China's defense minister on Sunday acknowledged the importance of newly renewed military-to-military communications with the United States as tensions escalate in the Asia-Pacific, while at the same time accusing Washington of causing the friction with its support for Taiwan and the Philippines. “We will not allow anyone to bring geopolitical conflicts or any war, whether hot or cold, into our region," Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun told the Shangri-La defense forum in Singapore through a translator. “We will not allow any country or any force to create conflict and chaos in our region,” he added. Dong accused the Philippines of deliberately provoking China, “emboldened by outside powers.”“China has recognized great restraint in the face of such infringements and provocations,” he said. China regards Taiwan as a renegade province that must come under its control, by force if necessary.

ADVERTISEMENTREAD: Speaking to those who can’t hear: Why sign language matters in campaignsGroups like the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) and the Filipino Sign Language National Network (FSL-NN) have expressed their support for the NCNDO in demanding answers from the commission. ACT, for one, said it had received word that the KWF was planning to “abolish” the FSL unit. ‘Collateral damage’The commission also denied that it was scrapping the FSL unit, saying it is mandated under Republic Act No. 11106, or The Filipino Sign Language Act, to implement such a program. “The staff of the FSL unit has become collateral damage—a tragedy in particular for the two deaf staff who are in unique (nonteaching) policy-influencing positions found in no other national government entity,” Martinez added.

VARANASI, India — Indians flocked to the polls under scorching heat in the Hindu holy city of Varanasi on Saturday as a marathon national election reached its final day, six weeks after voting first began. AFP PHOTOIt is one of the final cities to vote in India's grueling election and where public support for Modi's ever-closer alignment of religion and politics burns brightest. Turnout is down several percentage points from the last national election in 2019, with analysts blaming widespread expectations of a Modi victory, as well as successive heat waves scorching India's northern states. "It's already so hot," Chinta Devi, who arrived to cast her vote at eight in the morning, told AFP. "People now look at India and Indians with a lot more respect, something not accorded earlier."

Protect the family, no to divorceGreetings! The Divorce Bill is an affront against the 6th and 9th Commandments. News of Congress’ approval of the divorce bill is a heavy blow against ordinary husbands and wives who work hard daily for the family’s material, emotional and spiritual well-being. Divorce opens the way to re-marriage, that may end up in yet, another divorce. Indeed, a happy family is the foundation for a good society of law-abiding citizens.

Marichelle Bernardo is on a mission to preserve Bulacan’s traditional art of leaf weaving for the next generation to learn and appreciate. Find out how leaves transform into beautiful pieces of art in this video.

CAMP MELCHOR DELA CRUZ, ISABELA — Two Army soldiers were wounded while assorted guns and war items were seized in two gunbattles in Balbalan town in Kalinga province on Friday, May 31. The military said, in a report Saturday, June 1, that the armed encounters happened in Barangays (villages) Balbalan Proper and Balantoy. Army soldiers under the 103rd Infantry Battalion and 98th Infantry Battalion, both under the 5th Infantry Division’s 503rd Infantry Brigade, engaged in gunfights with 10 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels under the Komiteng Larangang Guerilla (KLG) Baggas in Balbalan Proper at 10:30 a.m. Another encounter followed at 1 p.m. in Balantoy village. READ: Army remains vigilant as NPA told to mount attacks vs troopsSeized at the Balbalan Proper clash site were an M14 Armalite rifle, a Springfield rifle, assorted guns, two improvised explosive devices (IED), blasting devices, and personal belongings. The two soldiers were wounded at the clash in Balantoy village.

THE Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) is gearing up for the third edition of its annual Sustainability Awareness Month (SAM) this June, in alignment with the bank's sustainability agenda. At BPI’s Sustainability Awareness Month Press Conference are (from left) Jovi Alonso, chief credit officer; Eric Luchangco, chief finance officer and chief sustainability officer; Cathy Santamaria, chief customer and marketing officer; Dino Gasmen, treasurer and head of global markets. AdvertisementOn June 26, "Beyond Green: Sustainable Agricultural Technologies and Poultry Practices" will introduce new innovations in the agriculture sector, specifically poultry production and waste management innovations. In recognition of its unwavering dedication to sustainability, BPI was honored as the Best Sustainable Bank in the Philippines by Finance Asia for the fourth consecutive year in 2023. For more information on BPI's 'Beyond Green' SAM activities and to register for upcoming events, visit BPI's official website.

The Chinese homegrown passenger aircraft C919 made its first cross-border commercial flight and arrived in Hong Kong on Saturday morning to fly over 100 local students to Shanghai for an internship program. The C919 and another homegrown ARJ21 first visited Hong Kong last December and the former delighted citizens with a demonstration flight over Victoria Harbour. Delivering a speech at the taking-off ceremony, Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki said he has witnessed two “firsts” of the C919 today (Sat); it flew its first commercial flight in Hong Kong and for the first time sent Hong Kong students to a mainland exchange trip. Another HKUST third year student, Chan, hopes to spend a meaningful summer in Shanghai. He hopes students can get to know more about the country and this internship helps with their future employment.

Richard Marlee on June 1.Photographer: Roslan Rahman/AFP/Getty ImagesAustralia Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said his country has “security anxieties” in its relationship with China even as trade ties have stabilized, as he called on Beijing to uphold the global rules-based order. • Australia Has ‘Security Anxieties’ With China Even as Ties Warm• Pentagon Chief Touts China Talks and Efforts to Box Beijing In• Marcos Swipes at China, Vowing Not to Yield in Disputed Sea? Israel as a democratic state, Hamas is a terrorist organization.”Australia Has “Security Anxieties’ With China, Deputy PM Says (11:58 a.m.)Australia has “security anxieties” in its relationship with China even as trade ties have stabilized, Marles said, as he called on Beijing to uphold the global rules-based order. “North Korea exported missiles and artillery and, in return, they received oil, food and military technology,” Shin told the forum. He told a regional defense forum the Indo-Pacific would continue to be America’s “priority theater of operations” despite Washington’s recent preoccupation with conflicts in Europe and the Middle East.

MSERV to fuel hyperscale data center in Quezon CityIn a statement, Meralco Energy Inc. (MSERV) said the collaboration with STT GDC Philippines is expected to promote innovation and drive technological advancement in the digital industry. MANILA, Philippines — A unit of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) is set to provide power to the largest hyperscale data center of ST Telemedia Global Data Centers Philippines (STT GDC Philippines) in the country. STT GDC Philippines is a joint venture of Globe Telecom Inc., Ayala Corp. and Singapore-based ST Telemedia Global Data Centers. A hyperscale data center is a large-scale facility providing critical data storage and applications to businesses. Together, we are not just providers of data center services but digital enablers toward a progressive future.

(UPDATE) CHINA said it is keeping the door of dialogue and communication open with the Philippines despite the dispute in the South China Sea. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao NingMarcos has pledged to take any opportunity to engage with China to halt aggressive actions and secure the rights of Filipino fishermen in the South China Sea. AdvertisementBeginning June 15, the Chinese coast guard will detain foreigners "illegally" sailing into parts of the South China Sea that China claims as part of its territory. Bajo de Masinloc is well within the West Philippine Sea, although China also claims ownership of the shoal. Under the ruling, trespassers can be held for up to 60 days without trial.

MANILA, Philippines — Five individuals were arrested in an entrapment operation inside a mall in North Avenue, Quezon City, for alleged qualified theft and falsification of documents in a computer shop. ADVERTISEMENTREAD: Court hands lending company execs jail term for faking bank documentThe suspects were allegedly falsifying the official receipts issued to their customers, who are seeking repair service and buying gadgets in the store. “The receipts issued were not Silicon Valley’s authorized Receipts and rather came from another store,” the NBI said in a statement. ADVERTISEMENT“The other individuals were arrested for selling electronic parts that are not being sold by Silicon Valley,” the NBI said. Arrested subjects were presented before the Office of the City Prosecutor in Quezon City.

TACLOBAN CITY — An alleged member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was killed while another was arrested during an encounter with government forces in the hinterlands of Basey, Samar on Thursday. ADVERTISEMENTThe troops eventually figured in an encounter with around 10 suspected rebels. Meclat added that the troops, while conducting clearing and follow-up operations at the clash site, captured a wounded suspected rebel, who was immediately given proper medical attention. Brigadier General Noel Vestuir, commanding officer of the 802nd IB, commended the troops for their quick response to civilian reports of the suspected rebels’ extortion activities. The path of peace is ready to embrace you along with your families and loved ones,” he said.

And that’s been going on since she started to be conscious and observant on why she reacted to food additives, processed food and cured meats. With scaling up of food production to supply hundreds of fast food outlets and preservation of food to prevent spoilage, one is hard pressed to find unprocessed or whole foods. Natural food or food derived through natural means also helps us develop our taste for better food. If we fast or stay away from unclean or processed food, we may just discover again what food naturally tastes like. And quality for him is knowing the source of the food, not a chef’s interpretation of good food.

As things stand now, there is little hope that a global pandemic treaty can be forged anytime soon, if at all. What the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body overseeing discussions on the pandemic treaty was trying to accomplish was a global agreement that would address some of the serious problems exposed by the Covid-19 pandemic. From the very beginning, it seems that almost every issue the treaty negotiations attempted to address pitted poor countries against rich countries. For the Philippines' part, the failure of the current efforts to create a pandemic treaty is a warning that relying on outside help is unrealistic, if not foolhardy. While the government should continue to participate in and support efforts to craft a pandemic treaty, our own contingency plans for managing the next pandemic must be carefully reviewed and strengthened.