Tensions escalate as U.S.-manipulated G7 sparks confrontation

THE GROUP of Seven (G7) ended its three-day gathering in Hiroshima as crowds of protesters took to the streets against the U.S.-led bloc's latest steps to undermine world peace.

China: Growing and Going to Sea

FOR THE People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), 2022 was another banner year. Although the largest navy on the planet did not commission as many ships and submarines as in 2021, it continued to outproduce the U.S. Navy in total numbers of ships, tonnage, and supersonic antiship cruise missiles.

Philippines, Indonesia conclude joint maritime exercises

DAVAO CITY – The Philippines and Indonesia have closed a four-day annual joint maritime exercises held in Manado City.

U.S. warns China: Stop sea aggression!

WASHINGTON HAS warned Beijing against continued harassment in the South China Sea, saying an armed attack on Filipino armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft, including those of the Coast Guard, would invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the 1951 U.S. Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty. 

U.S., Philippines conclude training on countering threat networks

THE U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) concluded a two-year series of exchanges to enhance the capacity of Filipino military, police, and maritime personnel to identify, analyze, and counter criminal and terrorist networks that threaten peace and security in the Philippines.

Chinese minister hopes Philippines will revive talks on oil, gas deals in South China Sea

A CHINESE minister has expressed hope for the revival of talks with the Philippines on oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea, without undermining each other’s claims in the disputed waterway.

ICC to reopen Duterte ‘drug war’ investigation

DAVAO CITY – The International Criminal Court (ICC) announced it is set to reopen an investigation into killings and other suspected human rights abuses during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s so-called “war on drugs,” according to Al Jazeera reports.

Sea feud with China flares up

THE PHILIPPINE government said it filed a new diplomatic protest against China over disputes in the South China Sea, a long-thorny issue that has flared anew as newly-elected President Bongbong Marcos prepares to take office.

Troops recover powerful bomb in South

COTABATO CITY – Government troops recovered a powerful improvised bomb on a corn field in the restive province of Maguindanao in the Muslim autonomous region where security forces continue to battle extremist groups allied with the Islamic State.

Travellers only need rapid antigen test to enter country

THE NATIONAL Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has allowed rapid antigen tests as a requirement for all travellers entering the Philippines.

China won't bully neighbours over South China Sea, says foreign minister

CHINA WILL not use its strength to bully its smaller neighbours including the Philippines, its foreign minister said on Monday, as he highlighted the importance of settling disputes in the South China Sea peacefully.

Duterte stands neutral in China-Taiwan tension

DESPITE WIDESPREAD public criticism for his weak response on China’s aggressiveness in the West Philippine Sea, President Rodrigo Duterte now said his administration will remain neutral amid the escalating conflict between Beijing and Taiwan.

Duterte, press freedom predator?

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA watchdog, Reporters without Borders or RSF, has included President Rodrigo Duterte in its 2021 “Press freedom predators” who crack down massively on press freedom.

Malaysia deploys jet after Chinese planes intrude into airspace

MALAYSIA SCRAMBLED its fighter jets following an intrusion of at least 16 Chinese air force planes into the country’s airspace.

With militants gaining new footholds, Afghanistan no longer central to counterterrorism fight

“THE COUNTERTERROSIM mission in Afghanistan had for years now become one of prevention, not one of identifying an imminent threat that must be countered,” said Laurel Miller, the Asia program director of the International Crisis Group, who served until mid-2017 as the acting U.S. special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan. 

What is wrong with Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine?

FOLLOWING THE Philippines’ emergency approval of China’s Covid-19 vaccine Sinovac, the Food and Drug Administration cautioned that the medicine is not recommended for use on health workers.

Microsoft launches program to aid PwDs

THE MICROSOFT Enabler Program launched pioneers disability inclusive workplaces across Asia Pacific by removing the barriers for a more diverse workforce. 

Warning up on ‘money mules’

SWIFT AND BAE Systems Applied Intelligence have published “Follow the Money” - a new report that describes the complex web of money mules, front companies and cryptocurrencies - that criminals use to siphon funds from the financial system after a cyber-attack.

Good governance, solidarity in ASEAN vital to address Covid crisis

IT IS vital to have good governance and strengthen ASEAN’s solidarity and unity to respond to the crisis brought about by Covid-19, according to some speakers from ASEAN countries.

BSP cuts remittance growth forecast to 2%

PHILIPPINE MONETARY officials further reduced their growth projection for inflows from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) this year to two percent due to the impact of the global pandemic.