Skip to playerSkip to main content
  • 14 hours ago
Here are today's headlines – the latest news in the Philippines and around the world:

Philippines to Beijing: Take down 'racist' China Daily video of Filipinos as monkeys
Court orders arrest of journalist, 4 others for unjust vexation over opinion article
US TV networks skip airing of Trump’s live speech
Trump tightens US visa rules for foreign students, journalists
SB19’s PABLO honors big, small progress in new song ‘USAD’

https://www.rappler.com/video/daily-wrap/july-17-2026/

Category

🗞
News
Transcript
00:01The Philippines tells Beijing ate down the racist video depicting Filipinos as monkeys.
00:07A former Sunstar Cebu editor voluntarily surrenders after an arrest order is issued
00:12for a case filed by an INC minister. U.S. President Donald Trump threatens to revoke
00:17the license of networks that skip the airing of his primetime address. The Trump administration
00:22tightens visa rules for foreign students, cultural exchange visitors, and journalists.
00:26And SB-19's Pablo releases his new solo song, Usad, Friday, July 17.
00:40The Department of Foreign Affairs criticizes a China-state-run publications video depicting
00:45Philippine citizens as monkeys. This comes after China Daily published AI-generated videos and
00:51editorial cartoons about the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award.
00:55In a statement, the DFA writes,
00:58As a Chinese state-run media outlet, China Daily's conduct goes beyond legitimate political debate
01:03and employs blatantly demeaning, dehumanizing, and racist depictions of Filipinos.
01:07The DFA adds,
01:09The Philippines has consistently rejected false narratives and distortions regarding the
01:13arbitral award and the Philippines' lawful positions in the South China Sea.
01:17But the agency draws, quote,
01:19A firm line at the depiction of Filipinos as monkeys.
01:22A July 10 video released by China Daily centers on a monkey wearing a traditional Filipino salakot
01:28and barong, strong-handed by two arms labeled USA and Japan.
01:32The monkey is tossed out to sea and is hit by water cannons.
01:36The DFA says,
01:37Disagreement over legal and political issues does not justify resorting to disturbing imagery
01:42which has no place in the civil-public discourse of a responsible state.
01:46Meantime, Philippine legislators publicly criticized the, quote,
01:50racist depiction in the video.
01:52These include ML Rep. Laila De Lima,
01:55Senators Robin Padilla,
01:56Francis Pangilinan,
01:57and Senate President Nguyen Gachalian.
01:59Defense Secretary Gibot Yodoro also says the video reveals China
02:03as neither a secure and confident actor nor a trustworthy neighbor.
02:08Former Sunstar Cebu and Bacolod Editor-in-Chief Marcel Espina
02:12voluntarily surrenders to Abatangas Court
02:14after an arrest order was issued for a case filed by an INC minister.
02:19Abatangas Court ordered the arrest of Espina and four others
02:22over an unjust vexation case involving a December 2024 opinion article.
02:27Espina says this raises concerns about the use of criminal complaints
02:31against journalists and editors in relation to their work.
02:34She also notes the chilling effect on press freedom.
02:37Based on a document from the DOJ Regional Prosecution Office,
02:40a certain Pedro Fahot Castillo accuses the respondents
02:43of causing him annoyance, irritation, torment, distress, and disturbance.
02:48This over an article titled
02:50Demonic Church Meddling in Politics
02:51that was posted on Sunstar Cebu and Journal Online.
02:55Castillo is a district supervising minister
02:57in the INC's Ecclesiastical District of Batangas.
03:00Bail for the respondents is set at 6,000 pesos for each person.
03:06U.S. President Donald Trump threatens to revoke the license of networks
03:09that skipped the airing of his primetime address.
03:12This as U.S. TV networks ABC, NBC, and CNN
03:15did not air his speech on their primary platforms.
03:18The speech focused on the election four months before the critical midterms.
03:22An ABC News spokesperson says the network would run Trump's speech
03:26on its ABC News live streaming platform and ABC News Radio, not its broadcast channel.
03:31NBC News carries the president's remarks on its free streaming service, NBC News Now,
03:36but not on its main broadcast channel.
03:38CNN says it would monitor the speech for news,
03:41with a live feed appearing on its website and CNN All Access, its subscription streaming channel.
03:46This draws a rebuke from Trump,
03:48who accuses these networks of engaging in a, quote,
03:50plot and wants their licenses revoked.
03:52But experts say networks have broad First Amendment rights
03:55to decide what they choose to broadcast,
03:57though broadcasters mostly carry such speeches.
04:02U.S. President Donald Trump's administration moves
04:04to tighten the duration of visas for foreign students,
04:07cultural exchange visitors, and journalists.
04:09The new final rule from the Department of Homeland Security
04:12creates a fixed time period for F visas for international students,
04:16J visas that allow visitors on cultural exchange programs to work in the U.S.,
04:20and I visas for members of the media.
04:22Those visas are currently available for the duration of the program or employment in the U.S.
04:27The effective date is 60 days from publication in the Federal Register,
04:30subject to congressional review.
04:32Under new regulations, the student and exchange visa periods would be no longer than four years.
04:37The visa for journalists, which concurrently last years,
04:40would be up to 240 days, but in the case of Chinese nationals, only 90 days.
04:45Trump kicked off a wide-ranging immigration crackdown after taking office in January 2025.
04:52The producer and lead rappler of peepop group SB19, Pablo,
04:56releases his new song, Usad, Friday, July 17.
04:59He also holds a solo showcase in Quezon City.
05:13The track blends R&B, gospel, and rap, reflecting a period of self-reflection and rediscovery
05:18as he reminds himself of the purpose behind his artistry.
05:21The producer says he wants to encourage listeners to embrace their own pace,
05:25appreciate every step forward, and to be reminded of their own greatness.
05:50During the Friday show, he also performs his other solo songs.
06:01The SB19 member also gears up as his group is set to perform at the Lollapalooza Music Festival
06:06in Chicago on July 30, and the Summer Sonic Festival in Japan on August 14-15.
06:14And that's today's wrap. I'm JC Gotinga. Thank you for watching.
06:17Click the link below for the full story.
06:19For more updates, download the Rappler app.
Comments

Recommended