Philippine former president Rodrigo Duterte says his arrest may result in Sara’s presidency

MANILA: Former president Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday (March 11) said that Vice President Sara Duterte would win if she decides to run for President, citing his arrest by the International Criminal Court (ICC) as a factor. Duterte made the prediction while held at the Villamor Airbase amid an arrest warrant issued by the ICC for...

US and Ukraine to meet in Saudi Arabia after disastrous White House talks

US and Ukrainian officials were to meet in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday (March 11) for talks aimed at mending ties and gauging if Ukraine is willing to make concessions under President Donald Trump's push to end Russia's war with Ukraine swiftly. Washington, Ukraine's main ally before Trump's inauguration in January, has upended its policy on the...

Ex-Philippine president Duterte arrested over deadly drug war

MANILA: Former president Rodrigo Duterte (pic), once the Philippines’ firebrand leader, is now under custody after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for crimes against humanity over the brutal drug war that defined his presidency. The tribunal sought the assistance from global police force Interpol to enforce the arrest warrant, which was served...

Chinese dine-and-dash gang hits restaurants in eastern Thailand

BANGKOK: A gang of Chinese diners has been causing trouble for restaurant owners in the Bo Win area of Chonburi’s Si Racha district, with their latest offence occurring at a local pork barbecue restaurant where they fled without paying their bill. Yuthanan Panphrom, the restaurant owner, recounted the incident to the press, explaining that four Chinese...

Asean needs to adopt breakthrough thinking, sharper strategies to propel regional cooperation

HANOI: Building on the achievements of the past 60 years, Asean needs to adopt breakthrough thinking and sharper strategies to drive forward regional connectivity and cooperation. The key directions are aimed at strengthening Asean's development, bolstering its central role in the regional structure. Party General Secretary To Lam made the remarks in his policy speech during the...

China’s top universities expand enrolment to beef up capabilities in AI, strategic areas

Several of China's top universities have announced plans to expand their undergraduate enrolment to prioritise what they called "national strategic needs" and develop talent in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI). The announcements come after Chinese universities launched artificial intelligence courses in February based on AI startup DeepSeek which has garnered widespread attention. Its creation of AI...

Trump administration scraps over 80% of USAID programs, top diplomat Rubio says

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Trump administration has canceled more than 80 percent of all the programs at U.S. Agency for International Development following a six-week review, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Monday. "The 5200 contracts that are now cancelled spent tens of billions of dollars in ways that did not serve, (and in some...

Ailing pope thanks doctors as condition improves

VATICAN City (AFP): Pope Francis, who is responding well to treatment for pneumonia, thanked his doctors and healthcare workers Sunday as he missed delivering a fourth straight Angelus prayer in person. The 88-year-old, in Rome's Gemelli hospital since February 14, issued a written Angelus in which he thanked those who volunteer to help others in need,...

Mpox still a health emergency, says WHO

Mpox remains an international public health emergency, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Feb 27 (2025). This was after the international health agency decided the epidemic still merits the highest level of alert, with cases rising and its geographic spread widening. “The mpox upsurge continues to meet the criteria of a public health emergency of international...

Philippines bans poultry imports from US states amidst bird flu fears

MANILA (Vietnam News/ANN): The Philippines has temporarily banned poultry imports from Indiana, New York, and Pennsylvania due to bird flu outbreaks in these US states. It had previously banned poultry imports from Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Maryland, and Missouri. In the latest statement, Secretary of Agriculture Tiu Laurel said the ban covers domestic and wild...