MANILA, Philippines --- President Rodrigo told the military to tell him directly if they want to oust him rather than stage a coup d' etat. Duterte said the military could oust him if they want Vice President Maria Leonor «Leni» Robredo to replace him. «Takot ako na i-coup d'etat ako ng police pati military (Am I afraid of a coup d'etat?)? If you want me out, tell me,» Duterte said in a speech during the thanksgiving party of incoming Senator Christopher «Bong» Go in Davao City on Thursday night. He said he would rather go home than see the Presidential Security Group (PSG) and the military fight each other. "Hindi tama 'yang ginawa na every president. Kung ayaw ninyo, magbab...Keep on reading: Duterte tells military: No coup d’etat, tell me if you want me out

  CANNES, France - A fleet of energy-guzzling luxury yachts and private planes, kilos of gourmet food dumped, limousines driving stars just a few hundred metres: for environmentalists, the Cannes film festival is just «one big mess».   «There is, without a doubt, a huge amount that needs to be done by the festival organisers to make it more environmentally friendly,» said Cyril Dion, a filmmaker and climate activist.   For the 12-day extravaganza, the French Riviera town gets a glamorous makeover, leaving no stone unturned as turns on the charm to play host to a glittering array of global cinema's biggest names.   But for local environmental organ...Keep on reading: In Cannes, glittery film festival literally costs the earth

Firebrand Nick Kyrgios pulled out of Roland Garros on Friday, just days after saying the French Open «sucks». Organizers confirmed the Australian's withdrawal from the second Grand Slam tournament of the season and he will be replaced by a lucky loser from qualifying. The 24-year-old was due to have faced Britain's Cameron Norrie in the first round. Last week, Kyrgios was disqualified from the Italian Open in Rome and headed straight to London to practice with Andy Murray at Wimbledon. «I think this is the best tournament in the world, look at this perfect green surface,» Kyrgios wrote on Instagram alongside a picture of him sitting on the grass courts. "Get rid of the...Keep on reading: Nick Kyrgios out of French Open, tournament that ‘sucks’

    LONDON - Prime Minister Theresa May's announcement that she will leave 10 Downing Street has set off a fierce competition to succeed her as Conservative Party leader --- and as the next prime minister. These are some of the most prominent names on a list of contenders that is expected to grow in the coming days.   ___ BORIS JOHNSON The former foreign secretary has made no secret of his desire to take the top job when May departs. The outspoken Johnson, with his unkempt hair and flamboyant ways, has long been one of Britain's best known politicians, and he is believed to enjoy strong support from rank-and-file Conservative Party members. He was a...Keep on reading: The race is on: Contenders vie to become next British PM

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines --- Anti-narcotics operatives seized from a drug suspect in Sipocot town in Camarines Sur 500 grams of suspected «shabu» worth P3.4 million. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) identified the suspect as Ferdinand Luzaraga, a high-value target. Christian Frivaldo, PDEA acting regional director, said the suspect was nabbed by PDEA operatives while selling shabu to an undercover agent at around 5 p.m. along Maharlika Highway in Barangay Tara. Confiscated from Luzuraga were two transparent plastic bags containing suspected shabu. The suspect is in now in police custody at the Sipocot police station while awaiting the filing of complaints for po...Keep on reading: Cops seize P3.4 M worth of ‘shabu’ in Camarines Sur buy-bust

  MANILA, Philippines - The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said it will receive a $3 million grant from an international agency to help civil society organizations (CSOs) address and combat violent extremism.   In a statement on Friday, Interior Secretary Eduardo Ao said the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF), a non-profit Swiss foundation, partnered with the Philippine government to prevent violent extremism.   "One of the priorities of DILG is the protection of peace and safety of Filipino communities through the prevention of violent extremism. Now having GCERF as a partner towards the achievement of this goal ...Keep on reading: DILG: $3 M grant for civil society groups to combat extremism

MILWAUKEE --- Mired in their worst skid of the season at the worst possible time, the Milwaukee Bucks need an answer in the Eastern Conference finals. A lineup change didn't provide one, so the Bucks have to come up with something else in Toronto. The Bucks returned to the starting five they used most of the season in Game 5, the lineup that helped them to the NBA's best record. But they were left with the same result as the third and fourth games and now face elimination when the series resumes Saturday. Guard Malcolm Brogdon finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds and six assists Thursday in his first start since returning from a foot injury in Game 5 of the Eastern Confere...Keep on reading: Bucks on brink of elimination after tweaking starting lineup

    LANGEOOG, Germany - Hungry tourists stream into the glass-fronted balcony of Michael Recktenwald's restaurant on the German island of Langeoog, with its splendid view of the North Sea and the blue skies above.   The 49-year-old has lived on Langeoog for most of his life, and his wife's family has been there for generations, but Recktenwald fears their children may not be able to stay if the world keeps on warming.   Concerns about climate change have prompted mass protests across Europe for the past year.   For the first time, the issue is expected to have a significant impact on this week's elections for the European Parliament. &n...Keep on reading: Climate change is hot topic in the European Parliament vote

MANILA, Philippines --- Filipino singer Jej Vinson has released his first single titled «Tasty» after joining American singing competition «The Voice US.» The song's lyric video was posted Friday via Vinson's official YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkYLbKG19jQ In an Instagram post, Vinson thanked his team for helping him produce his first single. He also promised his fans more original songs. «'Tasty' is out now everywhere! Super proud of the work that was put into this track by an amazing team,» Vinson said. «I wouldn't be able to do what I'm doing now without your support and encouragement,» he added. «More originals coming [your] way.» He received a...Keep on reading: ‘The Voice US’ contestant Jej Vinson releases first single ‘Tasty’

  LONDON --- British Prime Minister Theresa May met a leader of her Conservative lawmakers on Friday amid mounting speculation that she is about to announce her departure date.   The party's key backbench committee called the showdown meeting for May to agree to leave soon or face a likely leadership challenge. Several British media outlets reported that May would agree to give up the party leadership June 10, sparking a contest to replace her as Conservative leader and prime minister.   Pressure on May to quit over her failure to get Parliament's approval for a European Union divorce deal reached critical point this week as House of Commons Leader Andre...Keep on reading: D-Day for May? UK leader could name her departure date

BAGUIO CITY -- The construction of tunnels at Kalinga province for the China-funded Chico Pump Irrigation Project has been allowed to continue after it was granted a certification that it had the consent of the indigenous Filipino community there, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples said. Following the testimonies provided by elders of Kalinga's Pinukpuk town, the NCIP sitting en banc on Thursday (May 23) approved the Certificate Precondition of the project administrator, the National Irrigation Administration, said Roland Calde, NCIP Cordillera director, on Friday (May 24). The document stipulates that the project acquired the free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) of t...Keep on reading: Kalinga elders OK tunnels for Chico irrigation project

THE total number of Filipinos saying their lives improved in the country rose in the first quarter of 2019, a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey found. The SWS poll found…READ The post SWS: More Filipinos say lives improved in first quarter of 2019 appeared first on The Manila Times Online.

      MANILA, Philippines --- The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Friday it will still pursue the administrative cases filed against politicians included on the «narcolist» who won in the 2019 elections. Interior Secretary Eduardo Ao said the politicians have no right to circumvent the law even if they won in the recent elections. «Kahit na pinalad silang manalo, tuloy pa rin ang administrative cases laban sa kanila. Hindi pa rin sila makakalusot kung sila ay mapapatunayang sangkot talaga sa iligal na droga,» Ao said in a statement. Meanwhile, Ao said the department considers it a «win»for the government and the country ...Keep on reading: DILG to pursue admin raps vs ‘narcopols’ who won in 2019 polls

MANILA, Philippines --- Opposition Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV on Friday belittled President Rodrigo Duterte's claims that he was behind an ouster plot against the Chief Executive and that he has properties hidden under other people's names. «Ayan ka na naman. Hindi ka pa nga nakakabawi sa kapalpakan mo dun sa inimbento mong offshore bank accounts na bintang mo sakin pati na rin dun sa mga sinabi mo laban sa Nanay ko, tapos may bago ka na namang bintang,» Trillanes said in a statement. «This time si Bikoy naman ang source mo. Henyo ka talaga, Duts,» he added. Duterte earlier threatened to summon Trillanes' 84-year-old mother over alleged anomalous dealings with the Philippine Navy...Keep on reading: Trillanes belittles Duterte claim that he has hidden properties

SAN PEDRO CITY -- Police arrested Petty Officer 3 Herbert Velasco of the Philippine Coast Guard, in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Tayuman in Binangonan, Rizal, around 4 a.m. Friday. The police recovered from him 21 sachets of alleged illegal drugs. In Cavite, suspected drug pusher Salvador Santiago, 49, was killed in a buy-bust operation in Barangay 30 around 9 p.m. Thursday. Cavite police chief Col. William Segun, in a report, said Santiago opened fire, forcing police officers to shoot him down. He was rushed to the Bautista Hospital but was declared dead on arrival. (Editor:Leti Z. Boniol)...Keep on reading: Coast Guard exec nabbed for illegal drugs in Rizal

MANILA, Philippines --- The Sandiganbayan has acquitted Zamboanga del Sur 2nd District Rep. Aurora Cerilles of the graft charge filed against her when she was still provincial governor in 2005. According to the decision of the Sandiganbayan's Second Division last May 17, the prosecution failed to prove that Cerilles violated Section 3 of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act when she issued a check worth P483,480 to Baganian Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) as payment for public advertisements. Cerilles allegedly authorized the payment to BBC even if she supposedly knew that the radio station was operating under six radio broadcasting contracts that violated p...Keep on reading: Zamboanga del Sur lawmaker acquitted of graft charge

Giannis Antetokounmpo and James Harden led the voting for the NBA's First Team of the Year but LeBron James missed out on a spot for the first time since 2007, results showed Thursday. Milwaukee Bucks forward Antetokounmpo and Houston Rockets guard James Harden advanced to the NBA's Most Valuable Player award along with Oklahoma City Thunder's Paul George. The 24-year-old Antetokounmpo, Harden and George were joined in the NBA's team of the year by Golden State star Stephen Curry and Denver's Nikola Jokic. Antetokounmpo, who is nearly seven-foot tall and known as the 'Greek Freak', and Harden were both unanimous first-team selections. However, there was no place in the fi...Keep on reading: Antetokounmpo, Harden in NBA team of the year, but no LeBron

THE stock market fell further in early trading on Friday along with global peers as investors remained cautious over the escalating trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies. At…READ The post Trade tensions drag PSEi 1.31% in morning trade appeared first on The Manila Times Online.

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will raise the issue of the West Philippine Sea dispute when he meets Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe next week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said…READ The post Duterte to raise sea row in meeting with Abe in Japan–DFA appeared first on The Manila Times Online.

SEN. Panfilo Lacson on Friday said he was amazed by the talent of Peter Joemel Advincula alias “Bikoy” in crafting lies. The senator, chairman of the committee on public order…READ The post Bikoy’s ‘unique’ talent amazes Lacson appeared first on The Manila Times Online.

  JERUSALEM---Israeli researchers raised a glass on Wednesday to celebrate a long-brewing project of making beer and mead using yeasts extracted from ancient clay vessels ---some over 5,000 years old.   Archaeologists and microbiologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority and four Israeli universities teamed up to study yeast colonies found in microscopic pores in pottery fragments.   The shards were found at Egyptian, Philistine and Judean archaeological sites in Israel spanning from 3,000 BC to the 4th century BC.   Experimental archeology   The scientists are touting the brews made from «resurrected» yeasts as an important ste...Keep on reading: Brew for the ages: Israeli researchers recreate ancient beer

At the Cannes amFAR gala, H&M announced that this year's designer collaboration is with Giambattista Valli. Voguereports that at the gala, Valli dressed up Kendall Jenner, Chiara Ferragni, Bianca Brandolini, Chris Lee [Li Yuchun], H.E.R., and Ross Lynch to showcase the pre-collection. These designs will be available online and in selected stores this Saturday, May 25, serving as a teaser for the full collection coming this Nov. 7. And if that's not enough, Valli has ventured into menswear for this foray, a first for the designer. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx0BvU8CBwT/ In the Philippines and around the world, you can preview the collection online which features dresses in V...Keep on reading: Surprise! Giambattista Valli x H&M drops this May 25

FOREIGN portfolio investments or “hot money” net outflows reached $298.83 million in April, lower than March’s $739 million and reversing the $279.29-million inflow posted a year ago, Bangko Sentral ng…READ The post ‘Hot money’ outflows dip to $299M in April appeared first on The Manila Times Online.

It will be experience against youth when two World Boxing Association welterweight champions — Manny Pacquiao and Keith Thurman battle on July 20 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas….READ The post It’s experience against youth when Pacquiao meets Thurman appeared first on The Manila Times Online.

A SHIP carrying illegally caught fish and other endangered species worth P3.2 million were seized as it headed to Manila, the Philippine Coast Guard said on Thursday. The PCG said…READ The post P3.2-M of illegally caught fishes seized in Palawan appeared first on The Manila Times Online.

  Actor Sandino Martin, who has played gay characters on the big screen several times already, said he would prefer to lock lips with a «more mature actor» next time. «It would be interesting to do it with someone like Tony Mabesa or Menggie Cobarrubias, because age is but a number when it comes to love ... or with Christopher de Leon, who is my idol. But let's ask him first if he would be OK with it,» Sandino said, laughing. The 27-year-old actor is playing yet another gay character, a lawyer named Gaylord, in the mystery-thriller series «Sino ang May Sala? Mea Culpa» on ABS-CBN. While he admitted that «half of the titles in my filmography are queer films,» Sandino ...Keep on reading: Straight Sandino comfortable kissing other guys, showing some skin

  LOS ANGELES---These are good times for Eva Noblezada. Only 23 years old, Eva recently scored a Tony nomination for best actress in a musical for her critically acclaimed performance in «Hadestown,» her second one after her first nod as Kim in the Broadway revival of «Miss Saigon.» The actress is also winning praise for her film acting debut in director Diane Paragas' «Yellow Rose.» She clinched a best breakthrough performance award as a Filipina with country-music singer dreams in the 35th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. «It is cool, yeah!» Eva exclaimed in our e-mail interview about her sophomore nomination in the Tonys, which honors excellence in Broadway t...Keep on reading: Eva Noblezada on her 2nd Tony Awards nod and film acting debut

  In the first half of his career, Elton John had already achieved everything there is to achieve as a pop star---fame, acclaim, fortune and many more. But it's these same things that lured him into a web of personal issues---addiction to drugs and sex, an eating disorder and anger management issues. For a while, he lost touch of the world and of himself. «The life I was leading, flying on the Starship [a private plane], living in beautiful houses, buying things left, right and center---it was not a normal life, not the sort of life I came from, anyway,» recalled the music icon, whose life is the subject of «Rocketman,» a biopic that recently premiered at the Cannes Fil...Keep on reading: What Elton John couldn’t do when he was an addict

  I'm not yet emotionally and mentally ready, but I'm getting there. Everyday, I get closer to that,« said actress Iza Calzado when asked about her plan to have a baby with husband, British entrepreneur Ben Wintle. The couple has been married since December 2018. Iza, 36, said she and Ben, 37, will most likely work on having a child next year, since work has already been lined up for her this 2019. Also, Iza admitted that she was still battling fear. »People would tell me, 'You will never be ready for it.' I'd answer, 'Guys, you don't know where I am coming from. You didn't live my life.' Like my marriage, if I had rushed into it, I don't think I would have felt more re...Keep on reading: Iza Calzado on why delay motherhood: I can’t even be responsible for myself

  Sharon Cuneta wasn't served well by the saccharine excesses of her last film «Three Words to Forever,» which woefully pandered to its characters' effusive «cuteness» and profligate sentimentality. There was too much hemming and hawing about the Megastar's follow-up to the winsome «Unexpectedly Yours,» and yet «Three Words» was the best Star Cinema's fabled think tank could muster? Thankfully, Erik Matti's psychological chiller «Kuwaresma» makes wise use of Sharon's far-from-insignificant acting mettle, which is at its most potent when the character she breathes life into is made to acquiesce to the whims of a threatened vixen («Bituing Walang Ningning») or a domineering ...Keep on reading: Sharon-John synergy boosts ‘Kuwaresma’s’ clever but ‘busy’ development

    JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - A «violent tornado» touched down in Jefferson City, causing heavy damage in Missouri's capital city as severe weather swept across the state overnight, causing three deaths and leaving many people trapped in the wreckage of their homes.   The service reported that a «confirmed large and destructive tornado» was observed over Jefferson City at 11:43 p.m. Wednesday, moving northeast at 40 mph (64 kph). The capital city has a population of about 40,000 and is located about 130 miles (209 kilometers) west of St. Louis.   "Across the state, Missouri's first responders once again responded quickly and with strong coordination as m...Keep on reading: 3 deaths in Missouri as tornado strikes state capital

  China's Women's World Cup football team swapped the training pitch for the classroom to beef up its political knowledge and reinforce its dedication to the communist-ruled country. In a step that is unlikely to be replicated by their rivals at next month's tournament in France, the whole squad sat down for a series of lectures dubbed «Motherland in My Heart». Whether it helps China beat European heavyweights Germany in their World Cup opener on June 8 is debatable, but captain Wu Haiyan said: «Patriotic education is of great significance to us who are going to play for our country.» The Chinese Football Association (CFA), the governing body, hailed it as essential ...Keep on reading: China undergoes ‘patriotic education’ to win Women’s World Cup

MANILA, Philippines --- Over P3 million worth of illegally caught fish was intercepted in Palawan, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Thursday. The PCG and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Law Enforcement 4-A seized fish tubs containing blasted fish and other marine species believed to be endangered last May 20. The PCG said the fish tubs were on board a cargo vessel named Merchant Vessel Alejandra bound for Manila from Linapacan in Palawan. Upon checking, the PCG and BFAR found that 79 of the 162 fish tubs in the vessel contained positive blasted fish with an estimated market value of P3.24 million. A fish tub containing endangered species such...Keep on reading: PCG, BFAR intercept P3.24M worth of ‘blasted’ fish in Palawan

MANILA, Philippines --- A salon owner and his staff and driver landed behind bars on Thursday after the Quezon City police caught them in possession of more than P800,000 worth of shabu (crystal meth). The Batasan police station arrested Johairah Wali, 33; Edgar De Asis, 30; and Ernelito Reyes, 46; in a fast food chain on Commonwealth Avenue in front of Ever Gotesco Mall in Barangay Batasan Hills at 4 p.m. Police said suspects sold P1,000 worth of shabu to a police officer posing as a buyer inside the fast food chain. Members of the Batasan Police Station Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU) arrested the suspects and seized 125 grams of shabu valued at P820,000. Lt. Col. Joel Vil...Keep on reading: ‘Shabu’ worth P800K seized in QC

BEIJING --- China held the door open to resuming talks in the tariff war with Washington on Thursday, but lashed out at limits on access to key technologies that it said might hurt global supply chains. Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said China hopes to restart the talks that broke down earlier this month after the US hiked tariffs on $250 billion in Chinese imports, but only if the conditions are deemed fair. «China is open to the door of dialogue, but sincerity is indispensable to make a consultation meaningful,» Lu said at regularly scheduled briefing. «A mutually beneficial agreement must be based on mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit.» The world's two large...Keep on reading: China says door open to trade talks, but slams tech controls