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Marcos: P59.8-B health emergency allowance distributed to medical frontliners

At least P59.8 billion has been distributed to medical frontline workers for their health emergency allowance during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. In a Facebook post, Marcos said the amount was 78.92% of the COVID-19 health emergency allowance allotted by the government to health workers. The President announced this following the celebration of Health Workers' Day on Tuesday as he acknowledged the...

DFA: No Cabinet exec OK’d China proposal

MANILA, Philippines — As Beijing continues to cite Philippine officials who supposedly agreed or were privy to its secret deal with Manila on Ayungin Shoal, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) made it clear yesterday that no Cabinet-level official had approved any Chinese proposal. In a statement, the DFA emphasized that only the Philippine president can approve or authorize agreements entered into by the government with other parties on...

China's Xi in Serbia for talks to boost economic ties

Chinese President Xi Jinping will hold talks with his Serbian counterpart in Belgrade on Wednesday, as Beijing seeks to deepen its political and economic ties with friendlier countries in Europe. In Belgrade, the Chinese leader will meet President Aleksandar Vucic for talks on Wednesday, before heading to Budapest.

Trillanes told to spare PNP from rumors of ouster plot vs Marcos

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) appealed on Tuesday to former senator Antonio Trillanes IV to spare the organization from issues after the latter revealed that active senior police officials have been recruiting members to join the latest ouster plot against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. Citing PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil, the national police spokesperson, Col. Jean Fajardo, said they have not intercepted...

Protesters clash with police in Amsterdam following Rafah attack

Hundreds have gathered across Europe to protest against Israel's attacks on Rafah. Students have fought against police in a bid to make a statement following the loss of life in Gaza.

Bato dares Trillanes: Arrest me, make my day

ENRAGED Sen. Ronald de la Rosa challenged former senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Tuesday to join in serving the warrant for his and former president Rodrigo Duterte's arrest to be issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). At a press conference, de la Rosa took a dig at Trillanes' announcement that a warrant of arrest for him and former president Duterte would be released in June or July. "Trillanes keeps on talking about the ICC... come...

HRW: PH needs to do more to protect journalists

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on the Marcos administration to improve its efforts in protecting journalists in the Philippines. "Rather than resting on the laurels of the pending Jumalon trial and the incomplete Lapid case, the Marcos administration needs to ratchet up its efforts to protect journalists," HRW Asia Division senior researcher Carlos H. Conde said in a statement on Tuesday. "It should immediately end the practice of...

Fewer Chinese vessels in West PH Sea as ‘Balikatan’ nears end

LAOAG CITY, Philippines — Fewer Chinese vessels were observed in the West Philippine Sea compared to previous weeks as the war games between Manila and Washington near completion. “There was a surge at the beginning, but for this week there is no significant increase in the number of China vessels in the West Philippine Sea,” said Col. Francel Margareth Padilla, Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson. “Compared to the last week, there is a...

Dela Rosa: No one can use me to destabilize Marcos admin

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa shunned on Tuesday allegations that he is being used by certain people to destabilize the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. “Never akong magpapagamit kahit kanino man. Wala pong makakagamit sa akin, kaya nga sabi ko sa inyo – I have to maintain the objectivity in the conduct of this hearing kasi alam kong dalawang nag-uumpugang pader dito maiipit dito [at] maiipit...

Filipinos want sea row resolved through military action, diplomacy – OCTA survey

Seven out of ten Filipinos want the government to resort to military action and diplomatic measures in resolving issues in the West Philippine Sea, a survey conducted by OCTA Research showed. In the Tugon ng Masa survey held from March 11-14, 2024, 73 percent said that they want the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to expand naval patrols and troop presence in the West Philippine Sea. Meanwhile, 72 percent of the respondents said...

Sikh leaders welcome arrests in Canada activist killing, but questions loom

Leaders demand justice for threats against Sikh activists in North America and accusations of Indian gov’t involvement.

Tolentino wants PH to acquire submarines, Pintados fleet

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Francis Tolentino wants the Philippine government to upgrade its maritime fleet by acquiring more submarines. “China is bullying us because we are lacking resources, especially naval resources. What we need are submarines,” said Tolentino, chairperson of the Senate’s special panel on maritime and admiralty zones, in a statement on Tuesday. READ: Submarines in next phase of PH military upgrade “The importance of...

‘Bleak milestone’: UN says 3 million forced to flee in Myanmar conflict

United Nations says the number displaced has jumped by 50 percent in last six months as fighting has intensified.

House bill seeks to postpone BSKE anew

MANILA, Philippines — A bill seeking to postpone the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) scheduled on Dec. 1 next year has been filed before the House of Representatives. Camarines Sur third district Rep. LRay Villafuerte filed House Bill 10344, which proposes the holding of the BSKE polls on Oct. 26, 2026. Under the bill, the BSKE should be held every three years thereafter ”in compliance with the provisions of the Constitution...

Poe thanks media for covering ‘dry’ hearing

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Grace Poe on Tuesday thanked the media at a Senate hearing on Tuesday for covering a seemingly “dry” topic. “Thank you nga pala sa media for covering this ah, mas exciting ‘yong hearing sa kabila. Gusto ko na nga pumunta d’on,” Poe said. (Thank you to the media for covering this, even if the hearing on the other side is more exciting. I myself would like to go there now.) It was uncertain what other hearing Poe...

US soldier bucked Army rules before arrest in Russia

By Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Before his arrest in Russia, U.S. soldier Gordon Black not only broke Army rules by traveling to the Russian city of Vladivostok without authorization, but he did so after passing through China, the Pentagon said on Tuesday. Details about Black started to emerge on Tuesday of risk-taking behavior that saw the 34-year-old Army staff sergeant's

Notable People who died in 2024

Kim family's master propagandist dies at 94

Kim Ki Nam built the personality cult of North Korea's ruling dynasty.

Several solons say linking Marcos to drugs meant to destabilize gov’t

MANILA, Philippines — Several members of the House of Representatives have pointed out that linking President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. to drug use is part of politics and an attempt to destabilize the government. During a briefing on Tuesday at the Batasang Pambansa complex, Zambales 1st District Rep. Jefferson Khonghun said that the public needs to understand that the accusations are only meant to shame the President, which is why...

Kim Jong Un mourns death of North Korea's former propaganda chief

North Korea's former propaganda chief, credited with masterminding the personality cult surrounding the ruling Kim dynasty, has died, state media said Wednesday, with leader Kim Jong Un photographed bowing at his funeral bier. He is credited with masterminding the cult of the Kim family dynasty, and Pyongyang's state media on Wednesday described him as "a veteran of our Party and the revolution, a prestigious theoretician and a prominent...

Israeli forces take control of Gaza side of Rafah crossing with Egypt

Israeli troops seized control of Gaza's vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday in what the White House described as a limited operation, as fears mount of a full-scale invasion of the southern city and ceasefire talks with Hamas remain on a knife's edge. The UN warned of a potential collapse of the flow of aid to Palestinians from the closure of Rafah and the other main crossing into Gaza, Kerem Shalom, at a time when officials say northern Gaza is experiencing "full-blown famine". The move comes after hours of whiplash in the Israel-Hamas war, with the militant group on Monday saying it accepted an Egyptian-Qatari mediated ceasefire proposal.

Police 'lost' girl's evidence of abuse by babysitter

Michaela Allen says she has been "robbed of justice" in her fight to get her case to court.

Senate pays tribute to Saguisag; Robin apologizes for ‘Rene’ gaffe

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate unanimously adopted on Tuesday a resolution expressing the chamber’s profound sympathy and sincere condolences to the family of staunch rights defender and late former senator Rene Saguisag. Meantime, Sen. Robinhood Padilla apologized for mistakenly citing and mentioning another late former senator and namesake of Saguisag, Rene Cayetano, in his manifestation. Senate Resolution No. 1009 was introduced by Senate...

Solon suggests a 2026 barangay polls, avoid shorter terms for incumbent execs

MANILA, Philippines — Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte is suggesting that the next Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) be held in 2026 instead of 2025, so that sitting officials would not be given shorter terms. Villafuerte in a statement on Tuesday said he and other lawmakers have filed House Bill (HB) No. 10344 to move the next elections to October 26, 2026, explaining that incumbent barangay officials can only perform their...

Britain to build Europe's first nuclear fuel factory

Unveiling £200million in support for the new plant in Cheshire, Rishi Sunak (pictured) said the move would 'prise Vladimir Putin 's blood-soaked hands off Europe's energy market'.

Have Kyiv's American-supplied Abrams tanks failed in Ukraine?

The North Korean official whose propaganda helped build the Kim dynasty dies at 94

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Kim Ki Nam, a North Korean propaganda chief who helped build personality cults around the country’s three dynastic leaders, has died at 94, the North’s state media said. North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency said the country’s current leader, Kim Jong Un, visited the body of Kim Ki Nam at a funeral hall in the capital, Pyongyang, early Wednesday and expressed condolences to family members. The agency said...

Police officer 'deliberately' run over by suspect

The officer has suffered a broken ankle and was described as being "in and out of consciousness".

Mega Millions winning numbers for May 7 drawing: Jackpot rises to $306 million

Mega Millions players, are you feeling lucky? The winning numbers are in for the May 7 drawing with the $306 million jackpot at stake.

Teacher had schoolboy's baby, court years

Rebecca Joynes denies six counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child.

AFP denies Wescom involvement in Ayungin’s ‘new model’

LAOAG CITY, ILOCOS NORTE, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday categorically denied China’s linking of its Western Command (Wescom) to the purported “new model” of management for the Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal situation. An unidentified Chinese embassy spokesperson on Saturday said that the AFP-Wescom and Chinese authorities agreed with a “new model” to manage the tensions in the shoal where a Philippine navy...

Vaughan Gething told colleagues he deleted Whatsapp messages

Vaughan Gething (pictured), who was the health minister during the pandemic, told the inquiry in March that his lost WhatsApp messages were not deleted by him but by the Senedd's IT team.

These are history's most celebrated military commanders

Winning a war requires battlefield prowess, tactical ingenuity, strategic know-how, and ruthless efficiency—human qualities that history has shown make a great military leader. A successful and victorious commander also needs to gain the trust and loyalty of the ranks, while maintaining a healthy respect for the enemy. So, who are best military minds to have gone to war? Click through and discover some of history's most celebrated combative commanders.

Maricel Soriano denies drug links, knowledge of PDEA documents

MANILA, Philippines — Actress Maricel Soriano has denied any knowledge of the supposedly leaked Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) documents linking her and President Marcos to illegal drugs. During yesterday’s public hearing on the investigation on the so-called PDEA leaks by the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, its chairman Sen. Ronald dela Rosa asked Soriano about the documents that were exposed by a vlogger and...

Families flee as tension between armed groups brews in Mamasapano

More than 1,000 families have fled their homes for fear of being caught in the crossfire as tension between armed groups continues in Mamasapano, Maguindanao del Sur. Around 960 families have taken shelter temporarily at some schools in the town. According to the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), the conflict between two groups of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) started on April 2, 2024, and has continued...

Home Office targetting male migrants with no family for Rwanda flights

Over 100 people have been detained by Immigration Enforcement officers following nationwide raids. They are mostly male, have no serious health issues, sources told the Mail.

Ex-PDEA agent stands firm on allegations about Marcos drug-use probe

FORMER Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agent Jonathan Morales stood by his claim at Tuesday's Senate committee hearing that he recommended the surveillance of then-senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in 2012 for cocaine use, but his higher-ups ordered him to abort the operation. Morales' orders were in the form of a "pre-operation report" and "authority to operate," dated March 11, 2012, against "Bongbong Marcos @ Bonget and some unidentified...

Passengers braced for more misery during train drivers’ strike

Passengers braced for more misery during train drivers’ strike - Passengers are being urged to check before attempting to travel by train this week.

DOLE warns public against fake Facebook post

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said on Tuesday that a Facebook page which alleged to give a scholarship under its Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/ Displaced Workers (TUPAD) is fake. According to the Dole, the TUPAD program was not a scholarship program, but was instead an employment program. READ: Dole to employers: Implement measures to protect workers vs heat “The TUPAD Program is not a cash or...

Rival MILF groups clash anew; thousands displaced

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — At least 6,000 residents have been displaced as two warring factions of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) clashed anew in Mamasapano, Maguindanao del Sur. Police and military officials said the groups led by Zainudin Kiaro and a certain Badruddin have been engaged in gunfights in Barangays Pembalkan and Tukanalipao since Sunday. Vincent Cuales, municipal disaster risk reduction and management officer, said the...

Fish pen owners in Mandaue say dredging deprived them of their livelihood

MANDAUE CITY, Philippines — The Housing Urban and Development Office (HUDO) in Mandaue City has started clearing the fish pens in Barangay Banilad to make way for dredging activity in the area. The fish pens are part of the wetland in Barangay Banilad and Cabancalan area that the city government wants to dredge. The wetland, with an area of 146,270 square meters, functions as a catch basin, holding rain and runoff water from neighboring areas...

Morales’ credibility questioned in Senate probe on PDEA ‘leak’

MANILA, Philippines — Former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) investigation agent Jonathan Morales “believes in what he assumes as true,” according to the agency’s Investigation Service Acting Director Martin Francia. Francia gave this description before the upper chamber’s ongoing probe on PDEA’s leaked operational documents from March 11, 2012, that linked certain personalities to illegal drug use, which Morales alleged to be...

3 fires break out in Manila

MANILA, Philippines — Fires broke out in three areas in Manila, destroying a 20-story building and a barangay hall, on Monday night. A fire struck the eighth floor of the Ritz Royal Tower, said to be occupied by a Chinese national, along Camba street in Binondo, according to a report from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP). The BFP raised first alarm at 9:33 p.m., which was elevated to third alarm at 11:42 p.m. Forty-eight firetrucks from the...

Garrick Club votes to allow female members

The private members' club had come under increasing pressure to allow women to join.

Filipino priest to become Franciscan general treasurer

MANILA, Philippines — A Filipino priest is set to become one of the top officials of the Order of Friars Minor (OFM), or the Franciscans, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said on Tuesday. According to the CBCP, Fr. Joel Sulse was appointed general oeconomus, or the treasurer of the religious order. READ: Franciscans mark 800th anniversary of historic interreligious meeting Sulse went to Rome on Tuesday, the CBCP added....

P68.3 million Ecstasy seized in Pasay

MANILA, Philippines — Four persons, including a barangay kagawad or councilman, were apprehended for allegedly claiming a parcel that contained 40,206 tablets of the party drug Ecstasy valued at P68.3 million in Pasay on Monday. Mark Bryan Gamba; Robert Simon, 32; Fabio Dalvanos, 36, and Sherill Gamba, 46, were nabbed during an interdiction operation at the Central Mail Exchange Center at around 3:20 p.m. According to the Philippine Drug...

Marcos hopes for Philippines-EU FTA by 2027

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos is hoping to conclude negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) between the Philippines and the European Union by 2027 that is seen to further boost trade and investments between the country and the EU. “We see the FTA as a crucial step in enhancing the trade partnership between the Philippines and the EU,” President Marcos said in his message delivered by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin during the...

Chaos at Heathrow as all gates go down in Border Force 'IT glitch'

Pictures on social media show enormous queues in front of the gates at Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted, Edinburgh and Manchester as thousands are waiting for their passports to be checked.

DA eyes P30 per kilo of rice by July

The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday said it aims to lower the price of rice to P30 per kilogram by July. DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa was asked if the P30 rice price in July is achievable after House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said that it is possible. “Ito naman ay ginagawa na ng National Irrigation Administration, Kadiwa dahil meron silang tinatawag nating contract farming,” De Mesa told Unang Balita in...

Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 804

As the war enters its 804th day, these are the main developments.