TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Kerry cancels stop in Philippines because of storm
U
Change Size
U
.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Thursday that he has canceled a scheduled trip to the Philippines due to the threat posed by tropical storm Nari.
Forecasters say the storm could strike the northern Philippines as a typhoon as early as Friday, bringing strong winds and heavy rains.
Kerry had planned to meet with Philippine officials in Manila on Friday and Saturday. It was to be the last stop in a Southeast Asia tour that has included Indonesia and Brunei and is moving on to Malaysia later Thursday.
Kerry made the announcement as he wrapped up his sessions at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit. He said he would try to make the trip up in a month or so and reaffirmed the "firm partnership" between the U.S. and the Philippines.
During much of Kerry's trip he has been filling in for President Barack Obama, who canceled a planned Asia tour because of the government shutdown gripping Washington.
