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Marcos urged: Rethink keeping VP as education chief

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. should rethink whether he should continue having an alter ego who “constantly undermines him,” a lawmaker said on Friday after first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos admitted she was displeased and hurt by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte’s response to a personal attack against her husband. The President’s wife referred to how Duterte reacted with laughter when the Vice President’s father, former...

Hate preacher Abu Hamza 'is as dangerous as ever' US prison bosses say

Prison heads in the US have given several hundred pages of evidence against the hookhanded cleric of hate.

These are history's multilingual US presidents

The President of the United States is used to talking tough. But how many presidents in US history were able to do so in another language besides English? Not many people realize that there are 21 former White House incumbents who could converse in at least one foreign language. Some, in fact, were multilinguists. And did you know that there was one American president who didn't speak English as his first language. Intrigued? Click through and discover the presidents who could communicate in foreign tongues.

Cat dies after being caught in snare in Saltash

The RSPCA is warning against the use of traps and snares after a cat died in Lower Burraton.

Parents march for help with childcare bills

Pressure group Melted Parents NI demand "urgent intervention" from Stormont on protest walk in Belfast.

Scottish independence supporters seek to inject life into faltering campaign

Scottish independence campaigners will march in Glasgow on Saturday as they try to reignite flagging support for self-rule before a UK general election due this year that is expected to deal a blow to their cause. - Mandate - Current SNP leader Yousaf has vowed to continue the push for independence at the UK general election, which is expected to be held in October or November.

Russia's Kurgan orders evacuation in some districts as floodwaters rise

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Authorities in the region of Kurgan in Russia's Urals mountains ordered an evacuation from several districts on Saturday due to rising river levels, after large snowfalls melted and heavy rain fell on ground already waterlogged before winter. Russia's Urals region and northern Kazakhstan often suffer flooding at this time of year but are seeing the worst in memory this year and

Man struck and killed on motorway

The 48-year-old was struck by a lorry between junctions 2 and 3 on the northbound M57 in Knowsley.

NGCP raises yellow alert over Luzon

MANILA, Philippines — The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) raised a yellow alert over Luzon for Saturday. The alert will be effective from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., the NGCP said in an advisory. According to NGCP, the available capacity in Luzon is 12,048 megawatts (MW) but demand is seen to peak at 11,426 MW. READ: Red, yellow alerts raised again in Luzon, Visayas “Twenty-two power plants are on forced outage, while 1 other is running on...

Taiwan president congratulates Taiwanese queen for winning Drag Race

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Saturday offered her congratulations to the Taiwanese drag queen Nymphia Wind for winning RuPaul's Drag Race, the first person from East Asia to take the crown. Tsai and her ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) have championed LGBTQ+ rights making the island a bastion of liberal values, and in 2019 Taiwan legalised same sex marriage in a

Ukraine has created a new unit dedicated to demining the country

Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces post hit in air strike, sources say

By Ahmed Rasheed BAGHDAD (Reuters) -Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces, an official security force, said its command post at Kalso military base about 50 km (30 miles) south of Baghdad was hit by a huge explosion late on Friday, and two security sources said it resulted from an air strike. One PMF fighter was killed and six were wounded, two sources at a hospital in the nearby city of Hilla said

Beso-beso for President Marcos, Vice President at PNPA graduation

MANILA, Philippines — Following First Lady Liza Marcos’ admission of a rift with Vice President Sara Duterte, President Marcos and Duterte bussed each other and shared the stage at the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA)’s graduation rites in Silang, Cavite yesterday. Marcos and Duterte were seen touching cheeks or doing “beso-beso” as he briefly held her arm when she and Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos welcomed him after the arrival...

Pakistan makes formal request to IMF for another bailout: Report

Recently, the IMF reached a staff-level agreement on the final review of Pakistan's stabilisation program under a $3 billion standby arrangement approved last July, paving the way for continued support and collaboration.

Ministers working to counter risk of Chinese interference

Correspondence from Cabinet Office minister John Glen reveals the UK is conducting 'significant work related to national security' after concerns were raised about Chinese genomics company BGI.

Lotto Draw Results, April 19, 2024 | Ultra Lotto 6/58, 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 Friday, April 19.

North Korea conducts a test on ‘super-large warhead’ – KCNA

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea conducted a test on a “super-large warhead” designed for a strategic cruise missile, state media said Saturday, adding that it also launched a new type of anti-aircraft missile. “The DPRK Missile Administration has conducted a power test of a super-large warhead designed for ‘Hwasal-1 Ra-3’ strategic cruise missile,” KCNA news agency reported, referring to North Korea by an abbreviation for its official name....

Land row hits NGCP project

MANILA, Philippines — Grid operator National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) hit a legal roadblock in undertaking one of the critical transmission projects in the provinces of Batangas and Cavite. In a statement on Friday, NGCP said it had filed expropriation cases against E. M. Ramos and Sons Inc. and several other defendants “who claim interest over the properties” affected by the construction of its 500-kilovolt Tuy-Dasmariñas...

Former teaching assistant guilty of raping a child

Sam Powers, 28, from Swindon, is due to be sentenced in June.

Moscow says 50 Ukrainian drones shot down as attacks spark fires at Russian power stations

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine launched a barrage of drones across Russia overnight, the Defense Ministry in Moscow said Saturday, in attacks that appeared to target the country’s energy infrastructure. Fifty drones were shot down by air defences over eight Russian regions, including 26 over the country’s western Belgorod region close to the Ukrainian border. Two people — a woman with a broken leg and the man caring for her — died during the...

US agrees to pull troops out of Niger

It means the US will lose its primary base where it monitors regional Islamist activity.

MMDA reworks ban on e-bikes

In compliance with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Friday said it will use the one-month grace period to inform the public on the banning of e-bikes, e-trikes, tricycles, pedicabs, push carts and kuligligs (motorized pedicabs) from traversing national roads in Metro Manila. In a press conference in Pasig City, MMDA Acting Chair Romando Artes said the agency received the...

UK minister writes to London police over 'openly Jewish' comment

LONDON (Reuters) - British interior minister James Cleverly has written to London's Metropolitan Police after an officer stopped a man who was wearing a traditional kippah cap from crossing a road during a pro-Palestinian march on the grounds he was "openly Jewish". The charity Campaign Against ­Antisemitism released a video late on Thursday which showed a police officer preventing Gideon Falter,

Explosive device found at flat after police raid

An explosive device was found at a flat after a police raid, officers have said. The improvised item was found in Ellis Place, Liverpool by a bomb disposal team on Friday afternoon, Merseyside Police said. It was removed to New Brighton where a controlled explosion took place. Flats and businesses around Ellis Place were evacuated but residents wer...

One killed, 20 wounded in blast at Iran-aligned group’s base in Iraq

Blast hitting Popular Mobilisation Forces comes amid ongoing attacks on Iran-linked groups as regional tensions soar.

Goose dies after dog attack at Derby park

An incident the following day saw a dog attack a swan, which distressed a nearby nesting duck.

Rama orders probe of Baclayon days after defending CAD chief

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has shifted gears and now wants to investigate the allegations against CAD chief Joelito Baclayon. The Mayor has ordered the city’s fact-finding team to probe the accusations made by City Councilor Jun Alcover, the chairman of the committee on agriculture, regarding Baclayon’s alleged negligence. The surprise turnaround came just days after the mayor threw his full support behind his...

Pro-China PM retains his seat in Solomon Islands election

Honiara, Solomon Islands — Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare was set to retain his seat in elections Saturday, local media reported, paving the way for the pro-China leader to try to form a government. Sogavare is one of China’s most loyal friends in the South Pacific and has vowed to deepen ties with Beijing further if he returns to power. He will soon travel to the capital Honiara, where his team will begin bartering with other...

From PDP-Laban to ‘PDP’; 3 senators eye reelection in 2025 polls

CEBU CITY, Philippines – The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan or PDP-Laban, announced several changes during their national council meeting and 42nd-anniversary celebration in Cebu City on Friday evening, April 19. One significant change was the approval of an amendment to remove the word “Laban” from their political party name which is now referred to as PDP or Partido Demokratiko Pilipino only. READ: No ‘fight’ anymore? Duterte-led...

Man dies after setting himself on fire outside Donald Trump hush money trial in New York

Man dies after setting himself on fire outside Donald Trump hush money trial in New York - People rushed to douse the person with a fire extinguisher and try to bat the flames away, according to reports

Rama plans to redesign CBRT bus station at Capitol for heritage preservation

CEBU CITY, Philippines – The Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) project is facing delays, and the mayor’s new plans might make it take even longer. Mayor Michael Rama wants to remove the planned bus station near the Capitol building because it doesn’t fit with the area’s heritage. He plans to replace it with a new station, designed differently. “We are already very clear that with respect to the CBRT… We will be removing the structure in front of the...

Mayor slams 'racial undertones' of Chinese influx issue in Cagayan

The mayor of Tuguegarao City on Saturday expressed disappointment over what she called a "racist and politicized" issue about the supposed growing number of Chinese students in the province. "Ano po ba ang mali sa'min? Ano po ang mali sa Tuguegarao? Hindi ba puwede mag stay dito ang mga Chinese? Hindi ba puwede mag stay ang mga tao na gusto lang magkaron ng maayos na pagaaral?" asked Mayor Maila Rosario Ting-Que at the Pandesal Forum. (What's...

Caloocan court drops all charges vs PISTON 6

A Caloocan court dropped charges against the PISTON 6 who were arrested in 2020 after protesting against the prohibition against jeepneys plying their routes amid the COVID-19 pandemic. According to an order filed on Friday, the court found that the evidence against Severino Ramos, Wilson Ramilla, Ramon Paloma, Ruben Baylon, Elmer Cordero, and Arsenio Ymas was insufficient. The order further said that there was no violation of Quarantine...

Two hurt in fire in residential area in Brgy. Sto. Niño, QC

Two people were injured after a fire hit a residential area in Barangay Sto. Niño, Quezon City on Saturday morning. One of the victims was a fire volunteer whose hand was wounded. The other victim was a resident who got a minor burn after moving his vehicle while evacuating, according to a report by Christian Maño on Super Radyo dzBB. The fire broke out at 6:18 a.m. in a compound on Barangay Buhay Street. The compound had five houses. The Bureau...

China to US: Respect our sea rights, sovereignty

MANILA, Philippines — The Chinese defense minister reportedly talked with his US counterpart early this week to relay Beijing’s appeal to Washington that it respect China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea, saying President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden have a shared commitment to improving bilateral relations. The Chinese embassy said the video conversation between Chinese defense minister Admiral Dong...

Iran's foreign minister downplays drone attack, says Tehran investigating

By Jasper Ward and Nidal al-Mughrabi WASHINGTON/CAIRO (Reuters) - Iran's foreign minister on Friday said Tehran was investigating an overnight attack on Iran, adding that so far a link to Israel had not been proven as he downplayed the strike. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian told NBC News the drones took off from inside Iran and flew for a few hundred meters before being downed.

PH eyeing to sign RAA with Japan before 2024 ends —NSC

The National Security Council said Saturday that it is targeting to sign a Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) with Japan before the end of the year. “The arrangement with Japan, the RAA, ang target po ng ating bansa is before the end of the year mapirmahan na iyan," said NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya at the Saturday News Forum. (Our country’s target is it will be signed before the end of the year.) Malaya also added that "more...

Libby Squire's mum urges parents to discuss violence

The mother of murdered student is supporting a new educational programme on gender-based violence.

Muggers target school children impacted by London LTN

Bernadette Boyle, head teacher at Bishop Thomas Grant school in Streatham, south London, has complained about the Low Traffic Neighbourhood impacted punctuality among pupils.

About 1,300 people from Myanmar flee into Thailand after clashes broke out in a key border town

BANGKOK (AP) — About 1,300 people have fled from eastern Myanmar into Thailand, officials said Saturday, as fresh fighting erupted at a border town that has recently been captured by ethnic guerillas. Fighters from the Karen ethnic minority last week captured the last of the Myanmar army’s outposts in and around Myawaddy, which is connected to Thailand by two bridges across the Moei River. The latest clashes were triggered in the morning when...

Two die in ongoing Israeli raid in West Bank, Palestinian Health Ministry says

By Ali Sawafta NUR SHAMS, West Bank (Reuters) - Israeli forces exchanged fire with Palestinian militants in the occupied West Bank on Saturday in the second day of a raid that has so far left at least two people dead, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Israeli forces launched the raid on the Nur Shams area, near the Palestinian city of Tulkarm, on Friday. A number of militants were

What was behind the garrotting panics of London?

Londoners were told there were no-go areas full of the criminal classes - was it true?

Explosion hits Iraq base housing pro-Iranian militia

The militia blamed an attack, while Iraq's military said it did not detect drones or jets in the area.

What does Israel have in its arsenal that it could use against Iran?

Israel has airborne and naval capabilities that it can use against Iran, but it must choose any target carefully.

Caloocan City gets P1M for whooping cough fight

MANILA, Philippines — Caloocan City has received a P1 million donation from the Caloocan City Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce (CCFCCC) to support its vaccination program against pertussis, also known as whooping cough. City Mayor Dale Gonzalo “Along” Malapitan thanked the CCFCCC for their ongoing commitment to local programs. “Maraming-maraming salamat po sa CCFCCC for once again helping our city government deliver valuable and effective...

Drought causing smaller chickens, eggs in Negros Occidental

BACOLOD CITY — The drought in Negros Occidental has affected chickens, causing them to lay smaller eggs. Provincial veterinarian Placeda Lemana said egg production in the locality had not dropped but their sizes had become much smaller. “You will not see any jumbo eggs in the market now,” she said in an interview on April 17. “The reason behind it is that chickens are opting to drink more water than eat feeds because of the heat. That means...

Destruction after Iraqi PMF fighter killed and 8 people wounded

Here are the Scenes after one Iraqi PMF fighter was killed and 8 people were wounded in a missile strike. Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces, said it was at their command post at Kalso Military Base about 30 miles south of Baghdad.

NSC on Balikatan drills: 'PH not preparing to go to war'

The Philippines is not preparing to go to war just because it is conducting the upcoming Balikatan joint military exercises with the United States, the National Security Council (NSC) said Saturday. Speaking at a news forum, NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya sought to allay concerns that the country was bracing itself to engage in an imminent war amid rising territorial tensions in the West Philippine Sea and the Asia-Pacific...

Officer punished for cutting off trainees' earrings

PC Martin Briggs made the students believe he was going to use bolt croppers, Dorset Police said.

China says AUKUS risks nuclear proliferation in Pacific

China's foreign minister on Saturday accused Western powers in the AUKUS security pact of provoking division and risking nuclear proliferation in the South Pacific. AUKUS also "raises serious nuclear proliferation risks", the Chinese foreign minister told reporters after meeting with his Papua New Guinea counterpart Justin Tkatchenko.