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St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague to soon welcome new grand organ

Paraluman P. Funtanilla
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St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague to soon welcome new grand organ

PRAGUE, Czech Republic. The centuries-old St. Vitus Cathedral, the largest and most significant church in the country, is nearing the completion of a major musical upgrade as a new organ is being installed.

An international team worked on Tuesday atop a three-story scaffolding above the cathedral’s main entrance, placing the final pipes of the grand instrument. The installation is expected to be completed by late August, with voicing and tuning to continue through the end of the year.

The first public performance on the new organ is scheduled for June 15 next year, coinciding with the feast of St. Vitus.

The new organ boasts approximately 6,000 pipes, ranging from just 7 millimeters (0.28 inches) to a towering 7 meters (23 feet) in length. The four-manual instrument was crafted by renowned German organ builder Gerhard Grenzing in his workshop near Barcelona, Spain. Grenzing has built nearly 140 organs and restored over 90 historical instruments across various countries.

After its completion in Spain, the organ was disassembled and transported to Prague in stages via truck.

St. Vitus Cathedral holds deep historical significance in Czech statehood, serving as the coronation and burial site for Czech kings. The Czech crown jewels are housed within its walls, and it was also the venue for the funeral Mass of Vaclav Havel, the country’s first president, on December 23, 2011.

The previous organ, built in the 1930s, was undersized for the cathedral’s vast space and prone to mechanical issues. Restoration was neglected during World War II and the subsequent decades under communist rule.

Efforts to replace the organ began in 2017 with a crowdfunding campaign that raised over 109 million Czech koruna ($5.2 million), covering about 98% of the total cost.

A worker adjusts cables during the installation of a new organ at Prague’s St. Vitus Cathedral that is coming to its final stages in Prague, Czech Republic, Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Klase at trabaho, puwede nang suspendihin ng DILG sa panahon ng kalamidad

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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Klase at trabaho, puwede nang suspendihin ng DILG sa panahon ng kalamidad

MAYNILA. Binigyang awtoridad ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. si Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla na mag-anunsiyo ng suspensiyon ng klase at trabaho tuwing may masamang panahon o kalamidad.

Kinumpirma ito ni Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Dave Gomez matapos ipahayag ni Remulla na siya ang nagdeklara ng suspensiyon ng klase kahapon.

Ayon kay Gomez, “The DILG cited Presidential Communications Office Secretary Dave Gomez’s confirmation that Remulla was authorized by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to make announcements on behalf of the Cabinet and the Palace in times of national emergencies.”

Ipinahayag ni Remulla na personal siyang humingi ng pahintulot kay Pangulong Marcos upang siya na ang magdeklara ng class suspension sa panahon ng bagyo. Binigyang-diin niya ang kanyang karanasan bilang dating gobernador ng Cavite, kung saan mas mabilis ang koordinasyon kapag centralized ang anunsiyo.

Bagama’t may bagong kapangyarihan si Remulla, nilinaw ng DILG na mananatili pa rin ang kakayahan ng Department of Education (DepEd) at ng mga local government unit (LGU) na magsuspinde ng klase depende sa lagay ng panahon at kalagayan sa kani-kanilang lugar.

Bilang Vice Chairperson ng National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) para sa Disaster Preparedness, tiniyak ni Remulla na maglalabas ng mga anunsiyo hindi bababa sa isang gabi bago ang inaasahang epekto ng kalamidad, alinsunod sa naging praktis niya noong siya ay gobernador ng Cavite.

Bangladesh students protest after air force jet crash kills 31, mostly children

Venus L Peñaflor
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Bangladesh students protest after air force jet crash kills 31, mostly children

DHAKA. Thousands of students took to the streets of Dhaka on Tuesday following a tragic air force jet crash that killed 31 people, including at least 25 children, when the aircraft slammed into a school in the capital.

The incident occurred on Monday as students, many under the age of 12, were preparing to head home from class. A Chinese-made F-7 BGI fighter jet of the Bangladesh Air Force crashed into the school compound and exploded, causing a fire that trapped children inside classrooms. The military later confirmed the crash was caused by mechanical failure.

Protests erupted as two government officials arrived at the scene. Students from the affected school and nearby colleges demanded transparency from the interim government, shouting, “Why did our brothers die? We demand answers!”

Elsewhere in Dhaka, hundreds of students stormed the federal government secretariat. Some carried sticks and demanded the resignation of the education adviser. Police responded with tear gas, sound grenades, and baton charges to disperse the crowd, reportedly leaving dozens injured. Dhaka Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Talebur Rahman confirmed the use of tear gas but said he had no official count of injuries.

Rescue teams continued clearing the wreckage on Tuesday, while families mourned their losses. Abul Hossain, who lost his nine-year-old daughter Nusrat Jahan Anika, said through tears, “I took her to school yesterday morning like every day. I had no idea it would be the last time I would be seeing her.”

Others shared stories of survival. Rubina Akter recounted how her son Raiyan Toufiq escaped with minor burns after jumping onto the grass to extinguish his burning clothes. “He tore his shirt and vest inside, which saved him from severe burns,” she said.

The jet had taken off on a routine training mission from a nearby air base. Military officials said the pilot, who was among the dead, attempted to divert the plane away from populated areas but was unable to avoid the crash.

As of Tuesday, the military reported 31 confirmed deaths and 165 hospitalizations. The health ministry said 68 victims remain in hospitals, with 10 in critical condition.

In response to the tragedy, the Bangladeshi government declared a national day of mourning, lowered flags to half-mast, and called for prayers in all places of worship. A statement from Pope Leo offered prayers for the victims and their families, expressing deep sorrow for the loss.

Student protesters called for the immediate release of the names of those killed and injured, the retirement of aging military jets, and revisions to air force training protocols. A statement from the press office of interim administrator Muhammad Yunus said the military, schools, and hospitals were working together to publish a list of victims. The air force has also been instructed to avoid flying training aircraft over densely populated areas.

The F-7 BGI, a modernized variant of China’s Chengdu J-7 aircraft, is based on the Soviet-era MiG-21. Bangladesh purchased 16 of these aircraft in a 2011 agreement, with all units delivered by 2013.

The tragedy comes just weeks after neighboring India suffered one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent years, when an Air India flight crashed into a medical college hostel in Ahmedabad, killing 241 of 242 people on board and 19 on the ground.

Bangladesh is currently under the leadership of an interim government headed by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, following the departure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August after weeks of student-led unrest. The interim administration has pledged to hold national elections next year amid growing pressure to hold them sooner.

Trump, Marcos meeting leads to modest tariff adjustment in US-Philippines trade deal

EDGARDO HERNAL
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Trump, Marcos meeting leads to modest tariff adjustment in US-Philippines trade deal

WASHINGTON. U.S. President Donald Trump announced a new 19% tariff rate on goods from the Philippines following a meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the White House, where they discussed trade and security cooperation.

The announcement comes after what Trump described as a “beautiful visit” by Marcos, during which the two leaders concluded a trade agreement. Under the new deal, U.S. goods exported to the Philippines will face zero tariffs, while Philippine exports to the U.S. will be subject to a 19% tariff. This figure is slightly lower than the 20% Trump had previously threatened, but higher than the 17% rate announced in April when reciprocal tariffs were first introduced.

The 19% rate aligns with that of Indonesia and is slightly more favorable than Vietnam’s 20%. Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social platform shortly after the Oval Office meeting, calling Marcos a “very good and tough negotiator.”

“It was a beautiful visit, and we concluded our Trade Deal, whereby The Philippines is going OPEN MARKET with the United States, and ZERO Tariffs. The Philippines will pay a 19% Tariff,” Trump posted.

President Marcos, the first Southeast Asian leader to meet Trump in his second term, did not issue a statement after the tariff announcement but had earlier referred to the United States as the Philippines’ “strongest, closest, most reliable ally.”

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez described the outcome as “an evolving good deal for both countries that could be further improved over time.”

The trade deal is expected to impact a bilateral goods trade relationship that reached $23.5 billion last year, with the U.S. posting a nearly $5 billion trade deficit. Trump claimed the “very big numbers” in the new agreement would continue to grow.

Despite the announcement, experts remain cautious. Gregory Poling, a Southeast Asia expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, noted that the lack of specific details makes it difficult to assess the full implications. “At the end of the day, I don’t think the Philippine government is sweating the final number so long as it keeps Philippine-made goods competitive with those of its neighbors, which this does,” he said.

The White House also released an update on a separate U.S.-Indonesia trade framework, stating that negotiations are ongoing and expected to conclude in the coming weeks.

During the meeting, Trump said he might visit China in the near future and remarked that the Philippines had shifted away from Beijing since his return to office. “The country was maybe tilting toward China, but we un-tilted it very, very quickly,” he said.

Philippine officials have said that Marcos emphasized the need for economic strength as a foundation for deeper U.S.-Philippines cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

Meanwhile, protesters gathered outside the White House during Marcos’ visit, urging the Philippine leader to respond to concerns raised by Filipino Americans and migrant workers affected by recent U.S. immigration enforcement actions.

LPA naging bagyong Dante – PAGASA

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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LPA naging bagyong Dante – PAGASA

MAYNILA. Naging ganap na Tropical Depression Dante ang isa sa tatlong Low Pressure Area na binabantayan sa silangan ng Aurora.

“At 2 p.m. today, the low-pressure area east of Aurora developed into Tropical Depression #DantePH,” anang update ng Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) kahapon.

Si Dante ang ikaapat na bagyo na pumasok sa Philippine Area of Responsibility ngayong taon.

Bukod kay Dante, may dalawa pang LPA na binabantayan na posibleng maging bagyo kaya pinag-iingat ang mamamayan.

Ang isa pang LPA ay tinatayang nasa 155 km naman ng east southwest ng Basco, Batanes habang ang southwest monsoon o habagat ay patuloy pa ring nakakaapekto sa bansa.

Samantalang ang isa pang LPA na binabantayan ay nasa labas pa ng Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) at nasa 2,850 km silangan ng Eastern Visayas.

Sa kasalukuyan, maraming lugar sa bansa ang nakakaranas pa rin ng malalakas na pag-ulan dulot ng habagat at LPA.

Samantala, ang bagyong Crising na nagdulot ng malawakang pagbaha ay umalis na sa bansa.

Movie Review: ‘Eddington’ offers a wild, bleak satire of modern madness

Paraluman P. Funtanilla
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Movie Review: ‘Eddington’ offers a wild, bleak satire of modern madness

Ari Aster’s latest film, Eddington, is not for the faint of heart or anyone expecting clarity, comfort, or even coherence. This surreal, satirical drama opens with the ranting of a homeless man and quickly dives deeper into confusion, chaos, and cultural disintegration. It’s the kind of movie that may leave you mentally exhausted, whispering “what just happened?” as the credits roll.

Set in a fictional New Mexico town during May 2020, Eddington transforms the COVID-19 pandemic, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the explosion of internet misinformation into a dark, dizzying narrative. It’s a purposely anti-escapist film, confronting viewers with unfiltered debates about masks, conspiracy theories, social media influencers, and political agendas. No one comes out looking sane, not the “truthers,” not the “woke” teens, not the politicians, and certainly not the local sheriff, Joe Cross.

Joaquin Phoenix stars as Cross, a quiet lawman disturbed by mandates and personal regrets. He finds himself unwillingly thrust into a symbolic war with the tech-backed mayor, Ted Garcia, played by Pedro Pascal. Their feud blurs political and personal boundaries, with old wounds turning into twisted allegations. Supporting characters, including an underused Emma Stone as Cross’s wife and a conspiracy-obsessed mother-in-law, round out a cast of caricatures that highlight the film’s descent into paranoia and absurdity.

In Eddington, every conspiracy is true and every character is on the brink. As society collapses, even the most rational figures are consumed by delusion. Austin Butler delivers a standout performance as a cult-like influencer, one of the film’s many avatars of seductive chaos.

Yet for all its ambition and technical execution, Eddington feels more like a provocation than a revelation. The satire is pointed but scattershot, the characters hollow, and the message muddled. It is both too late and too soon for a film like this, too close to recent history to feel fresh, and too removed to offer meaningful insight.

While some viewers may admire its audacity, others will find little substance beneath the spectacle. Eddington is the cinematic equivalent of a nervous breakdown—brilliantly acted, eerily relevant, but ultimately exhausting.

Rated R for strong violence, grisly images, language, and graphic nudity. Eddington runs 148 minutes and earns 2 out of 4 stars. It opens in theaters this Friday.

575 rescued after Indonesian ferry fire, 2 still missing

Venus L Peñaflor
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575 rescued after Indonesian ferry fire, 2 still missing

MANADO, Indonesia. Rescuers said on Monday that 575 people have been saved from a ferry that caught fire off North Sulawesi province in Indonesia, significantly more than earlier reported. At least three people died, while two others remain missing.

The KM Barcelona V-A was en route from Melonguane to Manado on Sunday when the fire broke out around midday. Initial reports cited five dead and 280 rescued, based on the ferry’s manifest. However, authorities later revised the figures, stating that more people were on board than recorded and that the death toll had been updated to three.

Indonesian Navy First Adm. Franky Pasuna Sihombing said it is common for actual passenger numbers to differ from official records, often due to overcrowding. These discrepancies complicate search and rescue operations.

The rescue involved a coast guard ship, six rescue vessels, several inflatable boats, and local fishermen. Many passengers were pulled from the sea, including a two-month-old baby who had inhaled seawater and is now in stable condition at a hospital.

The KM Barcelona V-A had a listed capacity of 600 passengers. According to the manifest, it carried only 280 passengers and 15 crew, but rescue teams believe the ferry was overcrowded.

Indonesia, an archipelago of over 17,000 islands, relies heavily on ferries for transportation. However, poor enforcement of safety regulations has led to frequent maritime accidents.

On July 14, a speedboat carrying 18 people capsized during a storm, though all were rescued. Earlier this month, a ferry near Bali sank, killing at least 19 people and leaving 16 missing. That incident prompted a two-week search involving over 600 personnel, multiple navy ships, boats, divers, and a helicopter.

Trump releases over 240,000 pages of Martin Luther King assassination files

EDGARDO HERNAL
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Trump releases over 240,000 pages of Martin Luther King assassination files

WASHINGTON. The United States Justice Department has released more than 240,000 pages of documents related to the 1968 assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., shedding new light on the extensive surveillance campaign carried out by the FBI during the civil rights era. The files, which include FBI records, are now publicly accessible via the website of the U.S. National Archives, with more documents expected to follow.

Dr. King, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and a global symbol of nonviolent resistance, was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. His death marked a turning point in U.S. history, triggering nationwide unrest in a year already marred by anti-Vietnam War protests and the assassination of U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy.

The newly released records confirm longstanding accounts that the FBI conducted extensive surveillance on King during the 1950s and 1960s, including wiretapping his phones and attempting to discredit him by falsely linking him to communism during the Cold War. In recent years, the FBI has acknowledged these actions as abuses of power and violations of civil liberties.

The document release follows a directive by former President Donald Trump, who had pledged during his campaign to increase transparency regarding historic political assassinations. Earlier in his term, his administration had already released files related to the deaths of Robert F. Kennedy and President John F. Kennedy.

In response to the release, the King family issued a statement urging the public to approach the documents with “empathy, restraint, and respect for our family’s continuing grief.” They also condemned any misuse of the files.

“During our father’s lifetime, he was relentlessly targeted by an invasive, predatory, and deeply disturbing disinformation and surveillance campaign orchestrated by J. Edgar Hoover through the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” said King’s children, Martin Luther King III, 67, and Bernice King, 62.

While James Earl Ray, a known segregationist, confessed to King’s assassination, he later recanted, and many questions have long surrounded his conviction. Ray died in prison in 1998. In 1999, the King family filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Tennessee, resulting in a jury verdict that found King was the victim of a conspiracy involving Loyd Jowers, a former Memphis police officer, and unidentified co-conspirators, including government agencies. The family maintains that Ray was not the shooter but was instead framed.

Jowers publicly claimed involvement in the plot during a 1993 television interview, but a 2023 Justice Department report has since cast doubt on his testimony.

As calls for justice, truth, and historical transparency continue globally, the King’s family hopes the revelations serve not only as a window into past injustices but also as a renewed call for unity, compassion, and equality.

Kamara, halos handa na sa ika-4 na SONA ni Pangulong Marcos Jr.

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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Kamara, halos handa na sa ika-4 na SONA ni Pangulong Marcos Jr.

MAYNILA. Inihayag ng Kamara de Representantes na nasa 90 hanggang 95 porsiyento nang handa ang lahat para sa nalalapit na ika-4 na State of the Nation Address (SONA) ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na gaganapin sa Hulyo 28 sa Batasang Pambansa, Quezon City.

Ayon kay House spokesperson Princess Abante, patuloy ang ginagawang paghahanda at wala namang naitalang aberya kahit pa may nararanasang pag-ulan sa mga nakalipas na araw. Aniya, nakalatag na rin ang mga contingency plan kung sakaling lumala ang panahon sa mismong araw ng SONA. Nilinaw rin niyang walang plano ng pagpapaliban ng programa.

Final na rin ang mga hakbang sa seguridad, ayon sa pamunuan ng Kamara, at wala pang natatanggap na anumang banta sa seguridad. Aabot sa mahigit 1,500 bisita ang inaasahang dadalo, kapareho ng bilang noong nakaraang taon.

Hinimok ni Abante ang publiko na subaybayan ang talumpati ng Pangulo sa iba’t ibang media at social media platforms. Inaasahang tatalakayin ni Marcos Jr. ang mga pangunahing isyu sa bansa, mga reporma ng administrasyon, at ang kalagayan ng ekonomiya, seguridad, at mga proyektong pang-imprastruktura.

Ang SONA ay taunang ulat ng Pangulo sa bayan ukol sa kalagayan ng bansa at direksyong tatahakin ng pamahalaan sa natitirang bahagi ng kanyang termino.

Israeli troops enter central Gaza City, intensify pressure on Hamas

Venus L Peñaflor
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Israeli troops enter central Gaza City, intensify pressure on Hamas

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip. Israeli forces on Monday pushed into Deir al-Balah, the only major city in central Gaza that had largely been spared from ground operations during the 21-month war. The move, which came after evacuation orders were issued, appears to be part of a broader strategy to divide the territory through military corridors and intensify pressure on Hamas to release hostages.

The Israeli incursion prompted alarm from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which said it was “shocked and alarmed,” warning that “the people of Israel will not forgive anyone who knowingly endangered the hostages.” Israel maintains that territorial control is essential to securing hostage releases. Around 50 hostages remain in Gaza, fewer than half of whom are believed to be alive, according to Israeli sources.

Associated Press reporters observed explosions and smoke in areas that had been recently evacuated. A local resident said Israeli pamphlets were dropped at dawn, instructing civilians to leave. Within hours, tanks entered the zone, flattening structures with bulldozers.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that Israeli troops raided its main staff residence in Deir al-Balah, forcing women and children to evacuate on foot. Male staff were reportedly handcuffed, stripped, and interrogated at gunpoint. Two staff members and two family members were detained, with three later released.

WHO also said its main warehouse in the area was damaged by an explosion and fire, disrupting aid operations. Meanwhile, the U.N. confirmed that two of its guesthouses were damaged by shrapnel during reported Israeli airstrikes.

The military did not confirm whether it had ordered the evacuation of aid agencies but said it maintains regular contact with humanitarian groups and helps facilitate relocations when necessary.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians have sought refuge in Deir al-Balah amid repeated displacement across the enclave. According to the U.N., over 87% of Gaza is now either under evacuation orders or designated as Israeli military zones, leaving 2.1 million people confined to just 12% of the territory, where essential services have collapsed.

On the southern front, the Israeli military reported that one soldier was killed and an officer seriously wounded during combat operations.

Meanwhile, the World Food Program (WFP) accused Israeli forces of opening fire on a crowd seeking aid in northern Gaza over the weekend. The WFP said “countless lives” were lost when Israeli tanks and snipers fired at a convoy area. A photojournalist with the AP counted 51 bodies at two hospitals, while Gaza’s Health Ministry reported at least 80 deaths. The Israeli military said it had fired warning shots to address an “immediate threat” and questioned the reported death toll.

The incident is the latest in a series of deadly confrontations involving aid seekers. Hundreds have been killed in recent weeks while attempting to access food and supplies from both U.N. and Israeli-supported aid sites.

The Gaza Health Ministry, operated by the Hamas-run government, estimates that over 59,000 Palestinians have died since the conflict began. While the figures do not differentiate between militants and civilians, the ministry states that more than half of the fatalities are women and children. International organizations, including the U.N., continue to use the ministry’s data as the most reliable source of casualty information.

In a sign of growing global discontent, the United Kingdom, France, and 23 other Western-aligned countries issued a joint statement demanding an immediate end to the war in Gaza and the release of remaining hostages. They also condemned Israel’s ongoing restrictions on humanitarian aid.

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