Category: General

Thai police said at least four people were killed in a shooting in Surat Thani province on April 8, with officers still searching for the suspect.

The attack happened in the late afternoon in Khiri Rat Nikhom district, Surat Thani province, about 600 km south of Bangkok.

Four people died, local police confirmed declining to give further details.

Thailand has high rates of gun ownership, witnessing continuous gun violence incidents in the past 12 months. In October last year, a former police sergeant murdered 36 people, 24 of them children, in Nong Bua Lam Phu. Last month, three people were killed and another three wounded in a shooting in Phetchaburi province./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Vice President nanospell-typoMa’rufnanospell-typoAmin ensured that the government is committed to providing protection and employment guarantees for Indonesian migrant workers abroad as regulated in Law Number 18 of 2007 on the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers.”The government will continue to maintain its commitment to the policy of protecting migrant workers and continue to improve the management of the employment sector,” he stressed in his virtual remarks here on Sunday at the Group nanospell-typoIftar of Indonesian Migrant Workers and the Indonesian Diasporas in Singapore and 12 other countries. He emphasized that, in line with the ratification of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, the government continues to make efforts to provide better services and protection for Indonesians abroad. nanospell-typoAmin noted that he is aware of the increasingly strict competition in the global job market. Therefore, only workers with high competitiveness are more easily absorbed into the job market. He expressed the hope that Indonesian migrant workers can continue to improve their skills by obtaining internationally recognized certifications so that they could have high competitiveness. “Hopefully, the increase in the competitiveness of our workers can encourage the growth of migrant workers in the formal sector,” he remarked. t Sunday’s event, the vice president advised Indonesian migrant workers abroad to adapt to every condition and comply with regulations wherever they are, as well as to continue to maintain Indonesia’s good name. He also expressed his appreciation to the Indonesian nanospell-typodiaspora in Singapore, which has contributed to the development of the country’s resources. On that occasion, Indonesian Ambassador to Singapore nanospell-typoSuryo nanospell-typoPratomo conveyed his appreciation to Indonesian migrant workers in Singapore who have given their contribution to the progress of Indonesia. “Indonesian migrant workers, all of you are people who have made extraordinary contributions to Indonesia’s progress,” nanospell-typoPratomo remarked. baca-jugaRelated news: andgtov’t intensifies dissemination of information on PMI’s placementbaca-jugaRelated news: RI, Malaysia discuss steps to improve protection for migrant workersRelated news: New regulation provides additional benefits to PMIs: ministry

Source: Antara News Agency

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Saturday said its Lockheed C-130 “Hercules” cargo aircraft is undamaged after its left landing gear got stuck in the mud at Catarman Airport in Samar. PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said the crew of the C-130 aircraft, with tail number 5011, conducted precautionary measures to get the left landing gear safely out of the mud sans any damage. The aircraft landed in Mactan, Cebu at about 6:24 p.m. No crew or passengers were hurt. “O/a (on around) 1430 (2:30 p.m.) C-130 # 5011, while maneuvering for a 180 degree turn to preposition for takeoff at the threshold of Catarman Samar Airport, inadvertently got its left landing gear (wheel) stuck in the mud at the edge of the runway. It had been raining in the area which caused the softening of a part of the grassy ground where the tight turn had to be made,” Castillo said in a message sent to the media. She said they appreciate the public’s concern over the mishap and assures of the PAF’s ‘commitment and highest regard for safety as we perform our missions in service of our country and people.” The PAF has at least three C-130s in its fleet with another three units expected to be delivered within two to three years. The C-130s are the Air Force’s primary cargo lifters and used extensively in troop transport, resupply, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions

Source: Philippines News Agency

The House leadership on Sunday expressed elation over the ‘very good’ net satisfaction rating the lower chamber received in the December 2022 survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS). House Speaker Romualdez, in a statement, attributed the high satisfaction rating to his colleagues’ hard work and dedication. ‘As the leader of the House of Representatives, I am proud of our members and their commitment to advancing pro-people legislative measures,’ Romualdez said. He was also thankful to the members of the House for their solid support and cooperation which enabled him to push measures that address the needs of the people. The House, Senate, Supreme Court (SC), and the Cabinet of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. all scored a ‘very good’ net satisfaction rating in the survey. The House got a +56 rating, the Senate secured a +68, while the SC and the Cabinet scored +53 and +50, respectively. Cavite 4th District Rep. Elpidio Barzaga said the high rating the House received from SWS did not only reflect the competence of the members but also the leadership. Barzaga said members of the House take their cue from Romualdez, who is ‘one of the most productive, diligent and industrious leaders the lower chamber has ever seen.’ ‘If our leaders are busy, we are all busy. We take after the example of our beloved Speaker. We move at his pace. This is the reason the House of Representatives has been very productive in passing bills and resolutions, owing in no small part to its leaders,’ Barzaga said. The Lower House, before going into the Lenten break, passed 23 of 31 bills prioritized by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council. Ako Bicol Party-List Rep. Elizaldy Co likewise credited the high public satisfaction rating to the tireless work of Romualdez, reciprocated by the members. ‘This truth can’t be denied: Speaker Romualdez is one of the busiest leaders not only in Congress but in the government as well. He is virtually everywhere – speaking engagements, high-level meetings, economic roadshows and the like,’ Co said. The survey was conducted Dec. 10 to 14 last year, or during the period the House of Representatives passed the PHP5.268 trillion national budget for 2023. Before 2022 ended, the House passed 19 priority bills of President Marcos, including the SIM (subscriber identity module) Registration Act and the postponement of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections to October this year

Source: Philippines News Agency

A low pressure area (LPA) is forecast to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) Sunday night and likely to become tropical depression after six days. In its 4 a.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the LPA was spotted 1,285 kilometers east of Mindanao at 3 a.m. Sunday. Benison Estareja of PAGASA said once inside PAR, the LPA is forecast to remain at the Philippine Sea before slowly crossing eastern of Visayas and Mindanao by Thursday. ‘So, the crucial part is Thursday or Friday where there is a likely chance for this LPA, or worst case scenario, this tropical depression will cross Bicol region or central and northern Luzon,’ he said. Though still outside PAR, the trough of LPA will bring cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over Eastern Visayas, Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands, the weather bureau said. Cagayan Valley and Cordillera Administrative Region will experience cloudy skies with rains due to northeasterly surface windflow. Ilocos Region and Central Luzon will have cloudy to cloudy skies with light rains also due to northeasterly surface windflow. Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to trough of LPA and localized thunderstorms. Luzon and eastern section of Visayas will experience moderate to rough coastal waters due to northeast moderate to strong winds. The rest of the country will have light to moderate winds blowing northeast to northwest and slight to moderate seas. The temperate ranges between 24.6 °C to 34.3 °C

Source: Philippines News Agency

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Easter Sunday remains on heightened alert as millions head back home after the Lenten break. Police officers are deployed in bus terminals, airports and seaports, and major roads leading to the National Capital Region as early as Sunday morning, according to PNP Public Information chief Col. Redrico Maranan. There are also policemen in areas of convergence such as major thoroughfares, transportation hubs, terminals, commercial areas, and places of worship. ‘As instructed by our Chief PNP, Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., our commanders were instructed to continue the security measures from roads to places of convergence until the end of the Holy Week,’ Maranan said. Part of the security measures, according to Maranan, are Assistance Hubs and Police Assistance Desks to assist the public and promptly address complaints. The PNP’s “Ligtas Sumvac (Summer Vacation) 2023″ also covers the month of Ramadan that will culminate on April 22. More than 74,114 police officers are tasked to secure both Christian and Muslim religious celebrations. So far, Maranan said they have not monitored serious security-related incidents except for reports of drowning incidents. Meanwhile, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Maj. Gen. Edgar Allan Okubo urged the public to follow safety measures provided by the PNP to ensure a smooth journey. ‘Ang paghahanda ng NCRPO ay hanggang sa buwan ng May. We are ready din sa pagbabalik ng mga vacationers nitong summer. Police visibility will continue. ‘Yung mga deployment sa mga PADs (police assistance desks) will continue as the time na makabalik na lahat sa safety ‘yung mga residents sa kanya kanyang mga bahay (The NCRPO’s preparations would extend until May. We are also ready for the return of vacationers from their summer break. Police visibility will continue, the deployment to the police assistance desks will continue until everyone returns to the safety of their homes),’ Okubo said. 35 volunteer divers commended Meanwhile, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. commended 35 volunteer divers for joining him in the successful underwater search and rescue operation for the Ati chieftain who went missing on April 5 after his fishing boat collided with a resort-operated speed boat off the Malay and Boracay channel. ‘More than 30 Boracay dive shop operators with local and foreign divers participated in the search with just a short notice last night (April 7). Maraming, maraming salamat po sa mabilis ninyong pagtugon sa aming panawagan, sa inyong tulong at pagmamalasakit (Thank you very much for your immediate response to our call, and to your assistance and compassion),” Abalos said in a statement on Saturday. The body of Coching, 64, was found shortly before noon. His companion, Ricky Valencia, 37, was rescued right after the accident and is recuperating

Source: Philippines News Agency