Sunday, May 10, 2026


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Israel bombards central Gaza, advances tanks into northern Rafah

CAIRO. Israeli forces launched heavy strikes on the central Gaza Strip on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of at least nine Palestinians, according to local health officials. Meanwhile, Israeli tanks made a limited incursion into the northern part of Rafah in the south of Gaza.

The Gaza health ministry reported that over the past 24 hours, Israeli attacks have killed at least 81 Palestinians and injured 198. The ministry’s casualty count does not differentiate between militants and civilians.

In one of the most devastating strikes around midnight, an Israeli airstrike targeted a house in Al-Zawyda in central Gaza, killing eight people, according to health officials.

In Rafah, two people were killed in an airstrike, and tanks carried out a brief raid in the northern part of the city before retreating, a tactic Israeli forces have previously employed before launching deeper incursions.

The Israeli military stated that its troops are “continuing precise, intelligence-based operational activity in the Rafah area,” claiming to have eliminated a terrorist cell and a launcher used to fire at troops.

Additionally, the military reported that airstrikes had hit 25 targets across the Gaza Strip over the past day, and troops were operating in central Gaza to dismantle structures used for observing soldiers.

Despite nine months of conflict, Palestinian fighters led by Hamas continue to mount attacks on Israeli forces using anti-tank rockets, mortar bombs, and occasional rocket barrages into Israel.

Israel’s Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, expressed confidence in the military’s progress, stating, “Operations in Gaza have led to the conditions necessary to achieve an agreement for the return of hostages.” Gallant made this remark during an overnight call with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

Following a deadly attack by Hamas militants on October 7, which left 1,200 people dead and over 250 hostages taken, Israel has vowed to eradicate Hamas. Israeli authorities claim that the military has since eliminated half of Hamas’ military leadership and either killed or captured about 14,000 fighters, which is roughly half the estimated fighting force of Hamas.

According to Gaza health authorities, Israel’s retaliatory offensive has resulted in at least 38,000 Palestinian deaths since the conflict began. Israel has reported 326 soldier fatalities in Gaza.

Mediation Efforts Stalled

Diplomatic efforts by Arab mediators, supported by the United States, to halt the hostilities appear to have stalled, though all parties, including Israel and Hamas, express openness to further talks. A potential deal aims to end the war and secure the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza in exchange for many Palestinians jailed by Israel.

On Wednesday, Israel released 13 Palestinians detained during the Gaza offensive, the Palestinian Red Crescent reported. However, many Palestinians released by Israel in recent months have accused Israeli forces of mistreatment and torture, allegations that Israel denies. The Palestinian Prisoner Association has claimed nearly 20 Palestinians have died in Israeli detention.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a 252-page report on Wednesday regarding the October 7 attack, accusing Hamas’ military wing, the Qassam Brigades, and other Palestinian armed groups of committing “numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity.” These accusations include deliberate and indiscriminate attacks on civilians, inhumane treatment and killing of captives, sexual violence, hostage-taking, use of human shields, and looting.

The findings, based on interviews with survivors, rescue workers, and other witnesses, align with those of a recent UN inquiry, which concluded that both Israel and Hamas committed war crimes during the early stages of the Gaza conflict.

Hamas has rejected the HRW report, calling it “lies and blatant bias” and demanding its retraction and an apology. “The Human Rights Watch report adopted the entire Israeli narrative,” Hamas stated.

Mongolia’s Paris 2024 Olympic outfits wow internet users

PARIS, France. Mongolia’s national uniform for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics has captured the internet’s heart, surpassing renowned brands like Lululemon, Berluti, and Ralph Lauren in popularity.

Designed by Ulaanbaatar-based label Michel&Amazonka, known for blending Mongolian tradition with contemporary aesthetics, the outfits have sparked a social media frenzy since their unveiling last week. Featuring intricately embroidered vests, pleated robes, and accessories inspired by Mongolia’s rich cultural heritage, the designs have been praised for their elegance and attention to detail.

The outfits incorporate Mongolia’s national colors of blue, red, and white, adorned with traditional patterns and motifs such as the iconic “Soyombo” symbol and images symbolizing Paris and the Olympics, like the Eiffel Tower and the Olympic flame.

Each garment, crafted with meticulous care, took an average of 20 hours to complete, according to the Mongolian National Olympic Committee.

On platforms like TikTok and Instagram, fashion enthusiasts and sports commentators have lauded the uniforms. Style writer Ryan Yip, in a viral TikTok video, exclaimed, “They just won the Olympics before it even started,” echoing widespread admiration for the designs’ aesthetic appeal and cultural significance.

Founded by sisters Michel Choigaalaa and Amazonka Choigaalaa, Michel&Amazonka previously designed Mongolia’s attire for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics, where the country achieved notable success with one silver and three bronze medals.

Mongolia, known for its strong Olympic history in sports like judo and boxing, will send over 30 athletes to compete across nine sports at the Paris Olympics, commencing on July 26.

While other countries like France and the USA have chosen brands like Berluti and Ralph Lauren for their Olympic attire, Mongolia’s unique and culturally resonant uniforms have set a new standard for Olympic fashion anticipation worldwide.

A confirmed lunar cave may be one of hundreds that could shelter future explorers

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. Scientists have confirmed the existence of a cave on the moon near the historic Apollo 11 landing site and believe there could be hundreds more that might house future astronauts.

An Italian-led team reported on Monday that evidence points to a sizable cave accessible from the deepest known pit on the moon, located in the Sea of Tranquility, just 250 miles (400 kilometers) from where Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed 55 years ago.

The pit, along with over 200 others found on the moon, was created by the collapse of a lava tube. Researchers used radar measurements from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and compared the data with lava tubes on Earth. Their findings, published in the journal Nature Astronomy, reveal only the initial part of the underground cavity. They estimate it to be at least 130 feet (40 meters) wide and tens of yards (meters) long, potentially even more.

“Lunar caves have remained a mystery for over 50 years. So it was exciting to be able to finally prove the existence of one,” Leonardo Carrer and Lorenzo Bruzzone of the University of Trento wrote in an email.

According to the scientists, most of the pits are located in the moon’s ancient lava plains. There could also be some at the moon’s south pole, where NASA plans to land astronauts later this decade. Permanently shadowed craters in this region are believed to contain frozen water that could provide drinking water and rocket fuel.

During NASA’s Apollo program, 12 astronauts landed on the moon, starting with Armstrong and Aldrin on July 20, 1969. The new findings suggest there could be hundreds of pits and thousands of lava tubes on the moon. These places could serve as natural shelters for astronauts, protecting them from cosmic rays, solar radiation, and micrometeorite strikes. Constructing habitats from scratch would be more time-consuming and challenging, even considering the potential need to reinforce cave walls to prevent collapse, the team noted.

Rocks and other materials inside these caves, unaltered by the harsh surface conditions over millennia, could also help scientists better understand the moon’s evolution, particularly its volcanic activity.

3 human kidney trafficker, arestado sa Bulacan

MAYNILA. Iniharap ng National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) sa publiko ang tatlong naarestong indibidwal na sangkot sa organ trafficking sa Bulacan.

Ayon kay NBI Director Judge Jaime B. Santiago, nakatanggap ng reklamo ang NBI-NCR kaugnay sa ilang indibidwal na sangkot sa kidney organ trafficking. Sa kanilang imbestigasyon, natuklasan na ang mga suspek ay nagre-recruit ng kanilang mga bibiktimahin at pinadadali ang paglipat ng kanilang kidney organ sa mga kliyente kapalit ng bayad na P200,000.

Sa presentasyon ng NBI sa mga suspek, ibinunyag na matapos maiabot ang downpayment sa biktima, inililipat ito sa isang bahay na matatagpuan sa Brgy. Tungkong Mangga, SJDM, Bulacan kung saan ito sasailalim sa iba’t ibang proseso hanggang mailipat ang kidney.

Bilang agarang aksyon sa nasabing impormasyon, tumulak ang NBI kasama ang mga social worker mula sa SJDM City Social Welfare and Development Office para sa rescue operation. Ang operasyon ay nagresulta sa pagkakasagip sa siyam (9) na biktima.

Naaresto ang mga suspek na sina Angela Atayde, Marichu Lomibao, at Dannel Sicat. Kinilala ng mga biktima ang tatlo bilang grupo na nagpoproseso ng kanilang kidney transfer. Samantala, nakatakas ang lider at head nurse sa National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) na si Allan Ligaya.

Ang mga biktima ay itinurn-over na sa kustodiya ng mga social worker ng City Social Welfare and Development Office ng SJDM, Bulacan.

Samantala, ang mga suspek ay sinampahan na ng kasong paglabag sa Expanded Anti-Human Trafficking Act.

New agreement establishes hotline for Philippine and Chinese presidents to prevent maritime clashes

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MANILA. A newly signed agreement will open a direct line of communication between the presidential offices of China and the Philippines to help prevent any new confrontation from spiraling out of control in the disputed South China Sea, according to highlights of the accord seen by The Associated Press on Tuesday.

China and the Philippines have previously created emergency telephone hotlines at lower levels to better manage disputes, particularly in two fiercely contested shoals where the Philippines has accused Chinese forces of increasingly hostile actions, while China claims Philippine ships have encroached despite repeated warnings.

The territorial disputes have persisted since last year, sparking fears of a larger armed conflict that could involve the United States, which has repeatedly stated its obligation to defend the Philippines, a key Asian treaty ally, if Filipino forces come under attack in the disputed waters.

U.S. Gen. Charles Brown Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with Philippine military chief Gen. Romeo Brawner in Manila on Tuesday to discuss ways to further boost defense ties, enhance the militaries’ ability to operate jointly and ensure regional stability, according to the Philippine military.

During a confrontation between Chinese and Philippine forces at the Philippines-occupied Second Thomas Shoal in August 2023, the Philippine government said it was unable to reach Chinese officials through an established “maritime communication mechanism” for several hours. This emergency telephone hotline was arranged after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing in January 2023.

Chinese and Philippine officials dealing with the territorial disputes held talks in Manila on July 2, following a violent confrontation at the Second Thomas Shoal in which Chinese Coast Guard personnel reportedly wielded knives, an axe, and improvised spears, injuring Philippine navy personnel. The Chinese forces also seized seven Philippine navy rifles, said Brawner, who demanded China return the firearms and pay for damages.

Both sides “recognized the need to strengthen the bilateral maritime communication mechanism on the South China Sea” and signed an arrangement “on improving Philippines-China maritime communication mechanisms,” the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila said in a statement after the talks in Manila but did not provide a copy or details of the agreement.

A copy of the agreement’s highlights, seen by the AP, said it “provides several channels for communication between the Philippines and China, specifically on maritime issues, through the representatives to be designated by their leaders.”

The hotline talks could also be conducted “through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Foreign Affairs counterparts, including at the foreign minister and vice foreign minister levels or through their designated representatives,” it said, adding that Philippine officials were “in discussions with the Chinese side on the guidelines that will govern the implementation of this arrangement.”

There was also a plan to set up a new communication channel between the Chinese and Philippine coast guards “once the corresponding memorandum of understanding” between them is concluded, according to the agreement.

During the talks in Manila, China, and the Philippines agreed on two other confidence-boosting steps to intensify “cooperation between their respective coast guard authorities” and possibly convening a maritime forum between Chinese and Philippine scientists and academic leaders.

“Both sides recognized that there is a need to restore trust, rebuild confidence, and create conditions conducive to productive dialogue and interaction,” the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs statement said. It added that China and the Philippines “affirmed their commitment to de-escalate tensions without prejudice to their respective positions.”

It noted that “there was substantial progress on developing measures to manage the situation at sea,” but acknowledged that “significant differences remain.”

OFW pinatay ng RiT sa harap ng 82-anyos na ina

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LOBO, Batangas. Isang babaeng overseas Filipino worker (OFW) ang patay matapos pagbabarilin sa mukha ng riding-in-tandem (RiT) habang sakay ng isang pampasaherong tricycle kasama ang kanyang 82-anyos na ina, kamakalawa sa Brgy. Balatbat, bayang ito sa Batangas.

Dead-on-the-spot ang biktima na kinilalang si Lorna Boongaling Babao, 53-anyos, residente ng Brgy. Balatbat, Lobo, Batangas. Nakaligtas naman ang kanyang ina na si Rosita Boongaling Babao, na residente rin ng nasabing lugar.

Ayon sa imbestigasyon ng pulisya, bandang 11:23 ng umaga nang maganap ang insidente. Sakay ang mag-ina ng isang pampasaherong tricycle at pauwi na sana nang dikitan ng isang motorsiklo na may sakay na dalawang armadong suspek. Agad na pinagbabaril ang biktima sa mukha saka mabilis na tumakas, bitbit ang caliber .45 pistol na ginamit sa pamamaslang.

Nagsasagawa na ng dragnet operation ang pulisya upang madakip ang mga suspek habang inaalam pa nila ang motibo sa krimen. Lumalabas sa imbestigasyon na kapwa nakasuot ng itim na bonnet, long sleeves, at itim na pantalon ang mga suspek, at sakay ng Kawasaki Barako na motorsiklo.

Hamas leader faces mounting pressure to accept ceasefire deal due to internal strain

GAZA CITY. The leader of Hamas in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, is reportedly facing increasing pressure from his own commanders to agree to a ceasefire with Israel, according to a report by CNN.

CIA Director Bill Burns, speaking at a closed-door conference, revealed that Sinwar is feeling the heat due to the suffering in Gaza for which he is being blamed. Burns noted that while Sinwar is not “concerned with his mortality,” the dire situation in Gaza is driving the push for a ceasefire.

A U.S. official told CNN that Washington believes Sinwar no longer desires to rule Gaza. Instead, he is considering an “interim governance” plan as part of a ceasefire agreement with Israel, which would see Hamas relinquish control of Gaza.

This development comes shortly after Israel targeted Hamas’ military leader, Mohammed Deif, in an airstrike in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. It remains unclear if Deif was killed in the attack.

Israel has labeled Sinwar a “dead man walking,” viewing him as the key architect of the October 7 massacre. Both Israel and the U.S. believe Sinwar has been hiding underground in Khan Younis.

In recent weeks, Israel has intensified its attacks across Gaza to increase pressure on Hamas. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported striking around 40 targets in the past 24 hours, including sniping posts, observation posts, Hamas military structures, and buildings rigged with explosives.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that only military pressure will compel Hamas to release the hostages. However, Netanyahu faces immense pressure from the families of hostages who demonstrate daily, demanding the government agree to a ceasefire.

U.S. President Joe Biden stated that both Hamas and Israel have agreed to a framework for a ceasefire deal, but there are “still gaps to close” as negotiations are set to resume this week.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy visited Israel and the Palestinian territories this week, advocating for an “immediate ceasefire” that would free the hostages and alleviate the “suffering and the intolerable loss of life that we’re now seeing also in Gaza.”

Mayor ng San Pedro City, kinasuhan ng kapitan ng barangay

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QUEZON CITY. Sinampahan ng mga kaso si San Pedro City Mayor Art Joseph Mercado, kasama sina Vice Mayor Divina Olivarez, 11 konsehal, at iba pang city officials dahil sa umano’y pang-aabuso sa kapangyarihan, panggigipit, at paglabag sa Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Nagtungo si Barangay Chairman Samuel Rivera ng Langgam, San Pedro City sa tanggapan ng Ombudsman sa Quezon City noong Lunes, Hulyo 15, 2024, at nagsampa ng kaso laban sa mga city government officials dahil sa diumano ay “unreasonable preventive suspension” sa kanya ilang araw bago ang nakatakdang eleksyon ng Liga ng mga Barangay nitong nakaraang linggo.

“We filed cases against Mayor Mercado and others for grave abuse of authority after they slapped us with their questionable preventive suspension signed by his city administrator without due cause,” ani Rivera.

“It’s very oppressive and unconstitutional that’s why we filed these cases to the Ombudsman. The requisites to implement preventive suspension on these kinds of cases were not present for it to be carried out,” dagdag pa niya.

Ayon naman kay Atty. Melvin Matibag, ang pang-aabuso sa kapangyarihan at panggigipit ay walang puwang sa lungsod ng San Pedro. Kinondena din niya ang kawalan ng hustisya sa sinapit sa tatlong kapitan ng barangay.

Nanawagan din si Matibag na maging kalmado at mapayapa ang bawat panig sa pagresolba ng isyu. Ayon sa kanya ay suportado niya ang mga inaapi at itutuwid ng batas ang naganap na kawalan ng hustisya.

“The preventive suspension has something to do with the Liga ng mga Barangay election supposedly set July 5, but was postponed by Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas on July 4, after Brgy Chairman Rivera’s suspension,” ayo pa rin kay Matibag.

Bukod kay Rivera, kabilang din sa mga sinuspinde sina Barangay San Antonio Chairman Eugenio S. Ynion Jr. at Barangay Chrysanthemum Chairman Restituto Hernandez na umano’y hindi dumaan sa tamang proseso.

“They immediately suspended us inappropriately to rush things because they don’t want us to vote in the Liga ng mga Barangay here in San Pedro where we have the numbers,” dagdag ni Rivera. “It will be a dangerous precedent if we don’t do something.”

Isa si Rivera sa 14 na barangay executives na kaalyado ni Ynion Jr. sa 27 kabuuang barangay ng San Pedro City. Si Ynion ay kasalukuyang presidential candidate para sa Association of Barangay Chairmen (ABC) sa San Pedro City.

On the anniversary of Frida Kahlo’s death, the spiritual essence of her art continues to captivate fans worldwide

MEXICO CITY. On the anniversary of Frida Kahlo’s death, her art continues to captivate and inspire fans around the globe, celebrated not just for its aesthetic brilliance but also for its deep spiritual resonance.

Frida Kahlo, who passed away on July 13, 1954, had no formal religious affiliation. Yet, her paintings frequently feature religious symbols, prompting questions about their significance. “Frida conveyed the power of each individual,” said art researcher and curator Ximena Jordán. “Her self-portraits are a reminder of the ways in which we can exercise the power that life — or God, so to speak — has given us.”

Born in 1907 in Mexico City, where her “Blue House” remains a museum, Kahlo drew inspiration from her personal experiences. A bus accident in 1925 left her with lifelong pain, further intensified by her tumultuous relationship with Mexican muralist Diego Rivera. These experiences deeply influenced her art.

Kahlo’s unique approach to life and spirituality has forged a profound connection with her audience. Her self-portraits, laden with symbolic elements, reveal the depths of the human spirit. For example, “Diego and I,” painted in 1949, sold for $34.9 million at Sotheby’s in New York in 2021, setting an auction record for a Latin American artist. The painting depicts Kahlo with a serene expression despite tears, and Rivera’s face, with a third eye, on her forehead, symbolizing deeper spiritual connections.

“The religiosity of the painting is not in the fact that Frida carries Diego in her thoughts,” explained Jordán. “The fact that she bears him as a third eye, and Diego has a third eye of his own, reflects that his affection for her made her transcend to another dimension of existence.”

Many admirers resonate deeply with Kahlo’s art. “I connected with her heart and writings,” said Cris Melo, a 58-year-old American artist. “We had the same love language, and similar history of heartache.” Despite not enduring the same physical traumas, Melo drew strength from Kahlo’s resilience, saying, “If Frida could handle this, so can I.”

Kahlo’s works, despite depicting her suffering, evoke strength rather than sadness. “Frida inspires many people to be consistent,” said Amni, a London-based Spanish artist who reinterprets Kahlo’s works using artificial intelligence. “Other artists have inspired me, but Frida has been the most special because of everything she endured.”

Unlike her contemporaries, who often focused on social and political themes, Kahlo’s art was deeply personal, exploring her physical disabilities, bisexuality, and diverse spiritual beliefs. In “The Wounded Deer,” for instance, Kahlo portrays herself as a deer pierced by arrows, yet her expression remains calm, akin to Catholic martyr imagery.

Though aligned with Marxist ideology and critical of the Catholic Church, Kahlo appreciated the spiritual benefits of devotion. She collected votive offerings, small paintings offered in gratitude for miracles, which are still preserved in her Blue House. “She might have regarded her survival as a miracle,” Jordán noted, “attributed not to a deity but to the generosity of life.”

In her final days, Kahlo painted a series of vibrant watermelons, her last work, inscribing on one, “Vida la vida,” or “Long live life.” This phrase captures the enduring spirit of her art, which continues to inspire and resonate with people worldwide.

Gnatalie, the planet’s only green-boned dinosaur, is set to be exhibited in LA

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A remarkable discovery at the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles has unveiled Gnatalie, a unique dinosaur specimen whose bones are distinctly green, a rarity in the world of paleontology.

Gnatalie, named after the gnats that surrounded its excavation, belongs to a new dinosaur species characterized not only by its long neck and tail but also by its unusual dark-mottled olive green coloration, attributed to the mineral celadonite during the fossilization process.

According to museum officials, celadonite, typically found in volcanic or hydrothermal settings, replaced earlier minerals in Gnatalie’s bones some 50 to 80 million years ago. This phenomenon is uncommon as such conditions often destroy buried bones, making green fossils exceptionally rare compared to the more common brown or black hues caused by silica or iron minerals.

Dating back 150 million years to the late Jurassic Era, Gnatalie predates even the well-known Tyrannosaurus rex, which roamed the earth 66 to 68 million years ago. The discovery of Gnatalie’s bones occurred in 2007 within the Utah Badlands, marking a significant find in paleontological history.

Luis M. Chiappe, from the museum’s Dinosaur Institute, expressed enthusiasm about Gnatalie’s role in education and scientific discovery, stating, “Dinosaurs are a great vehicle for teaching our visitors about the nature of science, and what better than a green, almost 80-foot-long dinosaur to engage them in the process and reflect on the wonders of our world!”

Matt Wedel, an anatomist and paleontologist at Western University of Health Sciences, recalled hearing rumors of a green dinosaur during his graduate studies. Upon seeing Gnatalie’s bones during cleaning, Wedel remarked, “They were not like anything else that I’ve ever seen.”

Similar in structure to sauropod species like Diplodocus, Gnatalie’s discovery promises to expand scientific knowledge. Scheduled for publication in a scientific paper next year, this finding positions Gnatalie as a centerpiece in the museum’s dinosaur collection, set to be showcased this fall in a new welcome center.

John Whitlock, a sauropod researcher at Mount Aloysius College, highlighted the significance of Gnatalie’s well-preserved skeleton. “It’s tremendously huge, adding to our understanding of both taxonomic and anatomical diversity,” Whitlock noted.

Recently named through a public vote, “Gnatalie” emerged victorious over other options like Verdi, Olive, Esme, and Sage, reflecting its unique green hue and the public’s fascination with this extraordinary specimen.

Gnatalie’s arrival at the Natural History Museum promises to captivate visitors and scientists alike, offering a rare glimpse into the ancient world of dinosaurs and the ongoing marvels of paleontology.