A woman wielding a fruit knife killed two people and injured four more on Monday at a primary school in central China, state media said, citing local police. The assault took place around midday in the city of Guixi in Jiangxi province, state broadcaster CCTV said. The suspect, a 45-year-old surnamed Pan, is being held by police and the case is under investigation, CCTV said. Mass violent crime is relatively rare in China, which strictly prohibits citizens from owning firearms, but there has been a spate of stabbings in recent years. This month, two people were killed and 21 wounded after a man went on a stabbing spree at a hospital in southwest China's Yunnan province.

May 20, 2024 16:30 UTC

The Philippine government will be supporting a multibillion dollar investment program to construct new railway lines, integrate existing railway infrastructures and introduce state-of-the-art railway system technologies. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO The Philippine Railway Development Plan also include establishing a Philippine Railway Academy, to teach future railway engineers. AdvertisementThe proposed two railway projects under the Philippine Railway Development Plan will encompass routes in North Luzon and Mindanao. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOThe railway development plan will tremendously boost the Philippine Economy in the next decades to come. AdvertisementFurthermore, part of the Railway Development Plan initiatives is to prioritize sustainability, with focus on Technology Transfer through the establishment of the Philippine Railway Academy.

May 20, 2024 15:20 UTC

The Coast Guard? I cannot see how the Chinese coast guard intends to deny the freedom of international navigation to those sailing in the contested waters. Since China is a serious country, it could rescind its reported decision to arrest "trespassers" in the area. The fact that the Chinese maritime force had avoided any incident while successfully shadowing the "Atin Ito" convoy in contested South China Sea waters could be an indication that China is not really averse to having such talks, the sources said. As a tireless proponent of peaceful engagement between the Philippines and China, and of a meaningful rapprochement between China and the US, I continue to believe it is the best deal we can ever get for our people and the rest of the world.

May 20, 2024 06:54 UTC

(UPDATE) DENPASAR, Indonesia – Tech billionaire Elon Musk landed Sunday on Indonesia's resort island of Bali, where he aims to launch his Starlink service to extend internet to remote areas of the country. AFP PHOTOMusk, making his first visit to the Southeast Asian nation, is scheduled to launch Starlink alongside President Joko Widodo at a clinic in Bali's capital Denpasar on Sunday afternoon. Maritime and Investment Coordinating Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said Starlink "has the capability to reach even the most remote areas of Indonesia." After the trial, Starlink, which acquired a permit to operate in Indonesia earlier this month, could be rolled out commercially across the archipelago. AdvertisementUsing a network of low Earth orbit satellites, Starlink can provide internet to remote locations or areas that have had normal communications infrastructure disabled.

May 20, 2024 04:19 UTC

Marcos says photos with Alice Guo prove nothingBamban Mayor Alice Guo and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. poses for a photo at a campaign sortie during the 2022 national elections on March 8, 2022. MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said his photos with Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, who is currently facing controversies over suspicions about her citizenship and alleged connections to an offshore gaming operator, mean nothing. Guo posted photos of her and Marcos last week after the chief executive claimed to be unaware of her existence. Additional photos of Guo and Marcos from a campaign sortie during the 2022 elections also surfaced. Marcos earlier said that none of the local politicians in Tarlac had heard of Guo before she won the 2022 polls.

May 20, 2024 01:02 UTC





40,000Last Friday, the Dow closed at 40,000 for the first time. He said that an interest rate hike is unlikely to be the Fed’s next move. The direction of interest rates is either flat or lower. The Dow reached the historic 40,000 last Friday. This is despite the prospect for higher for longer interest rates, the hostilities in the Middle East and political risks that may be ushered in by the upcoming US election.

May 20, 2024 00:55 UTC

KABUL – Tourists wounded in an attack in Afghanistan were declared in stable condition, a hospital said Saturday, as a French national who survived described the horrifying incident. The bodies of those killed were transported to Kabul overnight Friday, along with the wounded and survivors, after bad weather made an airlift impossible. No claim of responsibilityAdvertisement"Overwhelmed by the news of the murder of Spanish tourists in Afghanistan," Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez posted on social media platform X. Spanish diplomats were headed to Afghanistan from Pakistan and Qatar, where the Spanish ambassador to the country is currently based. It has, however, supported a fledgling tourism sector, with more than 5,000 foreign tourists visiting Afghanistan in 2023, according to official figures.

May 19, 2024 16:54 UTC

WATCH: Meet Duffy and Friends in Hong Kong DisneylandThe Castle of Magical Dreams in Hong Kong Disneyland, near the Duffy and Friends Play House where one can meet the popular bear and his friends like LinaBellMANILA, Philippines — In a theme park surrounded by Mickey Mouse, Disney Princesses, Marvel, Star Wars and Pixar, it is the fictional gang of Duffy and Friends that reign supreme in Hong Kong Disneyland. Initially just known as "The Disney Bear," Duffy got his own story in line with the American Waterfront section of Tokyo DisneySea. Fans can interact with Duffy and the gang in Hong Kong Disneyland's Duffy and Friends Play House, starting out in a storybook house with interactives activities before lining up into a miniature maze to meet the character of their choice. ___Editor's note: The trip to Duffy and Friends Play House was hosted by Disneyland and Klook. RELATED: New Marvel daytime, drone shows launched in Hong Kong Disneyland

May 19, 2024 16:36 UTC

Despite rains, extreme heat seen in 36 areas todayThe sunset exudes golden hues as seen from Skyway in Manila on May 5, 2024. MANILA, Philippines — At least 36 areas can still experience “danger” heat index of between 46 and 42 degrees Celsius today, despite the rains being experienced in many areas in the country, according to the two-day forecast of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). The highest heat index could be felt in Dagupan City, Pangasinan as it is projected to reach 46 degrees Celsius, while Bacnotan, La Union and Iloilo City could experience 45 degrees Celsius heat index. PAGASA added that the heat index at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City could reach 44 degrees Celsius, and 42 degrees Celsius at the Science Garden in Quezon City. On Saturday, the highest heat index was recorded in Guiuan, Eastern Samar with 51 degrees Celsius.

May 19, 2024 16:02 UTC

MANILA, Philippines — The Premier Volleyball League is set to hold its first-ever Rookie Draft on July 6, a landmark event designed to bolster team rosters with fresh talent and enhance the league's competitive balance. The initial list of applicants will be announced on June 14, and the draft lottery is set at the end of the application period. "We are hoping for a huge turnout for the inaugural class of the PVL draft. The PVL Rookie Draft Combine, a two-day event prior to the draft, is mandatory for all applicants. AdvertisementThe Rookie Draft Combine is scheduled for June 25-26.

May 19, 2024 13:21 UTC

China's commerce ministry on Sunday said it had launched an anti-dumping investigation into imports of an important engineering chemical from the European Union, the United States, Taiwan and Japan. Beijing said it would probe imports of polyoxymethylene copolymer, a thermoplastic used in everything from phones, car parts, and medical equipment. The investigation will take a year but could be extended by six months, the commerce ministry said. The probe follows a number of similar investigations by the EU into China's subsidies for its industry. Last month, the bloc launched a probe into China's medical devices market over alleged unfair procurement practices.

May 19, 2024 10:17 UTC

TACLOBAN CITY, LEYTE, Philippines — A nongovernmental organization (NGO) working for depressed communities in Eastern Visayas has expressed outrage over the decision of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to freeze its bank account and that of its staff members and suppliers. ADVERTISEMENT“We were shocked by AMLC freezing our organizational bank accounts, including my personal account as well as (that of) my son and my daughter-in-law who are not even members of the LCDe,” she said at a press conference on May 16. READ: AMLC freezes bank accounts of red-tagged farmers’ groupAccording to Jerusalem, they learned about the freezing only on May 2 when they went to a bank in Tacloban to withdraw some money to buy essentials. “According to the bank manager, they received a copy of the order of AMLC freezing our accounts just three hours after we arrived at the bank,” she said. LCDe’s organizational bank account, she said, contained donations amounting to more than P2 million and coming from foreign donors in Japan, South Korea, Belgium, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States.

May 19, 2024 02:02 UTC

AFPPhilippe Lazzarini of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said that since Israel's Rafah operation began, there had been a massive movement of people. AdvertisementMore than 10 days into what the army called a "limited" Rafah operation that sparked the exodus, fighting has also flared again in northern Gaza. With key land crossings closed or operating at limited capacity because of the fighting, some aid began entering Gaza via a temporary US-built floating pier. The Rafah crossing, a vital conduit for humanitarian aid, has been closed since Israel launched its operation in the city. The World Health Organization has received no medical supplies in Gaza since the Rafah operation began, spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said Friday.

May 19, 2024 01:53 UTC

Our nomadic lifeEvery Tuesday, our virtual, pre-prayer conversations with my multi-cultural friends revolve around the weather, faith, home or our wanderings. Discovering the unknown, of what our host country offers, is one of the most rewarding facets of the nomadic life. Had we not lived in Beijing we would not have discovered that the kilometric expanse of the Great Wall of China goes beyond the touristy Great Wall of Badaling. This magnificent wonder extends to the breathtaking Great Wall By the Sea, the Great Wall of Mutianyu, which is prettiest in autumn, and our family favorite, the Jinshanling Great Wall, where we hiked sections of its unrestored parts. As AI takes over, this also signals another interesting phase in our nomadic life.

May 18, 2024 21:59 UTC

Marcos targets '10-fold increase' in tourist arrivals for PhilippinesThis photo taken on December 12, 2023 shows tourists paddling their kayaks while others take photos inside the Big Lagoon in El Nido town, Palawan province. MANILA, Philippines — The administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. plans on increasing the country's tourist arrivals by 10-fold as the Philippines aims to become the region's next "tourism behemoth." "Our ambition is [then] was one million tourists. One million tourists can come back. In line with this data, the DOT earlier set a baseline target of 7.7 million arrivals this year for the Philippines.

May 18, 2024 21:08 UTC