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  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’

LOS ANGELES - LeBron James' steady march to the top of the NBA's all-time scorers list has been assured for so long that the biggest drama remaining is seeing what type of shot he will deploy to etch his name into the history books. James needs 63 points to surpass fellow Lakers great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's 38,387 points and after a road game on Saturday in New Orleans, most expect 'King James' to complete his quest in Los Angeles on either Tuesday or Thursday. https://twitter.com/NBAHistory/status/1621569211796721664?s=20&t=ih1-a0c8MosKJ-YNDv5lJg Playing in his 20th season, the 38-year-old has been as dominant as ever and last month was named to a record-tying 19th All-S...

Keep on reading: NBA: Tomahawk dunk? Skyhook? LeBron has options for breaking record

Memphis Grizzlies guard Dillon Brooks was suspended one game without pay on Friday and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell was fined $20,000 due to their on-court altercation during Thursday's game. Brooks will serve the suspension Sunday when the Grizzlies host the Toronto Raptors. The incident occurred with 5:48 left in the third quarter of Cleveland's 128-113 home victory. Brooks was on the floor near the basket and swung his left hand into Mitchell's groin area, an act that represented unsportsmanlike conduct, according to NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Joe Dumars. Mitchell responded by throwing the basketball at Brooks and then pushing him ...

Keep on reading: NBA: Dillon Brooks suspended, Donovan Mitchell fined after fight

Kyrie Irving's tumultuous NBA career is set to take another dramatic turn after multiple outlets reported Friday the Brooklyn Nets guard has requested a trade. According to the report, the Nets have been made aware of Irving's request and the eight-time All-Star is hoping to find a new landing spot before the Feb. 9 trade deadline. The Nets also were informed that Irving had no interest in staying with the organization after his contract expires in July. The Athletic reported that the Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks top the list of teams expected to pursue a trade for Irving. This season alone has been a rocky ride for Irving, who still has managed to s...

Keep on reading: NBA: Kyrie Irving requests trade from Nets—report

  Singapore ---Singapore is seeing an influx of ultra-wealthy families from China looking to protect their wealth from a Communist Party that increasingly views them with suspicion. Beijing's recent crackdowns on tech billionaires and tax-shy celebrities, as well as three years of zero-Covid, have led many rich Chinese to look for a safe haven. Nervous over the fate of their fortunes, some of the country's mega-rich have since booked tickets to Singapore, insiders told AFP. The key Asian financial hub ticks all the boxes for relocating tycoons. Singapore has been ruled by one party for the past six decades, and labour strikes and street protests are banned. Taxes ...

Keep on reading: China’s mega-rich move their wealth, and partying, to Singapore

LOS ANGELES - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will be in the stands for two Lakers home games in which LeBron James is likely to surpass him and become the NBA's all-time leading scorer, a source close to the Lakers great told Reuters on Thursday. Abdul-Jabbar and James have had a frosty relationship amid a range of public disagreements leaving some to wonder whether the Hall of Famer would want to witness the fall of the record he has held for nearly four decades. Abdul-Jabbar criticized James for saying that getting the COVID-19 vaccine was a personal choice and has described James's on-court celebrations as "stupid and childish." Magic Johnson in October said losing the scoring t...

Keep on reading: NBA: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to attend Lakers games as LeBron closes on record—source

  WASHINGTON --- The US House of Representatives plans to vote next week on a bill that would end a requirement that most foreign air travelers be vaccinated against COVID-19, Majority Leader Steve Scalise said on Friday. The Biden administration in June dropped its requirement that people arriving in the country by air must test negative for COVID-19 but has not lifted Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) vaccination requirements. Currently, adult visitors to the United States who are not citizens or permanent residents must show proof of vaccination before boarding their flight, with some limited exceptions. Republican Representative Thomas Massie intro...

Keep on reading: US House plans vote to end foreign air traveler COVID vaccine mandate

  LUCENA CITY -- Police anti-narcotics operatives busted two alleged big-time traffickers of marijuana early Saturday, Feb. 4, and seized more than P1.2 million worth of the illegal hemp in Rodriguez town in Rizal province. The Regional Office 4A in a report said members of the Rizal police drug enforcement unit and local cops collared Anjo Anselmo and Jomarin Pascual around 12:40 a.m. after they sold P6,000 worth of marijuana to an undercover cop in Barangay (village) San Isidro. Authorities confiscated from the suspects a total of 12.2 kilos of dried marijuana leaves with a street value of P1,228,000 and a weighing scale. The report tagged Anselmo and Pascual as "h...

Keep on reading: 2 suspects yield P1.2 million worth of marijuana in Rizal

  KYIV--- The European Union offered strong support for Ukraine at a summit in Kyiv as air raid sirens wailed on Friday, but set "no rigid time lines" for its accession to the wealthy bloc. President Volodymyr Zelensky had hoped the EU would put Ukraine on a rapid road to membership. He used the summit to step up calls for allies to deliver long-range weapons to help repel Russian forces besieging the city of Bakhmut and occupying much of the eastern Donbas industrial region. "If weapons (supplies) are quickened, specifically long-range weapons, we not only will not leave Bakhmut, but we will also begin to deoccupy Donbas," he told a joint news conference after the summ...

Keep on reading: Ukraine wins EU pledges of support, no promise of fast-track accession

  MANILA, Philippines --- The entire country is forecast to have partly cloudy skies with chances of rain on Saturday, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa). According to the agency, there are no low pressure areas inside the Philippine area of responsibility that can turn into a tropical cyclone. "Ngayong araw nga ay inaasahan natin na magiging maulap hanggang bahagyang maulap ang kalangitan dito sa buong bahagi ng bansa. Mayroon lang tayo mararanasang isolated na pag-ulan, pagkidlat at pagkulog dito sa bahagi ng Palawan, Visayas at Mindanao at mayroon rin tayong maasahan na mahihinang pag-ulan at pag-a...

Keep on reading: Partly cloudy skies with isolated rains to prevail over PH

LUCENA CITY --- An alleged New People's Army (NPA) rebel surrendered to police and Army soldiers in Lopez town in Quezon province Friday, Feb. 3, after he got separated from his comrades, the military reported. The 85th Infantry Battalion said in a report Saturday, Feb. 4, that the rebel returnee was Flaviano Andal Jr., alias "Ka Bitoy," a resident of Lopez town. The military tagged Andal as one of the communist guerrillas that engaged the government forces in two successive battles in San Andres and San Francisco towns over the weekend. "He (Andal) got separated from the other rebels during the exchange of gunfire and decided to return home to his family," the report said. ...

Keep on reading: Alleged NPA rebel surrenders in Quezon