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LAUSANNE, Switzerland — The first Olympic Esports Games will be hosted in Riyadh in 2027, two years later than expected when a 12-year deal with Saudi Arabia was signed last year. The International Olympic Committee said Tuesday its founding partner for the event will be the kingdom’s Esports World Cup Foundation. READ: When is an eSport not an eSport? Olympic event puzzles gamers The first annual Esports World Cup was held last July and August in Riyadh with tens of millions of dollars in prize money paid for games including Call of Duty, Fortnite and Street Fighter. It is unclear […]…

Keep on reading: Esports Olympics to debut in Saudi Arabia later than expected in 2027

MANILA, Philippines — The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) plans to bid out the operation and management of the Camp John Hay Golf Estate as part of its bid to improve the Baguio leisure estate. BCDA president and CEO Joshua Bingcang said on Wednesday they were targeting to auction off the contract within the year after studying the best model for golf operations. “The objective is to make it the best golf course in the Philippines and keep it accessible to the public,” Bingcang said in a statement. READ: BCDA signs up 40 John Hay residential tenants    Meanwhile, […]…

Keep on reading: BCDA to bid out Camp John Hay golf club management

Actress Teresita Ssen “Winwyn” Marquez said she had already decided to accept the offer to become Muntinlupa City’s official delegate to the 2025 Miss Universe Philippines pageant before she told parents Joey Marquez and Alma Moreno of her return to pageantry 10 years since her first competition. Her pageant debut was at the 2015 Binibining Pilipinas contest at the age of 22. Now a decade older and a mother to a 2-year-old daughter, Marquez is strapping her heels anew to tell another story about her newfound fulfillment as a parent. “Actually, my dad hasn’t really wanted me to join ever […]…

Keep on reading: How Joey Marquez, Alma Moreno reacted to daughter Winwyn’s pageant return

The annual performance and experimental art show of the UP Cebu Fine Arts Program is set to unfold once more at Mindworks 2025, taking place from February 21-March 1 at the University of the Philippines Cebu. Celebrating its 39th year, the much anticipated event presented by the Fine Arts Students Organization (FASO), led by the 4th Year Studio Arts students, has chosen “Kita’ng Katag” as its theme, urging the people to not only look beyond the katag state on its surface level but to also reflect on critical societal issues e.g. retroactively pursued pre-election campai platforms, economic recessions and budget […]…

Keep on reading: Mindworks 39: Kita’ng Katag kicks off with Crazy Day Parade on February 21

MANILA, Philippines — Detained televangelist Apollo Quiboloy has been returned to the Pasig City Jail after being hospitalized and treated for community-acquired pneumonia, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) confirmed. The Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) founder was first brought to the Rizal Medical Center (RMC) on Jan. 18 after complaining of difficulty breathing. “PDL (person deprived of liberty) Apollo Quiboloy has been transferred back to BJMP Pasig City Jail Male Dormitory on February 12, 2025, at 9:50 p.m., following weeks of hospitalization due to community-acquired pneumonia,” the BJMP said in a statement. READ: Quiboloy hospitalized due to […]…

Keep on reading: Quiboloy back in Pasig jail after hospitalization due to pneumonia

An AP reporter Wednesday was barred from attending White House events for the second straight day, as Donald Trump’s administration sought to justify its actions against media that refuse to call the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America.” A day earlier the Associated Press said its reporter was blocked from covering an Oval Office signing because the AP “did not align its editorial standards with President Donald Trump’s executive order” that renamed the body of water as the Gulf of America. On Wednesday, the reporter for the 180-year-old media organization was again prevented from attending an Oval Office event, […]…

Keep on reading: AP reporter again barred from Oval Office over ‘Gulf of America’

MANILA, Philippines — The movement of China’s fisheries research ship off Luzon seemed suspicious, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela pointed out that Lan Hai 101 — one of China’s largest fisheries research ships — maintained an approximate distance of 24 to 25 nautical miles while transiting near the region. “What is suspicious about the movement of the Chinese official research vessel is that it maintained its approximate distance of 24 to 25 nautical miles off the coast of Luzon,” Tarriela said in an interview over Radyo 639. “If […]…

Keep on reading: Movement of China’s research vessel off Luzon ‘suspicious’ – Tarriela

A Pasay court granted GMA independent contractors Jojo Nones and Richard Cruz’s motion to quash the acts of lasciviousness case concerning actor Sandro Muhlach’s alleged sexual abuse. “The acts of lasciviousness before this court are necessarily included in the charge of rape before the Regional Trial Court,” a part of the decision released by the Pasay Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 46 states, referring to the rape charges filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) against Nones and Cruz at the Pasay City RTC for their alleged sexual abuse of Muhlach. The court further noted that “the prosecution resorted to an […]…

Keep on reading: Sandro Muhlach’s lasciviousness case vs alleged rapists dismissed by Pasay court

MANILA, Philippines — Some of the country’s largest conglomerates, banks and other institutions made it to Time Magazine’s list of the 500 Best Companies in the Asia-Pacific region for showing strong growth last year despite threats posed by geopolitical uncertainties. Ayala Corp., the country’s oldest conglomerate, topped the 29 Philippine companies included in the list at No. 46, followed by San Miguel Corp. (85th), Security Bank Corp. (88th), SM Investments Corp. (109th) and BDO Unibank Inc. (112th). Also in the Philippines’ Top 10 were Jollibee Foods Corp. (116th), SM Prime Holdings Inc. (121st), Asian Development Bank (172nd), Cebu Pacific Air […]…

Keep on reading: 2​9 PH firms make it to Time’s best companies in Asia-Pacific

MANILA, Philippines — Cancer-stricken Dr. Willie Ong is withdrawing his senatorial bid for the 2025 midterm elections. Ong made this pronouncement on his Facebook page on Thursday morning. “I am officially withdrawing my candidacy for the 2025 elections so I can focus more on taking care of my health,” the post read. Ong added that he “will continue to support good governance and the candidates who espouse the same ideal as mine.” The doctor, who is battling sarcoma cancer, bared his plans in September 2024 to run for the Senate. His Certificate of Candidacy was filed through his wife, Liza….

Keep on reading: Doctor-vlogger Willie Ong withdraws Senate 2025 bid