Other News

Russian fire pounds Ukraine, as Putin announces ‘progress’ on grain exports

by Cécile FEUILLATRE Agence France-Presse KRAMATORSK, Ukraine (AFP) — Russian shelling pounded eastern and southern Ukraine Tuesday as President Vladimir Putin said Moscow would only ease the path for Black Sea exports of Ukrainian grain if the West lifts sanctions on Russian shipments. Russian strikes hit the eastern city of Kramatorsk on Tuesday, killing one person, local authorities said. AFP journalists said a four-story residential building had been hit in the city in the Donbas […]

UK breaches 40C for first time, heat records tumble in France

by Joe JACKSON with AFP Europe bureaus Agence France-Presse LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — A punishing heatwave fuelling ferocious wildfires in western Europe pushed temperatures in Britain over 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) for the first time on Tuesday and regional heat records tumbled elsewhere. Grassland fires erupted on the edge of London, with one forcing the evacuation of 14 people as farm buildings, houses and garages were consumed by the flames. “I was […]

Morocco, Israel strengthen military links as army chief visits kingdom

RABAT, Morocco (AFP) — Israel and Morocco strengthened military ties during meetings Tuesday between the Jewish state’s army chief and Moroccan defense officials in the kingdom, amid tension with Rabat’s rival Algeria. Israeli army chief Aviv Kohavi, who arrived Monday, met with the Inspector General of the Royal Armed Forces Belkhir El Farouk, an Israeli army statement said. He also met with Morocco’s minister delegate in charge of defense administration, Abdellatif Loudiyi, and intelligence chief […]

Putin says West must remove restrictions on Russian grain exports

TEHRAN, Iran (AFP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday said that the West must remove restrictions on exports of Russian grain. “We will facilitate the export of Ukrainian grain, but we are proceeding from the fact that all restrictions related to air deliveries for the export of Russian grain will be lifted,” Putin told reporters in Tehran after talks with the presidents of Iran and Turkey. Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine has hampered shipments […]

Two-time Olympic skating champion Hanyu retires aged 27

  by Andrew MCKIRDY Agence France Presse Japan’s two-time Olympic figure skating champion Yuzuru Hanyu retired from competition aged 27 on Tuesday, after struggling with injuries at this year’s Beijing Games. It brings down the curtain on a glittering career that has seen the elegant skater become a national icon who is trailed around the world by adoring fans. It follows a string of injuries, including at February’s Games, where the “Ice Prince” was dethroned […]

Cloudy skies, rain showers expected in parts of PHL

(Eagle News) — Cloudy skies and rain showers are expected in parts of the country. According to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms, in particular, are expected over Palawan. PAGASA said these were due to the trough of a low pressure area (LPA) affecting the province. Flash floods or landslides due to moderate to at times heavy rains are possible. Metro Manila and the rest […]

Danish lab to supply 1.5 million monkeypox doses in Europe

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AFP) — Danish company Bavarian Nordic, the lone laboratory manufacturing a licensed vaccine against monkeypox, said Tuesday an “undisclosed European country” had ordered 1.5 million doses. The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for “intense” efforts to fight the disease as cases rise, especially in western Europe. Bavarian Nordic said deliveries to the unisclosed country would start this year under the contract but the majority of the doses will be delivered during 2023. […]

PHL to have new system of classification for Covid-19 restrictions by mid-August, says DOH, Palace

Current alert level system to stay in place until then, says Pres. Marcos Jr   (Eagle News) – The Philippines would be implementing a new system of classification for Covid-19 restrictions by mid-August, Malacanang said on Tuesday, July 19. From now until then, the current Covid-19 Alert Level System remains in place, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., said. Marcos also announced that the new level of classifying Covid restrictions in the country would be “decoupled” or […]

Myanmar rebels claim killing and capturing junta troops

YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — A Myanmar ethnic rebel group said Tuesday it had captured 14 junta troops and killed an unspecified number, in the latest blow to a fragile peace in the only region to have seen no post-coup crackdown. Days after its putsch last year, the junta reaffirmed a ceasefire with the Arakan Army (AA), which has for years fought a war for autonomy for Rakhine state’s ethnic Rakhine population. Thanks to the truce, […]

Iran hosts Putin, Erdogan for talks overshadowed by Ukraine war

TEHRAN, Iran (AFP) — Iran’s president will host his Russian and Turkish counterparts on Tuesday for talks on the Syrian war in a three-way summit overshadowed by fallout from the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The summit is the first hosted by Iran’s ultra-conservative President Ebrahim Raisi since he took office last year, and the second trip abroad by Russia’s Vladimir Putin since he ordered the invasion of Ukraine in February. It comes days after US […]

Indian rupee breaches 80 per dollar, hits new record low

MUMBAI, India (AFP) — The Indian rupee fell to more than 80 per US dollar for the first time on record Tuesday, as the greenback extended its rally and foreign capital outflows intensified. The rupee hit 80.0600 against the greenback soon after trading started, compared with the previous close of 79.9775, Bloomberg data showed. High inflation and rising interest rates in the United States coupled with fears of an impending recession in the world’s biggest […]

PHL logs 2,285 additional COVID-19 cases

(Eagle News) — The Philippines logged 2,000 more COVID-19 cases on Monday, July 18. According to the Department of Health, the additional 2285 cases pushed the total COVID-19 cases in the country to 3735383. Of these, 20524 are active. According to the DOH, Metro Manila logged the highest number of new COVID-19 cases in the last 14 days, with 10130. It was followed by Calabarzon with 5707, Central Luzon with 2434, Western Visayas with 2112, […]