Category: General

Hanoi: The Ministry of Education and Training coordinated with the Australian Education Department to organise training courses from March 25 to April 11 for universities to improve their capacity for internationalisation.

Managers and lecturers responsible for developing international training programmes from 44 universities attended the courses face-to-face or online.

During the courses, participants learned about the overview of the internationalisation of higher education and cooperation on student exchange; international cooperation in research and internationalised programmes; quality assurance in transnational education; international education researching; models, strategies and cooperation in transnational education; strategy and plan for internationalisation of higher education; and advantages and disadvantages of higher education’s internationalisation.

John Molony, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Deakin University, said that the university plans to concentrate on investing in educational internationalis
ation in India, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

Attracting international students will bring resources to schools and boost their brand. International cooperation of higher education institutions requires efforts with clear focused approaches and strategies, he said./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

MANILA: The Philippines, Japan and the United States’ agreement to advance trilateral cooperation, including on defense and security, would help maintain the status quo in the West Philippine Sea, an international studies expert said Friday.

At the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing, Pacific Forum Director for Maritime Security Jeffrey Ordaniel believes that the partnership would further boost the Philippines’ capacity to protect its rights within its maritime zones.

‘My expectation is there will be more efficient and strategic coordination on how to better build Philippine capacity. (There will be) division of labor to make sure that China does not continue to coerce its way through domination of the South China Sea and the region,’ he said.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. met with US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for a historic trilateral meeting in Washington, D.C. on April 11.

The three leaders announced a number of new investment initiatives in various areas.

Included
in the expected deliverables are ‘at-sea trilateral exercise’ and other maritime activities between the US, Philippine, and Japanese coast guards starting next year.

At the bilateral level, Ordaniel hoped the Philippines would partner with the US in ensuring the success of future resupply missions to the Filipino troops manning the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.

The analyst said the situation over the feature remains the ‘most urgent challenge’ the country needs to face.

‘It’s where China is trying to act with impunity and try to dislodge our presence there. It is time for the Philippines and the United States to discuss imposing actual costs on China,’ he said.

Among Ordaniel’s suggestions is for the US to ‘escort the resupply mission’ either as part of a joint military exercise program or in tandem with the US Navy Freedom of Navigation Operations.

‘Doing so would allow us to maintain the status quo in the Second Thomas Shoal and withstand Chinese coercion,’ he said.

China claims territorial sover
eignty over the Ayungin Shoal but Ordaniel argued that no country can claim it as a territory because it has been classified as a ‘low tide elevation’ under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

‘Ibig sabihin niyan lumulubog siya kapag high tide. Kapag lumulubog iyan kapag high tide ibig sabihin niyan hindi siya puwedeng i-claim na territory ng kahit na sinong bansa (A feature that is submerged at high tide is called a low tide elevation. If that is the case, no country can claim it as a territory),’ he explained.

Given that Ayungin Shoal only has a distance of 106.3 nautical miles (NM) off Palawan and at least 617.39 NM away from the Chinese mainland, it automatically becomes part of the Philippines’ UNCLOS-mandated 200-NM exclusive economic zone.

This grants the Philippines an exclusive right to exploit and explore resources, as well as the exclusive right to build artificial structures there, said Ordaniel.

‘So kung mag-decide man ang Pilipinas na we reinforce that vessel (BRP S
ierra Madre) and maybe build a structure on top of it, that’s within our rights under international law (Should the Philippines decide that we will reinforce that ship and maybe build a structure on top of it, that’s within our rights under international law),’ he said.

Source: Philippines News agency

KUALA LUMPUR: Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) has demonstrated exceptional progress in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject 2024, achieving significant strides across the board.

UTP, in a statement today, announced that the university now ranks under two broad subjects: Engineering and Technology, and Natural Sciences (a new entrant this year). It boasts an impressive eight subjects that have climbed in rankings compared to last year.

‘The most notable improvement is in the Broad Subject – Engineering and Technology, which jumped 25 spots from 200th in 2023 to 175th in 2024. Petroleum Engineering is ranked 20th in the world, while Mineral and Mining Engineering advanced from 49th to 41st in this year’s rankings,’ the statement read.

UTP also celebrates another triumph with both Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering landing within the coveted Top 150 and Top 200 spots, respectively, while Chemical Engineering is ranked in the Top 150, and Electrical and Electronic En
gineering maintains its strong position in the Top 200.

Meanwhile, Computer Science and Information System advances to the top 400 from its previous position of Top 450.

For the non-Engineering and Technology subjects, UTP also recorded significant improvements in the rankings. Materials Science is now ranked in the Top 300 (up one band from 301-350), Chemistry at Top 350 (moving up one band from 351-400), and Physics at Top 450 (up one band from 501-550).

UTP vice-chancellor Professor Dato Dr Mohamed Ibrahim Abdul Mutalib said the university is thrilled to see it’s outstanding progress in the rankings by subject, and this significant advancement across multiple areas underscores its unwavering commitment to providing a world-class education.

‘The remarkable jump in our Engineering and Technology ranking is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our faculty, staff and students. This recognition places UTP among the world’s elite institutions for engineering education and further strengthens our co
mmitment to equipping future generations with the skills to solve global challenges,’ he said.

Mohamed Ibrahim added that UTP’s new entrant status in Natural Sciences is a significant milestone and describes it as recognition acknowledging its growing strength in these fields. He expressed excitement to build upon this momentum and contribute meaningfully to scientific discovery.

‘These QS rankings are a validation of UTP’s commitment to excellence. The university remains dedicated to providing our students with the knowledge and skills to not only excel in their chosen fields but also become future leaders in a rapidly evolving world.

‘This recognition also assures prospective students that they will receive a top-tier education at UTP, preparing them for careers in a globalised workplace,’ he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

LABUAN, The festive spirit of Hari Raya is abound in Labuan, as the tradition of hosting open houses thrives on the island Federal Territory.

Labuan MP Datuk Dr Suhaili Abdul Rahman also upheld his annual custom of warmly welcoming local guests as well as those from Sabah, Sarawak, and the Peninsula.

Today, Dr Suhaili hosted the family of Sabah State Secretary Datuk Seri Safar Untong, at his residence on Jalan Jumidar Buyong.

“I extend my heartfelt thanks to all guests, both local and from afar, for joining us in the festivities.

‘Special appreciation goes to Datuk Seri Safar Untong and his family for gracing our celebration today,” he said to Bernama.

The inclusive nature of the celebration was evident as a diverse group of local media representatives, comprising various ethnicities and religious backgrounds, also participated in the festivities at Dr Suhaili’s residence.

Meanwhile, Dr Suhaili said his annual Hari Raya Open House at the Financial Park Convention Hall was scheduled for April 26.

Minis
ter in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa is expected to attend the event, adding to the communal joy and camaraderie of the occasion.

The open house tradition extends across all 27 villages, with village heads and corporate players alike opening their doors to share the joy of Hari Raya.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

LEGAZPI: The Department of Health-Center for Health Development in Bicol (DOH-CHD-5) said Friday it is continuously monitoring pertussis cases in the region and providing prophylaxis for the close contacts.

The health office reported 21 cases of pertussis or whooping cough from Jan. 1 to April 7 this year, of which six were laboratory-confirmed and 15 were clinical cases.

Based on the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU), the recorded cases are from Albay -six; Camarines Sur -nine; Masbate -one; and Sorsogon -five. The provinces of Camarines Norte and Canduanes recorded zero cases.

In an interview on Friday, Jan Edmund Dominic Bailon, chief of Albay-Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (PESU), said the six cases in Albay are children and now on recovery stage.

‘Mostly, the laboratory-confirmed cases are now in (the) recovering stage while two of them are for discharge already. The six cases in Albay are 2 months old -three; 9 years old -one; 5 years old -one and 5 months old -one,’
Bailon said.

He said clinical cases are patients whose symptoms are within the case definitions while laboratory-confirmed cases are those with confirmatory results from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).

Bailon advised the public to report possible cases and to seek treatment at the nearest rural health units and hospitals.

An advisory from DOH-Bicol said the disease spreads through droplets from the cough or sneeze of an infected person. Symptoms include cold, fever and cough that lasts for one to two weeks.

‘This whooping cough can be followed by vomiting, blacking out or the patient turning blue due to difficulty breathing. When you feel any of the symptoms of pertussis, immediately consult the nearest health center to prevent and provide appropriate medical attention,’ it added.

Source: Philippines News agency

MANILA: Immigration authorities arrested a South Korean national wanted in his home country for a string of criminal cases due to alleged involvement in counterfeit currency trading worth over 30 million Korean won (around PHP1.2 billion).

In a statement Friday, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said 26-year-old Jang Junseok was intercepted by officers from the border control and intelligence unit (BCIU) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 after attempting to board a Philippine Airlines flight to Busan on April 7.

The foreigner was arrested after his name prompted a hit on the BI’s derogatory list indicating that he is subject of a watchlist order from the bureau, as well as of a red notice issued by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).

BI-Interpol Unit acting chief Jaime Bustamante said Jang has a warrant of arrest issued by the Daegu District Court in South Korea on Feb. 28, in relation to a counterfeit currency possession and trading case was filed against him.

South Korean authorities said Jang is a professional counterfeit currency user who forged local bank notes, used them at will and engaged in acts that disrupted social order.

Jang reportedly has six prior convictions for the same criminal offense but was released on parole in 2023.

While on parole, the suspect allegedly continued to forge bank notes and used a pseudonym to cheat his victims who were offered the fake bank notes at lower prices compared to the genuine notes.

The foreigner was brought to the BI warden facility at Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City pending deportation proceedings

Source: Philippines News agency

Hanoi: The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development held a conference in Hanoi on April 11 to popularise new contents in regulations on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing prevention and combat prescribed in newly-issued legal documents.

According to the Directorate of Fisheries, the Prime Minister has recently issued Decree No. 37/2024/NQ-CP amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree No. 26/2017/NQ-CP of the Government detailing a number of articles and measures to implement the Fisheries Law, along with Decree No. 38/2024/ND-CP regulating sanctions on administrative violations in the field of fisheries, and Decree No. 38/2024/ND-CP replacing Decree No. 42/2019/ND-CP on penalties for administrative violations in the fisheries sector.

Director of the directorate Tran Dinh Luan said that major new contents of Decree No. 37/2024/NQ-CP include more flexible administrative procedures in case of natural disasters or epidemics where it is impossible to organise on-site inspection
s and assessments serving the issuance of licences, certificates and approval of documents, reality assessments and supervision. In those cases, evaluation activities will be conducted online, along with the procedures for registration of aquaculture farming, and the announcement of the closure and opening of fishing ports, he said.

Regarding fishing boat monitoring, the decree clarifies the responsibility of central and local agencies in managing and use of the vessel monitoring system (VMS), as well as the responsibility of VMS suppliers.

The decree has an additional regulation on observers on Vietnamese fishing vessels operating in Vietnam’s territorial waters to create a legal framework to maintain and promote Vietnam’s seafood exports to the US.

It adjusts and supplements a number of regulations on controlling foreign vessels’ activities of exploiting and transporting aquatic products originating from Vietnamese ports, and controlling seafood and aquatic products imported into Vietnam.

Regarding new
regulations prescribed in Decree No. 38/2024/ND-CP, Luan said that the decree increases the prescription for sanctioning administrative violations in the fisheries sector to two years, along with stricter punishments on repeated violations, and the power of rangers on posing punishments on violations of regulations on the protection of aquatic resources in national parks and conservation areas.

Heads of the Departments of Fisheries, Chairpersons of People’s Committees of provinces, districts and communes, police, border guards, coast guards, customs, market management, fisheries inspection forces, forestry rangers, inspection and agencies assigned to perform specialised inspections are also permitted to handle such violations, according to the decree.

Addressing the conference, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien said that with increasingly effective legal tools, all localities should work hard to join hands with central agencies in seeking the European Commission (EC)’s remo
val of the ‘yellow card’ against Vietnam’s seafood exports.

The official noted that progress has been seen in IUU fishing prevention and combat, but there is still much work to do.

Localities should continue to focus on supervising their fleets, trace the origin of seafood products and strictly handle violations according to the new regulations, he underlined./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency