Page 3 - Philippines

Tropical storm kills 25, forces 278K to flee in the Philippines this week

A tropical storm was blowing across the Philippines' mountainous north Friday, worsening more than a week of bad weather that has caused at least 25 deaths and prompted evacuations in villages affected by flooding and landslides. The storm was Typhoon Co-may when it made landfall Thursday night in the town of Agno in Pangasinan province with maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometres per hour and gusts of up to 165 kph. It was weakening as it advanced northeastward and had sustained winds of 100 kph Friday morning. Co-may was intensifying seasonal monsoon rains that had swamped a large swath of the country for more than a week. Disaster-response officials have received reports of at least 25 deaths since last weekend, mostly due to flash floods, toppled trees, landslides and electrocution. Eight other people were reported missing There were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries directly caused by Co-may, locally called Emong, the fifth weather disturbance to hit the Philippines

China issues safety warning for its nationals studying in Philippines

China's Education Ministry issued a safety warning for Chinese students in the Philippines after what it said were a series of criminal incidents targeting them. The brief warning Friday did not identify any specific incidents but told students to increase their safety awareness should they choose to study in the Philippines. The number of Chinese students in the country was not given but enrolments have fallen to just a few hundred in recent years, according to the Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post. Relations between the governments of China and the Philippines are particularly tense due to disputes over maritime claims in the South China Sea, which China claims almost in its entirety. China has used water cannons and other non-lethal shipboard deterrents to drive off Philippine fishing boats. Politically, China has dismissed a UN-backed court decision in The Hague that ruled out most of China's claims in the South China Sea and has expressed resentment over close ties .

India, Asean adopt new 5-year action plan at foreign ministers' meeting

In a post on X, he described the meeting as productive, which he had co-chaired with Theresa P Lazaro of the Philippines

Philippines sees travel surge from India after visa-free entry approval

India-to-Philippines travel jumps 28% as visa-free access and new Air India flights position the country as a preferred Southeast Asian destination for tourists

Chinese ship runs aground near Philippine-held island in South China Sea

A Chinese ship ran aground in stormy weather in shallow waters off a Philippines-occupied island in the disputed South China Sea, prompting Filipino forces to go on alert, Philippine military officials said Sunday. When Filipino forces assessed that the Chinese fishing vessel appeared to have run aground in the shallows east of Thitu Island on Saturday because of bad weather, Philippine military and coast guard personnel deployed to provide help but later saw that the ship had been extricated, regional navy spokesperson Ellaine Rose Collado said. No other details were immediately available, including if there were injuries among the crewmembers or if the ship was damaged, Collado said. Confrontations have spiked between Chinese and Philippine coast guard and navy ships in the disputed waters in recent years. "The alertness of our troops is always there, Col Xerxes Trinidad of the Armed Forces of the Philippines told reporters. But when they saw that a probable accident had happened

Asian Development Bank approves $800 million package for Pakistan

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved USD 800 million for Pakistan to strengthen fiscal sustainability and improve public financial management, an official said on Tuesday. Khurram Schehzad, advisor to the finance minister confirmed the development in a brief statement on social media, saying that the package includes a USD 300 million policy-based loan (PBL) and a USD 500 million programme-based guarantee (PBG). He said, ADB approves USD 800 million financing package for Pakistan under the Resource Mobilisation Reform Programme. Separately, the Philippines-based lender also confirmed the development in a statement, saying that subprogramme 2 of the Improved Resource Mobilisation and Utilisation Reform Programme includes a policy-based loan of USD 300 million, and ADB's first-ever policy-based guarantee of up to USD 500 million, which is expected to mobilise financing of up to USD 1 billion from commercial banks. Pakistan has made significant progress in improving macroeconomic

Philippines eyes India, Thailand rice to reduce reliance on Vietnam

The agriculture department is in talks with private importers on purchases from producers like India, Pakistan, Cambodia and Myanmar

Indians can enter Philippines visa-free for 14 days: All you need to know

As of May 2025, Indian citizens can enter the Philippines without a visa under two categories, depending on their eligibility.

Philippines to now allow visa-free entry to Indians: All you need to know

The 14-day visa-free entry may be extended by an additional seven days for a maximum of 21 days stay, the embassy said

Philippines launches digital nomad visa, joins likes of Thailand, Indonesia

The programme places the Philippines among a growing list of countries offering visas for remote workers

Japan PM to discuss Chinese aggression, US tariffs during Philippines visit

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is travelling to the Philippines on Tuesday seeking to further boost an alliance in the face of China's growing assertiveness in the region. Ishiba will meet Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos in Manila on Tuesday at the start of his two-day visit. Their talks are expected to focus on China's aggressive actions in the disputed South China Sea and East China Sea, a reaffirmation of their commitment to a three-way alliance with the United States, and the barrage of tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, officials said. Japanese and Philippine officials are expected to start negotiations this year on two defense pacts, including a proposed defense logistical agreement that would allow the provision of food, fuel and other necessities when Japanese forces visit the Philippines for joint training under a major defence accord that was signed last year and is expected to be ratified by the Japanese legislature. Another proposed agreement involv

US deploys anti-ship missiles in Philippines, holds live-fire drills

The US military has deployed an anti-ship missile launcher for the first time on Batan Island in the Philippines, as Marines unloaded the high-precision weapon on the northern tip of the archipelago, just a sea border away from Taiwan. US and Philippine forces separately unleashed a barrage of missile and artillery fire that shot down several drones acting as hostile aircraft in live-fire drills on Sunday in Zambales province facing the disputed South China Sea. The mock battle scenarios over the weekend in the annual Balikatan exercises between the US and its oldest treaty ally in Asia, the Philippines, not only simulated real-life war. They were also staged near major geopolitical hotspots, which have become delicate frontlines in the regional rivalry between China and the US under former President Joe Biden and now Donald Trump. About 9,000 American and 5,000 Filipino military personnel took part in the combat maneuvers. At least 260 Australian personnel also joined, with smalle

Philippines to receive second batch of BrahMos missiles from India

BrahMos, which has a range of 290 km (180 miles) and can be fired from land, sea and submarine, is part of the Philippine military's modernisation programme

Stronger deterrence needed against China in disputed sea: US defence chief

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday that the Trump administration would boost military ties with the Philippines to strengthen deterrence against threats from the communist Chinese and ensure freedom of navigation in the disputed South China Sea. Hegseth spoke during a meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the Philippines, his first stop in his first trip to Asia to reaffirm Washington's ironclad commitment to the region under Trump. Ahead of the visit, China called the United States a predator and an unreliable ally. Trump's America First foreign policy thrust has triggered concerns in Asia about the scale and depth of US commitment to the region. Hegseth's decision to make the Philippines his first stop in Asia, followed by Japan both US treaty allies facing territorial disputes with China was the strongest assurance yet by the US under Trump to maintain a security presence in the region. Deterrence is necessary around the world but specifically in this regio

BrahMos deal a 'key' step in ties with India: Philippines' foreign secy

Philippines Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo described the deal between India and the Philippines for shore-based, anti-ship BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles as an important step in strengthening defence ties between the two nations.Speaking about the agreement, Manalo highlighted its significance for future cooperation in various defence areas."It was a major significant development in our defence relations and that will open the door for further collaboration not only in terms of military equipment but military cooperation, training, exchanging of officers and operational facilities...," he said.Meanwhile, on Monday, the Philippines Foreign Secretary interacted with members of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), where he highlighted the growing engagement between the two nations in strategic sectors. FICCI President Harsha Vardhan Agarwal said, "While we continue to be engaged through trade and investment, I'm happy to see that engagement is ...

Chinese threat: Philippines wants India to join security grouping 'Squad'

Although still in the making - among the island country, the United States, Japan and Australia -the Squad seeks to counter China's power assertions in the South China Sea region

PM Modi to begin Raisina Dialogue today; New Zealand PM to be chief guest

Nearly 3,700 attendees and over 800 speakers and delegates from around 130 countries worldwide will attend the Raisina Dialogue

Duterte refused fingerprinting, threatened lawsuits during arrest: Police

Ex-Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte threatened a police general with lawsuits, refused to be fingerprinted and told law enforcers "you have to kill me to bring me to The Hague in a tense confrontation after his arrest in Manila that was ordered by the International Criminal Court, a Philippine police general said on Thursday. Police Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre provided details for the first time of Tuesday's 12-hour standoff at a Philippine air base before he and other police officers managed to bring the 79-year-old former leader onto a government-chartered jet that took him to The Hague, Netherlands, where he was detained by the global court on charges of crimes against humanity. ICC spokesman Fadi El Abdallah said on Thursday in a text message to reporters that Duterte had arrived at the court's detention centre near the Dutch North Sea coast after undergoing medical checks. The court announced late on Thursday that Duterte is scheduled to make his first appearance before ICC ...

What is ICC, which had former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte arrested

The International Criminal Court where detained former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will face justice after his arrest in the Philippines is a court of last resort for the most serious international offences, such as genocide and crimes against humanity. The 79-year-old former president has become the first former Asian leader to be arrested by the global court. Duterte arrived on Wednesday in the Netherlands after his arrest the previous morning on an ICC warrant accusing him of crimes against humanity over deadly anti-drug crackdowns he oversaw while in office. Supporters of Duterte argue that the court does not have jurisdiction to put the former president on trial, in part because Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the court in 2019. But judges who issued his arrest warrant say that the alleged crimes he is charged with happened before that withdrawal, meaning the court has jurisdiction. What is the International Criminal Court? The ICC handles allegations of war ...

Ex-Philippines President Duterte in ICC custody for crimes against humanity

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was turned over Wednesday to the custody of the International Criminal Court, following his arrest on a warrant accusing him of crimes against humanity over deadly anti-drugs crackdowns he oversaw while in office. The court said in a statement that as a precautionary measure" medical assistance was made available at the airport for Duterte, in line with standard procedures when a suspect arrives. The 79-year-old former president arrived at Rotterdam The Hague Airport earlier Wednesday on a flight from Manila following his arrest there on an ICC warrant on Tuesday, as announced by current Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos. Rights groups and families of victims hailed Duterte's arrest. Within days, he will face an initial appearance where the court will confirm his identity, check that he understands the charges against him and set a date for a hearing to assess if prosecutors have sufficient evidence to send him to a full trial. If his