Thursday, May 7, 2026


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Iran holds funeral for military commanders and scientists killed in war with Israel

TEHRAN, Iran. Thousands of mourners dressed in black filled the streets of Tehran on Saturday as Iran held a state funeral for senior military commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians killed during its recent war with Israel.

According to state media, at least 16 scientists and 10 top commanders were among the 60 individuals honored in the procession, which included four women and four children. Among the dead were high-ranking officials such as Armed Forces Chief Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Revolutionary Guards Commander General Hossein Salami, and Guards Aerospace Force Chief General Amir Ali Hajizadeh.

Coffins adorned with Iranian flags and photographs of the deceased were paraded through Tehran’s Azadi Square, as emotional crowds waved flags, threw rose petals, and reached out to touch the caskets. Ballistic missiles were also displayed nearby in a show of defiance.

Mass prayers were held in the square, led by top clerics and military officials. President Masoud Pezeshkian, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s adviser Ali Shamkhani—who was wounded during the conflict—and Khamenei’s son Mojtaba were in attendance.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi praised Iran’s “heroic resistance” in a Telegram post, stating, “Today, Iranians, through heroic resistance against two regimes armed with nuclear weapons, protected their honour and dignity, and look to the future prouder, more dignified, and more resolute than ever.”

The funeral, referred to as the “procession of the Martyrs of Power,” came after a deadly exchange of attacks between Iran and Israel. The war began on June 13 when Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, killing several top officials. Iran responded with missile barrages targeting Israeli cities and military sites. The United States joined the conflict on June 22, launching its own strikes on Iranian nuclear targets.

According to Iran’s health ministry, 610 people were killed and more than 4,700 were injured before a ceasefire took effect on Tuesday. Activist outlet HRANA reported higher casualties, claiming 974 deaths, including 387 civilians. Israel’s health ministry reported 28 deaths and over 3,200 injuries on its side.

Bagheri was buried Saturday at Behesht Zahra cemetery outside Tehran. Salami and Hajizadeh are scheduled to be buried on Sunday.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Friday that he would consider launching further strikes against Iran, while Ayatollah Khamenei warned that any new attack would be met with retaliatory strikes on U.S. military bases in the Middle East.

Israel, believed to be the only nuclear-armed country in the region, has said its strikes aimed to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, and the U.N. nuclear watchdog has reported “no credible indication” of an active weapons program in the country.

Dumarami ang Pilipinong ayaw nang magpakasal — PSA

MAYNILA. Bumaba ng 7.8 porsyento ang bilang ng mga Pilipinong nagpakasal noong 2023, ayon sa datos ng Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Mula sa naitalang 449,163 kasal noong 2022, nasa 414,213 lamang ang naitala noong nakaraang taon.

Ayon sa PSA, lumalawak ang pagtanggap ng mga Pilipino sa cohabitation o pagsasama nang hindi kasal. Batay sa 2022 National Demographic and Health Survey, 19 porsyento ng mga kababaihang may edad 15 hanggang 49-anyos ang nakikitang nakatira na sa kanilang partner kahit walang pormal na kasal.

Mas marami rin ang mga batang isinilang mula sa mga magulang na hindi legal na kasal, na umabot sa 842,728. Mas mataas ito kumpara sa 605,794 na isinilang mula sa mga mag-asawang kasal sa mata ng batas.

Naitala rin ng PSA na ang pinakamaraming kasalan ay naganap noong Pebrero, sinundan ng Disyembre at Hunyo. Nangunguna ang rehiyon ng CALABARZON sa may pinakamaraming kasal, habang ang Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) naman ang may pinakamababang bilang.

Sa kabuuang kasal noong 2023, 42.9 porsyento ang civil weddings, 31.4 porsyento ang Roman Catholic weddings, at 23.5 porsyento ang mula sa iba’t ibang relihiyosong seremonya.

Nanatiling nasa edad 28 ang karaniwang edad ng mga babaeng ikinakasal, habang 30-anyos naman sa mga lalaki. Samantala, nananatili rin ang kaso ng maagang pag-aasawa sa bansa, kung saan 12,630 na menor-de-edad na babae ang naitalang nagpakasal noong 2023.

Austronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary launch on private mission to Space Station

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida. India, Poland, and Hungary sent astronauts into space for the first time in over four decades on Wednesday, joining a privately funded mission to the International Space Station (ISS) organized by U.S.-based company Axiom Space.

Launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, the crew includes India’s Shubhanshu Shukla, a pilot in the Indian Air Force; Hungary’s Tibor Kapu, a mechanical engineer; and Poland’s Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, a radiation expert and European Space Agency project astronaut. They are joined by veteran U.S. astronaut Peggy Whitson, who serves as the mission commander.

The launch, originally delayed due to a series of technical and safety concerns, marks Axiom Space’s fourth private mission to the ISS. Each participating country contributed to the mission cost, with Axiom pricing each seat at over $65 million.

The crew is expected to spend two weeks aboard the ISS conducting scientific experiments and engaging in outreach events with their home countries. They also brought food items symbolic of their cultures, including Indian curry, Hungarian paprika paste, and freeze-dried Polish pierogies.

“This is the journey of 1.4 billion people,” Shukla said before liftoff, expressing hope that his flight would inspire a new generation of innovators in India.

Uznanski-Wisniewski carried the same Polish flag worn by Miroslaw Hermaszewski, Poland’s first astronaut, calling him his greatest supporter before his passing in 2022. Kapu, who brought a symbolic teddy bear from Hungary’s first astronaut Bertalan Farkas, said, “Hungary gets one step closer to the stars.”

The astronauts named their SpaceX Dragon capsule “Grace” and sent messages in their native languages after reaching orbit.

Peggy Whitson, who holds the U.S. record for the longest time spent in space, now flies as an Axiom commander after retiring from NASA. Her current mission caused her to miss her induction into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame due to pre-launch quarantine.

NASA, once hesitant about commercial spaceflight, now supports private missions to the ISS, charging for accommodations and requiring an experienced astronaut onboard. This shift aligns with the agency’s broader goal of transitioning low-Earth orbit activities to the private sector ahead of the ISS’s planned retirement in 2031.

“Access to space is no longer just for the biggest agencies, space is for everyone,” Uznanski-Wisniewski said after liftoff.

Protesters call for Thai PM’s Resignation over leaked call with Hun Sen

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BANGKOK, Thailand. Hundreds of protesters gathered in central Bangkok on Saturday, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra following a leaked phone call with former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen that has intensified political tensions and threatened her fragile coalition government.

The leaked call, in which Paetongtarn allegedly urged Hun Sen not to listen to a Thai military officer critical of Cambodia amid a border clash, has drawn outrage and sparked accusations of unethical conduct. The border confrontation, which took place on May 28, resulted in the death of a Cambodian soldier in a disputed area and has triggered multiple investigations.

Demonstrators, many of whom were associated with the pro-monarchy Yellow Shirt movement, rallied around the Victory Monument, waving national flags and holding signs. A large stage was set up as speakers addressed the crowd, calling for accountability and expressing frustration over Paetongtarn’s handling of the border dispute.

The Yellow Shirts have historically opposed the Shinawatra political dynasty. Their past demonstrations contributed to military coups that ousted Paetongtarn’s father, Thaksin Shinawatra, in 2006, and her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra, in 2014.

The controversial call reportedly referred to a regional Thai army commander who had publicly criticized Cambodia’s stance on the dispute. In response, Hun Sen, now president of the Cambodian Senate, accused Thailand of violating Cambodian sovereignty. Speaking at a Cambodian People’s Party event in Phnom Penh, he condemned the Thai military’s actions and declared Cambodia’s readiness to defend its territory.

“This poor Cambodia has suffered from foreign invasion, war, and genocide,” Hun Sen said. “Now Cambodia has risen… we need peace, friendship, cooperation, and development.”

Territorial tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have a long history, including a 1962 International Court of Justice ruling that awarded Cambodia the land around the Preah Vihear temple, and clashes in 2011. The court reaffirmed its decision in 2013, during Yingluck Shinawatra’s term as prime minister.

The scandal has shaken Paetongtarn’s ruling coalition, leading to the departure of its largest partner, the Bhumjaithai Party, which had already been at odds with her Pheu Thai Party over control of the Interior Ministry. Some Bhumjaithai leaders are also under investigation for allegedly rigging last year’s Senate elections.

The coalition is now reduced to 255 seats in the 500-seat lower house, barely holding a majority.

Meanwhile, Paetongtarn faces separate probes by the Constitutional Court and the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). The NACC is investigating whether her call to Hun Sen constituted a serious ethical breach. The Constitutional Court is expected to decide soon whether to take the case, and could suspend her from office during the investigation.

“I’m not worried. I’m ready to present the facts,” Paetongtarn said Tuesday. “It was clear from the phone call that I had nothing to gain from it, and I also didn’t cause any damage to the country.”

Thailand’s courts and oversight agencies, particularly the Constitutional Court, have long been seen as key tools of the royalist establishment in curbing the influence of elected leaders linked to the Shinawatra family.

DepEd ibinubunyag ang ‘pay-for-position’ scheme

MAYNILA. Ibinunyag ng Department of Education (DepEd) ang umiiral na “pay-for-position” scheme o pagbili ng puwesto sa loob ng ahensya at muling iginiit na lahat ng appointment at promosyon ay dapat nakabatay sa merito at kakayahan.

“Ang mga posisyon sa DepEd ay pinaghihirapan, at hindi binibili,” pahayag ng ahensya.

Ayon sa DepEd, ang pagbibigay o pagtanggap ng pera kapalit ng trabaho o promosyon ay isang seryosong paglabag sa Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019) na may kaakibat na parusang administratibo, sibil, at kriminal.

Hinikayat ng kagawaran ang publiko, lalo na ang mga nabiktima o may nalalamang insidente ng naturang gawain, na agad itong i-report sa DepEd, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), o Philippine National Police (PNP). Tiniyak ng ahensya na mananatiling kumpidensyal ang mga ulat at protektado ang mga maglalakas-loob na magsumbong.

“Hindi ko pahihintulutan ang anumang uri ng katiwalian sa DepEd,” ayon kay Education Secretary Sonny Angara. “Dapat tayo ay may kakayahan, integridad, at tunay na malasakit sa Kabataang Pilipino.”

Trump drops sanctions relief plan, says bombing Iran again is on the table

WASHINGTON. U.S. President Donald Trump announced he has scrapped plans to lift sanctions on Iran and said he is considering another bombing campaign if Tehran is found to be enriching uranium to concerning levels.

Trump’s remarks came after Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, made his first public statement following a 12-day conflict with Israel, which concluded with U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Khamenei claimed Iran had “slapped America in the face” by attacking a major U.S. base in Qatar in response to the bombings. He also vowed that Iran would “never surrender.”

In a social media post, Trump claimed he spared Khamenei’s life, revealing he blocked an Israeli plan to assassinate the Iranian leader. “His country was decimated, his three evil nuclear sites were obliterated, and I knew exactly where he was sheltered,” Trump wrote. “I saved him from a very ugly and ignominious death.”

Iran responded by tying any potential revival of nuclear negotiations to a change in U.S. rhetoric. “If President Trump is genuine about wanting a deal, he should put aside the disrespectful and unacceptable tone towards Iran’s Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Khamenei,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi posted on X early Saturday.

Trump revealed he had been working on a plan to ease sanctions on Iran to help the country recover quickly, but reversed course after Khamenei’s remarks. “I get hit with a statement of anger, hatred, and disgust, and immediately dropped all work on sanction relief, and more,” he said.

Speaking at a White House news conference, Trump said he would not rule out authorizing further military strikes if necessary. “Sure, without question, absolutely,” he said, when asked whether more bombing of Iranian nuclear sites could occur.

Trump also said he wants inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) or another trusted entity to access and verify the damage at Iran’s nuclear facilities. He dismissed suggestions that the U.S. strikes caused limited damage.

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said Wednesday that resuming inspections is his top priority, as none have occurred since Israeli strikes began on June 13. However, Iran’s parliament has approved measures to suspend such inspections, and Araqchi indicated on Friday that Tehran may reject any IAEA visit requests.

Despite escalating tensions, Trump said Iran still wants to meet to discuss a path forward. The White House, however, stated on Thursday that no meeting has been scheduled between the U.S. and any Iranian delegation.

Napolcom, naglunsad ng imbestigasyon sa mga pulis na posibleng sangkot sa missing sabungeros

MAYNILA. Nagsimula na ang sariling imbestigasyon ng National Police Commission (Napolcom) kaugnay ng kaso ng mga nawawalang sabungero, kasunod ng mga ulat na may mga pulis umano na sangkot sa insidente.

Ayon kay Napolcom Vice Chair at Executive Officer Atty. Rafael Calinisan sa panayam sa Unang Balita nitong Biyernes, “Dahil kaliwa’t kanan na yung report na merong involved na pulis, kailangan na naming mag-imbestiga. Inutusan na namin ang aming Inspection Monitoring Investigation Service para mag-imbestiga sa mga nawawalang sabungero.”

Lumutang ang pangalan ng alias “Totoy,” isa sa mga akusado, na nagsabing may 20 pulis na sangkot sa umano’y pagdukot sa mga sabungero. Ayon pa kay Totoy, isasama niya sa kanyang affidavit ang mga pangalan ng mga sangkot.

Tiniyak naman ng Napolcom na makikipag-ugnayan sila sa iba pang ahensiya ng gobyerno para sa mas malalim na imbestigasyon.

“We will coordinate with them, at nakikiusap nga po ako na mag-usap-usap tayong lahat,” ani Calinisan.

Paliwanag pa ni Calinisan, habang ang ibang ahensiya ay nakatutok sa aspeto ng kasong kriminal, ang Napolcom ay tututok sa posibilidad ng pagsampa ng mga kasong administratibo laban sa mga sangkot na pulis.

“‘Yung aspetong administratibo, wala pang tumitingin doon. Eh, ‘yung administratibo, sa Tagalog, fit ka ba maging pulis? So ‘yan ang trabaho ng Napolcom, kami ang pulis ng pulis,” giit ni Calinisan.

Dagdag pa niya, paiigtingin nila ang proseso ng pagdinig at tiniyak sa publiko na walang sinuman ang palalagpasin.

“Bibilisan namin yung hearing sa kasong ito, at pinapangako natin sa taumbayan that we will leave no stone unturned, kahit sino pang pulis yan, kahit ano pang ranggo niyan,” aniya.

Sinabi rin ni Calinisan na kung mapatunayang may pagkakasala, hindi sila mag-aatubiling patawan ng pinakamabigat na parusa.

“Kung talagang may pulis na involved, assuming meron, ‘di tayo magdadalawang isip to impose the highest penalty of dismissal sa mga taong ‘to,” pahayag ni Calinisan.

4 testigo laban kay Duterte, hawak na ng DOJ

MAYNILA. Tatlo hanggang apat na indibidwal ang nasa ilalim ngayon ng Witness Protection Program (WPP) ng Department of Justice (DOJ) bilang mga testigong tutulong sa kaso laban kay dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa International Criminal Court (ICC) sa The Hague, Netherlands.

Ayon kay Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla nitong Huwebes, inaalalayan ng gobyerno ang mga nasabing testigo. “Ang pagkakaalam ko, tatlo o apat pa lang iyong tinutulungan natin, but I think there will be more, there will be more,” pahayag ni Remulla.

Tiniyak din ni Remulla na tutugunan ng gobyerno ang pangangailangang pangkaligtasan at seguridad ng mga testigo, ngunit nilinaw niyang hindi sasagutin ng pamahalaan ang gastusin sa pagpunta ng mga ito sa The Hague.

Aniya, ang pakikipag-ugnayan ng ICC ay ginawa sa pamamagitan ng WPP at hindi siya personal na nakausap ng mga opisyal ng ICC. “Basta may mga taga-ICC na tumawag sa ating Witness Protection Program, doon nagsimula iyan, hindi ako ang kausap. In fact, I don’t even know them, I just let our WPP people handle it kasi nga confined iyan sa trabaho nila,” aniya.

Binigyang-diin din ng kalihim na nananatili ang posisyon ng administrasyong Marcos na hindi miyembro ng ICC ang Pilipinas. Dahil dito, ginagamit ng DOJ ang Republic Act No. 9851 o ang Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity bilang batayan sa pagtulong sa mga testigo.

“It becomes also our obligation to help them because we are giving up our jurisdiction for their jurisdiction kasi nga ang hirap na i-prove ang case dito… Kaya ipinaubaya natin sa ICC,” paliwanag pa ni Remulla.

Bezos and Sanchez begin $50-million wedding celebration in Venice

VENICE, Italy. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and journalist Lauren Sanchez kicked off a three-day, $ 50 million wedding celebration in Venice on Thursday, drawing a host of global celebrities and sparking protests from activists concerned about the city’s future.

The couple arrived by helicopter on Wednesday and checked into the exclusive Aman Venice hotel, where rooms facing the Grand Canal cost upwards of €4,000 ($4,686) per night. On Friday, they are set to exchange vows in a symbolic ceremony on San Giorgio Island, across from the iconic St. Mark’s Square. The ceremony will reportedly have no legal status in Italy, with speculation suggesting the couple may have already wed in the U.S.

Among the 200 to 250 high-profile guests expected to attend are Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, Orlando Bloom, Queen Rania of Jordan, Kris Jenner, and Kim and Khloe Kardashian. Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, who arrived earlier in the week, were seen sightseeing and shopping.

On Thursday evening, guests gathered at the Madonna dell’Orto church, home to works by Renaissance artist Tintoretto. To ensure privacy, the Venice city council banned pedestrian and boat traffic in the Cannaregio district from 4:30 p.m. until midnight.

Despite the glamour, the event has sparked controversy. An activist climbed a pole in St. Mark’s Square on Thursday, unfurling a banner reading “The 1% ruins the world.” The protest was part of the “No Space for Bezos” movement, which accuses the city of being commercialized for the benefit of the ultra-rich.

Still, many locals and officials welcomed the event. “If you look at what concretely the Bezos wedding brings for the good of Venice, there are only advantages and no disadvantages,” said Mattia Brandi, a local tour guide. “If anything is different, it is because of the protesters.”

The festivities will culminate on Saturday with a grand reception at the Arsenale, a historic former shipyard now used for cultural events.

Bezos, 61, and Sanchez, 55, got engaged in 2023, four years after Bezos ended his 25-year marriage to philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. He currently serves as executive chairman of Amazon and ranks No. 4 on Forbes’ list of the world’s richest people.

Venice, known for hosting high-profile weddings, has previously welcomed stars such as George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin in 2014, and Indian billionaires Vinita Agarwal and Muqit Teja in 2011.

Khamenei warns U.S. after Qatar strike, downplays nuclear site damage

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei resurfaced Thursday with a warning against further U.S. attacks, declaring that Iran had “slapped America’s face” with a missile strike on a U.S. air base in Qatar. The statement marked his first public appearance since Iran agreed to a ceasefire with Israel following weeks of conflict.

In a prerecorded speech aired on state television, Khamenei downplayed the impact of U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, calling U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims of “complete obliteration” exaggerated. “They could not achieve anything significant,” he said, without offering updates on the condition of Iran’s nuclear program or the status of its centrifuges.

Khamenei, 86, appeared visibly tired and spoke in a hoarse voice as he addressed Iran’s long-time adversaries, the United States and Israel. He claimed the retaliatory strike on the U.S. base in Qatar demonstrated Iran’s ability to hit key American targets in the region. “This action can be repeated in the future,” he warned.

The White House dismissed Khamenei’s comments as an attempt to “save face.” Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday, “Any commonsense, open-minded person knows the truth about the precision strikes on Saturday night. They were wildly successful.”

The U.S. strikes, which involved bunker-buster bombs and cruise missiles, targeted three Iranian nuclear sites on Sunday. Rafael Grossi, director of the U.N. nuclear watchdog IAEA, confirmed the damage was “very, very, very considerable” and assumed that centrifuges were no longer operational, although the agency has not been allowed to inspect the sites.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei admitted Wednesday that the country’s nuclear installations had suffered severe damage.

Khamenei had not been seen publicly since taking shelter on June 13, when Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and high-ranking officials. The ceasefire, which took effect Tuesday, followed heavy losses on both sides.

According to Iranian officials, 606 people were killed and 5,332 were wounded during the conflict. However, the Human Rights Activists group based in Washington reported higher figures, saying at least 1,054 Iranians were killed, including 417 civilians and 318 members of the security forces.

Israel reported 28 deaths and over 1,000 wounded. Officials said Iran fired more than 550 missiles during the 12-day conflict, 90% of which were intercepted. Israel claimed it struck over 720 Iranian military targets and eight nuclear-related sites.

Iran partially reopened its airspace on Thursday, resuming domestic and international flights over the eastern region. Shops in Tehran also began to reopen as traffic returned to the streets.

Trump has said that U.S. and Iranian officials are expected to engage in talks next week, raising hopes for longer-term peace. Iran has not confirmed any negotiations, although U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff acknowledged direct and indirect contact between the two nations. A planned sixth round of talks earlier this month in Oman was canceled after the Israeli strikes.

Iranian lawmakers voted Wednesday to fast-track a bill that would curtail cooperation with the IAEA, signaling that the country remains committed to its nuclear ambitions.