Philippines reports smaller trade deficit of $3.5B in Nov

The Philippine Statistics Authority reported that the Philippines’ trade deficit narrowed to $3.51 billion in November 2025, down 28.8 percent from a year earlier, as exports grew 21.3 percent to $6.91 billion and imports slipped 2.0 percent to $10.423 billion. Total external trade reached $17.33 billion for the month, while year-to-date trade from January to November rose to $199.99 billion. Electronics remained the country’s top export and import product, and Hong Kong and China led as the Philippines’ main export market and import source, respectively.

Read more

Mavericks’ Anthony Davis exits game due to groin injury

Dallas Mavericks center Anthony Davis exited a Thursday NBA game against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco with a groin injury in the second quarter. The Mavericks announced that Davis suffered groin spasms and would not return to the game. Team medical staff evaluated him before ruling him out, and the organization did not immediately provide a timetable for his recovery or details on further testing. The injury forced adjustments to the Mavericks’ rotations as the game continued at Chase Center.

Read more

Taylor Swift gives P117M+ to charity for the holidays

Taylor Swift donated more than P117 million for Christmas, giving P58.5 million each to two charity organizations on Dec. 25, 2024. Both groups confirmed receiving the funds directly from Swift’s team and said they would use the money to expand food assistance, basic needs support, and outreach programs for underprivileged communities. The donations, recorded as unrestricted funds, will allow the charities to direct resources to their most urgent projects during the holiday season.

Read more

$473M US 90 expansion kicks off in west Bexar County

TxDOT has started construction on a $473 million expansion of US 90 in west Bexar County between Loop 410 and SH 211. The multi-year project will widen and upgrade the highway to increase capacity, reduce congestion, improve safety and shorten commute times for drivers, freight traffic and regional travelers. Officials say the corridor serves fast-growing residential, commercial and industrial areas on the west side of the San Antonio region. The agency plans phased construction, active work zones and ongoing traffic advisories while keeping lanes open where possible.

Read more

Lacson flags ‘cover-up’ risk as Palace calls budget insertion reports unverified

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Friday warned Malacañang against quickly dismissing as hearsay allegations that Cabinet officials inserted projects into the proposed national budget, as the Senate continues its deliberations on the government spending bill. Lacson said he received information from credible sources, shared the details with fellow senators, and sought further verification before naming officials allegedly involved. He vowed to present his findings in plenary debates, push for the removal of unjustified items, and coordinate with the Department of Budget and Management and the Commission on Audit.

Read more

Alex Eala to battle Mirra Andreeva at Macau Masters

Filipino tennis player Alex Eala will end her season with an exhibition match against Russian teen Mirra Andreeva at the Macau Tennis Masters on Sunday in Macau, China. The showdown follows Eala’s gold medal performance at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, where she represented the Philippines. Tournament organizers included the Eala-Andreeva clash in a star-studded lineup designed to showcase rising talents in women’s tennis. The match, which will not affect official rankings, forms part of a weekend schedule that features international players, broadcast coverage, and on-site fan activities.

Read more

Scottie Thompson posts triple-double, keeps cool as Ginebra wins

Scottie Thompson recorded a triple-double to lead Barangay Ginebra to a 105-85 win over Converge in the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals on Christmas Day at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, as the Gin Kings moved closer to advancing in the playoffs. Thompson approached the game with a businesslike attitude, directed Ginebra’s offense, contributed on defense and on the boards, and left the arena quickly after the final buzzer despite his all-around performance.

Read more

Malaysia’s Najib found guilty in high-profile 1MDB graft case

A Malaysian court in Putrajaya on Friday convicted former prime minister Najib Razak of abusing his power in the multibillion-dollar 1MDB graft scandal. The ruling, which found that Najib used his position to influence decisions linked to the now-defunct sovereign wealth fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad, adds to a separate six-year prison term he is already serving in another 1MDB-related case. Prosecutors presented financial records and witness testimony to support the charges, while the court set a later date for sentencing and outlined Najib’s right to appeal.

Read more

Zelensky signals upcoming meeting with Trump

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced in Kyiv on Friday that he will meet former U.S. President Donald Trump in the near future for high-level talks aimed at helping end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Zelensky said the two sides agreed to hold the meeting soon and suggested that many key issues related to the war could be decided before the New Year, although he did not provide a specific date or location. Ukrainian officials said they will release more details once they finalize the agenda and logistics.

Read more