• Bahrain Crown Prince receives PRRD’s special envoy

The Kingdom of Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, has received President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s Special Envoy here, citing the importance of Bahrain-Philippines ties and expressing the commitment to strengthen bilateral ties with the Philippines based on deep respect, shared values, and true friendship

• A NEW YEAR IN MANILA FOR 234 REPATRIATES FROM UAE, BAHRAIN

The Department of Foreign Affairs ushered in the new year by repatriating 234 Filipinos from the UAE and Bahrain via a Chartered Philippine Air Lines Flight that arrived from Manama at NAIA Terminal 2 this morning just after daybreak. It was a new morning for the Filipinos aboard the aircraft.

• JICA releases P4.7-B in post-disaster loan to PH

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on Tuesday released JPY10 billion (approximately PHP4.7 billion) under Tokyo’s post-disaster standby loan phase 2 (PDSL 2) to Manila, which will support Filipino families affected by Typhoons Quinta, Rolly, and Ulysses

• China, 4 other countries included on PH travel restriction list

China and four other countries have been included on the Philippines’ list of countries/jurisdictions covered by a temporary travel restriction to prevent the spread of a new variant of coronavirus, Malacañang said on Tuesday

• US grants P42-M to address ocean plastic pollution in PH

Five organizations with programs that aim to address plastic pollution in Philippine waters were awarded grants worth USD890,000 or nearly PHP42 million by the United States government through the US Agency for International Development’s (USAID).

• Duterte meets with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi

President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday welcomed Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi who flew to the Philippines for an official visit.

• PH Consul General to New York Receives PPE Donation

Philippine Consul General to New York Petronila P. Garcia received today a donation of 2,000 face masks and 200 face shields from the National Federation of Filipino American Associations – New York (NaFFAA-NY), represented by State chair Laura Garcia, and Fiesta in America, represented by its president Fernando Mendez.

• Asean top diplomats air concern over recent activities in SCS

“We discussed the situation in the South China Sea, during which concerns were expressed by some Ministers on the land reclamations, activities, and serious incidents in the area, which have eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions and may undermine peace, security, and stability in the region,” the AMM chairman’s statement read.

• Philippine Chamber of Commerce launches in Cambodia

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia (PhilCham Cambodia) was formally launched on 21 January 2021 in the presence of over 100 guests from Philippine, Cambodian and foreign companies in Cambodia. Among the Philippine companies that participated were Philippine Airlines, Liwayway, Yellow Cab, and Century Pacific.

• PH pushes for banking, customs clearance, digital trade, e-commerce, ease of public service delivery in the 17th ASEAN-Russia Senior Officials’ Meeting

Foreign Affairs Acting Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and Association to Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Affairs and Philippine ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) Leader Elizabeth P. Buensuceso led the discussions on “Cooperation in the Spheres of Economy, Industry, Science and Technology and Smart Cities” during the 17th ASEAN-Russia Senior Officials’ Meeting (ARSOM),

• US to defend PH vs. armed attacks in SCS: Biden admin

The United States will defend the Philippines against any armed attacks in the Pacific, including in the contested South China Sea, State Secretary Antony Blinken said Thursday as he underscored the importance of the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) in the two nations’ alliance.