TOKYO -- Japanese women in 2024 had the highest life expectancy in the world at 87.13 years, remaining in the top spot for the 40th straight year, a health ministry survey showed on Friday.
The average life expectancy for Japanese females dropped 0.01 year from 2023, followed in the global ranking by South Korea at 86.40 and Spain at 86.34, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. (Japan-Life Expectancy)
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MANILA -- The Philippine Supreme Court has blocked the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, citing a violation of the constitutional one-year ban on filing multiple impeachment complaints against a public official, the High Court announced Friday after a special en banc session.
However, the High Court said that it is not absolving Duterte of the charges, adding that a new impeachment complaint may be filed no earlier than Feb. 6, 2026. (Philippines-VP-Sara Duterte-Impeachment-2nd LD Writethru)
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KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia on Friday urged Cambodia and Thailand to exercise utmost restraint and take immediate steps to de-escalate tensions.
Malaysia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Malaysia, as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) grouping, is following the unfolding clashes with deep concern. (Malaysia-Thailand-Cambodia-Conflict)
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BANGKOK -- Thailand remains committed to resolving its ongoing border conflict with Cambodia through bilateral negotiations and calls on the international community to urge Cambodia to return to the negotiating table, said Thai Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura on Friday.
Thailand remains firm in its position stated all along since the beginning of the tension that Thailand wants to resolve the dispute through peaceful means and through bilateral dialogue, which Thailand still considers as "the only way out," Nikorndej told Xinhua in an interview. (Thailand-Cambodia-Conflict-Bilateral Talks)
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ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan on Friday strongly condemned the Israeli parliament's unlawful attempt to assert "sovereignty" over the occupied West Bank.
The act constitutes a grave violation of international law and reflects Israel's persistent disregard for Palestinian rights and established international norms, the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. (Pakistan-Israel-West Bank) Enditem
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