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Barmm political parties forge alliance for peaceful parliamentary polls

MANILA, Philippines — An alliance of political parties in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm) was formed to promote an orderly and peaceful parliamentary elections in the region next year. The alliance of the Bangsamoro People’s Party (BPP), the Al Ittihad-UKB Party and the Serbisyong Inklusibo Alyansang Progresibo (SIAP) Party, was formed during a meeting in Makati City on Wednesday. “As representatives of diverse...

Reading terror attack: Families feel Counter-Terrorism police failed

Family statements regarding the Reading terror attack highlight clear warnings about Khairi Saadallah's extremist risk, blaming Counter-Terrorism police for failure.

P4.5 million kush abandoned at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group confiscated yesterday five parcels, containing around 2.5 kilos of kush from Canada valued at P4.5 million, abandoned at the Central Mail Exchange Center of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). The first parcel – sent from Deer Valley and consigned to Fritz Ang of Poblacion, Mandaluyong – was declared to hold a car seat cover. It...

Council apologises to arms manufacturer

Elbit Systems UK says it does not supply weapons to the IDF - despite protesters demanding the firm's eviction.

Car driver dies in crash with lorry

The 57-year-old driver of a mini died at the scene near Bingfield in Northumberland.

Man jailed for 18 years for child sex offences

Andrew Austin, 62, is described by police as a dangerous man who committed abhorrent crimes.

Man arrested for alleged rape of 4 minors

The Manila Police District (MPD) implemented a warrant of arrest against a man who allegedly raped four minors. According to a "24 Oras" report by Marison Abdurahman on Friday, the suspect allegedly raped his niece in Calamba, Laguna when she was just 10 years old without her mother’s knowledge. “Hanggang mag-seventeen yung bata, hanggang magpunta na siya sa DSWD at doon nakapagsumbong. Tinatakot daw siya lagi nitong ating suspect na papatayin...

Lukashenko boasts of having 'several dozen' Russian nukes in Belarus

'Nuclear deterrence - those who will push us towards it should have a look at the straightforward consequences of their ill-considered decisions, to put it mildly,' Lukashenko said

Sara Duterte leads potential presidential bets in survey

Vice President Sara Duterte emerged as the top choice for potential presidential candidates in an opinion survey conducted by Oculum Research and Analytics in the first quarter of 2024. According to a report on "24 Oras," Duterte garnered the support of 42% of the survey respondents ahead Senator Raffy Tulfo and former vice president Leni Robredo. The potential bets are the following: Sara Duterte - 42% Raffy Tulfo - 17% Leni Robredo - 10% Isko...

Businessman slain in Quezon City

MANILA, Philippines — A businessman was shot dead by a lone assailant in Quezon City on Thursday afternoon. Andy Delapierre, 36, was arranging computers in his shop in Barangay Holy Spirit when he was shot at around 5:54 p.m. Police investigators said an unidentified man wearing a crash helmet, jacket, pants and black shoes arrived and shot the victim with a handgun of unknown caliber. Witnesses interviewed by probers said the suspect fled from...

Major incident declared over 'bad batch' of heroin

Police say the incident in north Devon is leaving people "very ill".

Man who threatened to slit ex's throat jailed

Patrick Connor Doherty, 29, has been given a 29-month jail sentence after assaulting his ex-partner.

Tories 'face losing 400 councillors' in local elections next Thursday

Every voter in England and Wales will be able to cast a ballot in at least one type of election on May 2, with elections in local councils as well as for mayors in cities including London.

Beijing and many of China’s major cities are slowly sinking

Lewis Skelton's family wins police watchdog battle

The 31-year-old was shot by police in November 2016 and later died in hospital.

US teacher accused of racist deepfake of principal

The Baltimore-area principal was placed on leave and received death threats over the hoax clip.

Secret leaked document confirms Russia’s hybrid war against the West

Two expatriate workers killed by drone attack on Iraq's Khor Mor - report

At least two expatriate workers were killed and two other people wounded after a drone attack targeted the Khor Mor gas field in Iraq's Kurdistan region on Friday, an advisor to the Iraqi Kurdish Prime Minister and a senior Kurdish political source told Reuters. Production has also been suspended, both sources added. The drone attack on the Khor Mo...

Man, 4-year-old daughter shot dead in Abra

BAGUIO CITY , Philippines — A 44-year-old man and his four-year-old daughter were gunned down in Sitio Quemmel, Barangay Lubluba in Dolores, Abra on Wednesday night. Arnel Zapata and his daughter Ailish Precious were on a folding bed in front of their house when an unidentified man on a motorcycle arrived and opened fire. Cordillera police director Brig. Gen. David Peredo said the gunman was armed with an M16 rifle. Zapata and Ailish were...

Fish catch down since Balikatan – group

MANILA, Philippines — Fish catch around Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal has decreased since the start of the Balikatan exercises, which may have prompted the Chinese to send more vessels to the area and continue harassing Filipino fishermen, a local fishers’ group said yesterday. “The bullying of the Chinese coast guard continues and their number increased right after the Balikatan,” New Masinloc Fishermen’s Association president Leonardo Cuaresma...

Victim was beaten and shot in 'cowardly' attack

Two men were sentenced to lengthy jail terms for their actions in the incident.

DBM to review status of 830,000 government contractuals

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has committed to conduct a study on the current state of the 830,000 contract of service (COS) and job order (JO) workers in various government agencies nationwide. This follows the move of President Marcos to extend the engagement of COS and JO employees in government for another year. Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman lauded the decision as it will help in the security of...

2 Quezon Province LGU employees face raps over shooting

MANILA, Philippines — Two municipal government employees of Mulanay, Quezon are facing charges for frustrated murder for their alleged involvement in a shooting incident in Barangay Poblacion early yesterday. Maj. Marlon Comia, town police chief, said one the suspects is a municipal disaster risk reduction and management council responder and the other a security personnel. The victim, who was identified only as Michael, 33, was driving a truck...

Iran urged to spare rapper Toomaj Salehi sentenced to death

PARIS — Iranian authorities on Thursday, April 25, faced pressure to release and clear a prominent rapper sentenced to death in a verdict supporters say is merely revenge for his music backing anti-government protests. Toomaj Salehi, 33, one of the best-known figures arrested in a crackdown on protests that began in 2022, risks being hanged after the conviction on the sharia charge of “corruption on Earth” by a Revolutionary Court. The verdict,...

West Philippine Sea: An unfolding ecological catastrophe

"I SHALL never tire of repeating the declaration that I made from the first day that I took office: I will not allow any attempt by any foreign power to take even one square inch of our sovereign territory," President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said in his speech delivered before the Parliament of Australia in February 2024. On July 12, 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, the Netherlands ruled in favor of the Philippines, finding...

PACU backs colleges over foreign students' issue

(UPDATE) THE Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU) is giving its support to four of its member private colleges and universities in Cagayan, who expressed concern over reports surrounding the enrollment of foreign nationals as their students. In a statement on Thursday, the colleges and universities are the University of Cagayan Valley, Medical Colleges of Northern Philippines, St. Paul University Philippines and the...

Kenya flooding death toll climbs to 70 since March

More than 120,000 people have been displaced, Kenyan government says, with 22 others injured and eight reported missing.

Cagayan governor appeals disqualification

BAGUIO CITY , Philippines — Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba has sought reconsideration of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) ruling disqualifying him from the May 2022 general elections. Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal said Mamba‘s camp would file a motion for reconsideration with the Comelec en banc. In a decision released on Tuesday night, the Comelec First Division rendered the governor’s seat vacant, to be filled by the vice governor...

INQToday: PNP revokes Quiboloy’s firearm licenses

Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories: PNP revokes Quiboloy’s firearm licenses Philippine National Police chief General Rommel Marbil has approved the recommendation of the PNP’s Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) to revoke the license to own and possess firearms (LTOPF) of fugitive televangelist Apollo Quiboloy. PNP Spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo confirmed via Viber Marbil’s approval of the FEO’s recommendation. No Chinese presence...

Yousaf to speak as he battles for political future

Scotland's first minister will speak at an event in Dundee - but the BBC understands he will not announce his resignation.

Written warning for SWG3 after teenagers' deaths

The Glasgow venue's licence was reviewed after it was linked to the deaths of three teenagers.

PH, China reached 'understanding' in Ayungin row, embassy claims

THE Philippines made two "arrangements" with China last year toward a peaceful resolution to the dispute over the Ayungin Shoal, a ranking Chinese official told The Manila Times. The official, who agreed to an exclusive interview with The Times as long as his identity is not revealed, described the arrangements as a "new internal understanding" and a "new model" that are completely different from the earlier "gentlemen's agreement" between...

43% of Pinoys want PH to align with US in SCS dispute —survey

At least 43% of Filipinos are in favor of the Philippines aligning with the US in the ongoing dispute in the South China Sea (SCS), results from a survey of the Oculum Research and Analytics showed. Around 3,000 Filipino adults participated in the survey conducted from Feb. 21 to Feb. 29, 2024, through face-to-face interviews. It has a sampling error margin of ± 2 and a high confidence level of 97%. According to the poll, only 3% of the...

Xi tells Blinken US, China should be ‘partners, not rivals’

BEIJING, China – Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday told top US diplomat Antony Blinken that the world’s biggest economies should be “partners, not rivals” as the two sides pressed for headway on a range of concerns. Blinken, in China for the second time in less than a year, pointed to improvements in the relationship but urged greater action from Beijing on areas including curbing support for Russia. Meeting Blinken in Beijing’s Great Hall...

Marcos cites key economic role of upgraded Batangas Port

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. on Friday said that the newly-improved Batangas Port could help decongest the ports in Manila. Marcos led the launch of the newly renovated Batangas Passenger Terminal Building in Batangas City. “Maximizing the port of Batangas helps in decongesting our Manila ports, causing the dispersal of economic activities to places more than capable of housing entrepreneurial and industrial...

Sitoy-Cho’s lawyer says judge handling her case ‘biased’

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu — The legal counsel of former Cordova Mayor Therese Sitoy-Cho described Mandaue City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 55 Judge Ferdinand Tapado Rafanan as biased in handling the case of his client. Lawyer Edgar Gica also denied the allegation that his client ignored the invitation to attend an arraignment on April 23. “We can never disobey the law,” Gica said. Gica clarified that the case at hand is a criminal one filed by...

Burkina Faso suspends BBC over HRW report coverage

BBC Africa is suspended for two weeks for covering a Human Rights Watch report on alleged mass killings.

Mandaue City cops to undergo refresher training on checkpoints

MANDAUE CITY, Philippines — The Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) will conduct a refresher training for station personnel regarding the conduct of checkpoints. MCPO Spokesperson, Police Lieutenant Colonel Mercy Villaro, said that they will conduct refresher training just to remind them of the guidelines and procedures in implementing police operations, especially checkpoints. Villaro said that they would also be updated if there are new policies...

3 hurt in Marikina fire

MANILA, Philippines — Three people were injured after a fire razed seven houses in Marikina yesterday. The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)’s National Capital Region field office said the victims, a man and two women, were treated by first aid responders. Two of the victims sustained fractures while the other had abrasions on the legs. Arson probers said the fire broke out in a residential area in Barangay Malanday at around 1:40 a.m. and reached...

Changes at prison after deaths, department says

Changes are made to the Isle of Man Prison's self-harm policy and prisoners' access to healthcare.

UN warns of possible imminent attack on city in Sudan’s North Darfur

Attack on al-Fashir would have ‘devastating consequences’ for civilians in area already on brink of famine, UN says.

Hamas fires MORTARS at US pier being built by the army off Gaza coast

Militants fired mortars at Israeli forces in Gaza as they prepared for the arrival of a floating U.S. Army pier, American officials said Thursday, an episode that highlights the risks.

DOJ recommends filing of cyber libel case vs Manibela head Valbuena

MANILA CITY, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has recommended the filing of two counts of cyber libel case against a transport group leader for accusing Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista of involvement in the alleged corruption in the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). In a 17-page resolution, Assistant Prosecutor Maria Kristhina Paat-Salumbides said found probable cause has been established to...

Filipinos favor alliance with US – survey

MORE Filipinos want the Philippines to align with the United States than with the People's Republic of China, a recent survey said. The results of a nationwide poll by Oculum Research and Analytics conducted from February 21 to 20 revealed that 43 percent of the 3,000 respondents favored an alliance with the US, while only 3 percent preferred closer ties with China. Oculum Research Head and Analytics Chief Statistician Joseph Mercado said the...

MMDA fines 105 in road clearing operation

MANILA, Philippines — One hundred five people were fined at least P1,000 each for leaving obstructions such as tables, chairs and vehicles as well as food carts and stalls during a road clearing operation yesterday in preparation for the closure of the EDSA-Kamuning flyover on May 1. Personnel from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Special Operations Group Strike Force cleared Panay Avenue, Scout Borromeo street and Sergeant...

Romanian court orders trial can begin in case of influencer Andrew Tate

A court in Romania's capital has ruled that a trial can start in the case of influencer Andrew Tate, who is charged with human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women.

Park terror attack deaths were avoidable - inquest

David Wails, Joe Ritchie-Bennett and James Furlong were stabbed to death in Reading in 2020.

Ukraine's Zelenskiy calls for air defense systems as allies meet

By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday called for additional air defense systems to be sent to Kyiv to help protect against Russian strikes, adding that a pause in U.S. funding had helped Moscow seize the initiative. Zelenskiy's comments come just days after Congress emerged from a half-year of deadlock to approve a $61 billion aid

Detectives return to house where baby's remains found

GMP said it wanted to "dispel rumours" remains belonging to anyone else were inside the property.

Settlement 'reappears' as Pantabangan dam dries up

PANTABANGAN, Nueva Ejica: A centuries-old settlement submerged by the construction of a dam in the 1970s has reappeared as water levels drop due to a drought affecting swathes of the country. The ruins in the middle of Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija are a tourist draw, even as the region swelters in extreme heat. Parts of a church, municipal hall marker and tombstones began to resurface in March after several months of "almost no rain," said...