
Philippines says acts in national interest in South China Sea
Voice of America
FILE - A Philippines coast guard member looks at the Chinese Coast Guard vessel as they come close during a mission to deliver provisions at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea on November 10, 2023.
China should recognize that the Philippines is an independent and sovereign state whose actions and decisions are driven entirely by national interest and not at the direction of other countries, Manila's foreign ministry said on Monday.

Firefighters put out the fire following a Russian rocket attack in Dobropillya, Donetsk region, Ukraine, March 8, 2025. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP) FILE - In this image from video released by the Russian Defense Ministry on Oct. 17, 2024, a Russian soldier fires a gun toward a Ukrainian position in the Russian-Ukrainian border area in the Kursk region, Russia.