Inquirer Breaking News

Germany has committed to donate at least four more drones to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to use in its maritime domain awareness operations in the West Philippine Sea. PCG Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan made the announcement on Thursday during the visit of German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock at the PCG headquarters in Manila from Jan. 11 to Jan 12. READ:PH, Germany to bolster ties in technical-vocational education, training Rear Adm. Armando Balilo, spokesperson for the PCG, said the "four or more" additional drones are part of the 129-million euro (around P7.93 billion) initial assistance by the German government to the Philippines. "The UN Convention on the Law...

Keep on reading: Germany pledges more drones to coast guard

Iran's navy on Thursday seized a Greek-owned, Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker off Oman, carrying 18 Filipino crewmen, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). Hans Cacdac, officer in charge of DMW, said in an online press briefing on Friday that the M/T St. Nikolas had just come from Basra, Iraq, and was headed to Aliaga,Turkey, when it was intercepted at the Gulf of Oman. READ:Oil tanker with 18 Filipino crewmen boarded by armed group near Oman Iran confirmed the sea jacking purportedly to retaliate for the "theft" of its oil from the same tanker last year by the United States. The St. Nikolas was laden with 145,000 tons of crude oil. Cacdac said the DMW has...

Keep on reading: Iran seizes oil tanker; abducted Pinoy seamen now total 35

ALL IN THE HEAD A model shows howto use a FRENZ Brainband from Earable Neuroscience, a gadget that uses artificial intelligence and tracks stimulating brain activities, during the Consumer Electronics Show on Jan 7. in Las Vegas, Nevada. ---AFP LAS VEGAS --- Technology causes us to lose sleep, but can it also give it back? Companies aiming to help insomniacs, inveterate snorers and nap lovers showed off their latest gadgets at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. "We are the world's first AI (artificial intelligence) powered... sleep tracker and personal sleep stimulator that enhances deep sleep and also the time to fall asleep," said Kimi Doan, investment manager at Ear...

Keep on reading: Dream tech: Gadgets for insomniacs, snorers

  Days before the full implementation of the antiterrorism law, six United Nations experts made public a letter they wrote in October asking the government to explain cases of "judicial harassment, office raids and targeted financial sanctions" on rights watchdogs and its "seemingly unchecked powers" to run after suspected terrorists. In the 19-page letter dated Oct. 10, 2023, the UN special rapporteurs sought an explanation for alleged human rights violations carried out by the Marcos administration in pursuit of antiterrorism policies, including Republic Act (RA) No. 11479, which is to be fully enforced starting Jan. 15 under guidelines recently approved by the Supreme Court...

Keep on reading: 6 UN experts flag ‘unchecked’ antiterror powers in letter to Marcos

June Mar Fajardo described import Bennie Boatwright as someone who can make his job easier as his return Friday gave a glimpse of how their combination could spell the difference in San Miguel Beer's bid to win the PBA Commissioner's Cup crown. "I hope it's always like this. Life is a lot easier," Fajardo said in Filipino after his first game since late-November and helping the Beermen in a 125-117 victory at Smart Araneta Coliseum that cemented San Miguel's hold on a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals. Fajardo, whose modest 11 points, nine rebounds and six assists were enough, boosted San Miguel in closing out with an 8-3 record. And that's not at all bad after h...

Keep on reading: June Mar Fajardo returns, forms a lethal tandem with Boatwright at San Miguel

Former Philippine international Freddy Gonzalez was tasked to manage the national men's football team following his appointment as director of national teams by the Philippine Football Federation (PFF). PFF president John Gutierrez made the announcement Thursday, two days after Dan Palami stepped down from the post he had held since 2010. "Mr. Gonzalez's appointment represents the start of a new era and direction for the [men's national team]," Gutierrez said in a statement. Gonzalez served as part of transition team following Gutierrez's election as Nonong Araneta's successor last November. "As a former national team player himself, his passion to play for the country, his ...

Keep on reading: Gonzales takes over Palami as Azkals manager

Jacob Cortez has always been on La Salle coach Topex Robinson's radar. So when the chance to land the young playmaker cropped up, the champion mentor didn't think twice. "He's from our grassroots program, so the whole community wants to bring him (back), as they see him as someone who is their own. And I've been looking at our time after Evan (Nelle). So when the opportunity came about, the first thing I thought was we have to move mountains," Robinson told the Inquirer on Friday. "Everything just worked out," he added. Cortez, a key cog in San Beda University's return as National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) champion, announced earlier on Friday that he will be jo...

Keep on reading: After moving ‘mountains,’ Topex brings Cortez home to Taft

    Geneva, Switzerland ---This year could be hotter under El Nio'sinfluence than the record-shattering 2023, the United Nations warned Friday, as it urged drastic emissions cuts to combat climate change. The UN's World Meteorological Organization said new monthly temperature records were set every month between June and December, and the pattern is likely to continue due to the warming El Nio weather phenomenon. READ:Stronger El Nio phenomenon in 2024 threatens 65 provinces --- DOST The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted there is a one in three chance that 2024 will be warmer than 2023 -- and a 99 percent certainty that 2024 will...

Keep on reading: El Niño could make 2024 hotter than record 2023

    Paris, France ---From a mobile phone that fell and fell but didn't break to a shoot 'em up granny... Your weekly roundup of offbeat stories from around the world. Honest thief Say what you like about Spain, it has some of the world's most well brought up armed robbers. A teenager who held up a filling station in Estepona on the Costa del Sol made off with 2,000 euros, but not before paying for the soft drink he also took, police said. Phone had wi-fly Now that's what you call airplane mode. An iPhone that was sucked out of an Alaska Airlines flight when a panel blew out at 16,000 feet (5,000 meters) was found on the ground without a scratch. The phone wa...

Keep on reading: Funny old world: The week’s offbeat news

  LIMA --- Peru's prosecutors office on Friday formally requested 34 years in prison for former President Pedro Castillo, who was dramatically ousted from office and arrested after his attempt to dissolve Congress in late 2022. Castillo, whose ouster sparked off months of deadly protests that hit the key mining sector in the copper-rich country, remains in pre-trial detention on charges of "rebellion," abuse of authority and disrupting the peace.   READ:Ousted Peru leader ordered detained for 18 months amid protests...

Keep on reading: Peru prosecutors seek 34 years in prison for ex-President Castillo

  MANILA, Philippines --- Baguio City's gastroenteritis outbreak is now on a downtrend, city mayor Benjamin Magalong said on Friday. "The gastroenteritis outbreak, the cases are now on a downtrend," Magalong said in an announcement posted on Baguio City's Public Information Office's Facebook page. Magalong noted that the peak in gastroenteritis was on January 7 when 430 cases were reported. However, on Thursday, January 11, only 43 infections were logged. Over 2,000 gastroenteritis cases were reported in the city to date. READ: Gastroenteritis outbreak declared in Baguio Magalong, meanwhile, said he requested more personnel from the Department of Health's epidem...

Keep on reading: Magalong: Baguio’s gastroenteritis cases now on downtrend

  MANILA, Philippines --- No fecal coliform was found in the water samples taken in the main supplier of water in Baguio City. The Baguio Water District (BWD) made the announcement on Friday amid the acute gastroenteritis outbreak in the city. READ: Gastroenteritis outbreak declared in Baguio "Results of the initial microbiological test on water samples collected from various water sources of the BWD showed 'negative' for thermotolerant coliform organisms (commonly referred to as fecal coliforms)," the BWD said in a statement. The state-owned water provider said the samples were collected from BWD water sources supplying most of the Central Business District. B...

Keep on reading: No fecal coliform found in samples from Baguio’s main water provider

    WASHINGTON --- U.S. producer prices unexpectedly fell in December amid declining costs for goods such as diesel fuel and food, suggesting inflation would continue to subside and allow the Federal Reserve to start cutting interest rates this year. The report from the Labor Department on Friday, which also showed prices for services were unchanged for the third straight month, implied that a pick-up in consumer prices last month was likely a blip. It led economists to anticipate that the key price measures tracked by the U.S. central bank for its 2% inflation target rose moderately in December from the prior month. "The inflation pipeline is clearing and consu...

Keep on reading: US producer prices unexpectedly fall; goods deflation seen persisting

  WARSAW --- Thousands of opposition supporters gathered outside Poland's parliament on Thursday to protest against the new government's changes to state media and the imprisonment of two former ministers convicted of abuse of power. The march reflects mounting tensions in the country as the new pro-European Union coalition government led by Donald Tusk tries to undo the policies of the previous nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party administration. READ:Warsaw 'biggest' rally draws 'a million' anti-gov't protesters It also came as President Andrzej Duda, a PiS ally, said on Thursday he had started proceedings to pardon the two ministers in the last government who were ...

Keep on reading: Thousands protest in Poland against media reform, ex-ministers’ imprisonment

MANILA ---The Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) rebounded above 6,600 as the market awaited catalysts, such as the latest US inflation print. The PSEi rose 1.03 percent, or 67.62 points, to 6,613.73 while the broader All Shares index climbed 0.75 percent, or 26.12 points, to 3,495.76. Most large cap stocks traded in a narrow range throughout as investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of the US inflation report. Jonathan Ravelas, senior adviser at Reyes Tacandong & Co., also noted the market was "encountering some difficulty breaking above the 6,700 levels." READ: Asian shares rise after Wall St nears record; markets eye inflation report Removing block sales, trading ...

Keep on reading: PSEi recovers, but 6,700 ascent remains tricky

    GAZA/THE HAGUE --- Israel faced down accusations at the World Court on Thursday of genocide in its war in Gaza, as the first residents returned to scenes of total devastation in the north of the enclave where Israeli forces have begun withdrawing this week. Three months of Israeli bombardment has laid much of the coastal enclave to waste, killing more than 23,000 people and driving nearly the entire population of 2.3 million Palestinians from their homes. An Israeli blockade has sharply restricted supplies of food, fuel and medicine, creating what the United Nations describes as a humanitarian catastrophe. READ:Israel, S. Africa to face off at UN top court in ...

Keep on reading: Israel lashes back at ICJ genocide case; Gazans return to wasteland

MANILA, Philippines --- A total of 108 police personnel were dismissed due to drug-related charges since the start of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s administration, according to Philippine National Police's (PNP) data furnished to the media on Thursday. Of the said dismissal, 65 police personnel tested positive for illegal drugs while 43 were involved in drugs according to the PNP data from July 1, 2022 until Jan. 3 2024. READ: Marcos admin eyes drug rehab facility per province by 2028 PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said the benefits of dismissed policemen are now forfeited. "Dismissed from the service, they are not entitled to any benefits," Acorda said in a...

Keep on reading: PNP: 108 cops dismissed over drug-related raps since Marcos admin

    MANILA, Philippines --- China on Thursday said consultations on the "long-delayed" Code of Conduct (COC) for South China Sea are going smoothly. Chinese Foreign Ministry Mao Ning disclosed this in a regular press briefing after she was asked how optimistic the ministry is for the new phase of negotiations regarding the disputed waters. "China and Association of Southeast Asian Nation countries are working toward the adoption of COC in the South China Sea, which is an important measure in implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). The consultations on the COC are going smoothly," said Mao. READ:Talks on South China S...

Keep on reading: China says talks on ‘long-delayed’ South China Sea code going smoothly

Actor Gerald Anderson, who said he learned valuable lessons from people's collective experience during the pandemic lockdowns, has these pointers to share on how to save for the rainy days. "Always be prepared. Make sure you have emergency funds," Gerald began. "Try to save up, too. If you don't really need something, don't buy it." Gerald, who is an auxiliary commander of the K9 Special Support Squadron of the Philippine Coast Guard, was active in helping out people whose livelihoods were affected by the series of lockdowns since 2020. "I realized that there are only a few things a person needs in order to live comfortably, and that some people spend so much on things that ...

Keep on reading: Gerald Anderson on possibility of quitting the biz: I’ll still survive

MANILA, Philippines---Kevin Quiambao has a lot of reasons to smile before the Dubai International Basketball Tournament. For one, he's coming off a UAAP championship run. Then, he's set to play for the Philippines alongside former NBA veterans Dwight Howard, Andray Blatche and Andre Roberson. But what makes Quiambao giddier is seeing two La Salle coaches train him before the big event. "As a La Sallian, I'm so happy to see my fellow La Sallians here and be with them in the court so they can teach me. Our (me, Charles Tiu and Topex Robinson bonding is normal now because both of them are like my father figures," said Quiambao in Filipino on Wednesday. "Whatever lessons I'm ...

Keep on reading: Kevin Quiambao embraces chance to learn in Strong Group stint