by W.G. Dunlop Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Donald Trump on Sunday announced he will replace Defense Secretary Jim Mattis with his deputy Patrick Shanahan, speeding up the Pentagon chief’s planned exit days after he quit, citing key policy differences with the US president. Mattis, 68, had said he would leave at the end of February to allow a smooth transition for the next chief of the world’s top military power, but […]
Tag: military
Lorenzana vows no let-up in military ops vs Communist rebels
(Eagle News) — Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Thursday, Dec. 20, vowed to continue military operations against Communist rebels, even as they currently hold hostage 14 people, including two soldiers. “I have read in the newspapers (the rebels) want us to stop operations in their areas. But we will not stop,” Lorenzana said. According to Lorenzana, they were committed to ending the Communist insurgency, which spans over 50 years, during the term of President Rodrigo […]
Trump orders full withdrawal of US troops from Syria
by Thomas WATKINS Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States will withdraw all of its troops from Syria, a US official said Wednesday, after President Donald Trump claimed America has “defeated ISIS” in the war-ravaged country. The stunning move will have extraordinary geopolitical ramifications — and plunges into uncertainty the fate of US-backed Kurdish fighters who have been tackling Islamic State jihadists, hundreds of whom remain in Syria. “We have defeated […]
Authorities rescue wife, daughters of suspected Abu Sayyaf member in Sulu
(Eagle News)—The military on Wednesday, Dec. 19, said the wife and the daughters of a suspected Abu Sayyaf member were “rescued” from a crossfire in Patikul, Sulu. Manah Solaiman, 27; and daughters Raiza and Pirhana were hiding in the mangroves when they were found by authorities during an encounter between them and the suspected Abu Sayyaf members on Minis Island on December 13. Solaiman is the wife of suspected Abu Sayyaf member Jackie Solaiman alias Jackie Chan, […]
Koreas verify removal of frontline bunkers
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — Soldiers from North and South Korea are set to verify the dismantlement of guard posts in the demilitarized zone Wednesday, Seoul said, after crossing into each other’s territory peacefully for the first time. The removal of 20 posts along the heavily-fortified frontier was one of the steps agreed at a September summit between the South’s President Moon Jae-in and the North’s leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang, part of a […]
AFP extends “appreciation” for Congress’ grant of another extension of martial law in Mindanao
(Eagle News)– The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Wednesday, Dec. 12, extended its “appreciation” for Congress’ grant of another extension of martial law in Mindanao. ““We appreciate this grant that lengthens the period of Martial Law implementation (in Mindanao)..,” Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, AFP spokesperson, said in a statement. He said the AFP was “mindful that it is impressed with enormous responsibility…to quell the rebellion that persists in Mindanao and prevent lawless violence by […]
Duterte: Galvez to take helm of OPAPP next week
(Eagle News) — Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., who recently retired as chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, will assume his new post as the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process next week. This is according to President Rodrigo Duterte, who presided over the change of command ceremony in the military, now led by Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal. Galvez will replace Jesus Dureza, who resigned from the Office of the Presidential Adviser […]
One dead, five missing after two US military planes crash off Japan
by Miwa Suzuki with Thomas Watkins in Washington Agence France Presse TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — One US Marine died and five were missing Thursday after two American military aircraft crashed during a refuelling operation off the coast of Japan, officials said. Japanese and US military officials earlier said two of the seven crew of the planes had been found. “One is in fair condition and the other has been declared deceased by competent medical personnel,” […]
Five missing after two US military planes crash off Japan
by Miwa Suzuki with Thomas Watkins in Washington Agence France Presse TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Rescue operations were underway Thursday for five US marines missing after two American military aircraft crashed during a refuelling operation off the coast of Japan, the Japanese defence minister said. One crew member has already been rescued and is thought to be in a stable condition, Takeshi Iwaya told reporters. A spokesman for the Japan Self-Defense Forces (SDF) said […]
Beijing lashes out at US for South China Sea sail-by
BEIJING, China (AFP) — China on Friday scolded the United States for sending naval vessels close to disputed islands in the South China Sea where Beijing has built military installations. The US and its allies have in recent times sent planes and warships to the area for “freedom of navigation” operations, intended as a signal to Beijing of their right under international law to pass through the waters claimed by China. The USS Chancellorsville guided […]
News in photos: Police release mugshots of Satur Ocampo, France Castro
(Eagle News)—The police have released the mugshots of Rep. France Castro and former Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, who have been charged with trafficking and for violation of the law that protects children. Ocampo’s group had said they were merely conducting a solidarity mission to lumads affected by the padlocking of a community center by a paramilitary group in Davao when they were blocked by the military.
Two Koreas connect DMZ road across border: Seoul
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North and South Korea have connected a road across their shared border for the first time in 14 years, Seoul’s defense ministry said Thursday in the latest reconciliation gesture between the neighbors. The dirt road, which is wholly within the Demilitarized Zone that divides the peninsula, will be used for joint operations next year to recover remains from the 1950-53 Korean War. The 12-meter-wide construction of the route in Cheorwon, […]





