More than 150,000 people have been evacuated across the eastern provinces of the Philippines as Typhoon Kalmaegi, locally named Tino, approaches from the Pacific. Authorities have issued warnings for torrential rains, potentially destructive winds, and storm surges reaching up to three metres (nearly 10 feet).

A 6.9-magnitude aftershock jolted quake-hit southern Philippines, triggering a fresh tsunami alert just hours after an earlier warning was lifted, authorities said.

Philippine bishops have urged Catholics and others to demand accountability and transparency from government authorities for the misuse of public funds.

Canada and the Philippines, both staunch critics of China’s increasingly coercive actions in the disputed South China Sea, were to sign a key defense agreement on Sunday that would allow their forces to hold joint battle-readiness drills and expand a web of security alliances to deter aggression,