News

Ukraine has created a new unit dedicated to demining the country

Landslides feared as grass fires hit Mt. Arayat

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Authorities in Pampanga province have called for an investigation into the source of grass fires that engulfed a large section of Mt. Arayat on Wednesday as an immediate damage assessment has been set due to fear of landslides and rockslides from its slopes. According to Angelina Blanco, executive officer of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, the assessment ordered by Gov. Dennis Pineda with the...

China to US: Respect our sea rights, sovereignty

MANILA, Philippines — The Chinese defense minister reportedly talked with his US counterpart early this week to relay Beijing’s appeal to Washington that it respect China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea, saying President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden have a shared commitment to improving bilateral relations. The Chinese embassy said the video conversation between Chinese defense minister Admiral Dong...

Concert marks amateur choir's 200-year anniversary

England's second-oldest amateur choral society will mark its birthday at a concert with the oldest.

Filipina gymnast Levi Ruivivar clinches Paris Olympics berth

Add Levi Ruivivar to the growing list of Filipino athletes who have qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics as the Filipina-American gymnast booked her Summer Games spot on Saturday. Ruivivar clinched a Paris berth after eking out an impressive silver medal finish in the uneven bars final of the final leg of the 2024 FIG World Cup in Doha, Qatar. Her qualification was officially announced by the Philippine Olympic Committee. The 17-year-old...

Thousands protest against Canary islands’ ‘unsustainable’ tourism model

Thousands of people will join protests across the Canary islands on Saturday to call for an urgent rethink of the Spanish archipelago’s tourism industry and a freeze on tourist numbers, arguing that the current, decades-old model has made life unaffordable and environmentally unsustainable for local people. The protests – which will take place under the banner “Canarias tiene un límite” (The Canaries have a limit) – are being backed by...

INQToday: PDEA, prosecutor blame media for conflicting shabu haul data

Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories: PDEA, prosecutor blame media for conflicting shabu haul data An anti-narcotics official and the provincial prosecutor preparing cases related to the government’s biggest-ever drug bust have blamed the media for the conflicting data on the amount of shabu seized, claiming that police officers would not have released estimates if they were not pressured. In a press briefing hosted by the Department of...

USC scraps outside speakers at commencement after canceling Muslim student's speech

By Kanishka Singh (Reuters) - The University of Southern California announced there will be no outside speakers and honorees at this year's main commencement ceremony after canceling its valedictorian speech from a Muslim student who said she was silenced by anti-Palestinian hatred. "Given the highly publicized circumstances surrounding our main-stage commencement program, university leadership

Rama orders probe of Baclayon days after defending CAD chief

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has shifted gears and now wants to investigate the allegations against CAD chief Joelito Baclayon. The Mayor has ordered the city’s fact-finding team to probe the accusations made by City Councilor Jun Alcover, the chairman of the committee on agriculture, regarding Baclayon’s alleged negligence. The surprise turnaround came just days after the mayor threw his full support behind his...

MMDA reworks ban on e-bikes

In compliance with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Friday said it will use the one-month grace period to inform the public on the banning of e-bikes, e-trikes, tricycles, pedicabs, push carts and kuligligs (motorized pedicabs) from traversing national roads in Metro Manila. In a press conference in Pasig City, MMDA Acting Chair Romando Artes said the agency received the...

Ministers working to counter risk of Chinese interference

Correspondence from Cabinet Office minister John Glen reveals the UK is conducting 'significant work related to national security' after concerns were raised about Chinese genomics company BGI.

Marcos urged: Rethink keeping VP as education chief

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. should rethink whether he should continue having an alter ego who “constantly undermines him,” a lawmaker said on Friday after first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos admitted she was displeased and hurt by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte’s response to a personal attack against her husband. The President’s wife referred to how Duterte reacted with laughter when the Vice President’s father, former...

X vows to 'robustly challenge' Australia order to remove stabbing posts

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Social media platform X said on Saturday it would challenge in court an order from an Australian regulator demanding the company remove some posts related to the stabbing of a bishop in Sydney. Police charged a boy, 16, with a terrorism offence on Thursday for the alleged stabbing of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel at a church in the New South Wales capital on Monday. Footage from the

Revealed: Mailman's key role in Operation Mincemeat spy plot

The paper's then editor Bob Prew instructed correspondent Cedric Salter to position himself near the Balkans in 1943 to mislead the enemy.

More than 1.7 million persons affected by El Niño, DSWD says

At least 1.7 million individuals have already been affected by the El Niño phenomenon as of Friday, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Saturday. These individuals are in Regions 2, 3, Mimaropa, 5, 6, 7, 9, 12 and Cordillera Administrative Region, DSWD spokesperson and Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs Irene Dumlao said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB. "Batay sa patuloy na pagmo-monitor ng DSWD through our...

Woman who 'hated the sea' was found dead on beach

Glenys Shelton had previously spoken of taking her own life, an inquest heard.

Seameo veteran named to CHEd vacancy

A former director of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (Seameo) has taken over the post of ousted commissioner Mark Libre, the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) announced on Friday. Ethel Agnes Pascua-Valenzuela, who is also a lecturer at the University of the Philippines Diliman, will replace Libre who was sacked in January for appointing relatives in government posts under his direct supervision. READ: CHEd...

Ecuador president declares state of emergency over energy crisis

QUITO (Reuters) - Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa declared a second state of emergency on Friday over an energy crisis that has already led to rationing in the South American country. Noboa, who took office in November, had declared an energy emergency and instituted power cuts earlier this week, but the cuts will be suspended on Sunday for a referendum he looks set to win on a raft of security

The Opium Wars that devastated China

The Opium Wars of the mid-19th century were fought between the Western powers and the Qing dynasty, which ruled China from 1644 to 1912. Two wars took place, both fought essentially over the illegal trade of opium and the expansion of territory claimed by the British in the region. In the eyes of many scholars, the conflict marked the end of China's isolation and the beginning of modern Chinese history. But the price paid was heavy. So, what exactly were the Opium Wars? Click through for an explanation and timeline of events.

Benefits to be axed after a year if jobseekers fail to find work

Unveiling the biggest shake-up of the welfare system for a generation, the Prime Minister said he was determined to prevent people staying on benefits as a 'lifestyle choice'.

Former MPs hoping for a comeback at the next election

A Blair-era cabinet minister and a Lib Dem who was last an MP 20 years ago are among those standing again.

BI: Foreign students can face intel probe for suspicious acts

Foreigners holding student visas may be subjected to an investigation by government intelligence agencies if suspected of conducting illegal activities. The Bureau of Immigration (BI) issued the reminder amid concerns being raised over the increasing presence of Chinese students in areas near military installations, airports and seaports, an issue stoked by the maritime dispute between the Philippines and China in the West Philippine Sea. READ:...

HPA ridge to extend over eastern Luzon; Metro Manila residents warned Heat Index stays at 'extreme caution'

The ridge of a High Pressure Area (HPA) will be extending over the eastern section of Luzon while the Heat Index for Metro Manila remains at "Extreme Caution" status on Saturday, PAGASA reported. Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to localized thunderstorms with possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms. PAGASA...

Mega Millions winning numbers for April 19 drawing: Jackpot climbs to $178 million

The Mega Millions jackpot climbed to $178 million after the April 19 drawing. Did anyone win Friday's prize?

Only 400 Chinese students in Cagayan – BI

MANILA, Philippines — There are only 400 Chinese students in Cagayan province, contrary to reports that 4,600 had enrolled in a local private school, possibly to serve as spies for the Chinese military. The Bureau of Immigration (BI) made the clarification in response to calls from some lawmakers for an investigation on the “influx” into Cagayan of thousands of Chinese to study in St. Paul University in Tuguegarao City. Cagayan Gov. Manuel...

In eastern Visayas, 3-month-old boy dies of pertussis

TACLOBAN CITY — A 3-month-old boy from Gamay town in Northern Samar succumbed to pertussis, also known as whooping cough, the Department of Health (DOH) said. Jelyn Malibago, DOH information officer in Eastern Visayas, said the baby, who died on April 11, was the first recorded pertussis fatality in the region. Malibago said the boy, who had received shots against pertussis, was first taken to the Gamay District Hospital but was later...

Rumbling sounds not from Mt. Pinatubo, Zambales townsfolk told

SAN MARCELINO, Zambales — The local government here reassured residents on Friday, April 19, that the deep rumbling sounds they have been hearing the past two days were not from Mt. Pinatubo. The San Marcelino Public Information Office (PIO) clarified that the noises were not related to any blasting or mining activities in the town. It said the municipal disaster risk reduction and management office had reached out to the authorities from Capas...

Migrants in Dunkirk undeterred by UK's Rwanda bill

Although migrants are concerned about the deportation policy, they still want to enter the UK.

President Marcos to PNPA graduates: Nation first before self

MANILA, Philippines — Police officers should put the nation above self, President Marcos said yesterday. “Taumbayan bago ang sarili,” Marcos told new graduates of the Philippine National Police Academy in his address before Layag-Diwa Class of 2024 at the PNPA. He also told the graduates that being digital natives, they should do “smart policing” and take advantage of technology to combat crime and protect communities. “Most of you were born...

Landlord speaks out after pub sign goes viral

The Lower Red Lion's chalkboard sign was viewed by about 75 million people online.

Mexico’s AMLO Says Peso Slump ‘Helps’ After Becoming Too Strong

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said the Mexican peso’s recent weakening was a help as the currency had become too strong.

No ‘fight’ anymore? Duterte-led PDP officially drops ‘Laban’ from name

MANILA, Philippines — Political party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) under the leadership of former president Rodrigo Duterte has decided to officially drop the second part of its name — Laban, which stands for Lakas ng Bayan — during a meeting of its members in Cebu City. During the celebration of the party’s 42nd anniversary on Friday which was streamed on their official Facebook page, a motion — which was said to have been deliberated...

ONE BILLION people set to vote in six-week Indian election

Nearly 970 million voters - more than 10 per cent of the world's population - will elect 543 ­members to the lower house of parliament over staggered rounds of voting, with polls opening on Friday.

Britain's 'strictest teacher' slams Braverman for 'political' comments

Katharine Birbalsingh, head of Michaela Community School, hit out at Ms Braverman after she congratulated the establishment on winning its legal battle against a Muslim schoolgirl.

Moment baby is found not breathing shown to jury

Kate Roughley denies she caused the death of nine-month-old Genevieve Meehan.

The most productive countries in the world, ranked

How do we judge which countries are the most economically productive? Economists use metrics such as gross domestic product (GDP) and gross national income (GNI), which measure the monetary value of all of the goods and services of any type created by a country (GDP) or its people (GNI). GDP is typically measured in US dollars (US$) or international dollars (INT$), which measure output. To measure efficiency, GDP needs to be divided by the number of people in a country, to determine a country's output per person. It's important to bear in mind when considering the figures that some places have a head start. For example, Luxembourg, Singapore, Bermuda, Switzerland, and the Cayman Islands are all among the world's leading tax havens. So, intrigued? Click on to learn which countries are the most productive in the world.

Man arrested in Paris after Iran consulate incident

PARIS (Reuters) - French police on Friday arrested a man who had threatened to blow himself up at Iran's consulate in Paris, but on being searched was found not to be carrying any explosives. A police source told Reuters the man was seen at about 11 a.m. (0900 GMT) entering the consulate, carrying what appeared to be a grenade and explosive vest. Police cordoned off the area. The man later left

India pushes Maoist rebel strongholds on road to democracy

A narrow winding road through an untamed forest has proven a blow to a decades-old Maoist rebellion that is one of India's longest and deadliest insurgencies. - 'The state has arrived' - The Naxalite rebellion, as the Maoist movement is known, began in the 1960s as a revolt against the exploitation of marginalised rural Indians.

Ukraine needs at least seven Patriot air defence systems, Zelenskiy tells NATO

By Tom Balmforth and Yuliia Dysa KYIV (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told NATO members on Friday that Ukraine needed a minimum of seven Patriot or other high-end air defence systems to counter Russian air strikes, exhorting them to step up their military assistance for Kyiv. In an emotional speech by video link to the NATO-Ukraine Council, the Ukrainian leader described the current

China concerned over US deployment of medium-range missiles to PH

MANILA, Philippines: China expressed concern over the US deployment of medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBMs) in the Asia-Pacific, particularly in the Philippines, after it was announced by the US Army Pacific Command. "The US's move exacerbates regional tensions and increases the risk of misjudgment and miscalculation. We urge the US to respect other countries' security concerns earnestly, stop stoking military confrontation, stop undermining...

These are history's multilingual US presidents

The President of the United States is used to talking tough. But how many presidents in US history were able to do so in another language besides English? Not many people realize that there are 21 former White House incumbents who could converse in at least one foreign language. Some, in fact, were multilinguists. And did you know that there was one American president who didn't speak English as his first language. Intrigued? Click through and discover the presidents who could communicate in foreign tongues.

Measuring development 101: theory

It was in late 1973, at the freshly established Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) at Tagaytay City, that I saw the term “social indicators” for the first time. It was on the draft research agenda of Onofre D. “OD” Corpuz, the first DAP president. I was with several professors of the University of the Philippines (UP), invited by OD for an overnight stay, to see if we would like to help him out in some way. I said I would be interested...

Pro-China PM retains his seat in Solomon Islands election

Honiara, Solomon Islands — Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare was set to retain his seat in elections Saturday, local media reported, paving the way for the pro-China leader to try to form a government. Sogavare is one of China’s most loyal friends in the South Pacific and has vowed to deepen ties with Beijing further if he returns to power. He will soon travel to the capital Honiara, where his team will begin bartering with other...

Labour is blasted for 'misogynistic' social media meme about housing

The meme was posted at 12.30pm and quickly got spread around Twitter with elected Labour MP as well as members of the public condemning it for making women appear as 'thoughtless creatures'.

US House to vote on Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan aid package

The US House of Representatives is poised to hold a crucial vote on Saturday on a major aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan -- and a possible ban of TikTok. President Joe Biden and Democratic lawmakers in Congress have been pushing for a major new weapons package for Ukraine for months.

Two hurt in fire in residential area in Brgy. Sto. Niño, QC

Two people were injured after a fire hit a residential area in Barangay Sto. Niño, Quezon City on Saturday morning. One of the victims was a fire volunteer whose hand was wounded. The other victim was a resident who got a minor burn after moving his vehicle while evacuating, according to a report by Christian Maño on Super Radyo dzBB. The fire broke out at 6:18 a.m. in a compound on Barangay Buhay Street. The compound had five houses. The Bureau...

Man sets himself on fire outside Donald Trump hush money trial in New York

Man sets himself on fire outside Donald Trump hush money trial in New York - People rushed to douse the person with a fire extinguisher and try to bat the flames away, according to reports

Land row hits NGCP project

MANILA, Philippines — Grid operator National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) hit a legal roadblock in undertaking one of the critical transmission projects in the provinces of Batangas and Cavite. In a statement on Friday, NGCP said it had filed expropriation cases against E. M. Ramos and Sons Inc. and several other defendants “who claim interest over the properties” affected by the construction of its 500-kilovolt Tuy-Dasmariñas...

‘Sari-sari’ store incubator project rolled out

MANILA, Phillippines — The Rotary Club of San Juan Supreme has launched its Supreme Store Project, which provides seed grants to enable deserving individuals to set up sari-sari stores at strategic locations across the country. The seed grant of P25,000 is used to build the store and buy initial stocks. The club will also provide financial education and business mentoring, while building beneficiaries’ supply chain to ensure cost-effective...

Thames Water plans 56 per cent bills hike raising charges to £700

Bosses have put the proposed hike, which would be introduced over a five-year period, to regulators in a bid to stave off the company's collapse.