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China ship shadows PH, US vessels at WPS during Balikatan exercise

A Chinese Navy ship was seen shadowing vessels of the Philippines and United States Navies at the West Philippine Sea during the Balikatan exercises. According to a 24 Oras Weekend report by Ian Cruz on Saturday, a surveillance vessel from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy was seen when exercises were taking place 50 nautical miles west of Northern Palawan beginning at 6 a.m. The Chinese ship with the bow number 793 shadowed US and...

2024-04-27T13:02:28Z

Now Europe copies Rishi on Rwanda

Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, has backed a policy of deporting people to third countries for asylum processing.

2024-04-27T21:28:48Z

DOJ: EJKs during current admin not linked to freedom of expression

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Saturday that reported cases of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) under the current administration were caused by personal motives, rather than from the exercise of freedom of expression. According to the DOJ, this was from the findings of its review panel. READ: CHR lauds DOJ’s vow to hold accountable those behind EJKs “Following a thorough inquiry, the DOJ Review Panel has concluded...

2024-04-27T05:50:48Z

Veteran lawmaker Elpidio Barzaga Jr. passes away

Cavite 4th District Representative Elpidio Barzaga Jr. has passed away at the age of 74. The passing of the veteran lawmaker was announced on his official Facebook page on Saturday. "It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Cavite 4th District Representative Elpidio 'Pidi' F. Barzaga Jr., in California, USA, Saturday afternoon (Philippine Time)," read the post on his social media page. "As we mourn his loss, we find solace in the...

2024-04-27T12:07:21Z

Teenager describes chaos at launch of Channel deaths boat

Marcus, 16, says he fled a life as a child soldier in South Sudan and hopes to study in the UK.

2024-04-27T15:57:44Z

Man 'spat, kicked and pointed fake gun at officers'

A 31-year-old man is arrested after police responded to a report of an assault in Portadown.

2024-04-27T13:03:15Z

DND maintains: No internal agreement with China on Ayungin Shoal

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of National Defense (DND) asserted that it is “not aware of, nor is it a party to, any internal agreement with China on Ayungin Shoal” since President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. took office. In a statement on Saturday, the DND also noted that it has not been in contact with any Chinese government officials since last year. READ: Marcos ‘horrified’ by idea of ‘agreement’ between China, PH on WPS “The...

2024-04-27T04:39:26Z

Spanish PM's supporters turn out and beg him to stay

Thousands of supporters of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez rallied at the headquarters of his Socialist party imploring him not to step down over a graft investigation against his wife. If he resigns, an early election could be called from July -- a year after the last one -- with or without Sanchez at the helm of the Socialist party.

2024-04-27T12:47:11Z

34 LGUs unite to protect West PH Sea

THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has launched a group of 34 local government units (LGUs) supporting the government's efforts to protect and assert the sovereign rights of the country over the West Philippine Sea, Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said Saturday. Abalos said the DILG identified the group as its first "National Summit of the West Philippine Sea LGUs." "Today we have received manifestations to...

2024-04-27T16:14:21Z

Bomb squad called to town centre after 'item' found

An Army bomb disposal team have destroyed an item that was found in a town centre. The area around Market Hall in Darwen was cordoned off after it was found earlier, Lancashire Police said. A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defence said specialists attended after being called by police. “The item was safely moved to a safe distance and destroyed by...

2024-04-27T18:49:44Z

MPs fear Penny Mordaunt will seize power if Rishi loses local election

Even MPs loyal to the Prime Minister fear he will be in trouble if the party suffers catastrophic defeats in crucial mayoral and local council polls on Thursday.

2024-04-27T21:28:41Z

Cavite Rep. Elpido Barzaga Jr. dies at 74

MANILA, Philippines — Cavite 4th District Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. died on Saturday, April 27, at the age of 74 in California in the United States for open-heart surgery. “Throughout his life, Cong. Pidi dedicated himself to serving the people of the Province of Cavite and the City of Dasmariñas with unwavering commitment and passion,” his Facebook page said. “As we mourn his loss, we find solace in the countless lives he touched and the...

2024-04-27T13:37:03Z

Father, daughter slain outside home in Abra

A father and his four-year-old daughter were shot to death in front of their home in Dolores, Abra on Wednesday night. An unidentified gunman attacked Arnel Zapata and his daughter while they were resting on a folding bed, according to a "24 Oras Weekend" report by Cris Zuñiga of GMA Regional TV One North Central Luzon on Saturday. “Bata pa, four years old. Biruin mo, ganoon na wala pang muwang sa mundo,” said Arnel's wife, Vergilyn Zapata....

2024-04-27T16:04:52Z

Chinese navy boat spotted in West Philippine Sea Balikatan

MANILA, Philippines — At least one Chinese naval vessel had been spotted in the vicinity of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) where the Philippines, the United States and France were conducting Multilateral Maritime Exercises (MME) under Balikatan 2024, the military said yesterday. Capt. Ariel Coloma, public affairs office chief and spokesman for the Western Command (WESCOM) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said the grey ship of the...

2024-04-27T16:38:41Z

The Siren Call of an Israeli Invasion of Lebanon

As Israel’s war in Gaza bogs down, some leaders are urging a major assault on Hezbollah. That would be disastrous.

2024-04-27T11:42:55Z

Iraq criminalises same-sex relationships with maximum 15 years in prison

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's parliament passed a law criminalising same-sex relationships with a maximum 15-year prison sentence on Saturday, in a move it said aimed to uphold religious values but was condemned by rights advocates as the latest attack on the LGBT community in Iraq. The law aims to "protect Iraqi society from moral depravity and the calls for homosexuality that have overtaken the

2024-04-27T21:13:27Z

Gibo denies China claim on Ayungin deal

MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. has again clarified that there is no internal or gentleman’s agreement between the Philippines and China on the Ayungin Shoal, particularly on the fate of the BRP Sierra Madre. “The Department of National Defense is not aware of, nor is it a party to, any internal agreement with China on Ayungin Shoal since President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. took office,” Teodoro said in a statement. “As...

2024-04-27T16:38:38Z

Gaza aid from Cyprus resumes after pause following aid worker killings

NICOSIA (Reuters) -Aid shipments to Gaza from Cyprus resumed late on Friday, a Cypriot source and a UAE official said, with a ship carrying food to the besieged Palestinian enclave after a pause following Israel's killing of seven aid workers. The World Central Kitchen NGO had paused aid to review its activity in the territory after the early April attack, halting direct shipments into Gaza from

2024-04-27T17:02:44Z

Some Metro Manila universities shift to online classes ahead of transport strike

At least two universities in Metro Manila will shift to online classes given that there will be a transport strike early next week. The University of Santo Tomas Office of the Secretary-General announced the implementation of the Enriched Virtual Mode of Instruction on April 29–30 since the ''announced transport strike will constrain the implementation of our mitigation measures addressing the high heat index.'' “The Human Resource Department...

2024-04-27T12:07:29Z

Son of Holocaust survivor joins London pro-Palestine protests

'Hundreds of thousands' marched through the streets of London in a series of protests today, some in support of a ceasefire in Gaza and others to call for an end to anti-Semitism.

2024-04-27T17:46:49Z

Poland denies 'pushback' of pregnant Eritrean woman

Activists say the woman gave birth alone in a forested area at the border with Belarus.

2024-04-27T18:28:07Z

20 Cambodian soldiers killed in an ammunition explosion at a military base

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — An ammunition explosion at a base in southwestern Cambodia on Saturday afternoon killed 20 soldiers and wounded several others, Prime Minister Hun Manet said. Hun Manet said in a Facebook post that he was “deeply shocked” when he received the news of the blast at the base in Kampong Speu province. It wasn't immediately clear what caused it. Images from the scene showed several badly damaged buildings still smoldering,...

2024-04-27T13:14:25Z

Man dies after parachute incident at industrial estate

Durham Police say they are treating the incident as unexpected and enquiries are ongoing.

2024-04-27T19:04:09Z

PNP official sacked for sexual harassment

MANILA, Philippines — A police official was sacked from his post after a subordinate accused him of sexual harassment. The official with the rank of lieutenant colonel was relieved from his post as a commander of a police unit in Quezon City on April 22 and was placed on floating status while an investigation is underway on the offenses he allegedly committed. Sources said the victim is a patrolwoman who accused the official of sexual...

2024-04-27T16:38:41Z

Grovelling Humza's begging letters to his political rivals

Humza Yousaf has sent humiliating 'begging' letters to opposition leaders in a desperate bid to avoid being ousted as First Minister.

2024-04-27T22:13:48Z

Nationalism still alive, fuels continued PH progess – Marcos

MANILA, Philippines — Nationalism is still alive among Filipinos as manifested by their strength of will that enables the steady progress of the country, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said on Saturday at the 503rd anniversary commemoration of the Battle of Mactan in Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu. “I am happy that the spirit of nationalism is still very much alive — not just here in Mactan, not just in Cebu, not just in the Visayas, but in...

2024-04-27T08:21:15Z

Conservative MP defects to Labour in the latest blow to Rishi Sunak

The ex-health minister, who works part time as a doctor, said he found it 'increasingly difficult to look his NHS colleagues in the eye' while being a Tory

2024-04-27T17:12:57Z

Bureau of Immigration blocks entry of 25 foreigners at Naia

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) blocked the entry of 25 foreigners at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) on Friday and Saturday, May 25 and 26, for having suspicious reasons for traveling here. According to a BI statement issued on Saturday, a group of 25 Vietnamese travelers — 12 men and four women — flew in from Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam on Friday. On questioning them, BI investigators learned that the travelers...

2024-04-27T11:10:34Z

Emergency services call for new volunteers

Police, fire and search and rescue operations met Gloucester residents at an event on Saturday.

2024-04-27T20:04:56Z

New PNP-IAS head ready to face police scalawags

MANILA, Philippines — The new head of the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) is ready to face police scalawags, vowing to put in place programs to rid the Philippine National Police of misfits and further professionalize the PNP. Lawyer Brigido Dulay formally assumed the post of IAS inspector general in a ceremony attended by PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil at Camp Crame on Friday. In an interview, Dulay said he is not fazed by threats that...

2024-04-27T16:38:42Z

‘Stop intrusions at sea to avoid miscalculations’

MANILA, Philippines — Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez yesterday urged China to stop its intrusion in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and the 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines to show sincerity that Beijing really wanted to avoid “miscalculations” with the United States. In a statement, Rodriguez also welcomed the assurance given by US State Secretary Antony Blinken about US’ defense obligations to the...

2024-04-27T16:38:38Z

Thousands rally for Spain's PM Pedro Sánchez

More than 12,000 people rally to urge the prime minister to stay in office as he decides whether to resign.

2024-04-27T20:28:30Z

Manila Water keeps passing strict drinking water standards

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Water Co. Inc. continues to pass the stringent requirements of the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water (PNSDW) of the Department of Health (DOH), assuring its 7.6 million customers in the East Zone of safe and potable water. The company has maintained 100% compliance with the PNSDW standards for sampling surface water treatment facilities all year round. As of December 2023, samples collected from the...

2024-04-27T14:07:08Z

Transport strike set for April 29 to May 1

MANILA, Philippines — A three-day transport strike will start tomorrow in time for the looming public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP) consolidation deadline and the commemoration of Labor Day. The Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) said it will protest the government’s PUVMP by staging another transport strike from April 29 to May 1. PISTON deputy secretary general Ruben Baylon said they expect to...

2024-04-27T16:38:39Z

Zelenskiy says Russia targeted gas facilities that secure EU supply

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said a Russian attack on his country's energy sector on Saturday had targeted gas facilities important for supply to the European Union. Russia continues to supply gas to the EU via Ukraine under a transit deal with Russia's Gazprom that is set to expire in December. Ukraine's energy minister said last month that Kyiv had no plans to extend

2024-04-27T19:13:11Z

Scammers stole more than $400,000 from a woman through an elaborate Publisher's Clearing House sweepstakes scam: police

Florida scammers tricked a woman into believing she won a $3 million sweepstakes, then stole $400,000 from her bank account, authorities said.

2024-04-27T20:23:08Z

After a gruelling sexual assault trial, Saxon Mullins found hope in an unlikely place. She knew then she'd be okay

It's been more than a decade since Saxon Mullins accused a man of raping her behind his father's nightclub in Kings Cross. Since then she's learned a lot about endurance — and the life-saving power of pop music.

2024-04-27T19:06:05Z

Israeli soldiers kill two Palestinian gunmen in West Bank, military says

RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) -Israeli soldiers killed two Palestinian gunmen who opened fire at them from a vehicle in the occupied West Bank, the military said on Saturday. The military released a photo of two automatic rifles that it said were used by several gunmen to shoot at the soldiers, at an outpost near the flashpoint Palestinian city of Jenin. The Jenin Brigade, an umbrella group that

2024-04-27T20:13:22Z

EDSA busway violation: Cop, ambulance driver fined

MANILA, Philippines — A motorcycle-riding police officer and an ambulance driver were among the latest violators of a policy banning unauthorized vehicles from going through the EDSA bus lane. On April 25, enforcers of the Department of Transportation’s Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (DOTr-SAICT) pulled over a motorcycle driven by an alleged member of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Forensic Group at the EDSA...

2024-04-27T16:38:44Z

Body found in search for missing woman

The search for Annie Dryden, 20, from Middlesbrough has been ongoing since January.

2024-04-27T20:34:29Z

‘Batangas shabu haul did not come from China’

MANILA, Philippines — The 1.4 tons of shabu valued at P9.68 billion seized in Alitagtag, Batangas last week did not originate from drug rings based in China, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP). The markings on the illegal drugs were different from shabu placed in tea bags with Chinese characters that were confiscated in previous law enforcement operations, PNP information officer Col. Jean Fajardo told a news forum yesterday. The...

2024-04-27T16:38:44Z

Chile's President Boric declares national mourning period after 3 police officers killed

(Reuters) - Three police officers were killed on Saturday in southern Chile during what President Gabriel Boric called a cowardly attack that led him to declare three days of national mourning. The attack occurred in the municipality of Canete, in Arauco province, when the officers responded to three false emergency calls, authorities said. The officers were attacked in their vehicle with

2024-04-27T18:38:00Z

No Filipino casualties in Taiwan earthquakes – DMW

MANILA, Philippines — No Filipinos were harmed in two recent earthquakes that hit Taiwan, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said on Saturday. It added, however, the Migrant Workers Offices in Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung continued to be on alert and monitoring the situation in case of reports of overseas Filipino workers injured or affected by the quakes READ: DMW says no report yet of OFWs hurt in latest Taiwan earthquakes On Saturday,...

2024-04-27T10:25:24Z

Portugal's government rejects paying reparations for colonial, slavery legacy

By Sergio Goncalves LISBON (Reuters) -Portugal's government said on Saturday it refuses to initiate any process to pay reparations for atrocities committed during transatlantic slavery and the colonial era, contrary to earlier comments from President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. From the 15th to the 19th century, 6 million Africans were kidnapped and forcibly transported across the Atlantic by

2024-04-27T20:43:28Z

Russian missiles pound power plants in central and western Ukraine

By Olena Harmash and Tom Balmforth KYIV (Reuters) -Russian missiles pounded power facilities in central and western Ukraine on Saturday, increasing pressure on the ailing energy system as the country faces a shortage of air defences despite a breakthrough in U.S. military aid. The air strike, carried out with long-range missiles, including cruise missiles fired by Russian strategic bombers based

2024-04-27T20:13:21Z

Killings of female students alarm DepEd

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) has called on authorities to swiftly investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice in connection with the recent brutal killings of female students in Cebu and Batangas. “The Department is deeply concerned and alarmed with the recent incidents of brutal killings of minors, especially girls. We urge the local authorities and the community to come together in solidarity against violence...

2024-04-27T16:38:37Z

Ireland wants to send asylum seekers back to UK

Taoiseach asks justice minister to bring forward legislation so asylum seekers can be returned to the UK.

2024-04-27T21:43:41Z

Putin 'likely' didn't order Alexei Navalny's death, US spies say as officials still 'sceptical'

US intelligence agencies said they have determined that Russian President Vladimir Putin probably did not order Alexei Navalny's death in a penal colony 'at that moment'

2024-04-27T17:01:08Z

Manila Water to do maintenance in San Juan, Pasig Apr. 29-30

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Water Co. Inc., will do maintenance work in some areas in San Juan and Pasig City on April 29 and 30, the firm announced on Saturday. The areas below may experience water supply lapses: From 10 p.m. on April 29 to 4 a.m. on April 30 Dr. B. Sto. Domingo Street corner N. Domingo Street in San Juan City Areas that may be affected: Parts of Progreso From 10 p.m. on April 29 to 4 a.m. on April 30 Caruncho Avenue corner...

2024-04-27T13:52:05Z

Gatchalian wants cellphones banned in schools

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian yesterday urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to come up with an order banning the use of cellphones in schools. Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate basic education committee, made the proposal as an alternative to his plan to file a bill banning the use of mobile phones so that students will be encouraged to read more books than scroll through social media. “We have no control over them outside...

2024-04-27T16:38:36Z