Day: October 29, 2025

Lagos: The United States has revoked the visa of Nigerian literary icon and Nobel Prize winner Wole Soyinka. Soyinka revealed during a news conference that he received a letter from the US Consulate General in Lagos informing him that his non-immigrant visa had been invalidated. The letter cited ‘additional information’ that emerged after the visa was issued and asked him to appear in person for its formal cancellation. According to Philippines News Agency, the veteran writer suggested the move may be linked to his criticism of former US president Donald Trump. Soyinka previously likened Trump to Uganda’s notorious former ruler,

Kuala lumpur: The Philippines will help further improve regional stability, promote shared growth, and ensure inclusive development among communities during its Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) chairship next year, a trade official said Wednesday. This announcement comes after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. accepted the country’s chairmanship from Malaysia during the closing ceremony of the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Tuesday. According to Philippines News Agency, Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina Roque stated, “Our thematic priorities will guide ASEAN toward practical cooperation-ensuring peace that enables progress, prosperity that reaches every sector, and empowerment

Manila: Authorities arrested three suspected members of a private armed group (PAG) in Maguindanao del Sur on Tuesday night, linked to the shooting of a trader in Rajah Buayan town, a police official said. Capt. Joel Lebrilla, Rajah Buayan municipal police chief, stated in a report on Wednesday that the three individuals were implicated in the attempted murder of businessman Anton Mamalinta, a resident of Barangay Dapantis. According to Philippines News Agency, the incident occurred around 7 p.m. while Mamalinta was in Barangay Baital, also in Rajah Buayan. The trader, however, escaped unharmed. Lebrilla noted that Mamalinta immediately alerted the

Basilan: The Department of Social Welfare and Development has distributed relief goods to families displaced by clan violence in Tipo-Tipo town, authorities said Wednesday. Dr. Nur-Khan Istarul, provincial board member, announced that 2,500 family food packs were distributed in coordination with the provincial and municipal social welfare offices. According to Philippines News Agency, the aid arrived Tuesday afternoon as fighting ceased between armed groups in Barangay Tipo-Tipo Proper. Initial reports indicate that 1,700 families, or about 7,000 individuals, fled their homes when lawless elements backed by some Moro Islamic Liberation Front members clashed with the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team on

Nara: Tetsuya Yamagami, who is charged with murdering former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the western Japan city of Nara about three years ago, pleaded guilty in the first hearing of his trial at Nara District Court on Tuesday. The 45-year-old defendant said the charges against him were “all true.” According to Philippines News Agency, the defense contested the charge of firing a weapon in violation of the firearms and swords control law, arguing that the homemade gun he used in the attack was not covered by the law. The trial is expected to focus on how heavy the

Pangasinan: A total of 4,162 police officers and personnel from other government line agencies, along with force multipliers, will secure All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days observance in Pangasinan from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2 this year. Capt. Aileen Catugas, information officer of the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPO), said in a phone interview on Wednesday that of the total, 1,825 are police personnel, 574 from other agencies such as the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Coast Guard, and the Army, while 1,763 are force multipliers. According to Philippines News Agency, they expect around 133,000 people to gather at the