## Chinese scholars claim Batanes belongs to China

Authored by manilatimes.net

MANILA, Philippines — A group of Chinese academics has asserted that the Philippines' northernmost province of Batanes belongs to China through Taiwan, a narrative that aims to support Beijing's territorial claims in the region.

The claim emerged from a June 30 symposium hosted by Jinan University in Guangzhou, where scholars from institutions including Nanjing University, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and other research organizations concluded that the Batan Islands are a "natural geographical extension" of Taiwan and therefore fall under China's sovereignty.

A report published by Chinese state-affiliated media outlet NewsGD said participants unanimously declared that the Philippines' administration of Batanes "lacks historical and legal basis" and that planned maritime boundary negotiations between Japan and the Philippines east of Taiwan are "illegal and invalid.".

Chinese scholars argued that Batanes was under the jurisdiction of Taiwan during the Ming and Qing dynasties, citing historical navigation records, cultural ties between the Ivatan people and Taiwan's Tao community, and their interpretation of the 1898 Treaty of Paris and the 1946 Treaty of Manila.

They further claimed the islands should have been returned to China after World War II as territories allegedly appurtenant to Taiwan.

Maritime security analyst Ray Powell of SeaLight said the symposium appears to be part of Beijing's broader "lawfare" strategy to establish a new territorial narrative over Batanes.

Powell said the event was likely orchestrated through Chinese academics and state media to provide legal justification for Chinese patrols conducted east of Taiwan last month, even without an official endorsement from Beijing. »

### "Workers deserve protection, not to be treated like disposable line items" – Hundreds of union members affected by Xbox layoffs

Authored by gamesindustry.biz

Hundreds of union members from the Communication Workers of America were affected by the mass layoffs at Xbox this week.

The CWA said it will take "all necessary legal and contractual action to defend our members and their rights.".

"As Microsoft restructures, the workers powering its biggest franchises deserve protection, not to be treated like disposable line items," said CWA District 6 vice president Derrick Osobase. »

### Outbreak of diarrhea-causing parasite grows to more than 1,000 cases

Authored by apnews.com

Michigan officials first announced the outbreak last week, when they were aware of more than 170 cases — all in the southeastern corner of the state — since June 22.

Just across the state line, Lucas County, Ohio, reported 306 cases as of Wednesday.

But “there is clearly a linked outbreak happening right now,” Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan’s chief medical executive, told The Associated Press on Wednesday. »

### Flight school pilot jumps to his death midair, leaving student to land plane

Authored by cnn.com

A pilot jumped out of the door of a moving plane to his death, leaving the student he was teaching to fly to land the aircraft by herself.

Bertazzo was on board the Cessna 150 aircraft with a 22-year-old student named Rosario, CNN affiliate TN reported.

The student said Bertazzo told her, “You know what you have to do, carry on,” before taking off his headset and seatbelt, opening the door and jumping out of the plane, TN reported. »

### Federal Investigators Say Certain DOGE Records Were Deleted

Authored by wired.com

The report conspicuously only covers the time period immediately following Berulis’ complaint, and does not address any DOGE activity before that point.

Basically, this means that the digital records of what data and systems DOGE members accessed and when had been eliminated, leaving the GAO no way to confirm what NLRB staff told their investigators.

According to Berulis’ whistleblower complaint, “DOGE officials required the highest level of access and unrestricted access to internal systems. »

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