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WASHINGTON/CAIRO – The United States launched new strikes against Iran, Central Command said, after it earlier announced that two U.S. military personnel were killed in Jordan and another was ​missing following an Iranian attack. Before the strikes on Saturday, Iran’s supreme leader said Washington would pay for “seeking to escalate the conflict.” Central Command said in a statement that the airstrikes began ‌at 6 p.m. ET (2200 GMT), at President Donald Trump’s direction. “The strikes are designed to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and swiftly punish Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces who launched attacks against American service members in Jordan last night,” it said, without providing further details. Iran’s Mehr news agency said the U.S. carried out an attack near Sirik in southern Iran, adding that no casualties or damage to infrastructure have been reported. The U.S. and Iran have intensified attacks…

Metro Manila, Philippines – House lead prosecutor Gerville Luistro on Friday clarified that the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), not the prosecution panel, would decide whether to seek presidential authorization to disclose Vice President Sara Duterte’s tax records if subpoenaed by the Impeachment Court.  “Actually, it is the discretion of the BIR… Prerogative iyan ng BIR, kung sila ba ay hihingi din ng authority sa presidente upang mailatag itong mga dokumento ng BIR,” Luistro told NewsWatch Plus on Friday, July 17.  [Translation: Actually, it is the BIR’s discretion. It is the agency’s prerogative whether it will seek the president’s authority before presenting the BIR documents.] The president’s authorization is widely viewed as a key step to allow the prosecution to present Duterte’s tax records as evidence in the impeachment trial.  The prosecution has asked the Impeachment Court to subpoena Duterte’s tax records, bank documents, and reports from the Anti-Money Laundering…

Metro Manila, Philippines –  Senator Robin Padilla and Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela exchanged sharp words Friday, July 17,  over China Daily’s controversial depiction of Filipinos as monkeys, with the senator accusing the Coast Guard official of fueling “wartime propaganda.” Padilla criticized Tarriela’s condemnation of the Chinese state-run outlet, saying the coast guard transparency initiative had escalated tensions. “Mr. Tarriela, it was you who drew first blood. This escalation into wartime propaganda was your genius creation,” Padilla said. Addressing China’s controversial content, the senator said Filipinos, Chinese, and Japanese are all viewed as “monkeys of different colors” by white supremacists. “As for the Chinese media, aren’t we all monkeys of different colors in the eyes of white colonizers and white supremacists?” he said. Padilla further said responding to the issue in the same manner would mean abandoning the country’s Asian and Austronesian heritage.…

Metro Manila, Philippines –  Cabinet Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. on Friday, July 17,  visited the wake of slain motorcycle rider Fabio Norberte Jr. to personally convey President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.‘s condolences to the family. Abalos extended financial assistance and assured the family of continued government support as they cope with Norberte’s death. He also vowed to help bring those responsible for the killing to justice. “The perpetrators must be held accountable,” Abalos said. The cabinet secretary also pledged to personally assist Norberte’s child with autism, saying he would coordinate with the family to ensure the child receives continued support. Abalos said the government would work with relevant agencies to assist the family while pursuing justice. Norberte was fatally shot by his passenger in Caloocan City on July 14. 

Metro Manila, Philippines –  Senator Robin Padilla failed to respond to the ombudsman requiring him to answer a complaint for his alleged role in helping Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa evade arrest, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said Friday, July 17. Remulla said Padilla did not file a counter-affidavit on the deadline set by the Office of the Ombudsman. “Surprisingly, one person has chosen to ignore the ombudsman’s order — Senator Robin Padilla,” Remulla told reporters in a press briefing.  “He has not said anything about the case and the summons given to him.” Remulla said the deadline for the respondents to answer the complaint had lapsed. “The deadline has passed. He chooses to ignore the ombudsman, then so be it,” he said. He added that the case would move forward without Padilla’s response. “The resolution will be done without his counter-affidavit. That’s his choice,” Remulla said. The ombudsman chief…