PH-US-Japan triad: An alliance of ‘equals’?

For the first time since the end of the Cold War, the Philippines is the focal point of a new security arrangement in the Indo-Pacific. This is an upgraded alliance whose benefits go beyond an “ironclad” commitment to defend each other in case of an attack. The first trilateral summit between United States President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and President Marcos at the White House on April 11 marked the end of the siloing...

Man arrested over Banbridge car park shooting

A man has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder after a man was shot in Banbridge.

Four arrests after report of fighting with weapons

Armed police are called to reports of a fight and two people are taken to hospital.

Most Americans think Trump really has committed crimes

Swans in Grimsby protected from attacks by CCTV

The nesting birds are protecting seven eggs in Grimsby town centre, say wildlife volunteers.

CCLEX-Guadalupe ramp: P6B project set to boost Cebu’s economy

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Cebuanos can anticipate a significant impact on Metro Cebu’s economy following a substantial investment increase by a unit of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) in the construction of the Guadalupe ramp. This ramp will connect the Cebu Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) to Barangay Guadalupe. Initially projected at P1 billion last year, CCLEX Corp. (CCLEC) President and General Manager, Engineer Allan Alfon, now estimates...

Lorry driver 'safe and well' after M56 blaze

One lane on the eastbound carriageway of the M56 remains closed following the fire near Frodsham, Cheshire.

Trilateral pushback against China

Stripped of diplomatic verbiage and despite disclaimers to the contrary, there is no question the cooperation agreement entered into recently by the Philippines, the United States, and Japan is directed at China. While it is true that the leaders of the three countries discussed infrastructure and investment plans, e.g., the Luzon Economic Corridor and Open Radio Access Network programs in the Philippines, the principal objective of that...

Flexible work setups pushed to ease Metro traffic

MANILA, Philippines — Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva has urged government agencies and private companies to continuously consider the work-from-home arrangement for their employees to help ease vehicular traffic congestion in Metro Manila and other urban areas. “The Civil Service Commission’s (CSC) Memorandum Circular No. 6, series of 2022. on flexible working arrangement is still in place. We continue to encourage all government...

Luzon, Visayas grids still on red and yellow alerts on Thursday

MANILA, Philippines — National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) raised red and yellow alerts in Luzon and Visayas for the third straight day today, April 18, due to the unavailability of several power plants. In an advisory, NGCP said a red alert status will be up in the Luzon grid from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Before that, the Luzon grid will be placed under yellow alert from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and from 10...

Calls grow to probe Chinese influx as nat’l security issue

MANILA, Philippines — Calls to look deeper into activities, transactions and settlements tied to the influx of Chinese nationals into the country are growing louder in the House of Representatives. Members of the Makabayan minority bloc on Wednesday sought an investigation into reports that Philippine military personnel were being recruited as online analysts by Chinese firms posing as Western companies with American military affiliations. In...

Women’s bodies being turned into ‘battlegrounds’—UN

GENEVA, Switzerland — Women’s bodies have become political “battlegrounds,” putting at risk 30 years of progress on sexual and reproductive health for women and girls, the United Nations warned on Wednesday. Though maternal mortality rates and unwanted pregnancy rates have been steadily falling, progress is now slowing or even flatlining on key measures, said the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN’s sexual and reproductive health...

Police arrest six, seek three others in Canada's largest gold heist

By KyawSoe Oo and Ismail Shakil BRAMPTON, Ontario (Reuters) - Canadian and U.S. authorities said on Wednesday six people have been arrested and three more are being sought in connection with what they called the largest gold heist in Canadian history -- a cargo of over C$22 million ($16 million) in gold and currency. The suspects, including two Air Canada employees, forged an airway bill to

3 Mindanao towns under state of calamity due to El Niño

KORONADAL CITY, SOCCSKSARGEN, Philippines — Three towns in Mindanao have been placed under a state of calamity due to the impact of the El Niño weather phenomenon in farming-dependent local economies there. The local governments of the towns of Paglat and Datu Piang in Maguindanao del Sur province, and Surallah town in South Cotabato province declared the state of calamity as the prolonged dry spell destroyed farms and disrupted irrigation...

Probe surge of Chinese nationals near Edca sites—Rep. Barbers

MANILA, Philippines — Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers is urging concerned government and law enforcement agencies to investigate the surge of Chinese nationals near Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) sites and other major seaports and airports nationwide. Barbers, who chairs the House committee on dangerous drugs, said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) “should be held responsible and...

A Ukrainian ally is sending Kyiv F-16s for deep strikes into Russia's rear

Rape victim's frustration over attacker's parole

"Elizabeth"'s rapist was recalled to prison in January after breaching his parole conditions.

Ukraine PM warns of Third World War if Russia wins

Denys Shmyhal tells the BBC his country desperately needs the US to pass a long-stalled foreign aid bill.

Catholic bishops back Senate probe on mining, quarrying

MANILA, Philippines — Caritas Philippines, the social action arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), is supporting Sen. Risa Hontiveros’ call for a Senate investigation on the environmental and social impact of mining and quarrying activities nationwide ahead of the observance of Earth Day on April 22. San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, vice president of Caritas Philippines, pointed to the critical need to address the...

Ombudsman sacks BFAR chief over P2-B transmitter deal

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed the head of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) after finding him guilty of grave misconduct in connection with the 2018 purchase of a monitoring system for fishing vessels that proved to be disadvantageous to the government. BFAR National Director Demosthenes Escoto was meted the penalty for his role in what state prosecutors described as an “anomalous scheme” in...

The Russian Orthodox Church declares ‘holy war’ against Ukraine and the West

Marcos meets Blair over BARMM peace efforts, food security, climate change

MANILA, Philippines: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier this week met with former United Kingdom prime minister Tony Blair, Malacañang said. Their meeting last Wednesday, April 17, was their third overall, the first two being on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York and in the Palace in Manila, both in 2022. In a social media post, Marcos said he was "looking forward to further collaboration with the Tony Blair...

Khor Al-Mukalla Waterway sa Yemen, umapaw dahil malakas na pag-ulan

Khor Al-Mukalla Waterway sa Yemen, umapaw dahil malakas na pag-ulan; 20-k indibidwal sa Georgia, nagprotesta vs. “Foreign Influence” bill; Painting ng Austrian Painter na si Gustav Klimt, nakatakdang ipa-auction

Moment 6.4 magnitude earthquake jolts southern Japan

This follows the 7.6 magnitude Noto earthquake which struck Japan on January 1 and killed 245 people.

Philippines, US forces to train retaking island in joint drills

MANILA — Philippine and U.S. forces will simulate retaking enemy-occupied islands during joint military drills starting next week in areas facing Taiwan and the South China Sea as Manila shifts its focus to external defense. The annual “Balikatan” or “shoulder-to-shoulder” drills, which will run from April 22 to May 10, will involve 16,700 soldiers who will train […]

Gatchalian asks CHEd: Probe ‘sale’ of degrees to foreign students

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday asked the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) to investigate and sanction people involved in the alleged sale of diplomas or degrees to foreign students in the country. He made the call following reports that some Chinese students in Cagayan are paying P2 million to obtain their degrees. “CHEd must impose appropriate penalties or sanctions on HEIs (higher education institutions) and...

Another clarification from DepEd: No need to buy alternate uniform

MANILA, Philippines — Teachers and nonteaching staff do not need to buy collared shirts that they can wear as alternate uniforms for summer, the Department of Education (DepEd) said on Wednesday. Michael Poa, DepEd spokesperson and undersecretary, told reporters that the agency’s April 11 memorandum on optional “comfortable clothing” amid rising temperatures nationwide said that any collared shirt used in the agency’s previous activities could...

Solon wants clarity in Bukidnon clash

MANILA, Philippines — Gabriela party list Rep. Arlene Brosas on Wednesday slammed the Armed Forces of the Philippines over the circumstances surrounding the death of a New People’s Army (NPA) leader in Bukidnon province, calling it an extrajudicial killing in violation of international humanitarian law. In a statement, Brosas pointed out that the body of Kaliska “Kal” Peralta, 33, bore signs of torture and abuse, which were concealed because...

MCWD water deficit now affects 50,000 households

CEBU CITY, Philippines – As the internal political strife surrounding the Metropolitan Cebu Water District or MCWD continues, the shortage of water faced by residents has also persisted. Currently, the water deficit in the MCWD has now reached 50,000 cubic meters per day. This equates to 50,000 households experiencing water supply issues, with each household facing a shortage of one cubic meter. READ MORE: Water crisis escalates in Cebu City:...

Indonesia evacuating thousands after volcano erupts, causes tsunami threat

Indonesian rescuers raced to evacuate thousands of people Thursday after a volcano erupted five times, forcing authorities to close a nearby airport and issue a warning about falling debris that could cause a tsunami. - Tsunami warning - Authorities also warned of a possible tsunami as a result of the eruptions.

PCSO Lotto Draw Results, April 17, 2024 | Grand Lotto 6/55, Mega Lotto 6/45, 4D, 3D, 2D

Here are the winning lotto combinations of the lotto draw results for the 9 p.m. draw on Wednesday, April 17.

Can Ukraine’s new drone campaign change the battlefield?

Comelec looks set to hit goal of 3M new voters

MANILA, Philippines — Less than three months after it started accepting applications, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Wednesday that more than 2 million people have registered to become voters—more than two-thirds of its targeted 3 million new voters for the 2025 midterm polls. In a Viber message to reporters, Comelec Chair George Erwin Garcia said that as of April 16, a total of 2,082,744 registration applications had been...

Natalie Barr demands answers about the threats Australia faces

The Albanese government has been pressed by Sunrise host Natalie Barr for answers.

China's Wang meets Jokowi, Indonesian president-elect Prabowo

China's top diplomat met Indonesian President Joko Widodo and his successor Prabowo Subianto on Thursday as Beijing seeks to boost its regional influence. Wang also met Indonesian foreign minister Retno Marsudi earlier on Thursday before visiting Widodo, more popularly known as Jokowi, at the presidential palace and then Prabowo at the defence ministry.

Family homeless after builder abandons extension

A Rochdale family say they cannot return home after a builder abandoned their house part-finished.

Drivers seriously injured in two-car crash

Two drivers are in hospital after the crash on the A170 between Pickering and Thornton-le-Dale.

EU, nagpataw ng sanctions vs. Iran

EU, nagpataw ng sanctions vs. Iran

Canada and NATO have a big problem and its Canada’s fault

Meat plant throws away 1.8 tonnes of food

More than 1.8 tonnes of meat was thrown away earlier this month, a government minister confirms.

Tsunami alert after devastating volcanic eruption rocks nation

Indonesian stratovolcano Mount Ruang, in North Sulawesi Province, has erupted spectaularly five times in 24 hours.

Indonesian volcano eruption forces evacuations, airport closure

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia shut a provincial airport and evacuated hundreds of people from the vicinity of the Ruang volcano after it belched explosive plumes of lava, rocks and ash for days, officials said on Thursday, declaring the highest alert on the situation. Wednesday's dramatic eruption of the volcano on a remote island in the province of North Sulawesi threw a fiery-red column of lava

Police bust cyber gang accused of industrial-scale fraud around the world

Police bust cyber gang accused of industrial-scale fraud around the world - Law enforcement agencies, including the Metropolitan Police, have arrested 37 suspects across the UK and around the world

Japan 'two-faced' for seeking closer ties while warning of China threat, Chinese state media says

BEIJING (Reuters) - An editorial in a Chinese state-controlled newspaper on Thursday admonished "two-faced" Japan for inaccurately portraying it as a regional security threat while chasing more stable bilateral ties, warning of Chinese measures if Tokyo acted recklessly. In his address to the U.S. Congress last week, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called China's military actions "an

Senate comment sought on Quiboloy’s petition to block arrest order

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The Supreme Court has directed the Senate to comment on the petition for certiorari and temporary restraining order (TRO) being sought by televangelist Apollo Quiboloy in relation to the upper chamber’s inquiry on alleged cases of human trafficking, rape, sexual and child abuse against the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader. At a media forum in Baguio City on Wednesday, Supreme Court spokesperson Camille Ting said...

A sellout of our sovereign rights

There are undisputed facts that must be at the front and core of the ongoing debate over our conflict with China on the Ayungin Shoal. These incontrovertible facts should also be at the center of the ongoing word war between the Marcos and Duterte camps on the issue. Among these undisputed facts include the narrative that follows: Ayungin Shoal (also known as Second Thomas Shoal) is inside our 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone (EEZ). In...

Russian missile barrage on Ukraine city kills 17

CHERNIGIV, Ukraine — Three Russian missiles crashed into Ukraine’s historic city of Chernigiv on Wednesday, killing 17 people as officials pleaded for more air defense systems from allies. Pools of blood gathered on the street at the scene of one strike, where rescuers searched for survivors in the rubble and carried away the wounded on stretchers, official images showed. As President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed for more help from Western...

PH on China's 'bloc' allegation: 'Tension of region well known to all'

MANILA, Philippines: It is China's excessive maritime claims and aggressive behavior, including its militarization of the South China Sea (SCS), that raise tensions and undermine peace and stability in the region and not any "exclusive grouping." The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) stressed this in response to China's claim that the trilateral summit involving the Philippines, the United States, and Japan last April 11 "introduced bloc...

Marcos orders grace period for e-bikes, e-trikes ban on NCR national roads

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has ordered a grace period on the ban on select electric vehicles on national roads, during which violators will not be given tickets and fines. In a statement issued Thursday, Marcos said he ordered the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and local government units in Metro Manila to provide leeway for e-bikes, e-trikes, and other affected vehicles that continue to ply national roads of...

'Turd that can't be polished': SNP MP's blistering Commons rant about Rwanda bill

'I will vote against it at every opportunity because it is despicable.'