Philippines

Syrian Rebels Release U.N. Peacekeepers Near Golan Heights

Bill Chappell — Sun, 12 May 2013 12:08:00 +0000

Four Filipino peacekeepers are now free, days after being abducted by Syrian rebels. They had been patrolling near the area that divides Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The rebels said Wednesday that the four had been held for their own protection. But Filipino officials say they were used as human shields.

"The people that abducted our peacekeepers were actually under siege and they are using our people to get themselves out of the situation they find themselves in.

Christians Trace The Steps Of Jesus As They Mark Good Friday

Korva Coleman — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 14:03:00 +0000

It's Good Friday, one of the holiest days of the Christian year, when tradition holds that Jesus was crucified and died.

Pope Francis is marking the day at the Vatican by reciting the story of the hours before Jesus' death, says CNN. In Jerusalem's Old City today, Christian pilgrims traced Jesus' steps, pausing to pray at 14 stops and concluding their walk at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

Hundreds Dead, Hundreds Missing After Typhoon Slams Philippines

Mark Memmott — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 12:45:00 +0000

"The death toll from a typhoon that ravaged the Philippines jumped to 238 Wednesday with hundreds missing, as rescuers battled to reach areas cut off by floods and mudslides," The Manila Times writes.

It adds that "Typhoon Pablo (international codename: Bopha) slammed into the southern island of Mindanao Tuesday, toppling trees and blowing away homes with 210-kilometre (130-mile) per hour gusts before easing overnight as it headed towards the So

Go To Jail For A Retweet? Filipino Lawmaker Tries To Ease Concern

Mark Memmott — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 20:33:00 +0000

This headline at Global Post is an eye-opener:

"Philippines: Click 'like,' go to prison. Cybercrime law threatens 12 years behind bars for 'liking' or re-Tweeting libel."

As Bloomberg News has reported, the country's new "Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 ...

Even As Rains Ease, Disaster Grows In Philippines; 2.1 Million Affected

Mark Memmott — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:34:00 +0000

The numbers keep rising in the Philippines, where monsoons have overwhelmed Manila and other areas.

According to the country's disaster response agency

-- The number of people affected by the devastating rains, flooding and landslides has grown to 2.1 million, up from 1.2 million on Wednesday.

-- As the end of the day today, more than 580,000 people were either in evacuation centers or had fled to the homes of relatives or