Latest news with #Philippine
GMA Network
an hour ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
PH, China tackle consular issues, safety of nationals in Beijing meeting
'Law enforcement is one of the areas where bilateral cooperation can continue to flourish and where information-sharing on law enforcement can be further strengthened,' said Mendoza-Oblena, who met her Chinese counterpart, Director-General for Consular Affairs Long Zhou. Senior diplomats from the Philippines and China met in Beijing this week to tackle pressing concerns involving their respective citizens in each other's territory. After six years, Manila and Beijing resumed their Joint Consular Consultation on July 22 in the Chinese capital, where they discussed the "safety, rights, and welfare of their respective nationals, as well as law enforcement cooperation, trade and investment, and tourism," the Philippine embassy in China said Wednesday. 'Our relations have faced challenges, but we continue to cooperate in protecting our nationals and persist in aspiring for more people-to-people exchanges,' said Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Maria Antonina Mendoza-Oblena, head of the Philippine delegation. Both sides acknowledged the ongoing cooperation in addressing transnational and other crimes in their countries, including illegal gambling, but the embassy declined to say, when sought for comment, if the case of the three Filipinos who were arrested last year in China on suspicion of espionage was discussed. There was also no mention of China's recent travel warning urging Chinese students considering enrolling in Philippine schools to exercise caution due to an unstable security situation in the country. Manila protested China's advisory, calling it "incorrect, inaccurate" and a "mischaracterization" of the situation in the Philippines. Several lawmakers and groups have raised concerns about the influx of Chinese students in the northern Philippine province of Cagayan, which hosts two military bases that can be used by American troops under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between Manila and Washington. It was not clear how many Chinese nationals are enrolled in Philippine schools, but previous media reports said the number could be between 400 to 4,600. The Chinese embassy could not confirm this. 'Law enforcement is one of the areas where bilateral cooperation can continue to flourish and where information-sharing on law enforcement can be further strengthened,' said Mendoza-Oblena, who met her Chinese counterpart, Director-General for Consular Affairs Long Zhou. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in 2024 ordered the banning of widespread Chinese-run online gaming operations in the Philippines, accusing some of venturing into crimes including money scams, human trafficking, kidnappings, torture, and murder. While some Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations or POGO have decreased over the months, dozens continue to operate on a smaller scale across the country and have evolved into scam centers. The embassy said Philippine and Chinese officials highlighted the importance or engagement through the consular dialogue "to achieve improvements in managing consular cases which facilitate people-to-people relationships." –NB, GMA Integrated News
Al Etihad
2 hours ago
- Automotive
- Al Etihad
Stock markets rally after Japan-US trade deal
23 July 2025 16:31 LONDON (AFP)Stock markets rose on Wednesday after Japan and the United States hammered out a trade deal to slash Donald Trump's tariffs, including those on the crucial car were also cheered by news that Washington had reached agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines, stoking optimism that other countries will also follow suit before Trump's August 1 FTSE 100 was up 0.5 percent, after hitting another record high at the piled on one percent and Frankfurt also advanced, tracking gains in surged over three percent after the US president announced a deal lowering tariffs on some Japanese goods to 15 percent, down from the threatened 25 deal will also reduce tolls on autos -- an accounting sector for eight percent of Japanese jobs -- to 15 percent, compared, with 25 percent for other countries. In return, Japan pledged to invest $550 billion in the United States, Trump said on social in carmaker Toyota rocketed higher by more than 14 percent, Mitsubishi 13 percent and Nissan eight carmakers also rallied, with Porsche rising over seven percent, while Volkswagen and BMW were up around six percent in Paris, Stellantis topped the gainers on the CAC 40, advancing close to seven also hailed an agreement with Manila to lower levies on Philippine goods by one percentage point to 19 percent, while tariffs on Indonesia were slashed from 32 percent to 19 in Manila and Jakarta announcements boosted hopes of other deals before next Friday's deadline, though talks with the European Union and South Korea remain 10-year government bond yield soared to the highest since 2008. Elsewhere in Asia, Hong Kong hit its highest level since late 2021, while Shanghai was advances came after a broadly positive day on Wall Street where the S&P 500 hit another peak but the Nasdaq snapped a six-day streak of records. Eyes are also on the release of earnings from Google parent Alphabet and tech giants, including Tesla and Intel.
Filipino Times
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Qatari, Philippine officials meet in Doha to boost labor cooperation, OFW protection
Philippine and Qatari officials held a meeting in Doha on Tuesday to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation on labor-related concerns, including the protection of overseas Filipino workers. Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Undersecretary Jainal Rasul Jr. paid a courtesy call to Her Excellency Sheikha Najwa bint Abdulrahman Al Thani, Undersecretary of Qatar's Ministry of Labor, to discuss ongoing efforts to improve bilateral labor relations. They were joined by Philippine Ambassador to Qatar His Excellency Mardomel Celo Melicor, Assistant Secretary Venecio Legaspi, Vice Consul Jeffrey Batac, and Labor Attaché Eduard Ferrer. Photo courtesy: DMW/FB 'The two sides exchanged views on issues of mutual concern, including mechanisms for the protection of workers, facilitation of high-level dialogues, and other ways to enhance cooperation in the field of labor,' the Philippine Embassy in Qatar wrote on Facebook. The meeting also covered preparations for a ministerial-level gathering set later this year, where labor officials from both sides will further tackle concerns affecting OFWs in Qatar. The DMW team is in Doha ahead of the 'Bagong Bayani ng Mundo OFW Serbisyo Caravan' on July 25, which brings together 12 Philippine agencies in one venue at Philippine School Doha to provide essential government services to Filipinos in the host country.
Global News
4 hours ago
- Business
- Global News
Trump inks deals with Japan, Philippines as Aug. 1 deadline approaches
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced trade deals with Japan and a handful of other Asian countries that will relieve some pressure on companies and consumers from sharply higher tariffs on their exports to the United States. A deal with China is under negotiation, with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent saying an Aug. 12 deadline might be postponed again to allow more time for talks. Steep tariffs on U.S. imports of steel and aluminum remain, however, and many other countries, including South Korea and Thailand, have yet to clinch agreements. Overall, economists say the tariffs inevitably will dent growth in Asia and the world. The deals reached so far, ahead of Trump's Aug. 1 deadline Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced a deal Wednesday that will impose 15 pe rcent tariffs on U.S. imports from Japan, down from Trump's proposed 25 per cent 'reciprocal' tariffs. Story continues below advertisement It was a huge relief for automakers like Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda, whose shares jumped by double digits in Tokyo. Trump also announced trade deals with the Philippines and Indonesia. After meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., Trump said the import tax on products from his country would be subject to a 19 per cent tariff, down just one per cent from the earlier threat of a 20 per cent tariff. 2:01 Some small auto businesses suffering under U.S. Tariff threats Indonesia also will face a 19 per cent tariff, down from the 32 per cent rate Trump had recently said would apply, and it committed to eliminating nearly all of its trade barriers for imports of American goods. Earlier, Trump announced that Vietnam's exports would face a 20 per cent tariff, with double that rate for goods transshipped from China, though there has been no formal announcement. Talks with China may be extended Negotiations with China are subject to an Aug. 12 deadline, but it's likely to be extended, Bessent told Fox Business on Tuesday. He said the two sides were due to hold another round of talks, this time in Sweden, early next week. Meanwhile, Trump said a trip to China may happen soon, hinting at efforts to stabilize U.S.-China trade relations. Story continues below advertisement A preliminary agreement announced in June paved the way for China to lift some restrictions on its exports of rare earths, minerals critical for high technology and other manufacturing. In May, the U.S. agreed to drop Trump's 145 per cent tariff rate on Chinese goods to 30 per cent for 90 days, while China agreed to lower its 125 per cent rate on U.S. goods to 10 per cent. The reprieve allowed companies more time to rush to try to beat the potentially higher tariffs, giving a boost to Chinese exports and alleviating some of the pressure on its manufacturing sector. But prolonged uncertainty over what Trump might do has left companies wary about committing to further investment in China. No deals yet for South Korea and other Asian countries Pressure is mounting on some countries in Asia and elsewhere as the Aug. 1 deadline for striking deals approaches. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Trump sent letters, posted on Truth Social, outlining higher tariffs some countries will face if they fail to reach agreements. He said they'd face even higher tariffs if they retaliate by raising their own import duties. South Korea's is set at 25 per cent. Imports from Myanmar and Laos would be taxed at 40 per cent, Cambodia and Thailand at 36 per cent, Serbia and Bangladesh at 35 per cent, South Africa and Bosnia and Herzegovina at 30 per cent and Kazakhstan, Malaysia and Tunisia at 25 per cent. Story continues below advertisement 2:54 'Absolutely unacceptable': EU warns Trump that 30% tariff would kill trade with the U.S. The status of talks with India remains unclear but progress appears to hinge on the country's heavily protected farm sector. It faces a 26 per cent tariff. Nearly every country has faced a minimum 10 per cent levy on goods entering the U.S. since April, on top of other sectoral levies. Economists expect tariffs to sap growth even with trade deals Even after Trump has pulled back from the harshest of his threatened tariffs, the onslaught of uncertainty and higher costs for both manufacturers and consumers has raised risks for the regional and global economy. Economists have been downgrading their estimates for growth in 2025 and beyond. Story continues below advertisement The Asian Development Bank said Wednesday it had cut its growth estimate for economies in developing Asia and the Pacific to 4.7 per cent in 2025 and 4.6 per cent in 2026, down 0.2 percentage points and 0.1 percentage points. The outlook for the region could be further dimmed by an escalation of tariffs and trade friction, it said. 'Other risks include conflicts and geopolitical tensions that could disrupt global supply chains and raise energy prices,' as well as a deterioration in China's ailing property market. Economists at AMRO were less optimistic, expecting growth for Southeast Asia and other major economies in Asia at 3.8 per cent in 2025 and 3.6 per cent next year. While countries in the region have moved to protect their economies from Trump's trade shock, they face significant uncertainties, said AMRO's chief economist, Dong He. 'Uneven progress in tariff negotiations and the potential expansion of tariffs to additional products could further disrupt trade activities and weigh on growth for the region,' he said.
Business Insider
5 hours ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Payop Partners With Dragonpay to Ease Access to the Philippines' Market
Payop, an international payment service provider, has partnered with Dragonpay, a Philippine-based payment platform, to enhance the online operations experience for businesses and consumers in Southeast Asia. This collaboration perfectly illustrates the evolving Philippine digital payments landscape, where e-wallets are gaining popularity alongside well-established cash-based methods. With Dragonpay offering multiple payment options, Payop can grant its clients access to all segments of consumers in the region. Why This Partnership Matters Despite the growing penetration of digital payments, cash remains king for many Filipinos, particularly in rural areas. However, the trend is shifting as more consumers embrace online banking, mobile wallets, and other electronic payment methods, driven by convenience, security, and the expanding digital infrastructure. According to Statista Research Department, cash was chosen as the most preferred method by 94% of respondents, with e-wallets and online card payments reaching 64% and 52%, respectively. This shows that while many continue to choose cash methods out of habit, a significant segment of the population is becoming tech-savvy, leading to the gradual rooting of digital payment methods. Last year, the number of digital payment users reached 33,85 million, with e-commerce accounting for 99,5%. And that number will continue to grow. So, implementing multiple payment options is key to staying on top of the wave when doing business in this market. Payop: Simple and Reliable Payments, Worldwide Payop, an international payment service provider, has been at the forefront of facilitating simple online transactions for businesses worldwide for six years. The company is constantly expanding its arsenal of payment methods, including the Philippines, to give merchants convenient access to this market. Payop aims to bridge the gap between businesses and consumers by providing an extensive range of payment methods, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility for all users. Anastasiia Semenkova, CEO at Payop, highlighted the strategic importance of the partnership with Dragonpay for business development in the Philippine market: 'International e-commerce websites have previously focused on card payments for their expansion strategies, overlooking the potential to engage consumers who prefer alternative payment methods for everyday transactions. Our collaboration with Dragonpay not only enhances the payment experience for Filipino customers but also plays a crucial role in advancing financial inclusion in the region. Online shopping is now more convenient than ever. Dragonpay's solution integrates all major banks and e-wallets, allowing local shoppers to pay using their familiar methods at Payop checkout. We value their reliability and payment expertise.' Dragonpay Founder and CEO, Robertson Chiang, added: 'Our collaboration with Payop enables us to provide a seamless and comprehensive payment experience to a broader range of consumers. By combining our local expertise with Payop's international presence, we are confident that we can further enhance the accessibility and convenience of digital payments in the region, ultimately driving financial inclusion and growth.' About Dragonpay Established in 2010, Dragonpay is the pioneer in alternative online payments in the Philippines, empowering businesses of all sizes to accept and disburse payments through secure and convenient channels, giving their customers the flexibility to choose the payment method that's right for them. Today, Dragonpay is partnered with over 3,500* merchants, and 85* payment channels with 35,500* branches nationwide and has processed over 400* million transactions for online Filipinos globally. For more details, users can visit *Numbers may fluctuate About Payop Payop is a global payment service provider that helps businesses accept and manage online payments securely across borders. With access to over 500 payment methods in 170 countries and support for more than 100 currencies, Payop enables merchants to localize their payment strategy while scaling internationally. The platform offers seamless integration, strong fraud protection, and full compliance, supporting businesses across e-commerce, and digital services. Users can learn more at Contact PR Manager Payop
