Inquirer Breaking News
subscribe RSS: Inquirer Breaking News
Inquirer News» Latest News Stories » (UPDATE) 16 dead in blasts in and around Baghdad
BAGHDAD— More than a dozen bomb attacks in and around Baghdad on Sunday left 16 people dead, including 10 people killed in a suicide attack, and more than 70 wounded. The series of attacks comes just days after blasts against police in a tense northern city killed 29 people, with just months to go before all US forces must withdraw … [Link]
Inquirer News» Latest News Stories » Illegal gun-making facility raided by gov’t; man arrested
GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines—Police and military forces raided here, on Saturday, a gun-making facility found illegally manufacturing, repairing or tampering with high-powered firearms. Government forces seized several guns and paraphernalia and equipment for the repair and manufacture of, and tampering with high-powered firearms. Recovered from the raid on the house of Gualberto Gonzaga in Doña Soledad Subdivision in Labangal village … [Link]
Inquirer News» Latest News Stories » DA to promote white corn to ease demand for rice
MANILA, Philippines—For those in urban areas and in many parts of the Philippines, corn may not compare to rice as the food of choice. But the Department of Agriculture (DA) said urbanites should not turn up their noses on the grain because of its health benefits and its potential to help the country attain food security. The DA said on … [Link]
Inquirer News» Latest News Stories » Storms kill 42 in northern Indian state
LUCKNO – At least 42 people have been killed by lightning and fierce storms in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, an official said Sunday. High speed winds and torrential rain lashed several districts of the state since Friday, uprooting trees, destroying houses and bringing down power cables. “We have been informed that 42 people have been killed and … [Link]
Inquirer News» Latest News Stories » Illegal logging threatens Lake Sebu in South Cotabato
GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines—Illegal cutting of trees threatens the scenic town of Lake Sebu, dubbed as the Summer Capital of South Cotabato. Police and local environment officials netted on Saturday 1,316 board feet of Gemelina lumber manufactured out of illegally cut trees. The lumber was abandoned in remote Talisay village in Lake Sebu town by unidentified men who scampered in … [Link]
Inquirer News» Latest News Stories » Gays, transgenders lash at Pacquiao’s mom over comments on contraceptives
DAVAO CITY, Philippines–Gays and transgenders slammed Dionisia Pacquiao, mother of boxing champion and Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao, over her statement on homosexuals using contraceptive pills as breast enhancers. Goya Candelario, spokesperson of the Progressive Organization of Gays (ProGay Philippines), said Dionisia’s jab at gays and transgenders—as she assailed Senator Miriam Santiago—was “scary and dangerous.” “We want Mommy Dionisia to know … [Link]
Inquirer News» Latest News Stories » Court will acquit Strauss-Kahn: lawyer
JERUSALEM – Former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn will plead not guilty to sexual assault charges and will be acquitted, his lawyer told Israel’s Haaretz newspaper on Sunday. In an interview with the daily, Benjamin Brafman said he was confident his client would be acquitted on charges of sexually assaulting a 32-year-old hotel maid in a New York hotel. … [Link]
Inquirer News» Latest News Stories » Australia rules out total smoking ban
SYDNEY – Australia plans the world’s toughest laws on tobacco promotion but Health Minister Nicola Roxon denied Sunday the government’s ultimate goal was a complete ban on smoking. Under proposed legislation, due to take effect next year, all logos will be removed from cigarette packets, which must be a drab olive-green color and be plastered with graphic health warnings. The … [Link]
Inquirer News» Latest News Stories » 16-year-olds allowed to vote in German regional poll
BERLIN – Sixteen-year-old Germans were allowed for the first time on Sunday to vote in a regional election as nearly half a million electors went to the polls in the state of Bremen, in northern Germany. Voters have to be 18 and over to vote in the other 15 German states and in federal elections. Those aged 16 and over … [Link]
Inquirer News» Latest News Stories » Qaeda heir calls for Arab uprisings to spread to Saudi
NICOSIA – Ayman al-Zawahiri, the longtime Egyptian number two to Osama bin Laden, the Al-Qaeda leader killed earlier this month, has called on Saudis to take up this year’s wave of Arab revolt. In an audiotape which the jihadist network’s media arm Al-Sahab said was recorded before bin Laden’s death on May 2, Zawahiri said it was Western governments that … [Link]
Inquirer News» Latest News Stories » Typhoon Songda churns towards Tokyo
TOKYO – Typhoon Songda churned northeast along Pacific coasts in southern Japan Sunday, bringing with it heavy rains and staying on course to hit Tokyo as it weakened, weather officials said. It was expected to be downgraded to a depression late Sunday but could still dump torrential rain on the northeast coast, which was devastated by a massive earthquake and … [Link]
Inquirer News» Latest News Stories » 3 killed, 8 injured in China chemical plant blast
BEIJING – Authorities said a blast at a chemical plant in eastern China has killed three people and injured eight others. The government of Zibo city in Shandong province said in a statement Sunday that police were investigating the cause of the explosion at a chemical plant owned by Shandong Baoyuan Chemical Co. Ltd. The statement said the Saturday night … [Link]
Inquirer News» Latest News Stories » UN experts begin Malaysia rare earths visit
KUALA LUMPUR – A team of UN atomic energy experts began a week-long visit to Malaysia on Sunday to review the safety of a proposed Australian rare earths refinery that has drawn protests. Following public concerns that radioactive waste from the plant could leak out and harm the environment, Malaysia has put the project by Australian miner Lynas on hold, … [Link]
Inquirer News» Latest News Stories » New cooling trouble at Japan nuclear plant
TOKYO – Emergency workers on Sunday restored the cooling system of a reactor which had come to a halt after escaping major damage from the March 11 quake and damage at the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant. The water pump to cool the reactor and the pool for spent nuclear fuel at the facility’s No. 5 unit was found to … [Link]
Inquirer News» Latest News Stories » China to step up fight against plastic addiction
BEIJING – China will expand a ban on free shopping bags, state media said, as it tries to further curb its addiction to plastic in a bid to rid the country of “white pollution” that clogs waterways, farms and fields. Bookstores and pharmacies nationwide will soon be forbidden to give out free plastic bags, joining the ranks of supermarkets that … [Link]
Inquirer News» Latest News Stories » Midwives on motorbikes spread sex sense in Cambodia
CHANLOUNG – Sitting in the shade of a large tree and surrounded by a group of women, Cambodian midwife Ly Siyan holds up a colourful poster displaying a range of contraception options. She patiently waits for the giggles to subside when she points to a condom, aware that the two dozen women in the village of Chanloung in northwest Siem … [Link]
Inquirer News» Latest News Stories » More countries accepting gay lifestyle – study
WASHINGTON – The vast majority of countries around the world have become more accepting of homosexuality, with the exception of Russia and other former socialist countries, a new study has found. The report, compiled by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, examined general trends in over 30 countries regarding their attitudes towards homosexuality. Approval of homosexuality … [Link]
Inquirer News» Latest News Stories » Japan PM could face no-confidence motion
TOKYO – Japan’s center-left Prime Minister Naoto Kan, under fire for his handling of the response to the March 11 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster, faces the threat of a no-confidence motion this week. Although Kan’s opponents have only a slim chance of rallying enough support for a successful motion in the Diet legislature, the move would be a fresh … [Link]
Inquirer News» Latest News Stories » Malaysia ex-PM Mahathir leaves hospital
KUALA LUMPUR – Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has left hospital after recovering from a chest infection, the national news agency Bernama reported. The 85-year-old long-time leader had undergone treatment including chest physiotherapy at the National Heart Institute since May 18. Bernama said Mahathir was discharged Saturday. Mahathir stepped down as prime minister in 2003 after 22 years in … [Link]
Inquirer News» Latest News Stories » Australia, Colombia smash international drug ring
SYDNEY – Police in Australia, Colombia and Panama combined to smash a major drugs syndicate, arresting 14 people and seizing a large quantity of cocaine, they said on Sunday. In a joint operation, authorities found more than 50 kilograms (110 pounds) of the drug worth tens of millions of dollars concealed in hydraulic oil in the Queensland town of Mackay … [Link]