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Pagasa issues BARMM flood alert

MANILA, Philippines — Parts of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao may experience flooding, the state weather bureau said on Wednesday. According to the flood advisory of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), the following areas may experience flooding: Maguindanao – Rivers and its tributaries particularly Nituan, Mindanao, Dalican, Allah, Buluan, Matuber, Mlang and Lower Mlang...

Firefighters tackling 'significant' blaze in Swindon

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service advises nearby residents to keep their windows shut.

Nursery worker treated baby who died 'no different'

Kate Roughley said she had thought about Genevieve Meehan "every day".

Man guilty of manslaughter over cyclist's death

Ryan Willicombe was found guilty of the manslaughter of Sheldon Lewcock, but was cleared of murder.

Hong Kong court bans protest song ‘Glory to Hong Kong’

HONG KONG — Hong Kong’s appeal court on Wednesday banned “Glory to Hong Kong,” a protest song that emerged during the city’s massive democracy demonstrations in 2019. Penned anonymously, its lyrics include the slogan “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times”, and the song has been all but illegal to sing or play it since authorities crushed the protests and Beijing imposed a national security law quelling dissent in 2020. Wednesday’s...

A woman accused of killing her Boston police officer boyfriend was framed, her attorneys say

BOSTON (AP) — A highly anticipated trial began in Massachusetts last week involving a woman accused of striking her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV and leaving him for dead in a snowbank. John O’Keefe died in the Boston suburb of Canton on Jan. 29, 2022. The case has garnered national attention because the defense alleges that state and local law enforcement officials framed Karen Read and allowed the real killer to go free. A look...

Poe pushes bill that aims to purge electronic vote buying, selling

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Grace Poe has filed a bill seeking to purge vote buying, specifically buying and selling of votes electronically. Poe’s Senate Bill No. 2664 was filed on Wednesday ahead of the 2025 midterm polls and in time for the 20th anniversary of the “Hello Garci” scandal. READ: WHAT WENT BEFORE: ‘Hello Garci scandal’ investigation To recall, the scandal involved a series of recorded phone calls between then presidential...

Pinoys back ‘dual approach’ in West Philippine Sea

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos continue to support a dual approach of diplomacy and military action in asserting the country’s territorial rights in the West Philippine Sea, according to a survey conducted by the OCTA Research group. The survey, conducted from March 11 to 14 and released yesterday, showed seven in 10 respondents want the Marcos administration to prioritize both diplomacy and military action in addressing issues related to...

Hontiveros urges release of Ayungin ‘new model’ pact evidence

MANILA, Philippines – The “evidence” allegedly proving that a Philippine army official reached an agreement with China regarding a “new model” on Ayungin Shoal should be made available to the government, Senator Risa Hontiveros said on Wednesday. “Kung meron talaga silang recording at kung meron talaga silang transcript, they should at the least make it available to the government — to the Executive, dahil seryosong claim na naman nila yan ng...

Woman in critical condition after being hit by car

A man is arrested after a woman in her 40s suffers serious injuries in the collision.

Hope dwindles in S.Africa two days after deadly building collapse

Rescuers raced against time to find more survivors amid the rubble of a deadly building collapse in South Africa on Wednesday, as search operations entered their third day. Operations were to enter the "body recovering" phase over the next day "as opposed to rescue", Van Wyk told national broadcaster SABC. Twenty-nine of the 75 workers who were at the site when the incident occurred have been pulled out of the rubble alive.

Supreme Court: Red-tagging threatens one’s right to life, security

MANILA CITY, Philippines — The practice of red-baiting or red-tagging is connected to the use of threats and intimidation, putting the labeled individual at risk of enforced disappearance or extrajudicial killing, the Supreme Court said Wednesday. In this situation, the Supreme Court said in a 39-page decision that a writ of amparo becomes necessary. A writ of amparo is a remedy available to any person whose right to life, liberty, and security...

'I'm a drug dealer, not a murderer' - defendant

Israar Shah tells a jury he had nothing to do with a shooting outside a house party.

Subway project equipment movement to affect 7 NCR roads on May 10-12

MANILA, Philippines — Traffic in several Metro Manila roads from May 10 to 12 will be affected by the transportation of the Metro Manila Subway Project’s (MMSP) tunnel boring machine (TBM) the vicinity of the Camp Aguinaldo Station. The Department of Transportation, in a social media post on Wednesday, said the following roads would be affected from May 10 to May 11, 2024 (10 p.m. to 4 a.m.) and May 11 to May 12, 2024 (10 p.m. to 4 a.m.): Port/...

Russia slams British claims it was involved in London 'arson attack'

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the accusation that her country was involved was part of an information war against Moscow amdi Putin's on-going war in Ukraine.

Bombshell as Tory MP Natalie Elphicke defects to Labour

Tory MP Natalie Elphicke has defected to Labour, hitting out at the 'broken promises of Rishi Sunak 's tired and chaotic government'.

Kenya inks deal to end doctors' strike

Kenya's government has signed a deal with striking doctors, the health ministry announced Wednesday, after almost two months of industrial action that left thousands of patients struggling to find medical care. The eight weeks of industrial action threw Kenya's public hospitals into crisis, running with a skeleton crew as patients scrambled to find treatment in the absence of doctors.

AFP on China claim: Audio can be forged with deep fakes

The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Wednesday said it wouldn't dignify China's claims that it agreed to "a new model" for conduct in the Ayungin Shoal, saying audio recordings could be manufactured with deep fake technology. In a statement, AFP chief of staff General Romeo Brawner said China's claim of an audio recording allegedly between Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos and a Chinese diplomat did not merit significant concern "as it appears to be...

Brazil flooding death toll surpasses 100

The death toll from devastating floods that have ravaged southern Brazil for days surpassed 100 on Wednesday, authorities said, as the search for dozens of missing people was interrupted by fresh storms. In a rare dry spot in Porto Alegre's historic center, dozens of people gathered around a generator rented by a pharmacy on Wednesday to charge their cell phones.

Chinese warship, 2 other vessels spotted off Batanes during ‘Balikatan’

LAOAG CITY, Philippines — A Chinese warship and two other vessels from Beijing were spotted off Batanes during the conduct of bilateral war games between Manila and Washington. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said that around 10:45 a.m. on May 1, the BRP Melchora Aquino spotted a People’s Liberation Army-Navy vessel of China and two other Chinese-flagged vessels in the vicinity of Itbayat, Batanes, where the Balikatan Exercise was being held....

Bato: I’m no destabilizer, not persecuting Marcos Jr.

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate probe on the leak of purported documents from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is not part of destabilization efforts against President Marcos, Sen. Ronald dela Rosa said yesterday. And despite being a party-mate of former president Rodrigo Duterte, Dela Rosa maintained that he is not in favor of calls to oust Marcos from office. In an interview with “Storycon” on One News, Dela Rosa described...

Ex-president Duterte being fed wrong info on Cha-cha, says solon

MANILA, Philippines — House of Representatives Deputy Speaker and Quezon Rep. David Suarez believes former president Rodrigo Duterte is being served with wrong information on many issues and and still insists that Charter change is about extending the term limits of officials. Suarez, in a press briefing in Makati on Wednesday, said this after being asked about Duterte’s latest tirades, where he said that the 1987 Constitution would only be...

Mandaluyong City adjusts LGU office hours

MANILA, Philippines — The city government of Mandaluyong announced on Wednesday that it will implement a modified work schedule in all its offices. In an order released by the Mandaluyong City Public Information Office (PIO), and signed by Mandaluyong City Mayor Benjamin Abalos, the local government unit offices will have a 7:00 am to 4:00 pm work schedule starting May 14. “All departments and offices of the City Government of Mandaluyong shall,...

Philippines in position to seek 2nd arbitration, says think tank

HONOLULU, Hawaii —The Philippines has the advantage of seeking a second arbitration opposing China’s claims in the South China Sea, according to the Hawaii-based foreign policy think tank Pacific Forum. It should also rally its fellow claimant Vietnam to file a United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) violation case against Beijing, “I think that the Philippines is in a position where it should reintroduce something through...

Migrant charity defies Italy over surveillance plane restrictions

ROME (Reuters) - A German rescue charity on Wednesday launched a fresh aerial surveillance mission from Italy to track down migrant boats in difficulty in the central Mediterranean, defying restrictions by Italian authorities. The Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) this week said it was banning small planes used by migrant charities from airports on the islands of Sicily, Pantelleria and

Dela Rosa warns Trillanes: Ex-PNP chief tagged in ‘ouster plot’ might beat you up

MANILA, Philippines — Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has been warned after linking a former police chief in an alleged plot to oust President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. “Sabihan mo si Trillanes na yung former PNP chief na kinausap nya, baka mabugbog pa sya noong former PNP chief na yun. Galit na galit sa kanya,” Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said in an interview over ANC’s Headstart on Wednesday. (Tell Trillanes that the former PNP...

Malawians who abandoned Israeli farms deported

They went to Israel as part of a deal to provide agricultural workers after the 2023 Hamas attacks.

Filipinos won’t benefit from plot to destabilize Marcos admin, solons say

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos have nothing to gain from the alleged destabilization plot against the Marcos administration as claimed by former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, several members of the House of Representatives said on Wednesday. 1-Rider party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez explained that there is a possibility that attempts to sow discord may be coming from outside the country – or something international “Perhaps we should look...

Some LGUs suspend face-to-face classes due to intense heat

MANILA, Philippines — Some local government units have suspended the face-to-face classes for Thursday, May 8 due to extreme heat. In separate advisories, the following areas announced the suspension of face-to-face classes and the shift to online or asynchronous mode: Pasay City – all level (public and private) Angeles City, Pampanga – all level (public and private) Santa Rosa, Laguna – elementary to high school, public (until May 10) Umingan,...

Russia ramps up attacks on Ukraine’s power plants

BBC Verify has been tracking Russia's attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

Jaja Santiago says Japanese citizenship bid still ‘in process’

MANILA, Philippines — Jaja Santiago said her Japanese citizenship remains in process and she relished her fruitful experience training as part of Japan’s national women’s volleyball pool. The 6-foot-5 middle blocker, who started her Japanese naturalization bid last year, said her citizenship is still ongoing while receiving help from Philippine National Volleyball Federation president Tats Suzara. “Actually, walang nakakaalam kung nasaan na...

Pro-Palestinian protests roil university campuses from Washington to Amsterdam

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) -Dutch riot police clashed with protesters at the University of Amsterdam on Wednesday, while scores of demonstrators at U.S. colleges were arrested overnight as the student-led protests against Israel's war in Gaza roiled more campuses on both sides of the Atlantic. In Amsterdam, protesters atop makeshift barriers of desks, bricks and wooden pallets used fire extinguishers to

Colombia National Electoral Council magistrates urge investigation into Petro campaign

By Luis Jaime Acosta and Carlos Vargas BOGOTA (Reuters) - Two out of nine magistrates in Colombia's National Electoral Council (CNE) have requested an investigation be opened into Colombian President Gustavo Petro's 2022 campaign over alleged spending violations, two sources said on Wednesday. Magistrates Benjamin Ortiz and Alvaro Hernan Prada also requested an investigation into Ecopetrol chief

Filipino visual artist, journalist among the finalists for this year’s Pulitzer Prize

The Pulitzer Prize is one of the most prestigious awards that can be given to a distinguished work. It is awarded by Columbia University to acknowledge achievements in journalism, literature, and public service, among others. In 2024, the Philippine flag was raised proudly by visual artist Ren Galeno and journalist Nicole Dunga. Nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in Illustrated Reporting and Commentary, “Searching For Maura (Paghahanap Kay Maura)”...

Severe floods in Brazil kills at least 100 people and strands animals

Brazilian authorities confirmed Wednesday that 100 people have been confirmed dead and 128 are still missing due to the storm that flooded the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul last week,

Putin's latest plan to kill Zelensky failed

Abalos says Northern Samar barangays now free from communists

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos on Wednesday said all barangays in Northern Samar are now free from guerilla fronts and communist groups. “These barangays are now CTG-influenced free, wala nang mga guerrilla fronts dito ayon sa Philippine Army (PA),” Abalos said in a press release, noting that the barangays no longer support communist groups. Abalos recently led the distribution of over P160,000 worth of livelihood and financial assistance...

Thai pro-democracy leader jailed over royal defamation

BANGKOK — A court in Thailand on Wednesday sentenced a prominent pro-democracy activist to three years in jail for royal defamation. Critics say the government has used the strict lese-majeste laws to silence dissent, prosecuting scores under the tough legislation that protects King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his family. Panupong Jadnok, 27, was among the leaders of 2020’s youth-led demonstrations, which saw tens of thousands take to the streets to...

Today's headlines: China's claims, massive gathering in BSP, Bianca Bustamante | The wRap | May 9, 2024

Here are today's headlines – the latest news in the Philippines and around the the world: - China ups ante, says it has audio recording of ‘new deal’ arrangement with PH Wescom chief - Marcos’ Partido Federal, Lakas-CMD forge alliance for 2025 elections - Finally, Supreme Court defines red-tagging as a threat - Hundreds flock to Bangko Sentral to claim ‘hidden wealth’ - Steadily improving, Bianca Bustamante earns maiden podium finish in 2024 F1 Academy https://www.rappler.com/video/daily-wrap/may-8-2024/

Russia unleashes ‘massive’ barrage targeting Ukraine energy infrastructure

Ukraine continues to call for more weapons as Russia seeks to batter industry and resistance.

How they celebrated VE Day, almost 80 years ago

Victory in Europe Day, or VE Day, marks the formal acceptance by the Allies of Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender of its armed forces on May 8, 1945. On that day almost 90 ago, grand celebrations took place in Britain, France, the United States, and other countries as nearly six years of war ended. The numbers of those who took part in the festivities are fast dwindling. Fortunately, a comprehensive photographic record exists of that momentous occasion, images that capture the overwhelming joy, delight, and relief on that extraordinary day. Click through the following gallery and relive VE Day, when the war in Europe ended.

Stowaway migrant risk on ferries sailing from British ports to Ireland

Undocumented asylum seekers are paying thousands of euros to enter the country via cruise ships from the UK, according to some of the new arrivals living in tents in Dublin.

Marcos’ Partido Federal, Lakas-CMD forge alliance for 2025 elections

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s Partido Federal ng Pilipinas and Speaker Martin Romualdez’ Lakas-CMD political parties sign an agreement on Wednesday, May 8, formalizing an alliance for the 2025 midterm elections. Full story: https://www.rappler.com/philippines/marcos-partido-federal-pilipinas-lakas-cmd-forge-alliance-2025-midterms/

Filipinos want military action to resolve sea row

(UPDATE) SEVEN out of 10 Filipinos favor military action and diplomacy in resolving the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue, an OCTA Research survey said. Results of the first quarter Tugon ng Masa survey conducted from March 11–14, 2024 showed that 73 percent of respondents wanted the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to expand naval patrols and troop presence in the disputed waters. Seventy-two percent said they wanted the dispute...

China embassy’s ‘barking’ violates wiretapping law if claims true — Teodoro

LAOAG CITY, Philippines — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Wednesday said he does not want to dignify China’s “barking” about the purported “new model” on Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal situation. However, if the Chinese embassy’s claim of holding audio evidence of the “new model” is true, Teodoro said its officials violated the country’s wiretapping law. The Republic Act 4200 prohibits recording any private conversation without the...

Interloper joins ‘Made in China’ mock enemy ship sinking drills

LAOAG CITY, Philippines — A surprise guest joined Wednesday’s sinking exercise here where a “made in China” ship was made the target of naval missiles and airstrikes as part of Manila and Washington’s war games. However, the marine interloper appeared to have no sinister intention, according to Lt. Col. Omad Abdullah Al Assaf, the maritime strike lead planner for this year’s Balikatan. READ: US, PH begin striking ‘Made in China’ mock target ship...

PFP, Lakas-CMD alliance is ‘the most powerful political force’ – Romualdez

MANILA, Philippines — Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) President and House Speaker Martin Romualdez called their political party’s new alliance with the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) “the most powerful political force” in the country. PFP — led by Romualdez’s cousin, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.— consists of a sizable number of local leaders in its party. Lakad-CMD, on the other hand, comprises one-third of the members of the House...

Pennsylvania man who pointed gun at pastor during sermon now charged with cousin's murder

Bernard Junior Polite is charged with his cousin's murder after pointing at gun at a pastor during a church service in North Braddock, Pennsylvania.

Gov’t prepares briefer in case ICC issues warrant vs Duterte, others

MANILA CITY, Philippines—The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of the Solicitor General are preparing a legal briefer so President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. can weigh in on several options in case the International Criminal Court (ICC) issues a warrant against former President Rodrigo Duterte and several others. “The Department is now preparing a legal briefer for the President, which will describe to him yung mga options na available sa...

Man burned 'carpet of waste' at illegal site

Lawrence Crossling is fined £800 after teams saw 'multiple fires' on land in Shotton Colliery.