News

South Korea, Romania pledge defence cooperation amid reports of contract in works

By Jack Kim and Joyce Lee SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean and Romanian leaders pledged on Tuesday to boost defence industry cooperation as Seoul pushes to establish itself as the world's fourth-largest arms exporter amid reports of huge additional contracts in the works. President Yoon Suk Yeol hosted his Romanian counterpart, Klaus Iohannis, for a summit and pledged to increase cooperation in

Lack of officers delays fatal school crash case

The family of a girl killed when a car crashed into her school are told there are too few forensic experts.

American cities are seeing a major drop in homicides

Road closed after reports of stabbing

Bedfordshire Police have closed off Downs Road in Luton after a man was injured in the early hours.

Sen. Pimentel, nais alamin ang totoo sa isyu ng mataas na bilang ng Chinese students sa Cagayan

Sen. Pimentel, nais alamin ang totoo sa isyu ng mataas na bilang ng Chinese students sa Cagayan

Lords accepts Commons rejection of their final Rwanda Bill amendment

Rishi Sunak's Rwanda deportation plan is poised to become law after peers ended their protracted stand-off over the controversial policy. The safety of Rwanda bill has finished its legislative stages and will now awaits Royal Assent.

UK parliament passes Rwanda asylum law as Sunak vows flights will start in weeks

By Sarah Young, Elizabeth Piper and Alistair Smout LONDON (Reuters) -British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promised on Monday to start sending asylum seekers to Rwanda within 10 to 12 weeks as the upper house of parliament finally passed required legislation, delayed for weeks by attempts to alter the plan. Sunak said the government had booked commercial charter planes and trained staff to take

Rishi Sunak vows 'nothing will stand in our way' of migrant flights

Rishi Sunak said: 'The passing of this landmark legislation is not just a step forward but a fundamental change in the global equation on migration.'

Raac found in prison housing blocks

The prison says it is working with specialists to make sure the building is safe.

Beijing slams G7’s concerns in the South China Sea

MANILA, Philippines — The Foreign Ministry of China on Monday rejected the objections raised by foreign ministers of G7 where it opposed the East Asian nation’s actions in the South China Sea. “We strongly deplore and firmly reject the manipulation of China-related issues at the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting,” said Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin. “The comments from the meeting are a deliberate mischaracterization of the facts and...

Secret UK women's codecracking army gets belated recognition for WWII work

During World War II, dozens of women Cambridge University students worked around the clock in complete secrecy to crack Nazi codes, but only now are the unsung heroes getting recognition. She became deputy head of her unit and after the war continued to work in intelligence.

Taiwan hit by numerous quakes, strongest reaching 6.3 magnitude

TAIPEI — Taiwan’s capital was hit by a series of earthquakes overnight into the early hours of Tuesday, with the Central Weather Administration saying the strongest was a magnitude-6.3 tremor originating in eastern Hualien. The first strong quake – a magnitude 5.5 – hit on Monday at around 5:08 p.m. (0908 GMT), according to the Central Weather Administration. It could be felt in the capital Taipei. That was followed by a series of aftershocks...

Comelec told to rule on Mamba DQ case

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has ordered the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to rule on the disqualification case filed against incumbent Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba based on its merits and not on technicality. The ruling issued on April 16 reversed the poll body’s decision to dismiss the petition of defeated gubernatorial candidate Zarah Rose Lara. She had sought to disqualify Mamba as Cagayan gubernatorial candidate in the May 9,...

Barangay geopolitics: ‘Bobo ba tayo?’

Wisdom can often come from the unlikeliest corners. Over the past few years, Sen. Cynthia Villar has emerged as the most “memeable” figure in the country. Late last year, she captured media headlines anew with her distinct brand of spicy interventions. During a hearing on the Philippines’ food security and dependence on imports of fertilizers, the veteran senator correctly asked in a mixture of Filipino and English: “Why should we import? Why...

9 pacts inked as Qatar head visits PH

MANILA, Philippines — The governments of the Philippines and Qatar on Monday forged an agreement to waive visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and official passports to make travel to either country easier for parties on official missions. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) covers valid diplomatic and official passports for the Philippines while those covered for Qatar will be valid diplomatic and special passports, according to a...

Ukraine just destroyed a really expensive piece of Russian equipment

Ukraine launches military charm offensive as conscription flags

By Dan Peleschuk DNIPRO, Ukraine (Reuters) - Far from the trenches, at orderly new centres across Ukraine, civilian recruiters armed with laptops and info packs offer patriotic volunteers opportunities to join the war. As Ukraine's efforts to conscript enough men to fight Russia are stymied by public scepticism, defence officials and military units are embarking on a multi-pronged charm

As El Niño persists, more local gov’ts declare state of calamity

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Iloilo City, Maguindanao del Sur and four towns of Cotabato province have joined the growing number of local government units (LGUs) that have declared a state of calamity amid huge agricultural losses caused by severe dry spell spawned by the El Niño phenomenon. The declaration by the Iloilo City Council on Monday would enable the LGU to use P12.54 million from its quick response fund to procure 696,900 liters of...

Mga partylist na ‘di nakapagpapanalo ng representative sa dalawang magkasunod na halalan, posibleng hindi na maisama sa susunod na eleksyon

Mga partylist na ‘di nakapagpapanalo ng representative sa dalawang magkasunod na halalan, posibleng hindi na maisama sa susunod na eleksyon

Brain drain, once more

In 2023, India has overtaken China as the most populous country in the world, with an estimated population of 1,425,775,850, surpassing by 104,498 China’s estimated population of 1,425,671, 352. Both countries are acknowledged to be among the world’s most influential in spreading their socio-cultural icons that have become staples in many parts of the world, including the Philippines. In contrast, the Philippines, composed of islands, has a...

New police force to review Met's handling of Stephen Lawrence case

Stephen Lawrence, 18, an aspiring architect, was murdered on his way home in an unprovoked attack by a gang of racists in Eltham, south-east London, in April 1993.

Marcos drives East Asia’s power balance shift

The recently concluded summit between US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Philippine President Marcos is a milestone in recasting the balance of power in maritime (North and Southeast) East Asia. This milestone further clarifies the political dynamics in the South China Sea, Taiwan, and the Senkaku Islands. A transformative shift has occurred over the past three years, reshaping the balance of power in maritime...

Countries where you could be sentenced to death for non-violent crimes

International law prohibits the use of the death penalty for crimes that are not intentional and of “the most serious” nature. Yet there are many countries that arbitrarily impose capital punishment acts for "crimes" that include consensual sexual relations outside marriage, opposing the government, and abandoning religion. In fact, in some parts of the world you can get killed for even committing fraud. So, where on Earth could you be sentenced to death for non-violent crimes? Click through and find out where and why.

From PDP-Laban to PDP: Koko laments party changes

MANILA, Philippines — Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said on Monday that former President Rodrigo Duterte and his allies should have just formed their own party instead of drastically changing the once-ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban). “They made many changes, both formal and substantive—from the party name, the constitution, the oath-taking, the handshake [and others],” Pimentel told reporters....

Ten dead as two Navy helicopters collide in Malaysia

Ten dead as two Navy helicopters collide in Malaysia - The vehicles were rehearsing at a Naval base when the crash occurred

Grassfire seen as possible cause of NAIA parking lot blaze

The fire that burned cars in an outdoor pay parking area at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) may have been caused by a grassfire due to the extremely hot weather, the airport's management said. According to a report on Unang Balita on Tuesday, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) is in talks with the concessionaire of the parking area for possible assistance to the owners of the affected cars. The Bureau of Fire...

‘Balikatan’ on; AFP sees China shadowing drills

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and the United States kicked off on Monday one of their biggest “Balikatan” (shoulder-to-shoulder) joint military exercises, with officials expecting Beijing to make a certain presence as it increasingly asserts its maritime claims in the South China Sea. For this year’s 39th iteration of the Balikatan drills, which will run until May 10, France is joining as a partner for the first time, sending its...

Scotland's papers: SNP-Greens pact pressure and Rwanda flights

Calls on Humza Yousaf to rethink the SNP/Green deal and planned detention flights make the front pages.

No Filipinos injured in 2 Taiwan quakes

MANILA, Philippines: No Filipino was injured following two strong earthquakes that struck eastern Taiwan early Tuesday morning, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). The department had placed on alert its Migrant Workers Offices (MWOs) in Taiwan, after magnitude 6.0 and 6.3 earthquakes struck Hualien County around 2:26 a.m. on Tuesday. "Initial reports from Filipino communities and leaders in Hualien County say MWO-Taipei...

Is Russia getting closer to capturing a key settlement that it wants?

Marcos vows to address power crisis in Occidental Mindoro

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Tuesday vowed to address the power supply problem in Occidental Mindoro. "We'll talk about the electricity problem, that's a long-term problem that we really have to solve. Mahal na ngayon. We are connecting you to the other provinces para immediately bababa 'yan," Marcos said during a situation briefing. (We'll talk about the electricity problem, that's a long-term problem that we really have to...

Pakistan hopes to get new IMF loan by early July, says finance minister

By Asif Shahzad (Reuters) -Pakistan is hoping to reach a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund by June or early July, its finance minister said on Tuesday. The country's current $3 billion arrangement with the fund runs out in late-April, which it secured last summer to avert a sovereign default. Islamabad is seeking a long-term bigger loan to help bring permanence to

What do voters want from West Mercia's next PCC?

Shoplifting, women's safety and more visible policing are among the issues raised by voters.

St. Ferdinand Proto-Cathedral sa Ilagan, Isabela, nasunog

St. Ferdinand Proto-Cathedral sa Ilagan, Isabela, nasunog

Ecuador leftists will back security reforms but oppose government, former president says

By Alexandra Valencia QUITO (Reuters) -Ecuador's former President Rafael Correa said on Monday his party, which is now in opposition, will support security measures widely backed by voters in a weekend referendum but will otherwise oppose President Daniel Noboa in the legislature. Noboa, who initially enjoyed a wide legislative coalition, won support for joint police-military patrols, the

Fires hit Mt. Asog in Iriga, historic church in Ilagan

LIGAO CITY, ALBAY, Philippines — A wildfire broke out at the upper portion of Mt. Asog in Iriga City, Camarines Sur, on Sunday while flames also engulfed a historic church in Ilagan City in Isabela province the following day, local officials said. According to the Iriga City Emergency Operations Center, the fire broke out at 9:35 a.m. amid the extreme heat accompanying the El Niño phenomenon and responders were still trying to extinguish it on...

2 Malaysian military helicopters collide and crash while training, killing all 10 people on board

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Two Malaysian military helicopters collided and crashed during a training session on Tuesday, killing all 10 people on board, the navy said. The helicopters were rehearsing at a naval base in northern Perak state for the navy's 90th anniversary celebration next month when the accident occurred, the navy said in a brief statement. “All victims were confirmed dead on site," it said, adding that the remains have been...

NYPD make mass arrests at NYU 'Palestinian Solidarity Camp'

New York Police Department officers have made mass arrests of students at the NYU Palestinian Solidarity Camp, after hundreds of demonstrators defied university warnings that they faced consequences if they failed to vacate a plaza.

In Bohol, gov bars entry of pigs, pork from Panglao to mainland

TAGBILARAN CITY, BOHOL, Philippines — Bohol Gov. Aris Aumentado has prohibited the entry of hogs, pork and other related products from Panglao Island to the mainland province after three villages in Dauis town, one of the two local governments on the island, recorded cases of African swine fever (ASF). Gov. Aris Aumentado said the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPV) reported at least 57 deaths of pigs that tested positive for ASF in the...

What are Filipinos reading?

It’s World Book Day so I thought I’d pick up on the National Book Development Board’s (NBDB) 2023 Readership Survey. I made a mental note to look up the complete survey and got around to doing that over the weekend. But first, a quick backgrounder about the NBDB, which was set up in 1995 as a government agency under the Department of Education. Its vision is “to develop a culture of reading” that logically, should feed into the goal of...

Marcos appoints new PCGG head

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Monday announced the appointment of 35 key officials of various government agencies, including the new chair of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), the body mainly tasked to recover the ill-gotten wealth of the Marcos family. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. named retired Court of Appeals Justice Melchor Quirino Sadang as PCGG chair, replacing its former head John Agbayani. READ: Marcos...

Maynilad, Manila Water announce service interruptions in NCR, Rizal

Several areas in Metro Manila and Rizal will have water service interruptions this week, concessionaires Maynilad and Manila Water announced. In separate advisories, Maynilad and Manila Water said they are conducting regular maintenance activities to ensure the good condition of the whole distribution system. The maintenance activities will be conducted during off-peak hours. The water concessionaires advised affected customers to store enough...

Rwandan LGBTQ fashion designer plans comeback after arrest

Less than a decade after founding Moshions, a fashion brand whose customers included Rwanda's President Paul Kagame, LGBTQ designer Moise Turahirwa's career came to a crashing halt following their arrest a year ago. Since the arrest, their ambitions have shifted, with Turahirwa looking to make Moshions a more niche brand with a smaller consumer base.

Group of retired generals, flag officers support moves to investigate Alvarez

MANILA, Philippines — A group of retired generals has supported the Department of National Defense, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and other government agencies’ plan to investigate former Speaker and Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez following his call for the withdrawal of support from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Association of General and Flag Officers (AGFO) called Alvarez’s remarks during a prayer rally held in Tagum City last...

DENR chief: PH ‘literally swimming’ in plastics

MANILA, Philippines — Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga issued an urgent call to action on Monday, Earth Day, against the deadly threat of plastic pollution, saying the Philippines was “literally swimming” in plastics. “It is our choice to act today or let our plastic waste determine our tomorrow,” the head of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said, as the country joined the global Earth Day observance...

Iran's foreign minister calls EU sanctions 'regrettable'

DUBAI (Reuters) - European Union sanctions announced following Iran's attack against Israel are "regrettable" because the country was acting in self-defence, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian posted on X on Tuesday. Iran launched more than 300 drones and missiles on Israel in what it said was retaliation against a suspected Israeli bombing of its embassy compound in Damascus. On

What elections does Liverpool City Region have in 2024?

How many votes will you have the opportunity to cast where you live on 2 May?

Indonesia's biggest party confirms President Jokowi no longer a member after backing Prabowo

By Ananda Teresia JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia President Joko Widodo and his son, incoming vice president Gibran Rakabuming Raka, are no longer members of the country's largest party after they backed rival candidate and election winner Prabowo Subianto, a party official said on Tuesday. Their exit will put the spotlight on the next moves for the popular Jokowi, as the outgoing president is

Musk decries Australian court 'censorship' of X terror posts

By Byron Kaye and Renju Jose SYDNEY (Reuters) - Elon Musk lashed out at Australia's prime minister on Tuesday after a court ordered his social media company X to take down footage of an alleged terrorist attack in Sydney, and said the ruling meant any country could control "the entire internet". At a hearing overnight, Australia's Federal Court ordered X, formerly called Twitter, to temporarily

Isla Lipana vows to cooperate with gov’t on MFT probe

MANILA, Philippines — The independent auditor implicated in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) criminal complaint against Maria Francesca Tan has vowed to cooperate in the ongoing investigation after the corporate watchdog alleged that it had “colluded” with the millennial CEO’s companies in the supposed illegal investment schemes. Isla Lipana & Co. said in a statement on Monday that it was auditing MFT Group as a “standalone entity...