Manila, June 10 (IANS) India has highlighted the importance of the Asean Regional Forum (ARF) mechanism and support for dialogue and diplomacy in addressing contemporary geopolitical challenges at the ARF Senior Officials’ Meeting in the Philippines capital, the MEA said on Wednesday. In a statement shared on X, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: “Secretary (East) Shri Rudrendra Tandon led the Indian delegation at the Asean Regional Forum (ARF) Senior Officia…
Latest Manila News & Updates
Washington, June 2 (IANS) Voicing concerns over China’s activities in the South China Sea, Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday reaffirmed U.S. support for the Philippines, describing Manila as a critical partner in the Indo-Pacific amid growing regional tensions. Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio said he had raised concerns about Chinese actions near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in multiple engagements with Chinese officials and warned against efforts to alt…
New Delhi, May 25 (IANS) Bangladesh faces a moderate risk of external and overall debt distress with limited capacity to absorb shocks in the near term, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said.ADB warned that weak revenue mobilisation and rising domestic borrowing are increasing fiscal pressures ahead of the country’s graduation from least‑developed‑country status, the report from Bangladesh-based The Daily Star said.”The lender warned that Bangladesh’s graduation from LDC status in Novemb…
Manila, May 5 (IANS) Japan and the Philippines agreed to establish a framework for working-level talks on the export of used destroyers to the Philippines, on Tuesday, reported Local media.The agreement was done between Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro in Manila.Minister Koizumi is currently visiting the Philippines and also held discussions with the Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos on Tuesday.”As unilateral attempts to change the s…
Manila, May 3 (IANS) Thousands of people are being evacuated from the area south of Manila after the Mayon Volcano erupted on Sunday, the Philippines government news agency reported.The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has issued an advisory for the people, assigning an alert level of three out of five for volcanic activity at Mayon Volcano. Alert level three means Magma is near or at the surface, and activity could lead to a hazardous eruption in weeks. Danger zones may be exp…
Manila, April 8 (IANS) Secretary (East) at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Periasamy Kumaran, held a meeting with the Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Maria Theresa P. Lazaro in Manila on Thursday, discussing progress of strategic partnership between two nations and India’s active support for ASEAN. In a post on X, Lazaro stated, “A pleasure meeting Mr. Periasamy Kumaran, Secretary (East) of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, who is in Manila for the 28th ASEAN-India Senio…
Beijing/Manila, April 4 (IANS) The provisional understanding between the Philippines and China over the contested Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea underscores how Manila has countered Chinese coercion through quiet resolve backed by political leadership, alliance support, calculated military moves, and public willingness to bear the cost of managed escalation. “Chinese coercion was defeated by persistence that denied it success. The Philippines did not secure Second Thomas Shoal beca…
Kuala Lumpur, March 6 (IANS) With growing regional tensions in South-East Asia, the Philippines’ ASEAN chairmanship will be evaluated not by new declarations but by how effectively it can stabilise the bloc through prudent diplomacy, sustain dialogue among fragmented stakeholders, and ensure the forum’s relevance in addressing shared challenges, a report detailed. “As the Philippines settles into its 2026 ASEAN Chair role, the stalled peace process in Myanmar, persistent tensions in the So…
New Delhi, March 3 (IANS) The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission-II, South Delhi, has directed Malaysia Airlines to refund over Rs 65,000 with interest and ordered MakeMyTrip (India) Pvt. Ltd. to pay compensation to a Delhi resident for deficiency in service related to cancelled international tickets during the Covid-19 pandemic.The complaint was filed by Karan Pradeep, a resident of Gulmohar Park in South Delhi, who had booked two international tickets through Make My Trip for Mala…
Manila, Jan 7 (IANS) The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said a magnitude 6.7 earthquake hit off Davao Oriental province in the southern Philippines on Wednesday morning.The institute said the earthquake occurred at 11:02 a.m. local time at a depth of 42 kilometers, with the epicentre about 47 kilometres from the coastal town of Manay.Tremors were felt across the island.The institute said the earthquake is expected to generate aftershocks and cause damage, particularly in area…