International

Airbus wins $1.85 billion order from Philippine Airlines

SINGAPORE (AFP) — European plane-maker Airbus said Wednesday it had won a $1.85 billion deal for the purchase of six A350-900s by Philippine Airlines (PAL), flag-carrier of one of Asia’s fastest growing economies. PAL also has the option to purchase an additional six of the aircraft, the two companies announced at the Singapore Airshow. Separately, PAL also signed a $600-million order with Rolls-Royce for Trent XWB engines to power the six A350s, the airline said […]

US-ASEAN trade increases

CALIFORNIA, United States of America – According to United States President Barack Obama, the trade between his country and the Association of South East Asian Nations experienced a growth of 55% since 2009. ASEAN is currently the fourth largest economic partner of the United States. (Eagle News Service Described by Jay Paul Carlos, Video Editing by Jericho Morales, Uploaded by MRFaith Bonalos) https://youtu.be/S_4kmyg6d5M

President Aquino arrives in LA for working visit

LOS Angeles, California – President Benigno S. Aquino III arrived in Los Angeles after attending the US-ASEAN Summit. President Aquino will stay in the said city for a two-day working visit. The president will meet officials of three big corporations as well as the Filipino community in Los Angeles. (Eagle News Service Described by Jay Paul Carlos, Video Editing by Jericho Morales, Uploaded by MRFaith Bonalos)

UN sends aid to Syria as Turkey calls for ground operation

by Stuart Williams DAMASCUS, Syria (AFP) — UN convoys delivering aid to thousands of besieged Syrians were due to set out on Wednesday, but hopes for lasting peace dimmed the day after Turkey called for a ground operation in its war-torn neighbor. Syria’s government has approved access to seven besieged areas, including the city of Madaya where dozens of people are thought to have died from starvation, a spokeswoman for the UN’s humanitarian affairs office […]

Obama calls for ‘tangible steps’ to lower South China Sea tensions

by Andrew BEATTY RANCHO Mirage, United States (AFP) — President Barack Obama on Tuesday called for “tangible steps” to reduce tensions in the South China Sea, after a two day summit with Southeast Asian leaders concerned at Beijing’s military build-up. “We discussed the need for tangible steps in the South China Sea to lower tensions,” Obama said after the meeting, calling for “a halt to further reclamation, new construction and militarization of disputed areas.” China’s actions in […]

US-ASEAN Summit sa California, nagsimula na

Nagsimula na ang dalawang araw na special ASEAN – US Summit sa Sunnylands estate sa California. Kabilang sa mga tinatalakay sa unang araw ng pulong ang promosyon ng makabagong Entrepreneurial Asian Economic Community. Susundan ito ng working dinner na ang pag-uusapan ay ang regional strategic outlook. Mismong si US President Barack Obama ang sumalubong sa pagdating sa Sunnylands ni Pangulong Aquino. Inihatid pa ni Obama ang Pangulo sa lugar na pinagdarausan ng pulong bago ito […]

Chinese Uighur suspects deny Bangkok bomb charges in court

BANGKOK, THAILAND (Reuters) — Two Chinese ethnic Uighur men on Tuesday (February 16) appeared at a Thai military court and denied all charges against them for involvement in a bombing that killed 20 people in Bangkok last year. Most of those killed in the Aug. 17 explosion at the Erawan shrine near a busy Bangkok intersection were foreigners. More than 120 were wounded by the blast at the shrine, a popular attraction for both tourists and […]

World Gold Council releases 2015 gold demand trends report

BEIJING, CHINA (Reuters) — Full-year gold demand of the global market in 2015 was virtually unchanged compared with 2014, down just a fraction of 14 metric tons to 4,212 metric tons, said a report released by the World Gold Council last week. The gold market faced a number of challenges in the first half of the year, with demand declining by 6 percent year-on-year, due to a sluggish first quarter followed by a very weak second quarter. […]

North Korea opens figure skating festival to mark the late leader’s birthday

PYONGYANG, NORTH KOREA (Reuters) — North Korea held an international figure skating festival on Monday (February 15) in Pyongyang to celebrate the 74th birth anniversary of its late leader Kim Jong Il. Video provided by North Korea’s official news agency KCNA, which Reuters cannot independently verify, showed the opening ceremony of the festival where people watched performances by figure-skaters from North Korea, Russia, Latvia, Belarus and Canada. The 24th Paektusan Prize International Figure-skating Festival is scheduled […]

Chinese vice foreign minister meets South Korean counterpart in Seoul

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (Reuters) — Chinese vice foreign minister Zhang Yesui held a meeting with South Korean counterpart Lim Sung-nam in Seoul on Tuesday (February 16) amid heightened tensions on the Korean peninsula following North Korea’s rocket launch. During the 7th vice-ministerial strategic dialogue, which is the first one since 2013, Zhang and Lim were expected to discuss countermeasures on North Korea’s recent rocket launch and nuclear test, South Korean foreign ministry said. North Korea launched […]

China’s vice foreign minister opposes U.S. missile defense system in South Korea

  SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (Reuters) — Chinese vice foreign minister Zhang Yesui on Tuesday (February 16) expressed opposition to the possible deployment of an advanced U.S. missile defense system in South Korea, following North Korea’s recent rocket launch. “We exchanged opinions on THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) system. China has expressed opposition to this deployment. Related countries should take a cautious action,” Zhang said after a meeting with South Korea’s 1st Vice Minister of Foreign […]

Jeb Bush gets a brotherly hand from George W. in S. Carolina

NORTH CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA , United States (Reuters) — Former President George W. Bush came to the aid of his brother Jeb Bush’s Republican presidential campaign in South Carolina on Monday (February 15) with a rousing endorsement of his character and a call for voters to reject the angry bluster of Donald Trump. The appearance of the elder Bush on the campaign trail may help Jeb Bush with South Carolina Republicans who hold the former president […]