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Mt. Pulag campsites on temporary shutdown for clean-up

BAGUIO CITY — The management of Mt. Pulag National Park in Kabayan, Benguet announced in a public advisory that it is temporarily closing two campsites for rehabilitation and clean-up.

This comes after the Protected Area Management Office noticed mounds of garbage suspected to have been left by trekkers at Campsites 1 and 2.

“Due to this, Campsite 1&2 will be temporarily closed to allow for rehabilitation and to instill discipline among visitors,” the advisory said.

Mt. Pulag Protected Landscape Protected Area Superintendent Emerita B. Albas confirmed they will be imposing penalties on campers found to have left their trash at the site. The reopening of the campsites will be announced once it is deemed suitable for use again.

The management is requiring campers to carry their trash with them when leaving Mt. Pulag, urging the use of reusable water containers to prevent littering and a heavy environmental impact.

The Mt. Pulag National Park advisory reiterated that all visitors should practice the Leave No Trace Principle.

Mt. Pulag National Park is the highest peak in Luzon and is the second-highest mountain in the Philippines with an elevation of 2,922 meters above sea level. — Artemio A. Dumlao

Over P12-M cannabis torched

CRYSTALWEED CANNABIS-UNSPLASH

BAGUIO CITY — Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agents torched down 34,000 fully grown marijuana shrubs and 45,000 grams of dried marijuana leaves, reaching a total of P12.2 million in value in a remote sitio in Tacadang, Kibungan, Benguet on Wednesday.

The cannabis came from four different plantations that spanned a total of around 4,300 square meters via a four-day eradication operation, said PDEA-Cordillera director Derrick Carreon.

According to the PDEA-Cordillera chief, the first plantation bore nearly 9,000 fully grown cannabis shrubs with approximately 5,000 grams of already dried marijuana leaves worth P2.4 million; followed by 1,000 shrubs and 1,500 grams of dried marijuana leaves worth P2 million at the second site 2; 25,000 grams of dried marijuana worth P3 million discovered in site 3, and 24,000 pieces of plants valued at P4.8 million at the fourth plantation.

No cultivators were caught, admitted Mr. Carreon. Artemio A. Dumlao

Engineer killed, 2 hurt in gun attacks in Cotabato City

STOCK PHOTO | Shooting gun photo created by senivpetro - www.freepik.com

COTABATO CITY — An engineer was killed while a construction worker and a security guard were wounded in separate gun attacks just two hours apart in two adjoining areas in Cotabato City on Wednesday afternoon.

Engineer Roland M. Daguan, who was shot thrice with a .45 caliber pistol by a subordinate worker inside a mall building being constructed for three years now, died in a hospital where emergency responders brought him for treatment.

Col. Jibin M. Bongcayao, Cotabato City police director, told reporters on Thursday that the policemen who responded to the incident had arrested a suspect in the daring daytime murder of Mr. Daguan, now undergoing interrogation.

The suspect had wounded a co-worker, Reno S. Delos Santos, who was hit by a stray bullet when he repeatedly shot Mr. Daguan with a pistol.

Laborers working in the still unfinished four-story building covering about seven hectares of land in Cotabato City’s main commercial hub panicked as gunshots reverberated through the scene.

Construction workers who had witnessed the atrocity said Mr. Daguan and his assailant had a misunderstanding over work issues.

About two hours later, two gunmen riding a motorcycle together wounded a security guard at a pawnshop, only about 500 meters away from where Mr. Daguan was killed.

Dominic J. Villar, then on duty, sustained bullet wounds in the abdomen, arm, and leg.

Mr. Bongcayao said Mr. Villar was at the entrance to the establishment he was guarding when his attackers pulled over close to him, opened fire, and immediately left.

The wounded Mr. Villar is now confined at the Cotabato Regional Medical Center.

Police investigators and relatives of Mr. Villar are convinced that the attempt to kill him could be related to a dispute with a neighbor from whom he had borrowed a big amount of cash several months ago that he has not yet settled. — John Felix M. Unson

AJ Edu’s comeback continues in third window of AC Qualifiers

AJ EDU — FIBA

Game on Sunday
(Spark Arena, Auckland)
3 p.m. (10 a.m. Manila time)
New Zealand vs Philippines

AJ EDU relishes the opportunity of donning the Philippine colors again after his last Gilas Pilipinas stint in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Mr. Edu dealt with knee issues after his breakout performance of 8.2 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in the global meet in Manila and was forced to sit out a number of Gilas campaigns since then.

He was supposed to suit up last November for the second window of the FIBA Asia Cup (AC) Qualifiers but an unfortunate knee injury sustained while playing in Japan days before the two home matches forced a delay in his national team comeback.

Now back in the pink of health, the 6-foot-10 Mr. Edu finally reconnected with his Gilas mates and made his debut for the Tim Cone-coached squad in the four-nation Doha Invitational Cup in Qatar.

The former Toledo standout had 10 rebounds, six points, two assists and one block in nearly 24 minutes of play to help the National open the campaign with a 74-71 victory over host Qatar. He then posted a 6-6 statline with one block in 16 minutes in their 54-75 loss to Lebanon and produced six points, three boards, two steals and two blocks in an extended 27-minute duty in their 55-86 defeat to Egypt.

Mr. Edu’s whirlwind Gilas return slate continues in the third window of AC Qualifiers, where the Pinoy dribblers are booked for away assignments against Chinese-Taipei in Taipei last night and New Zealand in Auckland on Sunday.

“It’s been a good experience. Definitely tough, (traveling to) three, four countries in a matter of days but at the end of the day, it’s a blessing to be able to travel and to represent the country,” Mr. Edu said on One Sports.

“And for me, it’s been a long time coming. So as tough as it was, despite the games (in Doha) not going our way, the biggest thing I got out of it was just the joy of being able to play again for the country and all glory to God for that.”

The return of Mr. Edu, along with ace winger Jamie Malonzo who also missed some of Gilas’ 2024 gigs due to calf injury, served as a breath of fresh air after 7-foot-3 Kai Sotto went down with an ACL.

The Justin Brownlee-led Nationals are looking forward to making the trip to Taiwan one of redemption after their disappointing showing in Qatar.

“I’m excited, I’m sure everybody else is excited to get back on the court and try to get a win against Taiwan, especially having lost the past two games we played in Doha,” said Mr. Brownlee in expressing Gilas’ mindset. — Olmin Leyba

My Daily Collagen Subic triathlon kicks off March 9

HUNDREDS OF NATIONAL, amateur, pro and aspiring swim-bike-run enthusiasts here and abroad are expected to troop up North as the My Daily Collagen ushers in its fifth triathlon next month in Subic.

Sporting a theme of “Where Stars Are Born,” the upstart triathlon firing off on March 9 anticipates its biggest edition to date from a 400-strong participation last year with delegates from the United States and across Asia.

Local participation includes seasoned and first-time triathletes all the way from Zamboanga with three categories on board for different preferences and capabilities as My Daily Collagen levels it up in other sports after also backing volleyball club PLDT in the PVL.

These are the standard distance of 1.5-kilometer (km) swim, 40-km bike and 10-km run and sprint distance of 750-meter swim, 20-km bike and 5-km run with an age requirement of 16 years old and up.

Among the innovations in the My Daily Collagen, however, is the team relay for standard distance category with each club designating different players for 1.5-km swim, 40-km bike and 10-km run. — John Bryan Ulanday

CSB Lady Blazers open NCAA four-peat bid with win against Arellano University

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

Games on Friday
(SSC-R Gym)
9 a.m. – Letran vs JRU (men/women)
1 p.m. – SSC-R vs Mapua (women/men)

COLLEGE of St. Benilde (CSB) turned back Arellano University (AU), 25-18, 25-12, 24-26, 25-17, on Thursday to launch its four-peat feat bid in NCAA Season 100 women’s volleyball at the San Sebastian College Gym.

It was the Lady Blazers’ first victory of the year that they hoped would end up in another championship after reigning supreme the last three seasons when they never absorbed a single defeat.

More impressively, it was CSB’s 41st straight win in a magnificent stretch that included victories in the pandemic-shortened 2021 season.

But the belles from Taft knew it would be tougher this year as they will miss four key cogs from their three-peat reign in Cloanne Mondonedo, Michelle Gamit, Gayle Pascual and Jade Gentapa, who have all turned pro.

Taking the cudgels this time were Mycah Go, Mary Grace Borromeo and Zam Nolasco, who fired 17, 11 and 10 points, respectively.

CSB had a chance to essay a straight set win when it handily took the first two sets and was up, 24-22, in the third but lost concentration after allowing AU to turn the tables around and seize the last four points in snatching the frame and forcing another one.

In men’s play, CSB likewise downed AU, 25-22, 27-25, 27-29, 25-19. — Joey Villar

Mystics’ Napheesa Collier claims Unrivaled one-on-one tourney

NAPHEESA COLLIER clinched the Unrivaled one-on-one tournament in a most fitting fashion.

The forward, who is the reigning WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, shut out Washington Mystics forward Aaliyah Edwards 8-0 in the deciding game of the best-of-three final on Friday night in Medley, Florida.

Collier, of the Minnesota Lynx, lost the first game 9-6 but took the second game 9-4. Collier defeated the Los Angeles Sparks’ Azura Stevens 11-2 in one semifinal, which also was played on Friday. By the same score, Edwards knocked off Arike Ogunbowale of the Dallas Wings in the other semifinal.

Collier won the $200,000 first prize, and her Lunar Owls teammates (Courtney Williams, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Allisha Gray, Cameron Brink and Shakira Austin) each got $10,000. On her path to the title, Collier defeated Williams in the quarterfinals.

Edwards claimed $50,000 as runner-up.

It wasn’t all about the money, said Collier, an Unrivaled co-founder who will receive $214,284 this season for the Lynx.

“Of course we want to win the prize money, but we want to further the culture (of the sport),” she said. “It feels great to win that money, I’m not going to lie. But it makes it better we get to share it with our team. I’m excited for that.” — Reuters

LaMelo Ball delivers 27 points as Hornets fend off LA Lakers

LAMELO BALL scored 27 points, including a driving layup with 14.2 seconds remaining, as the visiting Charlotte Hornets pulled off a 100-97 victory in a make-up game on Wednesday over the Los Angeles (LA) Lakers.

Miles Bridges scored 29 points, Nick Smith Jr. had 12 and Mark Williams added 10 points with nine rebounds as the Hornets won in the NBA’s first game following the All-Star break. Charlotte, which snapped a three-game skid, was in the Los Angeles area in early January when it had two games postponed because of deadly wildfires.

Ball, a Los Angeles-area native, added six assists with five rebounds while helping to fuel a 23-3 run between the third and fourth quarters. The Hornets won while shooting just 36.3% from the floor.

LeBron James scored 26 points with 11 assists and Rui Hachimura had 17 points with eight rebounds as the Lakers lost consecutive games for the first time since Jan. 5-7. James missed a pair of 3-point attempts in the closing seconds that would have tied the game.

Luka Dončić had 14 points with 11 rebounds and eight assists in his third game since he was acquired from the Dallas Mavericks at the trade deadline. Dončić shot 5 of 18 from the floor and 1 of 9 from 3-point range.

Dorian Finney-Smith had 12 points off the bench for Los Angeles, which was without Austin Reaves (eight points) after he was ejected for arguing a non-call in the third quarter. The Lakers led by as many as 13 in the third quarter.

The Lakers led 63-52 with 4:34 remaining in the third before the Hornets went on a 14-2 run to take a 66-65 lead with 1:46 remaining in the period. Included in the stretch was Reaves’ ejection.

Charlotte extended the run to 23-3 for a 75-66 lead with 10:53 remaining before Los Angeles fashioned its own rally.

The Lakers led 88-85 with 4:44 remaining before Bridges tied it on a 3-pointer with 4:19 left. The Hornets were up 96-94 when Hachimura missed a pair of free throws for the Lakers with 37 seconds remaining.

Ball’s layup with 14 seconds remaining put Charlotte up 98-94 before James made it a one-point game on a 3-pointer with 6.1 seconds left. Ball made two free throws with six seconds left for the final margin. — Reuters

Sun keeping Mabrey

It’s not hard to see why Marina Mabrey has asked to be moved anew. After all, the Sun that she was only too happy to join midway through the immediate past season no longer look the same. In an evident reset, they have dealt away their entire starting five, including All-Stars Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner, and Brionna Jones. Even erstwhile head coach Stephanie White has seen fit to change addresses, never mind the consecutive semifinal-round appearances with the orange, blue, and white since joining them in 2023.

Unfortunately for Mabrey, the Sun intend to keep her on the roster as a foundational piece. Instead of going the way of her two previous employers, they have emphatically denied her divorce request. In making the decision public, franchise president Jennifer Rizzotti went the passive-aggressive route; reference was made to her seeming predilection to escape from undesirable situations. “We knew at the time that she had already forced her way out of two teams, so it was a bit risky for us to trade for her, but we felt like it was worth it.”

Not long after, Rizzotti then underscored Mabrey’s importance to the Sun. “The reasons that we have for not trading Marina are rooted in positivity,” the executive told ESPN. “It’s rooted in a desire to build around her, have her here, have her be the catalyst for what we want to do offensively, taking advantage of her versatility, knowing that the style that [coach] Rashid [Meziane] plays with will suit her game, and knowing that we can put her in an individual situation to be really successful as this current [WNBA collective bargaining agreement] closes and a new one opens.”

Rizzotti’s not wrong. The Sun did value her enough to give up reserves Rachel Banham and Moriah Jefferson, a 2025 first-round pick, and a 2026 pick swap in order to bring her into the fold. And, yes, she was happy and contributing heavily to the cause as the tied player off the bench for White. To be sure, she didn’t know until well after their 2024 campaign ended that they would blow up the roster in an apparent rebuild. Which is why FAM’s Marcus Crenshaw, her agent, has gone on the offensive to defend her plea.

At this point, it’s anybody’s guess as to how the impasse will be resolved — if at all. The Sun seem determined to hold her to her contract. And considering that she is in the last year of her contract, not to mention stands to make $210,000 in the process, she’s not likely to generate interest elsewhere. In other words, she and her employers are, at best, in a marriage of convenience. Which is to say, outside of the public pronouncements, the worst is yet to come.

 

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and human resources management, corporate communications, and business development.

Trump tells ‘dictator’ Zelensky to move fast or lose Ukraine

Donald Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy meet at Trump Tower in New York City, U.S., Sept. 27, 2024. — REUTERS

WASHINGTON/KYIV — US President Donald Trump denounced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a “dictator” on Wednesday and warned he had to move quickly to secure peace or risk losing his country, deepening a feud between the two leaders that has alarmed European officials.

The extraordinary attacks — a day after Mr. Trump claimed Ukraine was to blame for Russia’s 2022 invasion — heightened concerns among US allies in Europe that Mr. Trump’s approach to ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict could benefit Moscow.

Less than a month into his presidency, Mr. Trump has upended US policy on the war, ending a campaign to isolate Russia with a Trump-Putin phone call and talks between senior US and Russian officials that have sidelined Ukraine.

“A Dictator without Elections, Zelensky better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left,” Mr. Trump wrote on social media, using an alternate spelling for the Ukrainian president’s name.

In response, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said no one could force his country to give in.

“We will defend our right to exist,” Mr. Sybiha said on X.

Later in the day while speaking to investors and executives in Miami, Mr. Trump doubled down on his comments, again calling Mr. Zelensky a “dictator” and suggesting the Ukrainian president wanted to prolong the war to “keep the gravy train going,” a reference to US military aid.

Mr. Zelensky’s five-year term was supposed to end in 2024, but elections cannot be held under martial law, which Ukraine imposed in February 2022 in response to Russia’s invasion.

Mr. Trump’s outburst followed Mr. Zelensky’s comments on Tuesday that the US president was parroting Russian disinformation when he asserted that Ukraine “should never have started” the war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion three years ago.

US Vice-President JD Vance on Wednesday warned Mr. Zelensky against “badmouthing”  Mr. Trump.

“Everyone who knows the president will tell you that is an atrocious way to deal with this administration,” Mr. Vance said in his West Wing office, the Daily Mail reported.

Russia has seized some 20% of Ukraine and is slowly but steadily gaining territory in the east. Moscow said its “special military operation” responded to an existential threat posed by Kyiv’s pursuit of NATO membership. Ukraine and the West call Russia’s action an imperialist land grab.

The Ukrainian leader said Mr. Trump’s assertion that his approval rating was just 4% was Russian disinformation and that any attempt to replace him would fail.

“We have evidence that these figures are being discussed between America and Russia. That is, President Trump … unfortunately lives in this disinformation space,” Mr. Zelensky told Ukrainian TV.

The latest poll from the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, from early February, found 57% of Ukrainians trust Mr. Zelensky.

Following Mr. Trump’s latest remarks, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Mr. Zelensky “sits in office after duly-held elections.” When asked who started the war, Mr. Dujarric responded that Russia had invaded Ukraine.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said it was “false and dangerous” for Mr. Trump to call Mr. Zelensky a dictator, German newspaper Spiegel reported.

US security ally Australia, which has provided A$1.5 billion in support to Ukraine in its war with Russia, rejected Mr. Trump’s assertions about Ukraine.

Australia’s Defense Minister Richard Marles said “the war in Ukraine must be resolved on Ukraine’s terms, because the aggressor here is Russia.” The country’s opposition leader Peter Dutton said bluntly: “I think President Trump has got it wrong.”

“Australia should stand strong and proud with the people of Ukraine. It’s a democracy, and this is a fight for civilization. Vladimir Putin is a murderous dictator, and we shouldn’t be giving him an inch,” said Mr. Dutton.

A few of Mr. Trump’s fellow Republicans in Congress said they disagreed that Mr. Zelensky was a dictator and that Ukraine bore responsibility for Russia’s invasion. But they stopped short of criticizing Mr. Trump directly, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune — a longtime supporter of Ukraine — saying Mr. Trump needed “space” to work on a peace deal.

EUROPE LEFT SCRAMBLING
Mr. Zelensky has suggested giving US companies the right to extract valuable minerals in Ukraine in return for US security guarantees.

He rejected a US proposal last week that would have seen Washington receiving 50% of Ukraine’s critical minerals, including lithium, a key component in electric car batteries. Mr. Zelensky told reporters on Wednesday that the deal was too focused on US interests, saying “I can’t sell our country.”

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Wednesday, Mr. Trump claimed that Ukraine had “more or less” agreed to the proposal and complained that US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was treated “rather rudely” while visiting Kyiv. He said he would seek to resurrect the minerals deal.

European officials have been left shocked and flat-footed by the Trump administration’s Ukraine moves in recent days.

At a second meeting of European leaders in Paris, hastily arranged by French President Emmanuel Macron earlier in the day, there were more calls for immediate action to support Ukraine and bolster Europe’s defense capabilities, but few concrete decisions.

Mr. Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will visit Washington next week, according to White House national security adviser Mike Waltz.

Following Mr. Trump’s latest attacks, Mr. Zelensky discussed approaches to a peace settlement with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Mr. Macron and Mr. Starmer, including the importance of security guarantees.

Mr. Starmer expressed support for Mr. Zelensky as Ukraine’s democratically elected leader, Mr. Starmer’s office said on Wednesday.

Keith Kellogg, the US Ukraine envoy, traveled to Kyiv on Wednesday to meet with Mr. Zelensky and said as he arrived that he understood “the need for security guarantees,” adding that part of his mission would be “to sit and listen.”

The 27-member European Union on Wednesday agreed on a 16th package of sanctions against Russia, including on aluminium and vessels believed to be carrying sanctioned Russian oil.

Mr. Trump said he may meet Mr. Putin this month. In Moscow, Mr. Putin said that Ukraine would not be barred from peace negotiations, but success would depend on raising the level of trust between Moscow and Washington.

Mr. Putin, speaking a day after Russia and the US met in Riyadh to hold their first talks on how to end the conflict, also said it would take time to set up a summit with Mr. Trump, which both men have said they want.

Ukraine and European governments were not invited to Tuesday’s talks in the Saudi capital, which magnified their concern that Russia and the US might cut a deal that ignores their vital security interests.

Ukraine was counting on “the unity of Europe and the pragmatism of America,” Mr. Zelensky said in a video address on Wednesday.

Mr. Trump says Europe must step up to guarantee any ceasefire deal. — Reuters

Most US manufacturers forecast layoffs at Vietnam operations with Trump tariffs, survey shows

AN EMPLOYEE works at the VinFast car factory in Haiphong province, Vietnam, Sept. 10, 2022. — REUTERS

HANOI — Most US manufacturers surveyed by the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Vietnam said they would be likely be forced to lay off workers if the Trump administration imposed tariffs on the export-reliant Southeast Asian country.

The survey was conducted from Feb. 4-11 over the period when US President Donald Trump had already approved 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum and had pre-announced broader reciprocal tariffs on countries with trade imbalances, and sector-specific duties on semiconductors, cars and pharmaceuticals.

“Among manufacturers, nearly two-thirds foresee potential layoffs,” AmCham said, noting the percentage fell to less than half for all businesses.

The survey is based on input from more than 100 of AmCham Vietnam’s members, which include big multinational companies such as Intel and Nike.

Vietnam has profited in recent years from big investments by manufacturers that transferred operations from China after Mr. Trump imposed tariffs on Beijing in 2018 during his first term.

More than 60% of the country’s $500-billion stock of foreign investment is in manufacturing, according to data from Vietnam’s government updated to the end of January.

Foreign investors with manufacturing operations in Vietnam had largely remained upbeat after Mr. Trump’s announcements of tariffs on China, Mexico and Canada at the start of his second presidential term, according to conversations Reuters had with a dozen industry specialists.

But the mood has partly changed with the new tariff threats.

“Everybody was expecting problems but frankly we’ve been surprised by the so-called reciprocal tariffs as it is a very odd measure,” said an investment adviser with a long experience in the Communist-run country. He declined to be named to speak more freely.

Multiple analysts have said Vietnam may become a target of new duties due to its huge trade surplus with the US, the fourth biggest among US partners, and may be hit hard by tariffs on semiconductors as it is one of the top chip exporters to the US.

Investors in Vietnamese shares accelerated sales in recent weeks.

NEW EXPORT MARKETS
The survey, conducted by the AmCham section in Vietnam’s business hubs of Ho Chi Minh City and Danang, found that 81% of respondents expressed concern about potential tariffs, with the percentage growing to 92% among manufacturers.

“Many businesses fear that increased costs due to tariffs could disrupt supply chains and force them to rethink their operations,” AmCham said in a press release, noting 94% of manufacturers expected a negative impact.    

AmCham said 41% of respondents were considering diversifying their business away from the US market, which is the most important for Vietnam at the moment.

“This shift could see companies redirecting exports to other markets or adjusting supply chains to reduce their reliance on the US,” AmCham said.

Companies in other countries are also expressing concern about the impact of US tariffs. Almost nine out of 10 Japanese firms expect Mr. Trump’s policies to negatively affect business, a Reuters survey showed on Thursday. — Reuters

US State Department orders pause on media subscriptions

WASHINGTON — The US State Department said on Thursday it has ordered a pause on all of its media subscriptions as part of government-wide efforts by the Trump administration to cut spending it deems as unnecessary.

President Donald Trump has put tech billionaire Elon Musk in charge of a government downsizing team, DOGE, that has swept through federal agencies searching for spending cuts as part of Mr. Trump’s overhaul and shrinking of the US government.

“The Department has paused all non-mission critical contracts for media subscriptions that are not academic or professional journals,” a State Department spokesperson said in a statement e-mailed to Reuters.

“Bureaus and posts can request an exemption with justification as to why the access is mission critical, how it aligns with the Secretary’s priorities, and how it impacts the safety, security, and welfare of the workforce.” The State Department did not say how long the pause would last.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said all government spending must align with Mr. Trump’s America First priorities.

The Washington Post, which first reported the order on media subscriptions on Wednesday, also cited a State Department memo that directed staff to prioritize the termination of contracts with the Economist, the New York Times, Politico, Bloomberg News, the Associated Press and Reuters.

The State Department did not respond to a query about the memo, which Reuters was unable to independently confirm.

A Reuters spokesperson said: “As a matter of policy, Reuters does not comment on commercial agreements.”

New York Times spokesperson Charlie Stadtlander said: “Public officials, just like private sector Americans, need reliable information to do their jobs. The government is obviously free to cancel any subscriptions it likes. But the main result of blacklisting independent news is that these agencies and offices will know far less about what’s happening in the world. It’s hard to imagine how that will serve the people of the United States.”

The other media companies mentioned in the memo reported by the Washington Post did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Reuters’ parent company Thomson Reuters separately said last week that Mr. Trump and Mr. Musk had “inaccurately represented” its business with the US Department of Defense, after they publicly criticized a Pentagon contract with a division of the company to work on cyber threats.

Mr. Trump has long criticized media companies over their coverage of him and his policies.

The president said on Tuesday he will block the Associated Press (AP) from the Oval Office and Air Force One over its policy to continue referring to the Gulf of Mexico despite an executive order he signed in January directing his administration to change the name to the Gulf of America.

In response, the AP said it will refer to the Gulf by its original name to ensure that place names and geography are easily recognizable to readers around the world, while acknowledging the new name Mr. Trump has chosen.

The White House in early February ordered the canceling of subscriptions to news outlet Politico after it became a target of criticism for receiving payments from the US Agency for International Development for subscriptions to its premium news service POLITICO Pro. — Reuters