PR in the Philippines

BANGKOK — As the U.S. and China argued over increased tariffs and retaliatory actions on Tuesday, other nations considered strategies to navigate the economic tensions between the two major global economies. China declared its intention to "fight to the end" and implement countermeasures against the U.S. to protect its interests. This statement followed President Donald Trump's threat to impose an additional 50% tariff on Chinese goods in response to Beijing's reaction to the 34% tariffs he initiated on April 2nd. The Commerce Ministry stated via state broadcaster CCTV that the U.S. threat to escalate tariffs on China was a mistake and exposed the U.S.'s "blackmailing nature," which China would never accept. When questioned about potential talks between Washington and Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian suggested that the U.S.'s actions did not indicate a sincere desire for dialogue and that the U.S. should adopt an attitude of equality, mutual respect, and mutual benefit if it genuinely wanted to engage in discussions. Concurrently, Chinese state-run companies were instructed to provide support to the country's financial markets following significant sell-offs on Monday. While markets stabilized somewhat after intense selling over two trading sessions that resulted in trillions of dollars in losses, Asian leaders began implementing damage control measures. Help for Japan’s automakers and steel mills Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba spoke with President Trump late Monday and then convened a task force on Tuesday to lessen the impact of the 24% U.S. tariffs imposed on Japan. Economic Revitalization Minister Ryosei Akazawa was designated as the lead trade negotiator, and senior officials were sent to Washington to follow up on Ishiba's discussion with Trump. Ishiba instructed his ministers to exert maximum effort to persuade Trump to reconsider and to mitigate the effects of the U.S.'s "reciprocal" tariffs, which he warned would negatively impact all industries, according to Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi. India wants a deal India's Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio late Monday, advocating for the swift conclusion of negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement. India, facing a 26% tariff on its exports to the U.S., seeks concessions as part of the trade agreement, with the first part expected by fall. Washington desires greater market access for U.S. dairy and other agricultural products, but New Delhi has resisted due to the large proportion of its workforce employed in agriculture. India's Trade Minister Piyush Goyal planned to meet with exporters on Wednesday to assess the potential impact and protect the economy from the tariffs. A State Department statement indicated that Rubio and Jaishankar discussed ways to enhance collaboration, address the tariffs, and "how to make progress toward a fair and balanced trade relationship." Malaysia promises ‘soft diplomacy’ response Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that his government and other Southeast Asian nations would send officials to Washington to discuss the tariffs and were working to build a consensus on a unified response among the 10 ASEAN members as they met for an investment conference in Kuala Lumpur. "We do not believe in megaphone diplomacy," Anwar stated. "As part of our soft diplomacy of quiet engagement, we will be dispatching together with our colleagues in ASEAN our officials in Washington to begin the process of dialogue." However, he also criticized the U.S., pointing out that Malaysia's trade with the U.S. had historically been mutually beneficial, with its exports supporting Malaysia's growth and providing high-quality jobs for Americans. He added that the recently imposed 24% tariff on Malaysian imports was "harming all" and could negatively affect both economies. Anwar stated that Malaysia would maintain a policy of diversifying its trade in response to uncertainties surrounding globalization and evolving supply chains. Hong Kong vows more, not less, open trade In Hong Kong, Chief Executive John Lee, in agreement with Beijing, condemned Trump's tariffs as "bullying" and "ruthless behavior" that had damaged trade and increased global uncertainty. Lee stated that Hong Kong, operating with a free-trade policy and as a free port with minimal trade barriers, would strengthen its ties with mainland China, enter into more free trade agreements, and work to attract more foreign investment to mitigate the effects of the higher U.S. duties. ___ Niniek Karmini and Edna Tarigan in Jakarta, Rajesh Roy in New Delhi, Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo and Kanis Leung in Hong Kong contributed. ```

WASHINGTON — According to the U.N. World Food Program and officials who spoke with The Associated Press, emergency program funding cuts to the agency will affect millions of people in Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, and 11 other countries struggling with poverty and conflict. The World Food Program, the largest food aid provider, has asked the U.S. to reverse these cuts, announced Monday. According to two U.S. officials, a U.N. official, and AP documents, the unexpected contract cancellations target some of the last remaining programs. “This could amount to a death sentence for millions of people facing extreme hunger and starvation,” WFP stated on X. The agency stated it was communicating with the Trump administration "to urge for continued support" for lifesaving programs and expressed gratitude to the United States and other donors for their previous contributions. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other administration officials had promised that emergency food programs and other critical aid would be exempt from substantial cuts to U.S. foreign assistance. The State Department did not immediately comment on Monday. According to termination notices sent to partners and reviewed by the AP, the projects were being canceled “for the convenience of the U.S. Government” at the direction of a top lieutenant who was appointed to oversee the elimination of USAID programs. Programs targeted by Trump administration In Syria, a country grappling with widespread challenges after a 13-year civil war and an Islamic State insurgency, approximately $230 million in contracts with WFP and humanitarian organizations were terminated recently, according to a State Department document detailing the cuts obtained by the AP. The largest of the targeted Syria programs, valued at $111 million, provided bread and other daily food to 1.5 million people, according to the document. About 60 contract cancellation letters were sent out over the past week. A U.N. official in the Middle East stated that all U.S. aid to WFP food programs across Yemen, another war-torn country facing severe challenges, has been halted, apparently including food already delivered to distribution centers. The U.N. official added that WFP also received termination letters for U.S.-funded programs in Lebanon and Jordan, where Syrian refugees would be most affected. One of the U.S. officials noted that some of the last remaining U.S. funding for crucial programs in Somalia, Afghanistan, and Zimbabwe was also affected, including programs that provide food, water, medical care, and shelter to those displaced by war. The officials requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. Current and former USAID experts and partners reported that approximately $560 million in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan was cut, including emergency food assistance, treatment for severely malnourished babies, vital medical care, safe drinking water, and emergency mental health care for survivors of sexual and physical violence. An administrator for a program run by Texas A&M University reported that another notice, sent on Friday, abruptly eliminated U.S. funding for a program strongly supported in Congress that sent young Afghan women overseas for education due to Taliban restrictions on women's education. According to that administrator, who spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to speak publicly, the young women now face returning to Afghanistan, where their lives would be at risk. Larger impact of cutting aid Humanitarian groups warn that the abrupt end to WFP programs threatens some of the world's most vulnerable populations, many of whom rely on this food aid. The U.S. and other donors have long considered efforts to alleviate humanitarian crises to be in their strategic interest by preventing mass migration, conflicts, and extremism, which resource scarcity can exacerbate. WFP chief Cindy McCain stated on social media that the cuts "undermine global stability." The new cuts were especially shocking because Rubio had informed Congress and the courts last month that USAID contract cuts were finished, with around 1,000 programs saved worldwide and over 5,000 others eliminated. The Trump administration has accused USAID of being wasteful and promoting liberal agendas. Trump's freeze on all foreign assistance through USAID and the State Department resulted in a shutdown of services at al-Hol camp in northeast Syria, where tens of thousands of suspected Islamic State fighters and their families are detained. The shutdown raised fears of an uprising or breakout at the camp. U.S. officials quickly intervened to restore services. The State Department document obtained by the AP identifies two recently terminated contracts, managed by Save the Children and the U.N. Population Fund, which provided mental health services and other care to women and children at al-Hol. It was not immediately clear if any other services at the camp were affected. The U.S. had been the primary funder of the WFP, donating $4.5 billion of the $9.8 billion the food agency received last year. ___ Magdy reported from Cairo and Biller from Rome. AP Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report. ```

MCALLEN, Texas — According to officials on Monday, migrants who had been granted temporary residence in the U.S. through the Biden administration's CBP One app are now required to leave the country "immediately." The exact number of individuals affected remains unclear. Since January 2023, over 900,000 individuals have been admitted into the U.S. using the CBP One app. These individuals were generally permitted to stay in the country for two years and were authorized to work under a presidential program known as parole. The Department of Homeland Security's media affairs unit stated that "Canceling these paroles is a promise kept to the American people to secure our borders and protect national security." Authorities have confirmed that termination notices were dispatched to CBP One beneficiaries but have not disclosed the specific number. They were encouraged to voluntarily leave the country using the CBP Home app, formerly known as CBP One. In an email reviewed by The Associated Press and received on Sunday, the Department of Homeland Security told a Honduran family that entered the U.S. at the end of last year: “It’s time for you to abandon the United States.” Others shared the same email on social media platforms. Al Otro Lado, a nonprofit organization offering legal assistance to migrants, reported that some recipients of the revocation letters are from Honduras, El Salvador, and Mexico. The CBP One app was a key element of the Biden administration's strategy to establish and broaden legal avenues for entering the U.S., with the goal of reducing illegal border crossings. By the end of December, 936,500 individuals had been permitted to enter through CBP One appointments at border crossings with Mexico. On his first day in office, President Donald Trump terminated CBP One for new entrants, leaving thousands stranded in Mexico with appointments scheduled for early February. Trump has rescinded temporary status for many who benefited from Biden's policies. Homeland Security stated on Monday that Biden's use of parole authority, exceeding that of any president since its creation in 1952, "further fueled the worst border crisis in U.S. history.” Last month, Homeland Security announced the revocation of another form of parole for 532,000 individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela who had flown to the country at their own expense with a financial sponsor. This revocation is set to take effect on April 24. The Trump administration has also announced the end of Temporary Protected Status for 600,000 Venezuelans and approximately 500,000 Haitians, although a federal judge has temporarily halted this action, including for about 350,000 Venezuelans who were scheduled to lose TPS on Monday. TPS is granted in 18-month increments to individuals already in the U.S. whose countries are considered unsafe for return due to natural disasters or civil unrest.

` tags. ```xml Clem Burke, the drummer whose adaptable style drove Blondie through their genre-bending journey from new-wave punk to disco, has passed away at the age of 70. The band announced his death from cancer on their website Monday, without providing further details. “Clem was more than just a drummer; he was the heart and soul of Blondie,” the band stated. “His extraordinary talent, boundless energy, and deep love for music profoundly impacted our sound and achievements.” According to Blondie’s website, the “rock & roll survivalist” began drumming at 14 in his school orchestra, only to be dismissed for excessive volume. In the 1970s, he responded to a Village Voice ad seeking a drummer with "freak energy," launching his long-lasting career alongside lead singer Debbie Harry and his fellow Blondie members. After recording their debut album in 1976, the band toured with icons like Iggy Pop and David Bowie the following year. They became known as the most commercially successful act to emerge from New York's vibrant rock scene, which also included Talking Heads and the Ramones. Burke, along with the other original Blondie members, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006, having sold over 42 million records, according to Blondie's website. During the late 1970s and early ’80s, the band achieved eight Top 40 hits, including four No. 1s: “Heart of Glass,” “Call Me,” “The Tide Is High,” and “Rapture,” considered the first No. 1 hit featuring rap. A five-track demo from 1975, featuring “Platinum Blonde,” a kind of band manifesto, also exists. However, Burke's impact was particularly cemented by his fast, powerful drumming at the beginning of "Dreaming" in 1979. In 2022, the band unearthed a collection of reel-to-reel tapes, cassettes, and records, leading to the creation of the box set “Blondie: Against the Odds, 1974-1982,” featuring 124 tracks, including 36 previously unreleased recordings, demos, outtakes, and remixed versions of Blondie’s first six studio albums. Burke commented on the discovery in an Associated Press article: “We never imagined we'd still be around today. It's amazing to look back at our archives.” The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame described Burke on X as "a versatile and distinctive drummer who played precisely what each song demanded – and, when necessary, unleashed blistering punk rock energy." ```

SEOUL, South Korea — Following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, South Korea will hold a special election on June 3 to choose his replacement, acting President Han Duck-soo announced on Tuesday. This announcement comes after the Constitutional Court's decision four days prior to remove Yoon from office due to his controversial declaration of martial law in December. According to South Korean law, a new president must be elected within 60 days of a president's removal. The incoming president will serve a standard five-year term. The election is anticipated to be highly polarized, likely forming a contest between Yoon’s conservative People Power Party and the opposition Democratic Party, which currently controls the National Assembly. The People Power Party is facing a difficult task in regaining public trust and resolving internal conflicts stemming from Yoon’s imposition of martial law. The main question is whether the conservatives can unite and present a viable candidate against the expected Democratic Party nominee, Lee Jae-myung, who is currently considered the leading contender. Potential candidates South Korea's political parties are expected to begin their primary processes in the coming weeks to select their presidential candidates. Lee is widely expected to be the Democratic Party's candidate. He is a prominent figure within the party and faces no significant internal competition. Lee, who narrowly lost the 2022 election to Yoon, guided the party through a period of crisis when many members clashed with troops sent by Yoon to enter the National Assembly building and vote down martial law, and later impeached the president. Approximately ten politicians from the People Power Party are expected to compete for their party’s nomination. Conservatives in disarray Yoon’s decision to enact martial law, which involved deploying armed forces in Seoul and stirred up painful memories of past military regimes, negatively impacted his party's image, even though the party was not directly involved. Some reform-minded members of the party openly criticized Yoon’s actions and voted for his impeachment, leading to disagreements with the party's more traditional members who supported the president. Yoon has a dedicated base of supporters who frequently organized large demonstrations in Seoul and other locations. Many of them hold the belief that Yoon is being targeted by a leftist opposition sympathetic to North Korea, which they claim has manipulated elections to secure a legislative majority and is plotting to remove a patriotic leader. "The conservative party in South Korea faces considerable obstacles as it heads into the upcoming election. Unifying its base, moderates, and a fringe element driven by conspiracy theories around a single candidate in just two months will be a challenge," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. The current leadership of the party is composed of loyalists to Yoon, which is likely to perpetuate internal divisions and harm the party's chances in the election, according to Choi Jin, director of the Seoul-based Institute of Presidential Leadership. Among the leading potential presidential candidates from the People Power Party, Labor Minister Kim Moon Soo is seen as the most supportive of Yoon. He and Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo opposed Yoon's impeachment, while former party leader Han Dong-hoon and senior party lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo supported his removal from office. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, another major candidate, has taken a neutral stance. Choi suggested that Yoon will likely try to influence the nomination process to favor pro-Yoon figures for both the presidential nomination and party leadership positions, in order to have them defend him as he faces a criminal trial. Yoon was charged with insurrection in January, and now that he no longer has presidential immunity, he may face additional charges, such as abuse of power, which he was previously protected from. Duyeon Kim, a senior analyst at the Center for a New American Security in Washington, stated that the People Power Party "will need to nominate a candidate who can appeal to the general public, particularly moderates, rather than just someone who can win the party's primaries. Korean moderates and younger voters in their 20s and 30s are likely to be the deciding factor." Lee’s bid Opposition leader Lee, who has previously served as a provincial governor and city mayor, is viewed by his supporters as a populist reformer. However, critics accuse him of being a demagogue who thrives on creating division and vilifying his opponents. Lee is currently facing five separate trials on charges of corruption and other criminal offenses. If he wins the presidency, these trials will likely be suspended due to presidential immunity. Yoon has repeatedly accused Lee's Democratic Party of abusing its majority in parliament to obstruct his agenda, impeach high-ranking officials, and cut the government's budget. Yoon claimed that his declaration of martial law was a last-ditch effort to gain public backing for his fight against the "wickedness" of Lee's party. “Many South Koreans are critical of Lee Jae-myung, believing he nearly destabilized the government for his own gain, using the legislature to pressure Yoon and portraying his own legal troubles as political persecution,” Easley said. “Lee's skillful maneuvering, including the removal of progressive politicians who were disloyal to him, means that he effectively controls the Democratic Party's nomination and has the clearest path to the presidency,” he stated.