Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines launch coordinated air patrols
Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines on October 12 launched their coordinated air patrols as part of effort to speed up their fight against Islamic militants, who have besieged Marawi, the southern city of the Philippines.
Smoke seen in a clash between the Philippine army and Islamic militants in Marawi on September 16 (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Hanoi(VNA) - Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines on October 12 launched theircoordinated air patrols as part of effort to speed up their fight against Islamicmilitants, who have besieged Marawi, the southern city of the Philippines.
The patrols are made four months after the three countries conducted maritimepatrols to prevent Islamic State group-aligned militants in the southernPhilippines from fleeing to neighboring nations.
Malaysian DefenseMinister Hishammuddin Hussein said the same day that the conflict in thesouthern Philippine city shows that terrorist organisations linked with theIslamic State group have made use of the region's leaky borders and conspiredwith local terrorist groups.
The IS militants have swept through Marawi city on the southern island ofMindanao since May 23, killing more than 800 people and displacing more than 500,000 others.
Given this,President Rodrigo Duterte has extended martial law on the Mindanao island untilthe end of this year to make it easier for security forces to fight theterrorists.-VNA
Australia will send troops to assist the Philippines in the ongoing battle against Islamic State (IS) fighters in the southern city of Marawi, Australia’s Defence Minister Marise Payne said.
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.
More troops will be deployed to Marawi city in southern Philippines, to engage in the fight to liberate the city from the Maute Group, a Philippine military official said.
A five-day exercise simulating a hostage rescue and plane seizure held by Philippines and US forces to refocus their military alliance towards counter-terrorism finished on September 26.
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.
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The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
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The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
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Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
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Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Malaysia’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 1.01% of gross domestic product in 2022, a notable increase, with more than 51% contributed by the industry sector. The country is targeting GERD to reach 2.5% by 2030, in line with the national goal of transforming into a high-technology nation.
The facility was established in response to a growing shift in the Filipino labour force from the Middle East to Japan, where workers are seeking safer working environments.
In the latest Indonesia-US trade agreement in July, the US administration agreed to reduce the reciprocal tariff, which was initially set at 32% by US President Donald Trump last April, to 19%.
Real estate agency ERA Singapore estimated that there are 2,703 condo developments in Singapore today, of which 836 or 31% are at least 30 years old. In 10 years, this number is expected to climb to 1,160, assuming none is sold en bloc.
Smoke seen in a clash between the Philippine army and Islamic militants in Marawi on September 16 (Photo: AFP/VNA) 
