AP PHOTOThe US has been expanding its activities around the Indo-Pacific to counter sweeping territorial claims from China, including regularly sailing through and flying over the Taiwan Strait and in the South China Sea. He added that "China has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea islands and the adjacent waters." China and the Philippines have conflicting claims over parts of the South China Sea which Manila calls the West Philippine Sea as it falls within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and was affirmed by an arbitral ruling in 2016. "Because it is a dispute between China and the Philippines only the two countries should talk," Mamba quoted Sun as saying. "They told me once China opens up [after the pandemic], I will be one of the priorities," Mamba said.

His most important contribution to Denver's first win in the franchise's first appearance in the NBA Finals — well, take your pick. Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, center, dunks against the Miami Heat during the first half of Game 1 of basketball's NBA Finals on Thursday, June 1, 2023, in Denver. He can pull up and get to the rim," said Heat guard Haywood Highsmith, describing the grueling challenge of trying to slow Murray. "Loved his pace tonight, just the pace that he played all night long," Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon said. He poses threats in different ways and he's relentless," said Miami guard Gabe Vincent.

(UPDATE) FOR the first time, a Filipino has been named to the FIBA Hall of Fame. The 2023 FIBA Hall of Fame class with Philippine basketball legend Carlos 'Caloy' Loyzaga (center left). PHOTO FROM FIBA FACEBOOK PAGE The 2023 FIBA Hall of Fame class with Philippine basketball legend Carlos 'Caloy' Loyzaga (center left). PHOTO FROM FIBA FACEBOOK PAGEKnown as the "Big Difference," Loyzaga is the first Filipino to be named into this year's Hall of Fame class by the FIBA. Loyzaga and all the other inductees will formally be recognized in a ceremony before the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Manila.

BAHANAGA, India — At least 288 people have died in India’s worst rail crash in over two decades, officials said on Saturday after a passenger train went off the tracks and hit another one in an accident a preliminary report blamed on signal failure. The death toll has reached 288, said K. S. Anand, chief public relations officer of the South Eastern Railway. Its coaches then fell onto the tracks on either side, also derailing the Howrah Superfast Express,” he said. Video footage showed derailed train coaches and damaged tracks, with rescue teams searching the mangled carriages to pull the survivors out and rush them to the hospital. India’s deadliest railway accident was in 1981 when a train plunged off a bridge into a river in Bihar state, killing an estimated 800 people.

(UPDATE) PHNOM PENH, Cambodia: The Philippines settled for the silver medal after bowing to Thailand, 7-15, in the men's 3x3 wheelchair basketball final of the 12th Asean Para Games at the Morodok Techo National Stadium's Elephant Hall 2 on Saturday. 3x3 is a fast-paced game, so whoever blinks would be in deep trouble and unfortunately, it was us. The men's squad duplicated its 2022 performance, the same as the women's team which finished fourth. "For the women's team, our performance in the battle for bronze was way much better than yesterday (Friday). Almost the same story with the men's team.

(UPDATE) FILIPINO gymnast Jasmine Ramilo bagged a bronze medal in the 19th Junior Rhythmic Gymnastics Asian Championships Club Final at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Ramilo notched 27.30 points to finish third and give the Philippines its only medal in the four-day competition. Jasmine Althea Ramilo gets the bronze medal in the 19th Junior Rhythmic Gymnastics clubs finals at Ninoy Aquino Stadium on June 3, 2023. PHOTO BY RIO DELUVIO Jasmine Althea Ramilo gets the bronze medal in the 19th Junior Rhythmic Gymnastics clubs finals at Ninoy Aquino Stadium on June 3, 2023. Ramilo, however, did not make the podium in the ribbon final where she tallied 24.95 points and placed fifth.

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved the Tarlac- Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) extension project, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan announced Friday. Marcos, who heads the NEDA board, greenlit the project in a meeting with Balisacan and its other members in Malacañang. At a Palace press briefing, Balisacan said this is considered the "fastest, unsolicited proposal approval," saying that it was submitted on March 17, 2023 and approved Friday. Balisacan said the 59-kilometer, 4-lane expressway will connect the Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, and Metro Manila and is expected to stimulate economic activity and alleviate road congestion. The TPLEX extension project will be implemented through a public-private partnership under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), with an estimated cost of P23.4 billion, he added.

BHUBANESWAR, India – At least 207 people were killed and 900 injured when two passenger trains collided in Odisha on Friday, according to government officials in the eastern Indian state, in India’s deadliest rail accident in over a decade. The death toll is expected to increase, state Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena said in a tweet. ADVERTISEMENTSudhanshu Sarangi, the director general of the fire department in Odisha, told Reuters that 207 bodies had been recovered so far. Images from the scene showed rescuers climbing up the mangled wreck of one of the trains to find survivors. Videos shared on social media showed the arrival of several ambulances and people being pulled out of the upturned train coaches.

Two women aged 22 and 26 were brutally killed by a 39-year-old man with a 12-inch-long knife in a daring attack in Plaza Hollywood on Friday. According to security camera footage, the 39-year-old assailant suddenly stabbed one of the women from the back outside a cosmetic shop. The woman’s friend nearby then pushed the man away into the shop and tried to retreat with the injured woman. The man then swung the knife to scare off the woman’s friend, pinned the woman on the ground and continued his stabbing, targeting her main body. As the man finally stopped his stabbing, he turned and started chasing the woman’s friend.

(UPDATE) THE government on Friday launched the eGov PH Super App, an integrated platform designed to make it easier for the public to do business with state agencies. GOVT SUPER APP LAUNCHED President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers a speech at the launch of the eGov Super App PH in Malacañang on Friday, June 2, 2023. PPA/POOL RENE H. DILAN GOVT SUPER APP LAUNCHED President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers a speech at the launch of the eGov Super App PH in Malacañang on Friday, June 2, 2023. And if you use the app regularly, you will see it being offered to you on the app," he said. Aside from rallying support for Paleng-QR Ph Plus Initiative, PSAC made new recommendations for the President's approval.

Relations between the superpowers are increasingly acrimonious, with friction over issues from Taiwan and China’s military activity in the South China Sea to U.S. efforts to hold back China’s semiconductor industry. China’s leaders, by contrast, have been slow to establish military contacts and quick to shut them down during periods of diplomatic tension. This has frustrated the United States. Then there is China’s view of how military talks fit into the broader U.S.-China relationship. From that perspective, military talks are something to bargain with.

BHUBANESWAR/KOLKATA — At least 50 people were killed and 350 injured when two passenger trains collided in the eastern Indian state of Odisha on Friday, June 2, Indian media reported. The Coromandel Express, which runs from Kolkata to Chennai, collided with another passenger train, the Howrah Superfast Express, railway officials said. ADVERTISEMENTThe Howrah Superfast Express derailed and became entangled with the Coromandel Express, South Eastern Railway authorities said in a statement. Media reports had earlier said that the crash was between the Coromandel Express and a goods train. So far more than 350 injured passengers had been admitted to various hospitals, Odisha’s Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena told reporters.

Photographer sues Kanye West over alleged assaultKanye West meets with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, October 11, 2018. A photographer who claims Kanye West threw her cell phone to the ground in a confrontation is suing the troubled rapper for assault, she said June1, 2023. Nichol Lechmanik said the artist, who is now formally known as Ye, caused her "great mental and emotional pain" in the January confrontation. LOS ANGELES, United States — A photographer who claims Kanye West threw her cell phone to the ground in a confrontation is suing the troubled rapper for assault, she said Thursday. Nichol Lechmanik said the artist, who is now formally known as Ye, caused her "great mental and emotional pain" in the January confrontation.

(UPDATE) DENVER: The Denver Nuggets launched the first NBA Finals campaign in franchise history with a dominant 104-93 victory over the Miami Heat on Thursday (Friday in Manila), propelled by yet another Nikola Jokic triple double. TOUGH DEFENSE Bam Adebayo (13) of the Miami Heat defends against Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets during the third quarter in Game One of the 2023 NBA Finals at Ball Arena on Thursday, June 1, 2023 in Denver, Colorado (Friday, June 2, in Manila). Jokic and Murray became the second pair of teammates to have 25 points and 10 assists each in an NBA Finals game, joining Magic Johnson and James Worthy for the Lakers in 1987. Trailing by 21 entering the fourth quarter, Miami used an 11-0 run to cut the deficit to 10. The Heat quickly sliced the deficit to 10 points to open the third quarter, but Denver had the answer to every adjustment they made.

Anne Curtis, Gary Valenciano joke about possible joint concertMANILA, Philippines — Gary Valenciano and Anne Curtis are entertainment powerhouses in their own distinctive ways, but is a joint concert on the table in the foreseeable future? Philstar.com asked about the possibility of them holding a joint concert, especially as Gary guest-starred in Anne's "Luv-ANNE" concert last year, which his son Paolo Valenciano directed. Related: Anne Curtis praises 'Eat Bulaga!' Oyunsaikhan said about the possibility of a joint concert for the benefit of UNICEF while Anne was stifling her laughter. RELATED: Gary Valenciano gives update on son Gab following motorcycle accident