Asia Briefs: Philippine troops kill 44 pro-ISIS militants

Philippine troops kill 44 pro-ISIS militants

MANILA • At least 44 pro-Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants were killed and 26 others wounded when Philippine soldiers shelled positions held by the rebels in southern Maguindanao province, the army said yesterday.

The fighting, initially with some 50 members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, broke out in a remote village in Datu Saudi Ampatuan on Thursday morning and lasted till the following day, said Lieutenant-Colonel Gerry Besana.

REUTERS


Solar projects: Paris pledges extra $1.1b

NEW DELHI • French President Emmanuel Macron yesterday pledged hundreds of millions of dollars for solar projects in developing countries, as world leaders met in India to boost investment in renewable energy.

Mr Macron, who in December warned that the global shift to green energy was too slow, said France would extend an extra €700 million (S$1.1 billion) through loans and donations by 2022 for solar projects in emerging economies. France had already committed €300 million previously.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE


Fire rips through two bars in Pattaya

BANGKOK • A fire destroyed two bars in Pattaya's famous Walking Street late on Saturday after a power transformer reportedly exploded on Pattaya Soi 16. One tourist suffered burns while another choked from the smoke. The blaze affected the Titanic and Ann-Ann.

THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 12, 2018, with the headline Asia Briefs: Philippine troops kill 44 pro-ISIS militants. Subscribe