US Forces in Okinawa under curfew after suspected murder
US forces in Okinawa are to be put under night-time curfew for a month following the suspected rape and murder of a woman by a former US marine, officials said …
23-year-old on mission to shake up costly Philippine power industry
When Leandro Leviste studied at Yale University, he heard about Elon Musk’s designs for Solarcity. Leviste had bought stocks in Tesla, Musk’s electric car brand, when they were cheap and …
The Philippines is said to have 1.8 million abandoned children – report
In a harrowing scenario a new report shows that over 1.8 million children lay in wait, abandoned, given up and basically left to fend for themselves. But those facts are …
Indonesia changes foreign ownership regulations for e-commerce
In a statement issued in February, Indonesia said it will allow foreign ownership of e-commerce sites to be 100 per cent – but the government has taken a 180 on …
Autopsy results following deaths at concert are “unusual” say experts
Autopsy experts say the deaths involved in the Closeup ‘Forever Summer’ concert in Pasay City last weekend have yielded unusual results. So far, two of the victims are said to …
Vietnam orders recall of Philippine drinks due to lead contamination
The Ministry of Health in Vietnam has ordered the recall of URC drinks due to high levels of lead content in them. URC is a Philippines based corporation. This is …
Commuters at London’s Waterloo Station are told where “it’s more fun”
The Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) presented a massive display in London trying to entice Londoners to head to the Philippines. DOT started the project a few years ago by decorating double-decker buses …
Indonesian president approves death penalty for child rapists
President Joko Widodo has signed a government regulation in lieu of the law approving the death penalty as a maximum sentence for sexual crimes against children. The new regulation was …
Davao’s Malagos Chocolates wins silver award in London
Davao City’s Malagos Chocolates has once again received a prestigious award at the Academy of Chocolates’ Eighth Golden Bean Awards held in London. Last year Malagos took home the bronze …
Cop with shabu worth 7,000,000 million pesos linked to prison drug lords
A low ranking police officer, living in a luxurious home in Sampaloc, Manila, has been arrested by the NBI with seven million pesos worth of shabu. Officer Jolly Aliangan was …
Abu Sayyaf releases “final” hostage video before deadline
Abu Sayyaf has issued its final video and warning of the three foreign hostages held captive in Sulu. The video was released on Sunday and is said to be the …
Death squads very much in business as Duterte set for presidency
On May 14, five days after voters in the Philippines chose Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte as their next president, two masked gunmen cruised this southern city’s suburbs on a …
Microsoft opens wallet to extend internet in remote areas
Microsoft has joined other tech giants working to deliver the Internet in remote parts of the world, although it’s taking a smaller-scale approach than some of its rivals. Google and …
President-elect Duterte launches foul-mouthed attack on Church
Outspoken incoming Philippine President-elect Rodrigo Duterte has launched a series of obscenity-filled attacks on the Catholic Church, branding local bishops corrupt “sons of whores” who are to be blamed for …
A new era: Obama lifts US arms ban on Vietnam
President Obama has announced that the US is fully lifting the ban on the sale of military equipment to Vietnam. In a news conference with Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang, …
It happened to me: Scammers threatened to tow my car if I didn’t pay up
This story comes via Facebook from a woman named Triz Lareza-Clasara, and serves to warn of a new type of scam: This happened to me today, May 23, at around …
Dutchman charged for selling Sesame Street-themed ecstasy pills
The NBI has formally charged 47-year-old Martin de Fong, a Dutchman, who was arrested last Thursday for supplying ecstasy in a bar in Makati City. Fong was arrested in an …
Mexican museum explores history of Manila to Acapulco trade route
“Tornaviaje” or ‘Return Voyage’ is a new exhibit featuring artifacts from the Manila-Acapulco maritime trade route from 1565 to 1815. A new exhibit in Puebla City in Mexico is entitled …
Seventeen dead after fire hits school for impoverished girls in Thailand
Fire quickly swept through a dorm at a girls school in the northern province of Chiang Rai on Sunday. Police say at least 17 girls perished in the fire and …
American and four others dead in Pasay City SM Mall of Asia concert
Early reports said that four people had died at an overnight concert in the open parking lot of SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City on Sunday. However a new …
Malaysian police arrest 14 suspects in anti-terror crackdown
Malaysian authorities detained 14 people believed to have links to the so-called Islamic State (IS) in a series of raids across several states earlier this week. The 14 – all Malaysians …
Australian and Dutch climbers die after climbing Everest
An Australian and a Dutch mountaineer have died of altitude sickness after summiting Mount Everest, expedition organisers said on Saturday, the latest deaths this climbing season. The Australian climber was on …
Indonesian volcano erupts killing three farmers on Sumatra Island
Three people died and four others were critically injured on Saturday after a highly active volcano in western Indonesia erupted violently, shooting hot ash and gases into the atmosphere. The …
Ex-police chief Alan Purisima arrested at Manila’s NAIA
Alan La Madrid Purisima has been arrested by authorities as he arrived from Butuan City at NAIA. His arrest came just two days after the Sandiganbayan ordered a warrant for …
President Obama names new ambassador to the Philippines
United States President Barack Obama has nominated Sung Y Kim to replace Philip Goldberg, the former Ambassador to the Philippines. The nomination of Sung Y Kim was made soon after …
Subic Bay authorities cancel land lease in American’s bulldozed hill dispute
An American and his Filipina wife have found themselves in hot water after they bulldozed trees and cut the top off their neighbours’ hill in Subic Bay. A report by Cocktails, …