NEW DELHI -- India has suspended a pilot for accidentally sending a hijack alert to air traffic control during a domestic flight last month, the aviation authority said. The AirAsia India plane, flying from the capital New Delhi to Srinagar, suffered a stalled engine and the captain told first officer Ravi Raj to send an emergency code to alert authorities about the situation. Instead of the appropriate code 7700, Raj transmitted 7500 -- the code for a hijacking -- India's Director General of Civil Aviation said in a statement on Friday. Such a transmission is considered a major security alert across the world. Precise details of the response from Indian authorities du...Keep on reading: India grounds pilot for sending hijack alert by mistake

MANILA, Philippines -- «It is a mockery of the judicial process.»   This was how Tindig Pilipinas, a staunch critic of the Duterte administration, described the sedition complaint filed by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) against opposition members over the «Ang Totoong Narcolist» videos.   The opposition alliance said the «filing of flimsy charges» were meant to silence the «democracy, free speech and the redress of grievances that are all constitutionally guaranteed as basic fundamental rights of each and every Filipino.»   READ: Sedition case filed vs Robredo, 35 others over 'Bikoy' videos   ...Keep on reading: Tindig Pilipinas : ‘Flimsy’ charges vs opposition is ‘mockery of judicial process’

LAS VEGAS---It will be back to school for Keith Thurman on Saturday and Manny Pacquiao will be his mentor. That's how Pacquiao, the living legend, sees it when they finally meet inside the ring for their welterweight title unification bout at MGM Grand Garden Arena here. «Tomorrow night, class is in session. I hope Keith Thurman studied hard because Prof. Pacquiao gives very hard tests,» he said after the official weigh-in Friday. Out to prove he is still one of the best in the division, Pacquiao is not only looking for a victory but also aiming to put on a masterclass, using his speed, footwork and experience that the 30-year-old Thurman hasn't seen before. Thurman, on the other h...Keep on reading: ‘Professor’ Pacquiao: I hope Keith Thurman studied, I give very hard tests

PAU, France --- If there was a smiley-face jersey for the happiest rider at the Tour de France, to go alongside the wearer of the iconic yellow shirt, Canadian Mike Woods would be in the running for it. A rookie at cycling's greatest race at an unusually ripe age --- 32 --- and with an unusual story as a former track athlete who switched late to pro cycling, Woods knows that his first Tour might also be his last. «I'm really savoring every moment,» says Woods, one of just two Canadians racing this Tour. «Mentally, that's a really powerful tool against my competition. But it's also making me just a really happy person.» If this does prove to be a unique experience, Woods has ...Keep on reading: A first Tour at 32: Rookie Canadian savoring every moment

    MIAMI --- A Florida sheriff launched an investigation Friday into whether his department properly monitored the wealthy financer Jeffrey Epstein while he was serving a sentence for soliciting prostitution from underage girls. The inquiry will focus on whether deputies assigned to monitor Epstein in a work-release program violated any rules or regulations, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said in a statement. Under a 2008 plea deal, Epstein was allowed to spend most of his days at the office of his now-defunct Florida Science Foundation, which doled out research grants, rather than in the county jail. "All aspects of the matter will be fully investigate...Keep on reading: Florida sheriff to investigate Epstein’s work release

    BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan -- U.S., Italian and Russian astronauts are set to blast off into space Saturday in a launch coinciding with the50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, NASA's Andrew Morgan andLuca Parmitano of the European Space Agency will travel to the International Space Station at 1628 GMT from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The July 20 blast off comes on the same date that NASA's Neil Armstrongand Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon in 1969, marking a defining moment in the so-called «space race» with the Soviet Union. Of the trio launching from the Kazakh steppe, only 53-year...Keep on reading: Space crew to blast off for ISS on moon landing anniversary

TOKYO --- The man suspected of setting ablaze a beloved Japanese animation studio, killing 33 people, was raging about theft and witnesses and media reported he had a grudge against the company, as questions arose why such mass killings keep happening in the country. Police only have said the suspect Shinji Aoba, 41, who is hospitalized with severe burns and unable to talk, is from near Tokyo and did not work for the studio, Kyoto Animation. Japanese broadcaster NHK and other media, quoting an unnamed source, said Friday that Aoba spent 3 years in prison for robbing a convenience store in 2012 and lived on government support. The man told police that he set the fire because...Keep on reading: Suspect in Japan anime studio arson reportedly had grudge

    BAGHDAD --- An unmanned drone dropped explosives on a base belonging to Iran-backed paramilitary forces in northern Iraq early Friday, wounding two people, Iraqi security officials and a military statement said, amid regional tensions between the United States and Iran. The statement said the drone dropped two grenades half an hour apart on the base in Amirli, in Iraq's northern Salaheddin province. No further details were provided. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which struck shortly after midnight. The Iranian-backed mostly Shiite Muslim militias, in a statement, blamed the Islamic State group, saying it confronted the attack...Keep on reading: Drone targets base for Iran-backed militia in northern Iraq

      MANILA, Philippines --- Manila Mayor Isko Moreno did not sugarcoat his description of the capital when he said it was literally «full of shit.» «Talagang Manila is full of shit, literal[ly], not metaphorically,» Moreno said during his speech at a gathering of Rotary Club of Bagumbayan members late Friday. «Kasi real talk lang naman, kasi sometimes, instead na i-sugarcoat mo, or itago mo, eh mas lalong hindi nareresolba,» he added. Two weeks into his term, Moreno has ordered multiple clearing and cleaning operations within the city. Hours before Moreno spoke at the Rotary Club gathering, he went to the Vitas Slaughterhouse Friday morning for h...Keep on reading: Real talk: Isko Moreno says Manila is ‘full of shit,’ literally

      MANILA, Philippines --- The Civil Service Commission (CSC) on Saturday revealed that latest training programs for government workers will now include financial education. This after the CSC signed a memorandum of agreement with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and Banco De Oro (BDO) Foundation on Friday. The commission's partnership with the agencies aims to integrate financial education in government training programs, initially within CSC's own learning and development programs, and then in other government agencies. «Financial education is crucial in building the financial skills of our government workers,» CSC Chairperson Alicia dela Ro...Keep on reading: CSC: Government workers’ training now includes financial education

Filipino seafarers were among the 23 crew members aboard the British-flagged oil tanker seized by Iran Friday in the Strait of Hormuz for allegedly violating international laws. There were no reports any of the crew members that also include Indian, Russian and Latvian nationalities were injured. The British tanker Stena Impero was taken to an Iranian port because it was not complying with «international maritime laws and regulations,» Iran's Revolutionary Guard declared. A statement from Stena Bulk, which owns the seized tanker, said it was unable to make contact with the ship after it was approached by unidentified vessels and a helicopter in international waters. A spokes...Keep on reading: Filipinos among 23 crew members of oil tanker seized by Iran

  NEW ORLEANS --- A pocket-sized pocket shark found in the Gulf of Mexico has turned out to be a new species. And the mysterious pouches that it's named for, up near its front fins? Scientists say they squirt little glowing clouds into the ocean. Researchers from around the Gulf and in New York have named the species the American pocket shark, or Mollisquama (mah-lihs-KWAH-muh) mississippiensis (MISS-ih-sip-ee-EHN-sis). It's only the third out of more than 500 known shark species that may squirt luminous liquid, said R. Dean Grubbs, a Florida State University scientist who was not involved in the research. He said the other two are the previously known pocket shark a...Keep on reading: Pocket-sized shark squirts glowing clouds from pockets

SAN FRANCISCO --- Instagram is expanding a test to hide how many «likes» people's posts receive as it tries to combat criticism that such counts hurt mental health and make people feel bad when comparing themselves to others. The Facebook-owned photo-sharing service has been running the test in Canada since May. Now, Facebook said the test has been expanded to Ireland, Italy, Japan, Australia, Brazil and New Zealand. Facebook typically tests new Facebook and Instagram features in smaller markets before bringing them to the U.S., if it ever does. The company would not comment on what it's learned from the Canada test or if it has plans to expand it to the U.S. any time soon. ...Keep on reading: Instagram expands hiding ‘likes’ to make you happier

HOUSTON --- The U.S. government on Friday expanded its requirement that asylum seekers wait outside the country to a part of the Texas Rio Grande Valley across from one of Mexico's most dangerous cities. The Department of Homeland Security said that it would implement its Migrant Protection Protocols in Brownsville, Texas, across the border from Matamoros, Mexico. DHS says it anticipates the first asylum seekers will be sent back to Mexico starting Friday. Under the so-called «Remain in Mexico» policy, asylum seekers are briefly processed and given a date to return for an immigration court hearing before being sent back across the southern border. Since January, the policy has ...Keep on reading: US to send asylum seekers back to dangerous part of Mexico

MANILA, Philippines---Alaska was two possessions away from kissing its playoffs hopes goodbye and handing the last quarterfinals berth to Meralco. With 20 seconds left, all the Bolts needed to do was hold their ground and the Aces would be sent to the bleachers, but point guard Chris Banchero had other plans. Banchero caught fire in the clutch and gave Alaska a new lease on life, tying the game at 96 and sending into overtime where his inspiring run sparked the Aces to the 108-103 clincher. «Sometimes those are the games you have got to breakthrough. You know, we've been in a lot of tough games this conference and when that happens, then teams begin to play well,» said Banch...Keep on reading: Banchero clutch show saves Aces, but no time to celebrate as tougher task looms

  Indie director Maricel Cabrera-Cariaga said that if there was any lesson to be learned from making her war drama «Children of the River,» it was that making a Cinemalaya film required foresight. «For a year, I got stressed looking for funding because my supposed producer backed out. I struggled financially,» she told the Inquirer. Her film's inclusion to this year's Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival was announced in 2017. Each of the 10 full-length finalists is expected to receive a P1-million cash grant, which they will get in tranches. "What happened to the business of my producer-friend was unexpected. Tragedy struck him. To augment, I tried getting a...Keep on reading: Cinemalaya film wages a different kind of war behind the camera

  Before video logging or «vlogging» became a trend among local show biz personalities, singer-television host K Brosas had long recognized the medium's potential as a tool to connect with her fans, or «kakulto,» as she fondly calls them. In 2010, K started «Dear Teh» on YouTube and Facebook, where she gives advice to her romantically beleaguered followers, and talks about random exploits in her daily life and work. And all these she delivers with her irreverent and cracking humor. "It actually started out as a regular blog---I wrote, believe it or not! But as it became more popular, I began to get flooded with messages from people asking for advice. So, I decided to do...Keep on reading: K Brosas vlogging for fun, not for money

  We've long known Glaiza de Castro to be more talented than she's given credit for. Looking back at her filmography, she is just as memorable in gorgeously realized films like «Still Life» as she is in excruciating-to-watch dramas like «Cattleya: An OFW Story.» But the actress' latest starrer, Pertee Brias' «My Letters to Happy,» also showcases the depth and thespic foresight of her leading man TJ Trinidad, whose thoughtfully calibrated performance reminds moviegoers why we should see more of the dreamy actor in films that require more than just a pretty face and the ability to make romance junkies swoon. «Happy» is rough around the edges but, as it pleads for kindness...Keep on reading: Tantalizing trio of dramas a thespic showcase for charismatic lead stars

SAN FRANCISCO -- This city's diversity and rich Filipino community will be celebrated at thePistahan Parade + Festival on August 10 and 11, 2019 at the Yerba Buena Gardens. The best of Filipino art, dance, music, and food will be showcased at the Pistahan Festival. Organized by the Filipino American Arts Exposition, this two-day event represents one of the largest celebrations of Filipino Americans in the U.S. The festival will feature many pavilions for exploration, discovery, and learning. There will also be lots of family fun with food contests and plenty of games and prizes too. Pistahan is expected to draw thousands of people. This unique cultural event and celebrat...Keep on reading: SF’s Pistahan Festival ready to party Aug. 10-11

WASHINGTON, DC --According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the federal agency charged with enforcing laws prohibiting workplace discrimination, cites «go back to where you came from» as a remark that may constitute unlawful harassment based on national origin. President Donald Trump tweeted Sunday that Democratic Reps. Ayanna Pressley (Mass.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib (Mich.) should «go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came» after the lawmakers, all four American citizens, criticized him.Three of the four women were born in the U.S., and one came from Somalia as a child....Keep on reading: U.S. law says ‘Go back to where you came from’ counts as discrimination

SACRAMENTO, California --- A 62-year-old man was sentenced to 30 years in prison for making and distributing child pornography using children in the Philippines. According to court documents, MarkCorum held conversations via Skype with persons in the Philippines he instructed to perform sexual acts on children while he watched on live webcam. Corum paid between $25 and $35 via money transfer services to these persons for performing the sexual acts on children and sending the images to him via webcam. Transcripts of the Skype chats filed with the court show that children, from infants to 10-year-olds, were sexually abused. The Skype chats also indicate Corum talking of prior ...Keep on reading: Man gets 30 years for making child porn using kids in PH

      ILIGAN CITY---A 57-year old female pilgrim died around 11 a.m. Friday, July 19, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Dr. Dimapuno Alonto Datu-Ramos Jr., public relations and information head of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), identified the pilgrim as Sarapia Abalimbona Taha who hails from Lumbayanague, Lanao del Sur. Citing information from the head of the Hajj medical team, Dr. Abdulnasser Masorong Jr., Datu-Ramos said Taha collapsed while entering the Masjid al-Haraam, a pilgrimage site during Hajj, just before the Jumaah, a congregational Friday prayer. "The cause of death is most likely myocardial infarction (heart attack). The remains a...Keep on reading: Maranao pilgrim dies in Mecca

  The first team-up of Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards in Star Cinema's «Hello, Love, Goodbye,» which opens on July 31, is quite a brave move. At the height of the «AlDub» phenomenon, who would have thought that Alden could be paired with another actress aside from Maine Mendoza? The film's title could very well be «Hello Kath, Goodbye Yaya Dub.» And considering how popular the KathNiel tandem is, pairing Kath with Alden is throwing caution to the wind. That's thinking out of the box to generate satisfying box-office returns. Joross Gamboa is part of the cast. He lets us in on the KathDen «experiment.» For a change, it's not about the love team, but the story. Less ...Keep on reading: Joross weighs in on the ‘KathDen’ experiment

MANILA, Philippines---Lyceum recovered from a close loss and defeated Mapua, 79-71, to pick up its second win in the NCAA Season 95 men's basketball tournament Friday at Filoil Flying V Center. The Pirates lost their last outing against Emilio Aguinaldo College, 84-82, but overcoming the Cardinals put their win-loss slate at 2-1. After trailing 7-0 in the first quarter, the Pirates responded with a furious 23-6 run capped off by an and-one layup from Jaycee Marcelino for a 23-13 lead. Lyceum then remained in control throughout the game without any further disturbance from the Cardinals. Marcelino filled the stat sheets for Lyceum with 14 points, seven rebounds, two assist...Keep on reading: NCAA: Lyceum bounces back, charges past Mapua

      MANILA, Philippines -- Vitas Slaughterhouse, the only slaughterhouse that can be found in the country's capital, has been found to have violations in terms of sanitation. Dr. Joey Diaz, Supervising Veterinarian of the Veterinary Inspectors Board of Manila, admitted this on Friday after Manila Mayor Isko Moreno inspected the slaughterhouse for the second time. According to Diaz, about 100 to 120 cows and less than 100 pigs go in and out of the slaughterhouse each day at Vitas. Diaz said that these animals immediately get slaughtered once delivered to the area due to the sorry-state of the slaughterhouse. "Dahil nga doon sa condition ng aming k...Keep on reading: Sanitation problems seen at Manila’s Vitas Slaughterhouse 

MANILA, Philippines---President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed the son of one of the largest Catholic lay groups in the Philippines as second in command of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda).   A list of appointees released by Malacanang on Friday (July 19) showed the designation of Mariano Michael Velarde Jr., son of El Shaddai founder Bro. Mike Velarde, as deputy Tesda director general. Tesda used to be headed by the son of another religious group leader, now Sen. Joel Villanueva, son of Jesus Is Lord founder Eddie Villanueva.   The group, which has involved itself in politics despite a Church policy discouraging priests and other Chur...Keep on reading: Son of El Shaddai founder named deputy Tesda director general

    MANILA, Philippines --- Elementary and High School teachers who wish to pursue higher education for free may soon be able to do so under a bill filed by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian. Gatchalian filed Senate Bill (SB) 367 or «The Continuing Education for Teachers Act» which seeks to provide a mandatory and cost-free teacher's education program to be implemented by the government. Under the bill, the government is mandated to implement a comprehensive national program for mandatory continuing education for all primary and secondary teachers in both private and public educational institutions as well as formal and non-formal institutions of learning. "As of this m...Keep on reading: Gatchalian eyes mandatory education programs for elementary, HS teachers

        MANILA, Philippines -- House Speaker candidate and Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano has ended rumors of discord between him and Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte, announcing that the latter will likely be the Deputy Speaker for Political Affairs. According to a Facebook story posted by Cayetano on Friday where he and Duterte are seen shaking hands, they have discussed what the country needs and how the House of Representatives could be more «responsive.» "Thank you very much Cong. Paolo 'Pulong' Duterte for our talk on what the country needs and how we can put together a very responsive Congress. Thank you also for accepti...Keep on reading: Cayetano: Paolo Duterte set to be House Deputy Speaker

MANILA, Philippines --- Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto has filed a bill limiting the country's national indebtness at an amount not more than 50 percent of the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In a statement Friday, Recto said the measure would not«handcuff the government» from securing loans to finance infrastructure projects «but merely sets the red line in the debt meter that this and future governments must not hit.» «[I]t is better to impose a ceiling by law to shield the government, present and future, from piling up debt. We set it at 50 percent of GDP, with the prohibition that the national credit card shall not be maxed out,» Recto said. "Having this lim...Keep on reading: Recto files debt cap bill

LEGAZPI CITY --- An alleged illegal drug pusher died in a shootout with anti-narcotics operatives in an anti-illegal drug operation in Camalig town in Albay province Friday.   Rody Morauda, 36,was selling suspected «shabu» (crystal meth) to a police undercover agent at 10:20 a.m. in Purok (zone) 2 of Barangay Ilulan, when he sensed that it was a drug sting, said Major Maria Luisa Calubaquib, Bicol police spokesperson.   Morauda pulled his caliber-.38 gun, forcing police operatives to shoot him.   The victim died on the way to the Bicol Regional Teaching and Training Hospital here.   Recovered from the scene were four sachets of shabu. Mar S. Ar...Keep on reading: Suspected drug pusher slain in Albay buy-bust

      MANILA, Philippines -- Before he delivers his fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona), President Rodrigo Duterte received failing grades from different children rights advocates for his performance in terms of juvenile justice, education, and other fields. During a press conference on Friday at the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) office in Quezon City, Bishop Deogracias Iiguez slammed the Duterte administration's war on illegal drugs, which has victimized children of all ages --- either by being killed or being orphaned by the drug war. "Dahilan sa illegal na pagpatay na ito, maraming mga kabataan natin ang nagiging ulila, ang nawawalan ng kanil...Keep on reading: Children rights advocates give Duterte failing grades ahead of Sona

  MANILA, Philippines -- The Manila city government eyes to start the construction of the new Vitas Slaughterhouse within the year, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said Friday.   In his second visit to Vitas Slaughterhouse in Tondo, Moreno said the local government Manila is «moving heaven and earth» for the construction.   «Baka this year [magstart]. We're moving heaven and earth because this thing will give.. kapanatagan sa ano ng taong bayan na yung kinakain nilang karne e ligtas,» Moreno said in an interview.   When asked if the construction of the new slaughterhouse in Manila would be one of the solutions to end the confiscation of «botcha» meat, Mo...Keep on reading: Isko Moreno: Construction of new Vitas Slaughterhouse may start this year

MANILA, Philippines --- Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rowena Guanzon has revealed receiving threats from an undisclosed sender and being victimized by a «smear campaign» allegedly launched by the Duterte Youth party-list. It appears the election commissioner knew who was behind the threats but refused to disclose the identities behind it. «I received this text 'kapag inipit mo pa din kame at di pa din kame nakaupo ilalabas namin part 2 ng series mo at papakasohan ka pa namen' Who do u think sent this? obviously,» Guanzon tweeted on Thursday. https://twitter.com/commrguanzon/status/1151677364272689152 The poll body official also clarified that she would no...Keep on reading: Comelec’s Guanzon bares getting threats

MANILA, Philippines---Malacaang on Friday denied that the Duterte administration is behind the filing of the sedition charges against Vice President Leni Robredo and 35 other individuals, including incumbent and former senators and priests after they were tagged in the release of the «Ang Totoong Narcolist» videos. «We have nothing to do with this case, not at all. Absolutely nothing,» Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel. Aside from Robredo, also named in the complaint are opposition senators Leila de Lima and Risa Hontiveros, former senators Bam Aquino and Antonio Trillanes and members of the Otso Diretso slate namely lawyers Chel ...Keep on reading: Palace denies hand on sedition case vs Robredo, others over ‘Bikoy’ videos

  MANILA, Philippines --- Malacaang remains unfazed over the possible filing of an impeachment complaint against President Rodrigo Duterte as the 18th Congress is set to open on July 22.   Communications Secretary Martin Andanar dismissed the threats of impeachment against the President after afisherfolk group said it would file impeachment complaint against Duterte for allowing China to fish in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.   The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said Duterte committed treason, and betrayed public trust.   "Every administration naman ginagawa ng mga militante iyan, hindi na bago iyan ...Keep on reading: Palace on impeach raps: Duterte has supermajority in Congress