The Philippine diplomatic mission has taken "a giant leap" in its efforts to reach out to the Filipino diaspora with the launch of the mobile app version of Radyo Tambuli — the embassy's virtual radio platform in Washington, D.C.

The Philippines has received 199.48 billion pesos (about 4.44 billion U.S. dollars) from international sources for the rehabilitation of areas struck by typhoon Haiyan ( local name Yolanda) a year ago, a senior government official said Tuesday. Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the amount came in the form of loans, financial grants and donations.

The Philippines cites the kidnapping of peacekeepers and health issues like Ebola as top issues that must be reviewed in UN peacekeeping.

Around 2,700 United States and Philippine armed forces members are set to begin naval exercises later this month in Palawan and Zambales.  “The exercise aims to advance the Philippines and US military to military relationship, build combined capacity for command and control, combined arms, amphibious operations, mechanized operations, special operations and logistics support operations,” Domingo explained.

Israelis are the world's second biggest fans of America, with their 84 percent favorable opinion trailing only that of the Filipinos, with 92 percent. When ethnicity is taken into account, Israeli Jews are neck-to-neck with the Filipinos, with a 91 percent favorable opinion. Only 46 percent of Israeli Arabs are favorable to America, however. 

Filipinos in the United States can now listen to radio broadcasts from the Philippines on their mobile phones with the launching of the second phase of a public diplomacy initiative to connect them with the motherland. The availability in the US of broadcasts from six leading Filipino radio stations, including the Catholic-run Radio Veritas, was announced by the Philippine Embassy and AudioNow, the world’s leading call-to-listen platform, on the occasion of the 116th anniversary of Philippine independence.