Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on October 17 announced that the government’s armed forces have liberated southern Marawi city after the 148-day clashes against Islamic militants.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on October 17announced that the government’s armed forces have liberated southern Marawicity after the 148-day clashes against Islamic militants.
Earlier, Philippine DefenceSecretary Delfin Lorenzana said the armed forces were still looking forMalaysian terrorist Mahmud bin Ahmad, who led and sponsored the siege in Marawicity.
There were about 10-20 militants hiding in Marawi, with eight foreign gunmen.They were keeping 20 hostages, including women and children, he added.
Since the fighting of Philippine government armed forces against Islamicmilitants in Marawi city last May, 822 militants, 162 government soldiers and47 civilians were killed. More than 1,700 soldiers and police officers wereinjured. About 400,000 people had to leave their home.
President Duterte previously extended the martial law in the southern provinceof Mindanao, of which Marawi is a part, to the end of this year to facilitatethe army’s activities against militants.-VNA
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.
The Philippines and the US have agreed to conduct 261 joint military activities next year, as the Philippines is pursuing warmer relations with its ally, a high-ranking Philippine officer announced on October 5.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on October 11 announced that Russia will provide defence equipment to support the military’s fight against pro-Islamic State militants on the southern island of Mindanao.
The two last leaders of a pro-Islamic State (IS) militant group in the southern Philippines, including a top Asian terror suspect, have been killed, according to Philippine security sources.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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In March, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra met with Formula 1 chief Stefano Domenicali and said Thailand would commission a feasibility study into hosting a Grand Prix on a Bangkok street circuit from 2028.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (Photo: AFP/VNA) 
