Inquirer Breaking News

SINGAPORE - Asian stocks retreated from three-month highs and the dollar held on to gains following strong U.S. data that again suggested the Federal Reserve might stick longer with aggressive interest rate increases. While investors remained hopeful of China's economy improving with the easing of the country's zero-COVID policy, analysts said markets had already priced in a lot of the upbeat news. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan shed 0.4 percent, after climbing to a three-month high in the previous session. The benchmark has gained 21 percent from October lows on persistent chatter about China easing pandemic measures. Stocks in Korea and Taiwan trade...

Keep on reading: Stocks ease from 3-month highs, dollar firms up on strong U.S. data

MANILA, Philippines -- Lawmakers have sought to amend Republic Act No. 11709, removing the three-year fixed term of key officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). RA 11709, signed by President Rodrigo Duterte last April, entails that military officials appointed to key positions will serve a fixed term of three years, except for the Philippine Military Academy superintendent, who will have a four-year tour of duty. The proposed House Bill 6482 by House Speaker Martin Romualdez, along with Representatives Raul Tupas, Mercedes Alvarez, Divina Grace Yu, and Jorge Bustos, seeks to amend the three-year fixed term and that the President has the option to terminate it sooner....

Keep on reading: Lawmakers seek to remove three-year fixed terms for some AFP officials

LUCENA CITY ---A motorcycle rider died, and two others were injured when their vehicles collided before midnight on Monday, Dec. 5, in Lipa City in Batangas province. William Cuenca was traveling at 11:55 p.m. along JP Laurel Highway in Barangay Inosluban, when he occupied the opposite lane, and collided with another motorcycle driven by Charlie Verdejo Jr., theBatangas police reported. The motorcycle riders, including Verdejo's back-rider, were thrown off their vehicles. Cuenca's body was then hit by a truck, driven by Harvey Narez, that was running behind his motorcycle. Cuenca died on the spot from fatal injuries. Verdejo and his back-rider also suffered injuries an...

Keep on reading: Motorcyclist dead, 2 hurt in Batangas collision

SEOUL - A nationwide strike by South Korean truckers has led nearly 100 petrol stations across the country to run dry, government data show, and a national trade union said it would launch a general strike on Tuesday in support of the drivers. The truckers' strike over a minimum pay programme, which began on Nov. 24, has seen two negotiation sessions between the union and the government, but so far there has been no breakthrough. As supplies of fuel and construction materials run low, the South Korean government has stepped up pressure to end the strike. President Yoon Suk-yeol on Sunday ordered preparations to issue a return-to-work order for drivers in sectors such as oil refi...

Keep on reading: Fuel runs short at South Korean petrol stations as union plans general strike alongside truckers

MANILA, Philippines --- The Taguig Court has granted the motion of comedian and television host Ferdinand "Vhong" Navarro to post bail for his temporary liberty. The trial court has set Navarro's bail to P1 million in connection with the rape charges filed by model Deniece Cornejo. RELATED STORIES: CA rejectsVhongNavarro's plea to stop filing of rape, acts of lasciviousness charges CA orders rape charges vsVhongNavarro...

Keep on reading: Taguig court allows Vhong Navarro to post P1 million bail

LUCENA CITY --- Police anti-illegal drug operatives arrested early Tuesday two suspected pushers in Bian City in Laguna province. Wallace Rivers and Violeta de la Cruz, both on the drug watch list, werecollared at 3:15 a.m. after selling P500 worth of meth to a police agent in Barangay Canlalay, the Police Regional Office 4A said in a report. Seized were four sachets of shabu with an estimated Dangerous Drugs Board value of P16,250. The suspects were detained and are facing charges of violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. RELATED STORIES 2 former drug convicts busted anew in Laguna | Inquirer News Armed 'high-value' drug suspect busted in Laguna |...

Keep on reading: 2 drug pushers fall in Biñan City bust

Independent non-profit and PWD-led Alagang AKAY donated wheelchairs for 200 Laguna-based Persons with Disabilities in ceremonies and festivities held in Laguna recently. The donation drive was held in cooperation with the Sol Aragones Foundation, former news reporter and three-term congressman Sol Aragones. "One out of 7 people around the world or some 15% of the world's population face difficulties and barriers due to some form of disability. They are all PWDs. The incidence is higher and the challenges steeper for PWDs in developing countries," said Sol Aragones, founder of the Sol Aragones Foundation. "In our own efforts in Laguna province to assist PWDs and their families, ...

Keep on reading: Alagang Akay rolls out 200 wheelchairs for PWDs in Laguna

  WASHINGTON -- The Biden administration will expand deportation relief and access to work permits for Haitians who are already in the United States, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said on Monday, a move that comes as Haiti's government struggles to stabilize the country. The administration will offer Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to an estimated 264,000 Haitians for 18 months after the current designation expires in February. Of those, about 101,000 currently have the status and 53,000 have pending applications, according to DHS. Another 110,000 more recent arrivals would also be covered by the new extension move. TPS provides deportation protection and...

Keep on reading: US expands deportation relief to some 264,000 Haitians

SYDNEY - Australia's current account fell into deficit for the first time in three years last quarter as robust domestic demand sucked in imports and miners paid more dividends abroad, though the drag on economic growth was not as large as first feared. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Tuesday showed the current account had slid to a deficit of A$2.3 billion ($1.54 billion) in the July-September quarter. That was down from a surplus of A$14.7 billion in the previous quarter and far from forecasts for a A$6.2 billion surplus. "The deficit reflected a narrowing but robust trade surplus, which was offset by a record high income deficit in the September quarter,"...

Keep on reading: Australia records first current account deficit in three years

  SHANGHAI -- More than half of Chinese say they will put off travel abroad, for periods from several months to more than a year, even if borders re-opened tomorrow, a study showed on Tuesday, a sign that consumer recovery from COVID-19 measures will take time. Mainland China retains some of the world's most stringent measures on PCR testing and quarantine for international travelers, despite some domestic easing of curbs after last month's unprecedented COVID protests. Fear of infection with the disease was the top concern of those saying they would postpone travel in a survey of 4,000 consumers in China by consultancy Oliver Wyman, with worries about changes to domest...

Keep on reading: Few Chinese keen to travel abroad soon, even if COVID-19 curbs ease–report

Coco Martin will be appearing in another adaptation of a Fernando Poe Jr. classic as "Batang Quiapo," which is set to make its way to ABS-CBN in 2023. The actor will be starring in the project alongside Charo Santos and the daughter of FPJ or "Da King," actress Lovi Poe, as seen in a teaser video on Dreamscape Entertainment's Facebook yesterday, Dec. 5. The new adaptation of "Batang Quiapo," which was first released as a movie in 1986, is made in commemoration of FPJ's 18th death anniversary. "Isang FPJ Classic ang muling bibigyang-buhay ni Coco Martin kasama ang anak ng nag-iisang Da King, Lovi Poe. ['FPJ's Batang Quiapo'] ngayong 2023!" it stated. (Another FPJ Classic will...

Keep on reading: Coco Martin, Lovi Poe, Charo Santos cast in ABS-CBN adaptation of ‘Batang Quiapo’

MANILA, Philippines --- Former Batangas vice governor Ricky Recto has passed away, Batangas 6th District Rep. Ralph Recto confirmed on Tuesday morning. According to the lawmaker, their family is asking for time and space to grieve privately. They assured the public, though, that arrangements are being made for a memorial, details of which may be announced soon. The former vice governor is the older brother of former senator and now Batangas representative Recto. "With sadness, we share the news that our brother Ricky has passed away. Words are hard to come by to express the sorrow of losing him, but we take comfort in our fond memories of him to overcome the pain we feel," the y...

Keep on reading: Ex-Batangas vice gov Ricky Recto passes away

MANILA, Philippines --- Police arrested a security guard for alleged robbery at a popular drug store in Quezon City on Tuesday. Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Director Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III identified the suspect as Eric Mercado. He said Mercado was collared after he reportedly broke into a Mercury Drug store. "Nilooban itong Mercury Drug at ang mga holdaper, supposedly, ikinulong pa ang dalawang empleyado na magbubukas sana ng branch na ito," he said in an interview with radio station dzBB of GMA Network. (He broke into Mercury Drug, and the robbers supposedly locked in two employees who were supposed to open the store branch.) INQUIRER.net has reached out to QCPD...

Keep on reading: Authorities nab security guard for drug store robbery in QC

  About half the region surrounding the Ukrainian capital will remain without electricity for the coming days after Russian missile strikes on power facilities, the Kyiv regional governor said. The strikes on Monday, which plunged parts of Ukraine back into freezing darkness, were the latest in weeks of attacks hitting critical infrastructure and cutting off heat and water to many. Kyiv, a city of about 3 million people, appeared to have escaped serious damage. But the Kyiv region, which does not include the capital and which had a population of about 1.8 million before the war, was badly affected. "In the coming days, about half of the region will be without electri...

Keep on reading: Half of Kyiv’s region to remain without power for days–governor

Disney's streaming service is now in the Philippines. You and your family may enjoy the fun Disney+ series and movies on your smart TV.   However, each brand has different ways of activating the platform. You will need to know the right one to view Disney+ properly.   This article will discuss how to activate Disney Plus on smart TV. Also, we will explain more details about the streaming app. How to activate Disney+ on your Samsung, Apple, and Amazon TV   You will have a smartphone or tablet with the Disney Plus app logged in to your Disney account. Also, it should have a stable connection to the internet.   Let us start by activating it on ...

Keep on reading: How to Activate Disney+ on Smart TV

BEIJING -- China's capital Beijing no longer requires people that enter supermarkets and commercial buildings to show negative COVID-19 tests on their mobile phones, the city government said in a statement on Tuesday. However, the city still requires negative test results to enter Internet cafes, schools, bars, KTV lounges, indoor gyms and elderly care institutions.   RELATED STORIES China's COVID-19 cases rise, record daily numbers seen in Beijing and other cities Beijing, Shenzhen loosen more COVID-19 curbs as China fine-tunes policy Several Beijing districts shut schools as China COVID-19 cases rise  ...

Keep on reading: Beijing no longer requires COVID-19 test results to enter supermarkets, buildings

  TAITUNG, Taiwan -- Taiwan's air force may be on the front lines of defending against China's daily incursions into the skies near the democratically governed island, but for downtime and to boost morale they have a secret weapon - their own band. Started in 2018, the Taiwan air force's "Tiger Band" is made up of fighter pilots, ground crews and other personnel at the Chihhang air base in Taitung on Taiwan's mountainous and scenic east coast, singing soft rock ballads with an indigenous twist. Taiwan's military helped them produce a slick music video for their biggest hit to date, "Fly into the Sky". It has only had a modest 14,000 views on YouTube so far but has garne...

Keep on reading: Taiwan’s air force band boosts morale, patriotism on the front line

OLONGAPO CITY --- The number of crimes reported in Central Luzon dropped by more than two percent in the last two months, police said. In a report on Dec. 4, the Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) said it recorded 527 crime incidents, particularly murder, homicide, robbery, theft, physical injury, motorcycle theft, car theft, and rape, from October to November this year. PRO3 said the figure was 2.23 percent lower compared with the 663 crime incidents related to the so-called "eight focus crimes" tallied during the same period last year. Brigadier General Cesar Pasiwen, police regional director, attributed the drop to their intensified anti-criminality operations and the cooper...

Keep on reading: Fewer crimes reported in Central Luzon in the past 2 months

LONDON ---A new Netflix trailer released Monday for an upcoming six-part docuseries on Prince Harry and wife Meghan risked further deepening their feud with his family, with the royal calling life within it a "dirty game". The British royal family is bracing for a potentially highly damaging account of the couple's grievances that led them to quit frontline duties and move to the United States. In the clips, posted on Twitter, Harry accuses the family of using the press to undermine them while one of the couple's supporters calls it a tale of "hatred" and "race". The trailer opens with happy footage from the couple's courtship, engagement and wedding, before Harry says "ever...

Keep on reading: Prince Harry calls life within royal family ‘a dirty game’ in new Netflix series

SAN ANTONIO, Zambales --- Police in this province arrested 34 persons facing various offenses during their weeklong anti-criminality operations. In a report released Monday, Dec. 5, the provincial police said 14 of those arrested from Nov. 28 to Dec. 3 were alleged drug traders. The police also confiscated 8.24 grams of suspected "shabu" (crystal meth) worth P55,998 during the period. The data showed that 16 arrested persons were fugitives, while the other four were involved in illegal gambling. INQ RELATED STORIES 10 crime suspects nabbed in Zambales | Inquirer News 28 nabbed in Zambales operations | Inquirer News lzb...

Keep on reading: 34 crime suspects nabbed in Zambales