Philstar.com

Philippines, China to hold "exploratory" talks for oil, gas exploration
philstar.com > headlines...Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said Manila is open to discussions anew, provided that "requirements of the constitution" would always be... ..."Philippines should proceed with West Philippine Sea exploration without China".... ...The Reed Bank, which is within the Philippines" exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, has around 21% more gas than the reserve in Malampaya... ...This comesover two months the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional and void the Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking from the 2000s made between firms...

PNP files raps vs Teves brother over guns, explosives
philstar.com > headlines...MANILA, Philippines -- Charges for possession of illegal firearms and explosives have been filed against former Bayawan City mayor Pryde Henry Teves... ...before the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported yesterday.... ...Jean Fajardo, PNP spokesperson, said Pryde Henry Teves was also charged "since he was the subject of the search warrant.".... ...officer at the sugar mill compound operated by the HDJ Agri-Venture Corp., in which Teves is reportedly the president....

Stock markets climb on easing bank fears, Alibaba split
philstar.com > business...returning," said Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown.... ...NEW YORK, United States -- Stock markets advanced on Wednesday as fears of a banking crisis fade further in investors" rearview mirror while Chinese... ...UK banks remain resilient and largely unaffected by the sector's upheaval in Switzerland and the United States, the central bank's Financial Policy... ...Fawad Razaqzada, analyst at City Index and Forex.com, said "investor sentiment remained supported as the turmoil surrounding the global banking sector...

US to transfer 2 patrol ships to Philippine Navy
philstar.com > headlines...MANILA, Philippines -- The United States Navy is set to transfer two Cyclone-class patrol ships to the Philippine Navy to further boost its capabilities... ...The US Naval Forces Central Command itself announced that the vessels designed for shallow-water operations "are slated for transfer to the Philippine... ...Rodolfo Azurin Jr. met with Coast Guard commandant Admiral Artemio Abu and discussed how to improve their partnership, including enhancing intelligence... ...Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has strengthened its partnership with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in safeguarding the country's...

Team Philippine bags ice hockey crown
philstar.com > sports...The country routed Indonesia, 14-0, edged Mongolia, 7-6, and dumped Kuwait, 5-1, to complete its fairy tale run that earned the tropical country... ...MANILA, Philippines -- For a country without winter season, it's almost mission impossible to excel in a sport played on ice.... ..., Jan Aro Regencia, John Steven Füglister, Miguel Alfonso Relampagos, John Glenn Lagleva, Kenwrick Sze, Lenard Rigel Lancero II and Carlo Angelo ... ...Mentored by Finnish Juhani Ijas, the team was composed of Patrick Daniel Abis, Mikel Sean Miller, Manvil Billones, Carl Michael Montano, Jorell Crisostomo...

Cool Smashers clip Angels, cop back-to-back PVL All-Filipino crowns
philstar.com > sports...MANILA, Philippines -- The Creamline Cool Smashers needed a set to find their groove.... ...Creamline's Tots Carlos wins record-tying 3rd PVL MVP award.... ...It was De Guzman who unleashed the four horsemen of the Creamline apocalypse in Jema Galanza, Michele Gumabao, Tots Carlos and Ced Domingo, who took... ..."Pinanghahawakan namin ang relationship as a team," said Creamline setter Jia de Guzman, who had 18 excellent sets....

Coast Guard spots, challenges foreign ships while on patrol in Kalayaan
philstar.com > headlines...the Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea.... ...Some of the ships were owned by the China Coast Guard and there was also a People's Liberation Army-Navy Type 056A Jiangdao II Class Missile Corvette... ...The PCG said the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea already received its post-operation report.... ..."The PCG is working in conjunction with the Western Command of the Amred Forces of the Philippines and the Area Task Force -- West to monitor and...

Sun Life flexes dominance as No. 1 life insurer in the Philippines
philstar.com > business...1 life insurer in the Philippines. MANILA, Philippines -- Sun Life of Canada (Philippines) Inc.... ...According to a report posted by the Insurance Commission on its website, Sun Life landed on the top spot in terms of Total Premium Income, with earnings... ...Meanwhile, Sun Life CEO and Country Head Benedict Sison lauded the company's advisors and employees.... ...We thank them for the privilege," says Sun Life President Alex Narciso....

Coast Guard: 60% of oil spill-hit shorelines cleaned up
philstar.com > headlines...Princess Empress sank off Oriental Mindoro, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported on Thursday.... ...So this is a good progress in our efforts to remove oil from the affected coastlines," Vice Admiral Rolando Punzalan Jr., PCG's deputy commandant... ...The incident is threatening the Verde Island Passage, which is known for its rich marine life.... ...How the Philippine Space Agency is helping clean up the Mindoro oil spill. Fishermen struggle as oil spill keeps them ashore....

Philippines, Japan emphasize importance of int'l maritime law, explore cooperation
philstar.com > headlines...of international maritime law and also discussed recent developments in the East and South China Seas.... ...Diplomats also held talks over the situation in the West Philippine Sea, the Luzon Strait and the East China Sea, as well as ways to maintain regional... ..."The Philippines also thanked Japan for its public expressions of support for the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea," the Department of... ...Foreign Affairs said in a statement....