Philippines, US hold live-fire exercises focused on territorial defence

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FORT MAGSAYSAY, Philippines: Philippine troops staged live-fire exercises with their US counterparts in the Southeast Asian country’s largest military camp as part of army-to-army drills aimed at enhancing Manila’s defence capabilities against external threats. The drills come after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s decision in February to expand the United States’Continue Reading

Rural underemployment threatens China’s growth

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According to World Bank data, only a handful of economies have risen from middle- to high-income status since 1960, when economic catch-up growth in many developing economies took off. Examples include South Korea, Singapore, Israel and Ireland. Some countries that were high income in 1960 remain so today, such as Denmark and Japan. Others, like Myanmar […]Continue Reading

Who’s to blame for Pakistan’s fearful terror surge?

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Terrorist attacks in Pakistan peaked in 2013, averaging just under four attacks a day, with nearly 2700 total fatalities. The latest trends suggest that 2023 may be worse, with almost 200 terror-related incidents and at least 340 fatalities by March. Is Pakistan reliving the frightful specter of 2013? It may be — the last quarter […]Continue Reading

Death scene in burned Filipino ferry moves rescuers to tears

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The steel-hulled ferry could accommodate up to 430 people and was not overcrowded, said another coast guard official, Commodore Rejard Marfe. According to the manifest, it was carrying 205 passengers and a 35-member crew, Marfe said. In addition, it had a security contingent consisting of four coast guard marshals, whoContinue Reading

Japan unveils fresh childcare plan but funding unclear

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Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki said on Friday Japan must come up with a “permanent source of revenue” to fund childcare policies, but voiced caution over the idea of issuing extra debt. Ranil Salgado, the International Monetary Fund’s Japan mission chief, urged Tokyo to target such financial incentives towards low-income households.Continue Reading

New World Bank chief in make or break role

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In: Asia, Business, Finance

Over the past two years, a drumbeat of calls for reforming the World Bank has pushed its way onto the front pages of major newspapers and the agenda of heads of state. Many low- and middle-income countries – the population the World Bank is tasked with helping – are falling deeper into debt and facing […]Continue Reading