General

Makati City: The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) have formalized a partnership aimed at boosting the competitiveness of the country’s information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) industry by aligning it with global standards. DTI Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque and IBPAP president Jack Madrid led the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at the DTI headquarters in Makati City on Monday. According to Philippines News Agency, under the MOU, the government will provide support to IT-BPM organizations in adopting world-class standards, with the IBPAP promoting the Philippine

Vancouver: The United Arab Emirates has condemned the car-ramming attack that took place during a festival for the Filipino community in Vancouver, Canada, leaving 11 people dead and dozens injured Sunday (Philippine time). In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) affirmed that the UAE expressed its strong condemnation of these criminal acts and its permanent rejection of all forms of violence targeting innocent people and aimed at undermining security and stability. According to Philippines News Agency, the ministry expressed its solidarity with the government and people of Canada and the government and people of the Philippines over this

Quezon City: Anton “The Dragon” Raga ruled the Sharks Billiards Association (SBA) Philippine Open Sunday night at the Sharks Arena and Sports Bar along Tomas Morato Avenue in Quezon City. The 28-year-old Cebuano from Talisay defeated Jerico ‘Panday’ Ba±ares, 13-7, in the race-to-13 championship duel of the event by the best Filipino cue artists. According to Philippines News Agency, SBA founder and commissioner Hadley Mariano described this as a testament to the rising standard of Philippine billiards. Mariano stated, ‘This isn’t just a tournament win — it’s a statement. The Philippine Open was designed to raise the bar and discover

Manila: The Police Regional Office in the Caraga Region (PRO-13) has reported the arrest of 45 individuals for violating the ongoing gun ban, which is implemented to ensure the safety and security of the midterm elections next month. According to Philippines News Agency, these arrests occurred between Jan. 12, the commencement date of the gun ban, and the last week of April 2025. ‘As Election Day approaches, we are committed to intensifying our campaign against criminality and the proliferation of loose firearms,’ PRO-13 Director Brig. Gen. Christopher Abrahano said in a press release on Monday. Abrahano also appealed to residents

Manila: Local stocks and the peso both weakened on Monday, following the World Bank’s downgrade of its economic growth outlook for the Philippines. The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) closed 0.31 percent lower at 6,249.50, while the broader All Shares index slipped 0.40 percent to 3,681.09. According to Philippines News Agency, sectoral performance was mixed. Gainers included Services, which rose 1.33 percent; Property, up 0.24 percent; and Holding Firms, which edged higher by 0.11 percent. Meanwhile, Financials dropped 1.86 percent, Mining and Oil fell 0.86 percent, and Industrials dipped 0.28 percent. Losers outnumbered winners at 98 to 94, leaving 58