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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has denounced China in a veiled rebuke in his state of the nation speech. He vowed on Monday that his government will defend a 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated Beijing’s expansive claims in the disputed South China Sea, and said that Filipinos “do not yield” to conquerors. On domestic issues, Marcos disclosed that a special anti-graft prosecutor would soon file charges against former House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez, who has been implicated in a corruption scandal that the president exposed in his state of the nation speech last year. He did not identify Romualdez, his cousin, but was obviously referring to him.

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Democrat James Talarico is challenging Republican Ken Paxton in a closely watched U.S. Senate race in Texas. Paxton has survived previous political attacks by championing conservative causes. Paxton opponents including Justin Nelson and George P. Bush have tried to highlight his legal troubles and portray him as corrupt but failed to defeat him. Talarico plans to focus on Paxton's handling of a child sexual abuse case to paint him as part of a corrupt system. Talarico has a fundraising advantage, which he hopes will help him succeed where others have not. Some political observers believe Talarico has a legitimate chance. Paxton’s campaign suggests Talarico has a record of “out-of-touch views.”

AP
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Former NBA players Malik Beasley and Ed Davis have been indicted in the latest round of charges in the government’s gambling investigation. Authorities say Beasley tailored his play while with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2024, based on bets on his performance, and others benefited, including Davis. Six people were named in the indictment returned in Brooklyn. Authorities say the scheme involved hundreds of thousands of dollars. There was no immediate comment from lawyers for Beasley and Davis.