News

Rwanda bill passage draws election dividing line

Ministers believe the novel deportation scheme is worth a try, but Labour plans to get rid of it.

Grassfire seen as possible cause of NAIA parking lot blaze

The fire that burned cars in an outdoor pay parking area at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) may have been caused by a grassfire due to the extremely hot weather, the airport's management said. According to a report on Unang Balita on Tuesday, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) is in talks with the concessionaire of the parking area for possible assistance to the owners of the affected cars. The Bureau of Fire...

Animal ban over birds kept in 'appalling conditions'

Officers descended and removed 23 birds of prey from Mitchell Wright's aviaries.

NI justice system facing 'intolerable pressures'

Naomi Long claims her department has been "significantly underfunded" over the last 15 years.

Marcos drives East Asia’s power balance shift

The recently concluded summit between US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Philippine President Marcos is a milestone in recasting the balance of power in maritime (North and Southeast) East Asia. This milestone further clarifies the political dynamics in the South China Sea, Taiwan, and the Senkaku Islands. A transformative shift has occurred over the past three years, reshaping the balance of power in maritime...

Is Russia getting closer to capturing a key settlement that it wants?

What are Filipinos reading?

It’s World Book Day so I thought I’d pick up on the National Book Development Board’s (NBDB) 2023 Readership Survey. I made a mental note to look up the complete survey and got around to doing that over the weekend. But first, a quick backgrounder about the NBDB, which was set up in 1995 as a government agency under the Department of Education. Its vision is “to develop a culture of reading” that logically, should feed into the goal of...

UK's Sunak says nothing will stop Rwanda policy, migrants die in channel

By Kate Holton LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak vowed that nothing would prevent him from sending asylum seekers to Rwanda after parliament finally approved the divisive policy that is designed to deter migrants from travelling in small boats to Britain. Hours after the bill passed, a French newspaper reported that at least five migrants had died in an attempt to cross the

‘Balikatan’ on; AFP sees China shadowing drills

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and the United States kicked off on Monday one of their biggest “Balikatan” (shoulder-to-shoulder) joint military exercises, with officials expecting Beijing to make a certain presence as it increasingly asserts its maritime claims in the South China Sea. For this year’s 39th iteration of the Balikatan drills, which will run until May 10, France is joining as a partner for the first time, sending its...

Rishi Sunak vows 'nothing will stand in our way' of migrant flights

Hundreds of people set off for the UK from France today, taking advantage of calm weather the day after Parliament finally approved a new law to send arrivals to East Africa.

American cities are seeing a major drop in homicides

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un oversees ‘nuclear counterattack’ drill

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has overseen a drill simulating a “nuclear counterattack,” state-run KCNA news agency said Tuesday, the latest in a volley of tests by Pyongyang this year. The drill took place on Monday, according to the report. Seoul’s military had earlier announced that the North had fired several short-range ballistic missiles on Monday, with Tokyo confirming the launch. Kim “guided a combined tactical...

Marcos appoints new PCGG head

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Monday announced the appointment of 35 key officials of various government agencies, including the new chair of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), the body mainly tasked to recover the ill-gotten wealth of the Marcos family. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. named retired Court of Appeals Justice Melchor Quirino Sadang as PCGG chair, replacing its former head John Agbayani. READ: Marcos...

From PDP-Laban to PDP: Koko laments party changes

MANILA, Philippines — Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said on Monday that former President Rodrigo Duterte and his allies should have just formed their own party instead of drastically changing the once-ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban). “They made many changes, both formal and substantive—from the party name, the constitution, the oath-taking, the handshake [and others],” Pimentel told reporters....

Marcos sees 'no reason' to replace Sara in Cabinet

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Tuesday said he does not see any reason why Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte needs to be replaced in his cabinet amid her rift with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos. ''Why? I don't see the reason behind that,'' Marcos said in an ambush interview in Occidental Mindoro. ''Any of the Cabinet secretaries will be replaced kapag hindi nila ginagawa 'yung trabaho nila. All the other things...

Group of retired generals, flag officers support moves to investigate Alvarez

MANILA, Philippines — A group of retired generals has supported the Department of National Defense, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and other government agencies’ plan to investigate former Speaker and Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez following his call for the withdrawal of support from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Association of General and Flag Officers (AGFO) called Alvarez’s remarks during a prayer rally held in Tagum City last...

Musk decries Australian court 'censorship' of X terror posts

By Byron Kaye and Renju Jose SYDNEY (Reuters) -Elon Musk lashed out at Australia's prime minister on Tuesday after a court ordered his social media company X take down footage of an alleged terrorist attack in Sydney, and said the ruling meant any country could control "the entire internet". At a hearing overnight, Australia's Federal Court ordered X, formerly called Twitter, to temporarily hide

Family of nurse on death row in Yemen to seek pardon

Indian nurse Nimisha Priya will be executed unless the victim's family accepts "blood money" to pardon her.

Taliban fighter could be freed from jail

Pakistani-born Munir Farooqi plotted to persuade vulnerable young men to 'fight, kill and die' in Afghanistan .

Owners of cars burned in NAIA parking fire have reached out – MIAA

Owners of six of the 19 cars that burned in a recent fire at an outdoor parking lot at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have reached out to the Manila International Airport Authority. According to an dzBB interview with MIAA spokesperson Attorney Chris Bendijo on Tuesday, the MIAA will not be answering for the private concessionaire regarding the April 22 incident at NAIA Terminal 3. “Sinabi po ng ating general manager (Eric Ines) that...

Russian drone attack injures nine in Ukraine's Odesa, officials say

(Reuters) -Russia launched a drone attack on Ukraine that injured nine people in the Black Sea port of Odesa, four of them children, and also targeted Kyiv, the capital, Ukraine's military officials said early on Tuesday. The injured children, which include two infants, have been hospitalised, as well as three of the injured adults, the governor of the Odesa region, Oleh Kiper, said on the

Taiwan rattled by dozens of quakes, but no major damage

TAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan's quake-hit eastern county of Hualien was rattled by dozens of aftershocks late on Monday and early on Tuesday, but only minor damage was reported and no casualties and major chipmaker TSMC said it saw no impact on operations. Largely rural and sparsely populated Hualien was hit by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake on April 3 that killed at least 17 people, and there have been

In Bohol, gov bars entry of pigs, pork from Panglao to mainland

TAGBILARAN CITY, BOHOL, Philippines — Bohol Gov. Aris Aumentado has prohibited the entry of hogs, pork and other related products from Panglao Island to the mainland province after three villages in Dauis town, one of the two local governments on the island, recorded cases of African swine fever (ASF). Gov. Aris Aumentado said the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPV) reported at least 57 deaths of pigs that tested positive for ASF in the...

NATO forces could face battle-hardened Russian troops if Ukraine falls

Ukraine wants to destroy the Crimean Bridge but how could they do it?

‘Forced’ move: Rwandans grapple with own fears over UK asylum seeker plan

Amid high unemployment and a housing crisis, many in Rwanda are apprehensive about the $272m migrant deal with the UK.

Human rights groups condemn UK plan to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda after Parliament backs new law

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s plans to send some asylum-seekers to Rwanda were swiftly condemned by international humanitarian organizations after Parliament approved legislation allowing the deportation flights to begin later this year. Both the U.N. refugee agency and the Council of Europe on Tuesday called for the U.K. to rethink its plans because of concerns that the legislation undermines human rights protections and fears that it will damage...

At least 5 people have died while crossing English Channel, hours after UK approved deportation bill

PARIS (AP) — At least 5 people have died while crossing the English Channel, according to French media, hours after the U.K. approved the migrant deportation bill. The Voix du Nord newspaper said the bodies were discovered at the Wimereaux beach in northern France on Tuesday. The rescue operation is ongoing and helicopters and boats have been deployed, according to the regional newspaper. About 100 migrants have been rescued and placed aboard a...

As El Niño persists, more local gov’ts declare state of calamity

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Iloilo City, Maguindanao del Sur and four towns of Cotabato province have joined the growing number of local government units (LGUs) that have declared a state of calamity amid huge agricultural losses caused by severe dry spell spawned by the El Niño phenomenon. The declaration by the Iloilo City Council on Monday would enable the LGU to use P12.54 million from its quick response fund to procure 696,900 liters of...

Malaysian navy helicopters collide in mid-air, 10 killed

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) -Two Malaysian navy helicopters collided in mid-air during a rehearsal for a naval parade on Tuesday, killing all 10 crew members aboard, the navy said in a statement. The incident occurred at the Lumut naval base in the western state of Perak at 9.32 a.m. on Tuesday morning (0132 GMT), the navy said. "All victims were confirmed dead at the scene and sent to the Lumut

Ilang senador, hindi pabor sa planong paglalagay ng motorcycle lane sa EDSA

Ilang senador, hindi pabor sa planong paglalagay ng motorcycle lane sa EDSA; Transport infrastructures, patuloy na pabubutihin ayon sa DOTr

9 pacts inked as Qatar head visits PH

MANILA, Philippines — The governments of the Philippines and Qatar on Monday forged an agreement to waive visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and official passports to make travel to either country easier for parties on official missions. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) covers valid diplomatic and official passports for the Philippines while those covered for Qatar will be valid diplomatic and special passports, according to a...

DENR chief: PH ‘literally swimming’ in plastics

MANILA, Philippines — Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga issued an urgent call to action on Monday, Earth Day, against the deadly threat of plastic pollution, saying the Philippines was “literally swimming” in plastics. “It is our choice to act today or let our plastic waste determine our tomorrow,” the head of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said, as the country joined the global Earth Day observance...

Lords accepts Commons rejection of their final Rwanda Bill amendment

Rishi Sunak's Rwanda deportation plan is poised to become law after peers ended their protracted stand-off over the controversial policy. The safety of Rwanda bill has finished its legislative stages and will now awaits Royal Assent.

LIST: UP, ADMU, DLSU Best Subjects on QS World University Rankings

The University of the Philippines (UP), Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), and De La Salle University (DLSU) have once again proven their academic excellence by securing spots in the prestigious 2024 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings By Subject. Out of 1,559 universities globally, UP, DLSU, and Ateneo stand tall among the best institutions for […] The post LIST: UP, ADMU, DLSU Best Subjects on QS World University Rankings...

Satellite images show Israeli forces gathered for Gaza escalation

Analysis of images by Al Jazeera’s Sanad unit shows hundreds of military vehicles deployed at bases near Gaza.

Dominica decriminalises same-sex relations

Activists welcomed the ruling as a "significant milestone" for LGBTQ rights in the Caribbean.

'At least five migrants' die during attempt to cross the Channel

At least five migrants have died after trying to cross the Channel. Pictured: Dozens of migrants were seen on a boat in Calais this morning. It is not believed to be the same boat that got into trouble.

DMW says no report yet of OFWs hurt in latest Taiwan earthquakes

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said it has not received any report of Filipinos injured in the series of earthquakes that rocked Taiwan’s Hualien County overnight into the early hours of Tuesday. Citing initial reports, the DMW said its migrant workers’ offices (MWOs) in Taiwan were immediately placed “on alert” after the series of quakes, with the strongest reaching 6.3 magnitude. “Initial reports from Filipino...

Taiwan, muling niyanig ng malalakas na lindol; DMW, wala pang naitatalang nasugatang Pilipino

Taiwan, muling niyanig ng malalakas na lindol; DMW, wala pang naitatalang nasugatang Pilipino

Comelec told to rule on Mamba DQ case

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has ordered the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to rule on the disqualification case filed against incumbent Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba based on its merits and not on technicality. The ruling issued on April 16 reversed the poll body’s decision to dismiss the petition of defeated gubernatorial candidate Zarah Rose Lara. She had sought to disqualify Mamba as Cagayan gubernatorial candidate in the May 9,...

A Russian strike on Kharkiv's TV tower is part of an intimidation campaign, Ukraine's Zelenskyy says

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a Russian missile strike that smashed a television tower in Kharkiv was part of the Kremlin’s ongoing effort to intimidate Ukraine’s second-largest city, which in recent weeks has come under increasingly frequent attack. The strike sought to “make the terror visible to the whole city and to try to limit Kharkiv’s connection and access to information,” Zelenskyy said in his Monday...

Woman released over suspected poisoning case

A woman is facing "no further action" over the suspected poisoning of a man in Newcastle.

Maynilad, Manila Water announce service interruptions in NCR, Rizal

Several areas in Metro Manila and Rizal will have water service interruptions this week, concessionaires Maynilad and Manila Water announced. In separate advisories, Maynilad and Manila Water said they are conducting regular maintenance activities to ensure the good condition of the whole distribution system. The maintenance activities will be conducted during off-peak hours. The water concessionaires advised affected customers to store enough...

Fire hits Parola compound in Manila

A fire broke out in Parola compound in Manila on Tuesday noon, the city disaster risk reduction and management office said. In a Facebook post, the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) said the fire incident was verified at 12:11 p.m. and reached the third alarm around 12:24 p.m. The fire was declared under control at 12:53 p.m and finally put out at 1:32 p.m.—Joviland Rita/AOL, GMA Integrated News This article Fire hits...

Barangay geopolitics: ‘Bobo ba tayo?’

Wisdom can often come from the unlikeliest corners. Over the past few years, Sen. Cynthia Villar has emerged as the most “memeable” figure in the country. Late last year, she captured media headlines anew with her distinct brand of spicy interventions. During a hearing on the Philippines’ food security and dependence on imports of fertilizers, the veteran senator correctly asked in a mixture of Filipino and English: “Why should we import? Why...

Ukraine launches military charm offensive as conscription flags

By Dan Peleschuk DNIPRO, Ukraine (Reuters) - Far from the trenches, at orderly new centres across Ukraine, civilian recruiters armed with laptops and info packs offer patriotic volunteers opportunities to join the war. As Ukraine's efforts to conscript enough men to fight Russia are stymied by public scepticism, defence officials and military units are embarking on a multi-pronged charm

Marcos says he's lucky to have a 'very protective' wife

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Tuesday said he feels lucky that his wife, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, is "very protective" of him. "First of all, my first reaction is what a lucky husband I am that I have a wife na (who is) very protective sa akin (of me)," Marcos said in an ambush interview in Occidental Mindoro amid his wife's apparent rift with Vice President Sara Duterte. Marcos said his wife could not be blamed if she gets...

Rwanda flights needed to deter migrants - minister

The illegal migration minister says the Rwanda Bills deterrent effect will not "kick in" for several weeks.

'Everyone's afraid': Ukraine power plant workers fear fresh strikes

The clocks had stopped at the exact moment Russian missiles recently ripped into the Ukrainian power plant, where workers were clearing scorched debris under a gaping hole in the roof. Russia has stepped up devastating bombardments on Ukrainian power plants in recent weeks, at a perilous moment for Kyiv as it struggles with manpower and ammunition shortages and loses ground on the front.