Philippines: Defence Minister open to peace talks with rebels
Peace talks between the government and the New People’s Army to end nearly five decades of conflicts might still take place despite President Duterte’s call for an all-out war against the rebel group.
Hanoi (VNA) – Philippine Defence Minister Delfin Lorenzana on February 7 said thatpeace talks between the government and the New People’s Army (NPA) to endnearly five decades of conflicts might still take place despite PresidentRodrigo Duterte’s call for an all-out war against the rebel group.
Lorenzana madethe statement in the context of conflicts still happening in some places andthe government’ troops arrested some leaders of the NPA.
Speaking at thenews conference, Lorenzana stressed that President Duterte does not completelyclose the door to any negotiation and the government remains open to peace talksif they bring benefits to Filipinos.
On February3, the President also declared to annul the unilateral ceasefire with the NPAwhile the Philippine army pledged to have no mercy on the rebel group. One daylater, he announced that the Government will cancel peace talks with the NPA.
💙 The conflictbetween the government troops and the NPA has killed 30,000 people in the pastfive decades.-VNA
The Philippine Department of Agriculture has allowed local businesses to import beef from Argentina, according to the Argentine Embassy in Manila on February 2.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has stressed its commitment to hunt down rebels from the New People’s Army (NPA) who have got involved in criminal activities.
Philippine officials have warned that the decision by Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources Regina Lopez to close 23 mines could cause huge economic losses and unemployment for a large number of local workers.
The Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Japan agreed on May 3 to reinforce the regional financial safety net, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), by launching a new financing facility programme meant to extend greater support in case of a financial crisis.
A technical issue combined with an extreme heatwave was blamed for a series of explosions at a military base that killed 20 soldiers and injured several others in Cambodia on April 27, the country’s Ministry of Defence said in a May 2 statement as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
A lecturer from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine has warned Thais to be more vigilant against COVID-19, saying infection rates appeare to be worsening with higher hospital admissions, deaths and severe cases.
Malaysia should harness the collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable growth and development of the halal industry, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Laos has officially restored the 10% value-added tax (VAT) rate starting May 1, in a bid to support the country’s budget revenue and socio-economic development.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 23, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.
Enhancing regional food security and tackling the pressing challenges of climate change will be key agendas defining Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) Johari Abdul told the press on April 19.
Illustrative image (Source: AFP)
