Tag: United States

Duterte: PHL will no longer purchase weapons nor military equipment from US

(Eagle News)–The Philippines will no longer purchase weapons nor military equipment from the United States during President Rodrigo Duterte’s term. Duterte himself made the announcement in a speech in Bulacan on Thursday, Jan. 10. According to Duterte, the decision was made in view of the US’ threats to impose sanctions on countries that have dealings with Russia. “Pagkabumili ka sa China o maybe Russia, magsali ka sa embargo, you cannot trade with America. So para […]

GSK, Pfizer to merge consumer healthcare units

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Pharmaceutical giants GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer on Wednesday announced a merger of their consumer healthcare units that produce over-the-counter medicines. GSK said it would have a 68-percent controlling equity interest in the joint venture that will have combined sales of about £9.8 billion ($12.7 billion, 10.9 billion euros). The deal paves the way for British group GSK to have two UK-listed companies, one specialised in the development of drugs and the […]

Duterte says return of Balangiga bells a result of demand from Filipino people

(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, Dec. 13, said the return of the Balangiga bells to the country was due to the “demand of the Filipino people.” “Let me be clear on this, here and now. The credit of the return of the Balangiga bells does not belong to any worker or officials of government,” Duterte said in a speech during the unveiling of the Las Pinas Drug Rehabilitation Center marker in Pulang […]

US believes Chinese intelligence behind Marriott hack

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States said Wednesday that China was behind the massive hack of data from hotel giant Marriott, part of an ongoing global campaign of cyber-theft run by Beijing. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo confirmed to Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” program that the government believes China masterminded the Marriott data theft. “They have committed cyber attacks across the world,” he told the show. “We consider them a strategic competitor. […]

Palace: President Duterte’s strong political will made return of Balangiga bells possible

(Eagle News) — For the Palace, it was President Rodrigo Duterte’s strong political will that made the return of the Balangiga bells possible. “Many have tried but it is our President’s strong political will and unquestionable dedication in asserting the rights of our country and its people which significantly contributed to this event coming into fruition,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said. It was President Duterte who demanded for the return of the bells–taken by American […]

Bayan welcomes return of Balangiga bells but calls on US to recognize “atrocities of colonial rule”

(Eagle News) — The militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan on Tuesday, Dec. 12, welcomed the United States’ return of the Balangiga bells to the Philippines, but at the same time called on the country to formally recognize “the atrocities of colonial rule and reparations for the people who bore the burden of colonial occupation.” “Bayan congratulates the people of Balangiga, Samar for the return of the Balangiga Bells. The bells are a reminder of the […]

US wants ‘concrete’ trade action from China within 90 days

by Heather SCOTT Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States said Monday it will need to see “something concrete” from China in the next 90 days to build a real agreement on trade, two days after Donald Trump and Xi Jinping called a truce in the escalating confrontation between the two economic powerhouses. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on CNBC the US and China had held “very specific discussions” in Buenos […]

US says ‘confident’ N. Korea’s Kim will fulfill commitments

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States remains confident that denuclearization “promises” made during a historic summit between Donald Trump and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un will be fulfilled, a State Department spokesperson said Thursday. The comments came after state media in Pyongyang said Kim had supervised the testing of a “high-tech” new weapon that Yonhap news agency called successful. “At the Singapore Summit, President Trump and Chairman Kim made a number of commitments […]

CPP: Duterte putting PHL at risk of being caught between US-China skirmish

(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte is putting the Philippines at risk of being caught between a “likely outbreak of armed hostilities” between America and China, the Communist Party of the Philippines said. According to the CPP, this is because “Duterte’s claims that he does not want the Philippines to be dragged into a possible break-out of war in the South China Sea are belied by his actions.” The CPP noted what it said was […]

US officially turns over historic Balangiga bells to PHL

(Eagle News) — The historic Balangiga bells have officially been turned over to the Philippines. Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Elmer Cato made the announcement in a social media post. According to Cato, Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez was at the Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming for the official turnover with US Defense Secretary James Mattis. “We return the bells of Balangiga to our ally and our friend, the Philippines. We pick […]

Recto hails reported imminent return of Balangiga bells to PHL

(Eagle News) — Senator Ralph Recto on Tuesday, Nov. 13, hailed the reported imminent return of the Balangiga bells to the Philippines. “This is a joyous occasion for us all,” Recto said. According to Recto, the return of the bells, after all, “restores a severed historical connection between a proud people and their brave forebears.” “The bells are more than church artifacts, but will serve as a reminder of courage, which when rang will give […]

Palace welcomes reported imminent return of Balangiga bells to PHL

(Eagle News)—The Palace on Tuesday, Nov. 13, welcomed the imminent return of the historic Balangiga bells to the Philippines. In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said it was President Rodrigo Duterte himself who expressed his desire for the return of the three bells, which the Americans took as war trophies from Eastern Samar in 1901. “(The President explained) that they form part of our country’s patrimony and they were taken at the cost of […]