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Marcos to consider giving rice instead of cash to 4Ps beneficiaries – DA exec
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will seriously consider a suggestion to provide rice, rather than cash, to recipients of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). Department of Agriculture (DA) Usec. Roger Navarro revealed this in a press conference that followed a meeting between agriculture officials and the President in Malacañang on Tuesday. “It.....»»
Global conference on research slated
The National Association of Public Secondary Schools of the Philippines Inc. will hold the first International Conference on Research Culture Management in Basic Education on Jan. 26 to 28 in Boracay Paradise Garden Resort and convention Center, Mangayad, Manoc-Manoc, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan......»»
Samal resort gets notice of violation over hawksbill turtle hatchlings
The Department of Natural Resources-Davao Region (DENR-Davao) has issued a notice of violation to Isla Reta Beach Resort in Samal for the illegal possession of hawksbill turtle hatchlings. The resort violated Republic Act 9147, which prohibits the exploitation of wildlife resources and their habitats. The law strictly prohibits collecting, hunting, or possessing wildlife or their by-products, with penalties including imprisonment and fines. In response to the notice, the resort's owner must release the turtle hatchlings within a day, or face legal action. Despite the resort's intention to care for and release the hatchlings after six months, DENR-Davao found 130 hatchlings inside styro boxes and emphasized the critical importance of immediately releasing them to ensure their survival. The Philippines recognizes five sea turtle species, with hawksbill and leatherback classified as critically endangered. DENR-Davao encourages individuals to report wildlife sightings and pledges to conduct public awareness campaigns for wildlife conservation. Isla Reta Beach Resort faced criticism for unauthorized plans to raise the hatchlings......»»
US, China Gear Up Preparation for Biden-Xi Meeting Next Month
state department - The United States stopped just short of announcing a widely anticipated summit between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Friday, after two days of talks in Washington with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.Wang's visit, following a series of recent diplomatic encounters between the two countries, had been seen in part as preparation for a possible face-to-face meeting be.....»»
The crucial role of watershed management
Watersheds provide a range of ecosystem services and support plants, animals, and humans. Despite its crucial significance, watersheds face multiple threats, such as rapidly increasing population, disruption of hydrologic conditions, and biodiversity loss. Because of its importance, the sustainability and stability of the watersheds are at serious risk in the absence of appropriate interventions. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources through the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau, with co-sponsorship from the Asia Pacific Association of Forestry Research Institutions held a Congress on Sustainable and Climate Resilient Watershed Management through ecosystem-based approaches in the Asia-Pacific Region in Muntinlupa City. This was the reason why the DENR-ERDB organized the congress to cover the dearth of information on how to sustain and develop climate-resilient watersheds. The event featured more than 50 oral and poster presentations on innovative solutions that merge sustainable practices with climate resilience based on the experiences of delegates from different countries like the Philippines, Bangladesh, Fiji, Nepal, Indonesia, India, Vietnam, Germany, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. In her message, ERDB Director Maria Lourdes G. Ferrer emphasized the need to address critical issues on watersheds, forge partnerships, and work collectively to attain a more sustainable and resilient future. She called the participants to engage in fruitful collaborations to exchange valuable information. To help achieve its objectives, the congress has four themes: Climate resilience and sustainable watershed management; Rehabilitation and restoration of degraded watersheds; Nature-based approach in watershed management; and Policies, legislations, and institutional arrangements. The three-day event revolved around watershed management. Six plenary speakers who are experts on various topics on watershed management shared informative talks and experiences in the field. Dr. Rex Victor Cruz of the University of the Philippines talked about climate resilience and sustainable watershed management while Dr. Shanker Kumar Sinnakaudan of the Universiti Teknologi MARA Pulao Pinang shared the rehabilitation and restoration of degraded watershed in the context of Malaysia. A plenary talk was also given by the former ERDB Assistant Director and former Director of the River Basin Control, Dr. Antonio M. Dano which focused on the policies, legislations, and institutional arrangements that are critical to watershed management. Two talks centered on experiences and best practices in terms of watershed management in the Philippines. Forester Percival Cardona of the DENR-Forest Management Bureau shared insights on the Enhanced National Greening Program, one of the initiatives that is substantial in sustaining watershed management in the Philippines. DENR Region 10 Executive Director Henry Adornado discussed the strategies and best practices for sustainable watershed management for the Cagayan de Oro River Basin. The congress ended with a tour of the Upper Marikina watershed in Rizal province. The post The crucial role of watershed management appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
EU lawmakers face struggle to reach agreement on AI rules – sources
A fourth trilogue meeting will be held on October 24, a day after European Union lawmakers are scheduled to discuss their negotiating stance around foundation models and high-risk AI systems, sources say.....»»
Russia’s Lavrov to visit Iran for regional talks Monday
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit the Iranian capital Tehran on Monday for talks with regional counterparts, his ministry's spokeswoman has confirmed. Iran's official IRNA news agency reported earlier that the foreign ministers of Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia had been invited to meet for the talks. "We confirm Lavrov's planned talks in Tehran on Monday," foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told the TASS and RIA news agencies. The talks come amid tensions over the Middle East and unresolved disputes between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which launched a lightning offensive against Armenian separatists in Nagorno-Karabakh last month. Armenia later confirmed that its foreign minister would attend the meeting. A full list of attendees has not yet been released, but Armenia's northern neighbor Georgia said Sunday that it would not be attending, its foreign ministry told the Interpressnews agency. Georgia applied for EU membership together with Ukraine and Moldova after Russia invaded its pro-Western neighbor in February 2022. Since launching its assault, Russia has turned to Iran for military support and economic partnerships as both countries face a raft of Western sanctions. Western countries have accused Tehran of supporting Russia's offensive in Ukraine by providing it with large quantities of drones and other weaponry. The post Russia’s Lavrov to visit Iran for regional talks Monday appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
North Korean defectors meet world in ‘Beyond Utopia’
Earning your subject's trust is never easy for a documentary filmmaker -- but it is even harder when they think you want to kill them. That was the challenge faced by US director Madeleine Gavin, whose movie "Beyond Utopia" follows newly escaped North Korean defectors as they flee. These include the Roh family and their elderly grandmother, who Gavin met just weeks after they bolted from their deeply repressive, reclusive homeland, and lifetimes of being fed propaganda. "I'll never forget the way that she would look at me," Gavin told AFP. In their minds at the time, "Americans practically only exist to make North Koreans miserable and to kill and attack North Koreans. "We aren't even human beings... that's what they've been taught." Soon after the Rohs sneaked across the closely guarded border into China, a local farmer connected them to an "Underground Railroad" for defectors, run by a South Korean pastor whom Gavin happened to be filming. The pastor arranged for the family to travel in secret through Communist-ruled China, Vietnam and Laos, braving police checkpoints and a treacherous jungle border crossing. The movie uses footage shot in China by the pastor's "brokers," before Gavin was able to meet and film them face-to-face herself in south-east Asia. At first, Gavin felt "a deep distrust and suspicion" from the family. But despite the powerful brainwashing they had endured in North Korea, even the 80-year-old grandmother's attitude quickly began to shift as she saw the outside world with her own eyes. "She was having none of it... She'd always been told that relative to the rest of the world, North Koreans are the luckiest people on Earth," said Gavin. "Then to be seeing a world where there are animals, and life, and toilets, even! We were a piece of that puzzle." - 'The worst thing' - When Gavin first set out to make her film -- in US theaters Monday -- it focused on North Koreans already living for many years in South Korea. On arrival in the south, many defectors attend a "resettlement facility" where they are taught about the rest of the world, the lies of Kim Jong Un's brutal regime, and basic modern practices such as how to use an ATM. But after meeting Pastor Kim Sung-eun, a prominent South Korean missionary involved in the underground network that brings escapees to the South, Gavin restructured the film to chronicle two families as they flee the north. The documentary follows Soyeon Lee, a mother who has long since escaped North Korea, but is now trying to smuggle out the son she had to leave behind. Tragedy strikes as he is captured in China, and sent back to North Korea to face punishment. Filming the mother's anguish "was really the most difficult thing," said Gavin. "What she has gone through and continues to go through is the worst thing that anyone can go through." - 'Guilt' - The other part of the film follows the Roh family as they embark on their harrowing, 3,000-mile overland journey toward Thailand, and freedom. One slip-up could see them also repatriated to North Korea, lending the documentary a dramatic tension more associated with Hollywood thrillers. But Gavin also set out to make something "experiential and present tense," which gives a "voice to actual North Koreans," whose country is mainly known to the rest of the world for its nuclear arsenal and terrifying politics. Even as they flee, the Rohs express a complex mixture of emotions, from wonder and excitement, to anger at what they have long been deprived of, to shame. Despite witnessing prosperity unthinkable back home, the grandmother "did not let up on the idea that Kim Jong Un was this incredible person, with the most difficult job before him," said Gavin. "She had enormous guilt for leaving, and that anyone who defects is basically abandoning him, and how heartbreaking it is for him." Perhaps more powerful still is the family's homesickness for the friends, neighbors, traditions and land they left behind. The movie includes -- and ends with -- footage secretly shot inside North Korea and smuggled out by the pastor's network, showing everything from the country's barbaric gulags, to the bleakness of everyday life. "As Grandma says at the end of the film, 'we're so lucky, but it keeps me up at night thinking about the people who are still there,'" said Gavin. "And so I wanted to leave the film remembering those people. Because those people are there, and they need us to help bring their voices forward." (Andrew MARSZAL) amz/hg/md © Agence France-Presse The post North Korean defectors meet world in ‘Beyond Utopia’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Russian Diplomat Meets North Korean Leader, Vows Support
SEOUL, South Korea - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Russia's foreign ministry said on Thursday, as the two countries forge closer ties in the face of what they see as a hostile and aggressive U.S.-led Western camp.Russia's state-run TASS news agency reported that Lavrov's meeting with Kim had lasted over an hour but the ministry did not provide further details......»»
Russian Top Diplomat Meets North Korean Leader, Vows Support
SEOUL, South Korea - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Russia's foreign ministry said on Thursday, as the two countries forge closer ties in the face of what they see as a hostile and aggressive U.S.-led Western camp.Russia's state-run TASS news agency reported that Lavrov's meeting with Kim had lasted over an hour but the ministry did not provide further details......»»
Biden says Xi meeting in November ‘a possibility’
US President Joe Biden said Friday he may meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping in San Francisco in November as Washington and Beijing push to reset ties, but added that nothing is scheduled yet. The leaders of the rival powers have not met in person or spoken for nearly a year, and tensions have mounted as an increasingly assertive China and the United States vie for global influence. "There has been no such meeting set up, but it is a possibility," Biden told journalists after reports that they were set to meet during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco. Biden is set to host leaders from across the region on November 16 and 17 in the California city, and speculation has mounted that it could be the venue for a rapprochement. The White House had begun making plans for a meeting on the sidelines of the summit in a bid to stabilize relations, The Washington Post reported, quoting one official as saying it "it's pretty firm." Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is expected to visit Washington at some point ahead of the APEC summit. Beijing however has not confirmed whether Xi will attend the summit or meet with his US counterpart. The White House has also declined to elaborate on a potential meeting with Xi. 'Disappointed' The last time Biden and Xi met was in November 2022 on the sidelines of a summit in Bali. Their talks were surprisingly cordial but relations then froze over again, and there has not even been a phone call since. Biden had said last month he was "disappointed" that Xi was not attending a G20 summit in New Delhi. He added that he was "going to get to see him," although he did not elaborate. Tensions between the United States and an increasingly assertive China have mounted as the world's two largest economies push for diplomatic, military and economic influence. Bilateral ties face a long list of problems, from trade disputes to Taiwan's future to the expansive Chinese presence in the South China Sea. But the United States has been working to restore a more effective working relationship, sending a series of senior officials to China in recent months despite continuing friction. White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and China's Wang met in the Mediterranean island nation of Malta in mid-September in the latest attempt to reach out. The APEC forum will be a key test of whether their efforts are working, as the Asia-Pacific region is one of the main theaters where Beijing and Washington are going head-to-head. Biden has also been pushing to show that international groupings like the G20 and APEC can still deliver on problems including the economy and climate -- even when China is not involved. The post Biden says Xi meeting in November ‘a possibility’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Socorro integrated approach eyed
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is currently working with other relevant government agencies to push an “integrated approach” for the affected residents of Sitio Kapihan, Barangay Sering in Socorro town amid the suspension of the protected area agreement. This was bared by Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga during the Senate’s deliberation of the Proposed 2024 National Expenditure Program of the DENR and its attached agencies on Wednesday. Loyzaga clarified that the DENR has only suspended the Protected Area Community-Based Resource Management Agreement or PCBRMA with the Socorro Bayanihan Service Incorporated pending the ongoing investigation of the group’s alleged violations. At the hearing, Senator Risa Hontiveros raised the possible implications of the suspended accord to more than 3,500 residents currently staying in the area. Loyzaga said the DENR will meet with the heads of the Department of the Interior and the Local Government, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Department of Justice to further discuss the supposed “integrated approach” concerning the members of the SBSI and those residing in Sitio Kapihan. She said the SBSI leadership has already received a copy of the suspension order of its existing protected area agreement with the DENR. “Just to update, we are now in coordination with Secretary Benhur Abalos, Secretary Remulla of the DoJ, and Secretary Rex Gatchalian for an integrated approach to the investigations regarding this particular situation so there will be a meeting tomorrow,” she added. The post Socorro integrated approach eyed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
No new chief yet — Agri exec
Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry Director Gerald Glenn Panganiban on Tuesday said that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. did not discuss the appointment of a new Agriculture Secretary during their latest sectoral meeting. In a Malacañang Press Briefing, Panganiban said that he could not confirm the reports on appointing a new Agriculture Secretary and that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is doing an “excellent job” leading the department. Panganiban’s statement comes amid reports that President Marcos is considering appointing fishing tycoon Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. as the new Agriculture Secretary. Laurel is the chairman of the Federation of Philippine Industries and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “With (Marcos) at the helm, everything is integrated, and all government efforts are coordinated. We can no longer say to the Department of Agriculture, ‘This is your job, not ours.’ We are all collaborating now, and we are even talking to you in the media to work together because, once again, food security is not the responsibility of one agency alone but of all of us,” Panganiban said. “I think that’s what sets him apart from his predecessors,” he added. Panganiban also said that he could not comment on whether the rice price cap affected the Pulse Asia Survey results, which showed President Marcos’s approval rating declined in September. “I cannot comment on that one,” he said. “What I can say is that our President is truly committed to serving everyone. I believe he is the President for all, not just for the farmers but also for the consumers.” Panganiban also praised Marcos for his engagement with the public, saying that the President is the first one to really meet with the people and participate in rice distribution. “So, I think people can sense our President and his plans and programs. Hopefully, we can reciprocate that. Even for the media, I hope you can help us promote the good news, not just our problems but also what we are doing for our fellow countrymen,” he added. The post No new chief yet — Agri exec appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Mexico says ex-diplomat accused of sex crimes arrested in Israel
Mexican writer and former diplomat Andres Roemer, who faces multiple accusations of sex crimes, has been arrested in Israel, Mexico's president said Monday. Roemer "will be extradited," Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said at his regular morning press conference. The allegations against Roemer, which number about 60 according to activists, began in February 2021 when the Mexican dancer Itzel Schnaas accused him of sexual assault. The 60-year-old former Mexican consul in San Francisco and goodwill ambassador to UNESCO "categorically" denied the first accusation. But he withdrew from social media in the face of mounting allegations that he had touched women inappropriately after meeting them on a work pretext. Mexico requested Roemer's extradition in June 2021. Its foreign ministry confirmed in a statement that Israeli police detained Roemer on Sunday "for extradition purposes, at the request of the Mexican Government." "Although there are no extradition treaties with the State of Israel, the arrest... was carried out based on the principle of reciprocity and international cooperation, based on the good bilateral relationship that exists in all areas between both countries," it said. The post Mexico says ex-diplomat accused of sex crimes arrested in Israel appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DENR to formally recognize small-scale mining in Phl
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources on Tuesday said it is undertaking a series of initiatives to formalize small-scale mining operations, recognizing their vital role in the industry. These initiatives are to be undertaken as the department undertakes a review of laws that cover small-scale mining, with the goal of modernizing industry standards and increasing protection for small-scale miners. DENR Undersecretary Carlos Primo David emphasized that these initiatives underscore the agency's dedication to responsible, inclusive, and globally competitive mining practices, all while ensuring the welfare and protection of small-scale miners. He stressed the importance of a progressive, step-by-step approach to formalization, with the ultimate goal of integrating small-scale miners into the broader mining sector. “The small-scale miners are there. We have to bring them into the fold of the mining sector. The core of DENR's strategy lies in individually registering these small-scale miners, serving as the basis for a more organized structure," David said. “We’re looking to register small-scale miners, individually, at first, followed by the establishment of a loose organization as the foundation for a more formal association. Sort of like a cooperative towards a Minahang Bayan registration,” he added. Legal recognition of small miners, according to David, will help ensure they get adequate support to operate within established standards and safety protocols. “A properly regulated small-scale mining industry will benefit the community in terms of job creation and livelihood, and the country in terms of mining assets and taxes. More importantly, it will address the violation of environmental laws and mining regulations, and minimize environmental risks and promote mine safety,” David said. He added that the department’s newly-created Geospatial Database Office under his helm employs satellite imagery and Geographic Information System or GIS which can potentially monitor mining operations in the country and identify those that are illegally operating. The DENR is looking to Republic Act No. 7076, also known as the People’s Small-Scale Mining Act of 1991, to provide social assistance, labor protection, and government-backed assistance programs for the benefit of small-scale miners. The DENR is also a staunch advocate of support for small miners, through a “big brother, small brother approach”—encouraging larger companies to help capacitate them to contribute to social and environmental protection efforts, protect small miners, and enhance the resilience of the mining community. On top of capacity-building for small-scale mining ventures, the DENR is committed to modernizing standards for the mining industry—harnessing capabilities of cutting-edge technologies such as remote sensing and artificial intelligence to enhance industry regulation and law enforcement. In a meeting with DENR officials last year, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. issued directives to legalize small-scale mining operations. Many of these operations currently operate outside the legal framework, leaving miners without proper protection. The post DENR to formally recognize small-scale mining in Phl appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Thai PM woos U.S. tech execs
Thailand’s new prime minister has met executives of American technology and investment firms, including Tesla, Google and Microsoft, in a bid to boost the country’s flagging economy. Srettha Thavisin, a former property mogul who took office last month, met Tesla and X boss Elon Musk on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. “We had a good conversation on @Tesla , @spaceX , and @starlink technology,” Srettha posted on X early Friday. “We look forward to further discussions.” Thailand is one of Southeast Asia’s leading car producers, and is looking to transition production to electric vehicles. Traditionally much of the output has been dominated by Japanese manufacturers, but Chinese EV makers are moving in. Srettha also posted photos from meetings with Google and Microsoft executives, and the CEO of investment house BlackRock, Larry Fink. “The meeting aimed at possible investment in Thailand, in particular in support of clean energy-related enterprises’ investment expansion and production in Thailand,” Srettha wrote of his encounter with Fink. Srettha’s tech exec charm offensive comes as other countries in the region look to cash in on US investments in clean technology — and Washington’s desire to diversify away from overdependence on China for key components and resources. WITH AFP The post Thai PM woos U.S. tech execs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Oil tax freeze clash looms
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III yesterday supported — while Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno strongly opposed — a proposal to suspend the excise tax on imported oil products amid the skyrocketing fuel prices at the pump. “Every week, our fellow Filipinos face the challenge of ever-increasing fuel prices. They need a lifeline now. I hope the government understands the gravity of the situation and the urgency of intervention to alleviate their hardship,” Pimentel said. “The suspension of the excise tax would offer a temporary respite and serve as an effective lifeboat for Filipinos struggling to cope with the sky-high fuel prices,” he stressed. House Deputy Majority Leader and ACT-CIS Partylist Representative Erwin Tulfo on Monday proposed a three-month suspension of the excise tax on imported oil and bio-ethanol to address the continuing surge in oil prices. Tulfo’s proposal to temporarily suspend the excise tax until December came after Speaker Martin Romualdez held a meeting with representatives of the oil industry players on the same day. In a media briefing, Tulfo gave the impression that the House leadership would be inclined to recommend to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. the suspension of the fuel excise tax. For Pimentel, suspending the excise tax would “unburden” many Filipinos from the expected increase in the prices of basic commodities. “The rising cost of crude oil will ultimately be borne by every Filipino because it leads to increased prices of goods, electricity, and more,” he said. Earlier, oil companies raised gasoline and kerosene prices by P2 per liter, with a more significant increase of P2.50 per liter for diesel. Diesel and kerosene prices in the last 11 consecutive weeks rose by a cumulative P17.30 and P15.95 per liter, respectively, while gasoline prices in the last 10 weeks climbed by P11.85 per liter. The global price of crude oil from the United States has risen to $92 per barrel, while European crude has increased to $95 per barrel since November last year. ‘Only rich will benefit’ But Diokno quickly put a damper on Tulfo’s proposal, saying that suspending the excise tax on petroleum products would benefit only the rich and severely damage the economy. “We recognize the public sentiment to address the elevated fuel prices. However, as the government, it is our responsibility to be cautious in implementing policies that could negatively impact the macro-fiscal stability and sustainability of the country,” he told reporters. Suspending the excise tax would be “regressive,” Diokno said, as it would delay infrastructure and social development projects for long-term economic growth under the Marcos administration, which aims to make the country a predominantly upper middle-income society by 2025. He pointed out that only the top 10 percent of households with the highest incomes would benefit from a suspension as they consume nearly 50 percent of all fuels. He noted that the lower half of households use up only 10 percent of all oil-based fuels. “When you formulate policy, you always think of what’s the greatest good for the greatest number,” Diokno said. Likewise, suspending the excise tax on fuel would not help stave off inflation in the long run, he added. “Any of the proposals will adversely affect our economic and fiscal recovery, our international credit rating, and our overall debt management strategy,” he said. He explained that the government would lose billions in revenue if it suspended the excise tax on fuel and its associated value-added tax. For the fourth quarter of 2023 alone, Diokno said, the losses in government revenue from foregone VAT and fuel excise taxes would reach P31.2 billion and P72.6 billion, respectively. Doom and gloom “In total, for the whole year of 2024, the government will lose P280.5 billion,” he said. Diokno averred that the lost revenue would lead to a higher budget deficit — from 5.1 percent to 6.2 percent of gross domestic product — and a higher debt-to-GDP ratio in 2024 of 60.2 percent to 61.3 percent. With a restricted revenue collection, Diokno added, the government will be forced to borrow more to support its projects and to repurpose some of its future revenues to debt payments. “Higher borrowings will further increase our interest payments and budget deficit in the future,” he said. The solution, Diokno said, is to give targeted subsidies to those who will be most negatively affected by the higher fuel prices, such as jeepney drivers, farmers and fishermen. He also said that eliminating the fuel tax would require time-consuming legislative action. “Once the elevated oil prices subside, it may not be easy to restore the taxes on oil products. It is politically unpopular. That’s the political economy of tax legislation. This has serious implications for fiscal sustainability,” he warned. The post Oil tax freeze clash looms appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US, China call for stable ties in latest top-level talks
America's top diplomat and China's vice president voiced hope Monday for more stability in the often tense relationship as the rival powers held their second high-level talks in days. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, meeting Vice President Han Zheng in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, said he believed in "face-to-face diplomacy" to deal with disagreements. "I think it's a good thing that we have this opportunity to build on the recent high-level engagements that our countries have had," Blinken told Han as they opened their meeting at China's mission to the United Nations. The talks aim to "make sure that we're maintaining open communications and demonstrate that we are responsibly managing the relationship between our two countries." Han said that the world's two largest economies face "a lot of difficulties and challenges." "The world needs healthy and stable US-China relations, which benefit not only China and the US, but the whole world," he said. The meeting comes as the United States watches personnel changes in Beijing with growing intrigue. Qin Gang, handpicked by President Xi Jinping as foreign minister, was abruptly replaced in July by the veteran policymaker Wang Yi. US officials initially expected Wang to travel to the annual UN meeting, where he may have met briefly with President Joe Biden; but instead, China sent Han, better known for his tenure as mayor of Shanghai than for diplomacy. But Wang, who also is the Communist Party foreign policy director, held talks over the weekend with Biden's national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, in Malta. The United States and China remain at loggerheads on a host of issues including Taiwan, the self-ruling democracy that Beijing claims and has not ruled out seizing by force. China charges that the United States is stirring up Taiwanese independence supporters, and has repeatedly staged shows of force. The United States says it is seeking the preservation of the status quo and has stepped up support, including last month for the first time approving direct military aid to Taiwan, which traditionally buys its own weapons. Blinken in the talks "underscored the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said. Touching on nations with close ties with China, Blinken also discussed the "provocative actions" by North Korea and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Miller said. China has also been outraged by US restrictions on high-end investment and exports of semiconductors from the United States, which says it is doing that to safeguard its own security. But the tone has become comparatively civil. Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen both traveled this year to Beijing, resuming contact that had all but ceased during the pandemic. The approach to China stands in contrast with the US refusal of most dialogue with Russia since the invasion of Ukraine, with Blinken and other senior US officials doubting the utility of talking to Moscow. The post US, China call for stable ties in latest top-level talks appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Parents of French schoolboy who killed himself ‘appalled’ by treatment
The parents of a French schoolboy who killed himself after complaining of being bullied at school said they were disgusted by the response of the authorities, which included a threatening letter warning they could face prison for slander. The 15-year-old boy, named as Nicolas, killed himself on September 5, one day after children went back to class in France after the summer break. He had moved for the new term to an establishment in Paris, after complaining of being bullied during the previous school year at his former school in Poissy, in the Yvelines region southwest of the capital. Rather than expressing sympathy with the family's predicament, the Yvelines regional education authorities, based in Versailles, sent them a letter saying statements made by the parents had been "unacceptable" and urged them to adopt a "constructive" attitude. It even reminded them that slander in France can be a criminal offence punishable by up to five years in jail and a heavy fine of up to 45,000 euros ($48,000). The family had also received a dismissive letter from the management of the Poissy school. "We were outraged and appalled to receive such letters," his mother Beatrice told AFP in a written exchange. "Nicolas's father and I didn't understand it. We still don't understand it," she added. The controversy has become a major embarrassment for the French government, which has sought to make combating bullying a top priority. Education Minister Gabriel Attal said the threatening letter, which was sent in May but whose existence was first reported only last week by the BFMTV channel, was shameful. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said it was "shocking". The boy's mother said she was "relieved" by the ministers' comments, which she said acknowledged their son's suffering. But she added the family would await the outcome of an investigation before deciding on any legal action. Attal, 34, who this month had met the boy's family alongside first lady Brigitte Macron, is seen as one of the most ambitious ministers in President Emmanuel Macron's government. He has made tackling bullying a priority after a series of high-profile suicides in recent years of children who had complained of being bullied at school. Versailles prosecutors are seeking to investigate whether Nicolas's suicide was directly linked to bullying, cautioning against drawing any conclusions for now. Attal is due on Monday to host a meeting of school regional authorities to discuss all the reports of bullying received over the last year. The post Parents of French schoolboy who killed himself ‘appalled’ by treatment appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US, Vietnam agree to deepen ties as China worries grow
US President Joe Biden hailed closer ties with Vietnam on Sunday as the two countries struck a deal to deepen cooperation, including on semiconductors, but said he was not aiming to contain China. The "comprehensive strategic partnership" with Hanoi is part of Washington's push to bolster its network of allies around Asia and the Pacific in the face of Beijing's rising influence. Biden accused Beijing of seeking to bend the international order to its will. "One of the things that is going on now is China is beginning to change some of the rules of the game, in terms of trade and other issues," Biden said. Sometimes to Beijing's chagrin, Washington has invested heavily in building alliances as part of its Indo-Pacific strategy, including the Quad security dialogue with India, Australia and Japan, and the AUKUS pact with Britain and Australia. Biden said he wanted establish clear ground rules for relations. "I don't want to contain China. I just want to make sure we have a relationship with China that is on the up and up, squared away, everybody knows what it's all about," he said. Biden flew in to Hanoi straight from a G20 summit that failed to agree to a phase-out of fossil fuels and highlighted deep divisions over the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The US president said he had met Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the G20 -- a meeting the White House had not announced -- and discussed "stability". Semiconductor deal Global supply chain shocks and fears about US reliance on China for strategic resources have further driven the push to boost ties with the likes of Vietnam. The new partnership includes an agreement on semiconductors, with the United States committing to help Vietnam develop its capabilities and expand production. There is also a section on rare earth minerals, which used in the manufacture of high-tech devices such as smartphones and electric car batteries. Vietnam has the world's second-largest deposits of rare earths after China and US officials say it has a key role to play as it looks to diversify and strengthen its supply chains. Biden moved last month to restrict US investment in Chinese technology in sensitive areas including semiconductors, quantum computing and artificial intelligence. "This can be the beginning of even a greater era of cooperation," Biden said as he met Nguyen Phu Trong, the head of Vietnam's ruling Communist Party and the country's paramount leader. "Vietnam and the United States are critical partners at what I would argue is a very critical time." The deal puts the United States on a par with China -- as well as Russia, India and South Korea -- at the top level of the Vietnamese hierarchy of diplomatic relations. Trong thanked Biden for his contribution to improving US-Vietnamese ties and said his country would work hard to implement the new agreement. Although it is careful to be seen as not taking sides between the United States and China, Vietnam shares US concerns about its neighbour's growing assertiveness in the contested South China Sea. However, The New York Times reported just ahead of Biden's visit that Vietnam was secretly arranging to buy arms from Russia in contravention of US sanctions. The report cited a Vietnamese finance ministry document that laid out plans to fund arms purchases from the Kremlin through a joint oil and gas project in Siberia. AFP has contacted the Vietnamese government for comment. US Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer told reporters that Washington acknowledged Vietnam's decades-long military relationship with Russia. But he said there was "increasing discomfort on the part of the Vietnamese with that relationship", and the new partnership would help Hanoi "diversify away from those partnerships" by allowing it to source from the United States and its allies. Human rights Biden said he had raised human rights in his meeting with Trong and pledged to "continue our candid dialogue in that regard". Vietnam has a dire rights record. Government critics face intimidation, harassment and imprisonment after unfair trials, and there are reports of police torture to extract confessions, Human Rights Watch says. While Biden has often criticised China's human rights record, he has largely stayed quiet on Vietnam and campaigners feared he may not raise the subject. On Monday Biden visit a Hanoi memorial to his friend John McCain, the former US senator shot down and held captive during the Vietnam War who in later years helped rebuild ties between the two countries. The post US, Vietnam agree to deepen ties as China worries grow appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»