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☆ Philippines considers return to "fold" of International Criminal Court
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

An exterior view of the International Criminal Court in the Hague, Netherlands, March 31, 2021. "There is also a question, should we return under the fold of the ICC, so that’s again under study. So we’ll just keep looking at it and see what our options are," President Ferdinand Marcos Jr told reporters. The Philippines withdrew from the international tribunal in 2019 after then President Rodrigo Duterte questioned its authority to investigate the a campaign against illegal drugs in which thousands of people were killed. Marcos said questions over jurisdiction and sovereignty were still "problems" for the Philippines.

Persons: de, that’s, we’ll, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Rodrigo Duterte, Marcos, Mikhail Flores, Neil Jerome Morales, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Robert Birsel Organizations: Criminal Court, REUTERS, Rights, ICC, Thomson Locations: Hague, Netherlands, Rights MANILA, Philippines, Philippine

☆ Philippines Considers Return to 'Fold' of International Criminal Court
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines is considering resuming membership of the International Criminal Court (ICC) nearly five years after it withdrew over objections to a bid by the court to investigate a bloody anti-narcotics campaign, the president said on Friday. "There is also a question, should we return under the fold of the ICC, so that’s again under study. So we’ll just keep looking at it and see what our options are," President Ferdinand Marcos Jr told reporters. The Philippines withdrew from the international tribunal in 2019 after then President Rodrigo Duterte questioned its authority to investigate the a campaign against illegal drugs in which thousands of people were killed. Marcos said questions over jurisdiction and sovereignty were still "problems" for the Philippines.

Persons: that’s, we’ll, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Rodrigo Duterte, Marcos, Mikhail Flores, Neil Jerome Morales, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Robert Birsel Organizations: Criminal Court, ICC Locations: MANILA, Philippines, Philippine

☆ China says Philippines enlists foreign force to stir trouble in South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Chinese military will maintain high vigilance, resolutely defend sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and resolutely safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea, China's military said. "The Philippines enlisted forces out of the region to patrol ... stirred up trouble and engaged in hype, undermining regional peace and stability," the southern theatre command of the Chinese military said. Relations have soured between China and the Philippines over the South China Sea under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr as he pivots towards closer ties with the U.S., which supports the Southeast Asian nation in its maritime disputes with China. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday China had warned the U.S. and the Philippines in connection with their patrols. A Chinese navy ship shadowed three U.S. and Philippine warships conducting joint patrols on Thursday, the Philippine armed forces chief, Romeo Brawner, told reporters.

Persons: Carlos Dominguez, Gao Hucheng, Damir Sagolj, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Mao Ning, Romeo Brawner, Brawner, Ella Cao, Bernard Orr, Liz Lee, Neil Jerome Morales, Edmund Klamann, Robert Birsel Organizations: Philippine, China's, REUTERS, U.S, Philippines, U.S ., Relations, South China, China, Philippine -, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Philippines, BEIJING, MANILA, Philippine, U.S, South China, Taiwan, South, Palawan, United States, Manila

Some 165 photographers working on assignment for National Geographic shot more than 2.1 million images in 2023. The feature — published in the magazine's December issue and online in November — contains "stunning photographs that unearth remarkable, rarely seen moments," according to National Geographic. Louie PaluThe training was conducted in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, according to National Geographic. A journey homeThis harrowing photograph by Renan Ozturk — a former National Geographic "Adventurer of the Year" — captures a journey home. Today India celebrates "National Technology Day" annually on May 11 to commemorate the 1998 tests.

Persons: Kiliii Yuyan, Kiliii, Yuyan, Louie Palu, Liam Burke, Alexander Semenov, Renan Ozturk —, Renan Ozturk, Michael —, Nenad Sestan, Max Aguilera, Chinky Shukla, Taj Mohammad, Chinky Shukla Mohammad, Jaime Rojo Organizations: National Geographic, Pictures, Geographic, CNBC, NATO, Yale University, Yale, World Health Organization, India Locations: Rock, Palau, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, U.S, Ukraine, Finland, United States, Sandwich Islands, New Delhi, Rajasthan, India, Pokhran

☆ Fahad Shah: Award-winning Kashmir journalist in press freedom case released after nearly two years behind bars
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Rhea Mogul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —A Kashmir journalist who was arrested under India’s sedition and anti-terror laws has returned home Thursday after being released on bail following nearly two years behind bars. Critics say Shah’s case highlights declining press freedoms in the contested region. Claimed in its entirety by both India and Pakistan, the mountainous Kashmir region has been at the epicenter of an often-violent territorial struggle between the nuclear-armed neighbors for more than 70 years. On Monday, the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court ordered his release and quashed some of the charges, according to a court document seen by CNN. “The arrest of Fahad Shah shows Jammu and Kashmir authorities’ utter disregard for press freedom and the fundamental right of journalists to report freely and safely,” said Steven Butler, Committee to Protect Journalists’ Asia program, at the time.

Persons: Fahad Shah, Narendra Modi, Shah, India ”, ”, Fahad, Steven Butler, Modi Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Kashmir’s, abetted, Jammu &, Court, CNN, Protect Journalists ’, Guardian, Human Rights Locations: Hong Kong, Kashmir Walla, Kashmir, New Delhi, India, Pakistan, Islamabad, Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Fahad Shah, Protect Journalists ’ Asia, Delhi, Laos, Philippines

BANGKOK (AP) — The United States and the Philippines are conducting joint air and maritime patrols in the South China Sea, which come as the two countries step up cooperation in the face of growingly aggressive Chinese activity in the area. The patrols run through Thursday and also include both the U.S. and Philippine navies. They come only days after Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called the situation in the South China Sea increasingly “dire” as China seeks to assert its presence in an area where multiple nations have competing territorial claims. China claims virtually the entire South China Sea as its own waters, which has led to disputes not only with the Philippines but also with Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei. The move, which Marcos said would boost the Philippines’ coastal defense, dovetails with the Biden administration’s efforts to strengthen an arc of military alliances in the Indo-Pacific to better counter China.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Marcos, ”, ” Marcos, Rodrigo Duterte, Biden Organizations: Philippine Air Force, U.S, South China Locations: BANGKOK, United States, Philippines, South China, Batanes, Taiwan, China, Philippine, South, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Honolulu, Russia, Tokyo

☆ Son bags double for South Korea as top sides win in Asian qualifiers
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Michael Church | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Japan, Australia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia all won, while Kuwait and North Korea scored a flurry of goals en route to victories. Australia and Palestine players stood for a minute's silence ahead of their game, which was played in Kuwait due to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Son was in top form as South Korea completed back-to-back wins at the start of their challenge for a place at the 2026 finals. Players held a minute's silence ahead of kickoff before Souttar scored the game's only goal with an 18th-minute header. Kuwait, meanwhile, thrashed Afghanistan 4-0 away to move into second place in Group A behind Qatar.

Persons: Korea's Son Heung, Min, Tingshu Wang, Ueda, Heung, Son, Yan Junling, Lee Kang, Jung Seung, Yan, Thais, Suphanat Mueanta, Mano Polking's, Ayase Ueda, Hajime Moriyasu's, Jong Il Gwan, Harry Souttar, Kuwait's Jaber Al, Souttar, Oston Orunov, Igor Sergeev, Mohanad Ali, Jesus Casas, Darren Lok, Amadoni Kamolov, Saudi Arabia's Saleh Al Shehri, Jordan, Abdalla, Ali Mabkhout, Michael Church, Angelica Medina, Toby Davis Organizations: Soccer Football, AFC, Shenzhen Universiade Sports Centre, REUTERS, China, Japan, North Korea, Thailand, Singapore, North, Syrians, Syria, Palestine, Ahmad, Iraq, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, Kyrgyzstan, Qatar, United, Bahrain, Thomson Locations: China, Republic of Korea, Shenzhen, Republic, Korea's, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Qatar, Korea, Myanmar, Syria Australia, Palestine, HONG KONG, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, North, Israel, Syria, Jeddah, North Korea, Yangon, Australia's, Gaza, Lebanon, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan, Iran, Hong Kong, Turkmenistan, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Manila, Oman, India, Yemen, Nepal, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Islamabad, Saudi, Afghanistan

Ferdinand Marcos Jr. President of the Philippines speaks at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in San Francisco, California, U.S., November 15, 2023. This week's three-day joint air and maritime exercise was a "significant initiative" to boost interoperability between the two, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said. It will end in the West Philippine Sea, the name Manila uses for waters in the South China Sea that fall within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The joint patrol with the United States showed the Manila was making a stand over the South China Sea, said Jay Batongbacal, director of the Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea in Manila, the capital. "It shows that the Philippines is really firming up its posture on West Philippine Sea issues," Batongbacal said.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Carlos Barria, Eugene Cabusao, Marcos, Rodrigo Duterte, Xi Jinping, Jay Batongbacal, Batongbacal, Mikhail Flores, Karen Lema, Martin Petty, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, United States, South China, Washington, Institute for Maritime Affairs, Law, Philippine, Thomson Locations: Philippines, Asia, San Francisco , California, U.S, Philippine, Taiwan US, Manila, China, MANILA, Taiwan, Mavulis, Luzon, West Philippine, South, United, Hawaii, United States, China's, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Beijing, South China

☆ Philippines' Marcos says Myanmar a difficult problem for ASEAN
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Speaking at a forum in Hawaii streamed live in the Philippines on Monday, Marcos said there was commitment from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), but the issue was complex, including the humanitarian impact. "There is a great deal of impetus for ASEAN to solve this problem. But it is a very, very difficult problem," Marcos said. The Philippines will chair ASEAN in 2026 after it replaced Myanmar as host that year. Marcos, citing analyses of the recent escalation, said the junta had already lost support from its own military.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos, Jr, Vivian Balakrishnan, Sarun Charoensuwan, Pham Minh Chinh, Antonio Guterres, Joko Widodo, Marcos, upending, Mikhail Flores, Karen Lema, Neil Jerome Morales, Martin Petty Organizations: Singapore's, Vietnam's, UN, Southeast, ASEAN, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Philippines, Laos, MANILA, Myanmar, Hawaii

Heavy fighting broke out around the Indonesian Hospital, which has housed thousands of patients and displaced people for weeks. More than 250 patients with severely infected wounds or other urgent conditions remain stranded at Shifa Hospital days after Israeli forces entered the compound. Four other babies died in the two days before the evacuation on Sunday, according to Mohamed Zaqout, the director of Gaza hospitals. NETANYAHU EXTENDS CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR’S TERMTEL AVIV, Israel — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has decided to grant the country’s central bank chief a second term. Jordan will build the hospital in southern Gaza to help with the territory's health crisis.

Persons: Yemen’s, Egypt’s, ”, Mohamed Zaqout, “, Hirokazu Matsuno, Yemen’s Houthi, Abraham Ungar, Ungar, Matsuno, NYK, BILL, Itamar Ben, ” Gil Dikman, Gvir, Ophir Katz, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Netanyahu, NETANYAHU, Benjamin Netanyahu, Amir Yaron, Yaron, Bezalel Smotrich, Israel —, Gila Gamliel, Gamliel, Israel’s, Gamliel’s, GAZA KHAN YOUNIS, JERUSALEM —, Elad Aderi, Aderi Organizations: Health Ministry, Indonesian Hospital, World Health Organization, Shifa, West Bank, Israel’s, Palestinian, Crescent, Galaxy Leader, Ray Car Carriers, Associated Press, Houthi, Galaxy Maritime Ltd, British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, Israel Defense Forces, Firefighters, National, National Security, CENTRAL BANK, Gov, Finance, BE, Intelligence, Jerusalem Post, Palestinian Authority, Street Journal, Monday, Israel Democracy Institute Locations: Gaza, Gaza City, Israel, Gaza's, China, Pakistan, israel, EGYPT, Gaza’s, Egypt, Palestinian, JAPAN, Japan, Iran, Bahamas, Philippines, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Mexico, Romania, Gulf of Oman, Saudi Arabia, Oman, India, Hodeida, British, ISRAEL, Lebanon, Biranit, JERUSALEM, Israel’s, TEL AVIV, Israeli, GAZA, Jerusalem, United States, U.S, JORDANIAN, Jordanian, Rafah, Jordan

Now Widodo also needs a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States for Indonesian materials to qualify for the generous EV subsidies available under the Biden administration's Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). What it got after last week's bilateral meeting was a commitment "to develop a critical minerals action plan (...) with a view toward establishing the foundation to launch future negotiations on a critical minerals agreement". The joint statement included some pointers as to what the United States expects from that action plan in terms of environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards. A limited trade agreement on critical minerals could become an even more restricted deal if it were to apply only to non-Chinese material streams. South Korea has the advantage of having had an FTA with the United States since 2012.

Persons: Joko Widodo, Tesla, Widodo, Washington, Biden, Joe Manchin, Janet Yellen, Manchin, Trafigura, Emelia Sithole Organizations: Vale Tbk, U.S, Biden, GREEN, Benchmark Minerals, Australia, Greenpeace, of, Group, Minerals, Korea, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Sorowako, Indonesia's, Asian, United States, Indonesia, United, GREEN Indonesia, Philippines, Ulsan, South Korea, Morocco, South

☆ Seized Galaxy Leader ship in Yemen's Hodeidah port area -owner
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] The Galaxy Leader cargo ship is escorted by Houthi boats in the Red Sea in this photo released November 20, 2023. Houthi Military Media/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 20 (Reuters) - The Galaxy Leader commercial ship was "illegally boarded by military personnel via a helicopter" on Nov. 19 and is now in the Hodeidah port area in Yemen, the vessel’s owner said on Monday. "All communications were subsequently lost with the vessel," Isle of Man registered Galaxy Maritime Ltd, owner of the pure car carrier Galaxy Leader, said in a statement. "The Houthi seizure of the motor vessel Galaxy Leader in the Red Sea is a flagrant violation of international law," U.S. State Department spokeman Matthew Miller told a briefing. The Bahamas-flagged Galaxy Leader's crew is made up of nationals from Bulgaria, Ukraine, the Philippines, Mexico and Romania, Galaxy Maritime said.

Persons: Houthis, Matthew Miller, Jonathan Saul, Jonathan Landay, Daphne Psaledakis, Christina Fincher, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Galaxy Leader, Houthi Military, REUTERS Acquire, Galaxy Maritime Ltd, Galaxy, U.S . State Department, Galaxy Maritime, Japan's Nippon, Maritime, Thomson Locations: Red, Yemen, Iran, States, U.S, Bahamas, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Philippines, Mexico, Romania, Washington

☆ Philippines woos neighbours to craft code on South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Chinese Coast Guard vessel (L) blocks the ML Kalayaan chartered supply boat (R) during a mission to deliver provisions at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea on November 10, 2023. Speaking in Hawaii at a livestreamed event, Marcos said escalating tension in the South China Sea required the Philippines to partner with allies and neighbors to maintain peace in the busy waterway, with the situation now "more dire". The embassies of China, Malaysia and Vietnam in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment on a possible code. ON-OFF CONFRONTATIONSTalks on components of the code have yet to start, with concerns about how far China, which claims ownership of most of the South China Sea, is committed to a binding set of rules that ASEAN nations want to align with existing international law. China has turned submerged reefs into military installations equipped with radar, runways and missile systems, some inside the Philippines' EEZ.

Persons: Shoal, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Marcos, Xi Jinping Organizations: Guard, ROSA, Getty, South China, ASEAN, Economic Cooperation, PLA, People's Liberation Army Navy Locations: South, AFP, Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, China, United States, Hawaii, ASEAN, Manila, Asia, San Francisco, South China, Brunei, Indonesia, Beijing, Philippine

☆ Couple with $30,000 in credit card debt bought a timeshare—'You don't understand the implications,' says self-made millionaire
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Kamaron Mcnair | In Kamaronmcnair | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Ron and Cristina, however, have around $30,000 in credit card debt, the couple recently told self-made millionaire Ramit Sethi on the Netflix star's "I Will Teach You to be Rich" podcast. "The two of you were so calm about this credit card debt, and it's because you don't understand the implications of this debt," Sethi told them. He is loath to spend money on things like dinner at a restaurant or the occasional vacation Cristina wants to plan. "Money is never simply a series of numbers on a page — it's contextualized within your culture, your upbringing, your risk tolerance, even your basic understanding of money," Sethi said. In talking with Sethi, Ron realized a lot of his hesitancy to spend money comes from his upbringing, since his father was afraid to spend money.

Persons: Ron, Cristina, Ramit Sethi, Rich, Sethi, spender, doesn't, haven't Organizations: Federal Reserve, Netflix Locations: Philippines

Marcos is then due to deliver a talk about his nation's security challenges and the role of the Philippines-U.S. alliance. Political Cartoons View All 1256 ImagesBut the trip also likely has personal resonance for the leader of the Philippines. Many Filipino immigrants in Hawaii also hail from same part of the Philippines as Marcos and revere him and his family. Marcos' father placed the Philippines under martial rule in 1972, a year before his term was to expire. Imasa, 40, who is part of Hawaii Filipinos for Truth, Justice and Democracy and grew up in the Ilocos province of Pangasinan, said the mindset of many Filipinos in Hawaii is fixed, especially those of older generations.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Marcos, John Aquilino, Marcos ’, Rodrigo Duterte, China’s, Ferdinand Marcos, Winfred Damo, Marcos Jr, ”, “, Arcy Imasa, “ They’re, They’re, Duterte, Limaye Organizations: —, U.S, Economic Cooperation, Protesters, Truth, Democracy, Limaye, - West Center, U.S . Locations: HONOLULU, — Philippines, Hawaii, Asia, San Francisco, Philippines, U.S, China, Russia, The Philippines, America, Taiwan, South China, Honolulu, Marcos ’, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos, Pangasinan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Pacific, Washington, Philippine

☆ Yemen's Houthi rebels hijacked a cargo ship in the Red Sea on Iran's orders, Israel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Yemeni Houthi rebels hijacked a cargo ship in the Red Sea on Sunday. The group has pledged to take action against Israeli ships until attacks on Gaza stopped. AdvertisementIsrael said that a cargo ship was hijacked in the Red Sea by Yemen's Houthi rebels on Iran's orders. The rebels used a helicopter raid to hijack the ship at around 1 p.m. local time, three US officials told NBC News. The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that it was not an Israeli ship, adding that the incident was "a very grave incident of global consequence."

Persons: —, Israel, Yemen's Houthi, Rami Ungar, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Yahya Sare'e Organizations: Service, Galaxy Leader, The New York Times, NBC, Israel Defense Forces, Yemeni Armed Forces Locations: Gaza, Israel, Iran, Red, Turkey, India, Bahamas, British, Yemen, Israeli, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Philippines, Mexico

☆ See the rusting warship central to the Philippines' South China Sea claims that Beijing tries to keep from holding on
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( Elias Chavez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

BRP Sierra Madre has been grounded near the Second Thomas Shoal for 24 years. The Second Thomas Shoal is a contested part of the South China Sea that both China and the Philippines claim. The dilapidated ship has been sitting near the Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands since 1999 and has recently been the subject of tension between China and the Philippines. AdvertisementThe Second Thomas Shoal is a reef within the disputed South China Sea, a resource-rich waterway home to important shipping lanes. China claims vast swaths of the ocean, but Beijing's claims to areas claimed by Manila were dismissed by an international tribunal, the results of which China firmly rejected.

Persons: Thomas Shoal, Thomas, — Organizations: BRP Sierra Madre, South China, Sierra Madre, Service, BRP, Chinese Coast Guard, Philippine Navy Locations: South, China, Philippines, Sierra, BRP Sierra Madre, South China, Vietnam, Spratly, Manila, Philippine

☆ Philippines' Marcos meets China's Xi to find ways to reduce South China Sea tensions
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( Neil Jerome Morales | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

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 said he and Xi were in agreement that geopolitical problems should not be the defining element of the two countries' relationship. 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: Xi Jinping, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Marcos, Xi, Neil Jerome Morales, Kim Coghill Organizations: of, People, cnsphoto, REUTERS, APEC, coastguard, Sea, Thomson Locations: Philippine, Beijing, China, South China, Marcos China, MANILA, South, Philippines, San Francisco, United States, Taiwan, China's, Manila

☆ 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' 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

☆ Philippines' Marcos, China's Xi to discuss tensions, way forward in South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Ferdinand Marcos Jr. President of the Philippines attends the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in San Francisco, California, U.S., November 15, 2023. Manila refers to the part of the South China Sea that it claims as the West Philippine Sea. Marcos said he also discussed South China Sea issues with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris. China claims sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea, pointing to a line on its maps that cuts into the exclusive economic zones of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. The Philippines' foreign ministry on Thursday committed to continue resupply missions and an "upkeep" of a grounded navy ship in a disputed South China Sea atoll, saying it does not have to give prior notice to China.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Carlos Barria, Xi Jinping, Marcos, Xi, Kamala Harris, Neil Jerome Morales, Shri Navaratnam, Michael Perry Organizations: Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, Rights, APEC, South China, West, U.S, The, of Foreign Affairs, Thomson Locations: Philippines, Asia, San Francisco , California, U.S, Rights MANILA, San Francisco, South China, West Philippine, Manila, South, China, China's, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Taiwan, Beijing

☆ Vietnam ramps up South China Sea island expansion, researchers say
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A Vietnamese naval soldier stands quard at Thuyen Chai island in the Spratly archipelago in the South China Sea on January 17, 2013. China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan all claim territory in the sea, which covers important shipping routes and is thought to hold untapped oil and gas reserves. China claims sovereignty over vast swathes of the South China Sea, including the areas where Vietnam has been building up islands. China, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam have lodged competing claims for some or all of the Spratly Islands. In August, the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam rejected a map released by China that denotes its claims to sovereignty including in the South China Sea.

Persons: Thuyen, Khanh Vu, Robert Birsel Organizations: Washington's Center, Strategic, International Studies, Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, CSIS's, Transparency, Thomson Locations: Thuyen Chai, Spratly, South, China, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan, HANOI, South China, U.S, Spratly Islands, CSIS's Asia

The quake struck off Mindanao island at a depth of 60 km (37.3 miles), according to the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ). PHIVOLCS director Teresito Bacolcol told DZRH radio the earthquake's intensity was "destructive, so we would expect damage". The earthquake lasted several seconds, he said, advising residents to be on alert for aftershocks as strong as magnitude 6.2. Radio announcer Leny Aranego in General Santos city, close to Glan, said the quake shook buildings and desks. Michael Ricafort, an economist at the lender RCBC, said in a Facebook post passengers at General Santos City airport were evacuated to the tarmac.

Persons: Angel Dugaduga, Amor Mio, Mio, Teresito Bacolcol, Leny Aranego, Michael Ricafort, Shubhendu Deshmukh, Neil Jerome Morales, Mikhail Flores, Kanupriya Kapoor, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Fire, German Research Center, Geosciences, General Santos, Thomson Locations: Philippines, Fire MANILA, Mindanao, Glan, Earthquakes, Philippine, Koronadal, General Santos, Bengaluru, Manila

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The United States and the Philippines have signed a nuclear cooperation pact under which U.S. investment and technologies are to help the Southeast Asian nation transition to cleaner energy and bolster its power supply. He said the pact, known as a Section 123 agreement, would support the development of reliable, affordable and sustainable power in the Philippines. It will also open doors for U.S. companies to invest and participate in nuclear power projects, he said. With its peak energy demand expected to quadruple by 2040, nuclear energy will help it meet its needs in a sustainable way, he said. The United States has 23 Section 123 agreements in force that govern peaceful nuclear cooperation with 47 countries, the International Atomic Energy Agency and Taiwan.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Antony Blinken, ” Marcos, Blinken, ”, “, ___ Ng Organizations: Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, U.S . Atomic Energy, Bataan Nuclear, United, International Atomic Energy Agency Locations: MANILA, Philippines, United States, Philippine, San Francisco, U.S, Taiwan, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — K-pop superstar Rosé said Friday at a mental health awareness event hosted by first lady Jill Biden that it's important for the world to understand that famous people grapple with emotional struggles, too. Rosé, a part of the supergroup BLACKPINK, said having a large social media following makes her feel vulnerable, particularly when people are critical. “People who are older -- we never, ever spoke about mental health,” Biden said. Apple CEO Tim Cook opened the event but blanked briefly when the teleprompter went out. Cook recovered, telling the crowd he'd “go ahead and ad lib," then thanked everyone for coming and introduced the first lady.

Persons: —, Rosé, Jill Biden, there’s, ”, ” Biden, Vivek Murthy, Tim Cook, “, Cook, Wan, Wan Ismail, you’ve, ” Cook, ” Kim Keon Hee, Rachael Marape, Louise Araneta Organizations: FRANCISCO, Apple, Economic Cooperation, Marcos Locations: Cupertino, Asia, Pacific, California, Malaysia, South Korea, Papua New Guinea, Philippines

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