MilitaryMilitary forces were being mobilised across the region due to the rise of conflicts and insurgents. In Myanmar, the army continued to deny the severity of its actions which drove over half a million of Rohingya Muslims out of their home in northern Rakhine state and into refugee camps in Bangladesh.Up north, USA's navy force will be conducting a military drill with its South Korean counterpart as a show of force against North Korea's nuclear threats.

Philippine troops Sunday bombed militants loyal to the Islamic State group who have held out for over four months in a southern city and the military said the conflict would be over "very soon".The army previously set a target of Sunday to end the fighting in Marawi, which it said has killed more than 1,000 people.

The Philippine government plans to target additional companies in its crackdown on tax evasion, said Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez.“We are on a roll, and this is part of the president’s programme to make our country more law abiding," Dominguez told Bloomberg Television’s Kathleen Hays in an interview in Washington on Friday. “Tax evasion is a really serious violation and we are going after” evaders.Dominguez said he expects a tax reform bill to receive lawmaker approval.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has warned he is prepared to establish a "revolutionary government" to fend off alleged efforts to oust him, fuelling fears of a looming dictatorship.He issued the warning on state television late Friday as he railed against the press, European lawmakers and other critics of his drug war that has left thousands dead and led rights groups to warn of a crime against humanity.Duterte said he would resort to a revolutionary government, as opposed to

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte incorrectly based his threat to expel European ambassadors within 24 hours on news reports, and there are no plans to kick them out, his spokesman said Friday.Duterte threatened in a fiery speech on Thursday to quickly send European envoys home as he accused their governments, without citing evidence, of plotting to have Manila "excluded" from the UN."You think we are a bunch of morons here. You are the one.

Mau Dizon, a marketing officer in one of the largest Philippine banks, is among millions of Filipino taxpayers who stand to benefit from President Rodrigo Duterte’s tax reform plan that aims to return to consumers 860 billion pesos (17 billion dollars) over five years.Dizon will pay lower taxes under the proposed reform and is likely to spend most of the savings on staples, which account for about a third of her family’s monthly budget.

A recent poll conducted by the Philippine-based SWS (Social Weather Stations) showed that President Rodrigo Duterte’s satisfaction ratings has slumped 11 points from 78 percent in June to 67 percent. This leaves his net satisfaction rate (percentage satisfied – percentage dissatisfied) at 48 percent – a decline of 18 points from a net satisfaction rate of 66 percent in June this year.His trust ratings also took a hit as it fell nine points from 82 percent to 73 percent.

Rodrigo Duterte’s popularity fell last month by the most since he became Philippine president in June 2016 after minors were killed in his deadly drug war and allegations surfaced of hidden wealth.Duterte’s net satisfaction rating fell 18 percentage points to 48 percent, according to a Social Weather Stations survey of 1,500 adults from September 23 to 27. His trust rating also dropped 15 percentage points to 60 percent, according to the poll posted on its website on Sunday.

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines said Friday it will pay the government six billion pesos (117 million dollars) after President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to cut off its access to Manila airport over alleged unpaid landing and other fees.Duterte had given the airline a Friday deadline to pay arrears."The (Department of Transportation) has accepted the offer of PAL to pay in full the six billion-peso claims of the (Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines/Manila International Airport A

The Philippines said Friday it has dropped a tax evasion case against the country's number-two cigarette manufacturer after it was sold to Japan Tobacco to raise funds for a record 30 billion-peso (586 million dollars) settlement.Manila had accused Mighty Corp of using counterfeit tax stamps to avoid paying 37.88 billion pesos in taxes, and threatened it with criminal charges.However in July, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the finance department to accept a settlement, under which Mig