The Trump administration has proposed rolling back federal fuel economy standards for vehicles that were set under President Biden in 2024. The draft rules would slow the required pace of fuel efficiency improvements for new cars and light trucks, affecting future model years and national energy use. The proposal enters a formal regulatory process with public comment and review by federal agencies.
Catastrophic floods and landslides across parts of Asia have killed more than 1,500 people as of Thursday, with hundreds still missing and rescue operations ongoing in remote and isolated areas. Authorities in Indonesia’s North Sumatra and other affected regions prepared for renewed heavy rainfall after meteorologists issued fresh warnings. Governments deployed military, police, and volunteers to reach stranded residents, distribute aid, and restore access to cut-off communities. Disaster agencies opened information centers, expanded evacuation shelters, and monitored health risks in crowded camps, while environmental officials examined the role of land use and deforestation in slope instability and runoff.
Gilas Pilipinas Women added Sophia Dignadice, daughter of PBA legend Yves Dignadice, to its pool for the women’s 5-on-5 basketball competition at the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand in 2025. The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas confirmed her inclusion as part of preparations to regain the SEA Games gold medal. Coaches will finalize the lineup after training camps, tune-up games, and evaluations of Dignadice and returning veterans before submitting the official roster to SEA Games organizers.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has launched “Catahoula Crunch,” a new immigration enforcement crackdown in New Orleans under the Trump administration. The operation focuses on federal immigration law enforcement in the New Orleans region and involves multiple agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Officials have released few operational details, citing security concerns, and no timeline has been given for the initiative. Local authorities, legal aid groups, and community organizations are monitoring the impact on residents and seeking information about potential arrests, detentions, and changes in immigration proceedings across the greater New Orleans area.
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has proposed a state program that would give every Texas newborn $1,000 at birth, in addition to a separate federal plan that will provide American babies $1,000 to invest in the stock market. The Texas Legislature will review the proposal, its funding sources and its coordination with the upcoming federal newborn investment initiative. Lawmakers, budget analysts and state agencies will evaluate costs, oversight and implementation details before any launch of the state program.
The Philippine women’s football team, led by captain Hali Long and key players Olivia McDaniel, Sara Eggesvik, Angela Beard, Meryll Serrano and Jaclyn Sawicki, will seek a return to the medal podium at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand in 2025. The Filipinas will compete in the SEA Games women’s football tournament against regional rivals, with organizers scheduling group and knockout stages to decide the podium. Philippine football officials confirmed the core lineup, coordinated logistics with Thai organizers and set training plans to prepare the squad for the regional multisport event.
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi, India, for a two-day visit focused on defense and trade talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior Indian officials. The visit includes discussions on military cooperation, arms deals, energy trade, and India’s continued imports of Russian oil amid strong pressure from the United States. Delegations from both countries will review strategic, economic, and regional security issues, with expectations of joint statements and possible agreements to strengthen the longstanding India-Russia partnership.
House Democrats on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee obtained banking records tied to Jeffrey Epstein and released new, previously unseen photos of his private island, Little Saint James, in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Lawmakers are reviewing the records to track financial flows, examine bank compliance practices and connect money movements to activity on the island. The committee is combining the images, financial documents and witness testimony to build a detailed factual record of Epstein’s network, assets and transactions, while coordinating with other government investigations.
The Department of Health (DOH) in the Philippines projects that around 252,800 people will be living with HIV nationwide by the end of 2024, according to new estimates from its Epidemiology Bureau. The projection, disseminated via official channels and local government partners such as Quezon City, covers both diagnosed and undiagnosed cases and draws on surveillance data, case reports, and modeling. The DOH uses these updated estimates to guide national and local HIV programs, resource allocation, and planning for testing, treatment, and prevention services across the country.
Spotify Philippines announced that Taylor Swift ranked as the most-streamed artist in the country for 2025, while Filipino band Cup of Joe led the list of local artists. The platform’s year-end charts showed Swift at No. 1 in the Philippines despite Bad Bunny holding the top global spot. Spotify stated that the rankings relied on verified stream counts from Filipino users across free and premium tiers. The company said the results highlight how local audiences balanced international pop and homegrown acts during the year.