Consular assistance to be offered to Payne Haas’s father: Chalmers

Escalating Tensions in the South China Sea: Philippines Deploys Ships Amidst Dispute

Amidst escalating tensions in the South China Sea, the Philippines has taken a decisive step, deploying ships to a disputed area where it alleges China is constructing an artificial island. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr's office issued a statement confirming the deployment, emphasising the need to monitor what it termed as "supposed illegal activities" by China. Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela corroborated these claims, citing evidence of small-scale reclamation at the Sabina Shoal, known as Escoda by Manila. Despite these assertions, the Chinese embassy in Manila has yet to respond, potentially exacerbating bilateral rifts. The Philippine national security adviser has even called for the expulsion of Chinese diplomats over an alleged leak regarding a phone conversation about the maritime dispute. #SouthChinaSea #Philippines #China #Tensions #Escalation #MaritimeDispute #TerritorialConflict #MilitaryDeployment #DiplomaticRelations #Geopolitics #NavalPresence #RegionalSecurity #InternationalRelations #ForeignPolicy #ConflictResolution ~HT.97~PR.152~ED.103~

Climate change: From Myanmar to the Philippines, heatwave scorches parts of India

Philippines accuses China of attacking vessels with water cannons in the South China Sea | Oneindia

On Tuesday, the Philippines lodged accusations against China's coast guard, alleging harassment and damage to one of its boats within a disputed section of the South China Sea. The Philippines rejected China's assertion that it had expelled two vessels from the contested shoal. According to the Philippine coast guard, its two vessels remained steadfast at the Scarborough Shoal, a significant focal point in the South China Sea dispute. However, one of the Philippine boats incurred damage due to the deployment of water cannons by two Chinese coast guard ships. #Philippines #China #SouthChinaSea #Conflict #BRPBagacay #MaritimeDispute #WaterCannonAttack #Diplomacy #InternationalRelations #SecurityConcerns ~PR.152~ED.155~GR.121~

WATCH: Heatwave prompts Philippines to order millions to stay home from school

Millions of students in all public schools across the Philippines were ordered to stay home on Monday after authorities cancelled in-person classes for two days as an emergency step due to the scorching heat and a public transport strike.