News Update
As of December 20, 2017 (Wednesday)
1. Manila Bulletin
Japan, South Korea urge China to do more to pressure North Korea
Japan and South Korea have urged China to do more to “pressure” North Korea to end its nuclear and missile programs, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono said yesterday. After talks with South Korean Foreign
Minister Kang Kyung-wha, he said that China is currently implementing the United Nations Security Council resolutions (on North Korea), but China can probably do more. He further added that they agreed on the need to put pressure firmly on North Korea.
The United States has also pressured China and other nations to cut trade and diplomatic ties with North Korea as part of international efforts to dry up Pyongyang’s illegal cash flows that could fund its weapons programs.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/12/20/japan-south-korea-urge-china-to-do-more-to-pressure-north-korea/
2. Philippine Star
Duterte signs P3.767-T budget
President Duterte signed the 2018 national budget or the General Appropriations Act (GAA) and the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) bill yesterday. The president said that the implementation of these laws will serve as our national, initial step towards cutting the poverty rate to 14 percent and making the Philippines an upper middle class (country) by 2022 and that next year’s budget would primarily support infrastructure development, free education in state universities and colleges, universal health care, free irrigation and the maintenance of peace and order across the country.
Social services including education, health and social security got P1.42 trillion, while economic services including agriculture, tourism, trade, natural resources, power and energy was allotted P1.15 trillion. General public services like public order and security and general administration was given P655 billion, while defense got P161.5 billion.
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/12/20/1770130/duterte-signs-p3.767-t-budget
3. Daily Inquirer
Dengvaxia blamed for death of 2 kids
The Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) has come to the assistance of parents who claim their children died after being immunized with Dengvaxia. Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta, chief of the PAO, told reporters on yesterday that two parents had come forward to attest that Dengvaxia could be deadly and that they died of severe dengue six months after being immunized with Dengvaxia in April last year.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/953773/dengvaxia-blamed-for-death-of-2-kids
4. Manila Times
Navy chief sacked over frigate deal – sources
The flag officer in command of the Philippine Navy was relieved from his post on Tuesday in a surprise move a day before the 82nd Anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Vice Admiral Ronald Joseph Mercado was replaced by Rear Admiral Robert Empedrad, the AFP deputy chief of staff for reserve and retirees’ affairs, as Philippine Navy chief during a closed-door turnover ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
Col. Edgard Arevalo, AFP spokesman, said Mercado was placed on floating status, assigned to the Office of the AFP Chief of Staff. Empedrad will serve in an acting capacity. “The reason for this change of command will be explained in due time,” Arevalo said in a statement.
http://www.manilatimes.net/navy-chief-sacked-frigate-deal-sources/369670/
