Duterte admits mistakes for first time; Germany and Türkiye boost economic cooperation

Many areas in Indonesia remain isolated after earthquake and tsunami

Streets and houses destroyed by earthquake and tsunami in Palu, Sulawesi island, Indonesia on August 29, 2018. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

By the afternoon of September 29, rescue and access work to the earthquake-tsunami affected areas in Central Sulawesi province was taking place very urgently. However, many areas were still isolated after the disaster because the communication system had not been restored and road transport routes were damaged.

Many areas in Donggala are still isolated and inaccessible, said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB). An advance team has been dispatched to the area and the death toll is expected to rise as rescue teams have yet to reach the affected areas.

At least 384 people died, 29 people were missing and 540 people were injured in the earthquakes that caused a tsunami on the afternoon of September 28 in Sulawesi.

Germany and Türkiye pledge to boost economic cooperation

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (left) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Photo: dw.com

On the afternoon of September 29, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan continued to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss bilateral and international issues of mutual concern. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed measures to promote and strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries.

This is the second meeting between the two leaders during President Erdogan's three-day official visit to Germany. Previously, at the talks held on September 28, Chancellor Merkel and President Erdogan agreed on the need to mend and rebuild traditional relations that have been "frozen" after the two-year crisis since the failed military coup in Türkiye in July 2016.

Jordan denies reopening border with Syria

Nassib border crossing. Photo: middle-east-online.com

Shortly afterwards, Syrian media quoted the latest statement from the Syrian Ministry of Transport saying that preparations for the reopening of the Nassibs border crossing have been completed, so the crossing could be reopened on October 10.

Philippine President admits for the first time mistakes in 'extrajudicial killings'

President Duterte has been repeatedly criticized for his war on drugs. Photo: AP

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has admitted for the first time that his only mistake was allowing extrajudicial executions of drug criminals. "I told the military, what was my mistake? I stole a peso. My only mistake was allowing extrajudicial killings in the anti-drug campaign," local newspaper Rappler quoted President Duterte as saying at the Presidential Palace.

Philippine police have killed more than 4,500 suspected drug dealers and users since Duterte took office in July 2016. Thousands more have been killed by unidentified gunmen whom Philippine authorities say were “vigilantes” or rival gang members.

Palestine files lawsuit against US at International Court of Justice

Palestinians took to the streets to protest on the day the US opened its embassy in Jerusalem. Photo: TASS

Palestine has officially filed a lawsuit against the United States at the International Court of Justice of the United Nations regarding the transfer of the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. According to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, the mission of a state sending a diplomatic representative must be within the territory of the country receiving that representative. Therefore, Palestine's position clearly shows that "the relocation of the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is a violation of the Vienna Convention"

With this view, Palestine asked the International Court of Justice to clearly see the US's violations and make a decision forcing the US to recall its diplomatic ambassador from Jerusalem to comply with international obligations under the Vienna Convention.

Mr. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih elected President of Maldives

Mr. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih speaks during a presidential campaign in the capital Male, Maldives on September 8, 2018. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

On September 29, the Maldives Election Commission officially declared opposition candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih the winner of the country's presidential election, which took place on September 23.

According to the official and final results announced by the commission, Mr. Solih won nearly 57.6% of the vote, equivalent to 134,705 votes out of a total of 233,889 votes. Meanwhile, incumbent President Abdulla Yameen only won 96,052 votes. According to the announcement of the Maldives Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mohamed Solih, 54 years old, will be sworn in on November 17.

Grab negotiates transfer of shares in Thailand to Central Group

Grab will transfer shares to Central Group. Photo: Reuters

Thailand's leading retail group Central Group will enter the passenger and freight transport market by acquiring shares of Grab in this country. Accordingly, Singapore-based Grab is negotiating to transfer "a large number of shares" in its subsidiary in Thailand to Central Group. The negotiation to transfer shares is set in the context of Grab's concerns about competition from rival Go-Jek, an Indonesian company that is planning to invest 500 million USD in the Thai market and some countries in the region.

The negotiations are said to have made positive progress, however, neither Grab nor Central Group has disclosed information about the transfer or the percentage of shares in the subsidiary that the Thai retail group will hold.