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November
Philippines president's daughter joins new party as election deadline nears
Written by Nur Yasmin
The popular daughter of Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday joined a new political party and could run for a national position, its top official said, just days out from a deadline to firm up candidates for 2022 presidential elections.
Sara Duterte-Carpio, 43, has led opinion polls throughout this year as the most preferred candidate for the presidency, a post she has repeatedly said she had no interest in pursuing. read more
But this week she withdrew from next year's contest for mayor of Davao city, setting off speculation about a bigger role.
Duterte-Carpio is a promising leader and a tremendous asset, said congressman Martin Romualdez, president of Lakas-CMD, the party controlled by former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo that she joined.
"She joined Lakas-CMD for a possible national run," Romualdez told DZMM radio.
The party has nominated candidates for president and vice president, but those are widely seen as placeholders who can switch at the last minute. The deadline for changes is Nov. 15.
A spokesperson for Duterte-Carpio did not immediately respond to a request for comment on her plans.
Her father's PDP-Laban political party said on Wednesday it was watching "with keen interest" Duterte-Carpio's moves, adding that a decision to seek a national post "will most certainly affect the political landscape".
Duterte once said the presidency was no job for a woman but later suggested his daughter could team up with one of his loyalists for a run.
The 76-year old leader, who cannot seek re-election, was also an 11th-hour replacement in 2015 ahead of an election he won convincingly.
Political observers have anticipated his daughter might do the same.
Political analyst Temario Rivera said it was "very clear" Duterte-Carpio would seek a national post, but the possibility of her teaming up with another presidential aspirant, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., remains.
The son and namesake of the late Philippines dictator, who has registered to run for president under a different party, has not yet named a vice president.
"If they run together, whether it is Marcos-Sara or Sara-Marcos, it will be a formidable team," Rivera told Reuters.
The Southeast Asian nation of 110 million people holds elections in May 2022 for positions from president down to governors, mayors and local officials.
Apart from Marcos, other presidential aspirants in next year's polls include former boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, vice president Leni Robredo, Manila mayor Francisco Domagoso, senator Panfilo Lacson, and Duterte's former police chief Ronald dela Rosa. (Reuters)
November
Rivalry with China in Pacific need not lead to new Cold War, says U.S. security advisor
Written by Nur Yasmin
The "stiff competition" between the United States and China in the Indo-Pacific does not have to turn into a new Cold War, U.S. national security advisor Jake Sullivan said on Thursday, describing the United States as "doubling down" on its presence in the region.
Earlier on Thursday China's President Xi Jinping said the Asia Pacific region must not return to the tensions of the Cold War era, and warned against forming small circles on geopolitical grounds. read more
In a speech delivered via videolink to Australia's Lowy Institute, Sullivan said the United States had quit Afghanistan to put more emphasis on the Indo Pacific where it wanted to minimise the potential for conflict.
Responding to questions, Sullivan sought to downplay fears about the risk of a new Cold War developing with China.
"All of this talk of the United States and China going into a new cold war and we are on our way to conflict... we have the choice not to do that," Sullivan said.
"We have the choice instead to move forward with what President Biden says is stiff competition, where we are going to compete vigorously across multiple dimensions, including economics and technology, where we are going to stand up for our values, but we also recognise China is going to be a factor in the international system for the forseeable future."
A U.S. strategy to build a "latticework of alliances" globally led it to form the Aukus pact with Australia and Britain to share nuclear submarine technology; work with the Quad democracies of Australia, India and Japan to deliver COVID-19 vaccines to the region; and form a U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council to push back against China on emerging technology, he said.
While the Aukus deal showed the more intensive engagement in the Indo Pacific, this didn't mean the U.S. was turning its back on other regions of the world, particularly Europe, Sullivan said. (Reuters)
November
Denmark to impose COVID-19 isolation for travellers from Singapore
Written by Nur Yasmin
Denmark will impose self-isolation requirements on travellers from Singapore, its embassy in the city-state said on Thursday, following a surge in COVID-19 infections.
Singapore was removed this week from a European Union list of non-EU countries for which travel restrictions should be lifted.
"Singapore is now considered a high risk country for travel to Europe," the embassy of Denmark in Singapore posted on Facebook.
The EU's safe list of countries is reviewed every two weeks and is not legally binding on member nations. Last month, the United States advised citizens against travel to Singapore, raising the alert level to its highest.
Singapore detected 3,481 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday.
But most of its recent new cases are asymptomatic or mild, with 85% of the 5.45 million population vaccinated. A Reuters tracker shows that its average daily infections are at 75% of the peak. Singapore had kept the infection numbers very low through most of last year and early this year.
With the exception of certain groups such as Danish citizens "who are fully vaccinated regardless of where", all travellers from Singapore must be tested upon arrival and self-isolate for 10 days, the Danish embassy said.
The isolation will end on the fourth day if there is a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test result.
The rules applied to all travellers regardless of vaccination status as Denmark does not recognise Singapore's vaccination certificate, it said.
Last month, Singapore had included Denmark in a short list of countries for which quarantine-free travel would be allowed for fully vaccinated people. (Reuters)
November
'Troika plus' group holds conference on Afghanistan in Pakistani capital
Written by Nur Yasmin
Pakistan held a meeting on Afghanistan with envoys from the United States, China and Russia on Thursday as the Pakistani foreign minister warned its neighbour was on the brink of economic collapse.
The grouping of countries, known as the "Troika Plus" met formally for the first time since the Taliban took over Afghanistan on Aug. 15.
"The engagement with Afghanistan must not only continue but should be enhanced for multiple reasons," Pakistan's foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said in opening remarks at the meeting in Islamabad.
"Nobody wishes to see a relapse into civil war, no one wants an economic collapse that will spur instability; everyone wants terrorist elements operating inside Afghanistan to be tackled effectively and we all want to prevent a new refugee crisis," he said.
Humanitarian agencies are increasingly raising the alarm that Afghanistan is slipping into a dire humanitarian crisis as the economy slumps due to a stall in most aid and restrictions on the banking system put in place by international governments since the Taliban took over.
Pakistan has called on governments, including the United States, to allow development assistance to flow into Afghanistan to prevent collapse. It has also called on them to unfreeze the billions of dollars of assets that Afghanistan's central bank has overseas.
"Today, Afghanistan stands at the brink of an economic collapse," Qureshi said.
Pakistan has also discussed the idea of Afghanistan joining CPEC, its multi-billion dollar infrastructure project with China, which comes under the banner of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Thursday's conference is the latest in a series of diplomatic meetings in the region.
Afghanistan's Taliban-appointed acting foreign minister carried out a three-day visit to Islamabad to discuss trade and other ties this week, while neighbouring India held a conference for regional countries on Wednesday, though arch-rival Pakistan did not attend that meeting. (Reuters)
November
Indonesia to 'walk the talk' on deforestation, despite COP26 U-turn
Written by Nur Yasmin
Indonesia's foreign minister on Thursday defended her country's objection to a global deforestation pledge made last week, promising during a visit by her British counterpart to "walk the talk" on climate commitments.
Indonesia, home to a third of the world's rainforests, was among 137 countries at the COP26 climate summit in Britain that signed an agreement to end deforestation by 2030.
But days later Indonesia backtracked, making clear that its own interpretation of the pledge was less absolute than ending deforestation completely.
Highlighting progress in reducing deforestation to its lowest in two decades, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss that Indonesia would transform its forest and land-use sectors.
"Indonesia's concrete achievements on forestry sector is beyond doubt," she told a news conference in Jakarta after meeting Truss.
"I underlined that Indonesia does not want to be trapped in rhetoric. We prefer to walk the talk."
Forest fires had dropped by 82% in 2020, while emissions in 2019 fell by 40.9% compared to four years earlier, she said.
Environmentalists criticised Indonesia's chaotic about-face, saying it was at odds with the Glasgow declaration.
Environment minister, Siti Nurbaya Bakar, who attended the summit, had caused a stir by saying the pledge that Indonesia agreed to was "clearly inappropriate and unfair".
Vice foreign minister Mahendra Siregar later said the pledge did not mean deforestation would be halted completely, but referred instead to "sustainable forest management". (Reuters)
November
EXCLUSIVE No takers for Malaysia's 5G plan as major telcos balk over pricing, transparency
Written by Nur Yasmin
None of Malaysia's major mobile carriers have agreed to use the government's 5G network yet due to transparency and pricing issues, ahead of a rollout planned for next month, a state agency and industry executives said.
However, state-owned network wholesaler Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) told Reuters it still hoped to launch 5G services in three urban centres, as talks continue with mobile operators.
The Southeast Asian country, a regional laggard in 5G rollout, unveiled a plan for a single shared network in February, hoping it would help accelerate nationwide infrastructure buildup. Similar state-led approaches have been tested in some other markets including Mexico, but largely stumbled.
The lack of industry support for the Malaysian initiative underscores corporate concerns over state meddling and transparency in a country still reeling from a multibillion-dollar corruption scandal at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
Malaysia has been losing foreign investor confidence recently amid political instability, with the third administration in as many years coming into power in August. The 1MDB scandal also tainted its reputation and implicated a former prime minister.
DNB confirmed that no agreement with carriers has been reached and acknowledged its initial timeline for negotiations had been "too optimistic".
The agency will now seek to have formal long-term agreements early next year and continues talks to deploy 5G services in three central areas, including the capital Kuala Lumpur, next month.
"The target now is to have a live network, covering... a total of 500 sites by the end of December, with at least some operators on board to provide a 5G network to end-users," Chief Technology Officer Ken Tan said. DNB did not say what would happen if no operators agreed to be part of the deployment.
Carriers, which had already invested in infrastructure upgrades to support 5G services, are concerned the 5G network plan would result in a nationalised monopoly, hurting their business and limiting their access to future technology, said seven current and former industry sources.
They declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter.
Three sources estimated the government plan could destroy up to 45 billion ringgit ($10.8 billion) in market value across all mobile operators including Axiata Group (AXIA.KL), DiGi.com (DSOM.KL) and Maxis (MXSC.KL).
The sources did not specify over what period the losses would be incurred.
"By 2030, the majority of the network will be on 5G, then there are enforced limitations on our existing (non-5G network) assets," one of the sources said.
"Valuations (of our business) will go down over time and it will go back and hurt our shareholders."
Under the plan, DNB would hold all 5G spectrum rights as well as build and maintain the entire network, with operators using the infrastructure to provide mobile services.
Axiata and DiGi declined to comment.
Maxis said in a statement that it has long been ready to roll out 5G in the country.
"We will continue to focus on our purpose to serve the people and enterprises of Malaysia, and playing a key role to support the digital ambitions of the nation," it said.
STABLE SHARE PRICES
The company sources said under the proposed pricing plan, the telcos could end up paying more than they would have if they rolled out 5G on their own. The plan did not take into account additional requirements related to traffic volumes and contingency costs, among other issues, they said.
According to internal documents reviewed by Reuters, the carriers have asked for "extensive revisions" to DNB's pricing proposal, saying it did not demonstrate the cost efficiencies promised.
"The price is a function of how much assurance we can get on quality of the network," a source said.
The sources said the companies had also sought assurances that DNB would operate solely as a wholesale provider and would not reserve 5G capacity for itself or harbour any retail ambitions.
The concerns highlight investor worries about the Malaysian government's influence in corporate issues, with most large cap public companies in the country counting state-linked investment firms as top shareholders.
DNB said share prices of leading telcos have been stable since the plan's announcement eight months ago.
It also said a fast rollout would lead to an increase in data traffic that would boost operator revenues, while the wholesale plan will help carriers save billions of dollars of investment.
DNB Chief Operating Officer Dushyan Vaithiyanathan said the plan would likely cost only around 16.5 billion ringgit, around half the 30-35 billion ringgit carriers would have needed to spend to build the 5G network themselves.
"The government isn't trying to take away (telcos') rice bowl... We want to deliver the highest quality of services at the lowest price, so that it gives us more certainty in terms of recovery costs as we kickstart the 5G rollout," Dushyan told Reuters.
DNB however acknowledged its transparency has been questioned, adding that the country's communications regulator would put in place stringent guidelines in public to ensure fair pricing and a smooth rollout.
"We are working closely with (the regulators). We want the scrutiny, so that people cannot come in and change the principles of what we are aiming with 5G," Dushyan said. (Reuters)
November
In test, U.N. skirts Taliban to pay Afghan health workers
Written by Nur Yasmin
The United Nations has paid nearly $8 million in salaries to some 23,500 health workers across Afghanistan over the past month, bypassing the Taliban-run health ministry in a test case to inject much needed liquidity into a dire Afghan economy.
The U.N. development agency UNDP and the Global Fund health aid organization teamed up to resurrect a program that had been funded by the World Bank until it suspended assistance when the Taliban ousted the Western-backed Afghan government in August.
The United Nations has been struggling to get enough cash into Afghanistan to help deliver humanitarian aid to millions of people on the brink of famine and prevent the collapse of the economy and health and education services.
"Someone had to step in. We were confronted not just with a health system that was collapsing, but also a financial system that was collapsing," UNDP Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, Kanni Wignaraja, told Reuters.
"Global Fund took the financial risk, we took the implementation risk to make these payments happen," she said. "We've shown it's possible, it can work ... it goes a huge long way to saving at least the people's economy in the country."
The Global Fund provided $15 million, of which nearly $8 million was used for salaries, while much of the rest was spent on providing basic medical equipment, essential drugs and supplies. UNDP worked out how to get the funds into the country and into the hands of health workers in 31 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces.
Wignaraja said UNDP wired some of the money to the Afghanistan International Bank and then used a large money service provider, which UNDP declined to identify for security reasons, to distribute the rest.
'PRETTY CRAZY TEST RUN'
The health workers paid so far - working in nearly 2,200 health facilities - had money deposited into bank accounts, while another 2,500 health workers will shortly be paid in cash because they are in remote areas.
"It's given hope to these families. It's reignited healthcare services," said Wignaraja, adding that the program would now be run by the World Health Organization and the U.N. children's agency UNICEF for the next three months.
"Without this, you literally would have all the Afghan doctors, nurses, technicians, heading across borders," she added.
During that time Wignaraja said the United Nations would talk to the World Bank to see if it was then able to take over the program again or find a hybrid solution if the bank is unable to get any approvals needed to do so.
Since the Taliban seized power the economy spiraled into crisis. Afghan banks heavily relied on physical U.S. dollar-shipments, which have stopped, while billions of dollars in Afghan assets were frozen abroad. Development aid was put on hold as donors and institutions seek to avoid violating U.N. and unilateral sanctions and to use it as leverage over the Taliban.
Wignaraja said the payment of health workers salaries over the past month had helped spark the re-opening of some banks.
"The minute you start the local community economic activity and people are able to deposit money and take money these banks are able to open their local branches," she said.
After showing it could work, the United Nations would continue using the formal banking system and money service providers to get cash into Afghanistan for the next few months, Wignaraja said, although she added that U.N. agencies were also considering a need to bring U.S. dollars into the country.
"This has been for us a pretty crazy test run of the system," she said of the payments to health workers, adding that she hoped international donors were "watching it really closely." (Reuters)
November
U.S. journalist held in Myanmar charged with terrorism, sedition - lawyer
Written by Nur Yasmin
An American journalist detained in military-ruled Myanmar accused of incitement is facing new charges of sedition and terrorism, his lawyer said on Wednesday, in a setback for U.S. efforts to secure his release.
Danny Fenster, 37, who was managing editor of Frontier Myanmar, a top independent news site, was detained at Yangon's international airport in May as he attempted to take a flight out of the country.
It was not immediately clear what Fenster was accused of in regard to the new charges, which are the most serious levelled against him.
If found guilty, he could be jailed for up to 20 years under a terrorism law and 20 years for sedition.
"We don't understand why they added more charges but it is definitely not good that they are adding charges," his lawyer, Than Zaw Aung, told Reuters.
"Danny also felt disappointed and sad regarding these new charges."
The United States has repeatedly pushed for the release of Fenster, who was initially charged with incitement and breaches of a colonial-era unlawful associations act. He is being held at Yangon's notorious Insein prison.
Authorities overlooked him in a recent amnesty for hundreds of people detained over anti-junta protests, which included some media personnel.
The military has rescinded media licenses, imposed curbs on the internet and satellite broadcasts and arrested dozens of journalists since its Feb. 1 coup, in what human rights groups have called an assault on the truth.
"We are as heartbroken about these charges as we have been about the other charges brought against Danny," his brother, Bryan Fenster, said in a text message.
A spokesperson for the ruling military council did not answer calls seeking comment.
The U.S. embassy in Yangon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Reuters)
November
Philippines flight school readies recruits as global travel sees brighter skies
Written by Nur Yasmin
With travel demand expected to grow as countries rush to reopen to international visitors, an aviation school in the Philippines is stepping up its training to try to head off problems from a global pilot shortage.
Travel restrictions imposed to fight COVID-19 have caused major disruption to the aviation sector, with aircraft grounded worldwide and many pilots no longer flying, having been laid off, furloughed or forced to find employment elsewhere.
"The important thing for us to do is to get ourselves prepared and be ahead of the herd," said Lev Albarece, head of training at Alpha Aviation Group, a pilot school with hubs in the Philippines, Britain and the Middle East.
"We have to be ahead of the line and be ready for the next hiring surge."
Expanded vaccinations and an easing of restrictions in many countries has seen global demand for flights grow and airlines racing to restart routes after a lengthy hiatus.
Flights in the Philippines fell dramatically at the start of the pandemic, with no signs the country plans to reopen to foreign visitors or business travellers anytime soon.
Only 100 students have enrolled this year at Alpha's local training facility, a third of pre-pandemic levels, with costly fees and job uncertainty deterring potential pilots.
But at Alpha's school in Pampanga province, northwest of Manila, its full-motion Airbus flight simulators have been running all day to get trainees ready for real-world scenarios.
The programme involves simulators, classroom lectures, and flights in Cessna aircraft.
"Everything is uncertain. To me, there isn't really a perfect timing to do everything," said Casey Abadilla, 22, a flight student.
"Sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith with the right amount of courage and hard work and hope for the best." (Reuters)
November
India hosts first regional meeting on Afghanistan since Taliban takeover
Written by Nur Yasmin
Diplomats and security analysts from Afghanistan's neighbours, with the notable exceptions of China and Pakistan, gathered in New Delhi on Wednesday to discuss how to engage with the country's Taliban rulers.
Convened less than three months after the withdrawal of the last U.S. and Western forces from Kabul, the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue for Afghanistan was attended by representatives from India, Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
"We all have been keenly watching the developments in that country. These have important implications not only for the people of Afghanistan, but also for its neighbours and the region," Ajit Doval, the top security advisor in the Indian government, said.
Pakistan has reclaimed influence in Kabul since the capitulation of the Western-backed government in August, and the Taliban is hoping to attract investment from China to help rebuild an economy that has imploded following the withdrawal of western aid.
Both countries stayed away from the meeting in New Delhi, with China claiming a schedule clash, and Pakistan boycotting the conference, with National Security Advisor Moeed Yusuf accusing India last week of being a 'spoiler' in the region.
India held its first formal meeting with Taliban officials last month in Qatar, and several of the other governments represented at the conference have also met with Afghanistan's new leaders.
Independent security experts and former Indian diplomats who have served in Afghanistan in recent years say engagement with the Taliban is needed to counter the influence of rivals Pakistan and China.
It was unclear whether India had invited the Taliban to attend the conference in New Delhi.
The Taliban's acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi began a three-day visit to Pakistan on Wednesday, and a Taliban spokesman in Kabul expressed optimism over meetings held in Islamabad, Moscow, Tehran and New Delhi as it showed the importance of Afghanistan to the region.
"We are optimistic, because the whole region needs stability and security in Afghanistan... the meetings that are going to happen pave the way to understanding, and they are hopefully in the benefit of Afghanistan," said spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid.
International donors in recent weeks have pledged more than $1.1 billion to help Afghanistan. Thousands of Afghans are fleeing the country daily to escape the poverty and hunger that has worsened since the Taliban took power. (Reuters)