Kanlaon Volcano in the Philippines spews ash thrice, showing increased activity

BACOLOD CITY: Restive Kanlaon Volcano emitted ash three times on Monday (Oct 20), with a total duration of nearly four hours, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). The first ash emission occurred from 7:28 a.m. to 7:38 a.m., producing grayish plumes that rose 300 metres above the crater before drifting westward. The second...

Philippines lifts tsunami warning following magnitude 7.4 earthquake

MANILA: The Philippines' seismology agency (Phivolcs) has cancelled its tsunami warning following a magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck offshore near its southern coast. "Any effects due to the tsunami warning have largely passed," Phivolcs said in an advisory. - Reuters

Collision between Chinese ships expected to escalate tension in South China Sea

More tension is expected in the South China Sea following a collision between two Chinese vessels, with analysts predicting the incident was likely to prompt Beijing to further increase its presence in the contested waterway. Experts also warned that the incident could push China to enhance coordination between its navy and coastguard to prevent similar accidents in...

Is Philippines getting short end of US tariff stick? 19% rate slammed as ‘worst insult’

MANILA (SCMP): A new trade deal hailed by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr as a “significant achievement” has been slammed by critics at home as the “worst insult” after Manila secured only a one percentage point tariff cut from Washington while granting American goods duty-free access. Marcos, the first South-East Asian leader to be hosted by...

Trump piles up trade deals as Asia agrees to open up to American goods: Analysis

AUSTIN: It’s no easy feat to catch Washington’s formidable trade lobbies and relentless, scoop-hungry journalists off guard. Yet on Tuesday (July 22), US President Donald Trump managed to do exactly that. On a day when experts and analysts were poised to dissect a potential deal with the Philippines, awaited after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s visit to the...

MetMalaysia Issues tropical depression advisory

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued an advisory on a tropical depression detected at a latitude 15.0 north and longitude 127.3 east, approximately 420 km northeast of Samar Island, Philippines. In a statement on Thursday (July 17), MetMalaysia said the storm was moving west-northwest at a speed of 15 km/h with a maximum...

Philippine VP Sara Duterte’s Malaysia trip won’t stall impeachment process – House spokesman

MANILA: The House of Representatives on Tuesday (June 10) said Vice President Sara Duterte’s personal trip to Malaysia would not derail the impeachment proceedings against her, even as it urged the Senate to proceed with its constitutional duty to try the case. “What is important is for the Senate to start the trial for the prosecutors...

Malaysia, Philippines agree on need for non-discriminatory humanitarian aid to Myanmar

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and the Philippines share the stance that all humanitarian assistance to Myanmar must be delivered without discrimination or restrictions, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.   He said this was agreed upon during a telephone conversation with Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr on Friday (May 2).   Anwar said during the conversation with the...

Bloody Philippine passion play sees final performance of veteran ‘Jesus’

SAN FERNANDO, Philippines (AFP): Scores of penitents whipped themselves bloody under a scorching Philippine sun while others were nailed to crosses in a polarising Good Friday tradition drawing the most extreme of Catholic devotees. The macabre spectacle, officially frowned on by the Church, attracts thousands of Filipinos -- and a smattering of tourists -- each Easter...

Five people confirmed killed, nine others injured after van falls into ravine in the Philippines

MANILA (Bernama-Xinhua): A van carrying tourists plunged into a 50-metre ravine in the northern Philippines, killing five passengers on board and injuring nine more, police said Saturday, reported Xinhua. The police said the accident happened around 10 pm local time on Friday in Sadanga, a town in the Mountain Province, north of Manila. According to the investigation,...