Philippine News

WASHINGTON, United States, May 30 ------ The United States and Iran closed in on a framework for a ceasefire extension detail but President Donald Trump has yet to approve any agreement, US officials said. US sources told AFP earlier that the two sides had reached agreement on a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to prolong the truce for 60 days. But US Vice President JD Vance said Trump -- who was notably silent throughout the day -- had yet to sign on the dotted line. There

IZZUMI, Kagoshima Pref, May 30 ------ A World War II fighter aircraft of the now-defunct Imperial Japanese Navy was recovered last month, 81 years after sinking into the ocean off Akune, Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan. A Kagoshima nonprofit organization in charge of the project to salvage the Shiden Kai aircraft wreck is working to establish a facility for a permanent exhibit of the aircraft downed in the late stages of the war. "We hope that (the aircraft) will giv

May 29 ------ Oil prices bounced higher after new US strikes on Iran, the latest test of a shaky ceasefire as diplomatic efforts to end the war persist. Brent North Sea crude, the main international benchmark, rose by nearly two percent to $96.13 a barrel, while the main US contract, WTI, increased by 1.75 percent to $90.23 a barrel. The higher prices followed Wednesday's declines on the hopes of an imminent deal to avoid further hostilities in the Mideast war, which has halt

TOKYO, May 29 ------ Japan will switch to a revamped weather warning system Thursday, ahead of the country's rainy and typhoon seasons. The Japan Meteorological Agency and the land ministry will introduce the improved system featuring five alert levels for flooding, heavy rain, landslides, and storm surges. An emergency warning will be issued for a natural disaster that may have already occurred and will lead municipalities to declare a Level 5 situation and issue an order ur

KYIV, Ukraine, May 29 ------ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he's being “very persistent” in pressing the United States to provide his country with more Patriot air defense missiles that can counter devastating Russian ballistic missile attacks. Zelensky said he hasn’t yet received a reply to a letter he sent earlier this week to U.S. President Donald Trump and Congress asking for more of the American-made ammunition. He warned that deliveries to Ukraine are

EASTERN UKRAINE, May 29 ------ In a corn field in eastern Ukraine, soldiers fired drones ‌into the sky using a slingshot, aiming at military targets in the country's Russian-occupied east, dozens of kilometers away. "We're focusing on the enemy's bases in the field, ammunition depots and air-defense systems," said their commander from the 1st Center of the Unmanned Systems Forces - ​an elite drone unit - who asked to be identified by his call sign "Kyt," which means "whale".

DUBAI, May 28 ------ Iran's state TV said Tehran had obtained a draft of an initial, unofficial framework for a memorandum of understanding with the United States on ending their conflict. Under the framework, Iran would restore commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz to pre-war levels within a month, while the United States would withdraw military forces from Iran's vicinity and lift a naval blockade. State TV said the framework, which excludes military vessels and

GENEVA, May 28 ------ The number of cases of Hantavirus linked to a cruise ship at the center of an outbreak has increased to 13, the head of the World Health Organization said. "Spain reported a new case among the passengers who are in quarantine, which brings the total number of cases to 13," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a post on X. Among them three died, but there have been no new deaths since May 2, Ghebreyesus said. "The situation remains stable. Passeng

May 28 ------ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has written to U.S. President Donald Trump and Congress asking for more American-made air defense ammunition to counter intensifying Russian ballistic missile attacks, Kyiv said. Meanwhile, Russian lawmakers have backed a draft bill to have bank employees join the fight against Ukraine’s long-range drones that strike deep inside Russia — with trained bank staff shooting down the unmanned aircraft. The steps came after a rec

May 28 ------ During his General Audience, Pope Leo XIV appeals for peace following the latest Russian attacks on Ukraine, stressing that war does not solve problems; it worsens them, for “wherever missiles and drones fall, hopes also collapse; homes and places of worship are destroyed, and innocent lives are shattered.” “I follow with concern the war in Ukraine, which has sharply intensified in recent days. I wish to express my closeness to all those suffering because of the

SANTIAGO, Chile, May 27 ------ A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck northern Chile, the US Geological Survey (USGS) reported, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. It hit in the Atacama desert approximately 31 kilometers from the town of Calama at a depth of about 100 kilometers (63 miles), the US agency said. Chile's National Disaster Prevention and Response Service said there was no risk of tsunami and no reports of injuries or serious damage. Local medi

VATICAN CITY, May 27 ------ Pope Leo XIV will release his long-awaited manifesto on artificial intelligence (AI), a bid to address ethical and social challenges as the technology rapidly develops worldwide. The US pope will attend the presentation of the "Magnifica Humanitas" (Magnificent Humanity) encyclical at the Vatican in person -- a first for the Catholic Church. He will be joined not only by officials from the Holy See, but experts including the co-founder of the Ameri

WASHINGTON, United States, May 26 ------ US forces attacked missile sites in southern Iran and boats trying to lay mines, US Central Command said, as top Iranian negotiators arrived in Doha for talks to end the war. "US forces conducted self-defense strikes in southern Iran today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces," Tim Hawkins, a US Central Command spokesman, said in a statement. It gave no details of the attacks and said only that the targets include

LONDON, United Kingdom, May 26 ------ Temperatures hit record highs for May in the United Kingdom and France, as forecasters warned of a prolonged period of extreme heat across Europe throughout the week. A so-called "heat dome" of warm air from northern Africa trapped under a high-pressure system over western Europe is behind the high temperatures not usually seen until high summer. Temperatures in Spain were expected to peak later this week at 38C, while parts of Italy impo

May 26 ------ Russia hammered targets across Ukraine for 12 hours, launching nearly 700 drones and missiles in what Ukrainian officials are calling one of the largest attacks of the war so far. The attacks left four dead and at least 100 wounded, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. In the capital city of Kyiv alone, over 30 residential buildings had been destroyed, he said. The casualty list is expected to grow as Ukrainian rescue workers continue to search t

May 26 ------ Russia has threatened to launch a fresh wave of "systematic strikes" against Kyiv, days after carrying out one of its largest attacks on the Ukrainian capital since the start of the war. The new strikes will target "decision-making centers and command posts", alongside drone manufacturing facilities in the city, Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement. Moscow has called for foreign nationals and diplomats to leave Kyiv "as soon as possible" and warned citi

SINGAPORE, May 25 ------ Oil prices hit two-week lows on optimism that the US and Iran were moving closer towards a peace deal, even though they remained at odds over key issues, including blockades on the Strait of Hormuz that continued to restrict oil supply from the Middle East. Brent crude futures fell US$4.71, or 4.55 per cent, to US$98.83 a barrel by 10.34 pm GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate was at US$92.03 a barrel, down US$4.57, or 4.73 per cent. Both contracts t

TAIPEI, May 25 ------ The Taiwanese and Chinese coast guards were engaged in a tense standoff for the second day near the strategically located Pratas islands at the top of the South China Sea, Taiwan's Coast Guard said. China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, a position the government in Taipei rejects. China has pressured Taiwan by increasing its military presence around the island over the past five years. Lying roughly between southern Taiwan and

May 25 ------ Global leaders and foreign ministers have issued a wave of condemnations following Russia’s massive, multi-vector missile and drone offensive against Kyiv. Western allies, including Canada, Finland, Moldova, and the Baltic states, explicitly categorized the targeting of residential high-rises and cultural hubs as war crimes and acts of state terrorism. A broad coalition of international heads of state and foreign ministers responded with sharp condemnation to Ru

May 25 ------ Asked during a press conference whether an invitation had been sent to President Volodymyr Zelensky, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed that he had already invited the Ukrainian leader to the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara. “Yes, I did,” Rutte said. “He will be there.” The next NATO summit is scheduled for July 7-8 in Turkey, following last year’s leaders’ meeting in The Hague, where Zelensky also attended and delivered a keynote address. Ukraine keeps