MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and the United States have launched a new logo marking and celebrating 80 years of diplomatic relations. “What makes the Philippines-United States relationship truly special is that it is not only anchored on treaties and institutions. In a joint statement, they said the United States and the Philippines established diplomatic relations on July 4, 1946 with people-to-people ties being the bedrock of the relationship. ‘Reject Trump’s invite’The Makabayan bloc urged the government to reject the invitation to join Trump’s Board of Peace for Gaza. Tinio, Co and Elago said that Trump’s Board of Peace is a scheme to profit from the destruction that US bombs and US-backed Israeli aggression have inflicted on Gaza.

“If Tito Sotto is replaced and the Senate president will come from the minority, there will be no trial in the Senate,” Drilon told radio dzMM. Under longstanding Senate practice, he said, those seeking a change present a written manifesto to the sitting Senate President, who then resigns. “The Senate President in all the times, not most of the time, will resign,” he said. Despite this, Sotto bared earlier this week that the majority is looking to install Legarda as Senate President after the 2027 budget is passed. Should the articles of impeachment reach the Senate, Sotto said he intends to impose a grueling schedule to ensure a swift resolution.

MANILA, Philippines — Motorists are set to face another round of fuel price increases next week. Kerosene prices, meanwhile, could edge up by around P0.05 per liter, with further increases likely once oil firms’ operating costs and other premiums are taken into account. Jetti Petroleum president Leo Bellas said prices “seesawed” this week as markets weighed prospects for easing tensions between US and Iran against mounting fears of disruption to oil flows in the Strait of Hormuz. Even though global gasoline prices remained soft, Bellas noted that the potential rise at the domestic pump is due to higher premiums stemming from geopolitical tensions. Earlier this week, gasoline, diesel and kerosene prices went up by P0.80, P1.60 and P1.10 per liter, respectively.

He said the NBI was given until Feb. 11 to submit the required documents so Interpol could decide on the request. Mallari clarified that the move is part of standard procedure and does not indicate any ruling on the case. Ain’t gonna happen’Co will never agree to “restitution” or return of stolen government funds, his lawyer Ruy Rondain said yesterday. Rondain maintained that the cases against Co were “trumped up.”“We’re quite confident that we can get an acquittal. Rondain also maintained that Co did not send any feelers, contrary to the claim of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla.

Tesla is training its AI technology in China, local media reportsA man walks by at a store of the electric vehicle (EV) maker Tesla, in Beijing, China March 24, 2025.

Next in Putin's sights? Estonia town stuck between two worldsPhoto by STR / AFP Anti-tank barriers known as “dragon’s teeth” and barbed wire are installed on the border bridge in Narva on the Estonian-Russian border on January 15, 2026.

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — A known shabu dealer, long under surveillance by the police, was killed in an ambush in Barangay Bunged in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte on Thursday, February 5. Local executives and traditional Moro leaders in Datu Odin Sinsuat told reporters on Friday that they are certain that the fatal ambush of the victim, whom they identified only as Jaybee, is related to his involvement in the trafficking of narcotics in the municipality. Barangay officials and investigators from the Datu Odin Sinsuat Municipal Police Station who responded to the incident said the victim was riding a motorcycle when he was attacked by gunmen at a stretch of a farm-to-market road in Barangay Bunged, killing him instantly. Barangay officials told reporters that his attackers immediately escaped, leaving him lifeless. Local executives and officials of intelligence units of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in the neighboring Maguindanao del Norte and in Cotabato City said the slain Jaybee was involved in the peddling of shabu in both areas by a clandestine group linked to remnants of the now defunct Dawlah Islamiya terror group.

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of National Defense met with Brazil's newly-designated defense attaché on Thursday, February 5, to discuss expanding military cooperation between the two countries. During the talks, both sides discussed advancing bilateral defense cooperation in logistics, the defense industry and maritime security, the DND said in a statement, without giving specific projects or timelines. The DND undersecretary spoke of the Philippines' implementation of the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept and said the country was pursuing defense engagements with “like-minded partners” to support a rules-based international order. Brazil is the Philippines' only formal defense partner in Latin America. The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation in 2022.

Egyptian workers are seen in front of the new headquarters of Egypt's parliament in the New Administrative Capital (NAC) east of Cairo, Egypt June 21, 2023. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh/File Photo

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Tito Sotto narrowly kept his seat after a failed coup was thwarted by the majority—but what triggered the attempted ouster in the first place? Powerful panels such as the Foreign Relations Committee are typically extended to the majority, which does not include the estranged presidential sister. Based on past experience, if a bloc wanted to unseat a current Senate president, they would have to secure those votes in writing. Most of the time, the outgoing Senate president would take it upon themselves to resign, Sotto said. You will be humiliated.”Sotto confirmed, however, that there are plans within the majority to install Legarda as the Senate president at some point during the administration.

Intel, AMD notify customers in China of lengthy waits for CPUsAn Intel logo and a computer motherboard appear in this illustration taken August 25, 2025.

2.26 million Filipinos unemployed in December 2025Job seekers attend the 92nd DOLE anniversary and 162nd Pasay City Foundation Day on Dec. 1, 2025, at the Pasay City Astrodome. MANILA, Philippines — There were 2.26 million people without jobs as of December 2025, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Friday, February 6. This translates to an unemployment rate of 4.4% for December 2025 — the same as the previous month. While the unemployment rate was retained month-on-month, there is a noticeable increase year-on-year. This means that 3.93 million of the 49.43 million employed persons are underemployed.

Security Bank wins Platinum at the 61st Anvil AwardsSecurity Bank’s 2024 Integrated Report earned the Platinum Anvil, the highest award for PR Tools, at the 61st Anvil Awards on January 28, 2026. Security Bank Foundation, Inc. (SBFI) won two Silver Anvil Awards under the Public Relations PR Programs category, honoring initiatives that go beyond structures and statistics to make a real difference in children’s lives. One award honored “Built to Last, Delivered in Record Time: Security Bank Foundation Classrooms,” a program that constructs disaster-resilient public school classrooms five times faster and 20% more cost-efficient than public standards. “These awards remind us that development is not just about buildings or numbers—it is about children finally being able to read, learn and dream,” said Rafael Simpao, Jr., Chairman, Security Bank Foundation. Editor’s Note: This press release from Security Bank is published by the Advertising Content Team that is independent from our Editorial Newsroom.

Eala, Biado, Obiena top Philippine sports achievers for JanuaryMANILA, Philippines -- The big guns hit the ground running for Philippine sports in 2026. Tennis darling Alex Eala, carrying a her highest WTA ranking of 49th, made a major impact at the Australian Open, while world 10-ball titlist Carlo Biado played true to form in the Asian tilt and pole vault star EJ Obiena struck gold in Germany for a fiery start to the new year. Eala, fresh from her semifinal run at the ASB Classic in New Zealand, packed Melbourne Park’s Court 6 on her AO main draw debut, with many more lined up outside, unable to enter. Her home-soil campaign, however, ended in the quarterfinals at the hands of eventual winner Camila Osorio of Colombia. With their exploits, the trio led the achievers’ list of the Philippine Sportswriters Association for January.

Four people, including two Chinese nationals, arrested in France on suspicion of spyingA French flag flies above the National Assembly in Paris on day after the second round of the early French parliamentary elections, France, July 8, 2024. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo