Dire warning an unstoppable contagion is about to take off

Health authorities have warned an unstoppable contagion could spread in one Aussie state in a matter of days, and revealed how residents can remain safe.

Royal Navy crew return home after six months fighting Houthi rebels

HMS Diamond docked at Portsmouth on Saturday after helping to protect shipping lanes in the Gulf of Aden and shooting down the most enemy missiles in one day on record.

Several injured after fireworks land in crowd at Utah stadium

At least six people were injured after some misdirected fireworks landed in the crowd during a Fourth of July celebration at the LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah, according to local reports.

Indonesian firms check out Philippine minerals sector

Mining firms based in Indonesia are keen to look at possible opportunities in the Philippine minerals, particularly the nickel reserves, as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) made a pitch in Jakarta. According to the DTI, its Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in the Indonesian capital touched base with industry players at the Indonesia Nickel and Cobalt and Electric Vehicle Conference held June 11 to 13. READ: US, Indonesia...

Who are the MPs representing Bedfordshire?

Six MPs will represent the county's electorate in the House of Commons.

PNP begins distribution of performance-based bonus for 2022

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) said that it will begin the distribution of its performance-based bonus for fiscal year 2022 on Saturday. According to the PNP, the bonus will be given to around 214,320 police personnel. READ: PNP warns public: Con artists pose as cops to solicit money The PNP said that the bonus that the personnel will receive is equal to 52 percent of their monthly salary as of December 31, 2022....

Biggest-ever gap between number of votes and MPs hits Reform and Greens

Labour's win is the most disproportionate on record, BBC Verify finds, as parties call for change.

P5.13 million shabu seized in Bacolod

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Shabu with an estimated street value of P5.13 million was seized during a sting that also resulted in the arrest of two suspects in Bacolod Ciy, Negros Occidental on Wednesday. George Jayme, 49, and Dharryl Escanuela, 49, were collared after they reportedly sold shabu to an undercover agent in Barangay Singcang Airport, according to Maj. Eugene Tolentino, chief of the Bacolod police Station 8. The suspects, who...

Hungary's Orban talks Ukraine peace with Putin, drawing EU censure

By Vladimir Soldatkin and Anita Komuves MOSCOW/BUDAPEST (Reuters) -Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban met Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday to discuss peace in Ukraine, drawing censure from other European Union leaders who warned against appeasing Moscow and insisted he did not speak for the EU. Hungary assumed the six-month rotating presidency of the bloc on Monday. Five days in and

Family of student found burned in La Union cry for justice

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has obtained CCTV footage which may help in the investigation of the death of a 21-year-old Baguio City student whose body was found burned in Bacnotan, La Union. According to the report on "24 Oras" by Jasmin Gabriel Galban of GMA Regional TV One North Central Luzon, the parents of victim Mark Dave Valdez are seeking justice over the death of their only child, whom they described as a jolly person. “Hindi ko...

Moderate Pezeshkian wins Iran presidential election, urges people to stick with him

By Parisa Hafezi DUBAI (Reuters) - Relative moderate Masoud Pezeshkian urged people on Saturday to stick with him on "the difficult road ahead" after beating a hardline rival to win Iran's presidential election. Friday's run-off vote was between Pezeshkian, the sole moderate in the original field of four candidates, and hardline former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili. Pezeshkian, a 69-year-old

Artist hopes hospital post box draws 'a smile'

Lesley Sleight's design Sea to Summit – Colours of Mann features on the box at Noble's Hospital.

Hundreds protest against fuel price hikes in Ecuador

Quito, Ecuador — Hundreds of workers, teachers and students protested in Ecuador’s capital on Thursday against fuel price rises ordered by President Daniel Noboa in a bid to save government money spent on subsidies. Chanting “Out, Noboa, out!” and holding signs reading “Gasoline goes up, everything goes up,” the demonstrators marched to the presidential headquarters in Quito, which was guarded by police and military personnel. In June, Ecuador’s...

Men charged after woman's body was found in bungalow

A woman's body was found in a property on Radiant Road, Thurncourt, on Thursday morning, according to Leicestershire Police.

The Pacific airfield being repurposed to counter China

Recent press reports suggest that a tiny island in the Pacific Ocean is set to become a new forward front in the event of hostilities between the United States and China. This has evoked wartime memories of when the island in question, Tinian, served as a US military base in the fight against the Japanese. During WWII, American-operated runways on Tinian served as launch pads for numerous bombing raids, including the fateful attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Abandoned for nearly 80 years, these airfields now look set to be recommissioned as Washington voices concern over Beijing's increasing missile threat. But where exactly is Tinian located, and what's the story behind this remote, jungle-clad enclave? Click through and step back in time to find out.

New MP says RAF Scampton is foremost on his agenda

Hamish Falconer plans to raise the issue of asylum seekers being housed at the RAF base.

Sir Keir Starmer's first Cabinet: Who has been appointed?

A look at who takes their place in Cabinet as Sir Keir Starmer organises his top team after becoming Prime Minister.

Starmer: Rwanda deportation scheme is 'dead and buried'

The troubled Rwanda deportation policy introduced by the former Conservative government is "dead and buried", Sir Keir Starmer has said. The Prime Minister said he was "not prepared to continue with gimmicks" as he confirmed the multimillion-pound scheme to send some asylum seekers to Kigali is to be scrapped. Before the general election, Labour had vowed to stop the plan "on day one" if it entered government.

How BTS' Jin completed his military service

Marcos admin wants rice self-sufficiency by end of term -Speaker Romualdez

Several months after the Department of Agriculture (DA) said it was aiming to achieve 90% rice self-sufficiency, House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez noted on Sunday that the Marcos administration was targeting to reach rice self-sufficiency by the end of its term in 2028. In a statement, Romualdez — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.'s cousin — said the DA and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) were working to...

'We'll put pressure on councils over SEND'

The politicians say they will look to improve special educational needs provision in the county.

Labor groups eye rights dialogue with ECOP, DoLE

LABOR groups on Saturday said they were ready to discuss with the Employers' Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) ways to remove the Philippines from the list of top 10 violators of workers' rights in the world. The Federation of Free Workers (FFW) and allies from the Nagkaisa Labor Coalition made their offer to discuss with the ECOP and DoLE after congratulating the workers and management of...

Over P1M shabu seized from 2 drug suspects in Pampanga

MABALACAT CITY, PAMPANGA — Policemen arrested two suspected drug traders who allegedly yielded some P1,088,000 worth of shabu (crystal meth) in a buy-bust operation in the City of San Fernando on Wednesday night, July 3. In a statement on Thursday afternoon, July 4, Central Luzon police director Jose Hidalgo Jr. identified the suspects only as alias “Tastas,” 32, and alias “Ris ” 33. He said the San Fernando special drug enforcement unit...

PNP: No security threats but traffic plan adjusted to SONA

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) said that it had not detected any threat to security as far as the State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is concerned. The President is set to deliver his third SONA on July 22. PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, who was the special guest at the 2nd PNP Press Corps Invitational Shootfest in Camp Karingal, Quezon City, said that while there was no threat,...

Robert Hur called Biden an 'elderly man with a poor memory.' It's time for Biden to release the recording of his interview.

Robert Hur description of Joe Biden as a "well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory" has new resonance after last week's disastrous debate.

Who could replace Rishi Sunak as party leader?

The Conservatives will need to choose a new leader when the former PM stands down.

Tories failed to move enough to the right, says ex-MP

A former Tory MP who lost his seat on Thursday says the Conservative Party failed to move enough to the right.

Lawmakers push for sports economy in PH

TWO self-confessed "sports advocate" lawmakers have urged the government to focus on making the Philippines a "powerhouse" for sports by placing it under the economic sector. In their statements, Ang Probinsyano Party-list Rep. Alfred de los Santos and Manila Rep. Joel Chua floated the idea after Gilas Pilipinas aims to shoot for an Olympic berth as it fights Brazil in the knockout semifinals of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. De los...

Arrests after reports of human trafficking

The arrests come after warrants were conducted at a number of addresses in Dorset, police say.

Radyo 630 Anchors bring joy to the public in ‘Nagkakaisa Sa Pagseserbisyo’ anniversary event

The anchors of Radyo 630 and Teleradyo Serbisyo gathered together to celebrate their first year on the airwaves by giving back to the outpouring support of their audiences with free service initiatives in the “Puntahan ng Bayan: Nagkakaisa sa Pagseserbisyo” anniversary event, which happened at Market! Market! Activity Center. Attendees got to bond with Radyo

India stampede: main organiser of religious event surrenders to police

NEW DELHI (Reuters) -The chief organiser of an Indian preacher's event where a stampede killed 121 people this week surrendered to police on Friday, a lawyer for the preacher said, after police had launched a manhunt. Devprakash Madhukar was named a key suspect in an initial report registered by police under charges including attempted culpable homicide. Police had announced a reward of 100,000

Police launch search for new chief constable

The new leader will command a salary of about £171,000, after Paul Anderson retired from the role.

NFA is exempt from real property tax — SC

The Supreme Court (SC) has ruled that the properties of the National Food Authority (NFA) are exempt from real property tax. In a 40-page decision promulgated in May, the SC En Banc granted a petition and declared void the notices of delinquency issued by the Tagum City Treasurer against the NFA amounting to P2.6 million in real property taxes. “The NFA is a government instrumentality exempt from real property taxes in accordance with Section...

Rishi Sunak's resignation statement in full as he apologises to UK and leaves Downing Street

Rishi Sunak has given his resignation speech outside No.10 Downing Street as he apologised to Tories who lost their seats and welcomed new Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer

Slovak PM Fico makes first public appearance since assassination attempt

(Reuters) -Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico appeared in public on Friday for the first time since a May assassination attempt. Fico, who is recovering after being shot four times at close range in mid-May, spoke at a podium at an evening ceremony marking Saints Cyril and Methodius Day, a public holiday in Slovakia. Fico, a four-time leftist prime minister who returned to power after winning an

Ukraine receives third Patriot air defence system from Germany, envoy says

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine has taken receipt of its third German-supplied Patriot air defence system, Berlin's ambassador to Kyiv said on Friday following months of Ukrainian pleas for equipment to protect its civilians and infrastructure from Russian air strikes. Moscow renewed its aerial assaults on Ukraine's national power grid in the spring, causing sweeping blackouts. President Volodymyr

Nueva Vizcaya to provide P50k to couples married for 50 years

The local government of Nueva Vizcaya will be providing P50,000 as incentive for couples married for 50 years or more. According to their Ordinance 2024-248 or the “Nueva Vizcaya Enduring Devotion Award Ordinance,” couples who have reached their 50th wedding anniversary will be receiving P50,000 cash, in addition to a plaque of recognition and letter of felicitation from the Governor. Nueva Vizcaya Board Member Patricio Dumlao posted a copy of...

Kanlaon posts 13 volcanic earthquakes in past 24 hours – Phivolcs

MANILA, Philippines — Mt. Kanlaon had 13 volcanic earthquakes during the last 24-hour monitoring of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the state seismologist reported Saturday, July 6. Phivolcs also said the volcano discharged 2,578 tons (2,338 metric tons) of sulfur dioxide on Friday, as it detected “moderate emission” of a 200-meter plume that drifted in a southwest and north direction. READ: Phivolcs records...

Cone rues Sotto's absence: 'Losing Kai was big for us'

MANILA, Philippines — With the Philippines' dream of punching a ticket to Paris Olympics coming to an end, Tim Cone rued the fact that Gilas Pilipinas didn't have young big man Kai Sotto to patrol the shaded lane. "We don't want to make excuses but losing Kai was big for us because it took away our depth at frontline and forced June Mar Fajardo to have to overplay the minutes, and that kind of mushroomed right there. But bottom line is we...

PH congratulates new UK gov’t

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday congratulated new UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Labour Party for their landslide victory in the parliamentary election on July 5. READ: UK’s Labour on course for landslide election win – exit polls “We wish the new government success and look forward to further strengthening our deep and longstanding ties,” the President posted on X. The President made the remarks after...

‘Guo as state witness? Only if she tags someone higher’

MANILA, Philippines — Suspended Mayor Alice Guo of Bamban, Tarlac might be considered a state witness if she would spill the beans on those higher than her in the heirarchy of the illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in her hometown. Winston John Casio, spokesman for the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), made the statement yesterday as he stressed that any state witness should be the least guilty in the...

Renowned oceanographer visits PH to advocate Verde Island Passage protection

MANILA, Philippines — Renowned oceanographer and conservationist Dr. Sylvia Earle visited the Philippines last month to advocate the protection of the Verde Island Passage (VIP)—the world’s “center of the center” of marine shore fish biodiversity. In a statement on Saturday, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said that Earle personally dived into the VIP alongside other marine experts to observe the condition of the...

Ukraine confirms ‘retreat’ from district in strategic town

KYIV — Ukraine said Thursday its forces had withdrawn from a district in the key eastern town of Chasiv Yar, where Russian forces have recently claimed several advances. The fall of the small hilltop town is a worrying prospect for Ukraine because it would likely accelerate Russian advances towards large civilian hubs in the wider eastern Donetsk region. “It became impractical to hold the Kanal district, which the enemy had entered, because it...

Pictured: Woman who fell to her death from a cable car in Italian alps

Teacher Margherita Lega had been hiking with her husband Rocco Meloni, and their two young children during a holiday when the freak tragedy happened.

Marcos revokes policy granting CES rank to NDCP grads

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has revoked the policy granting career executive service (CES) rank to graduates of the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP), months after it was suspended to determine if its goals are in line with existing rules. The policy conferring CES eligibility and rank to graduates of the NDCP’s Master in National Security Administration (MNSA) program was scrapped through Executive Order (EO) 63,...

2 killed and 3 injured in July Fourth attack in California beach city

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Two people were killed and three others injured in an attack during a neighborhood Fourth of July gathering in a Southern California beach city, police said Friday. The county coroner removed two bodies Friday morning from the crime scene, which encompassed a grassy median in a residential neighborhood lined with palm trees. The violence was just a few blocks from the beach in a community known as “Surf City USA."...

Iloilo City mayor faces rap over market demolition

ILOILO CITY — A complaint related to the demolition of the historic Iloilo City public market, popularly known as Central Market, and its art deco facade was filed against Mayor Jerry Treñas on Thursday. Jose Nereo Lujan, chief information officer of the Iloilo provincial government, through a complaint, asked the Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas to hold Treñas liable for grave misconduct, grave abuse of authority, conduct unbecoming and...

She accused Assange of sexual assault, but is glad he’s now free

Anna Ardin accused Julian Assange of sexual assault - but is pleased he has been freed from jail.

Vatican expels ex-ambassador to US, declares him guilty of schism

ROME — The Vatican on Friday excommunicated its former ambassador to Washington after finding him guilty of schism, an inevitable outcome for Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano. The conservative had become one of Pope Francis ‘ most ardent critics and a symbol of the polarized Catholic Church in the United States and beyond. While once enjoying support in the Vatican and United States church hierarchies, the Italian archbishop alienated many as he...

Marcos open to EO on digital nomad visas

President Marcos has ordered a study on granting digital nomad visas to qualified foreigners to stay longer in the Philippines under certain conditions. In a meeting with the Private Sector Advisory Council’s (PSAC) tourism sector group on Wednesday, the President agreed with the PSAC’s suggestion to increase tourism receipts from visitors through digital nomad visas. A digital nomad visa will allow a foreigner employed in another country to...