Using Baking Soda in the Laundry

Baking Soda 

 Maybe many would ask, "baking soda" in the laundry, Is it true? Yes! since "baking soda" acts as a natural deodorizer and cleanser. Adding it to laundry is a great way to gently clean your clothes to remove tough smells and stains. Using baking soda can also help soften clothes, boost your detergent's power, and keep whites white. As a bonus, it helps your washing machine stay clean, too.

To Remove Stains

For tough-to-clean stains use an ARM & HAMMER detergent like the Ultra Power 4x Liquid Laundry Detergent. HAMMER™ Ultra Power 4X Liquid Laundry Detergent. It’s ultra-concentrated and packed with two scoops of baking soda. This little bottle offers loads of power, getting your clothes 50% whiter and 50% fresher compared to the leading value detergent per load. It’s the little bottle with the big value. It’s also available in Perfume & Dye Free.

Reduce and Remove Laundry Odors 

Body odors on our clothes and linens are caused by bacteria. They are removed when detergent molecules break up the bacteria cells on the fabrics. However, less expensive detergents need a boost to work more effectively. Baking soda helps to regulate the pH level in the washer's water by keeping it from being too acidic or alkaline. By adding 1/2 cup of baking soda to each laundry load, detergents can work more effectively and reduce bacteria.

Boost Bleach and Detergent Performance

Chlorine bleach is often used to help remove odors and general grime in our laundry. In water that is too acidic or alkaline, bleach needs a boost to work more effectively. By boosting its cleaning properties, you may be able to use less bleach to achieve the same results, saving yourself money and reducing the bleach's impact on the environment.

Natural Fabric Softener 

Instead of using fabric softener, try adding a 1/2 cup of baking soda to the rinse cycle. It acts as a natural softener and is gentler for household members with sensitivities to chemicals in their laundry. As a natural mineral, baking soda is less harsh on the environment than synthetic fabric softeners with perfumes that mask odors. This also makes it a good choice for those with sensitive skin and allergies.Unlike synthetic fabric softeners that can interfere with fire-retardant finishes on children's pajamas, baking soda can be used safely.

Boost Bleach and Detergent Performance 

Chlorine bleach is often used to help remove odors and general grime in our laundry. In water that is too acidic or alkaline, bleach needs a boost to work more effectively. By boosting its cleaning properties, you may be able to use less bleach to achieve the same results, saving yourself money and reducing the bleach's impact on the environment. Add 1/2 cup of baking soda along with each 1/2 cup of bleach (be sure to add the bleach at the proper time), will regulate the pH level in the water so bleach will work more effectively to reduce bacteria and loosen soil.

  

Baking Soda is a miracle ingredients! Must try!

By the way, baking soda is also an Iron Cleaner because of its natural gentle abrasive. To remove built-up starch and scorch deposits from the face plate of a cool iron, mix a paste of baking soda and water. Using a white cloth, rub the paste over the face of the iron. For tough build-up, use the cloth to scrub gently and repeat until the build-up is gone. Finish by wiping off the face plate with a cloth dampened with distilled white vinegar. Your iron will glide smoothly making ironing much easier and leave no tell-tale deposits.

 

Healthy Benefits of Eating Pomelo

Pomelo (Scientific Name:Citrus Maxima ; Bisayan Name: Buongon)

Pomelo, also called Pumello, Jabong, Lusho, Chinese grapefruit, shaddock and ‘chakotra‘ (Hindi) is the largest member of the citrus family. More sweet than sour, with juicy meat and pulp, pomelos are considered grandfathers of grapefruits. The upper layer of this fruit is thick and soft and can be peeled easily. The pulp inside comes in a variety of colors ranging from yellow to pink and red. You can find the fruit growing on citrus trees in the heat of summer and or in tropical climates. Pomelo fruits weigh up to 20 pounds and have a mixed taste. It is sweet like orange, tart like grapefruit, tangy like tangerine, and very juicy. 

Pomela fruit health benefits are because it is rich in Vitamin C like all citrus fruits and also in Vitamin B. It contains a high amount of beta-carotene and folic acid and is very beneficial for pregnant women. Pomelo also contains a good amount of potassium, which keeps our heart healthy. It also contains Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, B2 and C, bioflavonoid, healthy fats, protein, fiber, antioxidants, and enzymes.

1.Fights Cancer

The skin of pomelo is very rich in bioflavonoids, which fight cancer and help to reduce pancreatic, intestinal, and breast cancer. It also stops cancer from spreading by enabling the body to eliminate excess estrogen. Fiber present in pomelo protects from colon cancer.  

Women who eat more high-fiber foods during adolescence and young adulthood, including vegetables and fruit, may have significantly lower breast cancer risk than those who eat less dietary fiber when young.

2. Heart Health

Pomelo has a high content of potassium, which like Vitamin C plays an important role in supporting the heart. This essential mineral regulates blood pressure levels. Abundant in pectin, pomelo juice clears the arterial deposits accumulated in the body, thereby reducing the impurities and benefiting people with hypertension. Pomelo also reduces the cholesterol count in the body and promotes good cholesterol.

3. Prevents Anemia

Research has shown that Vitamin C enhances the absorption of iron in body. Iron deficiency often leads to anemia i.e. shortage of blood in body. Having a diet rich in Vitamin C helps to combat iron loss and improves blood circulation.

4. Prevents Osteoporosis

Uncontrolled osteoporosis can affect posture, bodily movements as well as flexibility. Treatment for brittle bones calls for a diet rich in calcium and minerals to encourage new bone development. The pulp of pomelo boosts bone health and decreases the potential risk of building brittle bones. Pomelo juice is known to be good for bones and lowers the risk of having weak and fragile bones. When physical exercise and calcium supplements are accompanied with the consumption of pomelo juice, your bones become healthy and strong.

5. Controls Blood Pressure

Pomelo juice contains potassium that is a key nutrient for regulating blood pressure. Drinking the juice helps in keeping the body’s blood pressure in check and prevents hypertension.

6. Cleanses The Arteries

This sweet and sour juice contains pectin, which helps to remove unwanted elements from the artery, keeping it clean and unclogged. Also, the vitamin C content in pomelo juice ensures that the elastic nature of the artery is sustained.

7. Prevents UTI (Urinary Tract Infection)

Urinary Tract infection is a bacterial infection that affects the urinary system that creates stores and removes urine. Increased consumption of pomelo juice helps to fight this particular frequent swelling in pregnant women. The Vitamin C present in pomelo increases the acid level in urine and shirks the development of bacteria in the urinary tract.

Pomelos aren’t the easiest fruits in the world to eat, based on their thick rind, but a good way to start is to cut the “cap” off the fruit, and then cut vertical slices on the sides of the fruit. Pull the thick rind down and away from the fleshy interior, which should now look much like an orange. Pull the fleshy sections apart and remove the seeds. Some of the fibrous tissue around the flesh can be bitter, so either remove it, or add a bit of sugar. You must try one today....Enjoy!

The Woman behind Love in the Moonlight (Moonlight drawn by Clouds)

Yoon Yi-soo is the writer of the web novel which became the original source material for currently airing hit youth sageuk Moonlight Drawn By Clouds. Moonlight Drawn By Clouds is a romance story about Crown Prince Hyomyeong (aka Lee Yeong, played by Park Bo-gum) and Hong Ra-on (played by Kim Yoo-Jung), a courageous girl disguised as a palace eunuch.

“Moonlight Drawn By Clouds is a special project for her since she started working on it in secretly for eight months after giving birth of her son. She had promised her husband to focus on child-rearing for two to three years, however, after eight months, she felt isolated and vanishing from the world. And started writing Moonlight Drawn By Clouds.”

Moonlight is her first web-based novel. The first chapter of the web novel was published on Naver in October 2013. Since then, it has accrued more than 5.4 million views, and the five-book paperback version has sold more than 250,000 copies.

“As of now, she have published twelve romance novels, but Moonlight Drawn By Clouds was the one she poured her heart and soul into. Even though she was tired physically and mentally while writing it, her heart warmed each week when the novel rose in the rankings. Thankfully, it was loved by readers until the end.”

With Moonlight Drawn By Clouds being such a huge success that it was adapted into a television show, it’s surprising that she did receive that type of negative treatment. So far the drama has held onto the number one rank in its time slot, breaking the coveted 20% ratings bar for the past couple weeks. KBS even wanted to extend it, due to its massive popularity.

When asked about the drama, she said, “she laugh and weep while watching it because she watch it from the perspective of a regular viewer. She view the drama and her web novel as entirely separate. Although her novel provided the basic groundwork for it, the drama is completely a production of the PD and the screenwriters. She's just a fellow fan. While watching the tenth episode, tears fell from her eyes when Ra-on was crying onscreen. She said "the actors are really superb.”

Her writing process is thorough because she wants to convey the best story possible for her readers. “Before she write a novel, she research carefully and extensively. She always listen to lectures on the traditions and ceremonies of the royal palace. She ask questions to cultural experts. She meet with historians, and look at ancient records at the library. She feel like she should know the historical context correctly in order to present it to her readers.”

Her passion for writing really shows in the Korean Drama "Love in the Moonlight (Moonlight drawn by Clouds). Thank you!

Love in the Moonlight (Moonlight Drawn by Clouds)

the famous "Kissing Scene"

Love in the Moonlight (Moonlight Drawn by Clouds) is a South Korean television series starring Park Bo-gum and Kim Yoo-jung with Jinyoung, Chae Soo-bin and Kwak Dong-yeon. It is a coming-of-age story and youth romance set during 19th-century Joseon Dynasty based on the novel Moonlight Drawn by Clouds which was first serialized on Naver in 2013 and consequently published as a five-part series of books in 2015. It aired from August 22, 2016 until October 18, 2016 every Monday and Tuesday on KBS2 for 18 episodes.

Despite the series being set in the 19th-century, it conveys a more modern-day message and yet preserves the culture and heritage of the setting and the people. It focuses on creating a romance that's beautiful and magical and yet has a bittersweet effect. It expresses strong emotions for the viewers to relate more to each characters.

The series gained praises by critics and audiences for its production, performances and music. It became KBS's highest-rated Monday/Tuesday drama since 2010 . It also dominated topicality, content and brand reputation charts in and beyond its run . It also gained topped viewership ratings since it premiered in March 2017 in the Philippines, dubbed in Filipino, on ABS-CBN.

As a viewer, I am able to know better the culture and heritage of the Korean people and at the same time was in love with the characters. Never that i missed a single episode of  The Love in the Moonlight (Moonlight drawn by Clouds). I even watched it several times even if it means sleepless nights. The actors and actresses portrayal of each character was exemplary that it made me laughed and giggled with an outburst of tears on scenes that were heart breaking. This is the third Korean drama I've watched (first - Endless Love, second - Legend of the Blue Sea) and I must say "it struck me to the bone". 

TRUE LOVE can only mean sacrificing yourself for the one you truly LOVED. Just like what Kim Yoon-sung (Jinyoung) did for Hong Ra-On (Kim Yoo-jung) for his great love and Kim Byung-yeon (Kwak Dong-yeon) for his friendship and loyalty to the Crown Prince Lee Yeong (Park Bo-gum).

Recommendation

A really must watched Korean Drama

 

 

Benefits of Drinking enough Water daily

Benefits of Drinking enough Water daily

Drinking sufficient amount of water everyday is a must for overall good health. 

1. Good for the Skin    

Drinking water gives you a radiant, healthy, younger- looking skin. This is true since skin is part of the body organ and just like any other part of the body it must be nourished. Drink more water. Drinking at least 8 glasses a day will help get rid of the body and skin of toxins. Many people often report that by increasing their water intake, their skin has a more radiant glow. Those who suffer from acne have reported the same results. Nothing will happen overnight, but even a good couple of weeks of increasing water intake should be enough for you to see how hydration affects your own skin. If your skin is not getting the sufficient amount of water, the lack of hydration will present itself by turning your skin dry, tight and flaky. Dry skin has less resilience and is more prone to wrinkling. 

2. Weight Loss Aid

Scientists found that drinking two eight-ounce glasses of water before meals can help defeat appetite and hence support your weight loss efforts. When you drink water, it fills your stomach and reduces the tendency to eat more. It helps increase the rate at which the body burns fat, and promotes the breakdown and elimination of fat cells. Calorie-free water is also a great replacement for high-calorie drinks. 

3. Improves Mood

Research indicates that mild dehydration can negatively affect your mood and ability to think. In a study, it was found that being dehydrated can take a toll on your mood and cognitive function. The color of your urine is a good indicator of your level of hydration. The lighter the color the better the level of hydration and vice versa. 

4. Relieves Fatigue

If you often feel tired, there is a high chance that it could be due to inadequate consumption of water which makes the body function less efficiently. In fact, fatigue is one of the first signs of dehydration.

When there is less water in the body, there is a drop of blood volume which causes the heart to work harder to pump oxygenated blood out in the bloodstream, and other major organs also work less efficiently. Thus, drinking adequate water can help your body function better and reduce fatigue. 

5. Relief from Headaches and Migraines

If you have a headache or migraine, the first thing that you can do to get some relief is drink plenty of water. Headaches and migraines are often caused by dehydration. In a study, researchers found that increasing water intake helped reduce the total number of hours and intensity of headaches.

6. Digestion and Constipation

Water also improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. This helps in digestion and prevents constipation. Inadequate water in the body often results in constipation as the colon pulls water from the stools to maintain hydration, thereby making them harder and difficult to pass. Drinking sufficient water boosts your metabolism and helps the body properly break down food. This helps your digestive system work well and promotes regular bowel movements. Warm water, in particular, is good for digestive health. 

7. Flushes Out Toxins

Water is an excellent detoxifier as it helps flush out toxins from your body and get rid of waste primarily through sweat and urine.It also promotes kidney function and reduces kidney stones by diluting the salts and minerals in urine that cause kidney stones.Though you need to drink adequate amount of water throughout the day, experts warn against drinking too much water as it may reduce your kidneys’ ability to filter out waste. Thus, it is recommended to drink the amount of water your body requires. As the amount of water required by the body tends to differ from one person to another, it is usually suggested to drink to your thirst, and also include other fluids and foods with high water content in your diet. 

8. Muscles Performance

 If you don’t drink enough water during physical activity, your performance can suffer. As little as a 2% loss of fluids can have a noticeable affect on your athletic abilities. So when you’re exercising and sweating, make sure to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and make it easier for your body to perform at its best. Sports drinks are packed with sodium, preservatives, fake sugars and artificial colors, all of which negatively affect weight loss. So keep it simple and opt for water, best of all. 

9. Prevent Hangovers

Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it promotes the production of urine and causes excess fluid loss in your body. Hangovers are partly caused by the diuretic effect of alcohol, and the dehydration it causes. To help alleviate the chances of a hangover when you’re drinking alcohol, try drinking a glass of water between each drink. Also, have at least one large glass of water before you go to bed. 

10. Regulate Internal Body Temperature    

Your skin is the largest organ in your body, and is responsible for helping to control the temperature of your body through sweating. Since your body creates a lot of heat through metabolic processes, it’s important that it’s able to regulate temperatures properly.When you’re dehydrated, your skin isn’t able to produce as much sweat and you can become overheated. This can lead to symptoms as mild as red flushing or as serious as heat stroke. So when you’re hot, make sure to drink lots of water to ensure your body can cool itself properly. 

11. Fights Bad Breath

Bad breath is caused by bacteria lodged in the grooves of your tongue, teeth, and gums. This buildup of bacteria causes bad smelling things called volatile sulfur compounds. When your mouth is dry (like when you first wake up in the morning), you lack the saliva to rinse these compounds out of your mouth.Drinking water helps flush these bacteria's and keeps your mouth from having a build up the bad smelling compounds. So drink lots of water and keep your breath fresh!

Conclusion

There are a lot of water benefits that it’s impossible to include all in one post. If you want to be healthier and lose more weight, drinking water is one of the easiest things you can do. If you don’t drink a lot of water, start slow… aim for 64 ounces  a day and gradually add 10-20 ounces every couple of days, before you know it you will be up to a full gallon, you’ll feel better than ever, you will look awesome and your metabolism will be great, so weight loss and weight management won’t be such a big issue. Start now and see the result.

Snake Plant

Snake Plant

Snake Plant

If you're looking for an easy-care houseplant, you can't do much better than snake plant. This hardy indoor is still popular today -- generations of gardeners have called it a favorite -- because of how adaptable it is to a wide range of growing conditions. Most snake plant varieties have stiff, upright, sword-like leaves that may be banded or edged in gray, silver, or gold. Snake plant's architectural nature makes it a natural choice for modern and contemporary interior designs. It's one of the best houseplants around! Grow snake plant in just about any room of your home. While it tolerates low light, snake plant grows fastest in bright conditions.

As long as you water it now and again, it's tough to underwater this hardy houseplant. Water snake plant when the top inch or so of the soil dries. Take care not to overwater it -- allow the top inch of the potting mix to dry in between waterings.

Snake plant doesn't require much fertilizer, but will grow a little more if it is fertilized a couple of times during the spring and summer. You can use any fertilizer for houseplants; follow the directions on the fertilizer packaging for tips on how much to use.

Snake plant doesn't require pruning because it's such a slow grower.

The Snake Plant, or Mother-in-Law's Tongue, is one of the most recommended plants for improving air quality. The optimal place to keep this relatively inexpensive and low-maintenance plant is the bedroom, because it converts CO2 into oxygen at night.

In its roundup of the best cheap plants for improving indoor air quality, Wisebread notes that Mother-in-Law's Tongue is recommended by a NASA study (which lists at least a dozen air-improving plants) and researcher Kamal Meattle, who has shown us that just three common houseplants can improve indoor air.

Kobe Paras got 2 minutes of action in his first March Madness experience

Kobe Paras in action versus Truman State

The 6-foot-6 Paras and his team, the Creighton University Blue Jays, were upset by the Rhode Island Rams, 84-72, and flamed out of the tournament’s first round. At Creighton, the number 6 seed in the Midwest Region this season, freshman Paras is a role player.

Kobe Paras of the Philippines hit a triple, his only shot, late in the game to make it 67-80, and had one rebound in 1:51 minutes of action for the Bluejays. 

It will be a soul-searching summer for the Leaping Lena of a collegiate player and his rock-solid family support while maturing as a sophomore at Creighton in Omaha, Nebraska.

Ending up at Creighton is motivation, not a deterrent, said the 19-year-old Kobe, whose eventual goal like any other NCAA Division I player is to aim for the NBA.
He recently told an Associated Press writer “it’s just a blessing… God gave me the ability to represent a country at an early age, and the hope (Filipinos) have is pretty overwhelming.”

By the time you read this, UCLA, Kobe’s first choice would have advanced into the Elite 8 or bounced from the Sweet 16 by the University of Kentucky as the NCAA championship resumes in several venues leading to the Final Four in Phoenix.

The third-seeded Bruins (31-4) will face the second-seeded Wildcats (31-5) in the South Regional semifinal at FedEX Forum in Memphis Tenn. Saturday, Philippine time.
March Madness is so called because of close games and major surprises.
Even the titans of college basketball get stunned by the unheralded—the Cinderellas—on their way to the so called “Big Dance.”

After the Super Bowl, sports fans in the US, including legions of Filipinos turn their fancy to March Madness—the American version of our UAAP, NCAA and the alphabet soup of college leagues in the islands all rolled into one.

Watch! Kobe in Action

Binibining Pilipinas 2017 candidates in swimwear

MANILA, Philippines — “Aside from fashion, I love pageants!” said award-winning fashion designer Jeffrey Rogador.

For the past two years, Jeffrey has been designing the swimwear for the opening videos of the Binibining Pilipinas pageant. This year, he is tapped to do all the presentations with swimwear exposures---the press conference, TV plugs, official photoshoot, and coronation night.

“Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. called me and asked me to be the official swimwear designer for Binibining Pilipinas 2017,” Jeffrey says. “I’ll be doing five to six swimsuits for the official 40 candidates.” (Unfortunately, that number has gone down to 39 as one candidate has resigned or has been disqualified.)

Jeffrey also did the swimwear for two editions of Century Tuna Superbods and the recent Miss San Fernando, La Union.

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“I gave sketches and designs to [BPCI], most of them two-piece with cutouts and plays on patterns and colors, then they chose and approved a particular design for each event. I made young and modern designs in terms of colors, looks, cuts and details. They requested for bright and happy colors. I just infused my DNA as an urbanwear designer because I don’t know which ones will be approved. ”

For the press presentation, Jeffrey used Spandex with chiffon wrap and color-blocking of neons. When the candidates sauntered in at the ballroom of the Novotel Hotel in Cubao, their JR Swimwear caressed every curve and showcased their toned physiques. “We did three fittings before the press presentation,” Jeffrey shares.

“Madam Stella [Marquez de Araneta, BPCI doyenne] is very keen with the fitting and how the swimwear hugs the body of the ladies,” he says, adding, “She’s happy with the swimwear.”

What about the girls? “The candidates love the swimsuit.They were all asking if they can take it home.”

Can they? “I’m not sure. It’s the decision of BPCI.”

‘Philippines’ Next Top Model’ includes petite Pinays

MANILA, Philippines — In time for the return of supermodel Tyra Banks as “America’s Next Top Model” (ANTM) host, “Philippines’ Next Top Model” (PNTM) returns on TV to include petite Filipinas, PNTM director Mike Sandejas said.

“We lowered the height requirement to 5’4”, lower than the usual standards (5’9”), so more girls will have a chance to compete, so that those who do not have the traditional model height can dream to become models,” Sandejas told Philstar.com in a recent interview.

According to him, they did not open the competition to men and plus-sized models yet because they want to stay faithful to ANTM’s first season format.

“There are no plus-sized yet; we want the contestants to be fit kasi malakas ang fitness sense ng millennials eh,” he explained.

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The show recently named its 12 finalists, which include Ina Dominica Guerrero, which was in the same Binibining Pilipinas batch as Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach. Other finalists who were beauty queens are Petche Ann Vale, a Mutya ng Pilipinas contender last year, and Jan Helen Villanueva, a part of Binibining Pilipinas 2013.

The finalists, said Sandejas, came from different classes and backgrounds from all over the world. There are half-breeds and Filipinos who grew up abroad such as Aivie Pahn from Canada; British-Filipino Adela Mae Marshall; and half-Swiss Angela Lehmann.

Sandejas clarified that this PNTM cycle is a TV5 production and different from the previous one produced by another TV network and with Ruffa Gutierrez as host. It is also not the same as “Top Model Philippines” hosted by Sarah Meier.

“America’s Next Top Model” premiered in May 2003. Banks, the show’s creator and executive producer, served as the head judge for 22 cycles. The model search aired semiannually until 2012, and then annually in 2013, the year British singer and actress Rita Ora replaced Banks as the head judge.

The Kapatid Network, which aired two seasons of “Asia’s Next Top Model,” announced auditions in early January this year after acquiring production and airing rights. Former Binibining Pilipinas-World Maggie Wilson now heads the panel of judges that will choose the winner among 24 contestants. Other judges include celebrity stylist Rain Dagala and Professional Models Association of the Philippines President Raf Kiefer.

“I want to go back into the original spirit of the series wherein it is in fact also a model documentary, parang ‘yung ugly duckling ba na we turn a diamond in the rough kind of person into a top model,” the director explained.

He assured that this PNTM reboot is different from other Top Model shows all over the world because of Filipinas’ different culture and dynamics. There are also plans, he said, for more seasons that will probably include male contestants and social media engagement, just like when ANTM had US-based Filipino blogger Bryan Boy as judge.

Some challenges, Sandejas noted, are inspired by the first seasons of ANTM. “We’re following the old Top Model bible…It’s not totally different from the first one, but there will be something new to learn every show. There’s a skill, a philosophy that we teach that you can adopt to your career if you want to become a future model.”

Will there be also naked photo shoots? “You have to watch to find out!” he said.
 “Philippines’ Next Top Model: High Street” airs every Tuesday at 8:10 p.m. on TV5.

4 killed, 40 wounded in London terror attack

LONDON – A knife-wielding man went on a deadly rampage in the heart of Britain’s seat of power Wednesday afternoon, plowing a car into pedestrians on London’s Westminster Bridge before stabbing a police officer to death inside the gates of Parliament.

Four people were killed, including the assailant, and 40 others were injured in what Prime Minister Theresa May condemned as a “sick and depraved terrorist attack.”

British police yesterday arrested seven people in armed raids as the IS group through the Aaamaq news agency said the attacker was a “soldier of the Islamic State.”

Britain’s top anti-terror officer Mark Rowley said: “We have searched six addresses and made seven arrests,” adding that the raids included locations in London and the central city of Birmingham.

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Hundreds of extra police were on patrol and officers worked around the clock to piece together what happened in the deadliest attack in Britain since four suicide bombers killed 52 people on London’s transport system in July 2005.

Press Association news agency photos believed to be of the knifeman lying on an ambulance stretcher showed a burly man with black clothes and a beard.

Other pictures showed a knife on the cobblestones inside the vehicle entrance gates to parliament, while three shots were heard ringing out on video footage as terrified passers-by fled.

Lawmakers, lords, staff and visitors were locked down after the man was shot by police within the perimeter of Parliament, just meters from entrances to the building itself and in the shadow of the iconic Big Ben clock tower. He died, as did two pedestrians on the bridge, and the police officer.

A doctor who treated the wounded from the bridge said some had “catastrophic” injuries. Three police officers, several French teenagers on a school trip, two Romanian tourists, a Chinese citizen and five South Korean visitors were among the injured.

Police said they were treating the attack as terrorism. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
Metropolitan Police counterterrorism chief Mark Rowley said police believed there was only one attacker, “but it would be foolish to be overconfident early on.”

Islamic extremism was suspected in the attack, Rowley said, adding that authorities believe they know the assailant’s identity but would not reveal it while the investigation was ongoing.

The threat level for international terrorism in the UK was already listed at severe, meaning an attack was “highly likely.”

Speaking outside 10 Downing St. after chairing a meeting of the government’s emergency committee COBRA, May said that level would not change. She said attempts to defeat British values of democracy and freedom through terrorism would fail.

“Tomorrow morning, Parliament will meet as normal,” she said. Londoners and visitors “will all move forward together, never giving in to terror and never allowing the voices of hate and evil to drive us apart.”

The British flag over parliament flew at half-mast.

“What we will do is continue as the House of Commons. We will not give in to terrorism,” deputy speaker Lindsay Hoyle told reporters.

Queen Elizabeth II postponed her appearance yesterday to open the new headquarters of London’s Metropolitan Police and London’s mayor Sadiq Khan called a candlelit vigil on Trafalgar Square later in the day.

US President Donald Trump was among world leaders offering condolences, and in Paris, the lights of the Eiffel Tower were to be dimmed in solidarity with London.
London has been a target for terrorism many times over past decades. Just this weekend, hundreds of armed police took part in an exercise simulating a “marauding” terrorist attack on the River Thames.

Wednesday was the anniversary of suicide bombings in the Brussels airport and subway that killed 32 people last year, and the latest events echoed recent vehicle attacks in Berlin and Nice, France.

In the House of Commons, legislators were holding a series of votes on pensions when deputy Speaker Lindsay Hoyle announced that the sitting was being suspended and told lawmakers not to leave.

Parliament was locked down for several hours, and the adjoining Westminster subway station was shut.

Conservative lawmaker Tobias Ellwood, whose brother was killed in the Bali terror attack in 2002, performed first aid on the wounded police officer, who later died. A few meters away lay the assailant.

“I tried to stem the flow of blood and give mouth to mouth while waiting for the medics to arrive but I think he had lost too much blood,” Ellwood said. “He had multiple wounds, under the arm and in the back.”

The attack began early Wednesday afternoon as a driver in a gray SUV slammed into pedestrians on the bridge linking Parliament to the south bank of the River Thames.

Former Polish foreign minister Radek Sikorski was in a car crossing the bridge when he heard “something like a car hitting metal sheet” and then saw people lying on the pavement.

“I saw one person who gave no signs of life. One man was bleeding from his head. I saw five people who were at least seriously injured,” Sikorski told Poland’s TVN24.

Ambulances arrived within minutes to treat people who lay scattered along the length of the bridge. One bloodied woman lay surrounded by a scattering of postcards. Police said one injured woman was pulled from the river.

The car crashed into railings on the north side of the bridge, less than 200 meters from the entrance to Parliament. As people scattered in panic, witnesses saw a man holding a knife run toward the building.

“The whole crowd just surged around the corner by the gates just opposite Big Ben,” said witness Rick Longley. “A guy came past my right shoulder with a big knife and just started plunging it into the policeman. I have never seen anything like that. I just can’t believe what I just saw.”

The attacker managed to get past a gate into Parliament’s fenced-in New Palace Yard, a cobbled courtyard in the shadow of the Big Ben clock tower.

Daily Mail journalist Quentin Letts said a man in black attacked the police officer before being shot two or three times as he tried to storm into the building.

“As this attacker was running towards the entrance, two plain-clothed guys with guns shouted at him what sounded like a warning, he ignored it and they shot two or three times and he fell,” Letts told the BBC.

The attacker fell to the cobbles just yards from the entrance to 1,000-year-old Westminster Hall, the oldest part of the parliamentary complex, busy with visitors and school groups. Beyond that, a corridor leads to the building’s Central Lobby, flanked by House of Commons and House of Lords chambers.

The prime minister was among lawmakers near the Commons at the time of the attack, and was quickly ushered away by security officers and driven back to Downing Street.

To get that far, the attacker would have had to evade the armed officers who patrol the Parliament complex in pairs, as well as Parliament’s own security staff, who don’t carry guns.

The attack unfolded near some of the city’s most famous tourist sites, including the London Eye, a large Ferris wheel with pods that overlook the capital. It was halted after the attack, stranding visitors in the pods, with an aerial view of the attack scene.

London Ambulance Service said medics treated 12 people for serious injuries and eight who were less seriously hurt.

Colleen Anderson, a doctor at St. Thomas’ Hospital, said some of the wounded had “catastrophic” injuries.

The French Foreign Ministry said that three students on a school trip from Saint Joseph in the Brittany town of Concarneau were among the injured. Two Romanians were also among the injured, the country’s Foreign Ministry said.

Trump spoke with May by telephone and applauded “the quick response of British police and first responders,” White House press secretary Sean Spicer said.

London has often been the target of terrorist attacks, from IRA campaigns in the 1970s and ’80s to more recent Islamist plots. On July 7, 2005, four al-Qaeda-inspired British bombers blew themselves up on three subway trains and a bus in London, killing 52 people.

British security forces say they have thwarted some 13 terror plots over the past four years, but in recent years the UK has largely been spared major international terror attacks such as the ones seen in Belgium and France.

Last year, a far-right supporter shot and killed British lawmaker Jo Cox, who had campaigned for the UK to remain in the European Union. Prior to that, an attacker claiming to be motivated by Syria stabbed three people at a London subway station.

The most gruesome recent attack occurred in 2013 when two Muslim converts of Nigerian descent attacked Lee Rigby, a British soldier who was walking down the street. The men ran Rigby down with their vehicle and then used a cleaver to hack him to death as bystanders watched in horror.

Philippines President Duterte warns Europian Union Politicians

The Philippines Government on Friday told the European Parliament to “mind their own business” after it called for the release of President Rodrigo Duterte’s top critic detained on illegal drug charges.

PHILIPPINES president Rodrigo Duterte has warned he would be happy to “hang” EU politicians following criticism over his deadly war on drugs.

The European Parliament on Thursday issued a joint motion for resolution calling for the immediate release of Sen. Leila De-Lima, who has been detained at the national police headquarters since her arrest on Feb. 24.
 

Rodrigo Duterte has warned he would be happy to “hang” EU politicians. More than 8,000 people have been killed since Mr Duterte took power in June last year and delivered on his election promise to launch a merciless campaign against crime and drugs. The European Parliament issued a resolution condemning the "many extrajudicial killings" taking place in the Philippines and showing concern for the safety of Senator Leila de Lima, a fierce critic of the president. But a furious Mr Duterte has warned the EU to stay out of his business. 

It also called on Philippine authorities to ensure a fair trial for De Lima and to “drop all politically motivated charges against her and to end any further acts of harassment against her.’’ Presidential legal adviser Salvador Panelo denounced the European Parliament’s call as “interference.’’ “They cannot dictate on the Philippine government on what to do with its constituents facing criminal charges nor can they interfere with the judicial processes of our country,’’ Panelo said. “Neither can they demand our government the performance of an act, that is foreign interference they should mind their own business, ’’ he added.
The charges against De-Lima were based on allegations by national penitentiary inmates that they paid millions of pesos to her when she was justice minister to allow them to continue trading drugs in prison.

Bail is not allowed for such charges.

She has denounced the charges as “plain and simple political persecution’’ for her opposition to Duterte’s drug war, which has left thousands of people dead amid police operations and alleged extrajudicial killings.