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PARIS---Acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi has been released on bail after starting a hunger strike to protest against his almost seven-month detention, supporters said on Friday, Feb. 3. The director, a winner at all the big European film festivals, had been arrested months before the current anti-regime protests erupted. But his imprisonment became a symbol of the plight of artists speaking out against the authorities. Panahi was released from Tehran's Evin prison "two days after starting his hunger strike for freedom," the US-based Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) said on Twitter, while Iran's reformist Shargh newspaper published an image of Panahi jubilantly emb...

Keep on reading: Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi released after hunger strike

  MANILA, Philippines --- In what would seem like something straight from a television show, an alleged scammer who for years posed as a businesswoman was arrested in Taguig City for swindling millions of pesos from several victims. The supposed scammer, identified as Mikaela Veronica Cabrera, 26 years old, was arrested on Friday at a condominium in Taguig City at exactly 6:36 p.m., based on a police report obtained from the National Capital Region Police Office. Akin to Anna Delvey --- the protagonist of the true story Netflix-miniseries "Inventing Anna" who posed as a German heiress to scam the elites of New York, United States --- Cabrera is a fraudster who tri...

Keep on reading: Philippines’ own ‘Anna Delvey’ arrested in Taguig City

New York Times reporter Brett Stephens and Rep. Ruben Gallego (D- AZ) discuss issues the Democratic party is facing reaching constituents with Bill Maher.

Two police departments, one in Miami and another in Columbus, Ohio, are facing criticism after unveiling police cruisers wrapped in Black History Month artwork. CNN political commentator Karen Finney and Former Head of Intelligence at DC Homeland Security Department Donell Harvin join Laura Coates to discuss.

Joel Embiid poured in 33 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the visiting Philadelphia 76ers swamped the reeling San Antonio Spurs 137-125 on Friday. The 76ers forged a 47-point second quarter on the way to a 12-point lead at halftime. They increased their advantage to as many as 21 points late in the third quarter behind Embiid's 12 points in the period and a 12-0 spurt keyed by the reserve unit. San Antonio cut its deficit to 122-112 on a pair of free throws by Malaki Branham with 5:02 to play but Embiid answered with three free throws and James Harden buried a 3-pointer with 3:58 to play to push the 76ers' advantage back to 16 points. Philadelphia cruised to the finish line, w...

Keep on reading: Joel Embiid’s double-double helps 76ers trounce hapless Spurs

Cole Anthony came off the bench to lead seven Orlando scorers in double-figures with 20 points, and the Magic rode a dominant second half to a 127-120 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday in Minneapolis. The Magic went on an 8-0 run early in the third quarter to lead by double digits, a cushion it kept for most of the second half. The lead swelled to as many as 22 points in the fourth quarter, after a melee late in the third quarter led to the ejections of five players. Jalen Suggs and Mo Bamba were ejected for scuffling with Minnesota's Austin Rivers, while the Timberwolves' Taurean Prince and Jaden McDaniels were tossed along with Rivers for their involvement. htt...

Keep on reading: NBA: Magic survive ejection-filled game to top Timberwolves

After netizens called him out for his "unfair treatment" of his "It's Showtime" co-host Karylle, Vice Ganda apologized to the actress-singer and clarified to the public that all is well between the show hosts. The comedian earlier received criticisms from netizens after he apparently talked to Karylle in a sarcastic tone during an episode of the noontime variety show. After acknowledging that he was out of the line, Vice Ganda said that he had reached out to Karylle regarding the incident, as per his Twitter page on Friday, Feb. 3. "Story time! Magkakasama kami ni [Karylle at Amy Perez] and Anne sa dressing room. 'Di daw siya naoffend when I asked her, but I still apologized...

Keep on reading: Vice Ganda asserts all is well with Karylle, takes swipe at ‘kuya’ who chimed in to be ‘trending’

The Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz have held "exploratory conversations" about a potential trade of nine-time All-Star Russell Westbrook, Bleacher Report said Friday. Westbrook, 34, is averaging 15.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 7.6 assists over 28.8 minutes per game off the bench as the Lakers' sixth man. Bleacher Report said the Lakers are communicating with most NBA teams as they tinker with the roster toward a playoff push. They are looking for a top shooter to complement stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and reportedly have their sights set on Bojan Bogdanovic of the Detroit Pistons. The Lakers acquired forward Rui Hachimura from the Washington Wizards on Jan. 23 f...

Keep on reading: NBA: Russell Westbrook focus on Lakers-Jazz trade talks—report

  LUCENA CITY -- The top police official in the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) region has ordered a deeper investigation into the extent of police involvement in the illegal drug trade after three cops in Dasmarias City, Cavite were caught with P1.4 million worth of shabu (crystal meth) on Feb. 1. Police Brigadier General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., commander of Police Region 4A, said he has directed Cavite police provincial director to immediately conduct a follow-up operation and thorough investigation "to unmask this drug group which involves the active police officers." "I will never let them drag the image of the organization," Nartatez said i...

Keep on reading: Calabarzon top cop orders probe on police ties with drug syndicates

NEW YORK-Ford will return toFormulaOnewith reigning champions Red Bull in 2026 when the sport enters a new engine era, the U.S. carmaker said on Friday at the team's 2023 livery launch in New York. The U.S. carmaker will partner Red Bull Powertrains, the company established to build engines for Red Bull and sister team AlphaTauri after an existing customer arrangement with Honda expires. Ford said it would provide expertise in areas including battery cell and electric motor technology, as well as power unit control software and analytics. Red Bull Ford will provide power units to both Red Bull teams until at least 2030 and the news was welcome byFormulaOneManagement and the ...

Keep on reading: Ford returning to Formula One with Red Bull in 2026

  Washington, United States---A Chinese spy balloon has been spotted over Latin America, the Pentagon said Friday, a day after a similar craft was seen in US skies, prompting the scrapping of a rare trip to Beijing by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The Pentagon said the first balloon was now heading eastwards over the central United States, adding it was not being shot down for safety reasons. Later Friday, Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder said: "We are seeing reports of a balloon transiting Latin America." "We now assess it is another Chinese surveillance balloon," he added, without specifying its exact location. Moments before Blinken's decision to cancel his...

Keep on reading: Chinese spy balloon ‘transits’ Latin America after first craft flies over US

LONDON - Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez shone on his debut and some other new faces hinted at their potential but, after a 300 million pounds ($361.53 million) January spending spree, the same problems weighed on the Blues in their 0-0 draw with Fulham on Friday. With only 22 goals scored in 21 Premier League games so far this season, coach Graham Potter has yet to find a way to turn the wealth of talent in his huge squad into a winning machine. Argentina's World Cup winner Fernandez, bought this week for a British record of almost 107 million pounds from Benfica, flashed a shot just wide in the 72nd minute after an imperious first-half display of tackling and passing. Fellow debu...

Keep on reading: Same old problems for new-look Chelsea in draw with Fulham

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first goal for Al Nassr with a last-gasp penalty to salvage a 2-2 draw at Al Fateh in a thrilling Saudi Pro League match on Friday. The 37-year-old Portugal international, a five-times Ballon D'Or winner, converted from the spot three minutes into added time, having failed to score on his debut last month. "Happy to have scored my first goal in the Saudi league and great effort by whole team to achieve an important draw in a very difficult match!" Ronaldo said on Twitter after the game. Ronaldo signed a 2-1/2 year deal with Al Nassr in December, reported to be worth over 200 million euros ($220 million), and was appointed captain shortly after hi...

Keep on reading: Cristiano Ronaldo nets first goal for Al Nassr to snatch 2-2 draw

  MANILA, Philippines --- In a Pulse Asia survey commissioned by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, the local language in an area was found to be the least preferred medium of instruction for students in grade 1 to grade 3 at 38%. The national language Filipino was found to be the most preferred at 88%, with English at 71%, according to the survey. "The survey, which was conducted from September 17-21, 2022, asked 1,200 respondents their opinion on which language or languages should be used as the primary language of instruction for students in the Primary Level or Grades 1 to 3," said Gatchalian in a statement on Saturday. A total of 50% of respondents came from Visayas an...

Keep on reading: Only 38% of students grade 1 to 3 prefer local language as medium of instruction — Pulse Asia

Jaden Ivey had 24 points and seven assists and the host Detroit Pistons downed the Charlotte Hornets 118-112 on Friday night. Saddiq Bey contributed 22 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer in the late going. Bojan Bogdanovic had 21 points and Alec Burks added 16. Jalen Duren collected a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds, and Isaiah Stewart added eight points, 16 rebounds and six assists. LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier led Charlotte with 23 points apiece, but Ball shot 7 of 23 from the field. Mason Plumlee added 13 points and Gordon Hayward chipped in 12. https://twitter.com/DetroitPistons/status/1621697330754863106?s=20&t=o28ojiSpGLpLYic1LewPYw Detroit overcame...

Keep on reading: NBA: Pistons beat Hornets despite 23 turnovers

Despite having a thin bench, the Phoenix Suns used a strong fourth quarter to pick up a 106-94 road win against the Boston Celtics on Friday night. The Celtics outscored the Suns 29-17 in the third quarter and trailed 74-73 with 12 minutes to play, but Phoenix began the fourth with a 14-2 run. The Celtics never got closer than six points the rest of the way. Mikal Bridges led the Suns with 23 points. Chris Paul scored 15 to go with eight assists and six rebounds, and Dario Saric (14 points, game-high 13 rebounds) and Deandre Ayton (14 points, 10 boards) both logged double-doubles. https://twitter.com/Suns/status/1621709570031730690?s=20&t=o28ojiSpGLpLYic1LewPYw In add...

Keep on reading: NBA: Suns hand Celtics first double-digit home loss

Anfernee Simons scored 20 of his 33 points in the third quarter on Friday, helping the visiting Portland Trail Blazers overcome a 20-point deficit in a 124-116 victory over the Washington Wizards. Simons drained nine 3-pointers and added six assists as the Trail Blazers outscored the Wizards 73-47 in the second half. Portland's Damian Lillard collected 29 points and six assists, and Trendon Watford scored a season-high 21 points off the bench. Josh Hart added 21 points and nine rebounds for the Trail Blazers, who recorded their fifth win in the last six games to reach .500 on the season. https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1621704506479198209?s=20&t=bUfNdLWMdxtSSfHw9n-laA ...

Keep on reading: NBA: Blazers dig out of 20-point hole to defeat Wizards

  MANILA, Philippines --- The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) party-list decried the revival of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) on the 124th anniversary of the beginning of the war between the Philippines and the United States (US), saying that it was like the colonizers never left. According to the ACT, it was on February 4, 1899 that American soldiers fired upon Filipinos doing patrol duties in Manila. The group said that heroes who fought to expel American armed forces would be enraged by the presence of US forces in the Philippines. READ: US, PH agree to four new Edca sites "Tila hindi umalis ang mananakop. Maaaring mapamura sa galit ...

Keep on reading: ACT slams Edca on 124th anniversary of PH-American war: ‘Tila hindi umalis ang mananakop’

The Brooklyn Nets appeared to have turned around their season when they won 12 straight games in December and early January. The star-studded Nets settled into fourth place in the Eastern Conference, just 5 1/2 games out of first entering Friday's play. But now, Kyrie Irving has decided he wants out, reportedly requesting a trade Friday ahead of next Thursday's league deadline. Predictably, the stunning twist in the Brooklyn melodrama has reverberated to Las Vegas, where the team's title odds have lengthened at more than one sportsbook. The Nets were +700 to win the NBA title at BetMGM as of Friday morning. By the evening, they had plummeted to +1400. It was a similar sto...

Keep on reading: NBA: Nets’ title odds plummet in wake of Kyrie Irving trade demand

An emotional Pokwang has broken her silence on the reason behind her split with Lee O'Brian, admitting she initially defended him in hopes they would still mend their relationship. The comedian narrated how their misunderstanding rooted from a confrontation about their now-defunct business, PokLee products, through a tell-all interview for "Fast Talk with Boy Abunda" on Friday, Feb. 3. "Dumating 'yung panahon na may mga questions na ako---I'm not saying na hindi siya mapagkakatiwalaan. Karapatan ko bilang partner mo sa negosyo na malaman kung nasaan na tayo, ano nang nangyayari," she said. "Nagpapa-update lang ako sa kanya pero parang ang dating sa kanya... hinuhusgahan ko na s...

Keep on reading: Pokwang admits she lied about cause of split with Lee O’Brian: ‘Umasa akong aayusin pa niya’