News

George H.W. Bush hospitalized days after wife's death: office

Agence France-Presse
Posted at Apr 24 07:26 AM

Former president George H.W. Bush was being treated for a blood infection on Monday, hours after laying his wife Barbara to rest, his office said.   Read more »

Over a year into presidency, Trump hosts first state dinner

Agence France-Presse
Posted at Apr 24 06:42 AM

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump hold their first state dinner on Tuesday, hosting the leader of America's oldest ally for a glittering event at the White House.   Read more »

'Cut off hands': Mexican presidential candidate's plan to deter thieves

Frank Jack Daniel, Reuters
Posted at Apr 23 01:45 PM

Thieves should have their hands chopped off, a Mexican presidential candidate said in a televised debate on Sunday, provoking disbelief from a moderator and setting off a storm of comments and jokes on Twitter. Read more »

Comelec junks plea to stop recall elections in San Juan

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Apr 23 12:52 PM

The poll body will verify the 30,000 signatures backing Zamora's petition starting April 25, Wednesday. Read more »

Merkel, Mexican president hail benefits of free trade

Agence France-Presse
Posted at Apr 23 07:26 AM

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, who both face trade tensions with US President Donald Trump, on Sunday praised an EU-Mexico deal to boost economic ties.  Read more »

Nicaragua's Ortega scraps reform that sparked deadly protests

Agence France-Presse
Posted at Apr 23 07:22 AM

Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega agreed Sunday to scrap a highly-controversial reform of the country's pension law that sparked 4 days of violence, leaving 24 people dead.  Read more »

Cabinet to work 'double time' after ratings dip: Palace

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Apr 22 03:26 PM

President Rodrigo Duterte's top aides will double efforts to highlight his administration's policies and programs after seeing lower satisfaction ratings, his spokesperson Harry Roque said Sunday. Read more »

Surge in anonymous Asia Twitter accounts sparks bot fears

Jerome Taylor and Joe Freeman, Agence France-Presse
Posted at Apr 22 12:19 PM

It has been being jokingly referred to as "Botmageddon". But a surge in new, anonymous Twitter accounts across swathes of Southeast and East Asia has deepened fears the region is in the throes of US-style mass social media manipulation. Read more »

Past presidents, family and friends bid farewell to Barbara Bush

Agence France-Presse
Posted at Apr 22 09:55 AM

Past presidents, family and friends came together Saturday to bid farewell to Barbara Bush, the matriarch of one of America's most prominent political dynasties, at a funeral service in Texas. Read more »

Sara Duterte, Erwin Tulfo, 'Bato' make the cut in 'Magic 12' - Pulse Asia

Kat Domingo, ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Apr 20 11:41 AM

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, former Police Chief Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, and broadcaster Erwin Tulfo, along with some incumbent and former lawmakers will mostly likely win if the senatorial elections were held today, according to a Pulse Asia survey released Friday. Read more »

2 Camarines Sur solons figure in verbal clash

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Apr 20 12:09 AM

Two lawmakers from Camarines Sur figure in a meltdown of sorts, which a political analyst said offers a peek of what to expect in next year's congressional and gubernatorial polls. Read more »

Freddie Aguilar, Jiggy Manicad among possible PDP-Laban Senate bets: Koko

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Apr 19 05:24 PM

Music icon Freddie Aguilar, journalist Jiggy Manicad and 18 others are being considered for inclusion in PDP-Laban's Senate slate for the 2019 midterm elections, Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III said Thursday. Read more »

JV says conflict with Jinggoy has 'gotten too deep'

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Apr 19 11:26 AM

Senator JV Ejercito admits it may be hard for him and his half-brother Jinggoy Estrada to settle who among them will run in the 2019 midterm polls. Read more »

China carries out live fire drills, unclear if aimed at Taiwan

Reuters
Updated as of Apr 19 12:18 PM

China's military has conducted live-fire drills along the country's southeastern coastline, state television reported, but it was unclear if these were the same exercises that had been flagged as taking place in the sensitive Taiwan Strait.   Read more »

Sereno, not Duterte, a threat to judiciary: Palace spokesman

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Apr 19 11:18 AM

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, not President Rodrigo Duterte, is a threat to the integrity of the judicial branch, the President's spokesman said Thursday amid a possible United Nations probe into the state of the Philippine judiciary.  Read more »

'Apologies in order' over nun's arrest, says Palace

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Apr 18 02:46 PM

Immigration authorities made a mistake in the detention of a 71-year-old Australian nun over alleged partisan political activities, Malacañang said Wednesday.    Read more »

Australian nun denies joining 'political activities,' says she's doing church work

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Apr 18 01:54 PM

Australian nun Patricia Fox, who was detained by the Bureau of Immigration for allegedly violating conditions of her stay in the Philippines, denied on Tuesday accusations that she is engaged in "partisan political activities." Read more »

Former US first lady Barbara Bush dead at 92 - family

Will Dunham, Reuters
Updated as of Apr 18 08:12 AM

WASHINGTON - Former US first lady Barbara Bush, the only woman to see her husband and son sworn in as U.S. president, died on Tuesday, the Bush family said. She was 92. Read more »

Trump reveals direct North Korea contacts, okays peace talks

Jerome Cartillier and Andrew Beatty, Agence France-Presse
Posted at Apr 18 07:22 AM

President Donald Trump confirmed direct contacts between the United States and North Korea and gave his blessing to talks aimed at formally ending the Korean war in a series of diplomatic revelations Tuesday. Read more »

In symbolic vote, Venezuelan legislators vote to prosecute Maduro

Agence France-Presse
Posted at Apr 18 07:14 AM

Venezuela's opposition-controlled National Assembly on Tuesday approved plans to prosecute President Nicolas Maduro for corruption, in a non-binding yet symbolic vote by a legislature which is effectively powerless. Read more »