KABUL, Afghanistan (AFP) — At least 40 people were killed or wounded Wednesday as a massive blast ripped through Kabul’s diplomatic quarter, shattering the morning rush hour and bringing carnage to the streets of the Afghan capital. Bodies littered the scene and a huge plume of smoke rose from the area which houses foreign embassies. However, it was not immediately clear what the target was. Witnesses described dozens of cars choking the roads as wounded survivors […]
Other News
Faceless fish among weird deep-sea Australian finds
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Faceless fish and other weird and wonderful creatures, many of them new species, have been hauled up from the deep waters off Australia during a scientific voyage studying parts of the ocean never explored before. The month-long journey off the country’s eastern seaboard has been surveying life lurking in a dark and cold abyss that plunges four kilometers (2.5 miles) below the surface, using nets, sonar and deep-sea cameras. Chief scientist […]
89 Islamist terrorists killed in Marawi City; 90 percent of city cleared of extremists by gov’t forces
91 firearms from Maute group recovered by gov’t forces (Eagle News) — At least 89 members of the Islamist terrorists, including the Maute group, had been killed and about 90 percent of Marawi City had been cleared of the extremists, according to government authorities in their latest report. In the MIndanao Hour briefing on Wednesday, May 31, presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said that the 89 Maute casualities were confirmed by eyewitness accounts and body count. […]
President Duterte OKs setting up of “peace corridor” to hasten humanitarian, rescue ops in Marawi; MILF to help secure the “safe space”
(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the creation of a “peace corridor” to hasten humanitarian and rescue operations for those trapped in Marawi, where government troops continue to fight terrorists. Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a Mindanao Hour briefing on Wednesday that the peace corridor was a “secure space” that would allow goods to reach Marawi residents, and allow safe passage of retrieved bodies, among others. He said the Moro Islamic Liberation […]
NBA: Durant gets chance to follow Lebron’s path to title
by Jim Slater Agence France Presse OAKLAND, United States (AFP) — Kevin Durant’s first trip to the NBA Finals ended with him watching LeBron James celebrate his first title as Miami downed Oklahoma City for the 2012 crown. Now five years later and with two different clubs, both superstars are back in the finals, Durant still seeking his first title and James again blocking the path. Durant and the Golden State Warriors will be favored […]
NBA: Cavs repeat, Warriors dynasty at stake in Finals showdown
by Jim Slater Agence France Presse OAKLAND, United States (AFP) — LeBron James has the Cleveland Cavaliers poised for a championship repeat in his seventh consecutive NBA Finals while Kevin Durant has sparked a historic Golden State playoff run in search of his first title. The epic squads collide in an unprecedented third consecutive NBA Finals starting Thursday at Oakland, with the host Warriors an oddsmakers favorite in the hotly anticipated best-of-seven showdown against a […]
PAGASA confirms onset of rainy season
(Eagle News) — The country’s weather bureau has confirmed the onset of the rainy season after recording the “occurrence of widespread rainfall” in most of its stations in the last five days. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that there had been “intermittent to continuous rains and thunderstorms” that it had monitored in the past few days. “The occurrence of widespread rainfall recorded in most PAGASA stations monitored in the last […]
50,000 displaced in deadly Brazil floods: authorities
SAO, PAULO, Brazil (AFP) — Floods and landslides in northeastern Brazil have killed six people and driven 50,000 people from their homes, authorities said Tuesday. Heavy rain swelled rivers, causing mud slides, felling trees and harming water supplies, they said. The number forced to flee in Pernambuco and Alagoas states rose from an earlier estimate of 30,000, the regional governments said. Both states declared emergencies after the flooding, which left two dead in Pernambuco and […]
Several congressmen urge support for President Duterte, as House holds session on martial law declaration in Mindanao
(Eagle News) — Several congressmen took up the cudgels for President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, as the Lower House held a session that is expected to determine the fate of his martial law proclamation in Mindanao. House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas said Duterte was “correct” in saying he would listen to the military and the police in connection with the declaration of martial law in Mindanao. According to Fariñas, it was “not the duty” of the […]
Voting 12-9, senators junk resolution for joint session on martial law
(Eagle News) — Voting 12-9, the Senate on Tuesday night junked the resolution of the minority bloc requesting a joint session to review and revoke the martial declaration in Mindanao. The 12 senators who voted to junk the minority bloc’s resolution are the following: 1. Sonny Angara 2. Nancy Binay 3. JV Ejercito 4. Richard Gordon 5. Gringo Honasan 6. Panfilo Lacson 7. Loren Legarda 8. Manny Pacquiao 9. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III 10. Cynthia […]
Trump and Merkel ‘get along very well’: White House
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The White House poured cold water on suggestions of a transatlantic rift Tuesday, saying United States President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel “get along very well.” After Merkel seemed to question the durability of the US-European Union alliance under Trump, urging Europeans to “take our destiny in our own hands,” White House spokesperson Sean Spicer tried to scotch talk of any problems. Spicer said that during a recent […]
Olivia Newton-John reveals new cancer 25 years later
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Singing great Olivia Newton-John revealed Tuesday a return of breast cancer, 25 years after her first successful battle made her an advocate for fighting the disease. The British-born star said she was obliged to postpone a tour of the United States and Canada following her new diagnosis. The 68-year-old said she will undergo a short course of radiation, as well as natural therapies, upon the advice of specialists at […]





