Solons to Pagcor: Identify ex-Cabinet official who lobbied for Pogo

MANILA, Philippines — Two lawmakers have asked the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) to identify identity of the former Cabinet official who supposedly lobbied for the Philippine offshore gaming operations (Pogos) raided recently. ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro on Tuesday said that Pagcor chief Alejandro Tengco should expose who among the past administration’s officials pushed for Pogos because the games have had...

Patients, medics flee south Gaza hospital after evacuation orders, WHO says

GENEVA (Reuters) - Gaza's European Hospital in Khan Younis is virtually empty with staff and patients fleeing the facility after the Israeli army ordered residents in the surrounding areas to evacuate, a World Health Official spokesperson said on Tuesday. "The hospital staff and the patients decided to already evacuate themselves," said Rik Peeperkorn, WHO Representative for the occupied

PH Navy on report of China carrier, monster ship in WPS: 'We are aware of them'

Amid the reported presence of a Chinese aircraft carrier and the "monster" ship of the China Coast Guard in the West Philippine Sea, the Philippine Navy on Tuesday said they were monitoring the country's maritime domain and were aware of the ships. “They are authorized under UNCLOS either through freedom of navigation or right of innocent passage. Rest assured the Philippine Navy and the Armed Forces will continue monitoring the vast expanse of...

Prison shower changes ordered after woman's death

Yasmin Adams was confined to her cell and appeared "unsettled" prior to her death.

Fears of French civil war after Marine Le Pen's victory

France was gripped by political turmoil yesterday after Marine Le Pen's hard-Right party won the first round of a snap election.

2025: A grand coalition vs Dutertes?

Perched on the edges of Manila, where the pearl of the orient meets the South China Sea, lies the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) headquarters. Located not far away from the statue of our most celebrated hero, Jose Rizal, is the BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV-9702). Named after one of the heroines of the Philippine Revolution, she is a sight to behold. Drenched in silk white, and donning the royal blue and crimson red colors of our national flag, she is...

Hontiveros: I’m not yet considering running for president in 2028

MANILA, Philippines— Running for president in 2028 is not yet part of her plan, according to Senator Risa Hontiveros. What she is certain for now is that the opposition would field its own senatorial bets in the 2025 midterm elections and probably a full slate in 2028. Hontiveros made this declaration on Tuesday when categorically asked over ANC’s “Headtstart” if she is considering running for president in 2028. “I am not considering running yet...

Zubiri rules out irregularity in new Senate building

BALER, AURORA, Philippines — Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri reiterated on Monday that all government procurement rules were followed in the construction of the new Senate building in Taguig City as he welcomed the review that his successor, Senate President Francis Escudero, had ordered. “Everything [regarding this project] is above board,” Zubiri told reporters after leading the 22nd Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day celebration here. “Members of the...

Kazakh dissident dies following Kyiv assassination attempt

Wife of journalist Aydos Sadykov blames Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for attack last month.

UN seeks help for Sudan refugees fleeing to Libya, Uganda

GENEVA (Reuters) -The U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Tuesday it is expanding its Sudan aid plan to two new countries, Libya and Uganda, as arrivals surge. Sudan is already the world's worst displacement crisis with some 12 million forced to flee by the civil war and over 2 million being displaced across borders. The latest expansion of the U.N. response plan brings to seven the total number

What's behind the dispute between Benin and Niger?

Benin and Niger are locked in a growing diplomatic row that has damaged their economies and seen Niger's military rulers switch off a key oil pipeline. Niger's military rulers, though, have refused to reopen their side.

British dad found dead in police station in Caribbean after being kicked out of hotel

Craig Reed, 40, struggled with mental health issues and alcoholism before he was found dead in a police station. But questions are still being raised around the circumstances of his death

PCG spox Balilo maintains China Coast Guard offered to help injured Filipino fishers

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo on Tuesday said China Coast Guard (CCG) via radio offered help for injured Filipino fishermen whose boat exploded in Bajo de Masinloc. Balilo made the statement when asked about conflicting details from PCG spokesperson for West Philippine Sea (WPS) Commodore Jay Tarriela regarding China’s action. “Dito lang ako nag-rely sa report ng Captain ng BRP Sindangan. Help was offered...

5 pass chemical engineers special professional licensure exam

Five test takers passed the chemical engineers special professional licensure examination given in June, the Professional Regulation Commission said. In a statement, the PRC said five out of 19 passed the exam given by the Board of Chemical Engineering in test centers in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Doha, Qatar. They are: 1 LOBIDO, SHAIRA DABLO 2 MONTENEGRO, BRYANT JOSH BASA 3 TORRES, MARK CEAZAR DE RUEDA 4 VALENCIA, RICHIE...

Man charged with causing death by dangerous driving

A Wigton man in his 70s died at the scene of the crash on the A595 at Bothel.

Duterte’s Senate bid poses threat to Marcos, analysts say

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s dominant Marcos and Duterte dynasties, uneasy allies for two years, are gearing up for an election showdown that could upset policy stability in the coming years. Vice President Sara Duterte’s resignation as education secretary on June 19 was followed a week later by her bombshell announcement that her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, and brothers Paolo, a lawmaker, and Sebastian, the incumbent Davao...

Police nab rape suspect at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines — A rape suspect attempting to leave the country was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). The 32-year-old male suspect, whose identity was withheld, was about to take his flight bound for Osaka during the arrest at Terminal 3 on Monday. A July 1 report from the Philippine National Police-Aviation Security Group (Avsegroup) indicated that the suspect was stopped at the Bureau of Immigration (BI) due to an...

Angara ‘open’ to lead DepEd if post offered to him

BALER, AURORA, Philippines — Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara on Monday said he would likely accept the education portfolio should President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. offer it to him as he thanked his fellow senators for endorsing him as the next education secretary. “I’m open [to accepting the appointment] if given the trust [by the President],” Angara told reporters at the sidelines of the 22nd Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day here. “It may be impossible...

Boys, 15 and 16, injured in Notting Hill shooting

The teenagers were taken to hospital but their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

Wife of Pakistan ex-PM Imran Khan gets bail in graft case, ARY News reports

KARACHI (Reuters) - A special accountability court in the city of Rawalpindi granted interim bail to the wife of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in a graft case on Tuesday, local media outlet ARY news reported. Bushra Bibi was accused alongside Khan in the case, which related to the alleged receiving of financial help from a land developer in the setting-up of Al Qadir University. Both have

Brawner: Only 7 guerrilla fronts remaining

The number of guerrilla fronts in the country has decreased to seven, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. said on Tuesday. In an interview on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon’s pres-SONA special, Brawner said there were 11 guerrilla fronts during the start of the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in 2022. “Out of the 11 guerrilla fronts na kinukompronta pa natin since the start of the presidency...

Pope Francis sent greetings to Marcos, Philippines—Vatican secretary

Pope Francis sent President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and the Filipino people his greetings, the Vatican's foreign minister Archbishop Paul Gallagher said when he paid a courtesy call on the Chief Executive in Malacañang on Tuesday. Gallagher said the Pope, who visited the country in 2015, appreciated the Filipinos for their amazing work and contribution to the Catholic Church not only in the Philippines, but around the world “bringing...

Senator to Pagcor chief: Spare us the suspense

BALER, AURORA, Philippines — The state-owned Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) may just be trying to deflect the heat after it belatedly claimed that a former Cabinet official had acted as a conduit of some Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) involved in criminal activities, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said on Monday. Nonetheless, Gatchalian said he had initiated his own investigation to check the allegations of Pagcor chair...

Group wants probe on Mandanas over profiteering claims

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) called for an investigation into Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas for "profiteering" on liquefied natural gas (LNG) development in the province. "We are calling for an in-depth investigation by the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) to confirm Gov. Mandanas's involvement in the LNG business," the group said in a statement on Tuesday. PMCJ's call for an investigation came...

North Korea claims ballistic missile test with ‘superlarge warhead’

South Korean military says Pyongyang’s claim of successful launch ‘likely to be false’.

Boy, 13, arrested after teen stabbed in city centre

The teen has been arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm after the incident in Bristol.

You won't believe these bizarre prison rules and regulations

Serving time can be a very different experience depending on where you are in the world and which prison you end up in. Of course, being incarcerated is by no means a pleasant experience. Some institutions can make it a little bit more bearable for inmates, while others can make the experience not only unpleasant but dangerous. In this gallery, we explore some of the most bizarre prison rules and regulations from around the world, both past and present. Click on and prepare to be surprised.

First year University of Oxford student dies 'celebrating exams'

The first year student, 19, who has not yet been named, is believed to have drowned at Port Meadow on Friday.

Vatican calls for peaceful resolution of West Philippine Sea conflict

A visiting Vatican official in the Philippines on Tuesday urged parties in the West Philippine Sea conflict to "resolve any differences peacefully" and "abide by international law." "In such circumstances, such situations of conflict, whatever they are, the first and foremost effort must be to resolve any differences and conflicts peacefully," said Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, the Secretary for Relations with States of the Holy See. "We would...

Murder probe after man found with stab wounds

Greater Manchester Police has urged anyone with information about the man's death to get in touch.

Putin revealed his navy’s weaknesses while speaking at a shipbuilding meeting

Marcos declares July 2 a holiday in Pasig

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared July 2 a holiday in Pasig City. In Proclamation 612, he declared Tuesday a special nonworking day in the city to allow its residents to mark Pasig’s 451st founding anniversary or “Araw ng Pasig.” Earlier, he also declared July 1 a nonworking holiday in San Carlos City in Negros Occidental in Proclamation 611 to mark the celebration of its charter anniversary. READ: Palace declares...

NSC: Released 85-year-old PDL not a political prisoner

The National Security Council (NSC) on Tuesday said the 85-year-old Gerardo dela Peña, who was released from the New Bilibid Prison over the weekend, was not a political prisoner. According to the NSC, Dela Peña was not convicted because of his political beliefs, nor was he detained in a discriminatory manner. “We wish Mr. Dela Peña well but we also want to set the record straight,” said the NSC. GMA News Online sought comment from the political...

Kenya police use tear gas to disperse crowds after call for more demonstrations

By Aaron Ross and Jefferson Kahinju NAIROBI (Reuters) -Riot police used tear gas to disperse protesters in Kenya's capital Nairobi on Tuesday and demonstrations took place in other towns, after young activists called for more protests following a week of clashes in which dozens died. Reuters journalists saw clouds of tear gas on a main road through central Nairobi before midday, where riot

Photo shows signboard of Porac LGU near raided Pogo hub

ANGELES CITY, PAMPANGA, Philippines — Amid repeated claims by local officials that they were being denied entry into the recently raided compound of Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) Lucky South 99, the municipal government of Porac, Pampanga, had apparently maintained an extension office less than a kilometer away from the company’s 10-hectare hub. This was based on a photograph seen by the Inquirer and later supported by on-site...

3 Chinese men nabbed in Angeles City yield P3.4M shabu

ANGELES CITY — Three Chinese men arrested Monday by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) yielded some P3,400,00 worth of shabu (crystal meth) in a sting operation in Balibago village in this city. The PDEA Region 3 report on Tuesday, July 2, said the buy-bust occurred at 10:50 p.m. at the Shanghai Building along MacArthur Highway, PDEA identified the arrested as Bin Da, 23; Hei Xiao; and Gua Xiao, 20. READ: 3 Chinese yield shabu ‘worth’...

Green activists jailed for insulting Cambodian king

The court's decision is yet another blow to civil liberties in Cambodia, rights activists say.

Ravaged by civil war, how a national park was restored in Mozambique

Gorongosa National Park was decimated after the war that ended in 1992. But it is a successful conservation story today.

Measures for education recovery sought ahead of Angara’s DepEd leadership

The newly appointed head of the Department of Education (DepEd) will face a host of challenges. This was mentioned by the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines, a non-traditional teachers’ organization in the country focused on advocating for the welfare of education workers and students. They expressed hopes that the education crisis would be properly addressed with the […]

Sonny Angara named as new DepEd chief —Palace

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has picked Senator Sonny Angara as the new secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd). In a Facebook post on Tuesday, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said Marcos is "set to appoint" Angara to the post, replacing Vice President Sara Duterte who resigned from DepEd on June 19, 2024. "Senator Angara has an extensive legislative history, having championed significant educational reforms...

Ukrainian air base under fire as Russia aims at F-16 arrivals

By Dan Peleschuk STAROKOSTIANTYNIV, Ukraine (Reuters) - Explosions reverberated across the pre-dawn sky as Ukrainian air defences fended off a Russian attack on this small city in western Ukraine, home to an important air base and a frequent target of Moscow's strikes. Hours after the assault, the tidy streets of Starokostiantyniv had returned to a semblance of normality. But the June 27 attack

Student feared sex attack from balaclava-clad man

Steve Donaghey is jailed for five years for a "terrifying" and "cowardly" attempted robbery.

First border examination facilities for imported agri products seen operation early 2025 —DA

The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday said it targets to start the operations of first border control facilities for imported animal and plant products by early 2025 in a bid to prevent the entry of plant animal diseases in the country. In a statement, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the first of five CEFAs or Cold Examination Facility for Agriculture “will start operations by early next year.” A CEFA is a...

China builds new presidential palace in Pacific’s Vanuatu

SYDNEY — The government of cash-strapped Vanuatu will soon settle into a suite of new buildings funded by China, a move likely to reignite concerns about Beijing’s reach in the South Pacific nation. At an official handover ceremony conducted in front of a towering China Aid billboard, Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai announced the opening of the nation’s sweeping new presidential palace. The project also included the construction of a new...

3 yachts linked to P9.68-B Batangas drug bust seized

The Bureau of Customs on Tuesday said it seized three private yachts, one of which was allegedly used to transport 1.4 tons of illegal drugs to Nasugbu, Batangas. According to a statement, the BOC, Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) conducted a parallel investigation that led to the discovery of three undocumented yachts docked in Nasugbu, all under the ownership of one individual. The BOC said at...

AFP needs to modernize radar and surveillance systems first, Brawner says

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) should update first its radar systems and surveillance systems under the Horizon 3 phase of the modernization program, AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. said Tuesday. “Dito naman sa Horizon 3, ngayon po dahil doon sa...Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept, kailangan talaga na i-project natin iyong defenses natin,” he said in an interview on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon’s pre-SONA special. (Under...

Australia police arrest teenage boy after stabbing at Sydney university

SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australian police said it had arrested a 14-year-old boy after a stabbing at the University of Sydney on Tuesday morning, which triggered a lockdown of the university buildings. Emergency crews treated a 22-year-old man, who was taken to a hospital in a serious but stable condition, New South Wales state police said in a statement. New South Wales Police Assistant Commissioner

Bondi Junction: Police operation underway - what you need to know

The man was seen sitting on of top of a crane in Bondi Junction on Tuesday morning, wearing a dark hoodie and dark pants.

SAS war crimes inquiry obtains deleted computer files

The inquiry into alleged SAS war crimes in Afghanistan has obtained a cache of data that could hold crucial evidence.

Countries that still have the death penalty

The death penalty, or capital punishment, is the state-enacted execution of a person as punishment for a capital crime. Historically, this form of punishment was used in almost every part of the world. But as we evolve in our ethics and recognize the flaws in our justice systems, more and more nations have abolished state executions and reformed their legal systems. However, out of almost 200 countries on Earth, 54 still enforce the death penalty. Click on to discover the countries where the state can still kill you for your crimes.