Manila - Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Monday urged leaders of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), China, Japan and South Korea to discuss measures to cushion the effects of the global financial crisis.
Arroyo said the leaders of the 10-country ASEAN, China, Japan and South Korea can meet on the sidelines of the seventh Asia-Europe Meeting to be held next week in Beijing.
Manila - Two communist rebels were killed Monday in a clash with government troops in the southern Philippines, a regional military spokesman said.
Major Armand Rico said the fighting erupted when communist rebels attacked before dawn an army outpost in Pantukan town in Compostela Valley province, 990 kilometres south of Manila.
Rico said one pro-government militiaman was wounded in the fighting that lasted for more than three hours.
Troops recovered three assault rifles, one hand grenade and a radio transceiver left behind by the fleeing rebels.
Zamboanga City, Philippines - One suspected Islamic militant was killed and three were arrested in a shootout with police in the southern Philippines, the military said Saturday.
The fighting erupted in Jolo town on Jolo island, 1,000 kilometres south of Manila, when police accosted a group of armed men they believed had been planning a kidnapping.
"The armed men appeared to have planned snatching Chinese businessmen, but their attempt was foiled," said Major General Juancho Sabban.
Manila- The Philippines said Thursday it started extracting oil from its offshore Galoc oil field, a welcome development in the country struggling with high fuel prices.
Presidential Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita described the output in the Galoc oil field off Palawan province, 600 kilometres south-west of Manila, as "light medium crude oil with a potential high yield of light ends such as gasoline."
"The fresh extracts were put onboard a Philippine vessel en route to our local refineries," he said.
Manila - The Philippine Senate has ratified a controversial trade deal with Japan which was opposed by activists for allegedly compromising the country's sovereignty and patrimony, senate records showed Thursday.
The Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement was ratified late Wednesday by a vote of 16 to 4, with no abstention.
Senator Manuel Roxas, who voted for the ratification of the deal, said it would be damaging to the country if the senate did not ratify the agreement.
Manila - Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Monday urged leaders of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), China, Japan and South Korea to discuss measures to cushion the effects of the global financial crisis.
Manila - Two communist rebels were killed Monday in a clash with government troops in the southern Philippines, a regional military spokesman said.
Zamboanga City, Philippines - One suspected Islamic militant was killed and three were arrested in a shootout with police in the southern Philippines, the military said Saturday.
Manila - Philippine shares plunged 8.33 per cent on Friday in a sell-off triggered by continued decline in stock markets around the world.
Manila- The Philippines said Thursday it started extracting oil from its offshore Galoc oil field, a welcome development in the country struggling with high fuel prices.
