The Philippines seeks to bolster its ability to address threats while underlining the need to strengthen ties with allies while pursuing an independent foreign policy, under a six-year national security policy published on Tuesday. "Major concern is also seen in the Cross-Straits relations that has the potential to be the flashpoint in the region," the government said in the document, published by the National Security Council, referring to the Taiwan Strait. "Any military conflict in the Taiwan Strait would inevitably affect the Philippines given the geographic proximity of Taiwan to the Philippine archipelago and the presence of over 150,000 Filipinos in Taiwan," the government said in the document. Ties with China have grown tense under Marcos, as the Philippines pivots back to traditional ally the United States. The Philippines would strengthen a Mutual Defense Treaty with the U.S., along with other existing mechanisms with regional partners, to "achieve a credible defence capability", it said.

NEW YORK — The destruction and suffering caused by the Maui wildfires in Hawaii prompted many to immediately look for ways to help. However, experts say immediate donations may not be the most useful following a natural disaster like the Maui wildfires. The Maui United Way says all donations will “provide direct relief to families and nonprofits directly affected” by the wildfires, offering a place to donate and apply for help on its website. How can you guarantee donations reach those affected by the Maui wildfires? As of Monday afternoon, GoFundMe said it had collected more than $22 million for those impacted by the Maui wildfires, from more than 175,000 people across all 50 U.S. states and 100 countries.

THE Department of Health (DoH) on Tuesday reported that over 269,000 of the 390,000 doses of bivalent vaccines have been distributed since its rollout on June 21. Metro Manila Council head and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora lead the distribution of the Bivalent Covid-19 vaccines to all frontline workers or those under the A1 category at the San Juan Filoil center on Thursday, June 22, 2023. I have received a report today that as of August 14, we have distributed more than 269,000 doses already. That's 69 percent, which means we are running out of bivalent vaccines," said Tayag, concurrent spokesman. The government has prioritized frontline health workers and senior citizens during the pilot rollout.

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina — Thousands of people marched in Sarajevo and other Bosnian cities Monday, days after a woman was murdered by her partner who livestreamed her killing on social media before killing two men and himself. ADVERTISEMENT“We demand that femicide be made a specific criminal act,” Sarajevo mayor Benjamina Karic told the crowd. Speaking on behalf of the demonstrators, she called for more severe punishment for the crimes of femicide, domestic violence and for the construction of more safehouses for women victims of violence. Protesters held up placards emblazoned with messages such as “Stop femicide”, “Say no to violence” and “Silence is complicity”. According to local NGOs, some 20 women have been killed in Bosnia in the past two years by their spouses.

A 31-year-old pregnant mum died following a C-section birth at the Hong Kong Adventist Hospital last month, with authorities’ investigation ongoing. The hospital on Tuesday confirmed the news, which saw the woman admitted to the hospital on July 5 to give birth. According to the hospital, doctors advised undergoing an emergency C-section that night, with the woman’s condition deteriorating the next morning. Meanwhile, the Department of Health said they were alerted by the hospital of the incident on July 6 and have since initiated an investigation and requested a report from the hospital. It added that it had received the hospital’s report while the investigation is now underway.

MANILA, Philippines — In a bid to combat disinformation and “fake news” in the digital space, the government launched on Monday a Media and Information Literacy (MIL) campaign in partnership with different national agencies. Under the campaign, MIL will be integrated into the higher education curriculum, community-based training, and family-oriented programs. “MIL is therefore crucial in this digital age given the proliferation of disinformation and the need for individuals to be able to critically evaluate information,” De Vera said. The CHEd chief noted that MIL is an essential component of students’ and teachers’ learning and allows for equitable access to knowledge. Aside from the government agencies, social media giants Google, Meta, TikTok and X will also take part in the MIL campaign.

Intermediate and novice players from the King's Gambit Chess School continue to make their mark in the local chess circuit led by 14-year-old Lester Jones Paruli who topped a club tournament in Pampanga over the weekend. Tiv Omanagay (right) bagged 4th place in a FIDE rated rapid chess tournament in Baguio City last Saturday. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOJan Clifford Labog, fresh from winning a silver and a bronze at the Palarong Pambansa, also dominated the 1st Mayor Jay L. Diaz Open Chess Tournament organized by the Ilagan City Chess Club on August 7. Moreover, 17-year-old Tiv Omangay and 12-year-old Marcus Paruli barely missed making the podium finish in a FIDE rated rapid chess tournament in Baguio City last Saturday, August 12. Enzo Hernandez, 12, also competed in an open rapid tournament in Bulacan and finished in the top 5.

ABUJA/CONAKRY — Coup leaders in Niger are open to diplomacy to resolve a standoff with West Africa’s regional bloc, a group of senior Nigerian Islamic scholars said on Sunday after meeting the junta in Niamey. The group’s meeting with junta leader General Abdourahamane Tiani lasted several hours, said Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau, who led the delegation. “He said their doors were open to explore diplomacy and peace in resolving the matter,” Lau said in a statement on Sunday. There was no immediate comment from the junta on the meeting, but Tiani’s reported comments are one of few recent signs he is open to negotiation. In the footage, Doumbouya – who led a coup in Guinea in September 2021 – did not say whether Conakry’s support for the Niger junta would include military backing if ECOWAS decided to use military force.

Hong Kong's Disaster Relief Fund has approved a grant of HK$65 million in total to nine organizations for providing relief to flood victims in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and Northeast China, the SAR government announced on Monday. A spokesman said the government maintained close contact with rescue organizations regarding the disaster situation and related relief support and has promptly processed and approved the disaster relief funding applications from nine organizations under the Fund to offer relief items to the mainland. The nine organizations with approved grants included The HKFTU Disasters Relief Charity Fund; Federation of Hong Kong Beijing Organisations; World Vision Hong Kong; H.K. United Youth Exchange Foundation; The Hong Kong Island Social Services Charitable Foundation; Hua Jing Youth Foundation; Hong Kong CPPCC (Provincial) Members Association Foundation; All-China Women's Federation Hong Kong Delegates Association Foundation and Amity Foundation, Hong Kong. The Disaster Relief Fund was established in 1993 and provides the government with a mechanism to respond to appeals for humanitarian aid in the relief of disasters outside Hong Kong.

A 35-year-old Pakistani volunteer who was charged with wounding after he allegedly slapped a 13-year-old boy repeatedly in a Quarry Bay education center, causing injury to his eyes, was granted bail with his case adjourned to September 25. He was charged with one count of wounding after he unlawfully and maliciously wounded the boy - identified in court as X - at the Quarry Bay education center Madrassa Taleemul Furqan Islamic Union. The magistrate granted the 35-year-old cash bail of HK$50,000. The defendant is also barred from communicating with the prosecution witnesses and entering the learning center where the alleged assault happened. Read more: Teenage boy who suffered eye injury at Islamic learning center over alleged assault prompts police investigation

MISSING Singapore's famous Hainanese chicken rice, laksa fish ball, cheesy chicken chop noodles and kopi? It's time to visit the nearest Nanyang branch. Among the restaurant's must-try, best-selling drinks are iced teh melaka, Milo dinosaur, kopi O and kopi jelly. When preparing the milk tea, Nanyang uses the traditional tarik method by "pulling" the brewed tea. Popularized in Singapore and Malaysia, teh tarik or pulled tea is the base of the popular beverage.

Adding to the challenges: new inspections needed on a class of Airbus planes that may suffer from microscopic "contamination" of metals used to manufacture Pratt & Whitney engines. ‘MICRO CONTAMINATION’ A Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1100G-JM engine is displayed at the Singapore Airshow in Singapore on Feb. 15, 2012. Adding to the challenges: new inspections needed on a class of Airbus planes that may suffer from microscopic ‘contamination’ of metals used to manufacture Pratt & Whitney engines. The defect could affect 1,200 Pratt engines made between late 2015 and mid-2021. The company is "still assessing the longer-term impact with Pratt & Whitney," said Chief Financial Officer Ursula Hurley.

Pinoys place 2nd in World PokemonJose Miguel Liban, Luis John Felizarte, Michael Vaughn Ocio, Joshua de Leon and Joe Daryl Maghanoy ranked second in the Pokémon World Championships held in Yokohama, Japan from Aug.11 to 13. MANILA, Philippines — Filipino team OMO Abyssinian won a silver medal in the Pokémon Unite World Championship Series 2023 held in Yokohama, Japan on Aug. 11-13. The team, owned by esports group Odd Man Out, bagged $75,000 after competing against Canadian esports group Luminosity Gaming in its final match. “Facing them in the winner’s bracket, we knew they were the best team. OMO Abyssinian’s members include Jose Miguel Liban, Luis John Felizarte, Michael Vaughn Ocio, Joshua de Leon and Joe Daryl Maghanoy.

Kado captures our hearts by simply being there, conveying its message with no need for words or music. The art evolved into many different schools, but the oldest teaches three fundamental styles: Rikka, Shoka and Jiyuka. Shoka, the simplest style, expresses the life energy of the plants. Jiyuka is the most contemporary-looking style, versatile enough to be displayed anywhere and allowing the direct expression of emotions. Still hugely popular, with classes everywhere, Kado represents the Japanese spirit of harmony and respect for nature.

QUITO — The political party of Ecuador’s assassinated presidential hopeful, Fernando Villavicencio, picked his would-be vice presidential candidate to replace him as the party standard-bearer on Saturday, just a week before the election. Villavicencio’s Build party, or Construye in Spanish, announced on social media it had tapped Andrea Gonzalez to replace the slain 59-year-old in the Aug. 20 vote. ADVERTISEMENTLater on Saturday, the deceased candidate’s widow criticized the party’s replacement as unlawful. Sarauz described the party decision to tap Gonzalez as “arbitrary” and said it breaks a law that forbids the vice presidential candidate from stepping down. While ballots have already been printed, by law votes for Villvicencio will automatically transfer to the party candidate.