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Meta faces backlash over Canada news block as wildfires rage
Meta is being accused of endangering lives by blocking news links in Canada at a crucial moment when thousands have fled their homes and are desperate for wildfire updates that once would have been shared widely on Facebook. The situation "is dangerous," said Kelsey Worth, 35, of one nearly 20,000 residents of Yellowkife and thousands more in small towns ordered to evacuate the Northwest Territories as wildfires advanced. She described to AFP how "insanely difficult" it has been for herself and other evacuees to find verifiable information about the fires blazing across the near-Arctic territory and other parts of Canada. "Nobody's able to know what's true or not," she said. "And when you're in an emergency situation, time is of the essence," she said, explaining that many Canadians until now have relied on social media for news. Meta on August 1 started blocking the distribution of news links and articles on its Facebook and Instagram platforms in response to a recent law requiring digital giants to pay publishers for news content. The company has been in a virtual showdown with Ottawa over the bill passed in June which only takes effect next year. Building on similar legislation introduced in Australia, the bill aims to support a struggling Canadian news sector that has seen a flight of advertising dollars and hundreds of publications closed in the last decade. It requires companies like Meta and Google to make fair commercial deals with Canadian outlets for the news and information -- estimated in a report to parliament to be worth Can$330 million (US$250 million) per year -- that is shared on their platforms, or face-binding arbitration. But Meta has said the bill is flawed and insisted that news outlets share content on its Facebook and Instagram platforms to attract readers, benefiting them and not the Silicon Valley firm. Profits over safety Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this week assailed Meta, telling reporters it was "inconceivable that a company like Facebook is choosing to put corporate profits ahead of (safety)... and keeping Canadians informed about things like wildfires." Almost 80 percent of all online advertising revenues in Canada go to Meta and Google, which has expressed its own reservations about the new law. Ollie Williams, director of Cabin Radio in the far north, called Meta's move to block news sharing "stupid and dangerous." He suggested in an interview with AFP that "Meta could lift the ban temporarily in the interests of preservation of life and suffer no financial penalty because the legislation has not taken effect yet." Nicolas Servel, over at Radio Taiga, a French-language station in Yellowknife, noted that some had found ways of circumventing Meta's block. They "found other ways to share" information, he said, such as taking screenshots of news articles and sharing them from personal -- rather than corporate -- social media accounts. Life and death Several large newspapers in Canada such as the Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star have launched campaigns to try to attract readers directly to their sites. But for many smaller news outlets workarounds have proven challenging as social media platforms have become entrenched. Public broadcaster CBC in a letter this week pressed Meta to reverse course. "Time is of the essence," wrote CBC president Catherine Tait. "I urge you to consider taking the much-needed humanitarian action and immediately lift your ban on vital Canadian news and information to communities dealing with this wildfire emergency." As more than 1,000 wildfires burn across Canada, she said, "The need for reliable, trusted, and up-to-date information can literally be the difference between life and death." Meta -- which did not respond to AFP requests for comment -- rejected CBC's suggestion. Instead it urged Canadians to use the "Safety Check" function on Facebook to let others know if they are safe or not. Patrick White, a professor at the University of Quebec in Montreal, said Meta has shown itself to be a "bad corporate citizen." "It's a matter of public safety," he said, adding that he remains optimistic Ottawa will eventually reach a deal with Meta and other digital giants that addresses their concerns. The post Meta faces backlash over Canada news block as wildfires rage appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Tulfo wants PGC, MARINA officials probed for Binangonan boat mishap
Senator Raffy Tulfo on Monday filed a resolution seeking an investigation of officials of the Philippine Coast Guard and the Maritime Industry Authority for possible negligence that led to the deaths of 27 passengers after the motorbanca Princess Aya capsized off Binangonan, Rizal on 27 July. Tulfo's Senate Resolution No. 705 seeks to investigate “the factors contributing to the capsizing of the boat and identify lapses in safety protocols or negligence of PCG, MARINA, and other concerned individuals and agencies that may have led to this unfortunate incident.” In filing the resolution, Tulfo stressed that high-ranking officials of the PCG and MARINA who are guilty of "neglect of duty" must become accountable “in the name of command responsibility." “In most cases, a sunken ship or boat's crew members are often the ones punished and sent to jail,” Tulfo lamented. He then noted that the M/B Princess Aya tragedy would have not happened if the PCG and MARINA had properly performed "their duties and responsibilities.” “PCG and MARINA are the relevant government authorities responsible for overseeing and regulating maritime safety in the country,” he said. Citing reports on the incident, Tulfo said MARINA failed to check the “seaworthiness” of Princess Aya before allowing it to sail. Following the boat accident, MARINA suspended the safety certificate of the M/B Princess Aya Express. But Tulfo said the issuance of a “Passenger Ship Certificate” should have been strictly implemented in the first place. In the latest investigation report by the PCG Incident Command, the boat was allowed to sail with a capacity of 30 passengers based on the manifest list, but 70 individuals were actually on board the boat before the incident happened. Authorities found out that there were insufficient life vests for passengers while the boat was also facing inclement weather conditions. Tulfo said the PCG inspector, assigned to check boats at the dock site before sailing, failed to flag such issues. Citing a comment from a sea expert, Tulfo said the M/B Princess Aya’s beam “was not properly and appropriately designed to support more than 30 passengers.” “There’s a need for MARINA to properly inspect, along with a marine engineer, all boats being rented or use for public water transportation before issuing any permit to operate moving forward,” Tulfo stressed. Meanwhile, Tulfo said the results of the investigation over the incident “should be utilized to improve safety standards for marine vessels, addressing issues such as overloading, vessel stability, adherence to passenger capacity limits, emergency preparedness and crew training.” The results of the inquiry, he added, could be useful for the government in reviewing and enhancing existing legislation on maritime regulations. Tulfo is likewise eyeing to craft a bill that would further exact accountability from the PCG and MARINA officers should maritime accidents occur due to negligence. “This would assure that the PCG and MARINA officers, along with their supervisors, will face charges and jail time every time a ship or a boat capsizes due to their negligence,” he added. The post Tulfo wants PGC, MARINA officials probed for Binangonan boat mishap appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
IOU appetite remains high
The Bureau of the Treasury, or BTR, on Monday fully awarded bids for the government’s key Treasury bills. The 91-, 182-, and 364-day T-bills fetched average rates of 5.884 percent, 6.095 percent and 6.226 percent, all lower than previous auction results. Last week, the average rates for the 91-,182-, and 364-day T-bills settled at 5.973 percent, 6.266 percent, and 6.339 percent, respectively. The auction was nearly three times oversubscribed with total bids reaching P44.4 billion. The BTr raised the full program of P15.0 billion for the auction. In a comment, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation chief economist Michael Ricafort said Treasury bill auction yields corrected lower week-on-week. Yields on downtrend “This is similar to the week-on-week downward correction in PHP Bloomberg Valuation Service yields after US Treasury yields also corrected lower after better US inflation data at a new 2-year low of 3 percent in June 2023, from 4 percent in the previous month and nearing the Fed’s target of 2 percent,” Ricafort said. “The lower T-bill auction yields could have also been supported by the strongest peso exchange rate versus the US dollar in more than three months recently, thereby could reduce import prices and overall inflation that could still ease further due to higher base effects,” he added. On 13 July, the peso closed at 54.51 to a US dollar, its best performance since 5 April. The post IOU appetite remains high appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
MORE Power eyes refund completion by year-end
MORE Electric and Power Corp. — Iloilo City’s exclusive electricity provider owned by the group of businessman Enrique K. Razon, Jr. — is targeting to complete an industry-leading bill deposit refund to more than 700 additional customers by the end of the year. MORE Power, on Tuesday, reiterated that it aims to provide refunds to customers who have consistently paid their bills on time for three years, without experiencing any payment disruptions, consistent with the Magna Carta. ”By the end of this year, MORE Power anticipates returning bill deposits that will benefit around 777 customers,” it said in a statement. Just last week, 7 July, the company completed the second round of refunds, which provided much-needed financial relief for customers. By the end of the month, MORE Power estimated that additional 65 customers will be eligible for the bill deposit refund. MORE Power started the refund last May with just three eligible customers who received a total of P9,000 in bill deposits. In June, the numbers grew to 20 eligible customers with a refund total of P65,500 in bill deposits. “It is important to note that the bill deposit refunds are not considered rewards but rather the consumers' rights based on the Magna Carta for Residential Consumers,” MORE Power president and CEO Roel Castro said. ”We have implemented this program in strict compliance with the law. The bill deposit does not belong to us; it rightfully belongs to our consumers,” he added. For Energy Regulatory Commission chair lawyer Monalisa Dimalanta, the company’s program should be followed by more distribution utilities to uphold transparency and consumer welfare. MORE Power serves Iloilo City. Its subsidiary Primelectric Holdings, Inc. recently signed a joint venture agreement to expand its Visayan market coverage with Central Negros Electric Cooperative. The tie-up aims to help CENECO, which serves over 200,000 customers, improve its power supply and distribution services. The post MORE Power eyes refund completion by year-end appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Twitter chaos leaves door open for Meta’s rival app
Elon Musk spent the weekend further alienating Twitter users with more drastic changes to the social media giant, and he is facing a new challenge as tech nemesis Mark Zuckerberg prepares to launch a rival app this week. Zuckerberg's Meta group, which owns Facebook, has listed a new app in stores as "Threads, an Instagram app", available for pre-order in the United States, with a message saying it is "expected" this Thursday. The two men have clashed for years but a recent comment by a Meta executive suggesting that Twitter was not run "sanely" irked Musk, eventually leading to the two men offering each other out for a cage fight. Since buying Twitter last year for $44 billion, Musk has fired thousands of employees and charged users $8 a month to have a blue checkmark and a "verified" account. On the weekend, he limited the posts readers could view and decreed that nobody could look at a tweet unless they were logged in, meaning external links no longer work for many. He said he needed to fire up extra servers just to cope with the demand as artificial intelligence (AI) companies scraped "extreme levels" of data to train their models. But commentators have poured scorn on that idea and marketing experts say he has massively alienated both his user base and the advertisers he needs to get profits rolling. In another move that shocked users, Twitter announced Monday that access to TweetDeck, an app that allows users to monitor several accounts at once, would be limited to verified accounts next month. John Wihbey, an associate professor of media innovation and technology at Northeastern University, told AFP that plenty of people wanted to quit Twitter for ethical reasons after Musk took over, but he had now given them a technical reason to leave too. And he added that Musk's decision to sack thousands of workers meant it had long been expected that the site would become "technically unusable". - 'Remarkably bad' - Musk has said he wants to make Twitter less reliant on advertising and boost income from subscriptions. Yet he chose advertising specialist Linda Yaccarino as his chief executive recently, and she has spoken of going into "hand-to-hand combat" to win back advertisers. "How do you tell Twitter advertisers that your most engaged free users potentially will never see their ads because of data caps on their usage," tweeted Justin Taylor, a former marketing executive at Twitter. Mike Proulx, vice president at market research firm Forrester, said the weekend's chaos had been "remarkably bad" for both users and advertisers. "Advertisers depend on reach and engagement yet Twitter is currently decimating both," he told AFP. He said Twitter had "moved from stable to startup" and Yaccarino, who remained silent over the weekend, would struggle to restore its credibility, leaving the door open to Twitter's rivals to suck up any cash from advertisers. - 'Open secret' - The technical reasons Musk gave for limiting the views of users immediately brought a backlash. Many social media users speculated that Musk had simply failed to pay the bill for his servers. French social data analyst Florent Lefebvre said AI firms were more likely to train their models on books and media articles than social network content, which "is of much poorer quality, full of mistakes and lacking in context". Yoel Roth, who stepped down as Twitter's head of security weeks after Musk took over, said the idea that data scraping had caused such performance problems that users needed to be forced to log in "doesn't pass the sniff test". "Scraping was the open secret of Twitter data access," he wrote on the Bluesky social network -- another Twitter rival. "We knew about it. It was fine." jxb/lth © Agence France-Presse The post Twitter chaos leaves door open for Meta’s rival app appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Making MIF work
There has been no let-up in the criticism that has been hurled against the government’s push to legislate into reality the Maharlika Investment Fund. Amid the constant brickbats coming from business groups, from some of our country’s esteemed economists led by UP School of Economics professors, and of course the political opposition, our legislators have finally dutifully passed the bill creating the MIF and have handed the baton to the President for the final coup de grace. Of all the articles opposing the MIF, I think the 28-page position paper of the UP professors has succinctly and clinically dissected the bill and come up with convincing arguments for why BBM should seriously reconsider the passage of the MIF at this time. But let’s face it, this is unlikely to happen. The reality is that the MIF is here to stay. So, given such a scenario, the next best thing the critics can hope for is that the MIF’s board and management will consider the various issues raised by the economists and react accordingly. What are the critical points that need to be reviewed and addressed? The first is the supposed lack of clarity of the fund’s objectives which is violative of the Santiago Principles, MIF’s avowed governance benchmark, and which could result in a confused operating model. This should be fairly easy to remedy when the MIF board convenes and tackles its first task, which is to articulate the MIF’s mission and vision statement that will be the basis for the goals and objectives of the fund. In this regard, I have to say that having a developmental purpose combined with a desire to generate the most optimal returns is not an unrealistic aspiration. It is perfectly feasible to create several sub-funds with different and distinct underlying assets which in turn would become the basis for the investment strategies of the respective sub-funds. This is no different from several unit trust funds available in the market. For instance, some funds focus only on equity, some solely local, while some others, the US equities. Funds that focus on fixed income, some only on Philippine government and corporate debt issuances, while others, purely US Treasuries. Then some funds combine both equity and fixed income. Bottomline, investors will essentially have a menu to choose from depending on their investment objective and appetite for risk. I believe there is nothing in the MIF law that prevents the creation of sub-funds with different investment strategies and risk-reward mix. It can have a sub-fund focusing solely on infrastructure projects that in turn could attract long-term oriented institutional developmental investors such as multilateral funds, e.g., IFC or ADB. Or MIF could create a joint venture with a strategic investor interested in a particular infrastructure project. It is perfectly feasible to create several sub-funds with different and distinct underlying assets which in turn would become the basis for the investment strategies of the respective sub-funds. Another criticism is that the MIF could upend the budgetary processes of the government. All I can say in this regard is that with the kind of politically motivated horse-trading and haggling that is a common occurrence during budget hearings, having an alternative funding process that expedites and cuts back on all that nuisance trumps anytime in my book the traditional long drawn-out congressional budget approval process. Another adverse commentary is that the MIF proponents have not yet proven its “additionality” or, in other words, it will be redundant with the investment and developmental functions of other government agencies such as the NDC, DPWH, or LandBank. My comment on this: I think it’s of public record that neither NDC nor DPWH has had a sterling record insofar as investments and public work projects are concerned. And LandBank has been similarly pilloried by our legislators for not doing enough insofar as its mandate is concerned. If the government agencies have been performing below expectations, perhaps a new entity like MIF with (hopefully) significant private equity participation and private-led management could make a difference and be more effective and efficient in the delivery of its mandate. (To be continued) Until next week… OBF! For comments, email bing_matoto@yahoo.com. The post Making MIF work appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Tambaloslos’ and other assorted low life
The convoluted albeit fascinating world of Philippine politics, populated by colorful if not shady characters, has often been described as a circus of flamboyant clowns or an aviary with butterflies flitting from one flower to another and slinky chameleons darting from the branches of a carambola or balimbing fruit tree. Now comes a new addition to the parade of fantastic beasts and where you find them: the little-known (at least to non-Visayan and Bicol speakers) “tambaloslos”. Vice President Sara Duterte used the word in a comment she made shortly after a major reshuffle last month at the House of Representatives and her resignation as chairperson of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats or Lakas-CMD. Her resignation letter, coincidence or not, was sent after Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, then Senior Deputy Speaker, with no warning, was suddenly stripped of her position and replaced with fellow Kapampangan Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. “The House of Representatives has elected Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. as Senior Deputy Speaker to unburden his ‘cabalen’ former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of the heavy load required from the position,” said House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe, in an apparent move to downplay the reorganization. The former President has been acknowledged as one of the architects of the Unity Team ticket that propelled Ferdinand Marcos Jr to victory and is believed to have talked Sara Duterte into running for vice president. Then came the Vice President’s post on a selfie captioned: “Sa imong ambisyon, do not be tambaloslos”, loosely translated by some (from the Bisaya) to “In your being ambitious, do not be thick-faced.” There was no reference as to whom she directed the comment. The move sent readers unfamiliar with the term scrambling to the dictionary or various search engines, coming up with the meaning, and putting it in context. Commonly used in the folklore of the Visayas, Mindanao, and Bicol regions, “tambaloslos” refers to a mythical beast with a large mouth and male organ, misleading or confusing people, making them lose their way or go around in circles. Its closest counterpart among Tagalog speakers would be the “tikbalang” with the same power. Victims of these pranks can outwit the creatures by wearing their clothes inside out. Used in everyday Visayan or Bicol, however, the word is used to mean being thick-faced, shameless, too talkative (“puro ka lang salita”), untrustworthy, useless (“walang kwenta”), or just being plain stupid (“bobo”) or a dimwit. So who was the subject of Madame Sara’s rant? She’s not talking. Quick to dispel loose talk that she was planning to oust House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Arroyo was seen in succeeding photo ops with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s cousin and the Marcos camp. The vice president likewise pledged her “immutable” trust and support for the present administration. Breaking his silence, former President Rodrigo Duterte, however, had this to say about his daughter leaving Lakas-CMD. “There’s more to it than meets the eye,” he said in an interview on the SMNI channel, adding, “For her to take the extreme step of resigning, mukhang malalim ang dahilan.” Meanwhile, the President advised the Vice President to “ignore the ‘tambaloslos’ around you,” relax, and enjoy her 45th birthday recently. As “tambaloslos” inadvertently made its way into the mainstream, a different spectacle but probably reminiscent of the traits associated with the term was showing at another august chamber when two members were caught on camera being prompted by their staff on proper procedures about amending a bill. Ho-hum. The post ‘Tambaloslos’ and other assorted low life appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Razon’s MORE Power allots P5-M bill deposit refund
MORE Electric and Power Corp. — an electric distribution utility controlled by the group of businessman Enrique K. Razon, Jr. — has readied P5 million this year to refund Iloilo City customers paying their respective bill deposits on time. MORE Power President and CEO, over the weekend, said some customers started to receive a refund of their respective bill deposits. “Even if the customer does not ask for it, we go out of our way to inform the customers that this is due you and we will return it,” Castro said. “Since we don’t have any intention to use the money, we do not have the intention to keep the money; we do not have the intention of using it for our operation; why keep it when it is already due for return, for the refund to customers?” The Bill Deposit is a payment by the consumer by the time they apply for their own electric service. The refund of the bill deposit is mandated by the ERC to all distribution utilities, may it be private or electric cooperatives. This was stated in Article 7 of the Magna Carta for residential electric consumers, promulgated by the Energy Regulatory Commission, where they should refund the bill deposit after three years or 36 months of paying on time and with no record of disconnection. According to ERC Commissioner Alexis Lumbatan, MORE Power’s move is a significant development that benefits the customers. “Not all distribution utilities instantly return the bill. I am so happy that I’m taking part in this great milestone. For five years, I have been with the commission and I'm the oversight commissioner for consumer affairs. That’s why this milestone is very close to me,” Lumbatan said. MORE Power is the DU serving Iloilo City. Its subsidiary Primelectric Holdings, Inc. recently proposed to expand its Visayan market coverage through a joint venture agreement with Central Negros Electric Cooperative. The tie-up aims to help CENECO, which serves over 200,000 customers, improve its power supply and distribution services. The post Razon’s MORE Power allots P5-M bill deposit refund appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
In reply to Palace request for comment on anti-terrorism bill, IBP urges veto
"We hope that with the same care, prudence, and political will, we can have an effective anti-terrorism law that does not go beyond the carefully crafted balance, safeguards and guarantees of our fundamental law," IBP said......»»
BARMM launches social services programs online portal
BARMM launches social services programs online portal.....»»
Unilab launches hub for health policy issues
Unilab Foundation recently launched the Unilab Center for Health Policy to serve as a venue for stakeholders to examine health policy issues.....»»
House leaves Quiboloy’s fate to Senate
The House of Representatives will no longer pursue and implement the warrant of arrest it issued against pastor Apollo Quiboloy after it approved on final reading the bill revoking the franchise of the evangelist’s alleged TV network......»»
Greenwich Inspires Filipinos to Create More Authentic Meaningful Connections, Launches ‘Sarap to Feel G’ Campaign
Greenwich, one of the country’s leading homegrown pizza and pasta makers, is embarking on a massive campaign this year to inspire millions of Filipinos to create more genuine, meaningful connections with each other. The campaign is anchored on having more experiences inspired by authenticity and real “feel-good” togetherness made possible by incredible, great-tasting food. This […].....»»
TikTok Shop Launches TikTok Shop Business School to Help Digitize Filipino Entrepreneurs
TikTok Shop launched TikTok Shop Business School, a comprehensive one-day program for Filipino entrepreneurs that aims to equip them with the skills to grow their businesses in the digital sphere. The full-day program, which 50 TikTok Shop entrepreneurs attended, was comprised of master classes on Corporate Strategy and Business Model with Kim Lato, Founder and […].....»»
Golden Haven launches international campaign for OFWs
Golden Haven, the country’s leading memorial park developer, has launched its GO! International campaign, a groundbreaking initiative that aims to help overseas Filipino workers secure their financial future......»»
NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand's ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union. "I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union of our ratification of the New Zealand European Union Free Trade Agreement (NZ-EUFTA)......»»
Niña Jose sa viral ‘amoy maasim’ comment: Nagpakatotoo lang!
ITINANGGI ni Mayor Niña Jose ng Bayambang, Pangasinan na tao ang pinatutungkulan niyang “maasim ang amoy” sa kanyang viral video. Ang mikroponong ginamit daw niya sa naganap na flag ceremony sa kanilang probinsya kung saan nagsalita siya sa harap ng kanyang constituents, ang totoong mabaho ang amoy. Base sa panayam ng “Showbiz Update” host na.....»»
DFA launches e-Apostille service; first in Asean region
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs Office of Consular Affairs (DFA – OCA) announced that it launched an e-Apostille service for civil registry documents. DFA said the system will allow the public to apply online for e-documents and e-Apostilles from the Philippine Statistics Agency (PSA) without having to appear in both offices. Foreign Affairs.....»»
Bill seeks review of rules on reckless imprudence
The country’s road safety laws must be reviewed to address the liability of drivers in cases of traffic violations and accidents, a lawmaker from Bukidnon said yesterday, citing the high number of vehicular crashes in Metro Manila......»»
Medical marijuana bill reaches Senate plenary
The bill seeking to legalize medical marijuana in the Philippines has reached the Senate plenary, the first time in the history of the upper chamber, according to a cannabis lawyer......»»