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AllAfrica
4 days ago
- Business
- AllAfrica
Marcos plans US trip this month to talk tariffs, South China Sea
MANILA – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to meet with his US counterpart Donald Trump later this month to bolster a longstanding military alliance as China increases its aggression in the South China Sea, nine years after a landmark ruling that invalidated Beijing's expansive claims in the sea region. Marcos's trip, from July 20-22, is to be the Philippine leader's first visit during the Trump administration to Washington, his country's staunchest ally. In May 2023, Marcos met with Trump's predecessor Joe Biden, during whose term US troops were granted expanded access to Philippine bases including in Luzon island near the strait between the Philippines and Taiwan. Also expected to be discussed is the Trump government's new decision to impose 20% tariffs on all Philippine exports to the US. The impact of the tariffs on the Philippine economy could be far-reaching, while it could also impact American-based firms that are sourcing from the Southeast Asian nation. Total trade between the two nations exceeded $23 billion, with Philippine firms exporting $14.2 billion worth of goods in 2024. Specific details of the trip are still being firmed up, although newly-installed Filipino Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro gave an account on Monday of how Washington regards its alliance with Manila. 'It is President Trump who invited President Marcos to this meeting,' she said, 'the first – if I am correct – among the ASEAN leaders to be invited by President Trump to the White House.' (An internet search indicates she was indeed correct.) 'In fact, it is a working, official visit,' she said, but 'the president will be staying at the presidential guest house, the Blair House, so that means something.' Lazaro said that the Philippines' position on the South China Sea has always been anchored on the July 12, 2016 arbitral award that had invalidated China's territorial claims stretching even to the shores of its smaller neighbors. The Philippines is the only country that had dared to take China to arbitration, and its victory was a watershed moment for others with similar disputes with Beijing. Key allies the US, Australia, United Kingdom and France had hailed the ruling, calling on China to respect the rule of law. Beijing flatly ignored it, and has since even increased its activities in the contested area, leading to dangerous confrontations between its own coast guard and that of the Philippines. 'The Philippines will always be very strong in our position on the arbitral award,' Lazaro stressed, and she called on China to follow international law even as communications lines remain open to resolve any outbreak of potential confrontations. On Saturday, her counterpart, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, said the arbitral award clearly stated that China's claims 'have no basis in international law.' 'This decision, legally binding on both the Philippines and China, was a significant milestone and a useful basis for peacefully resolving disputes between parties in the South China Sea,' he said. Yet, since 2016 Beijing has ignored the ruling and has increasingly shown 'aggressive actions' against its neighbors, Rubio said.


Newsweek
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Sergio Perez to Drive For Cadillac in 2026: Report
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Former Red Bull driver Sergio Perez is reportedly inching closer to landing a seat on the Formula 1 grid. Perez is currently on the sidelines after getting axed from the second Red Bull seat, though he is apparently nearing a deal with the new Cadillac F1 team. According to rumors and reports, he is getting courted by Cadillac and Alpine, though the 11th team set to debut next season leads the race for his signature. Ed Spencer of Auto Evolution and the reputable German outlet Auto Motor und Sport are both reporting that the announcement is pending and the deal is done. 10th placed qualifier Sergio Perez of Mexico and Oracle Red Bull Racing talks to the media in the Paddock after qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on... 10th placed qualifier Sergio Perez of Mexico and Oracle Red Bull Racing talks to the media in the Paddock after qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 07, 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. More Photo byHowever, there is still no official word or confirmation on the signing. The American-based team is currently focused on getting the 2026 car developed as a new engine formula enters the sport for the first time in years. They spent millions on staff and facilities to make the team a success, but the team is only now prioritizing driver signings. Team principal Graeme Lowdon spoke about the team's process in picking a driver and their patient approach compared to other teams. "We're out of sync with the other teams, which kind of makes it easier," Lowdon told The Race. "It means we can spend a bit more time understanding the attributes that a particular driver can bring and measuring them against what we need. "Normally, you're in a competitive environment, sometimes you can't take long to make a decision, because someone will go to another team. "When we're not in that position, there's a good list of very, very capable drivers that we can interact with and put a team together with. So we're lucky from that one point of view." Who is in the running for the second Cadillac F1 seat? Assuming Perez does get the team's first seat, the second spot on the team is an open field. Among the names in the running are Mick Schumacher, Valtteri Bottas, Jack Doohan, Franco Colapinto, and Zhou Guanyu. The team is prioritizing an experienced pair of hands who can provide specific feedback on the car's requirements. Bottas' name is recurring in the rumor mill for a seat at Cadillac, though he is also getting intense interest from Alpine. Cadillac's slow approach means it will be a while until the full lineup is confirmed. For more F1 news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.


India Today
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Who is Nikita Luther, winner of The Traitors alongside Uorfi Javed?
Poker player Nikita Luther won reality TV show 'The Traitors' along with influencer Uorfi Javed on Thursday. The win secured by Luther, who emerged as the dark horse of the show, came as a shock to viewers considering she was evicted on day one. Even after her comeback, no one saw her lifting the winner's trophy. But, who is she? How did a poker player become the winner of Karan Johar's reality show?advertisementBorn into a military family on January 17, 1991, Nikita was raised in Delhi. She completed her schooling from Sanskriti School and then got her Bachelor's degree from Delhi started casually playing poker on an American-based poker platform. However, she soon realised her penchant for poker could become a full-time career after winning money at a friend's party in 2015. The same year, she won her first title at the ladies' event at the Indian Poker Championship in Goa, followed by several big tournaments in the following years. In 2018, Nikita became the first Indian female poker player to win a bracelet in the 2018 Word Series of present, 'The Traitors' winner is mentoring her insights at the 'Super Bowl' of the poker championship in India and COO of the Poker Sports has managed to keep her personal life under wraps. However, what we do know is that she loves to experiment with her looks and is a true fashionista. From classy semi-formals to party-ready outfits, she makes sure to turn heads wherever she usual work day involves not just playing poker, but also making new friends in foreign lands and exploring different cuisines. Even when she is not travelling for work, 'The Traitors' winner likes to explore the world with her friends and family. During her stint on the show, Luther's quiet confidence helped her carve a space for herself. She often stated that she is good at noticing mannerisms and decoding behaviours due to her experience of playing was also a point in the show when the poker player was invited to join the traitors and 'murder' the innocents. However, she declined by saying that she would be better at catching the the finale episode, Luther and Javed displayed women's power by defeating the traitors. They will be sharing the prize pot of Rs 70.5 lakh, which was earned by the contestants during their journey on the show.- Ends


Malaysian Reserve
01-07-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
MAPCO Enters Indianapolis Market with Acquisition of Circle K Stores, Bringing Award-Winning Loyalty Program and Trusted Fuel
INDIANAPOLIS, July 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — MAPCO, a leading convenience store and fuel retailer across the Southeastern U.S., today announced its strategic expansion into the greater Indianapolis area through the acquisition of several Circle K locations. This marks MAPCO's official entry into Indiana, bringing top-tier fuel, fresh food, and its award-winning MYReward$ loyalty program to a new customer base. The newly acquired locations will be rebranded as MAPCO stores in the coming months, offering residents and commuters a clean, convenient, and customer-first experience. Shoppers can look forward to grab-and-go meals, fresh coffee, quality fuel, and exclusive savings through MYReward$ — a program that lets customers earn points on every purchase and redeem them for discounts at the pump or in-store. 'We are incredibly excited to introduce MAPCO to the vibrant Indianapolis community,' said Chrisinda Nelson, Marketing Manager at MAPCO. 'This expansion allows us to serve new customers with the same trusted quality, local focus, and exceptional service that have defined the MAPCO experience for years.' MAPCO plans to retain existing staff at these sites and invest in local operations, contributing to job retention and neighborhood vitality. The company remains committed to delivering its 'Better Break' promise — creating more convenient, rewarding stops for every journey. About MAPCO MAPCO operates hundreds of stores across the Southeastern United States and is owned by American-based Majors Management. Ranked among the nation's top convenience retailers, MAPCO offers quality-guaranteed fuel, a growing selection of fresh food, and a customer-first loyalty experience. MAPCO is deeply committed to its communities, actively demonstrating this through the MAPCO Giveback program, which provides vital support to local little league teams, emergency responders, non-profits, and various other community needs. Learn more at Media Contact: Chrisinda NelsonMarketing


Time Out
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
This Somerville restaurant was just ranked among the best pizza in the world
Sure, Boston may not have the global pizza bonafides as their fellow Northeaster New York or even Midwest mainstay Chicago, but it's a town that knows good 'za, and how to do it well. That fact was clearly proven at this year's Best Pizza Awards, which took place on Wednesday, June 25 in Milan, Italy, celebrating the "sacred" art of pizza-making and recognizing the world's top pizza chefs. And one of those talented toques just happened to be one of Beantown's own. Back for its third year, the 2025 ceremony featured a global voting panel of 512 experts from 60 countries to "ensure transparency and eliminate commercial influence." And along with famed Italian pizzaiolos (they did invent the stuff, after all) like Francesco Martucci of I Masanielli, Franco Pepe of Pepe in Grani and Gabriele Bonci of Pizzarium in Rome, the top 100 selection also featured American-based pizza pros including Juan Gabriel Pérez of Posto in Somerville, MA (400 Assembly Row). Pérez also placed in the awards' 2023 and 2024 installments but hit a ranking high this year at No. 54 on the prestigious list. "As Executive Chef at Posto Boston he's praised for his creative flair, seasonal ingredients, and dough innovation," per the Best Pizza Awards. "With over a million followers worldwide, Juan blends tradition and modernity, earning a global reputation for craftsmanship and passion that honours pizza's authentic roots." That means mozzarella is handmade in house, produce is locally sourced, and each wood-fired pie is made according to guidelines laid out by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana. The place is more than just a pizza joint—it's a cozy Italian restaurant that works just as well for a first date as it does for a group dinner with friends. And Posto is certainly in good pizza-loving company. "This year's The Best Pizza Awards has captured the true spirit of pizza: timeless, yet constantly evolving; deeply rooted in tradition, yet always open to new ideas and innovations. Milan provided the perfect backdrop for this global celebration, a city that, like pizza itself, blends history and modernity at every turn," said Cristian Gadau, CEO of The Best Pizza Awards and The Best Chef Awards. "To witness the passion, dedication, and artistry of so many talented pizzaiolos gathered together has been profoundly inspiring. I am immensely proud of what our community continues to achieve and how these awards give a platform to those shaping the future of pizza worldwide." You can check out the full list of 2025 Best Pizza Award winners here.