The U.N. said on Wednesday (May 4) it welcomed a statement released by the United States that it had agreed with Russia to extend a cessation of hostilities to include Aleppo, where intense day-long violence between Syrian rebels and government forces killed dozens of people. At a special Security Council session convened to discuss the situation in Aleppo, U.N. political chief Jeffrey Feltman urged “parties to abide by this immediately and comprehensively”. Feltman said reports […]
Other News
DepEd’s feeding program needs proper documentation—PIDS study
QUEZON CITY, May 5 – Inaccuracies in recorded nutrition status such as age, height, and weight measurements of children in public schools are among the major constraints that state think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) encountered in assessing the effectiveness of the Department of Education’s (DepED) School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP). In her presentation at a seminar organized by PIDS and the Cordillera Studies Center of the University of the Philippines (UP) Baguio, PIDS […]
Tennis: Refreshed Djokovic makes winning return to Madrid
by Scott WILLIAMS MADRID , Spain (AFP) — Novak Djokovic stepped up his preparations for the French Open as the top seed beat teenager Borna Coric 6-2, 6-4 in his opening match at the Madrid Masters on Wednesday. The world number one, who lifted the trophy in the Spanish capital five years ago, has not played in Madrid since 2013 when he lost his opening match to Grigor Dimitrov. The Serb’s success over Croatian youngster […]
US Embassy closed on May 9
MANILA, May 5 — The Embassy of the United States in Manila and its affiliated offices will be closed to the public on Monday, May 9, in observance of Philippine National Elections. The Embassy and its affiliated offices will resume their services on Tuesday, May 10. (US Embassy)
Preview of Philippines’ presidential candidates ahead of election
Five Filipino candidates are vying to be president as the Philippines gets ready to hold its national elections on May 9. Aquino’s successor and former interior minister Manuel Roxas, Vice president and opposition leader Jejomar Binay, Senator Grace Poe, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Miriam Santiago are the candidates vying for the highest position in the country. Incumbent President Benigno Aquino is barred from seeking re-election due to the constitution term limit. Opinion […]
Massive diamond worth $70 mn to go under hammer
NEW YORK , United States (AFP) — A massive diamond valued at more than $70 million will go under the hammer in London next month, the Sotheby’s auction house said Wednesday. Known as “Lesedi la Rona,” it was found nine months ago in Botswana by the Lucara Diamond Corp. “It’s a 1,109-carat diamond,” said David Bennett, worldwide chairman of Sotheby’s International Jewellery Division said in unveiling it. “This is the largest discovered in over a […]
Indonesia and Philippines pledge to enforce maritime security
Indonesia and the Philippines on Wednesday (May 4) vowed to increase cooperation to ensure safety on the open seas. Indonesian Foreign Minister Marsudi and her Philippine counterpart Jose Rene Almendras, who visited Indonesia for the first time since taking office in March, met in Jakarta ahead of a trilateral meeting with Malaysia on May 5. Jose Rene Almendras, Philippines Foreign Secretary said and here we quote: “I also came here today to participate in the […]
Red Cross suspends travel after workers kidnapped in DR Congo
KINSHASA , DR Congo (AFP) — The International Committee of the Red Cross announced Wednesday it was suspending planned travel in the restive eastern Democratic Republic of Congo after three workers were kidnapped. Armed men seized the employees — who a local official said previously were Congolese nationals — Tuesday in the turbulent Nord-Kivu province. “All planned ICRC travel in Nord-Kivu has been suspended until further notice,” the aid agency wrote in a statement. The […]
India bus crash kills 13, injures 53: media
NEW DELHI , India (AFP) — At least 13 people died and 53 others were injured after a bus skidded off a bridge and overturned in northeast India, media quoted police as saying. The bus was travelling from Jharkhand state to Raipur, state capital of Chhattisgarh, when it came off the road at around 10.30 pm local time (1700 GMT) on Wednesday, national news agency Press Trust of India reported. The driver saw a motorcycle […]
NBA: Heat’s Bosh out for rest of playoffs
MIAMI , United States (AFP) — Veteran big man Chris Bosh, reportedly in a standoff with the Miami Heat over his health, won’t return for the Heat in this NBA post-season, the player and team said on Wednesday. “The Miami Heat and Chris Bosh announce that Chris will not be playing in the remainder of the 2016 NBA Playoffs,” a joint statement from player and club said. “The Heat, Chris, the doctors and medical team […]
Janet Jackson expecting first child at 49: report
NEW YORK , United States (AFP) — Pop superstar Janet Jackson is expecting her first child at age 49, reports said Wednesday. The younger sister of Michael Jackson stunned funs last month by halting a global tour and saying that she and her husband Wissam Al Mana were “planning our family.” Jackson, who turns 50 on May 16, did not offer further details at the time. But the celebrity news sites ET and E! News […]
Brazil says almost 1,300 hit by Zika-linked microcephaly
BRASILIA , Brazil (AFP) — Brazil’s outbreak of Zika which has been linked to the devastating microcephaly birth defect in newborns in 1,271 cases since October has also killed 57 of those babies, authorities said Wednesday. The Health Ministry said in that as of April 30, 3,580 suspected cases had been reported and that another 2,492 were ruled out as false alarms. While 57 babies were known to have died of the condition, another 178 […]
