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U.S. stocks closed up on Tuesday, helped by some advances in economically sensitive sectors, as investors awaited inflation data and the Federal Reserve's policy meet next week. Inflation data is expected to show consumer prices cooled slightly on a month-over-month basis in May but core prices are likely to have remained elevated, and the Fed is widely expected to hold interest rates. Major indexes wavered as investors took a breather after pushing the S&P 500 up almost 20 percent from its October 2022 lows, boosted by gains in megacap stocks, a stronger-than-expected earnings season and hopes that the U.S. central bank is nearing the end of its interest rate-hike cycle. Th...

Keep on reading: US stocks end up as Fed, CPI loom large next week

  MANILA, Philippines --- Tropical storm 'Chedeng' (international name 'Guchol') further intensified on Wednesday, but is still not expected to directly affect the country, said the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Administration (Pagasa). Chedeng strengthened from a tropical depression into a tropical storm on Tuesday night and is expected to leave the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) by Monday or Tuesday next week. According to Pagasa weather specialist Obet Badrina, Chedeng was last spotted 1,060 kilometers east of Southeastern Luzon with maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 90 kph. "I...

Keep on reading: Tropical Storm Chedeng intensifies further; may leave PAR Monday

MANILA, Philippines --- The Kingdom of Bahrain plans to establish a diplomatic mission in the Philippines next year. A delegation of Bahrain visited Manila from May 31 to June 3, led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Consular and Administrative Affairs Mohamed Ali Bahzard. Together with Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Antonio Morales, the two envoys discussed the ongoing preparations for the establishment of the Bahrain embassy in the country, which is set to materialize next year in time for the 45th anniversary of the Bahrain-Philippine diplomatic relations. Currently, the embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain in Bangkok, Thailand, has concurre...

Keep on reading: Bahrain to put up embassy in PH, says DFA

MANILA, Philippines --- The two navigational buoys at Balagtas Reef and at Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) remain intact, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) confirmed on Tuesday. Earlier in the day, the PCG deployed a Cessna Caravan 2081 plane in Palawan to carry out a maritime domain awareness flight, according to the PCG spokesperson for WPS affairs, Commo. Jay Tarriela. "Following the operation, it was confirmed that the two navigational buoys in Balagtas Reef (Irving) and Julian Felipe Reef (Whitsun) which had been previously reported as removed, are still in their original positions," Tarriela said in a statement. "The PCG's successful mission in Palaw...

Keep on reading: Two buoys in WPS previously reported as removed still in place

MARIVELES, Bataan, Philippines --- The exercises between the Philippine Coast Guard and its US and Japan counterparts --- to be conducted from June 1 to 7 --- are not meant to "antagonize" China but are aimed at forging "stronger ties." The PCG deputy spokesperson, Lt. Junior Grade Jherich John Ybaez, was asked about the issue during an interview here aboard the BRP Cabra on Tuesday. "Well, this is purely coast guard to coast guard," Ybaez told reporters. "These exercises are to build relationships with partners we've had exercises with them before. This is not the first time we've had an exercise with Japan. This is not the first time we had an exercise with the US Coast Guard...

Keep on reading: PCG exercises with US, Japan not meant to ‘antagonize’ China

When she was reminded that she has been in show biz for 20 years now, Glaiza de Castro reminisced on her humble beginnings, including countless auditions and workshops, the rejections and the happenstance that changed the course of her career. "I experienced pushing our vehicle because it wouldn't start. There were instances where I wasn't allowed into mall shows---hindi kasi pang-artista ang sasakyan!" she recalled, laughing, at a recent virtual conference for her ongoing afternoon soap on GMA 7, "The Seed of Love." In the early 2000s, she and her manager received a text message from a talent scout, informing them about an audition for a minor role in the film, "Cool Dudes 24/...

Keep on reading: How missent text gave Glaiza de Castro her first show biz break

"I never say no to exciting new opportunities," said GMA 7 heartthrob Alden Richards when we asked him if he'd be willing to do hard action in his upcoming projects. We crossed paths with Alden at the splashy party thrown by Netflix Philippines for the "Extraction" press event that began last Sunday. To welcome star Chris Hemsworth, director Sam Hargrave and their team to the three-day affair, the streaming giant invited Alden and other Filipino stars and flew in a merry mix of more than 70 press people, influencers and celebrities from all over Asia. Given how diligently the 31-year-old actor sticks to his fitness regimen, Alden is now more than ready to take on physically dem...

Keep on reading: Why Alden Richards wants to meet Chris Hemsworth

MANILA, Philippines---Almond Vosotros and TNT added another feather to their cap in 3x3 after ruling the Red Bull Half Court 2023 National Finals on Saturday at Taguig Community Center. Fresh off a silver medal finish in the Cambodia Southeast Asian Games last month, Vosotros led TNT past CAVITEX, 21-20, to book a ticket to the Red Bull Half Court World Finals in Belgrade, Serbia in September. TNT, a perennial winner in PBA 3x3, also drew contributions from Gryann Mendoza, Ping Exciminiano and Lervin Flores. "For me, the experience is always there, so that's a big help for me. Ping and Gryann adapted as well. Plus, we've been together for a long time so I think that's our ad...

Keep on reading: Almond Vosotros, TNT continue 3×3 success with Serbia World Finals slot

MANILA, Philippines --- The appointment of Dr. Teodoro Herbosa as secretary of the Department of Health (DOH) has drawn both approval and disapproval. In separate statements, the DOH, including former officer in charge Maria Rosario Vergeire, and the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) backed Herbosa, while the Alliance of Health Workers opposed the appointment. "It's very good ... looking forward to his dedication to serve people and at the same time his experience in public health, as a medical expert and at the same time having been appointed before as undersecretary of the DOH makes him fit to be the secretary of health," the PCP president, Rontgene Solante, said in an i...

Keep on reading: Herbosa as health chief draws both approval, disapproval

MANILA, Philippines --- The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will enforce a gun ban and deploy over 20,000 police officers for the second State of the Nation Address (Sona) of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. this July. The officers --- totaling 22,081 cops --- will be posted in the vicinity of the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City, where the president will deliver his Sona, and 31 border control points within Metro Manila, Maj. Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo, NCRPO chief, said in a statement on Monday. The NCRPO will also suspend permits to carry firearms outside residences in Metro Manila from 12:01 a.m. of July 24 until midnight of July 25. Aside from over 22,081 officer...

Keep on reading: Sona 2023: NCRPO will enforce gun ban, deploy over 22,000 cops

https://www.facebook.com/coastguardph/videos/724690456330821 MANILA, Philippines --- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) rescued on Tuesday the 40 crew members of a fishing boat in the waters of Occidental Mindoro after it was hit by an unknown vessel. According to a PCG report, the fishing boat Ron Kirby 4 was anchored off Cabra Island when it was hit by another vessel. The impact damaged the outrigger of Ron Kirby 4, but all 40 crew members were unharmed. "They were transported by BRP Bagacay to Calatagan Port in Batangas," the PCG said in a statement. It added that PCG Station Batangas is investigating and coordinating with other law enforcement agencies, such as the Phili...

Keep on reading: PCG rescues 40 from fishing boat hit by unknown vessel in Occidental Mindoro

MANILA, Philippines --- The Cabinet economic cluster continues to follow the instruction of President Ferdinand Marcos --- continue thinking of ways to slow down inflation, even though the May 2023 figures indicate a continuous downtrend. This was among the issues discussed on Tuesday during a sector meeting in Malacaang, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual said in an ambush interview with reporters after a Presidential Communications Office (PCO) briefing. The cluster already discussed the issue early in March, during the peak of inflation, he said. "It has gone down now. But earlier, we talked about it again," Pascual said in Filipino, saying that Marcos took note of that duri...

Keep on reading: Marcos economic cluster trying to curb inflation more despite downtrend

Astrud Gilberto, the Brazilian singer whose soft, beguiling voice made "The Girl from Ipanema" a worldwide sensation in the 1960s and provided a huge boost to the budding bossanova genre, has died at age 83, her family said. "I come bearing the sad news that my grandmother became a star today and is next to my grandfather Joao Gilberto," Sofia Gilberto wrote on social media early Tuesday. The singer was born in Salvador, capital of Brazil's northeastern state of Bahia, in 1940 and was married to Joao Gilberto, a pioneer of the bossa nova genre who died in 2019. Astrud Gilberto recorded 19 albums in her career, but she had little professional music experience when she turned ...

Keep on reading: ‘Girl from Ipanema’ singer Astrud Gilberto dead at 83 — family

  MANILA, Philippines---It may be a tall order but Andy Gemao is ready to help Letran defend the NCAA boys' basketball crown after pick up several lessons in the NBA's Basketball Without Borders Asia camp. Gemao, alongside fellow Filipino high school cager Jelomar Rota of Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu, participated in the three-day NBA's BWB Asia camp at New York University, Abu Dhabi to make up 80 young basketball prospects across Asia and the Middle East. During the camp, Gemao and Rota experienced advanced training--including team offensive and defensive concepts, ball screen actions, ball handling and passing, and shot creation and finishing--and participated i...

Keep on reading: BWB All-Star Andy Gemao to bring learnings from camp to Letran Squires bid

Alden Richards has expressed his loyalty to Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon, saying he has the right to show his support for the original "Eat Bulaga" mainstay hosts because he owes his life to them. Richards said during an ambush interview with TV5 entertainment reporter that his support for TVJ will last until the end of time. The interview was uploaded on TV5's official YouTube channel last Monday, June 5. "TVJ know that kahit ano pa man ang mangyari, my loyalty, 'yung sarili ko is for them, regardless. I've always looked back doon sa mga taong nakatulong sa akin nang malaki," he said. The actor also pointed out that he has the "right" to defend the "Eat Bulaga" p...

Keep on reading: Alden Richards asserts loyalty to Tito, Vic, and Joey amid airing of new ‘Eat Bulaga’ program

  MANILA, Philippines --- The appointment of Defense Secretary Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro came in the midst of increased territorial tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). A political analyst and a lawmaker believe Teodoro has the legal expertise to tackle the issues. Stratbase ADR Institute President Dindo Manhit said Teodoro's appointment in the Department of National Defense (DND) provided a sense of professionalism to the cabinet of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. Teodoro already held the Defense portfolio during the term of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. He was offered the same position by former president Rodrigo Duterte. "There is [l...

Keep on reading: Defense chief Teodoro: A legal mind for nat’l defense and military matters

MANILA, Philippines --- The Department of Public Works and Highway will conduct rotomilling, or the procedure where old asphalt is being scraped off the road, and asphalt overlaying over various roads in Metro Manila for several days. According to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in an advisory, the roads will undergo the repairs exclusively at night, advising motorists to take alternate routes to avoid traffic. The affected roads are listed below, along with the duration of the rotomilling and asphalt overlaying: Rodriguez Jr. Ave. (Northbound) from front of Eastwood Intersection to corner Police Station 12. Ongoing repair until June 12, 5 a.m. Magi...

Keep on reading: Several Metro Manila roads to undergo repairs, asphalt overlaying at night

MANILA, Philippines --- A lawyer of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) National Capital Region (NCR) and her driver were wounded following a reported shooting incident in Pasay City, according to the Southern Police District (SPD). In a report issued on Tuesday, SPD identified the victims as Maria Rochelle Melliza Melendez, a 53-year-old lawyer of DPWH-NCR, and Deo Decena, her 42-year-old driver. Based on Decena's account, police reported that the two victims were traversing along Fortuna Street, Barangay 21, heading to FB Harrison Street when two unidentified gunmen moved closer to their vehicle and opened fire. This prompted Decena to alight from their vehi...

Keep on reading: DPWH lawyer, driver hurt in Pasay shooting incident

MANILA, Philippines--The National Bureau of Investigation-Environmental Crime Division on Tuesday filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) a criminal complaint against 35 individuals in connection with the sinking of MT Princess Empress, which caused an oil spill in Oriental Mindoro and parts of Batangas province. Facing complaints for multiple counts of falsification by a private individual and multiple uses of falsified documents under Article 172 in relation to Article 171 (7) of the Revised Penal Code are seven incorporators and directors of RDC Reield Marines Services Inc., six crew members of MT Princess Empress and 19 members of the Philippine Coast Guard for issuing an...

Keep on reading: NBI files raps vs execs of sunken MT Princess Empress, several others

Another chapter to the Eat Bulaga saga continues, as Tito Sotto revealed that the new home of the original "Eat Bulaga" would be announced soon. Sotto confirmed this during an interview with broadcast journalist Pinky Webb in an episode of CNN Philippines' "The Source," which was uploaded on its YouTube channel last Monday, June 5. During the interview, he admitted that he and fellow stalwarts, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon, have yet to decide where the noontime show would choose to air. "We have yet to decide. We agreed among ourselves that by June 7, we will be ready to announce. If things work out the way we want it to, perhaps, at least baka the first week of July, we would...

Keep on reading: ‘Eat Bulaga’ pillars to announce new home on June 7, hopes to return on air by 1st week of July