Flash floods and landslides triggered by Tropical Storm Jangmi have left at least 31 people dead and seven missing in the Philippines, including in areas still recovering from last year’s Typhoon Haiyan.

Big waves have smashed a passenger boat into rocky outcrops and sunk the vessel in stormy weather in the south-western Philippines, killing at least five people, officials said today.

Troops in the Philippines captured three al Qaida-linked militants but missed two top terror suspects, including an Indonesian wanted for alleged involvement in the 2002 Bali bombings, during a raid on a rebel hide-out today, military officials said.

An American missionary held hostage by Muslim extremists for 377 days has returned to the Philippines under tight security to testify against her abductors.

A Muslim extremist group that snatched 20 people, including three Americans, from an island resort in the Philippines threatened today to kill all the hostages if the military moves attempt to rescue them.