Find out who Vladimir Putin really is

As the world reacts in horror and disbelief to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the man who ordered the military attack, President Vladimir Putin, is being widely condemned for what's been described as a dangerous and unprovoked act of aggression. But who is this man from Leningrad who grew up to become one of the most powerful men in recent history? Click through and find out more about Vladimir Putin's life and career.

Belarus frees 10 political prisoners but 1,400 remain, rights group says

By Mark Trevelyan (Reuters) - Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has freed at least 10 political prisoners, rights campaigners said on Thursday, including a veteran opposition figure suffering from cancer. But the rare pardon still leaves some 1,400 people behind bars for political activity, most of them arrested after peaceful mass protests in 2020 and convicted on a range of charges

Hezbollah fires 200 rockets into Israel after commander killed

Massive barrage launched in response to killing of group’s senior commander as fears of full-blown war reverberate.

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

TAIPEI (Reuters) -China's seizure of a Taiwanese trawler operating close to the Chinese coast might be an act of psychological warfare by Beijing designed to further pressure Taipei, and Taiwan is working to get the boat released, officials said on Thursday. Chinese officials boarded and then took the boat to a port in China late on Tuesday. It was fishing for squid in Chinese waters near the

Pub apologises after wrongly accusing family of 'dine and dash' after ordering £27 steaks

Bar staff at Horse and Jockey in Tideswell accused the family of slipping away after consuming two £27 10oz ribeye steaks and Derbyshireryshire gammon steaks, costing £15.25

Fingerprints of Guo’s brother also find a match

MANILA, Philippines — The fingerprints of a Chinese boy who arrived in the country in 1999 have matched those of the younger brother of suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian disclosed on Wednesday. According to Gatchalian, the results of the National Bureau of Investigation’s fingerprint analysis showed that Guo Xiang Dian was the same person as Wesley Leal Guo, one of Guo’s three siblings. READ: NBI findings prove...

Suspect in Slovak PM shooting faces charge of carrying out terrorist attack

(Reuters) - The man detained over the shooting of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico will face prosecution on the charge of carrying out a terrorist attack, Slovakia's general prosecutor said on Thursday. Fico is recovering after being shot four times at close range when he greeted supporters at a government meeting in the central Slovak town of Handlova in mid-May. That left him needing hours of

Just Stop Oil activists get conditional bail

Two private jets were sprayed with orange paint in the attack at Stansted Airport on 5 June.

Marcos: Samar has come a long way in fight vs. insurgency

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Thursday said Samar province has come a long way when it comes to fighting insurgency. Marcos made the remark during the distribution of presidential assistance to farmers, fisherfolk and their families in a program at the Northwest Samar State University (NWSSU) in Calbayog City. Without identifying them, Marcos said at least five municipalities in the province have already reached a stable...

Florida woman arrested after allegedly leaving grandchild in hot car while she grocery shopped

A Florida grandmother was charged with neglect of a child causing great bodily harm after allegedly leaving her 2-year-old grandchild in a hot car while she went into Publix.

A few Ukrainian brigades just got some help from an interesting source

House in final stages of preparations for Sona, says Velasco

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives is in the final stages of its preparations for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s third State of the Nation Address (Sona), House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said on Wednesday. In a statement, Velasco said the House is ready to host the Sona, with the Batasang Pambansa renovations nearly complete. “We are ready to adjust to accommodate our partners from the Office of the President (OP) and...

‘Nakakatawa naman’: Padilla laughs off PNP’s move to hold Duterte liable for hiding Quiboloy’s location

Senator Robinhood “Robin” Padilla on Thursday, July 4 laughed off the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) move to hold former president Rodrigo Duterte for hiding televangelist Apollo Quiboloy’s location, saying the latter is possibly just teasing them. READ: https://mb.com.ph/2024/7/4/nakakatawa-naman-padilla-laughs-off-pnp-s-move-to-hold-duterte-liable-for-hiding-quiboloy-s-location Subscribe to the Manila Bulletin Online channel! - https://www.youtube.com/TheManilaBulletin Visit our website at http://mb.com.phFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/manilabulletin Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/manila_bulletinInstagram: https://instagram.com/manilabulletinTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manilabulletin #ManilaBulletinOnline#ManilaBulletin#LatestNews

Binay, Cayetano trade barbs at Senate hearing

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Nancy Binay walked out of the Senate inquiry on the construction of the new Senate building in Taguig City after trading barbs with Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday. Cayetano, Senate committee on accounts chair, launched an inquiry after Senate President Francis Escudero decided to suspend the project, citing the surge in the building’s price tag from P8.9 billion to P23.3 billion. Binay, who as former chair of...

Canada names first woman to lead military

OTTAWA — Canada’s prime minister announced Wednesday the appointment of Lieutenant-General Jennie Carignan as the first woman to lead the G7 and NATO member nation’s military. A highly decorated soldier and mother of four children, two of whom serve in the Canadian Armed Forces, Carignan will be promoted to the rank of general and take over from retiring General Wayne Eyre as chief of the Defense Staff at a ceremony on July 18. “I am confident...

Education reform group urges DepEd to focus on marginalized learners

MANILA, Philippines — A network of civil society organizations has called on newly appointed Education Secretary Sen. Sonny Angara to prioritize the marginalized and out-of-school learners to ensure all Filipinos have fair access to education. In a statement on Wednesday, the Civil Society Network for Education Reforms, or E-Net Philippines, said that this can be done by strengthening distance learning initiatives and building community learning...

As explosions rattle our Gaza field hospital, we brace for the wounded

A Red Cross surgeon takes us inside a hospital’s operations as staff work to save patients following an attack.

Bishop hits ‘harassment’ of Palawan islanders over resort dispute

A Catholic bishop has deplored the ‘harassment’ of island villagers in southern Palawan, who risk losing their land to a proposed high-end resort. Bishop Socrates Mesiona of Puerto Princesa, in a statement, expressed concern for the people of Mariahangin, an island settlement in Bugsuk village in Balabac town. Masked men reportedly fired shots over the […]

China hypersonic missile attack: 25 areas in PH possible targets

MANILA, Philippines — Twenty-five areas in the country could be possible targets of possible hypersonic missile attack. That is according to Senator Imee Marcos as she warned about this due to the increase in Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) sites and the brewing tensions in the West Philippine Sea. READ MORE: Chinese Coast Guard: Philippines to blame for ship collision at WPS China monster ship leaves El Nido, passes Scarborough...

Xi and Putin set out ambitions for Eurasian security club

ASTANA (Reuters) -China's President Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin pressed their case on Thursday for closer security, political and economic cooperation between countries of the vast Eurasian region as a counterweight to Western alliances. They were speaking on the second and final day of a summit in the Kazakh capital Astana of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a club

Countries that still have mandatory military service

As conflicts rage on around the world and new ones begin seemingly every day, it's unsurprising that some countries make defense a priority. Depending on the geopolitical location of a nation, they might want to make sure their population has basic military skills. Whether it's because they are situated next to a bigger, more hostile neighbor, or if the government sees military identity as an important aspect of citizenship, in this gallery we take a look at the countries where serving in the military is still a normal part of life. Curious? Click on to discover the countries that still have mandatory military service.

Britons vote in election expected to propel Labour to power

By Kate Holton LONDON (Reuters) -Britons were voting on Thursday in a parliamentary election that is expected to bring Keir Starmer's Labour Party to power, sweeping away Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservatives after 14 often turbulent years. Opinion polls put Starmer's centre-left party on course for a landslide victory but also suggest many voters simply want change after a period of

The most daring prison breaks of all time

Correctional facilities are known for their high levels of security, making it hard to believe that some inmates are able to successfully escape from prison. The act of breaking out requires a combination of luck, skill, creativity, and occasionally, sheer brute strength. Throughout history, there have been many occasions where prisoners have triumphantly managed to escape from the most heavily guarded prisons. Intrigued? Click through this gallery to discover some of the most clever methods used by prisoners to escape from jail.

Lord Sugar thanks police after burglar’s daughters ordered to compensate victims

Lord Sugar thanks police after burglar’s daughters ordered to compensate victims - David Buisson stole mostly cash and jewellery from homes and businesses, including the business magnate’s Essex home, between 2015 and 2017.

China 'monster ship' kept watch over PCG vessel in Escoda Shoal - monitor | INQToday

WATCH: West Philippine Sea monitor Ray Powell says the China Coast Guard's biggest vessel "kept watch" over the Philippine Coast Guard's BRP Teresa Magbanua in Escoda Shoal.

Ukrainian forces pull back from part of strategic eastern town

By Anastasiia Malenko KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine's military said on Thursday its troops had pulled back from part of Chasiv Yar in the eastern Donetsk region, a day after Russia said its forces had taken control of a district in the strategic town. Chasiv Yar stands on high ground. If Russian forces establish full control over the town, they could potentially use it as a staging post to advance

Marcos hopes improved Tacloban airport ready by 2026

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Thursday expressed hope that an improved Tacloban Airport could be ready in the next two years. Marcos made the remark during the distribution of the presidential assistance to farmers and fisherfolk in Palo, Leyte. ''Isa na nga po rito ang ating patuloy na pagsasaayos sa Tacloban Airport na nagkakahalaga ng higit dalawa at kalahating bilyong piso. Noong dinaanan namin, noong nag-landing kami sa ---...

India, China foreign ministers agree to resolve border issues at earliest

NEW DELHI (Reuters) -India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Thursday in Kazakhstan where the two agreed to step up talks to resolve issues along their border at the earliest, New Delhi said in a statement. India and China share a long Himalayan border, much of it poorly demarcated, and relations between the two countries have been sour since a

Angeles Mayor offers P100,000 for info on missing couple

ANGELES CITY, PAMPANGA, Philippines — Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. on Tuesday offered a P100,000 reward for any information that would help authorities find beauty pageant candidate Geneva Lopez and her boyfriend, who have been missing for almost two weeks. Lopez, a former Mutya ng Pilipinas 2024 candidate who represented Sto. Tomas, Pampanga, has been missing since June 21 with Israeli boyfriend Yitshak Cohen. They were reportedly on their way to...

AFP to ‘harden’ facilities vs. possible missile threats

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday said it would harden its facilities against possible missile attacks, even as it was still verifying information about such threats from China as reported by Senator Imee Marcos. In a press briefing after a command conference with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. said the military would harden its facilities to be protected from such attacks....

NSC: No ‘imminent attack from China despite Sen. Marcos’ warning

MANILA, Philippines — The National Security Council (NSC) assures on Wednesday that the Philippines does not face an “imminent attack” from China. The NSC made the assurance after Senator Imee Marcos’ warning that 25 areas in the country could be possible targets of a Chinese hypersonic missile attack. Marcos warned on Monday that Beijing might use its hypersonic missiles in areas including the Ilocos region, Subic, and Batanes due to Manila’s...

Ukraine’s army retreats from positions as Russia gets closer to seizing strategically important town

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A spokesperson for Ukraine’s military said its army has retreated from a neighborhood in the outskirts of Chasiv Yar, a strategically important town in the eastern Donetsk region which has been reduced to rubble under a months-long Russian assault. Chasiv Yar lies a short distance west Bakhmut, which was captured by Russia last year after a bitter 10-month battle. For months, Russian forces have focused on capturing Chasiv...

Aussie dad learns his fate after he was caught with meth in Bali

Troy Andrew Smith, 49, appeared in Denpasar District Court on Thursday, where a panel of judges sentenced him.

Man targeted in Qatar Grindr 'sting' lodges appeal

Manuel Guerrero Aviña says he was convicted of drug offences "because I am gay".

Ex-cop among 7 persons of interest in missing beauty pageant bet, Israeli BF case

A former police officer is among the seven persons of interest in the disappearance of a beauty pageant contestant and her Israeli boyfriend in Central Luzon, the Philippine National Police's (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said on Thursday. Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, CIDG chief Police Major General Leo Francisco said authorities have yet to communicate with all of the persons of interest. "Pito ang POIs natin...

Boris Johnson threatens 'more wokery' on his way to polling station

'Don't let it happen': Boris Johnson urges supporters to vote against the 'nightmare prospect of a left-wing government' on polling day.

No peace for Ukraine: Zelensky faces a new internal threat

LOOK: Marcos leads a command conference with AFP officials

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday met with officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in a mid-year command conference at the AFP Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. Marcos, who serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the AFP, reviewed the progress of the military campaigns and programs. He also provided further directives for the rest of the year. According to the AFP, in a statement, ground...

Arrest after man stabbed in altercation

A man, 45, has been taken to hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries, police say.

Imee Marcos Uncovers Alleged Chinese 'Hypersonic Missiles' Plan

The senator caused quite a stir on social media as she claimed that there was a Chinese plan in place to target the Philippines using hypersonic missiles.

AFP demands P60M in damages from China for June 17 Ayungin incident

The Armed Forces of the Philippines is demanding P60 million in damages from China after its coast guard destroyed some equipment of Filipino Navy personnel during a resupply mission in Ayungin Shoal last June 17. “Sinira nila ;yung ating mga kagamitan (They destroyed our equipment) and when we estimated the cost of the damage, it's P60 million,” AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. said in a press briefing after a command conference with...

Ukraine might have just destroyed a very expensive air defense system

Lasting tribute to man who fed roundabout's chickens

An information board is installed to remember a man who fed chickens on a village's roundabout.

Australian arrested for cracking bomb joke at Dipolog Airport

An Australian national was arrested for cracking a bomb joke at the Dipolog Airport in Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte. The incident happened when the 69-year-old man was checking in for his flight on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. When he was asked by a Passenger Service Agent (PSA) if his bag contained electronic devices, he allegedly said, “No, just an atomic bomb.” While he took his statement back, saying “it was a joke,” upon seeing the agent’s...

Jay Slater could be alive 'drinking rainwater', says PI

Army reservist and private investigator Juan García, 53, claimed missing teenager Jay Slater could be alive and keeping hydrated and fed by 'drinking rainwater and eating plants'.

Cops probe new theory in mystery death of dad found with bite marks in Magaluf

Father-of-four Michael Grant was on holiday with his family when he was found collapsed in the early hours of Monday morning close to the popular Punta Ballena strip

Trudeau says he will stay on as Prime Minister after major election loss

World champion high jumper Jacques Freitag found dead in suspected murder

What became of the advanced tanks Russia sent to Ukraine?

Michelle Troconis, convicted for helping her boyfriend murder his wife, claims to be a ‘scapegoat’