A year ago, Alex Eala's stay in Birmingham ended after a single match. This year, she left with the biggest piece of luggage available: the championship trophy.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) have intercepted more than P7 million worth of smuggled fresh carrots concealed inside shipments falsely declared as processed food products, dealing another blow to agricultural smuggling operations that authorities say threaten both consumers and local farmers.

The National Dairy Authority (NDA) expects to finalize the implementing rules for its expanded role under Republic Act 12308, or the Animal Industry Development and Competitiveness Act, before October this year. The law allocates P20 billion annually over 10 years to strengthen the country’s livestock sector.