Author: Admin

by Admin 11/3/2025 Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested on Tuesday, upon his return from Hong Kong at Manila’s main airport. This was followed by a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) alleging crimes against humanity linked to his anti-drug campaign during his presidential tenure. The ex-president, who served from 2016 to 2022, initiated a controversial “war on drugs” that, according to official police records, resulted in over 6,000 deaths.  However, international human rights organizations and observation groups estimate the actual number could be as high as 30,000, encompassing many extrajudicial killings of alleged drug offenders.  In a video shared by his daughter, Veronica Duterte, the former president questioned the basis for his arrest, stating, “What is the law and what is the crime that I committed?”  The ICC’s investigation, which began in 2018, examines allegations of widespread and systematic extrajudicial killings during Duterte’s tenure.  Despite the Philippines’ withdrawal from the ICC in 2019, the court maintains jurisdiction over crimes committed while the country was a member.  Human rights advocates have lauded Duterte’s arrest as a pivotal move toward accountability.  Agnès Callamard, Secretary-General of Amnesty International, remarked that the arrest is “a long-awaited and monumental step for justice for the thousands of victims and survivors of his administration’s ‘war on drugs. ”  The Philippine government has yet to clarify the subsequent legal proceedings for Duterte, including the possibility of transfer of the former president to The Hague to stand trial. 

by Admin 10/3/2025 Israel has ordered an immediate halt to electricity supply to Gaza, intensifying pressure on Hamas to release Israeli hostages, even as both sides prepare for renewed negotiations on the future of their truce. The move, announced on Sunday, comes a week after Israel blocked all humanitarian aid to the war-ravaged Gaza territory, echoing the early days of the conflict when it imposed a total “siege” on Gaza.  However, Hamas has condemned the electricity cut as “blackmail,” the same term it used when aid deliveries were halted. The initial phase of the truce ended on March 1. Still, despite sporadic violence, including an Israeli airstrike on Sunday targeting alleged militants, both sides have so far avoided a return to full-scale war. Hamas has been pushing for immediate talks on a second phase of the ceasefire, aiming for a permanent end to hostilities.  However, Israel favors extending the current phase until mid-April and has withheld aid to Gaza amid the ongoing deadlock. On Sunday, Israel escalated its pressure tactics by cutting off the territory’s electricity supply. “I have just signed the order to stop supplying electricity immediately to the Gaza Strip,” Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen said in a video statement.  “We will use all the tools at our disposal to bring back the hostages and ensure that Hamas is no longer in Gaza the day after the war.” Hamas official Izzat al-Rishq denounced the decision, calling it “a desperate attempt to pressure our people and their resistance through cheap and unacceptable blackmail tactics.” Just days after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack triggered the war, Israel cut electricity to Gaza, only partially restoring it in mid-2024.  The territory’s only power line from Israel supports the main desalination plant, but most Gazans now rely on solar panels and fuel-powered generators to generate electricity. With hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced and living in tents, the situation is dire, particularly as night-time temperatures are forecast to drop to around 12 degrees Celsius As negotiations over the truce continue, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens, raising concerns over the impact of Israel’s latest measures.

by Admin 10/3/2025 Argentina has declared three days of national mourning after devastating floods swept through some parts of the country and claimed at least 16 lives, with more victims still unaccounted for. The disaster struck on Friday when an unprecedented downpour equivalent to a year’s worth of rainfall hit Bahia Blanca, a major port city in the Buenos Aires province.  Entire neighborhoods were submerged as floodwaters rose rapidly, leaving residents scrambling for safety. Among the most harrowing reports is the disappearance of two young sisters, aged one and five, who were swept away by the floodwaters.  Provincial Security Minister Javier Alonso confirmed on Sunday that the girls had been sheltering on the roof of a van with their mother when a powerful tide tore them away from their mother. Their mother was rescued, but search efforts for the children continue. Divers are still combing the flooded areas, where water levels remain over a meter high, Alonso told Radio Mitre.  Meanwhile, Bahia Blanca Mayor Federico Susbielles reported that the disaster had caused major destruction which resulted in an estimated $400 million in infrastructure damage. In a social media post on X, Susbielles confirmed the official death toll had reached 16 but warned that the number could rise as rescue operations continue.  The flooding also left much of the surrounding coastal region without power, and at one point, authorities cut electricity in Bahia Blanca due to dangerously high water levels in the streets. President Javier Milei’s office announced the national mourning period on Sunday night, though no specific start date was provided.  In a statement, the presidency vowed that “all areas of the national government will remain dedicated to assisting the victims in this moment of sorrow for all Argentines.” The government has allocated 10 billion pesos ($9.2 million at the official exchange rate) for emergency reconstruction efforts. The tragedy has also drawn international attention, with Argentine football star Lionel Messi expressing his condolences to the victims’ families. “Much strength to all those who are having a rough time in this difficult moment,” he wrote on Instagram. Environmental officials have linked the disaster to climate change.  Andrea Dufourg, director of environmental policy for the city of Ituzaingo, described the extreme weather as “a clear example of climate change.”  She emphasized the urgent need for improved urban planning, citizen education, and effective early warning systems to mitigate future disasters. Bahia Blanca has a history of severe weather events, including a deadly storm in December 2023 that killed 13 people and caused widespread damage.

by Admin 08/3/2025 South Korea’s Seoul Central District Court has granted the release of suspended President Yoon, raising questions about the legality of the investigations into his arrest. The ruling, issued on Friday, comes as Yoon remains suspended while facing insurrection charges. President Yoon’s lawyers welcomed the decision, stating that it confirmed “procedural and substantive problems” in his detainment. They further described the court’s ruling as “the beginning of a journey to restore the rule of law.”  President Yoon expressed gratitude to the judiciary in a statement, commending the court’s “courage and determination in correcting the illegality” of his arrest. The Seoul Central District Court’s ruling follows Yoon’s legal team’s petition last month to nullify his arrest warrant, arguing it was issued unlawfully.  President Yoon was initially detained in January over allegations that his brief declaration of martial law constituted an act of rebellion. If convicted, he could face life imprisonment or the death penalty. Prosecutors confirmed early Saturday that they would not appeal the decision to release Yoon.  The Emergency Martial Law Special Investigation Headquarters subsequently issued an order for his release, with local media outlet Yonhap reporting that he would be freed from Seoul Detention Center later in the day. Meanwhile, a separate ruling by the Constitutional Court is expected in the coming days, which will determine whether President Yoon will be reinstated or officially removed from office. The court’s decision has sparked massive demonstrations across Seoul, the capital. According to Yonhap, approximately 55,000 Yoon supporters rallied in the city’s main districts, demanding his reinstatement.  At the same time, 32,500 protesters gathered near the Constitutional Court, calling for his permanent removal. A Gallup Korea poll released on Friday revealed that 60% of respondents support President Yoon’s removal from office, reflecting deep divisions in public opinion about the situation of the troubled President. The opposition Democratic Party strongly criticized the prosecutors’ decision not to challenge Yoon’s release, warning that it is “throwing the country and its people into crisis.”  The party urged the Constitutional Court to act swiftly in removing Yoon from office. Ahead of the prosecutors’ announcement, hundreds of President Yoon’s supporters also staged demonstrations outside the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, emphasizing the high political stakes surrounding the case. As South Korea awaits the Constitutional Court’s verdict, the nation remains deeply polarized, with Yoon’s fate hanging in the balance amid one of the country’s most contentious political and legal battles in recent history.