Philippine News

MIAMI, December 13 ------ President Donald Trump’s zero-tolerance immigration policy split more than 5,000 children from their families at the Mexico border during his first term. Border crossings sit at a record low nearly a year into his second administration and a new wave of immigration enforcement is dividing families inside the U.S. Federal officials and their local law enforcement partners are detaining tens of thousands of asylum-seekers and migrants. Detainees are mo

GENEVA, Switzerland, December 13 ------ A new analysis by the World Health Organization (WHO) reaffirmed there is no link between vaccines and autism -- contrary to theories being propagated in the United States. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last month revised its website with language that undermines its previous, scientifically-grounded position that immunizations do not cause the developmental disability autism. Years of research demonstrate that

NEW YORK/LONDON, December 12 ------ The U.S. dollar stumbled, hitting multi-month lows against the euro, Swiss franc, and sterling and extending losses from the previous session, after the Federal Reserve delivered a less hawkish outlook than some had expected. The Swiss franc drew support from the Swiss National Bank's decision to hold interest rates steady. The dollar fell 0.6 per cent versus the franc to 0.7947, after earlier touching its lowest since mid-November. The gre

TOKYO, December 12 ------ Japan said it held a joint air exercise with the United States in a show of force, days after Chinese-Russian patrols in the region and following weeks of diplomatic feuding between Tokyo and Beijing. The Japanese joint chiefs of staff said Wednesday’s exercise with the US Air Force was conducted in “an increasingly severe security environment surrounding our country.” Tokyo said on Wednesday that two Russian Tu-95 nuclear-capable bombers flew a day

December 12 ------ President Volodymyr Zelensky hinted at a referendum for Ukrainians to decide whether to cede land to Russia to help end Russia’s invasion. The comment came as the US pressures Kyiv to concede the Donbas region as part of the peace settlement – a Kremlin war goal and a red line for Kyiv, as it is prohibited by the Ukrainian Constitution. Zelensky, speaking to reporters on Thursday, said it is ultimately the Ukrainians’ decision on the price for peace – hinti

December 12 ------ The Defense Forces are conducting search-and-assault operations and eliminating enemy forces in the urban areas of Pokrovsk. This was reported by the Operation Task Force “East” on Facebook, according to Ukrinform. In Myrnohrad, Ukrainian units are holding defensive lines and eliminating enemy forces on the city’s approaches. Additional logistical routes to Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad are being organized to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of all necessary supp

SINGAPORE, December 11 ------ Oil prices held steady after falling about 1% in the previous session, as investors watched for progress in Russia-Ukraine peace talks and awaited a decision on U.S. interest rates. Brent crude futures were up 19 cents, or 0.3%, to $62.13 a barrel at 0645 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $58.44 a barrel, up 19 cents, or 0.3%. "Oil markets are currently struggling for direction as far as we can see, with a minor lift from falling U.S

SAMRAONG, Cambodia, December 11 ------ Half a million evacuees in Cambodia and Thailand were sheltering in pagodas, schools and other safe havens after fleeing renewed fighting in a century-old border dispute in which US President Donald Trump has vowed to again intercede. At least 11 people, including Thai soldiers and Cambodian civilians, have been killed in the latest spate of fighting, officials said, while more than 500,000 have fled border regions near where jets, tanks

KYIV, Ukraine, December 11 ------ President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was 'ready' to hold new elections if security was ensured for the poll in the war-torn country. His comments came after US President Donald Trump accused Kyiv of "using war" to avoid elections, which have been postponed after martial law was imposed in the country following Russia's invasion in February 2022. "I am ready for the elections," Zelensky told journalists during a virtual media briefing. He adde

December 11 ------ Japan has reportedly rejected an EU appeal to join its plan to use frozen Russian state assets to support Ukraine, delivering another setback to Brussels’s plan to finance Ukraine. Politico, citing sources, said Tokyo dismissed the EU’s request to replicate its model of sending Ukraine the earnings from Russian sovereign assets held at Euroclear in Belgium at a meeting of G7 finance ministers on Monday, Dec. 8. Two EU diplomats told the outlet that Japan si

SAPPORO, Japan, December 10 ------ A big quake off Japan injured at least 30 people, authorities said, damaging roads and knocking out power for thousands in freezing temperatures. The Japan Meteorological Agency said the magnitude 7.5 quake at 11:15 pm on Monday -- downgraded from its first reading of 7.6 -- raised the chances of similar or larger tremors in the coming days. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said 30 people were injured in the quake off the coast of the northern

SYDNEY, December 10 ------ Australia will become the world's first country to ban social media for children under 16, blocking them from platforms including TikTok, Alphabet's GOOGL.O YouTube, and Meta's META.O Instagram and Facebook. The ban is being closely watched by other countries considering similar age-based measures as concerns mount over the effects of social media on children's health and safety. Below is a summary of what other countries and tech companies are doin

WASHINGTON, December 10 ------ Ukraine should hold elections, Donald Trump said in an interview published, calling into question whether the country is truly democratic, as he reiterated his sharp criticism of the Ukrainian leader. Speaking to Politico, the US president accused Kyiv of "using war" to avoid elections, which have been postponed under the imposition of martial law since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. "I think it's an important time to hold an

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, December 10 ------ Pope Leo called for continued dialogue to seek a "just and lasting peace" in Ukraine during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Vatican said. His comments echoed Zelensky's frequent demands for a "just" peace as the Ukrainian leader tries to ensure that any agreement to end Russia's war in Ukraine is balanced and does not overly favor Moscow. The pope "reiterated the need for the continuation of dialogue and ex

December 9 ------ The US has halted the processing of all immigration applications linked to 19 countries already subject to a travel ban, according to an internal official memo seen by BBC partner CBS News. Immigration agents have been told to "stop final adjudication on all cases", and pause naturalization ceremonies for migrants on the cusp of gaining citizenship. It comes amid reports that Donald Trump is considering expanding a June order restricting travel from 19 count

TOKYO, December 9 ------The pledge by Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to “work, work, work, work and work” for her country has been named the catchphrase of the year. The ultraconservative Takaichi uttered the phrase in October when she was elected as head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Many were initially as worried about her work ethic as supportive of her enthusiasm. Accepting her award from a private committee this week, Takaichi said she only wanted to str

December 9 ------ Italy’s foreign minister said that it would be “premature” to take part in a NATO program to buy US weapons for Ukraine in light of ongoing diplomatic efforts. “If we reach an agreement and fighting ceases, weapons won’t be needed anymore,” Antonio Tajani told reporters in Brussels, according to Bloomberg. “Other things, such as security guarantees, will be needed.” His comments suggested Giorgia Meloni’s government could be recalibrating its Ukraine strateg

December 9 ------ The UN General Assembly called for the immediate and unconditional return of Ukrainian children “forcibly transferred” to Russia – a delicate issue as Kyiv and Moscow try to negotiate an end to the fighting. The assembly adopted the non-binding resolution by a vote of 91-12, with 57 abstentions. Russia was among the states rejecting the measure. The resolution “demands that the Russian Federation ensure the immediate, safe and unconditional return of all Ukr

BANGKOK, Thailand, December 8 ------ The world's top wildlife trade organization increased protections on Friday for more than 70 species of sharks and rays, in a move conservationists hailed as a "historical win". Signatories to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) backed increased trade restrictions on species from whale sharks to manta rays at talks in Uzbekistan. Conservationists and experts have warned that shark and

TOKYO, Japan, December 8 ------ Oysters in Japan are dying en masse in parts of the country's top production area, likely due to warmer sea temperatures, officials said. In some coastal areas surrounding the Seto Inland Sea in western Japan -- an area that accounts for more than three-quarters of Japan's farmed oyster production -- around 90 percent of cultivated oysters are dead. "I've never experienced this in my whole career," Tatsuya Morio, who has farmed oysters for more