Washington
BIZ BUZZ: Antonios go to Washington
Donald Trump is scheduled to be inaugurated—again—as the president of the United States on Jan. 20 in Washington.
Among those who will witness his return to power as the 47th president of the world’s largest economy are some of his old friends from the Philippines.
We’re talking about Century Properties Group founder and chair Jose EB Antonio and his wife, Hilda.
Going with them is their third son, Jose Roberto, who had just been appointed managing director of the J. Antonio Group Inc. in charge of resort-related projects.
It may be recalled that the Trumps and the Antonios struck up a friendship decades ago in New York when Trump was more known as a property developer, just like the Antonios. Some of their children also went to business school together.
And then, the Antonios also brought the Trump brand into one of the office buildings in its Century City development in Makati City.
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But the elder Antonio will be there not just as a personal friend invited by the Trumps to attend the inauguration but also to represent President Marcos as his ambassador-at-large tasked with inviting more investments into the Philippines.
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With a friend in the White House, the Antonios are confident that more investments as well as visitors will flow toward the Philippines. —Tina Arceo-Dumlao
Clark hits the Belle’s eye
In July 2024, Belle Corp. gave us a teaser about applying for a gaming license from “government regulators.”
Despite the rumor mill running wild that the gaming-focused investment firms of delisted subsidiary Premium Leisure Corp. had plans to conquer Clark, Belle opted to keep quiet.
Nearly half a year later, Belle hailed Clark as “the next gaming and tourism hub” and confirmed that they had, indeed, applied for a gaming license specifically to develop an integrated resort in the former American air base.
Belle president and CEO Armin Raquel Santos likewise expressed optimism on his company’s growth prospects, “and bullish on the Philippine gaming market and its resilience despite industry headwinds.”
”Belle, through its gaming subsidiaries, continues to explore and pursue related ventures and high-growth opportunities in the gaming space that will enhance shareholder value while delivering its commitments to all stakeholders,” the company quoted Santos as saying.
Though much still remains unsaid about Belle’s plans for Clark, it is clear that the gaming industry is still attractive despite some weakness and hiccups—Bloomberry Corp.’s earnings, for instance, and Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy’s long-stalled Cebu casino project.
Let’s see if Belle will go against the odds. —Meg J. Adonis
Washington
Steelers Sign TE Darnell Washington to Four-Year Extension
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers are keeping Darnell Washington around for another four years, signing the former third-round tight end to a contract extension, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
Washington is the team’s third contract extension this spring, joining kicker Chris Boswell and edge rusher Nick Herbig. He’s the second member of the 2023 draft class after he and Herbig signed in back-to-back days.
Washington’s deal is worth $42 million and includes $21 million in guaranteed money.
Sources: The #Steelers and TE Darnell Washington have agreed to a 4-year, $42m extension.
The massive tight end has developed into a key piece of Pittsburgh’s offense and has been everything the Steelers hoped for when they drafted him. pic.twitter.com/PVLVF5Qh8S
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) June 4, 2026
The 6-foot-7 tight end out of Georgia found a nice groove for himself on the offensive side of the ball last season and became a reliable target for Aaron Rodgers while being used as a key piece to the running game. Under new head coach Mike McCarthy, Washington’s role is expected to grow even more.
“Love Darnell, he’s been here every day, in the classroom, good student, he’s a pro’s pro,” McCarthy said about Washington during minicamp. “I’ve been veryimpressed with him. He’s done everything we’ve asked. I know I keep saying this, it’s year one that you get to know your players, go to certain schemes, you may tilt one way or the other variations of schemes, and definitely we’ve been doing that with our tight ends, and he’s a big part of that reason.”
With Washington under contract for the next five years and Pat Freiermuth having three more years on his deal, the Steelers solidify their tight end room for the future. Both players will be heavily involved, as Freiermuth remains the top pass-catching option and Washington grows into an all-around weapon.
Steelers Moves Aren’t Done Yet
The Steelers aren’t done with their offseason extensions, either. Outside of Washington, Herbig and Boswell, Joey Porter Jr., Keeanu Benton and Spencer Anderson could all ink deals before the season.
Porter Jr. was the talk of the town heading into the offseason, but with a contract that is likely top five in the NFL at his position, it may take longer than hoped for the two sides to sign a deal. Both sides remain optimistic, but also realistic that it may take time.
As for Benton, the team is currently negotiating with him and he could be the next domino to fall in the signings. Don’t rule out Anderson getting a deal done as well.
Make sure to bookmark Steelers On SI, and find our podcast All Steelers Talk on YouTube or anywhere you listen!
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Washington
Deputies use drone to catch man wanted for damaging car in Washington County
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Ore. (KPTV) – The Washington County Sheriff’s Office released video of deputies using a drone to track down a man wanted for damaging a car.
On Saturday, May 30, a 911 caller reported a man damaging a car outside their home on Southwest 179th Avenue in Aloha. The sheriff’s office said it was reported the suspect, 21-year-old Santos Paulino Castro-Ramirez, was punching the car.
Deputies used a drone to follow the suspect as he ran toward Southwest Barcelona Lane. The sheriff’s office said Castro-Ramirez then entered a white SUV that did not belong to him on SW Barcelona.
Deputies arrested Castro-Ramirez. He was booked into the Washington County Jail for first-degree burglary and attempt to commit a crime – second-degree theft.
Copyright 2026 KPTV-KPDX. All rights reserved.
Washington
Lebanon hopes crunch talks in Washington will halt an Israeli invasion
Beirut, Lebanon – On Tuesday, representatives from Lebanon and Israel met at the US Department of State in Washington, DC – the first session of a two-day round of negotiations that Lebanese negotiators hope will end an invasion of their country.
The negotiations, which started at 9am local time (13:00 GMT), come as Israel’s invasion of Lebanon pushes deeper than at any point since the year 2000 and as Hezbollah and Israel continue to trade attacks. Israel has killed 3,468 people in Lebanon since March 2, according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health.
With the war raging on, what do Lebanon and Israel have to discuss and will the talks lead to an end of the Israeli assault?
Here’s everything you need to know.
What will Israel and Lebanon discuss?
Similar to past meetings, the two sides are ostensibly looking to come to some kind of deal following fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, with strong doubts it will be achieved.
Lebanon’s government is still pushing for a total ceasefire. However, as talks started, Israel was striking various parts of southern Lebanon. Lebanon is also trying to get Israel to withdraw from Lebanese territory in the south, so that more than 1.2 million displaced people can return home, and so the state can resume finding a way to disarm Hezbollah and rebuild areas devastated by Israeli attacks.
Israel is meanwhile looking to get assurances that Lebanon will disarm Hezbollah, a prospect analysts say Israel knows is complicated by the continuation of its military operations and occupation of swaths of southern Lebanon. Instead, Israel appears to be trying to fuel sectarian tensions inside Lebanon, leading to chaos and internal strife.
What has happened so far?
An initial meeting took place in April between Israel and Lebanon’s ambassadors to the United States. A second round took place in May with a larger delegation on both sides.
On Friday, a meeting took place with Lebanese and Israeli military representatives, while Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Lebanese group, is not involved in the meetings.
Israel claimed the two sides found common ground in that they both wanted to see Hezbollah disarmed. Some Israeli officials suggested there may soon be trade agreements and an exchange of tourists between the two countries. Lebanon, however, said it preferred to find a deal closer to the 1949 armistice agreement between the two countries.
In the last meeting, Beirut reportedly outlined the damage done by Israeli attacks since the 2024 ceasefire agreement and presented detailed maps showing homes destroyed or razed by Israel.
Is there a chance for a ceasefire?
That remains to be seen, but for now, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country’s military would continue attacking Lebanon.
On Monday, Netanyahu announced that attacks on Beirut’s southern suburbs would resume, despite a ceasefire. Apart from two targeted attacks, Israel has not struck the suburbs, known as Dahiyeh, since April.
Iran, which has attempted to include Lebanon in a wider ceasefire between themselves, on one side, and Israel and the US on the other, then intervened by threatening to attack northern Israel.
US President Donald Trump reportedly intervened to stop Israel’s attacks. He announced another ceasefire, after his previous announcement of one between Israel and Lebanon on April 16, after claiming he had gotten the approval of Netanyahu and spoken to Hezbollah.
“There will be no troops going to Beirut, and any troops that are on their way have already been turned back,” Trump announced on his social media platform, Truth Social.
But attacks from Israel and Hezbollah are continuing.
How do Lebanese people feel about the talks?
Not everyone is on the same page.
Some Lebanese support the talks and say they are the only option the state, which has little leverage, has. Among those who believe direct talks are the best way forward are Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.
“There is no option other than negotiation,” Aoun said in a statement on Tuesday.
Others, however, oppose direct talks. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and his allies, Hezbollah, have said indirect talks are preferred and that negotiations cannot be conducted while attacks are ongoing.
How are Iran and the US connected?
Israel and the US attacked Iran on February 28, killing the country’s longtime leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran is Hezbollah’s primary benefactor, and two days after Khamenei’s assassination, Hezbollah fired six rockets towards Israel on 2 March.
Hezbollah’s response brought a huge response from Israel, who have crossed the Litani River – the supposed buzzer zone in southern Lebanon it had created – towards the Zahrani River.
Despite a 2024 ceasefire, Israel had never stopped attacking Lebanon, while Hezbollah had only responded once in December 2024.
Iran has attempted to include Lebanon in the ceasefire deal it has with the United States and Israel, who say this theatre is not part of the agreement.
Although Trump has now announced a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel twice, the invasion of southern Lebanon continues.
Are there other actors involved?
Gulf states have also intervened. Saudi Arabia has been working behind the scenes to get Lebanon’s leadership – Aoun, Salam and Berri – on the same page. Meanwhile, analysts say Saudi Arabia and Qatar engaged the Trump administration to stop an escalation in Lebanon.
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