World

Jordan foils arms plot as kingdom caught in Iran-Israel shadow war

By Samia Nakhoul and Suleiman Al-Khalidi AMMAN (Reuters) - Jordan has foiled a suspected Iranian-led plot to smuggle weapons into the U.S.-allied kingdom to help opponents of the ruling monarchy carry out acts of sabotage, according to two Jordanian sources with knowledge of the matter. The weapons were sent by Iranian-backed militias in Syria to a cell of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan

‘Hope for best, prepared for worst’: Scarborough civilian convoy starts

MASINLOC, Zambales — The civilian convoy for the West Philippine Sea officially embarked on a voyage to Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal early Wednesday morning in a mission that may witness another attempt from China to disrupt the activity. Over a hundred fisherfolk, along with Atin Ito coalition volunteers, journalists, and foreign observers all clad with life jackets started to depart from the port here at Barangay Matalvis at 7:26 a.m. READ:...

Peru police report 13 dead in Andean highway crash

LIMA (Reuters) -Police in Peru reported 13 people killed in a crash on a highway in the South American country's Andean region, according to a radio announcement on Tuesday, marking the latest fatal incident in a place where such accidents are frequent. The crash involving a vehicle belonging to the Interprovincial Civa transport company took place at 6:30 a.m. (1130 GMT) near Vinchos as the bus

Malaysia to ask Meta to explain removal of Facebook posts on PM's Hamas meeting

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia will ask Meta Platforms to explain the removal of posts from Facebook related to media reports of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's publicised meeting this week with a Hamas leader, its government said on Wednesday. Anwar met Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas in Qatar and on Tuesday and said he had good relations with the political leaders of Hamas, but no involvement in its

UK law to ban live animal exports clears parliament

LONDON, United Kingdom — A UK bill banning the export of livestock for slaughter cleared parliament on Tuesday, with campaigners hailing it as a landmark moment for animal welfare. Activists have been calling for the ban for decades. One campaigner was crushed to death under a lorry as she protested against the export of live calves for veal in 1995. Britain’s ruling Conservatives first proposed the ban in 2017 and touted it as a benefit of...

Comelec no jurisdiction over embattled mayor's citizenship

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has no jurisdiction over questions on the allegations that embattled Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Leal Guo is not a Filipino citizen but a Chinese as she has been proclaimed and assumed office. But Chairman George Erwin Garcia said on Wednesday that the Commission supported a move to amend the Omnibus Election Code (OEC) that would authorize the poll body to impose additional requirements...

Officers in unmarked lorry catch almost 50 drivers

Operation Tramline sees police officers in an HGV cab target motoring offences.

Political repression and online nationalist campaigns: a second cultural revolution in China?

Lawmaker: Some Chinese tourists converting to student visa to extend stay in PH

Surigao del Norte lawmaker Ace Barbers on Wednesday expressed alarm over reports that some Chinese individuals are converting their tourist visas to student visas to extend their stay in the country. “We received reports that Chinese tourists, when their tourist visa is about to expire, enroll in universities to secure a student visa. They do not attend classes, though,” Barbers said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB. Barbers said these...

72 suspended NFA officers reinstated

MANILA, Philippines — Another batch of suspended National Food Authority (NFA) officers assigned to various regional warehouses has been ordered reinstated by the Office of the Ombudsman after it found “insufficient ground to believe their continued stay in office may prejudice the investigation of the cases filed against them.” In a May 10 order released only on Tuesday, Ombudsman Samuel Martires directed the lifting of the six-month suspension...

Trillanes sues Duterte supporters

MANILA, Philippines — Former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV filed libel and cyberlibel cases on Tuesday against “pro-Duterte” personalities and social media account holders due to “persistent online attacks and the dissemination of false accusations.” The separate complaints for libel and cyberlibel were filed before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office against former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI)...

PH deports 165 suspected scammers to China

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines said Wednesday it deported 165 Chinese citizens it accused of working in an online scam center based in the north of the country. The group was flown to Shanghai on Tuesday and forever barred from returning to the Philippines, the immigration bureau said in a statement. The deportees were among hundreds of employees, Filipino and foreign, rounded up by an anti-crime government task force in a raid of an...

Russia lost a huge amount of troops in a single week

PH civilian convoy heads to disputed reef

MANILA, Philippines — Civilians on board Philippine fishing boats sailed Wednesday toward a China-controlled reef off the Southeast Asian country to distribute provisions to Filipino fishermen and assert their rights to the disputed waterway. The trip to the waters around Scarborough Shoal comes two weeks after China Coast Guard vessels fired water cannons at two Philippine government boats in the same area, in the latest maritime incident...

Task force urges arrested suspect in Kidapawan broadcaster's slay to confess

The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) has called on the arrested suspect in the 2019 murder of broadcaster Eduardo "Ed" Dizon in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato to cooperate with authorities and admit to shooting the victim. Paul Gutierrez, executive director of the PTFoMS, said Wednesday that the suspect, Junell Jane Andagkit Poten or "Junell Gerozaga," only has two choices: cooperate through confession in exchange for a...

Baby found dead at scrapyard 'not forgotten'

The baby - known as Baby S - still remains unidentified four years after her body was discovered.

India's parliament has fewer Muslims as strength of Modi's party grows

MALAPPURAM, India (AP) — Preventing Muslim migrants from gaining citizenship. Revoking the semi-autonomy of the country’s only Muslim-majority region. Building a Hindu temple where a violent mob razed a mosque. These were political triumphs for Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the past decade, burnishing his reputation as a leader who prioritizes the interests India's Hindu majority. For India's 200 million Muslims, they highlight their waning...

LGUs ready for impact of upcoming La Niña phenomenon — DILG exec

Local governments are ready to address the possible effects of the La Niña phenomenon in the country, an official from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Wednesday. “Sa aming assessment handa po yung ating mga local na pamahalaan sa darating na La Niña (In our assessment, our local governments are ready for the upcoming La Niña),” DILG Undersecretaryt Marlo Iringan said in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview....

Factbox-Singapore's new leader Lawrence Wong

By Xinghui Kok SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Lawrence Wong, 51, will take over as prime minister of Singapore on Wednesday, becoming the fourth leader of the Asian financial hub since its independence in 1965. Wong succeeds Lee Hsien Loong, the son of the founding father of modern Singapore Lee Kuan Yew, after two decades at the helm. BACKGROUND Wong was born on 18 December 1972 to a family he

PM Sunak warns UK must boost food production

LONDON, United Kingdom — The UK needs to reduce its reliance on imports of fruit and vegetables, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told farmers on Tuesday, as he sought to make food security a top priority against climate and geopolitical threats. Sunak hosted some 70 farmers and other growers at his Downing Street office and residence in central London, telling them they were “vital to the security and the fabric of our country”. The “farm to fork”...

Still trapped on Baltimore ship, months after bridge collapse

Morale is low for the Dali's crew members, stranded on board by ongoing investigation into tragedy.

SolGen looking into Mayor Guo case

Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra on Wednesday said that his office may file a quo warranto petition questioning the right of Bamban Mayor Alice Guo to hold public office if it finds a possible reason to do so. According to Guevarra, the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) is now gathering relevant information on the case of Guo, who is being investigated for alleged involvement in an illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operation (POGO) hub...

Mandaue City College gets new COPC from CHED

MANDAUE CITY, Cebu – The Mandaue City College (MCC) was granted a Certificate of Program Compliance (COPC) by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). However, its COPC will only cover five degree program like Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in Math, English, and Filipino; Bachelor of Elementary Education; and Information Technology. COPC is a recognition that is given to specific degree programs offered by local universities and...

Court delays imposed after pressure on prison places

The measures are expected to be in place for about week in some regions in England where there is a lack of cells.

Russia takes up positions in Ukraine town of Vovchansk in Kharkiv region, local police chief says

KYIV (Reuters) - Russian forces were establishing positions inside the Ukrainian border town of Vovchansk in the northeastern Kharkiv region on Wednesday and fighting there was intense, the local police chief said. The capture of the town 5 kilometres (3 miles) from the border would be Russia's most significant gain since it launched an incursion into the Kharkiv region on Friday, opening a new

Comelec bans candidate substitution due to withdrawal after Oct. 8, 2024

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc on Wednesday banned the substitution of candidates after the last day of filing certificates of candidacies if the substitution will be made due to the withdrawal of the candidate, Comelec chairman George Garcia said. “Unanimous po, pumayag ang ating Commission En Banc sa naging proposal ng inyong lingkod na wala nang substitution after ng last day ng filing ng candidacy, which is October 8 [2024],...

Midterm battle begins

Since March of this year, when I last reported on the political numbers in this space, the different “aggrupations” as we Filipinos uniquely put it, have changed yet again. Of the two traditional parties, the PDP (formerly PDP-Laban until “Laban” was dropped last April) actually regained some seats in the House of Representatives (from five to 10) but Lakas-CMD also gained (from 92 to 100). For the parties that are essentially commercial...

POACC to file raps vs doctors in illegal hospital for POGO workers

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said Wednesday it will be filing criminal charges against the healthcare professionals who allegedly provide services for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGOs) workers in an illegally operating hospital in Pasay City. Interviewed on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon, PAOCC spokesperson Winston John Casio said the doctors, nurse, and pharmacist found working in the recently raided hospital did...

Woman aged in 30s shot in the leg

The woman is treated at the scene and taken to an east London hospital.

Shop workers demand legal protection from assault

A supermarket security guard stabbed with a needle is among those pleading for a change to the law.

Florida bus crash kills eight, leads to DUI arrest of driver involved

By Rich McKay and Brendan O'Brien (Reuters) - A bus carrying farm laborers in northern Florida collided with a pickup truck on Tuesday and overturned, killing at least eight people and critically injuring eight others, authorities said. The driver of the pickup truck, Bryan Maclean Howard, was arrested by Florida Highway Patrol troopers on eight counts of manslaughter while driving under the

‘Genuine desire’: Putin backs China peace plan to end Ukraine war

Isolated Putin to meet Xi to rally support for the war, but cautious China is wary of punitive measures from the West.

Senators slam DOE, ERC over power alerts

MANILA, Philippines — Senators on Tuesday dressed down energy regulators for their failure to physically inspect power plants and act on applications for new energy facilities that would have averted the power outages in several areas across the country. They took to task the senior officials of the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) after they admitted that they were only conducting “desk monitoring” of power...

PH Embassy in Beijing receives 'hate emails' amid WPS issue — Consul General

The Philippine Embassy in Beijing has been receiving "hate emails" from anonymous Chinese citizens amid the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue, its minister and consul general Arnel Talisayon said on Wednesday. The embassy official disclosed this at a Commission on Appointments (CA) hearing when asked by Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa if there are reports of harassment against Filipinos in China as territorial tensions between the two countries...

Hunger striking democracy and royal reform activist dies in Thai prison

Netiporn Sanesangkhom had been in jail since her arrest in January under Thailand’s strict royal defamation laws.

Exhibition tells history of town's Polish soldiers

The exhibition tells the stories of Polish soldiers who arrived in Leek nearly 80 years ago.

Philippines says to ensure safety of civilian mission in South China Sea

MANILA — The Philippines has sent three coast guard vessels to ensure the safety of a civilian flotilla sailing to a shoal in the South China Sea, where Manila and Beijing have been embroiled in heated stand-offs over competing claims. The three-day mission to hand out provisions for fishermen anchored at the contested Scarborough Shoal is being led by […]

BARMM parliament appoints ceremonial head of gov’t

COTABATO CITY, BARMM, Philippines — At past 1 p.m. on Tuesday, amid the gathering of 80 members of parliament of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), Sheikh Muslim Guiamaden beat the gong to signify the official start of the interim body’s third regular session. A day earlier, in a special session by the BTA on Monday presided by Deputy Speaker Omar Yasser Sema, the parliament approved a resolution appointing Guiamaden, 59, as the “Wali”...

'Calling from humanity': Indonesia rescuers search for flood missing

Along debris-filled rivers and mud-caked roads, rescuers dig with tools and their bare hands through the wreckage after frightening flash floods and volcanic debris deluged areas near one of Indonesia's most active volcanos. Rescuers were also worried about another flash flood or cold lava flow known as a lahar, where volcanic material is swept down from a volcano's slopes by heavy rains.

DOH lauds P5B allotment for active transport

MANILA, Philippines — Biking and walking have gained another ally in government with the Department of Health (DOH) expressing its support for these and other modes of active transport because of their positive effects on one’s health and the environment. “The appropriation and investment of more than P5 billion in the planning and implementation of active transport infrastructure is welcome progress, as active transport can mitigate the...

After DFA, DOJ also probing foreign envoys’ illegal acts

MANILA, Philippines — Diplomatic immunity is “never absolute,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Tuesday, as he ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to launch an in-depth probe of supposedly illegal and unlawful activities committed by foreign diplomats. “Diplomatic immunity should never be used as a license to exploit our country’s peace and harmony for selfish motives, this privilege does not shield anyone from the...

Three dead in New Caledonia as riots rage after Paris approves voting change

By Kirsty Needham SYDNEY (Reuters) -Three people have been killed in unrest in New Caledonia, an official said, as rioting continued and stores and schools remained shut on Wednesday after France's National Assembly approved changes to voting rules in the Pacific island. The three dead were young indigenous Kanak, said a spokesman for New Caledonia's president Louis Mapou. He said the

Russia says it downed 10 U.S.-supplied missiles over Crimea as Blinken visits Kyiv

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia's Defense Ministry said air defenses shot down 10 U.S.-supplied Ukrainian missiles targeting Crimea early Wednesday just as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was visiting Kyiv. The ministry said 10 U.S.-supplied Ukrainian ATACMS missiles were destroyed over the Black Sea over Crimea. Sevastopol Gov. Mikhail Razvozhayev said air defenses shot down several Ukrainian missiles over the Black Sea and near the Belbek...

'Predatory' rapist jailed after attacking two women

Sean Spooner, 33, is given a lengthy prison sentence for targeting two women in one night.

Gallant tells IDF to block Al Jazeera in West Bank - report

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant instructed the military to block the Qatari news outlet Al Jazeera in the West Bank, the military radio reported on Wednesday. According to the report, the IDF has already begun carrying out Gallant's instructions. Gallant's directives come after the cabinet voted to shut down Al Jazeera in early May.

PCG sends more ships as Chinese vessels seen amid PH WPS civilian mission

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Wednesday deployed two additional ships to monitor the safety of the civilian mission to Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). This is following reports that around 30 Chinese vessels including a warship were spotted around Scarborough Shoal. “We are also considering the possibility of deploying additional Philippine Coast Guard vessels ngayong umaga (this morning). So right...

Guo claims only P134K spent for 2022 campaign

MANILA, Philippines — What can you buy with P134,000? For Alice Guo, it was enough to win the mayoralty of Bamban, the second-class Tarlac municipality she claims as her hometown, based on her statement of contributions and expenses (Soce) submitted to the Commission on Elections. Guo reported a total expenditure of P134,693.80 for her successful 2022 run to lead the town where she used to own a 7.9-hectare property that hosted a Philippine...

GSIS to provide loans for El Niño, rabies victims in 13 areas

MANILA — Members and pensioners in 13 areas nationwide that are affected by the El Niño weather phenomenon and rabies, which is a common health concern during the dry season, can avail of the emergency loan program provided by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). The GSIS has set aside P1.7 billion to provide for this emergency loan to the affected members and pensioners. The El Niño and rabies victims in 13 areas, which can avail of...

Australian colonial statue toppled before historic ruling

The statue of William Crowther - who mutilated an Aboriginal man's body - will now be officially removed.

PCG supports expulsion of Chinese diplomats over alleged wiretapping

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Wednesday echoed calls to expel Chinese diplomats allegedly involved in the recording of a supposed conversation on a “new model” deal over Ayungin Shoal. “I stand by the recommendation and the call of [Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.] and [National Security Adviser Secretary Eduardo Año],” PCG spokesperson for West Philippine Sea (WPS) Commodore Jay Tarriela said in a presser. “Kung mapapatunayan na meron...