🇨🇳 China Takes Control of Disputed Reef Near Philippines' Key Military Base Amid Ongoing U.S.-Philippine Military Drills

Financial Times reports, citing the military channel of state broadcaster CCTV, that China has taken control of a contested reef just a few kilometers from the Philippines’ key military base in the South China Sea.

The China Coast Guard reportedly "implemented maritime control and exercised sovereign jurisdiction" over Sandy Cay this month, raising the Chinese flag to assert sovereignty over the reef, which is part of the Spratly Islands.

This development comes as the Philippines and its ally, the US, conduct Balikatan, their largest annual military exercise, which will focus on coastal defense and island seizure drills. These exercises will take place next week on Philippine territory closest to the Spratlys.

Although Sandy Cay is a small sandbank, measuring just over 200 square meters, it holds significant strategic value for China. Under international law, it grants a territorial sea, and its 12-nautical-mile radius overlaps with Thitu Island, a key monitoring point for the Philippines to track Chinese activities in the region.

Some maritime experts argue that further Chinese reclamation is unlikely, as the artificial islands built and militarized by Beijing over the past decade already provide its military and coastguard with sufficient presence and reach in the area.

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🇷🇺🇰🇵General Gerasimov in his briefing to President Putin about complete liberation of Kursk region praised North Korean troops who participated in combat missions within framework of Agreement on strategic partnership between North Korea and Russian Federation.

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🇺🇸 Happy Birthday to the Slav Queen of America

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🇺🇸🇺🇦 Three chairs were prepared for a meeting at the Vatican today, but one was removed, and only Trump and Zelensky spoke for about 15 minutes.

Based on the video posted by the White House, people speculate that Macron was supposed to be the third participant, but Trump dismissed him.

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🇷🇺🤜🇺🇦Western media are discussing the complete liberation of the Kursk region by Russian troops and calling it a failure for Kiev:

🔹The British newspaper Telegraph came out with the headline "Putin announces victory in Kursk region".

🔹The European edition of the Politico newspaper writes about the "complete liberation" of the region, citing Gerasimov.

🔹The New York Times newspaper believes that the liberation of the Kursk region could "remove one of the key difficulties" hindering peace negotiations.

🔹 Berliner Zeitung notes that Zelensky expected to exchange territories in the Kursk region for territories in Donbass, and quotes Putin, who called the Ukrainian Armed Forces offensive in the Kursk region an adventure that failed.

🔹Kiev tried to use the invasion of the Kursk region "to distract Moscow's attention" in the Donbass, but "Russia still managed to advance" in this direction, the New York Post notes.

🔹The British Financial Times notes that Zelensky's goal of holding territories in the Kursk region as a bargaining chip has failed.

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🇵🇰⚔️🇮🇳 BREAKING: Heavy clashes have reportedly broken out between Pakistani and Indian military forces along the Line of Control in Leepa Valley, Kashmir region.

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🇮🇷 Despite the fire, port activities have resumed in some parts of Shahid Rajaei Port.

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🇸🇾🇷🇺 Russian air defenses are once again active over Hmeimim Air Base in Syria, countering what appears to be drone attacks.

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🇵🇰⚔️🇮🇳 Following the beginning of the armed clashes in the Leepa Valley, Kashmir, fighting has now erupted in the areas of Samahni and Neelum.

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🇮🇷 Iran is using Ilyushin 76 aircraft in its firefighting efforts at Shahid Rajaee Port.

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🇺🇸 Trump wants US ships to travel through the Panama and Suez Canals free of charge

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🇵🇰 Posts Russian YARS ICBM from the Victory Day Parade 🤣

🐻 If you thought there was a lot of fake news and videos from the Middle East in the past year or so, just wait until India and Pakistan go at it.

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