Sunday, May 24, 2026


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Canada pivots toward China as South Korea seeks Beijing’s mediation on North Korea

EDGARDO HERNAL
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Canada pivots toward China as South Korea seeks Beijing’s mediation on North Korea

TORONTO / SEOUL — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will visit China next week to meet President Xi Jinping, marking a significant shift in Ottawa’s foreign policy as it seeks to reduce its heavy economic reliance on the United States amid mounting tensions under the Trump administration.

Carney announced Wednesday that he will travel to China from January 13 to 17, the first visit by a Canadian prime minister in more than eight years. The trip follows an invitation from Xi during an Asia-Pacific summit in October and comes as both countries attempt to repair relations strained by trade disputes and diplomatic standoffs.

“We’re forging new partnerships around the world to transform our economy from one that has been reliant on a single trade partner to one that is stronger and more resilient to global shock,” Carney said in a statement.

The visit takes place as U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened Canada with tariffs and repeatedly questioned its sovereignty, at one point suggesting the country could become “the 51st state.” More than 75% of Canada’s exports currently go to the United States, while the trilateral free trade agreement with the U.S. and Mexico is up for review this year.

Canada’s relationship with China deteriorated sharply in 2018 following the arrest of a senior Huawei executive under an extradition request from Washington, prompting Beijing to detain two Canadian citizens in retaliation. Tensions resurfaced in 2024 when Canada imposed 100% tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, batteries, and other goods, mirroring U.S. policy. China responded with steep tariffs on Canadian canola, seafood, and pork, though it has since offered to ease some import taxes if Ottawa drops the EV tariffs.

Carney will also attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, from January 19 to 21, as Canada accelerates efforts to double non-U.S. exports over the next decade.

Meanwhile, in East Asia, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said he has asked China to act as a mediator in efforts to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula and revive stalled diplomacy over North Korea’s nuclear program.

Speaking to reporters during the Shanghai leg of his China visit, Lee said he raised the request during a summit with Xi in Beijing earlier this week, citing Beijing’s unique influence as North Korea’s largest trading partner and chief diplomatic supporter.

“We’re making efforts but all our channels with North Korea are completely blocked,” Lee said. “I told him it would be good for China to play the role of a mediator for peace.”

According to Lee, Xi responded that patience would be necessary, a view echoed by Chinese Premier Li Qiang in a separate meeting. China has consistently called for restraint among all parties and has resisted moves at the United Nations to further tighten sanctions on Pyongyang despite its continued missile and nuclear tests.

North Korea has refused to resume talks with South Korea or the United States since the collapse of nuclear negotiations between leader Kim Jong Un and then-President Trump in 2019. Since taking office last June, Lee’s administration has pushed for a phased and gradual denuclearization process, beginning with freezing North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs in exchange for corresponding benefits — an approach Lee said Chinese officials broadly share.

However, Pyongyang has dismissed renewed diplomatic overtures, with Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, previously criticizing Seoul’s alliance with Washington and rejecting any return to denuclearization talks.

The parallel diplomatic efforts by Canada and South Korea underscore China’s growing role as a central player in global trade realignments and regional security discussions, even as Western allies navigate increasingly complex relations with both Beijing and Washington.

Magnitude 6.4 na lindol, nagdulot ng takot sa mga residente ng Manay, Davao Oriental

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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Magnitude 6.4 na lindol, nagdulot ng takot sa mga residente ng Manay, Davao Oriental

MANAY, Davao Oriental — Niyanig ng magnitude 6.4 na lindol ang bayan ng Manay sa Davao Oriental at mga karatig-lalawigan kahapon, Miyerkules ng umaga, na nagdulot ng takot at agarang paglikas ng mga residente.

Ayon sa ulat, naitala ng mga camera ang tensyonado at magulong eksena matapos ang pagyanig. Sa isang CCTV footage, makikitang mabilis na lumikas ang dalawang babaeng empleyado mula sa kanilang opisina habang umiindayog ang gusali.

Maririnig din sa isang video ang sigawan ng mga residente sa kalsada kasabay ng malakas na pagyanig. Sa Manay Public Market, nagtakbuhan palabas ang mga tindero at mamimili, iniwan ang kanilang mga puwesto upang maghanap ng ligtas na lugar.

Ayon sa mga ulat, umabot sa Intensity V ang naramdamang pagyanig sa Manay, gayundin sa Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, at Talacogon, Agusan del Sur. Naramdaman din ang lindol sa iba pang bahagi ng Mindanao at maging sa ilang lugar sa Visayas.

Bunga nito, pansamantalang isinuspinde ang morning classes sa Magallanes Elementary School. Ayon kay school principal Vi-Cherry Ledesma, maayos na nakalikas ang mga guro at mag-aaral. “They were able to vacate the building as fast as they could and they know where to go on their evacuation area assigned to them,” ani Ledesma.

Sa Davao City, naglikas din ang mga empleyado ng City Hall patungo sa Quezon Park, Rizal Park, at iba pang malalapit na open spaces. Makalipas ang inspeksiyon ng city engineering office, pinayagan silang makabalik sa gusali matapos itong ideklarang ligtas.

Naramdaman din ang pagyanig sa Panabo, Davao del Norte, at sa Makilala, Cotabato. Patuloy ang paalala ng mga awtoridad sa publiko na manatiling alerto at sumunod sa mga safety protocol sakaling magkaroon ng aftershocks.

5,594 pass 2025 Bar Exams; Top 20 examinees announced

Paraluman P. Funtanilla
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5,594 pass 2025 Bar Exams; Top 20 examinees announced

MANILA, Philippines — A total of 5,594 examinees successfully passed the 2025 Bar Examinations, Supreme Court (SC) Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier announced on Wednesday.

Out of 13,193 registered applicants, 11,420 completed the three-day exam held last Sept. 7, 10, and 14 across 14 testing centers nationwide. Of those, five examinees were disqualified for failing to meet submission requirements despite being allowed to take the exam.

“Five were disqualified. They were not able to comply with the requirements,” Lazaro-Javier said, adding that the examinees were initially given extra time due to time constraints. “They still didn’t submit, so their answers were not checked anymore.”

Justice Lazaro-Javier, who chairs the SC Committee on Bar Examinations, reported that the examinees included 6,667 females, 4,758 males, 41 pregnant examinees, and 206 senior citizens. Additionally, there were 139 examinees with medical conditions and 241 examinees with disabilities.

The 2025 bar exams rank third in the highest number of passers, following the 2020-21 bar exams with a 72% passing rate and the 2016 bar exams with 59%.

The oath-taking and signing of the Roll of Attorneys is scheduled for Feb. 6, 2026.

Top 20 Examinees of the 2025 Bar Exams

  1. Jhenroniel Rhey Timola Sanchez, University of the Philippines — 92.70
  2. Spinel Albert Allauigan Declaro, University of Santo Tomas–Manila — 92.46
  3. Alaiza Agatep Adviento, University of Santo Tomas–Manila — 91.91
  4. Angelica De Castro Mitra, De La Salle–Lipa — 91.68
  5. Marc Angelo Galvez Santos, University of Santo Tomas–Manila — 91.58
  6. Jeowy Loyloy Ompad, University of San Jose–Recoletos — 91.25 (tie)
  7. Enrico Gabriel Reyes Paguia, Ateneo de Manila University — 91.25 (tie)
  8. Marie Shantelle Atienza Sarmiento, University of the Philippines — 90.87
  9. Richmond Bulan Lucas, University of La Salette, Inc. — 90.45
  10. Jusmin Teriann Afable Yap, University of the Philippines — 90.36
  11. Allan Leo Tabuco Paran, Arellano University — 90.20
  12. Patrick Kiel Quiroz Navarro, University of the East — 89.93
  13. Alfrancis Bagadiog Cabungcal, University of the Philippines — 89.80
  14. Gerili Ano-os Gascon, Bukidnon State University — 89.71
  15. Ignacio Lorenzo Dela Cruz Villareal, University of the Philippines — 89.70
  16. Mae Angela Damaso Locsin, University of Santo Tomas–Legazpi — 89.42
  17. Randall Lipnica Pabilane, Arellano University — 89.41
  18. Mikaella Franchesca Nuari Abisana, Ateneo de Manila University — 89.38
  19. Chinzen Viernes Tañada, University of the Philippines — 89.35
  20. Ronald Vincent Ofrecio Gonzales, University of the East — 89.31

The 2025 bar exams showcased the diverse backgrounds of examinees and highlighted exceptional academic achievements among aspiring lawyers across the country.

Denmark, Greenland seek dialogue with Rubio over U.S. interest in taking the island

Venus L Peñaflor
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Denmark, Greenland seek dialogue with Rubio over U.S. interest in taking the island

COPENHAGEN — Denmark and Greenland have formally requested a high-level meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio after the Trump administration reiterated its interest in acquiring Greenland, a vast Arctic territory of Denmark, citing strategic security concerns.

The renewed push by Washington has raised tensions across Europe, with officials in Copenhagen and Nuuk seeking diplomatic engagement to address what they describe as provocative rhetoric from the White House. Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt issued the request for talks following comments that suggested the “U.S. military is always an option” in discussions over the island’s future. Previous attempts to arrange such a meeting with U.S. officials were unsuccessful, according to a statement on the Greenland government’s website.

Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that any move to seize or annex Greenland would undermine the NATO military alliance, of which both countries are members. The concern reflects broader unease among European partners over President Trump’s public statements about the need to control Greenland to counter perceived threats from China and Russia in the Arctic region.

In a coordinated response Tuesday, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom released a joint statement reaffirming that Greenland, rich in minerals and strategic military value, “belongs to its people.” The declaration underscored staunch support for Danish sovereignty and the principle of self-determination for Greenlanders.

European officials have also expressed concern that recent U.S. military operations in Venezuela have heightened fears about the possibility of similar tactics being discussed for Greenland, despite reassurances from Secretary Rubio that there are no plans for a Venezuela-style intervention.

In the United States, reactions to the administration’s position remain mixed. While many Republicans have voiced support for Trump’s strategic rationale, bipartisan critics in the U.S. Senate NATO Observer Group blasted the rhetoric, urging Washington to respect Denmark’s territorial integrity and treaty obligations to a fellow NATO ally.

As diplomatic efforts continue, Denmark and Greenland are seeking to clarify Washington’s intentions and reaffirm Arctic security cooperation through formal channels, emphasizing negotiation over confrontation.

Dome collapse, crater glow naobserbahan sa Mayon; Alert Level 3 nananatili — PHIVOLCS

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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Dome collapse, crater glow naobserbahan sa Mayon; Alert Level 3 nananatili — PHIVOLCS

MAYNILA – Iniulat ng Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) nitong Miyerkules ng gabi ang patuloy na dome collapse at pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) sa Bulkang Mayon sa Albay, hudyat ng mas tumitinding aktibidad ng bulkan.

Sa mga kuhang ibinahagi ng PHIVOLCS mula 6:36 p.m. hanggang 7:00 p.m., makikita ang crater glow o “banaag” sa tuktok ng Mayon, na indikasyon ng presensya ng bagong magma at nagbabagang materyales sa bunganga nito.

Ayon sa ahensya, ang banaag ay dulot ng superheated volcanic gas mula sa bagong magma na nagpapaliwanag sa atmospera sa itaas ng bunganga, gayundin ng incandescent lava dome at sariwang nagbabagang materyal mula sa rockfall at maiikling PDCs o “uson” na dumaloy sa Bonga Gully.

Binigyang-diin ng PHIVOLCS na nananatili ang Alert Level 3 sa Bulkang Mayon, na nangangahulugang mataas na antas ng volcanic unrest at may posibilidad ng pasabog na pagputok sa loob ng mga susunod na araw o linggo.

Mahigpit na ipinagbabawal ang pagpasok sa anim na kilometrong permanent danger zone (PDZ) dahil sa banta ng PDCs, lava flows, rockfall, at posibleng biglaang pagsabog.

Umaga nitong Miyerkules, sinabi ng PHIVOLCS na mahigit 130 rockfall events ang naitala sa loob lamang ng nakaraang 24 oras. Ang mga rockfall ay mga tipak ng batong bumabagsak mula sa itaas na bahagi ng bulkan na dulot ng pag-usad at pagdami ng lava.

Sa kabuuan, daan-daan na ang naitalang rockfall events mula noong huling linggo ng Disyembre 2025, kasabay ng ilang pyroclastic density currents, na nagpapakita ng hindi matatag na kondisyon ng lava dome sa bunganga ng bulkan.

Ayon kay PHIVOLCS Director Teresito Bacolcol, patuloy na mino-monitor ng ahensya ang paglaki ng lava dome simula pa noong Nobyembre, ngunit mas kapansin-pansin ang pagtaas ng aktibidad sa huling linggo ng Disyembre at unang linggo ng Enero 2026.

“Meron tayong lava dome growth. Ito yung makapal at malapot na lava sa ibabaw ng bulkan na naiipon doon. Habang nadaragdagan ang lava, mas nagiging hindi stable ang dome,” paliwanag ni Bacolcol.

Noong Martes, itinaas ng PHIVOLCS ang alert status ng Mayon sa Alert Level 3 matapos maitala ang paglitaw ng PDCs o ‘uson’, isang mapanganib na halo ng mainit na abo, bato at gas na mabilis na dumadaloy pababa ng bulkan.

Sinabi ni Bacolcol na kahawig ng mga senyales noong 2023 ang kasalukuyang aktibidad ng Mayon, kung kailan nanatili sa Alert Level 3 ang bulkan sa loob ng halos anim na buwan. Gayunman, may mahalagang pagkakaiba ngayon.

“Ang nakikita natin ngayon ay may mga senyales ng pamamaga o ground deformation ng bulkan, na indikasyon ng pag-angat ng magma sa ilalim,” aniya.

Ang ground deformation ay itinuturing na kritikal na palatandaan ng patuloy na paggalaw ng magma, na maaaring magdulot ng mas mapanganib na aktibidad kung magpapatuloy.

Patuloy na hinihikayat ng PHIVOLCS ang mga lokal na pamahalaan at residente na sumunod sa mga abiso sa paglikas, manatiling alerto sa mga opisyal na anunsyo, at iwasan ang mga lugar na nasa loob ng danger zone.

Ang Bulkang Mayon ay kinikilalang pinaka-aktibong bulkan sa Pilipinas, at ang kasalukuyang kombinasyon ng dome growth, rockfall, crater glow at PDCs ay nagpapahiwatig na nananatili itong nasa mapanganib na yugto ng aktibidad.

Trump warns Republicans they have to win midterms or he’ll ‘get impeached’

EDGARDO HERNAL
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Trump warns Republicans they have to win midterms or he’ll ‘get impeached’

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump warned Republican lawmakers on Tuesday that failure to retain control of Congress in this year’s midterm elections could lead to his impeachment, renewing his long-running claims of political targeting by Democrats.

Speaking at a House GOP retreat at the Kennedy Center—recently renamed to include Trump’s name following action by a board dominated by his appointees—the president urged unity and electoral victory among Republican members.

“You got to win the midterms because if we don’t win the midterms, it’s just going to be, I mean, they’ll find a reason to impeach me. I’ll get impeached,” Trump said.

Trump was impeached twice during his first term in office. In 2019, the House impeached him on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress over allegations that he pressured Ukraine’s president to interfere in the 2020 election. In January 2021, he was impeached again for incitement of insurrection following the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. He was acquitted by the Senate in both cases.

“I got impeached twice on nothing,” Trump said, delivering the remarks on the fifth anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack.

Looking ahead to the 2026 elections, Trump acknowledged the historical challenges facing the president’s party during midterm cycles but insisted that Republican policies remain superior to those of the Democratic Party.

“They say that when you win the presidency, you lose the midterm,” Trump said, before adding, “We have the right policy. They don’t. They have a horrible policy. They do stick together.”

The president continued his criticism of Democrats and former Democratic presidents, while dismissing anticipated backlash to his remarks. “Now, I won’t say cancel the election… because the fake news will say, ‘He wants the elections canceled. He’s a dictator.’ They always call me a dictator,” Trump said.

Trump also highlighted the Republican Party’s narrow control of the House of Representatives, which he said has complicated legislative efforts. The GOP majority has reportedly shrunk to a two-seat margin following the unexpected death of California Rep. Doug LaMalfa and the early retirement of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene earlier this week.

Despite the tight numbers, Trump voiced strong support for House Speaker Mike Johnson, who attended the retreat. “He’s tough as anybody in the room, actually. But you can’t be tough when you have a majority of three. And now, sadly, a little bit less than that,” Trump said.

Health care is expected to be a central issue in the midterm campaign, particularly after enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies expired at the end of 2025. Trump renewed his criticism of the ACA, also known as Obamacare, and reiterated his preference for direct government payments to individuals for health care coverage.

“Let the money go in a health care account or however you do it. Let the money go directly to the people,” he said.

Trump also urged Republicans to adopt a more pragmatic approach to abortion policy, particularly regarding the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funding for abortion services.

“Now, you have to be a little flexible on Hyde… You’ve got to use ingenuity. You’ve got to work. We are all big fans of everything, but you’ve got to be flexible,” Trump said.

The president did not elaborate on how such flexibility should be implemented, leaving questions about the administration’s specific policy direction as the midterm elections approach.

Capture of Maduro by Trump administration stirs global concern over international law

Venus L Peñaflor
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Capture of Maduro by Trump administration stirs global concern over international law

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The Trump administration’s capture of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro has triggered widespread unease among diplomats, analysts, and world leaders, raising fears that long-standing international legal norms are being weakened in favor of a “might makes right” approach to global affairs.

The modern international legal order, built in the aftermath of two world wars to prevent unilateral military action and large-scale conflict, now appears under strain as Maduro was arraigned in a U.S. courtroom on Monday following his removal from power in Venezuela. The arrest unfolded near the United Nations headquarters in New York, a symbolic reminder of the global rules system now being openly questioned.

Addressing the U.N. Security Council, Undersecretary-General Rosemary A. DiCarlo stressed that “the maintenance of international peace and security depends on the continued commitment of all member states to adhere to all the provisions of the U.N. Charter.”

U.S. President Donald Trump has insisted the operation was legal. His administration argues that drug cartels operating from Venezuela constitute unlawful combatants, placing the United States in an “armed conflict” with them, according to an internal administration memo obtained by The Associated Press. U.S. officials say Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, now face charges linked to an alleged narco-terrorism conspiracy.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz defended the action as a “surgical law enforcement operation,” consistent with the administration’s National Security Strategy released last month, which prioritizes restoring “American preeminence in the Western Hemisphere” during Trump’s second term.

However, critics warn the operation could set a precedent for further unilateral interventions. Trump on Sunday also criticized Colombia and its leftist president, Gustavo Petro, accusing the country of fueling cocaine flows into the United States. The administration has already imposed sanctions on Petro, his family, and a senior official over alleged drug-trade links.

International reaction has been swift. Leaders and analysts from Europe, China, and Latin America condemned the Venezuela operation, with many warning it could further erode the global legal framework.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said Maduro’s capture “runs counter to the principle of the non-use of force, which forms the basis of international law,” warning that repeated violations by permanent members of the U.N. Security Council could have grave consequences for global security.

Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, described the operation as “a turn back to the era of lawlessness,” urging the Security Council to reject what he called the methods of U.S. military foreign policy. Ukrainian political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko said while Russian President Vladimir Putin has long undermined international law, “Trump’s actions have continued this trend.”

Concerns in Europe have also been heightened by Trump’s renewed comments about Greenland, a semiautonomous Danish territory. Trump described the island as strategically vital and questioned Denmark’s ability to secure it, prompting Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen to state that the U.S. has “no right to annex” Greenland and to remind Washington of existing defense agreements that already grant broad U.S. access.

The Maduro operation has also fueled speculation about how shifting norms could affect flashpoints such as Taiwan. China recently conducted military drills around the island following U.S. arms-sale plans, though analysts say Beijing is unlikely to replicate Washington’s approach. China instead continues to pressure Taiwan through sustained military, political, and economic means. Beijing nonetheless condemned Maduro’s capture, calling it a “blatant use of force against a sovereign state.”

In the Middle East, critics point to the ongoing war in Gaza and the U.S. veto of ceasefire resolutions as further evidence of weakened multilateral enforcement. Trump has also shown readiness to confront Iran militarily, warning Tehran last week that the U.S. would intervene if protesters are violently suppressed. Iran’s foreign ministry has denounced the Venezuela operation as illegal.

The European Union, another pillar of the postwar international order, faces growing tension with Washington. While reaffirming that Maduro lacks political legitimacy, the EU emphasized that international law and the U.N. Charter must be upheld, particularly by Security Council members. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a close Trump ally, took a different view, arguing that international rules no longer govern the decisions of major powers.

As debates intensify at the United Nations and beyond, the capture of Maduro has become a flashpoint in a broader struggle over whether global security will continue to be shaped by shared rules or by raw power.

Dalawa ang patay matapos araruhin ng dump truck ang mga bahay sa Laguna

Arman B. Cambe
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Dalawa ang patay matapos araruhin ng dump truck ang mga bahay sa Laguna

SINILOAN, Laguna — Dalawang katao, kabilang ang isang menor de edad, ang nasawi matapos araruhin ng isang dump truck na kargado ng graba ang ilang bahay at tumagilid sa gilid ng Famy–Infanta Provincial Road sa Barangay Siniloan, Laguna.

Ayon sa ulat, pinagtulungang hulihin ng mga residente ang driver at helper ng trak matapos itong sumalpok sa mga bahay kung saan ay may ilang taong naipit sa loob.

Tinangka umanong tumakas ng pasahero ng trak ngunit naabutan at napigilan ng mga residente.

Gumamit ang mga rescuer ng payloader upang maiahon ang mga biktimang naipit sa insidente. Agad silang isinugod sa ospital upang gamutin.

Dalawa sa mga biktima, kabilang ang isang menor de edad, ang binawian ng buhay habang ginagamot, habang anim na iba pa ang nasugatan, kabilang ang driver at pasahero ng trak.

Ayon sa imbestigasyon, bumiyahe ang dump truck mula Infanta, Quezon patungong Lucena City nang maganap ang aksidente sa isang kurbadang bahagi ng kalsada.

Sinabi ng ilang saksi na mabilis ang takbo ng trak ito bago mawalan ng kontrol.

Sa panig naman ng driver, sinabi nito sa pulisya na pumalya umano ang preno ng sasakyan kaya napilitan siyang ilihis ang trak patungo sa gilid ng kalsada.

Ikinuwento rin ng helper ng trak na siya ay binugbog at sinakal ng mga residente nang siya ay makababa mula sa sasakyan.

Ayon sa pulisya ng Siniloan, haharap ang driver sa kasong reckless imprudence resulting in double homicide, multiple physical injuries, at damage to property kaugnay ng insidente.

Danish PM warns U.S. takeover of Greenland would spell end of NATO

Venus L Peñaflor
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Danish PM warns U.S. takeover of Greenland would spell end of NATO

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Monday warned that a United States takeover of Greenland would effectively mark the end of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), responding sharply to renewed calls by U.S. President Donald Trump for Washington to assert control over the strategic Arctic island.

Frederiksen’s remarks followed a weekend U.S. military operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, an action that stunned the international community and heightened anxiety in Denmark and Greenland. Greenland is a semiautonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark and, by extension, part of the NATO alliance.

“If the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops,” Frederiksen told Danish broadcaster TV2. “That is, including our NATO and thus the security that has been provided since the end of the Second World War.”

Frederiksen and Greenland’s prime minister, Jens Frederik Nielsen, both condemned Trump’s comments and warned of far-reaching consequences, drawing expressions of solidarity from several European leaders.

Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of bringing mineral-rich Greenland under U.S. jurisdiction during his presidential transition and the early months of his second term, and has not ruled out the use of military force. His comments on Sunday, including telling reporters, “let’s talk about Greenland in 20 days,” further fueled concerns in Copenhagen and Nuuk that Washington could be considering a near-term intervention.

Frederiksen said Trump “should be taken seriously” when he speaks about Greenland. “We will not accept a situation where we and Greenland are threatened in this way,” she added.

Speaking at a news conference Monday, Nielsen urged Greenlanders to remain calm and united, stressing that the territory’s situation cannot be compared to Venezuela’s.

“We are not in a situation where we think that there might be a takeover of the country overnight and that is why we are insisting that we want good cooperation,” Nielsen said, adding: “The situation is not such that the United States can simply conquer Greenland.”

TV2 political journalist Ask Rostrup noted in a live blog that Frederiksen would previously have dismissed outright the idea of a U.S. takeover of Greenland. However, Rostrup wrote that escalating rhetoric has now forced Danish leaders to acknowledge the possibility.

Trump also mocked Denmark’s efforts to bolster Greenland’s security, saying the country had added “one more dog sled” to the Arctic territory’s defenses. Speaking to reporters as he returned to Washington from Florida, Trump said, “It’s so strategic right now. Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place.”

“We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it,” he added.

However, Ulrik Pram Gad, a global security expert at the Danish Institute for International Studies, countered those claims in a report last year, writing that while Russian and Chinese vessels do operate in the Arctic, “these vessels are too far away to see from Greenland with or without binoculars.”

Tensions were further inflamed over the weekend by a social media post from Katie Miller, a former Trump administration official turned podcaster, who shared an illustrated map of Greenland colored like the U.S. flag with the caption: “SOON.”

Denmark’s ambassador to Washington, Jesper Møller Sørensen, responded by emphasizing Denmark’s sovereignty. “And yes, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark,” he wrote.

The United States already maintains a military presence in Greenland through the Pituffik Space Base in the island’s northwest, established under a 1951 defense agreement between Denmark and the U.S. The base supports missile warning, missile defense, and space surveillance operations for both the U.S. and NATO.

On Denmark’s mainland, defense ties with Washington remain strong. Denmark purchases U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets, and last year its parliament approved legislation allowing U.S. military bases on Danish soil. Critics argue the move weakened Danish sovereignty, expanding a 2023 agreement under which U.S. forces were granted broad access to Danish air bases.

Despite longstanding cooperation, Frederiksen’s warning underscored growing unease in Europe over Washington’s rhetoric and its implications for NATO unity and the postwar security order.

Mayon itinaas sa Alert Level 3 dahil sa tumitinding aktibidad

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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Mayon itinaas sa Alert Level 3 dahil sa tumitinding aktibidad

MAYNILA — Itinaas ng Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) sa Alert Level 3 ang Bulkang Mayon bunsod ng patuloy at tumitinding aktibidad nito, na nagpapahiwatig ng magmatic eruption at mas mataas na posibilidad ng lava flows at mapanganib na pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) na maaaring makaapekto sa itaas at gitnang dalisdis ng bulkan.

Ayon sa Phivolcs, posible ang isang pagsabog sa loob ng mga susunod na araw o linggo habang nananatiling aktibo ang sistema ng bulkan.

Sa pagsisimula ng Enero, nakapagtala ang Mayon ng 346 rockfall events at apat na volcanic earthquakes, mas mataas kumpara sa 599 rockfall events na naitala sa buong buwan ng Nobyembre hanggang Disyembre 2025, na tumagal ng isa hanggang limang minuto bawat insidente.

“The volume of discrete rockfall, with observed incandescence at nighttime, increased yesterday, signaling an increase in the rate of dome growth and the onset of extrusion of new lava at the crater,” pahayag ng Phivolcs.

Sa nakalipas na 24 oras, naitala ang 85 rockfall events, mahinang crater glow, pagluwa ng 702 tonelada ng asupre, at pamamaga ng bulkan.

Dahil dito, mariing pinayuhan ang agarang paglikas ng mga residente sa loob ng 6-km Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) upang maiwasan ang panganib mula sa lava flows, rockfalls, PDCs, at iba pang volcanic hazards. Pinag-iingat din ang publiko laban sa posibleng lahar at pagbaha ng putik sa mga daluyan ng tubig mula sa bulkan, lalo na tuwing may malakas na pag-ulan.

Binalaan din ang mga piloto na iwasang lumipad malapit sa bunganga ng bulkan dahil sa panganib na dulot ng abo at iba pang volcanic materials.

Kaugnay nito, katuwang ang Philippine Army, Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), at ang kanilang mga mobility assets, agad na ipinatupad ng pamahalaang panlalawigan ng Albay at mga lokal na pamahalaan sa paligid ng Mayon ang evacuation ng 729 pamilya o mahigit 2,200 katao mula sa loob ng 6-km PDZ sa mga bayan ng Camalig, Guinobatan, at Sto. Domingo.

Noong nakaraang linggo, ilang pamilya na ang kusang lumikas mula sa mga danger area sa bayan ng Guinobatan. Sa Camalig, agad ding inilikas ang 166 pamilya mula sa Barangay Anoling, Sua, at Quirangay.

Ayon kay Roderick Mendoza, hepe ng Albay Provincial Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO), tinatayang 79,315 pamilya o mahigit 300,000 katao ang nakatira sa mga danger area ng Mayon. Sa bilang na ito, 729 pamilya ang nasa loob ng 6-km PDZ, 20,480 pamilya ang nasa 7-km extended danger area, at 55,946 pamilya ang nasa 8-km extended danger area, na nakahandang ilikas sakaling itaas pa ng Phivolcs ang alert level sa mga susunod na araw.

Samantala, tiniyak ni DSWD regional director Norman Laurio na naka-preposition at handang ipamahagi ang humigit-kumulang 111,000 food at non-food items na nakaimbak sa iba’t ibang warehouses sa lalawigan, bukod pa sa 100,000 standby food packs para sa mga apektadong residente.

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