Timeline: Philippine President Duterte's tumultuous termFILE PHOTO: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gestures as he delivers his 6th State of the Nation Address (SONA), at the House of Representatives in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, July 26, 2021. (Reuters)MANILA: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has announced he will retire from politics, opening the way for his daughter to run for president in next year's election. July 2017: Under the government's "Build, Build, Build" initiative, Duterte pledges to usher in a golden age of infrastructure through a six-year, $180 billion spending spree to modernise and build airports, roads, railways and ports. February 2018: The International Criminal Court (ICC) opens a preliminary investigation into the thousands of deaths that occurred during Duterte's war on drugs. Oct 2, 2021: Duterte announces he will not run for vice president but will retire from politics.

Duterte rival Philippines VP to decide soon on presidential bidLeni Robredo is yet to decide on accepting an opposition coalition's nomination to run for president in the Philippine elections. Duterte, who is constitutionally barred from seeking a second term, had declared in August he would run for the vice presidency. Duterte made a similar announcement in September 2015, saying he "will retire from public life for good" only to declare his presidential bid two months later. Most of the top candidates have supported Duterte's controversial drug war, and political analysts say VP Robredo could struggle to compete if she decides to run. "(VP Robredo is) too good, she's too nice."

In Siberia, a copper mine hopes to become a global energy pivotThe mine is located both in a seismic zone and on permafrostUDOKAN (RUSSIA) - In 1949, a Soviet expedition in Siberia was looking for uranium to supply the national nuclear arsenal when it stumbled on a vast deposit of copper. With copper key to the world's energy transition away from carbon, the hope is it will be a boon for Russia and beyond. The price of copper, dubbed the "new black gold", soared to historic heights this year -- and shows no signs of slowing. - Logistical challenges -The BAM, which spans more than 4,000 kilometres across Siberia to the Pacific, is a grandiose Soviet project and financial abyss. Udokan Copper hopes eventually to send its cathodes and copper condensates by train to the Chinese border or Russian ports on the Sea of Japan.

Majority want their children inoculated against Covid: pollYoungsters are injected with the Pfizer vaccine at Vajira Hospital on Sept 21, 2021. The poll was conducted online between Sept 27-30 on 1,089 people with children attending schools throughout the country. A majority -- 75.44% -- of the respondents agreed with the policy, while 24.56% disagreed. Asked whether they were ready to allow their children to be vaccinated, a majority or 61.43%, said "yes"; 26.17% said they would rather wait for q while; and 12.40% said "no". Asked to predict the possible results of the children being inoculated, 46% said the favourable results would outweigh the unfavourable; 40.96% said the outcomes would be equally favourable and unfavourable; and 12.30% said there would be more unfavourable than favourable results.

UN peacekeeper killed in north Mali IED attackSecretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned the attack on UN peacekeepers in MaliBAMAKO - An Egyptian peacekeeper was killed and four colleagues were seriously injured in improvised explosive attacks on their convoy in Mali's volatile north on Saturday, the United Nations said. Guterres said attacks could constitute war crimes, and called on Malian authorities "to spare no effort" in finding those responsible. "This incident is a sad reminder of the permanent danger hanging over our peacekeepers and of the sacrifices made for peace in Mali," El-Ghassim Wane, who heads the UN mission in Mali (MINUSMA), said in an earlier statement. In April, four Chadian peacekeepers from MINUSMA were killed in a jihadist attack on their camp in Aguelhok, also in northeastern Mali. - Controversy over Russian firm -Mali's new military-dominated government took delivery Saturday of four Russian military helicopters as it considered hiring mercenaries from a Russian private security firm.

CONGRATULATIONS ON GERMAN NATIONAL DAYB.Grimm is proud to be part of German-Thai relations. B.Grimm Power also successfully launched an IPO on The Stock Exchange of Thailand in 2017. Solar power plant, Tay Ninh, VietnamThe latest wind farm opened in August 2021, Mukdahan, Thailand1890s MaquetModern medical equipment imported by B.Grimm. 1993German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, Harald Link and Vikrom Kromadit at the signing ceremony of developing the first B.Grimm power plant. Thailand made history by sending the first Thai national equestrian team to compete in the Tokyo Olympics 2020.

'Growing' Springboks on a roll heading into European tourSouth Africa have momentum heading into A European tourGOLD COAST (AUSTRALIA) - South Africa coach Jacques Nienaber says his team have given themselves valuable momentum ahead of a European tour after edging the All Blacks in a Rugby Championship thriller that sent them back to world number one. Elton Jantjies slotted a penalty after the final hooter on Saturday evening to snap a three-game losing streak and stun New Zealand 31-29. Nienaber said it was a crucial victory for the world champions ahead of November Tests against Wales, Scotland and England. "It is great for us to play these pressure-cooker games as it gives you good exposure to what you can expect in a Rugby World Cup. "When the top three sides in the world play each other, you expect close margins," he said.

Four wounded in fresh inmate clash at riot-hit Ecuador prisonEcuadorian policemen on the roof of the prison in Guayaquil where clashes broke out just days after the country's deadliest inmate riot took place thereGUAYAQUIL (ECUADOR) - Four people were wounded and police were shot at on Saturday in a new clash between prisoners at the Ecuadorian prison where 118 people were killed just days earlier in the country's deadliest inmate riot. Police commander Tannya Varela said there was a shootout between inmates at the prison in Guayaquil. Another 86 wounded were wounded, six critically, according to Ecuador's prisons authority. It was the latest in a string of bloody clashes in Ecuador's broken prison system, with 237 inmates killed so far this year -- up from 103 in 2020. The prison system has 65 facilities designed for about 30,000 inmates but houses 39,000.

Chelsea boss Tuchel urges Werner to keep improvingChelsea's German striker Timo Werner (R)LONDON - Thomas Tuchel warned Timo Werner he must keep improving after the Chelsea striker's first Premier League goal since April helped seal a 3-1 win against 10-man Southampton on Saturday. Werner saved Chelsea from a frustrating end to a difficult week when he netted six minutes from full-time at Stamford Bridge. For a player who has had a remarkable 16 goals disallowed since he joined Chelsea, Werner will surely benefit from the jolt of confidence that will follow his second club goal of the season. Chalobah, Chilwell and Ruben Loftus-Cheek all added energy and enthusiasm to a Chelsea team that had looked stale in their previous two games. At a club like Chelsea you need to be sharp every few days and fight for your place."

Fears of 'election subversion' as Trump flirts with 2024 White House bidPolice attempting to hold back supporters of US President Donald Trump at the US Capitol on Jan 6, 2021. WASHINGTON: The US presidential election of 2000 hinged on a few votes in Florida and was ultimately decided in the Supreme Court. The 2020 White House contest gave birth to the "Big Lie" and saw supporters of the losing candidate storm the US Capitol. Donald Trump, the first president in US history to refuse to accept the outcome of an election, is flirting with another White House run in what could be a make-or-break moment for American democracy. Republicans are also well-positioned to win a majority in 2022 in the currently Democratic-controlled House of Representatives, giving them another potential lever of power in 2024.

Venezuelan couple goes all out for smiling but endangered slothsA sloth rests in a shelter in San Antonio de los Altos, a suburb of Venezuela's capital. To know how many sloths there are, for instance, and how they live," said Juan Carlos Rodriguez. She and Juan Carlos have kept their day jobs, but the sloths now take up most of their time. To pay for all of this, Haydee Rodriguez developed and now sells things with Chuwie's face on them, such as caps, coffee mugs, T-shirts and earrings. He is a survivor," says Juan Carlos, "but we will never be able to release him."

Chelsea top Premier LeagueBen Chilwell (right) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's third goal during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Southampton at Stamford Bridge in London on Saturday. (AFP photo)LONDON: Chelsea scored two late goals against Southampton to top the Premier League table. United's 1-1 draw at Old Trafford continues an unimpressive run of home results including a League Cup defeat by West Ham and last week's shock Premier League loss at the hands of Aston Villa. Mikel Arteta's Arsenal were bottom of the Premier League table after three matches before three consecutive wins lifted them to the comfort of mid-table. Norwich stopped the rot against Burnley after six straight league defeats but they remain rock bottom of the Premier League table with just a single point from seven games after a 0-0 draw.

Yongyuth 'Hua Ball' PengsuwanYongyuth "Hua Ball" Pengsuwan and his gang robbed and killed his neighbour, Emorn Petchkat, 51, at her two-storey home in Mae Khari, a dramatic escalation on his previous offending which comprised mainly house-breaking. Hua Ball was released in March from a three-year stretch in jail for attempting to kill, and drug use. Hua Ball, the ringleader, invited his gang comprising mates and relatives to help him rob the place owned by the victim, who lived alone. They took remaining valuables including Buddha amulets, gold and her phone, before splitting up the loot outside Hua Ball's place. "We have a two-year-old at home who wakes every time you make a noise outside," Mr Chatchai said.

Foreign monk dies due to 'exhaustion'A 67-year-old monk from Luxembourg died at a temple in Nang Rong district of Buri Ram early on Saturday, with his death believed to have been caused by over-exertion from carrying sandbags to block floods. Nang Rong Hospital and rescuers were called to examine the body. Phra Sujitda Suthammo, secretary of the district head monk in Nang Rong, said Phra Santajitto had been ordained for 16 years. He had been at Wat Nong Tha Ying for more than 10 years, before spending another three years at Wat Ban Chan. It also asked that the Luxembourg Embassy in Bangkok and his children in Germany be notified.

Military spending will shift from procuring weapons from overseas to sourcing domestic products due to budgetary pressures caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Army spokesman Gen Santipong Thammapiya said the virus outbreak has forced the army to re-evaluate its spending plan as in the 2021 fiscal year much of its budget has been spent in support of the Covid-19 containment effort. She said the spending plan for the current fiscal year prioritises personnel welfare and maintenance of weapons and equipment to prolong their service years. For fiscal 2022, the military has been allocated 97.8 billion baht, a decrease of 8 billion baht, or 7.64%, from the previous year. It had requested 112 billion baht in funding.