Philippine News

CAIRO/WASHINGTON, September 4 ------ The sudden recent escalation of the Iran war has cast renewed attention on its civilian toll after Iran reported 18 dead in the last US assault, including four killed and dozens wounded at a wedding. Iran's health minister said 18 people were killed and 108 wounded in Tuesday night's US strikes across Iran. The Iranian Red Crescent said four people were killed and 67 wounded at a wedding ceremony near the coast of the Strait of Hormuz. T

UNITED STATES, September 4 ------ New York is banning student use of artificial intelligence until high school, the city's mayor announced, in a move designed to protect children's education and mental health. The one-year restriction, which impacts nearly 600,000 public school pupils through eighth grade, will be closely watched across the United States as the city's school board is by far the largest in the country. Only high school students -- typically aged 14 and above

September 4 ------ President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia had begun a new escalation of its aerial campaign, after overnight attacks caused damage in 13 Ukrainian regions and wounded 17 people in Odesa. In a Telegram post, Zelensky said emergency crews were responding to attacks in several parts of the country while air raid alerts continued almost without interruption in many cities and communities. A Russian drone hit a residential high-rise in Odesa, damaging apartment

September 4 ------ Led by Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi, the Cabinet of Ministers has adopted a new set of measures intended to keep the economy and civilian life running amid Russia’s ongoing daily barrage. In a statement published on Thursday, Sept. 3, Koretskyi recommended local authorities adjust Kyiv’s curfew from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m., shortening it by one hour from the current curfew, which begins at midnight. “The economy must keep working, taxes must keep flowing into

NEW YORK, September 3 ------ Stock indexes mostly rose after three days of declines as investors watched for new developments in the U.S.-Iran conflict, while the Japanese yen rose sharply against the U.S. dollar. It was not immediately clear what prompted the yen to move. The currency had retraced over the last month about half of the gains made after a rare joint intervention by the U.S. and Japan at the end of July. The yen lasted up 0.79% at 158.92 per dollar. U.S. Tre

GENEVA, Switzerland, September 3 ------ Technology companies are stepping up their climate commitments but not fast enough to counter rapidly inflating energy needs linked to the artificial intelligence boom, a report said. Despite progress in climate reporting and renewable electricity use, tech firms are falling short in cutting emissions at the pace required to achieve global climate targets, the Greening Digital Companies 2026 report found. Published by the UN's Interna

September 3 ------ Norwegian authorities seized a Russian vessel at the port of Barentsburg in Svalbard at the request of Ukraine's national oil and gas company, Naftogaz. The seizure was part of a global effort to force Russia to pay for its illegal takeover of Naftogaz assets during the occupation of Crimea. A Hague tribunal in 2023 ordered Russia to pay Naftogaz $4.22 ⁠billion plus interest to compensate for its unlawful seizures.With Russia refusing to pay, Ukraine and

September 3 ------ Ukraine will introduce yellow and red air alert levels, with yellow generally warning of drone raids and red signaling missiles, ballistic or large-scale attacks, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. According to a statement posted by Zelensky, Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi briefed him on measures being prepared in response to Russia’s changing attack tactics, particularly its use of drones to disrupt civilian life and economic activity. “People must unde

September 2 ------ The US launched a barrage of airstrikes on Iran, prompting Iranian retaliation in the most serious escalation in weeks in a conflict that has driven up global energy prices and weighed on President Donald Trump’s popularity at home. The strikes followed a weekend exchange of fire – the first since July – and attacks on Monday, September 1, on two tankers leaving the Strait of Hormuz, the global oil supply waterway that Iran has effectively closed to shipp

BANGKOK, September 2 ------ Thailand will halve the length of visa-free stays for tourists from more than 60 countries and territories to 30 days, effective September 15, the foreign ministry said. Tourism is vital to the Southeast Asian nation's economy, but officials say the move is part of an effort to curb crime involving foreign nationals. A string of recent arrests has included foreigners accused of drug offenses, sex trafficking and operating businesses such as hotel

KYIV, September 2 ------ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned airlines and passengers that Russian airspace would be "completely unsafe" and filled with Ukrainian drones for the duration of the war. "We want to warn every airline that uses Russian airspace, every insurer, and everyone who still uses Russia's key airports: Russian airspace is becoming completely unsafe," he said in his nightly address. "Ukraine does not threaten civilian aviation as such -- not a sing

September 2 ------ Ukrainian drones targeted Russia’s Leningrad Region, striking the Ust-Luga port and sparking a fire as Moscow claimed more than 500 drones were intercepted nationwide. According to regional Governor Alexander Drozdenko, 52 drones were shot down over the Leningrad region within four hours. “Damage has been recorded in the Ust-Luga port area, and there is a fire. Emergency services are working at the scene. Information on the consequences is being clarified

HOUSTON, September 1 ------ Oil prices settled more than 2.5 per cent higher after a resumption of military action between the US and Iran rekindled market concerns about global supply disruption, as the conflict extended into its sixth month. Brent crude futures settled up US$2.39, or 2.71 per cent, to US$90.49 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate crude settled up US$2.36, or 2.83 per cent, to US$85.76. Brent rose as high as US$91.52 during the session, it's highest since Au

KATHMANDU, September 1 ------ Devastating floods near the border with China have killed at least 903 people in Nepal, while the number of missing in the country has soared to 4,247, its disaster authority said, as rescue efforts entered a sixth day. Chinese state media earlier confirmed 16 dead and 546 people missing in Tibet following Wednesday’s disaster, taking the overall toll to 919 dead and 4,793 missing. Nepal’s list of the missing includes 592 foreigners. It also

September 1 ------ As diplomacy between Ukraine and Russia remains stalled, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv and Washington are discussing a possible visit by senior US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Zelensky said in a statement on Monday, Aug. 31 that he held a “detailed and constructive” phone call with US President Donald Trump’s representatives, noting that the two countries’ negotiating teams are working on a possible visit date. “This trip would be very

September 1 ------ President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Oleksandr Kamyshin, presidential adviser on strategic issues, in a decree issued Aug. 31. Kamyshin also said he will no longer serve as an adviser, but will continue working in the defense industry, focusing on developing international partnerships and attracting investment for Ukrainian military technology. "Over these two years, our defense industry has become a strategic sector within the country and has begun to

TOKYO, August 31 ------ Japan's government adopted an ordinance Tuesday to raise fees for foreigners to renew and change their residency status to up to 75,000 yen from a uniform 6,000 yen at present, effective in October. New fees for people who take necessary procedures at an administrative office counter will include 10,000 yen for the period of up to three months, 33,000 yen for one year, 64,000 yen for three to less than five years, and 75,000 yen for five years or mor

WASHINGTON, D.C., August 31 ------ The Food and Drug Administration approved a groundbreaking new drug for advanced pancreatic cancer, offering US patients a more effective treatment against one of the deadliest types of cancer. FDA officials gave expedited approval to the first-of-a-kind pill, called daraxonrasib, which blocks a mutated protein that fuels tumor growth in more than 90 percent of pancreatic cancer cases. It's an approach that previously eluded drugmakers for d

August 30 ------ Qatar and other regional powers sought an off-ramp from the war with Iran on Thursday as another tanker attack was reported in the Strait of Hormuz, and the Iranian government dismissed the Trump administration's latest sanctions. Elsewhere in the Middle East, Israel continued its attacks on Gaza and Lebanon even as the country's strikes on Gaza drew a sharp rebuke from the top diplomat overseeing the U.S.-brokered ceasefire in the territory. Here's a loo

SYDNEY, August 30 ------ Australian under-16s are increasing their use of social media apps such as Instagram and Tiktok despite a world-leading ban, data provided by a parental control software company showed Wednesday. Australia implemented legislation barring children from social media platforms in December, with the UK, France and others following suit. Youngsters' use of social media fell across the board when the legal restrictions were first implemented, data from pa