Philippine: 5 Vietnamese Hostages Rescued

Philippine National Police Special Action Force personnel man a checkpoint in Marawi city, as government troops continue their assault against insurgents from the Maute group, in Philippines June 10, 2017. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco
Philippine National Police Special Action Force personnel man a checkpoint in Marawi city, as government troops continue their assault against insurgents from the Maute group, in Philippines June 10, 2017. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco
TT
20

Philippine: 5 Vietnamese Hostages Rescued

Philippine National Police Special Action Force personnel man a checkpoint in Marawi city, as government troops continue their assault against insurgents from the Maute group, in Philippines June 10, 2017. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco
Philippine National Police Special Action Force personnel man a checkpoint in Marawi city, as government troops continue their assault against insurgents from the Maute group, in Philippines June 10, 2017. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco

Philippine troops rescued four Vietnamese sailors kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf terrorists nine months ago and found a fifth hostage dead, an army spokeswoman said on Friday.

The sailors were found in a remote island in Tawi-tawi, more than 1,000 km south of Manila, Captain Jo-Ann Petinglay stated.

The hostages were among the 17 crew members of the bulk carrier MV Giang Hai 5, which was attacked by terrorists from the Abu Sayyaf armed group, affiliated to ISIS, of the nearby island of Jolo in February.

Two of the sailors were killed during the attack, while 10 were rescued and five kidnapped by the insurgents.

Petinglay said the troops had found the five hostages in Languyan town, but one died due to illness he suffered during his captivity.

Petinglay said the Abu Sayyaf militants were still holding nine foreigners and Filipino hostages in Jolo.



US House Speaker Johnson Will Travel to Israel on June 22 

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., during a news conference at the RNC near the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP)
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., during a news conference at the RNC near the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP)
TT
20

US House Speaker Johnson Will Travel to Israel on June 22 

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., during a news conference at the RNC near the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP)
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., during a news conference at the RNC near the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP)

US House Speaker Mike Johnson will travel to Israel to address the parliament on June 22, he said on Wednesday.

"Our ties run deeper than military partnerships and trade agreements," Johnson said in an emailed statement.

Punchbowl News, which first reported Johnson's plan, said the House Speaker was expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem during the trip.

Johnson did not provide further details on the planned trip.

Johnson announced the visit as Israel presses on with its military campaign in the Gaza Strip, more than 20 months after it launched its offensive there in response to a deadly incursion into Israel led by the Palestinian group Hamas.

On Tuesday, Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand and Norway imposed sanctions on far-right Israeli cabinet ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, accusing them of repeatedly inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

Israel called the action "outrageous" and said the Israeli government would hold a meeting early next week to decide how to respond.