World

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...

US, Australian and Philippine forces sink a ship during war drills in the disputed South China Sea

LAOAG, Philippines (AP) — Military force from the United States, Australian and the Philippines launched a barrage of high-precision rockets, artillery fire and airstrikes to sink a ship Wednesday as part of largescale war drills in waters facing the disputed South China Sea that have antagonized Beijing. Military officials and diplomats from several countries, along with journalists, watched the display of firepower from a hilltop along a sandy...

Notable People who died in 2024

Louisiana lawmakers reject adding exceptions of rape and incest to abortion ban

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Despite pleas from Democrats and gut-wrenching testimony from doctors and rape survivors, a GOP-controlled legislative committee rejected a bill Tuesday that would have added cases of rape and incest as exceptions to Louisiana’s abortion ban. In the reliably red state, which is firmly ensconced in the Bible Belt and where even some Democrats oppose abortions, adding exceptions to Louisiana's strict law has been an ongoing...

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...

AstraZeneca removes its Covid vaccine worldwide after rare side effect

AstraZeneca is removing its Covid vaccine worldwide, months after the pharmaceutical giant admitted that it can cause a rare and dangerous side effect.

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....

'Tsar' Putin tells the West: Russia will talk only on equal terms

By Guy Faulconbridge MOSCOW (Reuters) - Vladimir Putin, honoured like a Russian tsar at his swearing-in for a new six-year presidential term, had a double-edged message for the West: the Kremlin is ready to talk but Russia is girding for victory in Ukraine. Putin, who rose to the top of the Kremlin just eight years after the fall of the Soviet Union, will overtake Josef Stalin and become

‘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.

Kim family's master propagandist dies at 94

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

Roque says oust Marcos plot a ‘hallucination’

MANILA, Philippines – The reported plot by the camp of former president Rodrigo Duterte to oust President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos is just a “hallucination,” former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Tuesday. Roque made the remark after former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s allegation that active senior police officials and retired military officials were already recruiting members to join the ouster move. Trillanes said the Duterte...

Marcos asks European traders to invest in infra projects

MANILA, Philippines — Touting the Philippines as an attractive investment destination, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has urged European businesses and investors to put their money in $161 billion worth of its key infrastructure projects. The President also expressed optimism that the country’s free trade agreement with the European Union will be finalized by 2027, a deal that may potentially increase trade by 6 billion euros. In his message...

North Korean propaganda chief who served all three leaders dies

By Jack Kim SEOUL (Reuters) - Kim Ki Nam, one of the longest-serving North Korean officials who served all three generations of its leaders cementing their political legitimacy and heading the propaganda apparatus for the dynastic state, has died, official media said on Wednesday. North Korea leader Kim Jong Un visited the bier of Kim at 2 a.m. on Wednesday to pay tribute "with bitter grief over

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.

Grit, humor, grief and gloom mix as Ukrainians face a dangerous new phase in the war

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Paintbrush in hand, Anastasiya Sereda is working on a painting of a chubby-faced panda in the uniform of a Ukrainian soldier. Propped on her easel is the reason why – a photo of her boyfriend Bohdan, a burly serviceman with a gentle smile. “He looks like a panda,” Sereda said in explanation, alternately laughing and choking with tears as she talked about her partner, who was killed almost a year ago on the front line in...

Zambales solon to Trillanes: Don’t drag PNP, AFP in rumormongering

MANILA, Philippines — Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV should not tag active police and military officials in alleged destabilization plot especially if he does not have any evidence, Zambales 1st District Rep. Jefferson Khonghun said on Tuesday. Khonghun in a press briefing at the Batasang Pambansa complex also said that it is unfair for generals to be dragged in such discussions, noting that Trillanes has been known to be a “gossiper.”...

No mere decorations

Right before Holy Week, I was part of the March of Women, and a member of a panel that the Ateneo de Manila University’s Sanggunian (student government) put together to commemorate Women’s Month. Their project hoped to bring together women in the Ateneo community in what was a kapihan, or coffee-and-conversation session, which would help students understand the many facets of women empowerment. I was there as a representative of science...

These Norwegian churches are the last of their kind in the world

Nestled in the hills and valleys of Norway’s hostile climate are a series of medieval buildings that are testaments to the test of time. These are the country’s stave churches, and they are significant not only in their architectural splendor, but also in their rich history. What's more, there are only 28 of them left in the whole world! Intrigued? Click through this gallery as we take a closer look at each of them.

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...

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...

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...

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...

Magnitude 4.9 quake strikes off Hernani, Eastern Samar

MANILA, Philippines — A magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck off Hernani, Eastern Samar, on Tuesday afternoon, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said. The temblor occurred at 4:02 p.m. and was located 43 kilometers (km) northeast of Hernani. Phivolcs said it has a depth of focus of 16 km. The earthquake was felt at the following intensities / instrumental intensities: Intensity IV – Hernani, Eastern Samar Intensity III...

Romanian president says he's open to discussing sending Patriot system to Ukraine

BUCHAREST (Reuters) -Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said on Tuesday he was open to discussing sending a Patriot missile system to Ukraine after German appeals to European Union and NATO member states to bolster Ukraine's air defences. After appeals by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, EU governments were urged last month to supply more badly needed defence systems to Kyiv. Germany has

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...

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.

Fraudster 'planned killing' of heiress - lawyer

Paula Leeson's family want a judge to rule her husband unlawfully killed her.

Jeremy Hunt accuses Rachel Reeves of promoting 'fake news'

Jeremy Hunt yesterday accused Labour of talking down the country after Rachel Reeves (pictured) suggested the fall in inflation does not reflect the 'economic reality' felt by voters.

DOJ to give Marcos 'briefer' on legal options for possible ICC warrants

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is preparing a briefer on the legal options available to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. regarding any arrest warrants that may be issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), Justice spokesperson Mico Clavano said Wednesday. “The briefer will be an objective analysis of the pros and cons of each option,” Clavano said in a message to reporters. He added that the briefer is being done “with an awareness that...

INQToday: Active senior PNP officials recruiting for ouster plot vs Marcos – Trillanes

Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories: Trillanes: Active senior PNP officials recruiting for ouster plot vs Marcos There are some active senior members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) have been recruiting members to take part in the latest ouster plot against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., former senator Antonio Trillanes IV said Tuesday. “May na-identify na active senior PNP officials na nagrerecruit since last...

US paused shipment of weapons to Israel to head off Rafah invasion-official

By Mike Stone, Steve Holland and Phil Stewart WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden's administration paused a shipment of weapons to Israel last week in opposition to apparent moves by the Israelis to invade the southern Gaza city of Rafah, a senior administration official said on Tuesday. Biden has been trying to head off a full-scale assault by the Israelis against Rafah, where

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

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

Quiboloy camp surrendered 5 firearms, says PNP

The camp of Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy has surrendered to the police five firearms registered to the controversial religious leader. Citing Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, Super Radyo dzBB's Mark Makalalad reported that the firearms were surrendered to Police Regional Office 11 (PRO-11) on Wednesday morning. "[The firearms were] surrendered to our regional security unit ng PRO-11,...

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.

QUB students want Hillary Clinton removed as chancellor

In a statement, the QUB Palestine Assembly said they want to see a democratic election process for the next chancellor.

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

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.

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...

Teacher had schoolboy's baby, court years

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

PNP to sustain ramped up drive vs illegal drugs

MANILA, Philippines —The police need to double efforts in the fight against illegal drugs, especially as those involved continuously improve their nefarious methods, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Marbil said on Tuesday. According to Marbil, the government is also aiming for a 100 percent drug-free community. “‘Pag ka sinasabi mong giyera mayroong katapusan eh, ito walang katapusan po ‘to. Dapat every time talagang...

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.

Don't use position for re-election, Suarez tells senators

House Deputy Speaker Quezon 2nd district Rep. David "Jay-jay" Suarez has asked the country’s senators not to use their positions for the purpose of bolstering their chances in the upcoming May 2025 mid-term elections. READ MORE: https://mb.com.ph/2024/5/8/don-t-use-position-for-re-election-suarez-tells-senators Subscribe to the Manila Bulletin Online channel! - https://www.youtube.com/TheManilaBulletin Visit our website at http://mb.com.phFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/manilabulletinTwitter: https://www.twitter.com/manila_bulletinInstagram: https://instagram.com/manilabulletinTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manilabulletin #ManilaBulletinOnline#ManilaBulletin#LatestNews

OCTA: Patrols and troops, diplomacy top Filipino priorities on WPS

Expanded naval patrols and troop presence, and diplomacy topped the steps that Filipinos believe the Marcos administration should prioritize in dealing with issues about the West Philippine Sea. According to OCTA Research's Tugon ng Masa survey for the first quarter of 2024, 73% of respondents said military action should be given priority when responding to incursions into the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. Seventy-two percent answered...

US optimistic revised Hamas proposal may break Gaza ceasefire impasse

By Nidal al-Mughrabi, Steve Holland and Mohammad Salem CAIRO/WASHINGTON/RAFAH, Gaza Strip (Reuters) - The United States believes the remaining differences between Israel and Hamas can be bridged in negotiations over the Palestinian militant group's latest ceasefire proposal, as talks resume in Cairo on Wednesday. Israeli forces on Tuesday seized the main border crossing between Gaza and Egypt in

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.

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.

N. Macedonia polls set to upend ties with EU neighbours

North Macedonia appears to be on a collision course with its EU neighbours Greece and Bulgaria, with double-header elections Wednesday likely to return the country's right-wing opposition to power. Party chief Hristijan Mickoski has refused to acknowledge the country's new name and a historic agreement with Greece in 2018, which added "North" to its title to settle a long-running dispute and allowed the country to join NATO. Mickoski has also...

DOJ's Remulla orders probe on NBP strip searches

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has ordered an investigation into reports of strip searches being conducted on families of persons deprived of liberty (PDLS). In a statement issued Wednesday, Remulla said the Department of Justice (DOJ) will never tolerate erring prison guards who are found guilty of abusing their authority to conduct physical searches. “Our Department remains fully committed to upholding the highest degree of respect...

Trillanes: ICC expected to issue arrest warrant vs Duterte by June or July

MANILA CITY, Philippines — The International Criminal Court (ICC) is expected to issue an arrest warrant against former President Rodrigo Duterte and others by June or July, former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said Tuesday. Trillanes said the information came from individuals privy to the investigation conducted by the ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor. “Nasa stage na ‘yung ICC investigation na patapos na patapos na at baka magrequest na sila ng...

Garrick Club votes to allow female members

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