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U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter speaks at a press conference during a defense ministers meeting of ASEAN , Friday, Sept. 30, 2016 in Kapolei, Hawaii. AP PHOTO KO OLINA, United States—Pentagon chief Ashton Carter on Friday criticized the “deeply troubling” remarks by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, in which he likened his deadly war on crime to Hitler’s efforts to exterminate Jews. Carter’s comments came during a regional security summit with Southeast Asian ally nations, where he sought to reassure counterparts that America’s ongoing commitment to its Asia “rebalance” would continue into the next US administration. Earlier on Friday, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte had made televised remarks drawing parallels between his campaign to wipe out his country’s drug problem and Adolf Hitler’s genocidal drive. READ: Heil Digong? “Hitler massacred three million Jews. Now there are three million drug addicts (in the Philippines). I’d be happy to slaughter them,” Duterte told reporters in his home city of Davao. Carter said the remarks were not discussed at the summit. But “speaking personally for myself, I find those comments deeply troubling,” he added. The “informal” meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), held on Oahu in Hawaii, focused mainly on longer-standing regional issues such as continued unease over China’s growing reach across the South China Sea. Beijing has in recent years rapidly expanded its physical presence in the strategically vital waterway, turning small maritime features, islets and reefs into much larger islands capable of holding military facilities. Carter has repeatedly stressed that Read More …

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, left, and his Vietnamese counterpart Tran Dai Quang stand on a podium as Vietnamese sailors from an honor guard parade during a welcoming ceremony at the presidential palace in Hanoi Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016. (Hoang Dinh Nam/Pool Photo via AP) HANOI—The Philippines and Vietnam will establish a six-year action plan to boost their bilateral exchanges, including law enforcement activities to fight transnational crime and the illegal drug trade. The two countries committed to increase the exchange of people-to-people, high level and other visits, uphold bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and implement agreements they signed. The joint statement of the Philippines and Vietnam was issued on account of President Duterte’s two-day official visit, during which he met state president Tran Dai Quang and other top officials. Among the highlights of the statement was the commitment to intensify defense and law enforcement cooperation against transnational crime and the trade and trafficking of drugs in Southeast Asia. The two countries will be sharing expertise, experience and intelligence information in boosting its law enforcement cooperation. READ: PH, Vietnam reaffirm maritime, security cooperation in Duterte visit “On the various aspects of bilateral exchanges, the two Presidents agreed to establish a six-year Action Plan (2017-2022) to guide the implementation of activities in the areas of common interest under this new level of relations,” part of the statement read. The two countries will implement their signed agreements particularly the 9th Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation at Foreign Minister level to be held in the Philippines Read More …

Secretary of Defense Ash Carter speaks to sailors on the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016 at Naval Air Station, North Island in Coronado, Calif. Defense Secretary Ash Carter on Thursday said the U.S. will “sharpen our military edge” in Asia and the Pacific in order to remain a dominant power in a region feeling the effects of China’s rising military might. Carter made the pledge in a speech aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson in port in San Diego.AP SAN DIEGO — Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Thursday the US will “sharpen our military edge” in Asia and the Pacific in order to remain a dominant power in a region feeling the effects of China’s rising military might. Carter made the pledge in a speech aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson in port in San Diego. The Pentagon chief described what he called the next phase of a US pivot to Asia — a rebalancing of American security commitments after years of heavy focus on the Middle East. His speech, aimed at reassuring allies unsettled by China’s behavior in the South China Sea, came three days after he made remarks at a nuclear missile base in North Dakota about rebuilding the nuclear force. Those comments prompted a strong reaction from the Russian foreign ministry, which issued a statement saying it had interpreted Carter’s statement as a declared intention to lower the threshold for using nuclear weapons. Carter said the Pentagon will make Read More …

In this Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016 file photo, a worker from the Ministry of Health sprays mosquito insecticide fog in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, a day after two new Zika virus infection cases were detected in the country. On Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016, U.S. health officials are advising pregnant women to postpone travel to 11 countries in Southeast Asia because of Zika outbreaks in the region. The advisory targets travel to Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Maldives, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. AP FILE PHOTO NEW YORK — US health officials are advising pregnant women to postpone travel to 11 countries in Southeast Asia because of Zika outbreaks in the region. The advisory issued Thursday targets travel to Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Maldives, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. READ: DOH tells pregnant women: Abstain from sex until after delivery to avoid Zika The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Zika has been in some areas of Southeast Asia for years, and some residents may be immune. But a number of US travelers have become infected there in the last year, so there is a danger to visitors. Most infected people suffer a mild and temporary illness, at worst. But infection during pregnancy can causes severe brain-related birth defects. The virus is spread primarily by bites from infected mosquitoes. READ: IN THE KNOW: Zika virus Latest We were shut out of Bilibid–CHR ‘Abus high in battle’ State opposes Ejercito bid to junk Read More …

Filipino cardiologist and Inquirer health columnist Dr. Rafael Castillo has been elected to the executive council of the prestigious International Society of Hypertension (ISH) based in the United Kingdom and will head its communications committee. This was announced by ISH president Dr. Neil Poulter during the society’s biennial congress in Seoul, South Korea, on Sept. 24-29. ISH, which marks its 50th anniversary this year, is composed of clinicians, scientists and researchers engaged in the prevention, treatment and control of hypertension or high blood pressure. The congress was attended by almost 4,000 delegates from all over the world and was chaired by professor Cheol Ho Kim of South Korea.  ‘Medical Files’ Castillo is the first Filipino elected to ISH’s governing body. He has been writing the column “Medical Files” in the Health/Science section of the Inquirer for over 15 years. He is a past president of the Philippine Heart Association, Philippine College of Cardiology and Philippine Society of Hypertension. He also served as president of the Australia-based Asian Pacific Society of Hypertension. Poulter, well known in the medical community for his landmark researches, said that intensifying campaigns and programs to improve public awareness, treatment and control of hypertension will be ISH’s priority in the next two years of his term. Castillo and his committee will be tasked to come up with an effective communication program to reach out to various populations and international bodies involved in hypertension prevention and control. Latest Duterte rejects talks with Jaybee Sebastian Russia accuses US of Read More …