Cambodian PM Hun Sen resigns after 4 decades of hardline rule

CAMBODIAN Prime Minister Hun Sen, one of the world's longest-serving leaders, said Wednesday he will resign and hand power to his eldest son after almost four decades of hardline rule.

The former Khmer Rouge cadre has run the kingdom since 1985,eliminating all opposition to his power, with opposition parties banned, challengers forced to flee and freedom of expression stifled.

His Cambodian People's Party (CPP) won a landslide victory in an election on Sunday with no meaningful opposition, taking 82 percent of the vote, paving the way for a dynastic succession to his eldest son that some critics have compared to North Korea.

"I would like to ask for understanding from the people as I announce that I will not continue as prime minister," the 70-year-old said in a special broadcast on state television.

Election authorities disqualified the only serious challenger, theCandlelight Party, on a technicality in advance of the election, and the CPP is expected to win all but five lower house seats.

The government hailed the 84.6 percent voter turnout as evidence of the country's "democratic maturity" but Western powers including the United States and European Union condemned the poll as neither free nor fair.

Hun Sen said Hun Manet, a 45-yearold four-star general, would take over as prime minister at the head of a new government on the evening of August 22.

"I ask people to support Hun Manet who will be the new prime minister," he said. AFP (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

China abruptly removes Foreign chief Qin Gang

CHINESE foreign minister Qin Gang was abruptly removed from office this week, deepening a mystery over what precisely has happened to a one-time confidant of President Xi Jinping and one of Beijing's most well-known officials.

Qin, considered close to President Xi, was appointed foreign minister in December 2022.

The 57-year-old spent several years at the Chinese embassy in London and is a fluent English speaker.

Qin earned a reputation as a "Wolf Warrior," a nickname given to a new generation of Chinese diplomats who push back with often inflammatory rhetoric against Western criticism of Beijing.

He said in 2020 that the image of China in the West had deterioratedbecause Europeans and Americans – in particular the media – had never accepted the Chinese political system or its economic rise.

While serving as ambassador to the United States, Qin stepped up hisvisibility through public and media appearances in Washington in which he explained the Chinese position.

He kept up a busy schedule after his appointment as minister, visiting Africa, Europe and Central Asia as well as hosting foreign dignitaries in Beijing.

On Tuesday, after not being seen in public for a month, China's top lawmaking body met and removed Qin from his position.

"Qin Gang was removed from the post of foreign minister," state news agency Xinhua reported, adding that President Xi "signed a presidential order to effectuate the decision." AFP (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

Soriano...

From A1 creative communications in October last year. Soriano has been behind Mr. Marcos’ campaign advertisements since the latter started as vice governor until he was elected president last year.

He also supported the President’s electoral campaign with his wife, actress and TV host Toni Gonzaga.

2nd seed after clashes with teams like USA, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Latvia in the group stage.

They beat Team USA, 3-0, but lost to eventual champion Latvia, setting the thirdplace battle with Mongolia, which earlier beat Italy in the other semifinal match.

Deutsche Soccer Liga and Mastercard supported the team’s trip and participation in the tournament.

“Now, with the football over, we look ahead to how to improve the lives of our kids off the pitch as well as on it as we think about returning back to the Philippines and coming back to normal,” said the statement of Fairplay For All Foundation during the delegation’s arrival on Tuesday.

Due to strict policy on child protection and vulnerable young adult policy, the foundation only provided the first names of the team members, namely: Althea, Ronalyn, Loren Joyce, and Aicele.

The boys’ team failed to advance to the quarterfinals. Currently, Fairplay has 63 scholars who emerged from the foundation’s football program. An average of 200 kids play sports each week at the Payatas Sports Center.

It was Soriano who also directed Mr. Marcos' first State of the Nation Address and his first 100 Days recap.

In May this year, Soriano’s office also launched the “We Give the World Our Best—The Philippines” branding campaign with the goal of “making us proud to be a Filipino, here at home and anywhere, everywhere all over the world.”