The Philippine leader says the US has given its commitment to honour the Mutual Defence Treaty with Manila.

Daniel Kritenbrink and Sarah Beran are meeting Chinese officials to maintain ‘open lines of communication’, State Department says.

Several prominent Filipinos say the deal has effectively handed control of the Second Thomas Shoal to China.

ICC launched an inquiry into Duterte’s drug crackdown in September 2021, but suspended it two months later when Manila said it was re-examining cases of drug operations.

Homemaker, who has had several domestic helpers quit early, says tougher regulations needed to help staff retention.

Zero Co’s Mike Smith and his team of volunteers went viral after they scooped up 147,000kg of garbage from the Taguig-Pateros River.

Philippine chain Hotel101 Global targets 1 million rooms and a presence in more than 100 countries after signing an agreement to merge with a Hong Kong company, which aims to list on Nasdaq in New York.

The Philippine president said the cooperation agreement signed in Washington will change the dynamic in Asean and around the contested waterway.

Joint statement by the three leaders makes it clear the Washington summit was aimed at opposing China’s recent maritime activities.

The Buddhist kingdom plans to take a punt on legalised gambling as it rues the billions of dollars in untapped gaming revenue that’s been left on the table. But will it hit the jackpot?

‘These meetings were not about any one other nation. This was about deepening and revitalising existing alliances and partnerships and strengthening some new ones.’

The ICC has called for translators in Tagalog and Cebuano, languages involved in the crimes against humanity trial against the ex-Philippine leader.

Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte said Chinese President Xi Jinping strongly warned him against drilling for oil in the disputed waters.

Chinese foreign ministry says Beijing consistently committed to dialogue and consultation with Manila over the shoal.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr has expressed outrage over a “secret agreement” on the South China Sea that threatens the Philippines’ sovereignty.

High-profile meetings are meant to convey something ‘impressive to the world community and extremely useful for the bilateral relationship’, says US analyst.

‘China’s current external stance and military actions present … the greatest strategic challenge,’ Prime Minister Fumio Kishida tells joint session of Congress.

Beijing’s reaction followed a directive by the Philippines to probe the reported online recruitment of Filipino military personnel as ‘part-time consultants’.

Global monitors have warned that 2024 is shaping up to be the hottest year on record, marked by climate extremes and rising greenhouse gas emissions.

Trilateral represents ‘new era’ of partnership, says US leader, producing security, economic and diplomatic initiatives in show of unity with Manila.

Central to recent run-ins between the two sides are the Scarborough and Second Thomas shoals located inside Manila’s EEZ, but which Beijing claims as its own.

Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez says the Philippines cannot continue being ‘accepting’ of Beijing’s aggression in the South China Sea.

Agreements spanning defence, space, culture, diplomacy and research come amid rising Indo-Pacific tensions and Tokyo’s more robust role in the region.

US officials acknowledge foreign anxiety over whether new partnerships under Indo-Pacific strategy will last if Trump becomes president.

Marcos said his government isn’t aware of any “gentleman’s agreement” with China, and were not briefed by his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, about it when he came into office in 2022.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr has unveiled a six-year plan to counter the risks posed by digital intrusions from abroad following a spate of cyberattacks blamed on Chinese hackers.