Family

Boy who had baby with paedophile Rebecca Joynes issues heartbreaking six-word statement

Rebecca Joynes was sentenced to 6.5 years behind bars today after she was found to have groomed two teenage students - known as Boy A and Boy B - from the age of 15

Brutal gang initiations from around the world

Gang culture is famed for its brutality and violence. Their involvement in crimes such as drug trafficking and extortion often leads to shootouts with police or all-out street wars with rival gangs. In movies and TV shows, there's usually an initiation process for members—a sort of ceremony or ritual whereby they commit themselves to the organization and prove that commitment with a symbolic act. In 'The Sopranos' for example, new mob members draw blood from their hands and swear a pledge to their new "family," but this is pretty mild compared to many real-world initiation ceremonies. When it comes to notorious gangs like the Yakuza, the Bloods, and the Sinaloa Cartel, new recruits are subjected to horrific torture, or asked to commit terrible crimes to prove themselves. From brutal beatings to cannibalism, you won't believe what people go through to join these criminal enterprises. Click through the gallery and find out what it takes to become a member of the world's most notorious gangs.

Speaker Romualdez seeks probe on POGO-linked crime

Speaker Martin Romualdez on Friday called for a congressional probe on crimes linked to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs). Romualdez, in a statement, said a House probe shows the government's commitment to curbing illegal activities and ensuring that existing regulations are effectively enforced. “We cannot allow these rogue POGO operators to persist. It is imperative that we identify and unmask the masterminds and protectors behind...

Artist who killed her parents told locals they 'moved to the seaside'

Virginia McCullough, 36, wept in court today as she confessed to poisoning her father John, 70, and brutally stabbing her mother Lois, 71, to death in June 2019.

UK’s Labour on course for landslide election win – exit polls

LONDON, United Kingdom — Britain’s main opposition Labour party looks set for a landslide election win, exit polls indicated on Thursday, with Keir Starmer replacing Rishi Sunak as prime minister, ending 14 years of Conservative rule. As polling stations closed at 10:00 p.m., the survey for UK broadcasters suggested centre-left Labour would win 410 seats in the 650-seat House of Commons, with the right-wing Tories managing only 131. In another...

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.

UK defence minister Shapps loses seat in parliament

LONDON (Reuters) - British defence minister Grant Shapps lost his seat at Thursday's parliamentary election, becoming the most senior Conservative cabinet member so far to be defeated in what is set to be a clear overall victory for the Labour Party. Shapps was defeated by Labour's Andrew Lewin in the Welwyn Hatfield constituency in southern England he had held for nearly two decades. Lewin won

Marcos approved buying more fighter jets —Brawner

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has approved the plan to buy more multi-role fighter jets, according to Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Romeo Brawner Jr. Brawner, however, said there are no details yet on which kind of fighter jets will be added to the AFP's fleet. “Definitely, the President has already approved that intention to buy multi-role fighter jets. As to which one, wala pa hong decision. As to how many, wala pa...

Labour's reaction as explosive exit poll predicts huge majority

Mr Streeting, lined up to be the country's new Health Secretary, 'welled up' as the exit poll was revealed at 1pm - tipping Sir Keir Starmer's party for a majority of 170.

Concern over reports of Orban planning Moscow trip

One top EU leader says Hungary's PM "has no mandate to engage with Russia" on behalf of the bloc.

Woman caught illegally using Edsa busway tried to bribe traffic enforcer

MANILA, Philippines — A woman wearing a Philippine Army (PA) uniform who was caught illegally using the Edsa busway attempted to bribe and even threatened to file complaints against a traffic enforcer, according to the Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (SAICT). The incident happened on Tuesday. SAICT said a traffic enforcer asked for the woman’s official receipt or certificate of registration (OR/CR). READ: 2...

Groups ask SC to stop Marcos rice tariff order

Leonard Abella, 53, has been farming rice for decades, but his toiling has yet to pay off as he remains buried in debt. He barely earns any profit from tilling the land; whatever he earns is spent immediately to pay off his loans and buy necessities for his small-scale farm in Rosales, Pangasinan, such as water, seeds, and pesticides. “The income is small, not even enough for food… We are farmers [and yet] we have almost nothing to eat,” he said...

Taiwan reports more Chinese military activity, calls for de-escalation

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan on Friday reported renewed Chinese military activity nearby with another "combat patrol" as the government called on Beijing not to escalate tensions after the seizure of a Taiwanese fishing boat. China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, has stepped up its pressure over the past four years, both militarily and politically. On Tuesday,

Cebu Daily Newscast: China hypersonic missile attack: 25 areas in PH possible targets

Listen to Cebu Daily Newscast and get the latest stories in and around Cebu. Here’s what you need to know on Thursday, July 4, 2024. China hypersonic missile attack: 25 areas in PH possible targets 25 areas in the country could be possible targets of hypersonic missile attack from China 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...

Scottish National Party's poor UK election showing derails independence push

By Alistair Smout LONDON (Reuters) -The Scottish National Party was set for its worst showing at a British parliamentary election since 2010, projections showed, derailing their push for a new independence referendum as a resurgent Labour Party made gains in former heartlands. The SNP, which held 43 seats before the election was called, has suffered from a period of turmoil that has seen two

Gilas books OQT semis spot despite close loss to Georgia

It took just eight months for Gilas Pilipinas to add another compelling chapter to this basketball-crazed country’s rich history. In less than 24 hours, the team made sure to keep adding to the story. The Philippines unearthed a semifinal spot in defeat after a 96-94 loss to Georgia late Thursday evening extended its run in the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Latvia. After winning the Asian Games gold for the first time in six...

The Tory big beasts looking to avoid a Portillo moment

Although the Prime Minister is expected to hold his own seat, a number of his Cabinet members are staring down the barrel of defeat.

For World Day of the Poor, Pope Francis urges Christians to ‘be friends of the poor’

Ahead of the eighth observance of the World Day of the Poor, Pope Francis in June urged Christians around the world to share in the suffering of the poor and to commune with them through the act of prayer. The Holy Father established the World Day of the Poor in 2016 at the end of […]

Rishi Sunak hands peerage to top aide alongside Theresa May

No10 chief of staff Liam Booth-Smith, who is known as 'the Treasury Travolta' due to his love of a leather jacket, will enter the upper house among a slew of Tory big-hitters quitting the Commons.

Trillanes to file plunder raps vs Duterte, Go over P6.6-B anomalous projects

MANILA, Philippines — Former senator Antonio Trillanes 4th will file this Friday before the Department of Justice (DoJ) plunder cases against ex-president Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Sen. Christopher Lawrence Go over alleged anomalous projects estimated at P6.6-billion projects. In a Viber message, Trillanes told The Manila Times that the cases were linked to CLTG and Alfrego Builders, companies allegedly owned by Go's father and step brother. He...

Man who stabbed South Korea's opposition leader sentenced to 15 years in prison

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A man who stabbed South Korea’s opposition leader in the neck earlier this year was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Friday, court officials said. The knife-wielding man attacked Lee Jae-myung, head of the liberal Democratic Party, South Korea’s biggest political party, in January after approaching him asking for his autograph at an event in the southeastern city of Busan. After being detained by police, he told...

These countries have non-violent rivalries

World peace, we all want it, but you know how life goes... War has ravaged the world for thousands of years, but some countries have taught us that there's such thing as friendly competition. From America to Tanzania, countries that once spilled each other's blood on the battlefield have moved on, becoming friendly rivals. Click through this gallery to find out which countries have a little friendly competition.

Body of autistic girl, 7, is found in Tennessee lake

The body of a missing autistic girl has been found in a Tennessee lake just minutes after a statewide search was launched.

PNP bent on finding Pampanga couple

MABALACAT CITY — The Philippine National Police has identified a former police officer as among the seven persons of interest in the disappearance of a Pampanga beauty pageant contestant and her Israeli boyfriend in Central Luzon, according to the chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG). Geneva Lopez, 27, a former Mutya ng Pilipinas Pampanga candidate, and her Israeli boyfriend Yitshak Cohen, 37, have been reported missing...

Protective mesh removed from controversial statue

The Cecil Rhodes figure in Oxford was covered by black netting after protesters called for it to be removed.

Eastern Samar latest partner of INQskwela

The Philippine Daily Inquirer has found one more partner, the province of Eastern Samar, for its five-year-old educational and media literacy advocacy program INQskwela. A memorandum of agreement (MOA) was signed on July 2 between the Inquirer Foundation, the program’s chief implementer, and the Eastern Samar provincial government led by Gov. Ben Evardone. Under the partnership, 20 public senior high schools in the province will receive...

China is no threat to PH, says foreign ministry

MANILA, Philippines — "We do not pose a threat to any country." This was how the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to a pronouncement by Sen. Imee Marcos in a video on TikTok and Facebook that China had allegedly identified 25 targets around the Philippine archipelago and that it would attack them with hypersonic missiles. "I'm not sure what the Philippine side's source was, but I can tell you that China is committed to peaceful...

Alice Guo as state witness? No way, says Gatchalian

Suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo cannot be made a state witness in the ongoing probes into illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) in Pampanga and Tarlac, according to Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian. But he added that she could “reduce her culpability” by cooperating with separate special teams tasked to investigate her involvement as well as those of her family and friends. “She cannot [be made state witness] because she is not...

Philippines eyes key defense pact with Japan

MANILA, Philippines — The military chief of the Philippines expressed hope on Thursday that a key defense agreement with Japan, which would permit the deployment of troops on each other’s soil, will be signed during security discussions next week. Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara and Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa are set to meet their Philippine counterparts in Manila on Monday. The Philippines and Japan — longtime allies of the United...

Creation of Department of Peace pushed

Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. said that he would propose to Congress the creation of a Department of Peace in place of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (Opapru). Opapru, formerly known as the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, was renamed under then President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order No. 158 in December 2021. READ: Galvez bats for the creation of ‘Department...

Hong Kong court hears mitigation pleas from Joshua Wong, other democrats

By Jessie Pang HONG KONG (Reuters) - Prominent Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong should be considered an active participant in a landmark subversion case involving 47 democrats, his lawyer said on Friday, but urged a court to hand him a lighter sentence for entering his plea early. Wong, 27, who wore a gray sweater and navy blue shirt in court, was one of dozens of democratic activists arrested in

Almost 600 inmates released in June — BuCor

A total of 562 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) were released by the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) in June, the agency announced Friday. According to BuCor, this brings the total number of released PDLs to 14,657 from June 2022 to June 2024. Corrections Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. said that of the 562 PDLs, 321 served their maximum sentence, 121 were acquitted, 98 were paroled, 21 were granted probation, while one was granted...

SNP set for election humiliation leaving nationalists with SIX seats

John Swinney's scandal-ravaged nationalists could left with just six MPs, down from the high of 48 the party achieved in 2019.

'We did it!' Jubilant Keir says 'change begins now' at victory party

Keir Starmer boasted 'we did it' today after Rishi Sunak conceded he has lost the election - and said 'sorry' to vanquished Tories. Sir Keir trumpeted his victory at a rally in central London after the party formally crested the 325 seats needed.

Manila’s Legarda Flyover to be partially closed from July 6 to Nov. 6

MANILA, Philippines — The Legarda Flyover in Manila will be partially closed from July 6 to Nov. 6 for repairs, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) National Capital Region announced on Thursday. In a Facebook post, the DPWH said it would replace 19 units of damaged expansion joints in the flyover. READ: Woman caught illegally using Edsa busway tried to bribe traffic enforcer “The expansion joints of the westbound lane heading to...

Jubilant Labour secures historic Southport victory

Patrick Hurley will become the first ever Labour MP to represent Southport.

UK's Keir Starmer says people of Britain have voted for change

LONDON (Reuters) - Labour Party leader Keir Starmer said the country had voted for change and it was time for his party to deliver, speaking after winning his seat in parliament. "Tonight people here and around the country have spoken, and they're ready for change," Starmer said. "The change begins right here." Exit polls published earlier showed Labour winning the national election with a

George Galloway LOSES Rochdale seat just five months after winning it

The leader of the Workers Party of Britain received 11,508 votes, losing out to Labour's Paul Waugh who won with 13,047 votes.

PCG helps Chinese crew with cut thumb in Antique

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Friday said it has conducted a medical evacuation for a Chinese crew who cut his left thumb in the waters of Antique. In a statement, the PCG said the 35-year-old second engineer of Hong Kong-flagged bulk carrier MV BBG Qinzhou was accidentally cut by a fan blade which resulted in severe pain. From Nansha, China, MV BBG Qinzhou was heading to Tanjung Bara, Indonesia when the incident happened 20.69 nautical...

Education reform: Old as history

The continuing deterioration in Philippine Education is crystal clear from the Philippines’ dismal scores in the Programme for International Student Assessment. We ranked 78/78 in 2018. We improved a bit in 2022, ranking 77/81 besting Uzbekistan, Kosovo, the Dominican Republic, and Cambodia. I am surprised that there seems to be no visible urgency on this national crisis, we go on with our days afflicted by traffic, and social media feeds...

Gov’t rolls out ‘P29 per kilo’ rice program for low-income folk

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is rolling out on Friday a program that offers rice at only P29 per kilo in select Kadiwa stores in Metro Manila and neighboring Bulacan province. But the rice will be sold not to the general public but to “vulnerable” segments of the population: senior citizens, single parents, persons with disabilities, and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the government’s conditional cash...

Woman, 98, loses 'last chance' after postal ballot did not arrive

Flora Kelsey, 98, from Corstorphine in Edinburgh West, says she may have been robbed of her last ever chance to take part in an election after her postal vote did not arrive on time.

A study finds Indonesia's deforested land is often left idle. But some see potential in that

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Years after being felled, vast swathes of Indonesia's old-growth forests are left sitting idle. And when the land is finally put to use, it's most often for new palm oil plantations, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. But some experts — including the study's authors — are hoping for a silver lining: The opportunity for Indonesia to expand its agricultural, palm, pulp...

Sir Keir Starmer retains seat and is likely to become prime minister

Sir Keir Starmer has retained his seat and appears likely to become prime minister as exit polls suggest Labour has achieved a landslide victory in the General Election.

PNP warns public: Con artists pose as cops to solicit money

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police – Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) on Thursday warned the public against con artists posing as its personnel to solicit money in exchange for protection and facilitation services. According to IAS inspector Gen. Brigido Dulay, his office received reports about individuals “running a protection racket involving establishments suspected of illegal activities.” READ: Scammers out to steal...

Court clears IFI bishop, NDFP exec of grenade possession rap

OZAMIZ CITY — After more than seven years, the Regional Trial Court (RTC) here has acquitted the prelate of Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) and a consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) of illegal possession of explosives charge. In a 33-page ruling promulgated on July 2, RTC Branch 15 Presiding Judge Grace Yulo said the prosecution failed to prove the guilt beyond reasonable doubt of IFI Bishop Carlo Morales...

Heroes of World War II: Thrilling stories of courage and sacrifice that saved lives

As persecution of Jews in Europe mounted in the years prior to and during World War II, many people desperately sought visas and other ways to escape the Nazi regime. With that, heroes emerged to stand up to the terror. Many fought quietly, like a Swiss diplomat who took advantage of Nazi officers' respect for paperwork, or the Polish nurse who smuggled thousands of Jewish kids from Warsaw's ghetto. And some of these heroes would survive the war; others, however, weren't as fortunate. Click on to discover the brave individuals who saved thousands of Jews from the Nazis.

Man charged with sexual offences against two children

He is accused of sexual assault on two children under six.

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

China on Sen. Marcos’ missile attack claim: We do not pose threat

MANILA, Philippines — Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning on Thursday insisted that her country does not pose a threat to any nation following Sen. Imee Marcos’ claim that China is planning to use hypersonic missiles against the Philippines. “I’m not sure what the Philippine side’s source was, but I can tell you that China is committed to peaceful development and a national defense policy that is defensive in nature, and China does...