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Romualdez, other solons hail Marcos’ Time magazine citation

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.’s inclusion in Time magazine’s list of the world’s most influential people for 2024 shows how much the country’s interests have advanced under the current administration, House of Representatives lawmakers, including Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez himself said. Romualdez on Friday congratulated his cousin Marcos on being included in Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People...

Man who won primary election while charged with murder convicted on lesser charge

LEBANON, Ind. (AP) — A central Indiana man who won a primary election for a township board position while charged with killing his estranged wife has been found guilty of the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. A Boone County jury convicted Andrew Wilhoite, 41, of Lebanon on Thursday, local news outlets reported. Wilhoite was charged with murder in the death of his wife, 41-year-old Elizabeth “Nikki” Wilhoite, who was reported missing by...

‘No reclamation allowed within Laguna de Bay’

MANILA, Philippines — Reclamation activities within Laguna de Bay have not been issued any permits or clearances, according to the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) yesterday after photos were taken showing the extent of ongoing reclamation in the lake. “We are actively engaged in legal actions contesting ownership claims in the area, particularly where reclamation and backfilling activities have been reported,” the LLDA said in a...

HEADLINES: Chinese 'swarm' forming in WPS | Apr. 20, 2024

Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Saturday, April 20, 2024. Today's episode is brought to you by Wilcon Depot, The Philippines' leading home improvement and construction supplies retailer—your Trusted Building Partner. READ: Chinese 'swarm' forming in WPS CHINA'S maritime militia has been repositioning its ships in preparation for "swarming" maneuvers in the West Philippine Sea. Ray Powell, director of SeaLight, a maritime...

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.

US military strategy tested as Iran-Israel warfare comes out of shadows

By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military's success helping Israel stop a massive wave of Iranian missiles and drones last weekend might suggest Washington is well prepared militarily for whatever comes next as Iran and Israel move from shadow warfare to direct confrontation. But current and former U.S. officials say U.S. forces are not positioned for a major,

Bloody Sunday families criticise PPS Bloody Sunday perjury decision

Regarded as one of the darkest days of the Troubles, 13 people were killed when paratroopers opened fire on a crowd taking part in a civil rights march in Londonderry on January 30, 1972.

Ecuador weighs security, international arbitration in latest referendum

President Daniel Noboa aims to rally support for a military crackdown on gang violence as he considers reelection.

Murder arrest after woman found dead

A 60-year-old man remains in police custody, Nottinghamshire Police said.

Gangsters jailed over dancefloor shooting in Hackney

Gangsters jailed over dancefloor shooting in Hackney - The dead gunman was a ‘core member’ of the 67 gang from Brixton Hill

'Predator' sexually assaulted woman walking home

Alazar Yohans attempted to kiss the victim in a bar before following her across town, police say.

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.

Columbine school shooters glorified by young followers: Inside the scary online obsession

Twenty-five years after the Columbine shooting, young people who weren't born when it happened are glorifying the killers on social media platforms.

Drugs and cash worth £20,000 found at man's home

Jack Defraine, 29, receives a sentence of three and half years in prison.

‘Non-opposition’ Duterte: If Vice President Sara becomes president…

MANILA, Philippines — After lambasting President Marcos in several Hakbang ng Maisog prayer rallies, former president Rodrigo Duterte has declared that he does not oppose the Marcos administration. “I am not an opposition. I am also not against Marcos,” Duterte said in his speech at the founding anniversary of Brgy. Pandaitan, a former rebel infested barangay in Davao City. Duterte explained that he did not support Marcos during the last...

Tesco 'vetting' customers on CCTV over shoplifting

Doors are locked at the store at certain times and customers viewed on CCTV before being allowed in.

Cleethorpes man charged with terrorism offences

Mohammed Mahfuz Ahmad, 25, is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Saturday.

Ukraine has created a new unit dedicated to demining the country

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

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

Week of Iran-Israel Strikes Marks a Mideast ‘Game Changer’

One of the most incendiary weeks in the decades-long shadow war between Iran and Israel ended with relief Friday after Tehran declared it had defeated what it said was a small attack on its territory by Israeli drones.

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?

'No to mining': activists demand closure of Guatemala gold mine

Waving banners and shouting "no to mining," environmental activists gathered in small boats on a lake between El Salvador and Guatemala on Friday calling for the closure of a Canadian-owned gold mine. Lake Guija feeds a tributary of the Lempa River, which starts in Guatemala, crosses part of Honduras and then enters El Salvador, where it is an important source of drinking water for the capital San Salvador.

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...

Croatia top court bars president from becoming next PM

Zagreb, Croatia — Croatia’s top court said on Friday that the country’s president, who had campaigned to become prime minister ahead of this week’s parliamentary election, could not head the new government. “The president has been warned in time that he cannot participate in the campaign, but that he must (first) resign. Now it is over. He can no longer be a prime minister-designate,” Constitutional Court President Miroslav Separovic told a...

Ex-police officer jailed for sharing scene images

While serving as a PC, Wood sent images from investigations to his family and friends via WhatsApp.

Three California police officers charged in 2021 death of man in custody

(Reuters) -California prosecutors announced involuntary manslaughter charges against three police officers for the 2021 death of a man in their custody, reversing the outcome of a previous investigation that had cleared the officers. The officers in Alameda, California, pinned Mario Gonzalez, 26, to the ground for about five minutes before he became unresponsive during an arrest on April 19, 2021

Mingnilla residents complain of foul odor, smog from Talisay landfill

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Five days after the landfill in Barangay Tapul, Talisay City caught fire, some residents in several barangays in Minglanilla town have been complaining about the foul odor and smog from the area. On Monday, a fire alarm went off at the said landfill, allegedly causing smog in some areas of Minglanilla. Linao-Pata Barangay Councilor Merlyn Nacua, in an interview with DYSS Super Radyo, expressed alarm over the situation,...

Iran signals no plan to retaliate against Israel after drone attack

By Parisa Hafezi and James Mackenzie DUBAI/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Explosions echoed over an Iranian city on Friday in what sources said was 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. Iran's foreign minister said the drones, which the sources said Israel launched against the

Colombian President urges residents in Bogota to conserve water

Colombian President Gustavo Petro wants residents in Bogotá to get away from the capital this weekend as a way to conserve water as reservoir levels are down due to a drought.

When words, actions speak loud: Duterte’s honeymoon with China

MANILA, Philippines—“I would say ‘this is ours and do what you want with me’.” This was the declaration of Rodrigo Duterte in 2016, less than a month before he was elected as president of the Philippines. At that time, he said that should China disregard the decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), which was still pending then, he would ride a jet ski to the West Philippine Sea (WPS) to assert what is “ours”. It came on as a strong...

Haiti's death toll rises as international support lags, UN report says

By Sarah Morland (Reuters) - More than 2,500 people were killed or injured in gang violence in Haiti from January through March, up 53% from the last three months of 2023, the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) said on Friday. At least 590 were killed during police operations, BINUH said in a report. Several were apparently not involved in gang violence, some had impaired mobility

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...

Grace period pushed for apprehended e-bike drivers before Marcos order

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Grace Poe has called for a grave period too for electronic bike users who were apprehended three days before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a grace period on the policy banning such vehicles from major roads in Metro Manila. Poe in a statement on Friday said that it is only right to grant a grace period too for those who were required to pay fines and had their e-bikes impounded. The rule banning e-trikes...

Iran says it will respond at 'maximum level' if Israel acts against its interests

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said on Friday that Iran will respond at an immediate and "maximum level" if Israel acts against its interests. "If Israel wants to do another adventurism and acts against the interests of Iran, our next response will be immediate and will be at the maximum level," Amirabdollahian said, speaking through a translator, in an

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...

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.

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'.

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.

What you need to know about world’s largest democratic election in India

NEW DELHI — The world’s largest democratic election could also be one of its most consequential. With a population of over 1.4 billion people and close to 970 million voters, India’s general election pits Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an avowed Hindu nationalist, against a broad alliance of opposition parties that are struggling to play catch up. READ: In Modi’s India, opponents and journalists feel the squeeze ahead of election The 73-year-old...

G7 countries slam Chinese firms’ support for Russia’s defence industry

Ministers say transfer of weapons components is enabling Russia to ‘reconstitute and revitalise’ its defence production.

Iran's foreign minister downplays drone attack, says Tehran investigating

By Jasper Ward and Nidal al-Mughrabi WASHINGTON/CAIRO (Reuters) - Iran's foreign minister on Friday said Tehran was investigating an overnight attack on Iran, adding that so far a link to Israel had not been proven as he downplayed the strike. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian told NBC News the drones took off from inside Iran and flew for a few hundred meters before being downed.

UN warns 800,000 people in Sudan city in 'extreme, immediate danger'

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Some 800,000 people in a Sudanese city are in "extreme and immediate danger" as worsening violence advances and threatens to "unleash bloody intercommunal strife throughout Darfur," top U.N. officials warned the Security Council on Friday. War erupted in Sudan one year ago between the Sudanese army (SAF) and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), creating the world's

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...

South Africa man convicted in deaths of 2 Alaska Native women faces revocation of U.S. citizenship

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Federal prosecutors want to revoke the U.S. citizenship of a South Africa man convicted of killing two Alaska Native women for allegedly lying on his naturalization application for saying he had neither killed nor hurt anyone. Brian Steven Smith, 52, was convicted earlier this year in the deaths of the two women, narrating as he recorded one woman dying. That video was stored on a phone that was stolen from his pickup....

Moment baby is found not breathing shown to jury

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

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

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...

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...

Ukraine downs Russian strategic bomber after airstrike kills eight, Kyiv says

By Tom Balmforth and Anastasiia Malenko KYIV/DNIPRO, Ukraine (Reuters) -Ukraine shot down a Russian strategic bomber on Friday after the warplane took part in a long-range airstrike that killed eight people including two children in the central Dnipropetrovsk region, Kyiv said. Missiles rained down on the city of Dnipro and the surrounding region in the early hours, damaging residential