The person you elect as mayor affects your day-to-day life more than the politicians you send to Washington, D.C., yet turnout is meager in mayoral races.

Race is central in this year's race for the White House and the struggle for racial justice and voting rights are inextricably linked.

Some say it was the taking down of the Robert E. Lee monument that caused the torch-wielding Nazi/white supremacists to rage. Others are confident that it had nothing to do with the statue, and everything to do with racist and anti-Semitic rage of monumental proportions that inspired the Nazis/white supremacists/white nationals to storm Charlottesville, Virginia.    

MANILA, Philippines — After an exodus at Chery Tiggo, Ara Galang led the team’s collective effort to eke out a come-from-behind win over the gritty Capital1 and jumpstart their 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference. The Crossovers were pushed to their limits right at the start of their post-Eya Laure era as they also missed key members Mylene Paat, Jen Nierva, and Jas Nabor leaving an undermanned team, which also lost EJ Laure and Buding Duremdes. But Galang and the Crossovers stuck to their collective effort to fight back from a 1-2 deficit before surviving the Solar Spikers, 20-25, 25-23, 22-25, 25-18, […]...

Keep on reading: PVL: Collective effort gets it done for undermanned Chery Tiggo

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) on Wednesday said the government is ready to respond to the effects of typhoons in the coming days and weeks of the year. OCD head Ariel Nepomuceno, however, admitted that the consecutive storms/typhoons in the past few weeks are unprecedented, even in the current system the government has for disaster response. “Nakalatag naman ‘yung sistema natin, although admittedly itong sistema natin hindi na-assume ‘yung ganitong scenario, bago rin sa’tin ito,” said Nepomuceno during a Kapihan sa Manila Hotel briefing. (Our system is in place, although admittedly our system did not […]...

Keep on reading: Gov't ready for calamity response; staff fatigue a big concern - OCD

LUCENA CITY — Classes were suspended on Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 13, in Calaca City, Batangas province, due to the harmful presence of volcanic smog or “vog” from Taal Volcano. The Calaca public information office announced the suspension around 11:30 a.m. in a post on its Facebook page. “In accordance with the directive of the DepEd Calaca City Sub-Office and Calaca City DRRMO, the suspension of classes this afternoon is recommended for all public and private schools at all levels in Calaca City due to volcanic smog or “vog” from Taal Volcano,” the post said in Filipino. Local authorities advised the […]...

Keep on reading: Calaca City suspends classes due to 'vog' from Taal Volcano

MANILA, Philippines — The excess campaign funds of then-president Rodrigo Duterte were used for the reward system of police officers during his administration’s brutal war on drugs.  Duterte himself admitted this to Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez during the House of Representatives quad committee during its 11th probe on his controversial anti-drug campaign.  “I still remember that you mentioned na yung pera galing sa donation ng inyong campaign funds will be utilized for the reward system, that’s private money,” Fernandez said.  (I still remember you mentioned that the money from the donation for your campaign funds would be utilized […]...

Keep on reading: Excess campaign funds used for drug war reward system, Duterte admits

Credit growth trend in the Philippines has changed for the better, becoming the country with the most optimistic position among four of its peers in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). For the next quarter or two, credit trend has been “improving” compared with the “declining” trend seen previously, according to the Bank of America November outlook released on Tuesday. The report took into consideration five credit growth indicators: system liquidity, business and retail expectations, rates and prices, as well as a range of external factors. READ: PH GDP growth slowed sharply to 5.2% in Q3 “The Philippines is […]...

Keep on reading: Asean outlier: PH credit growth improving

MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) will closely monitor the tax compliance of online marketplaces and online sellers during the holiday season, Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. has said. In a statement Wednesday, Lumagui warned that online businesses violating tax laws would be blocked. Section 115 of the National Internal Revenue Code, as […]...

Keep on reading: BIR to monitor online sellers' tax compliance during holiday season

The 2001 memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Thailand and Cambodia regarding territory claimed by both sides in the Gulf of Thailand provides a framework for negotiations on two main subjects: maritime demarcation and economic benefits from the development of energy resources, said Foreign Affairs Minister Maris Sangiampongsa.

The government has brushed aside reports of former finance minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong making the cut as new chairman of the Bank of Thailand (BoT) board, saying nothing has been made official yet.

The widespread use of Thai nominees by foreign businesses in Thailand is a growing concern among hoteliers, who fear that low prices and quality could destroy the tourism reputation of the country, according to the Thai Hotels Association's (THA) monthly sentiment index.

Italy's flourishing "cannabis light" industry is at risk, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni pushes a bill through parliament to deflower a crop that is legal across much of Europe. Her conservative coalition wants to ban the sale of hemp flower products, but those in the trade say it's economic suicide. - REUTERS

DELHI — A surge in Bitcoin has paused as traders assess the remaining market impact of United States President-elect Donald Trump's rhetorical support for crypto.

[Shabelle] Mogadishu -- In a strategic move to bolster Somalia's defense apparatus, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has made key changes in the military hierarchy, appointing General Sahal Abdullahi Omar as the new Commander of Land Forces and elevating Lt. Colonel Hassan Salah Abdi to the position of Commander of Special Forces.

[Radio Dalsan] Mogadishu -- The Federal Government of Somalia has dispatched four planes of humanitarian aid to Baidoa, the capital of the Southwest State, in response to escalating concerns over a severe drought expected to hit the region.

[Addis Standard] Addis Abeba -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Somaliland has announced progress in preparing for the upcoming presidential and party elections scheduled to take place on 13 November this year.

[Radio Dalsan] The European Union (EU) handed over a fleet of military vehicles and equipment to the Somali government on Tuesday, at the General Dhagabadan Training Camp in Mogadishu.

[VOA] At least 11 Somali regional and federal government forces were killed in fierce fighting on Wednesday in the south of the country, officials said.

[Shabelle] Cairo, Egypt -- Somalia took a significant step towards addressing its internal displacement crisis with the launch of the "Saameynta: Scaling Solutions to Displacement through Financing Inclusive Urban Development" during the World Urban Forum in Cairo on Thursday.

[VOA] The U.S. military says it is investigating what caused an army drone to crash in southern Somalia this week.

[Shabelle] Kismayo, Somalia -- The regional state of Jubaland has announced the suspension of all cooperation with the Federal Government of Somalia, escalating tensions over political and governance issues. The decision, made public early Sunday, marks a significant rift in the country's federal structure.

[Shabelle] Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has touched down in Riyadh on Sunday evening for the Extraordinary Arab and Islamic States Summit.

[Radio Dalsan] Somaliland's Vice President, Abdirahman Abdillahi Ismail Saylici, made headlines on Sunday by publicly endorsing the opposition Waddani Party just days before the November 13 presidential election.

[UNHCR] UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency has just concluded a three-day event, hosting partners and Governments from the East and Horn of Africa, Great Lakes Region and Yemen, to review strategies for comprehensive solutions to the ongoing displacement crisis in Somalia. The meeting brought together representatives from Uganda, Yemen, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya, as well as the regional body, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and provided a platform for sharing insights and aligning efforts among

[Radio Dalsan] Two soldiers from Somalia's Southwest State were ambushed and killed by al-Shabab militants on Tuesday while travelling by motorcycle between Wanlaweyn and Afgoye districts in the Lower Shabelle region, residents reported.

[Shabelle] Mogadishu -- Somalia's National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) conducted a targeted operation in the Dharaarweyn area near Galcad city, within the Galgaduud region.

Qatar is arguing that it won’t act as a mediator any longer, threatening the fate of the hostages because a deal would be harder without Doha in the middle.

The IDF reiterated that it seeks to operate against Hezbollah's infrastructure and capabilities to push the group away from southern Lebanon.

While operating in the area, soldiers from the Shaldag Unit identified several tunnel shafts leading to the compound, which led to the exposure of the full tunnel. 

Iran's state media said al-Ruwaili headed a high-level Saudi military delegation in Tehran and met Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri.

The meeting comes while the region prepares for incoming US President Donald Trump to take office.

Erdogan urged Muslim nations at an Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia to unite against Israel

IDF intelligence had been tracking these underground facilities for years, and over recent weeks, the air force focused on destroying them.

Ukraine and Russia barrage each other with dozens of drone attacks

With Arizona Trump has now won all seven battleground states

Kremlin denies Putin spoke with Trump over de-escalation in Ukraine

Netanyahu admits Israel behind pager attack in Lebanon

Satellite images show China working on nuclear reactor for new warship

Record number mariachis belt out classic songs in Mexico City plaza

Judges block Albania model again and order return of 7 migrants to Italy

Thousands masquerade as Carnival season starts with festivals across Germany

North Korea finalises landmark defence pact with Russia

Firefights break out in Haiti's capital as prime minister replaced

Russian warship armed with hypersonic missiles trains in English Channel, state media reports

With the upcoming Kovačević ruling, let justice be done for Bosnia’s democracy

New York City's underground tunnel becomes public therapy couch

Aliyev criticises Western nations' stance on fossil fuels at COP29 opening speech

German opposition welcome snap-election news after ruling coalition's collapse

US says it will not limit arms transfers to Israel after some aid improvements to Gaza