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☆ Philippines' Marcos Meets China's Xi to Find Ways to Reduce South China Sea Tensions
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Neil Jerome MoralesMANILA (Reuters) -Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday, seeking ways to come up with ways to reduce tensions in the South China Sea and restore Filipino fishermen's access to fishing grounds. The Philippines and China need to continue to communicate, with the meeting a key part of the process to maintain peace, and keep open sea lanes and airways over the South China Sea, Marcos told reporters on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in San Francisco. "We tried to come up with mechanisms to lower the tensions in the South China Sea," Marcos said, without elaborating. Marcos granted the United States greater access to its military bases, including in provinces facing the South China Sea and democratically-ruled Taiwan, drawing the ire of Beijing. China claims almost the entire South China Sea, ignoring a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration that invalidated Beijing's expansive claim.

Persons: Neil Jerome Morales MANILA, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Xi Jinping, Marcos, Xi, Neil Jerome Morales, Kim Coghill Organizations: APEC, coastguard, Sea Locations: Philippine, South, Philippines, China, South China, San Francisco, United States, Beijing, Taiwan, China's, Manila

☆ US, Philippines sign landmark nuclear deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Carlos Barria Acquire Licensing RightsMANILA, Nov 17 (Reuters) - The United States and the Philippines on Friday signed a landmark deal that would allow Washington to export nuclear technology and material to Manila, which is exploring the use of nuclear power to decarbonise and boost energy independence. "Nuclear energy is one area where we can show the Philippines-U.S. alliance and partnership truly works." U.S. Congress approval is needed for the deal, which will allow a peaceful transfer of nuclear material, equipment and information in adherence with non-proliferation requirements. The Philippines wants to tap nuclear power as a viable alternative baseload power source as it seeks to retire coal plants to help meet climate goals and boost energy security. Completed in 1984, the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant was mothballed two years later following the ouster of the older Marcos, the deadly Chernobyl nuclear disaster, and corruption allegations.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Carlos Barria, Antony Blinken, Marcos, Neil Jerome Morales, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, Rights, APEC, International Atomic Energy Agency, Bataan Nuclear, Thomson Locations: Philippines, Asia, San Francisco , California, U.S, Rights MANILA, United States, Washington, Manila, San Francisco, Taiwan

☆ Philippines says at least six killed in Friday's magnitude 6.7 quake
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MANILA, Nov 18 (Reuters) - The death toll from a magnitude 6.7 earthquake in the southern Philippines has increased to six and authorities are searching for two missing people, local disaster officials said on Saturday. A man and his wife died when a concrete wall collapsed on them, while another woman was killed in a shopping mall, Dacera said. In Davao Occidental province, a 78-year-old man died after being crushed by a rock, Franz Irag, civil defense officer in the Davao region, told DWPM radio. Power supply has been restored and most roads are passable, disaster officials said, adding that reports were mostly of minor damage to homes and buildings. The Philippines lies within the Pacific "Ring of Fire," where volcanic activity and earthquakes are common.

Persons: Agripino, General Santos, Dacera, Angel Dugaduga, Franz Irag, Neil Jerome Morales, Chris Reese, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: German Research Center, Geosciences, General, General Santos City, Reuters, Thomson Locations: MANILA, Philippines, Mindanao, South Cotabato, Sarangani, Glan, Davao Occidental province, Davao

☆ Philippines rejects China's call for prior notice on resupply missions
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"We are being asked to give prior notification each time we conduct a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal. China claims sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea, pointing to a line on its maps that cuts into the EEZs of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 said the line on China's maps had no legal basis, which Beijing rejects. "The Philippines has not entered into any agreement abandoning its sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its EEZ and continental shelf, including in the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal," Daza said. The Second Thomas Shoal lies 190 km (118 miles) off the Philippine island of Palawan, or well within the Manila's EEZ.

Persons: Thomas, Teresita Daza, Lloyd Austin, harassments, Daza, Thomas Shoal, Mikhail Flores, Neil Jerome Morales, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: BRP, BRP Sierra Madre, Rights, of Foreign Affairs, US, Manila, Thomson Locations: BRP Sierra, South China, Rights MANILA, Philippines, China, Manila, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Taiwan, Beijing, Jakarta, Sierra, Ayungin, Philippine, Palawan

☆ US, Philippines Sign Landmark Nuclear Deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

MANILA (Reuters) - The United States and the Philippines on Friday signed a landmark deal that would allow Washington to export nuclear technology and material to Manila, which is exploring the use of nuclear power to decarbonise and boost energy independence. "Nuclear energy is one area where we can show the Philippines-U.S. alliance and partnership truly works." U.S. Congress approval is needed for the deal, which will allow a peaceful transfer of nuclear material, equipment and information in adherence with non-proliferation requirements. Previous attempts to pursue nuclear energy in the Philippines were halted over safety concerns, but Marcos has discussed the possibility of reviving a mothballed nuclear power plant, built in response to an energy crisis during the rule of the late Philippines strongman and his namesake father. Completed in 1984, the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant was mothballed two years later following the ouster of the older Marcos, the deadly Chernobyl nuclear disaster, and corruption allegations.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Marcos, Neil Jerome Morales, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: APEC, International Atomic Energy Agency, Bataan Nuclear Locations: MANILA, United States, Philippines, Washington, Manila, San Francisco, U.S, Taiwan

☆ Philippines Calls on China to Remove Illegal Structures, Cease Reclamations in South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines' foreign ministry on Thursday called on China to remove illegal structures, cease reclamations and be accountable for environmental damage in the South China Sea. The Philippines was responding to a statement by the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson regarding the Philippines' recent resupply mission. "We are being asked to give prior notification each time we conduct a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal. The resupply missions are legitimate activities within our EEZ, in accordance with international law," said Philippine foreign ministry spokesperson Teresita Daza. The regular resupply missions support the Philippines' troops stationed in an intentionally grounded, dilapidated warship on Second Thomas Shoal, a hotly disputed atoll in the South China Sea that Manila calls Ayungin and is known as Renai Reef in China.

Persons: Thomas Shoal, Teresita Daza, Thomas, Mikhail Flores, Neil Jerome Morales Organizations: of Foreign Affairs, South China Locations: MANILA, Philippines, China, South China, Philippine, South, Manila, Ayungin, China's

☆ Philippine court grants bail to jailed "drug war" critic
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"Finally, I will be freed," De Lima told reporters outside the court after her bail was granted. Two of three cases against De Lima have been dismissed and she had sought bail in the one pending case on health grounds, which the court granted on Monday. Her lawyer, Filibon Tacardon, told Reuters by phone, De Lima could walk out of prison later on Monday. Police always denied that and Duterte insisted police were under orders to kill only in self-defence. Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales and Mikhail Flores; Editing by Martin PettyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Leila de Lima, Eloisa Lopez, De Lima, Rodrigo Duterte's, Duterte, Filibon Tacardon, Neil Jerome Morales, Mikhail Flores, Martin Petty Organizations: Muntinlupa, of Justice, REUTERS, Reuters, Police, Thomson Locations: Philippines, Muntinlupa, Lima, MANILA

☆ Philippines to continue South China Sea supply missions despite Chinese boats
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A Philippine supply boat sails near a Chinese Coast Guard ship during a resupply mission for Filipino troops stationed at a grounded warship in the South China Sea, October 4, 2023. REUTERS/Adrian Portugal/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMANILA, Nov 11 (Reuters) - The Philippines' coast guard said on Saturday it would maintain its regular supply missions to troops stationed on a disputed atoll in the South China Sea even though it expects more Chinese vessels to be sent to the area. China claims almost the entire South China Sea, including the Second Thomas Shoal, and has deployed hundreds of vessels to patrol there. "We are still going to carry out these dangerous missions despite our limited number of vessels and despite the increasing number of Chinese vessels they are going to deploy," Philippine coast guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela told a press conference. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos has pursued warmer ties with Washington, reversing the pro-China stance of his predecessor and leading to a rise in tension in the South China Sea.

Persons: Adrian Portugal, Thomas Shoal, Jay Tarriela, Tarriela, Ferdinand Marcos, Neil Jerome Morales, Helen Popper Our Organizations: Coast Guard, REUTERS, Rights, South China, Philippine, China's, U.S . State Department, People's, Thomson Locations: Philippine, South China, Rights MANILA, Philippines, South, China, Manila, People's Republic of China, Washington

☆ Philippines denounces China for 'unprovoked acts of coercion' to block resupply mission
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Damir Sagolj/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMANILA/BEIJING, Nov 10 (Reuters) - The Philippines on Friday condemned China's coast guard for "unprovoked acts of coercion and dangerous manoeuvres," including its use of a water cannon against one of its boats in an attempt to disrupt a resupply mission in the South China Sea. China's coast guard said two small Philippine transport ships and three coast guard ships entered the waters without the permission of the Chinese government and urged the Philippines to stop infringing on Beijing's sovereignty. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said during his visit to Manila on Saturday that his country, the Philippines and the United States were cooperating to protect the freedom of the South China Sea. China's use of water cannons followed a series of incidents in the South China Sea, including the collisions between China's vessels and two Manila ships on Oct. 22. The Philippines accused China coastguard of "intentionally" colliding with its vessels.

Persons: Carlos Dominguez, Gao Hucheng, Damir Sagolj, Thomas, Thomas Shoal, Wang Wenbin, Fumio Kishida, Neil Jerome Morales, Bernard Orr, Christopher Cushing, Gerry Doyle, Christina Fincher Organizations: Philippine, China's, REUTERS, South China, Official Development, China coastguard, Beijing, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, MANILA, BEIJING, Philippines, China's, South China, South, Manila, Ayungin, Philippine, Thomas Shoal, United States, Japan, Japanese, Washington, Hague

☆ Philippines eyes multilateral effort to avert South China Sea clashes
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A Philippine flagged boat is blocked by a China Coast Guard vessel during an incident that resulted in a collision between the two vessels, in the disputed waters of the South China Sea in this screen grab obtained from handout video released October 22, 2023. China Coast Guard/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMANILA, Oct 25 (Reuters) - The Philippines will boost multilateral activities including freedom of navigation patrols in the South China Sea, its defence minister said on Wednesday, expressing hope that more countries would "join our fight" after an altercation with China this week. The incident, near a disputed reef in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, drew widespread condemnation of Beijing, which says it has sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, despite an international arbitration award declaring that claim has no legal basis. The recent incident with China "could result in more willing nations to join our fight," Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said in a televised interview on state-run PTV. Teodoro also said he is optimistic on the progress on reciprocal access agreement between Japan and the Philippines.

Persons: Gilberto Teodoro, Teodoro, Neil Jerome Morales, Karen Lema, Mikhail Flores, Martin Petty Organizations: China Coast Guard, REUTERS, Rights, China's, PTV, Washington, Thomson Locations: Philippine, South, Rights MANILA, Philippines, South China, China, Manila, Beijing, Japan, United States

☆ Philippines sees no current, future engagements with Taiwan - military chief
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. speaks to the media during a press briefing at Western Command in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines, August 10, 2023. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMANILA, Oct 19 (Reuters) - The Philippines has no military engagements with Taiwan and it does not see future engagements with the democratically-governed island, Manila's armed forces chief Romeo Brawner told foreign correspondents on Thursday. The Philippines sees risk of conflict over Taiwan as a major concern amid geopolitical rivalry between China and the United States. The military is ready for any eventuality, though it has not monitored reports on any intended attacks on Taiwan in particular, Brawner said. The Philippines adheres to the "One China Policy", and also has ties with Taipei, with its Manila Economic and Cultural Office in Taiwan serving as a de facto embassy.

Persons: Romeo Brawner, Eloisa Lopez, Brawner, Karen Lema, Neil Jerome Morales Organizations: Forces, Western Command, REUTERS, Rights, Philippine, Office, Thomson Locations: Philippines, Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Rights MANILA, Taiwan, China, United States, Mavulis, Taipei, Manila

☆ Philippines denounces China for 'dangerous and offensive' actions in South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A Chinese navy ship is seen sailing in the South China Sea, October 4, 2023. REUTERS/Adrian Portugal/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMANILA, Oct 16 (Reuters) - The Philippine military has called out China to stop "unsafe actions" in the South China Sea, after a Chinese navy ship shadowed and attempted to cut off a Philippine navy vessel conducting a resupply mission late last week. A Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessel came as close as 350 yards as it tried to cross in front of the Philippine ship near Thitu island, Manila's biggest and most strategically important outpost in the South China Sea, according to armed forces chief Romeo Brawner. It was the latest in a series of attempts by China to monitor and block Philippine resupply missions to personnel in Manila-occupied features in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea. China's claims sovereignty to almost the entire South China Sea, through which more than $3 trillion of trade passes each year.

Persons: Adrian Portugal, Romeo Brawner, Brawner, Ferdinand Marcos, Neil Jerome Morales, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Philippine, Liberation Army Navy, PLAN, China's PLAN, Washington, Thomson Locations: South China, Rights MANILA, China, Philippine, Thitu, Manila, Philippines, Beijing

A double-digit gain in the price of rice drove annual inflation to accelerate by 6.1% last month, its fastest pace in four months, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority released on Thursday. The country's economic planning agency on Thursday said it would recommend extending the lowered tariff rates on rice until December 2024, a day after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr lifted the cap on rice prices. Rice inflation quickened by 17.9% in September, the fastest in over 14 years, the statistics authority said, helping fuel the 10.0% food inflation rate for the month. September's faster-than-expected inflation could convince the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to resume hiking rates after it left its benchmark rate (PHCBIR=ECI) steady at its last two meetings. Last month's inflation print brought year-to-date average inflation to 6.6%.

Persons: Lisa Marie David, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Marcos, September's, Nicholas Mapa, Neil Jerome Morales, Mikhail Flores, Karen Lema, Martin Petty Organizations: REUTERS, Philippine Statistics Authority, Philippine, ng Pilipinas, ING, Christian, Thomson Locations: Manila, Philippines, MANILA

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, in his first remarks over the latest flare up, said the Philippines was upholding its rights to fish in its exclusive economic zone. China, which says Scarborough Shoal is its territory, has chided the United States for what it calls provocations in the region. Since cutting the floating barrier, the Philippines has observed less Chinese presence in the shoal, Tarriela said. There were three Chinese coastguard vessels and one maritime militia ship seen from an inspection flight on Thursday, versus seven Chinese vessels last week, Tarriela said. There were two Filipino vessels fishing in the shoal, but it remains a struggle to enter the lagoon, he added.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Ursula von der Leyen, Aaron Favila, Marcos, we're, Jay Tarriela, Tarriela, Enrico Dela Cruz, Neil Jerome Morales, Martin Petty, Mark Potter Organizations: coastguard, Philippine coastguard, Manila, Washington, Thomson Locations: Philippine, Manila, Philippines, China, shoal's, coastguard MANILA, Scarborough, Beijing, United States

☆ Philippines urges fishermen to keep up presence at China-held shoal
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Neil Jerome Morales | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MANILA, Sept 27 (Reuters) - The coastguard of the Philippines urged the country's fishermen on Wednesday to keep operating at the disputed Scarborough Shoal and other sites in the South China Sea, pledging to step up patrols there despite an imposing Chinese presence. Philippine vessels were unable to maintain a constant presence but were committed to protecting the rights of fishermen inside the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), coastguard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela said. China's response has been measured, with its foreign ministry advising Manila on Tuesday to avoid provocations and not cause trouble. Close to shipping lanes that transport an estimated $3.4 trillion of annual commerce, control of the shoal is strategic for Beijing, which claims sovereignty over most of the South China Sea. "The Scarborough Shoal is closer to the Philippines," said fisherman Pepito Fabros who had come ashore in the province of Zambales between trips to sea.

Persons: Jay Tarriela, Gilbert Teodoro, Tarriela, Pepito Fabros, Neil Jerome Morales, Adrian Portugal, Enrico dela Cruz, Martin Petty, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: coastguard, Beijing's, China's coastguard, Thomson Locations: MANILA, Philippines, Scarborough, South China, Bajo de Masinloc, Philippine, China, Beijing, Manila, Hainan, United States, Zambales

☆ Philippines says no standoff with China after removal of floating barrier in South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Chinese Coast Guard boats close to the floating barrier are pictured on September 20, 2023, near the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, in this handout image released by the Philippine Coast Guard on September 24, 2023. The Philippines coastguard, posing as regular fishermen aboard a small boat, later cut the ball-buoy barrier and took away the anchor, Tarriela told DWPM radio and ANC news channel. He said four China coastguard vessels were in the area and were "not that aggressive" after seeing media on board a Philippine ship. China claims ownership of almost all of the South China Sea, including the Scarborough Shoal, despite an arbitration ruling in 2016 that said that was baseless. Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo, speaking to reporters about the removal of the barrier, on Tuesday said the move was consistent with the country's stance on the South China Sea.

Persons: Jay Tarriela, Tarriela, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Enrique Manalo, Neil Jerome Morales, Martin Petty Organizations: Guard, Philippine Coast Guard, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, China's coastguard, Scarborough, coastguard, Philippines coastguard, ANC, China coastguard, Philippine, Thomson Locations: Scarborough, South China, Rights MANILA, Philippines, China, Philippine, Manila, United States

☆ Philippine issues health warning as volcano brings smog to capital, nearby provinces
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The state volcanology and seismology institute said it observed upwelling of hot volcanic fluids in the Taal volcano's crater lake, resulting in the emission of volcanic gases. The alert remained at level 1 on a five-level scale, denoting a "slight increase in volcanic earthquake, and steam or gas activity". "We have reports of respiratory illnesses in Batangas province due to intoxication from the volcanic smog," Randy Dela Paz, operations section chief at the civil defence's southern Manila office, told DWPM radio. Volcanic smog, or vog, consists of fine droplets containing volcanic gas like sulfur that can cause irritation of the eyes, throat and respiratory tract. Authorities suspended Friday classes in dozens of towns and cities Cavite, Laguna, and Batangas provinces adjacent to Taal volcano, and in five cities in the capital region.

Persons: Randy Dela Paz, Neil Jerome Morales, Michael Perry Organizations: Manila spewed, Thomson Locations: MANILA, Philippine, Manila, Batangas, Philippines, Cavite, Laguna, Taal

☆ Philippines weighing legal options against China over coral reef 'destruction'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Neil Jerome Morales | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MANILA, Sept 22 (Reuters) - The Philippines is exploring legal options against China accusing it of destruction of coral reefs within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea, an allegation rejected by Beijing an attempt to "create political drama". The Philippines foreign ministry late on Thursday said it was awaiting assessments from various agencies of the extent of environmental damage in Iroquois Reef in the Spratly islands and would be guided by solicitor general Menardo Guevarra. Any move to pursue arbitration would be highly controversial after the Philippines' landmark 2016 victory in a case against China that concluded Beijing's claim to sovereignty over most of the South China Sea had no basis under international law. Iroquois Reef is close to the Reed Bank, where the Philippines hopes to one day access gas reserves, a plan complicated by China's claim to the area. Coral in the South China Sea has been used for limestone and construction materials, traditional medicines and even souvenirs and jewelry.

Persons: Menardo, Guevarra, Mao Ning, Neil Jerome Morales, Martin Petty Organizations: China, Department of Foreign Affairs, South China, Reed Bank, Thomson Locations: MANILA, Philippines, South China, Beijing, Spratly, Hague, China, South, Manila, Vietnam, Malaysia

☆ Philippines Weighs Legal Options Against China Over Coral Reef 'Destruction'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Neil Jerome MoralesMANILA (Reuters) -The Philippines is exploring legal options against China accusing it of destruction of coral reefs within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea, an allegation rejected by Beijing as an attempt to "create political drama". The Philippines is studying the possibility of filing a second legal case before the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the Hague, Guevarra said on Friday. Manila refers to the part of the South China Sea that it claims as the West Philippine Sea. China, which has refused to recognise the 2016 ruling and has chafed at repeated mention of the case by Western powers, denied the latest claims of destruction of coral reefs. Coral in the South China Sea has been used for limestone and construction materials, traditional medicines and even souvenirs and jewellery.

Persons: Neil Jerome Morales MANILA, General Menardo Guevarra, Guevarra, China's, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Mao Ning, Neil Jerome Morales, Martin Petty, Christopher Cushing Organizations: China, Reuters, South China, West, Department of Foreign Affairs, Reed Bank Locations: Philippines, South China, Beijing, Spratly, Hague, West Philippine, Manila, South, China, Vietnam, Malaysia

☆ Philippine Issues Health Warning as Volcano Brings Smog to Capital, Nearby Provinces
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

MANILA (Reuters) - A small but restive volcano near the Philippine capital Manila spewed above average sulfur dioxide and volcanic smog on Friday, prompting authorities to closes schools in five cities and dozens of towns and urge people to stay indoors. The state volcanology and seismology institute said it observed upwelling of hot volcanic fluids in the Taal volcano's crater lake, resulting in the emission of volcanic gases. "We have reports of respiratory illnesses in Batangas province due to intoxication from the volcanic smog," Randy Dela Paz, operations section chief at the civil defence's southern Manila office, told DWPM radio. Volcanic smog, or vog, consists of fine droplets containing volcanic gas like sulfur that can cause irritation of the eyes, throat and respiratory tract. Authorities suspended Friday classes in dozens of towns and cities Cavite, Laguna, and Batangas provinces adjacent to Taal volcano, and in five cities in the capital region.

Persons: Randy Dela Paz, Neil Jerome Morales, Michael Perry Organizations: Manila spewed Locations: MANILA, Philippine, Manila, Batangas, Philippines, Cavite, Laguna, Taal

☆ Germany beat Serbia to win first World Cup crown
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

MANILA, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Germany won their first FIBA Basketball World Cup crown by beating an undermanned Serbia 83-77 on Sunday in Manila. Germany leaned on a 22-10 surge in the third quarter to build a cushion, and never let go of the lead to win the World Cup's first all-European final since 2006. Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales; Editing by Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Neil Jerome Morales, Hugh Lawson Organizations: FIBA Basketball, Thomson Locations: MANILA, Germany, Serbia, Manila

☆ Basketball Canada outlasts U.S. in OT, capture first-ever basketball World Cup medal
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( Neil Jerome Morales | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Basketball - FIBA World Cup 2023 - Third-Place Playoff - United States v Canada - Mall of Asia Arena, Manila, Philippines - September 10, 2023 Canada players celebrate with their bronze medals after the match REUTERS/Lisa Marie David Acquire Licensing RightsMANILA, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Canada bagged their first-ever FIBA Basketball World Cup podium finish at the expense of undermanned United States 127-118 in overtime in a riveting, record-setting bronze medal game on Sunday in Manila. It was the most points scored for a player in a medal-winning game in tournament history. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Canada's leading scorer, rebounder and passer, finished with 31 points, six rebounds and 12 assists. Team USA, previously unbeaten in their four bronze medal matches, recorded the most points they have conceded in a World Cup game. Despite the defeat, the United States finished better than their seventh spot in 2019, their worst-ever major international tournament result.

Persons: Lisa Marie David Acquire, Dillon Brooks, Brooks, Shai Gilgeous, Alexander, Canada's, rebounder, Paolo Banchero, Jaren Jackson Jr, Brandon Ingram, USA's, Anthony Edwards, Fan, Austin Reaves, Mikal Bridges, Canada's Kelly Olynyk, Neil Jerome Morales, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Basketball, FIBA, Asia Arena, Rights, FIBA Basketball, United, Houston Rockets, Team, NBA, Minnesota Timberwolves, Team USA, Brooklyn Nets, Mikal, Canada, Summer, United States, U.S, Thomson Locations: States, Canada, Asia, Manila, Philippines, Rights MANILA, United States, U.S

☆ In cat and mouse game, Philippines resupplies troops in South China Sea atoll
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Jay Ereno | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Journalists onboard a Philippines Coast Guard ship take photos of a China Coast Guard vessel, during a resupply mission for troops stationed at a grounded Philippines ship, in the South China Sea, September 8, 2023. NO ARCHIVES Acquire Licensing RightsSOUTH CHINA SEA, Sept 9 (Reuters) - The Philippines has completed a supply mission for troops stationed in a rusty World War Two-era ship, but not without a usual cat and mouse chase with Chinese vessels in the South China Sea. In another instance, a Philippine ship was surrounded by a Chinese coast guard vessel and three maritime militia vessels. One of the Chinese ships was also seen heading dangerously close to the Philippine vessel which Reuters was onboard, while several Chinese militia vessels tried to block its path. "We always encounter dangerous manoeuvres, shadowing activities, blocking not only from China coast guard vessels, but also from China militia vessels," Philippine Coast Guard commanding officer Emmanuel Dangate told reporters after the mission.

Persons: Jay Ereno, Thomas Shoal, Emmanuel Dangate, Jay Ereño, Neil Jerome Morales, Clelia Organizations: Journalists, Philippines Coast Guard, China Coast Guard, REUTERS, CHINA SEA, Reuters, Chinese Coast Guard, Philippine Coast Guard, BRP, BRP Sierra Madre, U.S . Navy, China, Thomson Locations: Philippines, South China, Philippine, China, BRP Sierra, U.S, China's, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan

☆ Basketball Serbia and Germany in pursuit of first World Cup title
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Neil Jerome Morales | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MANILA, Sept 9 (Reuters) - A first-time winner will be crowned on Sunday when Serbia and Germany lock horns in the first all-European final at the FIBA World Cup since 2006. Reaching the final allowed Serbia and Germany to exorcise forgettable 2019 campaigns. Serbia were knocked out in the quarter-finals, while Germany finished a lowly 18th. "It is great to see two teams that have earned their way," Spain's Pau Gasol, the World Cup global ambassador, said in a talk show on Saturday. The Germans have won three of their five tussles against Serbia, including their last two meetings.

Persons: Nikola Milutinov, Spain's Pau, Germany's Andreas Obst, Nobody, it's, Serbia's Filip Petrusev, Nikola Jokic, Simanic, Neil Jerome Morales, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: FIBA, Spain's Pau Gasol, Reuters, Philadelphia 76ers, Canada, NBA, Thomson Locations: MANILA, Serbia, Germany, Spain, United States, Manila, Sudan

☆ Basketball Serbia beat Canada, return to World Cup final
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Neil Jerome Morales | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MANILA, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Serbia will return to the FIBA Basketball World Cup final after defeating Canada 95-86 by imposing their will in the paint and controlling the boards on Friday in Manila. The Balkan nation's stifling defence forced Canada into turnovers, and limited their North American counterparts to 15 points in the first quarter. He finished the game with 15 points, two rebounds, and nine assists, far below his tournament average of 25 points per game. Serbia lost to the United States 129-92 in the final of the tournament's 2014 edition in Madrid, Spain. The United States play Germany at 1240 GMT on Friday for the other slot in the final.

Persons: Bogdan Bogdanovic, Nikola Milutinov, Shai Gilgeous, Alexander, Canada's, Neil Jerome Morales, Christian Radnedge Organizations: FIBA Basketball, Canada, Manila ., Serbian, Atlanta Hawks, United, Thomson Locations: MANILA, Serbia, Manila, Canada, Serbian, United States, Madrid, Spain, China, Germany

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