A school shooting in South Cotabato has put student safety back in focus. Meanwhile, motorists could face another painful fuel hike, a proposed passport fee increase may be delayed, and new complaints target the Villar family. Elsewhere, bacteria are becoming circuit boards and robotic bins are roaming Tokyo.

Stay Sharp.

What happened: Three 14-year-old students died, including the suspected shooter, after a shooting at Banga National High School on Friday. Eight others were reported injured.

Zoom in: Police said the Grade 9 student fired at other students before turning the gun on himself. Banga Mayor Albert Palencia said the firearm belonged to the student’s father and was allegedly taken from a secured vault.

Why it matters: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered an investigation into how a minor obtained and brought a gun inside the school.

What’s next: DepEd urged the public not to circulate graphic footage or unverified claims. House leaders also filed a bill seeking stricter firearm storage rules to prevent minors from accessing guns.

Diesel prices could rise by ₱10 to ₱10.50 per liter next week, while gasoline may increase by ₱5 to ₱5.50, based on four days of global oil trading. The estimates remain subject to Friday’s final trading results. Ongoing Middle East tensions are keeping global oil prices elevated and raising pressure on Philippine fuel costs.

Passport Fee Hike Put On Hold

Philippine passport fees could rise from ₱950 to ₱1,500, but the Department of Foreign Affairs is asking the passport printing agency to defer the increase until 2028. Senior citizens and OFWs would pay a discounted ₱1,200 under the proposal. The DFA cited the planned next-generation passport rollout in 2028.

PH Seeks U.S. Response on Forced Labor

The Philippines is awaiting the United States’ assessment of a new government order targeting goods made with forced labor as both countries continue trade discussions. The measure could address U.S. concerns behind a 12.5% tariff on Philippine exports. About $6.25 billion worth of Philippine goods are covered by the latest U.S. levy.

Villar Family Faces PrimeWater Graft Complaints

The Ombudsman filed criminal and administrative complaints against Senators Mark and Camille Villar, former senators Manny and Cynthia Villar, and Paolo Villar over PrimeWater joint ventures. The investigation covers agreements involving 75 local water districts from 2015 to 2022. Nineteen districts issued pretermination notices, while PrimeWater had ₱65.65 million in unpaid obligations.

Liza Soberano hopes her Hollywood journey encourages Filipinos to pursue bigger dreams, saying her role in DreamWorks’ Forgotten Island shows the value of taking risks and investing in ambitions. (Read more)

Joanna Wietrzyk Gives Up HYROX Win

Australian athlete Joanna Wietrzyk apologized for continuing a Beijing HYROX race after soiling herself, then withdrew retroactively and forfeited points from the event she had won following widespread criticism online. (Read More)

Meryl Streep Becomes Narnia’s Aslan

Meryl Streep will voice Aslan in Greta Gerwig’s Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, joining Daniel Craig and Emma Mackey in the Netflix adaptation of C.S. Lewis’s fantasy classic, set for release. (Read More)

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology successfully engineered bacteria to function as biological transistors, creating printable living circuit boards capable of processing environmental signals. (Read More)

China Launches Humanoid Robot Football Carnival

Schoolchildren in Nanning, China, kicked off the region's largest autonomous robot football event, featuring AI-driven three-on-three matches alongside the China-ASEAN Expo. (Read More)

Tokyo Tests Autonomous Robotic Trash Bins

Shinjuku Station, the world's busiest railway station, launched a public trial featuring slow-moving, googly-eyed robotic bins designed to help ease sanitation workloads. (Read More)

Liverpool Launches £20m Robotic Lab to Accelerate Disease Research

The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine is building a £20m robotic facility utilizing miniature human organs to speed up vaccine development and reduce animal testing. (Read More)

Scientists Transplant Lab-Grown Human Brain Tissue Into Mice

Researchers have successfully transplanted laboratory-grown human brain tissue into living mice, advancing neurological research models to study complex brain development and potential treatments for disorders.

Satellite Data Reveals Massive Polar Ice Losses 

A multi-decade analysis of satellite records shows Greenland and Antarctica lost 11.3 trillion tons of ice since 1979, significantly accelerating global sea-level rise.

Cells Discovered That Cheat Death and Rebuild Tissue 

Weizmann Institute scientists found that specific cells can initiate programmed cell death, survive the process, and rapidly regenerate damaged tissue, offering new insights into healing and cancer resilience.

New Concrete Formula Absorbs Air Pollution 

Engineers in India developed a stronger concrete mix utilizing zeolite and bamboo biochar, which captures carbon dioxide while maintaining high structural performance.

🚢 Philippine Coast Guard chief Ronnie Gil Gavan warned senators that funding constraints could eventually leave the agency without operational ships. (Read more)

💰 GSIS expanded its emergency loan program to 317,721 members and pensioners across 16 calamity areas, with nearly ₱8 billion available. (Read more)

🥐 Fourteen Tondo barangays received two sets of TESDA Bread and Pastry Production equipment to support community-based skills training programs. (Read more)

🐃 Philippines opens world’s first buffalo semen lab, targeting local breeding and reduced reliance on imports. (Read more)

Researchers identified Leopardus tilcayo, a tiny wild cat from Bolivia's cloud forests, marking the first newly described living feline species in over a century.

Methanol Poisoning Kills Dozens in Nigeria 

At least 48 people died and over 100 fell ill in southern Nigeria after consuming a locally brewed herbal alcoholic drink suspected of containing toxic methanol.

Charles Spencer Claims King Charles Sounded ‘Elated’ After Diana’s Death

In his upcoming memoir, Charles Spencer alleges that then-Prince Charles sounded giddily elated over the phone following Princess Diana’s 1997 fatal crash.

📝 Golden retriever greets burglar with toys instead of protecting home, leaving internet amused. (Watch here)

📝 More Filipino couples turn to contraceptives as family planning use rises nationwide. (Read more)

📝 Swedish-inspired decor adds playful touch to filipino Christmas homes. (Watch here)

📝 Content creator faces backlash for moving fast-food mascot. (Watch here)