Senate-House OK of higher base pay for military, police sparks review of civilian workforce...

The Senate approved Wednesday on third and final reading two resolutions seeking to increase the base salary of military and uniformed personnel (MUP) starting January next year and calling for a review of the salary scheme of civilian personnel.

CebuPac Narita-Cebu flight diverted due to ‘technical issue’

Cebu Pacific said its flight from Narita, Japan to Cebu City, 5J 5063, had to be diverted to Nagoya on Thursday, December 14, due to an unspecified “technical issue.”

U.N. resolutions on North Korea must be fully implemented – Guterres

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Thursday that United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs must be fully implemented by Pyongyang and other countries.

Aboitiz Construction to work on Philippine Resins Industries chemical plant expansion

Aboitiz Construction, Inc. (ACI), the privately-held construction arm of the Aboitiz Group, has partnered with Philippine Resins Industries, Inc. (PRII) to double the latter’s polyvinyl chloride resin plant capacity in Bataan.

‘Ang Larawan’ gets a unanimous ‘A’ from Cinema Evaluation Board

'Enthralling, captivating and beautifully helmed!' 'A briliiant, fabulous production with great acting and excellent technical elements.'

Joan Chen on festival jury duty: ‘I want films to transport me’

The Chinese actor-director, 56, is a member of the competition jury for the 2nd International Film Festival & Awards Macao.

After Alabama upset, Democrats see new prospects in U.S. South

Tuesday’s upset win by Democrat Doug Jones in Alabama, coupled with last month’s Democratic sweep in Virginia, has given the party new optimism about its 2018 prospects in the South and other conservative, heavily rural regions where Republicans have dominated for decades.

Indonesia’s constitutional court junks bid to ban consensual sex outside marriage

Indonesia’s constitutional court on Thursday rejected a petition to bar all consensual sex outside of marriage.

ADB raises growth outlook for PH anew

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has again raised its economic growth outlook for the Philippines this year and in 2018 over accelerating infrastructure spending and robust consumption.

Lawmaker, accused of sexual misconduct, dies of gunshot wound: a ‘probable suicide’

Kentucky state Representative Dan Johnson, who was facing sexual assault accusations, died in a probable suicide on Wednesday, Bullitt County Coroner Dave Billings said.

WTO meeting ends in discord, ministers urge smaller-scale trade talks

The World Trade Organization failed to reach any new agreements on Wednesday, ending a three-day ministerial conference in discord in the face of stinging U.S. criticism of the group and vetoes from other countries.

‘No one objected to Dengvaxia roll-out, I approved it because of rising dengue incidence’...

(UPDATE 2 - 12:03 p.m.) At no time before, during and after the roll-out of the P3.5-billion dengue vaccination program did he hear anyone object to the introduction of Sanofi Pasteur's Dengvaxia to over 800,000 Filipino children, former President Benigno Aquino III told the Senate Thursday.

‘MAY BOTO KAHIT WALANG TAO’ | Lawmakers say TRAIN ratification by empty House ‘invalid’

Activist lawmakers said the ratification of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion bill by the House of Representatives with barely a dozen members on the floor Wednesday night was "invalid."

SAG nominations focus on indie movies, snubbing Streep and Day-Lewis

'Three Billboards' led the 2018 Screen Actors Guild nominations on Wednesday, going at odds with the Golden Globes list.

Ecuador’s VP gets 6 years in jail for graft case

An Ecuadorean court on Wednesday sentenced Vice President Jorge Glas to six years in jail after finding him guilty of receiving bribes from Brazilian construction company Odebrecht in return for handing the scandal-ridden firm state contracts.