KAKAMMPI News

Fr. Shay Cullen Freedom is the precious right of every human being. The freedom to speak the truth, to challenge evil, to dispute, criticize or challenge the ruling powers is a constitutional freedom that is now restricted and curtailed and speaking out could mean death. There have been more than 200 writers and broadcast journalists killed in the Philippines since 1986. The freedom of speech and expression is almost squashed by draconian libel laws. To speak freely and challenge officials with the truth of corrupt deals or wrongdoings by powerful politicians could mean jail or assassination. Freedom to live, survive, have a family and prosper in security free from fear, hunger, threats and crime are perhaps the most precious freedoms desired by humans but lacking for millions. An estimated 16 million Filipinos live below the poverty line while a tiny elite rich have lives of luxury and plenty. The right and freedom to know the truth and act on it is vital to change the situatio...

Japan, the United States and the Philippines agreed Friday on the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, amid China's increasing military assertiveness there and other parts of the Indo-Pacific region. The three countries also pledged to deepen their trilateral cooperation to "maintain and strengthen a free and open international order," in a joint press release issued after the first three-way talks in Tokyo among their security advisors. Takeo Akiba, secretary general of Japan's National Security Secretariat, and his U.S. and Philippine counterparts, Jake Sullivan and Eduardo Ano, attended the meeting. The gathering took place with tensions between Washington and Beijing mounting over issues such as Taiwan, a self-ruled democratic island that Communist-led China regards as a renegade province to be reunified with the mainland, by force if necessary. China has been stepping up its military pressure on Taiwan, which has been governed independe...

Filipino-Canadians in Whitehorse, Yukon witnessed the Philippine flag being raised in front of their city hall to commemorate the 125th Philippine Independence Day. It was especially nostalgic to senior citizen Evelyn Manalo Ramirez, who had a message to the Filipino youth. "They must know and learn how Filipinos fought for our independence," she said. Yvonne Clark, a Filipino-Canadian member of the legislative assembly, shared how it was an emotional experience for her. "Looking at the Philippine flag and the Canadian flag side by side with the Yukon flag, it was like, wow," she said. "Thank you Yukon for embracing us living here." The flag raising was part of the annual Philippine Independence Day celebration in Whitehorse, as well as to mark Filipino Heritage Month this June. National and local government officials of Canada also showed their support, including Senator Pat Duncan and Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai. "Thank you for inviting us to ...

BEIJING — The United States and China agreed Sunday to expand dialogue to try to bring relations back from historic lows, as Secretary of State Antony Blinken held what officials called candid talks on soaring tensions during a rare trip to Beijing. The highest-ranking US visitor to Beijing in nearly five years, Blinken spoke to his Chinese counterpart for seven and a half hours -- an hour more than expected -- at an ornate state villa, including over a banquet dinner. The two sides said Foreign Minister Qin Gang agreed to pay a return visit to Washington at a later date and that the two top diplomats would work together to expand flights between the world's two largest economies, which remain at a bare minimum since the Covid-19 pandemic. Blinken stressed "the importance of diplomacy and maintaining open channels of communication across the full range of issues to reduce the risk of misperception and miscalculation", State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said, cal...

JAKARTA — The Japanese imperial couple on Monday attended a welcoming ceremony at the Indonesian presidential palace in Bogor, south of Jakarta, on the third day of their trip to the country. Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, who are making their first official goodwill visit since the emperor's ascension to the throne in 2019, were greeted by President Joko Widodo and first lady Iriana Joko Widodo. The emperor received a formal salute from the guard of honor. The imperial couple took part in a tree planting ceremony with the president and went to a botanical garden near the presidential palace. The visit is the second overseas trip for the emperor and empress since his ascension, their first being to attend the funeral of Britain's Queen Elizabeth. The couple received an invitation from the Indonesian president in July last year. It comes as Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, chaired this year by Indonesia, mark their 50th anniversary of friendly ties...

MANILA — Newly-appointed Health Secretary Dr. Teodoro Herbosa is looking at 8 action plans that would guide his leadership over the Department of Health. During the turnover of the department’s helm from then officer-in-charge Dr. Maria Rosario Vergeire and his first flag ceremony as department secretary, Herbosa enumerated his 8-point agenda, which encompasses all aspects and sectors pertinent to public health. Aside from the implementation of Universal Health Care, he seeks the provision of safe, quality and nurturing health services aided by technological advancements. The DOH is also set to build its capacity when responding to crisis situations and preventing the spread of diseases. "We will protect against any pandemic through a Pandemic Preparedness Center and better training and facilities for infectious diseases, among others," he said. Mental health and the welfare and rights of health-care workers are also among the new secretary’s agenda. "We will work o...

Japan, the United States and the Philippines agreed Friday on the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, amid China's increasing military assertiveness there and other parts of the Indo-Pacific region. The three countries also pledged to deepen their trilateral cooperation to "maintain and strengthen a free and open international order," in a joint press release issued after the first three-way talks in Tokyo among their security advisors. Takeo Akiba, secretary general of Japan's National Security Secretariat, and his U.S. and Philippine counterparts, Jake Sullivan and Eduardo Ano, attended the meeting. The gathering took place with tensions between Washington and Beijing mounting over issues such as Taiwan, a self-ruled democratic island that Communist-led China regards as a renegade province to be reunified with the mainland, by force if necessary. China has been stepping up its military pressure on Taiwan, which has been governed independe...

Published June 19, 2023 2:25pm Rail lines in Metro Manila are set to provide free rides for Filipino seafarers on Sunday, June 25, in celebration of the Day of the Filipino Seafarer. In an advisory, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) will offer free rides in the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT2) from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Meanwhile, the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT3) will offer free rides for the whole day, starting 5:30 a.m. Seafarers will have to present their valid Seafarer’s Record Book (SRB) or their Seafarer’s Identity Document (SID) to avail of the free rides. The LRT2 is an elevated railway that stretches from Recto in Manila to Antipolo, while the MRT3 runs along the EDSA Avenue with stations from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City. —Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/KBK, GMA Integrated News

An estimated 7,500 Filipino Muslims traveled to Saudi Arabia to participate in the hajj in Mecca, Vonne Aquino reported on "24 Oras Weekend" on Saturday. The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) said the last batch of pilgrims were sent off at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 on Friday. "Walang isang naiwan at wala ni isang nagkaroon ng stranded or aberya doon sa kanilang paglalakbay,” said NCMF Commissioner Yusoph Mando. He also welcomed the initiative of the airport to put up hajj lanes or express lanes for Filipino Muslims, as well as direct flights from Mindanao to Saudi Arabia. According to the NCMF, hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and involves walking in a circle around the Kaaba, the sacred building at the center of Mecca's Grand Mosque. "Pupunta po kami dyan para manalangin. At itong mga pangyayari, itong mga kasalanan na nagawa po namin, pati mga magulang namin, lahat ay sana po ay mawala na at pagbigyan n...

NEW YORK - The body of a missing Filipino-American psychologist was found Friday in a creek in Brooklyn, New York City. The victim was identified as Karl Clemente, 27. Clemente was first reported missing on Sunday night, June 11. According to his father Alex Clemente, Karl was supposed to attend a concert on Sunday night at the Brooklyn Mirage Arena together with his friends. However, he was not allowed in by security personnel because he allegedly drank alcohol. His friends reportedly left him outside the concert site. Clemente last sent a text message to his friend at 9:53 p.m. In security footage secured by the New York Police Department (NYPD), Clemente was seen running inside a lumber warehouse not far from the Booklyn Mirage Arena. On Friday, his body was found floating in a creek at the back of the same lumber warehouse. Before Clemente's body was found, a concerned citizen sent his wallet to his parents in upstate New York. The concerned citizen said he found the ...

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. wants to ensure that "systems are all in place" before he leaves the Department of Agriculture, saying he's staying as Agriculture chief for now. In an ambush interview in Valenzuela City on Friday, Marcos was asked if he will already appoint an Agriculture chief after he already named Secretaries for the Department of Health and the Department of National Defense, which were previously led with officers-in-charge. The President has been sitting as DA Secretary since he assumed the presidency last year. Marcos joked that he already asked personalities to volunteer for the post, but they do not want him to leave the DA. "Marami, tinatanong ko sa kanila lahat, inaantay ko mag-volunteer sila mag-Secretary, ayaw ako paalisin eh. So, hangga't matapos... the truth of the matter is that we have really managed to make some very important structural changes in the Department of Agriculture so iniisa-isa natin 'ya...

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Nearly a third of migrant workers employed in domestic households in Malaysia are working under forced labor conditions, according to a survey released by the United Nations' labor agency on Thursday. The International Labour Organization (ILO) identified conditions such as excessive working hours, unpaid overtime, low wages, restricted movement, and being unable to quit among its indicators of forced labor. The survey, based on interviews with 1,201 domestic workers in Southeast Asia, found 29% of those in Malaysia faced such conditions, compared to 7% and 4% in its neighbors Singapore and Thailand, respectively. Malaysia and Singapore did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the survey findings. Wannarat Srisuksai, a spokesperson for Thailand's labor ministry, told Reuters the treatment of domestic workers in the country has improved following laws introduced in 2012 to protect the group. In all three countries, the domestic workers...

United States President Joe Biden “briefly raised” their government’s request to temporarily house Afghan refugees in the Philippines with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. during the latter’s state visit to the US last May, according to Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo. Manalo disclosed the information during a Senate inquiry on the matter on Friday. “The secretary of state directly raised this to me on a few occasions verbally and also in a letter…and in fact, President Biden also briefly raised the issue with President Marcos during the visit last May,” Manalo said. GMA News Online has reached out to the US Embassy to confirm Manalo’s statement but they have yet to respond as of posting time. During the Senate inquiry, Manalo said the Department of Foreign Affairs received a concept note from the US government last October 22, 2022 which indicated a “request” for the Philippine government to allow Afghans formally employed by the US government and their qualified...

A Filipino student at Harvard University paid tribute to his mom and her fellow Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) through his thesis. According to Mark Salazar's report on "24 Oras," Wednesday, Jeromel Dela Rosa and his mother migrated to the United States back in 2011 in hopes of finding a better way of living. However, life didn't get better instantly when they moved to the country. "Ang trabaho po ng nanay ko po ay 'yung taga-bihis po ng pasyente, taga-linis po ng kubeta ng pasyente. [Kapag] nagkaroon ng mess sa kama, siya po ang maglilinis nun," he said. In 2021, his mother was diagnosed with a heart disease, forcing her to stop working. Through financial aid, Jeromel was able to continue his studies at Harvard. This moved Jeromel to use his life experiences as inspiration for his thesis. He studied the situation of OFWs in Jordan, which has a kafala system. "In the kafala system the employer has the full authority over migrant workers who ...

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Nearly a third of migrant workers employed in domestic households in Malaysia are working under forced labor conditions, according to a survey released by the United Nations' labor agency on Thursday. The International Labour Organization (ILO) identified conditions such as excessive working hours, unpaid overtime, low wages, restricted movement, and being unable to quit among its indicators of forced labor. The survey, based on interviews with 1,201 domestic workers in Southeast Asia, found 29% of those in Malaysia faced such conditions, compared to 7% and 4% in its neighbors Singapore and Thailand, respectively. Malaysia and Singapore did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the survey findings. Wannarat Srisuksai, a spokesperson for Thailand's labor ministry, told Reuters the treatment of domestic workers in the country has improved following laws introduced in 2012 to protect the group. In all three countries, the domestic workers...

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Wednesday ended her visit to Singapore by meeting with the Filipino community, GMA Integrated News' Ian Cruz reported on Unang Balita on Thursday. In her speech, Duterte honored overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Singapore for their hard work. "I salute all of you dahil sa tibay ng puso ninyo na gawin ang mahihirap na bagay para sa inyong mga mahal sa buhay at para sa ating bansa," she said. (I salute all of you for your bravery in doing difficult things for your loved ones and the country.) She also told the Filipinos in attendance that Singapore President Halimah Yacob and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Long appreciate them for their hard work. "Sinabi nila (They said) that the Filipinos have the touch that's why we truly appreciate their help and their work here in Singapore," the Vice President said. Duterte also urged the Filipinos in Singapore to instill in their loved ones in the Philippines the ...

With the "huge" demand for Filipino nurses abroad, the Philippines should make local jobs attractive enough for them to stay, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said. According to JP Soriano's report on "24 Oras" on Tuesday, many countries have also expressed their need for Filipino healthcare workers, including the US, Saudi Arabia, Austria, Singapore, Japan, and Germany. "The demand is huge. 'Yung 'huge,' capital letters, bold, itals pa nga e," said DMW Secretary Susan "Toots" Ople. "Kasi almost every ambassador and yung mga ministers nila would like to speak to us, but very conscious din sila that we also need nurses here." She added that the cap for the deployment of Filipino nurses abroad has not yet been reached. Ople said that that the government must have a serious discussion on how to make the local job market attractive to health workers. "It's not enough na sabihin natin, 'Para sa bayan...

KHARTOUM, Sudan — Army warplanes bombed the Sudanese city of El Obeid Wednesday, as the country prepared to mark two months of suffering since a power struggle between rival generals plunged the country into a devastating war. Since April 15, the regular army headed by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces commanded by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo have been locked in urban combat that has left whole neighbourhoods of the capital Khartoum unrecognisable. The fighting quickly spread to the provinces, particularly the western region of Darfur, and has killed at least 1,800 people, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project's (ACLED) latest figures from last month. On Wednesday, the regular army carried out air strikes for the first time in El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan state, which has been surrounded by the RSF since the war began, witnesses told AFP. In another escalation, the army accused RSF of killing the gov...

DAVIDSON, Canada — Following repeated droughts, Canadian farmers are trying to adapt to a new era in agriculture marked by a warming world -- including by trapping snow in their fields, planting heat-resistant crops and seeding earlier in the season. But it's unclear, they are the first to admit, if their slogging will bear fruit. Squatting in the middle of a canola field in Alberta, on the western edge of Canada's vast Prairies region, Ian Chitwood surveys the shoots sprouting between long furrows of black soil. His battle with the heat has been starting earlier every year. By planting his crops earlier in the season, in May, Chitwood aims to "move up the flowering window," during which the plants are most vulnerable, in order to protect them from the heat in June. But what his crops really need in the wake of a devastating drought in 2021, he acknowledges, is mild weather and humid soil. That drought was a "once in 100 years event," says Curtis Rempe...

MANILA, Philippines — A non-resident ambassador of Portugal has offered to help the Philippines eradicate African swine fever (ASF), which has been pestering the local hog industry. Maria Joào Falcào Poppe Lopes Cardoso made the offer to Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez during a courtesy call at the Manila Golf and Country Club on Wednesday. Aside from offering to help fight ASF, Cardoso also expressed her country’s willingness to open its doors to Filipino workers. “These propositions are of great mutual interest to both countries,” Romualdez said, noting he committed to endorse the matter to concerned agencies for appropriate action. Cardoso, who is Portugal’s ambassador to Indonesia and Brunei, said experts from her country are willing to travel to the Philippines to share their knowledge in eradicating ASF. She said Portugal is one of only two countries in Europe that have successfully eradicated ASF. Meanwhile, Ramon Garcia Jr., Portugal’s honorary consul in Manila, said a...

On International Domestic Workers Day, 16 June, the ITUC stands in solidarity with the International Domestic Workers’ Federation (IDWF) and its General Secretary Elizabeth Tang. We honour their resilience in building a strong and united movement of hundreds of thousands of domestic workers fighting for justice and respect. We congratulate them for receiving the Arthur Svensson International Prize for Trade Union Rights that recognises their important role advancing rights and protections for all domestic workers. The prize coincides with a strong call to action to all ILO Member States to ratify C189 and C190. Convention 189, adopted on 16 June 2011, recognises domestic work as work. Backed by the IDWF and the ITUC, C189 has improved rights and protections for millions of domestic workers through law and policy reforms. This includes significant wage rises in South Africa and extended employment benefits in Spain. These achievements were made in part thanks to the compassi...

From formerly driving taxis, a Filipino became an inspiration to others after becoming a successful entrepreneur in Brunei. Neovadi “Buddy” Arriola worked as a taxi driver in Metro Manila for eight years before flying to Brunei to try his luck in 2001, Ian Cruz reported Tuesday on “24 Oras.” He initially worked as a driver but was later hired as a merchandiser in a grocery store. Arriola tried to open a mini-mart after gaining experience but was left with a debt of about P20 million. Despite the challenges, Arriola never gave up and began installing CCTV cameras for government offices, fast food chains, and other establishments. Three years later, he was debt-free. “Masarap sa pakiramdam na nakita mo ‘yung bumagsak ka bumangon, wag lang titigil,” he said. From formerly driving taxis, a Filipino became an inspiration to others after becoming a successful entrepreneur in Brunei. Neovadi “Buddy” Arriola worked as a taxi driver in Metro Manila for eight years before flying to Brunei ...

(UPDATE) THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded a 6.2-magnitude earthquake on Thursday, with the tremor being felt as far as Metro Manila. In an advisory posted on its Twitter and Facebook handles, Phivolcs reported that the earthquake happened around 10:19 a.m. near Calatagan in Batangas. The depth of focus is 103 kilometers and the quake is tectonic in origin. Intensity 4 has also been reported in Quezon City, according to the Phivolcs. Phivolcs chief Teresito "Toto" Bacolcol said both aftershocks and damage to infrastructure are expected from the latest tremor.

KUALA LUMPUR, June 14: The Philippine security authorities, announced Wednesday, the killing of the leader of the so-called Islamic State organization (IS) Faharudin Pumbuaya Pangalian, during an armed clash with the army and police, in the city of Marawi southern Philippines. “A raiding team was to serve Faharudin Pumbuaya Pangalian different warrants of arrest but killed him instead when he resisted and provoked a gunfight”, Police Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza, director of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region said as quoted by Philippine Star newspaper. More than 20 criminal cases have been issued in different Philippine courts against Pangalian, who is known as Abu Zacharia, among the IS elements, Nobleza said, adding, “we are bracing for possible retaliations. We will never give his sympathizers a chance to do that,” Nobleza said. For his part, military commander in the southern region of Mindanao, Lt. Gen. Roy Galido said, Marawi City residents led the joint Army a...

KUWAIT CITY, June 12: For the benefit of Hajj pilgrims from Kuwait the Acting Director of the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation Imad Al-Jalawi said an air bridge has been established between Kuwait and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and according to the senior official about 8,000 pilgrims will be fl own to the pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, reports Al-Qabas daily. The daily added, the agencies operating at Kuwait International Airport are preparing to intensify their efforts in conjunction with the launch of the pilgrimage flights to the Holy House of God, saying the pilgrims will depart through the airport — 4,000 pilgrims will be flown by the national carriers (Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways) and another 4,000 by the Saudi air carrier Adele, beginning from June 21. He added that an integrated plan has been prepared to organize Hajj flights, in cooperation with the competent authorities. Al-Jalawi stated that the plan relies on many controls aimed at facilitating the movement of ...

RIYADH, May 14: Kuwaiti Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Sheikh Sabah Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah on Wednesday said all services and preparations have been arranged for the Hajj pilgrims heading from Kuwait. The Kuwaiti Ambassador also added the embassy is very ardent on making sure the pilgrims have all the amenities needed to make their hajj experience more fitting, as propped by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahamd Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. While also mentioning the Foreign Ministry represented by Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is also on alert and continues communications to have their diplomatic mission prepared for the Hajj season. All Kuwaiti’s in Saudi Arabia should not get hesitant to contact the Embassy or consulate in Jeddah for emergencies, mentioned Sheikh Sabah Nasser. He also presented gratitude and thanks to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Sau...

KUWAIT CITY, June 14: Ambassador Jassim Al- Mubaraki who heads the National Office for Human Rights, has called on the government to allocate a budget to fight drugs and confront drug dealers at home and abroad, reports Al-Qabas daily. Speaking on the sidelines of the panel discussion organized by the bureau, under the title “A healthy and safe society without addiction”, with the participation of many government agencies, Al-Mubaraki said the minds of drug dealers open up daily to invent strange methods to smuggle narcotic substances, and there are global drug mafias fighting countries. Al-Mubaraki added, “Praise be to God, we have not reached the level of mafias in Kuwait, and the Ministry of Interior is doing a tremendous job to confront this scourge.” Excellent Al-Mubaraki stated that the Ministry of Interior, headed by First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior and Acting Minister of Defense Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled, is currently doing an excellent job, as well as the team ...

MOSCOW - President Vladimir Putin claimed Tuesday that Ukraine's casualties in its much-anticipated counteroffensive were 10 times higher than Moscow's even as Kyiv said it was making gains and "moving forward". His assessment came hours after Russia claimed it had captured Western armored vehicles from Kyiv's forces on the battlefield. "Their losses are approaching a level that could be described as catastrophic," Putin said during a meeting in the Kremlin with Russian journalists and bloggers covering the conflict. "We have 10 times fewer losses than those of the armed forces of Ukraine," he noted, citing a ratio that could not be independently confirmed. But Kyiv quickly fired back insisting Ukraine's push, bolstered with Western weapons and training, had "certain gains, implementing our plans, moving forward". "Both defensive and offensive fierce fighting is ongoing in the east and south of our nation," the chie...

MANILA (UPDATED) — A strong magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck off Batangas province on Thursday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said. The epicenter of the quake was 15 kilometers southwest of Calatagan at a depth of 119 kilometers, Phivolcs reported. Aftershocks and damage from the earthquake were expected, state seismologists said. The tremor was felt in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, the strongest of which was Intensity IV. "Moderately strong" Intensity IV (Generally felt indoors, vibration feels like the passing of a heavy truck, hanging objects may swing considerably) Manila, Mandaluyong City, Quezon City, and Valenzuela City in NCR; Malolos in Bulacan; Batangas City, Ibaan, Lemery, Nasugbu, and Talisay in Batangas province; Dasmariñas and Tagaytay in Cavite; and Tanay in Rizal "Weak" Intensity III (Felt especially in upper floors of buildings, feels like passing of a light truck, may cause dizziness for some ...

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced that foreign minors traveling to the Philippines who are unaccompanied by their parents may now pay their fees online. In a statement, immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the application and payment for waiver of exclusion ground (WEG) for foreign minors can now be accessed in the BI's online payment portal. "This project is part of our continuing efforts to institutionalize paperless transactions in the bureau, reduce red tape, and deliver more efficient and faster services to the public," Tansingco said The Bureau said applicants shall file their WEG application within 72 hours from the minor's scheduled arrival by logging into the BI's online portal at e-services.immigration.gov.ph. Applicants shall completely fill out the WEG application e-form and upload clear digital or scanned copies of the documentary requirements, such as affidavit of support and guarantee, the parent's and minor's passport i...

MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin claimed on Tuesday that Ukraine's casualties in its much-anticipated counteroffensive were 10 times higher than Moscow's, even as Kyiv said it was making gains and "moving forward." His assessment came hours after Russia claimed it had captured Western armored vehicles from Kyiv's forces on the battlefield. "Their losses are approaching a level that could be described as catastrophic," Putin said during a Kremlin meeting with Russian journalists and bloggers covering the conflict. "We have 10 times fewer losses than those of the armed forces of Ukraine," he added, citing a ratio that could not be independently confirmed. But Kyiv quickly fired back, insisting that Ukraine's push, bolstered with Western weapons and training, had "certain gains, implementing our plans, moving forward." "Both defensive and offensive fierce fighting is ongoing in the east and south of our nation," Valery...

CAIRO: Intissar was only 10 years old when she was forced to undergo genital mutilation, but 30 years later, one clinic is offering help for some of the millions of Egyptian women affected by the still-rampant practice. Intissar, a journalist who like other women cited here spoke under a pseudonym to protect her identity, recalls having spent 30 years "completely deprived of pleasure, without any connection to my body." Her story closely resembles that of millions of Egyptian women and girls who have gone through female genital mutilation (FGM) at a young age, despite state-sponsored efforts seeking to curtail the practice. But for three years, one clinic has sought to change the reality of many of these women. In 2020, surgeons Reham Awwad and Amr Seifeldin became the first to offer clitoral reconstruction surgery in Egypt through their clinic, Restore FGM. Surgery is "the last resort," Awwad told Agence France-Presse in her Cairo clinic. A common first step ...

TOKYO: An 18-year-old army trainee shot three fellow soldiers at a firing range on a Japanese army base Wednesday, killing two of them, officials said. The suspect was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder at the scene in Gifu prefecture in central Japan, police said. The suspect fired a rifle at other soldiers during a shooting exercise at the Hino Kihon firing range, police said. Among the three wounded is a 25-year-old soldier, police said. The Ground Self Defense Force, Japan's army, confirmed that two of those wounded were later pronounced dead at a hospital. A number of other people were believed to be participating in the training when the shooting occurred, but details are still under investigation, an army official said on condition of anonymity, citing protocol. Japan has been known for its safety, with strict gun control laws, but high-profile violence has occurred in recent years, including shootings and random knifings on subways and arson attacks, and there ...

TOKYO: An 18-year-old army trainee shot three fellow soldiers at a firing range on a Japanese army base Wednesday, killing two of them, officials said. The suspect was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder at the scene in Gifu prefecture in central Japan, police said. The suspect fired a rifle at other soldiers during a shooting exercise at the Hino Kihon firing range, police said. Among the three wounded is a 25-year-old soldier, police said. The Ground Self Defense Force, Japan's army, confirmed that two of those wounded were later pronounced dead at a hospital. A number of other people were believed to be participating in the training when the shooting occurred, but details are still under investigation, an army official said on condition of anonymity, citing protocol. Japan has been known for its safety, with strict gun control laws, but high-profile violence has occurred in recent years, including shootings and random knifings on subways and arson attacks, and there i...

Chinese naval training ship, Qi Jiguang, with 476 people on board, arrived in Manila on Wednesday for a goodwill visit. It is now docked at Pier 15 at the Manila South Harbor. The Chinese Embassy said the naval training ship is 163 meters long, 22 meters wide, has a full load displacement of more than 9,000 tons. It has a maximum speed of 22 knots, which can meet the requirements for wind resistance of grade 12. "This is a Chinese PLA (People's Liberation Army) Naval training ship for a goodwill port visit to Manila. It has paid visit to Vietnam, Thailand and Brunei before the Philippines," the embassy said. The ship carried a banner which read, "Even mountains and oceans cannot separate people with shared goals and vision." An embassy officer said the sailors will have some "friendly games" with Filipino soldiers. The ship is open to the public and will leave on Saturday.

KUWAIT CITY, June 5: Despite the great efforts made by Gulf countries to reduce the poverty rate and strengthen the middle class in the past decades, 3.3 million people still live in poverty, reports Al-Qabas daily. According to a report titled “3.3 million people from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries live in poverty” issued by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), one out of every seven citizens in Saudi Arabia, one in ten citizens in Oman, and one in 13 citizens in Bahrain live in poverty. However, the poverty rates in Kuwait, the UAE and Qatar are less than two percent. The report highlights that poverty in most Gulf countries has actually decreased since 2010, with about 530,000 citizens no longer being considered poor. In Saudi Arabia alone, the rates have fallen from 18.2 percent in 2010 to 13.6 percent in 2021, as 485,000 citizens are no longer considered poor. However, the report indicated that the economies of prosperous countrie...

MOSCOW, June 6: At least 71 Russian soldiers and 3,715 Ukrainian others were killed in the battles took place in the past three days, Russia’s Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu said Tuesday. Some 210 Russian soldiers were wounded in attacks launched by the Ukrainian forces, he said in a statement aired by the Russian TV, referring to the destruction of 15 Russian tanks and 10 canons. He added that the Ukrainian forces sustained the losses of 52 tanks, 207 armored vehicles, 134 military vehicles, five warplanes, two helicopters, 48 canons and 53 marches. Shoigu described the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam Dam by the Ukrainian forces as a “terrorist crime”. (KUNA)

KUWAIT CITY, June 10: The Ministry of the Interior has taken decisive action by revoking 66,854 valid driving licenses from expats whose residency has been permanently canceled. These actions stem from the recommendations put forth by the Committee for “Examining the issued driving licenses and ensuring that they comply with the conditions of the organizing ministerial decisions.” Moreover, additional ministerial decisions are expected to be issued in line with the same objective. The ministry has affirmed that the committee is actively engaged in examining the existing driving licenses and verifying their adherence to the ministerial conditions. As soon as the committee presents its recommendations, relevant ministerial decisions will be promptly issued. First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior, and Acting Minister of Defense, Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled, has issued Ministerial Resolution No. 277/2023 to establish the committee responsible for reviewing the issued driving licens...

KUWAIT CITY, June 10: There is a growing trend to reinstate the acceptance of family visit visa applications. After a hiatus lasting several months, Kuwait may once again allow families to apply for visit visas, enabling them to reunite with their loved ones in the country. In recent developments, Kuwait is set to reopen family visa applications after completing the necessary procedures and requirements related to visa issuance. The eligibility criteria for applicants will include salary and job considerations, with priority given to first-degree relatives. These developments signify a positive shift in Kuwait’s visa policies, catering to various aspects of social life and strengthening family ties. Minister Talal Al-Khaled issued a decision to introduce a new clause to Article 4 of Ministerial Resolution No. 957/2019. This amendment establishes a new type of entry visa for practicing sports, cultural, or social activities in Kuwait, reports Al Rai. The visa will be granted by the G...

KUWAIT CITY, June 10: According to a recent statistic issued by the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM), the quartet joint committee, headed by PAM, and with members from the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and the Kuwait Municipality, conducted 125 inspection rounds covering all parts of the country from the beginning of 2023 until end of May. During these inspection rounds, they seized 964 violating workers, reports Aljarida daily. The statistics revealed that these violating workers are distributed in the following manner:- 1) 512 are in the private sector and hold article 18 residency 2) 351 domestic workers who hold article 20, representing 36 percent of the total violators. 3) 61 workers who are under article 22 4) 31 workers who hold other residencies. Informed sources explained that there is a significant increase in the number of domestic workers who flee from the homes of their sponsors, and work illegally in the private sector. This matter has b...

KUWAIT CITY, June 10: Through enhanced security deployments and intensified campaigns across different regions, the Ministry of Interior successfully apprehended a total of 140 expats violating the residence and work laws. In collaboration with relevant state authorities, a targeted operation was conducted, focusing on several hotels. As a result, three individuals violating the residency and work laws were arrested. They will now be referred to the appropriate authorities for necessary legal actions to be taken against them.

KUWAIT CITY, June 12: The Public Authority for Manpower recently conducted an inspection campaign at various construction sites in the Al-Mutlaa area. The campaign led to arrest of 98 expat workers who were found to be in violation of labor regulations. Among the expats detained were two workers with invalid residence permits of Article 22, 85 workers under article 18, and 9 workers under article 20. In a statement posted on its official Twitter account, the authority highlighted that the campaign was conducted in collaboration with the residence affairs investigation. It emphasized the importance for both employers and workers to strictly adhere to the National Labor Law to prevent any legal infractions.