Saturday, May 23, 2026


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Trump pauses Iran strike after Gulf allies urge restraint as peace talks continue

WASHINGTON/DUBAI/KARACHI — U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday he suspended a planned military strike against Iran after Gulf allies urged Washington to give diplomacy more time, as negotiations aimed at ending the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Tehran continued.

Trump said Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates appealed for restraint, expressing confidence that a negotiated settlement remained possible.

“We will NOT be doing the scheduled attack of Iran tomorrow,” Trump said in a public statement, adding that he had nevertheless instructed the U.S. military to remain prepared to launch a “full, large scale assault” if talks fail to produce an acceptable agreement.

The planned strike had not previously been disclosed publicly, and Reuters said it could not independently confirm whether military preparations had been finalized.

Trump said Gulf leaders requested the delay because they believed “a Deal will be made” that would be acceptable to both the United States and countries across the Middle East. The appeal highlighted the growing diplomatic role of Gulf states seeking to prevent a broader regional conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil shipping route disrupted during the war.

The announcement followed confirmation from Iran that a revised peace proposal had been delivered to Washington through Pakistani mediation. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran’s position had been conveyed to the United States but provided few details.

A Pakistani source familiar with the negotiations confirmed Islamabad had relayed the latest proposal, while cautioning that progress remained difficult.

“The sides keep changing their goalposts,” the source said, adding that time for a diplomatic breakthrough may be running short.

Despite renewed talks, Iranian officials maintained a defiant posture. State media warned against what Tehran described as further U.S. or allied “strategic mistakes,” while Iran’s joint military command, Khatam al-Anbiya, declared its forces ready to respond decisively to any renewed attack.

Commander Ali Abdollahi said any renewed aggression would be met “quickly, decisively, powerfully, and extensively,” according to Iran’s Tasnim news agency.

According to a senior Iranian source, Tehran’s latest proposal focuses on ending hostilities, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and easing maritime sanctions, while postponing disputes over Iran’s nuclear program and uranium enrichment to later negotiations.

The source also claimed Washington had shown greater flexibility by considering partial access to frozen Iranian assets and allowing limited civilian nuclear activity under international supervision. U.S. officials have not confirmed those claims.

Tasnim separately reported that Washington had agreed to suspend oil sanctions during negotiations, though a U.S. official rejected the report as false.

A fragile ceasefire remains in place after six weeks of conflict following U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran. Regional tensions, however, continue to simmer amid drone activity and renewed security concerns across Gulf states.


Philippine Senate opens impeachment court as Duterte-Marcos rift deepens

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Senate convened as an impeachment court on Monday to try Vice President Sara Duterte, marking a dramatic escalation in a political crisis that has widened divisions in the country’s leadership and followed a week of heightened tensions inside the upper chamber.

Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives last week over allegations of unexplained wealth, misuse of public funds and a controversial public remark interpreted as a threat against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. if she were harmed amid their political fallout. Lawmakers approved the impeachment with overwhelming support.

The vice president, who has signaled plans to run for president in 2028, has denied the allegations. Her legal team said she would respond “in accordance with the Constitution and applicable rules” but has not yet addressed the charges in detail.

The impeachment trial comes as the country’s top political families face overlapping legal and political pressures. Duterte’s father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, remains in detention at the International Criminal Court in The Hague over allegations of crimes against humanity linked to his anti-drug campaign that killed thousands during his presidency.

Tensions intensified in the Senate in the days leading up to the trial after a bloc of 13 senators, many aligned with the Duterte camp, moved to secure control of the chamber’s leadership. The shift left the Senate presidency in a precarious position, with the balance of power still uncertain.

Several senators in the bloc have also been named by witnesses in separate corruption allegations involving flood control projects, though they have denied any wrongdoing. The claims remain under investigation.

The political conflict has also drawn in key figures from both camps. Senator Ronald dela Rosa, former national police chief under Rodrigo Duterte’s administration and a central figure in the former president’s anti-drug campaign, was identified by the International Criminal Court as a co-conspirator in its warrant unsealed last week.

Dela Rosa had been absent from the Senate for months amid fears of arrest but unexpectedly returned to the chamber last week, helping Duterte-aligned allies secure a temporary advantage in the Senate leadership contest. He later told reporters he narrowly avoided arrest by National Bureau of Investigation agents before reaching the Senate premises, where he was placed under what colleagues described as “protective custody.”

The situation escalated further in an incident last Wednesday night when a standoff between Senate security personnel and government agents outside the chamber reportedly led to warning shots being fired. Senate security chief Mao Aplasca said the shots were intended as warnings. President Marcos later appealed for calm in a late-night televised address.

Authorities are now investigating whether the confrontation was deliberately staged to facilitate Dela Rosa’s exit from the Senate building. He has since been reported missing from the chamber, according to allies.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, a key Duterte ally who briefly assumed a central role in the Senate leadership maneuvering, has not publicly addressed the latest developments.

The impeachment trial underscores the deepening rupture between President Marcos and Vice President Duterte, once political allies in the 2022 elections. Their split has reshaped the country’s political landscape and intensified long-standing rivalries within the Philippine political elite, raising concerns about institutional stability as the trial proceeds.

This report is prepared for international distribution and includes material sourced from wire reporting, including The Associated Press (AP).

Five killed, including two suspects, after shooting at San Diego mosque

SAN DIEGO — Five people were killed, including two suspected gunmen, after a shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday in what authorities are investigating as a possible hate-motivated attack.

Police said two teenage males opened fire shortly before noon at the mosque complex, killing three men outside the building, including a security guard who officials believe may have helped prevent further casualties.

San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said the two suspects, aged 17 and 19, were later found dead in a vehicle nearby. Investigators believe they died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

All children attending a day school within the mosque compound were accounted for and confirmed safe following the attack, which unfolded at one of the largest Islamic centers in San Diego County.

Law enforcement officers responding to the scene found the bodies of the three victims outside the mosque. Officials said the security guard’s actions likely prevented the violence from spreading further inside the facility.

Wahl said the Federal Bureau of Investigation has joined the investigation, which is being treated as a potential hate crime. Authorities are still working to establish the motive and sequence of events leading to the shooting.

In a separate but possibly related incident, police reported that shots were fired at a landscaper a few blocks away. The worker was not injured, and investigators have not confirmed whether the incident is connected to the mosque attack.

Officials said the investigation remains active as authorities review evidence and determine whether additional threats or accomplices may be involved.

Petisyon ni Bato laban sa ICC warrant, ipinabasura sa SolGen

MAYNILA – Hiniling ng Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) sa Korte Suprema na ibasura ang petisyon ni Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa kaugnay ng warrant of arrest na inilabas ng International Criminal Court (ICC) laban sa kanya.

Sa 83-pahinang komento na may petsang Mayo 16, sinabi ng OSG na walang sapat na batayan ang Urgent Manifestation with Omnibus Motion at Extremely Urgent Supplemental Manifestation with Motion na inihain ni Dela Rosa, kaya dapat itong ibasura dahil sa umano’y kawalan ng merito.

Ayon sa OSG, hindi karapat-dapat si Dela Rosa na mabigyan ng injunctive writ upang pigilan ang kanyang posibleng pag-aresto at pagsuko sa ICC.

Iginiit din ng tanggapan ng Solicitor General na kinakailangang maging maingat ang Korte Suprema sa paglalabas ng injunctive relief, at hindi maaaring umasa si Dela Rosa sa prinsipyong equity kung wala umano siyang “malinis na mga kamay.”

Tinukoy din ng OSG ang konsepto ng pagiging pugante mula sa hustisya, na ayon dito ay ang kusang paglalagay ng isang indibidwal sa sitwasyong mahirap matunton ng mga awtoridad.

Sa kanilang komento, sinabi ng OSG: “This essence is precisely reflected in Senator dela Rosa’s deliberate evasion of arrest. The fugitive disentitlement should also apply to him.”

Noong Mayo 11, naghain si Dela Rosa ng mga petisyon at mosyon na humihiling ng judicial recourse at temporary restraining order kaugnay ng usapin. Gayunman, hindi ito pinagbigyan ng Korte Suprema.

Sa halip, inatasan ng mataas na hukuman ang executive branch ng pamahalaan na magsumite ng komento sa loob ng tatlong araw, na sasagutin naman ng kampo ni Dela Rosa sa nabanggit na itinakdang panahon.

Fireflies face growing threats as scientists warn of population decline

The claim that fireflies are disappearing is real, although experts caution that the idea that humans are the “last generation” to see them is an exaggeration and not supported by science. Researchers say many firefly species remain common, but populations in several regions are declining due to environmental pressures.

Scientists and environmental groups have warned that fireflies, also known as lightning bugs, are increasingly threatened by habitat destruction, pesticide use, and rising levels of artificial light at night. These factors disrupt the insects’ life cycle and breeding patterns, raising concern among conservationists worldwide.

Fireflies rely on bioluminescent flashes to communicate and attract mates. Experts explained that excessive outdoor lighting from homes, roads, commercial areas, and streetlights interferes with these signals, making it harder for males and females to find one another and reproduce successfully. Light pollution has emerged as one of the most significant threats to many firefly species.

Habitat loss also plays a major role in the decline. Firefly larvae often spend months or even years developing in moist soils, wetlands, forest litter, and areas near ponds or streams. Urban expansion, land conversion, logging, and intensive landscaping can destroy these habitats before the insects reach adulthood. Pesticides further compound the problem by killing larvae or reducing the populations of small prey they depend on for survival.

Environmental researchers note that fireflies are more than seasonal symbols of summer nights. They are considered important indicators of environmental health because their presence often reflects balanced ecosystems with healthy soil, low pollution, and stable moisture conditions. Their decline has therefore become a broader warning sign about ecological stress and biodiversity loss.

Recent scientific assessments show a mixed picture. While some common firefly species continue to thrive in certain areas, researchers estimate that a concerning number of species are threatened or insufficiently studied, leaving major gaps in understanding their long-term status. Conservationists say climate change, changing rainfall patterns, and warming temperatures may also affect firefly habitats and seasonal activity.

Online discussions and viral posts have amplified concern, with some claiming fireflies are on the verge of total extinction. Fact-checkers and scientists, however, clarified that although many species are declining and deserve protection, fireflies as a whole are not expected to disappear within a single generation. The more accurate concern is the gradual loss of biodiversity and the disappearance of fireflies from areas where they once flourished.

Conservation groups encourage communities to help protect fireflies by reducing unnecessary outdoor lighting, limiting pesticide use, preserving native vegetation, and maintaining damp natural spaces where larvae can develop safely.


Drone strike hits UAE nuclear plant as Gulf tensions escalate

DUBAI – A drone strike caused a fire at a nuclear power facility in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, according to officials in Abu Dhabi, as diplomatic efforts to resolve the prolonged conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel remain stalled.

Authorities said the incident occurred at the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, where a drone struck an electrical generator located outside the plant’s inner perimeter. The Abu Dhabi Media Office confirmed that the fire was contained and that no injuries were reported. It also said radiation safety levels remained stable and unaffected.

The UAE defense ministry stated that two additional drones were intercepted and neutralized, adding that the unmanned aerial vehicles were launched from the western border. Officials did not provide further details on attribution, saying investigations were ongoing. The government also said it reserves the right to respond to what it described as terrorist attacks.

The International Atomic Energy Agency reported that emergency diesel generators were supplying power to Unit 3 of the facility. It urged maximum military restraint near nuclear sites and said it was closely monitoring the situation.

The Barakah plant is the UAE’s first nuclear energy facility and a key component of the country’s civilian power infrastructure, located in the western region of Abu Dhabi emirate.

Regional tensions have intensified amid ongoing hostilities linked to the wider Iran conflict, which has affected Gulf shipping routes and energy infrastructure. Iran has previously been accused by the UAE of targeting energy facilities during the broader escalation, a claim Tehran has denied in earlier incidents.

The latest strike comes as negotiations to stabilize the region and reopen critical maritime routes remain deadlocked. The Strait of Hormuz, a strategic passage for global oil and gas shipments, continues to face disruption amid military activity and competing political demands.

Washington has called for Iran to dismantle its nuclear program and ease restrictions on shipping routes, while Tehran has demanded compensation for wartime damage and an end to sanctions and military pressure. Diplomatic efforts have so far failed to bridge the gap.

Iranian officials have warned of further retaliation if attacks continue. A senior Iranian military spokesperson said the United States would face severe consequences if it proceeds with threats of renewed strikes. Tehran’s foreign ministry also accused Washington and its allies of destabilizing global energy markets.

The conflict has already resulted in significant casualties in the region, including thousands killed in strikes in Iran and Lebanon, where Israel continues operations against Hezbollah. Despite a recently extended ceasefire in Lebanon, sporadic clashes have persisted, underscoring the fragility of regional calm.

WHO declares Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda an international health emergency

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Ebola outbreak affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, citing rising infections and the risk of cross-border spread.

Health authorities reported at least 80 suspected deaths linked to the outbreak, along with eight laboratory-confirmed cases and 246 suspected cases, primarily concentrated in the DRC’s Ituri province. The affected areas include the health zones of Bunia, Rwampara, and Mongbwalu.

The WHO said the outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, a form for which no approved vaccines or specific antiviral treatments currently exist. The agency noted that while the situation does not meet the criteria for a global pandemic emergency, it poses a significant regional threat, particularly for countries sharing borders with eastern Congo.

Officials warned that the outbreak could be larger than currently reported due to the high positivity rate in initial testing and the steady rise in suspected cases. This marks the 17th recorded Ebola outbreak in the DRC, where the virus was first identified in 1976.

A separate statement from local authorities and the WHO confirmed at least one case in the eastern Congolese city of Goma. In Uganda, two laboratory-confirmed cases were reported in Kampala involving individuals who had recently traveled from the DRC, including one death.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said it is closely monitoring the situation and has sought guidance on whether the outbreak should be elevated to a continental emergency status.

Health experts emphasized that Ebola spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated materials, including exposure to deceased victims. Symptoms typically include fever, vomiting, body aches, and severe diarrhoea.

The WHO has urged affected countries to activate emergency response systems, strengthen cross-border surveillance, and conduct active case finding and contact tracing. It also recommended restricting international travel for confirmed cases and monitoring contacts for 21 days.

However, the agency cautioned against imposing blanket border closures, warning that such measures could drive unsafe and unmonitored crossings, potentially worsening the spread of the disease.

Dense tropical forests in the DRC remain a natural reservoir for Ebola, contributing to recurring outbreaks in the region.

Dela Rosa, Padilla nakalabas ng Maynila sakay ng yate, CCTV sa Senate shooting hindi isusuko

MAYNILA— Iniulat ng isang social media post ng beteranong kolumnista na si Ramon “Mon” Tulfo na isang kilalang pulitiko ang diumano’y tumulong sa paglabas ng Metro Manila nina Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa at Sen. Robin Padilla, habang patuloy ding pinagtatalunan sa imbestigasyon ang CCTV footage ng insidente ng putukan sa Senado noong Mayo 13.

Sa Facebook post ni Tulfo nitong Sabado, Mayo 14, sinabi niya na mula sa Manila Yacht Club ay isinakay umano sa yate ang dalawang senador patungong Batangas. Ayon pa sa kanyang source, isang kilalang politiko ang tumulong sa naturang biyahe.

Binanggit din sa post ang umano’y pangalan ng yate, na isinalin bilang “masarap na buhay,” batay sa impormasyon ng source ng kolumnista.

Sa hiwalay na pahayag sa parehong ulat, sinabi rin na pagdating sa Batangas ay lumipad umano si Dela Rosa sakay ng helicopter patungong Mindanao, habang hindi na umano kasama si Padilla.

May netizen namang nagkomento na ang yate ay “M/Y Happy Life” na pagmamay-ari umano ni dating Ilocos Sur Governor Luis Chavit Singson, batay pa rin sa naturang source.

Sa kasalukuyan, walang opisyal na kumpirmasyon mula sa mga kinauukulang partido hinggil sa umano’y pagbiyahe at kinaroroonan ni Dela Rosa matapos maiulat na huling nakita itong kasama si Padilla.

Naganap ang insidente ng putukan sa ikalawang palapag ng Senado noong gabi ng Mayo 13, sa bahagi ng gusaling may access sa GSIS building. Ayon sa ulat, sangkot dito ang mga tauhan ng Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms at mga ahente ng National Bureau of Investigation.

Pagsapit ng madaling araw ng Mayo 14, bandang 2:30 a.m., isinagawa umano ang paglabas ng dalawang senador mula sa Senado.

Samantala, kinumpirma ni Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla na tumanggi umano ang Senado na tanggapin ang subpoena para sa kopya ng CCTV footage kaugnay ng naturang insidente.

Ayon kay Remulla, bahagi ng imbestigasyon ng Ombudsman ang CCTV footage ngunit nagkaroon ng isyu sa pagtanggap ng proseso ng kanyang tanggapan.

Giit ng Ombudsman, nagpapatuloy ang imbestigasyon at maaaring maimbitahan ang mga senador, NBI, Philippine National Police, mga reporter, at security personnel ng Senado upang linawin ang mga pangyayari.

Patuloy na hinihintay ang mga pormal na ulat at ebidensya habang umiigting ang imbestigasyon sa insidente sa Senado.

Scientists warn climate change is steadily reducing oxygen in rivers worldwide

WASHINGTON — A new global study has found that climate change is steadily lowering oxygen levels in rivers around the world, raising risks for fish, freshwater ecosystems, and communities that depend on them.

Researchers in China analyzed more than 21,000 rivers globally using satellite data and artificial intelligence, tracking oxygen trends since 1985. Their findings, published in the journal Science Advances, show that river oxygen levels have declined by an average of 2.1 percent over the period.

While the decline may appear modest, scientists warn it is enough to significantly disrupt aquatic ecosystems if the trend continues or accelerates.

The study explains that rising global temperatures are a major driver of oxygen loss in rivers. Warmer water naturally holds less dissolved oxygen, a basic principle of physics and chemistry. At the same time, warming water increases oxygen release into the atmosphere, further reducing levels available for aquatic life.

The study projects that if current conditions persist, rivers could lose an additional 4 percent of their oxygen by the end of the century, with some regions approaching 5 percent loss. Researchers say this level of “deoxygenation” could push many ecosystems toward critical stress, including fish die-offs and the formation of low-oxygen “dead zones.”

Lead author Qi Guan, an environmental scientist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Nanjing, said the process is gradual but dangerous over time. He warned that prolonged oxygen decline could trigger biodiversity loss, worsening water quality, and large-scale ecological disruption.

Independent experts not involved in the study said the findings align with earlier research showing increasing oxygen stress in freshwater systems. They noted that warming intensifies the impact of existing pollution, making rivers more vulnerable to low-oxygen conditions during heat waves.

The study also identified additional contributors to oxygen decline, including nutrient pollution from fertilizers and urban runoff, as well as dam construction and changes in river flow patterns. However, researchers found that nearly 63 percent of the oxygen loss is directly linked to rising water temperatures associated with human-driven climate change.

This link to climate change is critical, as scientists emphasize that greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels are driving global warming, which in turn heats rivers and accelerates oxygen depletion. As emissions continue to rise, river systems in regions such as Eastern United States, India, the Arctic, and parts of South America are expected to experience sharper declines in oxygen levels.

Previous research has also shown that some of the world’s major rivers, including the heavily polluted Ganges in India, have experienced rapid oxygen loss, with impacts far above the global average in past decades.

Experts warn that tropical rivers, including systems like the Amazon, may be especially vulnerable due to already high temperatures and increasing climate stress.

Scientists caution that as warming continues, the combined effects of pollution and rising temperatures could make river ecosystems increasingly fragile, with long-term consequences for biodiversity, fisheries, and freshwater resources.

Bagong obispo ng Kalibo, nanindigan para sa mga Ati sa Boracay hinggil sa land dispute

KALIBO, Aklan — Nagpahayag ng suporta ang bagong obispo ng Kalibo sa komunidad ng mga Ati sa Boracay habang nahaharap sa banta ng pagkawala ng lupang kanilang pinagkukunan ng kabuhayan dahil sa tumitinding interes sa pagpapaunlad ng turismo.

Sinabi ni Cyril Villareal na tungkulin ng Simbahan na ipagtanggol ang tama at makatarungan lalo na sa panahong nakararanas ng kawalang katiyakan ang mga pamilyang Ati hinggil sa lupang kanilang sinasaka at inaasahan para sa ikabubuhay.

“The Church is where justice and what is right are upheld,” ani Villareal, na pormal na nanungkulan bilang obispo noong Marso 23.

Dagdag pa niya, “These things happen because of people’s greed, which seeks profit over what is just.”

Umiikot ang sigalot sa humigit-kumulang 3.1 ektaryang lupain sa Boracay Island na ipinagkaloob noong 2018 ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa hindi bababa sa 45 pamilyang Ati sa pamamagitan ng Certificates of Land Ownership Award sa ilalim ng programang land reform.

Ang lupain, na nahahati sa limang lote, ay kinilalang bahagi ng matagal nang pagsisikap na gawing pormal ang pagmamay ari ng mga katutubo sa bahagi ng sikat na isla.

Ginawang sakahan ng mga Ati ang lugar kung saan nagtatanim sila ng prutas at gulay at nag aalaga ng mga hayop bilang pangunahing pinagkukunan ng kabuhayan.

Gayunman, binawi noong 2024 ng Department of Agrarian Reform ang mga titulo matapos ideklarang hindi angkop sa agrikultura ang lupa batay sa isinagawang pagsusuri sa lupa, bagay na mariing pinabulaanan ng komunidad ng Ati.

Ayon sa mga residente, nananatiling mataba at produktibo ang lupa at patuloy na nagbibigay ng ani at kita sa kanilang komunidad sa kabila ng kanselasyon ng kanilang mga dokumento sa pagmamay ari.

“This is their land, yet in the end, they were the ones displaced on their own land,” ayon kay Villareal.

Nanawagan naman ang Boracay Ati Tribal Organization kay Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na repasuhin ang pagbawi sa mga titulo ng lupa at makialam ang pamahalaan sa usapin.

“We hope the President will notice, see, and read our letter, and that he will also help,” sinabi ni Jocelyn Evangelio, kinatawan ng komunidad, sa Radio Veritas.

Iginiit din ni livelihood coordinator Maria Tamboon na hindi totoo ang pahayag na hindi maaaring sakahin ang lupa, at itinuro ang patuloy na pagtatanim sa lugar kabilang ang dragon fruit plantations.

“They cannot say the land is unsuitable because it is truly productive and good for cultivation,” ani Tamboon.

Hinimok din niya si Marcos na personal na bumisita sa Boracay upang makita ang kalagayan ng komunidad at maunawaan ang kanilang patuloy na pinagdaraanan.

“We hope you can come here to see what has truly happened to us in Boracay,” dagdag niya.