Red Cross officials say at least 1,200 people have been killed by Typhoon Haiyan in two worst-hit areas of Philippines after the massive storm swept through the Southeast Asian country on Friday. Gwendolyn Pang, secretary-general of the Philippine Red Cross, said on Saturday the numbers came from preliminary reports by Red Cross teams on the ground. Sources say the death toll is expected to rise sharply... 

One of the most powerful-ever tropical cyclones based on wind speed has hit the Filipino island of Samar, forcing millions to flee the area. At least three people have been killed and seven injured, with the death toll expected to rise, authorities said. “The super typhoon likely made landfall with winds near 195 mph (313 kph). This makes Haiyan the strongest tropical cyclone on record to make... 

Philippine officials say at least 93 people have been confirmed dead and dozens more injured by a devastating earthquake that struck the central parts of the Southeast Asian country. The 7.2-magnitude quake was centered about 385 miles (619 kilometers) south-southeast of Manila, near Catigbian, and its depth was 12 miles (20 kilometers), according to the US Geological Survey. According to the Philippines... 

Filipino children scamper across wrecked floating shanties at a village in Paranaque city, south of Manila: The Filipino weather bureau warned that storm surges and heavy waves could cause more heavy damage tonight The most powerful typhoon of the year was eyeing landfall on Hong Kong today as it swept past the Philippines and Taiwan, sparing those countries from the worst of its wrath. Typhoon Usagi... 

The discovery of a Monsanto-created, genetically modified strain of wheat in the US that was never approved by the United States Department of Agriculture has imperiled US exports of a staple world food commodity. Japanese authorities have already opted to cancel part of a tender offer to buy US western white wheat and have suspended imports of both that variety and feed wheat, Reuters reported on... 

The Philippines will sue China over its claim on disputed territory in the South China Sea. This is the first legal case over land to be launched against the Asian powerhouse, despite a number of current territorial rows with neighbors. The Philippines Foreign Minister Albert del Rosario announced his government’s legal challenge to the press on Tuesday, summoning the Chinese ambassador in Manila. “The... 

A tourist spot in Mozambique The World Bank has warned that due to global warming a number of coastal countries in the world such as Bangladesh and Mozambique are to disappear over the next century. According to the report prepared by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and Climate Analytics, the World Bank warned climate change, which is causing global warming and sea level rise... 

A Japanese couple offer prayers for the victims of the earthquake and tsunami at Kesennuma city in Miyagi prefecture on March 11, 2012. A new study by Maplecroft risk analysis firm says emerging Asian economies face the greatest financial risk from natural disasters. The study suggests that the limited ability of some Asian states has left them exposed to “major destructive natural hazards, such... 

Protesters chant slogans during a protest march to the US Embassy in Manila on Tuesday Nov. 15, 2011. One hundred Filipino protesters have rallied in the capital, Manila, to show their objection to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to the Philippines. Protesters began their rally in Plaza Salamanca on Tuesday. Clinton arrived in Manila to mark the 60th anniversary of the signing of... 

Six members of an Israeli human trafficking ring, which operated in the Republic of Azerbaijan, are on trial in a special court in Ukraine. Three members of the ring, which specialized in selling body organs from trafficked victims, worked at a clinic in Azerbaijan’s capital city of Baku, IRIB reported on Friday. Run by an Israeli national with no medical training, the clinic was used as a front... 

After cooperating with Vietnam, the US conduced military exercises again in the South China Sea between October 17 to 28, this time with the Philippines. As usual, the two countries announced that the exercises weren’t aimed at China. I think this kind of military exercise is meaningless, as the small countries are just being over-confident in their ability to provoke China and the US ultimately... 

Philippine Army Clinton Calls for Restraint, Announces More Weapons Transfers. With the disputes over the unpopulated Spratly Islands continuing to grow, the Obama Administration has announced that it is preparing a major increase in arms shipments to the Philippines to prepare the nation to fight a war with China. The announcement came at a meeting between Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Philippines... 

Typhoon Aere killed 15 people as it pounded eastern provinces of the Philippines and brought flooding to the capital, leaving thousands stranded in ports. The storm, with maximum winds of 85 kilometers per hour (53 miles an hour), made landfall in Catanduanes yesterday and was forecast to move to the northern portion of Luzon island in the next two days, according to the 5 p.m. bulletin of the Philippine... 

A Philippine village watchman mistook an actor for a real masked gunman, jumped onto his moving motorcycle and fatally shot him in what witnesses thought was part of the filming, police and another actor said Monday. As the director shouted ‘Action!’, actor Kirk Abella began to speed away on a motorcycle with a masked driver and the watchman feared he was going to escape, said community... 

From left to right, Glenna Legarda, Erlyn Umpad and Monette Salaysay, relatives of the victims of the Maguindanao massacre, arrived at the courtroom. The clan accused of orchestrating the Philippines’ worst political massacre — also considered the single worst killing of journalists on record — plotted the attack over a family dinner, a longtime housekeeper testified Wednesday at the start of...