WASHINGTON --- With the scrapping of a landmark arms control agreement Friday, the U.S. announced plans to test a new missile amid growing concerns about emerging threats and new weapons. U.S. officials said they are no longer hamstrung and could now develop weapons systems previously banned under the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces treaty with Russia, a Cold War-era agreement that both sides repeatedly accused the other of violating. The treaty was also criticized because it did not cover China or missile technology that did not exist a generation ago. The end of the treaty comes amid rising doubts about whether the two countries will extend an agreement on long-range nuclea...Keep on reading: US to test new missile as arms treaty with Russia ends

The United States government has sent about 900 mostly Central American and Cuban migrants back to this northern Mexico border city since expanding it's controversial «remain in Mexico» program to the easternmost point on the shared border two weeks ago, Mexican authorities say. They are among nearly 3,000 people with pending U.S. immigration proceedings who have been sent back to wait in Mexico's Tamaulipas state, where the U.S. State Department warns Americans to avoid all travel due to high levels of violence and kidnapping. Under the program, migrants who turn themselves over to U.S. authorities and, in most cases, request asylum, are returned to Mexico after being given a cour...Keep on reading: 900 Asylum Seekers Returned to Wait in Mexican Border City

    SEOUL --- North Korea said Saturday its leader Kim Jong Un supervised another test-firing of a new multiple rocket launcher system that could potentially enhance the country's ability to strike targets in South Korea and U.S. military bases there.   The report by Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency came a day after South Korea's military said it detected North Korea firing projectiles twice into sea off its eastern coast in its third round of weapons tests in just over a week.   Experts say the North's increased testing activity is aimed at ramping up pressure on Washington and Seoul over the stalled nuclear negotiations with the ...Keep on reading: North Korea confirms another test of rocket launcher system

STOCKHOLM --- Rapper A$AP Rocky and two other American suspects were temporarily freed from a Swedish jail and planning to head back to the U.S. on Friday as judges mull a verdict in the assault case against them. The Stockholm District Court released the 30-year-old rapper, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, as well as David Rispers Jr. and Bladimir Corniel until Aug. 14 ---when a verdict is expected in the case. They are accused of beating 19-year-old Mustafa Jafari on June 30 outside a fast-food restaurant in central Stockholm. The three suspects were seen hugging each other at the court after they learned they would be released as some of the public gathered inside the courth...Keep on reading: Rapper A$AP Rocky heading back to US as verdict looms

    SAN FRANCISCO --- The sidewalks surrounding Ahmed Al Barak's corner market in one of San Francisco's roughest neighborhoods are filled with cardboard, used syringes and homeless people who have nowhere safe to go at night.   But Al Barak says it's an improvement from a year ago, before the city posted a portable toilet across the street from his business in the city's Tenderloin district.   He no longer regularly sees people relieve themselves in broad daylight, and he does not see as much feces and urine on the streets. In his opinion, it's the one bright spot in a city where taxes are too high.   "We used to have a disaster here....Keep on reading: San Francisco curbs waste with public toilets, ‘poop patrol’

  UNITED NATIONS --- Secretary-General Antnio Guterres says in a new report on North Korea's grim human rights record that prisoners who tried to escape or steal have reportedly been publicly executed, and detainees have been subject to sexual violence and severely beaten with clubs and metal rods.   The report to the General Assembly, obtained Friday by The Associated Press, said guards make detainees undress and repeatedly subject them to body searches for money and concealed items. They are interrogated, sometimes for up to a month or longer, and their cells are so overcrowded they can't lie down, it said.   The secretary-general said the U.N. human right...Keep on reading: UN report: North Korean prisoners killed for escape attempts

Knowing that the census guides how much money a community gets from the government is the most important reason for people to respond to the census, according to results from a 2018 Census Bureau survey.   Thirty percent of respondents specifically said the most significant reason to reply to the census is the knowledge that census data are used to guide public funding decisions.   Another 17% said it's that it benefits their community's future, while 15% said the most important reason is that it provides information for local governments.   This mismatch between not knowing that the results of the census are used by communities to make funding and pl...Keep on reading: Knowing the census helps communities may increase response

SAN FRANCISCO---An exhibit of Philippine indigenous textiles entitled «Hibla ng Lahing Filipino» (The Artistry of Philippine textiles) Traveling Exhibition will open at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center on August 5 at 6 p.m. The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, in cooperation with the National Museum of the Philippines, the Office of Congresswoman Loren Legarda and the Philippine Center Management Board, is hosting an opening reception. The exhibition, which highlights the pia-seda (pineapple and silk cloths) as a traditional and unique source of Philippine fiber cloth, will run from August 5 to 30, 2019, and will include lecture series, weaving demonstra...Keep on reading: PH native textiles exhibit to open in San Francisco

LOS ANGELES-- Filipino American a cappella group The Filharmonic on Tuesday night, July 30, showcased its talents by performing famed ballads and bops on the «Late Late Show with James Corden.» «Whenever I turn the radio on now all I'm getting on the radio are like slow boring ballads --- do you know what I mean? I want to roll down the windows. I want to jam out. No one wants to hear some guy on the guitar crying about his girlfriend in the middle of the summer. It just feels wrong,» Corden told his audience. Grammy winner John Legend rebutted, «For me...summer's a time to slow things down.» Corden and Legend settled their argument with a «ballads versus bops» riff-off, wit...Keep on reading: James Corden’s ‘Late Late Show’ features The Filharmonic

A majority (51%) of U.S. voters believe that PresidentDonald Trumpis a racist, says a Quinnipiac University pollout this week. Forty-five percent say that he is not. More voters believe Trump is racist than a segregationist running in September 1968 was--a Harris poll showed 41% believed former Alabama Gov. George Wallace, a segregationist running for president, was racist, basically even with the 40% who disagreed with the statement.   It could be generously said that the spread between racist and not a racist (5 points in Trump's case and 1 point in Wallace's case) is closer because more voters were undecided on Wallace. Even so, the net margin for Trump being a racis...Keep on reading: Most U.S. voters believe Trump is a racist

Filipino registered nurse, Nancy Ortiz, worked for Dameron Hospital in Stockton, California for about 10 years. Born in the Philippines, English is her second language and she speaks with a thick Filipino accent. Ortiz is over 40 years old.   Towards the ninth year of her employment at the hospital, and at this time working as a unit coordinator, Ortiz started reporting to a new department director. This new director oversaw the unit coordinators, 99 percent of whom are Filipinos.   Every time the director met with the unit coordinators, she provided «negative feedback,» and «humiliate[d]» them. She insulted unit coordinators on their accents and derided their s...Keep on reading: Mocking an employee’s accent may count as discrimination

    MANILA, Philippines --- Interior Secretary Eduardo Ao said Friday that he favors personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to bear arms «at least for self-defense» since, as public safety officers, they could also be targeted by terrorists and criminals. «Yes, I agree. At least for self-defense being public safety officers,» he told INQUIRER.net when asked to comment on President Rodrigo Duterte's pronouncement that he would provide guns to fire officers so they can help maintain peace and order in the country. The BFP is an agency under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). "As part of the uniformed services l...Keep on reading: Año agrees fire officers should be armed for self-defense

MANILA, Philippines---Geje Eustaquio suffered a brutal technical knockout loss to Yuya Wakamatsu 1:59 into the reserve bout of the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix in ONE: Dawn of Heroes Friday at Mall of Asia Arena. Wakamatsu landed a stiff right straight that sent Eustaquio to the ground where the Japanese finished things off with a flurry of punches. Eustaquio (12-8), a former World flyweight champion, has now lost two of his last three fights while Wakamatsu (11-4) got back to the winning column after losing his last two. «It was very tough but I feel so happy,» said Wakamatsu through a translator. «I lost two times in a row but now I'm back.» "I was very nervous in...Keep on reading: ONE: Geje Eustaquio absorbs quick TKO loss at hands of Yuya Wakamatsu

MANILA, Philippines --- A Quezon City court has stopped the implementation of the provincial bus ban on Edsa. In its 25-page order dated July 31, Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 223 issued a preliminary injunction against Memorandum Circular No. 2019-001 issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) that amends routes of provincial buses and prohibits it on Edsa -- Metro Manila's main highway. The court also issued a preliminary injunction against Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Regulation No. 19-002, which revoked the business permits issued to public transport terminals located along Edsa. MMDA has been eyeing to implement ...Keep on reading: BREAKING: Quezon City court stops provincial bus ban on Edsa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SK3TiixsHwM&feature=youtu.be   MANILA, Philippines --- The southwest monsoon and a low pressure area will continue to bring heavy rains over most parts of the country.   The LPA, spotted 1,060 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes, is likely to intensify in the next two days. It will be locally named Hanna, said weather specialist Raymond Ordinario.   Bicol Region, Visayas, Caraga and Davao Region will experience cloudy skies with scattered rains due to the trough of LPA.   The southwest monsoon continues to affect the western section of Luzon.   Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrati...Keep on reading: More rains seen from LPA, monsoon

MANILA, Philippines --- Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he is not likely to recommend martial law in Negros Oriental at the moment. «We will wait for the recommendation and justification of the military and local officials. Me? I am not inclined to recommend as of now,» he told INQUIRER.net on Friday. Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Thursday said President Rodrigo Duterte would likely invoke emergency powers soon and possibly declare martial law in Negros Oriental. This would be separate from the martial law currently in effect in Mindanao until the end of 2019 due to the threat from Islamic extremists since the Marawi siege. Reports say at least 14 perso...Keep on reading: Lorenzana ‘not yet inclined’ to recommend martial law in Negros Oriental

    CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- The storage area of the Philippine National Police's Region 10 Mobile Force Battalion in Barangay Indahag here exploded on Friday afternoon, August 2. «There was smoke and then seconds later a series of the explosion was heard,» said Police Major Evan Vias, Cagayan de Oro City Police Office spokesperson. The explosions happened around 2 p.m., he added. Vias said they are still probing whether the facility first caught fire which caused its stored bombs and other explosive devices to blast off, or there was an incident that triggered the explosions which resulted in the fire. Vias said more than 50 pieces of assorted ordnance, includi...Keep on reading: Bomb storage in Cagayan de Oro PNP camp explodes

MANILA, Philippines---Honorio Banario reeled to a second straight loss after suffering a unanimous decision defeat to South Korea's Dae Sung Park in the preliminaries of ONE: Dawn of Heroes Friday at Mall of Asia Arena. In contrast, Dae Sung (10-2) notched his fourth straight win on the back of a strong offense that allowed Banario (14-9) just barely an inch of momentum in their lightweight bout. It was as early as the first round that Dae Sung established his offense, landing a burst of punches to the head of Banario and following it up with knee to the jaw. The Team Lakay fighter survived that initial onslaught with his own flurry and a takedown of Dae Sung near the end of...Keep on reading: ONE: Honorio Banario drops 2nd straight after decision loss to Dae Sung Park

  CEBU CITY ---- Technical glitches caused long lines on the first day of the voters' registration in Cebu City. City Election Officer Marchel Sarno said they had compatibility issues with the signature pad and their computers' peripherals. He said the units needed some upgrading too. Only one unit was functioning as hundreds lined up to process their voter's registration applications. «First factor (for the long lines) is because it is the first day of registration. During the first day and last day of registration, we expect many people to come here,» said Sarno. He said the problem was being dealt with as they had requested additional units and operators fro...Keep on reading: Glitches mar 1st day of voters’ registration in Cebu City

MANILA, Philippines --- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has rescued 16 Chinese tourists after their boat ran into another boat and capsized off the coast of Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan.   According to the Western Visayas police, the tourists were onboard MBCA LMJ boat when it collided with the FB Jin Ju boat at about 2:55 p.m. on Thursday.   Police said the incident happened around 50 meters away from the shoreline of the Bolabog Beach.   PCG personnel immediately responded to the area and rescued the Chinese nationals who, at that time, were found afloat on the waters after the incident.   The victims, who sustained minor injuries, were la...Keep on reading: 16 Chinese tourists rescued after boat capsizes in Boracay

  TACLOBAN CITY ---- Vendors in the city's downtown area have opposed the clearing operations conducted by the mayor's office here in pursuit of President Duterte's order to clear public roads. One of the vendors was Amanda, who appealed to the local government to provide them relocation sites. «I have been in the streets selling newspapers for more than a decade now. That's our source of income. Then, all of a sudden, they will remove us here without providing us an alternative place,» said the woman who requested anonymity. Duterte earlier ordered mayors to reclaim all public roads that have been used for private purposes, otherwise, they will be suspended. The ...Keep on reading: Tacloban mayor vows alternative place for vendors displaced by clearing ops

MANILA, Philippines---Manny Pacquiao's trunks worn during his showdown against Keith Thurman for the WBA welterweight title last July 20 earned big money for charity on Thursday. The white trunks, worn by the Filipino boxing icon in his split decision win over the American boxer, sold for a whopping $24,750 (nearly P1.3 million) at an auction by Charity Buzz and «Jimmy Kimmel Live.» https://twitter.com/MannyPacquiao/status/1152016143197990912 The proceeds of the auction will go to non-profit organizations fighting against Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive and terminal disease that destroys nerve cells leading to disability. Pacquiao, boxing's only eight-d...Keep on reading: Manny Pacquiao’s trunks sell for over P1 million in charity auction

MANILA, Philippines---The Commission on Audit (COA) has rejected an appeal made by former Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) officials on a COA ruling that disallowed the release of P8.3 million in PCGG funds for aid and grants to commission employees from 2012 to 2013.   In a decision on July 4, the COA said seven cases of payouts to PCGG employees during that period were not authorized by then President Benigno Aquino III.   The COA said the fund releases were «without legal basis», was not covered by appropriation and «contrary to existing laws and regulations.»   The COA decision said the former PCGG officials who appealed the disallowa...Keep on reading: COA stands firm on disallowing more than P8M in PCGG employee payout

MANILA, Philippines --- Portions of Edsa and other major thoroughfares in Metro Manila will be closed from Friday night until Monday morning to make way for road repairs and reblockings. In an advisory, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said the following roads will be closed starting 11 p.m. Friday, August 2, until 5 a.m. Monday, August 5: Southbound: 1.Edsa fronting Sojen and Chevrolet (5thlane from sidewalk) 2.Edsa from KM 25+816 to KM 25+876.80 (3rd, 4th, andouter lane) 3.EDSA Eugenio Lopez -- Sct. Borromeo (desilting and construction of manhole) 4.Katipunan Ave. from Raja Matanda to Boni Serrano Tunnel (truck lane) 5.Quezon City along Edsa Southbound betwee...Keep on reading: Parts of Edsa, other Metro Manila roads closed for repairs this weekend

https://www.facebook.com/inquirerdotnet/videos/2188201041471366/UzpfSTU2NzA0ODQ4NjoxMDE1NzczNzkyMjgxODQ4Nw/   MANILA, Philippines--President Rodrigo Duterte's State of Lawlessness proclamation in 2016 remains in place and can be used to quell violence in Negros Oriental, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Friday. Guevarra explained that while the situation in Negros Oriental is being evaluated to determine if the constitutional requirements for the declaration of martial law has been met, the President can make use of his previous proclamation which has not been revoked. "The President has issued a proclamation early on placing the entire country under State of Lawl...Keep on reading: DOJ: State of Lawlessness can be used to quell violence in Negros Oriental

HERMOSA, Bataan --- Six towns in Bataan were submerged in two to five feet of flood water following continuous heavy rains on Friday afternoon, local disaster officials said.   Flooding were reported in the low-lying villages of Almacen, Daungan and San Pedro in this town.   Also submerged in flood were the towns of Dinalupihan, Orani, Abucay, Orion and Morong.   As of 2 p.m, the flooded Olongapo-Gapan Road was still passable to light vehicles.   Employees of Bataan provincial capitol and some workers at the Freeport Area of Bataan in Mariveles town were advised to go home as early as 2 p.m. /lzb...Keep on reading: Floods submerge 6 Bataan towns

LONDON --- Police arrested Ryder Cup player Thorbjorn Olesen on suspicion of sexually assaulting a female passenger while she was asleep on a flight to London, intoxication and failing to comply with the orders from the airline crew, British newspapers reported Thursday. The Sun and The Independent cited Metropolitan Police as saying a 29-year-old was arrested when the British Airways flight landed Monday at Heathrow. Olesen played in the World Golf Championships event in Memphis, Tennessee, where he tied for 27th. The 29-year-old Dane has five European Tour victories and made his Ryder Cup debut last year by going 1-1, beating Jordan Spieth in singles as Europe won. The PGA...Keep on reading: Golf star Thorbjorn Olesen accused of sexual assault on flight

  MANILA, Philippines --- Several domestic flights were canceled and diverted on Friday, August 2, as inclement weather swept through some parts of the country. In an advisory, the Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa) announced the following flights as canceled as of 4 p.m.: Cebu Pacific 5J 379 Manila-Cagayan de Oro 5J 380 Cagayan de Oro-Manila 5J 506 Manila-Tuguegarao 507 Tuguegarao-Manila 5J 327 Manila-Legazpi 5J 328 Legazpi-Manila 5J 789 Manila-Butuan 5J 790 Butuan-Manila 5J 375 Manila-Roxas 5J 376 Roxas-Manila 5J 655 Manila-Tacloban 5J 656 Tacloban-Manila SkyJet Airlines M8 911 Manila-San Vicente M8 912 San Vicente-Manila Flights that are di...Keep on reading: LIST: Canceled, diverted flights on August 2

      MANILA, Philippines -- Party-list group Bayan Muna has warned government to be ready to face angry commuters when the dry run of the provincial bus ban along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (Edsa) starts on Monday. According to Bayan Muna Rep. Ferdinand Gaite on Friday, this proposed measure would actually do little to speed up traffic flow in Metro Manila's busiest thoroughfare. «As it was during their first test at implementation, authorities should expect commuters' wrath to come swiftly again this time,» Gaite said in a statement. «Kung may bibilis man dito, hindi yun ang byahe kundi ang pagragasa ng galit ng mga commuter, ng mga manggagawa,» h...Keep on reading: Bayan Muna warns gov’t: Expect commuters’ wrath with Edsa bus ban

Public expenditures for priority programs and projects will breach P5 trillion by the time President Duterte ends his term in 2022, in line with the government's plan to widen the yearly budget deficit to 3.2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).   The government had programmed to spend P3.774 trillion this year, P4.2 trillion next year, P4.7 trillion in 2021, and a record P5.2 trillion in 2022, Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) documents showed.   For 2019 to 2022, the government wanted to ramp up spending, especially on infrastructure, such that the DBCC widened the annual budget-deficit cap to 3.2 percent of GDP from 3 percent previously. &nb...Keep on reading: Spending spree: Gov’t sees P5 trillion expenditures by time Duterte term ends

MANILA, Philippines --- President Rodrigo Duterte has the prerogative to use «any of his powers» provided by law to address the spate of killings in Negros Oriental, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Friday, amid talks of possible martial law declaration in the province. «Under the executive department, the President has a wide range of options including the use of emergency powers in so far as maintenance of peace and order is concerned. It is the prerogative of the President to use any of his powers provided by law,» PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said in a statement. Banac said the PNP is closely monitoring the peace and order situation in Negros Oriental, where...Keep on reading: PNP: Duterte can use ‘any of his powers’ to address Negros killings

https://twitter.com/memgrizz/status/1157054712459485184 MEMPHIS, Tennessee --- The Grizzlies haven't called Vancouver home since 2000. That's not stopping them from tapping their Canadian roots to celebrate the NBA franchise's 25th season. Memphis unveiled two throwback uniforms Thursday. Jason Wexler, the Grizzlies' president, says they wanted to take a special approach to connect the franchise's history over the next two seasons. He says it was an easy decision to bring back the classic teal uniforms for the upcoming season to celebrate the team's start in Vancouver along with its 25th season. Wexler says the Grizzlies will wear the «Memphis Classic» uniform first worn in 2000...Keep on reading: Memphis Grizzlies to celebrate 25th season with Vancouver throwbacks

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia --- The Asian Football Confederation has banned four players for life for attempting to fix matches in the AFC Cup in 2017 and 2018. The AFC said Friday that defender Kursanbek Sheratov, striker Vladimir Verevkin and defender Iliaz Alimov of Kyrgyzstan and goalkeeper Abduaziz Mahkamov of Tajikistan had been banned from taking part in any football-related activities for life. It said Sheratov was found guilty of being involved in a conspiracy to manipulate a match involving his club Dordoi FC in the 2017 season of the AFC Cup. He was also found guilty of supporting betting activity in connection with the match. Verevkin and Alimov were found guilty of being...Keep on reading: 4 players banned for life by Asian Football Confederation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzFLBVs-m8g&feature=youtu.be HONG KONG--US President Donald Trump said he would be taking a hands-off approach towards unrest in Hong Kong as China flexed its military muscle in a sign of growing frustration over weeks of pro-democracy rallies in the former British colony. The semi-autonomous southern Chinese city has endured two months of protests that began with a government bid to introduce a law that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China. The demonstrations evolved into a movement for deeper democratic reforms and an end to eroding freedoms, in the most significant challenge to Beijing's rule since the city's handover from Brit...Keep on reading: Trump takes back seat as China bristles over Hong Kong unrest

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0pV1Bun2Zb/ MANILA, Philippines --- Actor and Cavite Vice Governor Jolo Revilla finally ended speculations and confirmed his engagement with beauty queen girlfriend Angelica Alita. Revilla bared the news Friday by calling Alita his «soon to be asawa» in a birthday message for the Binibining Pilipinas 2016 first runner-up. «Para sa aking minamahal na irog, maligayang kaarawan sayo! Ikaw ang aking inspirasyon, ang kaisa-isang nagpapatibok ng aking puso,» Revilla wrote. «Hangad ko ang kasiyahan, maayos na kalusugan at panatag na kalooban mo para sa mas mahaba pa nating pagsasama. Kahit saan, kahit kailan ikaw lamang! Mahal kita soon to be asawa ko!» ...Keep on reading: Jolo Revilla confirms Angelica Alita is ‘soon to be wife’