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Cebu City authorities have requested authorization from Gov. Pamela Baricuatro to temporarily close the Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT) on Sunday, January 18, 2026, in preparation for the annual Sinulog festivities. The proposed closure, if approved, is intended to manage traffic flow and adjust transport arrangements during the religious and cultural celebration.

Traffic and Transport Adjustments Planned for Sinulog

City Councilor Dave Tumulak, a member of the Sinulog Foundation Inc. executive committee, explained that the plan aims to reduce congestion on major roads and streamline public transportation. A key component is providing designated parking for officials and emergency vehicles, particularly around the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC).

Southbound bus operations are slated to be moved to the South Road Properties (SRP) El Pardo/Industrial Road site. Buses arriving from the south will continue to operate, but will load and unload passengers at the El Pardo location instead of the CSBT. Northbound bus operations will remain unchanged.

Limited Access to CCSC

Access to the CCSC will be significantly restricted during the Sinulog grand events. Only ambulances, fire trucks, VIPs, the mayor and vice mayor of Cebu City will be permitted inside the CCSC grounds. Mayors and officials from neighboring cities and towns are expected to park at the CSBT after it is cleared of regular bus traffic.

To help transport devotees, at least 27 MyBus units will operate from designated pickup points to key areas, serving passengers from both the north and south. Private vehicles traveling from the south will be directed to park at El Pardo, where passengers can transfer to MyBus and continue to the Basilica del Santo Niño via the National Museum. Those arriving from the north will transfer to MyBus at SM City Cebu.

Transport arrangements for Sinulog-related activities will begin with the first novena on January 18, with the 27 buses starting operations at 5 a.m. Councilor Tumulak is encouraging those planning to attend to park at malls outside the city center to minimize downtown congestion.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will the CSBT be closed?

The City is requesting authorization to close the Cebu South Bus Terminal on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, starting at 3 a.m. and lasting until the conclusion of Sinulog events.

Where will southbound buses operate from during the closure?

Southbound buses will be redirected to the South Road Properties (SRP) El Pardo/Industrial Road site, where they will park and load passengers.

How will devotees get to the Basilica del Santo Niño?

Devotees arriving by private vehicle from the south will transfer to MyBus at El Pardo, and those from the north will transfer at SM City Cebu. Both routes will stop at the National Museum before proceeding to the Basilica.

How might these transport adjustments impact the overall Sinulog experience for attendees?

Brandenburg’s Interior Minister René Wilke has publicly criticized the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party following its decision to withdraw legal challenges. The move, according to Wilke, reveals a significant aspect of the AfD Brandenburg state association’s character.

AfD Withdraws Legal Challenges

Wilke stated that the AfD’s withdrawal of the lawsuits indicates the party does not seek a judicial ruling on a potential classification by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution. He suggests the AfD leadership apparently lacks confidence in its ability to succeed in court.

Potential for Extremism Classification

Wilke expressed his hope for a swift scheduling of a hearing to determine whether the AfD Brandenburg state association should be officially classified as a confirmed right-wing extremist organization. He asserted that a genuinely democratic organization would welcome a judicial decision.

A possible next step is for the court to set a date for the hearing regarding the potential classification. If a hearing proceeds, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution would present its evidence. Analysts expect the AfD may continue to challenge any such classification through other means if it is ultimately issued.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did the AfD do?

The AfD Landesverband Brandenburg withdrew its legal challenges.

What was the response from the Interior Minister?

Brandenburgs Innenminister René Wilke criticized the AfD for its decision, stating it revealed their “true face.”

What is the potential outcome of this situation?

A hearing could be scheduled to determine if the AfD Brandenburg state association will be classified as a confirmed right-wing extremist organization.

How might a formal classification impact the AfD’s political activities and public perception?

British singer-songwriter FKA Twigs has discussed navigating the complexities of life, artistry, and past trauma in a recent interview with ELLE UK. Reflecting on her experiences as she approaches her late thirties, Twigs described a life containing both “beautiful and amazing” moments alongside instances that were “really brutal and violent.”

Balancing Light and Shadow

Twigs connected her evolving perspective to the creation of her album ‘Eusexua,’ which was described by NME as a “transcendent artistic experience.” She stated a desire to reconcile growth and youth, aiming to be “young and sexy and healthy” while avoiding past mistakes. She now recognizes an ability to hold both positive and negative experiences simultaneously, finding a sense of peace in that acceptance.

The artist’s reflections come after a highly publicized legal battle with actor Shia LaBeouf. In December 2020, Twigs filed a lawsuit alleging physical and verbal abuse, sexual battery, and emotional distress during their relationship. She alleged LaBeouf was a danger to women, detailing incidents including being slammed into a car and threatened with strangulation, as well as knowingly transmitting a sexually transmitted disease.

LaBeouf denied the allegations, with his legal team stating he did not cause Twigs harm. The lawsuit was settled out of court in July, with both parties expressing a desire for “personal happiness, professional success, and peace in the future.”

Looking Ahead

Despite past challenges, Twigs is focused on her artistic future. She is scheduled to embark on a European tour this summer, including a performance at London’s O2 Arena on June 10. Tickets for the ‘Body High’ tour are available for purchase online. Her music continues to receive critical acclaim, with the ‘Eusexua’ track ‘Room Of Fools’ recently landing at Number 25 on NME’s list of the 50 best songs of 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did FKA Twigs say about her age?

She said she is reaching an age where she can look back on her life and see both beautiful and brutal experiences, and that she wants to balance growth and youth.

What were the allegations against Shia LaBeouf?

FKA Twigs accused him of physical and verbal abuse, sexual battery, and emotional distress, claiming he was a danger to women.

Where will FKA Twigs be touring this year?

She will be touring in North America this spring and Europe this summer, with one UK stop at London’s O2 Arena on June 10.

How do you think artists navigate the balance between sharing personal experiences and maintaining emotional well-being?

Cilia Flores, captured today alongside her husband Nicolás Maduro during a U.S. attack on Venezuela, became the country’s First Lady in 2013 and “the first combatant of the homeland,” as Maduro requested she be called. Flores is a 69-year-old lawyer and key figure within the current regime.

A Longstanding Political Career

At the end of 2025, amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela stemming from military deployments in the Caribbean near Venezuelan coasts, Maduro appointed Flores to a new political bureau within the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). She has been committed to the Bolivarian process for over three decades, joining the movement’s origins, the MBR-200, alongside Maduro.

Flores’ unwavering support for Hugo Chávez solidified in 1992 when she joined the legal team defending him after his failed coup attempt against Carlos Andrés Pérez. She secured his pardon from President Rafael Caldera in 1994.

It was during visits to Chávez in prison that Flores met Maduro, ten years her junior, and began a relationship that continues to this day. They have not married or had children together, but share a life with Flores’ three children from a previous marriage to Walter Gavidia, as well as Maduro’s son.

Graduating with a law degree from the Santa María University of Caracas, Flores founded the Bolivarian Circle for Human Rights in 1993 and joined the MBR-200 movement founded by Chávez.

She later participated in the founding of the V República Movement (MVR) in 1997, and after its dissolution, joined the PSUV in 2007.

In 2000, with Chávez as President of Venezuela, Flores was elected to the National Assembly, and was re-elected in 2005.

Controversies and Accusations

As President of the National Assembly from 2006 to 2011, Flores’ tenure was marked by controversy, including a decision to prohibit press access to the chamber. She was also accused of nepotism by labor organizations, who alleged she influenced the hiring of approximately forty individuals, many of whom were family members.

In February 2012, President Chávez appointed Flores as the Republic’s Attorney General. Following Chávez’s death, Maduro’s appointment as President on April 19, 2013, led to Flores becoming First Lady, or, in Chavista terms, “first combatant of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.”

Flores was again elected as a deputy to the National Assembly in 2015, a period when the Chavismo movement was in the minority for the first time in fifteen years. She was subsequently elected to the National Constituent Assembly in 2017.

The United States has accused Cilia Flores of links to drug trafficking. In 2015, two of her nephews were arrested in Haiti by undercover DEA agents and transferred to New York, where they were sentenced to eighteen years in prison in 2017 for attempting to smuggle 800 kilograms of cocaine into the U.S. In 2018, the U.S. imposed economic sanctions on Flores and other high-ranking Maduro officials, including Diosdado Cabello, in an effort to pressure the Venezuelan president.

Frequently Asked Questions

What role did Cilia Flores play in Hugo Chávez’s presidency?

Cilia Flores was a key supporter of Hugo Chávez, serving as a lawyer during his 1992 coup attempt and later as a deputy to the National Assembly and Attorney General during his presidency.

What is the significance of the term “first combatant of the homeland”?

The term “first combatant of the homeland” was a designation requested by Nicolás Maduro for Cilia Flores, reflecting her prominent role and commitment to the Bolivarian Revolution.

What accusations have been made against Cilia Flores?

Cilia Flores has been accused of nepotism and has been implicated in alleged links to drug trafficking by the United States, with her nephews having been convicted of drug smuggling offenses.

What implications might this capture have for the future of Venezuela?