PRESIDENT BACKS SAR'S HANDLING OF HK RIOTING

As rioting continued in Hong Kong on Thursday, President Xi Jinping voiced the central government's firm support for the chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in leading the governance team to administer the city by rule of law. Xi also expressed firm support for the Hong Kong police in strictly enforcing the law and for the judiciary to punish violent criminals in accordance with the law.

CALIFORNIA SCHOOL SHOOTING: SANTA CLARITA ATTACK LEAVES TWO DEAD

A California high school student on his 16th birthday opened fire on campus
on Thursday, killing a 16-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy and wounding
three other teens before shooting himself in the head, officials said.

SPEAKER REJECTS DUTERTE SPECIAL POWERS FOR BBB

MANILA —Saying it was too late in the day, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano has
rejected a proposal to give President Duterte special powers to speed up
Build, Build, Build (BBB) flagship projects under his administration.

XI URGES BUSINESS SECTOR'S ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN BRICS COOPERATION

President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called on the business circles to actively participate and promote BRICS economic cooperation so as to make tangible contributions to economic growth and job creation.

TRUMP IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY: NEW CLAIMS AMID PUBLIC HEARING

A top US diplomat told impeachment hearings that President Trump directly
asked about a Ukrainian investigation into his Democratic rival Joe Biden.

HOUSE TO VOTE ON SPEAKER

Manila — With President Duterte keeping his hands off the issue, the House
of Representatives will vote on the term-sharing deal between Speaker Alan
Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, a House official said
yesterday.

XI: BRI HELPING CHINESE, GREEK PEOPLE

The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative is not an empty slogan but a successful practice and a brilliant reality, President Xi Jinping said during a visit to the Port of Piraeus in Greece on Monday.

VIOLENCE BRINGS HONG KONG TO ‘BRINK OF TOTAL BREAKDOWN’

A flash mob of more than 1,000 protesters descended on central Hong Kong on
Tuesday in a scene authorities said was bringing the Chinese-ruled city to
the brink of "total collapse."

DUTERTE HANDS OFF ON TERM-SHARING DEAL ON SPEAKERSHIP

MANILA — President Duterte will not meddle in the term-sharing agreement
between Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco
in the House of Representatives, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said
yesterday.

XI CALLS FOR STRONGER GREECE TIES

China and Greece should work together to construct the Belt and Road and build China-Europe land and maritime routes into key channels for cargo transportation, President Xi Jinping said on Monday.

AUSTRALIAN STATE DECLARES EMERGENCY DUE TO WILDFIRES

Australia's most populous state declared a state of emergency on Monday due
to unprecedented wildfire danger as calls grew for Australia to take more
action to counter climate change.

UN BODY, ROBREDO MEET OVER NEW VP-LED ANTI-DRUG CAMPAIGN

MANILA—Vice President Leni Robredo sat down Monday with the United Nations
Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) as she moved to shift the government’s
bloody drug war to one adopting best practices while avoiding mistakes
committed in other countries.

XI BEGINS STATE VISIT TO GREECE; BRICS SUMMIT IN BRAZIL NEXT

President Xi Jinping called on China and Greece to tap their civilizations for wisdom and build a new type of international relations featuring respect, justice and mutually beneficial cooperation.

24TH WEEKEND OF HONG KONG PROTESTS

Police fired tear gas to break up rallies as black-clad activists blocked
roads and trashed shopping malls across Hong Kong on the 24th straight
weekend of anti-government protests.

ROBREDO ON CABINET MEETINGS: I’LL GO IF I’M INVITED

MANILA—Vice-President Leni Robredo on Sunday said she will only attend
Cabinet meetings if she is invited.

TRUMP TO HOST NATO CHIEF AS ALLIANCE FACES STRAINS

U.S. President Donald Trump will host NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg in
Washington at a time of severe strain within the Atlantic alliance, the
White House announced on November 9.

TRUMP TO HOST NATO CHIEF AS ALLIANCE FACES STRAINS

U.S. President Donald Trump will host NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg in
Washington at a time of severe strain within the Atlantic alliance, the
White House announced on November 9.

FISHERS QUESTION MANILA BAY RECLAMATION PROJECTS BEFORE DENR

MANILA - A fisherfolk federation has filed an official complaint with the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources against three reclamation
projects in Manila Bay.

XI CALLS FOR AIR FORCE TO SOAR

President Xi Jinping urged the People's Liberation Army Air Force on Friday to keep moving toward success and to build itself into a world-class air power.

SECOND PHILIPPINE NAVY FRIGATE LAUNCHED IN SOUTH KOREA

MANILA — The Philippine Navy yesterday launched its second brand-new frigate
at the Hyundai Heavy Industries shipbuilding complex in Ulsan, South Korea.

TRUMP SAYS HAS NOT AGREED TO ROLL BACK TARIFFS ON CHINESE GOODS

President Donald Trump on Friday said he has not agreed to rollbacks of U.S.
tariffs sought by China, sparking fresh doubts about when the world's two
largest economies may end a 16-month trade war that has slowed global
growth.

XI TO VISIT GREECE, ATTEND BRICS SUMMIT

President Xi Jinping's upcoming state visit to Greece and his participation in the BRICS Summit in Brazil will represent China's strong support, along with the bloc's four other member nations, for maintaining multilateralism and promoting the building of an open global economy, senior diplomats said on Thursday.

FRANCE PRESIDENT SAYS NATO SUFFERING ‘BRAIN DEATH’, QUESTIONS US COMMITMENT

French President Emmanuel Macron, in an interview with British weekly The
Economist, warned fellow European countries that they could no longer rely
on the United States to defend North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
allies.

SOVEREIGN RIGHTS PROTECTED IN MOU WITH CHINA, SAYS CARPIO

MANILA - Retired Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio believes China will
comply with the arbitral ruling in the South China Sea with the Memorandum
of Understanding it signed with the Philippines on joint oil and gas
exploration.

CHINA, FRANCE SIGN DEALS WORTH $15B

China and France signed commercial deals on Wednesday totaling $15.1 billion in such fields as aviation, energy, agriculture and finance to boost their cooperation, and vowed to jointly safeguard multilateralism and free trade.

TRUMP IMPEACHMENT PROBE TO ENTER HIGH-STAKES PHASE WITH PUBLIC HEARINGS NEXT
WEEK

Impeachment proceedings against U.S. President Donald Trump for pressuring
Ukraine to investigate a political rival will reach a critical stage next
week when a Democratic-led congressional committee holds its first public
hearings on the issue.

DFA CHIEF TO PROTEST CHINA'S WARNING FLARES VS PHILIPPINE MILITARY PLANES
AFTER VERIFICATION

MANILA — The Philippines' top diplomat is awaiting confirmation on China's
firing of warning flares against Philippine military aircraft patrolling the
West Philippine Sea.

XI REAFFIRMS OPENING-UP COMMITMENT

President Xi Jinping reaffirmed China's commitment to opening its door wider with such measures as lowering tariffs and improving the business environment.

DEADLOCK CONTINUES IN PAKISTAN

A government delegation led by Defence Minister Pervez Khattak met Jamiat
Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) representatives and other Opposition leaders, who
were leading a sit-in in Islamabad demanding Prime Minister Imran Khan's
resignation, on Tuesday, but failed to resolve the deadlock.

PHILIPPINES RESUMES STAMPING ON CHINESE PASSPORTS WITH 9 NINE-DASH LINE MAP

MANILA — The Bureau of Immigration on Wednesday announced that it will
resume the stamping on passports of Chinese nationals entering and leaving
the Philippines.

XI: CHINA TO ADOPT 5 MEASURES TO PROMOTE HIGHER-LEVEL OPENING-UP

President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony of the second China International Import Expo in Shanghai on Tuesday. He announced the opening of the expo and delivered a keynote speech.

US IN TALKS WITH RUSSIA, CHINA ON MAJOR ARMS CONTROL-LIKE AGREEMENT: TRUMP

The United States is in talks with both Russia and China on a major arms
control-like agreement, US President Donald Trump has said.

DUTERTE BACK IN MANILA AFTER 35TH ASEAN SUMMIT IN THAILAND

MANILA-President Rodrigo Duterte returned to Manila early Tuesday after
participating in the 3-day ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Nonthaburi,
Thailand.

XI URGES BETTER CITY GOVERNANCE

President Xi Jinping, on a two-day inspection tour in Shanghai, called for further reform, opening-up and institutional innovation to improve the level of governance of the international metropolitan city.

KARTARPUR READY FOR SIKH PILGRIMS, SAYS IMRAN KHAN; SHARES PHOTOS

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday shared some of the dazzling
pictures of the Kartarpur complex and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, saying the
revered venue is ready to welcome the Sikhs pilgrims for the 550th birth
anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak.

HOUSE DROPS EMERGENCY POWERS FOR DUTERTE, TO USE OVERSIGHT FUNCTION VS
TRAFFIC

MANILA — The House of Representatives will exercise its oversight powers to
ease crippling traffic in urban areas, instead of giving President Rodrigo
Duterte proposed emergency powers, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said Monday
as Congress resumed its session.

CHINESE PREMIER CALLS FOR MULTILATERALISM IN EAST ASIA MEETINGS

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang called on the upcoming East Asia meetings to focus on pragmatic cooperation, multilateralism, and free trade through dialogue and consultations.

WILL NOT ALLOW CHAOS, PAK ARMY WARNS PROTESTERS

The Pakistan army on Saturday warned that no one would be allowed to create
instability and chaos in the country, a day after the incalcitrant cleric
and politician Maulana Fazlur Rehman set a two-day deadline for Prime
Minister Imran Khan to step down.

ASIAN LEADERS HOPE FOR TRADE DEAL AS ECONOMIES SAG ON US-CHINA SPAT

BANGKOK -- Southeast Asian leaders meet for a second day in Thailand on
Sunday, hoping for a breakthrough in talks over the world's largest trade
deal to help throw off the torpor which has gripped the global economy since
the US-China tariff war began.

XI SENDS CONGRATULATIONS ON 120TH ANNIVERSARY OF ORACLE BONE INSCRIPTION DISCOVERY, RESEARCH

Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent a congratulatory letter on the 120th anniversary of the discovery and research of oracle bone inscriptions.

FARAGE TELLS JOHNSON: DROP BREXIT DEAL AND I'LL HELP YOU WIN

British euroskeptic politician Nigel Farage tried to ramp up pressure on
Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday, saying his Brexit Party
would run against the Conservatives across the country unless Johnson
abandons his divorce deal with the European Union.

DUTERTE ARRIVES IN THAILAND FOR 35TH ASEAN SUMMIT

MANILA—President Rodrigo Duterte arrived in Thailand Friday night to attend
the 35th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.

PLENUM REAFFIRMS PARTY LEADERSHIP

A key Party meeting concluded in Beijing on Thursday, reaffirming the significance and advantages of pursuing socialism with Chinese characteristics and modernizing the country's system and capacity for governance in realizing national rejuvenation, setting the tone for the country's future development path.

SLAMIC STATE GROUP NAMES ITS NEW LEADER AS ABU IBRAHIM AL-HASHEMI

The jihadist group Islamic State (IS) has for the first time confirmed the
death of its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and named his successor.

DUTERTE 'ON TOP' OF QUAKE RESPONSE, TO PUSH THROUGH WITH THAILAND TRIP

MANILA -- President Rodrigo Duterte will push through with his trip to
Thailand on Friday to attend the ASEAN Summit while remaining "on top" of
earthquake response, his spokesman said.

PARTY MEETING FOCUSES ON BETTER ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE

China is likely to see breakthroughs in improving its business environment and the rule of law in economic fields to better unleash the country's growth potential and ensure high-quality development as the central leadership discusses governance systems and capacity at an ongoing Party meeting in Beijing, experts said.

TWITTER TO BAN ALL POLITICAL ADVERTISING

Twitter is to ban all political advertising worldwide, saying that the reach
of such messages "should be earned, not bought".

CARPIO'S GAME PLAN: PRESSURE CHINA TO RESPECT ARBITRATION RULING

MANILA - Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio is
supporting the move to bring the Philippines' legal victory against China
over the South China Sea to the United Nations General Assembly to get the
support of world leaders.

XI TO ATTEND IMPORT EXPO IN SHANGHAI

President Xi Jinping will deliver the keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the second China International Import Expo in Shanghai, said Vice-Minister of Commerce Wang Bingnan.

U.K. PM BORIS JOHNSON WINS APPROVAL FOR DEC. 12 ELECTION

Britain will hold its first December election in almost a century after
Prime Minister Boris Johnson won approval from parliament on Tuesday for an
early ballot aimed at breaking the Brexit deadlock.

ROBREDO IGNORES DUTERTE OFFER TO LEAD DRUG WAR

MANILA — Vice President Leni Robredo refused yesterday to answer President
Duterte’s latest tirades against her, saying she would rather focus on more
urgent matters than dwell on his repeated insults.

XI TO DELIVER KEYNOTE SPEECH AT OPENING OF 2ND CIIE

President Xi Jinping will deliver the keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the second China International Import Expo on Nov 5 in Shanghai, Vice-Minister of Commerce Wang Bingnan announced on Tuesday.

EU AGREES TO DELAY BREXIT; UK HOUSE BLOCKS DEC 12 POLLS

Britain got Brexit breathing space but no clarity on Monday when the
European Union granted a three-month delay to the UK's departure from the
bloc.

PANGILINAN DARES DUTERTE: LET ROBREDO TAKE OVER LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR 3 YEARS,
NOT 6 MONTHS

MANILA—President Rodrigo Duterte should give Vice President Leni Robredo 3
years instead of 6 months to enforce the law in the country, a senator said
Monday.

PARTY MEETING TO FOCUS ON BETTER GOVERNANCE

With China shifting from high-speed growth to high-quality development, the upcoming fourth plenary session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China is expected to unveil new policies to improve China's systems and capacity of governance to better meet its development needs in the new era, analysts said.

ABU BAKR AL-BAGHDADI: IS LEADER 'DEAD AFTER US RAID' IN SYRIA

The fugitive leader of the Islamic State (IS) group killed himself during a
US military operation in north-west Syria, President Donald Trump has said.

ROBREDO SAYS POLL PROTEST BECOMING 'PLATFORM FOR LIES,' MUST END SOON

MANILA -- Vice President Leni Robredo said Monday the election protest of
her 2016 rival, former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr, should be
resolved to prevent it from being used as a platform for "lies."

CLOSER TIES SOUGHT WITH BRAZIL

China would like to expand cooperation with Brazil in areas covering agriculture, energy, mining industry, aerospace and infrastructure, President Xi Jinping said on Friday.

RUSSIA CALLS U.S. MOVE TO PROTECT SYRIAN OIL 'BANDITRY'

Russia's Defense Ministry on Saturday harshly criticized the United States
decision to send armored vehicles and combat troops into eastern Syria to
protect oil fields, calling it "banditry."

PUTIN ACCEPTS DUTERTE INVITE FOR 1ST PHILIPPINE VISIT

MANILA, Philippines - Russian ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev is
hopeful that President Vladimir Putin would visit the Philippines "as soon
as possible."

PRESIDENT CALLS FOR FOREIGN GUESTS TO BOLSTER TIES

President Xi Jinping on Friday called on foreign participants in an international conference to help enhance mutual understanding between China and the outside world.

U.S. TO USE 'MECHANISED FORCES' IN SYRIA

The U.S. will strengthen its military presence in Syria with "mechanised
forces" to prevent Islamic State fighters seizing oil fields and revenue,
the U.S. Defense Secretary said on Friday, the latest twist in President
Donald Trump's confusing policy on Syria.

SOME WORLD LEADERS TELL DUTERTE WATCH HIS HEALTH, 'AVOID RIDING BIG MOTORBIKES'

MANILA - Some world leaders who gathered in Japan for the enthronement of
its new emperor, extended their well wishes to President Rodrigo Duterte,
who had to leave Tokyo earlier due to “unbearable” back pain, Malacañang
said Friday.

TOP PARTY LEADERSHIP PREPARES FOR SESSION

A key Party meeting announced goals regarding modernization of the socialist system and capacity for governance in the coming decades, a topic to be further discussed by the Party's senior officials at a four-day session next week.

BORIS JOHNSON TO ASK PARLIAMENT FOR DECEMBER 12 ELECTION

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on October 24 that he was asking
parliament to approve a national election to take place on December 12 as
part of his efforts to ensure Britain leaves the European Union.

PH, CHINA INK 6 BILATERAL DEALS FOR PROJECTS UNDER 'BUILD, BUILD, BUILD', OTHER VENTURES

MANILA - The Philippines signed 6 bilateral accords with China for projects
under President Rodrigo Duterte's infrastructure program "Build, Build,
Build" and other ventures in trade, customs and communications, the finance
department said Thursday.

19TH CPC CENTRAL COMMITTEE TO HOLD 4TH PLENUM ON OCT 28-31

The fourth plenary session of the 19th Communist Party of China Central Committee will be held from Oct 28 to 31 in Beijing, according to a decision made at a CPC Central Committee Political Bureau meeting on Thursday.

BORIS JOHNSON EYES GENERAL ELECTION AFTER PAUSING BREXIT BILL

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is preparing to push for a general
election if the European Union (EU) offers a three-month extension to the
October 31 Brexit deadline, after MPs rejected his fast-track timetable for
the passage of the EU Withdrawal Bill in the UK Parliament.

DUTERTE FEELS ‘MUCH BETTER’; TO MEET WITH CHINESE VICE PREMIER: PALACE

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte will push through with his meeting with
Chinese Vice Premier Hu Chunhua on Thursday since he is already feeling
“much better,” Malacañang said a day after the chief executive consulted
with doctors on the “unbearable” pain in his spine that forced him to cut
short his trip to Japan last Tuesday.

COOPERATION IN CLEAN ENERGY TO EXPAND, XI SAYS

The country is ready to work with the international community to strengthen all-around energy cooperation, safeguard energy security and address climate change, President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday.

DUTERTE BACK IN PH AFTER SHORTENED JAPAN TRIP, TO SEE DOC WEDNESDAY

Soon after his arrival, Duterte proceeds to Nene Pimentel wake
Nursing an aching spine, President Rodrigo Duterte flew in to the country
Tuesday night from Japan as he cut short a scheduled 2-day trip after
witnessing the enthronement of Japanese Emperor Naruhito.

BREXIT BILL 'IN LIMBO' AS MPS REJECT TIMETABLE

Boris Johnson has hit the pause button on his Brexit legislation after MPs
rejected his plan to get it through the Commons in three days.

XI SAYS COUNTRY WILLING TO JOINTLY TACKLE PROBLEMS

China is willing to work together with countries in the Asia-Pacific region to tackle security challenges, but it is resolute in safeguarding its sovereignty, security and development interests, senior military officials said on Monday.

BREXIT: MPS' VOTE ON DEAL RULED OUT BY SPEAKER JOHN BERCOW

The Commons Speaker has refused a government request to hold a "yes" or "no"
vote on its Brexit deal.

DUTERTE ARRIVES IN JAPAN FOR EMPEROR NARUHITO'S ENTHRONEMENT

President Rodrigo Duterte has arrived in Japan Tuesday morning (Manila time)
to join other world leaders in witnessing the enthronement of Emperor
Naruhito.

XI: INTERNET A JOINT GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY

As the internet celebrates its 50th year, President Xi Jinping is encouraging countries to promote global governance in cyberspace and strive to build a community with a shared future.

US TROOPS LEAVING SYRIA FOR WESTERN IRAQ: PENTAGON CHIEF

US Defence Secretary Mark Esper says under current plans all US troops
leaving Syria will go to western Iraq and the American military will
continue to conduct operations against the Islamic State group to prevent
its resurgence.

ROBREDO ASKS PET ANEW: JUNK POLL PROTEST

MANILA — The lead counsel of Vice President Leni Robredo reiterated
yesterday his appeal to the Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential
Electoral Tribunal (PET), to dismiss the electoral protest filed by former
senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. after failing to make a substantial recovery in
the initial recount of votes for the vice presidential race in 2016.

XI WELCOMES WORLD INTERNET CONFERENCE ATTENDEES WITH LETTER

President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the 6th World Internet Conference, which opened Sunday in the town of Wuzhen in East China's Zhejiang province.

BRITISH PM SENDS UNSIGNED LETTER SEEKING BREXIT DELAY

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson reluctantly wrote to Brussels asking
for a Brexit extension after MPs voted Saturday to force him into seeking a
delay beyond October 31.

HOUSE TO TACKLE DIVORCE BILL, DEATH PENALTY

MANILA — Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano intends to get a consensus of the
members of the House of Representatives on Charter change (Cha-cha), the
divorce bill and re-imposition of the death penalty to help guide the
leadership on what to do.

PRESIDENT: GAMES 'GATHERING OF PEACE'

President Xi Jinping pledged on Friday that China will strive to make the 7th Military World Games of the International Military Sports Council an international gathering of peace that encourage military personnel to compete on a fair basis and enable diverse military cultures to develop exchanges and mutual learning.

ATF RETAINS PAKISTAN IN GREY LIST; WARNS OF ACTION

Putting Pakistan on notice, the international terror financing watchdog FATF
on Friday warned it will be blacklisted if it does not control terror
funding by February next, voicing serious concern over that country’s
failure to deliver on most of its 27 targets.

CARPIO TAKES SC HELM AS ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE

MANILA – Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio will take the high court's
helm in acting capacity, Court Administrator Midas Marquez said Friday.
This as President Rodrigo Duterte has yet to pick his choice of chief
magistrate while Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin has retired.

XI URGES NEW EFFORTS TO FIGHT POVERTY

President Xi Jinping is emphasizing efforts to win the battle against poverty.

China should stick to its poverty alleviation target and make continuous efforts in the battle, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said on Thursday, National Poverty Relief Day.

BREXIT DEAL IN HAND, BORIS JOHNSON FACES AN UPHILL STRUGGLE IN PARLIAMENT

Britain secured a Brexit deal with the European Union on Thursday, more than
three years after Britons voted to leave the bloc, but Prime Minister Boris
Johnson must still win a knife-edge vote in Parliament to get the agreement
approved.

DUTERTE WARNS ‘NINJA’ COPS, CRIMINALS: I CAN BE MORE EVIL THAN YOU

MANILA- President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday warned rogue policemen and
criminals that he can be more “evil” than them if he decides to do so.
Duterte specifically cautioned the so-called “ninja” cops or policemen
involved in the resale of drugs seized in anti-narcotics operations,
robbers, and drug pushers not to be too confident in their illegal
activities.

XI LAUDS OCT 1 FETE AS IMPETUS FOR COUNTRY

Celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China can serve as a strong impetus for people to press ahead in the new era, President Xi Jinping said.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remark while presiding over a recent meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

TURKEY DEFIANT ON SYRIA OPERATION AS U.S. SEEKS CEASEFIRE

Turkey rebuffed international pressure to curb its military offensive
against Kurdish militants in Syria on Wednesday as U.S. President Donald
Trump dispatched his deputy Mike Pence to Ankara to demand a ceasefire.

CHINESE SHIP THAT SANK GEMVER POSSIBLY PART OF MARITIME MILITIA - REPORT

MANILA - Tracking the moves of the Chinese vessel that sank Philippine
fishing boat GemVer 1 would suggest that it was more than just a commercial
fishing ship, according to a think tank.

XI: CHINA WELCOMES FRANCE TO ATTEND SECOND CIIE

China will continue to firmly pursue the strategy of opening-up based on mutual benefit, President Xi Jinping said when he held a telephone conversation with his French counterpart Emannuel Macron on Tuesday night.

TRUMP SANCTIONS FAIL TO SLOW TURKEY ASSAULT; MOSCOW'S ALLIES ADVANCE

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan dismissed a U.S. proposal to broker a
ceasefire in northern Syria and said he was not worried over U.S. sanctions,
in comments published in Turkish media on Wednesday.

DUTERTE'S DROOPY EYE NOT LIFE THREATENING - PALACE

MANILA - President Duterte is "perfectly healthy" despite his revelation
that he has a condition called myasthenia gravis, a chronic auto-immune
neuromuscular disorder that affects the muscles in his eyes, according to
presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo.

CHINA WILL INTENSIFY COOPERATION TO ENSURE FOOD SECURITY

China will intensify international cooperation with other countries to jointly fight hunger and ensure global food security, said a white paper released on Monday.

DONALD TRUMP IMPOSES SANCTIONS ON TURKEY AS SYRIAN CRISIS ESCALATES

Protesting Turkey's military offensive into northeast Syria, US President
Donald Trump on Monday announced he will authorise sanctions against Turkish
officials, raise steel tariffs and end negotiations on a $100 billion trade
deal. Turkey launched a cross-border assault on Kurdish fighters on
Wednesday after the US decided to withdraw troops from Syria.

ROBREDO CAMP URGES PET TO FOLLOW OWN RULES

MANILA - The camp of Vice President Leni Robredo urged the Presidential
Electoral Tribunal to follow its own rules on Monday, a day ahead of a
possible ruling on the election protest filed by 2016 vice presidential
candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos.