MANILA – "Karding" intensified into a severe tropical storm and is forecast to strengthen into a typhoon before making landfall over Central or Northern Luzon, the weather bureau reported on Saturday.The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), in its early morning update, said "Karding" was likely to make landfall Sunday morning or afternoon on the east coast of Aurora or Isabela.Tropical Cyclone signal no. 2 is up over the southeastern portion of Isabela (Dinapigue), the northern portion of Aurora (Dinalungan, Casiguran, Dilasag), and Polillo Islands.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1184499

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MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. bared Tuesday that he would urge his fellow Southeast Asian leaders to find a way to ensure the immediate issuance of a "new" Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea (SCS). On the eve of his participation in the 42nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits in Indonesia, Marcos hoped that the regional bloc would be able to address the issues hindering the conclusion of negotiations for the COC in the SCS. "What is the problem? What is the bottleneck? Where are we having a hard time? How can we fix that problem? That's what these meetings should be for.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1201133

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MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday said the Philippine government has not stopped from its appeal for clemency for Mary Jane Veloso, the Filipino worker who has been on Indonesia's death row over drug-related charges. "We haven't really stopped," Marcos told reporters in a press briefing before the start of the 42nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits in Indonesia. "We continue to ask for a commutation, or even a pardon, or extradition back to the Philippines.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1201131

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MANILA – The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Operations Center has been on "red alert" since Friday night as Tropical Storm Karding is expected to affect large parts of the country this weekend.The NDRRMC also activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) management team on Saturday.The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), meanwhile, sent out advisories to affected local governments for preemptive evacuations of communities in high-risk areas.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1184495

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TACLOBAN CITY – As the country celebrates National Family Week, religious leaders here emphasized the need for real communication in families and responsible parenthood to address social ills.The 'Building Forever Families" interfaith forum held at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints-Tacloban on Saturday emphasized that values should be taught in every home to deal with challenges confronting families.'Take advantage of technology to connect with our families even if they are far from us.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1184527

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LEGAZPI CITY – At least 571 travelers bound for the provinces of Catanduanes and Masbate and some areas in the Visayas and Mindanao regions were stranded at major ports in Bicol on Sunday as the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) enforced a "no sailing policy" due to Super Typhoon Karding.Gremil Alexis Nas, Office of Civil Defense-Bicol (OCD-5) spokesperson, said in a statement that 89 rolling cargoes and 12 sea vessels were likewise stranded, mostly in the port of Matnog in Sorsogon, while at least three sea vessels took shelter in the ports of Pilar and Pasacao.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1184528

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MANILA – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday expressed sympathy for the victims of a deadly stampede in a football match in Indonesia and the mass killing at a day care center in Thailand.Marcos said the Filipino nation condoles and prays with the families of the victims."We condole deeply with the families of those lost in the recent tragedies of the Indonesia football stampede and the Thailand daycare attack," Marcos posted on Twitter."We pray for the recovery of the survivors, healing of those left behind, and that the departed may rest in peace," he added.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1185659

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ISTANBUL – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday accused the Wagner chief of "treason." "What we are facing is essentially a betrayal. Inflated ambitions and personal interests have led to treason – treason against our country, our people and the common cause which Wagner Group soldiers and commanders were fighting and dying for shoulder to shoulder, together with our other units and troops," Putin said in a video address to the nation. Putin said he is also addressing "those who were dragged into this criminal adventure through deceit or threats and pushed onto the path of a grave crime," urging them to do away with actions that could harm Russia from within.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1204238

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MANILA – A total of 41 more flights, both international and local, have been cancelled Monday due to the effects of Typhoon "Karding" (international name Noru), the Manila International Airport Authority said.These flights are:AirAsia Philippines (Z2) 689/690 Manila-Cagayan-ManilaZ2 772 Cebu-ManilaZ2 616 Davao-Manila Philippine Airlines (PR) 510 Singapore-ManilaPR 538 Denpasar-ManilaPR 2808 Davao-ManilaPR 2961 Manila-BusuangaPR 2932/2933 Manila-Basco-ManilaPR 2671/2672 Manila-Calbayog-ManilaPR 2921 Manila-Legazpi AirSWIFT (T6) 114 Manila-El NidoT6 112 Manila-El Nido Cebu Pacific (5J) 325/326 Manila-Legazpi-Manila5J 861/862 Manila-Zamboanga-Manila5J 961/962 Manila-Davao-Manila5J 381/382 Manila-Cagayan de Oro-Manila5J 635/636 Manila-Puerto Princesa-Manila5J 483/484 Manila-Bacolod-Manila5J 919/920 Manila-Caticlan-Manila5J 451/452 Manila-Iloilo-Manila5J 785/786 Manila-Butuan-Manila5J 565/566 Manila-Cebu-Manila5J 891/892 Manila-Caticlan-Manila5J 991/992 Manila-General Santos-Manila5J 657/658 Manila-Tacloban-Manila During the onslaught of "Karding" on Sunday, 35 flights had been initially cancelled as the typhoon packed heavy rains and strong winds.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1184591

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ILOILO CITY - Iloilo's Dinagyang Festival will resume all its street events in 2023 after these were temporarily halted for two years due to the pandemic.Joyce Ann Clavecillas, executive director of the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. and serving as one of the organizers of the annual festival, said events would be back in person after two years of going digital."This is our way of expressing our gratitude to Senor Santo Nino that amidst being in a very difficult situation, we are still here, we are still thriving.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1183346

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MANILA – President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Saturday said health, livelihood, and peace initiatives have taken center stage on his first 100 days as the country's 17th chief executive.In his weekly vlog, Marcos said he considers as his administration's accomplishments the implementation of policies and programs to ensure public health, provide more livelihood opportunities, and maintain peace and order in the country."Tiniyak nating mabigyan ng sapat na atensyon ang mga pundasyong tinuturing nating sangkap ng isang masaganang lipunan.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1185681

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MANILA – The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) has slapped hefty fines to 10 professional players for seeing action in unsanctioned games or "ligang labas". The biggest of the penalties were handed to three of the players after they played in an exhibition game in Catmon, Cebu which became viral for the wrong reasons. Magnolia's Jio Jalalon will have to pay PHP100,000 for his second offense, which means his fine is double the original fine of PHP50,000. Meanwhile, the former "Extra Rice Inc.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1200701

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GENEVA – Taiwan's health minister warned Sunday that the continued exclusion of the island from the World Health Organization (WHO) due to China's actions threatens global health. "Excluding Taiwan from the WHO not only jeopardizes the right to health of the 23.5 million people of Taiwan, it also seriously undermines the WHO's efforts to achieve health for all and hinders the global sharing of information,' Hsueh Jui-yuan said at the Geneva Press Club. He spoke shortly before the opening of the WHO's World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, which runs from May 21-May 30.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1201939

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MANILA -- The Philippines and Italy are set to forge scientific cooperation on various strategic areas, and signing may take place this month. "As we continue to expand our STI (science, technology, innovation) international partnerships, we are keen on pursuing further synergies with Italy. (The) DOST (Department of Science and Technology) is hoping to maximize opportunities for its stakeholders through joint undertakings with (the) MUR (Ministry of University and Research) and its attached institutions," DOST Undersecretary Rowena Guvera told the Philippine News Agency in an interview Thursday afternoon.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1174327

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PPCRV Command Center at the University of Santo Tomas, Manila (PNA photo by Avito Dalan) MANILA – The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) on Thursday said the fast transmission of the outcome of the partial and unofficial results of the May 9 elections was due to low required data and not to the alleged election irregularities."Yung data na tina-transmit natin hindi naman yan Netflix video na napakalaki, HD [high-definition] pa. Ano lang yan, text data about tallies and votes, and tatlong beses lang siya sini-send per machine (The data that we transmit is not as huge as a Netflix video that is HD.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1174293

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MANILA – The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the province of Quezon is seen to be the hardest-hit area by Super Typhoon Karding as damage assessment in affected areas continues."Ongoing assessment tayo and of course we are looking at Quezon based sa initial report natin, umikot nga kami kanina with the President (Ferdinand Marcos Jr.) ano, tiningnan namin itong Nueva Ecija area at mukhang very minimal yung effect nung bagyo (Our assessment is still ongoing and of course, we are looking at Quezon based on the initial report.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1184602

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