News Update
As of November 02, 2017 (Thursday)
1. Manila Bulletin Japan pledges $9-B aid
President Duterte returned to Davao City Tuesday night from his “most productive and engaging” visit to Japan where he met Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on revitalized bilateral cooperation in the next five years. Sharing the gains of his Tokyo trip, the President said Japan has committed a trillion yen or almost $9-billion aid package to help improve the country’s infrastructure network, among others.
Duterte said he discussed with Prime Minister Abe “concrete time-bound and specific ways” to further intensify bilateral cooperation, particularly on projects under the Philippines’ “Build, Build, Build” program that aims to sustain economic growth and improve the quality of life of Filipinos.
Another $6 billion worth of business agreements were also been forged with Japanese investors during the President’s visit to Tokyo. He said the Japanese government and investors were “in a hurry as we are” in implementing various infrastructure projects and other deals. “They want to finish during my term,” he said.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/11/02/japan-pledges-9-b-aid/
2. Philippine Star
Indonesian ISIS: 39 Mautes still in Marawi
A suspected Indonesian terrorist belonging to the Islamic State-inspired Maute group told authorities there were still up to 39 stragglers in the battle area following his arrest yesterday morning while trying to escape from Marawi City.
Col. Romeo Brawner, deputy commander of the Joint Task Force Ranao, confirmed the arrest of the Indonesian suspect but refused to identify him or provide details. He only said “an Indonesian national” was arrested in Barangay Loksadatu at around 7 a.m. yesterday. But reports identified the foreign fighter as 23- year-old Muhammad Ilham Syahputra. Seized from the suspect was an Indonesian passport and a bag containing an improvised explosive device (IED).
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/11/02/1754814/indonesian-isis-39-mautes-still-marawi
3. Daily Inquirer
Defector: US strike would trigger automatic North Korea retaliation
A high-ranking North Korean defector told a congressional hearing Wednesday that a pre-emptive U.S. military strike on the country would trigger automatic retaliation, with the North unleashing artillery and short-range missile fire on South Korea.
The testimony from Thae Yong Ho, former deputy chief of mission at the North Korean Embassy in London, underscored the high risk in using military force against North Korea. The Trump administration has said this is among its options in stopping leader Kim Jong Un from perfecting a nuclear-tipped missile that could strike the United States.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/942357/news-us-north-korea-nuclear-weapons-defector-kim-jong-un
4. Manila Times
Duterte calls on NPA to lay down arms for jobs
President Rodrigo Duterte has called on New People’s Army (NPA) rebels to lay down their arms in exchange for jobs.
The President made the call in connection with the initiative of his daughter, Sara Duterte, to localize the peace talks with the National Democratic Front (NDF)—the umbrella group of all communist organizations in the country—in Davao City.
http://www.manilatimes.net/duterte-calls-npa-lay-arms-jobs/360014/
