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☆ Live updates: Israel-Hamas war, truce extended by two days
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Tara Subramaniam | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

All Philippine nationals impacted by the Israel-Hamas war have been accounted for following the release of a second hostage, according to the country’s president. “With this positive development, I am pleased to inform the nation that all Filipinos affected by the war have been accounted for,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr wrote in a post on X Wednesday. “Just days after expressing concern for Noralyn Babadilla's whereabouts, I am very happy to announce that Noralyn is safely back in Israel, becoming the second Filipino released from Gaza,” he wrote. The Embassy of the Philippines will “attend to her needs in coordination with Israeli authorities," the president added. Pacheco was released on Friday.

Persons: “, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, ”, Jimmy ” Pacheco, Pacheco Organizations: ” Locations: Philippine, Israel, Gaza, Philippines, Egypt, State, Qatar

☆ How the U.S. courted the Philippines to thwart China
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +14 min

What followed was two trips to the United States in less than a year for Marcos, and visits to the Philippines by high-ranking Biden administration officials. Marcos’ predecessor, the populist firebrand Rodrigo Duterte, was openly hostile to the United States and attempted to bring his country closer to communist China during his six-year term. For the United States, cementing alliances in the Asia-Pacific region is likewise crucial to keeping China in check. China’s Foreign Ministry, in a statement to Reuters, characterized China and the Philippines as “close neighbors across the sea” with a common interest in friendship. At the time, he said the cancellation of his visa was the latest in a list of “gripes and disrespect” by the United States.

Persons: Ferdinand “ Bongbong ” Marcos Jr, Joe Biden, Marcos, Gregorio Maria Araneta III, “, ” Araneta, Biden, Kamala Harris, Antony Blinken, Defense Lloyd Austin, Julio Amador III, Marcos ’, Rodrigo Duterte, China’s, Xi Jinping, ” Marcos ’, Ferdinand Marcos Sr, ”, Marcos family’s, Washington, Duterte, China “, Becca Wasser, Wasser, Barack Obama, Xi, “ I’ve, ” Duterte, Ronald “ Bato, dela Rosa, Dela Rosa, gripes, Toribio Adaci, hadn’t, Blake Herzinger, Herzinger Organizations: Reuters, U.S, Defense, ., Party, China, U.S . State Department, ” Reuters, Philippine, United, Foreign Ministry, ” ‘, People’s Liberation Army, Center, New, New American Security, CNAS, U.S . Department of Defense, U.S ., Initiative, Philippines National Economic Development Authority, United States, Philippine National Police, Washington, Forces, VFA, Mutual, China’s, U.S . Pacific Fleet, Cooperation Locations: Philippines, Philippine, Manila, United States, U.S, China, America, Asia, Taipei, Taiwan, Beijing, South, East Asia, Pacific, Washington, Hawaii, South China, It’s, American, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New American, Taiwan . U.S, Duterte, China’s, Guangdong

☆ Philippines' SEC to block access to world's largest crypto exchange Binance
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Smartphone with displayed Binance logo and representation of cryptocurrencies are placed on a keyboard in this illustration taken, June 8, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMANILA, Nov 29 (Reuters) - The Philippines' Securities and Exchange Commission has begun the process of blocking access to the world's largest crypto exchange Binance, whose chief last week stepped down and pleaded guilty to breaking U.S. anti-money laundering laws. The SEC said the operator of Binance was not a registered corporation in the Philippines, and was operating without the necessary licence and authority to sell or offer any form of securities. The removal of access in the Philippines, the SEC said in a statement, will take effect within three months of the issuance of its advisory on Nov. 28 to give Filipino users time to pull out investments from the crypto exchange. Former Binance chief Changpeng Zhao stepped down as CEO last week after pleading guilty to wilfully causing the exchange to fail to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Binance, Alphabet's, Changpeng Zhao, Karen Lema, Mikhail Flores, Jan Harvey Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Alphabet's Google, Facebook, Binance, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Rights MANILA, Philippines

☆ With geopolitical tensions mounting, Bernstein expects 3 defense stocks to soar 20%
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Amala Balakrishner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"The rising geopolitical threats in APAC has been a driver of military spending for the Western nations. In addition, APAC countries have become more important for their own military expenditures, which present some opportunities for Western defense contractors through either exports or partnerships," they added. Quoting research from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute , Bernstein said that global defense spending reached a record high of $2.2 trillion last year. Why is defense spending on the rise? For instance, South Korea's defense spending is high given its longstanding tensions with neighbor North Korea.

Persons: AllianceBernstein, Bernstein, Northrop Grumman, CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Asia, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Boeing Co, Dassault Aviation, U.S Locations: Asia, Pacific, U.S, APAC, Stockholm, China, North Korea, North America, Europe, Russia, Japan, Australia, United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Soviet, Vietnam, Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei

☆ Australia walks a tight rope on trade with China as security concerns mount
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 6, 2023. While trade compulsions have forced the Asia-Pacific nation to reach out to China, security concerns over Beijing's South China Sea claims have prevented a reset in ties. Trade talksPart of Beijing's calculus is rooted in Australia economic dependence on China. According to the Australian government, China is its largest trading partner, accounting for nearly a third of the country's total trade with the world. Australia is already closely watching potential flashpoints in the South China Sea, and in regard to Taiwan," Economist Intelligence Unit analysts said in a note.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Anthony Albanese, Ding Haitao, coronavirus, Darren Lim, Lee McLean, McLean, we've, Albanese, We've Organizations: Australian, of, People, Getty Images, Xinhua, Agency, Xinhua News Agency, Getty, Australian National University, Labor, Australia, U.S ., China Hub . Trade, CNBC, Sky News Australia, Economist Intelligence, U.S Locations: Beijing, China, Xinhua, Australia, Asia, Pacific, Canberra, U.S, South China, Taiwan, The Hague, Philippines

REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 29 (Reuters) - U.S. budget wrangling could further delay funding approval for new agreements with Pacific island nations meant to counter Chinese influence, creating an opportunity for Beijing in the strategically vital region, congressional and other sources say. But congressional sources say this looks impossible as lawmakers argue over spending priorities, raising concerns that a further delay could create an opening for China, which has been wooing financially strapped Pacific economies. "It's feeling pretty dead in the NDAA context," the source said, adding that focus had turned to finding other legislation to secure the COFA funding. "It is really incomprehensible given the amount we're talking about ... why Congress cannot get its act together," Yun said. "What we risk is China getting in where we really don't want them – in places like Palau, RMI, FSM.

Persons: Mike Pompeo, Jonathan Ernst, Biden, Mike Johnson's, Joseph Yun, Yun, David Brunnstrom, Michael Martina, Patricia Zengerle, Don Durfee, Daniel Wallis Organizations: U.S, Pohnpei International, REUTERS, Rights, Federated, Marshall, RMI, Washington, Free Association, National Defense, Reuters, Republicans, Natural Resources, Foreign Affairs, New Republican, Biden, State Department, White House National Security Council, Thomson Locations: Pohnpei, Kolonia, States, Micronesia, Pacific, Beijing, Federated States, Palau, China, Ukraine, U.S, Hawaii, Philippines, Washington

☆ Henry Kissinger Dies at 100: Latest News and Updates
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Michael D. Shear | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

For many in China, Henry A. Kissinger represented a now-bygone chapter in relations between China and the United States, when the countries seemed to be moving inexorably closer. In July, China laid out a red-carpet welcome for Mr. Kissinger, including an audience with Xi Jinping, the top leader. “China and the United States’ relations will forever be linked to the name ‘Kissinger,’” Mr. Xi said to Mr. Kissinger as the two men sat side by side in cream-colored armchairs. When Mr. Xi was on the cusp of power in 2012, he met Mr. Kissinger twice — once in Beijing and then in Washington. In a sign of the high regard in which he was held, Mr. Xi respectfully cited Mr. Kissinger’s views in speeches.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Henry A . Kissinger, ”, Mr, Kissinger, Nixon’s, Xie Feng, Biden, “, ‘ Kissinger, ’, Xi, Zhou Enlai, Li Shangfu, John F, Kirby, Kissinger “, Wu Xinbo, —, President Trump, Wu, Trump, Kissinger’s, Charles T, Munger, Lu Yeh, Lu Organizations: of, People, Global Times, Communist Party, Beijing, United, Mr, U.S . National Security Council, Institute of International Studies, Fudan University, National Chengchi University Locations: Beijing, State, China, United States, Washington, Communist, U.S, ” China, “ China, Diaoyutai, Shanghai, Philippines, Australia, Weibo, Taiwan, Taipei, “

☆ Are the COP climate summits working? These countries are going to the courts, instead
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Ella Nilsen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

“It is a recipe for permanent climate chaos and suffering.”Yet the UN climate summit, known as COP, is tedious. Even fierce climate advocates who agree COP should be more ambitious still believe the summit is a powerful and worthwhile endeavor. “There is a lot of questioning whether this process will deliver or not,” Ani Dasgupta, president and CEO of international climate nonprofit World Resources Institute, told CNN. In this June 2017 photo, President Donald Trump after announcing his intention to abandon the Paris Agreement in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC. Doug Mills/The New York Times/ReduxStill, former and current US negotiators say climate diplomacy has helped keep the world’s temperature from reaching truly alarming highs.

Persons: António Guterres, ” Guterres, Paris, Payam Akhavan, ” Akhavan, ” Ani Dasgupta, ’ COP’s, ”, Sue Biniaz, John Kerry, Frances F, Denny, Biniaz, ” Biniaz, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Doug Mills, Jonathan Pershing, William, Flora Hewlett, Pershing, ” Pershing, “, Todd Stern, Jens Astrup, Stern, “ It’s, ” Stern, it’s, It’s, Margaretha Wewerinke, Singh, Mitzi Jonelle Tan, Peter Dejong, Hailey Campbell, ’ ”, Campbell Organizations: CNN, United Nations, Law, United, Resources Institute, Yale University, The New York Times, “, ”, White, New York Times, Kerry, Bella Center, Getty, US, Republicans, International Court of Justice Locations: Paris, Small, States, Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Antigua, Barbuda, Dubai, COP28, United States, New Haven , Connecticut, Rose, Washington , DC, Copenhagen, AFP, Europe, Mississippi, Philippines, Sharm el, Sheikh, Egypt, Hawaii, Honolulu

☆ Southeast Asia is on the cusp of a 'supercharged' digital payments revolution, PwC says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Widespread mobile ownership, together with rapid digitalization after the pandemic, helped spur the expansion of digital financial services in Southeast Asia, said PwC. PwC"This enhanced availability and convenience of digital payments will see the bulk of the regional population leveraging mainstream digital financial products, such as e-wallets, further expediting the expansion of financial services," said PwC. watch now"Consumers are adopting digital financial services at a rapid pace. Cash is no longer king, as digital payments now make up more than 50% of the region's transactions," a recent Google, Temasek and Bain & Company report wrote. "In some regions such as Southeast Asia, [digital payments via e-wallets] are already more common than physical card payments and set to dominate point-of-sale [systems] overall," wrote Dan Jones and Alex Walker of OliverWyman.

Persons: PwC, hawkers, —, Cash, Dan Jones, Alex Walker of OliverWyman Organizations: Banking, Getty, Careem, Mercado Libre, Temasek, Bain & Company Locations: China, East Asia, Shanghai, Banking Asia, Asia, Southeast Asia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Paytm, India, AliPay, Latin America

☆ Teenage siblings freed from Hamas captivity, only to learn their mother had been murdered
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

But when Noam, 17, and Alma, 13, were released together on Saturday, “this dream had been shattered by the fact that she was murdered,” said the siblings’ maternal uncle Ahal Besorai. In total, some 1,200 people, most civilians, were slain by Hamas militants across southern Israel that day. It was amid this chaos and terror that Noam and Alma were separated from their parents and taken hostage by Hamas. Noam, Alma and the third woman in their room shared a diary, but the siblings weren’t allowed to bring it with them during their release, said Besorai. Still, he worries about the toll that captivity has taken on them, and the trauma that may linger.

Persons: Noam, Alma, they’d, ”, Ahal Besorai, “, ” Besorai, Dror, Besorai, Noam –, –, ‘ Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Israel Locations: Gaza, Alma, Philippines, Israel, Be’eri

☆ IAEA says a dozen countries to be equipped with nuclear power
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Rafael Mariano Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, speaks at a news briefing in Okuma, northeastern Japan, Wednesday, July 5, 2023. Hiro Komae/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Nov 28 (Reuters) - A dozen countries are expected to start producing electricity from nuclear power sources within the next few years, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi said on Tuesday. "We already have 10 countries which have entered the decision phase (to build nuclear power plants) and 17 others which are in the evaluation process," he said. "There will be a dozen or 13 (new) nuclear countries within a few years," he added. Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Namibia, the Philippines, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan were cited by Grossi as potential new nuclear countries.

Persons: Rafael Mariano Grossi, Hiro Komae, Grossi, Benjamin Mallet, Forrest Crellin, Bernadette Baum Organizations: International Atomic Energy Agency, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, International Atomic Energy Association, Thomson Locations: Okuma, Japan, Paris, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Namibia, Philippines, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan

Hostages and Missing Families ForumAda Sagi, 75, a resident of Kibbutz Nir Oz, has taught Hebrew and Arabic, according to the Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum. Hostages and Missing Families ForumRimon Kirsht, 36, and her husband, Yagev Buchshtab, 34, were kidnapped from Kibbutz Nirim on Oct. 7. Hostages and Missing Families ForumOfelia Roitman, 77, moved to Israel from Argentina in 1985, according to a Facebook post by the Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum. She lived in Kibbutz Nir Oz and has nine grandchildren. She worked in education in the kibbutz for many years, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.

Persons: Marman, Nir Yitzhak, Luis Norberto Har, Fernando Marman, Gabriela Leimberg, Leimberg’s, Mia Leimberg, Moshe Leimberg, Mia’s, Leimberg, “, ”, Mia, “ We’re, ” Mr, Har, Ditza Heiman, Kibbutz Nir Oz, Gideon Heiman, Heiman, Sharon Kleitman, Mr, Neta Heiman, ” Ms, ” “, ” Neta Heiman, ” Tamar Metzger, Tamar Metzger, Yoram Metzger, Tamar, Noralin Babadila, Kibbutz Nirim, Gideon Babani, Babadila, Ada Sagi, Nir Oz, Meirav Tal, Yair Yaakov, Rimon Kirsht, Rimon, Yagev Buchshtab, Kirsht, Buchshtab, Adit, Roitman, Natalie Madmaon, Kan, Madmaon, Johnatan Reiss Organizations: LinkedIn, Jersualem, School of, Arts, International Committee, Hamas, Haaretz, Kibbutz, Associated Press, Forum, Mr Locations: Jerusalem, Gaza, Eden, of Israel, Philippines, Yehud, Israel, The Times, Poland, London, Maslan, Argentina

☆ Australia Says AUKUS a Response to Arms Race, Not Fuel for It
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY (Reuters) - The Indo Pacific region is in the midst of a substantial arms race that Australia is responding to, not fuelling, with its planned acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines, Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said on Tuesday. The $245 billion AUKUS project with Britain and the United States to build a new class of nuclear-powered and conventionally armed submarine has been criticised by China as having the potential to spark an arms race. "The arms race is the greatest its been since 1945, and that is why I reject assertions... that Australia is somehow fuelling that arms race. "Conflict is far from inevitable," he said, adding that Australia cannot afford to under-invest in defence. Australia's nuclear-powered submarine fleet will be used for intelligence gathering in peacetime and to strike enemy targets during a war, Conroy said.

Persons: Defence Industry Pat Conroy, Conroy, AUKUS, Kirsty Needham, Gerry Doyle Organizations: SYDNEY, Defence Industry, National Press Club Locations: Australia, Britain, United States, China, Canberra, Southeast Asia, Philippines, South, Darwin

☆ Chinese fighter jets 'orbit' Philippine patrol aircraft, Manila says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MANILA, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Two Chinese fighter jets were monitored "orbiting" a Philippine aircraft participating in patrols with Australia in the South China Sea but did not cause any untoward incident, Manila said on Sunday. China has accused the Philippines of enlisting "foreign forces" to patrol the South China Sea and stirring up trouble. The West Philippine Sea is Manila's term for waters in the South China Sea that fall within its exclusive economic zone. The Chinese aircraft continued on its flight route without further incident, Trinidad said. Participating in the joint drills were two Philippine navy vessels and five Philippine surveillance aircraft, and Australia's frigate Toowoomba and P8-A maritime surveillance aircraft.

Persons: China's, Xerxes Trinidad, Romeo Brawner, Karen Lema, William Mallard Organizations: ., South China, Toowoomba, Thomson Locations: MANILA, Philippine, Australia, South, Manila, Philippines, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, South China, U.S, West Philippine, Trinidad

☆ Philippines, Australia start sea, air patrols in South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Earvin Perias/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMANILA, Nov 25 (Reuters) - The Philippines and Australia began their first joint sea and air patrols in the South China Sea on Saturday, days after Manila took similar steps with the U.S. as Pacific nations warily eye an increasingly assertive China. China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. The Philippines is ramping up efforts to counter what it describes as China's "aggressive activities" in the South China Sea, which has also become a flashpoint for Chinese and U.S. tensions around naval operations. The patrols will be carried out in the West Philippine Sea, said Philippine Department of National Defense spokesperson Arsenio Andolong, using Manila's term for waters in the South China Sea that fall within its exclusive economic zone. China has accused the Philippines of enlisting "foreign forces" to patrol the South China Sea and stirring up trouble.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Anthony Albanese, Earvin, China's, Richard Marles, Marcos, Marles, Arsenio Andolong, Karen Lema, William Mallard Organizations: Australia's, Rights, Australia, ., Philippine, Australian Defence Force, Armed Forces, Philippine Department of National Defense, South China, Toowoomba, Cooperative, Thomson Locations: Manila, Philippines, Rights MANILA, South, China, Australia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, South China, U.S, West Philippine, Philippine, United, Taiwan, West Philippine Sea

☆ 85-year-old Israeli Holocaust survivor taken hostage by Hamas reunited with her family
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Yaffa Adar reunited with her family in Tel Aviv after seven weeks in captivity. AdvertisementYaffa Adar, an 85-year-old Holocaust survivor, was one of the first 13 hostages released from Gaza after 49 days in Hamas's captivity, i24NEWS reports. Yaffa Adar is a mother of three, grandmother of eight, and great-grandmother of seven. The family reunion at Wolfson Hospital in Holon, near Tel Aviv, followed the four-day cease-fire brokered between Israel and Hamas. The hostages released by Hamas have undergone initial medical tests and are reportedly in good condition, per the IDF.

Persons: Yaffa Adar, —, Nahal Oz, Tamir Adar, Adva Adar, Adva, Alon, Orian, Adar, Yael Adar, Yaffa's, Iris Boker, Yaffa Organizations: Service, Wolfson Hospital, National Holocaust Center, Museum, Hamas Locations: Tel Aviv, Gaza, Holon, Israel, Jerusalem, Be'eri, Warsaw, Poland, Nazi, Thailand, Philippines

On the first day of the four-day cease-fire, Hamas released 24 of the about 240 hostages taken during its Oct. 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war, and Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison. During the four days, Hamas is to release at least 50 Israeli hostages, and Israel 150 Palestinian prisoners. Israel has said the truce can be extended an extra day for every additional 10 hostages freed — something United States President Joe Biden said he hoped would come to pass. FIRST HOSTAGES FREEDAfter nightfall Friday, a line of ambulances emerged from Gaza through the Rafah Crossing into Egypt carrying the freed hostages. Netanyahu has also vowed to continue the war to destroy Hamas’ military capabilities, end its 16-year rule in Gaza and return all the hostages.

Persons: KHAN YOUNIS, Israel, Joe Biden, Khan Yunis, Schneider, —, Yael Adar, ”, Tamir Adar, Kibbutz Nir Oz, Zichri, Keren Munder, Ruti, Benjamin Netanyahu, Abdulqader Khatib, Iyas, ” Iyas, Majed al, Ansari, Yoav Gallant, Netanyahu, ___ Organizations: Gaza, United Nations, Palestinian Red Crescent Society, West Bank, Medical, Israel’s, “, Palestinian Prisoners ’ Club, Foreign Ministry, U.S, Israeli, Health Ministry Locations: Gaza, Israel, Philippines, Rocketfire, Khan, Gaza City, Khan Yunis, Rafah, Egypt, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Beitunia, Qatar, Bangkok, Magdy, Cairo, ___, israel

☆ China says US destroyer entered its territorial waters without permission
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SHANGHAI, Nov 25 (Reuters) - The Chinese military said on Saturday that American naval destroyer USS Hopper entered China's territorial waters without the approval of the Chinese government. According to a post on the official WeChat account of the Chinese People Liberation Army's Southern Theatre Command, the Chinese military deployed its naval and air forces to "track, monitor and warn away" the vessel. It went on to say that the incident "proves that the United States is an out-and-out 'security risk creator' in the South China Sea." This latest announcement comes days after China accused the Philippines of enlisting "foreign forces" to patrol the South China Sea, referring to joint patrols held since Tuesday by Philippine and U.S. forces. Earlier this month, the United States and China held "candid" talks on maritime issues, including on the contested South China Sea, and the U.S. side underscored its concerns about "dangerous and unlawful" Chinese actions there, the U.S. State Department said.

Persons: Hopper, Casey Hall, Mark Potter Organizations: American, People Liberation, Southern Theatre Command, Philippine, U.S . State Department, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, United States, South China, China, Philippines, U.S

☆ Israel's liberal use of large US-made bombs accounts for the high civilian casualty toll in Gaza, military experts say: 'It's beyond anything that I've seen in my career'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Israel's use of US-made bombs is contributing to high Palestinian civilian casualties, experts say. AdvertisementIsrael's use of large, American-made bombs is contributing to the massive death toll in Gaza, passing some of the deadliest conflicts in recent memory. The massive scale of Israel's attacks along with the use of large, US-made bombs in dense, urban areas have contributed to the massive death toll, according to the report. AdvertisementThe Gaza Health Ministry's most recent death toll released on November 10 included 11,078 deaths, according to the Associated Press . Israel's military did not provide a casualty count of its own, but denied targeting civilians, the newspaper said.

Persons: —, it's, Marc Garlasco, Brian Castner, Castner, Israel, Jonathan Conricus Organizations: New York Times, Service, United, The New York Times, Hamas, Gaza Health Ministry, Associated Press, PAX, Pentagon, Times, Amnesty International, US Air Force, ISIS, The Times, Israel Defense Forces Locations: Gaza, United States, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Israel, Vietnam, America, Mosul, Raqqa, Thailand, Philippines

☆ China, US exchange accusations over US vessel in South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING/SHANGHAI, Nov 26 (Reuters) - China and the United States exchanged accusations at the weekend over the disputed South China Sea, after China's military said it had driven away a U.S. warship that the U.S. Navy said was on a routine freedom of navigation operation. The U.S. Navy said on Sunday that the Hopper had "asserted navigational rights in the South China Sea near the Paracel Islands, consistent with international law". China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. This weekend's incident, China said, "proves that the United States is an out-and-out 'security risk creator' in the South China Sea". "Unlawful and sweeping maritime claims in the South China Sea pose a serious threat to the freedom of the seas."

Persons: Hopper, China's, Kristina Weidemann, Casey, Laurie Chen, Ben Blanchard, Mark Potter, Edmund Klamann Organizations: United, U.S . Navy, People's Liberation Army Southern Theatre Command, U.S, Australia, Philippine, U.S . 7th Fleet, U.S . State Department, Casey Hall, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, SHANGHAI, China, United States, U.S, South China, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Beijing, Manila, South, Shanghai, Taipei

☆ Israeli hostages released by Hamas have undergone initial medical tests and are in good condition, says IDF
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Hamas released 24 hostages as part of a deal with Israel. The hostages have undergone medical tests and are in good condition, an IDF spokesperson said. AdvertisementThe hostages released by Hamas have undergone initial medical tests and are in good condition, Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Daniel Hagari said. Hamas released 13 Israelis and 11 foreigners, 10 from Thailand and one from the Philippines, on Friday as part of a negotiated four-day pause in fighting. The released hostages are being taken to the Hatzerim airbase for physical and mental checkups and to call their families, The Times of Israel reported.

Persons: —, Daniel Hagari, Hagari Organizations: Service, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces, Israeli Air Force, Street, Cross, OF, Reuters Locations: Israel, Thailand, Philippines, Gaza, Qatar

☆ Philippines' South China Sea patrols with US within its rights -security adviser
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Philippine Air Force/Handout via REUTERS/... Acquire Licensing Rights Read moreMANILA, Nov 24 (Reuters) - The Philippines' joint patrols with the United States in the South China Sea are within Manila's rights, and it will continue to support a free and open Indo-Pacific, its national security adviser said on Friday. The Southeast Asian nation rejects China's assertion that the Philippines enlisted "foreign forces" to patrol the South China Sea, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said in a statement, responding to Beijing's remarks. Teodoro said there will be several iterations of joint patrols moving forward. The treaty allies conducted joint patrols from Tuesday to Thursday in waters near Taiwan and the South China Sea within Manila's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), fanning further tensions with China. China claims most of the South China Sea on the basis of a "nine-dash line" that stretches as far as 1,500 km (900 miles) south of its mainland, cutting into the EEZs of rival claimants Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Persons: Eduardo Año, Gilberto Teodoro, Teodoro, Neil Jerome Morales, Mikhail Flores, Jamie Freed Organizations: Philippine Air Force, Pacific Command, . Maritime, South China, REUTERS, Philippines, National, Thomson Locations: U.S, Philippines, Batanes, South, MANILA, United States, South China, China, Taiwan, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam

☆ Philippines, Australia Start Sea, Air Patrols in South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines and Australia began their first joint sea and air patrols in the South China Sea on Saturday, days after Manila took similar steps with the U.S. as Pacific nations warily eye an increasingly assertive China. China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. The Philippines is ramping up efforts to counter what it describes as China's "aggressive activities" in the South China Sea, which has also become a flashpoint for Chinese and U.S. tensions around naval operations. The Philippines and the United States concluded three-day joint sea and air patrols on Thursday, starting in waters near Taiwan, a democratically governed island that China claims as its own, and ending in the West Philippine Sea. China has accused the Philippines of enlisting "foreign forces" to patrol the South China Sea and stirring up trouble.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos Jr, China's, Richard Marles, Marcos, Marles, Arsenio Andolong, Karen Lema, William Mallard Organizations: Australia, ., Philippine, Australian Defence Force, Armed Forces, Philippine Department of National Defense, South China, Toowoomba, Cooperative Locations: MANILA, Philippines, South, Manila, China, Australia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, South China, U.S, West Philippine, Philippine, United, Taiwan, West Philippine Sea

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas on Friday released 24 hostages who had been held captive in Gaza for weeks, and Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison in the first stage of a swap under a four-day cease-fire deal. The freed hostages included 13 Israelis, 10 people from Thailand and one from the Philippines, according to Qatar. The freed Israeli hostages included eight women — six of them in their 70s and 80s — and three children. FIRST HOSTAGES FREEDAfter nightfall Friday, a line of ambulances emerged from Gaza through the Rafah Crossing in Egypt, carrying the freed hostages, according to live footage on Egypt’s state-run Al-Qahera TV. Israel said the four-day truce can be extended an extra day for every additional 10 hostages freed.

Persons: Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, ” Shelli Shem Tov, Omer Shem Tov, I’m, Omer, Ofer, ”, Sofian Abu Amer, Majed al, Ansari, Yoav Gallant, Netanyahu, ___ Federman, Jeffery, Bassem Mroue, Julia Frankel Organizations: West Bank, Israel’s, Foreign Ministry, Qatar, Israeli’s, . Police, Palestinian Prisoners ’ Club, FIRE, Associated Press, Hezbollah, Israeli, Gaza Health Ministry, Women Locations: RAFAH, Gaza, Thailand, Philippines, Qatar, Israel, Rafah, Egypt, Egyptian, Tel Aviv, Thai, U.N, Northern Gaza, Gaza City, Lebanon, United States, Jerusalem, Cairo, Beirut, israel

☆ Philippines' South China Sea Patrols With US Within Its Rights -Security Adviser
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines' joint patrols with the United States in the South China Sea are within Manila's rights, and it will continue to support a free and open Indo-Pacific, its national security adviser said on Friday. The Southeast Asian nation rejects China's assertion that the Philippines enlisted "foreign forces" to patrol the South China Sea, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said in a statement, responding to Beijing's remarks. Teodoro said there will be several iterations of joint patrols moving forward. The treaty allies conducted joint patrols from Tuesday to Thursday in waters near Taiwan and the South China Sea within Manila's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), fanning further tensions with China. China claims most of the South China Sea on the basis of a "nine-dash line" that stretches as far as 1,500 km (900 miles) south of its mainland, cutting into the EEZs of rival claimants Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Persons: Eduardo Año, Gilberto Teodoro, Teodoro, Neil Jerome Morales, Mikhail Flores, Jamie Freed Organizations: Philippines, National Locations: MANILA, Philippines, United States, South China, China, Taiwan, South, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam

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