SERDANG, Malaysia, Oct. 3 — The two-day ASEAN Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Conference concluded on Monday (26 September 2016) with the participation of over 200 representatives of TVET institutes, line ministries, stakeholders from ASEAN Member States and non-ASEAN countries, and ASEAN Secretariat. Participants discussed various issues such as industry involvement, dual TVET systems, inter-agency coordination in implementing TVET systems, relevance of TVET curricula and infrastructure, quality of trainers and skills recognition. In his opening remarks, H.E. […]
ASEAN IN FOCUS
First Thai babies diagnosed with Zika-linked microcephaly
BANGKOK, Thailand (AFP) — Thai health authorities on Friday said microcephaly in two babies was caused by the Zika virus, in what is believed to be Southeast Asia’s first confirmed case of a link between the sickness and the birth defect. Tourism is expected to account for 17 percent of Thailand’s GDP this year, and authorities will be desperate to prevent visitor numbers from tailing off after Friday’s announcement. “Two of the three infants (tested) […]
Duterte declares upcoming Philippines-U.S. war games ‘the last one’
(REUTERS) Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte plunged one of the United States’ most important Asian alliances deeper into uncertainty on Wednesday by declaring upcoming U.S.-Philippines military exercises “the last,” and ruling out any joint navy patrols. The firebrand Duterte pledged to honor a longstanding security treaty with the United States, but said China opposed joint marine drills in the Philippines starting next week and there would be no more war games with Washington after that. […]
Families: investigation found MH17 downed from pro-Russia rebel held territory
(REUTERS) International prosecutors investigating the downing of a Malaysian airliner two years ago have concluded it was shot down by a Russian-made missile fired from rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine, victims’ family members said on Wednesday. Families were informed of the prosecutors’ findings shortly before a news conference was due to start in the central Dutch city of Nieuwegein on the outcome of the investigation. A surface-to-air missile hit Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 on […]
Singapore accuses Chinese paper of fabricating South China Sea story
BEIJING (Reuters)– Singapore’s ambassador to China on Tuesday accused a major state-run Chinese newspaper of fabricating a report about Singapore’s position on the South China Sea, but the paper stuck by its story. The Global Times said on Sept. 21 that at a summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Venezuela, Singapore had raised the issue of the disputed waterway and an international tribunal’s ruling in favor of the Philippines in a case it lodged against […]
Quezon City hosts 3rd Global Mayoral Forum on Human Mobility, Migration and Development
QUEZON CITY, Philippines (Eagle News) — Quezon City is set to take center stage as it hosts the 3rd Global Mayoral Forum on Human Mobility, Migration and Development on Thursday and Friday, September 29 to 30. About 60 mayors, other officials of local governments and experts from international organizations are expected to attend said forum which seeks to support new and innovative approaches to urban governance in contexts of greater diversity, and to showcase city […]
President Duterte is prepared to discuss West PHL Sea issue in Vietnam – DFA
MANILA, Philippines (Eagle News) — President Rodrigo R. Duterte is ready to discuss the West Philippine Sea or South China Sea dispute if the issue comes up during his upcoming two-day visit to Vietnam. This is according to Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Charles Jose. But Jose said that if ever the West Philippine Sea issue is raised, the discussion would be in the context of emphasizing the need to pursue peace, stability and security in the […]
Duterte eyes stronger ties with Hanoi
MANILA, Philippines (Eagle News) — President Rodrigo R. Duterte is set to leave tomorrow for Hanoi, Vietnam, as part of his introductory visits to member-countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN. The president’s official visit to Hanoi was also aimed at strengthening maritime security, law enforcement and defense cooperation with Vietnam, according to DFA spokesperson Charles Jose.
Duterte announces plans to visit Russia, China
MANILA, Philippines (Eagle News) — President Rodrigo R. Duterte announced plans to visit China and Russia within the year, to chart an independent foreign policy and “open alliances”. Duterte said he wants to open the Philippines to more Chinese investments despite disputes over the South China Sea. Duterte also said his relationship with long-time ally Washington was about to “cross the Rubicon” and instead asked help from its long-time rival, Moscow, on “everything.” It is […]
Duterte says he will create ‘so many new alliances’ for Philippines
(REUTERS) Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said his country, a longtime U.S. ally, was seeking to build “many news alliances” and could turn to Russia and China for help, including on tackling his country’s drug problem. “By next year, I will have entered into so many new alliances,” he said during a speech after inspecting an illegal amphetamine factory. He also said he would not allow his country’s former colonial power, the United […]
Philippines tells world not to interfere in Duterte drugs war
(Reuters) By David Brunnstrom | UNITED NATIONS Philippines Foreign Minister Perfecto Yasay told the United Nations on Saturday his country’s new president, Rodrigo Duterte, had an “unprecedented” mandate and the world should not interfere in his crackdown on crime. Addressing the annual U.N. General Assembly, Yasay said the Duterte government was “determined to free the Philippines from corrupt and other stagnating practices, including the manufacture, distribution and use of illicit drugs. “Our actions, however, […]
10 dead, 3 missing in Indonesian floods, landslides: official
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — Ten people have been killed in flash flooding and landslides in Indonesia, an official said Wednesday, with a search ongoing for three others still missing in the disasters on Java island. Torrential downpours triggered flash flooding in Garut in West Java early Wednesday, which quickly rose to around 2 metres (6.5 feet), national disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said in a statement. He said preliminary data from the local disaster […]
