Good day. Here are the top stories of The Manila Times for Monday, June 19, 2023.

READ: Ferry catches fire

ALL the 120 passengers and crew members of an interisland ferry that caught fire off Bohol Sunday morning were reported safe. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said the MV Esperanza Star sailed from Lazi in Siquijor at around 3 a.m. for Tagbilaran in Bohol when it caught fire off Panglao Island. The PCG said the BRP Malamawi (FPB-2403), Coast Guard Sub-Station Tagbilaran and Coast Guard Special Operations Unit-Tagbilaran responded to the Esperanza Star's distress call. Photos and video released by the PCG showed flames and black smoke enveloping two decks of the Esperanza Star as firefighters on board another vessel used water cannons to stop the fire from spreading. The authorities declared the fire out by around 10 a.m. The cause of the fire is still being determined.

READ: Yulo continues golden streak

FILIPINO gymnast Carlos Yulo stamped his class in the Men's Senior Artistic Gymnastics Asian Championships in Singapore, capturing three gold medals so far. After defending his floor exercise title last Saturday, the 4-foot-11 Yulo captured two more golds in retaining his vault and parallel bars titles on Sunday. He scored 14.299 points in the vault apparatus, where fellow Filipino Juancho Besana finished eighth with 13.417 points. Abdulaziz Mirvaliev of Uzbekistan finished second to Yulo with 14.083 points while Kim Jaeho of South Korea placed third with 13.766 points. Less than 30 minutes later, Yulo defended his crown in the parallel bars with a score of 15.266 points. Shinnosuke Oka of Japan finished second with 15.133 points, and Yin Dehang of China placed third with 15.100 points. The 23-year-old Yulo, who hails from Malate, Manila, added a bronze to his medal haul by placing third in the horizontal bars with 14.033 points. The two-time world champion also made his way back to the World Championships after snaring a silver in the individual all-around last Thursday. A main qualifying event for the 2024 Paris Olympics, the World Championships will take place in Antwerp, Belgium, from September 30 to October 8.

READ: Integrate science in climate change policies – diplomat

GLENN Banaguas, chairman of the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Science Diplomats, called on local government leaders to integrate science in crafting policies addressing climate change and disaster risk management. Banaguas made the call when he guested in the "Business and Politics" program on SMNI hosted by The Manila Times Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dante "Klink" Ang 2nd. Banaguas and members of his group have been traveling around the country to help local government units (LGUs) and Indigenous communities develop a Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP).He said less than 20 percent of LGUs have integrated disaster reduction management in their comprehensive land use plan. Banaguas noted that LGUs have technical staff, but they are not "really knowledgeable" about climate change and disaster risk assessment and mitigation. Some of the LGUs also do not have a Climate Disaster Risk Assessment plan, which is deplorable, "especially if your municipality is at risk" from weather disturbances. He said the group helps the local governments for free.

READ: Blinken begins China visit in bid to lower tensions

Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in China on Sunday on the highest-level trip by a US official in nearly five years, with the rival powers looking to lower the temperature after soaring tensions. Neither side expects breakthroughs during Blinken's two-day visit, with the world's two largest economies at odds on an array of issues from trade to technology to regional security. But the two countries have increasingly voiced an interest in seeking greater stability and see a narrow window before elections next year both in the United States and Taiwan, the self-ruling democracy which Beijing has not ruled out seizing by force. In a sign of the fragility of the effort, Blinken had been due to visit four months ago, the fruit of a cordial summit between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping in Bali in November. But Blinken abruptly postponed the trip after the United States said it detected a Chinese spy balloon over US soil, leading to furious calls for a response by hardliners in Washington. Speaking in the US capital before his departure, Blinken said he would seek to "responsibly manage our relationship" by finding ways to avoid "miscalculations" between the countries.

In Business

READ: BSP seen keeping policy rate at 6.25%

PHILIPPINE monetary authorities are expected to keep key interest rates steady this Thursday, June 22, in view of an ongoing inflation slowdown. The move will also be supported by the US Federal Reserve's having paused from further monetary tightening last week, economists polled by The Manila Times said. But further Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) rate hikes cannot be ruled out, they added, as the US central bank had indicated that it was not done with raising interest rates. Aggressive Fed rate hikes led to the peso hitting a record low against the dollar last year, and the analysts said the BSP's policy making Monetary Board would not want a repeat. The BSP's policy rate currently stands at 6.25 percent following a cumulative adjustment of 4.25 percentage points beginning May last year. A pause was ordered last May 18 after inflation began falling from January's 14-year high of 8.7 percent. Earlier this month, the government reported that consumer price growth had slowed further to 6.1 percent in May. Core inflation, which strips out volatile food and energy items, also slowed to 7.7 percent from 7.9 percent.

More in Sports

READ: Fowler, Clark lead McIlroy by one

Rickie Fowler and Wyndham Clark shared a one-shot lead over four-time major winner Rory McIlroy on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) after a two-shot swing at 18 left them tied atop the leaderboard at the US Open. Overnight leader Fowler led playing partner Clark by two as they stood on the 18th tee at Los Angeles Country Club. Clark had just dropped a shot at the 17th, but fired his approach at the flag at 18 and made a six-foot birdie putt. Fowler, who had gone 12 holes without a bogey as a string of rivals faltered on the treacherous back nine, saw his 42-foot birdie putt skim the edge — but his par putt from inside four feet coming back lipped out. Fowler signed for an even par 70 while Clark posted a one-under 69 that left them one in front of Northern Ireland star McIlroy, who carded a 69 for 201 to remain in position to claim a fifth career major and his first since 2014. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler was alone in fourth on 203. After two days of record scoring, the sun-baked LA Country Club North Course — hosting the championship for the first time — proved capable of providing a classic US Open test of patience and nerve.

READ: Opinion/Editorial

In its editorial today, The Manila Times says accepting Afghan refugees is a humanitarian commitment. Read the full version on print or digital or listen to the Voice of the Times. The columnists featured on the front page are Rigoberto Tiglao, Fr. Ranhilio Aquino and Francisco Tatad. Tiglao bares that US weapons manufacturers pushed for the Ukraine war; Aquino on Father's Day; and Tatad on India's refusal to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

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