Ombudsman takes over authentication of ‘Leviste files’ — Castro

‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ tops box office for 2nd straight weekend

18 states set to ban SNAP recipients from using benefits for some junk food in 2026

LeBron, Luka, Smart all sidelined as Lakers visit Boston

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LeBron James and Luka Doncic missed the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Boston Celtics on Friday night at TD Garden, where Boston posted a 126-105 win. Austin Reaves scored 36 points with eight assists for the Lakers, while Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 30 points. Former Celtics guard Marcus Smart also did not play. The loss halted the Lakers’ strong recent run of eight wins in nine games, as both teams adjusted lineups to cover key absences in this regular-season NBA matchup.

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$5K grants to support Central Texas restaurants after July flooding

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The Texas Restaurant Association has activated the TX Restaurant Relief Fund to offer $5,000 grants to independent restaurants and foodservice workers in Central Texas impacted by catastrophic July 2024 floods. Eligible businesses that suffered physical damage, inventory loss, or prolonged closure can apply online for financial assistance to support repairs, equipment replacement, payroll, and other recovery costs. The fund, supported by donations from industry partners and individuals, will review applications on a rolling basis and distribute grants directly to approved recipients.

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Austin urged to fast-track funding for phase 2 of caps, stitches

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Austin officials report that the city must commit funding earlier than planned for phase two of the I-35 “caps and stitches” project after a change in the funding schedule by transportation partners. The project will add deck-style caps and connections over a rebuilt, lowered I-35 to support parks, public spaces and development in central Austin. City staff will bring updated cost estimates, funding options and a revised timeline to the Austin City Council while coordinating design and construction with TxDOT to keep the caps integrated with the highway redesign.

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Fort Bend County pledges $1.5M for Sugar Land 95 memorial

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Fort Bend County approved a $1.5 million contribution to help fund a permanent memorial for the “Sugar Land 95,” the remains of 95 individuals uncovered in 2018 on Fort Bend ISD property and believed to be victims of Texas’ historic convict leasing system. The county’s funding will support design, construction and educational elements at the protected cemetery site, in partnership with the school district, state agencies, researchers and community groups. Officials plan for the memorial to serve as a public historical and educational resource while honoring the individuals reinterred on the campus.

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Bad Bunny tops Spotify Wrapped with nearly 20 billion streams

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Spotify’s 2025 Wrapped data shows Bad Bunny returning as the Most-Streamed Global Artist with 19.8 billion streams, reclaiming a title he held in 2020, 2021 and 2022. His album “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” ranks as Spotify’s No. 1 global album of 2025, while “Un Verano Sin Ti” reappears at No. 10. Spotify supports the milestone with a worldwide campaign featuring a “Leap Year” short film, city fan experiences and in-app features for his listeners. Taylor Swift places second globally but remains the No. 1 artist in the United States. “Die With a Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars tops the global songs chart, followed by major entries from Billie Eilish, Rosé and Mars, Alex Warren and Bad Bunny’s “DtMF.”

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Rosé, Bruno Mars’ ‘APT.’ tops Apple Music global charts in 2025

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Apple Music’s 2025 Replay year-end rankings place Rosé and Bruno Mars’ collaboration “APT.” at No. 1 on the global songs chart, giving both artists their first top finish on the platform’s annual worldwide list. The track also leads Apple Music’s global most-read lyrics, Shazam Top 100 Global and Top 100 Global Radio rankings. Country-specific charts show “APT.” at No. 1 in markets including Australia, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, New Zealand, Singapore and Thailand, while other tracks such as “Luther” in the US, “Ordinary” in the UK and “Multo” in the Philippines dominate their respective national lists.

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Nicole Scherzinger headlines celebrity lineup for World Cup final draw

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Nicole Scherzinger will join Robbie Williams and Andrea Bocelli in headlining the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final Draw show at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., on Friday. FIFA will reveal the group-stage matchups for the expanded 48-team tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Heidi Klum and Kevin Hart will co-host the broadcast, with Danny Ramirez engaging players and guests. Village People will close the event with “Y.M.C.A.” The draw will stream on FIFA’s digital platforms and air via global broadcast partners.

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Jasmine Crockett addresses possible Texas Senate rivals amid own deliberation

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Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas is considering a campaign for the U.S. Senate and has confirmed she has spoken with potential opponents as she evaluates a run. Party officials, strategists, and rival contenders are closely watching her deliberations, which could reshape the Democratic primary field in a Republican-leaning state. The developing race is drawing national attention as Democrats assess their chances in Texas and weigh the impact of Crockett’s possible candidacy on fundraising, messaging, and statewide electoral strategy.

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‘Tygo’ cast revealed: Blackpink’s Lisa, Don Lee and Lee Jin Wook to star

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Netflix announced “Tygo,” a new spin-off film from its “Extraction” action franchise, with Blackpink’s Lisa joining Ma Dong-seok (Don Lee) and Lee Jin-wook in leading roles. The streaming platform confirmed that “Tygo” will expand the “Extraction” universe with a standalone storyline and new characters while maintaining the franchise’s high-intensity action style. Production representatives stated that the movie will mark Lisa’s feature-film debut and will stream exclusively on Netflix, with release details to follow in future updates.

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SC orders gov’t to return P60-B PhilHealth funds, Palace says

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The Philippine executive branch on Friday, December 5, 2025, announced it will return P60 billion in unused Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) funds in compliance with a Supreme Court order. Presidential Communications Office Secretary Dave Gomez said the government has started coordinating with fiscal agencies to identify fund sources, validate amounts, and process the remittance to PhilHealth through standard budget and accounting procedures. Officials will brief PhilHealth’s management on the transfer schedule and will submit compliance reports to the Supreme Court. Further implementation details will follow after interagency consultations.

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