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MANILA, Philippines (AP) - A powerful typhoon slammed into the northeastern Philippines on Sunday and was barreling across the main Luzon island toward the capital in a densely populated path where thousands have been evacuated to safety. Typhoon Noru hit the coastal town of Burdeos on Polillo Island in Quezon province shortly before nightfall. With sustained winds of 195 kilometers (121 miles per hour) and gusts of up to 240 kph (149 mph), it was expected to weaken slightly when it hits the Sierra Madre mountain range but will remain dangerously ferocious, forecasters said. RELATED: Tropical Storm Ian expected to...

The quake was at a depth of 10 km (6 miles), USGS added. USGS said the earthquake's epicentre was about 11 km east-southeast of Dolores.

MANILA (Reuters) - Philippines president-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Wednesday said his country's ties with China will expand and "shift to a higher gear" when he takes power, signalling intent to advance outgoing leader Rodrigo Duterte's pro-Beijing agenda. Marcos, who won last week's election by a landslide, said he held "very substantial" talks by phone on Wednesday with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who assured him of support for his "independent foreign policy", and agreed to hold more comprehensive discussions. The 64-year-old son and namesake of the notorious former dictator said Xi also acknowledged his late father's role in opening diplomatic...

Philippine authorities have begun to evacuate thousands of people Thursday after the alert status for Taal volcano, located near capital Manila, was raised following a “magmatic intrusion.” “At 3:16 p.m., the Taal volcano’s main crater generated a short-lived dark phreatomagmatic plume 1 km-high with no accompanying volcanic earthquake,” the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said in a statement. LOOK: Phreatomagmatic eruption of #Taal Volcano from 3:16 PM to 3:21 PM today (July 1, 2021), as viewed from the Main Crater station. | Courtesy of @phivolcs_dost This afternoon, the agency raised Taal’s Alert Level to 3 (magmatic unrest). Stay safe...

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the imposition of a “community quarantine” in the entire Metro Manila as the government scrambles to contain the spread of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country. The recommendation to put the National Capital Region (NCR) under isolation was made by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases and was approved by Duterte in a meeting in Malacañang Thursday night. Land, domestic air, and domestic sea travel to and from Metro Manila will be suspended starting March 15, 2020, until April 14. “Ayaw naming gamitin ‘yan kasi...

A strong 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck the northern Philippine island of Luzon on Monday. The earthquake was centered about 60 km (37 miles) northwest of the capital city of Manila, which is home to more than 12 million people. It's magnitude was initially rated as strong as 6.3. At least five fatalities have been confirmed so far in Pampanga province, according to Pampanga governor Lilia Pineda. More than 20 other people were injured due to collapsed buildings and walls in the province. Search and rescue operations are ongoing for at least 19 missing individuals, according to the Philippine Red Cross.

Authorities in the Philippines were likely shell-shocked upon discovering more than 1,500 turtles stuffed inside four pieces of luggage at Manila’s airport. Officials confirmed Monday that the turtles and tortoises — which included at least one threatened species — were found abandoned in the arrivals area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Sunday.

For Christmas I gave myself several books on World War II that I had read about in the Wall Street Journal Weekend edition. One of the books was James M. Scott's latest book "Rampage" about the battle for Manila in January and February of 1945. I have read my share of books on the war and of the atrocities committed by both the Germans and Japanese during the war. Scott's book on what happened during the battle for Manila was without a doubt the most detailed book I have ever read. It literally made me sick to read what the...

Rolando Galman was said to have been a thoughtful brother and neighbor, and Rogelio Moreno a caring husband and father. Both men were once farmers. The two men were also accused of firing the single shot that killed opposition leader Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. on Aug 21, 1983, at the tarmac of the then Manila International Airport. Along with Aquino, Galman fell dead on the spot, his body shot by soldiers 16 times. Moreno is still alive, but was convicted of the accusation along with several others. Senator Aquino's murder in broad daylight at the heavily guarded tarmac sparked anger...

Gunfire and explosions have been heard at the Resorts World Manila in the Philippines, CNN Philippines reported. A masked gunman was on the second floor of one hotel, firing at guests, hotel employees fleeing the scene told CNN Philippines. Police, fire trucks and SWAT teams were seen in the area at about 1:30 a.m. local time Friday. Resorts World Manila, also known as RWM, is a resort complex in Newport City, a residential and commercial center in metropolitan Manila. RWM has an array of hotels, restaurants and bars. Tourists flock to the complex for its casino, shopping mall, cinema and...

DOZENS of tourists have been injured – with fears Brits are among those hurt – after gunshots and explosions were heard outside a resort in Manila, initial reports say. The shooting took place at Resorts World Manila in Pasay City, Philippines, around midnight local time.

Chinese survey ships have been entering waters recognised by the United Nations as Philippine territory, Manila's defence secretary said Thursday, in a move he described as "very concerning". Delfin Lorenzana said the ships were seen last year near Benham Rise -- a Philippine territory 250 kilometres (155 miles) off the east coast of the main island of Luzon -- as well as Reed Bank in the South China Sea, which is claimed by both Manila and Beijing. "I have ordered the navy that if they see this service ship this year, to start to accost them and drive them away"...

Authorities detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) Monday that was found in a trash bin near the U.S. Embassy to the Philippines in Manila. There were no injuries reported during the incident. […] National police chief Director-General Ronald dela Rosa said at a news conference that police believe that Maute militants could be behind what he called an “attempted act of terrorism” against the embassy. …

This case is unusual as it is rare for an Admiral to even face criminal proceedings Source: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/San-Diego-Navy-Admiral-Guilty-Plea-Navy-Bribery-Scheme-382400401.html#ixzz4B8MhpHYZ Follow us: @nbcsandiego on Twitter | NBCSanDiego on Facebook A rear admiral in the U.S. Navy plead guilty to one felony charge in connection with a multi-million dollar bribery scheme that has led to the arrest or imprisonment of more than a dozen U.S. Navy officers and Pentagon employees. Rear Admiral Robert J. Gilbeau appeared in court Thursday in the downtown San Diego federal courthouse. Gilbeau entered a change of plea to one count of providing false statements to federal investigators and...

A federal jury has found a San Jose man who traveled to Manila several times to have sex with an underage girl guilty of sex tourism. A federal jury on Friday also convicted 56-year-old Michael Lindsay of obstruction charges.

There "IS" movement in My rest, Though you are at peace you wear My Best, The fullness of My Spirit moving in you, Accomplishing The Father's will in all you say and do, Step by step each jot and tittle performed, For in "My rest" you are Re-born, Into My peace bearing the fruit of Tranquility, For each step you now take is an image of Me in the shape of My Kingdom and Majesty, So all others see is me in you , For no other shape has the ability of My will to say and do, The form...

Exit polling of overseas Filipino voters are suggesting hardline mayor Rodrigo Duterte will be elected the country's president in today's vote. Key points: Duterte has between 52 and 85 per cent of vote in overseas exit polls Davao mayor promises voters "comfortable life" under his rule Critics voice concerns over Duterte's past Result could be known as early as Monday night, officials say The polls show Mr Duterte way in front of his nearest rivals, the moderate candidates Grace Poe and Manuel "Mar" Roxas. He has between 52 to 85 per cent of the vote in 15 countries where exit...

The outspoken city mayor who is the front-runner in the Philippine presidential race drew the largest crowd Saturday as the candidates held their final rallies, despite efforts by the president to block his election bid over fears he could threaten the country's democracy. After crisscrossing the archipelago nation, the five presidential candidates, led by Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, converged in the vote-rich capital Manila as three months of bruising campaigning came to an end ahead of Monday's election. About 300,000 people turned up at Duterte's rally at a historic grandstand by Manila Bay where presidential inaugurations have been held, according to...

Solomon"s seal is coming into play, This is not just another day, For I have woven my body into one, And this is something that must be done, So stay within the fabric of my Word, Dismiss the lies that you have heard, For the eye of the needle waits for you, But only in true unity may you pass through, So let the child within begin,for a pure heart is free of sin, Allow my virtue to take you through, That is my spirit inside of you! Galatians 3:28 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor...

New Year's firecrackers left at least one man dead and 380 others injured, and caused a fire that gutted 1,000 shanties in the Philippines despite rain and a government warning campaign, officials said Friday. A drunken man lit a dynamite-like firecracker called "Goodbye Philippines" and embraced it in Manila as it exploded, ripping his jaw and killing him, Health Secretary Janet Garin announced. Fire officials said a rocket lit by revelers set an abandoned hut ablaze, sparking a fire that razed about 1,000 shanties in Manila's Tondo slum district and displacing several thousand families. Many superstitious Filipinos usher in the...