As world population surpasses 8B, Philippines achieves 5-decade …
WEBNov 29, 2022 — As the world welcomed its 8 billionth person this month, the Philippines saw its fertility rate dip to its lowest in five decades, a development that experts said could increase economic productivity and basic services in the country. Baby Vinice Mabansag was honored on Nov. 15 after her birth at a public hospital in Manila.
Mass surrender over Papua New Guinea massacre as survivors live …
WEBAug 20, 2024 — Harlyne Joku/BenarNews. Police in Papua New Guinea have witnessed a mass surrender by members of the gang allegedly responsible for the rape and massacre of 26 people in the remote north-west of the country last month. Provincial Police Commander in East Sepik Christopher Tamari told BenarNews his men were in the town of Angoram …
Indonesia: $125B Plan Seeks to Modernize Defense Arsenal
WEBJun 3, 2021 — Indonesian military handout via AFP. Indonesia has unveiled a plan to spend U.S. $125 billion during the next three years to upgrade and modernize its military arsenal, the same week the Southeast Asian nation halted efforts to retrieve a 44-year-old navy submarine that sank in late April with 53 sailors aboard.
Philippines, Japan boost military ties amid tensions in South China …
WEBNov 3, 2023 — The leaders of Japan and the Philippines signed a military aid package on Friday and pledged to begin negotiations on a defense pact as both countries encounter rising tensions with China. In addition to providing military assistance to Manila, visiting Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida promised a slew of development aid packages …
Minister: Tesla to Invest in Battery, Electric Car Plant in Central ...
WEBMay 19, 2022 — Jakarta has also set a goal that by 2025, 20 percent of cars made in Indonesia will be electric vehicles. Tesla agreed to build a battery and electric vehicle plant at an industrial complex in Central Java province, following stateside talks last weekend between President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Tesla chief Elon Musk, Investment …
Philippine military kills suspected IS militant tied to bus bombing …
WEBJun 2, 2022 — Jeoffrey Maitem/BenarNews. Government troops killed an alleged pro-Islamic State militant and captured another after a shootout in the southern Philippines, while hunting for suspects linked to a bus bombing last week, military officials said Thursday. The military identified the suspects as Monir Lintukan and Randy Saro, and said they were ...
Palm oil tycoon surrenders to Indonesian police over huge …
WEBAug 15, 2022 — Surya Darmadi (center), a palm oil tycoon and suspect in an alleged corruption scandal estimated to have caused state losses of 78 trillion rupiah (U.S. $5.2 billion), the largest in Indonesia’s history, arrives at the Attorney General’s Office in Jakarta, Aug. 15, 2022. An Indonesian businessman suspected of converting forests into palm ...
What’s next for southern Thai peace talks after abrupt govt change?
WEBAug 22, 2024 — Chalinee Thirasupa/Reuters. The sudden change in prime minister at the top of Thailand’s government will have little impact on southern peace talks because the ruling party has never made this a priority. The Pheu Thai Party returned to power in September 2023 through a post-electoral Faustian deal with civil-military political parties, even ...
Malaysian opposition slams PM for ‘reckless’ South China Sea …
WEBApr 7, 2023 — The country’s main opposition bloc has slammed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for his “reckless” statement this week that Kuala Lumpur would negotiate with Beijing on South China Sea territory disputed between the two nations.. Anwar’s statement, made after his first official visit to China as PM last week, risked the country’s …
OIC buys into China’s narrative of happy Uyghurs in a stable Xinjiang
WEBAug 25, 2023 — Adrian Zenz, a researcher at the Washington.-based Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation and an expert on the Xinjiang region, harshly denounced the OIC’s visit to China. “High-level OIC delegation visits Xinjiang, praises China’s policies,” he said on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.