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PH, Japan to ensure Indo-Pacific peace, stability with signing of RAA — officials

The Philippines and Japan ensured peace and sustainability in the Indo-Pacific region with the signing of their Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) on Monday, officials said. “This is another milestone in our shared endeavor to ensure a rules-based international order to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific and particularly in our region,” Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said in his opening remarks during his meeting...

Palace declares Aug. 15, 2024 special non-working day in Bulacan

Malacañang has declared August 15, 2024 a special non-working day in the province of Bulacan. Proclamation No. 625, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin by authority of the President, stated that this marks the founding anniversary of the province. ''It is but fitting and proper that the people of the province of Bulacan be given full opportunity to participate in the occasion and enjoy the celebration,'' the Proclamation read. The...

3 arrested for illegal fishing in Tañon Strait

Authorities nabbed three men for engaging in illegal fishing within the marine protected waters of Tañon Strait, the Philippine National Police - Maritime Group reported Monday. The three men were found operating an unmarked motor banca worth around P200,000 with a defaced engine number. Authorities also seized from the men various fishing paraphernalia worth around P200,000, a Garmin fish finder, and their catch of 'tuloy' fish, a kind of...

British, 18, 'accuses UK holidaymaker of raping her in Ayia Napa'

The 18-year-old woman went to Cypriot police and told them that she woke up in the bed of the man, who is reported to be 19 years old.

World Bank: Trunk line of Cebu BRT may be completed this August

CEBU CITY, Philippines – If things go accordingly, civil works for the trunk line of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) may be completed next month. The World Bank, in a recently disclosed report, projected that Package 1 of the P17-billion project has already achieved a progress of 64 percent, and may be “substantially completed” by August this year. Package 1 refers to the trunk line of the transportation system that connects Cebu South Bus...

What next for France as hard-left seizes victory?

With Macron's presidency coming to an end in 2027, three years of political paralysis in France could well give Marine Le Pen all the ammunition needed to fight her way to the top

In Iloilo, delay hits repair work on ‘sinking’ flyover

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — The completion of the P295-million repair work on the controversial Ungka flyover in Iloilo may have to wait for some time. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has announced that the full reopening of the flyover, initially scheduled for August, has been reset to November this year. Sanny Boy Oropel, regional director of the DPWH in Western Visayas, reasoned that the rectification techniques, including...

Emily Thornberry snubbed by Keir Starmer over Labour government job

Sir Keir made high-profile human rights barrister Richard Hermer his Attorney General on Friday, one in a series of technocratic appointments.

Land row cited in the killing of beauty pageant bet, BF allegedly by ex-cops | INQToday

WATCH: Authorities say the two former policemen, who are now suspects in the case of Pampanga beauty pageant candidate Geneva Lopez and her Israeli boyfriend Yitshak Cohen, allegedly shot the couple over a land dispute.

PNP: 4 'persons of interest' in Geneva Lopez, BF slay under police custody

Four "persons of interest" are now under police custody for their possible involvement in the killing of beauty pageant contestant Geneva Lopez and her Israeli boyfriend, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Monday. Interviewed on GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita, PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said three of the arrested personalities had a significant "involvement" in what happened to the couple. "'Yung isa po dito na...

2 drug suspects slain, cop hurt in Tawi-Tawi shootout

CAMP SK PENDATUN, MAGUINDANAO DEL NORTE, Philippines — Two alleged drug personalities were killed while a police officer was injured during a law enforcement operation in Bongao town of Tawi-Tawi on Friday, police said. Police Brig. Gen. Prexy Tanggawohn, regional director of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao police, said the two suspects fired at approaching lawmen, sparking a shootout inside the Bongao public market in...

Woman is killed as manhunt is launched for 21 year-old man

Emergency services were called to a home along the Great Western Highway at Kingswood, western Sydney, at 1.40pm on Monday.

Russian missiles hit a children's hospital in the Ukrainian capital and kill at least 10 elsewhere

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian missiles struck a children’s hospital in Kyiv and killed at least three people elsewhere in the Ukrainian capital Monday, authorities said, while another attack in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih killed at least 10 people. It was the biggest bombardment of Kyiv in several months. The daylight attacks included Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, one of the most advanced Russian weapons, the Ukrainian air force said....

At least 20 dead in Russian attack on Ukraine cities

At least seven people were killed in the capital Kyiv and 10 in the city of Kryvyi Rih.

China claims Philippine warships damaged reef at atoll in South China Sea

BEIJING — China said on Monday “illegal” beaching of Philippine warships at the Nansha islands in the South China Sea had “gravely damaged” the coral reef ecosystem in the area, as both countries tussle over disputed territory at atolls in the vast waterway. China’s Ministry of Natural Resources, in a comprehensive report, said Philippine warships have been […]

1 dead after car slams into parked truck in Tondo

One person was killed after a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) rammed into and went under a parked trailer truck in Tondo, Manila, according to Manny Vargas' report on Super Radyo dzBB on Monday. Based on an initial investigation, the 14-wheeler truck was parked along the inner lane of Mel Lopez Boulevard when the MPV crashed into its back portion. The car sustained heavy damage due to the impact. Police on the scene said they have yet to confirm the...

Is Ukraine heading for defeat?

India's Modi headed to Russia for first visit since Ukraine offensive

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was due to arrive in Russia on Monday, as the Indian leader treaded a fine line between maintaining a longstanding relationship with Moscow and courting closer Western security ties. From Russia, Modi will travel to Vienna for the first visit to the Austrian capital by an Indian leader since Indira Gandhi in 1983. bur/bc

Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi unleashes

Muslim voters have 'long been ignored', says Deputy Greens leader Mehreen Faruqi, amid expectations a grassroots organisation will field candidates in Labor-held seats.

West African bloc risks 'disintegration' if juntas quit

The military leaders of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso say they are leaving Ecowas and forming a new alliance.

Neighbour's 'entitled' parking act sparks outrage on their street

A resident has been accused of committing an 'entitled' parking act in Sydney's inner west.

West Africa's ECOWAS decries lack of progress with junta states

By Ope Adetayo ABUJA (Reuters) - The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said it was disappointed with a lack of progress in reconciling with breakaway, junta-led Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger and will make "more vigorous" reconciliation efforts. ECOWAS commission president Oumar Touray said at the start of a summit in the Nigerian capital Abuja on Sunday the region risks

Forbes backs Swinney to improve SNP 'integrity'

The deputy FM has publicly supported the party leader after a former minister called for him to quit.

VP Sara to aspiring journalists: ‘Never assume, don’t lie’

Vice President and outgoing Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Monday urged students who want to become journalists in the future not to report anything that is not the truth. During the opening ceremony of the National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) in Carcar City, Cebu, Duterte directed the call to participants whom she described as “future award-winning journalists.” \ “Never print or post or circulate something that you know is not the...

CBCP names 2 more national shrines

MANILA, Philippines — The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has designated two parish churches as national shrines, bringing to 31 the total number of national shrines in the country. READ: Quiapo Church now a national shrine for pilgrims These churches are the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of the Assumption, more known as the Maasin City Cathedral in Southern Leyte province, and the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy in...

Pampanga couple slay: 2 ex-cops held on gun raps

MABALACAT CITY, PAMPANGA, Philippines — Two former policemen tagged as “persons of interest” in the abduction and murder of beauty pageant candidate Geneva Lopez and her Israeli boyfriend Yitshak Cohen were arrested on Saturday for illegal possession of firearms. A police report obtained by the Inquirer on Sunday identified one of the arrested as dismissed policeman Michael Angelo Guiang, who earlier executed a sworn statement that he was the...

Coroner calls for action over Harry Dunn death

Improved driver training for US government staff in the UK among action points sought by a coroner.

DHSUD chief admits challenge in completing 6M housing units until 2028

Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar on Monday admitted that it would be difficult to complete the target of six million housing units until 2028. During the pre-SONA briefing, Acuzar explained that while there is no problem with funds, the construction of these housing units has been challenging. ''Dati po ang usapan six million, ganito po 'yun eh, may katotohanan doon sa drawing pero sa...

Deadly landslide hits illegal gold mine in Indonesia

Rescue team deployed to remote region on Sulawesi island to search for the missing.

Ukraine is fielding a century old machine gun and its proving quite effective

New British PM Starmer seeks to improve trade deal with EU

LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is seeking to reset relations at home and abroad. During a visit Sunday to Edinburgh, that he billed as an “immediate reset” with the regional governments of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, Starmer said he would also seek to improve the U.K.’s “botched” trade deal with the European Union. “I do think that we can get a much better deal than the botched deal that (former Prime Minister) Boris...

Russian official says U.S. left arms treaty to build weapons to menace China

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov charged on Monday that a decision by the United States to withdraw from a Soviet-era arms control treaty was made so that Washington could begin to build weapons to intimidate China. Then-president Donald Trump said in 2018 that the U.S. would withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty), which was signed

Ukrainian air defence engaged in repelling Russian missile attack on Kyiv, officials

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukrainian air defences were engaged on Monday in repelling a rare daytime Russian missile attack on the capital Kyiv and other cities across the country, local authorities said. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported explosions in the city and urged residents to stay in shelters. He said on the Telegram messaging app that ambulances were heading to one of the districts in central

More people are leaving Metro Manila. Here’s why

MANILA, Philippines—When COVID-19 landed in the Philippines, nationwide lockdowns prompted many people in the National Capital Region (NCR) to return to their provinces or places of origin outside the capital. Years into the new normal, even with restrictions lifted, people continued to leave the NCR for other regions. For decades before the COVID-19 pandemic, Filipinos from impoverished rural regions migrated to densely populated cities,...

Hungary's Orban unexpectedly visits China, backs Xi's peace plan

By Joe Cash and Anita Komuves BEIJING/BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban met Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday to discuss a potential Ukraine peace deal, paying the unexpected visit to Beijing days after his talks with Russia's Vladimir Putin angered some European Union leaders. Orban and Xi met at the Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing, Chinese state media

China's 'monster ship' staying near PCG vessel in West Philippine Sea | INQToday

WATCH: A West Philippine Sea monitor says China Coast Guard's "monster ship" has remained near the Philippine Coast Guard's vessel in Escoda Shoal for about five days now.

New Defence Secretary John Healey visits Zelensky in Ukraine to pledge continued support

Zelensky added that he was 'happy with his first conversation with new PM Keir Starmer'.

Nancy Binay files ethics complaint vs Alan Peter Cayetano

Senator Nancy Binay on Monday filed an ethics complaint against Senator Alan Peter Cayetano over his remarks against her during their heated exchange in last week’s inquiry on the new Senate building. During the said hearing, Cayetano called Binay "marites," a popular term among Filipinos for rumor-mongerer; told her "Nabuang ka na, 'day," and accused her of disturbing the Senate hearing. In her 15-page complaint, Binay asked the Senate ethics...

Will NATO disappoint Ukraine again in Washington?

When NATO leaders welcome Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to their summit in Washington this week, they will reaffirm that Kyiv will one day become a member and vow to keep arming its troops. But in Kyiv there is an acceptance that the Washington summit will not bring the country any closer towards NATO membership.

Father is allegedly stabbed to death as his son is charged with murder

Robert Hillemacher, 84, was allegedly stabbed to death at a house on Foote Street in Brighton, south-east Melbourne, at about 8.30pm on Friday.

Global race for uranium due to a revival of civil and military nuclear activity

Japan says keen to deepen security ties with Philippines, US, Australia

MANILA (Reuters) - Japan is keen to deepen security ties with the Philippines, the United States and Australia under trilateral and quadrilateral arrangements, its defence minister said on Monday. Defence Minister Minoru Kihara spoke in Manila during a joint press conference with his Philippine counterpart after Japan and the Philippines signed a reciprocal access agreement for their defence

Three Gazans found dead after release from Israeli custody, relative and witness say

By Hatem Khaled GAZA (Reuters) - The handcuffed bodies of three Palestinian men freed from Israeli custody have been found near Gaza's border with Israel, and an uncle of one of them and a witness said they had been attacked by Israeli forces shortly after their release. Abdel Hadi Ghabayen, an uncle of one of the detainees, Kamel Ghabayen, said he set out at 5 a.m. on Sunday looking for his

P10M reward offered for info on Quiboloy —Abalos

A reward worth P10 million is being offered for any information that will lead to the arrest of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos said Monday. “Gusto ko pong i-anunsyo sa mga nanunuod at nakikinig na meron tayong mga kaibigang gustong tumulong sa paghahanap sa kanila at nag-ooffer ng reward ng P10 million for any information leading to the arrest of Pastor Quiboloy,” Abalos said in a press conference....

Philippines, Japan sign reciprocal access agreement

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and Japan signed a reciprocal access agreement (RAA) on Monday in Malacañang. The RAA will serve as the legal basis for both countries’ troops entering each other’s territory for joint military exercises. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko signed the agreement, which was witnessed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. “The RAA with Japan is a commitment...

Geneva Lopez kin call for justice over her, Yitshak Cohen deaths

The bereaved family of beauty pageant contestant Geneva Lopez is calling for justice over her death and that of her Israeli boyfriend Yitshak Cohen, GMA Regional TV One North Central Luzon's Jasmin Gabriel Galban reported on “BaliTanghali” on Monday. Authorities over the weekend found the victims’ bodies in a quarry site in Barangay Sta. Lucia in Capas, Tarlac days after they were reported missing. Autopsy reports showed that the couple died of...

Japan's foreign, defense ministers pay courtesy call on Marcos

Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko and Defense Minister Kihara Minoru paid a courtesy call on President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Monday in Malacañang Palace. The President welcomed the Japanese ministers as he marked this as an ''important event that our two countries have been working very hard to achieve.'' ''I’m glad that having witnessed the commencement, the [beginning] of this agreement that it has now come to fruition and...

Israeli forces bombard Gaza City as tanks re-enter central areas

Residents say they are seeing some of the heaviest strikes since the war began nine months ago.

Govt allots P16.1B for digital infrastructure project

MANILA, Philippines — The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has approved a budget of P16.1 billion for the Philippine Digital Infrastructure Project, through the initiative of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). This, however, is way below the P240 billion suggested by the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) to enhance internet infrastructure and P60 billion annual allocation for DICT to lease...

ACT urges teachers, parents to report issues ahead of school opening

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) on Monday called on public school teachers, parents, as well as students to raise any concerns or challenges they face while preparing for the opening of School Year 2024-2025 on July 29. The teachers group made the call as it launched its “Bantay Balik-Eskwela” hotline to monitor the situation of schools nationwide which are now gearing up for another academic year. “Ang tinayo natin na hotline ay...