Communist guerrillas in the Philippines have trained their sights on Chinese state-owned firms building infrastructure and military bases in the country, projects that have the backing of President Rodrigo Duterte. The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) has ordered its military wing, the New People’s Army, to target firms involved in the construction of seven […]

MANILA—At least 44 pro-ISIS terrorists were killed and 26 more were wounded when Philippine soldiers shelled positions held by the rebels in southern Maguindanao province, the army said on Sunday. The fighting, initially with about 50 members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), broke out in a remote village in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town […]

MANILA–Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said his country was willing to host a “world summit” to tackle how nations can protect human rights. The firebrand leader, who spoke in a news conference late on Thursday, Nov. 9, while in Vietnam for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting, said the summit should focus on human rights violations not […]

When a Green Beret loses his life in combat, his entire company of men will often share in the loss. The soldiers take responsibility for the wife and children of their friend. They call the soldier’s wife, mother, and father and ensure his children know the values he gave his life to uphold. “When you […]

MANILA—Philippine troops killed two leaders of a pro-ISIS alliance in an operation in southern Marawi City on Monday, the defense minister said, a big boost to a military battling to contain the spread of ISIS’s radical ideology. Isnilon Hapilon, ISIS’s anointed “emir” in Southeast Asia, and Omarkhayam Maute, one of two Middle East-educated brothers at […]

MANILA—Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will discuss with Indonesia and Malaysia the possibility of creating a task force to combat ISIS-inspired militancy, he said on Sunday. Duterte even expressed willingness to open the borders to Indonesian and Malaysian security forces hunting Islamist fighters. He plans to meet with Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Malaysian Prime Minster […]

MANILA—Two months after Islamist terrorists launched an assault on one of the biggest southern cities in the Philippines, the fighting is dragging on, and President Rodrigo Duterte says he is prepared to wait for a year for it to end. The defense top brass admits it underestimated its enemy and is struggling to finish off […]

MANILA, Philippines—Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte berated more than 200 policemen accused of a variety of offenses, threatening on national television on Feb. 8 that he would send them to a southern island to fight terrorists dreaded for beheading their captives. Duterte’s expletive-filled outburst against the officers at Manila’s presidential palace was his latest tirade against […]

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—Businesses around the world bearing U.S. President Donald Trump’s name face an increased risk now that he is in the White House, security experts warn, especially as several are in areas previously targeted by violence. As Trump remains a brand overseas, criminal gangs or terrorists could target buildings bearing his name in gold, […]

Trudeau, Obama exchange condolences over tragedy in Orlando, hostage death OTTAWA—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has spoken with President Barack Obama to offer condolences for the loss of life in the mass shooting in Orlando on the weekend. The Prime Minister’s Office said Trudeau reaffirmed Canada’s solidarity with the people of Orlando, families and friends of […]

An ISIS affiliate group, Abu Sayyaf, plotted to kidnap boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao, who is running for senator in his native Philippines, said the country's president on April 27.

OTTAWA—The Canadian government publicly says it does not negotiate with terrorists, but the private reality may well be more flexible. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said earlier this week that Canada “does not and will not” pay ransom to terrorists. He was responding to questions about the death of Canadian John Ridsdel, who was killed Monday, […]

Canada Revenue Agency mailed SIN numbers to wrong people—twice OTTAWA—NDP MP Charlie Angus says the Canada Revenue Agency twice mailed batches of private information—including names and social insurance numbers—to the wrong people in his riding. Angus has asked the office of federal privacy commissioner Daniel Therrien to investigate the apparent privacy violations. In a letter […]

Iraq's prime minister has defended his country's security forces, saying they're capable of defeating the Islamic State without the help of foreign combat troops.

After billions of dollars spent and more than 10,000 extremist fighters killed, the ISIS group is fundamentally no weaker than it was when the U.S.-led bombing campaign began a year ago

Nadjoua Bansil and Linda Bansil, filmakers, were released after spending eight months in captivity. The pair were kidnapped in Sulu in the Philippines in June 2013. While the Philippine National Police said that the sisters escaped from their captors, sources told GMA News that ransom negotiations had likely yielded the release. The pair were kidnapped […]