In this issue

April 18, 2024

Smart blocks 13 M smishing messages

Wireless leader Smart Communications Inc. prevented more than 13 million attempts to dupe its subscribers in the first quarter of the year, warning against the rising number of hijack profiles.

2 mins

Ombudsman sacks BFAR chief for graft

Ombudsman Samuel Martires has dismissed Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) director Demosthenes Escoto, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. confirmed yesterday.

1 min

Internet outage delays NAIA flights

Internet outage at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 led to manual operations at check-in counters on Tuesday, with hundreds of passengers experiencing long lines and flight delays.

1 min

Pagasa warns: Hotter days ahead in May

Prepare for hotter days and nights ahead, surpassing the already scorching heat as temperatures could reach over 40 degrees Celsius in the coming weeks.

2 mins

SC: Comelec erred in disqualifying Smartmatic

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) committed grave abuse of discretion when it disqualified service provider Smartmatic from bidding in its 2025 poll projects, the Supreme Court (SC) ruled yesterday.

3 mins

Luzon, Visayas grids on yellow alert

The Luzon and Visayas grids were placed under yellow alert yesterday, with several power plants still on forced outage or running on derated capacity, according to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP).

2 mins

DepEd, DOH, DSWD top performing agencies - survey

The Department of Education (DepEd) received the highest satisfaction rating and remained the most trusted among government agencies included in a survey conducted by the OCTA Research group.

1 min

Chinese remove Pinoy fishers' payao in WPS

Chinese vessels removed the payao installed by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) for Filipino fishermen at Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, while Vietnamese allegedly stole the contents of the fishing device in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), a fisherfolk group leader in Zambales said yesterday.

4 mins

Pinoys told to postpone non-essential travel to Israel

Alert Level 2 for Israel, advising Filipinos to postpone non-essential travel to Israel, remains, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

1 min

SC: Quiboloy arrest warrant remains in effect

The arrest order issued by the Senate against Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy is still in effect as the Supreme Court has yet to decide on the petition of the preacher asking the SC to stop the enforcement of the arrest.

2 mins

Speaker seeks expanded Balikatan, appeals for increased US aid

Speaker Martin Romualdez asked his lawmaker counterparts in US Congress for an expansion of joint military exercises in the Philippines and also sought an increased US foreign military financing.

2 mins

Crackdown on e-trikes continues

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) apprehended at least 87 drivers of light electric vehicles and tricycles yesterday, the first day of the stricter enforcement of a policy banning them from major roads in the metropolis.

1 min

Chinese nabbed for P3-M bribe try in Taguig gun raid

A Chinese man was arrested for allegedly offering P3 million to police officers in exchange for releasing him and another Chinese earlier arrested during a raid on a townhouse in Taguig on April 14.

1 min

Basilan under state of calamity due to drought

The entire island province of Basilan has been placed under a state of calamity due to drought amid the El Niño phenomenon.

1 min

Storm dumps heaviest rain ever recorded in UAE

The desert nation of the United Arab Emirates yesterday attempted to dry out from the heaviest rain ever recorded there after a deluge flooded out Dubai International Airport, disrupting travel through the world's busiest airfield for international travel.

1 min

Australia unveils new defense strategy

Nation eyes China’s coercive tactics’

1 min

Lakers book playoff date with Nuggets; Warriors eliminated

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers held off a furious late rally to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 110-106 on Tuesday and book a first-round NBA playoff clash with the defending champion Denver Nuggets.

1 min

Peso weakness won't affect policy - BSP chief

The depreciation of the local currency to a near 17-month low is not large enough to affect inflation expectations, which may lead to rate cuts later this year or early next year, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas BSP) Governor Eli Remolona Jr. said.

2 mins

2 potential applicants to vie for Islamic banking licenses

There are at least two financial institutions that are looking to set up Islamic banking operations in the Philippines, officials of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said yesterday.

2 mins

Moody's affirms ratings of 3 Phl banks

Moody's Investors Service has affirmed the long-term deposit ratings of China Banking Corp., Philippine National Bank (PNB), and Security Bank Corp., citing strong capital position and stable profitability.

2 mins

SEC scraps minimum stockbroker commission

In its continuing efforts to boost capital market activity, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has removed the minimum amount of commission that stockbrokers may charge their customers.

1 min

WB pushes new agri insurance products

The Philippines needs to come up with new and better agricultural insurance products to help farmers cope with natural disasters, according to the World Bank.

2 mins

Holcim allots P2 B for co-processing, RE shift

Cement maker Holcim Philippines Inc. is spending P2 billion over the next three years for co-processing and shifting to renewable energy in line with its commitment for sustainable manufacturing operations.

1 min

Ronnie Liang recalls giving up chance to be K-pop idol trainee

Ronnie Liang recently recalled a time when he almost became a K-pop idol trainee in South Korea.

3 mins

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The Philippine STAR is the flagship title of the country's largest and most successful print media enterprise, the Philstar Media Group. Owned and published by Philstar Daily Inc., The Philippine STAR is a vaunted pillar of Philippine journalism whose integrity is anchored on the Biblical motto, “Truth Shall Prevail”. The Philippine STAR is a two-time winner of the prestigious Newspaper of the Year award given by the Rotary Club of Manila.