Latest news with #2nd
USA Today
14 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Countdown to Kickoff: Kelvin Banks Jr. is the Saints Player of Day 71
Banks was a draft target to fortify the New Orleans front line There are 71 days left until the New Orleans Saints kick off their 2025 regular season. The Saints will start their 59th year of NFL existence at home against the Arizona Cardinals and with a new head coach in Kellen Moore. Offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. is one of the new faces on this year's squad. The Saints' first round choice out of Texas, Banks will be wearing the same No. 71 that was Ryan Ramczyk used while playing at such a high level since 2017. Banks has big shoes to fill, and he is the Saints Player of the Day in our countdown. At Summer Creek High School in Texas, Banks was a five-star recruit pursued by several national NCAA powers. After originally committing to Oregon, Banks switched his decision to Texas. An immediate starter at left tackle for the Longhorns, Banks started every game as a freshman in 2022 and earned 2nd Team All-Big 12 recognition. He'd follow that up with 1st Team All-Big 12 and 2nd Team All-American accolades the following year. In 2024, Banks was viewed as one of the most dominant blockers in the nation. He capped off his collegiate career by starting every game for his three years with the Longhorns. In 2024, Banks was a 1st Team All-SEC selection as well as a unanimous 1st Team All-American. He was also awarded the Outland Trophy, annually given to the best lineman in college football. With the ninth overall choice in the 2025 NFL draft, Banks was selected by the New Orleans Saints. He was the third tackle chosen of eight that came off the board in Round 1 this spring. Banks is expected to step right in as the starting left tackle for New Orleans and was a fixture at the spot throughout OTA sessions and minicamp. Kelvin Banks Jr. is the third offensive tackle drafted as a Round 1 pick by New Orleans in the last three years, joining Taliese Fuaga (2024) and Trevor Penning (2022). The Saints have now spent a first or second round pick on an offensive lineman six times in the last nine years since 2017. Ramczyk (2017) is now retired, but the other five are projected to be the Saints starting offensive line in the 2025 campaign. With Banks projected to be the left tackle, Fuaga will move over to right tackle, where he was a collegiate All-American. Penning will move inside to left guard alongside center Erik McCoy and right guard Cesar Ruiz. The Saints are betting that Kelvin Banks Jr. will be the final piece for what they hope is a dominant line this season.
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Palestine envoy urges PH to ask Israel to resolve Gaza crisis
Palestine's Ambassador to the Philippines Mounir Anastas on Tuesday urged the Philippines to convince Israel to resolve the humanitarian crisis in war-torn Gaza. Speaking to GMA Integrated News' Pia Arcangel, Anastas said the Philippines should ''apply some pressure'' so that Israel ''respects the humanitarian question in Gaza especially, and in the West Bank as well.'' ''In any case, we are really thankful for the President and the government, since they made several statements asking for a ceasefire and for humanitarian aid to arrive in Gaza. So, the Philippines is doing its best,'' he said in a report on ''24 Oras.'' At the 2nd ASEAN–Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit in Malaysia on May 27, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed concern over Israel's military operations across the Gaza Strip, "which have resulted in the continued rise of the death of civilians, including women and children, and further exacerbating the dire humanitarian situation on the ground." Marcos said the Philippines urged all parties to adhere to their obligations under international law, ''with particular emphasis on the protection of civilians, especially women and children, and the facilitation of humanitarian assistance to all those who are in need.'' ''Everybody was asking Israel for the ceasefire first and to allow the humanitarian aid to arrive to the population while Israel was using food and water as weapon,'' Anastas said. ''It is not only against international humanitarian law but it is also completely immoral, it is inhuman, it is unacceptable.'' Anastas also commented on the fighting between Israel and Iran. "There's the question, why now? Why [did] Israel attack Iran right now, knowing that [for] decades [Israeli] Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu was always saying Iran was too close to having or possessing nuclear weapons?'' he said. ''The attack came only two days before the meeting scheduled between the US and Iran for the [nuclear] negotiations.'' Iran has always said its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. The war in Gaza has raged since 2023 after Hamas militants killed 1,200 people in Israel in an October 7 attack and took some 250 hostages back to the enclave, according to Israeli tallies. Many of those killed or captured were civilians. Israel responded with a military campaign that has killed over 54,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities. Earlier this month, the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly demanded an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in the war in Gaza and aid access. The UN has long endorsed a vision of two states living side by side within secure and recognized borders. Palestinians want a state in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip, all territory captured by Israel in a 1967 war with neighboring Arab states. ''Is it viable still? Yes, it is, even if it is weakened,'' Anastas said. ''There is a need to have a change within Israel with such a government. Of course, it wouldn't work since they declared very clearly they are opposed to such a solution.'' ''Second thing, it's not only freezing the settlements, but also having the solution to take all settlers back to Israel,'' he said. — with Reuters/VBL, GMA Integrated News
The Sun
18-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
UK-SEA vax hub meeting boosts regional cooperation in vaccine research
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia continues to boost regional collaboration in vaccine research and manufacturing by participating in the 2nd UK-South East Asia Vaccine Manufacturing Research Hub (UK-SEA Vax Hub) All Partners Meeting held at Monash University Malaysia today. The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), in a statement today, said Malaysia's active participation in the programme was in line with its role as ASEAN Chair in 2025, particularly through the ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI) and the ASEAN Health Division. It said the move further strengthened Malaysia's image as a regional leader in vaccine innovation and public health security. 'The programme brings together over 150 participants from nine ASEAN countries and the United Kingdom, including researchers, policymakers and key industry players in the vaccine sector. 'Malaysia also highlighted the latest developments in vaccine manufacturing facilities and research involving high-risk pathogens, alongside special exhibitions by MOSTI agencies showcasing various initiatives and local biopharmaceutical products,' the statement said. Meanwhile, Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Mohammad Yusof Apdal, in the same statement, said that strategic cooperation between ASEAN countries and global partners in vaccine research and manufacturing must be further strengthened to ensure equitable and sustainable vaccine security. 'This includes the need for long-term investment in research and development, the cultivation of technical talent, and the establishment of a strong regional biotechnology ecosystem,' he said when officiating the opening ceremony of the programme today. Also present were British High Commissioner to Malaysia Ajay Sharma and Pro Vice-Chancellor of Monash University Malaysia Professor Datuk Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman. Dr Adeeba, in the meantime, reaffirmed the commitment of higher education institutions to supporting vaccine innovation and fostering collaboration among academia, government and industry.
Sinar Daily
17-06-2025
- Business
- Sinar Daily
Asean, GCC and China - A new power bloc of the global south
Malaysia, as Asean Chair this year, is hosting the maiden Asean-GCC-China Summit which is set to unlock immense potential for multilateral cooperation. 27 May 2025 10:32am Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (L) talks to Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim as he arrives for a bilateral meeting ahead of the 2nd ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit after the 46th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur on May 27, 2025. (Photo by Mohd RASFAN / POOL / AFP) BEIJING - As the global economic uncertainty rages on following the United States' (US) sweeping tariffs, China sees the inaugural Asean-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-China Summit in Kuala Lumpur today not merely as a diplomatic gathering but a pivotal moment in the rise of the Global South. For China, this tripartite meeting is far more than a symbolic gesture. It represents the emergence of a new economic and strategic axis, one that challenges traditional Western-dominated trade frameworks and offers an alternative vision of cooperative development. Personnel secure the vicinity of KLCC Park ahead of the 46th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur on May 25, 2025. (Photo by Jam STA ROSA / AFP) This was made evident when China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Mao Ning, remarked last week that China looks to expand practical cooperation with Asean and the oil-rich GCC member states in various fields to leverage their respective strengths, pursue win-win results and defend common interests of the Global South. It would be a coming together of Asean's quest to foster integration within Southeast Asia, GCC's aim to reduce dependence on oil and diversify the economy, and China's Belt and Road Initiative focusing on global infrastructure development strategies. Malaysia, as Asean Chair this year, is hosting the maiden Asean-GCC-China Summit which is set to unlock immense potential for multilateral cooperation. The combined weight of Asean, GCC and China is certainly reshaping the global economic dynamics. Asean, now the world's fifth-largest economy with a collective gross domestic product (GDP) of over US$3.6 trillion (US$1=RM4.22), is not just a manufacturing hub but also a burgeoning consumer market of 700 million people. On Sunday, Malaysia's Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz told a press conference that the collective Asean GDP is projected to grow at 4.7 per cent in 2025 from 4.2 per cent last year. Meanwhile, GCC, backed by its vast energy reserves and nearly US$2 trillion in sovereign wealth funds, is rapidly diversifying under ambitious plans like Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. China, the world's second-largest economy with a US$18.6 trillion GDP, brings unparalleled industrial capacity, technological innovation and infrastructure expertise. Together, these three regions account for nearly a quarter of global economic output and a consumer base exceeding 2.1 billion people -- a force that could no longer be sidelined in global governance. What distinguishes this partnership is its foundation in mutual benefit rather than ideological alignment. Asean's youthful demographics and rich natural resources complement China's manufacturing and technological prowess, while GCC's financial capital and diversification goals align seamlessly with China's outward investment and green energy ambitions. Trade between these regions is already flourishing, with China-Asean trade reaching 1.71 trillion yuan (US$234.17 billion) in the first quarter of 2025, a year-on-year increase of 7.1 per cent. Meanwhile, China-GCC trade hit over US$288 billion in 2024, with Gulf states supplying 40 per cent of China's crude oil imports. Policy coordination is also accelerating. The China-Asean Free Trade Agreement 3.0 wrapped up last week expands cooperation in digital trade and sustainable development, while the ongoing China-GCC free trade talks promise to create one of the world's largest trade blocs. The summit serves as a platform to synchronise three transformative development strategies, namely China's Belt and Road Initiative, Asean's Connectivity Master Plan 2025 and the GCC's Vision 2030. At a time when Western economies are retreating into a protectionist mode, the Asean-GCC-China partnership offers a different model to build on economic resilience through diversification. Asean has already surpassed the United States and the European Union as China's top export destination in 2023, while Gulf investments in Chinese technology, such as Saudi Arabia's US$5.6 billion push into artificial intelligence, signal deepening ties beyond energy. The Digital Silk Road (DSR) initiative by China is further binding these regions together, with the country's cross-border e-commerce totalling 1.22 trillion yuan in the first half of 2024, up 10.5 per cent year-on-year. China and its partners are weaving a more interconnected and resilient economic fabric, one where development is shared, not monopolised. This is exactly what China stresses on a daily basis and is being reported in local media publications. Like Asean and the GCC, China's cooperation with Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) similarly demonstrate that its approach to global engagement is rooted in economic interdependence rather than coercion. The Asean-GCC-China Summit is certainly a proving ground for a future where the Global South sets the agenda and a definitive statement that the world's economic or perhaps strategic centre of gravity is shifting. In Beijing's strategic calculus, this is seen not just as a summit but the foundation of a new world order, one where the Global South takes its rightful place at the table. Chinese Premier Li Qiang is scheduled to attend the summit on the invitation of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. This is the second official visit for Li to Malaysia since assuming the post in March 2023. He visited Malaysia in June last year in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of China-Malaysia diplomatic ties. - BERNAMA
The Citizen
13-06-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Strengthening the Global Fight Against Corruption
Brazil, Brasilia – The 2nd G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group (ACWG) under the South African Presidency convened in Brasilia from June 9 to 12, 2025, uniting delegates to address critical issues in preventing and combating corruption. Co-Chaired by South Africa and Brazil, the meeting aimed to reinforce the Working Group's priorities to strengthen the public sector by promoting transparency, integrity, and accountability, increasing the efficiency of asset recovery measures, enhancing participation from the public sector, private sector, civil society, and academia, and improving whistleblower protection mechanisms. The South African Ambassador to Brazil, Mr. Vusi Mavimbela, delivered the opening remarks during the inaugural session. He highlighted the importance of international collaboration in the fight against corruption and stressed South Africa's dedication to advancing collective goals, stating, 'Through our G20 Presidency theme, 'Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability', we reaffirm our commitment to advancing collective efforts toward inclusive global economic growth and sustainable development.' Brazil's Minister of State for the Office of the Comptroller General, H.E. Mr. Vinícius Marques de Carvalho, delivered the keynote address, stressing the significance of inclusive approaches in anti-corruption efforts. He underscored the complex nature of corruption, requiring diverse perspectives and expertise. H.E. Carvalho called for a multi-agency strategy, urging the involvement of civil society, academia, and the private sector in shaping effective anti-corruption policies. At the heart of the meeting were the discussions of the draft G20 High-Level Principles on the Management of Seized and Confiscated Assets. These draft principles aim to provide a framework for G20 countries to manage seized assets, closing gaps identified by the ACWG to strengthen asset recovery. The Group also considered the Zero Draft Ministerial Declaration, encapsulating the commitment of G20 countries to address corruption through prevention. This draft will be presented for adoption at the Ministerial Meeting in October 2025. In addition to the main sessions, a side event was held on measuring integrity in public procurement, exploring challenges in quantifying corruption, and the necessity for evidence-based methodologies, co-hosted by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The UNDP informed that it is establishing a framework for measuring integrity, collecting data from 60 countries by the end of 2025. This initiative aims to provide objective tools to gauge the effectiveness of anti-corruption measures. Another side event was held to address the preventive dimension in the fight against corruption and new forms of organised crime, co-hosted by EL PACTO 2.0, a partnership with the European Union focused on justice and security. The G20 ACWG and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Working Group on Bribery held a joint meeting aimed at supporting the shared commitment to combating the bribery of foreign public officials in international transactions. The 2nd G20 ACWG l Meeting provided an opportunity for delegates to exchange views, share experiences, and deepen their understanding of the evolving challenges and opportunities in the fight against corruption through the lens of the Presidency's theme of solidarity, equality, and sustainability. The Working Group acknowledged that there remains considerable work ahead to fully realise the deliverables committed to at the start of the year, including timely responses to the questionnaires, substantive inputs toward the draft Ministerial Declaration, and the High-Level Principles on the Management of Seized and Confiscated Assets. Through these efforts, the G20 seeks to instil confidence in its commitment to combating corruption and promoting sustainable development, ensuring a brighter future for all. As South Africa and Brazil lead this charge, the hope is that the momentum generated from this meeting will translate into tangible actions that resonate beyond borders, creating a global environment where corruption has no place. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
