News

Singapore asserts rule of law to calm South China Sea tensions

Tarra Quismundo, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Aug 07 02:26 PM

Singapore, the host of this year's ASEAN meetings, believes in respecting international law, "and that countries do not use force or even resort to threat and use of force in order to resolve disputes." Read more »

Nollywood talks and home-cooked meals with the Nigerian ambassador

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Aug 07 03:59 PM

Annalisa Burgos and Nigeria's Ambassador to the Philippines talk about the challenges of poverty and terrorism, oil, agriculture, Nollywood, and more. Read more »

Russia tasks Hollywood actor Seagal with improving US ties

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Aug 05 09:01 AM

Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Saturday it had made US actor Steven Seagal its special representative for Russian-US humanitarian ties, a role it said was meant to deepen cultural, art and youth ties between the two countries. Read more »

Food Diplomacy: New Zealand

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Aug 02 04:32 PM

Annalisa Burgos and New Zealand's ambassador to the Philippines David Strachan sit down to talk about tourism, business, technology, and sample some clean organic New Zealand fares. Read more »

US Korean War dead heading home at last

Ronen Zilberman and Thomas Watkins, Agence France-Presse
Posted at Aug 02 11:05 AM

Sixty-five years after the Korean War ended, the remains of dozens of American soldiers killed during the brutal conflict are finally coming home. Read more »

EU condoles with Philippines after Basilan blast

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Aug 02 08:55 AM

The European Union on Wednesday condoled with the Philippines on Wednesday following a deadly van explosion in the restive Basilan province, which comes months after Manila rejected billions of pesos in aid from the regional bloc.  Read more »

Should the next UN rights chief treat leaders more gently?

Ben Simon and Agnes Pedrero, Agence France-Presse
Posted at Aug 01 11:02 AM

He called Hungary's prime minister a racist, suggested the Philippine president needed a "psychiatric evaluation," and accused US President Donald Trump of driving humanity off a mountain.   Read more »

Food Diplomacy: Mexico

ABS-CBN News
Posted at Jul 31 08:58 PM

Annalisa Burgos and Mexico's ambassador to the Philippines Gerardo Lozano talk about trade and investment, the war on drugs, and cultural exchanges over homemade Mexican food prepared by his wife Mariza.  Read more »

Australia, Japan join US infrastructure push in Asia

Reuters
Posted at Jul 31 04:45 PM

The move is part of a broader effort by the United States and its allies to reassert their influence in the Pacific amid fears that the region is increasingly susceptible to diplomatic pressure from Beijing. Read more »

Debts to China: Pacific islands in the red

Charlotte Greenfield and Jonathan Barrett, Reuters
Posted at Jul 31 08:14 AM

The loans give Beijing a lever in one of the most contested areas in the world over recognition of Taiwan, which has strong diplomatic ties to the region. Read more »

Trade war casualty in US: cheap prices for everyday goods

John Biers, Agence France-Presse
Posted at Jul 29 10:20 AM

The US economy may be roaring ahead, but American consumers face the prospect of paying more for everyday goods, due in part to trade tariffs. Read more »

North Korea transfers remains of Korean War soldiers - White House

Eric Beech and Joyce Lee, Reuters
Posted at Jul 27 11:46 AM

WASHINGTON/SEOUL - North Korea transferred 55 cases carrying the remains of soldiers killed in the Korean War, the White House said on Thursday, a first step by Pyongyang to implement an agreement made in a landmark summit in June in Singapore. Read more »

US trade chief eyes deals on NAFTA, Philippines, sub-Saharan Africa

Reuters
Posted at Jul 27 08:45 AM

WASHINGTON - US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said on Thursday the United States is in the finishing stages of completing a deal to update NAFTA and plans to pursue free trade agreements in sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia and possibly with the Philippines. Read more »

Chinese man sets off explosive outside US embassy in Beijing

Agence France-Presse
Posted at Jul 26 04:52 PM

A 26-year-old Chinese man set off a small explosive outside the US embassy in Beijing Thursday, sending smoke into the air and injuring his hand before security officials rushed to the scene and took him into custody, police said. Read more »

Trump, Iran drama escalates -- via Twitter

Jerome Cartillier, Agence France-Presse
Posted at Jul 24 09:31 AM

Tensions are mounting between Donald Trump and Iran -- the US president's raw tweet threatening Tehran was met Monday with a similarly bilious reply, upping the ante in the high-stakes game of diplomatic chicken. Read more »

Duterte says to 'defend' Philippine interests in South China Sea

Dharel Placido, ABS-CBN News
Updated as of Jul 23 10:30 PM

Duterte has refused to flaunt the Philippines victory against China in a United Nations-backed arbitration court in 2016, instead seeking closer diplomatic and trade ties. Read more »

Trump hits back at Iran 'war' talk

Francesco Fontemaggi and Jerome Cartillier, Agence France-Presse
Posted at Jul 23 03:17 PM

 President Donald Trump on Sunday hit back at bellicose comments by Iran's president, warning him of dire consequences as the US intensifies its campaign against the Islamic republic. Read more »

US pushes for EU, China concessions amid trade stalemate

Barnaby Chesterman, Agence France-Presse
Posted at Jul 22 12:51 PM

The United States and its European Union allies were locked in a trade stalemate on Saturday after Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin refused to budge on demands for concessions. Read more »

Trade accords on Xi's agenda during Senegal swing

Agence France-Presse
Posted at Jul 22 10:53 AM

China's President Xi Jinping inked a clutch of trade accords Saturday on the first visit by a Chinese leader to Senegal in almost a decade. Read more »

Ping-pong diplomacy between the two Koreas

Agence France-Presse
Posted at Jul 17 11:39 PM

Table tennis has long had an unusual impact in foreign affairs, most notably in the "ping pong diplomacy" of the 1970s between China and the US. Read more »