The Philippine Star - April 26, 2025

In this issue

April 26, 2025

EU poll observers to monitor trolls, foreign meddling

Foreign election interference is becoming a “more common” concern in many countries, the head of the European Union Election Observation Mission said yesterday, underscoring that the EU EOM would closely monitor interference, trolling and disinformation to influence the upcoming Philippine vote.

3 mins

Asian scam operations spreading globally, UN body warns

Transnational organized crime groups in East and Southeast Asia are spreading their lucrative scam operations across the globe in response to increased crackdowns by authorities, according to a United Nations report issued on Monday.

2 mins

Malolos Church Bells to Ring 88 Times for Pope Francis

All churches in Malolos, Bulacan will ring their bells 88 times at 4 p.m. today, simultaneously with the burial mass for Pope Francis in Vatican City.

1 min

Beijing denies interfering in Phl elections

China has denied accusations that it is influencing or interfering in the midterm elections set next month in the Philippines.

1 min

Probe Ordered on Reported China Meddling in Polls

Alarmed by reports of China's interference in the upcoming midterm elections, President Marcos has ordered authorities to conduct a deeper probe into the matter, Malacañang said yesterday.

5 mins

Comelec exempts P20 rice project from poll spending ban

The Commission on Elections has granted the Department of Agriculture (DA)'s request for its P20-a-kilo rice project to be exempted from the election ban.

6 mins

Lockheed Martin ready to provide F-16 jets to Phl

One of America's leading defense and aerospace manufacturers has expressed readiness to provide brand new F-16 fighter jets to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

2 mins

Marcos, Ishiba to Discuss Security, Maritime Issues

National security cooperation, maritime law enforcement and the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) will be among the key topics of discussion during the upcoming meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and President Marcos, Japanese Ambassador Kazuya Endo said yesterday.

1 min

Sara, siblings to intensify campaign for 'Duter10' bets

Vice President Sara Duterte and her siblings will go full force in campaigning for the senatorial candidates of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), the political party of her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte.

1 min

Respect ICC judges, judicial process, Duterte lawyer says

The lead defense lawyer of former president Rodrigo Duterte has reiterated his call to all Filipinos to respect the judges and judicial process at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

2 mins

DICT to accelerate, expand access to digital loans

President Marcos has ordered the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to accelerate and expand access to digital loans for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) nationwide.

1 min

Expect higher pump prices next week

Oil companies are expected to hike fuel prices again in the coming week due to further tightening of global crude supply.

1 min

Valenzuela Police, City Offices Get 41 New Electric Vehicles

The Valenzuela city government yesterday turned over 41 new electric vehicles (EV) to the police and local offices to promote sustainable transportation and enhance the delivery of public service.

1 min

VP Sara Endorses Isko Moreno

After changing her mind about endorsing candidates, Vice President Sara Duterte attended on Thursday a campaign sortie of former Manila mayor Francisco Domagoso or Isko Moreno, who is seeking a return to city hall in the midterm elections.

2 mins

Fire hits Makati restaurant

A possible electrical malfunction at the stockroom of a Makati restaurant caused a fire early yesterday, destroying over P1.6 million worth of property.

1 min

Candidates told: Plastic posters not allowed in QC

The Quezon City government has reminded candidates to refrain from using plastic posters and other election paraphernalia.

1 min

DICT wants hackers targeting hospitals, elections classified as terrorists

Hackers who target hospitals and elections in cyber attacks should be classified as terrorists, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said.

1 min

Reordering

Donald Trump's pronouncements may swing back and forth like a disoriented pendulum.

3 mins

Saving the oceans

I was always scared of the water because I once almost drowned in a swimming pool at that.

4 mins

Keyboard warriors

EDITORIAL

1 min

The Cardinals Must Now Decide on Francis' Legacy

World view

5 mins

Pope Francis, a memory

Point of view

4 mins

Lessons from Pope Francis

VIRTUAL REALITY

4 mins

17 More Poll Bets Ordered To Explain 'Vote Buying'

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has ordered 17 more candidates in the May 12 polls to explain allegations that they are involved in vote buying and abuse of state resources.

2 mins

Luzon Dams' Water Keeps Dipping Amid High Temperatures

High temperatures being experienced in the country have further decreased the water level in eight dams in Luzon.

1 min

Antipolo bakery massacre suspect charged

Police have filed criminal charges against a man tagged in the killing of seven people in a bakery in Antipolo City, Rizal.

1 min

School principal in graduation toga incident sacked

A school principal who berated senior high school students for wearing togas during their graduation ceremony in Laua-an, Antique has been removed from her post.

1 min

No special elections in Kanlaon-affected areas

Special elections will not be conducted in areas in Negros Occidental affected by the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano, according to the office of the provincial election supervisor.

1 min

'SNL' to Close Out 50th Season With Johansson, Bad Bunny

\"Saturday Night Live\" will close out its epic 50th season with Scarlett Johansson (in photo) as host and Bad Bunny as musical guest.

1 min

Huge crowds at Vatican ahead of pope's funeral

VATICAN CITY (AFP) — The Vatican was making final preparations on Friday for Pope Francis' funeral as the last of the huge crowds of mourners filed through St. Peter's Basilica to view his open coffin.

1 min

No phone calls at ATM, Japan's Osaka tells over-65s

The Japanese city of Osaka will ban elderly people from using ATMs while on a phone call, under a new rule to tackle a growing scourge of targeted scams.

1 min

As Russia hits Kyiv, Trump tells Putin: 'Vladimir, STOP!'

Russia pounded Kyiv with missiles and drones, killing at least 12 people, in the biggest attack on the Ukrainian capital this year and drawing a rare rebuke from US President Donald Trump on Thursday, who told Vladimir Putin: \"Vladimir, STOP!\"

1 min

'Houthis destroy US Reaper drones worth $200 M'

Houthi rebels in Yemen have shot down seven US Reaper drones in less than six weeks, a loss of aircraft worth more than $200 million, in what is becoming the most dramatic cost to the Pentagon of the military campaign against the Iran-backed militants.

1 min

SoKor proposes 'package deal' to avoid US tariffs

South Korea has proposed a \"package deal\" to Washington to avoid Donald Trump's steep tariffs, its finance minister said on Friday, which US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said could bring a trade \"understanding\" by next week.

1 min

French student kills 1 in school knife attack

A student killed a girl and wounded three other pupils in a stabbing spree on Thursday at a French private school that prompted demands for tighter security in classes after a series of attacks.

1 min

Trump Slams Harvard as Funding Fight Heads to Court

US President Donald Trump on Thursday bashed Harvard as an \"Anti-Semitic, Far Left Institution,\" as the prestigious university battles his administration's funding freeze in court.

1 min

Judge blocks Trump's push to cut funding to public schools

A federal judge on Thursday blocked Trump administration directives that threatened to cut federal funding for public schools with diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

1 min

PHL RIDERS EYE TEAM TITLE

Vigan - With the MPTC Tour of Luzon: Great Revival individual general classification race already out of its hands, Standard Insurance has recalibrated its target to the prize where it has a legitimate shot at winning — the P1 million team purse.

2 mins

Blackwater in win column

Whipping up a second-half storm, Blackwater blew past NorthPort, 120-98, to finally break through in the PBA Philippine Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

1 min

Bugna shines in Capiz

Kathryn Bugna extended her remarkable winning streak on the PPS-PEPP National Tennis Circuit with another dominant performance at the Vistec Roxas National Juniors Tennis Championships at the Villareal Sports Complex in Capiz last Thursday.

1 min

La Salle shoots for No. 2 spot

La Salle shoots for at least a playoff for the No. 2 seed and the last twice-to-beat incentive when it faces fellow hopeful Far Eastern U in the penultimate playdate of the UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball elims today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

1 min

Angel in the water

The Game Of My Life

2 mins

Vietnamese in semis

Vietnam's VTV Binh Dien Long An dug deep to overcome Chinese Taipei's Kaohsiung Taipower, 25-20, 17-25, 25-22, 28-26, and book a semis spot in the 2025 AVC Women's Champions League yesterday at the Philsports Arena.

1 min

Thunder take 3-0 lead vs Grizzlies

Oklahoma City made a stunning 29-point comeback after Memphis lost star guard Ja Morant to a hip injury as the Thunder beat the Grizzlies 114-108 on Thursday to reach the brink of a playoff sweep.

1 min

PIDS: Phl to benefit from US tariff shake-up

The Philippines stands to benefit from a sweeping US tariff overhaul that has disrupted global trade flows, according to a new study conducted by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), as the country emerges as one of the least exposed Southeast Asian economies to new US duties targeting imports.

2 mins

World Bank slashes PH growth forecasts

The World Bank has slashed its economic growth forecasts for the Philippines for this year and the next due to uncertainty about trade policy and expectations of slower global economic activity.

2 mins

Gov't raises P300 B from bonds

The government managed to borrow P300 billion from the domestic market via the maiden issuance of fixed-rate Treasury notes (FXTNs) that will finance priority programs of the administration.

1 min

More financing support needed amid global risks

The Philippines has called on multilateral institutions to step up financing support to developing nations amid rising global challenges and risks.

1 min

PSEi Rebounds After Slight Dip

The local stock market ended the week in positive territory, posting a strong rebound following a slight dip the previous day, as investors resumed with their bargain hunting activities.

1 min

A New Kind Of Excellence

An archaeologist was digging in the Negev Desert in Israel, and came upon a casket containing a mummy, a relatively rare occurrence in Israel, to say the least.

3 mins

Ayala Sets Sights on Its Next Strongest Year

Ayala Corp., the country's oldest conglomerate, is setting its sights on its next best year after posting its strongest year ever in 2024, with 2025 seen as an inflection year for its small businesses.

1 min

BDO Earns P19.7B in Q1

Sy-led BDO Unibank Inc. grew its net income by 6.5 percent to P19.7 billion in the first quarter from P18.5 billion in the same quarter last year.

2 mins

Taxes no more

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto earlier announced plans to increase the rates for capital gains, donor and estate taxes to 10 percent from the present six percent.

4 mins

Pardo Steps Down as Philippine Seven Corp Chair

Jose Pardo is relinquishing his post as chairman of Philippine Seven Corp. (PSC), the exclusive licensee of convenience store giant 7-Eleven in the Philippines, after a decade, with long-time president Jose Victor Paterno taking over his post.

1 min

Hidden Agenda

From B3

2 mins

A Queen Meets The Pearl

The radiant Miss Universe 2024 Victoria Kjaer Theilvig of Denmark made her dazzling debut in the Philippines with a visit to Maison Jewelmer, where she was warmly received by several of Jewelmer's top executives including CEO Jacques Christophe Branellec, SVP Abelardo Mondonedo, and chief marketing officer Marion Branellec De Guzman, as well as other distinguished guests and members of the media.

1 min

A Night Of Glamour And Generosity

It was a night of elegance and joy as beloved trio — Milo Bondoc, Beging Soriano, and Sonny Tanchanco — marked their milestone birthdays in a fabulous celebration at the Grand Wing Lounge of Newport World Resorts in Pasay City.

1 min

Romnick, Elijah topbill comeback 'MMK' episode on Sofronio Vasquez

After nearly three years off the air, the country's longest-running drama anthology \"Maalaala Mo Kaya (MMK),\" hosted by Charo Santos-Concio, is officially back.

3 mins

Cancer Survivor Arvin Garcia Bakes His Way To Glory In 'The Great Australian Bake Off'

Hold on to your whisks, guys, because the baking world has officially been shookt — all thanks to one proud Pinoy, Arvin Garcia.

2 mins

Japan's Rap Queen Awich Champions Cross-Border Collabs, Wants To Work With Pinoy Acts

Japanese hip-hop queen Awich is in full collab mode, dropping back-to-back high-profile releases that show Asian hip-hop isn't just crossing borders—it's connecting artists who bring not only their voices, but their cultures into the mix.

4 mins

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