Sulu

Turkey on July 4 extended condolences to the Philippines over the loss of lives in a military plane crash.

"We learned with great sorrow that a Philippine Air Force plane crashed on 4 July 2021 in the Jolo island of the Sulu province," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

At least 17 people were killed and 40 injured when a Philippine military aircraft carrying troops crashed after missing the runway in the country's south, officials said.

At least 18 people were killed when two bombs hit a church on a southern Philippine island that is a stronghold of Islamist militants, the military said Sunday, days after voters backed the creation of a new Muslim autonomous region, reports AFP. 

The 7.3-magnitude quake was measured at a depth of 380 miles (617 km) at 2:13′ pm local time. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS) the quake struck in the centre of the Celebes Sea, off Sulu.

An aftershock of 4,9 magnitude was recorded 12 minutes later.

Seasoned journalist Akif Beki argued on May 8 that ?objectivity and impartiality are an old media deception,? urging newspapers and columnists to openly declare the political party they are supporting.

Three lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) associations have condemned homophobic news items published by a number of Turkish media outlets against an openly gay candidate running for the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) in the upcoming elections, news portal bianet has reported.

Bar?? Sulu has made headlines as an openly gay individual running for parliament on the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) ticket in the June 7 parliamentary election.