News

Smotrich suggests IDF enter Lebanon, establish security zone if Hezbollah continues firing

Finance Minister and Chairman of Religious Zionism on Sunday called for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to set a long-term security policy that will bring security and victory to Israel at a party meeting in the North. He called on the cabinet to institute a permanent presence of the IDF in the entire Gaza Strip. He also called for an immediate c...

SPD’s most wanted fugitive falls

MANILA, Philippines — A man tagged as the Southern Police District (SPD)’s most wanted fugitive was arrested in Parañaque on Friday night. In a report, the SPD said the suspect, identified only as Love Singh, was arrested in Barangay Sun Valley at around 9:30 p.m. Singh was arrested on the strength of a warrant issued by Judge Ma. Christina de Pio Lim of Parañaque Regional Trial Court Branch 296 for murder. She refused to grant bail. The suspect...

Man charged with firearms offences after crash

A teenager, who was injured in the Balsall Heath, has also been arrested.

Pinoys to continue fishing in Panatag

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino fisherfolk will not be cowed and will continue to fish in Panatag Shoal despite China’s empowering of its coast guard to detain for 60 days without trial anyone or any vessel found trespassing in what it considers its territorial waters. In a radio interview at the weekend, New Masinloc Fishermen’s Association president Leonardo Cuaresma maintained that Panatag Shoal is part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic...

MRT-7 construction suffers another delay

MANILA, Philippines — The Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7) is facing right of way (ROW) troubles in its Bulacan leg, causing another round of delay in the construction, the completion of which is now expected by 2027 at the earliest. Thus, there is now the possibility that San Miguel Corp. (SMC), the developer of MRT-7, may realign the Bulacan segment of the railway upon the request of the local government of San Jose del Monte. Last week,...

BI arrests Japanese national wanted for kidnapping, rape

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) had arrested a 38-year-old Japanese man wanted for abduction and kidnapping in Osaka, Japan. In a report by John Consulta on 24 Oras Weekend on Saturday, the Japanese fugitive was arrested in a casino hotel in Parañaque City. “Mako-consider natin siya serial rapist kasi nga reportedly mayroon siyang lima naging victim sa Japan,” BI Fugitive Search Unit chief Rendel Sy told GMA Integrated News. (We can consider him...

Police issue warning of 'man in car stopping pupils'

Police have received "numerous reports" of a man in a black car stopping pupils in Trowbridge.

Notes on the beat: Has ADB done enough to solve global problems?

MANILA, Philippines — Nearly six decades ago, about 100,000 civilians and military personnel perished as the Vietnam War escalated, the human spaceflight program Project Gemini was completed and the world witnessed the birth of the automated teller machine. Now, the longstanding Israel-Palestine conflict has worsened, climate change has pushed the global emergency button, while computers and robots are feared to soon replace humankind. From 1966...

Marcos: China’s new rule vs trespassers ‘unacceptable’

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday said China’s new policy of detaining foreign nationals crossing its supposed borders amid its maritime disputes with the Philippines was “completely unacceptable.” Marcos firmly rejected the new regulations allowing the China Coast Guard (CCG) to detain without trial foreigners and to seize foreign ships suspected of trespassing. “That kind of action would be completely...

Marcos orders probe of alleged wiretapping by Chinese embassy

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the investigation of the alleged wiretapping of a ranking Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) official by the Chinese Embassy in Manila. "We are looking into it because the fact of the matter is, there have been mentions of a tape that confirms that there was this agreement," Marcos said at the signing of an alliance between the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas and Nationalist People's...

‘PFP-NPC alliance not marriage of convenience’

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos yesterday clarified that his party, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, and the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) merely formalized their alliance as both political parties have been helping each other for a long time. “What makes this alliance durable is (it) is a partnership of equals and one anchored on a set of principles. It is not a marriage of convenience as we often find in politics, but it is borne...

2 cops allegedly serving as bodyguards of Chinese nat’l arrested after fight in posh subdivision

Two policemen supposedly deployed to Zamboanga who were instead serving as bodyguards to a Chinese national were arrested after an altercation inside an exclusive subdivision in Alabang, Muntinlupa City. According to police, the two suspects were members of the Philippine National Police- Special Action Force ( PNP-SAF) who admitted they were working as personal bodyguards of a Chinese national residing in a subdivision in the Ayala Alabang...

SC clears ex-Agri chief Arthur Yap in pork barrel case

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has cleared former Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap of graft and malversation charges stemming from the alleged misuse of congressional pork barrel funds from 2007 to 2009. In a 29-page decision promulgated on April 15 but made public on May 16, the Supreme Court’s Third Division granted Yap’s petition for certiorari—or a petition to correct a lower court’s decision—as it dismissed four criminal cases...

Woman seeks help over alleged online loan scam

A woman in Davao City allegedly fell victim to what may be an online loan scam. She was enticed to grab the offer for a loan from a social media page as she needed money. “Lahat ng kailangan nilang kunin sa akin like my ID, I have 3 IDs there, I give even my bank account. Kasi nakita ko lahat yung ano nila, parang totoo talaga,” Romero said. The woman, Jocelyn Romero, said copies of supposed government permits for the business entity were sent...

Dominican Republic voters head to polls, incumbent Abinader the favorite

SANTO DOMINGO (Reuters) -Voters in the Dominican Republic head to the polls on Sunday to cast ballots for the next president and members of parliament in an election widely seen as a referendum on the hugely popular incumbent and anti-corruption crusader, Luis Abinader. Up to 8 million eligible voters will decide which candidate is best suited to take on the fallout from the humanitarian crisis

Over 300 Mangyan students benefit from OMCPC project

OCCIDENTAL Mindoro Consolidated Power Corp. (OMCPC) formally turned over the four makeshift classrooms and two units of complete solar systems to Taganop Elementary School on March 19, 2024. This was in response to the request for sponsorship by the teachers of the school, led by Gener Trabucon. This project was orchestrated by OMCPC Chief Operating Officer Calvin Luther Genotiva and supported by OMCPC President and Chief Executive Officer Luis...

Comelec airs an appeal to 4M delisted voters

MANILA, Philippines — Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chair George Garcia on Saturday called on the more than 4 million voters that the poll body has delisted to register again so that they can participate in next year’s mid-term elections. In a radio interview, Garcia said that in the ongoing general registration of voters, which started last Feb. 12 and ends on Sept. 30, delisted voters will also be allowed to reactivate their registrations...

Helicopter carrying Iran’s president suffers ‘hard landing’: State TV

Iranian state media say search operations are under way after incident near Jolfa in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province.

Ombudsman suggests DILG file a complaint against Guo

After the Department of the Interior and Local Government recommended that the Office of the Ombudsman issue a preventive suspension order on Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, Ombudsman Samuel Martires said that the DILG had written to him, but what his office received was a fact-finding report which said nothing about what needed to be done. According to Jonathan Andal's Sunday 24 Oras Weekend report, Martires also said the copy of the DILG report they...

Pedestrian in critical condition after car crash

The man in his 60s was taken to hospital after a collision involving a Fiat Punto, police say.

French forces smash roadblocks in bid to clear key New Caledonia road

French forces smashed through about 60 road blocks to clear the way from conflict-stricken New Caledonia's capital to the airport but have still not reopened the route, a top government official said Sunday. But the official added that the route was full of wrecks of cars, burned wood and metal which had only been cleared at 15 of the roadblocks.

At least 11 killed as Russia presses forward with its offensive in northeastern Ukraine

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — At least 11 people were reported killed in attacks in Ukraine’s war-ravaged northeast on Sunday as Russia pushed ahead with its renewed offensive. In the Kharkiv region, the focus of the offensive, the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office said six people were killed and 27 wounded in a Russian strike on the outskirts of the regional capital, also called Kharkiv. Regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said that five more people were...

Red-tagged NGO cries foul after bank accounts frozen

TACLOBAN CITY, LEYTE, Philippines — A nongovernmental organization (NGO) working for depressed communities in Eastern Visayas has expressed outrage over the decision of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to freeze its bank account and that of its staff members and suppliers. Jazmin Jerusalem, executive director of the Leyte Center for Development (LCDe) based in Palo town, Leyte, said the NGO would contest the sanctions imposed by the...

Driver dies after car hits garden wall

The man, believed to be in his 70s, was driving in Clayton-le-Woods on Saturday morning, police say.

Chinese ships swarm Julian Felipe Reef

CHINA is poised to take effective control of Julian Felipe (Whitsun) Reef, a large boomerang-shaped shallow coral reef that is within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and its continental shelf. A May 9, 2024 satellite photo showed a swarm of 82 Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) vessels at the reef, SeaLight, a maritime transparency project that monitors and reports activities in the South China Sea, said. Retired US Air Force Col. Ray...

Taiwan coast guard ramps up island patrols ahead of inauguration

KINMEN — Taipei’s coast guard ramped up patrols over the weekend around its outlying islands that have seen increased presence of Chinese vessels, the agency said Sunday, the eve of Lai Ching-te’s inauguration as Taiwan’s new president. China claims democratic Taiwan as part of its territory, maintaining a near-daily military presence with frequent appearances of fighter jets, drones and naval ships around the island. It has also in recent...

DILG seeks suspension of Guo for ‘illegal acts’

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has recommended to the Ombudsman the preventive suspension of Bamban Mayor Alice Guo “over troubling findings of illegal acts.” In a statement on Saturday, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said the DILG created on April 5 a task force to probe Guo’s alleged link to illegal activities of a Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) in her town. He said the seven-man...

PH may file new case if China detains sea 'trespassers' -senators

The Philippines may file another case before an international court should China detain foreign nationals, particularly Filipinos, for “trespassing” in the South China Sea, several senators said Sunday. Senator Francis Tolentino pointed out that there were existing provisions in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which state that what China planned to do violated international maritime laws. Beijing said in its...

Finland to present plan to push back migrants on Russian border

By Anne Kauranen and Essi Lehto HELSINKI (Reuters) - Finland will propose a law next week allowing border agents to block asylum seekers trying to enter from Russia, the prime minister said on Sunday, a decision that could cause Helsinki to temporarily breach its international commitments. Finland shut its border with Russia last year to stop a growing number of arrivals from countries including

Ukrainians are staging art exhibition in Kyiv to show defiance

As part of the exhibition, which will be on display in Kyiv , women from the 'Angry Mavka' women's resistance movement are posting pictures of their logo on their wrists on social media.

Brit scoops £3.9 million National Lottery jackpot in Saturday's draw

The winning ticket-holder matched all six main numbers and netted the total sum of £3,967,428. No players managed to match five numbers and the bonus ball to collect £1 million.

Teenager receives unordered online purchase after losing national ID

After losing her national ID earlier in the week, 17-year-old Naga, Camarines Sur woman "Avril" suddenly received an unordered online purchase - a parcel of clothes worth P370. In GMA Regional TV Balitang Bicolandia Jessica Calinog's Saturday report, Avril suspected that scammers obtained her personal details through her lost National ID. The teen lost her wallet containing her national ID when she got off a jeep. “Pag may parcel po ako,...

This is what Kyiv looked like before the war

Two dead, five missing after suspected boat collision on Danube in Hungary

BUDAPEST (Reuters) -Two people were killed and five others were missing after a suspected collision involving a small motor boat and a cruise ship on the Danube River north of Budapest late on Saturday, Hungarian police said. The body of an adult man was found near the site, while that of a woman was recovered further downstream and disaster response units were still searching for the five

Cyclist dies after 'coming off bike' - police

Police believe the man, in his 50s, died when he came off his bike on a road in Winscales.

Protest continues vs crackdown on unconsolidated jeepneys

MANILA, Philippines — Protests will continue today amid the ongoing crackdown against colorum or unauthorized public utility jeepneys (PUJ), transport group Manibela said. Manibela chairman Mar Valbuena yesterday criticized the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for being selective in impounding PUJs that failed to consolidate. At least three PUJs were impounded on Friday. These were not part of Manibela and Pagkakaisa...

Russia's glide bombs devastating Ukraine's cities on the cheap

Russia is increasingly using budget "glide bombs" to advance its offensive in Ukraine.

Appeal over student sex attack more than 20 years ago

Police appeal for witnesses to the sexual assault of a 19-year-old woman more than 20 years ago.

Saudi king to undergo tests due to high fever, state news agency says

DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz will undergo medical tests on Sunday due to "high temperature and joint pain", state news agency SPA reported. The examinations will be conducted at the royal clinics at Al Salam Palace in Jeddah. The king, 88, was last admitted to hospital in April for a routine checkup, state TV reported then. King Salman, the custodian of Islam's

US forces lose strategic African position in Niger

With the US troop withdrawal from military-led Niger underway and due to be over by September 15, Washington is preparing to abandon its strategic position in the Sahel where Russia and Iran are gaining ground. - Russian and Iranian advance - Niger demanded the US troop pull-out after Washington expressed concern about "potential Nigerien relations with Russia and Iran".

NSTC-ROTC bill approval pushed

MANILA, Philippines — A two-year mandatory citizen service training for college students is being pushed for approval by 1-Pacman party-list Rep. Mikee Romero. Romero and other military reservists paid a courtesy call last week on Speaker Martin Romualdez, who promised to prioritize the enactment of the National Citizen Service Training (NSTC) and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) bill. Romualdez is the principal author of the NSTC-ROTC...

Number of migrants arriving in UK in small boats nears 10,000 mark

Some 103 people came across in two boats yesterday, it has been revealed - bringing the total so far this year, not including Sunday's arrivals, to 9,803.

Operation Sceptre aims to tackle violent knife crime

Permanent knife surrender bins have been installed around Wiltshire to help reduce knife crime.

Violence rages in New Caledonia as France rushes in emergency reinforcements

France imposed a state of emergency in the French Pacific territory, boosting security forces' powers to quell deadly unrest in the archipelago where some residents have long sought to break free from France.

BARMM Grand Coalition endorses Sulu governor Sakur Tan as chief minister

MANILA, Philippines — A coalition of major political parties in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has endorsed Sulu governor Sakur Tan for his run as chief minister in the first ever Bangsamoro Parliament elections next year. In a statement on Saturday group BARMM Grand Coalition (BGC), composed of the Salaam Party of Gov. Tan himself, the Bangsamoro People Party (BPP), the Al Ittihad-UKB Party, and the Serbisyong...

Audit of Kaliwa Dam project asked

A CONSUMER group wants Malacañang to do a full audit of the Kaliwa Dam project and hold accountable those behind the release of P1.828 billion in advance payments to the project's foreign contractor. The United Filipino Consumer and Commuters-Water for All Refund Movement (UFCC-WARM) also questioned the payments to the contractor, China Energy Engineering Corp. (CECC), of standby costs and other costs amounting to P309.840 million. The call was...

Anti-Israel protestors clash with NYC police leading to dozen arrests

Violence erupted today when a large number of NYPD officers tried to push back an angry mob of nearly 250 people who took to the streets of Brooklyn to march in support of Palestine

Kadiwa stores in NCR sell rice at P29/kilo

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is selling rice at P29 per kilo in five Kadiwa stores in Metro Manila, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) announced Sunday. These Kadiwa stores are ADC Building of the Department of Agriculture - Central Office in Quezon City; Kadiwa Center inside the Bureau of Plant Industry in Malate, Manila; Kadiwa Store along Llano Road in Barangay 167, Caloocan City; Kadiwa Store in AMVA Housing, La Mesa Street...

Russian air attack on Kharkiv kills at least five, says local official

By Max Hunder KHARKIV, Ukraine (Reuters) -Russian airstrikes killed at least five people and injured 16 others in a recreation area just outside Ukraine's northeastern city of Kharkiv on Sunday, local officials said. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov gave the toll of dead and wounded. "The explosions heard in Kharkiv around noon occurred in a nearby suburb. Two Russian missiles hit a recreation

23 Filipino crewmen safe after Houthi rebel attack–DMW

MANILA, Philippines — All 23 Filipino crewmen onboard a vessel attacked by Houthi rebels on Saturday are “safe and unharmed,” the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said in a statement on Sunday. READ: DFA: PH won’t abandon 17 sailors held by Houthi rebels “Their vessel which sustained slight damage was sailing close to the Yemeni port city of Hodeida when it was attacked. The vessel is continuing on its journey to its next port of call,” the...