan facility in 2026. SSS President and CEO Robert Joseph Montes De Claro said the state pension fund will also open new local branches and foreign representative offices in Madrid, San Francisco, and Macau. The agency plans to hire about 1,800 additional personnel to strengthen frontline and digital services and to improve response to member assistance requests and complaints.

TIME ranks ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ as top K-Drama

LAWIN.newsDecember 27, 2025038 views

TIME Magazine named “When Life Gives You Tangerines” as the No. 1 title on its Top 10 Best K-Dramas of 2025 list, placing the IU and Park Bo-gum drama ahead of “Way Back Love” and “Squid Game” Season 3. The ranking also included “Tempest,” “Our Unwritten Seoul,” “Resident Playbook,” “Study Group,” “The Tale of Lady Ok,” “Spirit Fingers,” and “Trigger.” Directed by Kim Won-suk and written by Lim Sang-choon, “When Life Gives You Tangerines” is a Pan Entertainment–Baram Pictures co-production released globally on Netflix.