Philippines news headlines

Malaysia:

* Odd for food-producing Malaysia to be facing shortages, says Abang Jo

* Muhyiddin slammed for focusing on top govt posts as M’sians struggle with rising costs

* The Star Says: Fighting inflation any which way we can

* Govt continues to provide subsidies, says PM

* Covid-19: Another 2,527 cases recorded on July 2, no deaths

* Ringgit to trade around current level this week at RM4.40, OPR in focus

* Bursa Malaysia likely to move lower to 1,430 level this week

* State ministry chief gets egg on face after ‘eat fewer eggs’ comment

* Amanah points out irony of govt raising prices but forming anti-inflation team

* Malaysia Digital shows country’s readiness to be at forefront of digital economy, says Annuar

* Blaming Najib for failure to become PM is slander, says Annuar

* Govt to probe, take action over shortage of subsidised cooking oil due to smuggling, says Tok Pa

PT Garuda Indonesia aircraft outside a hangar at the company’s maintenance facility at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Cengkareng, Indonesia. Garuda could post an operating profit next year after renegotiating its aircraft leases and focusing more on the domestic market, according to the government official in charge of its restructuring. – Bloomberg

Singapore:

* Three in four older workers in Singapore don’t intend to retire before 65; reasons include staying active, having purpose

* Hiker from Singapore rescued after going missing for theee days in New York state swamp

* Long hours and new work technologies among challenges faced by older workers in Singapore

* SG cops warn of new phishing scam involving email about purported traffic offence

* Singapore veteran star Tanya Chua crowned best female singer at Taiwan’s Golden Melody Awards for record fourth time

* Singapore: Teen asks court to block adoptive dad from inheritance

Indonesia

* Indonesia’s inflation soars more than expected, driven by food prices – highest seen since 2017

* Indonesia cuts 2022 fiscal deficit outlook on strong revenue, says finance minister

* Indonesia tax amnesty finds US$40bil of unreported assets

* Indonesia and UAE boost ties as they ink trade pact

* Indonesia, Russia boost ties

* Offer to send 10,000 more for haj this year rejected

Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon celebrates after defeating China’s Chen Yu Fei during their women’s singles final match at the Malaysia Open badminton tournament at Bukit Jalil Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, July 3, 2022. -AP

Thailand:

* Thailand records 2,328 Covid-19 cases and 19 deaths on Sunday (July 3, 2022)

* Fun and safety make Thailand’s Koh Pha-ngan island world’s best workation site

* Clean habits keeping Covid-19 infections at bay in Thailand, says PM

* More than 178,000 Malaysian visit Thailand in first six month this year

* Thai exports beat forecast in May, weak baht a boost

Philippines:

* On the rise again … Philippines’ active Covid-19 cases breach 9,000 mark; Metro Manila has most new cases

* Hurdles ahead as Philippines’ Marcos begins six-year presidency, an explainer from Reuters

* Philippines’ debt down by 2.1 per cent in May

* For the sake of human rights

* Life skills for young Filipinos

Vietnam:

* Vietnam Airlines relaunches services to Indonesia

* Vietnam PM urges faster Covid-19 vaccination in face of sub-variant BA.5

* Vietnam Q2 GDP growth quickens to 7.72% alongside price pressures

* Vietnam to replant a massive 107,000 hectares of coffee by 2025

* Two celebs arrested for alleged rape of British girl

Patrons eat and drink at a restaurant on Khaosan Road in Bangkok, Thailand. Foreign tourist arrivals into Thailand are set to beat official forecasts with the lifting of pandemic-era restrictions, a rare positive for the nation’s Covid-battered economy and currency. – Bloomberg

Myanmar:

* Karen refugees flee across border as Myanmar continues airstrikes

* China’s top diplomat Wang Yi visits Myanmar amid opposition protest

* Myanmar tightens fuel and cooking oil imports while ensuring supply

* Junta open to talks with Suu Kyi to resolve country’s turmoil

Cambodia:

* As Asean mulls its options on Myanmar, don’t lose sight of shifting military balance in the country

* Cambodia and Japan intermational agency sign US$2.68M grant agreement for study scholarships

* United Nations praises Cambodia for appealing donations for landmine clearance

Laos:

* Laos govt says that it will restrict development on agricultural land

* Laos: Hundreds of relics found in Champasack Temple ruins by Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation

Brunei:

* Brunei’s fourth dose of Covid-19 vaccine figures at 2.7 per cent

* Brunei: Double tragedy in Tutong; two men dead

A woman looks at the set of Buddhist sculptures in a Building of Six Classes of Sutra and Tantra during the opening day of the Hong Kong Palace Museum in Hong Kong on Sunday, July 3, 2022. – AFP

AseanPlus

* China’s Wuxi tightens Covid-19 curbs as new clusters emerge

* China lashed by year’s first typhoon as rains forecast are at record levels

* Australia’s south-east braces for floods as heavy rain pummels Sydney, NSW; thousands ordered to evacuate

* Dream final is on! Momota finds form to set up Axelsen showdown in Malaysia Open badminton championships

* China continue dominance with 11th diving gold as US women take water polo title at world aquatic championships in Budapest

* Japan’s KDDI says 70% of services restored after wide network troubles

* North Korea says US-South Korea-Japan agreement materialises US plan for ‘Asian NATO’

* Beijing’s human rights policies drive unfavourable views of China, Pew survey finds

* US seeks China pressure on Russia to end Ukraine war as it weighs economic options against Beijing

* China tells UN expansion of Nato, or a Nato-like body, into the Asia-Pacific will stir up conflict

* Chinese vice-president urges better South China Sea approach with Philippines as Marcos takes the reins

* Hong Kong U-turns on tightening pollution rules for classic cars, keeping exemptions for vehicles aged 30 years or more

* Chinese President Xi Jinping repeats call for tech self-reliance, innovative talent

* Croatia’s China-built, EU-funded bridge to open over troubled waters

* US sanctions 25 more Chinese entities, including firm that touted its technology could help Russia monitor Ukraine’s submarines

* Cricket: Ton-up Jadeja hails ‘serious batter’ Bumrah as India dominate England

* Has the South China Sea become a nuclear playground?

* South Korea’s daily new Covid-19 cases stay above 10,000 amid resurgence woes

Ferdinand Marcos Jr. became the Philippines’ 17th president last week after over four decades in politics that began under the shadow of his father, former Philippine leader Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

Marcos Jr. — known by his nickname “Bongbong” or as simply “BBM” — is the only son of Marcos Sr., who ruled the Philippines as president and prime minister from 1965 to 1986. Marcos Sr. imposed martial law on the Philippines for roughly half of his tenure (1972-1980), running what has widely been derided as a dictatorship . While he held elections before he assumed either the president’s or prime minister’s office, they were timed irregularly and attracted accusations of fraud.

Filipinos elected Marcos Sr. as their tenth president in 1965 and reelected him to the office in 1969. Starting in 1971, however, he “played up middle-class fears” amid a “swell of student radicalization and [an] increasing number of violent [anti-capitalist] demonstrations, and used these to justify the imposition of Martial Law on September 23, 1972,” according to the Philippine government’s Official Gazette .

“Martial Law was not just an invocation of the President [Marcos]’s emergency powers under the 1935 Constitution—Marcos went further to assume all governing powers, excluded civilian courts, and systematically replaced the 1935 Constitution with the 1973 Constitution for his own ends,” according to the journal.

“Tens of thousands of people were imprisoned, tortured or killed for perceived or real criticism of the government, human rights groups say,” left-wing outlet CNN recalled in May of Marcos Sr.’s rule from about 1972 on. “As well as its restrictions on citizen rights and a brutal military police, the Marcos regime was marked by widespread corruption, with an estimated $10 billion stolen from the Filipino people.”

The U.S.-backed Marcos Sr. was ousted from Malacañang in 1986 during a non-violent “People Power” revolution led mainly by Philippine civilians. The popular uprising forced Marcos Sr. and his family to flee , with Washington’s assistance, to the U.S. state of Hawaii in 1986. Marcos Sr. was succeeded as Philippine president by the widow of his political rival, Corazon Aquino, and died in Hawaii in 1989.

Marcos Jr. 64, served as vice-governor of Ilocos Norte, his father’s home province in the Philippines’ north, from 1980 to 1983 and then served as Governor of Ilocos Norte from 1983 to 1986.

“Marcos Jr. was 23 when he became vice governor of the northern province of Ilocos Norte in 1980, running unopposed with his father’s party [the right-wing New Society Movement (KBL)],” according to CNN.

The political scion returned to the Philippines from Hawaii in 1991 and almost immediately launched a successful campaign for Congressman of Ilocos Norte (2nd District) despite his father’s tainted legacy. Ilocos Norte may have been quick to embrace Marcos Jr. because his family had long-established ties to the region. Filipinos have historically elected several political dynasties on both a local and national scale. Philippine politicians often build strong support bases in their provinces of origin and then work to perpetuate regional dominance, which is what the Marcos family seems to have successfully done in Ilocos Norte.

Professors from the University of the Philippines-Diliman observed in 2013 “[a] general trend in Philippine politics whereby 70 percent of the 15th Philippine Congress is dynastic.”

Marcos Jr. served as Congressman of Ilocos Norte (2nd District) from 1992 to 1995 before his election to Ilocos Norte’s governorship in 1998. After serving as the province’s leader through 2007, Marcos Jr. chose to run again for Congressman of Ilocos Norte (2nd District). He served in the role from 2007 to 2010 before embarking on his first foray into national politics. Marcos Jr. was elected a Philippine senator in 2010 and served in the post through 2016.

Marcos has enjoyed tremendous success as a politician without creating a clearly defined ideological persona, instead running under populist banners and making center-left proposals like increasing budget spending and softening the nation’s war o communist terrorists — ideas also shared with his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte.

Marcos Jr. was a member of the Philippines’ populist Nacionalista political party from 2009 to 2021. Before that, he represented the populist Kilusang Bagong Lipunan party (an offshoot of the Nacionalista party) from 1980 to 2009.

Marcos Jr. suggested in June that he plans to continue Duterte’s “War on Drugs” in the Philippines, which saw his administration crackdown on illicit drug offenders with a heavy hand. In May, Marcos Jr. announced his then-incoming administration’s budget for 2023, which was a record-high “P5.268 trillion,” or roughly USD $94.3 billion.

“The proposed budget next year is equivalent to 22.1% of the country’s gross domestic product,” the Philippines’ GMA news outlet reported.

“The budget ceiling approved by the economic managers is higher than the P5.242-trillion pegged by the economic team in December 2021,” GMA observed.

Marcos Jr.’s administration in mid-June suggested it would work toward less stringent labeling of the nation’s communist terrorists , according to a report by Voice of America (VOA), allegedly to avoid demonizing political opponents or human rights activists.

The Philippine government, under the new administration of Marcos Jr., officially designated “five suspected Muslim militants and six suspected members of the outlawed communist party as ‘terrorists,’ [in mid-June] saying the move will allow authorities to freeze financial assets that could be used for funding attacks,” the U.S. government-funded BenarNews broadcaster reported.

Marcos Jr.’s official website states the following about his political policies:

When he was a Governor, BBM transformed Ilocos Norte into a first-class province. […] Despite its dry landscape, BBM modernized both the agricultural and tourism landscape in Ilocos Norte. Under his watch, the province became both an agricultural exporter and tourism hotspot.

The website further noted that Marcos Jr. is “an advocate of renewable energy for sustainable development” and that he “built wind farms in various areas of the province [Ilocos Norte] to sustain not only the energy supply of Ilocos Norte but also for the rest of Luzon.”

Marcos Jr. expressed the following on May 26 about China’s increasing encroachment on Philippine territory in the South China Sea:

There is no wiggle room there. Our sovereignty is sacred. We will not compromise it in any way. We are a sovereign nation with a functioning government. We do not need to be told by anyone how to run our own country. There is no room for negotiation there. It is sacred, inviolable.

Marcos first ran as a political independent for the 2016 Philippine vice-presidential election (the nation elects presidents and vice presidents separately). Marcos’s campaign was ultimately unsuccessful as he came in second place to Leni Robredo. He lost by a historically narrow margin and contested the poll’s results to no avail.

Duterte, whom “Bongbong” succeeded in the presidency last week, met with Marcos Jr. in September 2015, allegedly to discuss running together for president and vice president, respectively, in the 2016 Philippine general election, CNN Philippines reported at the time. Though this theoretical tandem did not come to fruition, it suggests that the two leaders may have shared a political vision.

Marcos reportedly vowed to avenge his 2016 loss by running against Robredo again for the 2022 Philippine presidential election. He beat out both Robredo and boxer-turned-Philippine Sen. Manny Pacquiao to win the office of the Philippine presidency on May 11.

“Marcos, 64, has presented no real policy platform, campaigning on a simple but ambiguous message of unity,” Reuters observed of the politician on May 10.

Rodrigo Duterte was ineligible to run for president again in 2022 as Philippine law limits presidents to a single, six-year term.

Marcos Jr. successfully ran for the 2022 Philippine presidential election as chairman of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), which is a federalism-based political party established by his predecessor, Duterte. Marcos Jr. joined forces with Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter, former Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, to run for president and vice president, respectively, in this year’s Philippine general election. Sara Duterte was elected vice president of the Philippines on May 9 and sworn in on June 19.

The Philippine Foreign Ministry summoned China’s ambassador to Manila on Monday over the “illegal intrusion and lingering presence” of a Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessel in Philippine waters near the Sulu Sea over a three-day period from January 29 through February 1.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) issued a press release on March 14 explaining its decision to summon Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian over the incident. The statement read:

From 29 January to 01 February 2022, a PLAN Electronic Reconnaissance Ship (Dongdiao-class) with bow number 792 entered Philippine waters without permission, reaching the waters of Palawan’s Cuyo Group of Islands and Apo Island in Mindoro.

The Philippine Navy vessel BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151) challenged PLAN 792, which alleged that it was exercising innocent passage. Its movements, however did not follow a track that can be considered as continuous and expeditious, lingering in the Sulu Sea for three days. PLAN 792 also continued its activities in Philippine waters despite being repeatedly directed by the BRP Antonio Luna to leave Philippine waters immediately.

“[T]he actions of PLAN 792 did not constitute innocent passage and violated Philippine sovereignty,” the Philippine Foreign Ministry affirmed.

DFA Acting Undersecretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro conveyed to Ambassador Huang Manila’s expectation that China “respect Philippine territory and maritime jurisdiction” during Huang’s summoning on March 14. Lazaro further “demanded” Beijing “comply with its obligations under international law, particularly UNCLOS, and direct its vessels to desist from entering Philippine waters uninvited and without permission.”

“UNCLOS” refers to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ( UNCLOS ). The Philippine government filed a case against China’s government in the International Court of Arbitration in 2016 to dispute Beijing’s claims to nearly all of the South China Sea. The arbitral tribunal, which was established under UNCLOS, ruled in favor of Manila and declared Beijing’s claim to nearly 90 percent of the South China Sea illegal. China’s government largely ignored the landmark 2016 ruling and has continued to encroach upon other nations’ territories within the strategic body of water in recent years.

The South China Sea is separated from the Sulu Sea by the Philippines’ Palawan island. Both the Philippines and Malaysia are considered basin countries of the Sulu Sea, which spans an area separating the southwestern Philippines from Malaysian Borneo.

“Nearly five years ago, bilateral relations were more positive as Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte hinted at a possible training exercise with China in the Sulu Sea,” Benar News recalled on March 14. “Duterte made the statement during a May 1, 2017, port call by Chinese warship Changchun in his hometown of Davao, PLAN’s first such visit in seven years.”

Benar news is affiliated with the U.S. government-funded broadcaster Radio Free Asia.

Chinese vice-president Wang Qishan called on China and the Philippines to improve their relations by properly handling South China Sea disputes.

Wang, who was attending the inauguration ceremony of Ferdinand Marcos Jnr on Thursday, said the Philippines was a priority for China’s diplomacy.

“The Chinese side has always placed the Philippines as a priority in its neighbouring diplomacy, and looks forward to working with the new Philippine government to carry forward friendship, enhance mutual trust, and continue cooperation, so as to usher in a new ‘golden era’ for China-Philippines relations,” Wang was quoted as saying by Xinhua.

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Wang attended the ceremony as a special envoy of Chinese President Xi Jinping , and also met Marcos’s predecessor Rodrigo Duterte.

The two nations should “adhere to the proper handling of disputes and jointly safeguard the peace and tranquillity of the South China Sea,” he said.

China and the Philippines have been at odds for years over the South China Sea. Beijing has claimed sovereignty over almost the entirety of the waters, which are also claimed by Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

Marcos says he’ll assert Philippines’ South China Sea rights ‘with a firm voice’

During his election campaign, Marcos said he would negotiate a deal with Beijing to resolve their territorial dispute in the South China Sea.

According to observers, the election of Marcos may come as a relief to China. Beijing has enjoyed warmer ties with Manila over the past six years under Duterte’s China-friendly policy, with Beijiing offering several billion dollars in investment – including railways, roads and bridges.

But the Philippines government announced last week the termination of talks between the two nations over a joint energy exploration deal they signed in 2018, citing constitutional constraints and sovereignty issues as the reasons. The move could allow Marcos to pursue exploration opportunities with other countries.

Marcos has said he would use a 2016 UN arbitral ruling to assert the nation’s territorial right over the South China Sea, vowing his administration will not compromise on sovereignty issues. That ruling rejected Beijing’s historical claims to the disputed waters – a decision denounced by Beijing.

Wang spoke of Duterte’s role in improving China-Philippines relations, saying the two nations had established a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

Should Marcos be ‘on guard’ as Sara Duterte takes oath early, meets China envoy?

“In the face of the epidemic, China and the Philippines have helped each other and overcome difficulties together, and the resilience and vitality of the relationship between the two countries have become more and more evident,” Wang was quoted as saying.

Wang said he hoped the former president would continue supporting the development of China-Philippines relations.

During the inauguration ceremony, Marcos said his commitments included keeping up infrastructure projects for the Philippines and cleaning up plastic waste.

More from South China Morning Post:

• Philippines’ food and energy crises, China oil deal to greet Marcos Jnr as he takes office
• Philippine news site Rappler ordered to shut down ahead of Duterte’s exit – but vows to carry on
• Philippines’ Marcos Jnr will take presidential oath at venue linked to father’s brutal legacy
• Who is Louise ‘Liza’ Araneta-Marcos, the Philippines’ new first lady?
• Marcos touts ties with ‘good friend’ Beijing as Philippines issues new South China Sea protest

For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app . Copyright 2022.

Sir Paul McCartney made history last night as the oldest solo headliner at Glastonbury Festival, but before he took the stage he gave his 3.9 million Instagram followers a sneak peek at his dance moves.

Paul’s Instagram had been taken over by his daughter Mary McCartney , 52, and the photographer went on to capture content behind the scenes for her music icon dad’s fans.

Paul bobbed around in his Mandarin collar navy jacket – a nod to the Beatles eighth studio album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band – as he held onto his guitar, with the lively crowd heard cheering in the background, before he headed out onto the stage.

The music legend appeared to be in high spirits as he took the stage in the following video, where he would begin his historic 38 song headline set.

Once on stage he welcomed his audience, saying: “Oh man, it’s so good to be here. We were supposed to be here three years ago. I’ve got a feeling we’re going to have a great time here tonight”.

He then promised his fans that they could expect “old songs, new songs and inbetweeners”.

Sir Paul became the oldest solo performer to ever headline Glastonbury last night, as the 80-year-old took the stage and performed almost 40 songs from his impressive back catalogue.

For Beatles fans in the crowd, the night took on even more meaning as Paul was reunited with his former band member , the late John Lennon .

The Liverpool-born legend thanked The Lord Of The Rings director Peter Jackson for making it technically possible for him to “play live with John on tour” once again.

Paul insisted that the experience was “so special”, with him going on to say: “I know it’s virtual, but there I am singing with John again. We’re back together.”

Although the moving performance from the 80-year-old music legend left fans thrilled, some went onto complain that there were not enough Beatles songs played in the 38 song set list.

The Beatles split up in 1970, after having a very successful run throughout the 1960s. Following the split, Paul went on to launch a solo career which he carries on to this day, over 50 years later.

At this point he also formed the band Wings, alongside his wife Linda McCartney . Although Paul played more Beatles hits than Wings songs, fans made complaints online which were quickly shot down by viewers and celebrities at home.

Paul’s own discography, in addition to songs he had written for other artists, makes up a significant portion of musical hits throughout his lifetime.

Critic Kathryn Flett wrote: “So you’re Macca, you’ve written a sizeable percentage of the greatest pop songs ever, you’re 80 and frankly you can do whatever you f*ing well like… On the other hand, given the infinite magnificence of your back catalogue, do you really just stick pins in it to make a set list?”

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