Breaking News, Latest Philippines Headlines, World, Entertainment, Politics, Weather & Video News
by Javier TOVAR Agence France-Presse CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — A blond television presenter seemingly working for a channel called the “House of News” looks into the camera and asks in English: “How true is it that Venezuela is such a poor country?” But this man is not a journalist — or even a real human being. He’s an avatar generated by artificial intelligence (AI), a tool that is becoming ever more common in global disinformation. […]
SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — TikTok confirmed Wednesday that US officials have recommended the popular video-sharing app part ways with its Chinese parent ByteDance to avoid a national ban. Western powers, including the European Union and the United States, have been taking an increasingly tough approach to the app, citing fears that user data could be used or abused by Chinese officials. “If protecting national security is the objective, calls for a ban or […]
A celebrity gossip YouTuber-turned-lawmaker became the first MP expelled by Japan’s parliament in over 70 years Wednesday, having not shown up to work once. Yoshikazu Higashitani, known by his online moniker GaaSyy, had been ordered to apologise for his months-long absence earlier in March. But the lawmaker, one of two elected members of the fringe party Seijika Joshi 48, or “Politician Girls 48”, did not attend that parliamentary session either. Higashitani, 51, had not set […]
by Kaneez FATIMA Agence France-Presse LAHORE, Pakistan (AFP) — Supporters of former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan clashed repeatedly with police as he remained holed up in his Lahore residence Wednesday, defying attempts to arrest him. Khan was ousted from office by a no-confidence vote last year, and has been snarled in a series of legal cases as he campaigns for early elections and a return to office. Police and paramilitary rangers fought pitched battles […]
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AFP) — Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro is in hot water over allegations he tried to illegally import millions of dollars’ worth of jewelry given to him and his wife by Saudi Arabia. The scandal has triggered multiple investigations, potentially complicating life for Bolsonaro — who is expected to return soon to Brazil from the United States, where the far-right ex-army captain has been living since just before his leftist successor, […]
by Sunghee Hwang Agence France-Press SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korea said Monday it had test-fired two strategic cruise missiles from a submarine, as South Korea and the United States kicked off their largest joint military exercises in five years. Nuclear-armed Pyongyang said the test verified its “nuclear war deterrence means in different spaces” as it slammed the drills — known as Freedom Shield — which will run for 10 days from Monday as […]
BEIJING, China (AFP) — China’s Xi Jinping on Monday emphasized the need to strengthen national security, in his first address since being handed a historic third term as the country’s president. Xi became China’s most powerful leader in generations last week when he was reanointed for another five years at the helm of the world’s most populous nation, in a break with long-standing political precedent. The National People’s Congress (NPC) — a carefully choreographed conclave […]
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Saturday 3/11/2023 by James PHEBY The BBC’s sport service was in meltdown on Saturday after pundits and commentators refused to work in support of presenter Gary Lineker, who was forced to “step back” after accusing the government of using Nazi-era rhetoric. Match of the Day presenter Lineker, England’s fourth most prolific goalscorer, sparked an impartiality row by criticising the British government’s new policy on tackling illegal immigration. The 62-year-old […]
Pekín, China | AFP | Li Qiang, one of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s most trusted allies, was confirmed as premier on Saturday, as Xi cements his influence on the country’s top leadership. Li, the former Shanghai party chief who oversaw the city’s gruelling two-month lockdown last spring, was named the successor of outgoing premier Li Keqiang at a meeting of the country’s rubber-stamp parliament. The 63-year-old received nearly every vote from the more than 2,900 […]
Xi Jinping on Friday sealed a historic third term as China’s president. AFP examines how he is expected to handle the key issues facing the country: – Slowing economy – China’s slowing economy will likely dominate Xi’s next five years but his decision to pack the Communist Party’s top leadership with loyalists has stoked concerns about him prioritising ideology at the expense of growth. The world’s second-largest economy expanded just three percent last year, widely […]
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday congratulated Xi Jinping on his third term as China’s leader, hailing the strengthening ties between the two countries. “Dear friend, please accept sincere congratulations on the occasion of your reelection,” Putin said in a statement released by the Kremlin. “Russia highly values your personal contribution toward the strengthening of ties… and strategic cooperation between our nations.” “I am certain that working together, we will ensure the development of […]
by Peter CATTERALL Xi Jinping was handed a third term as Chinese president on Friday, capping a rise that has seen him become the country’s most powerful leader in generations. His appointment by China’s rubber-stamp parliament comes after Xi locked in another five years as head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in October. Since then, the 69-year-old has weathered widespread protests over his zero-Covid policy and the deaths of countless people after its abandonment. […]
