All posts filed under: World

[Rear View] The night they asked Pete Lacaba to sing, and the song that made him cry

[Rear View] The night they asked Pete Lacaba to sing, and the song that made him cry

Published by Sam Flores

The night ended with a rare request. Pete was asked to sing.  Pete Lacaba walked into My Brother’s Mustache, a folk house in Quezon City, just as Pat Castillo began her set. It was past eight, and word had gone around that he might not make it. For a moment no one noticed him come in with his son, Kris. He could have been any silver-haired retiree, come to honor a man whose life and work is being celebrated that night. Then he scanned the standing-room-only crowd, waved at familiar faces, and the room stirred. People came up to greet him. Pete smiled, the fog of memory lifting with a firm handshake, a pat on the back, a familiar face, a name. Call time had been five. By half past five, the place was nearly full, and extra tables and chairs had to be brought out. Most of the crowd have gone silver: faces behind the bylines, faces you see on television or in movies, faces from one underground meeting or another, faces one had known by …

Rabies death toll rises to 40 in Sindh after elderly man dies

Rabies death toll rises to 40 in Sindh after elderly man dies

Published by Sam Flores

KARACHI: A septuagenarian man died of rabies at a local hospital, raising this year’s tally from the deadly infectious disease in Sindh to 40, officials said on Friday. They said that the victim, a resident of Baldia Town, was bitten by a dog over three weeks back but he did not seek preventive treatment. He passed away at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) on Thursday. The JPMC has recorded over 11,000 dog bite cases and 10 deaths from rabies this year, including the latest one. Recently, a 38-year-old man hailing from Diplo, Tharparkar, and a 12-year-old boy hailing from Hyderabad died of rabies. Experts say a large number of rabies cases go unreported as patients use home remedies or turn to faith healers for “treatment”. They emphasised the need for public awareness, humane control of the dog population and the availability of appropriate treatment in hospitals. While dog bites account for the majority of rabies cases, bites from potentially rabid wild animals can also transmit the virus. After exposure, early wound cleansing, timely rabies …

S. Korean envoy condemns Houthi attacks, calls for stronger U.N. sanctions to block weapons supplies

S. Korean envoy condemns Houthi attacks, calls for stronger U.N. sanctions to block weapons supplies

Published by Sam Flores

By Chang Dong-woo WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 (Yonhap) — South Korea has condemned recent deadly attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeting civilian infrastructure and threatening commercial shipping in the Red Sea, calling on the U.N. Security Council to strengthen sanctions to cut off weapons supplies to the group. South Korean Ambassador to the United Nations Cha Ji-hoon made the remarks during a Security Council debate on the Middle East held Thursday, warning that the attacks pose serious threats to global peace, maritime security and energy supplies. “We condemn such attacks and urge an immediate halt to all attacks against civilians,” Cha said during the debate. “We call on this council to strengthen sanctions, to effectively cut off the supply of weapons to the Houthis.” Cha said the Houthis’ recent attacks targeting civilian infrastructure and threats to commercial navigation in the Red Sea were posing “severe risks to global peace as well as maritime and energy security.” The attacks included two consecutive strikes on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh last week, further escalating tensions in the …

Royal Navy urged to replace defective Ice Patrol HMS Protector

Royal Navy urged to replace defective Ice Patrol HMS Protector

Published by Sam Flores

Royal Navy urged to replace defective Ice Patrol HMS Protector Friday, October 16th 2026 – 13:59 UTC HMS Protector role helped to maintain a sovereign, reassuring, and versatile presence in the South Atlantic and the British Antarctic Territory The Royal Navy’s only ice patrol vessel has been towed into Devonport, reportedly with a double engine failure, raising fresh concerns over how the news will be interpreted by Argentina. HMS Protector fulfils an icebreaking role to monitor the demilitarized Antarctic and support safe navigation for scientific research in challenging conditions. According to the UK’s Defense Investment Plan and the Royal Navy, she is due to be replaced by a more modern variant. However, the document also highlighted the importance of the military’s now-missing ice patrol capability to “maintain this essential presence and support Government activities in the Arctic and around the British Antarctic Territory”. Speaking to BFBS Forces News, retired Royal Navy Commodore Steve Prest assessed the geopolitical significance of the vessel’s woes given Argentina’s continued claim to the Falkland Islands. “In those territories …

Fitch Turns Positive On Nigeria, Crowning Tinubu’s Economic Turnaround

Fitch Turns Positive On Nigeria, Crowning Tinubu’s Economic Turnaround

Published by Sam Flores

Africa’s most populous nation emerges as one of the continent’s strongest reform stories Nigeria has taken a decisive step back into the good graces of international investors. On 9 October, Fitch Ratings revised the country’s outlook to positive and affirmed its “B” rating, signalling that an upgrade could follow. The decision is a strong endorsement of the economic strategy pursued by President Bola Tinubu since 2023. Fitch cites the reform of the country’s policy framework, the strengthening of its external buffers and its growing confidence that the reform course will continue beyond the 2027 elections.  From Crisis To Resilience The scale of the turnaround is remarkable. When President Tinubu took office, Nigeria was struggling with multiple exchange rates, a fuel subsidy draining public finances and a severe shortage of foreign currency. He chose to tackle them head-on. Three years later, gross foreign reserves have reached $54.9 billion, up from $32 billion in April 2024. Net reserves, according to the Central Bank, have jumped from about $4 billion at the end of 2023 to $34.8 billion at …

Argentina abstains on a Russian UN resolution on colonialism and draws criticism

Argentina abstains on a Russian UN resolution on colonialism and draws criticism

Published by Sam Flores

Argentina abstains on a Russian UN resolution on colonialism and draws criticism Friday, October 16th 2026 – 09:40 UTC Several speakers questioned Russia’s credibility in presenting it given its invasion of Ukraine. Brazil, Uruguay and Mexico were among the countries that voted in favour Argentina abstained on Thursday in a vote by the UN General Assembly’s Fourth Committee on a Russian-sponsored draft on “contemporary forms of colonialism”, a decision that Buenos Aires province’s government minister, opposition figure Carlos Bianco, linked to President Javier Milei’s alignment with the United States and to Argentina’s strategy over the Falklands. The text was approved by 85 votes to 49, with 23 abstentions, and will go to the full Assembly. According to the UN statement, it recognises that colonialism persists in contemporary forms that may be expressed through unilateral economic, financial or trade measures not in accordance with international law, a point aimed at sanctions applied by the United States and its allies. Several speakers questioned Russia’s credibility in presenting it given its invasion of Ukraine. Brazil, Uruguay …

Man and woman arrested over Waterford petrol bombing knew family that was targeted

Man and woman arrested over Waterford petrol bombing knew family that was targeted

Published by Sam Flores

Gardaí are anticipating further arrests following the detention of two suspects by detectives investigating the murders of four members of the English family in Waterford city. The man (20s) and woman (30s) being questioned on Thursday night knew Philip and Kim English and their children, Callum (12) and Jayden (9), but are not related to the family. The Irish Times understands the man and woman are suspected of being linked to a family-based Waterford drugs gang gardaí believe ordered the arson attack, rather than being senior figures in that group. Gardaí believe them to have been centrally involved in the attack, and that they were present at the time. The attack was carried out as part of a campaign of intimidation, for more than three years, aimed at collecting a €20,000 drugs debt incurred by an associate of Philip English, who was not involved in crime. “Both individuals are currently detained under section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 in a Garda station in the Garda Eastern region,” the Garda said of Thursday’s arrests. …

Lee rejects reelection bid speculation, vows to continue reforms

Lee rejects reelection bid speculation, vows to continue reforms

Published by Sam Flores

SEOUL, Oct. 15 (Yonhap) — President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday dismissed speculation that he would seek a constitutional revision to allow himself to serve another term, pledging to press ahead with reforms. “Though my methods and approaches have become more pragmatic and cautious, my goals have not changed,” Lee wrote on X in response to a post expressing disappointment over concerns about a constitutional revision and the possibility that reforms could be weakened. Lee stressed that a constitutional revision requires the support of at least 200 lawmakers, including opposition lawmakers, and cannot be pursued at his discretion. “There is no need to be concerned about conspiracy theories about constitutional revision for reelection or political realignment,” he said, adding that a parliamentary or semi-presidential system was not his preferred direction for constitutional reform. Lee has repeatedly denied any intention to seek reelection through a constitutional revision amid opposition accusations that he may push for a constitutional reform to extend his time in office. Lee also reaffirmed his commitment to reform, saying his administration had moved …

US Threatened Immediate Intelligence Cutoff Unless Ukraine Halts Strikes

US Threatened Immediate Intelligence Cutoff Unless Ukraine Halts Strikes

Published by Sam Flores

US intelligence officials warned Ukraine that Washington would immediately stop sharing intelligence if Kyiv continued attacks on Russian energy infrastructure. The Washington Post reported, citing a person familiar with the matter, that the warning was conveyed to Ukraine’s embassy in Washington. It came amid disputes over an energy ceasefire announced by President Donald Trump and Ukrainian complaints that some Russian ballistic missile attacks had arrived without advance warning from partners. JOIN US ON TELEGRAM Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. The Trump administration has previously warned that it could suspend intelligence sharing and halt European purchases of US weapons for Ukraine if Kyiv refused to stop deep strikes on Russian energy infrastructure. The newspaper’s source said the US had not completely halted intelligence sharing. The source also noted that the missiles used in recent attacks on Kyiv had previously evaded warning systems. Earlier, Zelensky said that Ukrainian forces received no warnings from partners about Russian ballistic missile launches toward Kyiv for two consecutive nights, as attacks struck the capital’s energy infrastructure. He …

South Africa: Katlehong Shooting Suspect in Court – South African News Briefs – October 15, 2026

South Africa: Katlehong Shooting Suspect in Court – South African News Briefs – October 15, 2026

Published by Sam Flores

  Katlehong Memorial Shooting Suspect in Court A suspect linked to the deadly shooting of four men at a gathering of mourners in Katlehong, on the East Rand, is set to appear in the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court, reports EWN. The victims were attending a memorial service for ANC branch chairperson Jeanette Magugu, who was killed outside her home. Two children were also injured in the shooting. The Gauteng Political Killings Task Team is investigating whether the attack was politically motivated and linked to the upcoming elections. Mkhwanazi, Co-Accused Back in Court Over Gem Theft Follow us on WhatsApp | LinkedIn for the latest headlines Former Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi and three co-accused are set to return to the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court, reports SABC News. The four, Mkhwanazi, Witness K (from the Madlanga Commission), Adrian Mackenzie and Keisha Leigh Stols, face allegations linked to the theft of precious stones worth approximately R14.9 million during an alleged bogus police raid in Killarney, Johannesburg. The case was previously postponed to allow the defence …