Twin bombings at Philippine cathedral

Two bombs were detonated at a Roman Catholic cathedral in Jolo island, in the southern Philippines on Sunday, January 27. At least 20 people were killed and 80 others were injured. Security forces and civilians were among the victims of the attack. The militant group Islamic State or ISIS has claimed responsibility but did not offer any evidence to verify its role in the attack. The island is home to several Islamist insurgent groups and has long been disrupted by Abu Sayyaf militants.<br />On January 21, minority Muslims in the predominantly Roman Catholic nation endorsed a new autonomous region in the southern Philippines in hopes of ending nearly five decades of a separatist rebellion that has left 150,000 people dead. However, voters in Sulu province, where Jolo is located, rejected the proposal to form the new region to be called Bangsamoro.