MANILA, Philippines - Six more Filipinos and a Thai national have been evacuated from Libya and are on their way to Tunisia, the Philippine Embassy in Tripoli said Tuesday.       In a statement, the embassy said a total of 99 Filipinos have so far availed of the government's repatriation program since fighting broke out in and around the Libyan capital last April 4.   The Thai national is married to one of the six Filipinos, the embassy said.   Philippine Embassy in Tripoli Charg d'Affaires Elmer Cato said the assistance extended to the Thai national «was in line with the instructions» of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr., ...Keep on reading: 6 more Filipinos evacuated from strife-torn Libya

  LOS ANGELES -- A Filipina American meteorologist took home an Emmy at the 71st Los Angeles Area Emmys for her coverage on plastic in the ocean.   Shanna Mendiola, the meteorologist for NBC4 Southern California's weekday morning newscast «Today in LA,» received the Environment News Story award for a two-part report on «Plastic and Our Oceans.» She won alongside Andres Fernando Pruna, who served as the cameraman, editor, and producer for the report.   The report investigates why 88% of the world's oceans have plastic debris and why the problem is escalating. The special series came about as a "responsibility to raise awareness for environmental issues th...Keep on reading: Fil-Am meteorologist wins Emmy for ocean pollution coverage

LOS ANGELES -- The website used as a sounding board by recent white supremacist mass shooters is being run by a father-and-son team based in the Philippines. The site, 8chan, is currently being operated by an Army veteran named Jim Watkins and his son Ronald, both of whom live in the Philippines, according to Los Angeles Magazine. Meanwhile, its original creator, self-proclaimed «eugenicist» turned born-again Christian Fredrick Brennan, who also lives in the Philippines, has repeatedly said that the site should be shut down, according to The New York Times. Three mass shootings by apparent white supremacists have occurred recently. On Saturday, August 3, 21-year-old Patrick ...Keep on reading: Website used by white supremacist mass shooters is run from PH

If you think «Asia's Got Talent» judge David Foster's «Golden Girl» Gerphil Flores is going to step away from the spotlight after getting married, think again. Gerphil recently tied the knot with Brad Libanan after being together for 10 years. And just two days after, she was back onstage for the tribute concert for OPM icon Rico J. Puno at Music Museum, where she performed alongside Pilita Corrales, Eva Eugenio and Claire dela Fuente. We caught up with Gerphil for this feature just a few hours after she wrapped up a singing engagement in Singapore. The three-time Aliw Award winner for best crossover performer and best classical singer said that she is currently preparing for a...Keep on reading: ‘Asia’s Golden Girl’ Gerphil Flores pays it forward through music

MANILA, Philippines --- President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night approved the P4.1 trillion national budget for 2020. «We wish to inform the public that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, together with the members of the Cabinet, approved tonight the P4.1 Trillion National Budget for Fiscal Year 2020,» presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement before dawn Tuesday. «This budget proposal,» Panelo added, "is designed to respond to the needs of the majority of our countrymen longing to be uprooted from the decades of: want of basic necessities, inadequate supply of basic services, lack of infrastructures required to spur economic growth, absence of accountability o...Keep on reading: Duterte approves P4.1 trillion 2020 national budget

It's been over a decade since former actress, model and talent manager Jessica Rodriguez-Bunevacz traversed the oft-controversial terrains of Philippine show biz. Initially, moving to the United States was no picnic for her and her family, either. But, these days are relatively peaceful and exciting for Jessica, as she is currently living, as the millennials say, «her best life.» The Los Angeles-based host of the web show «The Polished Woman,» which tackles diverse topics and is accessible via LAtalkradio.com, was recently honored for best scripted web series by the Telly Awards, a 40-year-old organization that «embraces work created for all screens.» "This award is so impor...Keep on reading: Jessica Rodriguez on childhood abuse, career reinvention and triumph as US host

NEW DELHI --- The Indian government on Monday revoked Kashmir's special status, stripping the significant autonomy it has enjoyed for seven decades in a move expected to further inflame tensions in the Muslim-majority region and infuriate rival Pakistan. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi Hindu-nationalist party rushed through a presidential decree to scrap the disputed region's special status in the constitution, and also moved a bill proposing the territory be divided into two regions directly ruled by New Delhi. The government imposed a security lockdown and cut all telecommunications in the Indian-administered part of Kashmir in the early hours of Monday after deploying tens ...Keep on reading: ‘Darkest day for democracy:’ India abolishes Kashmir’s special status

MANILA, Philippines---President Rodrigo Duterte has named former Davao City administrator Wendel Avisado as Budget Acting Secretary. Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea confirmed this to reporters on Monday. Avisado served as Davao City administrator from 2004 to 2010 under then-Mayor Duterte. In 2010, Avisado was appointed to HUDCC as assistant secretary to then HUDCC chair and Vice President Jejomar Binay. Avisado's appointment contradicted Duterte's earlier pronouncement that he would not make a «regular appointment» and would let Budget officer-in-charge Janet Abuel head the Budget department. Abuel was named DBM OIC following the appointment of erstwhile Budget...Keep on reading: BREAKING: Duterte names ex-Davao administrator as Budget acting chief

  MANILA, Philippines --- For now, there was nothing in the prevailing peace and order situation in Negros Oriental that would indicate a compelling reason to place the province under martial rule.   This was the observation of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde, who also said Monday that circumstances in Negros Oriental have always been normal despite the death of 21 persons in the province from July 18 to 28. Authorities have blamed the New People's Army (NPA) in the killings there.   READ: NPA eyed behind spate of killings in Negros Oriental   "So far wala naman at wala namang sinasabi ang ating Presidente. At doon ...Keep on reading: Albayalde: So far there’s no sign to call for martial law in Negros Oriental

A woman narrowly missed getting hit by an aircraft fuel cap that fell from the sky and crashed into her backyard swimming pool. Dara Hackett and her friend were sitting on her patio in Florida, United States when they heard a loud noise, CBS-affiliate WKMG-TV reported on Thursday, Aug. 1. It turned out to have been caused by a disc-shaped aircraft fuel cap, about 8 inches in width and smelling like gas. «Worse than a gunshot. Like a very, very, very loud bang, a ting noise,» Hackett was quoted as saying. «Then, you heard it hit the pool and splash.» A label on the aircraft fuel cap said «fuel servicing» and codes showed that it was a «commercial aircraft grade fuel cap,» as per ...Keep on reading: Woman almost hit by aircraft fuel cap that fell from the sky

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO--At least 30 people duped into putting hard-earned money into a P120-million investment scam in Pampanga province are now seeking help from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to run after the still unifentified woman who lured them into the scheme. In a meeting with Pampanga Gov. Dennis Pineda on Monday (Aug 5) the victims, from the province's second district, asked help to file a case of large-scale estafa, a nonbailable offense, against the suspect who failed to pay up starting last week. The victims claimed they have invested from P1.2 million to P16.5 million since 2016 and were paid interest rates of 5 to 10 percent or higher when they were able to...Keep on reading: They never learn: Victims of P120-M scam in Pampanga seek NBI help

More money in the system and interest rate cuts in the US further pulled down T-bill yields helping the Bureau of the Treasury sell all P15-billion worth it offered Monday (Aug 5). The Treasury awarded P4 billion in 91-day debt paper at an average rate of 3.398 percent, down 37.1 basis points from 3.769 percent previously. It also sold P5 billion in 182-day IOUs at 3.677 percent, down 42.3 bps from 4.1 percent. The P6 billion in 364-day treasury bills fetched an annual rate of 3.898 percent, down 62.1 bps from 4.519 percent during the auction two weeks ago. In a statement, the Treasury said the rates fell across-the-board, and below secondary market rates. Tenders across t...Keep on reading: T-bills rates pulled down further by US interest rate, bank reserve cuts

  MANILA, Philippines --- The dismissal of the criminal complaint against the owner and several officers of WellMed Dialysis and Laboratory Center in connection with alleged fraudulent claims with the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. «will derail all efforts to cleanse» the state health insurance company, lawyer Harry Roque said.   «We are alarmed at the dismissal of the criminal complaint we filed against WellMed. This will derail all efforts to cleanse PhilHealth preparatory to the implementation of the Universal Health Care Law, which I authored in the 17th Congress,» Roque said in a statement.   This after the Quezon City Regional Trial Court dismis...Keep on reading: Junked case vs WellMed execs ‘will derail efforts to cleanse’ PhilHealth

  MANILA, Philippines - Fast-food giant Jollibee Foods Corp. saw a 34.4 percent year-on-year drop in attributable net profit in the first semester to P2.66 billion, dragged down by losses from American hamburger chain Smashburger losses. For the second quarter alone, net profit slid by 50.2 percent year-on-year to P1.1 billion. Aside from losses from American hamburger chain Smashburger, extraordinary manufacturing expenses related to Red Ribbon's transition to a new plant gnawed on the company's earnings. Six-month revenues increased by 9.8 percent year-on-year to P79.52 billion, driven by systemwide sales with rose by 13.8 percent to P59.43 billion. However, revenue g...Keep on reading: Jollibee profit slides by 50.2% on Smashburger losses

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0i43fXhrIa/ MANILA, Philippines --- Actress Shaina Magdayao refused to comment on the rumored breakup between her friends Bea Alonzo and Gerald Anderson. «It's not for me to say. Of course I do have something to say but just because I do, [that] doesn't mean I will,» Magdayao said Monday when asked of her reaction regarding the speculations hounding the two actors in an interview after her press conference for series «Nang Ngumiti Ang Langit.» The actress pointed out she would want to take care of their peace just as much as she wants to take care of hers. "Kumbaga parang I'd like to take care of my peace and sa kanila din, to not add anymore sa n...Keep on reading: Shaina Magdayao mum on Bea-Gerald rumored break up

SEOUL --- Sales of imported cars from Japan fell by double digits in July, amid an escalating trade feud between Korea and Japan and a subsequent Korean boycott of Japanese goods. According to data released Monday by the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association, the number of newly registered cars from Japanese carmakers dropped 17.2 percent to 2,674 units in July, down from 3,229 units registered the same time last year. Compared with 3,946 units registered in June, the figure was also down 32.3 percent. KAIDA spokesperson attributed the drop in demand for Japanese car brands to the boycott over trading curbs implemented by Japan against Korea. Before th...Keep on reading: Sales of Japanese imported vehicles dip in Korea amid trade feud

MANILA, Philippines -- The Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) dismissed on technicality the criminal complaint filed against the owner and officers of WellMed Dialysis and Laboratory Center in connection with the alleged anomalous claims to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. In a 14 page decision, the Quezon City RTC Branch 219 dismissed the case for lack of jurisdiction, saying that it was filed with the wrong court. «These cases are DISMISSED for lack of jurisdiction over the offenses charged without prejudice to refiling before the Metropolitan Trial Court of Quezon City,» QCRTC Branch 219 Presiding Judge Janet Abergos-Samar said. The Court clarified that the di...Keep on reading: QC court dismisses case vs WellMed officials for ‘lack of jurisdiction’

Musician Kean Cipriano warned the public about a woman who is passing herself off as an employee of his company recently. «The person (@tina_cristy on Twitter, cris_cipriano_781 on Instagram) has been sending baseless tweets to me, my [co-workers] and my family,» he said in a statement via Instagram yesterday, Aug. 4. https://www.instagram.com/p/B0v0xqAheGn/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link The woman claims that Cipriano has wronged her and is using her name to earn a profit, as stated in his post. She also allegedly posted sample calling cards that introduce her as an employee of his record label OC Records. Cipriano said he and his family have blocked her on social media but to n...Keep on reading: Kean Cipriano warns public of woman posing as his employee

  MANILA, Philippines --- Filipinos in Hong Kong have been advised against wearing black or white shirts as they might be mistaken as participants of the ongoing intense protests in China's special administrative region.   «Kung pwede 'wag magsuot ng itim or puti, kasi ito po ang ginagamit nilang kulay sa protesta. So ito pong nahuli nating kababayan eh nagkataong naka-itim siyang t-shirt,» Deputy Consul General Germinia Aguilar-Usudan of the Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong said in an interview with dzMM on Monday.   https://www.facebook.com/407245082811004/posts/1081313548737484?sfns=xmwa   She was referring to a Filipino who was arrested f...Keep on reading: Filipinos in Hong Kong told: Avoid wearing black, white shirts

MANILA, Philippines --- «Divorce? Over my dead body,» Senator Joel Villanueva said on Monday.   Villanueva, son of Christian evangelist Bro. Eddie Villanueva, reiterated his strong opposition to the divorce bill, which has been revived in the Senate.   «I will definitely oppose it,» he said in a press briefing.   In opposing the measure, the senator noted that the Philippines is a Christian nation where marriage is considered sacred.   He also cited the preamble of the Constitution to justify his stand against divorce.   "Our preamble of the Constitution states that we, the sovereign Filipino people, imploring the aid of the Almi...Keep on reading: Villanueva on divorce bill: ‘Over my dead body’

Carol Banawa proved that singing indeed runs in their family, by having an impromptu duet of the Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello hit song «Seorita», with her daughter Chelsea Crisostomo. Banawa and her daughter showed off their angelic voices, as per her Instagram post yesterday, Aug. 4. https://www.instagram.com/p/B0tfA87BSv9/ «When us girls hang out, we play [emoji] #seorita,» Banawa said. Fellow singer Sheryn Regis praised their number. One commenter, @mmichellerry, hoped that Banawa and her daughter would create a YouTube channel. One @noreen9576 confessed that she missed hearing Banawa sing, and expressed her desire to see Banawa perform professionally again, w...Keep on reading: WATCH: Carol Banawa, daughter amazes with cover of ‘Señorita’

MANILA, Philippines---There is no cancellation of classes in Navotas today, Monday, the city government has clarified. In our 7:42 a.m. update, INQUIRER.net included Navotas in the list of Metro Manila areas that suspended classes due to bad weather. However, the Navotas City Public Information Office clarified that the city did not suspend classes. We apologize for the error. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1149972/walangpasok-class-suspensions-for-monday-aug-5-2019...Keep on reading: No cancellation of classes in Navotas, says city government

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde awarded on Monday the Commendation Medal (Medalya ng Papuri) to a police officer caught on camera bravely chasing after a suspected snatcher in Ermita, Manila and to his team leader who helped in the arrest.   During the flag-raising ceremony at Camp Crame in Quezon City, Albayalde awarded the medal to Patrolman Jonathan Stanley Dionisio and Cpl. Timothy John Cruz, the former's team leader who helped in the operation but was not seen in the video uploaded on social media.   WATCH: Dashcam video shows lone cop catching snatcher after a foot chase in Manila   Dionisio and ...Keep on reading: PNP commends ‘devoted’ Manila cop in foot chase video

MANILA, Philippines --- Maritime investigators have already been dispatched to the area where three motorboats capsized due to strong winds and big waves off the coast of Iloilo and Guimaras over the weekend, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.   READ: Death toll in capsized motorboats rises to 31   «May pinadala na po tayong maritime investigators doon sa area,» PCG Spokesperson Capt. Arman Balilo said in an interview with Radyo Inquirer on Monday.   According to Balilo, the maritime investigators were deployed Sunday afternoon.   "Ang priority po natin [ay] matapos po 'yong search and rescue at may account 'yong mga pasahero. At nang s...Keep on reading: PCG probing deadly sea tragedy off Iloilo, Guimaras coast

MANILA, Philippines --- The House Makabayan bloc refiled on Monday their «pro-worker and stronger» version of the Security of Tenure bill which President Rodrigo Duterte had vetoed after certifying it as urgent last year. House Bill No. 3381 seeks to repeal Article 106 of the Labor Code of the Philippines and introduce a prohibition on all forms of contractualization or labor-only contracting and fixed-term employment. Job contracting or contracting out of work by the principal employer to a contractor, manpower agency or a similar analogous entity, as well as direct-hiring of contractual workers are also banned by the bill. The proposed law also provides penalties from P1 million ...Keep on reading: Makabayan refiles ‘stronger, pro-worker’ anti-endo bill

MANILA, Philippines - Actress Julia Barretto defended herself from people pointing fingers at her when onscreen partner and former boyfriend Joshua Garcia was left alone during the after - party of «ASAP Natin 'To» in California.   «I did not leave Joshua alone. He opted & requested to be left alone. He asked to eat & mingle alone. Why are all these fingers being pointed at me YET AGAIN?» Barretto wrote Monday on a Twitter post.   «Bakit nanaman siya kawawa sa naging choice and decision niya, and bakit kasalanan ko pa to? Wala kumakawawa sa kanya,» she added.     https://twitter.com/BarrettoJulia/status/1158182297213915136   "I ...Keep on reading: Julia: Joshua asked to be left alone at ‘ASAP’s’ California after-party

MANILA, Philippines --- Thirteen Monday flights to and from Hong Kong and two others on Tuesday were cancelled due to ongoing protests in the special administrative region of China.   In an advisory, the Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa) announced the cancellation of following flights:   Cathay Pacific CX907 Hong Kong --- Manila CX906 Manila --- Hong Kong CX919 Hong Kong --- Manila CX918 Manila --- Hong Kong Cx903 Hong Kong --- Manila Cx902 Manila --- Hong Kong Cx935 Hong Kong --- Manila Cx934 Manila --- Hong Kong Cx912 Manila --- Hong Kong (Tuesday) Cx939 Hong Kong --- Manila CX976 Manila --- Hong Kong (Tuesday)  ...Keep on reading: 15 flights to, from Hong Kong cancelled due to raging protests

MANILA, Philippines--Inflation likely further eased in July and possibly fell to levels unseen since 2016 thanks to stable food prices and base effects. Among the 12 economists polled by the Inquirer last week, the lowest forecast for July headline inflation was 2.2 percent year-on-year---the same rate of increase in prices of basic commodities was last posted in December 2016. The government will release July inflation data on Tuesday (Aug. 6). The top end of forecasts was 2.6 percent, which would be the lowest since the same rate was recorded in August 2017. Bank of the Philippine Islands vice president and chief economist Emilio S. Neri Jr., and Capital Economics Asia ec...Keep on reading: Economists: Inflation further eased in July

MANILA, Philippines - Capiz 2nd Dist. Rep. Fredenil Castro said his resignation as president and member of the National Unity Party (NUP) was out of «pure and simple delicadeza.»   «My resignation was prompted by pure and simple delicadeza...I have resigned as president and member of the National Unity Party simply because during the speakership race I was unwavering and front liner for [Leyte Rep.] Martin Romualdez,» Castro said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel on Monday.   «I feel that I could no longer be effective as president of the party and as member of the party if I remain there because I took the opposite direction during the speakership [race],» ...Keep on reading: Capiz Rep. Castro says he resigned as NUP president out of delicadeza

MANILA, Philippines --- A 4.1 magnitude earthquake shook the province of Biliran Monday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said. Phivolcs said it traced the quake's epicenter six kilometers southeast of the municipality of Naval in Biliran. The earthquake, which hit the area at 5:21 a.m, was of tectonic origin. It occurred at a shallow depth of six kilometers. The municipalities of Naval, Kawayan, Almeria in Biliran felt the tremor at Intensity III while Intensity I was felt in Bogo City in Cebu and Ormoc City in Leyte. Phivolcs said no damage and aftershocks are expected from the earthquake....Keep on reading: 4.1 quake jolts Naval, Biliran

HONG KONG - Protesters in Hong Kong have snarled the morning rush hour by blocking train and platform doors to prevent trains from leaving stations.     Subway and train operator MTR said Monday that service had been partially suspended on four lines because of a number of door obstruction incidents.   It's the third time in three weeks that protesters have disrupted train service.   The action followed a weekend of clashes with police on the streets and ahead of a general strike and more demonstrations called for Monday afternoon.   Hong Kong has seen protests all summer. A movement against an extradition bill that would have allow...Keep on reading: Hong Kong protesters snarl morning rush in latest action

SANTA ROSA, California --- A message in a bottle from Hawaii was discovered floating in a California river after traveling for more than a decade across the Pacific, a newspaper reported on Friday. Eric McDermott, 30, said he found the message, dated 2006, in April with the names of three siblings, ages 4, 7 and 10, and an Oklahoma street address, The Press Democrat said. McDermott was volunteering his time cleaning up the Russian River about 124 kilometers north of San Francisco when he spotted the bottle in the water, he said. Search for family He spent months searching for the family in the note and finally tracked them down a few kilometers from where he discovered the no...Keep on reading: Bottled message crosses Pacific

MANILA, Philippines --- The Commission on Audit (COA) has called out Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) for the surge in the number of cases and claims of members, particularly those in Metro Manila and Rizal province, for pneumonia, acute gastroenteritis, urinary tract infection, sepsis and other diseases. In a report issued in January, the COA said these conditions were «subject to abuse» since the benefit claims were made through PhilHealth's electronic system. State auditors said they wanted to know if PhilHealth had really conducted «prepayment medical review» on its members afflicted with the diseases regarded as "'red flag,' outliers with unusual increase in volu...Keep on reading: COA questions surge of PhilHealth claims in NCR, Rizal

People used to hang out at the seaside Freedom Park in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental province, even late at night. Now, by 9 p.m., only a handful of brave souls would stroll down the park. Residents now choose to stay in their homes after a series of killings rocked the city, located 138 kilometers north of the provincial capital of Dumaguete. Mabel, a resident, would see to it that her children were in the house by nightfall. «We are terrified to go out at night because it seems that life is cheap nowadays,» said the mother of three in Cebuano. She asked to withhold her last name for security. Hotbed Mabel told the Inquirer that her family had been terrified by the...Keep on reading: After spate of killings, city in Negros now lives in fear

MANILA, Philippines --- The military commander in the Visayas is not inclined to recommend the declaration of martial law in Negros Oriental, describing the security situation in the province as «manageable.» «From our level here, I don't think at this time we need to implement martial law,» Lt. Gen. Noel Clement, chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Central Command (AFP-Centcom), told defense reporters on Sunday. «It (security situation) is still manageable,» Clement pointed out, adding, «Right now, we're not inclined actually to recommend martial law.» The AFP Centcom, based in Camp Lapu-Lapu in Cebu City, is primarily tasked with combating terrorism and insurgenc...Keep on reading: No need for martial law in Negros Oriental – AFP Visayas chief