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Slovakia’s PM expected to survive assassination try, deputy says

BANSKA BYSTRICA, Slovakia — Slovakia’s populist Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot multiple times and gravely wounded Wednesday, but his deputy prime minister said he believed Fico would survive. The prime minister had been greeting supporters at an event when the attempted assassination took place, shocking the small country and reverberating across Europe weeks before an election. “I guess in the end he will survive,” Tomas Taraba told the...

Tunisia president blasts foreign criticism of arrests

Tunisian President Kais Saied on Thursday criticised foreign "interference" after an international backlash over recent arrests of journalists, political commentators, and lawyers, which he defended as lawful. - Saied defends arrests - But Saied said Thursday that "the bar association is located on Tunisian soil and is not subject to an extraterritorial regime so that anyone can hide there", referring to the two lawyers who had sought refuge...

Welsh Labour leader Vaughan Gething SACKS minister for Covid leak

Mr Gething said he had 'no alternative' but to fire Hannah Blythyn, Minister for Social Partnership, accusing her of leaks to the media following a 'recent disclosure of communication'.

Prolific and 'aggressive' beggar jailed

Earl Allen, 52, from Peterborough, is jailed for four weeks after admitting breaching a court order.

Singapore wakes up to first new leader in 20 years

By Xinghui Kok SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore's first prime minister in 20 years held an initial cabinet meeting on Thursday after taking office with a pledge to sustain what he called the miracle of the wealthy city state amid an uncertain global environment. After being sworn in on Wednesday night, attending a party and receiving congratulations from world leaders, Lawrence Wong posted on

Suspect in attack on Slovak PM showed no signs of extremism, neighbours say

By Boldizsar Gyori, Karol Badohal and Jan Lopatka LEVICE, Slovakia (Reuters) - A 71-year-old former security guard charged on Thursday with the attempted murder of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is the author of three collections of poetry who neighbours said had shown no sign of political extremism. Fico, 59, was shot as he greeted supporters in the small town of Handlova, in central

Venezuela won't allow exit of opposition aides in Argentine embassy, official says

By Deisy Buitrago CARACAS (Reuters) -Venezuela will not grant safe passage to leave the country to six opposition aides who have taken refuge in the Argentine embassy in Caracas, a ruling party official said late on Wednesday. Senior Argentine officials told Reuters this month the administration of President Nicolas Maduro had reneged on April promises to allow the aides to leave. The opposition

Int’l People’s Tribunal to conduct hearing on alleged war crimes of Marcos, Duterte admins

An international court will conduct hearings on the crimes against international humanitarian law (IHL) allegedly committed by the administrations of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former president Rodrigo Duterte from May 17 to May 18, 2024. The International People’s Tribunal (IPT) on Thursday said several war crimes such as indiscriminate bombardment, massacres, fake surrenders, extrajudicial killings, and red-tagging will be filed...

46 Chinese ships in vicinity, as civilian convoy tries to reach Panatag Shoal

The Philippine Coast Guard monitors at least 46 Chinese vessels in the ‘vicinity area’ of Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc on Thursday, May 16. This, as the civilian mission of coalition Atin Ito sails closer to the shoal. Full story: https://www.rappler.com/philippines/chinese-ship-vicinity-civilian-convoy-tries-reach-scarborough-panatag-shoal-may-16-2024/

Diplomats in PH who speak vs gov’t should be expelled, solon says

MANILA, Philippines — Members of the Chinese Embassy to the Philippines who only speak against the Philippine government should be expelled, said Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr., who believes diplomats should be mediators between countries. In a press briefing on Thursday, Abante said that diplomats often say good things about their host countries, but this has not been the way for those in the Chinese Embassy. “To be honest in my...

Boy, 15, left with broken arm in hit-and-run

Police say a boy was left with a broken arm in a hit-and-run in Blackburn.

Muriel McKay: Fresh search for her remains announced

Her grandson says he is "elated" police will carry out another search of the Hertfordshire farm where she was held to ransom for £1m.

Putin and Xi pledge a new era and condemn the United States

By Bernard Orr, Guy Faulconbridge and Andrew Osborn BEIJING/MOSCOW (Reuters) - China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin on Thursday pledged a "new era" of partnership between the two most powerful rivals of the United States which they cast as an aggressive Cold War hegemon that was sowing chaos across the world. Xi greeted Putin on a red carpet outside the Great Hall of the People in

Man jailed for second controlling behaviour offence

Marc Masterton subjected his former girlfriend to two years of "horrific" abuse, a court hears.

NBP probe may be whitewashed – group

MANILA, Philippines — Rights group Karapatan has warned of a possible whitewash in the investigation of strip searches on female visitors of inmates at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City. Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said a cover-up of the case is possible after the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) relieved low-ranking corrections officers instead of their supervisors who gave the orders on the routine strip searches...

PNP releases P7.62 million mid-year bonuses

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has released P7.62 billion in mid-year bonuses to its personnel. PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil announced on Wednesday night that the cash benefits, allocated under the 2024 General Appropriations Act, have been credited to the individual payroll accounts of 228,893 officers and personnel. Marbil said the bonuses, equivalent to one month’s basic pay, were granted to police...

Malabon LGU: Expect traffic in areas due to Grand Sagalahan on May 18

MANILA, Philippines — The local government of Malabon City advised motorists that heavy traffic may occur on some of its roads on May 18. According to a Facebook post by the city, this is due to the Grand Sagalahan, which will be celebrated along with the city’s 435th founding anniversary. READ: MMDA deputizes 10 Metro LGUs’ enforcers to issue tickets The event will be conducted from 5:00 p.m. at the Malabon Sports Center to the Diocesan Shrine...

Marcos: We won’t allow ‘agents within the country’ to destabilize gov’t

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday said his administration would not let “agents within the country to destabilize our government.” Speaking with Army troops at Camp Edilberto Evangelista in Cagayan de Oro City, Marcos stressed the importance of loyalty to the country. “We will also not allow agents within the country to destabilize our government and create division within our nation,” he said. “So, I urge all of...

Scarborough convoy concludes mission, now heading back to Subic port

MANILA, Philippine — Volunteers of the civilian-led convoy that reached about 50 nautical miles from Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal have concluded their mission and will now return to Subic port, according to Atin Ito (This is Ours) Coalition. In a Facebook post on Thursday, the coalition said they had already concluded the mission after accomplishing their three earlier objectives of its voyage’s first phase. “Mission Accomplished! Volunteers for...

CHR alarmed over disappearance of Bukidnon labor leader

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) expressed alarm yesterday over the disappearance of a labor leader in Bukidnon last month. Suspected military agents reportedly arrested William Lariosa, a member of the Kilusang Mayo Uno in Southern Mindanao, in Barangay Butong in Quezon town on April 10. “The commission is committed to conduct an independent investigation on the case and both regional offices (in Davao and Northern...

Chad's constitutional council rejects challenges to presidential vote provisional result

N'DJAMENA (Reuters) - Chad's constitutional council on Thursday rejected requests by two losing presidential candidates to cancel, or partially cancel, the country's May 6 presidential election, saying the candidates did not show proof to back their claims alleging fraud. The state-run national election management body last week declared interim President Mahamat Idriss Deby winner of the

Chinese vessels seen near Pagasa during PH Navy barracks groundbreaking

PAGASA ISLAND, West Philippine Sea — Twenty two Chinese vessels were seen loitering three to four nautical miles from Pagasa Island during the groundbreaking ceremony of a Philippine Navy barracks and a Super Rural Health Unit here, a Philippine Coast Guard official said Thursday. “There are 22 Chinese militia vessels [including] Chinese Coast Guard ships,” Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gavan said when he was briefing Senate President...

Iloilo under state of calamity due to El Niño

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — The provincial board of Iloilo on Tuesday placed the province under a state of calamity due to damage wrought by the El Niño phenomenon on agriculture, which topped P1 billion. The declaration, which was recommended by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), enables the provincial government, through the PDRRM Office (PDRRMO), to utilize P75.78 million in allocated funds for its El Niño...

Woman describes fight to save ammonia victim's life

Four men are facing trial over a series of chemical attacks in and around Gateshead last year.

Atin Ito: Mission accomplished

MANILA, Philippines — “Diskarteng Pinoy” – the Filipino way – made the day for the Atin Ito Coalition’s “peace and solidarity regatta” as it managed to elude a Chinese blockade of Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal to accomplish its mission of delivering 1,000 liters of fuel and 200 food packs to Filipino fishermen in the area. “This stands as a testament to the ingenuity, resourcefulness and bravery of the Filipino spirit amid formidable challenges....

Angat Dam nears minimum operating level

MANILA, Philippines — The water level in Angat Dam is only around two meters above its minimum operating level. As of 8 a.m. yesterday, the water level in the dam was at 181.85 meters compared to its previous level of 182.15 meters. The dam’s minimum operating level is 180 meters. Patrick Dizon, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System water and sewerage management manager, said the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) did not grant MWSS’...

Divorce bill hurdles House 2nd reading

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives approved on second reading on Wednesday several pieces of legislation, including the controversial absolute divorce bill that the Catholic Church has vehemently opposed for decades. House Bill 9349, principally authored by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, was overwhelmingly approved via voice voting. The measure allows absolute divorce as an alternative mode of dissolving an irreparably broken or...

China challenges aircraft of senators bound for Pag-asa Island

KALAYAAN, PALAWAN—China issued a radio challenge Thursday to a private aircraft carrying Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, and Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito before landing at Pag-asa Island. The three lawmakers visited the largest island in the Kalayaan Island Group for the groundbreaking of a new barracks inside the Emilio Liwanag Naval Station and a Super Rural Health Unit in this municipality. The same...

France deploys troops, bans TikTok to quell New Caledonia unrest

NOUMEA, France — France deployed troops to New Caledonia’s ports and international airport, banned TikTok and imposed a state of emergency Thursday after three nights of clashes that have left four dead and hundreds wounded. Pro-independence, largely Indigenous protests against a French plan to impose new voting rules on its Pacific archipelago have spiraled into the deadliest violence since the 1980s, with a police officer among several killed...

Fugitive in Vhong Navarro case surrenders

MANILA, Philippines — Fugitive businessman Ferdinand Guerrero, who was convicted of illegally detaining actor-host Vhong Navarro, surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday afternoon. NBI Director Medardo de Lemos personally received Guerrero at a building in Makati, the bureau reported. Guerrero, along with business partner Cedric Lee, model Deniece Cornejo and mixed martial arts practitioner Simeon Raz were found...

Military sexual assaults decline for first time in almost a decade

Military sexual assaults declined for the first time since 2016. The Pentagon will spend more than $1 billion on sexual assault prevention programs this year.

Day 1 of colorum PUJ crackdown generally peaceful

MANILA, Philippines — The jeepney protest against the public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP) was peaceful and quiet, the National Capital Region Police Office said, despite unconsolidated transport groups vowing to continue to ply their routes. NCRPO spokesperson Lt. Col. Eunice Salas said there were no reported significant incidents and the situation was normal, even as the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board...

Slovak PM fights for his life after assassination attempt

BANSKA BYSTRICA, Slovakia — Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico fought for his life in hospital Wednesday after being shot multiple times in what the government called a “political assault”. Surgeons spent hours battling to save the 59-year-old populist leader after the attack, which has been condemned around the world. Deputy Prime Minister Tomas Taraba told the BBC he believed the leader’s hospital procedure had gone well. “I guess in the end he...

Tunisia lawyers protest after colleagues arrested

Hundreds of lawyers, activists and others demonstrated on Thursday in the Tunisian capital over the arrest of two lawyers in police raids on the national bar association, AFP journalists said. But Saied said Thursday that "the bar association is located on Tunisian soil and is not subject to (its own) territorial regime so that anyone can hide there".

Man caught selling submachine gun

MANILA, Philippines — A suspected gunrunner was arrested for allegedly selling a submachine gun in Quezon City on Wednesday night. Alvin Castillo, 35, was apprehended by police in a sting in Barangay Greater Fairview at around 8:10 p.m., Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan said. Maranan said Castillo met with undercover officers of the QCPD’s criminal investigation and detection unit in front of a school for...

Who is Alice Guo? No Tarlac politician knows her, says Marcos

Bamban Mayor Alice Guo had been the subject of investigation for some time, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said on Thursday. In an interview with reporters, Marcos said he knew most of the politicians in Tarlac and none of them knew the mayor of Bamban. ''Well, matagal na naming inimbestigahan ‘yan, kaya naman nahuli ‘yan eh," Marcos said in an ambush interview in Cagayan de Oro City. (We've been investigating her for a long time;...

Why Egypt backed South Africa’s genocide case against Israel in the ICJ

Angered by Israel’s moves in Gaza and the regional security risks they pose, Egypt joined the genocide case.

Chad junta leader Deby declared winner of May 6 presidential election

N'DJAMENA (Reuters) - Chad's constitutional council on Thursday declared interim President Mahamat Idriss Deby winner of the central African nation's disputed May 6 presidential election with 61% of the vote, after earlier rejecting appeals to cancel or partially cancel the election. (Reporting by Mahamat Ramadane; Writing by Bate Felix; Editing by Alex Richardson)

American held for attack on sex workers in hotel

MANILA, Philippines — An American man, who allegedly physically assaulted two sex workers who asked for a downpayment for their services, was arrested in Quezon City on Wednesday night. Mario Christopher Burke, 28, a native of Homestead, Florida, was apprehended by police in response to the complaint of the women, who are in their 20s. The incident occurred in a hotel along EDSA in Barangay Phil-Am, police investigators said. Burke met the women...

'Cataclysm prepper' charged over explosives stash

Ralph Caldwell and his wife Maria face multiple charges over items including suspected firearms.

Marcos says MVP allowed restoration of water supply in CDO

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday said that Manuel V. Pangilinan has allowed the restoration of normal water supply in Cagayan de Oro. According to the chief executive, he spoke with the business tycoon regarding plans of Cagayan de Oro Bulkwater Inc. (Cobi) to stop its service to the Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD) over failure to settle a debt amounting to P470 million. “Nakipag-usap tayo kay Mr. Manny...

Navotas’ most wanted fugitive falls

MANILA, Philippines — A man considered to be Navotas’ most wanted fugitive was arrested by police in Sta. Maria, Bulacan on Wednesday night. Michael Argonillo, 43, who works as a water refiller in Bulacan, is the subject of an arrest warrant for frustrated murder issued by Judge Rhoda Magdalene Mapile-Osinada of Malabon City Regional Trial Court Branch 170 on May 2, police said. The judge set bail at P200,000 for Argonillo.

A Ukrainian naval drone has done hundreds of millions in damage to Russia

Lone bettor wins nearly P75-million Lotto 6/42 jackpot

A lone better won almost P75 million Lotto 6/42 jackpot during Thursday night's draw. The winning combination for the Lotto 6/42 jackpot of P74,759,118.80 was 11-23-05-22-24-03. Meanwhile, there were no winners in the Super Lotto 6/49 draw which had a jackpot of P15,840,000. The winning combination for the Super Lotto 6/49 jackpot was 05-15-04-49-30-27. The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office reminded lotto jackpot winners to claim their...

Is Ukraine losing the war?

SolGen investigates Bamban Mayor Alice Guo | The wRap

Here are today's headlines – the latest news in the Philippines and around the world: - Solicitor General launches probe into Bamban Mayor Alice Guo - 46 Chinese ships in vicinity, as civilian convoy tries to reach Panatag Shoal - Marcos says he won’t abolish NTF-ELCAC, denies its history of red-tagging - Marcos laments Philippine universities' exclusion from Asia top 100 ranking - Here’s what to expect in ‘B★VERSE BTS, Singing the Stars’ exhibition in Quezon City https://www.rappler.com/video/daily-wrap/may-16-2024/

Jordan's king wants neighbours to confront groups smuggling drugs, arms

DUBAI (Reuters) -Jordan's King Abdullah on Thursday called on Arab states to confront what the U.S. ally has called an alarming rise in incursions of drugs and weapons smugglers linked to Iranian militias operating in southern Syria. Jordanian officials, like their Western allies, say the operations are controlled by Lebanon's Iranian-backed Hezbollah group and other pro-Iranian militias who

Powerball numbers revealed

Half of the Australia's adult population were expected to buy a ticket for Thursday night's $100million jackpot in the hope of snaring a lifechanging windfall. Here are the winning numnbers.

Marcos: No 'stricter' visa rules for Chinese tourists, just stricter implementation

President Marcos clarified that there are no stricter visa rules for Chinese tourists entering the country but the government will strictly enforce the existing rules to ensure that there would be no fraudulent applications. READ MORE: https://mb.com.ph/2024/5/16/marcos-no-stricter-visa-rules-for-chinese-tourists-just-stricter-implementation

Chinese ships block convoy’s mother boat from reaching Scarborough

ABOARD FBCA BING BING — The mother boat of a civilian convoy aiming to bring supplies to Filipino fishermen could not reach Scarborough Shoal due to shadowing by China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels. “It is not advisable to proceed because it is already risky,” Ariel Bustillos, the captain of Fbca Bing Bing, told INQUIRER.net here in the West Philippine Sea. According to Bustillos, the Atin Ito coalition’s mother boat was about 50 nautical miles away...