Historic NBA draft for France
MANILA, Philippines — The NBA may have to rethink the timing of its annual draft. Not the month, but a tweak to the hour the picks start coming off the board.
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Philippines should do more than file protests vs China – Marcos Jr.
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines should go beyond filing diplomatic protests against China, President Marcos said yesterday, as the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) disclosed sending a note verbale to Beijing over the latest incident in Ayungin Shoal where the Chinese coast guard forcibly stopped a resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre.
News Wrap: Israeli official expects 7 more months of fighting in Gaza
In our news wrap Wednesday, Israel's national security advisor says he expects another seven months of fighting in Gaza, South Africans voted in what could be country's most significant election in decades, a volcano in Iceland erupted for a fifth time since December, charges against top golfer Scottie Scheffler have been dismissed and giant pandas are returning to the National Zoo in Washington.
China’s ax-wielding coast guard tests limits in South China Sea
The latest South China Sea clash saw China’s coast guard wielding axes and a Philippine sailor lose his thumb in an escalation that underscored Beijing’s willingness to see how far it can push Manila — and its allies in Washington. The Philippines Armed Forces called the June 17 moves by China — which included hurling rocks and using knives to puncture an inflatable craft trying to resupply its forces — a “brutal assault” and said the Chinese sailors acted like pirates.The US State Department said China’s actions were “reckless” and threatened regional peace and stability. But that was as far as the public response went, with neither the Philippines nor Washington seeking to exacerbate a crisis that has been building for years. For now, at least, Manila appears to be exercising more caution.
East-West Center honors STAR editor-in-chief
MANILA, Philippines — The East-West Center in Hawaii has chosen The Philippine Star editor-in-chief Ana Marie Pamintuan as one of this year’s Journalists of Courage and Impact.
Philippines seeking US clarification on anti-vax propaganda operation
MANILA: The Philippines is still seeking clarification from the Pentagon about a secret US propaganda operation that aimed to cast doubt among Filipinos about Chinese vaccines at the height of the COVID pandemic, a foreign ministry official said on tuesday. A Reuters investigation on June 14 detailed how the Pentagon ran a clandestine influence campaign in 2020 and 2021 to denigrate the Sinovac vaccine and other pandemic aid from China across the developing world. The effort was intended to counter what Washington then saw as China's growing geopolitical sway around the globe, including in Southeast Asia. It began under former President Donald Trump and ended months after President Joseph Biden took office. "We have not received an official and formal response yet on any confirmation, denial, or anything. We are waiting on that. We continue to monitor and ask for information," foreign affairs assistant Secretary Jose Victor Chan-Gonzaga told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which is investigating the US information campaign.
Marcos appoints ambassadors to 5 countries
PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. made several appointments in various government agencies, government-owned and/or controlled corporations and diplomatic postings last week, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said yesterday.
Yang nails 1st major win; Pagdanganan, Saso way off
MANILA, Philippines – Amy Yang ended a long quest for an elusive major championship in grand style, capturing the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship with a commanding performance in Sammamish, Washington Sunday (Monday Manila time).