Coffee & Friends Hangout at SM: Where every corner at SM becomes your café

July 18, 2025 | 3:00 pm

Coffee isn’t just a drink anymore — it’s the spark behind great conversations and hangouts. This July 15 to 31, 2025, SM Supermalls brings you Coffee Fest: Coffee & Friends Hangout at SM, turning every mall into one big, vibrant café where every visit brews a new story and every cup makes moments with friends even better.

With 80% of Filipinos drinking 2.5 cups a day and the Philippines being the second-largest coffee consumer in Asia, Coffee Fest comes at the perfect time. Every corner of your fave SM mall will become your café of choice where coffee and connection go hand in hand!

Discover your brew with your crew

Choose from a variety of coffee spots such as (L-R) ZUS Coffee, PICKUP COFFEE, Sunnies Coffee, and many more!

Whether you’re hunting for a specialty brew or pairing your coffee with a sweet bite, SM has so many options to choose from! Enjoy artisanal cafés and popular spots like PICKUP COFFEE, ZUS Coffee, and Sunnies Coffee with your friends.

Relax at coffee hangout areas

Enjoy a cup of coffee with friends and loved ones at SM Seaside City Cebu’s Sky Park, SM City Baguio’s Sky Garden, or your favorite SM mall’s coffee hangout spots!

Imagine sipping your coffee in a stylish lounge as acoustic music fills the air, or enjoying a cozy catch-up with friends under the soft glow of the sunset at the SM malls’ sky parks. During Coffee Fest, SM transforms its malls into the ultimate coffee hangout spots — featuring modern lounges, coffee booths, live performances, and interactive activities. From outdoor parks to common-area pods, these spaces are designed to help coffee lovers connect, unwind, and make every sip more special.

Join special events and make coffee moments unforgettable

Throughout Coffee Fest, coffee shops and designated hangout areas will host special activities designed to bring people together. Enjoy art classes, cup sleeve events, acoustic performances, and live DJ sets that turn ordinary coffee breaks into memorable shared experiences. Every event is a chance to celebrate community and creativity over a perfect cup of joe.

Make every coffee moment count at Coffee Fest!

This July, SM Supermalls invites you to see coffee not just as a drink but as a way to connect and create lasting memories. With this year’s Coffee Fest, the entire mall becomes one big café — where stories are shared, friendships are strengthened, and life’s simple joys are savored one cup at a time.

So come, hang out with friends, and make your coffee moments unforgettable at SM Supermalls! Visit www.smsupermalls.com or follow @SMSupermalls to know more about Coffee Fest.

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Philippines posts $226 mln balance of payment surplus in June

July 18, 2025 | 2:43 pm

MANILA – The Philippines’ overall balance of payments (BOP) position was a surplus of $226 million in June after a deficit of $298 million in May, the central bank said on Friday.

The cumulative BOP level for the first six months was a deficit of $5.6 billion. The central bank has forecast a $6.3 billion deficit for 2025. – Reuters

Marcos’ U.S. visit aims to boost Philippines-U.S. alliance, says foreign ministry

July 18, 2025 | 2:41 pm

PBBM Marcos — PRESIDENT FERDINAND R. MARCOS, JR. — PHILIPPINE STAR/NOEL PABALATE

MANILA – Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr will visit the United States next week with a clear message to President Donald Trump that the Philippines must become economically stronger if it is to serve as a truly robust partner, an official said on Friday.

The visit, the first by an ASEAN head of state since Mr. Trump took office in January, will focus on economic cooperation, with Marcos expected to discuss concerns over proposed U.S. tariffs on Philippine exports.

“The President’s official visit also aims to address the U.S. tariff proposed to be levied on Philippine exports,” Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Raquel Solano told a media briefing.

Mr. Trump raised reciprocal tariffs on Philippine exports to 20% this month from the 17% threatened in April.

Talks between Philippine trade officials and their U.S. counterparts are ongoing in Washington to hopefully seal a reciprocal deal that is “mutually acceptable and mutually beneficial” for both countries, Solano said.

During the visit, the two leaders will also discuss closer cooperation in defense and security matters, including issues in the South China Sea where Manila and Beijing have had a series of maritime confrontations.

Relations between Manila and Beijing have soured under Mr. Marcos, who has pivoted closer to the United States, granting it expanded access to Philippine military bases as both countries aim to counter what they have described as China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea and towards Taiwan.

“The purpose of this visit is to further strengthen the Philippines-United States Alliance, to proactively engage the U.S. in all aspects of the relations and seize opportunities for greater security and economic cooperation,” Ms. Solano said.

The United States and the Philippines have a seven-decade old mutual defense treaty and hold dozens of annual exercises, which have included training with U.S. Typhon missile system, and more recently with the NMESIS anti-ship missile system, angering China.

Marcos will also meet separately with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, as well as U.S. business leaders who are investing in the Philippines. – Reuters

More meaningful protection for a more secured future

July 18, 2025 | 2:22 pm

Cocolife Agapay and Kalinga offers enhanced options for safeguarding health and finances

In the quest for a fulfilling future, one should plan ahead, work hard, and save earnestly towards turning their dreams for themselves and their loved ones into a reality. But, for many, times of uncertainty and spontaneity often occur, where piled-up expenditures and sudden ailments can hinder one from achieving that fulfilling future.

In a research study commissioned by Cocolife, health and finances lead the top concerns of Filipinos, both at 61%. Developing illnesses and health emergencies carry the stress of financial strain, especially without prompt support and adequate protection.

Furthermore, among top healthcare priorities of the Filipinos surveyed in the study, hospitalization is placed first by the majority, comprising 30%, followed by emergency medical services (21%), and medicine expenses (13%) — areas where financial difficulties are mostly felt.

Preemptive measures such as exercise and proper diet, coupled with financial discipline, can definitely help individuals remain productive and stay afloat, but what would one do in a sudden twist of fate where self-care alone cannot suffice? How does one still make sure that everything goes well according to plan?

Recognizing the need for more meaningful protection among Filipinos, Cocolife, the first ISO-certified Filipino-owned stock life insurance company in the Philippines, aims to make sure individuals and families are well taken care of no matter what life throws in one’s way with its Alagang Cocolife brand of care.

“For Cocolife, it is our duty to serve our clients with the best insurance products, life and healthcare insurance, together with the 24/7 customer servicing to cater our clients’ needs, especially during these most trying times,” President and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Martin Loon stated, emphasizing the company’s commitment to taking care of fellow Filipinos in times of need.

Such commitment is shown by its pioneering Cocolife Aruga plan, which offers results-oriented health coverage beyond usual lists of defined illnesses.

Taking financial and health protection further, Cocolife has also introduced its enhanced Critical Illness Benefit and Hospitalization Income Benefit Riders as well as its newest health insurance products, Cocolife Agapay and Cocolife Kalinga.

Most of the time, preparing for the future entails having plans A, B, and C to implement regardless of the situation. One can now have a solid plan in their suite with Cocolife Agapay, an investment-linked life and health insurance plan that promises to help individuals look out for themselves and their loved ones.

With its affordable premiums, Cocolife Agapay helps clients save for uncertainties for just P67 a day. In case the client’s condition becomes critical and medical costs consequently surge, Cocolife Agapay gives Critical Illness Coverage, where the client will be a recipient of a lump-sum payout for any of 36 covered critical illnesses, which includes cancer and stroke. If the client is unable to pay premiums out of disability and inability to continue work, Agapay still ensures they are still covered.

Agapay also provides an optional savings path where one can accumulate their funds to either support their hospital aftercare or their long-term ambitions.

Furthermore, if the client stays loyal to their policy, they will receive a loyalty bonus starting at the 10^th year and every five years thereafter, adding value to the client’s long-term plan.

Cocolife Kalinga, meanwhile, aims to make insurance plans much more affordable for Filipinos. For just P20 a day, Cocolife Kalinga guarantees the client a simple term insurance plan that is certain to provide financial support when the client needs it the most.

The plan includes hospitalization income benefit, wherein the client is entitled to a daily cash assistance for each day of confinement due to illness, critical disease, or injury. The plan also offers flexibility, making it possible for the client to match their budget and goals with package options providing coverage for 10 years, 20 years, or until the age of 65. Similarly, it provides the client efficient renewal as there are no additional complicated steps required.

The plan also guarantees life insurance protection, which is 100% equal to the plan’s face amount in case of a client’s untimely passing. Cocolife Kalinga also has critical illness coverage and waiver of premium due to disability.

Carrying a vision of building a better nation through empowering Filipinos to achieve a more financially secure future, Cocolife pledges to guide clients towards a more improved and secured future through diverse options, like Cocolife Agapay and Cocolife Kalinga, that aptly match Filipino’s pressing needs and immediate resources.

“We assure you that Cocolife will provide you with only the highest quality of service,” Atty. Loon reiterates. “It is a commitment that made us the first ISO-certified life insurance company in the Philippines.”

Discover more about Cocolife Agapay at https://www.cocolife.com/cocolife-agapay/ and Cocolife Kalinga at https://www.cocolife.com/cocolife-kalinga/. For inquiries, email customer_service@cocolife.com.

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Pioneer spotlights drone insurance at Shootfest Reel Contest

July 18, 2025 | 2:15 pm

Pioneer Insurance raised awareness about the importance of drone insurance through the recently concluded Pioneer Drone Shootfest, an online reel competition showcasing happy places taken by drone.

“Drones open amazing possibilities for work and for play. But like any tool or passion, they come with risks. We at Pioneer wanted drone users, whether hobbyists or professionals, to feel confident and protected every time they take flight,” Pioneer Aviation Head James Quin said.

The contest brought drone enthusiasts together while highlighting the importance of drone safety. It ran from April 16 to May 30, and drew 83 entries from all over the country, featuring “happy places” from Batanes to Sulu. Grand prizes include a DJI Neo, DJI Osmo Mobile Gimbal, and a Pocket Printer, while consolation prize winners brought home P2,000 worth of gift certificates.

“Having the right insurance isn’t just a smart choice — it’s essential,” said Mr. Quin. “It gives users peace of mind knowing their investment and creativity are protected, allowing them to fly their drones with confidence.”

The preliminary and final judging rounds were held at Pioneer House Makati, where individuals from creative fields, visual storytellers, drone videographers, along with Pioneer executives, came together.

Among the Pioneer officers present were Lorenzo Chan, Jr., Pioneer Group Head; Atty. Betty Medialdea, PISC President and CEO; Jo-I Kapunan, Pioneer Accident and Health Retail Head; and Len Pozon, Pioneer Marketing Head.

Also in attendance were special guests Ed Simon, Production and Studio Manager of KLIQ, Inc.; JR Escobar, Owner of Lazarus Information Technology Solutions; Vince Quierra, Operations Manager of Urban Gadgets; and well-known vloggers and social media influencers Kyle Jennermann (@becomingfilipino), and Anselm Plummer (@kumanderdaot); and Gregorio G. Limpin IV, Operations Officer of the Department of Tourism (DoT).

“The growing interest in drones was clearly reflected in our recent Drone Shootfest. It brought the community together and gave us the chance to emphasize the importance of safety and protection while flying,” said Mr. Chan.

Drone Worry Be Happy

Pioneer’s “Drone Worry Be Happy,” an insurance plan designed specifically for drone users, underscored the risks that come with drone use — ranging from crashes and collisions to harsh weather, and legal liabilities.

It is designed to meet the specific needs of hobbyist drone operators. Damages from accidental collisions, water damage, fire, lightning, and Acts of Nature are all covered.

Drone owners interested to purchase “Drone Worry Be Happy” insurance can email insuremydrone@pioneer.com.ph for more information.

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The country needs a pro-MSME government, says PCCI

July 18, 2025 | 12:21 pm

“The country needs a government biased toward micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), Ruben J. Pascual, secretary general of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told BusinessWorld.

Interview by Edg Adrian Eva
Video editing by Jayson Mariñas

Torrential rain pounds South Korea for third day as thousands take shelter

July 18, 2025 | 11:11 am

STOCK PHOTO | AdobeStock| Portrait of a person holding black umbrella outside during the rain. Raindrops and light from city and cars. Rainy weather and forecast concept.

SEOUL – More than 5,000 people in South Korea have been forced into shelters as heavy rain pounded parts of the country for a third day, with the deluge killing at least four people and destroying property and infrastructure, the safety ministry said on Friday.

Torrential rain warnings remain in effect for most of the country’s western and southern regions and the weather service has advised extreme caution against landslides and flooding through Saturday.

Some parts in the south including the city of Gwangju were hit by record precipitation of more than 400 millimeters (16 inches) in the past 24 hours as of early on Friday, the safety ministry said.

Four people have died and one remained missing, it said. Two were trapped in cars on flooded roads and another died in a basement under flood water in the central South Chungcheong province, it said.

A driver was also killed after a 10-metre-high (33 ft) roadside wall collapsed on top of a moving vehicle on Wednesday in Osan, some 44 kilometers (27 miles) south of Seoul, fire agency officials said.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who has been vocal about stepping up the government’s role in disaster prevention and response, is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting on the weather on Friday. – Reuters

Introducing the winning members and coaches of Kinetix Lab’s Fit & Fierce Body Composition Challenge

July 18, 2025 | 11:00 am

Kinetix-OL — Left photo: Ana Miclat-Arnaldo & Kinetix Lab Head Of Sales Jet Legaspi; right photo: Jainee Micaela M. Turla & Kinetix Lab Coach Yan Vitangcol

At the tail end of January this year, the premier strength and conditioning gym in the country Kinetix Lab unveiled the Fit & Fierce Body Composition Challenge. It’s a competition among female coached members from different branches of Kinetix Lab to see who can achieve specific improvements in their body over a two-month period.

There were two categories: The Fat Loss Category, which was focused on reducing body fat and The Muscle Mass Category, which was focused on gaining muscle mass. By March 29, 2025, the winners were announced at the Squats for a Cause event held at Kinetix Lab One Ayala.

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Kinetix Lab One Ayala member Jainee Micaela M. Turla trains four times a week. “I had my personal goals that I wanted to achieve when I turn 30 this year,” says Jainee, who won the Muscle Mass Category of the challenge. Her reason for joining was a combination of her being able to push herself closer to her goal plus winning the free trip to Iloilo and staycation at The Vermillion Hotel. For Jainee, winning was merely a significant bonus, as she already felt like a winner after witnessing the outcomes of her dedicated training. Grateful for the help of her Kinetix Lab coach Yan Vitangcol, she said that Coach Yan definitely did most of the “heavy lifting” in getting her to win. “All I had to do was show up and do what he told me to do. And true enough, just trusting my coach was the answer,” Jainee said. “In the different aspects of her fitness journey — training, diet, recovery, mental preparation, and mindset, Jainee knew what she needed to do to get the results she wanted,” says Jainee’s Kinetix Lab One Ayala coach Yan Vitangcol. Coach Yan notes that she is an exceptionally obedient client who takes the initiative to inquire about ways to enhance her training. Coach Yan believes that Jainee’s mindset of choosing to be “consistently good” over the pressure to be perfect has worked in her favor for sustainability.

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Anapet Miclat-Arnaldo aims to return to her body as it was before her second baby. “My child is turning 5 this year so this has been a goal that’s been long overdue,” she says. She won in the Fat Loss Category of the challenge, thanks to her commitment to training four times a week at Kinetix Lab at The Podium. She has been with Kinetix Lab for a year now and has received training from Coach Khaim Apostol, Jr. At the time of the challenge announcement, she also registered for a weightlifting competition. “It tied in nicely with my goal of going down to the 63kg weight class. That meant I was going down 3 weight classes in 3 months all while also getting stronger with my lifts,” Anapet said. The timing was truly impeccable. She expresses her deep gratitude to her coach Khaim, who has consistently held her accountable in her training. “His push was exactly what I needed to keep my eyes on the prize (pun intended haha!),” Anapet said. She also expresses thanks to Ms. Yna Mercado, Kinetix Lab’s in-house dietician, who not only created a personalized plan for her but also served as one of her strongest supporters in her journey to achieve her goal. “The main contributions to Ana winning the Fit & Fierce challenge are her own motivations to lose weight, her competitive nature, and the guidance of our nutritionist,” humbly mentioned by Coach Khaim. He also encourages others to participate in events such as the Fit & Fierce Body Composition Challenge to find how committed they can be to becoming fitter and fiercer in life.

The Fit & Fierce Body Composition Challenge welcomed all female coached members from every branch of Kinetix Lab — U.P. Town Center, The Podium, and One Ayala. The winners (and their coaches) were awarded an all-expense-paid trip to Iloilo for two, enjoying a stay of three nights and four days at The Vermillion Hotel, along with goodies from sponsors Wheyl Nutrition Co., Enimal Lifestyle Brand and Apparel, and Strong Stuff Lifting Gears and Equipment.

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Lula says he won’t take orders from foreigner Trump, calls tariffs blackmail

July 18, 2025 | 10:59 am

SAO PAULO – Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday said he would not take orders over tariffs from a foreigner, referring to U.S. President Donald Trump, and later called the United States’ threatened duty “unacceptable blackmail.”

The comments, made during two separate events, mark a continuation of a spat between the two leaders that escalated when the U.S. announced a 50% tariff on Brazil last week.

Mr. Trump attributed the tariff, set to start in August, to Brazil’s treatment of former President Jair Bolsonaro and to trade practices against U.S. companies that he said are unfair. The tariff announcement came days after Mr. Lula called Mr. Trump an “emperor” the world does not want.

Mr. Lula and members of his cabinet have rejected the reasoning behind the tariffs and insisted on Brazil’s sovereignty, while calling for trade negotiations with the United States.

“No foreigner is going to give orders to this president,” Mr. Lula said in a speech, using the slang word ‘gringo’, which in Brazil is a common term for foreigners without the pejorative sense it carries in other parts of Latin America.

He added that Brazil would go ahead with regulation and taxation of U.S. tech firms, telling a gathering of leftist student activists in the state of Goias that tech firms are conduits of violence and fake news disguised as freedom of expression.

Later on Thursday, during an evening TV and radio address to the nation, Mr. Lula said the defense of Brazil’s sovereignty extends to protecting itself against the actions of foreign digital platforms.

During the near five-minute address, Lula said Brazil has been negotiating with the U.S. over tariffs, and repeated that the Latin America country had sent a proposal in May.

“We expected a response, and what we received was unacceptable blackmail, in the form of threats to Brazilian institutions and false information about trade between Brazil and the United States,” Mr. Lula said.

Brasilia has been holding discussions with industry groups and companies that will be affected by the U.S. tariff, while also readying potential retaliatory measures if talks fall through.

Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira told CNN Brasil separately on Thursday that Mr. Lula was open to talks with Trump, who had not yet met each other.

“If the circumstances are given, they will speak,” he added.

Mr. Lula, who is in his third non-consecutive term as president of Latin America’s largest economy, saw his approval ratings start to rebound after the trade spat with Trump last week. – Reuters

Japan voters see little hope for tariff reprieve in car maker Mazda’s hometown

July 18, 2025 | 10:57 am

Japan, Hiroshima Peace Memorial ParkAtomic Bomb Dome — THE ATOMIC BOMB DOME is seen in front of the venue holding a ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombing at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, western Japan, Aug. 6, 2020. — KYODO/VIA REUTERS

HIROSHIMA, Japan – When car maker Mazda sneezes, everyone catches a cold, say people in its hometown of Hiroshima in western Japan, but these days, auto parts maker Yuji Yamaguchi fears a deep chill is on the way.

“If Mazda builds fewer cars, our orders will drop,” said Mr. Yamaguchi, whose 110-year-old firm, Nanjo Auto Interior, has almost 1,000 employees making door panels and other parts for the automaker, which accounts for more than 90% of its sales.

“The key thing is whether we can remain profitable with lower volumes.”

The economic engine of Hiroshima, a manufacturing hub 800 km (500 miles) southwest of Tokyo, Mazda faces U.S. tariffs of 25% on automobiles, a dispiriting prospect for an electorate already battling inflation and a weak economy.

Japan votes on Sunday in an upper house election that looks set to weaken the grip on power of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who has failed to win a tariff reprieve from the United States, its closest ally and a crucial trade partner.

“I have no expectations for the Japanese government anymore,” said Yamaguchi, a great-grandson of Mazda founder Jujiro Matsuda. “I’m past frustration and have just resigned myself to things.”

As people in Hiroshima and other auto manufacturing regions, brace for the inevitable fall-out from tariffs, Yamaguchi said he had little hope the government could turn the tide.

President Donald Trump has given no sign of relenting on his tariffs, and has even hinted at raising those against Japan.

Mazda, which saw U.S. sales fall 18.6% in May on the year and by 6.5% in June, is one of the Japanese car makers most exposed to U.S. tariffs.

Imports bring in the bulk of Mazda’s American sales, but the importance of the wider industry for Japan is almost impossible to overstate.

After Japan ceded global leadership in chips and consumer electronics, its auto industry has grown to make up about 28% of the roughly $145 billion worth of goods shipped to the United States last year.

There are more than 68,000 companies in Japan’s auto supply chain, a July survey by research firm Teikoku Data Bank showed, and the JAMA industry group says they employ 5.6 million people, or about 8% of the labor force.

“A supply chain is hard to rebuild once broken,” said Hideki Tsuchikawa, research head at Teikoku Databank’s branch in Hiroshima, which his firm estimates is home to more than 2,000 auto suppliers.

“Automobiles are a core national industry. Government support is essential.”

The tariffs could cost Mazda and other smaller Japanese automakers U.S. market share lost to bigger rivals, said Julie Boote, an autos analyst at Pelham Smithers Associates in London.

Mazda, headquartered in Hiroshima, where it has assembly plants, has so far declined to give a full-year earnings outlook, citing the uncertainty of tariffs.

In a statement, Mazda told Reuters its top priority was to protect suppliers, dealers and employees as it looked to overcome the tariff impact.

It anticipated significant impact in the short term, the company said, adding it was taking all possible steps, such as asking for government countermeasures.

‘NO OVERTIME, NO DRINKING’

It is hard to say whether the uncertainty will further deepen voter anger over time, or how much opposition parties will be able to chip away at Mr. Ishiba’s support as they look to tap into voter discontent.

For the auto industry there seems to be no recourse except to return to a well-worn playbook of cost-cutting perfected during Japan’s years of stop-start economic growth.

No overtime means no extra money for drinking, said Koji Sasaki, the 54-year-old owner of a bar in the town of Fuchu close to Mazda’s headquarters, where the automaker’s employees usually form the bulk of customers.

Their numbers have dropped in recent months, with some regulars apologizing for making fewer visits, he said.

Drinking in Sasaki’s bar on a recent July evening was company veteran Toshiyuki Shimizu, 45, who said Mazda had already cut back on overtime and business travel for employees.

“We used to bring junior staff along on business trips, but now I often go alone,” said Akira Ichigi, a 32-year-old Mazda colleague, adding that the limits denied junior employees valuable experience acquired on such trips.

Mazda has set up a tariff strategy team that was meeting each week in Hiroshima, said one company insider, speaking on condition of anonymity.

But Mazda faced constraints in finding ways to tackle the tariffs from a labour shortage in the United States, that kept it from boosting capacity at its sole plant there, operated with Toyota, the source added.

Mazda said overtime cuts and a business travel review were part of its drive to cut 100 billion yen in costs. Essential travel continued, but it was evaluating whether accompanying staff were necessary, it said.

The company set up a team to monitor tariffs and was working with suppliers and dealers, it said, adding that key to increasing supply to the U.S. market were its efforts to tackle labor shortages and strengthen the supply chain.

For now, parts supplier Yamaguchi said he was not considering specific steps to counter the tariffs.

“In business, we need to have long-term vision,” Yamaguchi said, likening the moment to the COVID-19 pandemic, when his company posted a loss in 2020 but returned to profit the next year by working to boost efficiency rather than cutting costs.

“If we don’t invest in 2025, we might miss opportunities.” – Reuters

Air India cockpit recording suggests captain cut fuel to engines before crash, source says

July 18, 2025 | 10:54 am

WASHINGTON/SEATTLE – A cockpit recording of dialogue between the two pilots of the Air India flight that crashed last month supports the view that the captain cut the flow of fuel to the plane’s engines, said a source briefed on U.S. officials’ early assessment of evidence.

The first officer was at the controls of the Boeing 787 and asked the captain why he moved the fuel switches into a position that starved the engines of fuel and requested that he restore the fuel flow, the source told Reuters on condition of anonymity because the matter remains under investigation.

The U.S. assessment is not contained in a formal document, said the source, who emphasized the cause of the June 12 crash in Ahmedabad, India, that killed 260 people remains under investigation.

There was no cockpit video recording definitively showing which pilot flipped the switches, but the weight of evidence from the conversation points to the captain, according to the early assessment.

The Wall Street Journal first reported similar information on Wednesday about the world’s deadliest aviation accident in a decade.

India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which is leading the investigation into the crash, said in a statement on Thursday that “certain sections of the international media are repeatedly attempting to draw conclusions through selective and unverified reporting.” It added the investigation was ongoing and it remained too early to draw definitive conclusions.

Most air crashes are caused by multiple factors, and under international rules, a final report is expected within a year of an accident.

A preliminary report released by the AAIB on Saturday said one pilot was heard on the cockpit voice recorder asking the other why he cut off the fuel and “the other pilot responded that he did not do so.”

Investigators did not identify which remarks were made by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and which by First Officer Clive Kunder, who had total flying experience of 15,638 hours and 3,403 hours, respectively.

The AAIB’s preliminary report said the fuel switches had switched from “run” to “cutoff” a second apart just after takeoff, but it did not say how they were moved.

Almost immediately after the plane lifted off the ground, closed-circuit TV footage showed a backup energy source called a ram air turbine had deployed, indicating a loss of power from the engines.

The London-bound plane began to lose thrust, and after reaching a height of 650 feet, the jet started to sink.

The fuel switches for both engines were turned back to “run”, and the airplane automatically tried restarting the engines, the report said.

But the plane was too low and too slow to be able to recover, aviation safety expert John Nance told Reuters.

The plane clipped some trees and a chimney before crashing in a fireball into a building on a nearby medical college campus, the report said, killing 19 people on the ground and 241 of the 242 on board the 787.

NO SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS

In an internal memo on Monday, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson said the preliminary report found no mechanical or maintenance faults and that all required maintenance had been carried out.

The AAIB’s preliminary report had no safety recommendations for Boeing or engine manufacturer GE.

After the report was released, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing privately issued notifications that the fuel switch locks on Boeing planes are safe, a document seen by Reuters showed and four sources with knowledge of the matter said.

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board has been assisting with the Air India investigation and its Chair Jennifer Homendy has been fully briefed on all aspects, a board spokesperson said. That includes the cockpit voice recording and details from the flight data recorder that the NTSB team assisted the AAIB in reading out, the spokesperson added.

“The safety of international air travel depends on learning as much as we can from these rare events so that industry and regulators can improve aviation safety,” Ms. Homendy said in a statement. “And if there are no immediate safety issues discovered, we need to know that as well.”

The circumstantial evidence increasingly indicates that a crew member flipped the engine fuel switches, Nance said, given there was “no other rational explanation” that was consistent with the information released to date.

Nonetheless, investigators “still have to dig into all the factors” and rule out other possible contributing factors which would take time, he said.

The Air India crash has rekindled debate over adding flight deck cameras, known as cockpit image recorders, on airliners.

Nance said investigators likely would have benefited greatly from having video footage of the cockpit during the Air India flight. – Reuters

Trump administration tells US diplomats abroad not to opine on foreign elections

July 18, 2025 | 10:51 am

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio instructed U.S. diplomats worldwide not to comment on the fairness or integrity of elections conducted by foreign countries, according to an internal note seen by Reuters on Thursday, in a significant departure from Washington’s traditional approach of promoting free and fair elections overseas.

The order, sent to all U.S. diplomatic posts in a July 17 internal State Department cable, says the Department will no longer issue election-related statements or social media posts from Washington unless there is a “clear and compelling” foreign policy interest.

“When it is appropriate to comment on a foreign election, our message should be brief, focused on congratulating the winning candidate and, when appropriate, noting shared foreign policy interests,” said the cable, which was marked as “sensitive” but not classified.

“Messages should avoid opining on the fairness or integrity of an electoral process, its legitimacy, or the democratic values of the country in question,” it said.

It added that election-related messages should come from either the Secretary himself or the Department spokesperson and it barred U.S. diplomats from issuing such statements without explicit approval from the agency’s senior leadership.

The cable referenced President Donald Trump’s May 13 speech in Riyadh when he criticized what he called “Western interventionists” telling Middle Eastern countries how to govern their own affairs, saying that was no longer Washington’s business and it was looking to forge partnerships.

“While the United States will hold firm to its own democratic values and celebrate those values when other countries choose a similar path, the President made clear that the United States will pursue partnerships with countries wherever our strategic interests align,” the directive said.

When asked about the cable, a State Department spokesperson in emailed comments repeated some of the points in the directive and said that this approach was consistent with the administration’s emphasis on “national sovereignty.”

The United States has traditionally viewed the promotion of human rights and democracy as well as press freedom as a core foreign policy objective, although critics have repeatedly pointed out the double standard Washington has had towards its allies.

Under Mr. Trump, the administration has increasingly moved away from the promotion of democracy and human rights, largely seeing it as interference in another country’s affairs. For example, it has moved to reshape the State Department’s human rights bureau, which it said had become a platform for “left-wing activists to wage vendettas against ‘anti-woke’ leaders.”

Mr. Trump officials have repeatedly weighed in on European politics to denounce what they see as suppression of right-wing leaders, including in Romania, Germany and France, accusing European authorities of censoring views such as criticism of immigration in the name of countering disinformation. – Reuters