Marcos to vet 2026 spending bill before approval, Palace says

The Palace announced that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has started a weeklong, thorough review of the ratified 2026 General Appropriations Bill after receiving it on December 29. Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said the President’s team is scrutinizing all allocations and provisions against the original National Expenditure Program to verify changes and ensure legal, technical, and fiscal integrity. While the 2026 budget undergoes review, the government will operate under a reenacted budget for the first days of 2026, which Recto said will not disrupt services or operations.

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Bass Pro Shops to open 72,000-square-foot store as anchor of $80 million Abilene retail project

Bass Pro Shops will open a 72,000-square-foot store as the anchor tenant of Rainy Creek, an $80 million, 35-acre retail development along Interstate 20 in Abilene. Developer Wallace Ventures plans more than 200,000 additional square feet of shops, restaurants and a gym, as the fast-growing West Texas city adds major projects and population around its expanding I‑20 corrid

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Deon Cole set to showcase comedy and more at Tobin Center

Comedian, actor, writer, and producer Deon Cole will bring his stand-up comedy show to the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts in San Antonio next month. The venue has added Cole’s performance to its upcoming events calendar as part of its comedy and live entertainment lineup. Tickets are available through the Tobin Center box office and official website, with multiple seating options listed. The event offers San Antonio audiences a chance to see the nationally known comedian live as part of his ongoing tour of U.S. cities.

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ICristiano Ronaldo eyes 1,000-goal mark before retiring

Cristiano Ronaldo said in Dubai that he aims to reach 1,000 career goals before retiring and believes he can achieve the milestone if he stays injury-free. The 40-year-old Portugal and Al Nassr forward stated that he feels physically strong, plans to keep playing as long as his body allows, and accepts that retirement will come “soon” after more than two decades in professional football. Ronaldo discussed his training, adaptation, and motivation as he continues to compete for club and country while pursuing personal and team achievements.

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Angelica Panganiban credits Gregg Homan for comeback to films

Filipino actress Angelica Panganiban credits her husband Gregg Homan for encouraging her return to movies after a three-year break focused on motherhood. In this straight news report, Panganiban details how Homan’s support led her to accept a lead role in “The Soulmate Project,” how they arranged childcare and schedules, and how she prepared for what she considered a major comeback film. She also explains why she wrote a Best Actress speech in advance to thank her family and production team.

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Scandal-hit Cambodian tycoon sees more assets seized in Singapore

Singapore’s Commercial Affairs Department is seeking to seize additional assets in Singapore linked to Cambodian tycoon Chen Zhi and his Prince Group after new information surfaced in court. The targeted assets include cheques exceeding S$3.7 million and bonds worth more than US$200,000. Court documents detail the links drawn by authorities between the financial instruments, Chen and entities under Prince Group, as prosecutors invoke Singapore’s anti-money laundering and criminal proceeds laws. The case forms part of a wider cross-border investigation into alleged scam-related activities and the movement of funds through Singapore’s financial system.

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N. Korea’s Kim records most public appearances in nine years in 2025

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un recorded 118 public appearances from January through November 2025, marking his busiest year in nine years, according to data based on North Korea’s state media reports. Monitoring records showed that Kim increased on-site inspections tied to a five-year national development plan and expanded his diplomatic engagements, including meetings with foreign delegations and visits to key industrial, military, and construction sites. The 2025 tally exceeded his annual appearance counts since 2016 and reflected Pyongyang’s stated focus on economic development, defense capabilities, and major infrastructure projects under the current five-year plan.

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Kathmandu steps up action vs public smoking

Kathmandu Metropolitan City has launched an awareness campaign to enforce a public smoking ban and a Rs500 fine for violators after recent executive and municipal assembly approvals. City officials are informing residents, coordinating with police and ward offices, directing businesses to post no-smoking signs and planning phased outreach in schools and public spaces to ensure compliance across government offices, transport, parks and other shared areas.

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Missing bride-to-be located, authorities report

Quezon City police report that a bride-to-be who went missing days before her scheduled wedding in Manila has been found and is being brought back to the city. QCPD investigators say they identified her with the help of family members and coordinated with other police units to locate her. Authorities are set to interview the woman, reconstruct the timeline of her disappearance, and determine whether any criminal activity occurred. Police have withheld her identity for privacy and state they will release further details after completing initial investigation steps.

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