(TAGAYTAY CITY, Cavite) The private sector has identified 12 initiatives that could be included in the Cebu Action Plan (CAP) to help small businesses, a private sector representative to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Advisory Council (ABAC) has said. In a press conference at the Summit Ridge Hotel here on Thursday, Dr. Caesar Parrenas said that these initiatives include the creation of a credit information system, the use of movable collaterals, and fixing trade […]
ASEAN IN FOCUS
Australia seeks Indonesia prisoner swap as executions loom
(Reuters) — Australian law makers held a dawn vigil on Thursday (March 5) as Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said they were seeking an opportunity to discuss a prisoner swap with her Indonesian counterpart in an 11th hour effort to save the lives of two Australian drug smugglers expected to face a firing squad within days. The planned executions of Myuran Sukumaran, 33, and Andrew Chan, 31, have ratcheted up diplomatic tension between Australia and Indonesia […]
Magnitude 6.4 quake strikes off Indonesia, no reports of damage
(Reuters) – An earthquake measuring 6.4 magnitude struck off the Indonesian island of Sumatra on Tuesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said, but there were no reports of damage or casualties. The quake was 37 km (23 miles) deep and centred 179 km (111 miles) offshore. It was felt by people on land but there was no panic, Indonesia’s disaster agency said. There was no word on a tsunami. Indonesia, badly hit by the Indian Ocean […]
Indonesian official confirms Bali Nine members are transferred to final prison ahead of execution
Indonesian authorities confirmed they have transferred two convicted Australian drug traffickers on Wednesday (March 4) to a maximum security prison ahead of an upcoming execution that could happen in the near future. Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan were transferred under armoured truck through a heavily guarded process from the Kerobokan prison in Bali, where both served at least eight years of a jail term. “Today is the transfer day for two of them. We already […]
Indonesia moves two Australian convicts to final prison
Indonesian authorities transferred two convicted Australian drug traffickers on Wednesday (March 4) to a maximum security prison inNusakambangan Island of central Java province. The prisoners were transferred despite pleas for mercy from the government ofAustralia. The executions threaten already fragile relations between at times uneasy neighbours Australia and Indonesia. Australians Myuran Sukumaran, 33, and Andrew Chan, 31, were transferred with tight security of ten armed security personnel for each person. The prisoners are among 11 […]
APEC meetings in Tagaytay start; output to form part of Cebu Action Plan
The Department of Finance is hosting a series of related meetings on the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) the output of which will form part of the Cebu Action Plan that will be launched during the APEC Finance Ministers Meeting in September in Mactan. The series of APEC meetings started Tuesday, March 3, in Tagaytay City with the Asia-Pacific Forum on Financial Inclusion. The APEC Public Private Partnership (PPP) Experts Advisory Panel Meeting is set on […]
Australia says search for MH370 plane may be called off
(Reuters) — The search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 cannot go on forever, Australia’s deputy prime minister said, and discussions are already underway between Australia, China and Malaysia as to whether to call off the hunt within weeks. No trace has been found of the Boeing 777 aircraft, which disappeared one year ago this week, carrying 239 passengers and crew shortly after taking off from the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, bound for Beijing. More […]
Australian PM Abbott says Indonesia “carefully considering” its position on execution of Australians
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott spoke to Indonesia‘s President Joko Widido on Wednesday (February 25) night and asked to show mercy for the two Australians on death row at Bali’s Kerobokan Prison. “Well it was a positive sign that the conversation took place. The fact that the president of Indonesia and the prime minister of Australia can talk candidly about these issues is a sign of the strength of the relationship and it’s a sign of the depth of the friendship between Australia andIndonesia. I don’t think […]
French President Francois Hollande arrives in Manila for two-day state visit
French President Francois Hollande arrived at a military airbase in Manila on Thursday (February 26) for a two-day visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and gathering support in addressing climate change. Over one hundred delegates accompanied Hollande on the state visit, including businessmen, heads of organisations, environmental advocates and celebrities like Jeremy Irons, Marion Cotillard and Melanie Laurentwho are known for their stand on climate change. Upon arrival, Hollande laid a wreath of flowers in front of the monument of Jose Rizal, […]
VW gets government approval for Thai plant
(Reuters) – Germany’s Volkswagen has won approval from Thai authorities to build a manufacturing plant for fuel efficient cars near Bangkok after months of delays. A VW spokesman said on Saturday that it had received the go-ahead but the carmaker would now assess the situation and that no decision has been made yet whether to build the factory, confirming a report in German weekly magazine WirtschaftsWoche. According to previous media reports, the 1 billion euro […]
Bangkok police detain at least three over street demonstration
Thai police plucked at least three people off the streets of the capital on Sunday (February 22) after they held a small gathering to “exchange views” with the country’s military junta. Thailand’s military has severely restricted public gatherings since seizing power in a coup last May. Taking a hard line on dissent, it has detained more than 300 people, including activists, journalists and politicians. The leader of a group of four people, Akkarakit Noonchan, was […]
Indonesian protesters collect coins to return Australian tsunami aid
Hundreds of people gathered in Jakarta on the streets of Jakarta on Sunday (February 22) to join a coin collection drive in protest to Prime MinisterTony Abbott’s comment linking clemency please for two Australians on death row to the country’s 2004 tsunami relief aid. Earlier in the week, Abbott said Australia would feel “grievously let down” if the executions proceeded despite the roughly A$1 billion (784 million USD) in assistance it gave after the disaster, […]
