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Israeli strike hits Catholic church in Gaza, killing 3 and wounding priest

Venus L Peñaflor
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Israeli strike hits Catholic church in Gaza, killing 3 and wounding priest

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip. An Israeli shell struck the compound of the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza on Thursday, killing three people and wounding ten others, including the parish priest who had been in close contact with the late Pope Francis, according to church officials.

The attack damaged the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip, which has been sheltering hundreds of Palestinians, including children and people with disabilities, amid the ongoing 21-month war between Israel and Hamas. The Israeli military expressed regret over what it called a mistaken strike and said it is investigating the incident.

Pope Leo XIV responded by renewing his call for an immediate ceasefire. In a message of condolence, he conveyed “profound hope for dialogue, reconciliation, and enduring peace,” and expressed sorrow over the casualties, including Rev. Gabriel Romanelli, the wounded priest.

The White House said former U.S. President Donald Trump called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to express frustration over the strike. Netanyahu later stated that Israel “deeply regrets that a stray ammunition hit Gaza’s Holy Family Church.”

Caritas Jerusalem, a Catholic charity, confirmed the deaths of a 60-year-old janitor and an 84-year-old woman who had been receiving psychosocial support in a Caritas tent inside the compound. Romanelli was lightly injured.

“We were struck in the church while all the people there were elders, innocent people and children,” said Shady Abu Dawood, whose mother was wounded in the attack. “We love peace and call for it, and this is a brutal, unjustified action by the Israeli occupation.”

The Israeli military said its initial assessment suggests “fragments from a shell fired during operational activity in the area hit the church mistakenly.” It reiterated its policy of targeting militant sites, avoiding harm to civilians and religious structures, and said it regrets any unintentional damage.

The Holy Family Church is located near Al-Ahli Hospital and has been hit multiple times in recent days, according to hospital director Fadel Naem. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which also has a damaged church in Gaza, said the Catholic compound was housing about 600 displaced people, including 54 with disabilities, and described the attack as “a grave violation of the sanctity of life and religious sites.”

In a separate strike on Thursday, one person was killed and 17 were injured when two schools sheltering displaced families in the Al-Bureij refugee camp were hit, according to Al-Awda Hospital. The Israeli military did not comment on the incident.

The Gaza Health Ministry reported that local hospitals had received 94 bodies and 367 wounded individuals in the previous 24 hours due to Israeli strikes. The ministry says over 58,600 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began in October 2023, most of them women and children. The figures, though issued by the Hamas-run government, are widely used by international organizations, including the United Nations.

The late Pope Francis had maintained regular contact with the church during his final 18 months, frequently calling to check on the civilians sheltering inside. He had been critical of Israel’s conduct during the war and supported calls to investigate alleged war crimes in Gaza.

Gaza is home to around 1,000 Christians, mostly Greek Orthodox, within an overwhelmingly Muslim population. Many Christians have emigrated in recent decades due to war and hardship. Christian leaders have recently condemned attacks by Israeli settlers and extremists.

Meanwhile, indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire and hostage deal have made little visible progress. An Israeli official, speaking anonymously, said Israel is showing flexibility on certain issues, including security corridors in Gaza, but added that major disagreements remain.

Hamas militants killed around 1,200 people and abducted 251 in the October 7 attack that sparked the war. About 50 hostages remain in Gaza, fewer than half of whom are believed to be alive.

Eight babies born in UK using DNA from 3 people to prevent rare genetic diseases

EDGARDO HERNAL
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Eight babies born in UK using DNA from 3 people to prevent rare genetic diseases

LONDON. Eight healthy babies have been born in the United Kingdom using a groundbreaking experimental technique that combines DNA from three individuals to prevent mothers from passing on rare and often fatal mitochondrial diseases to their children, researchers confirmed on Wednesday.

The method, pioneered by scientists at Newcastle University in the UK and Monash University in Australia, involves transferring nuclear DNA from the mother’s egg or embryo into a donor egg or embryo that contains healthy mitochondria but has had its nuclear DNA removed. The resulting embryo contains DNA from three people: the mother, the father, and a female donor, though less than 1% of the baby’s genetic material comes from the donor.

Mitochondria are energy-producing structures found outside the nucleus of cells and contain their own small amount of DNA. Mutations in mitochondrial DNA can cause severe conditions such as muscle weakness, seizures, developmental delays, organ failure, and early death. While testing during in vitro fertilization (IVF) can sometimes detect these mutations, in some cases, the risk remains uncertain.

According to a report published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the technique, known as mitochondrial donation, was used in fertilized embryos from 22 women. So far, it has resulted in the birth of eight babies without signs of mitochondrial disease. One woman remains pregnant.

“This marks an important milestone,” said Dr. Zev Williams, director of the Columbia University Fertility Center, who was not involved in the research. “Expanding the range of reproductive options will empower more couples to pursue safe and healthy pregnancies.”

One of the eight babies was found to have slightly elevated levels of abnormal mitochondria, though not enough to cause disease, said Robin Lovell-Badge, a stem cell expert at the Francis Crick Institute. He emphasized that this level should still be monitored as the child grows.

The technique was legalized in the UK in 2016 and is also permitted in Australia, but remains prohibited in many countries, including the United States. In the UK, each case must be approved by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). So far, 35 patients have been authorized to undergo the procedure.

Dr. Andy Greenfield of the University of Oxford called the research “a triumph of scientific innovation,” noting that it is intended for a small number of women for whom other techniques, such as embryo screening, are not effective.

Critics of mitochondrial donation have raised concerns about its long-term safety and the ethical implications of altering the genetic makeup of future generations. In the U.S., Congress has repeatedly barred the FDA from reviewing applications for clinical trials involving inheritable genetic modification.

Liz Curtis, whose daughter Lily died of a mitochondrial disease in 2006, welcomed the progress. She now leads the Lily Foundation, which funds research and supports affected families. “It’s super exciting for families that don’t have much hope in their lives,” Curtis said.

Researchers and advocates remain optimistic that this technology could offer new hope to families at risk of transmitting devastating genetic conditions, provided it is used responsibly and monitored over time.

Crising maintains strength, signal No. 1 raised in 9 areas

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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Crising maintains strength, signal No. 1 raised in 9 areas

MANILA. Tropical Depression Crising has maintained its strength while continuing its west-northwestward movement over the sea east of the Bicol Region, according to the latest bulletin from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). Nine areas are currently under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1.

As of the 11:00 a.m. update, the center of Crising was estimated at 535 kilometers east of Juban, Sorsogon. It is packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center, with gusts of up to 70 kph, and moving west-northwestward at 15 kph.

Areas under Signal No. 1 include:

  • Cagayan, including the Babuyan Islands
  • Isabela
  • Northeastern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao)
  • Quirino
  • Kalinga
  • Eastern portion of Mountain Province (Sadanga, Barlig, Paracelis, Natonin)
  • Eastern portion of Ifugao (Alfonso Lista, Aguinaldo, Mayoyao, Banaue, Hingyon, Lagawe, Lamut)
  • Northeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Kasibu, Quezon, Bagabag, Diadi)
  • Apayao

Cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms are expected over the Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Isabela, Aurora, Quezon, Dinagat Islands, and Surigao del Norte due to Tropical Depression Crising. Moderate to heavy rains may trigger flash floods and landslides.

The southwest monsoon, meanwhile, is affecting other parts of the country. Western Visayas, Negros Island Region, Palawan, and Occidental Mindoro will experience occasional rains, with a risk of flash floods or landslides.

Metro Manila, the rest of Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Caraga, La Union, and Pangasinan will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to the monsoon. Flash floods and landslides are possible due to moderate to heavy rainfall.

The rest of the country will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms, with potential flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms.

Moderate winds from the southwest to west will prevail over Southern Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and the western section of Central Luzon, with moderate coastal waters.

Elsewhere in Luzon, light to moderate winds from the southwest to northwest will bring slight to moderate sea conditions.

6 Tsino, 6 Pilipino arestado sa Batangas sa kasong kidnapping

Arman B. Cambe
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6 Tsino, 6 Pilipino arestado sa Batangas sa kasong kidnapping

MAYNILA. Arestado ang labindalawang indibidwal, anim na Tsino at anim na Pilipino, dahil sa umano’y pagdukot sa isang Chinese businessman sa lungsod ng Parañaque noong unang linggo ng Hulyo, ayon sa ulat ng Philippine National Police (PNP).

Batay sa impormasyon mula sa Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG), isinagawa ang operasyon bandang 2:45 ng hapon noong Linggo sa lungsod ng Santo Tomas, Batangas. Nailigtas din ng mga awtoridad ang biktima sa parehong operasyon, ayon sa ulat ng pulisya na inilabas nitong Lunes.

Nagsimula ang imbestigasyon matapos magsampa ng reklamo ang pinsan ng biktima, na nag-ulat sa mga awtoridad tungkol sa umano’y pagdukot sa kanyang kamag-anak noong Hulyo 1, dakong 6:40 ng gabi, sa loob ng isang condominium sa Parañaque.

Ayon sa PNP, humingi umano ng ransom ang mga suspek mula sa pamilya ng biktima sa China. Pinilit umano ng mga kidnapper ang pamilya na magpadala ng hindi pa matukoy na halaga gamit ang cryptocurrency account na ibinigay ng mga suspek.

Dagdag ng pulisya, “Ang biktima na halos dalawang linggo nang hawak ng mga suspek ay binigyan na ng nararapat na tulong.”

Sa kabila ng mga pag-aresto, iniulat ng PNP na may ilan pang suspek na pinaghahanap at kasalukuyang tinutugis ng AKG sa isinasagawang hot pursuit operation.

66% ng mga Pilipino, pabor na harapin ni VP Sara ang impeachment — survey

Venus L Peñaflor
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66% ng mga Pilipino, pabor na harapin ni VP Sara ang impeachment — survey

MAYNILA. Lumabas sa pinakahuling survey ng Social Weather Stations (SWS) na 66 porsyento ng mga Pilipino ang pabor na harapin ni Vice President Sara Duterte ang impeachment complaint na inihain laban sa kanya.

Ang naturang survey ay kinomisyon ng Stratbase Group at isinagawa noong Hunyo 25 hanggang 29, na nilahukan ng 1,200 respondents mula sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa.

Ayon sa resulta, 19 porsyento lamang ang hindi sang-ayon na harapin ni Duterte ang reklamo, habang 15 porsyento ang hindi tiyak ang sagot.

Pinakamataas ang bilang ng sumang-ayon sa Metro Manila na umabot sa 76 porsyento, sinundan ng Balance Luzon na may 69 porsyento, Visayas na may 67 porsyento, at Mindanao na may 55 porsyento.

Sa hanay ng mga socio-economic class, nakapagtala ang Classes ABC ng 73 porsyentong pagsang-ayon, 66 porsyento sa Class D, at 62 porsyento sa Class E.

Ayon sa mga sumagot sa survey, mas makabubuti kung haharapin ni Duterte ang mga paratang upang malinawan ang publiko ukol sa mga isyu ng korapsyon na ibinabato laban sa kanya.

Sinabi ni Stratbase Group President Prof. Dindo Manhit na ang resulta ng survey ay patunay na mas aktibo at mapanuri na ang mamamayang Pilipino.

“This level of awareness reflects a more engaged and vigilant public. Filipinos are watching closely and expect the country’s democratic institutions, particularly the Senate, to act decisively and impartially,” ani Manhit.

Samantala, inihayag ni Senator Joel Villanueva na posibleng magsimula ang impeachment trial laban kay Vice President Sara Duterte sa Agosto 4, isang linggo matapos ang nakatakdang State of the Nation Address (SONA) ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sa Hulyo 28.

“We’re looking at August 4 to convene,” ani Villanueva sa isang panayam sa Kapihan sa Manila Bay, sabay sabing kailangan ng isang linggo bago makabuo ng impeachment court.

Umaasa rin si Villanueva na mareresolba ng Korte Suprema ang mga nakabinbing petisyon na kumukuwestiyon sa legalidad ng impeachment complaint bago pa man magsimula ang paglilitis.

Matatandaang una nang naghain ang Senado ng Manifestation Ad Cautelam sa Korte Suprema, kasunod ng hiling nito sa Kongreso na magsumite ng komento at impormasyon hinggil sa nasabing reklamo.

Air India crash probe focuses on captain’s actions, WSJ reports

Venus L Peñaflor
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Air India crash probe focuses on captain’s actions, WSJ reports

NEW DELHI, India. A cockpit voice recording from the Air India flight that crashed last month suggests the plane’s captain may have turned off the fuel supply to the engines shortly after takeoff, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday.

The crash, which occurred on June 12, killed 260 people. The Journal cited sources familiar with an early U.S. assessment of the evidence, which includes cockpit audio of the exchange between the two pilots on board the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

According to the report, First Officer Clive Kunder, who was flying the aircraft, asked Captain Sumeet Sabharwal why he had moved the engine fuel switches to the “cutoff” position after the aircraft had just lifted off the runway. The first officer reportedly expressed surprise and began to panic, while the captain remained calm.

India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau had already released a preliminary report last week, describing confusion in the cockpit moments before the crash and raising questions over the position of the engine fuel cutoff switches.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Boeing, and Air India have not responded to Reuters’ requests for comment.

Captain Sabharwal and First Officer Kunder had 15,638 and 3,403 hours of total flying experience, respectively.

Mga magulang at guro, pinag-iingat sa pagkalat ng HFMD sa mga paaralan

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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MAYNILA. Nagpaalala ang Department of Health (DOH) sa publiko, lalo na sa mga paaralan, na panatilihin ang kalinisan upang maiwasan ang pagkalat ng Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD), isang sakit na madaling makahawa sa mga bata.

Sa Facebook post ng Bulacan Provincial Health Office (PHO), Public Health, binigyang-diin ng DOH na sa kabila ng pagbaba ng kaso ng HFMD mula Mayo 18–31, 2025 na may 1,964 na kaso, patungong Hunyo 1–14, 2025 na may 1,363 na kaso, hindi pa rin dapat maging kampante ang publiko.

Ayon sa mga eksperto, ang isang batang may HFMD ay maaaring makahawa ng higit sa dalawang iba pa, lalo na sa mga saradong lugar tulad ng tahanan at silid-aralan.

Kabilang sa mga karaniwang sintomas ng HFMD ang lagnat, singaw sa bibig, pananakit ng lalamunan, at mga butlig sa palad, talampakan at puwitan.

Payo ng mga awtoridad ang palagiang paghuhugas ng kamay gamit ang sabon at malinis na tubig, paggamit ng alcohol-based sanitizer, pag-iwas sa paghawak sa mukha, lalo na sa mata, ilong at bibig, at regular na paglilinis at pagdi-disinfect ng mga gamit at kapaligiran.

Photo captures thrills, scrapes, and tradition at Spain’s San Fermín bull-running festival

Paraluman P. Funtanilla
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Photo captures thrills, scrapes, and tradition at Spain’s San Fermín bull-running festival

PAMPLONA, Spain. Tens of thousands of revelers packed the streets of Pamplona for the annual San Fermín festival, where adrenaline-filled bull runs continue to draw locals and tourists alike to northern Spain’s most iconic and controversial celebration.

The highlight of the nine-day festival, famously immortalized in Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises, is the encierro, the early morning running of the bulls. Each day at 8 a.m., participants sprint ahead of six powerful bulls along a narrow, 875-meter cobblestone route leading to Pamplona’s historic bullring.

Despite the festive spirit, the event remains dangerous. This year saw several dramatic moments and close calls, as runners stumbled, slipped, and in some cases, were trampled or tossed by bulls. While gorings did occur, most injuries came from falls, pileups, or being crushed against barriers. Paramedics were stationed throughout the route, providing immediate treatment and transferring the more seriously injured to local hospitals.

Most runners are men, although a small number of women also brave the event each year. Participation is restricted to adults over the age of 18 and typically excludes those who appear intoxicated, though enforcement varies.

According to Navarra’s regional government, at least 20 people were hospitalized throughout this year’s bull runs, with injuries ranging from minor contusions to fractured bones and puncture wounds. One runner, a 34-year-old American tourist, sustained a serious thigh injury after being gored on Day 5 of the festival.

Animal rights groups have long condemned the San Fermín festival, particularly the bullfights that follow each run, in which the same bulls are typically killed in the ring. Despite protests, the event continues to draw huge crowds and media attention from around the world.

Outside the bull runs, San Fermín is filled with live music, traditional dancing, fireworks, and religious processions honoring the festival’s namesake, Saint Fermin, the co-patron of Navarre.

The festival dates back several centuries, blending religious tradition, Spanish identity, and daredevil spectacle. For many locals, it’s a rite of passage and a vital part of their cultural heritage, while for others, it remains one of the world’s most controversial public events.

Revelers run alongside José Escolar Gil’s fighting bulls during the sixth running of the bulls at the San Fermín Festival in Pamplona, Spain, Saturday, July 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
Revelers run with bulls from Cebada Gago ranch during the second day of the running of the bulls at the San FermÌn fiestas in Pamplona, Spain, Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
Spanish bullfighter Fernando Adrián performs during a bullfight at the San Fermín festival in Pamplona, northern Spain, Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
A cow leaps over a group of revelers lying on the ground at the entrance to the bullring during the running of the bulls on the fifth day of the San Fermin Festival in Pamplona, northern Spain, on Friday, July 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
Spanish bullfighter Rafaelillo is gored during a bullfight at the San FermÌn festival in Pamplona, northern Spain, Saturday, July 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
Spanish bullfighter Rafaelillo grimaces in pain after being gored by a bull during a bullfight at the San Fermín festival in Pamplona, northern Spain, Saturday, July 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
A municipal music band makes its way through the crowd as revelers pack the main square during the start of nine days of uninterrupted partying in Pamplona’s famed running-of-the-bulls festival in Pamplona, Spain, Sunday, July 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)

US Navy to build boat maintenance facility in Palawan, not a military base

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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US Navy to build boat maintenance facility in Palawan, not a military base

MANILA. The United States Navy will construct a boat maintenance facility in Palawan, the US Embassy in the Philippines confirmed Tuesday.

According to the embassy’s statement, the US Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command released a public solicitation on July 7 for the design and construction of the facility at the Philippine Navy’s Naval Detachment in Oyster Bay.

“The facility will provide repair and maintenance capabilities for several small Philippine military watercraft and will include two multi-purpose interior rooms suitable for equipment storage or conference use,” the embassy said.

The embassy clarified that the facility is not a US military base and emphasized that the project has been approved by the Philippine government in compliance with all local regulations and bilateral agreements.

“Our U.S.-Philippine alliance, with its roots in the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, remains a cornerstone of peace and security, promoting our common vision for a free, open, and resilient Indo-Pacific,” the embassy added. “All of our military activities in the Philippines are done in full coordination with our Philippine allies.”

The location of the planned facility is near the West Philippine Sea, where tensions continue between the Philippines and China due to overlapping territorial claims.

Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, a strategic waterway that sees over $3 trillion in annual shipborne trade. Parts of the area are also claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.

To reinforce its sovereignty, the Philippine government refers to portions of its maritime territory within the South China Sea as the West Philippine Sea. This includes the waters around Luzon, the Kalayaan Island Group, and Bajo de Masinloc.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines, declaring China’s sweeping claims had “no legal basis.” China, however, has refused to recognize the ruling.

Private spaceflight ends in Pacific splashdown for Indian, Polish, and Hungarian astronauts

EDGARDO HERNAL
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Private spaceflight ends in Pacific splashdown for Indian, Polish, and Hungarian astronauts

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. A private spaceflight carrying astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary concluded on Tuesday with a successful splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, marking the first time in more than four decades that astronauts from these countries have traveled to space.

The SpaceX capsule, which had undocked from the International Space Station on Monday, parachuted into the waters off the coast of Southern California less than 24 hours later.

The mission, chartered by Houston-based Axiom Space, launched nearly three weeks ago. It was the company’s fourth trip to the orbiting outpost since 2022 and part of NASA’s broader initiative to expand private sector participation in space exploration.

Commanding the mission was Peggy Whitson, Axiom’s veteran astronaut and the most experienced U.S. spacefarer. She was joined by India’s Shubhanshu Shukla, Poland’s Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, and Hungary’s Tibor Kapu. Each country reportedly paid over $65 million for its astronauts’ participation in the flight.

“Thanks for the great ride and safe trip,” Whitson said via radio moments after the capsule landed. Her cumulative time in space now stands at 695 days across five missions — more than any other American or woman.

During their stay aboard the ISS, the international crew conducted dozens of scientific experiments while also celebrating their respective national heritages. It was the first time astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary had entered space since the Soviet-led missions of the 1970s and 1980s.

Footage from the recovery showed the crew smiling and waving as they exited the capsule in the pre-dawn hours.

Axiom Space is among several private companies working to develop commercial space stations as NASA prepares to retire the International Space Station in 2030, after more than three decades of continuous operation.

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