Marcos admin wants rice self-sufficiency by end of term -Speaker Romualdez

Several months after the Department of Agriculture (DA) said it was aiming to achieve 90% rice self-sufficiency, House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez noted on Sunday that the Marcos administration was targeting to reach rice self-sufficiency by the end of its term in 2028. In a statement, Romualdez — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.'s cousin — said the DA and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) were working to...

China ship taunts PH vessel in Escoda Shoal

CHINA Coast Guard's (CCG) "monster" ship is inching closer to a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel that has been maintaining its presence in Escoda (Sabina) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea for more than two months now — a move that has left authorities in Manila puzzled. Considered the world's largest coast guard ship, CCG 5901 is only 2,400 feet away from BRP Teresa Magbanua, PCG spokesman for West Philippine Sea Commo. Jay Tarriela said in a...

Truck pull to thank life-saving hospital teams

Paul Harrop is raising money for the hospital teams that treated his father after a heart attack.

Junta leaders' meeting overshadows West African summit

A West African leaders' summit opens on Sunday amid political turmoil after the military rulers of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso cemented a breakaway union at a rival meeting. It was not clear how the weakened bloc would respond after Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso adopted a treaty establishing a "Confederation of Sahel States" in Niamey on Saturday.

Why are Kenyans angry with the IMF?

Critics say IMF provides loans to desperate African countries on stringent terms, disproportionately affecting the poor.

562 BuCor inmates freed in June

MANILA, Philippines — A total of 562 inmates from all the prisons and penal farms in the country were released in June, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) reported. In a statement, BuCor said 121 of those released were acquitted, 321 had served their maximum sentence, 98 were granted parole, 21 were granted probation and one was granted executive clemency. BuCor director Gen. Gregorio Catapang Jr. said the bureau has already released a total of...

Hamas says it's waiting for Israeli response on ceasefire proposal

By Nidal al-Mughrabi CAIRO (Reuters) - Hamas is waiting for a response from Israel on its ceasefire proposal, two officials from the Palestinian group said on Sunday, five days after it accepted a key part of a U.S. plan aimed at ending the nine-month war in Gaza. "We have left our response with the mediators and are waiting to hear the occupation's response," one of the two Hamas officials told

'We'll put pressure on councils over SEND'

The politicians say they will look to improve special educational needs provision in the county.

'Brides are back': What bridal shop spending says about the economy, politics

A school teacher and a restaurant server plan a wedding in a weird economy and fraught election year.

'Bolton exit sanctioned with eye on something else' - gossip

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson has admitted that James Bolton's transfer exit request caught him by surprise but insisted the centre-half's move to Fleetwood Town was sanctioned with "one eye on something else". (The Herald On Sunday) Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

No Marcos order to revise history, says Angara

MANILA, Philippines — There was no order from President Marcos to revise history in the education curriculum, including the teaching of martial law in schools, according to incoming education secretary Sonny Angara. In a dwIZ radio interview yesterday, Angara said the President’s instruction to him was to make the teaching of history more fun and “conversational.” “The President did not single out any period in our history,” the senator said...

NBI raids illegal clinic that caters to Chinese POGO workers

An illegal clinic in Makati City that caters to Chinese citizens, mostly workers at Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO), was raided by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). According to Jonathan Andal’s report in “24 Oras Weekend” on Saturday, the clinic located in Barangay San Isidro is allegedly connected to an illegal POGO hub in the Calabarzon region that is also being monitored by the NBI. The raid caught four Chinese patients...

Canadian archdiocese to pay $104M to child sex abuse victims

MONTREAL — The Catholic Church is to pay 104 million Canadian dollars ($76 million) to hundreds of victims of sexual abuse from eastern Canada, according to a statement released Friday. In 2020 the Archdiocese of St. John was found liable for one of Canada’s largest child sex abuse scandals, at Mount Cashel Orphanage, a now-defunct boy’s orphanage in Newfoundland and Labrador province. The court found sexual abuse was perpetrated by priests and...

Russia is approaching a new major milestone in its personnel losses

Chichester primary school to relocate to new site

Jessie Younghusband Primary School in Chichester is to be moved to the Minerva Heights development.

Photographer returns to mines he shot in strike 'war'

A photographer who captured the miners' strike and its aftermath retraces his steps in south Wales.

Scotland's papers: Rwanda plan 'dead and buried' and SNP's 'time to reflect'

A review of the front page stories from Scotland's Sunday newspapers.

The United Nations Gastronomy Tourism Forum in Cebu Explored the Power of Food-Focused Travel

As we learned, there's more to gastronomy tourism than sating one's appetite and wanderlust.

DND, Thai Navy discuss defense cooperation

MANILA, Philippines — An official of the Department of National Defense (DND) and the commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Navy discussed measures to boost military cooperation when Thai Navy officials visited Manila last week. Undersecretary Angelito De Leon and Admiral Adoong Pan-Inam met as the Philippines and Thailand commemorated the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. De Leon conveyed possible areas of...

Chopper crew makes dramatic rescue of injured, trapped firefighter

A California National Guard helicopter team rescued a trapped and injured firefighter from the Basin Fire wildfire. A number of large blazes are being fought across the US as temperatures soar.

Bid to save fields from development 'step closer'

Durham Wildlife Trust wants to raise enough money to transform the fields into wetland.

Brazil's Bolsonaro hopes for Trump return at right-wing rally

By Anderson Coelho BALNEARIO CAMBORIU, Brazil (Reuters) -Brazilian far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro at a rally of conservative supporters on Saturday said the right was gaining ground internationally, in Italy and France, and said he hoped that former U.S. President Donald Trump will be returned to the White House this year. "God willing, it will be Trump in November," he told a

Artist hopes hospital post box draws 'a smile'

Lesley Sleight's design Sea to Summit – Colours of Mann features on the box at Noble's Hospital.

This week’s milestones: July 7 to July 13

July 8, 2021 The Butao hydroelectric plant, which has a capacity of 1,350 kilowatts and is linked to the 13.8-kilovolt backbone of the Pangasinan Electric Cooperative III, was inaugurated in San Manuel, Pangasinan. It was built to supplement the electricity supply from the Luzon grid and to provide irrigation to surrounding farmlands. The plant sources fresh water from the irrigation system of National Irrigation Administration (NIA), through...

Starmer to make first visit to Scotland as prime minister

He says he wants to establish a "different and better" way of working across the United Kingdom.

Bodies discovered at a popular beach

A 'concern for welfare' call was received by emergency services in Little Beach in Sydney 's eastern suburbs about 11am on Sunday, a police spokesperson said.

Now woke RNLI is trying to ban digging holes at the beach!

EXCLUSIVE: Locals living near posh Padstow in Cornwall told the crews to 'get a grip' after they complained about a phantom digger on Facebook .

Newspaper headlines: Big moments from the election

Newspapers across the west cover Labour's dramatic win against the Tories... and other stories.

Major update after woman's body found inside a bin by staff at a tip

Detectives believe the woman's remains were put inside a bin that was picked up from a Coolaroo property, in Melbourne 's north, by a garbage truck on Tuesday.

SHAABAA’s Inter-Alumni Invt’l tourney kicks off Sunday

CEBU CITY, Philippines — One of the much-awaited additions of the Sacred Heart Ateneo Alumni Basketball Athletic Association (SHAABAA) Season 27, the Inter-Alumni Invitational tournament, will unwrap this Sunday, July 7, at the Benedicto College Gymnasium along A.S Fortuna St. in Mandaue City. This new addition to one of Cebu’s longest-running and biggest alumni-based basketball tournaments was announced last May and will involve alumni teams...

Who are the newly-elected MPs for Cambridgeshire?

Meet the MPs elected to represent the six constituencies across Cambridgeshire.

Who are the MPs representing Buckinghamshire?

Eight MPs will represent the county's electorate in the House of Commons.

LOOK: Autopsy results of Pampanga beauty contestant Geneva Lopez, Israeli BF

Pampanga beauty contestant Geneva Lopez and her Israeli boyfriend Yitshak Cohen died from gunshot wounds, according to the results of an autopsy conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). Based on the autopsy result acquired by John Consulta, both victims sustained two gunshot wounds. The 26-year old Lopez was shot on the back of her torso and her left thigh, which caused a fracture. A "metallic slug" was also recovered from her...

SPD deploys 821 cops to secure SONA

MANILA, Philippines — The Southern Police District will deploy 821 police officers to ensure peace and order during the third State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Marcos on July 22. In a statement on Friday, the SPD said police personnel underwent a two-day refresher course on civil-disturbance management (CDM) operations, aimed at enhancing their knowledge and skills in handling civil disturbances. Police officers have also been...

Davao, Cebu-USJR win in PSL National Finals opener

MANILA, Philippines — Davao City used its manpower advantage to the hilt to bring down reigning NCR 2004 champion Caloocan-Batang Kankaloo, 91-83, in the PSL National Finals on Sunday at the Victoria Sports Club in Quezon City. Facing a Caloocan team which showed up with only eight players, Davao City banked on the hot-shooting John Elmirod Rodulfa, who came away with a near double-double performance. Rodulfa sizzled for 34 points, including...

Scammers are swiping billions from Americans every year. Worse, most crooks are getting away with it

The scammers are winning. Sophisticated overseas criminals are stealing tens of billions of dollars from Americans every year, a crime wave projected to get worse as the U.S. population ages and technology like AI makes it easier than ever to perpetrate fraud and get away with it. Internet and telephone scams have grown “exponentially,” overwhelming police and prosecutors who catch and convict relatively few of the perpetrators, said Kathy...

Police surround vehicle of suspected mass shooter Chase Garvey

Police surrounded the vehicle of suspected mass shooter Chase Garvey in Florence, Kentucky after a brief chase. The shooting suspect was found dead inside from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Dire warning an unstoppable contagion is about to take off

Health authorities have warned an unstoppable contagion could spread in one Aussie state in a matter of days, and revealed how residents can remain safe.

6 Bantay Dagat members arrested in Bataan

MANILA, Philippines — A police officer and five members of the sea patrol force Bantay Dagat were arrested for allegedly threatening the Philippine National Police Maritime Group (PNP-MARIG) personnel in Bataan province on Friday. Brig. Gen. Jonathan Cabal, MARIG director, said their personnel were on seaborne patrol operations off Pilar town and Balanga City when the Bantay Dagat group approached them from another boat. One of the Bantay Dagat...

Gilas Youth dead last at U17 World Cup after 62-point loss to Aussies

Gilas Youth lose all seven games by an average of 51.3 points

Dozens of juveniles detained in California after fireworks set off inside mall

Dozens of juveniles were detained Saturday night in Carson, California, following reports that teenagers lit a trash can on fire and set off illegal fireworks in a mall.

She accused Assange of sexual assault, but is glad he’s now free

Anna Ardin accused Julian Assange of sexual assault - but is pleased he has been freed from jail.

UK Labor’s landslide comes with its own perils, says experts

Labor on Friday secured a huge majority in the UK’s general election, giving it a massive mandate but also a few headaches once celebrations die down. Before the vote, the Conservatives warned voters not to hand Labor party leader Keir Starmer the “blank cheque” of a “supermajority,” but as prime minister, he will now have a majority of over 170 and five years up against a demoralized main opposition. “The main advantages are clarity. It means...

Driver who disclosed Lopez burial site bothered by conscience

MANILA, Philippines — The driver of the vehicle used to ferry the bodies of beauty contestant Geneva Sarita Lopez and her Israeli partner to Tarlac where they were buried informed authorities of the burial site because he was bothered by his conscience, an official said Sunday. Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Director Major General Leo Francisco said that the driver, identified as "Jess," was one of the persons of interest in the...

Starmer appoints two figures from Blair and Brown era as ministers

Jacqui Smith and Douglas Alexander are given junior ministerial roles from the new prime minister.

Anger over appointment of Sir Patrick Vallance as science minister

Lord Vallance's appointment as Science Minister has been criticised by experts who say he helped stifle discussion about where Covid originated from.

The far right is close to power in France. Will the rest of Europe follow?

Whatever the result of France's election, its impact will be seismic, says Europe editor Katya Adler.

Affordable ‘Rice-for-All’ available soon, says DA

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture announced that it will implement ‘Rice-for-All’, a program that offers affordable rice to all Filipinos. Shortly after the rollout of P29 rice program to 10 Kadiwa stores across Metro Manila and Bulacan on Friday, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Genevieve Guevarra said Saturday in a news forum that the ‘Rice-for-All’ program will sell rice ranging from P45 to P48 in the coming weeks. READ:...

Teenage martial artist to represent England

A 15 year-old martial artist will represent England at an international competition later this year.

MOO-ve! Hilarious moment herd of 45 escaped cows run down a street

The hilarious video show the moment a herd of 45 cows break loose in the city streets. Leon Box, 16, can be seen racing away from the herd as they charge down the street in Ripon, North Yorks. He was stunned seeing the cows hurtling towards him.