MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday said he doubted the motives of Ukraine’s intention of joining the European Union, while accusing Brussels of ambitions beyond the European continent. Ukraine, where Russia launched a military campaign on February 24, “is ready to declare a neutral, non-aligned status,” Lavrov told reporters following a meeting of CIS foreign ministers in Tajikistan’s capital Dushanbe. “At the same time, they are trying in every […]
Other News
North Korea confirms first Covid-19 death in ‘explosive’ outbreak
by Cat Barton and Claire Lee Agence France Presse SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korea confirmed its first Covid-19 death on Friday, saying fever was spreading “explosively” nationwide and tens of thousands of people were being isolated after falling sick. The insular country only reported its first Covid cases Thursday, saying it was moving into “maximum emergency epidemic prevention system” after sick patients in the capital Pyongyang tested positive for the Omicron variant. […]
Seeing Milky Way’s new black hole is ‘only the beginning’: US researcher
by Lucie AUBOURG Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — At just 33 years old, Caltech assistant professor Katie Bouman is already a veteran of two major scientific discoveries. The expert in computational imaging — developing algorithms to observe distant phenomena — helped create the program that led to the release of the first image of a black hole in a distant galaxy in 2019. She quickly became something of a global science […]
Former MMDA chair Benhur Abalos to be next DILG chief
(Eagle News) — Former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chair Benhur Abalos will be the next Department of the Interior and Local Government chief. Vic Rodriguez, the spokesperson for the camp of former Senator Bongbong Marcos, who is expected to win the presidency by a landslide, made the announcement in a press briefing on Friday, May 13. Abalos, who was Marcos’ campaign manager for the May 9 elections, served as mayor of Mandaluyong City prior to […]
PAGASA monitoring LPA off Davao
Heavy rainfall warning raised over parts of Mindanao (Eagle News) — The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration is monitoring a low pressure area off Davao. According to PAGASA, the LPA was so far situated 220 kilometers east of the city and is embedded along the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting Mindanao. A heavy rainfall warning has so far been raised over parts of Mindanao as a result. PAGASA said light to moderate with […]
Israel congratulates PHL for successful May 9 elections
(Eagle News) — Israel on Friday, May 13, congratulated the Philippines for its successful conduct of the May 9 elections. In a statement, the Israel embassy in Manila said it would continue to “work closely with the incoming administration” to “strengthen the friendly historic ties of our nations.” It said the country would also continue to work closely to “deepen the existing partnerships in agriculture, food security, water, tourism, innovation, food security, water, tourism, innovation […]
4.5-magnitude earthquake strikes off Davao Oriental early Friday
(Eagle News) — A 4.5-magnitude earthquake struck off Davao Oriental early Friday, May 13. According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, the quake, an aftershock of the 7.1-magnitude earthquake that hit the province on August 12, hit at 12:14 a.m. The epicenter was 156 kilometers southeast of Governor Generoso. The depth of focus was 34 kilometers. No damage to property nor aftershocks were reported.
Biden welcomes ASEAN leaders with energy, security pledges
by Shaun TANDON President Joe Biden on Thursday welcomed Southeast Asian leaders to Washington, promising support for clean energy and maritime security in the face of a rising China. The Biden administration made the pledge as it opened a two-day summit with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, part of a campaign to show that the United States still prioritizes Asia despite months of intense focus on repelling Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The White House […]
Lima jolted by a 5.5-magnitude quake
A 5.5-magnitude earthquake shook Lima and a large surrounding area Thursday, alarming many locals but with no immediate reports of damage or injury, the National Seismological Center reported. The tremor was recorded at 4:55 p.m. local time (2155 GMT), with an epicenter 30 kilometers west of Chilca, a coastal town south of Lima, and 49 kilometers deep, the Center reported. “5.5 magnitude earthquake occurred 30 km W of Chilca, [province of] Canete. [In] Lima it […]
Will Finland and Sweden join NATO? Five things to know
After decades of staying out of military alliances, Finland and Sweden are about to decide whether to apply to join NATO, as a deterrent against aggression from Eastern neighbour Russia. The Nordic neighbours are expected to act in unison, with both expressing a desire for their applications to be submitted simultaneously if they decide to go that route. – Historic U-turns – For decades, a majority of Swedes and Finns were in favour […]
Russia warns of response to Finland NATO entry
Russia warned Thursday it would have to take “military-technical” steps in response to neighbouring Finland joining NATO, after leaders in Helsinki backed entering the US-led alliance. “The expansion of NATO and the approach of the alliance to our borders does not make the world and our continent more stable and secure,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. When asked whether Finland’s membership would be a threat, Peskov answered: “definitely”. “Everything will depend on how this […]
At least 11 dead after boat capsized off Puerto Rico: US Coast Guard
At least 11 people have died after their boat, carrying an unknown number of people, overturned off the coast of Puerto Rico, the US Coast Guard said Thursday. “As of 6 PM Thursday (2200 GMT), responding partner agency units have rescued 31 survivors, 11 female and 20 male. 11 deceased have been recovered,” said the Coast Guard in a tweet. A spokesperson for the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) told AFP that the shipwreck […]





