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Thai coup draws swift international condemnation; U.S. reviews military aid to Thailand

(Reuters) – The military takeover in Thailand drew swift international condemnation on Thursday, with the United States saying it was reviewing its military aid and other dealings with its closest ally in Southeast Asia. Thailand’s army chief, General Prayuth Chan-ocha, seized control of the government two days after he declared martial law, saying the military had to restore order and push through reforms after six months of turmoil. The military declared a curfew from 10 p.m. until […]

PHL and Indonesia sign deal setting maritime boundaries

MANILA, Philippines — After 20 years of negotiations, the Philippines and Indonesia formally signed on Friday, May 23,  an agreement setting their maritime boundaries in the Mindanao and Celebes seas. The agreement , which  draws a boundary between the two countries’ overlapping exclusive economic zones (EEZs), is considered as the Philippines’ first maritime boundary treaty. “This is a milestone agreement that… serves as solid proof to our steadfast commitment to uphold the rule of law […]

President Aquino renews optimism on Philippine growth potential

MANILA, Philippines — President Benigno S. Aquino III said his administration is committed to sustaining the momentum of continuous economic growth for the benefit of the people, especially the poor.In his address during the opening of the 23rd World Economic Forum on East Asia (WEF-EA) in Makati City on Thursday, the President said reform measures spearheaded by his government have begun to bear fruit, making the country more attractive to foreign investors.“It is evident that […]

Indonesian President arrives in Manila for state visit, World Economic Forum

MANILA, Philippines — Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono arrived in Manila on Thursday for a state visit and to attend the World Economic Forum on East Asia (WEF-EA). The Indonesian Presidential Aircraft (737-800) landed at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City at about 12:50 p.m.He was welcomed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Education Secretary Armin Luistro, Mindanao Development Authority Secretary Luwalhati Antonino, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino, Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Ma. […]

Saudi Arabia, Philippines investigating alleged scalding of Pinay maid

(Reuters)  — Saudi and Philippine authorities are investigating an incident in which a maid from the Philippines was allegedly scalded with water deliberately poured down her back, a Saudi newspaper reported on Thursday. The case was likely to renew debate on the treatment of some among the hundreds of thousands of mostly Asian domestic workers employed in the Gulf. Arab News said the investigation was launched jointly by Riyadh police and the Philippine embassy in […]

California man charged with kidnapping 15 year old a decade ago

(Reuters) — A California man accused of abducting a 15-year-old girl and holding her captive for a decade was charged on Thursday with rape and kidnapping, even as his lawyer suggested the young woman went with him willingly and was treated “like a queen.” Police say the woman, now 25, told detectives she endured a decade of physical and sexual abuse after being abducted by her mother’s live-in boyfriend, Isidro Garcia, from the family’s suburban Santa Ana home in 2004. […]

North Korean artillery fires at South Korean navy ship, and misses

(Reuters) – North Korean artillery fired at least one shot which landed near a South Korean navy patrol ship south of the two sides’ disputed maritime border on Thursday (May 22), but it did not hit the vessel, a military official in Seoul said. “Today at 6:00 p.m., an artillery bomb was dropped near our navy ship, which was on the patrol mission in our waters, 14 km south of the NLL (Northern Limited Line), so immediately we fired back near the enemy’s […]

2 more Pinoys die of MERS-CoV in Saudi Arabia – DFA

MANILA, Philippines (PNA)– Two more Filipino workers based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia died of the Middle East Respiratory Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) this month, the Department of Foreign Affairs announced on Thursday. DFA Spokesman Charles Jose said the first death was reported on May 12, the other on May 18, bringing to five the total number of Filipinos who have died from the disease. Jose did not disclose the nature of the fatalities’ work or their gender. […]