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  • 1 year ago
Here are today’s headlines – the latest news in the Philippines and around the world: 

- La Mesa Dam in Quezon City breaches spilling level
- China denies link to espionage group accused of attacking Singapore critical infrastructure
- Marcos meets Trump: What you need to know
- How a Chinese vessel damaged decades of coral near Pag-asa Island 
- Pacquiao saddened by draw verdict, wants rematch

https://www.rappler.com/video/daily-wrap/july-21-2025/

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Transcript
00:00Today on Rappler
00:08The Lamesa Dam starts overflowing due to the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat.
00:19China denies an alleged link to an espionage group accused of cyber attacks on Singapore.
00:24President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. arrives in the United States
00:27for his first official visit with President Donald Trump.
00:30A Chinese fishing vessel damages a coral reef near Pag-Asa Island.
00:34And Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao settles for a draw against Mario Barrios.
00:41The weather agency Pag-Asa reports the Lamesa Dam started overflowing at 3pm on Monday, July 21
00:47as its water level reached 80.16 meters.
00:51The dam's spilling level is 80.15 meters.
00:54Low-lying areas near the Tulyahan River in Quezon City, Valenzuela, Caloocan, Malabon, and Navotas may be affected.
01:01Meantime, the Marikina River's water level has reached the second alarm.
01:05Some areas have suspended classes for Tuesday, July 22, due to the effects of the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat.
01:11The Chinese embassy in Singapore refutes claims that China is linked to an espionage group
01:25accused of cyber attacks on Singapore's ski infrastructure.
01:28In a Facebook post, the embassy called the claims, quote,
01:31groundless smears and accusations.
01:33It adds, quote,
01:34The embassy would like to reiterate that China is firmly against and cracks down all forms of cyber attacks in accordance with law.
01:42Last Friday, a Singapore minister said the espionage group UNC-3886 was targeting high-value strategic threat targets
01:49and key infrastructure that provides essential services, though no specific details were shared.
01:55It was the cybersecurity firm Mandiant that identified UNC-3886 as a China Nexus espionage group.
02:02Beijing routinely denies involvement in cyber espionage, saying it opposes all forms of cyber attacks and is itself a victim of such threats.
02:11Singapore's critical infrastructure includes sectors like energy, water, banking, finance, healthcare, transport, government, communications, media, and emergency and security services.
02:21Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. arrives in Washington, D.C. on Monday morning, July 21, Manila time,
02:29for his first official visit to the United States under President Donald Trump.
02:33He is set to meet with Trump at the White House on July 22, D.C. time, joined by top Philippine government officials.
02:40The Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs says the visit is meant to, quote,
02:43further strengthen the Philippines-United States alliance, including greater security and economic cooperation.
02:49Before meeting with Trump, Marcos and key cabinet members will hold talks with State Secretary Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on July 21, D.C. time.
02:58Marcos' first visit comes at a crucial time for the two countries.
03:02For Trump, the visit reflects his administration's push to reshape how the U.S. engages, especially with allies in the global south.
03:08For Marcos, it's an opportunity to boost and broaden the Philippines' foreign relations.
03:13The Philippine economic team also arrived in the U.S. ahead of Marcos to negotiate the 20% tariffs imposed on the country,
03:20which is higher than the previously announced 17%.
03:23What took nature decades to build was destroyed quickly, not by explosives, but by something quieter, more precise, and possibly intentional.
03:32In early June, a Chinese fishing vessel dropped a parachute anchor at a depth of 9 meters,
03:37around 2.6 kilometers east of Pag-Asa Quay 1 in the Calayaan Island group within the West Philippine Sea.
03:43The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development says the vessel damaged at least 464 square meters of living coral reef,
03:51worth an estimated P11.1 million pesos.
03:54Officials say the incident highlights ongoing marine threats and rising concerns over repeated intrusions into Philippine waters.
04:00The PCSD's Habitat Management Section Chair Mark Ace de la Cruz says,
04:04We observed fragments, soft and hard corals, crushed in a pattern consistent with dragging, not impact.
04:11Officials say a parachute anchor was the cause, and it is typically used to slow vessel drift in open water.
04:16The PCSD adds the affected reef, which took decades to form, was home to marine life such as clownfish, shrimp, and coral polyps.
04:26Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao showed up and nearly pulled off a shocker to remember.
04:29Instead, he had to settle for a majority draw against Mario Barrios,
04:33who kept his WBC welterweight title on Saturday, July 19 or Sunday, July 20 Philippine time.
04:39At 46 years old and nearly 4 years out of the ring, Pacquiao showed he can still hang with today's top fighters,
04:45reminding everyone why he was considered one of the greatest boxers ever.
04:48But the judges saw it differently, scoring the fight 114-114,
04:52114-114, and 115-113 for Barrios, the 30-year-old champion who stopped Pacquiao from making history.
05:00I did my best, you know, I did my best. I did the fight.
05:04I thought, I really thought that I won the fight.
05:06And I'm so thankful because I lost the fight to throw.
05:11Barrios also believes he deserved to win and is grateful for the chance to fight Pacquiao,
05:15who had already turned pro before he was even born.
05:18When asked about a rematch,
05:20Like I said, I mean, if a rematch is something he wants, then I'm with it.
05:24Pacman is back, and the journey will continue.
05:27And that's today's wrap. I'm JC Cotinga. Thank you for watching.
05:33Click the link below for the full story.
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