EU talks drag on with no agreement on climate targets

Efforts by European Union member states to agree on new climate targets have dragged on without a breakthrough.

After around 15 hours of negotiations that stretched into the early hours of Wednesday morning, EU environment ministers in Brussels failed to reach a compromise on a 2040 climate goal.

They were also unable to agree on a reduction commitment required under the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change a document that must be submitted to UN ahead of UN Climate Change Conference, known as COP30, in Brazil.

Some delegations indicated they were prepared to continue talks through the night. Formal negotiations are due to resume on Wednesday morning at 07:45 am (0645 GMT).

However, Tuesday’s meeting had been convened on short notice because of the need to reach an agreement before the UN’s annual climate summit begins in just a few days.

The EU has already missed two deadlines for submitting its climate plan and negotiations are now taking place at the last possible moment.

So far, member states have not been able to formally agree on a reduction target on climate-damaging emissions for the next decade.

They have so far only agreed to a non-binding outline for a climate plan through 2035 aiming to cut emissions over the next 10 years by between 66.25 per cent and 72.5 per cent from 1990 levels.

The climate plan requires unanimous approval.

Talks also continued on a separate, longer-term target for 2040.

Under the EU’s climate law, the bloc must specify alongside its existing 2030 and 2050 targets by how much emissions should be reduced by 2040.

The European Commission has proposed reducing emissions by 90 per cent by 2040 compared to 1990 levels based on scientific evidence.

Several countries, including Poland and France, are pushing back against the proposal, they point to concerns over economic burdens, pressure on industry and the current geopolitical environment.

For a decision to be adopted on this matter a qualified majority is required to at least 15 of the 27 member states representing 65 per cent of the EU population.

(NAN/)

What Angelique Kidjo said about making music for politics

Grammy-Award winning Beninese artist, Angelique Kidjo, has opened up on her choice to not make music for politicians.

While speaking on the Female Poets Society podcast, Kidjo explained the reason behind her choice, stating that some songs lose relevance after regime change.

She further explained that her decision came from an advice her father gave to her, noting that political songs are often time bound.

“My father always used to say to us, especially to me as a singer, do not write music for any political party because they come and they go. And once they’re gone, you go with it. Write your music with your opinions, be free writing your music. Don’t be sold to somebody because therefore, you don’t become the voice of the people anymore. You become the voice of the power. And when that power shifted, you’re off the window,” she stated.

’I tried to be calm,’ Regina Daniels hints at custody battle

Nollywood actress Regina Daniels has cried out over the impact of her marital crisis on her family, revealing that she wants custody of her children.

Th actress on Instagram on Wednesday, made a lengthy video, explaining that her family is currently in a turmoil because of her marital crisis.

Regina also referred to Sen. Ned Nwoko as her ex-husband, adding that she wants to have custody of her children.

“My family is actually in turmoil, it’s crazy but we will definitely come out of it. What gave me the courage to do this video is seeing how my family and everyone is fighting for me. My brother, mum and my sisters, everybody is fighting. My brother started a petition and in hours, there were a lot of people signing the petition. I’m going to fight for my children Ned, I tried to be calm, I tried to let go but I will fight and take them. I will train them with or without your support. You know that my ex-husband,” she stated

Sowore escapes arrest warrant, court adjourns arraignment

Omoyele Sowore on Wednesday escaped a warrant of arrest being issued by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, following his failure to appear for arraignment.

Sowore is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) for alleged defamation alongside X Corporation (Twitter) and Meta (Facebook). He is accused of calling President Bola Tinubu a “criminal” on social media platforms.

During Wednesday’s proceedings, DSS counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), urged Justice Mohammed Umar to issue a bench warrant against Sowore for failing to appear despite being served with the charges and hearing notice.

Kehinde argued that Sowore’s absence showed “disrespect to the court” and urged the judge to direct security agencies to arrest him wherever he may be found.

He also dismissed a letter from human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju seeking an adjournment, saying it was an attempt to stall the case.

Counsel to Meta (Facebook), Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), backed the prosecution’s request, noting that Sowore had publicly accused the company of siding with the DSS.

However, Justice Umar held that the second defendant, X Corporation, had not been properly served with the charge sheet–only a hearing notice–which provided grounds to excuse Sowore’s absence.

The judge directed that all parties be duly served and adjourned the case to December 2, 2025, for arraignment.

2 guards killed inside BIR office in Zamboanga Sibugay

Two security guards were found dead, both with gunshot wounds, on Tuesday morning, November 4, inside the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) office in Ipil, the capital town of Zamboanga Sibugay province.

Local executives and officials of the Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Police Office told reporters on Thursday, November 5, that the fatalities – Arcadz Dawila Muharal, 41, and Dante Miro Jamie, 52 – were on duty when armed men barged into the BIR office in the town proper of Ipil before dawn Tuesday, shot them with pistols, and fled.

Investigators from the Ipil Municipal Police Station said the suspects also took the storage disk of the office’s security camera system as they escaped. Municipal officials are assisting in the investigation.

Brig. Gen. Eleazar Matta, director of the Police Regional Office 9, said on Wednesday that the Ipil police and barangay leaders are cooperating to identify and prosecute the killers of the two security guards.

October inflation stays at 1.7%

Inflation in the county as of October 2025 remained at 1.7%, the same rate as the previous month, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Wednesday, November 5.

Inflation is the rate in which the price of goods and services increase, so a low rate does necessarily indicate that things are becoming cheaper.

The PSA noted the following movements in the inflation rates of different commodity groups:

However, the PSA noted faster inflation rates from fish and other seafood (8.2%), as well as oil and fats (9.4%).

The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) welcomed the latest inflation report, saying that it showed that the government has been proactive in managing supply conditions.

‘The steady headline inflation rate shows that our coordinated interventions are helping to maintain adequate supplies and keeping essential goods affordable,’ DEPDev Secretary Arsenio Baliscan said.

Alarcon wills Maroons in escape act vs Tigers

Harold Alarcon took over down the stretch to give the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons a hard-fought victory over the skidding University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, 89-88, in their UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Alarcon scored UP’s eight final points, including the game-winning jumper, to help the Fighting Maroons win three straight games in the season while sending USTm who shot 52 free throws in the game, to its fourth straight defeat.

The UP star finished the game with 22 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals on a 9-of-18 shooting. Rey Remogat chipped in 19 markers, three boards, three dimes and two steals.

After UP trailed by as much as 15 points, 36-21, the Maroons found their rhythm in the third, going up by eight, 62-54, after an Alarcon jumper.

UST, though, climbed out of that hole and get the lead anew, 75-74, with 6:41 remaining.

Mark Belmonte then pushed the Diliman-based squad ahead once again, 77-75, with a triple on the other end.

The two teams traded baskets in the next minutes, as Collins Akowe and Alarcon dueled.

After a deuce by Akowe gave the Tigers an 86-84 lead, Alarcon hit a booming 3-pointer with 1:10 left to push UP ahead, 87-86.

A pair of free throws by Amiel Acido, who was fouled while going hard to the bucket, pushed UST to an 88-87 advantage.

But Alarcon toyed with the defense of Mark Llemit, as he hit crossovers before spinning to a jumper for the go-ahead bucket to set the final score, 89-88.

UST, though, still had chances to go for the win, but misses by Acido and a turnover by Akowe iced the UP victory.

Miguel Yniguez produced 11 markers while Belmonte had nine for the Maroons.

Akowe flexed his muscles inside with 26 points and 16 rebounds, but he made just half of his 20 free throws in more than 38 minutes of play. Nic Cabanero backstopped with 18 markers, four boards and two dimes.

UP was called for 39 personal fouls in the game, resulting in 52 free throws for the Tigers. But UST made just 28 of their attempts, compared to the Maroons’ 13-of-19 clip.

The defending champions thus rose to solo second with a 7-3 win-loss record, while the Espana-based squad dropped to a 5-5 slate, tied with Adamson and Ateneo.

Blue Eagles brace for tough race to catch semis bus

Despite getting a win to breathe life to the Ateneo Blue Eagles’ Final Four hopes, head coach Tab Baldwin acknowledged that things will only get more difficult as the elimination round reaches its crescendo.

Ateneo won its first four games in the UAAP Season 88, tying last season’s total win tally. But they lost five straight games, before snapping that streak with a tight 78-74 win over the also-ran University of the East Red Warriors on Wednesday.

Baldwin, after their win, said that no team should be ‘sitting there, feeling really confident’ with the Final Four race being too close to call.

‘The pack is tight and talented. And when you look at, you know, Adamson and ourselves sitting there, both of us having lost to FEU and, you know, FEU is another team that you just can’t go to sleep on,’ he told reporters after the win that gave them a 5-5 win-loss record, tied with the Soaring Falcons.

‘I don’t feel confident, but we’re in with a fight, you know,’ he added.

As things stand, National University is on top of the standings with an 8-2 win-loss record. Defending champions University of the Philippines is currently second with a 6-3 slate, followed by La Salle’s 6-4 card.

University of Santo Tomas (5-4), Adamson and Ateneo are all virtually tied, while FEU, the seventh in the standings, are also in there with them with a 4-6 record.

Baldwin, though, said that what’s important is they have a fighting chance to possibly return to the Final Four.

‘You’ve got to punch your ticket to get there by being in the fight. And so now, you know, it was a good win today, because if we didn’t get that win, it would have been really, really tough. It’s still going to be really, really tough. But now we have, you know, a puncher’s chance,’ the coach stressed.

‘And that’s all you can really ask for. The league this year is crazy, you know, and a lot of fun. And every game day now, I think standings are going to swing around back and forth. So that’s why I think nobody can really be comfortable right now and you’ve got to show up every game and play it like it’s a playoff game now,’ he added.

The Blue Eagles’ path to the Final Four will be harder, as they will take on La Salle, UST, UP and Adamson in their last four elimination games.

‘You know, it’s interesting. The five games that we lost, generally speaking, our defense was pretty good in those games. And today it wasn’t. And if we’re going to be successful in this next stretch of games, we’re going to have to be a very good defensive team. We’re going to have to make a stand against some really outstanding basketball teams,’ Baldwin said.

‘So, you know, we’ve got to really lock down our defensive mentality. And that can’t be in question at all, even for one possession. Because I don’t expect these games to be more than five-point differences. And you don’t want to be on the bottom side of that. And that’s a defensive question.’

The crucial Ateneo-La Salle clash will be held on Sunday, 4:30 p.m., at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

UST’s Cabañero laments missed free throws in pressure-packed loss to UP

MANILA, Philippines — Pressure got to the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, team captain Nic Cabañero admitted, as they missed 24 free throws in another close loss in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament.

UST absorbed a slim 89-88 defeat at the hands of the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons on Wednesday.

In the game, the Tigers were fouled 39 times and shot 52 free throws. However, they made just 28 of their attempts, good for 53.8%.

Of course, this would have spelled the difference in the close game.

‘Ayun, I think, feel ko nadala lang kami sa pressure on that aspect. But we’re gonna work hard. Gawin namin yung best namin to improve on that,’ Cabañero told reporters after the game.

‘We have the chances to win just one or two free throws away to get the ball game. But unfortunately, ayun, nanalo talaga yung UP at that,’ he added.

Free throw shooting has been a weak link for the Espana-based squad, as they shoot a league-worst 58.6% from the free throw stripe as of November 5.

Against UP on Wednesday, UST led by as much as 15 points, 36-21, before UP clawed out of the hole.

But the Tigers continued to pound the ball inside as they took advantage of the Diliman-based squad’s fouls.

However, UST center Collins Akowe, who drew 14 fouls himself, shot just 10-of-20 from the free throw line. Cabañero, who finished with 18 points, made just half of his six attempts from the stripe.

In the fourth quarter, the Tigers missed five free throws.

Guard Amiel Acido, though, made free throws to push UST, 88-87, with 34.5 seconds to go, but Harold Alarcon’s jumper hit the bottom of the net with 24.3 seconds left for the win.

UST tried to go for the win, but short stabs by Acido and a turnover by Akowe, iced UP’s win and the Tigers’ fourth straight defeat this season.

Cabañero, however, said the team continues to trust the process.

‘Naniwala pa rin kami na kayang kaya namin manalo sa mga remaining games namin. And of course, that aspect of free throws, lahat kami nagka-miss e. I think we should do better than that. Kailangan pa namin na patibayan pa rin yung loob namin na walang pressure dapat,’ he said.

‘Kami pa rin naglalaro at the end of the day. Tiwala pa rin kami sa Panginoon Diyos na I think He has a perfect plan for us to still believe na kayang-kaya namin.’

And now with four elimination games remaining, the Tigers have to be quick to move on, the high-scoring wing said.

‘I think that life must go on kahit anong mangyari. All of us may naramdaman tayo ng struggles and failures, but it doesn’t stop us. We should keep moving forward kahit anong mangyari,’ he underscored.

‘We should never give up kasi pangit yun eh. Pangit yung gano’ng mentality eh. Kaya dapat, ano kami, we should show our mental toughness on and off the court,’ he added.

‘We still have four games that we should win. We’ll take it one game at a time. Pangit kasi pag nagsisihan pa kami. Dapat dito mas makikita yung team na mas buo pa kami. Kahit anong mangyari, walang iwanan.’

UST will return to action on Sunday as they take on a dangerous Far Eastern University squad at 1:30 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Disqualified Tarlac mayor to remain in post

The Supreme Court (SC) has allowed Tarlac City Mayor Susan Yap-Sulit to remain in her post pending the resolution of her appeal questioning her disqualification.

The SC issued a status quo ante order, temporarily reversing a ruling of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) disqualifying Sulit from the mayoral race in the midterm elections in May.

The case stemmed from a petition filed by Amado de Leon and Jay-Ar Navarro, who claimed Sulit did not meet the one-year residency requirement in seeking an elective post.

The Comelec Second Division had dismissed the petition, allowed Sulit to run and proclaimed her as the winning mayor.

However, on Oct. 22, the Comelec en banc reversed the Second Division’s ruling and disqualified Sulit.

The office of the SC spokesperson said the high tribunal issued the status quo order ‘to maintain the situation between the parties’ prior to the issuance by the Comelec en banc ruling while the case is pending with the SC.

The high tribunal directed the respondents to file their comments on the petition within 10 days from receipt of notice.