International News
Philippine: Tropical Storm Trami Leaves 40 Dead, Towns Underwater
Philippine rescue teams are in a race against time to reach residents stranded on rooftops after Tropical Storm Trami triggered widespread flooding, landslides, and left at least 40 dead as it exited the country on Friday.
The storm unleashed two months’ worth of rain in just 48 hours, forcing tens of thousands of people from their homes and cutting off access to several communities.
READ MORE: Bosnia Shocked As 14-Year-Old Kills Police Officer, Injures One Other
“Many are still trapped on the roofs of their homes, asking for help,” reported Andre Dizon, police director for the flood-ravaged Bicol region.
With waters starting to recede, officials hope conditions will improve for rescue efforts, which have been hindered by blocked roads and dangerous debris.
President Ferdinand Marcos addressed the nation Friday, highlighting the unprecedented nature of the disaster.
“There were landslides in areas that didn’t have landslides before … so I guess the soil is completely saturated, the water has nowhere to go,” he said.
Marcos added that the cities of Naga and Legazpi were reporting “many casualties,” though emergency teams had yet to reach some of the worst-hit areas.
Trami, which crossed over the South China Sea early Friday, inflicted severe damage in Batangas province, where six unidentified bodies were discovered in Sampaloc village after flash floods hit the area.
“Our people are still in the area to check if there are other casualties,” said Police Staff Sergeant Nelson Cabuso.
Additional fatalities were confirmed in the coastal village of Subic Ilaya, where five people died in flash floods, pushing the current death toll to at least 40, according to police and local officials.
While Manila was spared the worst, the storm inundated neighboring areas.
Floodwaters submerged entire subdivisions south of the capital, with rescue teams working tirelessly to extract residents from waterlogged homes.
Government offices and schools across Luzon, the country’s largest island, were ordered closed Friday, with storm surge warnings remaining in place along the west coast.
According to meteorologist Jofren Habaluyas, Batangas received a staggering 391.3 millimeters of rain between October 24 and 25, equivalent to two months of typical rainfall.
By Thursday night, an estimated 193,000 people had been evacuated, many from towns swamped by floodwaters and volcanic sludge.
In the Bicol region alone, over 30,000 people fled their homes as flood levels surged.
Rescue boats in Naga City and Nabua Municipality moved from house to house, responding to calls for help from stranded residents, some of whom had posted pleas on social media.
In Lemery, a town 97 kilometers south of Manila, a hospital was forced to shut down after floodwaters overwhelmed its wards and emergency facilities.
Search teams also temporarily halted efforts to locate a fisherman who went missing off the coast of Bulacan due to strong currents.
The Philippines, one of the world’s most typhoon-prone countries, experiences around 20 significant storms annually.
International News
‘Only Two Genders’ – Trump Vows To Tackle Transgender Lunacy
President-elect Donald Trump has announced plans to take sweeping actions against what he described as “transgender lunacy,” signaling a push to reverse policies protecting transgender individuals in schools, sports, and the military.
Speaking at the AmericaFest conference in Phoenix, Trump outlined his administration’s priorities, stating, “I will sign executive orders to end child sexual mutilation, get transgender out of the military, and out of our elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools.”
READ MORE: Ex-IMF Chief, Rodrigo Rato Jailed For Money Laundering, Fraud
He also vowed to “keep men out of women’s sports” and asserted, “It will be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female.”
The president-elect’s remarks come amid growing national debate over transgender rights, with states divided over issues such as gender-affirming medical care and the inclusion of books addressing transgender topics in schools.
The controversy escalated last week when Congress passed a defense budget provision blocking funding for certain gender-affirming care for the children of service members.
Trump’s speech drew strong reactions, with critics warning that his policies could strip essential protections from transgender individuals.
Civil rights advocates have raised concerns about the implications of these proposals on marginalized communities.
In addition to his focus on cultural issues, Trump used the event to outline his vision for the nation under his leadership.
He described his presidency as a turning point, promising to address international conflicts and restore American dominance.
“On January 20, the United States will turn the page forever on four long, horrible years of failure, incompetence, national decline, and we will inaugurate a new era of peace, prosperity, and national greatness,” Trump declared, referring to his upcoming swearing-in.
He pledged to end the war in Ukraine, stabilize the Middle East, and avert global conflict. “I will stop the chaos in the Middle East, and I will prevent, I promise, World War III,” he said.
The president-elect also reiterated his commitment to reclaiming control of the Panama Canal and combating crime linked to illegal immigration.
“I can proudly proclaim that the golden age of America is upon us,” Trump concluded.
International News
Ex-IMF Chief, Rodrigo Rato Jailed For Money Laundering, Fraud
A Madrid court on Friday handed down a sentence of more than four years in prison to Rodrigo Rato, the former chief of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Spain’s ex-economy minister.
Rato was convicted of multiple charges, including tax crimes, money laundering, and corruption.
READ MORE: NCDMB Rewards Winners Of 2024 Edition National Undergraduate Essay Competition
The court found Rato guilty of “three offences against the treasury, one offence of money laundering, and one offence of corruption between individuals,” according to an official statement.
Details shortly………..
International News
South Korean President Banned From Travel Amid Martial Law Backlash
South Korean President, Yoon Suk Yeol has been banned from leaving the country, the Justice Ministry confirmed Monday, following a week of political chaos triggered by his brief declaration of martial law.
The ban marks the first time a sitting president has faced such a restriction in the nation’s history.
Recall that on December 3, Yoon ordered special forces and helicopters to the National Assembly in an attempt to impose martial law.
RELATED NEWS: Martial Law: South Korea Opposition Files Impeachment Motion Against President Yoon
Lawmakers swiftly overturned the decree, forcing Yoon to rescind the order. Although he survived an impeachment motion on Saturday, public anger has continued to mount, with large protests demanding his resignation.
Authorities are now investigating Yoon and his close allies for their roles in last week’s events, including allegations of insurrection.
Among those facing travel bans are former Defense Minister Kim Yong-Hyun, who is in custody, and former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min.
General Park An-su, who led the martial law operation, and Defence Counterintelligence Commander Yeo In-hyung have also been barred from leaving the country.
General Park was questioned by investigators on Monday as the probe intensified.
Yoon’s impeachment failed after members of his ruling People Power Party (PPP) walked out of the National Assembly, denying the opposition the required two-thirds majority.
In exchange for their support, Yoon reportedly agreed to delegate his powers to the prime minister and the PPP chairman.
“This is an unlawful, unconstitutional act of a second insurrection and a second coup,” said Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the opposition Democratic Party.
Critics argue that Yoon’s decision to hand power to unelected officials violates the constitution.
“It seems to resemble an unconstitutional soft coup,” said Kim Hae-won, a constitutional law professor at Pusan National University.
“Their attitude of placing themselves above the constitution mirrors that of insurrectionist Yoon Suk Yeol,” added Park Chan-dae.
Despite Yoon’s apology for the “anxiety and inconvenience” caused by his martial law order, his approval rating has plummeted to 11%, according to a recent Gallup poll.
Opposition leaders have announced plans for a second impeachment vote on Saturday, with massive protests expected outside the National Assembly.
The PPP’s claim that Yoon can remain in office while delegating his powers to party officials has also been widely criticized.
“If there are issues with the president, the constitution lays out clear procedures, such as suspension or impeachment,” said Professor Kim Hae-won.
The ongoing crisis has raised concerns about South Korea’s leadership amid tensions with nuclear-armed North Korea.
The Defense Ministry confirmed Monday that Yoon remains the official commander in chief, despite questions about his authority.
“Legally, (control of military forces) currently lies with the commander in chief,” said Defense Ministry spokesperson Jeon Ha-Kyou.