Friday, August 7, 2026


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Kamala Harris earns sufficient delegate support for presidential nomination

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ATLANTA. Vice President Kamala Harris has secured enough delegate support to officially become the Democratic nominee for the upcoming presidential election, following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race on Sunday. Harris will mark her debut as a presidential candidate with a campaign event in Wisconsin on Tuesday.

Biden’s exit, prompted by a decline in support and internal party strife, paved the way for Harris, who now leads with over 2,500 delegates—surpassing the 1,976 required to secure the nomination. Harris confirmed her status as the presumptive nominee on Monday night, stating, “Tonight, I am proud to have secured the broad support needed to become our party’s nominee. I look forward to formally accepting the nomination soon.”

An unofficial survey by the Associated Press confirmed Harris’s lead, with no other candidate receiving votes. Despite the possibility of delegate changes, Harris is firmly positioned as the nominee, with only 54 delegates remaining undecided.

Harris, who previously served as California’s Attorney General, will use her visit to Wisconsin to appeal to voters in critical Rust-Belt states, which include Michigan and Pennsylvania. She is scheduled to speak at a political event in Milwaukee at 1:05 p.m. CDT (1805 GMT). During her address, Harris will emphasize her prosecutorial experience, stating, “So hear me when I say I know Donald Trump’s type,” referring to her record of pursuing “predators” and “fraudsters.”

The Wisconsin trip is seen as a key opportunity for Harris to reset the campaign narrative and demonstrate her capability to challenge Republican rival Donald Trump. Paul Kendrick, executive director of the Democratic group Rust Belt Rising, noted, “There are independents and young people who did not like their choices, and Harris has a chance to win them.”

In addition to securing the nomination, Harris has seen a significant boost in fundraising, amassing $81 million since Biden’s departure. This figure is nearly equivalent to the $95 million the Biden campaign had at the end of June. Prominent Hollywood figures, including Cardi B, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Shonda Rhimes, have endorsed Harris and contributed to her campaign.

Trump and his allies have criticized Harris, linking her policies to Biden’s unpopular decisions, particularly on immigration. Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung described Harris’s record as one of “complete failure and utter incompetence,” asserting, “Her policies are Biden’s policies, and vice versa.”

The nomination also sparks speculation about potential vice presidential picks, with names such as Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer among those considered.

As Harris prepares for her campaign in Wisconsin, her ability to energize key voter demographics and address past criticisms will be crucial in the upcoming election.

Gas station sa Cavite, hinoldap ng 3 armadong suspek

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Dasmariñas City, Cavite. Hinoldap ng tatlong kalalakihan na magkaangkas sa isang motorsiklo ang Phoenix Gasoline Station sa Brgy. Salitran 4, lungsod na ito, Cavite, noong Hulyo 24. Ang insidente ay naganap bandang 10:22 ng umaga sa Lot 2 & 3, The Orchard.

Ayon sa mga ulat, ang dalawang suspek ay bumaba sa motorsiklo at nagkunwaring pupunta sa comfort room. Ngunit agad silang pumasok sa opisina ng gasolinahan, nagdeklara ng holdap, at tinangay ang hindi pa matukoy na halaga ng kita, pati na rin ang isang Redmi 9C na cellphone.

Matapos ang panghoholdap, sumakay ang dalawang suspek sa motorsiklo at tumakbo sa direksiyon ng Abad Santos Avenue. Sa kasalukuyan, isinasagawa ng pulisya ang backtracking gamit ang Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) upang matukoy at makilala ang mga suspek.

Ang pulisya ay patuloy na nagsasagawa ng imbestigasyon at naghahanap ng karagdagang impormasyon upang mahuli ang mga salarin.

Netanyahu hints at potential breakthrough in hostage deal as Gaza conflict intensifies

JERUSALEM/CAIRO. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suggested that a deal to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza could be imminent, according to his office. The announcement comes amid ongoing fierce clashes in the besieged Palestinian territory.

As fighting continues, Israeli forces have intensified their operations in Khan Younis, Gaza’s southern region, following an evacuation order for civilians from areas targeted for renewed attacks by Palestinian militants. Thousands have been displaced as Israeli airstrikes bombard the region, according to U.N. officials.

Netanyahu, currently in Washington, is scheduled to meet U.S. President Joe Biden later this week after addressing Congress. On Monday, during a meeting with hostage families in the U.S. capital, Netanyahu stated, “The conditions (for a deal) are undoubtedly ripening. This is a good sign.”

The efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which have gained traction over the past month, were initially outlined by Biden in May and are mediated by Egypt and Qatar. Netanyahu noted, “Unfortunately, it will not take place all at once; there will be stages. However, I believe that we can advance the deal and leave us in possession of the leverage to bring about the release of the others (hostages not freed in the first stage).”

Ruby Chen, father of Itai Chen, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen whose body is held in Gaza, was among those who met Netanyahu. Chen expressed cautious optimism, saying, “He did say that conditions were ripening but I’m taking that with a pinch of salt.” Chen also voiced hope that Biden would exert more pressure on Netanyahu to finalize the deal, especially following Biden’s recent withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race and endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris.

However, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri dismissed Netanyahu’s statements, asserting, “Netanyahu is still stalling and he is sending delegations only to calm down the anger of families of Israeli captives.”

A scheduled Israeli negotiation team will resume talks on Thursday, focusing on a possible exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. During a brief ceasefire in November, 105 hostages were released in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners.

The hostages were initially taken during a Hamas raid on southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and about 250 captives, according to Israeli figures. Currently, around 120 hostages remain in captivity, with a third declared dead in absentia by Israeli authorities.

The retaliatory Israeli offensive has resulted in over 39,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza health officials. The conflict has caused mass displacement, with hundreds of thousands of people forced to flee, and widespread destruction in the enclave.

In Gaza, Israeli airstrikes hit Khan Younis on Tuesday, with ongoing clashes between Israeli troops and Palestinian militants. The U.N.’s Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, reported, “Thousands of people on the move again, fleeing strikes & military operations. The situation is impossible. The cycle of fear & displacement has gone on too long. Everyone is exhausted.”

The Israeli military reported killing dozens of militants in Khan Younis and destroying weapon caches and tunnels. Palestinian medics reported one death from an airstrike on Tuesday, following multiple casualties from Monday’s attacks. In Gaza City, 16 people were killed in Israeli bombings, and two Palestinians were killed in Rafah, where ongoing clashes with Israeli forces continue.

Edukasyon, POGO, at ang ‘sana’ kada SONA

Sa pagbubukas ng ikatlong regular na sesyon ng ikalabing siyam na Kongreso, maximum tolerance ang pinairal umano sa paligid ng Batasang Pambansa dahil nga sa kinaaabangang State of the Nation Address (SONA) ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos sa maulang hapon ng Hulyo 22. Alamin natin ang katotohanan diyan sa mga police-beat reporter sa Quezon City maging sa mga pinuno ng mga kilos-protesta sa loob ng tatlong araw. Iyon na nga’t natuloy ang talumpati niyang meron mga “pasabog” na sa tingin naman ng iba’y kalkulado na at natural lamang na banggitin.

Tatlo sa mahahalagang paksa sa naitalumpati ang nais nating bigyan ng reaksyon:

Una, hindi raw kathang isip ang West Philippine Sea, kundi atin ito. Pinasalamatan pa niya ang mga sundalo sa pagtataguyod ng depensa sa teritoryo ng bansa. Pangalawa, nagbigay-hamon ang Pangulo sa wala pang isang linggong nakaupong bagong kalihim ng edukasyon, kasabay ng pagbibida ng mga nagawa na at gagawin pa sa pampublikong basic education at higher education sa ilalim ng DepEd at CHED (may maiksing banggit din sa TESDA). Pangatlo, ang agarang paglalansag ng Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

May diin at mukhang ayaw paawat sa Tsina ang Commander in Chief. Sa larangan ng international relations, importante ang mariing pahayag niya ng tamang pag-angkin sa teritoryo, sa maritime security, at sa pagpapalakas kahit man lang ang loob ng tumatao para sa ating tanggulang pambansa sa nadesisyunan na ng UNCLOS pabor sa Pilipinas, pero “pinag-aagawan” pa rin sa mga aktwal na pangyayari at dokumentadong ulat ng pangha-harass ng kalapit bansa nating bully.

Kailangang pagbutihin ni dating senador at ngayo’y Education Secretary Sonny Angara ang pamumuno sa kagawaran lalo na’t may malulungkot na usapin, ayon sa Pangulo, sa kahinaan sa krikal na pag-iisip, mga mabababang marka sa matematika, agham, at pag-unawa sa mga binabasa ng mga kabataang mag-aaral sa mga pandaigdigang assessment.

Hindi sapat itong pagtutulak sa bago niyang itinalagang lider sa edukasyon kung salat sa detalye ng implementasyon sa mga patakarang pampaaralan, pangguro, pandagdag-sweldo, at holistic approach ng pangangalaga sa mga mag-aaral. Ito’y OK pa rin dahil hindi na yung dating nakaupo sa kagawarang may pinakamataas na badyet taon-taon ang pag-uusapan natin at ang kanyang mga hindi nagawa.

Isinabay sa SONA ang pagpapalabas ng malisyosong video na gumagamit umano ng ipinagbabawal na gamot si Marcos Jr. na itinuring namang isip-bata ang pagkakagawa ng palabas sa social media sa labas ng bansa sa tingin ng Defense Secretary.

Kapansin-pansing hindi binanggit sa SONA si Vice President Sara Duterte, kaya walang aasahang konkretong pamamaraan para mapagtibay at mapagkaisa ang mga pulitikal na gawain ng pamahalaan. Sa kabila ito ng itinulak na kampanyang “unity” dalawang taon pa lamang ang nakararaan noong magsanib-pwersa ang mga Marcos at mga Duterte sa eleksyon. Hindi sinipot ng VP at bagong bitaw na Education Secretary ang pagtatanghal ni Marcos na hindi naman pinatagal at umabot lamang ng humigit kumulang isa’t kalahating oras.

Nakabawi ang Pangulo sa pagsasara ng mga POGO at tama namang sabihing moral na responsibilidad ito ng administrasyon. Naglipana ang mga salot sa lipunan, pekeng negosyo at scam, pati karahasan na lalong napatunayan umano ng mga otoridad matapos ang kanilang sunod-sunod na pagsalakay sa mga ilegal na gawain sa bisa ng mga search warrant ng mga korte.

Napunan na ng malakihang pondo ang Maharlika Investment Fund, pero hindi ito nabanggit sa talumpati. Kung bakit hindi ipaalam sa publiko ang estado ng pondo at detalyadong alokasyon sa mga uunahing sektor ng enerhiya, imprastraktura, at agrikultura matapos ang unang taon ng pagkakatatag ng MIF ay hindi ko alam, at wala ring nakaaalam kung sinong tagapayo/PR expert ang nagpayo para ikubli ito sa mahalagang taunang talumpati. At ang patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin, pagkain, lalo na ang bigas, may pakiramdam si Pangulong Marcos na ikinalulugmok ito ng mga mahihirap, pero nai-bida pa rin niya ang kakarampot na mga paninda mula sa mangilan ngilang KADIWA Centers.

Nasa 100 ang performance rating ni Marcos Jr. kung tatanungin ang isa sa mga tagapayo niyang si Larry Gadon.

Tuloy ang pagmamatiyag. Sana lang. Ganyan naman kada SONA.

“West Philippine Sea, atin ito’ — Pangulong Marcos ipinaglaban ang pagmamay-ari sa kanyang SONA

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MAYNILA. Sa kanyang ikatlong State of the Nation Address (SONA) na ginanap sa Batasang Pambansa kahapon, mariing ipinahayag ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ang tiyak na pagmamay-ari ng Pilipinas sa West Philippine Sea.

“Ang West Philippine Sea ay hindi isang kathang-isip natin lamang. Ito ay atin. At ito ay mananatiling atin, hangga’t nag-aalab ang diwa ng ating mahal na bansang Pilipinas,” pahayag ng Pangulo sa kanyang talumpati.

Ayon sa Pangulo, sa kabila ng mga isyu ukol sa territorial sovereignty, patuloy na igiginiit ng gobyerno ang karapatan at interes ng bansa. Sinabi niya na ang paggamit ng diplomatic channels at mekanismo sa ilalim ng rules-based international order ay ang tanging katanggap-tanggap na paraan upang maresolba ang mga hindi pagkakaunawaan.

Patuloy din aniya ang gobyerno sa paghahanap ng paraan upang mabawasan ang tensyon sa pinag-aagawang teritoryo, nang hindi isinasantabi ang posisyon at prinsipyo ng bansa.

“The Philippines cannot yield. The Philippines cannot waver,” diin pa ng Pangulo.

Dagdag pa niya, ngayon ay nagkakaroon na ng mas mataas na kamalayan ang mga Filipino sa pagbabantay sa ating aerial at maritime domain. Kaya’t patuloy ang pagpapalakas ng depensa ng bansa sa pamamagitan ng pakikipag-ugnayan sa mga bansang may katulad na mithiin.

Inilatag din ng Pangulo ang importansya ng mga batas tulad ng Maritime Zones at Archipelagic Sea Lanes na nagsisiguro sa mandato at magtatatag sa puso at isipan ng mga mamamayan.

Sa pagtatapos ng kanyang pahayag, nagpasalamat ang Pangulo sa buong Sandatahang Lakas, Coast Guard, at mga mangingisda sa West Philippine Sea. Ang kanyang pahayag ay nagdulot ng sigawan at standing ovation mula sa mga bisita sa plenaryo ng Kamara.

“POGO bawal na!” — Pangulong Marcos ipinahayag ang pagbabawal sa lahat ng POGO sa bansa

MAYNILA. Tuluyan nang ipinagbawal ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ang operasyon ng Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) sa bansa. Ang anunsyo ay ginawa sa kanyang mahigit isang oras na State of the Nation Address (SONA) na tumanggap ng sigawan at standing ovation mula sa mga dumalo sa plenaryo ng Kamara.

“Ating maririnig ang malakas na sigaw ng taumbayan laban sa mga POGO,” pahayag ng Pangulo, na nagbigay-diin sa pagnanais ng publiko na matapos na ang mga operasyon ng mga POGO.

Ayon kay Pangulong Marcos, ang POGO ay nagpapanggap na lehitimong entidad ngunit sa katunayan, nagdudulot ito ng mas malalim na problema, kabilang ang financial scamming, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, brutal torture, at murder.

“Kailangan na matigil ang pang-aabuso at hindi pagrespeto sa ating batas, at kailangan na rin matigil ang panggugulo ng POGO sa ating lipunan at paglapastangan sa ating bansa,” aniya pa.

“Effective today, all POGOs are banned,” giit ng Pangulo sa kanyang pahayag.

Inatasan din ng Pangulo ang Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) na ihinto ang operasyon ng lahat ng POGO bago matapos ang taon. Kasabay nito, inatasan niya ang Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) na makipag-koordinasyon sa mga economic managers para makahanap ng bagong trabaho para sa mga Filipino na mawawalan ng kabuhayan dulot ng pagbabawal.

“Mga minamahal kong kababayan, lagi po nating labanan ang mali at ang masama. Lagi po natin ipaglaban ang tama at ang mabuti,” ang pagtatapos ng Pangulo.

China and the Philippines forge deal to ease tensions at disputed South China Sea shoal

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MANILA. In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, China and the Philippines have reached a deal to reduce tensions at the fiercely contested Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, the Philippine government announced on Sunday.

The shoal, known as Ayungin to Filipinos and Ren’ai Jiao to the Chinese, has been a flashpoint for hostile encounters between the two nations. The agreement was achieved after a series of high-level meetings in Manila and the exchange of diplomatic notes, designed to address the situation without conceding either side’s territorial claims.

Two Philippine officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the deal to The Associated Press. The government later issued a brief statement highlighting the deal’s focus on de-escalation: “Both sides continue to recognize the need to deescalate the situation in the South China Sea and manage differences through dialogue and consultation and agree that the agreement will not prejudice each other’s positions in the South China Sea,” said the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila.

Shortly after, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that discussions had led to a “provisional arrangement” for the humanitarian resupply of living necessities to Ren’ai Jiao. However, the text of the agreement has not been made public by either side.

The deal comes amid a backdrop of escalating confrontations. Chinese forces have employed powerful water cannons and aggressive tactics to obstruct the delivery of supplies to Filipino navy personnel stationed on the BRP Sierra Madre, a deteriorating warship grounded at the shoal. The territorial standoff reached a peak on June 17, when Chinese forces rammed and boarded two Philippine navy boats, seizing supplies and damaging the vessels. This confrontation, which injured several Filipino personnel, was documented in video and photographs released by the Philippine government.

The U.S. and its allies, including Japan and Australia, have condemned the aggressive actions and called for adherence to international law and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea—a critical global trade route.

In addition to China and the Philippines, other nations such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan have competing claims in the South China Sea, heightening regional tensions. The U.S. has emphasized its commitment to defend the Philippines, its treaty ally, in the event of an armed attack in these contested waters.

The recent deal represents a potential step toward stability. According to the Philippine officials, key demands from China—such as restrictions on construction materials for fortifying the grounded ship and advance notice for inspections—were removed from the final agreement, signaling a compromise from both sides.

The effectiveness and longevity of this agreement remain to be seen, but it offers a glimmer of hope for managing one of the South China Sea’s most contentious disputes.

Global stock markets react mixed after Biden withdraws from 2024 presidential race

Global stock markets displayed a mixed reaction on Monday following President Joe Biden’s surprising withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race, which has introduced additional uncertainties about the future of the world’s largest economy.

Biden’s announcement on Sunday, coupled with his endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate against former President Donald Trump, has yet to significantly impact financial markets, according to Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management. “U.S. yields and the dollar opened slightly weaker in Asia but then rebounded, suggesting investors were fully clued into this outcome. The odds of a Trump victory also haven’t changed much,” Innes noted.

European markets showed early gains, with Germany’s DAX rising 0.8% to 18,311.32, and the CAC 40 in Paris gaining 0.8% to 7,596.64. In London, the FTSE 100 saw a 0.5% increase to 8,194.82. Futures for the S&P 500 were up 0.3%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged 0.1% higher.

In Asia, however, the sentiment was less optimistic. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 1.2% to 39,599.00. The Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong gained 1.3% to 17,635.88, whereas the Shanghai Composite Index dropped 0.6% to 2,964.22. This decline followed China’s unexpected cut in its one-year benchmark loan prime rate (LPR) from 3.45% to 3.35% and a reduction in the five-year LPR from 3.95% to 3.85%. The People’s Bank of China implemented these measures to stimulate growth and address a persistent property slump. This move came after a report showing that the Chinese economy grew at a slower-than-expected rate of 4.7% annually in the second quarter.

Australian markets saw a slight dip, with the S&P/ASX 200 falling 0.5% to 7,931.70, while South Korea’s Kospi declined by 1.1% to 2,763.51.

On Friday, major U.S. indices experienced declines, with the S&P 500 dropping 0.7%, marking its first losing week in three and the worst since April. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.9%, and the Nasdaq composite lost 0.8%. These losses followed a massive technology outage that disrupted global flights, banking, and medical services. Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike attributed the outage to a faulty update on Microsoft Windows, not a cyberattack, and has since deployed a fix. The incident led to a significant drop in CrowdStrike’s stock by 11.1%, while Microsoft’s shares fell by 0.8%.

In early Monday trading, U.S. benchmark crude oil remained steady at $78.64 per barrel, while Brent crude increased by 7 cents to $82.70 per barrel. The U.S. dollar weakened to 156.64 Japanese yen from 157.49 yen, and the euro rose slightly to $1.0892 from $1.0877.

Israel declares two more hostages dead as Gaza ceasefire talks continue

JERUSALEM. Israel announced on Monday that two more hostages held by Hamas in Gaza have been declared dead, as efforts to secure a ceasefire deal and negotiate the release of approximately 120 captives are set to resume later this week.

The Israeli military is continuing to investigate the deaths of Yagev Buchshtab, a 35-year-old sound technician, and Alex Dancyg, a 76-year-old historian. Both were abducted from their homes in kibbutzim near the Gaza border during Hamas’ October 7 attack on southern Israel.

In a statement, the Hostage Families Forum expressed their anguish: “Yagev and Alex were taken alive and should have returned alive to their families and to their country. Their death in captivity is a tragic reflection of the consequences of foot-dragging in negotiations.”

Dancyg, who also held Polish citizenship, has drawn a reaction from Poland’s foreign ministry, which expressed sorrow over his death and reiterated its demand for the unconditional release of all abductees from Gaza.

Israeli authorities have now pronounced about a third of the hostages still held in Gaza as deceased. Negotiations are expected to continue later this week, with an Israeli team scheduled to mediate discussions aimed at achieving a ceasefire and addressing the issue of hostage releases in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

Ginang, pinatay sa taga ng kapitbahay sa kalsada

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INDANG, Cavite. Natagpuang patay ang isang ginang sa tabi ng kalsada matapos pagtatagain ng kanyang kapitbahay sa Brgy. Kayquit 1, bayang ito sa Cavite, noong kamakalawa ng gabi.

Ang biktima ay kinilalang si Rosalie Cantillos, 47-anyos, may-asawa, at residente ng nasabing barangay. Ayon sa ulat ng pulisya, agad na naaresto ang suspek na si alyas Willy, 40-taong-gulang na kapitbahay.

Sa imbestigasyon, natuklasan na 6:30 ng gabi nang ang biktima ay naglalakad pauwi nang harangin ng suspek. Nagkaroon ng komprontasyon ang dalawa, na nauwi sa pagbunot ng suspek ng kanyang dalang bolo at pinagtataga si Cantillos hanggang sa humandusay ito sa kalsada.

Kasalukuyan pang inaalam ng mga awtoridad ang motibo sa pagpatay ng suspek sa kanyang kapitbahay.