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☆ Australia, Philippines upgrade ties to strategic partnership
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Karen Lema | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Philippines last month held military exercises near the South China Sea with Australia, its second-largest partner in defence security. "Australia supports the 2016 South China Sea arbitral award. The Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and Taiwan have claims to certain areas of the South China Sea. Most of Australia's trade also goes through the South China Sea. Albanese confirmed on Thursday he will visit China later this year, the first visit by an Australian leader since 2016.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Earvin, " Albanese, Marcos, Albanese, Neil Jerome Morales, Mikhail Flores, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Australia's, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, . Australian, Philippine, Forces, China, China Sea, Thomson Locations: Philippine, Manila, Philippines, Rights MANILA, Australia, South China, South, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan

☆ Basketball Canada, Germany complete World Cup semi-finals cast
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Neil Jerome Morales | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MANILA, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Canada will make their debut in the FIBA Basketball World Cup semi-finals after overpowering Slovenia 100-89 through a third-quarter rally as Germany edged past Latvia 81-79 on Wednesday to reach the final four. In a battle of elite point guards, Luka Doncic and Slovenia went toe to toe with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Canada in a first half that ended level at 50-50. Canada's RJ Barrett and Gilgeous-Alexander bannered a 27-11 run by slashing their way to the cup in the third quarter. Canada led by as much as 16 points in the third and fourth quarters. Germany will play the United States and Serbia will face Canada on Friday in Manila.

Persons: Luka, Shai Gilgeous, Canada's RJ Barrett, Gilgeous, Alexander bannered, Alexander, Doncic, Dennis Schroder, Davis Bertans, Germany's Schroder, That's, I've, Schroder, Franz Wagner, Neil Jerome Morales, Ed Osmond Organizations: FIBA Basketball, NBA, Dallas Mavericks, Canada, Latvia, Orlando Magic, Debutants, Spain, FIBA's, Thomson Locations: MANILA, Canada, Slovenia, Germany, Latvia, Luka Doncic, Alexander, United States, Serbia, Manila, Debutants Latvia, Brazil, France

☆ United States, Serbia cruise into World Cup semi-finals
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Neil Jerome Morales | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/6] Basketball - FIBA World Cup 2023 - Quarter-Final - Italy v United States - Mall of Asia Arena, Manila, Philippines - September 5, 2023 United States players and coaching staff celebrate after winning the match REUTERS/Lisa Marie David Acquire Licensing RightsSummary United States, Serbia pull away in second quarterItaly and Lithuania respectively suffer heavy defeatsFour more teams vie for semis slots on WednesdayMANILA, Sept 5 (Reuters) - The United States and Serbia booked their tickets to the FIBA Basketball World Cup final four with rousing victories over Italy and Lithuania respectively on Tuesday. Team USA, the highest-ranked side still left in the tournament, trounced Italy 100-63 led by forward Mikal Bridges' game-high 24 points including 12 from distance. Earier, Serbia beat Lithuania 87-68 with Atlanta Hawks' Bogdan Bogdanovic leading the scoring with 21 points. Italy last beat the United States in 1978. Lithuania had won bronze in 2010 by beating Serbia 99-88 and came into Tuesday's game on a high after handing the United States their first loss of the tournament loss on Sunday.

Persons: Lisa Marie David Acquire, Mikal, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Bobby Portis Jr, Tyrese Haliburton, Neil Jerome Morales, Ken Ferris Organizations: Basketball, FIBA, Asia Arena, United, FIBA Basketball, Team USA, Italy, Lithuania, Atlanta Hawks, U.S, USA, Milwaukee Bucks, Serbia, Slovenia, Thomson Locations: Italy, United States, Asia, Manila, Philippines, States, Serbia, Lithuania, MANILA, Earier, Germany, Latvia, Canada, Indonesia, Japan

☆ U.S. aiming for record sixth title as World Cup enters knockout phase
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Neil Jerome Morales | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Basketball - FIBA World Cup 2023 - First Round - Group C - United States of America v Jordan - Mall of Asia Arena, Manila, Philippines - August 30, 2023 United States players celebrate after winning the match REUTERS/Lisa Marie David/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsMANILA, Sept 4 (Reuters) - The United States will be hoping to stay on track for a record sixth world title when they face Italy in the quarter-finals as the Basketball World Cup enters the knockout stage on Tuesday. The tournament has been full of surprises with debutants enjoying upset victories and many expected title contenders, including defending champions Spain, going home early. Basketball-obsessed Philippines won their final classification game against China 96-75 and avoided being the first winless hosts since Colombia in 1982. That beat the previous record of 32,616 who watched the U.S.-Russia final at the 1994 World Cup in Toronto, Canada. "It's been a great tournament, it's been a great World Cup," Grant Hill, managing director of the U.S. team told reporters.

Persons: Lisa Marie David, debutants, we're, Austin Reaves, we've, Donatas Motiejunas, It's, it's, Grant Hill, Neil Jerome Morales, Ken Ferris Organizations: Basketball, FIBA, Asia Arena, United, Rights, Spain, USA, Lithuania, Sunday, China, U.S ., Thomson Locations: United States, America, Jordan, Asia, Manila, Philippines, Rights MANILA, Italy, U.S, Lithuania, Serbia, Germany, Latvia, Canada, Slovenia, Spain, Jakarta, France, Australia, Argentina, Greece, . South Sudan, Africa, Japan, Indonesia, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Russia, Toronto

☆ Hot-shooting Lithuania hand U.S. first World Cup loss
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Neil Jerome Morales | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/6] Basketball - FIBA World Cup 2023 - Second Round - Group J - United States v Lithuania - Mall of Asia Arena, Manila, Philippines - September 3, 2023 Lithuania's Vaidas Kariniauskas and Tomas Dimsa celebrate after the match REUTERS/Lisa Marie David Acquire Licensing RightsMANILA, Sept 3 (Reuters) - The United States suffered their first loss in the FIBA Basketball World Cup on Sunday, going down 110-104 to Lithuania in a quarter-final seeding game. Lithuania led all game long, building a 54-37 lead by halftime through three-pointers, second-chance points, and buckets from Team USA turnovers. Seven Lithuanians scored in double-digits, led by Vaidas Kariniauskas' 15 points. Anthony Edwards of the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves led the United States with 35 points. Lithuania, ranked eighth in the world, go into the next stage with a perfect 5-0 record.

Persons: Kariniauskas, Tomas Dimsa, Lisa Marie David Acquire, Vaidas Kariniauskas, Anthony Edwards, Neil Jerome Morales, Ed Osmond Organizations: Basketball, FIBA, Asia Arena, Rights, United, FIBA Basketball, USA, Seven Lithuanians, NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves, Thomson Locations: United States, Lithuania, Asia, Manila, Philippines, Rights MANILA, Germany, Slovenia, Japan, Indonesia

☆ Spain knocked out of World Cup, Lithuania spring surprise over U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Neil Jerome Morales | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Lithuania, ranked eighth in the world, will face Serbia while the U.S. will play Italy in the last eight. In Manila, Team USA lost to Lithuania 110-104 in a quarter-final seeding game. Lithuania led throughout, building a 54-37 advantage by halftime through three-pointers, second-chance points, and buckets from Team USA turnovers. Team USA narrowed the gap to four points with 30 seconds to go in the third quarter, and Edwards tried to lead a comeback in the final frame. "Lithuania obviously just came out of the gates on fire," Team USA head coach Steve Kerr said.

Persons: Kariniauskas, Tomas Dimsa, Lisa Marie David Acquire, Canada's Shai Gilgeous, Alexander, We're, Canada's, Alex Abrines, Ricky Rubio, Motiejunas, Vaidas Kariniauskas, Anthony Edwards, Edwards, Steve Kerr, Neil Jerome Morales, Ed Osmond, Pritha Organizations: Basketball, FIBA, Asia Arena, Paris Olympics, MANILA, Spain, FIBA Basketball, Lithuania, Italy, Latvia, NBA, Oklahoma City Thunder, Canada, Team USA, USA, Seven Lithuanians, NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves, Puerto Rico, Slovenia, Brazil, Thomson Locations: United States, Lithuania, Asia, Manila, Philippines, Paris Olympics United, Canada, Jakarta, Japan, Indonesia, Serbia, U.S, Germany, Slovenia, Spain, Dominican Republic, Okinawa, Latvia

☆ Favourites United States, Spain start World Cup campaigns with routs
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Neil Jerome Morales | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Second-ranked Team USA started their quest for a record sixth basketball World Cup crown by overcoming a slow start against New Zealand to win 99-72 in Manila. "The whole second unit really came in and righted the ship after the slow start," Team USA coach Steve Kerr told a press conference. The Tall Blacks led 14-4 in the first quarter while the United States battled turnovers and missed shots. Team USA face Greece on Monday and Jordan on Wednesday. Spain, FIBA's number one team, aim to be the fourth nation with back-to-back crowns and win at least three World Cup trophies.

Persons: Austin Reaves, Lisa Marie David Acquire, Steve Kerr, Jordan, Willy Hernangomez's, Rondae Hollis, Luka Doncic, Neil Jerome Morales, Ken Ferris Organizations: Basketball, FIBA, Asia Arena, Rights, FIBA Basketball, USA, New Zealand, Blacks, United States, Los Angeles Lakers, Team USA, Spain, Jordan, NBA, Dallas Mavericks, Thomson Locations: United States, America, New Zealand, Asia, Manila, Philippines, Spain, New, Jakarta, Ivory, Brazil, Iran, Puerto Rico, South Sudan, Americas, Greece, Serbia, China, Okinawa, Georgia, Cape, Slovenia, Venezuela, Europe, Africa, Oceania

☆ Philippines to resupply South China Sea troops after Beijing's block
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Erik De Acquire Licensing Rights Read moreMANILA, Aug 19 (Reuters) - The Philippine armed forces said on Saturday it would again seek to resupply troops stationed in a rusty World War 2-era ship on a reef in the South China Sea, after China blocked a previous attempt with water cannons. China claims almost all the South China Sea, an assertion rejected internationally, while Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan and the Philippines have various claims to certain areas. The planned resupply mission "is a clear demonstration of our resolve to stand up against threats and coercion, and our commitment in upholding the rule of law", the armed forces said. In 2016, an international arbitration award invalidated China's sweeping claim to almost the entire South China Sea. China, which does not recognise the ruling, has built man-made islands with airstrips and surface-to-air missiles in the South China Sea.

Persons: Thomas Shoal, Erik De, Medel Aguilar, Thomas, Aguilar, Neil Jerome Morales, William Mallard Organizations: Philippine Marines, BRP Sierra Madre, Philippine Navy, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Philippine, Spratly, South, MANILA, South China, China, Manila, Beijing, Philippines, Thomas Shoal, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan

☆ Opinion: The shattering aftermath in Maui
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-13 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

CNN —The Polynesian demigod Maui was so powerful he could raise islands up from the ocean floor and capture the sun to slow it down. We know Lahaina will be rebuilt, and the government response — city, state and federal — will be a huge part of that. “You can beat the drum of ‘women’s rights’ and defend tooth-and-nail women’s sports, so long as you only do so to denigrate trans women.”For more on the World Cup:Shaista Aziz: This Women’s World Cup has been unlike any other. That’s a great thingAmy Bass: The US loss at the Women’s World Cup sends a clear messageBill Bramhall/Tribune Content AgencyLet’s make a deal? In a country where federal prosecutors overwhelmingly win their cases, Trump’s odds of going to trial and winning both federal cases are slim — and he may face similarly daunting odds in the other cases.

Persons: Bill Weir, Jeff Melichar, ” Clay Jones, Melichar, “, Shaw, Naka Nathaniel, Kaua’i “, ”, ALICE, Lawrence Downes, ” Drew Sheneman, Peter Bergen, Laura Tillman, ” “, David Petraeus, ” Bergen, Tillman, Donald Trump’s, Joe Biden’s, ” Mary Ziegler, ” Ziegler, Roe, Patrick T, Brown, Wade, Kevin McCarthy, Biden, “ Biden, Julian Zelizer, ” Dana Summers, Donald Trump, Podcaster Megyn Kelly, “ I’m, Nicole Hemmer, Megan “ Rapinoe, Kelly, Shaista Aziz, Amy Bass, Bill Bramhall, Will Handelsman, it’s, Trump, William D, Cohan, Puck, David Rubenstein, Scott Galloway, Jill Filipovic, “ Trump, Galloway, pardoning, ” Filipovic, …, Jesus, Kelli Rhee, Rhee, ” Don’t, Drew Sheneman, Agency Brian Elmore, Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Adam Kinzinger, Ukraine Aanchal Saraf, Rebecca H, Oppenheimer’s, Joseph, I’ll, Neil J, Holly Thomas, Sara Stewart, “ Oppenheimer, Christopher, “ Barbie, “ Barbie ”, ” Stewart Organizations: CNN, Coast Guard, Honolulu Civil, ‘, Aloha, New York Times, …, Agency, UN, Republican, GOP, ”, Republicans, Democratic, Federal, FIFA, US, National Soccer Team, New York University, Trump, Arnold Ventures, Ukraine Aanchal, Warner Bros . Locations: Maui, Lahaina, Hawaii, Naka, Hilo, Kaua’i, Afghanistan, Afghanistan’s, Kabul, Ohio, California , Vermont, Michigan, Georgia, Trump, Ukraine

China Coast Guard/Handout via REUTERSMANILA, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Wednesday denied making an agreement with China to remove a grounded warship that serves as a military outpost in South China Sea, and said if there ever were such a deal, it should be considered rescinded. China on Monday accused the Philippines of reneging on a promise made "explicitly" to remove the ship, which was grounded in 1999 to bolster its territorial claims in one of the world's most contested areas. Jonathan Malaya, National Security Council assistant director general, earlier challenged China to produce evidence of the promise. China and the Philippines have been embroiled for years in on-off confrontations at the shoal, the latest on Saturday. China has built militarised, manmade islands in the South China Sea and its claim of historic sovereignty overlaps with the EEZs of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Thomas Shoal, I'm, Marcos, Jonathan Malaya, Thomas, Jay Batongbacal, Neil Jerome Morales, Karen Lema, Martin Petty Organizations: Coast Guard, China Coast Guard, REUTERS, National Security Council, Philippines, China, South China, University of the, Thomson Locations: Philippine, REUTERS MANILA, China, South China, Philippines, Sierra, Manila, reneging, China's, Sierra Madre, Malaya, South, Thomas Shoal . China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, University of the Philippines

☆ Opinion: AP Psychology controversy exposes the lie behind Florida’s push for ‘parental rights’
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Neil J. Young | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The College Board AP Psychology course contains such content.”“College Board requires educators to teach the entire curriculum for an AP course for college credit consideration,” it said, “therefore AP Psychology is no longer a potential course option for Florida students to receive college credit.”Other school districts in Florida made similar announcements. In the current fight over AP Psychology, the College Board has indicated it doesn’t plan to negotiate with Florida. That AP Psychology has even been caught in the crosshairs of the “Don’t Say Gay” law may surprise many Florida parents. In April, that plan became clearer when the Florida State Board of Education expanded its ban on instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity through the 12th grade. It was the fifth most popular AP course in the state in 2021.

Persons: Neil J, Young, “, ”, Margo K, hasn’t, it’s, Manny Diaz Jr, wokeism, “ It’s, Ron DeSantis, Florida’s Organizations: CNN, Florida Department of Education, College Board AP, “, College Board, AP, Florida Gov, Florida State, of Education, Twitter, Republican Locations: Orange County , Florida, Florida, Florida —

☆ China tells Philippines to remove grounded warship in South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING/MANILA, Aug 7 (Reuters) - China told the Philippines on Monday to remove its grounded warship from the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea after blocking two Manila supply ships with water cannons over the weekend as both sides asserted their claims of the area. The Philippines in 1999 intentionally grounded the warship to stake its claim to the Second Thomas Reef, a submerged reef that is part of the Spratly islands in the South China Sea. China over the weekend said it had "indisputable" sovereignty of the area and urged the Philippines to stop infringing activities in this waters. Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Monday that the country continued to assert its sovereignty and territorial rights despite challenges in the South China Sea. China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea and the Spratly island, which consists of many islets, reefs banks and shoals and lie in the centre of South China Sea and along major shipping lanes.

Persons: Thomas Shoal, Thomas, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Marcos, Albee Zhang, Neil Jerome Morales Organizations: China, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, MANILA, China, Philippines, South, Manila, Philippine, Spratly, South China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia, Beijing

☆ EU ready to strengthen maritime security cooperation with the Philippines
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., claps beside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, after signing ceremonies at the Malacanang Presidential Palace in Manila, Philippines, July 31, 2023.Aaron Favila/POOL via REUTERSMANILA, July 31 (Reuters) - The European Union is ready to strengthen cooperation with the Philippines on maritime security, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday, as she stressed the importance of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. She was speaking after a meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Manila where the two leaders discussed a range of issues from security and trade to climate change. "We are ready to strengthen the cooperation with the Philippines on maritime security in the region by sharing information, conducting threat assessment and building the capacity of your coast guard," she said in a joint press conference with Marcos. Von der Leyen on Monday reaffirmed the EU's support for a 2016 international arbitration ruling that invalidated Beijing's expansive claims, saying the ruling is legally binding and provides the basis for resolving disputes peacefully. Von der Leyen also said the European Union will support the Philippines' fight against climate change, which is a priority for Marcos as he pushes to increase renewables in the country's power mix to 35% by 2030.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Ursula von der Leyen, Aaron Favila, Marcos, Von der Leyen, Karen Lema, Neil Jerome Morales, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Philippine, European, REUTERS, European Union, Thomson Locations: Manila, Philippines, REUTERS MANILA, The Philippines, United States, China, South China, European

☆ Philippines need not match Fed's 25-basis point hike, finance minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MANILA, July 31 (Reuters) - The Philippines' finance minister said monetary authorities have room to pause on rate hikes in August despite a recent policy tightening by the U.S. Federal Reserve. That is my view and we have to monitor other indicators like inflation," Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno told reporters on Friday during his weekly media briefing. The Monetary Board has four current members, including the central bank governor, but three seats are still vacant. Inflation is expected to return to within the central bank's 2% to 4% target range in the fourth quarter, Diokno said. We are data dependent," Diokno said, adding that authorities will take stock of the Fed rate hike's impact on both global and domestic economy.

Persons: Benjamin Diokno, Diokno, Eli Remolona, Neil Jerome Morales, Lincoln Organizations: U.S . Federal, Monetary, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Fed, Thomson Locations: MANILA, Philippines

MANILA, July 24 (Reuters) - Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Monday touted his administration's successes over the past year, including battling inflation and steering the economy back on track, but said a number of economic challenges lie ahead. After more than a year in office, buffeted by soaring inflation that has dented economic growth, the government is now "stabilising the prices of all critical commodities", Marcos said. "Inflation rate is moving in the right direction," he said in his second state of the nation address. Developing the long-neglected farm sector, which contributes 10% of the country's economic output, is a priority for Marcos, who also helms the agriculture ministry. The Philippines remains vulnerable to global price shocks because it buys a sizeable portion of its rice overseas, and relies on imports for most of its fuel requirements.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Marcos, helms, Michael Ricafort, Enrico dela Cruz, Eloisa Lopez, Bernadette Baum, Mark Potter Organizations: Rizal Commercial Banking Corp, Asia's, Thomson Locations: MANILA, Philippines, Philippine, Rizal, China, Manila, United States

☆ ICC ruling opens way to investigation on killings in Philippines
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

In a ruling on July 18, the ICC appeals judges rejected an attempt by the Philippines to block an investigation into the bloody anti-narcotics campaign of former President Rodrigo Duterte. A majority of judges rejected all four points of Manila's appeal, including that the ICC has no jurisdiction in the Philippines and that authorities there were conducting their own investigation. "The ICC appeals judges' ruling marks the next step toward justice for victims of 'drug war' killings and their families," Bryony Lau, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch (HRW), said in a statement. The decision left some of the families of drug war victims in tears after they watched the court proceeding online. But appeals judges ruled prosecutors still had jurisdiction over the alleged crimes because they occurred when the Philippines was still an ICC member.

Persons: Rodrigo Duterte, Harry Roque, Roque, Marc Perrin de Brichambaut, Bryony Lau, Kristina Conti, HRW's Lau, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Anthony Deutsch, Benoit Van Overstraeten, Neil Jerome Morales, Eloisa Lopez, Charlotte Van Campenhout, Emma Rumney, Alex Richardson Organizations: Criminal Court, ICC, Philippine, Human Rights Watch, Duterte, Police, Thomson Locations: AMSTERDAM, MANILA, Philippines, Manila, Asia, Amsterdam

REUTERS/Jorge SilvaBANGKOK/NEW DELHI, July 17 (Reuters) - Indian tourists are streaming into Southeast Asia, cementing the world most populous country's position as a key growth market for a travel and tourism sector that is feeling the pinch of China's slower-than-expected re-opening. "Southeast Asia is obviously very well positioned for a lot of the growth that is inevitably going to come from India," aviation analyst Brendan Sobie told an industry conference last month. Tanes Petsuwan, deputy governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand said 1.6 million Indians were expected to visit the kingdom this year. Indians are helping to sustain a post-pandemic rebound for hospitality chains, including Minor Hotels, which has 45 properties in Southeast Asia with more than 6,000 rooms. Thailand's central bank expects 29 million visitors this year and 35.5 million in 2024.

Persons: Jorge Silva, Brendan Sobie, Tanes Petsuwan, Chai Eamsiri, Chai, Vinay Malhotra, IndiGo's, Sobie, Dillip, Pratyush Tripathy, That's, Somsong Sachaphimukh, Somsong, Pasit, Stefanno Sulaiman, Neil Jerome Morales, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Jorge Silva BANGKOK, Thai Airways, Organisation for Economic Cooperation, Reuters, Asian Development Bank, Tourism Authority, IndiGo, Airbus, Minor, Bank of, Tourism Council of, Thomson Locations: India, Thailand, Patong, Phuket, DELHI, Asia, China, Thai, Singapore, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Jakarta, Bangkok, Kolkata, Pattaya, Europe, United States, Thailand's, Bank of Thailand, Tourism Council of Thailand, BANGKOK, JAKARTA, MANILA

☆ Philippine finance secretary sees 'long pause' in rate hikes
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MANILA, June 25 (Reuters) - Philippine Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said he expected the central bank, of which he is a policymaker, to take a "long pause" in raising interest rates steady as inflation is expected to ebb. The bank held its key policy rate steady at 6.25% for a second straight meeting on Thursday. I don't see any cut until we really have that strong evidence of a decline" in inflation, Diokno said. He is one of the seven members of the policy-making Monetary Board, which next meets on Aug. 17 to review policy under the leadership of a new central bank governor. Since May last year, the central bank raised rates 425 basis points to combat inflation.

Persons: Benjamin Diokno, Diokno, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Eli Remolona, Felipe Medalla, Neil Jerome Morales, WIlliam Mallard Organizations: Philippine Finance, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Thomson Locations: MANILA, Bangko

☆ Magnitude 5.5 earthquake strikes Babuyan islands in Philippines
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

June 17 (Reuters) - An earthquake of magnitude 5.5 struck the Babuyan islands in the northern Philippines on Saturday, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The quake was at a depth of 34 km (21.13 miles), USGS said. The Philippines' state seismology agency said it was expecting aftershocks but no damage as a result of the offshore quake. The Southeast Asian nation lies within the Pacific "Ring of Fire," where volcanic activity and earthquakes are common. Reporting by Akanksha Khushi in Bengaluru and Neil Jerome Morales in Manila; editing by Mark HeinrichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Akanksha, Neil Jerome Morales, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: U.S . Geological Survey, Thomson Locations: Philippines, U.S, Bengaluru, Manila

To help address that, Tokyo in April said it would offer like-minded countries military aid, including radars, that the officials said would help the Philippines plug defensive gaps. One, however, said the aid effort was a Japanese initiative and not anything the United States had pressed for. The Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs said it was not immediately able to comment on security aid from Japan or hosting Japanese troops. LOOSENING THE RULESThe scope of Japanese military aid is limited by a self-imposed ban on lethal equipment exports. But he said Japan and the United States are treading carefully in trilateral talks with the Philippines.

Persons: Read, Fumio, Katsutoshi Kawano, Joe Biden's, Jake Sullivan, Takeo Akiba, Eduardo Ano, Fumio Kishida, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Kishida, Kawano, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Marcos, Yusuke Ishihara, Tim Kelly, Sakura Murakami, Yukiko Toyoda, Neil Jerome Morales, Gerry Doyle Organizations: U.S, Marines, Warriors, Philippine Marine Corps, Japanese, Reuters, Washington, Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs, Ukraine, Group, Seven, Self - Defence Forces, Staff, Japan's National Institute for Defense Studies, Thomson Locations: Philippine, Japan, South Korea, ”, Taguig City, Metro Manila, Philippines, TOKYO, Indonesia, Taiwan, Ukraine, East Asia, Tokyo, Pacific, China, Japanese, United States, Kyiv, Manila, Yonaguni, Britain, Australia

☆ Philippines says China's Yadea to invest $1 bln in e-motorcycle plant
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MANILA, June 15 (Reuters) - China's Yadea Group Holdings (1585.HK), one of the world's biggest electric two-wheeled vehicle makers, plans to invest about $1 billion in an e-motorcycle factory in the Philippines, the country's investment promotions agency chief said on Thursday. Yadea is one of a several electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers looking at the Southeast Asian nation for expansion of their manufacturing sites, Tereso Panga, director-general of government-run Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), told reporters. The Philippines is also touting its abundance of nickel, copper and cobalt, which are key raw materials for the EV industry. American and British electric vehicle firms are also scouting for battery and e-motorcycle manufacturing sites, Panga said. PEZA targets a 10% increase in investment approvals this year from 140.7 billion pesos ($2.51 billion) in 2022.

Persons: Yadea, Tereso Panga, Panga, Neil Jerome Morales, Martin Petty Organizations: Yadea, Holdings, HK, Economic Zone Authority, ASEAN Automotive Federation, Thomson Locations: MANILA, Philippines, China, Vietnam, Batangas, Manila, Thailand, Indonesia, British

☆ Magnitude 6.3 earthquake strikes northern Philippines
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MANILA, June 15 (Reuters) - An earthquake of magnitude 6.3 struck the Philippines' main island on Thursday, authorities said, halting some railway operations in the capital Manila. No casualties or major damage were reported after the quake, which struck out at sea at a depth of 10 kilometres (6.21 miles) and was felt in nearby provinces, the Philippine seismology agency said. Operations of the three elevated railway lines in Manila were stopped due to the earthquake, the transport ministry said. The seismology agency initially recorded a magnitude 6.2 earthquake, but later revised it to 6.3. Reporting by Jahnavi Nidumolu in Bengaluru, Enrico Dela Cruz and Neil Jerome Morales in Manila; Editing by Kanupriya KapoorOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Peter Oliver Palacio, Jahnavi, Enrico Dela Cruz, Neil Jerome Morales, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Railways, GMA, Thomson Locations: MANILA, Philippines, Manila, Philippine, Calatagan, Bengaluru

☆ Residents in for months-long displacement as Philippine volcano spews lava, gases
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Lava flows from Mount Mayon volcano, in Daraga, Philippines June 11, 2023, in this picture obtained from social media. Incandescent lava was seen flowing slowly from the mouth of the 2,462-metre (8,077-foot) Mayon volcano, which was placed on a high alert level last week following seismic tremors and hundreds of rockfall events. Authorities said people living further away from the volcano should also be ready for possible evacuation, with the police placing checkpoints to prevent residents from returning. Dorothy Colle, a provincial tourism official, said while the no-go zone was being enforced, people were still flocking to observation stations to witness lava flows, which appear particularly bright at night. Its most destructive eruption came in February 1841when lava flows buried a town and killed 1,200 people.

Persons: Nehemiah Manzanilla Sitiar, Bacolcol, Larry Llenaresas, Westrimundo Obinque, Mayon, Dorothy Colle, Neil Jerome Morales, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: REUTERS, Authorities, Thomson Locations: Mount Mayon, Daraga, Philippines, REUTERS MANILA, Albay

☆ Philippines raises alert level at rumbling volcano after rockfall, quakes
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MANILA, June 8 (Reuters) - The Philippines raised the alert level at the popular Mayon volcano by a notch on Thursday, after detecting volcanic earthquakes and hundreds of rockfall events. At "alert level 3" on a scale of 5, Mayon has increased chances of lava flows and a potential for explosive activity within weeks or even days, it added. The agency had elevated Mayon to "alert level 2" on June 5. There are no major industries around the volcano, with most farming activities in the area consisting of subsistence crops. The most destructive eruption came in February, 1841 when lava flows buried a town and killed 1,200 people.

Persons: Mayon, Neil Jerome Morales, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Thomson Locations: MANILA, Philippines, Albay

☆ Philippine court denies bail for top Duterte critic in drug case
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

"Sad to inform you that the court denied Senator Leila's bail application," Filibon Tacardon, her legal counsel, told reporters. De Lima, 63, had requested bail in connection with a case in which she has been accused of conspiring to illegally trade narcotics in prison. She has denied all charges and had sought bail on account of her age and "several health issues". The court said her request was "untenable" and her culpability or innocence would be decided on the basis of evidence presented. A court in 2021 dismissed a drug case against her while another court in May acquitted her of a charge that she received drug money from prison inmates.

Persons: De Lima, De, Leila de Lima, Rodrigo Duterte's, Leila's, Duterte, Neil Jerome Morales, Enrico Dela Cruz, Kanupriya Kapoor, Robert Birsel Organizations: Thomson Locations: De Lima, MANILA

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