MANILA — The American people are proud to support efforts against trafficking in persons in the Philippines ? and most importantly, programs that support victims by giving them shelter and emotional care.
Yet another politically motivated trial in Viet Nam has turned citizens who have only peacefully expressed opinions into prisoner of conscience. Today, three leading members of the People?s Democratic Party (PDP) were sentenced to prison terms of between three and five years in what the prosecutor in the Ho Chi Minh City People?s Court described as a warning to other ?hostile forces.?
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The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the death of journalist Mohammed Abdullahi Khalif, shot while on assignment in Puntland, north-eastern Somalia on Saturday, 5 May.
?We express our solidarity with Mohamed?s family and colleagues,? said Gabriel Baglo, Director of IFJ Africa office. ?Somalia is the most dangerous place for journalists in Africa.?
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MANILA — Merchandise exports increased by 10.6 percent to $4.6 billion in March from the 7.8 percent growth the previous month. The upsurge brought total export revenues in the first quarter to 13.1 percent or US$12.3 billion, which is within the full-year target of 11 percent.
Data from the National Statistics Office (NSO) attributed that the increase to the growth of semiconductors (14.1%), machinery and transport equipment (8.7%) and mineral products (77.1%).
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HONOLULU – The Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders (PICL) representing 12 Pacific states and territories, including the U.S. State of Hawaii and two French dependencies, completed their latest triennial meeting Wednesday in Washington, D.C. with participants agreeing the gathering “establishes a way forward for strengthening U.S.-Pacific Islands relations.”