Manila - The European Union said Friday that it has approved a 10-million-euro (13.4-million-dollar) grant to support agriculture and improve food security in the Philippines.
The grant was part of a 1-billion-euro fund set up by the EU in December to help 23 countries worst hit by last year's crisis caused by the rising costs of food.
A total of 30 million euros has been earmarked for projects in the Philippines, the EU delegation in the country said in a statement.
Manila - Six soldiers were wounded Friday in a landmine explosion on a southern Philippine island where Muslim militants are still holding captive two foreign Red Cross staff, a navy spokesman said.
The explosion occurred after a military truck loaded with marines hit a landmine in Patikul town on Jolo island, 1,000 kilometres south of Manila, according to Lieutenant Colonel Edgard Arevalo.
Arevalo said all the injured soldiers suffered shrapnel wounds and were being treated at a military hospital in Jolo.
Manila - The Asian Development Bank said Friday that it was extending a 151-million-dollar loan to help Vietnam expand and improve electricity services in poor and remote communities.
The Manila-based bank said the loan would fund a project to develop up to 10 mini-hydropower plants to serve communities in mountainous areas in north and central Vietnam.
It would also provide financial support to the government's ongoing rural electrification programme.
Manila - A twin-engine plane with seven people on board went missing on Thursday in the northern Philippines, a senior aviation official said.
Ruben Ciron, director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, said the missing Islander aircraft came from Tuguegarao City in Cagayan province, 330 kilometres north of Manila.
Ciron said the plane was bound for the nearby town of Maconacon, just a 35-minute flight away, but it did not reach its destination.
Manila - Three government soldiers were killed in an ambush by communist rebels while they were on their way to a market in the eastern Philippines, an army spokesman said Thursday.
Two soldiers were also wounded while one was able to flee unharmed from the attack that occurred Wednesday, Major Chris Morales said.
Morales said the soldiers were aboard four motorcycles when ambushed by the guerrillas in Ragay town in Camarines Sur province, 210 kilometres south-east of Manila.
Manila - A Singaporean terrorist suspect has been working with Muslim militants holding captive three Red Cross workers on a southern Philippine island, officials said Thursday.
The Singaporean suspect has been with the Muslim Abu Sayyaf rebels since the start of the hostage crisis on Jolo island, 1,000 kilometres south of Manila, more than two months ago.
"We confirmed that a Singaporean terrorist is with the group," National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales said. "We identified the Singaporean in one of the cellular phone conversations."
Manila - The European Union said Friday that it has approved a 10-million-euro (13.4-million-dollar) grant to support agriculture and improve food security in the Philippines.
Manila - Six soldiers were wounded Friday in a landmine explosion on a southern Philippine island where Muslim militants are still holding captive two foreign Red Cross staff, a navy spokesman said.
Manila - The Asian Development Bank said Friday that it was extending a 151-million-dollar loan to help Vietnam expand and improve electricity services in poor and remote communities.
Manila - A twin-engine plane with seven people on board went missing on Thursday in the northern Philippines, a senior aviation official said. 
Manila - A Singaporean terrorist suspect has been working with Muslim militants holding captive three Red Cross workers on a southern Philippine island, officials said Thursday.
