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Japan space rocket explodes seconds after launch ---- AFP

TOKYO: A rocket made by a Japanese company exploded seconds after launch on Wednesday, in a spectacular failure for the start-up's bid to put a satellite into orbit. Tokyo-based Space One's 18-metre (60-foot) Kairos rocket blasted off in the coastal Wakayama region of western Japan, carrying a small government test satellite. But around five seconds later, the solid-fuel rocket erupted in fire, sending white smoke billowing around the remote mountainous area as orange flames raged on the ground, live footage showed. Space One said it had taken the decision to "abort the flight" and details were being investigated. "We want to accept this outcome in a forward-looking manner and embark on our next challenge," company president Masakazu Toyoda told reporters, asserting that Space One does not use the term "failure". The firm wishes to "contribute to the expansion of space-related services" through successful satellite launches by its rocke

UN: In Sudan, 5 million at risk of starvation --- AFP

UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations appealed Friday for Sudan’s battling factions to allow delivery of humanitarian relief to fend off looming “catastrophic” hunger. Some five million Sudanese could face calamitous food insecurity in coming months as a nearly yearlong war between rival generals continues to tear the country apart, according to a UN document seen Friday by AFP. The war between army chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, has since April last year killed tens of thousands, destroyed infrastructure and crippled the economy. It has also triggered a dire humanitarian crisis and acute food shortages, with the country teetering on the brink of famine. Noting that some 18 million Sudanese are already facing acute food insecurity — a record during harvest season — UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths warned in a letter to the Security Council that “almost 5 million people could slip into catastrophic food insecurity in some parts of the count

‘Difficult’ Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa ----AFP

‘They decide who they let in, who they don’t let in, and you don’t know why’ JERUSALEM: Under a heavy police presence, tens of thousands of Muslims attended the first Friday prayers of Ramadan in east Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque compound, a gathering weighed down by the war in Gaza. Old men leaning on canes, veiled women and smartly dressed children flowed through the gates of the Zionist-annexed Old City for the midday prayer, which unfolded peacefully, though some younger men were turned away by police conducting security checks. “It’s random. They decide who they let in, who they don’t let in, and you don’t know why,” said Amjad Ghalib, a 44-year-old carpenter from the Mount of Olives who described relief at being granted access. “I have to be honest, we are afraid,” he said, a prayer mat resting on his shoulder. “It’s the first year I see so many forces (police), and their eyes, their look ... Two years ago I could argue with them, but now ... they’re giving us no chance.” T

EU, Egypt agree $8 billion energy, migration deal — AFP

Agreement follows other controversial deals sealed in North Africa to stem irregular migration CAIRO: The European Union, which seeks to stem irregular migrant arrivals, and cash-strapped Egypt were Sunday due to sign a 7.4 billion euro ($8 billion) package of loans, grants and energy cooperation deals. It will include billions in credit over coming years and deals to step up Egyptian energy imports to help Europe "move further away from Russian gas" amid the Ukraine war, a senior European Commission official told reporters. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen — who was to be joined in Cairo by the government leaders of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Greece and Italy —was to sign the package later in the day with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The agreements includes five billion euros in loans over four years, 1.8 billion euros in investment and hundreds of millions for bilateral projects including on migration, the official said on condition of anonymity. Egypt, mired i

‘Bloody’ Ramadan weekend in Gaza

Zionist strike kills 36 people from one family on first Friday night of holy month GAZA: Displaced by Zionist bombardment, the Tabatibi family gathered in central Gaza to eat together during the first Friday night of Ramadan, a reunion that soon turned into a bloodbath. An air strike hit the building where they were staying as women prepared the pre-fasting meal, killing 36 members of the family, witnesses told AFP on Saturday. The health ministry in Gaza, which provided the same death toll, blamed the Zionist entity for the strike in Nuseirat, as did survivors. Asked about the strike on Saturday, the Zionist military said it targeted two “terror operatives” in Nuseirat “throughout the night”, without elaborating. “The circumstances of the incident are still being reviewed,” it said. Mohammed Al-Tabatibi, 19, stood in the courtyard of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in nearby Deir al-Balah, where the bodies of his relatives were spread out. “This is my mother, this is my father, this

OFW Nanny of the Year in Dubai: Loving my career changed my life ---- By SHERYLIN UNTALAN, GMA Integrated News

Like many Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), Esperanza Deangkinay decided to leave the country to work abroad. Her aim? To give her family a better life. Esperanza’s journey began 27 years ago when she left her home province of Quezon in 1997 for the Emirate of Dubai. She said she faced challenges was not easy and was made more difficult after her father passed away when she was only 12 years old. “Twelve years old ako noong kami ay maulila sa Tatay at ang bunso po namin ay tatlong taon noong time na ‘yun. Kaming magkakapatid ay nagtulungan para sa ikauunlad ng aming buhay. Ang kasama po namin ay ang aming Lola at aming Nanay lamang,” she said in an interview in GMA Pinoy TV’s “Portraits”. (I was only 12 years old when we lost our father and my youngest sibling was only 3 years old at the time. My siblings and I had to strive in order to have a better life. We only had our grandmother and our mom to rely on.) While her elder siblings were studying in college as mass communication

Pinay in UAE overcomes gender stereotype, becomes CEO --- By SHERYLIN UNTALAN, GMA Integrated News

Workplace stereotype has it that women cannot climb the corporate ladder and be leaders. A hardworking overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in the Middle East proved that wrong. "I arrived in the United Arab Emirates in 1992, which was 30 years ago. I was only 22 years old. I started as a quality control officer in a textile company. I started with a salary of 300 dollars at that time, and the exchange rate was 25 pesos per dollar," shared Dr. Mary Jane Alvero-Al Mahdi in a Global Pinoy Unlimited episode on GMA Pinoy TV. Alvero-Al Mahdi said all her earnings were sent to her family in the Philippines to give them a better and more comfortable life. After seven months, Alvero-Al Mahdi said she left her first job and found the job that really changed her life -- a junior chemist at the most famous laboratory in UAE, where she eventually got promoted to chief chemist. However, despite her hard work, Alvero-Al Mahdi was terminated due to gender bias within her workplace. "