JOKO WIDODO ARRIVES IN MANILA FOR 3-DAY OFFICIAL VISIT MANILA -- Indonesian President Joko Widodo arrived in Manila on Tuesday for a 3-day official visit as the Philippines and Southeast Asia’s largest economy gear up to mark the 75th anniversary of their formal diplomatic r
IT MINISTER FLAGS SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCE ON ‘DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES’ Flagging concerns regarding the “influence” that social media platforms can have on democratic processes, Union Minister of Communications, IT and Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, said that while India cur
ISRAEL SHIFTS TO LESS INTENSE PHASE IN GAZA INVASION The Israeli military has begun a new and less intense phase of its invasion of Gaza, its chief spokesman said Monday, after weeks of pressure from the US and other allies to scale back an offensive that has caused widespread devastat
FILIPINO CATHOLICS SWARM BLACK NAZARENE IN FEVERISH PARADE MANILA — Hundreds of thousands of Catholic faithful swarmed a historic statue of Jesus Christ as it was pulled through the streets of the Philippine capital on Tuesday, in one of the world's biggest displays of religious
SC QUASHES PREMATURE RELEASE OF 11 BILKIS BANO CASE CONVICTS BY GUJARAT The Supreme Court on Monday quashed the premature release of 11 men convicted of raping Bilkis Bano and killing seven of her family members during the 2002 post-Godhra riots, saying the Gujarat Government didn’t h
CHARTER CHANGE THROUGH PEOPLE'S INITIATIVE: WHAT IS IT? MANILA — The resurgence of talks about amending the 1987 Constitution has gained momentum, spearheaded by House Speaker Martin Romualdez, aiming to focus on economic provisions limiting foreign ownership. Concurrently, President
BANGLADESH PM SHEIKH HASINA SECURES FIFTH TERM AMIDST OPPOSITION BOYCOTT In a Sunday election marked by an opposition boycott led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has secured re-election for a fifth term, according to officials. The ruling Aw
MALDIVES SUSPENDS 3 MINISTERS FOR ANTI-MODI BARB Under fire and grappling with a situation fast turning into a diplomatic row, the Maldives govt of President Mohamed Muizzu, whose party rode to power last year on an ‘India Out’ poll campaign, suspended three ministers Sunday for
ISIS CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEADLY IRAN TWIN BLASTS ISIS has taken responsibility for the tragic twin explosions in Iran, claiming the lives of over 100 individuals and causing injuries to several others during a ceremony. The incidents occurred at a cemetery in Kerman, where a gathering
INFLATION EASES TO 3.9 PERCENT IN DECEMBER MANILA — Despite heightened holiday demand, inflation in the Philippines continued to ease for the third consecutive month, primarily attributed to slower increases in utility expenses and essential food prices. National Statistician and Phil