Philippines believes battle to retake Marawi is ending
After almost four months of fierce fighting, the battle to recapture the Philippines’s southern city of Marawi from pro-Islamic State (IS) fighters is drawing to an end.
Philippine soldiers in a battle to recapture Marawi city (Source: AFP/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - After almost four months of fierce fighting, the battle torecapture the Philippines’s southern city of Marawi from pro-Islamic State (IS)fighters is drawing to an end, Philippine authorities have said.
PhilippineDefense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told a press conference on September 18 thathe believes the 118-day conflict will end soon.
Thecountry’s army just needs to liberate an area of about 10 hectares which arestill under the control of the militants, he added.
Meanwhile,Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines General Eduardo Ano saidthree of the five jihadist leaders of the militants that attacked Marawi in Mayhave already been killed.
Themilitary said there are an estimated 60 to 80 IS fighters left after nearly 700of them have been killed in the ongoing conflict.
Atleast 10 Malaysian and Indonesian fighters are helping the local Mauteterrorist group, Ano said.
A day earlier, the Philippine army said they controlledthe command center of IS-linked militants in the city of Marawi, affirming thatthis was a big success to further weaken the terrorist group.
The number of victims as a result ofthe conflict has already exceeded 800 people. More than 500,000 local residentshave been evacuated.
President of the Philippines RodrigoDuterte announced the extension of martial law in Mindanao province so that lawenforcement forces can wipe all terrorists out of the country’s southern region.-VNA
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on August 30 has allowed the government army to decide suitable measures to take back areas that under insurgents’ control in the southern city of Marawi on Mindanao Island.
According to a new law in the Philippine, spreading fake news is considered a crime and anybody proven to spread false news can be jailed for up to six months and fined up to 3,909 USD.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced on September 10 that he will never negotiate with Maute terrorism group, even in exchange for the release of hostages in Marawi city.
The tax adjustment supports the Malaysian Government’s strategy to reduce reliance on foreign food supply chains and to assist domestic farmers, a finance official has said.
The proposed venue is located in the Chatuchak area of Bangkok, featuring eight public sites, including Krungthep Aphiwat Central Terminal and several nearby parks.
Connectivity is expected to improve further with the completion of the fifth Laos–Thailand Friendship Bridge by the end of 2025, facilitating logistics and agricultural exports to Vietnam, Thailand, and China.
Two naval gunboats intercepted a fishing vessel carrying 1.5 tonnes of methamphetamine hydrochloride off the coast of the main island of Luzon just before dawn, in a joint operation with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
In the today context of socio-economic development and growth, the professionalism of Vietnam’s revolutionary journalists continues to rise, guided by exemplary mastery of new information technologies and the modernisation of their founding principles to preserve the enduring values of revolutionary journalism.
Thai Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Vuttikrai Leewiraphan Thailand's formal proposal will be substantial enough for the US to consider further detailed negotiations. He hoped for a tariff rate not exceeding 10% and suggested that the US might extend the negotiation period if an agreement is not reached by the July 8 deadline.
Organised by the Ministry of Culture and the Association of Thai Silk & Culture Promotions, the event honors Her Majesty the Queen on her 47th birthday anniversary and promotes Thai craftsmanship on an international stage.
Prensa Latina's recent article on Vietnam’s assurance of smooth and effective transition to a leaner structure highlighted Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s latest directions on implementing 28 resolutions regarding the decentralisation and delegation of authority.
The lab focuses on four key thematic areas: energy transition and green innovation, sustainable agriculture, circular economy and sustainable cities, and nature-based solutions and biodiversity.
The key content of the document titled "Accelerating Innovative Strategies: Addressing the OOSCY Challenges" will be refined further in a seminar preceding the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October.
This follows Telegram’s serious failure to address the content that has been repeatedly reported to them, despite various efforts of negotiation and cooperation made by MCMC, it said.
Efforts to empower women must transcend dialogue and translate into concrete commitments, including corporate pledges and government partnerships, according to the spouse of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The forum featured two in-depth discussion sessions, engaging representatives from governments, think tanks, and businesses from both ASEAN and China, on how to forge closer ties for a common future.
The new FIFA Hub in Jakarta will not only support football development in Indonesia but also serve as a coordination centre for 21 football associations across Southeast and East Asia.
Minister Counselor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen reaffirmed Vietnam’s principled and consistent stance on the Palestine issue, calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire across the entire Gaza Strip.
PM Anwar Ibrahim affirmed the determination of Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair for 2025, to utilise all viable regional mechanisms of the bloc and work with partners to de-escalate violence and restore a peace process led by Myanmar.
Talking to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam’s Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925–2025), Nikulina, who is also a veteran journalist of Russia’s Sputnik News, emphasised the vital role of mainstream journalism in defending the truth and maintaining public trust.
The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.
The World Bank will provide a 2.1 billion USD financing package for Indonesia, focusing oncreating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing access to clean energy across the country.
Philippine soldiers in a battle to recapture Marawi city (Source: AFP/VNA) 
