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Steps gaining exporter status under RCEP outlined
Exporters wishing to avail themselves of preferential tariffs under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership can apply with the Bureau of Customs to become an approved exporter, according to a customs official. Gina German, head of the Preferential Rate Unit of the BoC Port of Manila, is encouraging Filipino exporters to start leveraging the RCEP’s benefits, foremost of which is being allowed to source materials and products from the 14 other member parties of the mega free trade agreement at lower duty rates. Study and comply German also urged companies to study and comply with the RCEP’s rules of origin (ROO), a requirement to get preferential tariff treatment under the world’s biggest trade deal. Essentially, the ROO can be regarded as a passport for products, a way to determine the country of origin of a product and establish its eligibility for preferential tariff treatment. It can help businesses reduce costs and boost their competitiveness within the regional market. Under RCEP, originating goods are those falling under three categories: wholly obtained in the RCEP party or member state of the agreement; those produced in a party exclusively from originating materials from one or more of the parties; and those produced in a party using non-originating materials, provided the good satisfies the applicable requirements set out in Annex 3A (Product-Specific Rules). Documentary requirements German said applicants seeking “approved exporter” status under RCEP should submit the following documentary requirements: • Duly accomplished application form • BoC’s Certificate of Registration • Product Evaluation Report or PER, if applicable Meanwhile, traders applying for approved exporter status, should submit a producer’s declaration indicating the originating status of the good for which the trader will be completing a declaration of origin and stating the producer’s readiness to cooperate in verification. “If you are a trader, you need to know who produces the good or you still have a declaration that it is originating in the Philippines so that you will be ready during the retro verification or verification of the importing country,” said German during her talk last month at a Department of Trade and Industry webinar. In addition applicants have to submit a list of the authorized signatories of the DO and their respective specimen signatures. The application form should be submitted in both hard copy and electronic Portable Document Format to the deputy commissioner of the Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group through the Customer Care Center or CCC. The Export Coordination Division or ECD will then evaluate the application based on the following criteria: Exporter is a legitimate exporter who must have been transacting with the BOC for at least one year prior to the date of application Exporter must have been exporting products to at least one RCEP party for at least one year • Exporter must have good compliance measured by risk management of the BOC • Exporter must have a sound bookkeeping and recordkeeping system • Exporter must have responsible officers or persons authorized to sign the DO, who must have sufficient knowledge, competence in ROO application • Exporter must be willing to be subjected to regular monitoring and inspection to determine correctness of its declaration with respect to the goods exported. Written authorization After evaluation the ECD will grant the status of approved exporter to the successful applicants by issuing a written authorization with its corresponding authorization code within 14 working days. From there, the BOC will input the details of the approved exporter in its Approved Exporter Database for circulation among the RCEP parties. RCEP came into effect officially for the Philippines on June 2, 2023 after the Senate finally ratified the agreement in February this year. The Philippines was the last country to ratify RCEP, a free trade pact among the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations — Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam — and the five ASEAN FTA partners Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand. The post Steps gaining exporter status under RCEP outlined appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Killers of the Flower Moon review: Scorsese rallies DiCaprio, De Niro for a bloody tale in the West
Scorsese's film is a sprawling three-and-a-half hour crime-western epic that dives into a bloody chapter of American history, particularly about the Osage people who were subjected to unfair treatment by the white men in power......»»
More than 75,000 US health care workers begin 3-day strike
Tens of thousands of healthcare workers in the United States walked off the job Wednesday, beginning one of the sector's largest strikes in recent history, as America's year of labor discontent rolled on. The walkout of more than 75,000 workers at Kaiser Permanente, the country's largest non-profit healthcare organization, comes as surging inflation has spurred industrial action across the US, from Hollywood actors to Detroit auto workers. People on the picket lines in Los Angeles on Wednesday said they were underpaid and overworked. "Ever since the pandemic hit, we lost a lot of members and we never recovered them," X-ray technician Armando Velasco told AFP. "And now we're at the brink, we're at the precipice." Nurse Kathy Lozoya said the rocketing cost of living in southern California was making life very difficult. "Kaiser Permanente has reported billions of dollars in profits, so all we're asking from Kaiser CEOs is to share those profits with the frontline workers," she said. "All we're asking is a fair contract so that we can be able to live." Fellow nurse Scarleth Rocha said she feared a staff shortage was not good for patients. "Working 12-hour shifts, working with 26 patients per one nurse is not ideal, and it's not safe for nurses to work with that many patients in one place," she said. Kaiser Permanente locations in California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington state were expected to be affected by the three-day strike. A small number of workers in Washington, DC, and Virginia were set to walk out for 24 hours. Kaiser said centers would remain open, but warned there would be "longer-than-usual" wait times. A Kaiser spokesman told journalists on Tuesday that talks were continuing. "Several agreements over specific provisions have been reached" with the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, the spokesman said, adding negotiators were prepared to meet around the clock "until we reach a fair and equitable agreement." The union, which says this will be the largest healthcare worker strike in US history, is pushing for pay increases and protections against subcontracting and outsourcing of labor. It has threatened to engage in further strike action in November "if Kaiser continues to commit unfair labor practices." Inflationary pressures Wednesday's strike comes during a year in which the US has seen an unusually high level of industrial action as workers struggle with inflation levels not seen in a generation. Higher prices have reduced the purchasing power of shoppers across the country, while the rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) has led to concerns about the automation of growing numbers of jobs. Industrial action is ongoing in Detroit, where the United Auto Workers (UAW) union is engaged in its first-ever joint strike action against the "Big Three" automakers -- GM, Ford, and Chrysler maker Stellantis -- in a push for higher pay and better working conditions. More than 25,000 workers are on strike in 21 states -- around 17 percent of UAW's 146,000 members -- as talks continue. In Hollywood, a months-long joint strike by writers and actors brought California's lucrative film industry to a halt, stopping production and broadcast of major movie and TV productions. While the writers have since agreed on a deal to return to work, actors represented by the SAF-AFTRA union were on the picket lines Wednesday, even as their negotiators met with studios for a second full day of talks. The post More than 75,000 US health care workers begin 3-day strike appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
More than 75,000 US health care workers begin 3-day strike
Tens of thousands of healthcare workers in the United States walked off the job Wednesday, beginning one of the sector's largest strikes in recent history over what they say is a staffing shortage, as America's year of labor discontent rolled on. The walkout of more than 75,000 workers at Kaiser Permanente, the country's largest non-profit health care organization, comes as surging inflation has spurred industrial action across the US, from Hollywood actors to Detroit autoworkers. "Kaiser executives are refusing to listen to us and are bargaining in bad faith over the solutions we need to end the Kaiser short-staffing crisis," vocational nurse Jessica Cruz, who works at Kaiser Los Angeles Medical Center, said in a union statement. "I see my patients' frustrations when I have to rush them and hurry on to my next patient. That's not the care I want to give. "We're burning ourselves out trying to do the jobs of two or three people, and our patients suffer when they can't get the care they need due to Kaiser's short staffing." Kaiser Permanente locations in Washington DC, Virginia, California, Colorado, Oregon and Washington state were expected to be affected by the three-day strike. Kaiser said centers would remain open, but warned there would be "longer-than-usual" wait times. A Kaiser spokesman told journalists on Tuesday that talks were continuing. "Several agreements over specific provisions have been reached" with the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, he spokesman said, adding negotiators were prepared to meet around the clock "until we reach a fair and equitable agreement." The union, which says this will be the largest healthcare worker strike in US history, is pushing for pay increases and protections against subcontracting and outsourcing of labor. It has threatened to engage in further strike action in November "if Kaiser continues to commit unfair labor practices. Inflationary pressures Wednesday's strike comes during a year in which the US has seen an unusually high level of industrial action as workers struggle with inflation levels not seen in a generation. Higher prices have reduced the purchasing power of shoppers across the country, while the rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) has led to concerns about the automation of growing numbers of jobs. Industrial action is ongoing in Detroit, where the United Auto Workers (UAW) union is engaged in its first-ever joint strike action against the "Big Three" auto makers -- GM, Ford and Chrysler maker Stellantis -- in a push for higher pay and better working conditions. More than 25,000 workers are on strike in 21 states -- around 17 percent of UAW's 146,000 members -- as talks continue. And in Hollywood, a months-long joint strike by writers and actors brought California's lucrative film industry to a halt, stopping production and broadcast of major movie and TV productions. While the writers have since agreed on a deal to return to work, actors represented by the SAF-AFTRA union were on the picket lines Wednesday, even as their negotiators met with studios for a second full day of talks. The post More than 75,000 US health care workers begin 3-day strike appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Biden’s son Hunter to plead not guilty to gun charges
US President Joe Biden's son Hunter will plead not guilty to charges of illegally buying a gun when he was using drugs, his lawyer said Tuesday. Hunter Biden, 53, was charged last week with two counts of making false statements when claiming on forms required for a 2018 gun purchase that he was not using drugs illegally at the time. On Tuesday, Hunter Biden's lawyer, Abbe David Lowell, asked the judge presiding over the case in the eastern state of Delaware to hold the first court appearance by video conference instead of requiring his client to attend in person. Hunter Biden currently lives in California. "Mr. Biden understands both the charges against him and his rights... and we believe the Court can be assured of that fact by conducting this initial appearance by video," Lowell said in the letter to US Magistrate Judge Christopher Burke. "Mr. Biden also will enter a plea of not guilty, and there is no reason why he cannot utter those two words by video conference," Lowell said. "Mr. Biden is not seeking any special treatment in making this request," he added. "He has attended and will attend any proceedings in which his physical appearance is required." Hunter Biden is also facing a third charge, based on the same statements, that he illegally possessed the gun during an 11-day period in October 2018. If convicted on all three felony charges, he could face 25 years in prison, though in practice the offenses are seldom punished by any jail time. The indictment came two days after Republicans in Congress opened an impeachment probe against Joe Biden, a Democrat, alleging that when the elder Biden was vice president he benefited financially from his son's foreign business dealings. They alleged, without offering hard evidence, that while vice president in 2015-2016, Biden intervened to protect an allegedly corrupt Ukrainian energy company, Burisma, where Hunter Biden sat on the board. The gun charges against Hunter Biden were filed by Justice Department special counsel David Weiss, who has been investigating him since 2018 over various allegations, mostly related to his overseas business deals. A plea deal between Hunter Biden and Weiss, covering the gun charge as well as alleged tax violations, collapsed two months ago. Hunter Biden is a Yale-trained lawyer and lobbyist-turned-artist, but his life has been marred by alcoholism and crack cocaine addiction and his indictment has cast a shadow over his father's campaign for reelection next year. The post Biden’s son Hunter to plead not guilty to gun charges appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Morocco medics face flow of quake victims with limited resources
The hospital in Amizmiz caring for Moroccans injured in the earthquake is now a tent pitched on asphalt under a blazing sun, and it has only around a dozen beds. When one bed becomes free, it is immediately filled again as the flow of victims from the disaster keeps on coming from villages at the foot of the Atlas mountains. Three days after Friday night's quake, the strongest ever to hit the North African country, relief workers are battling to cope in the aftermath. Patients are now being cared for under the large grey tent because of fears that the hospital building itself may be vulnerable to aftershocks. An ambulance brings the latest victim, 81-year-old Lhoucein Barouj whose leg is fractured. The old man has a haggard look, his mouth open. Relatives said he was seen by a traditional osteopath, but this will be the first hospital treatment he has received in three days. He has not had any pain relief either. "We had to carry him out of the house ourselves in a blanket and carry him for kilometers (miles)," said his daughter Habiba. Then "we waited in a field" for helpers, who came eventually to their village, Ait Mbarek. As in other mountainside villages hit by the 6.8-magnitude quake, landslides have blocked access, and a shutdown in communications has also delayed treatment for many of those affected. Basic care The quake struck southwest of the tourist center of Marrakesh, killing more than 2,800 people and injuring a similar number, according to the latest official figures. Most of the victims were in Al-Haouz province, where the epicenter was. On Monday, some arrivals seeking medical help looked exhausted and disoriented, among them a little girl in a Bugs Bunny T-shirt, her head bandaged as she lay cradled in her father's arms. The hospital at Amizmiz is local, and can handle basic medical care. But "we can't treat everything here", said ophthalmologist Doha Hamidallah. "We handle primary treatment such as sutures and fractures. But more serious cases are sent to Marrakesh University Hospital" some 50 kilometers (30 miles) away, she said. Hamidallah, who is in her 30s, arrived from Casablanca on Sunday to help along with "dozens of other doctors of all kinds from all over the kingdom". They take it in turns to triage patients. Tired and overwhelmed nurses deal with the flow of new patients arriving in private, public or military ambulances amid the clatter of helicopters above. Others distribute medicine to those who need it, mostly people with diabetes. "We also have to treat patients who were not injured directly by the quake, but who've been unable to get their medicine," said Christophe, a carer with the Moroccan Red Crescent. The first hours after the quake were difficult in the small hospital. "In terms of coordination, we could only go with the flow," said Dr Hamidallah. Mobile teams A voice is raised behind her, adding to the hubbub. "We need someone local who knows the area. Anybody?" A team is being formed at short notice to head out to houses in Anougal which have been cut off. "We send out mobile teams with doctors to the isolated villages," explained Christophe. Soldiers have also set up a field hospital nearby, and some 35 kilometres further east the authorities are putting up a temporary clinic with prefabricated buildings. This is at the entrance to Ouirgane, parts of which have been badly affected. Another military hospital was deployed on Monday morning in Asni village. More than 300 patients have already been admitted, military doctor Colonel Youssef Qamouss told AFP. Organising care has been complicated, but vital to manage stocks of the medical equipment available. John Johnson of the French group Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), awaiting a green light from the authorities to help, said the Moroccans are coping well. "They have everything they need for primary care, but some things are lacking for trauma patients" such as anti-tetanus shots and painkillers, he said. There will also be a need for mental care in the days and months to come, he added. A few streets away, life has come to a standstill. One man stands with his arms crossed, staring at what used to be his home. The post Morocco medics face flow of quake victims with limited resources 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......»»
World pledges help to quake-hit Morocco
Morocco said late Sunday it was accepting offers from just four countries: Britain, Spain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, after the earthquake that has killed more than 2,100 people. But countries around the world have lined up to offer to help Morocco. International aid agencies The International Federation for Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has released over $1 million from its emergency disaster fund to support the Moroccan Red Crescent's work on the ground. "The next 24 to 48 hours will be critical in terms of saving lives," the global humanitarian network warned on Saturday, adding that help could be needed for months or even years. Spain Spain on Sunday sent 86 military rescuers and eight search dogs to Morocco after receiving a formal request for help from Rabat. A first team, from the armed forces Emergencies Unit, took off in an A400 military plane bound for Marrakesh to "help in the search and rescue of survivors", the defense ministry said. Another military plane took off from a base in Torrejon de Ardoz near Madrid, an interior ministry spokesman said. Qatar Qatar said it was also sending a rescue team. France A team of French volunteer firefighters has arrived in Morocco and President Emmanuel Macron said more, substantial assistance was available, should Morocco request it. "We have mobilized all technical and security teams to be able to intervene when the Moroccan authorities deem it useful." United States The United States has told Morocco it is "ready to provide significant assistance" including search and rescue teams. "We are also ready to release funds at the right time that can help the Moroccans recover and deal with this horrific tragedy," Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer said. "The United States will be with them at every step of the way when they are ready to avail themselves of what we have to offer," he added. Switzerland Switzerland has offered to provide temporary shelters, water treatment and distribution equipment, sanitation facilities, and hygiene kits. Belgium Belgium has offered help including medical teams and field hospitals. The Flanders region, home to a large Moroccan community, said it would provide 200,000 euros ($214,270) in emergency aid through the Red Cross, while the Wallonia region has pledged to provide 500,000 euros. Italy Italy has offered the help of its civil protection agency and fire service, while the Italian Catholic Church has sent 300,000 euros ($321,400) in aid through NGO Caritas Italy. Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Saturday stressed Italy's "willingness to contribute to the complex rescue work". Turkey Turkey has offered to send 265 rescue workers and 1,000 tents. Poland and Israel Poland and Israel said they were ready to provide assistance including search and rescue teams. Iraq and Jordan Iraq and Jordan have offered to provide all possible forms of assistance to Morocco. Organizations The heads of the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, African Union, and the European Commission, together with the presidents of France and India, pledged in a joint statement to "mobilize our technical and financial tools and assistance" to help Morocco. Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca "pledged over $1 million to support immediate humanitarian relief efforts with leading global non-profit humanitarian partners and through matching of employee donations". The post World pledges help to quake-hit Morocco appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
A multipolar world is not enough
We are confronting existential challenges. The climate crisis is spiraling out of control. A global cost-of-living crisis is raging. Poverty, hunger and inequalities are growing against the objectives of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development. New technologies are raising red flags, without a global architecture to deal with them. Geopolitical divides and conflicts are multiplying with profound global implications, especially the impacts from the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We are moving toward a multipolar world, and that is a positive thing. But multipolarity in itself is not enough to guarantee a peaceful or just global community. To be a factor of peace, equity and justice in international relations, multipolarity must be supported by strong and effective multilateral institutions. Look no further than the situation in Europe at the dawn of the last century. Europe was multipolar — but it lacked strong multilateral mechanisms. The result was World War I. As the global community moves toward multipolarity, we desperately need — and I have been vigorously advocating for — a strengthened and reformed multilateral architecture based on the UN Charter and international law. Today’s global governance structures reflect yesterday’s world. They were largely created in the aftermath of World War II when many African countries were still ruled by colonial powers and were not even at the table. This is particularly true of the Security Council of the United Nations and the Bretton Woods institutions. For multilateral institutions to remain truly universal, they must reform to reflect today’s power and economic realities, and not the power and economic realities of the post Second World War. In the absence of such reform — fragmentation is inevitable. We cannot afford a world with a divided global economy and financial system; with diverging strategies on technology including artificial intelligence; and with conflicting security frameworks. The IMF estimates that such a fracture could cost 7 percent of global GDP — a cost that would be disproportionately born by low-income countries, mainly in Africa. In a fracturing world with overwhelming crises, there is simply no alternative to cooperation. We must urgently restore trust and reinvigorate multilateralism for the 21st century. This requires the courage to compromise in the reforms that are necessary for the common good. It requires full respect for the UN Charter, international law, universal values, and all human rights — social, cultural, economic, civil and political. And it requires much greater solidarity. Redesigning today’s outdated, dysfunctional, and unfair global financial architecture is necessary, but I know it won’t happen overnight. Yet we can — and must — take practical action now. We must also drastically step-up climate action and climate justice. Developed countries [must] commit to reach net zero emissions as close as possible to 2040, and developing countries as close as possible to 2050. Developed countries must also finally keep their promises to developing countries: By meeting the $100 billion goal, doubling adaptation finance, replenishing the Green Climate Fund and operationalizing the loss and damage fund this year. We will not solve our common challenges in a fragmented way. Together, let us work to advance the power of universal action, the imperative for justice and the promise of a better future. *** Excerpts from the UN Secretary-General’s remarks at the BRICS summit, 24 August 2023. The post A multipolar world is not enough appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
MTRCB chair Lala Sotto responds to criticisms of unfair treatment of It s Showtime
Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) chairman Diorella “Lala” Sotto-Antonio responded to accusations of unfair treatment after the board suspended "It's Showtime" for 12 airing days. .....»»
Ex-ally sues Monaco’s ruler in ‘Rock Files’ scandal
A former confidant of Monaco's ruler Prince Albert II is suing the monarch in an unprecedented and potentially damaging court case triggered by the release of leaks that have rocked the usually placid Mediterranean playground for the rich and famous. Claude Palmero was for over two decades in charge of managing the palace's assets, first for Albert's father Rainier III, the husband of the US actress Grace Kelly, and then their son Prince Albert when he became ruler in 2005. But now Palmero is asking for around one million euros ($1.1 million) in damages from the palace, according to a complaint seen by AFP, over losing his job after becoming embroiled along with other former senior palace officials in unverified allegations posted in the "Dossiers du Rocher" ("Rock Files", referring to Monaco by its nickname) website from 2021. The website hosted videos, confidential email conversations and hostile articles dealing with property development in the principality. The controversy has roughed up the usually calm waters around Monaco, a tiny principality surrounded by French territory which attracts ultra-rich residents –- like tennis star Novak Djokovic and formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton -- due to its favourable tax regime. With a population of barely 40,000, Monaco neither imposes income nor wealth taxes. Among the material published by Dossiers du Rocher were email exchanges between four people close to Albert, including Palmero, accusing them of collusion in an alleged financial scam. As well as Palmero, Albert's chief of staff Laurent Anselmi also lost his job in June. 'From another age' In charge of the crown assets, Palmero was known as a Monegasque eminence grise, who was tasked with strategic issues including taking a stake in Nice's airport and buying property, as well as being a keeper of palace secrets. He lodged an appeal against his dismissal in the case before Monaco's constitutional court, known as the Supreme Tribunal, that his lawyer filed on 13 July. "No reason has ever been given to justify these decisions that come from another age and manifestly violate the principle of legality," said the complaint filed by one of his lawyers Pierre-Olivier Sur and seen by AFP. "Prince Albert II during his reign has congratulated himself in front of his subjects and the whole world that Monaco is a state of law. "Alas, there are circumstances where this principle is sadly forgotten by him and favour the violence of arbitrariness," it added. Palmero is seeking the condemnation of the prince to repair "the immense moral damage, injury and disruption to living conditions", claiming the one million euros and his reinstatement. Albert's lawyer Jean-Michel Darrois said in response: "This is a discretionary decision by the royal house as is the case with several other monarchies." But the controversy is deeply unwelcome for Albert, who has already been under intense scrutiny over his marriage to Princess Charlene, the former South African Olympic swimmer in 2011, in French and international media in recent months. Charlene only returned to Monaco in March 2022 after a months-long absence for medical treatment. Raids and infighting The case, which is set to be heard in the coming weeks, comes as judicial authorities launched a series of searches in mid-July at the four former confidants of the prince accused in the Dossiers du Rocher. All those involved deny the allegations put forward by the Dossiers du Rocher, which published their private correspondence and whose origins remain a mystery despite investigations by the French and Monaco authorities. Patrice Pastor, a Monegasque construction entrepreneur, has filed a complaint over alleged influence peddling against them. But while they suspect him of being behind the website the businessman strongly denies this. The purported motive of Pastor, whose group is worth up to 30 billion euros, is alleged by his enemies to have wanted to maintain control over lucrative real estate transactions in the principality, which Palmero and his allies sought to limit. According to official figures, 88 new apartments were sold in 2022 in Monaco, for a stratospheric total amount of 1.2 billion euros. The Pastor group is particularly involved in the Mareterra project, six hectares of luxurious buildings looking out to the Mediterranean. First reported by France's Le Monde daily, the searches targeted, in France and Monaco, the homes and offices of Claude Palmero, the law firm of Thierry Lacoste, childhood friend of the prince, Laurent Anselmi, and Didier Linotte, president of the Supreme Tribunal, who is about to leave office. Monaco's prosecutor general refused any comment. The four men do not deny being in touch with each other but insist it was to deal with regular business of Monaco. Two other men are also reported to be part of the group: former Monaco government chief Michel Roger, who is said to have formed it, was left a paraplegic after an accident in 2015. The sixth man was Jean-Francois Renucci, former head of the court of cassation in Monaco, who died in a car accident between Monaco and Nice in 2021 just as the Dossiers du Rocher scandal was erupting. The four allege that Pastor has now won the favor of the prince but this was denied by a palace aide. "This prince does not take sides," the aide, who was not named, told Le Figaro daily. The post Ex-ally sues Monaco’s ruler in ‘Rock Files’ scandal appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Belgica, 4 others ordered dismissed
Despite separate rulings by the Justice Secretary and the Office of the President on the Anti-Red Tape Authority’s, or ARTA, directives pertaining to the assignment of frequency to NOW Telecom, an Omnibus Order and Minute Resolution was issued by the officers of the agency affirming its earlier resolution and Order of Automatic Approval which is illegal. With this, former Anti-Red Tape Authority director general Jeremiah Belgica and four other officials of the agency were ordered dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman after finding them guilty of grave misconduct. The termination order was contained in a 14-page decision prepared by a four-member special panel and approved by Ombudsman Samuel Martires. It declared Belgica, his former deputy Eduardo Bringas, division chief Sheryl Pura-Sumangil, and directors Jedrek Ng and Melamy Salvadora-Asperin accountable. The ruling carries the accessory penalties of cancellation of civil service eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, and perpetual disqualification to hold public office. If the accused were already separated from the service and the penalty could no longer be, the same shall be converted into a fine in the amount equivalent to the respondents’ salary for one year, payable to the Office of the Ombudsman, and may be deductible from their retirement benefits, accrued leave credits or any receivables by respondents from their office. The case against Belgica and company stemmed from a complaint filed by DITO Telecommunity Inc., which accused the respondents of giving preferential treatment to NOW Telecom. Sweetheart deal The alleged preferential treatment was evidenced by ARTA’s 1 March 2021 OAA assigning contingent frequencies to NOW Telecom, which came after the government awarded the same frequencies to DITO as the country’s new telco major player. The order cited the respondents’ “clear intent to violate the law” when they issued the assailed ARTA Resolution and OAA despite being aware beforehand of the status of NOW Telecom with the National Telecommunications Commission. As early as December 2005, NTC records showed Now Telecom was already found to be non-compliant and was disqualified from the assignment of 3G frequency bands due to unpaid supervision and regulation fees and spectrum user fees amounting to P2.6 billion. The telecom company in January 2006 was issued a provisional authority that was not specific to 3G and was premised on the condition on the payment of its outstanding SRF and SUF obligations. At that time, the issue on the outstanding SRF and SUF was already pending with the Supreme Court. In December 2017, NOW Telecom was assigned the 20MHz contiguous bandwidth, 3520 to 3540 MHz, under the 3.5 GHz on the same condition that it settle its outstanding SUF and SRF. NOW Telecom’s PA was extended for 36 months until September 2020 subject again to the condition regarding the SUF and SRF, but was never fulfilled by the company. The post Belgica, 4 others ordered dismissed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NGO urges J& J to not enforce tuberculosis drug patents
French aid group Doctors Without Borders urged US pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson on Wednesday to not enforce its patents for its tuberculosis drug in countries with a high burden of the disease. J&J's 20-year primary patent for bedaquiline expired in most countries including India on Tuesday, but the company still holds "secondary" patents in at least 34 of the 49 countries most hit by tuberculosis. When patents expire at 20 years, generic version of a drug can be manufactured. But pharmaceutical companies can create "secondary" patents by changing the active ingredient of the drug. Doctors Without Borders urged J&J to "publicly announce it will not enforce any 'secondary' patents for the drug in any country with a high burden of TB". It also called on the company to "withdraw and abandon all pending secondary patent applications for this critical drug everywhere". In addition, MSF wants a commitment from J&J to "not take any legal action against any generic manufacturer that exports generic versions of bedaquiline to or from TB high-burden countries where secondary patents on the drug exist". The United Nations is holding a summit on tuberculosis in New York in September. Last week, J&J and the UN-linked Stop TB Partnership announced an agreement enabling the Global Drug Facility (GDF) programme to tender, procure, and supply generic versions of bedaqualine for the majority of low- and middle-income countries. J&J said in a statement sent to AFP that GDF's status as the largest procurer of tuberculosis medicines "enables them to invite potential generic suppliers and purchase generic versions of" bedaquiline. MSF, however, said the deal "offers only a partial solution to the access problem" because it "excludes many countries that have a high burden of people living with TB, primarily in Eastern Europe and Central Asia". J&J said that its efforts to expand access have ensured that three out of every four patients with multi-drug resistant TB receive an all-oral bedaquiline-containing regimen today. "The most significant barrier to treatment access for patients today is underdiagnosis of the condition," the company said. The post NGO urges J&J to not enforce tuberculosis drug patents appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sultanate arbitration award reaches $16 billion
The arbitration award granted to the heirs of the Sultanate of Sulu has increased from $14.9 billion to over $16 billion due to the yearly 10-percent penalty imposed by the French arbitration court that had ordered Malaysia to pay the descendants of the last Sultan of Sulu to settle a dispute over a colonial-era land deal. An official of the Sultanate who requested anonymity told the Daily Tribune Monday their lawyers had sent a letter to Malaysia on 2 June stating the increased amount of the award and demanding payment. “According to the court ruling the amount will increase 10 percent every year if not paid,” he said. Malaysia, however, has vehemently opposed the award and upheld its decision not to recognize the action taken by the Spanish arbitrator, Dr. Gonzalo Stampa, in the arbitration proceedings as well as his allegedly illegal decision and award. “Due to the above false allegations, the Government of Malaysia through the Attorney General has responded on 31 May 2023 to the said letter stating all the indisputable facts of the claims. In addition, a police report was lodged on 1 June 2023 against (sultanate lawyer) Paul H. Cohen for the unfair statements and allegations made against the Attorney General,” Malaysia said in a statement posted online. “This would allow for the necessary investigation to be made of any possible criminal offenses committed under the laws of Malaysia,” the statement said. It said the government of Malaysia will continue to take all necessary actions, including legal actions, to put an end to the claims and to ensure that Malaysia’s interest, sovereign immunity and sovereignty are protected at all times. The heirs of the Sultanate of Sulu had earlier played down the ruling of the Paris appellate court which upheld the Malaysian government challenge against enforcing a partial award to the former sultan who won $14.9 billion dollars in arbitration over the Sabah deal. Lawyers for the sultanate said the February ruling remained legally enforceable outside France through the New York Convention, a United Nations treaty on international arbitration recognized by 170 countries. In July 2022, the Paris Court of Appeal granted Malaysia a stay in enforcing the ruling in France, but international law allows it to be enforced in other countries. The commercial arbitration case filed in 2017 only involves the heirs and not the Philippines, which has a claim on Sabah. The post Sultanate arbitration award reaches $16 billion appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Face first for OFW entrepreneur
Self-made entrepreneur Marzen Salazar remembers the many moments when she would catch her grandmother in front of the mirror, filling in her eyebrows faded by time. Humans are said to be capable of nearly 10,000 facial expressions. The slightest twitch of facial muscle, the direction of the eye, and the movement of eyebrows all mean a plethora of emotions — the non-verbal cues that make up the unspoken daily chatter. Yet as one grows old, it becomes more difficult to do so; the muscles loosen, but most significantly, the eyebrows thin along with the lashes. “My grandmother always draws about her eyebrows. She would try it but (I) would never be satisfied,” remembers Marzen. “When I was growing up in the '90s, eyebrow tattooing was a popular solution to the fading of the brow for the elderly and people with thin strokes — but even tattoos have their limits.” Today, as Marzen recalls her time growing up in Laguna with her lola, Marzen is gradually and decisively building her own business to provide a better solution for eyebrows, lashes, and other facial care woes. In 2020 during the beginning of the pandemic, Marzen boldly launched Miss Derm — a clinic specializing in eyebrows, lashes, and facial treatment services, including microblading. A relatively new technology for Filipinos, microblading uses small needles to create soft and subtle hair-like strokes and deposit pigment on the skin. It is a form of cosmetic tattooing but, unlike the traditional tattoo that embeds pigment deep into the skin, microblading only injects pigment superficially on the body and thus is only semi-permanent. At Miss Derm, microblading is only done by certified microblading artists. Artists undergo intensive training to provide the highest level of quality and care for customers. More than just a business From one clinic in Makati, Marzen expanded Miss Derm to two more locations: Las Pinas and Quezon City —one additional business address each year. Despite travel restrictions, Miss Derm’s number of patrons have grown through word of mouth, attracted by the quality of premium services to help customers with their facial care needs. “I’ve always been motivated by the fact that the services we do at Miss Derm directly affect our customers’ disposition. If eyes are the windows to the soul, eyebrows and lashes are the frames that help define what you want to express and how you want to be seen. We want to help our customers increase their confidence and wear a brighter face every day,” says Marzen, a former wedding photographer-turned communications manager in Oman. Aside from its popular Elite Brows/Lips Package, Miss Derm offers a wide range of microblading, microshading, eyeliner and blading solutions. Customers will also find a menu of no-needle procedures, including Brow Lamination, Lash Lift, Lash Extensions, and HIFU Skin Tightening for the face, neck and the body. Miss Derm’s complete facial care and skincare solutions prove to be perfect for customers who desire convenience and a highly personalized level of care. At Miss Derm, artists converse with customers about their needs and suggest ways to achieve how they want to look. This level of service and hospitality is the product of Marzen’s entrepreneurial instincts, of putting customers at the heart of the process, and ensuring that employees are taken care of. Despite Marzen’s location in Oman, she has overseen the growth and initial success of Miss Derm with flying colors remotely, flying to Manila to visit the clinics when needed, but talking directly with her clients on a daily basis. “When customers chat on our social media channels for feedback or bookings, they’re likely talking to me. “I always had a passion for talking with customers, especially women. As a wedding photographer in Laguna and Oman, I deal with women on a regular basis. One should listen and be attentive; they know what they want. When you delight them with great service and you build a positive working relationship, they will come back for more and they will treat you like family,” says Marzen. To stay updated about Miss Derm, follow www.instagram.com/missderm/. The post Face first for OFW entrepreneur appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Qatar minister picked to head UN labour conference
Qatar's labour minister was on Monday appointed without a vote to head the International Labour Organization's annual decision-making conference, despite union criticism amid concerns over labour conditions in Qatar. Asian and Pacific nations, which according to a regional rotation had dibs this year on selecting the president of the two-week International Labour Conference, had proposed Ali Bin Samikh Al-Marri. Usually, such picks are approved by acclamation, but this year, some unions had called for a vote, deeming that concerns around labour conditions in Qatar raised questions about the suitability of having a Qatari minister in the post. But the group representing unions and workers' interests within the ILO's tripartite system -- alongside government and private sector employer groups -- said Monday that a deal had been reached and it could accept the appointment without calling for a vote. Qatar has long faced harsh criticism over labour rights, especially in the lead-up to last year's football World Cup. The country's treatment of migrant labourers came under particular scrutiny amid controversy over numerous deaths and injuries on mega construction projects. Despite reforms, rights groups have said workers in Qatar continue to face exploitation and unsafe working conditions. Serious doubts Union group head Catelene Passchier stressed that "Qatar has in recent years been the subject of scrutiny ... regarding the violations of fundamental rights of big numbers of migrant workers in the runup to the football World Cup." The Dutch unionist acknowledged that the country had since engaged with the ILO "on fundamental reforms to its legal system" and had made "improvements on the ground". But, she said, unions on the ground had continued to express "serious doubts" over Qatar's commitment to continue implementing the reforms. This had spurred "extensive conversations" in recent weeks and days, she said, resulting in a joint understanding that Qatar should speed up the implementation. "We commend Qatar for stepping up its engagement with the ILO and the International trade union movement," she said, adding that the union group had accepted Al-Marri's nomination. After his appointment, Al-Marri himself pointed out to the conference that his country had introduced a minimum wage and improved conditions for domestic workers. "We know there is still work to be done, and we are committed to doing it," he said, stressing though that the social dialogue would need to be adapted to the "reality" in his country. In a letter sent to its 338 affiliate national organisations, representing 200 million workers, the International Trade Union Confederation acting general secretary Luc Triangle said a meeting had been held on June 3 with Al-Marri and that another would follow by late July. "It was recognised that, while progress had been made which was an example to other countries in the region, more was needed to ensure decent work for migrant workers in Qatar," he said. Among other things, he called for "the guaranteed right to operate and act by all global unions in Qatar." The post Qatar minister picked to head UN labour conference appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Kuwait ‘temporarily’ bans OFWs
A local business magazine published in Dubai reported that overseas Filipino workers are temporarily not welcome in Kuwait after the Kuwaiti government reportedly suspended the granting of entry and work visas to Filipinos. The Arabian Business reported on Wednesday that the temporary suspension came from Interior Minister Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, saying that the Philippines is not compliant with some parts of the labor pact between the two countries. Filipinos in Kuwait are reportedly around 268,000, according to a previous statement by Department of Migrant Workers Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac, 88 percent of which are household service workers. Arabian Business also reported that groups such as the Kuwait Progressive Movement viewed the decision as ‘discriminatory,’ adding that foreign workers have been receiving unfair treatment from local employers. However, the labor ties between the Philippines and Kuwait have soured this year with the gruesome death of 35-year-old Jullebee Ranara, whose body was discovered burned in a desert last January. Another notable case was the abuse experienced by Myla Bagbag who jumped off from a building unit to escape her employer. Such cases caused outrage leading to calls for a deployment ban and the eventual instatement of a deployment ban for first-time household service workers. Previously, DMW Secretary Susan Ople expressed her disapproval over a deployment ban, arguing that it should be addressed through a diplomatic review of the two countries’ labor agreement. Daily Tribune sought comment from the DMW but has not yet responded. Arabian Business also reported that groups such as the Kuwait Progressive Movement viewed the decision as ‘discriminatory,’ adding that foreign workers have been receiving unfair treatment from local employers. The post Kuwait ‘temporarily’ bans OFWs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sigaw ng netizens, Vice Ganda hindi na raw nirespeto si Karylle: ‘Magkaiba po yung pagbibiro sa pagiging bastos!’
NABASTUSAN at na-offend na ang mga tagasuporta ni Karylle dahil umano sa kawalang-respeto at “unfair treatment” sa kanya ng ibang hosts ng “It’s Showtime.” Nag-number one top trending topic sa Philippine Twitter ngayong gabi, February 2, ang pangalan ng Kapamilya TV host-actress at singer dahil sa dami ng nagtatanggol na netizens sa kanya. Partikular na […] The post Sigaw ng netizens, Vice Ganda hindi na raw nirespeto si Karylle: ‘Magkaiba po yung pagbibiro sa pagiging bastos!’ appeared first on Bandera......»»
China defies boycott calls with Beijing 2022 Olympic tests
The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics launched a series of test events on Thursday as China ploughs on with preparations despite calls for a boycott over its treatment of the Uyghur minority. There are also doubts about how the Games in February next year will deal with the coronavirus — a top Beijing 2022 official recently […] The post China defies boycott calls with Beijing 2022 Olympic tests appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Soldier cries unfair treatment, kills superior
A soldier allegedly shot dead his superior at a military engineering camp in Barangay Cabatangan in this city on Tuesday......»»