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Travel patterns led to arrest of mother-daughter drug smugglers
Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco lauded on Friday the BI Anti-Terrorist Group (BI-ATG) for its role in the successful interdiction of two drug couriers on 27 September. In a report given to Tansingco, BI-ATG airport head Bienvenido Castillo III shared that the mother-and-daughter tandem, who were identified as Siti Aishah Binte Awang and Nur Alaviyah Binte Hanaffe, both Singaporeans, were intercepted after arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 via a Qatar Airlines flight QR928 from Doha. According to Castillo, the two suspects attempted to transit to Hong Kong via the Philippines but the BI officer at NAIA 3 intercepted them after detecting suspicious travel patterns. Castillo said that they also received information about the suspects from their international counterparts. They observed that the suspects would come in and out of the country in several instances and noted suspicious travels. He added that they also discovered another individual with the exact same patterns; hence, they immediately coordinated the matter with the members of the NAIA-Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-DITG). After alerting the task group, members from the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) conducted an immediate entrapment operation with the assistance of airline representatives. A canine inspection showed that the duo’s luggage contained suspicious materials. Checks by the BOC confirmed that their bags contained six cookie tin cans and five cylindrical chip cans containing 564 pellets with a white powdered substance. The substance, identified as cocaine, totaled more or less 14,360 grams, with a current street value of PhP76,108,000. Tansingco hailed the arrest and commended the BI-ATG for the immediate and proactive actions that led to the interdiction. The BI chief said that the alertness of their immigration officers in analyzing the travel patterns of these criminals was instrumental in this arrest. Tansingco added that close coordination among government agencies in the airports is necessary to protect our borders from all kinds of criminal activity. Both suspects were arrested by the PDEA and remain under the agency’s custody for the filing of the appropriate charges against them. The post Travel patterns led to arrest of mother-daughter drug smugglers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ghana bus strapping kills 9
Gunmen killed nine people when they opened fire on a bus in a northern Ghana district struggling with ethnic tensions and concerns over Islamist violence from across the border in Burkina Faso, a local official said Friday. The attack on Thursday morning targeted a bus carrying mostly women on their way to a local market and escorted by police, because of the tensions, in Pusiga district near the volatile Bawku area of Ghana’s Upper East Region. Pusiga district chief Zubeiru Abdulai, a local mayor, told AFP that the nine victims died from gunshot wounds when their bus was ambushed near a remote forest close to the border with both Burkina Faso and Togo. “The vehicle was occupied by mostly women and was being escorted by the police due to the volatile situation in Bawku,” he said. “The police are investigating the incident now and it will be difficult for me to establish the main reason behind the attack.” Police did not immediately respond to calls seeking more details on the attack. Upper East Region has struggled with a decades-long conflict between ethnic Kusasi and Mamprusi communities over the right to choose a new chieftain and over land rights in the mostly Muslim Bawku region, where there is a heavy police and army presence. Those tensions often flare into violence. Jihadist violence in Burkina Faso has also forced people to flee across the frontier into Ghana. Earlier this year, Ghana sent 1,000 more troops and police to Bawku to reinforce security after gunmen killed an immigration officer and wounded two more. Officials did not blame any group for that attack. Ghana’s northern frontier is also an area with well-established smuggling routes, porous borders and illegal gold mining — a combination local officials and experts worry could benefit jihadists. With Islamist militants controlling large parts of Burkina Faso over the border, Western partners are looking to help Ghana and coastal West African neighbors Togo, Benin and Ivory Coast strengthen their defenses to prevent jihadist attacks. With AFP The post Ghana bus strapping kills 9 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Powerful attack on Kyiv kills 2
Russian jets fired more than 20 missiles toward Kyiv as groups of drones attacked the Ukrainian capital Wednesday, killing two people and wounding others. Falling debris caused the deaths during the most powerful assault of the city since spring, Sergiy Popko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, wrote on Telegram. Russia’s defense ministry said a Russian aircraft also “destroyed four high-speed military boats” carrying 50 Ukrainian troops in the Black Sea around midnight Moscow time. Ukraine’s air force said Wednesday its forces had downed 28 Russian cruise missiles and destroyed 15 attack drones. Meanwhile, the Moscow-installed governor of annexed Crimea, Mikhail Razvozhayev, told state-run TASS news agency Wednesday that Ukraine’s “seaborne drone attack near” Sevastopol Bay, the base of Russia’s Black Sea naval fleet, was repelled. Ukraine also launched another wave of overnight drones strikes on Russia, targeting several regions from an airport near the Estonian border to the Crimea peninsula on the Black Sea, Russian authorities said. Air defenses “repelled” a drone attack on an airport at Pskov, roughly 800 kilometers from Ukraine’s border and close to the borders of European Union member states Latvia and Estonia, the local governor said. The RIA Novosti agency cited the Ministry of Emergency Situations as saying two Ilyushin Il-76 heavy transport planes had caught fire. Authorities in Bryansk region near the Ukraine border, southern Oryol region and Kaluga and Ryazan regions, southwest and southeast of Moscow, all reported drones had been destroyed or downed. Air defenses also destroyed a drone “heading for Moscow,” the city’s mayor wrote on Telegram, adding there were no casualties or damage caused, according to initial reports. WITH AFP The post Powerful attack on Kyiv kills 2 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Kyiv targeted by ‘most powerful’ aerial attack since spring
Kyiv was targeted early Wednesday by the "most powerful" barrage of missiles and drones since the spring, authorities said, with two people reported dead, as Russia claimed it destroyed four Ukrainian boats in the Black Sea carrying up to 50 soldiers. More than 20 missiles and drones were "destroyed by air defense forces" overnight, the Kyiv City Military Administration wrote on Telegram, describing the aerial assault as "the most powerful" to hit the city since the spring. An AFP reporter heard at least three loud explosions in the center of Kyiv around 5:00 am (0200 GMT). Two people had died as a result of falling debris, Sergiy Popko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, wrote on Telegram. Another person was injured and was being given medical assistance, he said. Russian forces had launched groups of Iranian-made Shahed attack drones at the capital from different directions, and launched missiles from aircraft, the Kyiv city military administration said. Earlier, Moscow's defense ministry said a Russian aircraft "destroyed four high-speed military boats" in the Black Sea around midnight Moscow time (2100 GMT Tuesday). The boats had been carrying "landing groups of Ukrainian special operations forces with a total number of up to 50 people," the ministry said on Telegram. It did not give details on exactly where in the Black Sea the incident took place. Early Wednesday, Russian defenses also repelled a "seaborne drone attack near" near Sevastopol Bay in Crimea, the local Moscow-installed governor Mikhail Razvozhayev was cited as saying by the state-run TASS news agency. Sevastopol is the base of Russia's Black Sea fleet. Both Ukraine and Russia have ramped up activity around the strategic waterway after a United Nations-brokered deal to ensure safe navigation for grain ships collapsed last month. In recent weeks, Kyiv has attacked Russian ships in its waters and the Crimean Peninsula, which was annexed by Moscow in 2014. Last week, Ukraine said its forces had flown the country's flag in Crimea during a "special operation" to mark its second wartime Independence Day. Moscow's defense ministry also said last week that one of its jets destroyed a Ukrainian "reconnaissance boat" near Russian gas production facilities in the Black Sea. Drone wave Ukraine launched another wave of overnight drones strikes on Russia, targeting several regions from an airport near the Estonian border to the Crimea peninsula on the Black Sea, Russian authorities said. Air defenses "repelled" a drone attack on an airport at Pskov, roughly 800 kilometers (nearly 500 miles) from Ukraine's border and close to the borders of EU member states Latvia and Estonia, the local governor said. Regional governor Mikhail Vedernikov, who said he was at the scene of the attack, posted a video on Telegram of a massive fire, with the sounds of explosions and sirens in the background. Authorities were assessing the damage but there were no casualties, he said. There was no immediate comment from the defense ministry. The RIA Novosti agency cited the Ministry of Emergency Situations as saying two Ilyushin Il-76 heavy transport planes had caught fire. All Wednesday flights at the airport were cancelled, Vedernikov wrote, "until the nature of the possible damage to the runway is clarified." Citing air traffic services, TASS also reported that Moscow's Domodedovo and Vnukovo airports had been "temporarily closed" to traffic. The Pskov region was previously targeted by drones in May. Authorities in Bryansk region near the Ukraine border, southern Oryol region and Kaluga and Ryazan regions, southwest and southeast of Moscow, all reported drones had been destroyed or downed. Air defenses also destroyed a drone "heading for Moscow," the city's mayor wrote on Telegram, adding there were no casualties or damage caused, according to initial reports. Moscow and other Russian regions have been targeted by almost daily drone strikes since Kyiv vowed this summer to "return" the conflict to Russia. The post Kyiv targeted by ‘most powerful’ aerial attack since spring appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Nothing can drag a Boholana down
No pandemic, nor deadly natural catastrophe can bring down a Boholana: this is the living faith by which Lourdes Sultan, managing director of Travel Village Tours and Travel and owner of several vessels which comprise the Loboc River Cruise in Bohol, lives by. Sultan, a tour operator in Loboc for the past 35 years, is a perfect epitome of a resilient Filipina who did not falter while going through such major upheavals as typhoon “Odette” in 2021 that wrecked her vessels; the magnitude 7.2 earthquake in Bohol in 2013 and the perennial flooding in Loboc, and the global pandemic that shut down international borders, barring the arrival of tourists in the country. “The floating restaurant business here in Loboc started 30 years ago but in 2000, we decided to dwell in the floating restaurant operation. We used to have eight vessels, but after typhoon “Odette” hit us in December 2021, we are now left with four,” said Sultan in an interview. She said that pre-pandemic, there were 26 vessels plying the Loboc River serving foreign and local tourists, but the number was diminished because of the unfortunate wrath of natural catastrophes. Pandemic, ‘Odette’ challenge She said the strong earthquake in 2013, the declaration of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, and the pummeling of the province by typhoon “Odette” in 2021 were the worst challenges that her enterprise has endured. “The pandemic made us totally close operations. During that time, we tried to maintain and improve our vessels in preparation for the reopening of borders. Indeed, losses with Odette and the pandemic were in the millions,” she told the Daily Tribune. Aside from that, Sultan said operators of floating restaurants were also required by the local government to update their vessels, making them shell out additional costs. In 2021, Sultan said tourist arrivals trickled, as some restrictions were modified and eased by the Inter-Agency Task Force of the national government. “Even if we only cater to domestic customers, we were more hopeful back then. But amid the high hopes, typhoon “Odette” hit us on 16 December 2021—a strong typhoon during an enduring contagion. We decided to let go of some workers. But luckily, we hired them back when things got better in March 2022,” she shared. Typhoon “Odette,” that pummeled Bohol before Christmas Day, was considered by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office as the worst ever to hit the province, prompting the Provincial Capitol to declare a state of calamity after incurring massive devastation on agriculture and infrastructure and inundated swaths to the island. Not yet pre-pandemic She said, however, that the tourism industry in Loboc is not yet in the pre-pandemic state, saying that foot traffic is only at 70 percent to date, even if they are fully booked during daily operations, especially weekends. “Revenge travel is real. The influx of domestic travelers is greater now compared to pre-pandemic. Aside from local tourists, European and Asian tourists are now coming back,” she said. As of July 2023, the Department of Tourism logged a total of 3,000,079 international visitor arrivals. On the other hand, the country’s inbound tourism receipts from 1 January to 30 June 2023 climbed to P212 billion or 502.02 percent higher than the P35-billion tourism revenue generated from the same period last year. Support for DoT program Sultan, also the president of the Bohol Federation of Travel and Tour Operators and an officer of the Bohol Provincial Tourism Council, said she is backing the DoT program Faith-based Tourism Circuits, as part of the department’s thrust to develop new tourism circuits and multi-dimensional tourism products. Last 14 to 17 August, the DoT Central Visayas, in partnership with the Provincial Government of Bohol, organized a familiarization tour of Bohol’s Faith-based Tourism Circuits, with the aim to promote and showcase Bohol’s historical and cultural assets specifically its century-old churches, heritage houses, religious landmarks and living cultural traditions. Through Bohol’s Faith-based Tourism Circuits, participants, including members of the media, visited some of Bohol’s heritage churches declared as National Historical Landmarks or cultural treasures and experienced a few of their inherent traditions such as Asin Tibuok, among others. The main highlight of the tour was the canonical crowning of the image of the Virgen de la Asunción of the Municipality of Dauis, officiated by Papal Nuncio Charles Brown last 15 August. “The direction is we do not want the churches to be just tourist spots, but for tourists to have a glimpse of the spiritual component,” according to Sultan. The post Nothing can drag a Boholana down appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Logo redesign cheapest, says PAGCOR chair
The once-controversial redesign logo of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation that drew criticism from the public for costing P3 million in government funds is already the “cheapest,” said its chairperson Alejandro Tengco on Monday. Responding to Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel’s query during PAGCOR’s briefing on the 2024 national budget before the House Committee on Appropriations, Tengco justified the agency’s spending of P3 million for rebranding the logo was already a steal. In fact, he said, the graphic artist’s act of rebranding the old PAGCOR logo design for P3 million could be perceived as an act of charity. “That’s why that P3 million was very cheap,” Tengco said. During his interpolation, Manuel asked the top PAGCOR official why there was a need to spend such a vast amount, given that other international top brands such as Coca-cola, Twitter and Nike do not spend millions of dollars for such redesigning. “We, in the government, shouldn’t be saving more? And we claim we don’t have fiscal space for other budget items, but for that logo, there is,” Manuel said. The Makabayan lawmaker further noted that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, which is also a part of the bureaucracy, did not spend millions of funds to redesign its 10-year-old logo, released in 2020. Manuel also said that the country has many graphic artists that could come up with logos that would not cost much. Tengco, on the other hand, countered that the P3 million paid by PAGCOR not only accounts for the logo itself since the graphic designer also has other deliverables, such as traveling the country to examine various divisions and departments of the agency to install the new logo. Moreover, the PAGCOR chief disclosed to the panel that the modification of their logo was to counter thousands of counterfeit licenses now in circulation. Tengco bared that there have been reports from various regions in the Philippines and other international jurisdictions that there are close to a thousand fake licenses going around now. These fake licenses, he said, are being used for illicit operations worldwide, particularly in London, Turkey, Curacao, and also within the country’s borders. “So we decided to redesign the logo immediately to be able to counter such,” Tengco said, brushing off allegations that the revision of the logo was solely for the luxury of the chairman and the board. “So we have to rebrand. When you rebrand, that means you don’t just do a logo specifically. One, the graphic designer, who was awarded the design, has to ensure that the said logo’s implementation and use will be properly done,” the PAGCOR chief told the panel. Meanwhile, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez raised concerns that PAGCOR’s new logo could have infringed on the copyrights of Petron, which many believe have comparisons to PAGCOR’s logo. “It’s not only about the expedite of P3 million, but the fact that the logo that you have has a big similarity to the Petro logo. It looks the same,” Rodriguez said. Tengco, however, confidently answered Rodriguez that he himself examined the logo and denied claims that there was intent to duplicate Petron’s. “I have asked the artist, and we have also asked the artist of Petron. So far, nothing. Actually, eight logos were presented to the board,” he said. “Unfortunately, for some, that’s what the board chose. But definitely, the graphic artist had assured us that there was no infringement and there was no attempt to copy such,” Tengco added. The post Logo redesign cheapest, says PAGCOR chair appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DA inaugurates full-inspection facility
The Department of Agriculture and Pacific Roadlink Logistics Inc. are set to build the country’s first full and first-border inspection facility in Angat, Bulacan to ensure only imported products which are safe will be sold at the local markets. The memorandum of understanding for the inspection facility project was signed Thursday, along with the facility’s groundbreaking which will rise on a 10-hectare land and accommodate up to 250 containers daily. The facility — also called cold/commodity examination facility for agriculture — will also house testing equipment which can produce results in four to six hours. This is faster than the daylong inspections at the Port of Manila. “Usually, Customs agents just open and close containers to speed up inspections because the inspection area is too small to check most of the containers at the same time. This means only 10 percent of the total goods in the container are checked,” Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines representative Nicanor Briones said. The facility will prevent sale of unsafe imported food caused by animal diseases, such as African Swine Fever. Government data showed the global disease affected half of the swine population in Luzon and led to a total of P200-billion loss in income to the local industry players nationwide. As a full-service inspection facility, it also provides firms the option to not undergo second-border inspections. “For many years, we’ve been confronted by challenges on how to secure our borders against phytosanitary threats that pose problems not only to the livelihood of our farmers and fisherfolks but also to national food security. Our use of second-border inspection facilities in the form of cold storage facilities even exposes us further to complex problems, such as the rampant agricultural smuggling,” said DA Assistant Secretary for Inspectorate and Enforcement James Layug. The facility is expected to create jobs for 1,500 residents of Angat and other parts of Bulacan. The post DA inaugurates full-inspection facility appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bohol’s Pauline Amelinckx is Miss Supranational 1st runner-up
Miss Philippines Supranational Pauline Amelinckx was adjudged first runner-up in the pageant’s international edition in Poland on Friday, 14 July, marking the highest placement for the Philippines since 2013. [caption id="attachment_158184" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Amelinckx placed a strong emphasis on dedication when asked about the qualities of a great Miss Supranational ambassador.PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF ig/voltaire tayag[/caption] The Philippine delegate impressed the audience with her articulate answers, leading fans to express their regret at her missing the crown. Amelinckx placed a strong emphasis on dedication when asked about the qualities of a great Miss Supranational ambassador. “It would be dedication,” Amelinckx said. “Dedication to this journey, dedication to the people who have brought her up to this journey, and dedication of course to the organization that she’ll end up working with.” “This is such a beautiful experience,” she added. “And she has to be someone who can bring people together. Someone who knows that this is not a one-woman journey. We all have our differences but we also realize we have so much in common. And we are now gathered here on this stage, transcending our own borders, bringing nations together.” Her exceptional performance extended beyond the main event, as she emerged as the winner of the Supra Chat challenge, a pre-pageant competition in Miss Supranational 2023. Hosts Jo-Ann Strauss and Martin Fitch took a moment to acknowledge Miss Philippines, expressing their admiration for her remarkable performance. “She came so close. She did so well. Please put your hands together as we wish Miss Philippines, our first runner-up, a huge congratulations,” Strauss said. “She was so close but we are all so proud of you,” Fitch chimed in. Amelinckx, who hails from Bohol, was crowned Miss Supranational Philippines after participating in the Miss Universe Philippines pageant for the third time in May. Mutya Datul, who won the crown in 2013, stands as the sole Filipino victor so far of the Miss Supranational pageant. Andrea Aguilera from Ecuador was crowned 2023 Miss Supranational, while the second runner-up title went to Sancler Frantz Konzen from Brazil. Emma Rose Collingridge from the United Kingdom and Dang Thanh Ngan from Vietnam were third and fourth runners-up, respectively. The 2023 Miss Supranational coronation took place at Strzelecki Park in Nowy Sacz, Poland’s Malopolska region. The three-hour event was broadcast live to a global audience via the Miss Supranational/Mr. Supranational YouTube channel. The post Bohol’s Pauline Amelinckx is Miss Supranational 1st runner-up appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
$1.5 bn pledged to curb Sudan’s slide into ‘death and destruction’: UN
Donors at a UN conference on Monday pledged close to $1.5 billion to combat the humanitarian crisis in Sudan and help its neighbours host refugees fleeing the fighting. Sudan is descending into death and destruction at an unprecedented speed, UN chief Antonio Guterres said as he urged donors to step in and curb the unfolding catastrophe. The conference comes midway through a three-day ceasefire which appeared to have brought calm to the capital Khartoum, after the failure of earlier truces to ensure secure aid corridors. "Today, donors have announced close to $1.5 billion for the humanitarian response to Sudan and the region," the UN's humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said, closing the hybrid pledging conference hosted in Geneva. "This crisis will require sustained financial support and I hope that we can all keep Sudan at the top of our priorities." UN refugees chief Filippo Grandi added: "It is very important that now these contributions be clearly allocated and disbursed as quickly as possible because we're really short of funds in this particular emergency." More than two months into the fighting, the United Nations is worried that the crisis could spill over and destabilise neighbouring African states. "The scale and speed of Sudan's descent into death and destruction is unprecedented," UN Secretary-General Guterres told the conference. "Without strong international support, Sudan could quickly become a locus of lawlessness, radiating insecurity across the region." Since April 15, the army, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has been battling the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commanded by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, after the two fell out in a power struggle. The death toll has topped 2,000, the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project said. Hundreds of kilometres west of Khartoum, up to 1,100 have been killed in the West Darfur state capital El Geneina alone, according to the US State Department, blaming "primarily" the RSF. "The situation in Darfur and Khartoum is catastrophic," Guterres said. A record 25 million people -- more than half of Sudan's population -- are in need of aid, according to the UN. Roughly 2.5 million people have been uprooted across Sudan by the war, which has forced around 550,000 to seek refuge in neighbouring countries, according to UN figures. Around $3 billion needed While Griffiths highlighted donors' generosity, the amount pledged Monday was less than half of what humanitarians have said is needed this year to respond to the dire needs. The UN has two appeals for tackling the crisis -- the humanitarian response within Sudan, which needs $2.6 billion this year, and the regional refugee response, which needs $470 million. Both were less than 17 per cent funded going into Monday's conference. Qatar's prime minister told the conference there was "no military solution" to the conflict, as he pledged $50 million. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani urged the warring parties to "put the aspirations of the Sudanese people in the forefront". Germany doubled its existing donation to 200 million euros ($218 million), while the European Union pledged 190 million euros in humanitarian and development assistance. Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said the conflict risks a humanitarian crisis that could spill over the borders. He said the security and stability of Sudan "is our own stability and security". Relative calm in Khartoum UN human rights chief Volker Turk called the Sudan crisis a "powder keg" and a "reckless, senseless conflict taking place in a context of total impunity", with "utter indifference for human life and dignity" at its heart. The temporary ceasefire was a chance to end the "sea of suffering", he told the UN Human Rights Council. Several Khartoum residents told AFP they heard no air strikes, artillery or another fighting on Monday, a rare respite for the war-weary, suffering shortages of medical care, electricity, water and other essentials. The UN, African Union and East African regional bloc IGAD, in a joint statement ahead of the donors' meeting, expressed particular concern about "the rapidly deteriorating situation in Darfur". They said the conflict had "taken on an ethnic dimension, resulting in targeted attacks based on people's identities and subsequent displacement of communities". With their 72-hour ceasefire both the RSF and army "agreed to allow the unimpeded movement and delivery of humanitarian assistance throughout the country", US and Saudi mediators said on Saturday. The post $1.5 bn pledged to curb Sudan’s slide into ‘death and destruction’: UN appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Air travel to soar near record in 2023: industry group
Airlines will fly 4.35 billion passengers this year, close to the 2019 record as the industry bounces back from the Covid pandemic, an industry group said on Monday. The sector will also be back in the green, with net profits forecast to reach $9.8 billion in 2023, or double previous estimates, boosted by the end of China's Covid restrictions, according to the International Air Transport Association. The association added that its 2022 losses were half as bad as previously estimated at $3.6 billion. "Airline financial performance in 2023 is beating expectations," IATA director general Willie Walsh said in a statement during the association's annual general meeting in Istanbul. "Stronger profitability is supported by several positive developments. China lifted Covid-19 restrictions earlier in the year than anticipated," Walsh said. While jet fuel prices remain high, they have moderated over the first half of the year, he added. Inflation surged worldwide as Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 sent energy costs soaring, but oil and natural gas prices have fallen since then. "On the cost side, there is some relief," Walsh said. "Economic uncertainties have not dampened the desire to travel, even as ticket prices absorbed elevated fuel costs," he added. The pandemic devastated the airline industry, which lost $137 billion when countries imposed lockdowns and closed borders in 2020. The sector lost another $42 billion in 2021 and was still in the red last year as China, a major market, continued to enforce Covid restrictions that were finally lifted in December. The post Air travel to soar near record in 2023: industry group appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Rocket fire kills AFP journalist
A journalist from the French news agency Agence France-Presse has been killed in a rocket fire in eastern Ukraine, with co-workers witnessing his death. AFP’s Ukraine video coordinator Arman Soldin died in the attack Tuesday at around 4:30 p.m. on the outskirts of Chasiv Yar in the eastern region of Donetsk. The town is close to Bakhmut, the epicenter of fighting between Russian and Ukrainian troops in eastern Ukraine for several months. The AFP team came under fire by Grad rockets while they were with a group of Ukrainian soldiers. Soldin, 32, was killed when a rocket struck close to where he was lying. The rest of the team was uninjured. “The whole agency is devastated by the loss of Arman,” AFP chairman Fabrice Fries said. “His death is a terrible reminder of the risks and dangers faced by journalists every day covering the conflict in Ukraine.” French President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to Soldin on Twitter, hailing his “bravery.” “With bravery, from the first hours of the conflict he was at the front to establish the facts. To inform us,” Macron wrote, saying he shared “the pain of his relatives and all his colleagues.” Ukraine’s defense ministry offered its “heartfelt condolences” to Soldin’s family and co-workers in a statement on Twitter. “He dedicated his life to informing the world about the truth. His legacy, as well as his cause, will live on,” it said. Soldin’s death brings to 11 the number of journalists, fixers or drivers for media teams killed while covering the war, according to the media advocacy groups Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists. Ukraine aid Meanwhile, the United States on Tuesday announced a new $1.2-billion security assistance package for Ukraine to boost the country’s air defenses and provide it with additional artillery ammunition. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the new assistance, saying on Twitter that “we appreciate this sign of solidarity with Ukraine shown on a symbolic day for us — Europe Day and the Day of Victory over Nazism in WWII.” “Together we’re moving towards a new victory!” he added. The package features unspecified air defense systems and munitions as well as equipment to integrate Western systems with Ukraine’s existing gear, which is mainly of Soviet vintage. Ukraine’s defense ministry offered its ‘heartfelt condolences’ to Soldin’s family. Pentagon spokesperson Brigadier General Pat Ryder told journalists Tuesday that the specific air defense systems have not yet been selected, saying the announcement represents “the beginning of a contracting process to provide additional priority capabilities to Ukraine.” The post Rocket fire kills AFP journalist appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
AFP journalist Arman Soldin killed in eastern Ukraine
AFP's Ukraine video coordinator Arman Soldin was killed on Tuesday by rocket fire near Chasiv Yar in eastern Ukraine, AFP journalists who witnessed the incident said. The attack happened at around 4:30 pm (1330 GMT) on the outskirts of the town close to Bakhmut, the epicenter of the fighting in eastern Ukraine for several months. The AFP team came under fire from Grad rockets while they were with a group of Ukrainian soldiers. Soldin, 32, was killed when a rocket struck close to where he was lying. The rest of the team was uninjured. "The whole agency is devastated by the loss of Arman," AFP chairman Fabrice Fries said. "His death is a terrible reminder of the risks and dangers faced by journalists every day covering the conflict in Ukraine." French President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to Soldin on Twitter, hailing his "bravery". "With bravery, from the first hours of the conflict he was at the front to establish the facts. To inform us," Macron wrote, saying he shared "the pain of his relatives and all his colleagues". Ukraine's defense ministry offered its "heartfelt condolences" to Soldin's family and coworkers in a statement on Twitter, saying he was killed in a Russian missile attack on Chasiv Yar in the eastern region of Donetsk. "He dedicated his life to informing the world about the truth. His legacy, as well as his cause, will live on," it said. Born in Sarajevo, Soldin was a French national who began working for AFP as an intern in its Rome bureau in 2015 and was later hired in London. He was part of the first AFP team to be sent to Ukraine following the start of Russia's invasion on February 24, 2022, arriving on the following day. Soldin had been living in Ukraine since September, leading the team's video coverage and traveling regularly to the front lines in the east and south. Soldin's death means at least 11 journalists or fixers and drivers for media teams have been killed covering the war in Ukraine, according to the media advocacy groups Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). In Washington, the White House also paid tribute to Soldin, with Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre saying the world was "indebted" to the journalists who lost their lives covering the conflict. "Journalism is fundamental to a free society," she said in a statement. "Arman's brilliant work encapsulated everything that has made us so proud of AFP's journalism in Ukraine," the agency's Global News Director Phil Chetwynd said. "Arman's death is a terrible reminder of the risks and dangers of covering this war. Our thoughts tonight are with his family and friends, and with all our people on the ground in Ukraine." AFP's Europe Director Christine Buhagiar remembered Soldin as "a real on-the-ground reporter, always ready to work even in the most difficult places," she said. "He was totally devoted to his craft." Colleagues said Soldin knew in particular how to recount the lives of ordinary people caught up in the Ukraine conflict, desperately trying to survive amid the chaos. In Kyiv, he found a tender moment between a conscripted father and his young son who had fled abroad, bonding over a strategy game online. Earlier this month, he even rescued an injured hedgehog from a trench and nursed it back to health. He named it Lucky. The founder of the Ukrainian animal rights organization UAnimals, Oleksandr Todorchuk, spoke of Soldin's "absolute kindness" when he came to the hedgehog's aid. UAnimals was setting up a grant for volunteers and shelters that rescue hedgehogs "in memory of Soldin and his great heart", Todorchuk wrote on Facebook. The post AFP journalist Arman Soldin killed in eastern Ukraine appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
G7 urges Sudan ceasefire
KHARTOUM, Sudan (AFP) — G7 foreign ministers on Tuesday urged warring forces in Sudan to "end hostilities immediately" and return to negotiations, after days of fighting that has killed almost 200 people and wounded 1,800. A weeks-long power struggle in the north African country exploded into deadly violence Saturday between the forces of two generals who seized power in a 2021 coup: Army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. "We urge the parties to end hostilities immediately without pre-conditions," the G7 foreign ministers meeting in Japan said in a statement. They warned the fighting "threatens the security and safety of Sudanese civilians and undermines efforts to restore Sudan's democratic transition". US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he had spoken with the two generals and "underscored the urgent need for a ceasefire." "Too many civilian lives have already been lost," Blinken tweeted, adding he had "stressed the importance of ensuring the safety of diplomatic personnel and aid workers." Following the call, Daglo said in a tweet that the pair had "discussed pressing issues in Sudan," adding he was grateful for the US's "commitment to restoring stability in Sudan." Blinken also confirmed a US diplomatic convoy had been fired upon on Monday, though those inside were unharmed, in what he called a "reckless" act. In a separate incident, the European Union's ambassador to Sudan was attacked in his home in Khartoum on Monday, the bloc's top diplomat Josep Borrell said. A spokesperson told AFP the veteran diplomat was "OK" following the assault. Terrified residents Analysts say the fighting in the capital is unprecedented and could be prolonged, despite regional and global calls for a ceasefire as diplomats mobilize. Battles have taken place throughout the vast country and there are fears of a regional spillover of the conflict that has seen air strikes, artillery and heavy gunfire. Terrified residents of Khartoum are spending the last and holiest days of Ramadan watching from their windows as tanks roll through the streets, buildings shake and smoke from fires triggered by the fighting hangs in the air. Those compelled to venture out face queues for bread and petrol at outlets that are not shuttered. Residents are also dealing with power outages. Volker Perthes, the head of the UN mission to Sudan, told the Security Council in a closed-door session Monday that at least 185 people had been killed and another 1,800 wounded. "It's a very fluid situation so it's very difficult to say where the balance is shifting to," Perthes told reporters after the meeting. Medics in Sudan had earlier given a death toll of nearly 100 civilians and "dozens" of fighters from both sides, but the number of casualties was thought to be far higher, with many wounded unable to reach hospitals. The official doctors' union warned fighting had "heavily damaged" multiple hospitals in Khartoum and other cities, with some completely "out of service." The World Health Organization warned that several Khartoum hospitals "have run out of blood, transfusion equipment, intravenous fluids and other vital supplies." In the western region of Darfur, the international medical aid organization Doctors Without Borders reported receiving 136 wounded patients at the only hospital in El Fasher still operating in North Darfur state. "The majority of the wounded are civilians who were caught in the crossfire — among them are many children," MSF's Cyrus Paye said. Due to limited surgical capacity, "11 people died from their injuries in the first 48 hours of the conflict." Call for talks Three UN World Food Programme staff were also among those killed on Saturday in Darfur, where humanitarian missions have had medical and other supplies looted, according to Save the Children and MSF. A number of organizations have temporarily suspended operations in the country, where one-third of the population needs aid. "This renewed fighting only aggravates what was already a fragile situation, forcing UN agencies and our humanitarian partners to temporarily shutter many of our more than 250 programs across Sudan," said UN emergency relief coordinator Martin Griffiths. Influential northern neighbor Egypt said it had discussed with Saudi Arabia, South Sudan and Djibouti — all close allies of Sudan — "the need to make every effort to preserve stability and safety." President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called on the two sides to "return to the negotiating table" and said he was working on the return of Egyptian military "trainers" captured Saturday at an air base by RSF forces. No more civilian flights are arriving in Khartoum, where fighting has damaged aircraft. The post G7 urges Sudan ceasefire appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Almost 200 dead, 1,800 wounded in Sudan battles: UN
Fighting between the army and paramilitaries in Sudan has killed around 200 people and wounded 1,800, damaging hospitals and hampering aid after three days of urban warfare. A weeks-long power struggle exploded into deadly violence Saturday between the forces of two generals who seized power in a 2021 coup: Sudan's army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Analysts say the fighting in the capital of the chronically unstable country is unprecedented and could be prolonged, despite regional and global calls for a ceasefire as diplomats mobilize. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday he had spoken with the two generals and "underscored the urgent need for a ceasefire". "Too many civilian lives have already been lost," Blinken tweeted, adding he had "stressed the importance of ensuring the safety of diplomatic personnel and aid workers". The European Union's ambassador to Sudan was attacked in his home in Khartoum on Monday, the bloc's top diplomat Josep Borrell said. A spokesperson told AFP the veteran diplomat was "OK" following the assault. Battles have taken place throughout the vast country and there are fears of regional spillover. Terrified residents of the capital are spending the last and holiest days of Ramadan watching from their windows as tanks roll through the streets, buildings shake and smoke from fires triggered by the fighting hangs in the air. The conflict has seen air strikes, artillery and heavy gunfire. Those compelled to venture out face queues for bread and petrol at outlets that are not shuttered. Residents are also dealing with power outages. Hospitals 'out of service' Volker Perthes, the head of the United Nations mission to Sudan, told the Security Council in a closed-door session that at least 185 people had been killed and another 1,800 wounded. "It's a very fluid situation so it's very difficult to say where the balance is shifting to," Perthes told reporters after the meeting. Earlier Monday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres again urged Sudan's warring parties to "immediately cease hostilities". He warned that further escalation "could be devastating for the country and the region". Medics in Sudan had earlier given a death toll of nearly 100 civilians and "dozens" of fighters from both sides, but the number of casualties was thought to be far higher, with many wounded unable to reach hospitals. The official doctors' union warned fighting had "heavily damaged" multiple hospitals in Khartoum and other cities, with some completely "out of service". The World Health Organization had already warned that several Khartoum hospitals tending to wounded civilians "have run out of blood, transfusion equipment, intravenous fluids and other vital supplies". In the western region of Darfur, international medical aid organisation Doctors Without Borders (MSF) reported receiving 136 wounded patients at the only hospital in El Fasher still operating in North Darfur state. "The majority of the wounded are civilians who were caught in the crossfire -- among them are many children," MSF's Cyrus Paye said. Due to limited surgical capacity, "11 people died from their injuries in the first 48 hours of the conflict". Call for talks Three UN World Food Programme staff were also among those killed on Saturday in Darfur, where humanitarian missions have had medical and other supplies looted, according to Save the Children and MSF. A number of organisations have temporarily suspended operations in the country, where one-third of the population needs aid. "This renewed fighting only aggravates what was already a fragile situation, forcing UN agencies and our humanitarian partners to temporarily shutter many of our more than 250 programmes across Sudan," said UN emergency relief coordinator Martin Griffiths. Diplomatic manoeuvres seemed to ramp up on Monday, as the fighting showed no signs of abating. Influential northern neighbour Egypt announced it had discussed with Saudi Arabia, South Sudan and Djibouti -- all close allies of Sudan -- "the need to make every effort to preserve stability and safety". President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called on the two warring parties to "return to the negotiating table" and said he was working on the return of Egyptian military "trainers" captured Saturday at an air base by RSF forces. There are no more civilian flights arriving in Khartoum, where fighting has damaged aircraft. 'Unprecedented' On Twitter, Daglo called on the international community to intervene against Burhan, branding him a "radical Islamist who is bombing civilians from the air". "We will continue to pursue Al-Burhan and bring him to justice," said Daglo, whose RSF and its predecessor the Janjaweed in Darfur have previously been accused of atrocities and war crimes. Army statements call the RSF "a rebel militia" intent on "engaging near populated areas". The fighting broke out after bitter disagreements between Burhan and Daglo over the planned integration of the RSF into the regular army -- a key condition for a final deal aimed at ending a crisis since the 2021 coup, which derailed a transition to democracy. Both claim to be in control of key sites, including the airport and the presidential palace -- none of which could be independently verified. On Monday, the army resumed broadcasting on state TV. While Sudan has endured decades of bitter civil wars, coups and rebellions since independence, Sudanese analyst Kholood Khair said the level of fighting inside the capital was "unprecedented". The post Almost 200 dead, 1,800 wounded in Sudan battles: UN appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Chad shuts border with violence-hit Sudan
Chad's government announced Saturday it was closing its border with Sudan after battles erupted between rival military factions in the neighboring country. Sudan's army carried out airstrikes against the bases of a paramilitary force, as weeks of tensions between two military commanders erupted into violence. "Faced with this troubling situation, Chad, while securing its borders, has decided to close the frontier with Sudan until further notice," government spokesman Aziz Mahamat Saleh said in a statement. Chad shares a more than 1,000 kilometer (600 miles) border with Sudan, much of it abutting Darfur, long the theater of tribal violence, often fueled by disputes over territory and water. "The fighting is not only in Khartoum" and there is "a risk of spillover and infiltrations," a member of the Chadian government told AFP on condition of anonymity. In Sudan, military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy, paramilitary commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, have been at loggerheads over the planned integration of Daglo's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) into the regular army. The integration was a key element of talks to finalize a deal that would return the country to civilian rule and end the political and economic crisis sparked by their 2021 coup in one of the world's poorest countries. Three civilians have been killed in the violence and both the paramilitary force and the army are claiming control of key locations, while calls mount from foreign allies for an immediate ceasefire. The post Chad shuts border with violence-hit Sudan appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DOH sees no need to shut borders amid COVID-19 surge in China
MANILA, Philippines — There is no need for the country to shut or tighten its border control protocols amid the surging number of COVID-19 cases in China, Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge and Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said on Thursday. “The DOH doesn’t think it is required or it is needed already that we close our borders […] The post DOH sees no need to shut borders amid COVID-19 surge in China appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Airlines optimistic as aviation recovery continues to take off
The aviation industry expects to close the year on a high note, with roughly nine in every 10 seats booked, but full recovery could be delayed again amid China’s refusal to reopen its borders, and the risk of a global recession heightens......»»
New restrictions: border closures extended in Argentina – economic, financial and business news
National government Stretches This saturday Borders close until 11 Next June And renewal of the temporary residence of foreigners for a period of 30 daysAt.....»»
IOC: Reports of Olympic cancellation categorically untrue
This despite a recent surge in COVID-19 cases that has spurred Japan to close its borders to non-resident foreigners and declare a state of emergency in major cities, including Tokyo......»»
Cebu Province ‘willing to help’ Cebu City but needs to close borders first
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has assured that the province is willing to help Cebu City “in any way” amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis but reiterates that it needs to close its borders for the city in the meantime to stop the spread of the infection. In a press conference this […] The post Cebu Province ‘willing to help’ Cebu City but needs to close borders first appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»