Breaking News, Latest Philippines Headlines, World, Entertainment, Politics, Weather & Video News
by Stuart WILLIAMS and Raziye AKKOC in Ankara ISTANBUL, Turkey (AFP) — Islamic State jihadists Monday claimed the shooting rampage at a glamorous Istanbul nightclub that killed 39 on New Year’s night, while police arrested eight suspects but the attacker remained on the run. The statement by the extremist group — which Turkey is fighting in neighbouring Syria — was the first undisputed claim it has made for an attack in Turkey despite being blamed […]
by Layal Abou Rahal BEIRUT, Lebanon (AFP) — Syria’s ceasefire appeared under threat as government forces intensified their attacks near Damascus and around 10 rebel groups said they were suspending talks about planned peace negotiations this month. The talks are due to take place in the Kazakh capital Astana in late January but the rebels said they were pulling out of discussions due to “violations” by Damascus of a four-day old truce. The talks are […]
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President-elect Donald Trump took to Twitter again on Monday evening to promise North Korea would not develop a nuclear missile capable of reaching US territory. His comments come a day after the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-Un, appeared to try to put pressure on Trump by announcing his country is in the “final stages” of developing an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). “North Korea just stated that it is in the final […]
by Jean-Luc Renaudie Agence France Presse JERUSALEM, Israel (AFP) — Police grilled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for three hours on Monday on suspicion of receiving gifts from businessmen, as part of a graft probe that has shaken the country’s politics. Investigators quizzed Netanyahu at his residence in central Jerusalem under caution “on suspicion of receiving benefits”, a police spokesman said afterwards, adding there were no further details to give. Ahead of the questioning, Netanyahu […]
Beijing, China (AFP) — China warned Hong Kong it would not tolerate anyone using the city to damage mainland stability, Beijing’s top official in the city said, as concerns rise over an emerging independence movement. Tensions have flared in the semi-autonomous territory after the ousting of two pro-independence lawmakers ignited fresh concern over Beijing’s tightening controls on Hong Kong, which enjoys a separate political and legal system from the mainland. Britain handed Hong Kong back […]
Phnom Penh, Cambodia (AFP ) — Cambodian police on Monday said they planned to arrest three suspects, including one believed to be in Thailand, for being behind an offensive photoshopped image of the country’s king that placed him in a gay porn scene. The image, which appeared on some Facebook accounts in both Cambodia and Thailand this week, is a rare public insult aimed at King Norodom Sihamoni, a monarch who is largely respected and deemed above […]
by Stuart Williams with Raziye Akkok in Ankara Agence France Presse ISTANBUL, Turkey (AFP) — Turkish police launched a massive manhunt Sunday for a gunman who killed 39 people, including several foreigners, in a rampage at an upmarket nightclub in Istanbul where revellers were celebrating New Year. After the latest in a string of deadly attacks to hit the country, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the carnage sought to sow chaos, but vowed Turkey […]
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AFP) — Taiwan will not bend to pressure despite China returning to its “old ways” of intimidation, President Tsai Ing-wen said Saturday, following protests from Beijing over her call to US President-elect Donald Trump. China has stepped up military drills near Taiwan since the call earlier in December, in a move seen as putting on a show of strength as its ties with the self-ruled island and the United States deteriorate. The call […]
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — A 5.5-magnitude earthquake hit near Japan’s east coast on Saturday, the US Geological Survey said. The moderate quake hit at a shallow depth of 11 kilometers (6.8 miles), 244 kilometers northeast of Tokyo, just after 5:00 am (2000 GMT). Japan sits at the junction of four tectonic plates and experiences a number of relatively violent quakes every year. But rigid building codes and strict enforcement mean even strong tremors often do […]
CHINA (Reuters) — The currency falling nearly 7 percent against the dollar in 2016, its biggest annual fall since records began more than 20 years ago. Signs that all is not well in the world’s number two economy as it gears up a new wave of challenges in the year ahead. The spiraling yuan has forced China’s Central Bank to dip into its currency reserves, spending more than 1 trillion dollars this year just to […]
Jakarta, Indonesia (AFP)– A 6.2-magnitude earthquake was felt in the Indonesian resort island of Bali early Friday, an AFP correspondent said, but there was no tsunami alert and no immediate reports of casualties or damage. The quake hit around 300 kilometres (190 miles) east of Bali at a depth of around 72 kilometres just off the island of Sumbawa at 6:30 am (2230 GMT Thursday), the US Geological Survey said. “The earthquake was quite long. […]
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AFP) — A top Taiwanese intelligence official on Thursday urged the island’s former agents not to travel to China, citing safety risks as relations with Beijing grow increasingly tense. Kuo Chung-hsin, deputy director of Taiwan’s National Security Bureau, told reporters in parliament that “the current atmosphere is not suitable” for former and retired intelligence officers to visit China. “China has no statute of limitations on (prosecuting) our intelligence units and will question you […]
