National

Vice President Sara Duterte's ratings drop

MANILA, Philippines — While the approval rating of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for the second quarter of 2024 stabilized, Vice President Sara Duterte's ratings saw another significant drop, down by 20 percentage points compared to two years ago, the latest nationwide survey conducted by Publicus Asia showed. The non-commissioned Pahayag survey taken from June 15 to 19 showed Duterte's performance was negatively impacted by her father's legacy...

Hunt for 'Al Capone' prison cell tax evader

Nigel Harker, from Hartlepool, who admitted to tax evasion, walks out of court before sentencing.

Israeli tanks advance into areas in north and south Gaza, fighting rages

By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Kamel Hamdan CAIRO/GAZA (Reuters) -Israeli forces advanced further on Sunday into the Shejaia neighbourhood of northern Gaza and also pushed deeper into western and central Rafah in the south, killing at least six Palestinians and destroying several homes, residents said. Israeli tanks, which moved back into Shejaia four days ago, fired shells towards several houses,

Gilas Pilipinas fightback falls short vs Poland ahead of OQT

Gilas Pilipinas’ comeback machine faded anew on Sunday morning (Manila time) in its third and final friendly geared toward the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The Nationals fell to world No. 15 Poland, 82-80, at Sosnowiec Arena, unable to pocket a win in Europe right before plunging into the all-important OQT in Riga, Latvia, that will send one team into the Paris Summer Olympic Games late next month. Justin Brownlee was the tip of the Gilas...

Morocco announces death of King Mohammed VI’s mother

RABAT — Princess Lalla Latifa, the mother of Morocco’s King Mohammed VI and the widow of his father King Hassan II, died on Saturday, a royal palace spokesman said. Morocco’s MAP news agency carried a statement which read: “The Official Spokesperson for the Royal Palace announces, with great sadness and deep sorrow, the passing of HRH Princess Lalla Latifa, may she rest in peace, on Saturday.” The king’s mother had no official responsibilities...

Man told to tear down 8ft fence by 'ridiculous' council 'buffoons'

Residents of Derby's Limes Avenue had thanked their lucky stars when Matt Hubbard and his family moved into the grade II listed cottage two years ago.

Bishops’ plenary assembly to take place in CDO

The country’s Catholic bishops will meet in the southern city of Cagayan de Oro for their 128th plenary assembly next week. This will be the first time that the bishops’ high-level meeting will be held in the Mindanao region. More than 80 bishops are expected to attend the July 6 to 8 assembly at the […]

Zambales fishers continue to suffer amid China’s 'no trespass' rule in SCS

Fishermen in Masinloc, Zambales continue to bear the brunt of the implementation of China’s policy that would allow the detainment of "foreign trespassers" in the South China Sea, a fishers group said Sunday. Joeffrey Elad, president of the Masinloc-based Tropical Fish Gatherer Association, said that while Filipino fishermen in the area are still able to undertake their livelihood, they could only do so in nearby waters and could not even go to...

Statement from Bea Alonzo's legal counsel Atty. Joey Garcia

The timing of Mr. Delos Reyes’ filing of the labor case is highly suspect. Since he was made a witness to one of the respondents among the criminal cases we filed not to mention him being a lover as admitted, then the intent behind said filing & the timeliness of such filing are too obvious not to be noticed. His acknowledgment of being involved as a lover clearly magnifies his bias and undermines his credibility which yet again puts into...

Teves can be extradited by end of July, says DOJ

MANILA, Philippines — Former lawmaker turned murder suspect Arnolfo Teves Jr. could be brought back to the Philippines by July to finally face the multiple murder charges filed against him here, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Saturday. In a news forum in Quezon City, Mico Clavano, spokesperson for the DOJ, said they expected a favorable decision even if Teves’ camp appealed the Timor-Leste Court of Appeals’ decision granting the...

Panamanian court acquits 28 defendants in ‘Panama Papers’ trial

PANAMA CITY, Panama — A Panamanian court has acquitted 28 people charged with money laundering in connection with the now-defunct law firm Mossack Fonseca, the epicenter of the “Panama Papers” international tax evasion scandal. Among those acquitted on Friday were the firm’s founders, Jurgen Mossack and Ramon Fonseca, the latter of whom died in May in a Panamanian hospital. During the trial, which was held in the Central American country’s...

Search for Jay Slater in Tenerife called off by Spanish police

Spanish police have called off the search for missing teenager Jay Slater in Tenerife, according to reports. The 19-year-old, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, disappeared after setting off to walk back to his accommodation on the holiday island on June 17.

Police appeal after motorcyclist seriously injured

Police are appealing for witnesses after a motorcyclist was injured in a single-vehicle crash.

Motorcyclist in his 50s killed in crash with car

Police are appealing for any information about the crash on the A146 at Stockton.

One dead and five in York hospital after horror Tesla crash with double-decker bus

A passenger in a Tesla car has died and five other people have been taken to hospital after a crash with a double decker bus near York with police appealing for witnesses

David Cameron warns Keir Starmer will 'weaken Britain's defences'

The Foreign Secretary said he was 'really shocked' that Sir Keir had yet to match the Conservatives ' promise to raise defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030.

SINAG questions why rice prices have not yet declined

Farmers group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) over the weekend questioned why rice prices have yet to decline despite the government ordering the modification of import duty rates. According to SINAG President Rosendo So, their monitoring showed that prices of well-milled rice range from P43 to P44 per kilogram, while regular milled rice was priced at P42 per kilogram. “Ang tinataka natin, ‘yung retail price bakit hindi bumababa pa...

NEDA to hold regional consultations for Trabaho Para sa Bayan -DOLE

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) will conduct regional consultations to fill in the gaps in the Trabaho Para sa Bayan plan, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said Sunday. “[I]to na yung na submit sa Pangulo, yung tatagos sa term niya. May karagdagan pang apat na taon para matugunan ang mandato ng batas na 10-year national employment masterplan,” DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said on Super Radyo dzBB. (The...

PAOCC receives death threats amid illegal POGO probe

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said Sunday some of its personnel have received death threats amid its investigation into the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hubs. “Well opo, kami ay nakakatanggap ng ilang mga pagbabanta. Pero siguro po naman ay 'yun ay mga pananakot lamang,” PAOCC spokesperson Winston John Casio said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview. (Yes, we have been receiving some threats. But maybe...

Pirates of the Caribbean actor killed in shark attack

Ivory Coast receives first life-saving malaria vaccines

ABIDJAN — Ivory Coast this week received its first vaccines against malaria, a disease that kills four people a day in the country, mostly small children, the government said Saturday. A total of 656,600 doses have been received, which will “initially vaccinate 250,000 children aged between 0 and 23 months” in 16 regions, the government said. Although the number of malaria-related deaths has fallen from 3,222 in 2017 to 1,316 in 2020 in Ivory...

Uruguay holds primary elections as opposition left gains ground

By Lucinda Elliott MONTEVIDEO (Reuters) - Uruguayans take to the polls on Sunday in primary elections ahead of October's presidential race, in which the left-wing opposition is seen edging ahead according to opinion polls with voters concerned about rising inequality and public safety. Polls show voters cooling on the center-right coalition of President Luis Lacalle Pou, despite its successful

Senators urge Pagcor to name ex-official behind Pogos

MANILA, Philippines — Senators on Sunday urged the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) to name the former high-ranking government official allegedly involved in expediting the issuance of licenses to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos). READ: Pagcor chair: Ex-ranking exec wanted speedy issuance of Pogo licenses Senators made the call after Pagcor on Saturday revealed that a former government official was involved in the...

Marine trainee dies after passing out during swim training in Cavite

A male trainee of the Philippine Marine Corps died during swim training in Ternate, Cavite, according to a 24 Oras Weekend Sunday report. Based on police investigation, the victim passed out while undergoing swim training. The trainee was brought to the hospital but failed to regain consciousness. According to the victim's fellow trainees, no hazing or torture took place as the training only involved physical conditioning. Through an ocular...

Sudan’s RSF claims it has captured a key city in the southeast

The army does not dispute RSF’s statement, but says the fighting is ongoing in Singa, the capital of Sennar state.

France heads to the polls! Macron votes in first round of election

Emmanuel Macron cast his vote in the first round of French parliamentary election. Macron staked his political future in early June by calling the snap election, after he was trounced in the European Union vote by Marine Le Pen's far-right party.

Tories warn about Labour's threat to the green belt

Sir Keir Starmer vowed to 'hit the ground running' and turbocharge housebuilding from 'day one' of taking office after pledging to build 1.5million new homes.

UK Reform leader Farage positive after 'tough' few days

LONDON (Reuters) - Nigel Farage, leader of Britain's right-wing Reform UK party, said his party was doing better than expected after a "tough" few days, as he addressed supporters at a rally with days to go before the country votes on July 4. Farage, one of the country's most recognisable and divisive politicians, has been a thorn in the side for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative party as

North Korean officials sport Kim Jong Un pins for first time

By Hyunsu Yim SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean officials wore pins with a portrait of Kim Jong Un in public for the first time in pictures released by state media on Sunday, the latest step in the development of a cult of personality about the leader. The officials, speaking at a key meeting chaired by Kim of the reclusive state's ruling party, wore the typical party logo pin on the right lapel

Boy, 10, suffers serious injuries in crash

The boy was riding his bike when he was involved in a crash with a white BMW on Saturday.

Marbil tells cops to stop moonlighting: Attend to public needs and concerns

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Rommel Marbil ordered police officers and police personnel to refrain from moonlighting. Marbil said he issued the directive to guarantee that all members of the police force are available to respond swiftly to citizens’ complaints and emergencies. “Our duty is to ensure the safety of our citizens. Police must be available at all times to address the needs and concerns of the...

‘Begging Jesus’ statue installed at Baclaran Church

A sculpture depicting Jesus as a homeless beggar has been installed in the compound of the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, also known as Baclaran Church. The shrine hopes for the life-size image will encourage charity and “nurture devotion through a genuine concern for the most abandoned and the poor.” “May this […]

Hungary's Orbán presents a new alliance with Austrian and Czech nationalist parties

VIENNA (AP) — Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Sunday presented a new alliance with Austria's far-right Freedom Party and the main Czech opposition party, which hopes to attract other partners and become the biggest right-wing group in the European Parliament. Orbán traveled to Vienna to present the “Patriots for Europe” alliance of his Fidesz party with the Freedom Party and former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš's ANO party, a day...

Man in critical condition after stabbing

Police say they are treating the attack as an isolated incident but are appealing for witnesses.

Tories call for probe into claims of Russian election interference

Oliver Dowden , the Deputy Prime Minister, has responded to claims that five co-ordinated Facebook pages have been spouting Kremlin talking points.

Thousands protest transphobia for Pride March in French capital

PARIS — The Paris Pride March for LGBTQ rights saw an “exceptional” turnout in the French capital on Saturday, according to the Inter-LGBT group, as tens of thousands protested for the fight against transphobia, this year’s theme. Organisers claimed 110,000 people were present while police put the figure at 85,000. The mostly young crowd gathered from midday at the working-class district of Porte de la Villette, chanting slogans such as “vote...

British teacher, 30, jailed abroad reveals 'inhumane' living standards

British teacher - Jamie Morton, 30, - who was behind bars in a Thai prison for five months has spoken out about the 'inhumane' conditions of his cramped cell with 180 convicts.

Damage to new-build homes was 'sectarian hate crime'

Two new-build properties were damaged in an overnight attack in Antrim, police say.

PCG: 2 Pinoy fishers hurt after boat explodes near Bajo de Masinloc

Two Filipino fishermen were injured after the engine of their fishing boat exploded near Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal on Saturday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Sunday. Based on the photos shared by PCG to members of the media, the damaged motor banca FFB Akio was being towed by a PCG patrol vessel at 3 p.m. on Saturday. Two vessels of the China Coast Guard were also spotted near the incident. According the the PCG, the China...

Putin's safety at risk?

ATESH, the Ukrainian resistance movement, has just made an important discovery. That discovery could boost the confidence of Zelensky's forces and even lead to a symbolic victory. On Thursday, Ukrainian resistance fighters reported on their Telegram account that they had discovered the anti-aircraft system protecting the Russian president's second house. The house (one of many that Putin owns in Russia) is in Sochi, the Black Sea resort. The...

Italian officials will pay up to $32,000 for you to move to Tuscany — but there's a catch

Italy's new "residency in the mountains" program will pay people up to $32,000 to relocate to rural Tuscany to help stabilize its population.

Building and lorries damaged in industrial estate fire

Twelve engines were sent to deal with a large blaze on a site near Macclesfield, a fire service says.

At 192 Jonathan the tortoise is the world's oldest living land animal

Unsolved murder of 'poor Michelle' affected expert

Prof Patricia Wiltshire says the case has stayed with her, 22 years on.

Japan and Philippines trying to finish defense pact for signing in Manila as alarm grows over China

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Top defense and foreign affairs officials of Japan and the Philippines will meet in Manila next month to strengthen strategic ties and discuss regional concerns, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday at a time of escalating concerns over China’s actions in the disputed South China Sea. Details of the agenda of the July 8 meetings of Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko and Defense Minister Kihara...

PM insists UK better place to live now than in 2010

The PM says Coivd and the Ukraine war made things "difficult" but the UK was "on the right track".

Cases filed in connection to Wattah Wattah Festival

Cases have been filed against two individuals involved in the recent Wattah Wattah Festival in San Juan City after they inconvenienced passersby by spraying water during the celebrations. Among those who filed a complaint was a delivery rider who filed cases of unjust vexation and slander against a resident of San Juan, after video footage showed two individuals spewing water on the rider which he said damaged his phone. The rider asked not to...

No winners of Ultra Lotto 6/58, Superlotto 6/49 on Sunday, June 30, 2024

There were no winners of either of the big lotto draws held on Sunday, June 30. No one hit the right combinations for the Ultra Lotto 6/58 and the Superlotto 6/49, drawn by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). The winning numbers for the Ultra Lotto 6/58 were 50-41-04-05-34-47. The jackpot remains at 49,500,000.00. The winning numbers for Superlotto 6/49 were 49-29-26-41-07-08. The prize has risen to P94,952,236.60. — BM, GMA...

Patients express gratitude for increased PhilHealth dialysis benefit

MANILA, Philippines — Patients expressed gratitude to the national government for the increased Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) dialysis benefit, which aims to help lessen the costs of chronic kidney disease treatment. The benefit increased from P2,600 to P4,000 upon the approval of PhilHealth chief executive officer Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. and Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa following a request from House Speaker Martin...

Mauritania's President Ghazouani extends lead in election

NOUAKCHOTT (Reuters) - Mauritania's President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani has extended his lead in the West African nation's presidential election, provisional results showed on Sunday. Ghazouani - a 67-year-old former army chief of staff and defence minister who is widely expected to win the race in the first round - had 55.05% of the vote, according to results from more than 71% of polling stations