News

Man dies and woman in hospital after house fire

The blaze broke out on Thursday evening at a house in Hereford.

Spanish town acting as 'rear guard' for charity boats rescuing migrants

BURRIANA, Spain (Reuters) - A short drive north of Spain's coastal city of Valencia, the port of Burriana has become a safe haven for charity boats from around Europe that rescue migrants from the Mediterranean Sea. Since 2021, local nongovernmental organisation L'Aurora Support Group assists charity boats that dock for days or weeks in the town of 30,000 people for maintenance work, food and

Former PC who married killer jailed for crime links

Stephanie Heaps led a secret life of crime before she was arrested by a police anti-corruption team.

Rishi Sunak's resignation statement in full as he apologises to UK and leaves Downing Street

Rishi Sunak has given his resignation speech outside No.10 Downing Street as he apologised to Tories who lost their seats and welcomed new Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer

Congratulations for Keir Starmer start pouring in from world leaders

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau labelled it a 'historic UK election victory' and told Keir Starmer 'let's get to it, my friend'. Congratulations also came from Irish Taoiseach Simon Harris.

World leaders react to Labour's sweeping victory in UK election

(Reuters) -Keir Starmer will be Britain's next prime minister after his centre-left Labour Party won a huge majority in a parliamentary election, defeating Rishi Sunak's Conservatives and ending their 14 years of often tumultuous rule. Here are some reactions to the news: GERMAN CHANCELLOR OLAF SCHOLZ IN STATEMENT: "I am delighted about the election victory of the leader of our sister party in

Rishi Sunak apologises for Tory electoral disaster and confirms plan to quit as leader

The outgoing Prime Minister said he would quit as Tory leader once arrangements are in place to choose his successor.

SNP's disastrous election night puts independence question to bed

Scottish Labour overturned almost a decade of SNP dominance in Scotland's Westminster seats, taking a majority of constituencies.

PCG challenges China's 'monster ship' anchored off Escoda Shoal

The Philippine Coast Guard says it challenged China's "monster ship" at Escoda Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

Tanzanian artist who burned president's picture jailed

The 24-year-old painter outraged some Tanzanians but critics say the punishment is too harsh.

Papal enemy Archbishop Vigano found guilty of schism and excommunicated

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Italian Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, a fierce ultra-conservative critic of Pope Francis, has been found guilty of schism and excommunicated, the Vatican's doctrinal office said in a statement on Friday. Vigano, the papal envoy in Washington from 2011-2016, went into hiding in 2018 after alleging that the pope knew for years about sexual misconduct by an American

Lacson says Binay-Cayetano feud over new Senate home ‘painful to watch’

MANILA, Philippines— Former Senator Panfilo Lacson said he is saddened by the quarrel of two incumbent senators over the new Senate building in Taguig City. It was “painful to watch,” according to Lacson, referring to the bitter exchange between Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Nancy Binay. Cayetano and Binay traded barbs last Wednesday as the Senate committee on accounts began its review of the cost of the building. Both Lacson and Binay...

Scottish Labour changes electoral map of Scotland after destroying SNP

Scottish Labour swept the SNP aside yesterday taking a majority of Westminster seats.

Russia claimed its forces built tunnels to attack Ukrainians from behind

Marsupial caught breaking in to garden centre to eat koi carp

Richard Scarr, owner of Paddock Farm garden centre in Dalton Gates, Darlington, said CCTV cameras captured the culprit on film, leaving with a fish in its mouth.

PNP to deploy around 22K personnel for SONA 2024 security

Around 22,000 police personnel will be deployed to secure the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. scheduled on July 22, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Friday. “Ang nakikita po natin last time po mga 22,000 na-deploy, ganun pa rin po. Unless we see may mga threats po, there will be more,” PNP chief Police General Rommel Marbil said in an ambush interview during a shootfest in Camp Karingal in...

Philippine flag patch now part of AFP battle dress uniform

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday said the Philippine flag patch is now part of the battle dress uniform of the military as a symbol of national pride. This was announced by AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. during a press conference after a command conference on Thursday. "Dati po hindi parte ng ating battle dress uniform yung bandila natin. We wear this only during Balikatan exercises or when we go abroad kapag lumalabas...

Couple who suffered house fire watched CCTV back and can't believe how it started

Don't leave boxes on the hob if you have a pet large enough to turn it on.

PCG rescues injured Chinese seafarer off Antique

MANILA, Philippines —The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) rescued a Chinese seafarer who lost his left thumb off Caluya, Antique. PCG rescued the Chinese national is an engineer of Hongkong-flagged bulk carrier MV BBG Qinzhou. The incident occurred while the ship was about 20.69 nautical miles west of Semirara Port at around 9:00 a.m. on Thursday. “The 35-year-old second engineer said he was accidentally cut by a fan blade or metal, resulting in...

Rishi Sunak arrives to Buckingham Palace as he meets with the King

Rishi Sunak arrives to Buckingham Palace to resign as Britain's prime minister after historic defeat for his Conservatives.

Crying children betray kidnapping at airport

An Iranian living in the Netherlands tried to kidnap his three children. He picked them up at their school on Tuesday and drove straight to the Cologne airport with his 13-year-old son and two little daughters. He had bought tickets in advance for a one-way flight to Tehran, with stopover in Istanbul. However, thanks to alert police officers and security guards, this parental abduction could be prevented. The children kept crying as they lined...

Lucy Letby handed whole life sentence for trying to murder baby girl

The most prolific child killer in modern British history was 26 when she deliberately dislodged the breathing tube of Baby K in the first hours of her life.

Defeated Rishi Sunak quits with call for kindness, decency and tolerance

By William James LONDON (Reuters) -Rishi Sunak said on Friday he would resign as prime minister and Conservative Party leader after losing heavily to Keir Starmer's Labour Party, leaving with an apology, a tribute to Britain, and a call to protect "kindness, decency and tolerance". His defeat ends 14 years of Conservative government - a period marked by division, political instability and, more

Cebu City ‘not ready for pedestrianization,’ says council’s transport head

CEBU CITY, Philippines – The newly installed chairman of the Committee on Transportation has reservations about the proposed pedestrianization of downtown Cebu. Cebu City Councilor James Cuenco, the chairman of the Transportation, Communication, and Other Utilities Committee, stated that while the city is not currently ready for pedestrianization, he pointed out that for now, it will be particularly challenging due to the climate in Cebu. “I...

Bamban POGO 'incorporators' urged to file complaint over alleged stolen identities

The Department of Justice on Friday called on the individuals named as incorporators of the POGO hub being linked to suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, whose identities may have been stolen, to file complaints with the DOJ. “Nananawagan kami sa kanila na tumulong sa kaso (we're calling on them to help the case),” Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) Chairperson Nicky Ty said in an ambush interview. “Kung pwede, maghain ng sariling...

Rishi Sunak's campaign to stay British PM showed his lack of political touch

LONDON (AP) — Rishi Sunak's campaign to remain Britain's prime minister showed a lack of political touch. The Conservative Party's problems were grave before Friday's resounding election defeat but missteps by Britain's richest prime minister contributed to its defeat. Predecessors such as Tony Blair and Boris Johnson were more politically astute and able to connect with voters. As for Sunak, he didn’t have to call the election until Jan. 2025....

Marcos: Gov't pushing for development of Jolo airport

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Friday assured Sulu residents that the government has been pushing for the immediate implementation of the P100-million Jolo Airport Development Project. During the distribution of presidential aid to farmers and fisherfolks in the province, Marcos said all aspects of the development project are being mapped out so that the construction can start sooner. “Kasabay ng pagbibigay namin ng ayuda ay ang...

These areas hold possible Chinese spy bases in Cuba

UK PM Sunak to resign as prime minister and Conservative leader

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Rishi Sunak said he would meet King Charles to formally resign as prime minister on Friday and would also stand down as leader of the defeated Conservative Party after Keir Starmer's Labour Party won a landslide election victory. "I have given this job my all, but you have sent a clear signal that the government of the United Kingdom must change, and yours is the only

Ex-church volunteer arrested in Cebu City buy-bust; P7.1M worth of shabu seized

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu – A former church volunteer was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Sitio Lumboy, Barangay San Roque, Cebu City, on Friday, July 5, 2024, at around 3:50 a.m. The suspect, identified as 48-year-old Amparo Moncada Gaviola, also known as Farah, is a resident of Stockton Village, Barangay Punta Princesa, Cebu City. Police confiscated 1,050 grams of suspected shabu worth P7.1 million from Gaviola. They also seized a bundle of...

Marcos: K to 12 program didn't improve employability of graduates

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said Friday that the K to 12 program was unable to achieve its goal of raising the employability of graduates in the Philippines. Marcos said he discussed the program with incoming Education secretary Sonny Angara, noting that they were looking into having short courses to improve graduates' employability. "There are two elements we paid attention to specifically... No. 1, ginawa natin 'yung K to 12...

Philippines turned down US help amid South China Sea tensions — AFP chief

MANILA —The Philippines has turned down offers from the United States to assist operations in the South China Sea, after a flare-up with China over missions to resupply Filipino troops on a contested shoal, its military chief said. Tensions in the disputed waterway have boiled over into violence in the past year, with a Filipino sailor losing […]

Man admits murdering mum-of-three

Micheal McDaid pleads guilty to killing Rachel McDaid who was found dead in a house in Eastwood.

How BTS' Jin completed his military service

Taiwan says China seizure of trawler may be act of psychological warfare

Taiwan says China’s seizure of a Taiwanese trawler that was operating close to the Chinese coast might be an act of psychological warfare by Beijing. Full story: https://www.rappler.com/world/asia-pacific/taiwan-says-china-seizure-trawler-psychological-warfare/

Woman found inside stomach of giant monster

In a village in Sulawesi, Indonesia, the community is once again living in fear after a reticulated python, known for its colossal size, devoured a 38-year-old woman. Residents of a village on the central Indonesian island of Sulawesi found the body of a woman inside a python. And this is already the second such incident in just a month in this part of the Asian archipelago. The 38-year-old victim was found by residents of Luwu province, in...

Three Black Sea countries launch new minesweeping force

Alice Guo as state witness? No way, says Gatchalian

Suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo cannot be made a state witness in the ongoing probes into illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) in Pampanga and Tarlac, according to Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian. But he added that she could “reduce her culpability” by cooperating with separate special teams tasked to investigate her involvement as well as those of her family and friends. “She cannot [be made state witness] because she is not...

Foreign business chambers back appointment of new education chief

The Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines (JFC) on Thursday said it welcomes the appointment of senator Sonny Angara as the secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd), marking a fresh wave of support from the business sector for the selection of the veteran lawmaker. The JFC, a coalition of the American, Australian-New Zealand, Canadian, European, Japanese, Korean business chambers, as well as the Philippine Association of...

9 foreigners found dead in different parts of Pampanga

MANILA, Philippines — The bodies of nine foreigners were recently discovered in different parts of Pampanga, the provincial police said on Friday. “Yung siyam na natagpuan po dito, ang anim po dito ay Chinese, one Vietnamese, one Malaysian, and one Japanese,” Pampanga Police Office Director Col. Jay Dimaandal said over radio dwPM. (Six of the victims were Chinese, one Vietnamese, one Malaysian and one Japanese.) Three of the dead Chinese...

Rama: Remember me for my achievements, not my suspension

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Preventively suspended Mayor Michael Rama wishes to be remembered for his accomplishments, not for his suspension, during his “Backstage” State of the City Address (BaSOCA) on Thursday, July 4. He said that since 1992, he has been able to initiate 600 projects even before he was elected as the city’s mayor and pleaded not to erase them. “I was looking at the audio-visual presentation daghan kaayo sa pagkatinuoray, 600...

Romualdez wants probe into illegal Pogos, unmasking of masterminds

MANILA, Philippines — House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has directed concerned committees to thoroughly investigate rogue Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos), the criminal activities surrounding it and to identify those behind it. Romualdez on Friday said that his directive was in response to alarming reports of illegitimate Pogos being involved in crimes like human trafficking, money laundering, prostitution,...

Horror on Italian cable car: mother (41) falls to death in front of children

41-year-old Margherita from Trentino was killed Thursday in northern Piedmont when she plunged from a cable elevator as much as 100 meters down. Her husband and two small children saw the accident happen. The woman was loading the family's luggage into a cable car going to Drocala when it suddenly shot into motion, dragging the woman with it. The woman remained attached to the elevator for about 50 meters until she suddenly fell down onto the...

UK PM Sunak concedes election defeat, says Labour has won

LONDON (Reuters) -British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak conceded defeat in the national election on Friday, saying the opposition Labour Party had won. "The Labour Party has won this general election and I have called Sir Keir Starmer to congratulate him on his victory," Sunak said after winning his parliamentary seat in northern England. "Today, power will change hands in a peaceful and orderly

Mother throws newborn daughter out of a window

Katarina Jovanovic, 28, was found guilty of manslaughter after her newborn daughter was dropped out of an apartment window.

Petition to cancel Alice Guo’s birth certificate filed with Tarlac court

The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) has filed a petition seeking to cancel the birth certificate of Bamban Mayor Alice Guo. According to Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra, the petition for the cancellation of the certificate of live birth was filed with the Tarlac City Regional Trial Court (RTC). “If her birth certificate is cancelled, she will lose her most important defense evidence about her identity,” Guevarra said in a message to...

Kenya's Ruto pledges government changes after nationwide protests

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenyan President William Ruto said on Friday that he would make changes to the government soon, after weeks of nationwide protests that started as online anger over tax hikes and culminated in the violent storming of parliament. The protests prompted Ruto to withdraw the finance bill that contained the proposed tax hikes, leaving a 346 billion shilling ($2.7 billion) hole in

Impact of junior doctor strike revealed as medics await call from Labour

Impact of junior doctor strike revealed as medics await call from Labour - Sir Keir Starmer said discussions would start on the first day of a Labour Government.

Further eight men charged in child grooming probe

They have been charged with 34 offences including rape, trafficking and other sexual offences.

Can Israel's Iron Dome be overrun? System's capabilities in focus amid rising risk of war with Hezbollah

As Israel faces the prospect of a two-front war against Hamas and Hezbollah, military experts warn its advanced Iron Dome defense system could be overwhelmed.