National

P3.4-M suspected shabu seized in Cotabato City

Police seized suspected shabu worth around P3.4 million and arrested four drug suspects in a sting operation on Almonte Street, Poblacion 2, Cotabato City. One of the arrested suspects was identified as alias “Sampulna.” His alleged illegal drug activities covered the adjacent provinces, including the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Cotabato City, and Davao City. He was detained in 2013 for drug-related offense in...

Cagayan schools: ‘Baseless’ to say Chinese students threaten PH security

MANILA, Philippines — Universities and colleges in Tuguegarao City branded as “baseless” and considered “deeply offensive” insinuations that the presence of Chinese students in the city poses a threat to national security. The Medical Colleges of the Northern Philippines (MCNP), University of Cagayan Valley (UCV), University of Saint Louis Tuguegarao (USLT), and Saint Paul University Philippines (SPUP) even called the innuendos as a “blatant...

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.

Russia's Shoigu says tank production is booming

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Friday that the country was ramping up manufacturing of tanks and heavy flamethrower systems, but more work was needed to increase production of tank protection equipment. Shoigu's ministry published video showing him touring a tank factory in the Siberian city of Omsk and meeting workers, whom he praised for exceeding production

DPWH halts P884 million Borongan seawall project

TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has suspended the construction of a seawall at a coastal village in Borongan City in Eastern Samar in the wake of opposition from its residents and mayor. Edgar Tabacon, DPWH director for Eastern Visayas region, said he already directed the contractor to stop the P884-million project that was criticized by Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda and residents of Barangay Lalawigan, a coastal...

Bureau of Immigration, nilinaw na 1,000 lang ang mga Chinese national na binigyan ng student visa sa Cagayan

Bureau of Immigration, nilinaw na 1,000 lang ang mga Chinese national na binigyan ng student visa sa Cagayan

Eye on China: First batch of BrahMos missiles lands in Philippines from India

India has been looking at further expanding defence ties with the Philippines against the backdrop of growing global concerns over China's increasing military assertiveness in the South China Sea

Zubiri, New Zealand PM discuss agri, security cooperation

Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri on Friday met with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to discuss agricultural and security cooperation. Zubiri hosted a luncheon for Luxon who was accompanied by Simon Watts MP, Minister of Climate Change and Revenue, and Paulo Garcia MP, New Zealand’s first Member of Parliament to come from Filipino descent, and a "sizeable delegation from New Zealand's business sector." “We are especially...

Anthony Albanese flags huge changes to HECS debt

On Thursday Mr Albanese promised to make HECS 'simpler and fairer'. The Prime Minister admitted that the average student debt has skyrocketed in the past three years.

Woman in her 70s dies in Londonderry crash

The collision involving two cars occurred on the Limavady Road on Thursday afternoon.

Pakistan attack targets van carrying Japanese autoworkers

Police said three people were wounded in port city of Karachi but bomber and accomplice died.

Death in Malacañang, 1930

It is probably a professional bias, but each time I open the Inquirer online, I scroll to the grayscale page that is a reproduction of page one from the past. Yesterday, the front page story of choice from April 18, 1992 was a report on 14 penitents who were crucified in Kapitangan, Pampanga, an event which draws both the curious and devout each year on Good Friday. Then there was a story on the introduction of the “sablay” at the University of...

Marcos among Time’s ‘100 Most Influential’

Citing his quest to “repair” his family’s image, as well as his post pandemic recovery efforts and stance against Chinese aggression in the South China Sea, Time Magazine has named President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. one of the “100 Most Influential People of 2024.” He was the third Philippine leader to make it to the list, after Benigno Aquino III (2013) and Rodrigo Duterte (2017). Aquino’s mother, the late former President Cory Aquino, was honored...

‘Blatant aggression’: Reactions to US veto of Palestine’s UN membership bid

The vote in the 15-member Security Council was 12 in favour and two abstentions – the UK and Switzerland.

Tehran plays down reported Israeli attacks, signals no further retaliation

By Parisa Hafezi and James Mackenzie DUBAI/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Explosions echoed over an Iranian city on Friday in what sources described as an Israeli attack, but Tehran played down the incident and indicated it had no plans for retaliation - a response that appeared gauged towards averting region-wide war. The limited scale of the attack and Iran's muted response both appeared to signal a

Award for Manx civilians killed in public service

Families of those killed while serving the public are encourage to apply for the Elizabeth Emblem.

Kenya mourns defence chief killed in helicopter crash

Kenya began three days of mourning on Friday after its defence chief and nine other senior officers were killed in a helicopter crash, the latest military accident involving a high-profile figure. Ogolla, who was born in 1962, is not the only high-profile victim of an air crash in Kenya, with several dignitaries killed in recent years.

Peter Dutton smiles cheesily with Australia's next Governor-General

Samantha Mostyn was announced as General David Hurley's replacement as the King's representative in Australia when his term ends on July 1.

Iran fires air defence batteries as sound of explosions heard near Isfahan

Iran fired air defence batteries early on Friday morning after reports of explosions near the city of Isfahan, the state-run IRNA news agency reported. It remained unclear if the country was under attack. However, tensions remain high in the broader Middle East after Iran's unprecedented missile-and-drone attack on Israel. One government official suggested sites may have been targeted by drones. US officials declined to comment as of early Friday, but American broadcast networks quoting unnamed US officials said Israel carried out the attack. The New York Times quoted anonymous Israeli officials claiming the assault. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Nearly half of China’s major cities are sinking, researchers say

SINGAPORE — Nearly half of China’s major cities are suffering “moderate to severe” levels of subsidence, putting millions of people at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise, according to a study of nationwide satellite data released on Friday. The authors of the paper, published by the journal Science, found 45% of China’s urban land was […]

EU Commission President calls on Israel, Iran to refrain from escalation

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called on Iran, Israel, and their allies to refrain from escalation in the Middle East after sources said Israel carried out an attack on Iranian soil on Friday. "It is absolutely necessary that the region remains stable and that all sides restrain from further action," von der Leyen said alongside...

China embassy: Issue vs Sino students reeks of ‘McCaRthyism’

The Chinese Embassy in Manila has accused Filipino politicians who are linking the influx of Chinese students in Cagayan province to the West Philippine Sea dispute of “inciting suspicion and hatred of China.” Without elaborating, it attributed the presence of the Chinese students in the country to “education exchanges and cooperation” between Manila and Beijing that had been “growing fast” in recent years. READ: Some Chinese students in Cagayan...

Israel 'strikes Iran' as explosions rock hostile state

Israel has conducted airstrikes on a target in Iran, US officials say.

Why an Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities is a bad idea

A direct Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear sites would yield little while risking too much.

Rhian Ramos is finally flying home after '2 days of sleeping on airport floors'

Rhian Ramos was among the stranded passengers in Dubai International Airport after heavy rains disrupted its operations. On X (formerly Twitter) Friday, Rhian first posted a photo of what appeared to be her makeshift bed — blankets spread on the floor, towels as pillows — as well as a photo of a long lines at the connections desk, and asked if there was "anyone from Emirates Dubai" who could help. "We need to rebook," she said. Three hours...

Children among eight dead in Russia strike on Ukraine

Russia strikes two cities in Ukraine's central Dnipropetrovsk region, hitting the station in Dnipro.

Rishi Sunak vows Rwanda Bill WILL be passed on Monday

Rishi Sunak warned peers he is ready to make Parliament sit through the night if they continue efforts to hamper the crucial legislation.

IRONKIDS 2024 Lapu-Lapu fires off on Saturday

CEBU CITY, Philippines — A total of 254 young and aspiring triathletes will test their mettle in the RLC Residences IRONKIDS 2024 Lapu-Lapu on Saturday, April 20, at The Reef Island Resort in Mactan, Cebu. The IRONKIDS serves as one of the highlight events before the centerpiece, IRONMAN 70.3 Lapu-Lapu, and has been a regular event in each of its editions. READ MORE: Road closures on April 21 in Lapu-Lapu, Cordova, SRP, CCLEX Lapu-Lapu City to...

Meet the dangerous new long-range missile Russia is firing at Ukraine

World urges ‘de-escalation’ after drones shot down over Iran

Escalation more than six months into Israel’s war on Gaza has raised fears of spiralling violence across region.

Staff and shoppers return to 'somber' Sydney shopping mall 6 days after mass stabbings

SYDNEY (AP) — Shoppers and workers returned to a “really quiet” Sydney mall Friday, where six days earlier an assailant stabbed six people to death and wounded more than a dozen others in an attack that police believe targeted women. Westfield Bondi Junction mall near world-famous Bondi Beach had opened Thursday, although shops inside were closed, for a “community reflection day.” New South Wales state Premier Chris Minns described it as “the...

Lidl worker seriously injured in store accident

An investigation is ongoing after a woman suffered what police said were "life-changing injuries".

Bato wants whole-of-gov't probe on Chinese influx in Cagayan

Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa called for a whole-of-government investigation into the reported influx of Chinese students in Cagayan province to check for possible "underlying motives." "Kung totoo man 'yan, dapat hindi nagpatulog-tulog 'yung ating mga otoridad. Dapat maimbestigahan 'yan para malaman natin at handa tayo kung anuman ang mayroon man yang mga underlying motives sa kanilang presensya d'yan. Dapat malaman natin," Dela Rosa told...

Notable People who died in 2024

Ukraine 'could lose on battlefield by end of 2024', warns CIA Director

CIA Director William Burns admitted yesterday that without Western support Russian autocrat Vladimir Putin may be 'in a position where he could essentially dictate the terms of a political settlement'

Arrests after nine injured in fight outside pub

Five people were taken to hospital following the brawl and two men were arrested, police say.

'We were shot at with BB guns' - roadworker

Construction workers in Salisbury report rising levels of abuse.

China says Marcos gov’t broke ‘new’ Ayungin pact

China insisted it had reached an “internal understanding” and a “new model” to deescalate tension at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea with the Philippines, but said that the Marcos administration “abandoned” it seven months later. The statement, made by the Chinese Embassy in Manila on Thursday, came a week after Beijing and former President Rodrigo Duterte confirmed they had a “gentleman’s agreement” to keep the “status...

Philippine Coast Guard to send 6 vessels to ‘Balikatan’ drills

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will deploy six vessels, composed of four multi-role response vessels and two larger patrol vessels, when it joins this year’s “Balikatan” (shoulder-to-shoulder) exercises with American and other troops in Philippine and international waters starting next week. Rear Adm. Armand Balilo, PCG spokesperson, said on Thursday that the quasi-private agency would participate in “joint interoperability exercises” with the...

Marcos urges new PNPA grads: Use technology to fight crimes, serve Filipinos

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Friday urged the 223 new uniformed personnel under the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) "Layag-Diwa" Class of 2024 to maximize technology in fighting crimes and serving the Filipino people. "Most of you were born when the internet was no longer in its infancy, and you were shaped to be tech savvy, digital natives. I challenge you to leverage that technology that you are familiar with as aids...

Forest fire erupts in Mt. Arayat, Pampanga

Residents near Mt. Arayat in Pampanga were alarmed upon seeing a portion of the mountain ablaze evening on April 17, 2024. Although the fire was visible from Magalang town, the incident occurred in Arayat town, as confirmed by the Magalang Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Office. According to initial reports from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Magalang, the fire started around 4 p.m. in the upper part of Barangay Baliti, Arayat, and the...

UK MPs eroding public trust with 'carousel' of misbehavior

LONDON: From watching pornography in parliament to numerous sexual assault allegations, British lawmakers in the current parliament have engaged in a range of bad behaviour that experts say is eroding trust in politics. A MP suspended himself from the Conservative parliamentary party this week over claims he misused campaign funds, becoming the latest in a long list of Tories accused of misconduct recently. The scandals are leading to calls for...

The problem with Duterte’s ‘What I remember…’

He should have written it down on a table napkin and shoved it into his pocket or undershirt. But former president Rodrigo Duterte, perhaps awed by China’s lavish reception accorded him, did not. So he does not have a written record of the “gentleman’s agreement” between him and China’s President Xi Jinping as regards the Philippines’ decrepit BRP Sierra Madre, the military outpost in the Philippines’ territorial waters in the West Philippine...

EU should help Finland prevent migrants arriving from Russia, PM says

HELSINKI (Reuters) - The European Union should take measures to help Finland prevent an influx of migrants via Russia, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said on Friday. "We are preparing our own legislation but we also need EU measures," Orpo said after visiting the Nordic country's border with Russia together with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Finland last year shut its

Death threats reported days before mother stabbed

The IOPC says officers received reports of threats against Kulsuma Akter before she was killed.

20 Chinese ships spotted moving around WPS territories

MANILA, Philippines: China's maritime militia conducted a major rotation in the West Philippine Sea covered by the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on Friday morning. Retired United States Air Force Col. Ray Powell, director of SeaLight, a maritime transparency project that monitors and reports activities in the South China Sea, said at least 20 large Qiong Sansha Yu ships moved south. Powell said based on the automatic identification...

After their PM halts Ukraine aid, Slovaks dig deep to help

A crowdfunding campaign to buy artillery shells for Ukraine quickly exceeds its target of €1m (£850m).

Russia doesn’t have capability to knock Ukraine out of war: Ex-US commander

Ben Hodges, who led US forces in Europe, says Western powers should overcome their fears of supporting Ukraine.

Murder arrest after Waltham Forest stabbing

A man in his 30s died at the scene and police are trying to find and notify his family, the Met says.

Eight killed in overnight Russian strikes, as Ukraine downs bomber

Russian strikes on Ukraine in the early hours of Friday killed at least eight people, including two children, as Kyiv said it shot down a Russian strategic bomber for the first time. In a boost for their forces, Kyiv said it had downed a Russian long-range strategic bomber during a combat mission for the first time.