Asia

Japanese PM postpones his visit to India and Philippines

Editorial Bureau April 21, 2021

TOKYO (JAPAN): Japanese PM Yoshihide Suga to postpone plans to visit India and the Philippines on a trip originally set for the end of the month. Suga will instead focus on handling a recent surge in coronavirus cases, broadcaster FNN and other media said.

Asia

Philippines removes suspension on AstraZeneca vaccine for under 60s

Editorial Bureau April 19, 2021

MANILA (PHILIPPINES) – The Philippines will get back to administering AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine to people below 60 years of age, said health officials on Monday, putting an end to a temporary suspension over reports of rare blood clots in younger recipients overseas. “The benefit outweighs the risk. Only a small percentage of the population had […]

Asia

Respect maritime sovereignty, Philippines and Vietnam ask China

Editorial Bureau March 25, 2021

MANILA (PHILIPPINES) – Urging Beijing to respect its maritime sovereignty both Vietnam as well as the Philippines expressed concern to China’s ambassador about Chinese vessels massing in the South China Sea. International concern has grown in recent days over what the Philippines has described as a “swarming and threatening presence” of more than

Asia

Philippines says wider lockdown is likely as coronavirus infections increase

Editorial Bureau March 17, 2021

MANILA (PHILIPPINES) – A chance for a wider lockdown in the Philippines cannot be dismissed if its surge in COVID-19 infections continues, said its health minister on Wednesday. Authorities announced strict regulations on international arrivals to contain the virus spread. The government is facing a slew of remarks over its handling of the epidemic after […]

Asia

Manila offers nurses in return for vaccines from London and Berlin

Editorial Bureau February 23, 2021

MANILA (PHILIPPINES) – A senior official in the Philippines said on Tuesday that the nation will permit thousands of healthcare workers, mostly nurses, to take up jobs in the UK and Germany if both nations agree to donate much-needed coronavirus vaccines. The nation has the highest number of infections in Asia and it recently relaxed […]

Asia

Philippines military looking forward to keep US troop deal: minister

Editorial Bureau February 11, 2021

MANILA (PHILIPPINES) – The Philippines defence apparatus is looking forward to keep a Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States, said its defence minister on Thursday, as officials came together for a meeting to solve differences over a pact central to Washington’s Asia strategy. Thursday’s meeting in Manila between US and Philippine

Asia

Philippines’ Duterte gives teeth to anti-money laundering rules

Editorial Bureau January 30, 2021

MANILA (PHILIPPINES) – President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte inked a law on Friday to bolster anti-money laundering and terrorist financing regulations. This comes ahead of a Feb. 1 deadline set by a global financial watchdog. The Southeast Asian nation was at risk of returning to a Financial Action Task Force “grey list” which could […]

Asia

Philippines to ease ban on visitors from countries with UK COVID-19 variant

Editorial Bureau January 29, 2021

MANILA (PHILIPPINES) – The Philippines will ease travel curbs on foreigners arriving from more than 30 countries, which have detected cases of the British variant of the coronavirus, found to be more contagious, starting from next month, the presidential spokesman said on Friday. The move covers foreigners previously given permission to enter the Philippines, which

Asia

Philippines to maintain ‘close and friendly’ ties with Biden administration

Editorial Bureau January 20, 2021

MANILA (PHILIPPINES) – The Philippines will maintain “close and friendly” relations with the United States under President-elect Joe Biden, said a top Philippine official said on Wednesday, even as it goes through a strainful period in terms of their decades-old alliance. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque told CNN Philippines ahead of Biden’s

Asia

Philippine students take to protest over security forces’ entry in university

Editorial Bureau January 19, 2021

MANILA (PHILIPPINES) – Philippine students and activists protested on Tuesday against the government allowing security forces to do patrolling of the campuses of the country’s biggest university after accusations from authorities that it was a breeding ground for communist rebels. President Rodrigo Duterte’s government has strengthened efforts to prevent