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Sri Lanka Tamils mark 15 years since end of civil war

Sri Lanka's minority Tamil community marked 15 years since the end of the island nation's civil war on Saturday in an emotional ceremony that proceeded despite fears authorities would attempt to prevent its staging. Saturday marked 15 years since the killing of the Tamil Tigers' charismatic but reclusive leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, who had led the separatist group in open rebellion against Sri Lankan forces since 1972.


North Korea confirms missile launch, vows bolstered nuclear force – KCNA

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea on Saturday confirmed that it had test-fired a tactical ballistic missile, the government news agency KCNA reported, with leader Kim Jong Un vowing to boost the country’s nuclear force. Kim oversaw the Friday test launch into the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, on a mission to evaluate the “accuracy and reliability” of a new autonomous navigation system, the KCNA report said. Kim expressed “great...


Man 'overwhelmed' by support for his fight to be British

Nelson Shardey says people's generosity in supporting his legal fight has left him "speechless".


Bronze tags stolen from mining disaster memorial

Sixty tags are missing from the Derbyshire memorial, dedicated to miners killed in three accidents.


Putin ally says EU is hypocritical for ban on Russian media

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The speaker of Russia's parliament scolded the European Union on Saturday for banning the distribution of four Russian media outlets and said it showed how the West refused to accept any alternative point of view and was destroying freedom of speech. The European Union said on Friday it was suspending the distribution of Voice of Europe, RIA Novosti news agency and newspapers


Atin Ito: China's threats to jail WPS trespassers a desperate move

A civilian group which recently went to Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) denounced on Saturday China's threat to detain foreigners trespassing in the South China Sea. “China’s threats on so-called trespassers in the West Philippine Sea are a clear indication of their desperation," Akbayan president and Atin Ito Coalition co-convenor Rafaela David said in a statement. "It is China which is trespassing in our seas. These threats...


Ex-Aurora officials cite SC ruling vs Ombudsman

Former Aurora province officials Gerardo Noveras and and his son Christian Noveras continued to assail the Ombudsman’s recent ruling against them despite a Supreme Court ruling on the need for “substantial evidence.” The father and son cited the 2018 Supreme Court decision on the case of Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group vs Police Supt. Ermilando Villafuerte. The ruling stated that “conspiracy as a means of...


House bill creating Manila Bay Council passed on third reading

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives passed on third reading a bill creating an agency to supervise the conservation of waters and fishery resources in Manila Bay. Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said House Bill 10158, which was passed before the plenary on Wednesday, seeks to establish the Manila Bay Aquatic Resources Management Council that would "manage, control, and supervise all plans, programs, and initiatives to conserve...


When the US nearly detonated an atomic bomb on the Moon

On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 landed on the surface of the Moon. The Americans had managed to put a human being on the surface of Earth's natural satellite and history was made. The Moon was completely untouched back then, but if America's Project A119 had gone ahead a few years prior, things would have been very different. 'A Study of Lunar Research Flights,' better known as Project A119, was a top-secret plan developed by the US Air Force in 1958. The goal was to detonate an atomic bomb on the Moon. But why did the US want to nuke the Moon, and why didn't they go ahead with the plan? Click through the following gallery to find out.


Increase in rabies deaths moves E. Samar to declare state of calamity

TACLOBAN CITY—The provincial government of Eastern Samar has placed the province under a state of calamity in a bid to contain the number of deaths caused by rabies, a viral disease transmitted to humans by infected animals, usually dogs and mainly through bites. Gov. Ben Evardone said the declaration approved by the provincial board was prompted by the recommendation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office on May 6. From...


College Tensions Reignite With Arrests at Penn, Chicago Campuses

Police removed protesters who were attempting to occupy buildings at the University of Pennsylvania and University of Chicago Friday night, as tensions over the Israel-Hamas War once again flared up across college campuses.


Sinister declassified CIA operations

The Central Intelligence Agency, better known simply as the CIA, has inspired fear, suspicion, and curiosity ever since its official formation in 1947. Before it was called the CIA, it was known as the Office of Strategic Services, and was responsible for some of the most covert operations during and after World War II. As the CIA, the organization has become notorious for an apparent disregard of federal and international law, and is suspected to handle some projects that even the president of the United States is unaware of. From toppling governments and staging false flag operations, to introducing one of the world's most addictive drugs to the US, the covert operations of the CIA that have come to light are, if nothing else, fascinating to read about. Intrigued? Read on to learn more about some of the CIA's declassified deeds.


'My animals were culled and I had severe sadness'

Challenges in agriculture range from soaring feed, fuel and fertiliser costs to an ageing population.


Visayas grid placed on yellow alert — NGCP

MANILA, Philippines — The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) on Saturday placed the Visayas grid on yellow alert due to a shortage in power supply caused by forced outages of some plants and others running on derated capacities. The grid has an available capacity of 2,681 megawatts (MW) and a peak demand of 2,377 MW. "One plant has been on forced outage since 2022, 2 since 2023, 2 between January and March 2024, and 14 power plants...


Ang See: Tougher visa rules for Chinese not right solution

Tightening visa rules for Chinese tourists will not stop the influx of undesirable visitors if immigration officers can be bribed anyway, civic leader Teresita Ang See said on Thursday. “We already have a proper visa application process in place in our consular and embassy office abroad. That system ain’t broke,” said Ang See, a longtime anticrime crusader from the Filipino-Chinese community. “Instead, the problem lies with our bureaucrats here...


British Army sinks the Americans in bridge-building war game triumph

Faced with the daunting task of crossing an 156-metre stretch across the Drawa River in the west of Poland, the British troops created a makeshift ferry crossing in just 18 minutes.


How this man's killer got 79 blades delivered to his door

Omar Khan's murderer was able to buy dozens of blades from an online store. What went wrong?


Biden Border Patrol officials probed for connections to tequila heir

President Joe Biden 's top Border Patrol officials attended booze-filled parties in the U.S. and Mexico on behalf of a tequila tycoon and international trade broker.


Zelenskyy warns Russia’s Kharkiv offensive may only be ‘first wave’

President says Ukraine has a quarter of air defences needed to hold front as Russia advances along northeastern border.


Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 814

As the war enters its 814th day, these are the main developments.


Gwen: No ‘ayuda’ despite state of calamity in entire province

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia does not intend to give ‘ayuda’ or dole outs despite declaring a state of calamity in the entire province on Friday, May 17. The governor placed the entire province under a state of calamity after receiving reports of huge damages to agriculture amounting to over P176 million in partial total losses due to the prolonged El Niño. “If we declare a state of calamity, it really is a recognition of...


MMDA stays jeepney apprehensions

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will wait for guidelines from the Department of Transportation before making any apprehension of unconsolidated public utility vehicles (PUVs). The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) earlier said that the apprehension of unconsolidated PUVs will be by the Land Transportation Office, MMDA and Philippine National Police starting on Thursday. But as of Friday, the LTFRB...


'Educate children about tombstoning' - coastguard

There has been an increase in people jumping into the water from structures in Southend-on-Sea.


Desperate Gazans run after aid convoy arriving via US-built pier

Desperate Gaza residents were seen running after trucks arriving in an aid convoy via the new US-built pier as the Israel-Hamas conflict continues.


Rights groups slam conviction of activist tied to NPA

LUCENA CITY—Human rights advocates denounced the conviction of a children and women’s rights activist of the alleged crime of rebellion, saying that the court ruling contradicted a recent landmark decision by the Supreme Court against Red-tagging. In a statement on Friday, the Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concerns assailed the decision on Thursday by the Regional Trial Court Branch No. 266 in Taguig City, saying that its ruling against...


Aklan power rate hike seen to hurt Boracay

An impending increase in electricity rates by the power distribution utility in Aklan province is expected to hurt both households and businesses that are already reeling from rotating power outages and a drop in the number of tourist arrivals. The Aklan Electric Cooperative (Akelco) announced plans to raise its rates by P5 per kilowatt hour (kWh) in the province, including Boracay Island, in May, just a month after the power cooperative...


Singapore to resume flying F-16 jets after crash this month

By Xinghui Kok SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore will resume flying its F-16 fleet after suspending training when one of the jets crashed earlier this month, the defence ministry on Saturday. The defence ministry said the May 8 crash was due to the plane's pitch rate gyroscopes giving erroneous inputs to the flight control computer. "This led to the pilot being unable to control the plane at


‘Overkill’, PCG says of China Coast Guard deployment for ‘Atin Ito’ convoy

MANILA, Philippines — Describing it as “overkill,” the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Friday said the deployment of China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels in Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal which was visited by a civilian convoy the other day was the biggest one so far. Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said there were 10 CCG vessels monitored during the entire duration of Atin Ito’s convoy in Panatag Shoal. “They were...


Woman mourns 'bubbly' sister who died after fire

Krystyna Chalastra says she is struggling to find closure following the death of her sister Izabela.


LOOK: Brawl breaks out in Taiwan parliament over dispute in chamber reforms

Chaos took place among members of Taiwan's parliament after a brawl broke out due to disagreements about reforms to the chamber. According to reports from Reuters and Fox News, several lawmakers were seen exchanging punches and shoving each other on the floor of the parliament. It reached a point where members leapt over tables and pulled colleague...


It’s official: Carlos out as chief of Wescom

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY—Vice Adm. Alberto Carlos, who supposedly confirmed that a “new model” arrangement to ease tension between the Philippines and China during the resupply of the troops at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, has been removed as chief of the military’s Western Command (Wescom). Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Thursday disclosed in a speech to Philippine Navy personnel stationed on Pag-asa Island that Carlos was officially...


Zubiri hits China bid to detain ‘trespassers’ in disputed waters

MANILA, Philippines — China’s new rule that would supposedly grant its coast guard the power to detain foreigners deemed “illegally crossing” its borders without trial is a violation of international laws, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said on Friday. In a radio interview, Zubiri said the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea “are freedom of navigation lanes.” “Clear violation of United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea...


Anger, anxiety, acrimony: Slovaks weigh what led to Fico shooting

By Boldizsar Gyori, Kuba Stezycki and Jan Lopatka HANDLOVA, Slovakia/BRATISLAVA (Reuters) -Slovak opposition party leader Michal Simecka, who described an assassination attempt on Prime Minister Robert Fico this week as an attack on democracy, said on Friday that he, his wife and child had received death threats. His experience is not uncommon, a measure of the extreme political and personal


CHR slams Abra barangay's alleged penalty for improper waste disposal

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Saturday denounced the controversial sanction imposed by a barangay in Bangued, Abra for improper waste disposal. The barangay captain and six other officials of Barangay Calaba were suspended for 90 days after several residents complained that the penalty for the third offense seemed to imply a death sentence. The controversial tarpaulin showed that violators must pay a fine of P1,000 for the first...


PISTON insists unconsolidated jeepneys not 'colorum'

Transportation group PISTON (Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide) on Saturday maintained that those who failed to consolidate their public utility vehicles (PUV) into cooperatives should not be considered "colorum" and should not be flagged down. "Ang ating mga jeepney ay hindi po colorum sapagkat eto ay may lehitimong mga prangkisa. Ang ano lang dito, expired ang kanilang prangkisa sa kadahilanan na ayaw i-renew ng...


David Miliband 'wants to be British ambassador to the United States'

Many in Westminster think David Miliband could do a David Cameron and become Sir Keir's foreign secretary in the Lords. But his ambitions are said to lie stateside.


‘End of an era’: Ayala exits Manila Water

MANILA, Philippines — After a 27-year investment in a highly regulated utility, the Ayala conglomerate is unloading its remaining economic interest in Manila Water Co. (MWC) to tycoon Enrique Razon Jr.-led Trident Water Company Holdings Inc. for P14.5 billion. Building up group-wide cash reserves, Ayala Corp. and subsidiary Michigan Holdings Inc. are collectively selling their nearly 578 million common shares for P22.36 each. The price shows a...


Israeli airstrike eliminates Palestinian Islamic Jihad officer in Rafah

An Israeli airstrike killed the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorist organization’s Rafah Brigade head of logistics, the IDF announced on Saturday morning. The PIJ operative was reportedly responsible for preparing terrorists for attacks on Israeli personnel in the area. The airstrike eliminating the PIJ operative was one of a broader array of...


DND chief, 3 senators visit remote village in West PH Sea

PAG-ASA ISLAND—Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. accompanied three senators to this small island outpost to take stock of the situation in and around the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Teodoro, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, Sen. JV Ejercito were onboard a private plane that flew them here on Thursday when they received radio challenges from Chinese naval forces. “It’s so sad that while we are...


Australians stranded in New Caledonia 'running out of food' amid civil unrest

SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australians stranded in New Caledonia are rationing food as they wait for a way out of the troubled Pacific island territory, after riots that killed four people, a traveller from Sydney said on Saturday. "The kids are definitely hungry because we don't really have much option of what we can feed them," Joanne Elias said from a resort in the capital Noumea, where her family has


Taiwan and China: different views across the strait

Standing on the shore of Taiwan's Kinmen island, Taiwanese tourists snap photos of the skyline of China's Xiamen city that is clearly visible across the sliver of water separating them. As Taiwan's president-elect Lai Ching-te, a staunch defender of Taiwan's sovereignty, prepares to take office on Monday, Taiwanese visitors to Kinmen hope he can avoid a conflict.


DOH: 12,000 killed on roads each year

An average of 12,000 Filipinos are killed every year in mishaps on the road, like car crashes and pedestrians getting hit by speeding vehicles. In an interview on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon, Albert Domingo, assistant secretary and spokesperson for the Department of Health (DOH), lamented that fatalities in road accidents went up by 39 percent in 10 years from 2011 to 2021. “Road traffic deaths in 2011 were 7,938. This went up to 11,096 in 2021. Of...


Fifty dead in heavy rain, floods in central Afghanistan, official says

KABUL (Reuters) -At least 50 people are dead following a fresh bout of heavy rain and flooding in central Afghanistan, an official said on Saturday. Mawlawi Abdul Hai Zaeem, the head of the information department for the central Ghor province, told Reuters that there was no information about how many people were injured in the rain spell that began on Friday, which had also cut off many key roads


NYPD arrest suspect in assault on Steve Buscemi

Buscemi was punched in an apparent random attack last week in Manhattan's Lower East Side.


Rachel Reeves says Labour could introduce rent controls

Rachel Reeves said there 'may be a case' for rent caps. But she said she was not in favour of a 'blanket approach' to rent controls.


Roughly 1400 buildings, structures destroyed in Rafah since beginning of May

Some 1400 buildings have been destroyed in Rafah since May 4, ABC Go reported on Saturday morning. The figure of 1400 damaged buildings was based on an analysis of data by the radar-enabled Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite operated by the European Space Agency. From May 4 to May 8, the researchers estimated that 895 buildings were likely damaged or ...


Gunmen kill three Spanish tourists in Afghanistan's central Bamyan province

By Mohammad Yunus Yawar, Charlotte Greenfield and Ana Cantero KABUL/MADRID/DELHI (Reuters) -Three Spanish tourists were killed and at least one Spaniard was injured in an attack by gunmen in Afghanistan's central Bamyan province, Spain's foreign ministry said on Friday. Earlier on Friday, Taliban interior ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qaniee had said that three foreign tourists and one Afghan


Robber jailed for attack on woman walking home

Police used mobile phone tracking data to locate Petrica Mustafa after the brutal attack.


The Slovak assassination attempt photo that nearly got away

(Reuters) - It's every amateur photographer's nightmare: you spy a once-in-a-lifetime picture, and you forget to change your camera settings. But it can happen to a seasoned professional, too. Reuters stringer Radovan Stoklasa was one of the few people left in a makeshift press centre in the Slovakian town of Handlova about 40 minutes after Prime Minister Robert Fico had briefed reporters on a


Philippines to vigorously defend territory, president says

MANILA (Reuters) -Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Saturday the country will "vigorously defend what is ours", in a thinly veiled reference to mounting tensions with China over maritime disputes. The conduct against intruders disrespecting Philippine territorial integrity will be guided by law and the responsibility as a rules-abiding member of the international community, Marcos