PCG sends personnel to ‘critical’ regions to boost sea securityThe Philippine Coast Guard deploys personnel to Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, Central Visayas, Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao and Southwestern Mindanao. MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Monday sent 110 personnel to six “critical” regions to enhance law enforcement at sea. According to the PCG, the deployment of MARSLEGs focuses on regions with heavy maritime traffic and frequent security incidents. “We reaffirm our commitment to working together to uphold the highest standards of maritime security and ensure the territorial integrity of our country," Punzalan said. Each MARSLEG is composed of highly trained PCG personnel from its K9, security and border protection, investigation and detection, surface patrol force and sea marshall forces.

A video showing a mother and daughter from Hong Kong getting struck by a car in Taiwan went viral on Monday with the pair fortunately sustaining only minor injuries. The incident happened last Saturday (May 18) when the mother and daughter were walking along the junction of Fuxing Road and Da'an Road shortly before 8 pm. A sedan hit the pair at the pedestrian crossing, where the 65-year-old mother - surnamed Yeung - and the 24-year-old daughter - surnamed Chiu - were sent flying with their belongings scattered all over the area. A biker rushed forward to check on the duo. Yeung and Chiu were lucky to have only scraped their knees and did not require hospitalization.

WATCH: Century Tuna Superbods 2024 finalists flex muscles, absMANILA, Philippines — Summer just got hotter as food label Century Tuna recently unveiled actress Kathryn Bernardo as its new endorser and 36 hopefuls as the finalists of Century Tuna Superbods 2024 with theme, “Best You Ever.”At a recent runway show in Whitespace events place in Makati, the finalists flexed their muscles and abs in swimwear and in active wear by local fashion brand Bench. Now on its 9th season, Superbods is set to culminate with a Finals Night on July 9. The male and female grand winners will each receive P500,000 tax-free, while the runners-up will receive P200,000 tax-free. — Video by Deni Rose M. Afinidad-Bernardo; video editing by Martin Ramos

Land degradation, as defined by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), refers to the deterioration of land quality caused by human activities or natural phenomena. “Investing in large-scale land restoration is a powerful, cost-effective tool to combat desertification, soil erosion, and loss of agricultural production. Alarming PH situationIn the Philippines, the extent of land degradation is alarming. Among the primary drivers of land degradation in the Philippines are illegal logging, unsustainable agricultural practices, and conversion of forests into agricultural land. Desertification and heatA specific type of land degradation, known as desertification, has been impacting various countries globally and is feared to affect the Philippines.

A woman wielding a fruit knife killed two people and injured four more on Monday at a primary school in central China, state media said, citing local police. The assault took place around midday in the city of Guixi in Jiangxi province, state broadcaster CCTV said. The suspect, a 45-year-old surnamed Pan, is being held by police and the case is under investigation, CCTV said. Mass violent crime is relatively rare in China, which strictly prohibits citizens from owning firearms, but there has been a spate of stabbings in recent years. This month, two people were killed and 21 wounded after a man went on a stabbing spree at a hospital in southwest China's Yunnan province.

The Philippine government will be supporting a multibillion dollar investment program to construct new railway lines, integrate existing railway infrastructures and introduce state-of-the-art railway system technologies. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO The Philippine Railway Development Plan also include establishing a Philippine Railway Academy, to teach future railway engineers. AdvertisementThe proposed two railway projects under the Philippine Railway Development Plan will encompass routes in North Luzon and Mindanao. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOThe railway development plan will tremendously boost the Philippine Economy in the next decades to come. AdvertisementFurthermore, part of the Railway Development Plan initiatives is to prioritize sustainability, with focus on Technology Transfer through the establishment of the Philippine Railway Academy.

The Coast Guard? I cannot see how the Chinese coast guard intends to deny the freedom of international navigation to those sailing in the contested waters. Since China is a serious country, it could rescind its reported decision to arrest "trespassers" in the area. The fact that the Chinese maritime force had avoided any incident while successfully shadowing the "Atin Ito" convoy in contested South China Sea waters could be an indication that China is not really averse to having such talks, the sources said. As a tireless proponent of peaceful engagement between the Philippines and China, and of a meaningful rapprochement between China and the US, I continue to believe it is the best deal we can ever get for our people and the rest of the world.

(UPDATE) DENPASAR, Indonesia – Tech billionaire Elon Musk landed Sunday on Indonesia's resort island of Bali, where he aims to launch his Starlink service to extend internet to remote areas of the country. AFP PHOTOMusk, making his first visit to the Southeast Asian nation, is scheduled to launch Starlink alongside President Joko Widodo at a clinic in Bali's capital Denpasar on Sunday afternoon. Maritime and Investment Coordinating Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said Starlink "has the capability to reach even the most remote areas of Indonesia." After the trial, Starlink, which acquired a permit to operate in Indonesia earlier this month, could be rolled out commercially across the archipelago. AdvertisementUsing a network of low Earth orbit satellites, Starlink can provide internet to remote locations or areas that have had normal communications infrastructure disabled.

Marcos says photos with Alice Guo prove nothingBamban Mayor Alice Guo and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. poses for a photo at a campaign sortie during the 2022 national elections on March 8, 2022. MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said his photos with Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, who is currently facing controversies over suspicions about her citizenship and alleged connections to an offshore gaming operator, mean nothing. Guo posted photos of her and Marcos last week after the chief executive claimed to be unaware of her existence. Additional photos of Guo and Marcos from a campaign sortie during the 2022 elections also surfaced. Marcos earlier said that none of the local politicians in Tarlac had heard of Guo before she won the 2022 polls.

40,000Last Friday, the Dow closed at 40,000 for the first time. He said that an interest rate hike is unlikely to be the Fed’s next move. The direction of interest rates is either flat or lower. The Dow reached the historic 40,000 last Friday. This is despite the prospect for higher for longer interest rates, the hostilities in the Middle East and political risks that may be ushered in by the upcoming US election.

KABUL – Tourists wounded in an attack in Afghanistan were declared in stable condition, a hospital said Saturday, as a French national who survived described the horrifying incident. The bodies of those killed were transported to Kabul overnight Friday, along with the wounded and survivors, after bad weather made an airlift impossible. No claim of responsibilityAdvertisement"Overwhelmed by the news of the murder of Spanish tourists in Afghanistan," Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez posted on social media platform X. Spanish diplomats were headed to Afghanistan from Pakistan and Qatar, where the Spanish ambassador to the country is currently based. It has, however, supported a fledgling tourism sector, with more than 5,000 foreign tourists visiting Afghanistan in 2023, according to official figures.

WATCH: Meet Duffy and Friends in Hong Kong DisneylandThe Castle of Magical Dreams in Hong Kong Disneyland, near the Duffy and Friends Play House where one can meet the popular bear and his friends like LinaBellMANILA, Philippines — In a theme park surrounded by Mickey Mouse, Disney Princesses, Marvel, Star Wars and Pixar, it is the fictional gang of Duffy and Friends that reign supreme in Hong Kong Disneyland. Initially just known as "The Disney Bear," Duffy got his own story in line with the American Waterfront section of Tokyo DisneySea. Fans can interact with Duffy and the gang in Hong Kong Disneyland's Duffy and Friends Play House, starting out in a storybook house with interactives activities before lining up into a miniature maze to meet the character of their choice. ___Editor's note: The trip to Duffy and Friends Play House was hosted by Disneyland and Klook. RELATED: New Marvel daytime, drone shows launched in Hong Kong Disneyland

Despite rains, extreme heat seen in 36 areas todayThe sunset exudes golden hues as seen from Skyway in Manila on May 5, 2024. MANILA, Philippines — At least 36 areas can still experience “danger” heat index of between 46 and 42 degrees Celsius today, despite the rains being experienced in many areas in the country, according to the two-day forecast of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). The highest heat index could be felt in Dagupan City, Pangasinan as it is projected to reach 46 degrees Celsius, while Bacnotan, La Union and Iloilo City could experience 45 degrees Celsius heat index. PAGASA added that the heat index at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City could reach 44 degrees Celsius, and 42 degrees Celsius at the Science Garden in Quezon City. On Saturday, the highest heat index was recorded in Guiuan, Eastern Samar with 51 degrees Celsius.

MANILA, Philippines — The Premier Volleyball League is set to hold its first-ever Rookie Draft on July 6, a landmark event designed to bolster team rosters with fresh talent and enhance the league's competitive balance. The initial list of applicants will be announced on June 14, and the draft lottery is set at the end of the application period. "We are hoping for a huge turnout for the inaugural class of the PVL draft. The PVL Rookie Draft Combine, a two-day event prior to the draft, is mandatory for all applicants. AdvertisementThe Rookie Draft Combine is scheduled for June 25-26.

China's commerce ministry on Sunday said it had launched an anti-dumping investigation into imports of an important engineering chemical from the European Union, the United States, Taiwan and Japan. Beijing said it would probe imports of polyoxymethylene copolymer, a thermoplastic used in everything from phones, car parts, and medical equipment. The investigation will take a year but could be extended by six months, the commerce ministry said. The probe follows a number of similar investigations by the EU into China's subsidies for its industry. Last month, the bloc launched a probe into China's medical devices market over alleged unfair procurement practices.