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(The Royal Gazette) A man is expected in court today to be charged in connection with a fatal explosion at an apartment block in Southampton exactly a year ago. The blast at Hilltop Court claimed the lives of Oscar and Jove Mascarinas, a couple from the Philippines. Police and fire investigators spent months examining the incident, which happened at about 8.50pm on May 2, 2022.

Their findings were presented to the Department of Public Prosecutions earlier this year for a decision to be made on whether there would be a public prosecution. Cindy Clarke, the Director of Public Prosecutions, told The Royal Gazette last week: “I can advise that a prosecution has been approved, and the defendant will appear in plea court on May 2.”.. Read More

(Interaksyon) President Joe Biden told his counterpart Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday that the U.S. commitment to the defense of its ally was “ironclad,” including in the South China Sea where Manila is under pressure from China.

Marcos, on the first White House visit by a Philippines leader in 10 years, stressed the importance of the United States as his country’s sole treaty ally in a region with “arguably the most complicated geopolitical situation in the world right now.”

The two countries reaffirmed their decades-old security alliance in a trip that marks a dramatic turnaround in U.S.-Philippine relations as both countries seek ways to push back against what they see as China’s increasingly aggressive actions near Taiwan and in the South China Sea… Read More

(The Sun) Manny Pacquiao, $220m – During his career, Pac-man has earned at least $500million from fights and endorsements including a $35million from a fight against Miguel Cotto. In 2015, Forbes named the Filipino the second richest athlete in the world. He retired from his fighting career in 2021 and has since had cameos in mainly Filipino movies. He also served as a senator in the Philippine government from 2016 to 2022 and was a presidential candidate in the 2022 elections. But he’s put his good fortune to use too – in 2015 he built 1,000 homes for the poor in the Philippines.

Floyd Mayweather Jr, $450m – The exhibition fighter has made his millions through his pay-per-view bouts – with him featuring in four of the most watched fights. He’s also invested in some savvy business ideas in his downtime. He runs his own promotions company who represent 12 boxers and will take a cut from their earnings. Watch company Hublot, Burger King and gambling company Fanduel all reportedly have paid Mayweather to be the face of their brands. He also owns Vegas strip club Girl Collection which has takings of up to $250,000 on fight nights. .. Read More

(CNN) — President Joe Biden is expected to welcome Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to the White House this week as part of continued efforts to strengthen security and economic relations between the US and the Philippines amid regional concerns over an increasingly assertive China.

Senior administration officials described new steps and initiatives that will be announced this week, including a new set of bilateral defense guidelines to strengthen the alliance and the transfer of US hardware – including three C-130 aircraft and additional patrol vessels – to support efforts to modernize Manila’s armed forces.

Other initiatives expected to be announced include a US trade mission to the Philippines later this year and $3 billion in public and private financing to buttress infrastructure for critical minerals, according to the officials.

As part of Biden’s meeting with Marcos, he will also reaffirm Washington’s “ironclad” security commitment to the Philippines, the officials said. A 1951 mutual defense treaty stipulating that both sides would help defend each other if either were attacked by a third party remains in force… Read More

(The Manila Times) PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Marie Louise “Liza” Marcos on Saturday hosted a sports day for children in Malacañang, featuring basketball Hall of Famer Yao Ming and eight-division boxing world champion Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao, Malacañang said.

Yao Ming is in the country as part of the International Basketball Federation (Fédération Internationale de Basketball or FIBA) Central Board in the upcoming FIBA World Cup 2023.

During the event in Malacañang, Yao Ming and Pacquiao delivered inspiring messages for the children, according to Malacañang.

Also present during the event were Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, and Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian… Read More

(Journal Online) The government is set to repatriate some 340 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the conflict-torn Sudan in the coming days, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople said Saturday.

Ople told President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. that a DMW team and a contingent from the Philippine embassy in Cairo, Egypt are now tending to the Filipinos seeking to return home after being caught in the midst of clashes between two warring factions in Sudan.

“The embassy and our DMW teams will make sure they will all be treated well onboard buses and in Cairo,” Ople said.

Ople added the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) officials and personnel are now processing the required clearances and exit visas for the immediate departure of the Filipinos from the northeastern African country… Read More

(Fox News) The U.S. State Department on Saturday said it “stands with” the Philippines against China’s “infringement” on the Southeast Asian country’s “freedom of navigation” in the South China Sea, accusing the Communist country of “harassment.”

“The United States stands with The Philippines in the face of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) Coast Guard’s continued infringement upon freedom of navigation in the South China Sea,” the State Department said in a release. “Imagery and video recently published in the media is a stark reminder of PRC harassment and intimidation of Philippine vessels as they undertake routine patrols within their exclusive economic zone. We call upon Beijing to desist from its provocative and unsafe conduct. The United States continues to track and monitor these interactions closely.”

On Friday, the Philippines accused China of “aggressive tactics” following an incident last Sunday when a Chinese coast guard ship caused a near collision by blocking a Philippine patrol vessel in a disputed shoal of the South China Sea… Read More

(HeraldSun) China said Friday that a near-collision in the South China Sea between a Chinese coast guard ship and a Philippine patrol vessel carrying journalists was caused by the latter’s “premeditated and provocative action”.

The near-miss off the Spratly Islands on Sunday was the latest in a long string of incidents between China and the Philippines in the contested waterway.

Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, ignoring an international ruling that the assertion has no legal basis.

The latest row comes days before Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos is due to meet with US President Joe Biden at the White House to discuss growing regional tensions.

AFP was one of several media outlets invited to join two Philippine Coast Guard boats on a six-day patrol of the waters, visiting a dozen islands and reefs.

Sunday’s incident happened after the Philippine vessels approached Second Thomas Shoal, known in China as Ren’ai Jiao, in the Spratly archipelago.

As one boat, the BRP Malapascua, which was carrying Filipino journalists, neared the shoal, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel more than twice its size sailed into its path.

AFP journalists watched the incident from the other Philippine coast guard boat, which was less than a kilometre (0.6 miles) away… Read More