Wednesday, July 1, 2026


Your Daily News Update About CALABARZON and Beyond.
ISSN 2799-1911

Home Blog Page 171

5 bayan sa Occidental Mindoro, lubog sa baha dahil sa Habagat

SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro. Patuloy ang isinasagawang rescue operations sa Occidental Mindoro matapos lumubog sa baha ang limang bayan bunsod ng malakas na habagat na pinalakas pa ng bagyong Dante at Emong.

Kabilang sa mga nailigtas ang ilang matatandang residente, kabilang ang dalawang 87-anyos mula sa Barangay Balansay sa Mamburao, pati na rin ang mga residente mula sa Barangay Tangkalan at Pinagturilan.

Umabot na sa mahigit 250 pamilya o higit 800 katao ang inilikas. Nag-utos na si Governor Eduardo Gadiano ng preemptive evacuation, at forced evacuation kung kinakailangan para sa kaligtasan ng mga apektadong residente.

Kabilang sa mga pinakaapektadong bayan ang Abra de Ilog, Paluan, Mamburao, Santa Cruz, at Sablayan.

French President Macron sues right-wing podcaster over allegation that First Lady is transgender

PARIS. French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron have filed a defamation lawsuit in the United States against right-wing podcaster Candace Owens over her repeated claims that Brigitte Macron was born male.

In a complaint filed Wednesday in Delaware Superior Court, the Macrons accused Owens of launching a “campaign of global humiliation” to promote her podcast and expand her online following. The lawsuit focuses on Owens’ eight-part podcast titled Becoming Brigitte, which has garnered over 2.3 million views on YouTube, as well as related posts on X (formerly Twitter).

The Macrons said Owens falsely claimed that Brigitte, 72, was born as “Jean-Michel Trogneux,” the name of her older brother. The complaint further states that Owens “dissected their appearance, their marriage, their friends, their family, and their personal history, twisting it all into a grotesque narrative designed to inflame and degrade.” The result, they said, has been “relentless bullying on a worldwide scale.”

According to the filing, Owens’ claims included that Brigitte Macron stole another person’s identity, transitioned to female, and that she and the president are blood relatives engaged in incest. The Macrons said their relationship began when Brigitte was Emmanuel Macron’s teacher, but it “remained within the bounds of the law.”

In a podcast episode released the same day, Owens dismissed the lawsuit as “littered with factual inaccuracies” and described it as a “desperate public relations strategy” intended to smear her. She also claimed she was unaware that the lawsuit was forthcoming, despite legal communications between both parties dating back to January.

A spokesperson for Owens framed the lawsuit as an attack on press freedom, saying, “This is a foreign government attacking the First Amendment rights of an American independent journalist.” The spokesperson added that Brigitte Macron had declined several interview requests from Owens.

In a joint statement issued through their lawyers, the Macrons said they had made three formal requests for Owens to retract her statements before pursuing legal action. “Ms. Owens’s campaign of defamation was plainly designed to harass and cause pain to us and our families and to garner attention and notoriety,” they said. “We gave her every opportunity to back away from these claims, but she refused.”

Defamation lawsuits filed by heads of state are rare. However, former U.S. President Donald Trump has also used the courts in recent years, including a $10 billion lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and a $15 million settlement with ABC over misreporting of a civil case verdict.

To win a defamation case in the United States, public figures must prove “actual malice” that the defendant knowingly spread false information or acted with reckless disregard for the truth.

Rumors about Brigitte Macron’s gender began circulating online in 2021 and have since been discussed on high-profile podcasts hosted by Tucker Carlson and Joe Rogan. In September, Brigitte won a defamation case in a French court against two women involved in spreading similar rumors, but that ruling was overturned by an appeals court. She has since appealed the decision to France’s highest court.

The U.S. case is listed as Macron et al. v. Owens et al, Delaware Superior Court, No. N25C-07-194.

Signal No. 3, itinaas sa ilang bahagi ng Pangasinan at La Union habang nanatiling malakas si Emong

MAYNILA. Nanatili ang lakas ng Severe Tropical Storm Emong nitong Huwebes ng umaga, ayon sa pinakahuling ulat ng PAGASA, kung saan itinaas ang Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 sa ilang bahagi ng Pangasinan at La Union.

Batay sa 8:00 a.m. bulletin ng PAGASA, ang mga sumusunod na lugar ay nasa ilalim ng iba’t ibang wind signal:

Signal No. 3:
Anda, Bolinao, Bani (Pangasinan); Luna, Balaoan, Bacnotan, San Juan, San Fernando City, Bauang, Caba, Bangar (La Union)

Signal No. 2:
Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, natitirang bahagi ng La Union, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Agno, Burgos, Mabini, Alaminos City, Sual, Labrador, Bugallon, Infanta, Dasol, Lingayen, Binmaley, Dagupan City, Calasiao, Santa Barbara, Mangaldan, Mapandan, Manaoag, Laoac, Binalonan, San Manuel, San Nicolas, Pozorrubio, Sison, San Fabian, San Jacinto (Pangasinan), Rizal, Santa Praxedes, Claveria (Cagayan), Kayapa, Santa Fe (Nueva Vizcaya)

Signal No. 1:
Batanes, natitirang bahagi ng Cagayan kabilang ang Babuyan Islands, Santo Tomas, Delfin Albano, Quezon, Mallig, Quirino, Roxas, San Manuel, Aurora, San Mateo, Ramon, Cordon, Burgos, Cabatuan, Cabagan, San Pablo, Santa Maria, Tumauini, Gamu, Luna, Maconacon, Alicia, San Mariano, Naguilian, San Guillermo, Cauayan City, Echague, Ilagan City, Angadanan, Benito Soliven, Santiago City, Reina Mercedes, San Agustin, Divilacan, San Isidro, Jones (Isabela), natitirang bahagi ng Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, natitirang bahagi ng Pangasinan, Santa Cruz, Candelaria, Masinloc, Palauig, Iba, Botolan, Cabangan (Zambales), Tarlac, Carranglan, Lupao, Talugtug, Cuyapo, Nampicuan, Guimba, Science City of Muñoz, San Jose City, Pantabangan, Rizal, Llanera, Talavera, Santo Domingo, Quezon, Licab, Aliaga, Zaragoza, San Antonio, Jaen, Cabanatuan City, Santa Rosa, General Mamerto Natividad, Palayan City, Bongabon, Laur (Nueva Ecija)

Ayon sa PAGASA, posibleng lumakas pa si Emong at maging isang ganap na bagyo bago ito tumama sa lupa (landfall) sa Ilocos Region sa pagitan ng Huwebes ng gabi at Biyernes ng umaga.

Huling namataan si Emong sa layong 245 kilometro kanluran hilagang-kanluran ng Bacnotan, La Union. Taglay nito ang lakas ng hangin na umaabot sa 110 kilometro kada oras (kph) malapit sa gitna at bugso na hanggang 135 kph. Kumikilos ito pa-timog timog-kanluran sa bilis na 15 kph.

“Sa forecast track, posibleng dumaang malapit si Emong sa Pangasinan ngayong hapon at mag-landfall sa Ilocos Region mamayang gabi o bukas ng madaling-araw. Pagkatapos tumawid ng Hilagang Luzon, inaasahang lalabas ito sa Luzon Strait at dadaan malapit sa Babuyan Islands,” pahayag ng PAGASA.

Dagdag pa ng ahensya, “Maaaring lumakas pa si Emong bago ito mag-landfall.”

House bill na nagpapawalang-buwis sa interest ng bank deposits, inihain ni Cong. Amante

MAYNILA. Isinusulong ni Laguna 3rd District Representative Loreto S. Amante ang panukalang batas na naglalayong tanggalin ang 20% buwis sa mga kinitang interes mula sa lokal na bank deposits, sa layuning palakasin ang kakayahan ng mga Pilipino na mag-impok at suportahan ang pangmatagalang paglago ng ekonomiya.

Sa inihaing House Bill No. 2215 na may pamagat na “An Act Declaring Tax-Free All Interest Earned From Local Currency Bank Deposits and Qualified Investments in Long-Term Instruments Derived From Sources Within the Philippines, Except Interest Income on Foreign Currency Deposits, Amending for Such Purpose Section 24 of Republic Act No. 12214, Otherwise Known As the Capital Markets Efficiency Promotion Act,” hindi na papatawan ng buwis ang interes na kinikita mula sa mga deposito sa bangko at kwalipikadong long-term investments na nasa lokal na pera. Hindi sakop ng panukala ang mga kita mula sa foreign currency deposits, na mananatiling may buwis.

Sa kasalukuyang umiiral na sistema, lahat ng interes na kinikita mula sa bank deposits ay awtomatikong binabawasan ng 20% final withholding tax sa ilalim ng Republic Act No. 8424 o mas kilala bilang Tax Reform Act of 1997. Subalit ayon kay Cong. Amante, panahon na upang repasuhin ito upang bigyan ng insentibo ang mga ordinaryong Pilipino na nagsusumikap mag-ipon.

“Dapat kilalanin ang pagsisikap ng mga manggagawa, maliliit na negosyante at pamilyang Pilipino na nag-iimpok para sa kinabukasan. Sa halip na patawan agad ng buwis ang kita nila mula sa kanilang ipon, mas mainam na bigyan sila ng kaunting ginhawa at motibasyon upang lalo pang magtipid at mag-invest,” pahayag ni Amante.

Ipinunto rin ng kongresista na ang panukalang ito ay makatutulong sa pagpapalalim ng lokal na capital market sa pamamagitan ng pagpapalakas ng kumpiyansa ng publiko sa pag-iimpok at pag-iinvest sa long-term instruments. Aniya, sa huli, makikinabang ang pambansang ekonomiya kung mas maraming Pilipino ang magkakaroon ng disiplina sa pananalapi at mas malaking bahagi ng pondo ng bansa ay maiiikot sa pormal na sektor.

Ang House Bill 2215 ay kasalukuyang nasa komite para sa deliberasyon. Umaasa si Amante na ito ay makakakuha ng suporta mula sa kanyang mga kasamahan sa Kamara at mga institusyong pinansyal na matagal nang nananawagan ng reporma sa sistemang pagbubuwis sa mga kita mula sa banko.

Sa kasaysayan, ang Capital Markets Efficiency Promotion Act na nais amyendahan ng panukala ay matagal nang tinutuligsa dahil sa umano’y hindi balanseng pagtrato sa local at foreign investors pagdating sa pagbubuwis. Layunin ng bagong panukalang ito na mas gawing makatarungan at inklusibo ang mga umiiral na batas sa buwis.

Kung maisasabatas, inaasahang magiging malaking tulong ito sa mga ordinaryong Pilipino, lalo na sa gitna ng patuloy na pagsirit ng presyo ng mga pangunahing bilihin at serbisyo.

\

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

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

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

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

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

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.