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Cuba remains in terror blacklist
Cuba’s envoy failed to get the country out of the United States terrorism blacklist during talks this week with counterparts in Washington. Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio and Latin America officials at the US State Department and White House, Brian Nichols and Juan Gonzales, engaged in high-level talks this week on “human rights, migration and other issues of bilateral interest” but did not touch the blacklisting issue, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Thursday. In March, Secretary of State Antony Blinken indicated to Congress that the administration had no plans to remove Cuba from the blacklist, which creates serious impediments to foreign investment. Former president Barack Obama restored US relations with Cuba, frozen since 1962 after Fidel Castro’s turn to communism, and paid a landmark visit in 2016. Obama’s successor Donald Trump reversed many steps to reconcile and his administration, in one of its final acts, put Cuba back on a list of state sponsors of terrorism whose only other members are Iran, Syria and North Korea. The Trump administration made its determination without linking Cuba to any recent terrorist actions. It instead faulted Havana’s refusal to extradite leaders of Colombia’s National Liberation Army to the then right-wing government in Bogota. WITH AFP The post Cuba remains in terror blacklist appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
North Korean leader in Russia for Putin talks as US warns on arms deal
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in Russia on Tuesday ahead of a meeting with President Vladimir Putin that the United States has warned could see an arms deal to support Moscow's assault on Ukraine. Making a rare foreign trip and his first since the pandemic, Kim was seen stepping onto a red-carpeted train platform before meeting Natural Resources Minister Alexander Kozlov. Kim and Putin are expected to meet at an unspecified location in Russia's Far East later this week, the Kremlin has said. Putin is currently attending the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, the Pacific port city closest to the North Korean border, though there has been no indication that the internationally isolated pair would hold their talks there. Reporters granted access to the Russian leader at the forum refrained from asking Putin details of the visit but he told journalists he would soon travel to the Vostochny Cosmodrome, a Russian spaceport some 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) from Vladivostok. "I've got my programme there, and when I get there you'll know," he was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying. Kim received a VIP welcome from a military honor guard, with the national anthems of both countries playing, as he arrived in the Russian border town of Khasan Tuesday morning, the state-run KCNA news agency said. Kim told his Russian hosts that his visit was a "clear manifestation" of North Korea "prioritizing the strategic importance" of its ties with Russia, KCNA said. The agency did not specify when or where Kim would meet with Putin, saying only that after the arrival ceremony the North Korean leader "left for his destination." Experts say Moscow will likely seek artillery shells and antitank missiles from North Korea, which wants advanced satellite and nuclear-powered submarine technology in return. Siemon Wezeman, a senior researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, said it was "entirely possible" North Korea had large stocks of ammunition that could be used by Russia. "Whether any deal is struck remains to be seen," he said. "We will not know for sure until there is hard evidence that Russia has used North Korean arms and ammunition on the battlefield in Ukraine," he added. The White House warned last week that North Korea would "pay a price" if it supplied Russia with weaponry for the conflict in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin and Kim would "cooperate on sensitive areas that should not be the subject of public disclosure and announcements". Steadfast allies Kim is travelling to Russia with his top military officials including Korean People's Army Marshal Pak Jong Chon and Munitions Industry Department Director Jo Chun Ryong, analysts said. This indicates a Putin-Kim summit "is likely to heavily focus on Russia and North Korea's possible military cooperation," Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, told AFP. Moscow sent Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu to Pyongyang in July. He has recently mooted bilateral joint naval drills. Kim has been steadfast in his support for Moscow's assault on Ukraine, including, Washington says, supplying rockets and missiles. But both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied North Korea has or will supply arms to Russia, which has eaten into its vast stockpiles of munitions since it launched its Ukraine offensive early last year. Kim has not travelled outside North Korea since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. His last proper overseas trip was in 2019, also to Russia to meet Putin. 'Begging' for help "North Korea has the crude ammunition that Putin needs for his illegal war in Ukraine, while Moscow has submarine, ballistic, and satellite technologies that could help Pyongyang leapfrog engineering challenges it suffers under economic sanctions," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. On Monday, the United States described Putin as desperate in seeking a meeting with Kim. "Having to travel across the length of his own country to meet with an international pariah to ask for assistance in a war that he expected to win in the opening month, I would characterize it as him begging for assistance," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said. "I will remind both countries that any transfer of arms from North Korea to Russia would be in violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions," he added. Washington has said Russia could use weapons from North Korea to attack Ukrainian food supplies and heating infrastructure heading into winter to "try to conquer territory that belongs to another sovereign nation". Andrei Lankov, a North Korea expert at Kookmin University in Seoul, told AFP that the upcoming meeting was part of Moscow's "gentle diplomatic blackmail" of Seoul because Russia did not want South Korea to supply weapons to Kyiv. Seoul is a major arms exporter and has sold tanks to Kyiv's ally Poland, but longstanding domestic policy bars it from selling weapons into active conflicts. "The major worry of the Russian government now is a possible shipment of the South Korean ammunition to Ukraine, not just one shipment but a lot of shipments," Lankov said. The post North Korean leader in Russia for Putin talks as US warns on arms deal appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Private sector analysts predict inflation rate to dip below 5 percent
Private economists expect the country's inflation rate to ease further for the sixth consecutive month in July from the 5.4 percent inflation rate last June. A Daily Tribune poll of six (6) private sector analysts yielded a median estimate of 4.8 percent for July inflation. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) is expected to unveil inflation data in the first week of August. Economists expect inflation to dip below five percent, marking the first time since April 2022, when the average headline inflation was 4.9 percent. Security Bank chief economist Robert Dan Roces and China Banking Corp. chief economist Domini Velasquez said inflation likely softened to 4.7. In an emailed commentary, Roces elaborated that the deceleration in the consumer price index (CPI) suggests a moderate level of inflation. "The favorable base effects that helped offset the increase in food prices may continue to play a role in keeping inflation in check in the short term," Roces said. For her part, Velasquez said lower utility rates offset higher food and fuel prices. She mentioned that electricity rates in all regions fell substantially from the previous month, especially in Mindanao and Batangas. Velasquez added that a stronger peso in July could have also led to the "muted" monthly inflation rate. ING Bank lead economist Nicolas Mapa, who said that headline inflation averaged 4.8 percent in July, mentioned that Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) would consider the data point alongside the path of inflation against developments such as the recent US Federal Reserve's hike in its subsequent decision. Philippine National Bank economist Alvin Arogo said inflation would likely to 4.9 percent in July amid the month-on-month increase due to the minimum wage hike in Metro Manila and the rise in pump prices due to Dubai crude. Arogo said the favorable base effects will continue to be the main driver for the monthly print of year-on-year price growth to be lower than four percent in the fourth quarter amid the "persistence of second-round effects." Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) lead economist June Neri, who said that inflation in July likely eased to 4.9 percent in July, mentioned it would fall within the two to four percent target range of the BSP by the fourth quarter. "Such a print suggests that a sub-four percent monthly print by October or November is possible and increases the chances that the BSP can keep policy rates steady for the balance of 2023," Neri said. Meanwhile, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort said that the inflation rate for July likely slowed at 5.1 percent as the recent increase in local rice prices would also slow down the easing trend of "disinflation" at the very least. He said that the possible reduction of rice imports by the Philippines would also coincide with the adverse effects of the El Niño drought, especially from the fourth quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024, potentially reducing local rice production. Ricafort added that the weather phenomenon would also lead to some uptick in local rice prices and overall inflation. However, the country's new central bank said it is still too early to declare victory in the battle to curb consumer price pressures as upside pressures on expenses remain high amid downtrend data, the country's new Speaking at a recent banking community event, BSP governor Eli Remolona said the persisting upside risks to inflation indicate the monetary authority remains open to further tightening. The country's core inflation, which primarily excludes food and fuel expenses, hit 7.4 percent in June. Last month's data declined from May's 7.7 percent to April's 7.9 percent. "Nonetheless, it's too soon to declare victory. Core inflation remains high. There are still upside risks to inflation – for example, risks in the form of El Niño and further supply shocks," Remolona said. Remolona stated that the inflation figures will factor into the analysis conducted by the Monetary Board. He added that data will play a crucial role in influencing their policy rate decision. "We will wait and see. We will analyze the data as they arrive, and that analysis will decide monetary policy down the road," the Central Bank chief mentioned. On the sidelines of the same banking event, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said he expects inflation to continue easing in the coming months but warned that there are still risks to the outlook. Balisacan said that the current downward trend in inflation is expected to continue, but some factors could worsen it. These include rising oil prices and the impact of Typhoons Egay and Falcon on agricultural production. "We are still monitoring the situation, but we hope that the impact of the typhoon will not be too serious," Balisacan said. The post Private sector analysts predict inflation rate to dip below 5 percent appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Wonder women
It’s been a special week for Filipina athletes. The Blu Girls made a strong run in the XVII Women’s Softball World Cup while the Filipinas posted a historic triumph in the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Oft-ignored in a country that is crazy over basketball, boxing, and volleyball, the Filipina clouters opened their campaign with three straight losses to Canada, Japan and Venezuela before finally winning over New Zealand and Italy to gain a slight chance of barging into the final round. But in a battle of survival, the Blu Girls fell short. The scores were tied at 5 in the fourth inning when Italy surged again by sending Alessandra Rotondo home. The Blu Girls tried to launch a final attempt to retake the lead but Cristy Joy Roa was struck out by the airtight Italian defense. The Blu Girls missed a chance to vie in the finals next year as they ended their campaign in fourth place with a 2-4 win-loss card. Still, it was a solid performance considering the high level of competition at this prestigious event held at the Campo Comunale da Softball in Castions di Strada, Italy. Around 18,000 kilometers from Italy, the Filipinas were making the country proud in the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Sarina Bolden, a 27-year-old daughter of an American father and a Filipino mother from California, soared high to connect a header right into the heart of the Kiwi defense that served as the country’s first-ever goal in the World Cup. Then, another Filipino-American in Olivia McDaniel repeatedly extinguished numerous Kiwi attacks to preserve the victory that shook the entire football world to its very foundation. Although international media had put an asterisk on the victory for having all but one foreign-born player in the 24-woman roster, the fact remains that they wouldn’t be donning the national colors in the biggest, grandest stage of football in the world if they were not emotionally attached to their homeland. Bolden put it nicely. Being part of the Filipinas is their only way to reconnect with their roots. It is their way to pay homage to their Filipino ancestors who molded them into what they are right now. The success of the women should serve as a challenge to the men. Gilas Pilipinas is also competing in a world-class event — the FIBA Basketball World Cup. But it is facing the huge challenge of forming a solid team with barely a month before the prestigious 32-nation event kicks off on 25 August. Injuries have hampered the formation of the Gilas squad. Gilas coach Chot Reyes had yet to set up the team when Carl Tamayo withdrew, saying that he needed to rest following a grueling campaign in Japan. Then, the injury bug hounded the team with RR Pogoy, Ray Parks and Calvin Oftana all failing to join the first training camp at Inspire Sports Academy in Laguna due to various ailments. Gilas left for Europe with an incomplete roster. But before they could go home, Scottie Thompson crashed with a finger injury, raising fears that he would no longer be available for the biggest basketball showpiece in the world. Worse, Gilas’s biggest marquee players — Jordan Clarkson and Kai Sotto — have yet to see a single minute of playing time with their Gilas teammates. Clarkson was supposed to arrive six weeks before the World Cup. But his negotiations with the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas stalled until he finally agreed to show up on 6 August, barely three weeks before the competition. Sotto, for his part, has a different story. After joining the National Basketball Association Summer League, the 7-foot-3 slotman flew to Manila, not to join Gilas, but to rest and recover from the back injury that he suffered in the United States. It took a week before he finally signed with Gilas, but there’s still no clarity as to when he will formally join the training. As of Saturday, Sotto, idolized by millions of Filipinos for being their brightest hope to represent them in the NBA, has yet to see a single second on the floor with the national team. With the way things are going, it seems that the country’s hosting of the World Cup is a disaster waiting to happen. The best players in the world are all set to compete but the Filipino “superstars” appear to be finding a lot of excuses to shun the huge responsibility of representing the country. Gilas should be inspired by the feats of the Blu Girls and the Filipinas. In a nation where softball and football fans are in the minority, these wonder women overcame great adversities and made great sacrifices just to play their hearts out and bring pride and glory to the country. Never mind if they can’t speak fluent Filipino or are being bashed for being the “Team B” of the United States. The mere fact that they are playing in a world-class event with the Philippine flag on their chests without conditions, without excuses is already a testament to their patriotism and burning desire to make the country proud. Indeed, strong women will always be men’s secret weapons. The post Wonder women appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
North Korea fires missiles ahead of key anniversary
Pyongyang conducted twin missile launches late Monday, ahead of Korean War anniversary celebrations that will be attended by Chinese dignitaries in the first foreign delegation visit to the country since its 2020 pandemic border closure. South Korea's defense ministry described the two projectiles as ballistic missiles that flew about 400 kilometers (248 miles) before falling into the sea, according to reports by news agency Yonhap of South Korea and Japan's Kyodo. "Our military detected two ballistic missiles North Korea fired from areas near Pyongyang into the East Sea at 11:55 pm on the 24th and at midnight of the 25th," Yonhap quoted South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff as saying. The launches were the latest in a series of weapons tests in recent weeks by Pyongyang, and come as Seoul and Washington ramp up defense cooperation in the face of soaring tensions with the North. Last week South Korea hosted a visit by a US nuclear-capable submarine, the first deployment there by such a nuclear-armed American vessel in decades. And in a move that likely further provoked the North, a second US submarine, the nuclear-powered USS Annapolis, arrived at a South Korean naval base around the time of Monday's missile launches, according to Yonhap. The reclusive North Korean regime routinely conducts weapons tests, and the launches come days after leader Kim Jong Un personally oversaw the latest firing of the country's newest intercontinental ballistic missile, the solid-fuel Hwasong-18. Relations between the two Koreas are currently at one of their lowest historical points, as diplomacy between Pyongyang and Seoul has stalled and Kim has called for ramping up weapons development, including tactical nukes. In efforts to bolster deterrence, Seoul and Washington have staged joint military exercises with advanced stealth jets and US strategic assets. The White House took issue with Pyongyang's latest action, with Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre saying "we certainly condemn the DPRK's ballistic missile launches," referring to North Korea by the acronym of its formal name. The missile tests "pose a threat to the DPRK's neighbors and the international community," Jean-Pierre said, adding: "Our commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea and Japan remains ironclad." Significant visit Monday's launches come ahead of celebrations in North Korea this week marking the 70th anniversary of the end of fighting in the Korean War. A Chinese delegation led by Politburo member Li Hongzhong will travel to the North for the event, the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported, in what is the first known visit by a foreign delegation since the start of the pandemic. North Korea has been under a rigid self-imposed coronavirus blockade since early 2020 to protect itself from Covid-19, only resuming some trade with China last year. An armistice agreement ending Korean War hostilities was signed on July 27, 1953 but the two Koreas remain technically at war because the 1950-53 conflict ended in an armistice and not a peace treaty. Tensions on the Korean peninsula also have ratcheted up recently due to the disappearance of a US soldier, Travis King, who was on a tour of the demilitarized zone last week when he ran across the border into North Korea. The UN Command, a US-led multinational force that oversees the Korean War truce, said Monday it has begun discussions with Pyongyang over the missing American serviceman. The post North Korea fires missiles ahead of key anniversary appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Blockchain focuses on creative sector
South Korea’s Comet Global and Japan’s Junca Holdings will be collaborating with the Philippine government and private businesses to help draft regulations on blockchain and breed more Filipino startups in a range of industries, from finance to the arts. These initiatives will be part of the memorandum of understanding among the two foreign firms and the multisectoral Blockchain Council of the Philippines. The agreement will be signed during the Philippine Blockchain Week or PBW 2023 to be held from 18 to 21 September at the Marriott Hotel Manila. Emmy Lou Delfin, director at the Department of Information and Communications Technology said blockchain, an online database or records system, can make government and business transactions transparent and inclusive. The reason is that the blockchain can be viewed by all its users and once a piece of information has been entered into the blockchain, it can no longer be modified. “With its inherent qualities of decentralization and transparency, blockchain has the potential to enhance trust, promote accountability and transform traditional systems. But let me emphasize that with great potential comes great responsibility, so must make sure that blockchain technology remains ethical and inclusive,” Delfin said Tuesday at the press conference on PBW 2023, the second of its kind organized by the blockchain council. Blockchain risks, benefits Donald Lim, lead convenor of PBW, said the foreign firms will help Filipinos see both the benefits and dangers of using blockchain in certain ways. “Blockchain is already in the mature stages in South Korea and Japan. The Philippines is a greenfield for them, that’s why they’ll be bringing in a lot of their expertise and technologies. They’ll help us understand what has been tried and tested.” Blockchain has been mostly used in finance and cryptocurrencies or digital money, but can be adopted by other sectors to also record transactions in health, agriculture, energy and creative activities. For entrepreneurial individuals, Lim said the PBW 2023 will also feature hackathons where they can pitch blockchain-based solutions for various social issues to the foreign guests and businesspeople who will attend the event. Lim said he expects at least 10,000 participants in the PBW this year “South Korea and Japan governments are even stricter about blockchain, but their economies are big. They have more money and suppliers to scale up the use of blockchain faster. In the Philippines, we have less money and banks invest only small portions of their funds in blockchain technologies.” Lim said investors would likely be flocking to Bataan as the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan announced plans to open certain areas in the province for firms using blockchain and other emerging technologies. “If there’s a Silicon Valley in the US, Bataan might become a blockchain valley.” Jo-Dann Darong, director at Department of Trade and Industry or DTI, said the PBW this year will also allow the government to explore uses of blockchain for the creative industry, consisting of audio-visual arts, performing arts, poetry and painting, among others. “Gone are the days when DTI was known for sari-sari stores and price monitoring. We have recognized the convergence of technology and creativity in the national development agenda of the country, making it competitive.” Darong shared that there are over 6 million Filipinos working in nine major sectors and 73 subsectors in the creative industry, which now represents over 7 percent share of the country’s gross domestic product. World-renowned fashion designer Michael Cinco will also conduct a fashion show through metaverse which uses digital art and virtual-reality technology. Other activities lined up for PBW this year include a discussion on artificial intelligence, NFTY Awards for digital artworks, gaming exposition by Tier 1, and Blockchain 101 for students to learn the basics of this technology. The post Blockchain focuses on creative sector appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pinoys among those evacuated as Sudan fighting enters 2nd week
Sudan's Rapid Support Forces said Sunday it had "coordinated with" American troops to evacuate Washington's embassy in the country, where fighting between the paramilitary group and the army entered a second week following a brief lull. More than 150 people from various nations had already reached the safety of Saudi Arabia in the first announced evacuation of civilians. Foreign countries have said they are preparing for the potential evacuation of thousands more of their nationals, even though Sudan's main airport remains closed. "The Rapid Support Forces Command has coordinated with the U.S Forces Mission consisting of 6 aircraft, for evacuating diplomats and their families on Sunday morning," said a tweet by the heavily armed paramilitary group. The RSF pledged "full cooperation with all diplomatic missions, and providing all necessary means of protection, and ensuring their safe return to their countries". The group previously said it was ready to "partially" open "all airports" in Sudan to evacuate foreign citizens. It was not possible to verify which airports the RSF controls. Fighting has left hundreds dead and thousands wounded, while survivors cope with shortages of electricity and food. On Saturday, Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry announced the "safe arrival" of 91 of its citizens along with nationals from Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Tunisia, Pakistan, India, Bulgaria, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Canada and Burkina Faso. As the kingdom's naval forces transported the civilians, including diplomats and international officials, across the Red Sea from Port Sudan to Jeddah, fighting resumed in Sudan's capital Khartoum after a temporary truce saw gunfire momentarily die down on Friday, the first day of Eid al-Fitr. Eid is normally a major celebration for Sudanese marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. This year it is marked by fear, grief and hunger. Earlier on Saturday, Sudan's army said its chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan had received calls from leaders of multiple countries to "facilitate and guarantee safety for evacuating citizens and diplomatic missions". It noted that the evacuations were expected to begin "in the coming hours", adding that the US, Britain, France and China were planning to airlift their nationals out of Khartoum using military planes. Burhan told Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya TV that the army was in control of "all airports, except for Khartoum airport" and one in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur. Urban warfare began on 15 April between forces loyal to Burhan and those of his deputy-turned-rival Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. Daglo commands the RSF, which emerged from the Janjaweed fighters unleashed in Darfur by former strongman Omar al-Bashir, drawing accusations of war crimes. The former allies seized power in a 2021 coup but later fell out in a bitter power struggle. On Saturday morning, heavy gunfire, loud explosions and fighter jets were heard in many parts of the capital, according to witnesses. The army announced Friday agreement to a three-day ceasefire. Daglo said in a statement he had "discussed the current crisis" with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and was "focused on the humanitarian truce, safe passages, and protecting humanitarian workers". Five humanitarians, including four from UN-linked agencies, have so far been killed. Two 24-hour ceasefires announced earlier in the week were also ignored. In Khartoum, a city of five million people, the conflict has left terrified civilians sheltering inside their homes. Many have ventured out only to get urgent food supplies -- stocks of which are dwindling -- or to flee the city. While Khartoum has seen some of the fiercest battles, they have occurred across the country. Late Friday, the army accused the RSF of attacks in the capital's twin city of Omdurman where they released "a large number of inmates" from a prison, accusations the group denies. Battles have raged in Darfur, where Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in the city of El Fasher said their medics had been "overwhelmed" by the number of patients with gunshot wounds, many of them children. More plans are being made to evacuate foreigners, with South Korea and Japan deploying forces to nearby countries, and the European Union weighing a similar move. The German ministers of defence and foreign affairs held a crisis meeting Saturday on a possible evacuation, after three military transport planes had to turn back Wednesday, according to German weekly Der Spiegel. The World Health Organization (WHO) said 413 people had been killed and 3,551 wounded in the fighting across Sudan, but the actual death toll is thought to be higher. More than two-thirds of hospitals in Khartoum and neighbouring states are now "out of service", and at least four hospitals in North Kordofan state were shelled, the doctors' union said. The World Food Programme said the violence could plunge millions more into hunger in a country where one-third of the population needs aid. Burhan and Daglo's dispute centred on the planned integration of the RSF into the regular army, a key condition for a deal aimed at restoring Sudan's democratic transition after the military toppled Bashir in April 2019 following mass citizen protests. In October 2021, Burhan and Daglo joined forces to oust a civilian government installed after Bashir's downfall. Daglo now says the coup was a "mistake", while Burhan believes it was "necessary" to include more groups into politics. The post Pinoys among those evacuated as Sudan fighting enters 2nd week appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US guardsman to appear in court over Pentagon documents leak
A 21-year-old national guardsman was due to appear in court on Friday, authorities said, after he was arrested on suspicion of leaking a trove of sensitive US government secrets. Jack Teixeira, an employee of the US Air Force National Guard, was to make an initial appearance in a Massachusetts federal court, a district court official told AFP. His dramatic arrest was broadcast live on US TV networks Thursday following a week-long investigation into one of the most damaging leaks of classified information since the 2013 dump of National Security Agency documents by Edward Snowden. US Attorney General Merrick Garland told reporters Thursday that Teixeira had been arrested "in connection with an investigation into alleged unauthorized removal, retention, and transmission of classified national defense information." News footage of the operation in the southern Massachusetts town of North Dighton showed the suspect dressed in red shorts and a T-shirt with his hands behind his head, backing slowly toward rifle-armed, camouflage-clad law enforcement personnel who took him into custody. Police in the small town in the northeastern state sought to reassure the community about the heavy law enforcement presence, saying in a statement that there was "no threat to public safety." The US National Guard Bureau said Teixeira had enlisted in September 2019 and was an IT and communications specialist who reached the rank of airman first class -- the third-lowest for enlisted air force personnel. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin issued a statement praising the Justice Department and FBI "for their swift arrest in connection with this investigation." Austin added that he was ordering a "review of our intelligence access, accountability, and control procedures within the (Defense) Department to inform our efforts to prevent this kind of incident from happening again." Teixeira's arrest came a day after The Washington Post reported that hundreds of pages of documents had been posted on the social media platform Discord by a man who worked on a US military base. Top secret material According to The New York Times, a "trail of digital evidence" pointed to Teixeira as the leader of the private group on Discord, called Thug Shaker Central, where the documents surfaced. The embarrassing security breach has revealed US unease over the viability of a coming counteroffensive by Kyiv's forces against Russian troops as well as concerns about Ukrainian air defenses and pointed to US spying on allies including Israel and South Korea. President Joe Biden addressed the leak earlier on Thursday during his visit to Ireland, saying he was "concerned". US media reported that the Biden administration is seeking to beef up its monitoring of social media sites and chat rooms after intelligence agencies failed to spot the leaked documents online for weeks. The Pentagon has also "begun to limit who across the government receives its highly classified daily intelligence briefs," CNN reported on Thursday. The alleged leaker reportedly went by the nickname "OG" and regularly posted documents in the chat group in question for months. The group of around 24 people, including some from Russia and Ukraine, bonded over their "mutual love of guns, military gear, and God," and formed an "invitation-only clubhouse in 2020 on Discord," reported the Post -- which like the New York Times cited unidentified members of Thug Shaker Central. OG told the group members that he spent "some of his days inside a secure facility that prohibited cellphones and other electronic devices," the Post report said. He first wrote down the contents of classified documents to share with the group, but later began taking photos, telling other members not to share them, the newspaper reported. OG had a "dark view of the government," and "spoke of the United States, and particularly law enforcement and the intelligence community, as a sinister force that sought to suppress its citizens and keep them in the dark," the Post said, citing one of the group's members. A Discord spokesperson told AFP that user safety is a priority and that content violating its policies can result in people being banned, servers being shut down, and police alerted. "In regards to the apparent breach of classified material, we are cooperating with law enforcement," the spokesperson said. "As this remains an active investigation, we cannot provide further comment at this time." The post US guardsman to appear in court over Pentagon documents leak appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US airman arrested over Pentagon documents leak
FBI agents on Thursday arrested a 21-year-old national guardsman suspected of being behind a major leak of sensitive US government secrets -- including about the Ukraine war. Broadcast live on TV networks, the dramatic arrest was the culmination of a week-long investigation -- fuelled by frenzied media coverage -- into one of the most damaging leaks of classified information since the 2013 dump of National Security Agency documents by Edward Snowden. Addressing a news briefing, US Attorney General Merrick Garland named the suspect as Jack Teixeira, an employee of the US Air Force National Guard and the reported leader of the online chat group where the document trove first emerged. Arrested "in connection with an investigation into alleged unauthorized removal, retention, and transmission of classified national defense information," Teixeira was taken into custody without incident by FBI agents, Garland said. News footage of the operation, in the southern Massachusetts town of North Dighton, showed the suspect dressed in red shorts and a t-shirt with his hands behind his head, backing slowly toward rifle-armed, camouflage-clad law enforcement personnel who took him into custody. Police in the small town in the northeastern state sought to reassure the community about the heavy law enforcement presence, saying in a statement that there was "no threat to public safety." The US National Guard Bureau said Teixeira enlisted in September 2019 and is an IT and communications specialist who reached the rank of airman first class -- the third-lowest for enlisted air force personnel. He was expected to make an initial appearance in a Massachusetts federal court as early as Friday. The Pentagon has said the leak presents a "very serious" risk to US national security, and spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder on Thursday condemned it as a "deliberate criminal act." In response, the Defense Department is "examining and updating distribution lists, assessing how and where intelligence products are shared, and a variety of other steps," Ryder told journalists. Teixeira's arrest came a day after The Washington Post reported that hundreds of pages of documents had been posted on the social media platform Discord by a man who worked on a US military base. Top secret material According to The New York Times, a "trail of digital evidence" pointed to Teixeira as the leader of the private group on Discord, called Thug Shaker Central, where the documents surfaced. The embarrassing security breach -- which included top secret documents -- has revealed US unease over the viability of a coming counteroffensive by Kyiv's forces against Russian troops as well as concerns about Ukrainian air defenses and pointed to US spying on allies including Israel and South Korea. President Joe Biden addressed the leak earlier on Thursday during his visit to Ireland, saying he was "concerned" but that federal authorities were "getting close" to identifying the source of the leak. The alleged leaker reportedly went by the nickname "OG" and regularly posted documents in the chat group in question for months. The group of around 24 people, including some from Russia and Ukraine, bonded over their "mutual love of guns, military gear, and God," and formed an "invitation-only clubhouse in 2020 on Discord," reported the Post -- which like the Times cited unidentified members of Thug Shaker Central. OG told the group members that he spent "some of his days inside a secure facility that prohibited cellphones and other electronic devices," the Post report said. He first wrote down the contents of classified documents to share with the group, but later began taking photos, telling other members not to share them, the newspaper reported. OG had a "dark view of the government," and "spoke of the United States, and particularly law enforcement and the intelligence community, as a sinister force that sought to suppress its citizens and keep them in the dark," the Post said, citing one of the group's members. A Discord spokesperson told AFP that user safety is a priority, and that content violating its policies can result in people being banned, servers being shut down, and police alerted. "In regards to the apparent breach of classified material, we are cooperating with law enforcement," the spokesperson said. "As this remains an active investigation, we cannot provide further comment at this time." The post US airman arrested over Pentagon documents leak appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
LPGA returns with Kang posting 66 at Inverness for the lead
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Danielle Kang went more than six months without competing and looked as though she had never been away, playing bogey-free at Inverness Club for a 6-under 66 and a one-shot lead in the LPGA Drive On Championship. The LPGA Tour’s much-awaited return from the COVID-19 pandemic brought an immediate sense of its new world. Kang had no idea where she stood after a closing birde. “There aren’t any leaderboards on the golf course,” Kang said. Inverness, where Paul Azinger beat Greg Norman in a playoff at the 1993 PGA Championship, is hosting the Solheim Cup next year and offered to stage the first event back for the LPGA Tour since the Women’s Australian Open on Feb. 16. The LPGA Tour remains in northeast Ohio next week before heading to Scotland. Jodi Ewart Shadoff of England also played bogey-free for a 67. Celine Boutier of France and Lee-Anne Pace of South Africa also were at 5 under until both made bogey on the closing hole. They settled for a 68. The foremost global tour in golf attracted 130 players from some 30 countries, though it was missing the leading stars from powerhouse South Korea. Jin Young Ko, the No. 1 player in the world, and Sung Hyun Park have stayed home and are playing on the Korean LPGA. Neither is expected to travel to Scotland for the Women’s British Open in three weeks. The lone Korean among the top 10 -- a rarity given the country’s strength in women’s golf -- was Hee Young Park at 70. Kang, a former Women’s PGA champion, paid particular attention to the speed of the greens at Inverness, making six birdies and a number of key par putts to keep her round going. “Even if you hit a good shot, it’s not an easy putt,” Kang said. “I almost three-putted from 9 feet. Definitely had a really good attitude, and it was really fun to be back.” The LPGA Tour is not allowing spectators, though that wasn’t a problem for Kang. She was more concerned about her etiquette with two other players, different from a more casual attitude at home. Kang played only twice at the start of the year in the Florida events, including a third-place finish Jan. 23 at the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio. The field attracted four of the top 10 from the world ranking, and Kang (No. 4) Minjee Lee of Australia (No. 8) were the only ones to break par. Lee shot 69. Nelly Korda, the highest-ranked player at No. 2 in the world, opened with two birdies in three holes and closed with another birdie. It was the part in between that cost her, and she had a 76. Lexi Thompson, who has slipped to No. 9, opened with a 73. For most of them, it was simply good to be back. Lydia Ko made a long birdie to close out her round of 69, joining Lee and Amy Olson. “I saw some of the girls and I was like, ‘Man, it’s nice to not see you through a virtual app or on social media,’” Ko said......»»
57 bodies of OFWs from Saudi arriving next week
The remains of 57 overseas Filipino workers who succumbed to coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia will arrive in the Philippines next week, the Department of Labor and Employment announced yesterday......»»
‘High-level’ US trade mission to arrive in PH next week
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry announced that a “high-level” US trade delegation is arriving next week to enhance “commercially meaningful partnerships.” According to DTI Foreign Trade Service Officer Jollan Llaneza, the delegation, led by US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, will meet with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual......»»
Biden s top-level execs ready for trade, investment mission in Philippines
US President Joe Biden has assembled a high-level US trade and investment mission set to arrive in the Philippines next week to explore business opportunities in the country......»»
BSP seen to keep rates unchanged
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is likely to leave rates unchanged anew this week as it remains on a hawkish stance despite easing inflation......»»
Korea s S.H. Kim ready to shine against world s best at AT& T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
Still in marital bliss, Korea’s S.H. Kim intends to shine against the world’s best at this week’s $20-million AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, the second Signature event of the 2024 PGA Tour Season......»»
Hong Kong records 34 mln visits in 2023 as tourism rebounds
HONG KONG, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong received approximately 34 million visits in 2023, with nearly 4 million arrivals in December, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) said Saturday. Through 2023, the Chinese mainland remains the largest source of visitors to Hong Kong, with ideal numbers during the May Day holiday, summer vacation and the Golden Week in October. The Southeast Asian market has shown the.....»»
Hong Kong records 34 mln visits in 2023 as tourism rebounds
HONG KONG, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong received approximately 34 million visits in 2023, with nearly 4 million arrivals in December, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) said Saturday. Through 2023, the Chinese mainland remains the largest source of visitors to Hong Kong, with ideal numbers during the May Day holiday, summer vacation and the Golden Week in October. The Southeast Asian market has shown the.....»»
Tippy Dos Santos mom Happy dies after car accident in South Korea
Happy Esquivias-Dos Santos, mother of singer-actress Tippy Dos Santos, has died following a vehicular accident with her husband John while on vacation in Seoul, South Korea, a week shy of her 59th birthday......»»
Team Tapales still keeps sparring under wraps
Sparring remains the most tightly guarded aspect in the training camp of Marlon Tapales, who will try to shock the world when he tries to unify one half of the super bantamweight world titles with Japanese wrecking ball Naoya Inoue next week in Tokyo......»»
Remains of Pinoy killed by Hamas arriving soon
The remains of Paul Castelvi, who was among four overseas Filipino workers killed during the Oct. 7 Hamas attack in Israel, will arrive home soon, according to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration......»»