Novak Djokovic on Thursday called record-breaking crowds at the 2024 Australian Open “a very good problem” as Melbourne Park recorded more than 100,000 spectators on opening day. Tournament organizers reported heavy daily attendance, long queues, and heat-affected waits, particularly around matches that drew strong interest such as those involving Filipina player Alex Eala.
Authorities in Karachi, Pakistan, reported on Friday that the death toll from the January 17 fire at the three-storey Gul Plaza shopping mall rose to at least 67 people, as forensic teams completed post-mortem examinations and continued DNA testing to identify victims.
A young “Harry Potter” fan met series author J.K. Rowling at Puerto Princesa Airport in Palawan, Philippines, during the writer’s private visit to the province. Witnesses said the child recognized Rowling in the passenger area and briefly approached her, drawing attention from nearby travelers. Airport staff maintained standard security procedures while the interaction took place in a public section of the terminal. Authorities and local sources confirmed Rowling’s presence in Puerto Princesa but did not disclose further details about her itinerary or the identity of the fan.
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways to complete all pending projects nationwide by 2026. Dizon said the DPWH is finalizing an inventory of unfinished infrastructure works and will use it to prioritize and allocate resources under a reduced 2026 budget of P529.6 billion, down from the P881 billion originally requested. He said the department will coordinate with regional offices, local governments, and other agencies to address bottlenecks and implement the completion directive.
Television host Willie Revillame said during a media conference for his new game show “Wilyonaryo” in Quezon City that he gave money to some supporters while campaigning for public office to help cover injuries they suffered at past tapings and public appearances of his shows. He explained that videos showing him scolding his production staff reflected his strictness on safety after incidents in which audience members were injured and, in some cases, died. Revillame said he used personal funds in some instances, coordinated with families of the injured, and ordered tighter safety protocols and crowd control measures for his current and future productions.
Texas Democrats James Talarico and Jasmine Crockett will meet in a U.S. Senate primary debate on Saturday at 2 p.m. as they compete for their party’s nomination to challenge incumbent Republican Sen. John Cornyn. The event will allow Texas Democratic voters to evaluate the Austin state representative and the Dallas-area congresswoman ahead of the primary contest for the long-held GOP Senate seat.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered Cypress-Fairbanks ISD to cut any ties with the planned 2026 Houston Islamic Games, citing alleged links to CAIR’s New Jersey chapter, which Texas designates as a foreign terrorist organization. The district denies hosting the event or holding contracts for 2026–27 and says it follows neutral facility-use policies and state anti-discrimination and anti-terrorism laws. The Islamic Games organization denies any sponsorship or affiliation by CAIR.
TikTok has finalized a deal to create a new U.S. entity in response to a year‑old American law that effectively banned the app but has not been enforced. The agreement aims to separate TikTok’s U.S. operations and user data from Chinese parent company ByteDance and address national security concerns raised by U.S. officials. The law remains in force, and the White House retains authority to act, leaving the app’s long‑term status dependent on government review, legal interpretations, and future policy decisions on foreign‑owned digital platforms.
House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos said on Friday that the House of Representatives will not block any impeachment complaint filed against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and will process such complaints in line with constitutional procedures. He explained that any impeachment complaint must be formally filed with the Office of the House Secretary General, transmitted to the Office of the Speaker, included in the Order of Business by the committee on rules, and then referred to the committee on justice. Marcos emphasized that the House is duty-bound under the 1987 Constitution to act on any properly filed impeachment complaint against the President.
The U.S. Department of Justice is seeking additional resources, including military attorneys and federal auditors, to support an expanding fraud investigation in Minnesota. Federal officials say the widening probe involves extensive financial records and possible misuse of public funds. The resource request aims to boost investigative capacity, speed case review, and support potential prosecutions. The department is coordinating with multiple agencies, state officials, and local law enforcement as it examines contracts, grants, and financial transactions tied to federally connected programs in the state.