BUDAPEST, Hungary (AFP) — The Hungarian parliament Thursday elected Katalin Novak, a close ally of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, as the EU member’s first ever woman president. Novak, who most recently served as a minister for family policy, portrayed her election as a victory for women. She was elected to the mostly ceremonial role by 137 votes to 51 in the parliament dominated by Orban’s right-wing Fidesz party ahead of opposition challenger Peter Rona, […]
Other News
Russia’s Lavrov slams ‘dangerous’ arms deliveries to Ukraine
ANTALYA, Turkey (AFP) — Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday accused the European Union and other countries of “dangerously” backing the supply of arms to Ukraine, as it resists an incursion by thousands of Russian troops. “We see how dangerously our Western colleagues, including in the European Union, are acting now, which, in violation of all their so-called principles and values, encourage the supply of deadly weapons to Ukraine,” Lavrov said. “We believe […]
Russia, Ukraine fail to make progress at ‘difficult’ Turkey talks
by Fulya OZERKAN Agence France Presse ANTALYA, Turkey (AFP) — Russia and Ukraine on Thursday failed to find a breakthrough on a ceasefire and other humanitarian issues at the first high-level talks between the two sides since Moscow’s invasion. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba met on the sidelines of a diplomatic forum in the Turkish resort city of Antalya for three-way talks joined by Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. Kuleba […]
DOH urges Filipinos to complete Covid jabs, get booster shots during March 10-12 nat’l vaccination days
PHL targets to administer 1.8 million vaccine doses in 4th phase of nat’l vaccination (Eagle News) – Philippine health officials urged Filipinos who have not yet been vaccinated or who have not yet received their booster shots to go to the various vaccination sites to get their Covid-19 jabs, from March 10 to 12, the fourth phase of the country’s “National Vaccination” campaign. The Philippines is targeting to vaccinate 1.8 million more Filipinos for […]
What would be the impact of a US ‘digital dollar’?
by Juliette MICHEL Agence France Presse NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — US President Joe Biden has ordered the federal government to look into creating a digital dollar, a move with the potential to reshape how money is moved and used around the world. Before his order results in a virtual greenback, there will be numerous major impacts — and risks — to consider first. Here are some key questions: – What form would […]
Biden orders work to begin on future digital dollar
by Heather SCOTT and Aurelia END Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Joe Biden on Wednesday ordered government agencies to begin work on creating a digital US dollar, weighing the risks and benefits of a move that could be a game changer for the global financial system. Coming amid the explosive rise of private crypto currencies like bitcoin, the US effort will place “the highest urgency on research and development efforts […]
DOH eyes donating vaccines nearing their expiration dates to other countries with low vaccine supplies
(Eagle News) – The Department of Health is considering donating some of the Covid-19 vaccines that the Philippine government had received as it studied a decline in vaccination numbers. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that one option they are considering is donating vaccine doses that are nearing their expiration dates. “Yung hindi magagamit at malapit nang magexpire, ang desisyon dyan ay i-donate sa mga bansang mababa ang vaccine coverage,” he said in a […]
Petro Gazz implements huge price rollback for gas, diesel from March 10 to March 13
(Eagle News) – While gasoline stations implemented a huge price increase on its products on Tuesday, March 8, one gasoline retailer company did the opposite after two days – a price slash effective 6 a.m. today, March 10. Petro Gazz Philippines implemented a huge oil price rollback of P5.85 per liter for diesel, and P3.60 per liter for gasoline on Thursday, March 10, which would be effective until Sunday, March 13. The amount is […]
Hundreds flee their homes as Indonesian volcano erupts
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) – Indonesia’s Mount Merapi unleashed a torrent of hot clouds, turning the sky a fiery red, as molten lava flowed down its slopes on Thursday with the eruption forcing over 250 people to flee their homes, authorities said. The volcano — one of the most active in the world — erupted multiple times overnight, spewing gas, volcanic ash and rocks that flowed over five kilometres down its slopes, the head of Indonesia’s […]
29 more Filipinos evacuated from Ukraine arrive in PHL
(Eagle News) — Twenty-nine more Filipinos evacuated from Ukraine arrived in the Philippines on Thursday, March 10. According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, the 29 seafarers arrived from Bucharest in Romania. The department said the 29 seafarers consist of 20 crew members of MV Global Aglaia; two seafarers of MV Joseph Schulte; and seven seafarers from MV Star Helena. They exited Ukraine via Moldova with assistance from the Philippine Honorary Consulate in Chisinau and […]
Rio Tinto vows to sever all business ties with Russia
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) – Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto announced Thursday it would sever all business ties with Russia following the invasion of Ukraine. The company said in a statement that it “is in the process of terminating all commercial relationships it has with any Russian business”. No timeline has been announced for the severance, which may be a complex disentanglement given the miner’s ties with Russia. In Australia, Rio Tinto co-owns one of the world’s […]
Top Russia, Ukraine diplomats arrive in Turkey for talks
ANTALYA, Turkey (AFP) – The foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine have arrived in Turkey for face-to-face talks set for Thursday morning, officials said, in the first high-level contact between the two sides since Moscow invaded its ex-Soviet neighbour. Officials from Kyiv and Moscow have held several rounds of discussions in Belarus, but the meeting in the southern city of Antalya represents the first time Russia has sent a minister for talks on the crisis. […]





