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DM-X Technologies Inc., nag-aalok ng walang patid na supply ng elektrisidad sa bayan ng Oriental Mindoro

Venus L Peñaflor
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DM-X Technologies Inc., nag-aalok ng walang patid na supply ng elektrisidad sa bayan ng Oriental Mindoro

Nagpaplano ang isang energy solution company na magsagawa ng pilot project na nangangakong maghatid ng 24/7 na serbisyo ng elektrisidad sa mga komunidad sa Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro, gamit ang mga power technology at clean energy.

Nakipagpulong si Bongabong Mayor Elegio Malaluan kay DM-X Technologies Inc. chair at chief executive officer Deodato Reloj Jr. noong Biyernes sa Clark, Pampanga at tinalakay ang posibleng partnership.

Ang core ng DM-X ay nag-aalok ng distributed power generation system (DPGS) na bumubuo ng primary power kumpara sa pagiging standby power generator lang.

Ang kumpanya ay distributor din ng mga  lubricants and clean fuel proprietary technology na pag aari ng isang gas company na Amptron Corporation sa Estados Unidos.

Umaasa si Malaluan na ang mga teknolohiya ng DM-X ay magbubukas ng higit pang mga pagkakataon at magbibigay daan para sa pag-unlad ng Bongabong na aniya ay nahahadlangan ng hindi episyenteng serbisyo ng kuryente sa isla.

“Sa Mindoro, parating brownout. Ang pino-propose nila (DM-X) ay magkaroon ng power plant sa Bongabong at Roxas, at ‘yung Bongabong ang magiging model or pilot. Kung magkaganoon, ‘pag naging maayos iyon, sa ibang bayan naman,” ayon kay Malaluan sa isang panayam ng Philippine News Agency.

“The decision was to pilot a one-megawatt project in Bongabong to show the DOE, Transco, and Napocor that DM-X can be a primary source of power. In the future, we would expand to serve more of Bongabong’s constituents and provide them with electricity 24/7,” dagdag pa niya.

POWER SUPPLY. (Mula kaliwa) DM-X Technologies Inc. chair Deodato Reloj Jr., National Commission for Indigenous Peoples Provincial Officer for Oriental Mindoro Reynante Luna, DM-X Philippine representative Jenifer Reloj, at Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro Mayor Elegio Malaluan habang tinitingnan ang power generation equipment sa DMX warehouse sa PhilExcel Business Center sa Clark, Pampanga noong Biyernes, Enero 28, 2022. Ang DM-X ay nagnanais na mag-pilot project ng 24/7 power project sa Bongabong. (Photo credits:Joey Razon)

Lumalalim ang tensyon sa Senado kasunod ng putukan, trust survey, at usapin ng isa pang balasahan

Venus L Peñaflor
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Lumalalim ang tensyon sa Senado kasunod ng putukan, trust survey, at usapin ng isa pang balasahan

MANILA, Philippines — Patuloy na umiigting ang tensyon sa Senado matapos ang insidente ng pagpapaputok ng warning shots sa paligid ng GSIS compound, kasabay ng pagbagsak ng public trust ratings ng Senado at paglutang ng umano’y tangkang pagpapatalsik kay Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.

Sa press briefing sa Malacañang, sinabi ni Palace Press Officer Claire Castro na ang unang nagpaputok umano ng warning shots ay si Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms acting chief at retiradong Police Major General Mao Aplasca laban sa mga operatiba ng National Bureau of Investigation.

Ayon kay Castro, walang inilunsad na pag-atake ang mga ahente ng NBI at nagsagawa lamang ang mga ito ng security operation sa paligid ng GSIS building matapos umanong humiling ng seguridad si Wick Veloso.

Batay sa paliwanag ng Palasyo, nakita umano ng Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms ang isang NBI agent na nakapuwesto kasama ang isang Blue Guard personnel sa loob ng GSIS premises. Nagkaroon umano ng tensyon matapos lapitan at tanungin ng OSAA ang ahente ng NBI. Kahit nagpakilala umano ang operatiba, nagkaroon pa rin ng warning shots mula sa kampo ni Aplasca, dahilan upang magpaputok din ng warning shot ang NBI agent.

Ang gusali ng Senado ay umuupa ng bahagi ng GSIS property at konektado sa pamamagitan ng tulay na may access control mula sa panig ng Senado.

Samantala, lumabas sa pinakahuling nationwide survey ng Tangere noong Mayo 12 hanggang 13, 2026 na bumagsak ang satisfaction rating ng Senado sa 29 porsyento mula sa dating 44 porsyento. Umakyat naman sa 51 porsyento ang dissatisfaction rating nito.

Mas mababa rin ang trust rating ng Senado na nasa 27 porsyento lamang, habang 52 porsyento ng mga respondent ang nagsabing wala silang tiwala sa institusyon. Nasa 83 porsyento rin umano ang naniniwalang politically motivated ang kasalukuyang liderato ng Senado.

Sa kabilang banda, nanatiling matatag ang satisfaction at trust ratings ng House of Representatives of the Philippines matapos ang impeachment proceedings laban kay Sara Duterte.

Kasama rin sa survey ang pananaw ng publiko hinggil kay Senador Ronald dela Rosa at sa usapin ng warrant of arrest mula sa International Criminal Court. Lumabas na 52 porsyento ng mga respondent ang naniniwalang dapat siyang sumuko sa NBI. Pinakamalakas ang suporta sa Luzon at Visayas, habang mas mataas naman ang pagtutol sa Mindanao.

Samantala, inamin mismo ni Cayetano na may mga usapan ng pagkilos upang patalsikin siya sa puwesto ilang araw bago ang inaasahang pagbabago sa liderato ng Senado.

Ayon kay Cayetano, may mga senador umanong kinakausap upang muling sumama sa kabilang panig ng Senado. Hindi niya tinukoy kung sinu-sino ang nasa likod ng umano’y maniobra ngunit sinabi niyang nananatili siyang naniniwala sa kanyang majority bloc.

Sa kasalukuyan, 12 na lamang umano ang natitirang bilang ng kanyang grupo matapos umalis si dela Rosa sa protective custody ng Senado, bagay na muling nagpasiklab sa usapin ng posibleng pagbabago ng liderato sa mataas na kapulungan.

Scientists uncover Southeast Asia’s largest known dinosaur in Thailand

Paraluman P. Funtanilla
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Scientists uncover Southeast Asia’s largest known dinosaur in Thailand

BANGKOK, Thailand — Scientists have identified the largest dinosaur ever discovered in Southeast Asia after excavating fossil remains of a giant plant-eating sauropod in northeastern Thailand, offering new insight into the region’s prehistoric biodiversity and ancient ecosystems.

The newly identified species, named Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis, lived approximately 113 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous Period in what is now Thailand’s Chaiyaphum province.

Researchers estimate the dinosaur measured nearly 27 meters, or about 89 feet, in length and weighed between 25 and 28 tons, making it the largest dinosaur yet recorded in Southeast Asia.

The discovery was announced Thursday in the scientific journal Scientific Reports.

Scientists said fossil remains were first noticed by a local villager in Chaiyaphum, prompting years of excavation by paleontologists. Recovered bones included parts of the spine, ribs, pelvis, and limbs, including a humerus measuring 1.78 meters, or nearly 6 feet, long.

The dinosaur belonged to the sauropod family, a group of long-necked herbivores known as the largest land animals in Earth’s history. Sauropods are characterized by massive bodies, long tails, small heads, and four pillar-like legs.

Lead researcher Thitiwoot Sethapanichsakul said Nagatitan was likely a “bulk browser,” feeding primarily on high-growing vegetation such as conifers and seed ferns.

The environment where Nagatitan lived was believed to have been subtropical, with forests, shrublands, and open savanna-like habitats. It shared its ecosystem with smaller dinosaurs, flying reptiles known as pterosaurs, crocodiles, freshwater sharks, and large predatory dinosaurs.

According to researchers, the region’s largest predator at the time was likely a relative of Carcharodontosaurus, estimated to reach about 8 meters, or 26 feet, long. Even so, scientists believe adult Nagatitan had little to fear because of its immense size.

“Predators likely avoided healthy adult sauropods because of the danger of being crushed,” said Paul Upchurch, co-author of the study.

The name “Nagatitan” combines “Naga,” the serpent-like figure found in Asian mythology and often depicted in Thai temples, with “titan,” a common suffix used in naming giant sauropods.

Thailand has now identified 14 named dinosaur species, reinforcing the country’s growing importance in paleontological research.

Researchers said the discovery fills a major gap in understanding sauropod evolution in Southeast Asia, where fossil evidence remains relatively scarce compared to regions such as South America and China.

Scientists also noted that Nagatitan lived during a period of rising global temperatures and increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide, conditions that may have contributed to the evolution of exceptionally large herbivorous dinosaurs.

The discovery provides what researchers describe as a rare glimpse into an ancient world just before giant sauropods reached their peak size globally, millions of years before the mass extinction event that ended the age of dinosaurs 66 million years ago.

Philippine senator wanted by the ICC flees from Senate

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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Philippine senator wanted by the ICC flees from Senate

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, who the International Criminal Court is seeking over alleged crimes against humanity linked to the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign, has left the Senate compound following a chaotic security incident that sparked political controversy and a government investigation.

Officials confirmed Thursday that dela Rosa managed to exit the heavily guarded Senate premises late Wednesday night after gunshots were fired during a confrontation involving Senate security personnel and a government agent. Authorities are investigating whether the disturbance was intentionally triggered to provide cover for the senator’s departure.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. addressed the nation in a late-night televised statement, calling for calm while assuring the public that a full investigation was underway.

“There is no obstruction of justice,” Senate President Alan Cayetano said during a press briefing, adding that he had not personally seen an ICC arrest warrant against dela Rosa and that the senator was free to leave the Senate grounds.

Critics, however, questioned the Senate leadership’s handling of the incident and called for accountability over dela Rosa’s departure while under Senate protective custody.

Dela Rosa, 64, served as chief of the Philippine National Police under former President Rodrigo Duterte from 2016 to 2018, during the height of the administration’s controversial anti-drug campaign.

The International Criminal Court unsealed a warrant this week accusing dela Rosa of crimes against humanity, specifically murder, in connection with at least 32 killings allegedly carried out during anti-drug operations between July 2016 and April 2018.

The ICC case forms part of a broader investigation into Duterte’s war on drugs, which human rights groups estimate resulted in thousands of deaths. Duterte was arrested in March 2025 under a separate ICC warrant and is currently facing proceedings in The Hague.

Both Duterte and dela Rosa have repeatedly denied authorizing extrajudicial killings, although Duterte publicly threatened suspected drug offenders during his presidency.

The latest developments unfolded amid intensifying political tensions between the Marcos and Duterte camps. Vice President Sara Duterte, daughter of the former president, accused the Marcos administration of orchestrating what she described as the “kidnapping” of her father and surrendering him to a foreign tribunal.

Political tensions escalated further after the House of Representatives, dominated by Marcos allies, voted earlier this week to impeach Sara Duterte over allegations that include unexplained wealth, misuse of public funds, and threats against the president, the first lady, and the House speaker. The vice president has denied wrongdoing.

Cayetano said the Senate could convene as an impeachment court as early as Monday to begin preparations for the vice president’s trial.

Cayetano assumed Senate leadership this week after securing the support of 13 senators. His rise to the post coincided with dela Rosa’s sudden appearance at the Senate after months of avoiding public events due to fears of arrest.

According to officials, agents from the National Bureau of Investigation attempted to serve the ICC warrant earlier this week, but dela Rosa allegedly rushed toward a narrow stairway leading to the Senate plenary hall and sought protection from allied senators, who later placed him under Senate custody.

Authorities have yet to confirm dela Rosa’s whereabouts as the investigation continues.

Xi warns Trump that Taiwan issue could trigger conflict during Beijing summit

Venus L Peñaflor
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Xi warns Trump that Taiwan issue could trigger conflict during Beijing summit

BEIJING — Chinese President Xi Jinping warned U.S. President Donald Trump that mishandling the Taiwan issue could push relations between the world’s two largest economies toward “clashes and even conflicts” during a high-stakes summit in Beijing on Thursday.

The warning came during a closed-door meeting that lasted more than two hours as both leaders opened a two-day summit focused on trade tensions, regional security, and the ongoing conflict involving Iran. Chinese state media said Xi described Taiwan as the most sensitive issue in China-U.S. relations and cautioned that poor handling of the matter could place bilateral ties in “extreme danger.”

Despite the sharp warning, the summit also produced signs of diplomatic progress. Xi said recent negotiations between Chinese and American trade officials in South Korea yielded “balanced and positive outcomes,” signaling efforts to preserve a fragile trade truce established during previous talks last year.

The White House summary of the meeting reportedly focused more on economic cooperation and energy concerns, including discussions about reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route heavily affected by the ongoing Iran conflict. Trump also pushed for expanded Chinese purchases of American products, including agricultural goods, energy supplies, and Boeing aircraft.

Taiwan remained a central point of tension throughout the summit. The United States continues to support Taiwan militarily under longstanding American law, despite not maintaining formal diplomatic ties with Taipei. China strongly opposes U.S. arms sales to the self-governed island, which Beijing claims as part of its territory.

Recent reports indicate that Taiwan is now considering resubmitting portions of a defense modernization budget that had earlier been rejected by its opposition-controlled parliament. The proposal includes funding for drones and missile defense systems amid growing concerns over regional security.

Taiwanese officials responded cautiously to the summit developments, saying China’s military activities and pressure campaigns remain the primary threat to peace and stability in the region.

Analysts said Xi’s remarks reflected one of Beijing’s clearest warnings in recent years regarding Taiwan. Joe Mazur, a geopolitical analyst at consultancy Trivium China, described the message as a direct signal to Washington not to escalate the issue further.

The summit also highlighted broader geopolitical and economic concerns. Trump entered the talks while facing pressure at home from inflation, the continuing Iran war, and legal limitations on tariff policies. Xi, meanwhile, appeared to hold a stronger negotiating position as China seeks relief from U.S. restrictions on advanced semiconductor technology and chipmaking equipment.

During a state banquet attended by senior officials and business executives, Xi emphasized the importance of stable ties between Washington and Beijing.

“We must make it work and never mess it up,” Xi said during the dinner.

Trump later invited Xi for a reciprocal visit to the White House on September 24, marking what could become another major diplomatic engagement between the two global powers later this year.

Putukan at lockdown sa Senado: Ano ang nangyari sa gitna ng tensyon kay Sen. Bato?

Venus L Peñaflor
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Putukan at lockdown sa Senado: Ano ang nangyari sa gitna ng tensyon kay Sen. Bato?

MAYNILA — Nauwi sa lockdown, tensyon, at sunod-sunod na putok ng baril ang Senado nitong Miyerkoles ng gabi matapos ang umano’y tangkang pagpasok ng mga armadong lalaki habang umiinit ang usapin kaugnay ng posibleng pag-aresto kay Senador Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa dahil sa warrant na inilabas ng International Criminal Court o ICC.

Mahigit dalawang oras na nanatiling tensyonado ang sitwasyon sa Senado kung saan narinig ang hindi bababa sa pitong putok ng baril sa loob at paligid ng gusali. Sa kabila nito, sinabi ng mga opisyal na walang nasugatan o nasawi sa insidente.

Bandang alas-7:30 ng gabi, inanunsyo ni acting Senate Sergeant-at-Arms at retiradong Police Major General Mao Aplasca na may ipatutupad umanong pag-aresto sa loob ng Senado, ngunit hindi nito pinangalanan kung sino ang target.

“We are going to arrest somebody. Please clear the area,” ani Aplasca sa mga mamamahayag.

Kasunod nito ay inilagay sa lockdown ang buong Senado. Pinayuhan ng Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms o OSAA ang mga nais lumabas ng gusali na agad nang umalis habang isinara naman ang mga roll-up doors ng Senate building.

Nakitaan din ng mataas na security presence sa lugar matapos magsuot ng full battle gear at bulletproof vest ang mga tauhan ng OSAA. Dumating din ang ilang armadong sundalo at pulis sa paligid ng Senado.

Ayon kay Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, may mga armadong lalaki umanong nagtangkang pumasok sa ikalawang palapag ng Senado dakong alas-7:46 ng gabi.

Sinabi ni Remulla na napigilan sila ng OSAA at dito umano nagpaputok ng warning shot ang security personnel ng Senado.

“At 7:46 p.m., armed men tried to enter the second floor but was stopped by the OSAA. They have firearms with them, but the OSAA fired a warning shot,” ani Remulla.

Hindi pa matukoy ng mga awtoridad kung ilan ang sangkot sa tangkang pagpasok at kung sino ang nag-utos sa kanila. Ayon kay Remulla, kasalukuyan nang kinukuha at sinusuri ang mga CCTV footage sa Senado at maging sa katabing GSIS building upang matukoy ang pagkakakilanlan ng mga suspek.

“We do not know who is behind this, but we will find him,” dagdag pa niya.

Nag-ugat ang tensyon matapos umugong ang mga ulat na posibleng arestuhin si Senador Ronald dela Rosa kaugnay ng arrest warrant na inilabas ng ICC dahil sa umano’y mga paglabag sa karapatang pantao sa panahon ng war on drugs ng administrasyong Duterte.

Nauna nang naghain si Dela Rosa ng petisyon sa Korte Suprema upang pigilan ang implementasyon ng warrant sa pamamagitan ng Temporary Restraining Order o TRO.

Ayon kay Remulla, inatasan siya ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na tiyaking ligtas ang lahat ng senador, kabilang si Dela Rosa. Nilinaw rin niyang walang planong arestuhin ang senador noong gabing iyon.

Sinabi rin ni Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano na nasa maayos na kondisyon si Dela Rosa at nagpapahinga lamang sa loob ng Senado matapos ang kaguluhan.

Sa gitna ng pagkalito kung sino ang nasa likod ng kaguluhan, mariing itinanggi ni National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag na may tauhan silang sangkot sa putukan o tangkang paglusob sa Senado.

Ayon kay Matibag, nasa workshop at planning event umano ang kanilang mga tauhan noong mangyari ang insidente at wala silang utos na pumunta sa Senado.

“Sigurado ako na wala kaming tauhan diyan sa Senado,” ani Matibag.

Dagdag pa niya, nakatutok lamang umano siya sa mga Facebook Live coverage nang gabing iyon at wala silang direktang partisipasyon sa mga pangyayari.

Kinumpirma ni Senate President Cayetano na personal na tumawag si Pangulong Marcos upang alamin ang sitwasyon sa Senado habang nagpapatuloy ang lockdown.

Ayon kay Cayetano, tiniyak umano ng Pangulo na hindi mula sa gobyerno ang armadong grupong sinasabing nagtangkang manggulo sa Senado.

Dumalo rin sa Senado sina Remulla at PNP Chief General Nicolas Torre III upang tumulong sa pagpapakalma sa sitwasyon at pagtiyak sa seguridad ng mga senador at empleyado.

Nagpatupad ng sweeping operations ang mga pulis at security personnel sa loob ng Senado upang matiyak na wala nang armado o banta sa seguridad ng gusali.

Patuloy din ang imbestigasyon upang matukoy kung sino ang nasa likod ng tangkang pagpasok at putukan.

Ang insidente ay itinuturing na isa sa pinakamalalang security scare na naranasan ng Senado sa mga nakaraang taon at lalo pang nagpasiklab sa tensyon kaugnay ng usapin ng ICC, war on drugs, at pulitika sa bansa.

Ang nangyaring lockdown at putukan sa Senado ay hindi lamang simpleng security incident kundi isang pangyayaring naglantad sa lumalalim na tensyong pulitikal at legal sa bansa. Habang hinihintay ng publiko ang malinaw na resulta ng imbestigasyon, nananatiling mahalagang masagot kung sino ang nasa likod ng kaguluhan, kung bakit nagkaroon ng armadong tensyon sa loob ng isang pangunahing institusyon ng gobyerno, at kung sapat ba ang koordinasyon ng mga ahensiyang dapat nagtitiyak ng seguridad ng estado. Hangga’t nananatiling malabo ang buong pangyayari, patuloy ding mabubuhay ang mga tanong, agam-agam, at haka-haka ng publiko tungkol sa tunay na nangyari sa Senado noong gabing iyon.

Some Japanese snack packages shift to black-and-white as Iran conflict-driven ink supply strain worsens

Paraluman P. Funtanilla
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Some Japanese snack packages shift to black-and-white as Iran conflict-driven ink supply strain worsens

TOKYO (AP) — Some snack products in Japan are set to appear in simplified black-and-white packaging as global supply chain disruptions linked to the conflict involving Iran affect access to materials used in colored printing ink.

Tokyo-based Calbee Inc., one of Japan’s leading snack manufacturers known for its potato chips and cereal products distributed domestically and exported to markets including the United States, China, and Australia, said the change is intended to secure stable product supply amid volatile conditions.

In a statement released this week, the company said the adjustment affects 14 products in its lineup starting May 25. Packaging will be limited to two ink colors, significantly reducing the use of multicolor printing.

“This measure is intended to help maintain a stable supply of products,” Calbee said.

The company added that the decision reflects the need to respond flexibly to shifting geopolitical and supply chain risks. It did not specify how long the simplified packaging would remain in place.

The move comes as businesses worldwide continue to face rising costs and shortages of petroleum-derived inputs such as naphtha, which is used in plastics and printing ink production. Market pressures have been compounded by instability in the Middle East, including disruptions tied to the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route for oil.

Japan, which depends heavily on imported energy, has so far avoided severe domestic disruption. Authorities have pointed to national oil reserves and contingency measures as buffers against supply shocks, helping to stabilize public concern.

Calbee, founded in 1949 and employing more than 5,000 people, emphasized that the product contents remain unchanged despite the packaging alterations.

The visual difference is expected to be noticeable to consumers. One of the company’s signature products, lightly salted potato chips known locally as “usu shio,” previously featured bright orange packaging with stylized chip imagery and a mascot character. The revised design replaces these with monochrome text-based labeling.

The company, which also produces shrimp chips under the “kappa ebisen” brand, had earlier announced an expansion-focused business strategy in March. It reiterated that it will continue adjusting to external risks while maintaining supply stability.

“Calbee will continue to respond flexibly and promptly to changes in its operating environment, including geopolitical risks, and remains committed to maintaining a stable supply of safe, high-quality products,” the company said. “We ask for your understanding.”

Trump arrives in China for Xi summit with Nvidia CEO and business leaders in delegation

EDGARDO HERNAL
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Trump arrives in China for Xi summit with Nvidia CEO and business leaders in delegation

BEIJING/SEOUL — President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for a high-stakes summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, accompanied by senior executives including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, as both sides seek to stabilize strained economic ties and preserve a fragile trade truce.

Trump was greeted with a formal welcome ceremony that included a military honor guard and crowds of Chinese students waving both U.S. and Chinese flags as he stepped off Air Force One in the late evening. He paused briefly on the red carpet as the students chanted a welcome in Mandarin before departing in his motorcade.

The visit marks the first by a sitting U.S. president to China in nearly a decade and comes as Trump seeks to secure economic concessions, including expanded market access for American companies. In a social media post, he said he intended to urge Xi to “open up” China to U.S. business, calling it his top priority.

“I will be asking President Xi, a Leader of extraordinary distinction, to ‘open up’ China so that these brilliant people can work their magic,” Trump wrote, referring to the business leaders in his delegation.

The corporate contingent accompanying Trump includes executives from firms with significant stakes in China’s regulatory environment, particularly in the technology sector. Nvidia, for example, has faced hurdles in obtaining approval to sell advanced artificial intelligence chips in the Chinese market.

According to a source familiar with the trip, Huang was invited at short notice to join the delegation and was seen boarding Air Force One during a refueling stop in Alaska.

China’s foreign ministry responded cautiously to Trump’s remarks, with spokesperson Guo Jiakun saying Beijing is prepared to expand cooperation, manage differences and promote stability in global economic relations.

Preparatory discussions between U.S. and Chinese officials had already taken place in South Korea, where U.S. Treasury officials met Chinese counterparts for several hours of trade talks described as candid and constructive by Chinese state media.

The two sides are working to maintain an October truce in which Washington suspended steep tariffs on Chinese goods and Beijing eased restrictions on rare earth exports, materials critical to global manufacturing sectors including electric vehicles and defense systems.

During the Beijing visit, Trump is expected to attend a state reception at the Great Hall of the People, tour cultural landmarks and participate in a formal state banquet. Discussions are also expected to cover sensitive geopolitical issues, including the Iran conflict and U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.

China reiterated its opposition to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, a self-governed island that Beijing claims as its territory, while Washington continues to provide defensive support under longstanding policy obligations.

Despite diplomatic pageantry, analysts say the negotiations reflect uneven leverage. Trump faces domestic political and economic pressure linked to inflation and trade tensions, while China’s leadership enters the talks with relatively fewer immediate constraints.

“The Trump administration needs this meeting more than China does, as it needs to show to American voters that deals are signed, money is made,” said Liu Qian, a Beijing-based geopolitical analyst.

Public reaction in Beijing was mixed, with some residents expressing cautious optimism about potential policy outcomes while others voiced skepticism about the durability of any agreement reached during the visit.

Gunfire erupts in the Senate, where authorities have tried to arrest Sen. Bato dela Rosa

Venus L Peñaflor
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Gunfire erupts in the Senate, where authorities have tried to arrest Sen. Bato dela Rosa

MANILA — Tension escalated dramatically inside the Philippine Senate on Wednesday night after gunfire erupted amid ongoing efforts by authorities to arrest Ronald dela Rosa, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity linked to the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign.

An Associated Press journalist and several witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots inside the Senate complex, where dela Rosa has remained under Senate protective custody since Monday. Authorities have been attempting to serve an ICC-issued arrest warrant against the senator, a former Philippine National Police chief and one of the principal architects of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial war on drugs.

Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano briefly addressed reporters following the incident, confirming that Senate security personnel informed him that shots had been fired inside the building.

“The emotions are high here. This is the Senate of the Philippines and we are allegedly under attack,” Cayetano said before leaving without providing additional details.

As of late Wednesday night, authorities had not confirmed whether anyone was injured or what triggered the gunfire. Reuters and other international media outlets reported seeing armed military personnel entering the Senate complex as security forces tightened control of the area.

The ICC earlier unsealed an arrest warrant against dela Rosa, accusing him of crimes against humanity for the killings of at least 32 individuals between July 2016 and April 2018 during the height of the Duterte administration’s anti-drug operations. The warrant, originally issued confidentially in November 2025, alleges that dela Rosa played a key role in implementing policies that led to widespread killings during the campaign.

Human rights groups estimate that thousands of mostly poor drug suspects were killed during Duterte’s anti-drug crackdown, while police maintain that officers acted in self-defense during anti-narcotics operations.

Dela Rosa has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and vowed to challenge the ICC proceedings through all available legal remedies. On Wednesday evening, he appealed to supporters to gather outside the Senate and oppose what he described as his imminent arrest and possible transfer to The Hague.

The standoff began Monday after agents of the National Bureau of Investigation allegedly attempted to arrest dela Rosa inside the Senate complex. CCTV footage released by the Senate showed agents chasing the senator through hallways and stairwells before he reached the plenary hall and sought the protection of allied senators. The Senate later placed the chamber under lockdown and cited several pursuing agents in contempt.

The Department of Justice also reiterated this week that under Republic Act No. 9851, the Philippines may surrender a suspect to an international tribunal such as the ICC, further intensifying the legal and political battle surrounding the senator’s case.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Supreme Court has directed government respondents to comment within 72 hours on dela Rosa’s urgent petition seeking to block his arrest, detention, and transfer to the ICC.

The situation remained fluid late Wednesday, with heightened security around the Senate complex and authorities yet to clarify the circumstances behind the reported gunfire.

Posibleng brownout sa Luzon at Visayas matapos itaas sa red alert ang power grid

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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Posibleng brownout sa Luzon at Visayas matapos itaas sa red alert ang power grid

Inaasahang makakaranas ng posibleng rotational brownout sa ilang bahagi ng Luzon at Visayas ngayong Martes, Mayo 13, 2026, matapos ilagay ng National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) ang dalawang pangunahing power grids sa red alert dahil sa mataas na demand sa kuryente at sabay-sabay na pagkawala ng ilang power plant.

Ayon sa NGCP, nasa red alert status ang Luzon grid mula 3 p.m. hanggang 8 p.m., habang ang Visayas grid ay nasa kaparehong alert level mula 3 p.m. hanggang 8 p.m. Sa ilalim ng red alert, mas mababa ang suplay ng kuryente kumpara sa aktuwal na demand, kaya inaasahan ang rotational power interruptions upang maiwasan ang total grid collapse.

Kasabay nito, itinaas din ang yellow alert sa parehong rehiyon bilang paalala na manipis ang reserba ng kuryente. Sa Luzon, ipinatupad ang yellow alert bandang 2 p.m. hanggang 3 p.m. at muling mula 8 p.m. hanggang 10 p.m. Sa Visayas naman, inilagay sa yellow alert ang grid mula 2 p.m. hanggang 3 p.m. at muling mula 8 p.m. hanggang 10 p.m.

Ipinaliwanag ng mga power authorities na ang yellow alert ay inilalabas kapag bumababa ang operating reserve margin ng grid, habang ang red alert ay pinakamataas na antas ng babala na nangangahulugang hindi na sapat ang suplay upang matugunan ang kasalukuyang demand.

Batay sa mga karaniwang paliwanag ng grid operator, ang ganitong sitwasyon ay madalas na sanhi ng kombinasyon ng forced outage ng mga power plant, derated capacity ng ilang planta, at mataas na konsumo ng kuryente lalo na tuwing mainit na panahon at peak hours.

Hindi pa inilalabas ng NGCP ang kumpletong listahan ng mga apektadong planta, ngunit sa mga nakaraang insidente ng kahalintulad na alerto, karamihan ng power shortage ay nauugnay sa sabay-sabay na maintenance shutdown at technical issues sa coal at natural gas facilities.

Patuloy na binabantayan ng Department of Energy at NGCP ang sitwasyon habang hinihikayat ang publiko na magtipid sa konsumo ng kuryente sa mga oras ng mataas na demand, partikular sa hapon hanggang gabi.

Palasyo tiniyak ang proteksyon kay Bato, panawagang sumuko, SC petition vs Senado bilang “taguan”

Venus L Peñaflor
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Palasyo tiniyak ang proteksyon kay Bato, panawagang sumuko, SC petition vs Senado bilang “taguan”

MAYNILA — Tiniyak ng Malacañang na bibigyan si Senador Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa ng proteksiyong naaayon sa batas kasunod ng kumpirmasyon ng International Criminal Court (ICC) na naglabas ito ng arrest warrant laban sa kanya kaugnay ng imbestigasyon sa war on drugs ng nakaraang administrasyon.

Ayon kay Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro, may obligasyon ang pamahalaan na igalang at ipatupad ang batas habang tinitiyak ang karapatan ng lahat ng panig, kabilang ang mga akusado at mga biktima ng umano’y extrajudicial killings.

Nilinaw ni Castro na ang parliamentary privilege ng mga senador laban sa pag-aresto ay may limitasyon lamang habang may sesyon ang Kongreso at saklaw lamang ng mga kasong may kaparusahang hindi lalampas sa anim na taong pagkakakulong, alinsunod sa 1987 Constitution.

Samantala, naghain ng resolusyon sa Senado sina Senators Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Bam Aquino, Risa Hontiveros, at Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan na humihikayat kay dela Rosa na boluntaryong sumuko sa mga awtoridad.

Sa kanilang resolusyon, iginiit ng mga senador na walang probisyon sa Konstitusyon o sa Senate Rules na nagbibigay sa Senado ng kapangyarihang magsilbing protective custody o santuwaryo para sa isang mambabatas na may kinahaharap na legal na proseso.

Binigyang-diin din nila na ayon sa Article VI, Section 11 ng Konstitusyon, limitado lamang ang immunity from arrest ng mga mambabatas at hindi ito sumasaklaw sa mabibigat na kaso o sa mga prosesong pinahihintulutan ng batas.

Kasabay nito, isang 17-pahinang petisyon ang inihain sa Korte Suprema ng senior high school teacher na si John Barry Tayam upang pigilan umano ang paggamit ng Senado bilang kanlungan laban sa pagpapatupad ng ICC arrest warrant.

Sa petisyon, hiniling sa Korte Suprema na maglabas ng writ of prohibition laban kay dela Rosa at sa pamunuan ng Senado upang hindi maharang ang operasyon ng mga law enforcement agencies sa pagsisilbi ng warrant.

Ipinapanawagan din ng petitioner na utusan ang Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group at National Bureau of Investigation na makipag-ugnayan para sa koordinasyon sa pagpapatupad ng warrant.

Hinihiling din sa Korte Suprema na ideklarang walang bisa ang Senate Resolution No. 44, na nagsasaad na walang Pilipinong maaaring isuko sa foreign entity hangga’t hindi nauubos ang domestic legal remedies.

Ayon sa petisyon, hindi umano ito maaaring manaig laban sa Republic Act No. 9851 o Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity, na nagpapahintulot ng surrender o extradition sa ilalim ng umiiral na batas.

Patuloy na inaabangan ang magiging tugon ng mga institusyon ng gobyerno sa magkakahiwalay na hakbang na may kaugnayan sa ICC warrant laban kay dela Rosa.

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