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Prince Andrew gives up Duke of York title amid mounting scandal

Paraluman P. Funtanilla
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Prince Andrew gives up Duke of York title amid mounting scandal

LONDON — Prince Andrew, the younger brother of King Charles III, has announced he will no longer use his title as Duke of York, marking a major step back from royal life after years of controversy surrounding his association with the late U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and other scandals.

In a statement on Friday, Andrew said “the continued accusations about me” had become a distraction to King Charles and the wider royal family.

“I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first. I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life,” he said.
“With His Majesty’s agreement, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use the title or the honors which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me.”

The 65-year-old prince’s decision followed discussions with senior members of the royal family. According to a palace source, King Charles approved and was “glad about the outcome.”

Andrew, once celebrated as a decorated naval officer who served in the Falklands War, has seen his public image collapse in recent years. He was stripped of his military affiliations and royal patronages in 2022 amid allegations of sexual misconduct, which he has consistently denied.

That same year, he reached an out-of-court settlement with Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexually abusing her when she was a teenager, allegations he repeatedly refuted. Giuffre’s posthumous memoir, due for release next week, has reignited public scrutiny of the prince’s past.

The controversy deepened after emails emerged suggesting Andrew remained in contact with Epstein longer than he had claimed in a 2019 BBC interview. A royal insider described this as a “tipping point” that forced renewed action from Buckingham Palace.

Royal biographer Robert Hardman told the BBC, “Things are simply not going away. The palace has decided, and Prince Andrew has agreed, that there really has to be a further separation. He wants to look as if he’s proactive and try to regain some dignity out of this.”

A recent YouGov poll found that 67% of Britons supported removing Andrew’s remaining royal titles, while only 5% viewed him favorably.

Although he will continue to be styled as “Prince Andrew” and remain living at Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate, he will no longer participate in royal family gatherings such as the annual Christmas event at Sandringham. His daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, retain their titles, but his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, will no longer be known as the Duchess of York.

The move also spares the monarchy from a potential parliamentary intervention to strip Andrew of his dukedom, a process not undertaken for more than a century.

U.S. Congressman Robert Garcia, the leading Democrat on the House Oversight Committee investigating Epstein’s network, called the decision “long overdue.”

“We know rich and powerful men used their money and power to abuse girls and young women, and to shield themselves from justice,” Garcia said. “Prince Andrew’s decision is just the beginning in the committee’s work to deliver justice for the survivors.”

Prince Andrew has always denied wrongdoing. However, after years of scandal and public pressure, his decision to relinquish his title effectively closes the door on his remaining formal ties to the British monarchy. Whether it will close the chapter on the questions that continue to surround him remains uncertain.

The move also spares the monarchy from a potential parliamentary intervention to strip Andrew of his dukedom, a process not undertaken for more than a century.

Approval Rating ng Senado, Kamara parehong bagsak sa pinakabagong survey

Venus L Peñaflor
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Approval Rating ng Senado, Kamara parehong bagsak sa pinakabagong survey

MAYNILA — Bumaba ang approval rating ng Senado at ng House of Representatives batay sa pinakahuling survey ng Pulse Asia, kasunod ng mga isyung kinaharap ng ilang mambabatas kaugnay ng umano’y anomalya at ghost projects ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Sa survey na isinagawa mula Setyembre 27 hanggang 30, 42 porsiyento lamang ng mga respondent ang nagsabing aprubado nila ang performance ng Senado mas mababa ng 11 puntos mula sa 53 porsiyento na naitala noong Hunyo.

Samantala, tumaas naman ng 10 puntos ang mga “disapproved” sa performance ng Senado, mula 18% noong Hunyo ay naging 28% sa pinakahuling resulta. Bahagyang tumaas din ang bilang ng mga hindi makapagpasya o “undecided,” mula 28% ay umakyat sa 30%.

Ayon kay Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, ang resulta ng survey ay sumasalamin lamang sa pananaw ng publiko sa isang partikular na panahon.
“As always, surveys serve as guides to perceptions in that particular moment. In other words, a snapshot of the past,” ani Sotto.

Dagdag pa niya, patuloy pa ring gaganap ng tungkulin ang Senado anuman ang resulta ng survey.
“The Senate will do its work diligently no matter what,” sabi pa ng senador.

Mas malaki naman ang ibinagsak ng approval rating ng House of Representatives, na bumaba ng 17 puntos—mula 47 porsiyento noong Hunyo ay naging 30 porsiyento sa pinakahuling survey.

Ang bilang ng mga hindi sumang-ayon sa performance ng Kamara ay tumaas ng 13 puntos, mula 21% ay naging 34%, habang ang mga “undecided” ay umakyat din mula 32% tungong 36%.

Ang Pulse Asia survey ay isinagawa sa 1,200 respondents sa buong bansa, na may margin of error na plus/minus 2.8 percent. Naganap ito ilang linggo matapos ang pagpapalit ng liderato sa parehong Kapulungan ng Kongreso.

DOH: Walang lockdown sa pagdami ng influenza-like illnesses

Venus L Peñaflor
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DOH: Walang lockdown sa pagdami ng influenza-like illnesses

MAYNILA — Nilinaw ng Department of Health (DOH) na walang planong ipatupad na lockdown sa gitna ng pagtaas ng mga kaso ng influenza-like illnesses (ILIs) sa bansa.

Kasunod ito ng mga kumalat na post sa social media na nagsasabing ilang lugar sa Luzon ang isasailalim umano sa lockdown dahil sa “outbreak” ng ILIs.

Tinawag ni Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa ang naturang mga ulat bilang “fake news.”
“Let me explain, the lockdown was done during COVID. There is no planned lockdown; that is fake news,” aniya.

Ayon kay Herbosa, walang flu outbreak sa bansa at ang mga sakit na kasalukuyang kumakalat ay karaniwang seasonal respiratory illnesses na madalas sa panahon ng tag-ulan. “What we have is the seasonal respiratory illnesses. It’s not a flu outbreak. We do not have a flu outbreak. It is our ILI season, marami siyang sakit like ubo, sipon, trangkaso and all other similar illnesses that spreads very fast during the rainy season,” paliwanag ng kalihim.

Dagdag pa ni Herbosa, inaasahan ng DOH ang pagtaas ng bilang ng ILIs tuwing “Ber months,” ngunit nilinaw niyang mas mababa pa rin ang bilang ngayong taon kumpara noong nakaraang taon. Mula Enero hanggang Setyembre, umabot sa 133,000 ang naitalang kaso, mas mababa kaysa sa 155,000 sa kaparehong panahon noong 2024.

“We know many people are getting sick. Magkaibang virus ‘yun. Wala tayong outbreak from a single virus, there is no need to declare a lockdown but there is a recommendation to start wearing your mask or staying at home when you are sick. That is our public health recommendation,” sabi pa ni Herbosa.

Tiniyak ng DOH na patuloy nitong mino-monitor ang sitwasyon at nanawagan sa publiko na manatiling maingat, magsuot ng mask kung may sintomas, at manatili sa bahay kapag may sakit.

Trump urges halt to Ukraine war, holds back on Zelenskiy’s call for more weapons

EDGARDO HERNAL
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Trump urges halt to Ukraine war, holds back on Zelenskiy’s call for more weapons

WASHINGTON — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Friday, seeking additional weapons to defend against Russia’s invasion, but instead encountered a leader more focused on pursuing a peace deal than expanding Ukraine’s military arsenal.

Trump did not rule out providing the long-range Tomahawk missiles that Ukraine has requested but appeared reluctant, citing an upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Hungary in the coming weeks.

After a two-hour discussion, Trump urged both Ukraine and Russia to “stop the war immediately,” even if doing so meant Ukraine conceding some territory.

“You stop at the battle line, and both sides should go home, go to their families,” Trump told reporters as he departed for West Palm Beach, Florida. “Stop the killing. And that should be it. Stop right now at the battle line. I told that to President Zelenskiy. I told it to President Putin.”

Trump’s renewed outreach to Putin — a move that has previously frustrated Zelenskiy and European allies — cast uncertainty over the meeting, which otherwise remained cordial. The two presidents met privately after a joint appearance before reporters.

Zelenskiy, for his part, stressed that peace remains difficult to achieve.

“We want this. Putin doesn’t want (it),” he said.

The Ukrainian leader noted that his forces were preparing an offensive using thousands of drones, but needed U.S. missiles to make an impact.

“We don’t have Tomahawks, that’s why we need Tomahawks,” Zelenskiy said.

Trump responded that he preferred not to provide them.

“We’d much rather have them not need Tomahawks,” he said, later adding, “We want Tomahawks also. We don’t want to be giving away things that we need to protect our country.”

After the meeting, which Zelenskiy described as “productive,” he declined to discuss long-range missiles, saying the United States was wary of escalation. “I am realistic about my chance of getting them,” he told reporters.

Zelenskiy later said he was counting on Trump to pressure Putin “to stop this war.” When asked about Trump’s comments, he replied:

“President (Trump) is right, and we have to stop where we are. This is important, to stop where we are, and then to speak.”

The White House did not disclose details of Trump’s recent phone call with Putin, which reportedly helped pave the way for their next meeting. The Kremlin said preparations were ongoing and that the summit could happen “a little later” than the two-week window Trump mentioned.

Trump’s conciliatory tone raised doubts about future U.S. military aid to Ukraine and reignited concerns in Europe about a peace deal that could favor Moscow. The European Union said it welcomed talks if they could “help bring peace to Ukraine.”

Asked whether Putin might be “playing” him, Trump replied:

“You know, I’ve been played all my life by the best of them, and I came out really well, so it’s possible.”

Former U.S. official Michael Carpenter, now with the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said Zelenskiy likely found the talks disappointing.

“The underlying reality is that there is no inclination to impose costs on Russia,” he said.

Trump praised Zelenskiy personally, complimenting his attire after the Ukrainian leader faced earlier criticism for visiting the White House in military fatigues.

“He looks beautiful in his jacket,” Trump said. “I hope people notice.”

The U.S. president, who has been campaigning for the Nobel Peace Prize, has repeatedly portrayed himself as a dealmaker capable of ending global conflicts.

More than three and a half years after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Moscow has continued to claim new territory. Putin recently said his forces captured nearly 5,000 square kilometers of Ukrainian land this year, adding to the roughly 20% of the country already under Russian control.

Both sides have intensified attacks on energy infrastructure, while Russian drones and aircraft have reportedly strayed into NATO territory.

Before Friday’s meeting, White House officials had signaled growing frustration with Moscow and hinted at possible approval of the Tomahawk missiles. Zelenskiy said Russia was “afraid of Tomahawks,” while Moscow warned that such deliveries would mark a “serious escalation.”

Analysts said Putin’s outreach to Trump may have been aimed at preventing the U.S. from transferring those weapons.

Max Bergmann, a Russia expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said, “Putin’s move appeared meant to make the U.S. transfer of such weapons less likely.”

Mykola Bielieskov, a senior analyst at Come Back Alive, a Ukrainian organization that helps supply the military, said the missiles could shift the balance of power.

“We don’t expect Russia to crumble after one, two or three successful strikes,” Bielieskov said. “But it’s about pressure, constant pressure. It’s about disrupting the military-industrial complex.”

Bagyong Ramil, mas lumakas habang papalapit sa Catanduanes at Luzon

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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Bagyong Ramil, mas lumakas habang papalapit sa Catanduanes at Luzon

MAYNILA — Mas lumakas na at isa nang tropical storm ang Ramil, taglay ang maximum sustained winds na 65 km/h at pagbugsong hangin na umaabot sa 80 km/h, ayon sa pinakahuling ulat ng PAGASA. Huling namataan ang bagyo 305 kilometro silangan ng Juban, Sorsogon dakong 4:00 a.m., at kumikilos pa-kanluran sa bilis na 20 km/h.

Itinaas ang Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 sa mga sumusunod na lugar: Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, at hilagang bahagi ng Camarines Sur (Tinambac, Siruma, Goa, San Jose, Lagonoy, Garchitorena, Caramoan, Presentacion).

Nasa ilalim naman ng Signal No. 1 ang mga sumusunod na lugar:

LUZON:
Cagayan (kasama ang Babuyan Islands), Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, silangang bahagi ng Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, Norzagaray, San Miguel, San Ildefonso, San Rafael, Angat), silangang bahagi ng Tarlac (Camiling, San Clemente, Santa Ignacia, Paniqui, Moncada, San Manuel, Anao, Ramos, Pura, Victoria, City of Tarlac, La Paz, Concepcion, Gerona), silangang bahagi ng Pampanga (Magalang, Arayat, Candaba), hilaga at silangang bahagi ng Quezon (Tagkawayan, Perez, Alabat, Quezon, Atimonan, Padre Burgos, Unisan, Gumaca, Plaridel, Agdangan, Pagbilao, Mauban, Calauag, Guinayangan, Lopez, Pitogo, Macalelon, General Luna, Catanauan, San Narciso, Buenavista, San Francisco, San Andres, Mulanay, General Nakar, Infanta, Real, Sampaloc) kabilang ang Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, natitirang bahagi ng Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Burias Island, at Ticao Island.

VISAYAS:
Northern Samar, hilagang bahagi ng Eastern Samar (San Policarpo, Arteche, Oras, Dolores, Maslog, Jipapad, Taft, Can-Avid), at hilagang bahagi ng Samar (Matuguinao, San Jose de Buan, Calbayog City, Gandara, Santa Margarita, Pagsanghan, San Jorge).

Ayon sa PAGASA, inaasahang magla-landfall o dadaan malapit sa Catanduanes si Ramil ngayong Sabado ng hapon o gabi. Maaaring tumama sa Aurora o Isabela sa Linggo bago tumawid sa kabundukang bahagi ng Northern at Central Luzon.

Tinatayang lalabas ng Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) si Ramil sa Lunes ng umaga, kung hindi magbabago ang direksyong tinatahak nito.

Israel receives remains of another hostage from Gaza, Red Cross facilitates handover

Venus L Peñaflor
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Israel receives remains of another hostage from Gaza, Red Cross facilitates handover

Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip — Israel has received the remains of another hostage from Gaza, the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed Friday. The handover, facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), came as Hamas continued to search for bodies under the rubble in an effort to uphold the terms of the current ceasefire.

The Israeli military and security services said the coffin, delivered by the Red Cross inside Gaza, would be sent to the Ministry of Health’s National Center for Forensic Medicine for identification. Authorities said the family of the deceased would be notified after the process is completed.

Hamas’ military wing, the Qassam Brigades, described the recovered body as that of an “occupation prisoner,” suggesting the remains belonged to an Israeli national. Under the ceasefire agreement, the return of hostages’ remains has been one of the key conditions, alongside the entry of humanitarian aid, the reopening of Gaza’s border crossings, and early reconstruction efforts.

Hamas stated it remains committed to the deal. Over the past week, the group has turned over the remains of nine hostages, as well as a tenth body that Israeli officials said was not among those held captive.

The recovery efforts follow warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump, who said Israel would be permitted to resume military operations if Hamas failed to return all hostages’ bodies, totaling 28. Israeli military and intelligence officials reiterated that “Hamas is required to uphold the agreement and take the necessary steps to return all the deceased hostages.”

Hamas has blamed delays on Israel, saying many of the bodies are buried under rubble created by Israeli strikes and that new bulldozers have not been allowed into Gaza. Much of the territory’s heavy machinery was destroyed in the war that began after the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks in Israel. On Friday, two bulldozers were seen digging through debris in Khan Younis’ Hamad City as part of ongoing search operations.

Beyond the recovery of remains, Hamas has urged mediators to push for more aid deliveries, the reopening of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, and the start of reconstruction. The group also called for the formation of a committee of Palestinian independents to govern Gaza and for continued Israeli troop withdrawals from certain areas.

Under the ceasefire plan introduced by President Trump, all hostages, both living and deceased, were to be returned by a deadline earlier this week. Although that deadline passed, Hamas agreed to share information on missing individuals and continue recovery efforts.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel “will not compromise” and demanded Hamas meet all obligations under the ceasefire deal.

Hamas has told intermediaries that efforts to locate and return bodies are complicated by unexploded ordnance and the extensive destruction in the enclave. Some remains, it said, lie in areas still under Israeli control.

Earlier this week, Hamas released 20 living Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. The Hostage and Missing Families Forum in Israel said it will continue to hold weekly rallies until all remains are returned.

Israel has also returned the bodies of 90 Palestinians for burial in Gaza, with more expected. A Palestinian forensics team examining the remains reported some bodies showed signs of mistreatment.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which operates under Hamas, nearly 68,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war, while thousands remain missing. The Red Cross has confirmed that many are still trapped under collapsed buildings.

France announced it is working with the United States and Britain to propose a U.N. resolution that would authorize an international force for Gaza. French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux said Arab countries want the force to operate under a U.N. mandate, with several expected to contribute troops trained in Egypt.

Meanwhile, humanitarian conditions in Gaza remain dire. The U.N. said only 339 trucks of aid have been distributed since the ceasefire began, far below the 600 trucks per day agreed upon in the deal. Israel’s COGAT agency reported higher numbers, citing 950 trucks entering Thursday and 716 on Wednesday, including commercial shipments.

Tom Fletcher, the U.N. humanitarian aid chief, visited a World Food Program bakery in Deir al-Balah on Friday, saying U.N. teams were implementing a 60-day plan to “massively ramp up aid.” The WFP said it has delivered over 280 trucks carrying 3,000 metric tons of food supplies since last Saturday.

Gaza’s truckers’ union reported that 70 trucks entered the enclave on Thursday, noting that improved security has reduced looting but that overall supplies remain insufficient.

The United Nations says famine persists in parts of Gaza, with over 400 confirmed deaths linked to malnutrition, including more than 100 children. Israel maintains it has allowed enough aid into the enclave, accusing Hamas of diverting supplies, a claim the U.N. and other aid agencies deny.

San Pablo City Agri Office, nagsanay sa coconut production and management

Venus L Peñaflor
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San Pablo City Agri Office, nagsanay sa coconut production and management

SAN PABLO CITY — Pinaigting ng San Pablo City Agriculturist Office–Farmer’s Information and Technology Services (FITS) Center ang adbokasiya para sa pagpapaunlad ng industriya ng niyog sa lungsod sa pamamagitan ng dalawang araw na “Seminar on Coconut Production and Management” na ginanap noong Oktubre 8 at 9, 2025 sa Convention Center, Barangay San Jose. Isinagawa ang programa sa pakikipagtulungan ng Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), sa pangunguna nina Executive Assistant for Agriculture Pepito D. Bonilla at City Agriculturist Abegail F. Agnes.

Dinaluhan ng mga magsasaka mula sa iba’t ibang barangay ng San Pablo, ang seminar ay nagbigay ng masusing kaalaman at kasanayan sa tamang pagtatanim, pangangalaga, at pamamahala ng mga niyogan alinsunod sa mga pamantayan ng PCA. Tinalakay dito ang kalagayan ng industriya ng niyog, pisyolohiya at mga yugto ng paglago ng puno, pagpili ng de-kalidad na binhi, pest management, wastong pag-aabono, at pagtatatag ng coconut nursery.

Ayon sa PCA, patuloy na tumataas ang demand sa produktong niyog sa lokal at pandaigdigang merkado, lalo na sa virgin coconut oil, coco sugar, at iba pang coconut-based products. Sa buong bansa, tinatayang higit sa 2.5 milyong Pilipino ang umaasa sa niyugan bilang pangunahing kabuhayan, batay sa datos ng Philippine Coconut Authority at Department of Agriculture. Gayunman, nananatiling hamon sa sektor ang pagtanda ng mga puno at ang epekto ng pagbabago ng klima sa ani, dahilan kung bakit mahalagang ipagpatuloy ang ganitong mga pagsasanay para sa mga lokal na magsasaka.

Ilan sa mga naging tagapagsalita mula sa PCA ay sina Farmer Scientist Estelito M. Reyes; Pollen Processors Kennedy N. Mangala at Jomar G. Abana; at mga agriculturist na sina Lovely A. Labor, Ruel P. De Villa, Riza L. Manalo, Rose Ann O. Alejandro, at Charlon L. Pabon. Dumalo rin si Project Development Officer I Laime Jane U. Guevarra upang ibahagi ang mga bagong programa ng PCA para sa pagpapatatag ng industriya.

“Malaki ang naitutulong ng mga ganitong seminar upang patuloy na maipatupad ang mga programa sa pagpapalago ng industriya ng niyog sa Lungsod ng San Pablo,” pahayag ni Mayor Najie B. Gapangada Jr. Aniya, patuloy ang suporta ng lokal na pamahalaan sa pagbibigay ng tulong teknikal at materyales upang mapataas ang ani at kita ng mga magsasaka.

Ang naturang pagsasanay ay inaasahang magbubukas ng mas maraming oportunidad para sa mga magsasaka ng niyog sa San Pablo, kasabay ng pagpapatupad ng Republic Act No. 11524 o Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act na layong palakasin ang suporta at proteksyon para sa mga nagtatanim ng niyog sa buong bansa.

Sa tuloy-tuloy na pakikipagtulungan ng PCA at lokal na pamahalaan, inaasahang mas magiging produktibo, moderno, at matatag ang industriya ng niyog sa San Pablo City, isang hakbang tungo sa mas maunlad at sustenableng agrikultura sa rehiyon.

Ilan sa mga naging tagapagsalita mula sa PCA ay sina Farmer Scientist Estelito M. Reyes; Pollen Processors Kennedy N. Mangala at Jomar G. Abana; at mga agriculturist na sina Lovely A. Labor, Ruel P. De Villa, Riza L. Manalo, Rose Ann O. Alejandro, at Charlon L. Pabon. Dumalo rin si Project Development Officer I Laime Jane U. Guevarra upang ibahagi ang mga bagong programa ng PCA para sa pagpapatatag ng industriya.

Movie Review: Ethan Hawke shines in Richard Linklater’s poignant new film Blue Moon

Paraluman P. Funtanilla
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Movie Review: Ethan Hawke shines in Richard Linklater’s poignant new film Blue Moon

LOS ANGELES — Director Richard Linklater, known for his prolific and acclaimed filmmaking career, returns with Blue Moon, a tender, witty, and bittersweet portrait of lyricist Lorenz Hart, one-half of the famed Rodgers and Hart songwriting duo. The film, led by Ethan Hawke in a career-defining performance, has been hailed as one of the year’s most heartfelt and engaging works.

Set in New York’s Sardi’s restaurant on March 31, 1943, Blue Moon captures a single evening in Hart’s life as he faces professional heartbreak and personal decline. That same night, “Oklahoma!” the first collaboration between Hart’s longtime partner Richard Rodgers and his new collaborator Oscar Hammerstein II, debuts just down the street. Within six months, Hart would die of pneumonia at the age of 48.

In the film, Hawke’s Hart holds court at the bar, reminiscing about his career, his lyrics, and the changing Broadway landscape. His charm and melancholy intertwine as he speaks to bartender Eddie (Bobby Cannavale) and a small group of admirers, including writer E.B. White (Patrick Kennedy). Reflecting on his legacy, Hart declares, “I’ve written a handful of words that are going to cheat death.”

The film pays tribute to Hart’s enduring contributions to the American Songbook including “My Funny Valentine,” “The Lady Is a Tramp,” “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered,” and “Blue Moon.” Through his musings, Hart’s humor, intellect, and longing are revealed, alongside his struggles with alcoholism and loneliness.

Hawke’s transformation is striking and deeply human. His portrayal of Hart, described by critics as “extraordinarily good company,” captures both the lyricist’s brilliance and fragility. Margaret Qualley appears as Elizabeth Weiland, a young Yale student who becomes the object of Hart’s admiration, while Andrew Scott portrays composer Richard Rodgers.

Written by Robert Kaplow, who also penned Me and Orson Welles (another Linklater adaptation), Blue Moon draws inspiration from real-life letters between Hart and Weiland. The film unfolds as a poignant eulogy for a man whose lyrical genius was at odds with a Broadway that was shifting toward the wholesome optimism of Oklahoma!

“Oklahoma!,” Hart laments, “is going to be performed from that moment until Doomsday.” His bitterness reflects more than rivalry; it marks the end of an era where his brand of wistful, complex songwriting could flourish.

Critics have praised Blue Moon as one of Linklater’s most emotionally resonant works. In contrast to his upcoming ensemble feature Nouvelle Vague, which focuses on the birth of the French New Wave, Blue Moon is a quieter, character-driven film, intimate in scope but universal in its themes of loss, art, and legacy.

A Sony Pictures Classics release, Blue Moon is rated R by the Motion Picture Association for language and sexual references, with a running time of 100 minutes. It received three and a half out of four stars, with particular acclaim for its screenplay, direction, and Hawke’s mesmerizing performance.

Dizon nagbabala sa mag-asawang Discaya, mga kasong non-bailable inihahanda na

Venus L Peñaflor
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Dizon nagbabala sa mag-asawang Discaya, mga kasong non-bailable inihahanda na

MAYNILA — Nagbabala si Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon sa mag-asawang Curlee at Sara Discaya na tuluyan na silang mawawalan ng pagkakataong maging state witness ng pamahalaan kung patuloy silang tatangging makipagtulungan sa imbestigasyon ng Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) kaugnay ng umano’y maanomalyang flood control projects sa bansa.

“Kung hindi sila magko-cooperate, pasensyahan tayo,” ayon kay Dizon sa panayam sa media.
“Binigyan na nga sila ng pagkakataon ng ICI na mag-cooperate. Pero ngayon na hindi sila magko-cooperate, well, lahat ng mga kaso against them, talagang ano ‘yan. Wala nang possibility na maging state witness or ano,” dagdag pa niya.

Binigyang-diin ng kalihim na simula pa noong 2016 ay nakakuha na ng maraming kontrata sa gobyerno ang mag-asawang Discaya kaya’t inaasahang marami silang kakaharaping kaso.
“Multiple counts of graft, malversation, multiple cases ‘yan,” aniya.

Kaugnay nito, kinumpirma ni Dizon na inihahanda na ng Office of the Ombudsman ang mga kasong isasampa sa Sandiganbayan laban sa mag-asawang Discaya, matapos ideklara ng mga ito na hindi na sila makikipagtulungan sa isinasagawang imbestigasyon ng ICI.

Ayon kay Dizon, nakausap niya si Ombudsman Boying Remulla kamakalawa ng gabi, at sinabi nitong posibleng maisampa ang mga kaso sa mga susunod na linggo.
“Well, sabi nga ni Ombudsman Boying, tingnan natin sa mga susunod na linggo, kasi ‘yung unang kaso na finile natin kasama ang mga Discaya e ready na ‘yun for filing sa Sandiganbayan, at alam niyo naman, non-bailable ‘yung kaso doon,” ani Dizon.
“So, malapit nang magkaharap-harapan talaga dito. Tingin ko, linggo na lang siguro ang bibilangin at malapit nang ma-file ng Ombudsman, ‘yun ang sinabi sa akin ni Ombudsman Boying,” dagdag pa niya.

Matatandaang noong Setyembre ay sinampahan na ng DPWH ng mga kasong paglabag sa Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Government Procurement Reform Act, malversation, at falsification of documents ang St. Timothy Construction Corp., na pagmamay-ari ng mag-asawang Discaya, at ilan pang empleyado nito sa Office of the Ombudsman.

Ang mga kasong ito ay may kaugnayan sa limang umano’y maanomalyang kontrata sa probinsya ng Bulacan.

Trump says he will meet Putin in Budapest, touting progress in Ukraine talks

EDGARDO HERNAL
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Trump says he will meet Putin in Budapest, touting progress in Ukraine talks

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to hold a summit in Budapest to discuss ending the war in Ukraine, the White House announced Thursday following what Trump described as a “productive” phone call.

Trump said the meeting could occur within the next two weeks, though no specific date was announced. The Kremlin confirmed the intention to meet, but also did not provide a schedule.

“My whole life, I’ve made deals,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “I think we’re going to have this one done, hopefully soon.”

The announcement came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy made a scheduled visit to Washington to press for additional U.S. military aid, including requests for long-range Tomahawk missiles.

Trump’s conciliatory tone following the call has raised questions about the near-term provision of aid to Ukraine and fueled European concerns that the U.S. might ease pressure on Moscow.

Analysts note that Trump has frequently threatened harsh actions against Russia but has often delayed or scaled back those threats after engaging in diplomacy with Putin.

During the call, Putin cautioned that giving Ukraine long-range missiles would harm U.S.-Russia ties and impede the peace process, according to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov. Trump later quipped to reporters: “What do you think he’s going to say, ‘Please sell Tomahawks?’” and added that Putin “doesn’t want” those missiles delivered to Ukraine, calling them a “vicious weapon.”

Zelenskiy, in Washington, responded that Russia’s move to seek talks signaled vulnerability. “We can already see that Moscow is rushing to resume dialogue as soon as it hears about Tomahawks,” he said on X.

The choice of Budapest as the summit venue has drawn scrutiny, since Putin faces travel restrictions in certain jurisdictions over alleged war crimes.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who has maintained a relatively Russia-friendly posture within the EU, welcomed the proposed meeting as good news for “peace-loving people of the world.”

Ahead of the summit, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov are expected to meet to prepare the agenda and logistics.

As the summit plans move forward, Ukraine faces sustained Russian bombardment, with the latest attacks involving over 300 drones and 37 missiles striking infrastructure across the country.

Meanwhile, Trump continues to press allied nations financially, including claims that India and China were pressured to halt purchases of Russian oil, assertions that both countries have not confirmed.

The summit between Trump and Putin is viewed as a high-stakes diplomatic gamble, with potential to reshape U.S. involvement in Ukraine and challenge European allies’ confidence in America’s commitments.

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