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MANILA, Philippines --- A Philippine Navy warship will join its Asean counterparts and other navies for military exercises in South Korea and Singapore to affirm its commitment to promote multilateral cooperation. BRP Andres Bonifacio (PS-17) will participate in the Asean Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus Maritime Security Field Training Exercise in Busan, South Korea and the International Maritime Defense Security Exhibition in Singapore in the next two weeks. Navies from 10 Asean countries, as well as non-Asean states Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Korea, Russian Federation and the US will participate in the maritime exercises set for April 29 to May 14. The 22...

Keep on reading: Philippine Navy warship heads to South Korea, Singapore

Two women finally met and hugged for the first time ever after almost 60 years of writing letters to each other. Dolores Baily from Canada took the plunge and boarded a flight to Australia to meet her longtime friend Lyn Carpenter. As per Global News on April 20, the women's friendship began when Carpenter got a Canadian address to write a letter to in 1960. The two were only 10 years old then. It would take decades more before the two would eventually meet. They did so at last on Tuesday, April 16, and shared their first long hug at the bus station. Bailey will be staying at Carpenter's home for the duration of her visit. "It's just a formality, meeting in person," Bailey was quote...

Keep on reading: Pen pals meet for the first time after almost 60 years

  MANILA, Philippines --- Actress Angel Locsin received a surprise birthday bash from her beau film producer Neil Arce as she turned 34.   https://www.instagram.com/p/BwlWaKIhxsf/   One of Locsin's closest friends in the industry Dimples Romana shared on Tuesday a video of the birthday girl being surprised by friends and family.   "Best SURPRISE ever by the Boyfie of the Year," Romana captioned the post.   https://www.instagram.com/p/BwkOtPiHtcC/   "Thank you @neil_arce sakto lahat ng sinabi mo. Great job with everything. @therealangellocsin mahal na mahal ka namin!!!! HAPPY happy birthday mars ko," she added.   Al...

Keep on reading: Angel Locsin gets surprise birthday bash from boyfriend Neil Arce

MANILA, Philippines --- A fire broke out in an apartment building in Ermita, Manila on Tuesday afternoon. The blaze hit Gotesco Tower located on Natividad Lopez Street in Ermita at 12:21 p.m., the emergency dispatch service of the Manila Police District (MPD) said. The fire reached second alarm in less than an hour. Firefighters put out the blaze ten minutes later. The MPD said the fire is still under investigation. Fire incidents were also reported in residential areas in Quezon City and Caloocan. At 2:09 p.m., a blaze on Calamba St. in Barangay Salvacion in Quezon City reached the second alarm, according to the emergency dispatch service TXTFire Philippines. Meanwhile...

Keep on reading: Fire hits apartment building in Ermita, 2 other residential areas

  BOSTON -- U.S. technology giant Microsoft has teamed up with a Chinese military university to develop artificial intelligence systems that could potentially enhance government surveillance and censorship capabilities. Two U.S. senators publicly condemned the partnership, but what the National Defense Technology University of China wants from Microsoft isn't the only concern. As my research shows, the advent of digital repression is profoundly affecting the relationship between citizen and state. New technologies are arming governments with unprecedented capabilities to monitor, track and surveil individual people. Even governments in democracies with strong traditions of...

Keep on reading: How artificial intelligence systems could threaten democracy

Lovebirds Pia Wurtzbach and Marlon Stockinger escaped to Dubai, United Arab Emirates recently for some alone time. "You say Dubai, and I say hello," the Miss Universe 2015 titleholder, who looked beautiful in her floral-print summer dress, greeted her followers in an Instagram post on Thursday, April 18. https://www.instagram.com/p/BwYl8CgFNwp/ Meanwhile, Wurtzbach's Filipino-Swiss race car driver boyfriend enjoyed his drink and sweets, adding that he is back on the photo-sharing site after a "nice break." https://www.instagram.com/p/BwWt6F0hn3y/ The two also had an adventure by the Rub' al-Khali or Empty Quarter sand desert. Wurtzbach did not miss having her photo by ...

Keep on reading: LOOK: Pia Wurtzbach, Marlon Stockinger’s escape to Dubai

PHOENIX --- One season was not enough for Igor Kokoskov to convince the Phoenix Suns that he was the man to lead the franchise into the future. The Suns fired Kokoskov Monday night, ending the tenure of the NBA's first European-born coach after one disappointing season. "After extensive evaluation, I determined it is best to move in a different direction with our head coaching position," Suns GM James Jones said in a statement. "I want to thank Igor for his work this past season and wish him the best with his future endeavors." Kokoskov arrived in the desert with hopes of rebuilding a franchise coming off its second-worst record at 21-61. He was hired to replace Jay Triano, ...

Keep on reading: Suns fire Igor Igor Kokoskov after 1 losing season

MANILA, Philippines --- A magnitude 4.6 aftershock was reported in Catbalogan, Samar on Tuesday following a magnitude 6.5 quake that hit San Julian, Eastern Samar an hour before. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the aftershock was reported around 2:41 p.m., 22 kilometers northeast of Catbalogan, Samar. The aftershock was of tectonic origin and had a depth of 5 kilometers. Aside from the magnitude 4.6 aftershock, three other aftershocks were reported in Samar following the initial earthquake with magnitudes ranging from 1.8 to 3.3. Earlier, a magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck San Julian, Eastern Samar around 1:37 PM. Phivolcs reported tha...

Keep on reading: Magnitude 4.6 aftershock reported in Catbalogan, Samar — Phivolcs

  SALT LAKE CITY --- Donovan Mitchell scored 19 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter to rally the Utah Jazz to a 107-91 victory over the Houston Rockets in Game 4 of their Western Conference series on Monday night. Jae Crowder added 23 points. Ricky Rubio chipped in 18 points and 11 assists and Derrick Favors finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Utah staved off elimination to force Game 5 on Wednesday. James Harden scored 30 points to lead Houston. Chris Paul added 23 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Eric Gordon chipped in 16 points. Utah's offense got a major boost from Crowder and Rubio in the first quarter. The duo combined for 25 points on 9-of-11 ...

Keep on reading: Jazz stave off sweep with Game 4 win over Rockets

    MANILA, Philippines--Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin on Tuesday inspected the Supreme Court premises following the earthquake that jolted Metro Manila and nearby provinces. Bersamin has suspended work in all courts in Metro Manila and Central Luzon to give way for the inspection of buildings and determine the structural integrity of the courts. /jpv RELATED STORY WATCH: Quake sways Quezon City building  ...

Keep on reading: LOOK: CJ Bersamin inspects SC building after earthquake

LONDON --- Chelsea moved into the Premier League's top four on Monday with a frustrating 2-2 draw with Burnley. Goals two minutes apart from N'Golo Kante and Gonzalo Higuain put Chelsea on top at Stamford Bridge after Jeff Hendrick had given Burnley an early lead. But Ashley Barnes pulled the visitors even in the 24th minute and Chelsea was unable to get the winner despite dominating possession and finishing with 22 shots. Chelsea climbed into the final Champions League qualifying spot, one point above fifth-place Arsenal and three ahead of Manchester United, but has played one game more. Along with the disappointment of dropping points, the Blues were also left frustra...

Keep on reading: Chelsea moves into Premier League top 4 after draw with Burnley

MANILA, Philippines --- Several senators on Tuesday underscored the need to improve disaster preparedness measures in the country following the magnitude 6.1 earthquake that struck parts of Luzon on Monday. Senator Sonny Angara said the earthquake manifested the need to have an independent agency focusing on disaster management. Citing Senate Bill 1994 or the Disaster Resilience Act filed in 2018, Angara said the agency will be called the Department of Disaster Resilience, which will be tasked to spearhead efforts to ensure disaster resilience in the country. "This strong earthquake reminds us of the urgency to create a single, independent and permanent agency devoted to disaste...

Keep on reading: Senators call for improved disaster preparedness measures

More than 48 hours after the Easter Sunday massacre in Sri Lanka, a devastatingly well-coordinated assault that targeted churches and hotels around the country, the shock still lingers.

  NEW YORK --- Viji Devadas hasn't heard from her nephew in Sri Lanka on her family WhatsApp chat group since he reached out just after the Easter Sunday bomb blasts that tore apart churches and hotels and killed hundreds in the South Asian nation. It's unsettling, but she knows he's ok, and the Sri Lankan government's decision to block most social media, citing concern over "false news reports," makes sense to her. In "one way, it's good because so many rumors and so many things, everybody gets scared," said Devadas, whose family runs a restaurant named after the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, in a tiny strip of New York's Staten Island borough known as "Little Sri Lanka...

Keep on reading: Sri Lanka expats wait to reconnect amid social media block

    MANILA, Philippines --- Interior Secretary Eduardo Ao said on Tuesday said he will order the suspension Chuzon Supermarket's business permits in Central Luzon, after the supermarket chain's branch in Porac, Pampanga collapsed when the magnitude 6.1 earthquake jolted the province.   https://twitter.com/inquirerdotnet/status/1120583832724393984   "I will send a memo to LGUs (local government units) to temporarily suspend business permit of Chuzon Supermarket in Central Luzon pending the result of infrastructure audit and review to avoid any loss of life if ever another earthquake will happen," Ao told INQUIRER.net in a text message.   ...

Keep on reading: DILG to order suspension of Chuzon grocery’s business permits after quake

On Sunday, Ukrainians overwhelmingly threw their support behind a political newcomer, actor and comedian Volodymyr Zelensky, to become the country's next President. 

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- An airline company has canceled its flights bound for Clark in Pampanga City from Laguindingan Airport here and vice versa, following the earthquake that rocked parts of Central Luzon Monday and damaged portions of the Clark International Airport. Job de Jesus, Laguindingan Airport manager, said his office received an advisory from the flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) early Tuesday morning, canceling at least four flights between Laguindingan and Clark on Tuesday. De Jesus said the cancellation of flights, which was issued by PAL on Monday, would take effect "until further notice." PAL has been flying the two destinations daily, aside from three days...

Keep on reading: PAL cancels flights from Cagayan de Oro to Clark and back after Monday’s quake

MANILA, Philippines --- The reported screening of "Avengers: Endgame" with Chinese subtitles is indicative of the growing Chinese influence in the Philippines, Senator Francis Pangilinan said Tuesday. "Siyempre nakakalungkot na hindi lang naman yung subtitles ang problema that is only an indication (Of course it is sad, but it [subtitles] is not the only problem. That is only an indication," Pangilinan said in ANC's Head Start. "It is an indication of more and more Chinese influence [in the Philippines]," he added. Several fans of the franchise sought a refund for the tickets to the screening of "Avengers: Endgame" after malls announced that the movie will have Chinese subtitle...

Keep on reading: Pangilinan: Chinese subtitles in theaters show growing Chinese influence in PH

One day after a devastating series of attacks on hotels and churches across Sri Lanka, another explosion blew out windows in the residential street in central Colombo and knocked a security officer off his feet.

  MANILA, Philippines -- Cebu Pacific on Tuesday announced more flight cancellations following the closure of the Clark International Airport in Pampanga.   The airport incurred heavy damage after a 6.1-magnitude earthquake hit Metro Manila and parts of Luzon.   READ: Clark International Airport shut down after quake   READ: Clark International Airport heavily damaged by quake   The airline company updated its list of cancelled flights, including flights on Wednesday, April 24.   Below is the list of canceled flights:   April 23, 2019 5J 120 Clark-Hong Kong 5J 121 Hong Kong-Clark 5J 609 Clark-Cebu 5J ...

Keep on reading: Cebu Pacific cancels flights until April 24 due to Clark airport closure