Philippines

ICC opens Duterte ‘war on drugs’ case with claims he authorized murders, hand-picked victims THE HAGUE — The International Criminal Court began week-long confirmation of charges hearings against former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, with prosecutors alleging he personally authorized murders and selected some targets in his anti-narcotics campaign. Deputy prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang told judges the proceedings were “a reminder that those in power are not above the law,” as the court weighs whether to move…

Sydney’s Bondi Beach was quiet and grieving as investigators on Monday said the two alleged gunmen who opened fire at a Hanukkah celebration were likely inspired by the Islamic State group and had recently traveled to the Philippines. The attack killed 15 people in Australia’s worst mass shooting in nearly 30 years and is being investigated as an act of terrorism targeting the Jewish community, police said. Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said early evidence points to a father-and-son team who “aligned…

In July 2019, as Abdullah was nearing the end of his two-year pilot training in the Philippines, he found himself in hot water with local authorities, getting pinched on a range of charges. Fast forward to December 2020, and he was handed over to U.S. authorities who had terrorism accusations lined up against him. The prosecutor revealed that before heading to the Philippines in 2017 for extensive pilot training, Abdullah had undergone lessons in explosives and stealth operations to keep under the radar. "While…