News Update
As of October 13, 2017 (Friday)
1. Manila Bulletin
China protests US warship sail-by in disputed waters
The US Navy missile destroyer Chafee entered into China’s territorial waters near the Paracel Islands on Tuesday, according to Beijing’s foreign ministry. China immediately dispatched military vessels and aircraft for identification and warned the US ship to leave, ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular briefing.
“The US vessel action violated Chinese laws and relevant international laws, undermined China’s sovereignty and security interests,” Hua said. “China is firmly opposed to that and has lodged stern representations with the US,” Hua added, using the term for official diplomatic protests.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/10/13/china-protests-us-warship-sail-by-in-disputedwaters/
2. Philippine Star
North Korean diplomat describes nukes as 'sword of justice'
Russian state news agency Tass says North Korea's foreign minister has described his nation's nuclear weapons as a "sword of justice.” Tass quoted North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho on Wednesday accusing U.S. President Donald Trump of "setting a fuse of war" with his September speech at the United Nations. Ri told Tass that the North's nuclear weapons represent a deterrent to protect the country from the U.S.
He said the North's strategic forces have "inexhaustible power that won't leave aggressor state America unpunished." Ri added that North Korea's "army and people are persistently demanding to settle the final score with the Americans with a fiery hail, not words."
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/10/12/1747960/pdea-takes-lead-pnp-drug-war
3. Daily Inquirer PNP kills ‘Tokhang’
Speaking to reporters in Malacañang on Thursday, Mr. Duterte said he decided to make the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) the lead agency in the fight against illegal drugs because few had been killed in its operations.
With the Philippine National Police demoted from the lead role in President Duterte’s war on drugs, PNP Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, folded “Oplan Tokhang” and “Project Double Barrel” on Thursday.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/937046/metro-manila-classes-suspended-nov-16-17-for-asean-summit
4. Manila Times
End ties, expel PH from rights body, Duterte dares EU
President Rodrigo Duterte has dared the European Union (EU) to expel the Philippines as a member of the UN Human Rights Council amid continued criticism of his administration’s bloody war against illegal drugs.
The senator maintained that she was a victim of the strong arm of the State and the “deeply-rooted vengeance”
of President Rodrigo Duterte.
It wasn’t the EU, however, that called for the Philippines’ expulsion from UN rights council, but non-government organizations Human Rights Watch and the Philippine Universal Periodic Review Watch. A group of European parliamentarians visited the country on Monday however and warned that the Philippines risked losing trade privileges if the killings continued.
http://www.manilatimes.net/end-ties-expel-ph-rights-body-duterte-dares-eu/356175/
