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First relief convoy enters Gaza devastated by ‘nightmare’ war
The first aid trucks arrived in war-torn Gaza from Egypt on Saturday, bringing urgent humanitarian relief to the Hamas-controlled Palestinian enclave suffering what the UN chief labelled a "godawful nightmare". Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas after the Islamist militant group carried out the deadliest attack in the country's history on October 7. Hamas militants killed at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians who were shot, mutilated or burnt to death, and took more than 200 hostages, according to Israeli officials. Israel has retaliated with a relentless bombing campaign on Gaza that has killed more than 4,300 Palestinians, mainly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. An Israeli siege has cut food, water, electricity and fuel supplies to the densely populated and long-blockaded territory of 2.4 million people, sparking fears of a humanitarian catastrophe. AFP journalists on Saturday saw 20 trucks from the Egyptian Red Crescent, which is responsible for delivering aid from various UN agencies, pass through the Rafah border crossing from Egypt into Gaza. The crossing -- the only one into Gaza not controlled by Israel -- closed again after the trucks passed. The lorries had been waiting for days on the Egyptian side after Israel agreed to a request from its main ally the United States to allow aid to enter. UN chief Antonio Guterres warned Friday that the relief supplies were "the difference between life and death" for many Gazans, more than one million of whom have been displaced. "Much more" aid needs to be sent, he told a peace summit in Egypt on Saturday. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken welcomed the aid and urged "all parties" to keep the Rafah crossing open. But a Hamas spokesman said "even dozens" of such convoys could not meet Gaza's needs, especially as no fuel was being allowed in to help distribute the supplies to those in need. 'Reeling in pain' Tens of thousands of Israeli troops have deployed to the Gaza border ahead of an expected ground offensive that officials have pledged will begin "soon". As international tensions soar, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was hosting a peace summit in Cairo on Saturday attended by regional and some Western leaders. "The time has come for action to end this godawful nightmare," Guterres told the summit, calling for a "humanitarian ceasefire". The region "is reeling in pain and one step from the precipice", he said. Guterres said "the grievances of the Palestinian people are legitimate and long" after "56 years of occupation with no end in sight". But he stressed that "nothing can justify the reprehensible assault by Hamas that terrorised Israeli civilians". "Those abhorrent attacks can never justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people," he added. Egypt, historically a key mediator between Hamas and Israel, has urged "restraint" and the relaunch of the long-frozen peace process. But diplomatic efforts to end the violence have made little headway, without the participation of Israel and its enemy Iran, a supporter of Hamas and other armed groups. 'Sliver of hope' A full-blown Israeli ground offensive carries many risks, including to the hostages Hamas took and whose fate is shrouded in uncertainty. So the release of two Americans among the hostages -- mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Raanan -- offered a rare "sliver of hope", said Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross. US President Joe Biden thanked Qatar, which hosts Hamas's political bureau, for its mediation in securing the release. He said he was working "around the clock" to win the return of other Americans being held. Natalie Raanan's half-brother Ben told the BBC he felt an "overwhelming sense of joy" at the release after "the most horrible of ordeals". Hamas said Egypt and Qatar had negotiated the release and that it was "working with all mediators to implement the movement's decision to close the civilian (hostage) file if appropriate security conditions allow". Traumatised families with loved ones missing in Gaza demanded more action. "We ask humanity to interfere and bring back all those young boys, young girls, mothers, babies," Assaf Shem Tov, whose nephew was abducted from a music festival where Hamas killed hundreds, said Friday. Devastation Almost half of Gaza's residents have been displaced, and at least 30 percent of all housing in the territory has been destroyed or damaged, the United Nations says. Thousands have taken refuge in a camp set up in the city of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza. Fadwa al-Najjar said she and her seven children walked for 10 hours to reach the camp, at some points breaking into a run as missiles struck around them. "We saw bodies and limbs torn off and we just started praying, thinking we were going to die," she told AFP. In Al-Zahra in central Gaza, Rami Abu Wazna was struggling to take in the destruction wreaked by Israeli missile strikes. "Even in my worst nightmares, I never thought this could be possible," he said. Israel's operation will take not "a day, nor a week, nor a month" and will result in "the end of Israel's responsibilities in the Gaza Strip", Defence Minister Yoav Gallant warned on Friday. Regional tensions flare In Gaza, retired general Omar Ashour said the destruction was "part of a clear plan for people to have no place left to live". "This will cause a second Nakba," he added, referring to the 760,000 Palestinians who were expelled from or fled their homes when Israel was created in 1948. The United States has moved two aircraft carriers into the eastern Mediterranean to deter Iran or Lebanon's Hezbollah, both Hamas allies, amid fears of a wider conflagration. Fire across Israel's border with Lebanon continued overnight, with one Israeli soldier killed, Israeli public radio said. The military said it hit Hezbollah targets after rocket and missile fire. Violence has also flared in the West Bank, where 84 Palestinians have been killed since October 7, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The post First relief convoy enters Gaza devastated by ‘nightmare’ war appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Malasakit Centers: Haven for poor Pinoys
Amid prevailing financial hardships particularly among poor Filipinos, the pivotal role of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go’s Malasakit Centers comes to fore through the compelling narrative of 23-year-old Wally Bernardo of Cavite. A small baking business, which Wally runs with his partner, helps cover his dialysis expenses. His ordeal started in 2017 when a nagging backache unveiled an unsettling reality — a diagnosis of chronic kidney disease secondary to arthritis. Initially misdiagnosed with high blood pressure, he soon found himself restricted to the regular hum of dialysis machines, a routine that escalated from three times a week to an excruciating 12 times a week, as his condition worsened. As Wally’s medical bills soared, he sought intervention from a Malasakit Center, which led to a much-needed relief for his dire financial situation. Recounting the day his relatives approached the center, Wally said, After that we approached the social health service as I knew there was Malasakit here.” “My relatives went there and gave us our bill. It was processed at about noon. In the afternoon we were already discharged.” The indelible mark of gratitude is apparent in Wally’s words, “Thank you to Senator Bong Go, to his staff. We are really grateful for his help, in giving us a guarantee letter, in assuring those who have not much finances.” As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go persistently encouraged the public to avail themselves of the medical and financial assistance offered by the Malasakit Centers. Malasakit Centers bring together representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. These one-stop shops aim to support impoverished patients in reducing their hospital costs to the least possible amount. The Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, or Republic Act 11463, principally authored and sponsored by Go, has so far facilitated the establishment of 159 operational Malasakit Centers across the country. Meanwhile, Go’s outreach team, together with Mayor Elmor Vita and Councilor Rey Comendador, conducted a relief operation at the municipal gymnasium in Nagcarlan, Laguna last Tuesday, 17 October. Go provided masks, vitamins, shirts, and balls for basketball and volleyball for 450 market vendors. He also gave away shoes, and mobile phones to select recipients. The post Malasakit Centers: Haven for poor Pinoys appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Intel fund requests being abused’
A lawmaker said Monday the grant of confidential and intelligence funds under the national budget has become a trend that several government agencies have abused. Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin on Monday said there has been a noticeable increase in the allocation of confidential and intelligence funds in recent years granted to various agencies unrelated to national security or surveillance. “There are many who have joined the trend and abused it,” Garin said. “If you look at the historical data, the jump started in 2017, when the total confidential fund in 2016 was P720 million. In 2017, it jumped to P2.07 billion and by 2020, it more than doubled to P4.57 billion,” she said. The marathon deliberations on the proposed P5.768-trillion national budget for 2024 had led to intense debates in the House, particularly on the grant of multi-million-peso confidential funds to numerous civilian agencies, including the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education. Last week, Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo, the senior vice chair of the House appropriations panel, said that about 10 government agencies, including the OVP and DepEd, which Vice President Sara Duterte both heads, are expected to be affected by the House’s plan to realign the confidential funds to national security agencies. The realignment is being mulled amid China’s persistent assertiveness inside Philippine territory in the West Philippine Sea. Duterte sought P2.395 billion and P758.6 billion for the OVP and DepEd, respectively, in the proposed 2024 budget, including P500 million and P150 million, respectively, in confidential funds. The post ‘Intel fund requests being abused’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Floods wiped out quarter of Greek farm produce: experts
A quarter of Greece's annual agricultural production was wiped out in last week's deadly flash floods triggered by Storm Daniel, which drenched the central region of Thessaly, according to experts. The floods, which killed 15 people, have also left thousands of people in temporary shelters in hotels, schools or with relatives while 30 villages were inaccessible amid the threat of waterborne diseases. Officials were trying to determine if a body found on a beach in Pelion, central Greece, was that of an Austrian missing with his wife since last week. As government officials began the daunting task of mapping the damage dealt to the plain that feeds much of Greece, one pressing need was to dispose of tens of thousands of decomposing farm animals. Out of over 110,000 dead sheep, goats, pigs, cows and chickens reported lost by farmers, fewer than half have been buried or incinerated, officials said. Inspection crews were still unable to reach half the areas with reported dead livestock, the agriculture ministry said Wednesday. "The damage is difficult to fully assess at the moment, but according to the most optimistic scenario, 70 percent of the cotton crop and almost all of the clover has been damaged," said farmer Athanasios Karaiskos, president of the farm cooperative of the town of Farsala. Health hazard The region's apple and kiwi productions have also been hit, while warehouses storing large quantities of wheat were flooded. Some parts of Thessaly received "an astonishing 910 millimeters (three feet) of rain" more than a year's rainfall in normal conditions, said Katerina Kasimati, an agriculture engineer at the Agricultural University of Athens. "These floods caused nearly 25 percent of the year's crop production to be lost, amounting to losses in the hundreds of millions of euros," she told AFP. Commonly called 'the Plain' in Greece, Thessaly accounts for nearly a third of the country's arable land and over 18 percent of its crops. "Farmers and particularly livestock breeders are in a state of panic," said Christos Yannadakis, vice-president of the union of Greek farm cooperatives. In addition to knocking out power and flooding roads and infrastructure, the floodwater carries pesticides and waste from both farms and urban areas. The health ministry has reported dozens of cases of gastroenteritis, warning residents in several areas that tap water was still not suitable for drinking or showering. The fire department has rescued over 4,500 people from flooded areas. Seven villages are still stranded, the government said this week. Transport links hit The heavy rains and flooding followed devastating fires in Greece this summer that killed at least 26 people, most of them migrants trapped in a forest near the northeastern border with Turkey. In Strasbourg this week to discuss the issue with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Greece faced a "catastrophe of immense proportions". It was, he said, "beyond" the government's "scale of prediction and comprehension". The EU said Greece could access 2.25 billion euros in pending and additional funds for reconstruction. A part of the Athens-Thessaloniki national highway in central Greece is under water. Serious damage to the rail network will take months to repair, Panayiotis Terezakis, managing director of the Hellenic Railways Organisation, told Star TV. "The initial tally for all the damage dealt to the Thessaly rail network is 150-160 million euros," he said. Rail services from Athens to Thessaloniki in the north will likely be restored in a month, Terezakis said. For the national highway, Deputy Infrastructure Minister Nikos Tachiaos on Wednesday admitted: "There is nothing we can do. We cannot drain the waters and dump them on the plain because the water is coming from the plain... we have to wait for the natural flow," he told state TV ERT. Government under fire Mitsotakis' government, which comfortably won reelection in June, has come under fire for failing to adequately prepare after major flooding caused by a hurricane-like storm dubbed Ianos in 2020. "Millions of euros were spent on flood prevention after Ianos and three years later, Thessaly is again plunged in water and mud," the main opposition Syriza party said. The liberal Kathimerini daily over the weekend said the prime minister had put "lightweights" in key cabinet posts and urged him to "get serious". Mitsotakis is rumored to be planning a cabinet reshuffle, having already replaced two ministers since his re-election. A judicial investigation has been opened into possible failings by public officials in dealing with the storm. The post Floods wiped out quarter of Greek farm produce: experts appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Fassbender returns to movies as Fincher’s ‘Killer’
Michael Fassbender returned to the big screen at the Venice Film Festival Sunday after years away as a racing driver, playing a cold-blooded assassin in David Fincher's Netflix film "The Killer". The German-Irish actor took up professional motor racing in 2017, joining the Ferrari Challenge and later the European Le Mans Series. He stepped away from an acting career that had seen him mix blockbusters like the "X-Men" franchise with hard-hitting roles in "12 Years a Slave" and "Hunger". "Had we not been able to fit into his window between racing seasons, we probably wouldn't have made the movie," said Fincher, adding they wanted someone menacing but not "too frightening". "I like very much the idea of someone seeing this film and getting nervous about the person behind them in line at Home Depot," Fincher joked. "The Killer" is a darkly comic but propulsive revenge film that sees Fassbender's gunman try to stay focused and professional but constantly forced to improvise as events get out of hand. It got a much warmer reception than "Fight Club", which was famously booed in Venice in 1999 before becoming a cult hit. The Guardian gave "The Killer" five stars, saying Fincher carries it off with "terrific flair and Fassbender's careworn, inscrutable face is just right for it". Some felt it lacked surprises, with Playlist calling it "entertaining but a little orthodox". - Strike hits red carpet - The ongoing Hollywood strike meant Fassbender and co-star Tilda Swinton were unable to attend the premiere of "The Killer" at the Venice Film Festival, where he won the acting award in 2011 for his role as a sex addict in "Shame". The strike by actors and writers, primarily over pay in the streaming era and the potential threat of AI, has robbed the Venice red carpet of several big stars this week, including Emma Stone and Bradley Cooper who won rave reviews for "Poor Things" and "Maestro", respectively. Lea Seydoux was also a no-show for Sunday's premiere of "The Beast", a well-received film about AI and era-hopping love in the style of David Lynch. The producers read out a message saying it was "difficult for Lea (and British co-star George MacKay) to come here and celebrate with the acute awareness that thousands of actors and writers are struggling to sustain their livelihoods." Fincher has been closely associated with Netflix, one of the main targets of the strike, as producer of its first major hit show "House of Cards", as well as "Mindhunter". "This movie was made through the pandemic. We just got done with three years of having to set our brushes down and walk away, and the idea of that continuing on is very sad to me," the director told reporters. "I can understand both sides. I think all we can do is encourage them to talk." "The Killer" sees Fincher reteam with Andrew Kevin Walker, writer of his breakout thriller "Seven". er/pvh © Agence France-Presse The post Fassbender returns to movies as Fincher’s ‘Killer’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Lawmakers defend free tuition for college students amid sustainability concerns
This came after Diokno, who led the creation of the implementing rules and regulations of the free tertiary education law in 2017, said the program was “unsustainable” and “consumes a lot of funds" during a seminar, according to a BusinessWorld report......»»
BRP Sierra Madre: A rusting hope beacon
Don’t look now, but a piece of junk rusting away in the middle of a contested shoal stands proud as a symbol of a nation’s resolute stand to assert its territorial rights. Yes, whether we like it or not, the BRP Sierra Madre, deliberately grounded there in 1999, carries a profound significance for the Philippines in its quest to keep its sovereignty in the face of an ambitious challenge from an aggressive neighbor in the West Philippine Sea. Fighting boredom just to keep the country’s presence at the shoal — that is also claimed by China by so-called historical right — are Filipino marines no more than a platoon strong who are keeping watch from the aging naval vessel converted into a makeshift military outpost. The West Philippine Sea is an area of immense strategic and economic importance to the Philippines. It encompasses a vast expanse of maritime territory rich in natural resources, vital to the nation’s growth and development. Amid the complex geopolitical dynamics that characterize this region, the BRP Sierra Madre has become a controversial structure atop Ayungin Shoal. The decommissioned former US Navy tank landing ship is proving to be a hindrance to Beijing’s efforts to annex the controversial sea feature also known as Second Thomas Shoal. Removing it by force would set in motion the Philippines’ Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States and we all know what that means. Why do you think China is so interested in occupying the shoal they named Ren’ai? The shoal is a pivotal feature within the West Philippine Sea. It is situated approximately 105 nautical miles from the coast of Palawan, well within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone as defined by international law, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The strategic importance of Ayungin Shoal cannot be overstated. It serves as a natural gateway to the broader Kalayaan Island Group, which includes several other reefs, atolls, and islands that are integral to the Philippines’ sovereignty and territorial integrity in the region. In this context, therefore, the BRP Sierra Madre plays a crucial role. The decision to deploy the BRP Sierra Madre to this location was a bold assertion of the Philippines’ territorial rights, serving as a physical manifestation of its sovereign claim in the face of aggressive territorial expansion by its neighbor. The symbolism of the BRP Sierra Madre extends beyond its physical presence. It embodies the spirit of Philippine resilience and the steadfast defense of its sovereign rights. Despite the vessel’s deteriorating condition due to the harsh marine environment, the Filipino soldiers stationed aboard continue to maintain their presence, demonstrating the Philippines’ commitment to safeguarding its interests in the West Philippine Sea. This dedication, often in challenging conditions, has drawn international attention to the Philippines’ determination to uphold the rule of law and protect its territorial integrity. The Philippines’ stance in the West Philippine Sea is not about asserting dominance over other nations, but rather about safeguarding its rightful interests in accordance with established international norms. UNCLOS, to which both the Philippines and China, among others, are parties, provides a clear framework for resolving maritime disputes. The Philippines has consistently advocated for peaceful and diplomatic solutions to conflicts in the West Philippine Sea, seeking to engage in dialogue and multilateral negotiations to find a resolution that respects the rights of all nations involved. The BRP Sierra Madre, as a symbol of Philippine sovereignty, also underscores the need for international support and solidarity. The Philippines does not stand alone in its effort to defend its sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea. It relies on the principles of international law and the support of its allies and partners. A peaceful and stable West Philippine Sea is in the interest of the international community, as it ensures freedom of navigation, promotes regional stability, and upholds the rules-based international order. The BRP Sierra Madre serves as a poignant reminder that sovereignty and territorial integrity are fundamental principles that every nation must uphold. It calls upon the international community to respect the legitimate claims of nations based on established rules and norms. The Philippines’ determination in maintaining its presence at Ayungin Shoal is not just about a piece of land or maritime territory. It is about defending the rule of law, promoting regional stability, and safeguarding the rights of nations, large and small. The post BRP Sierra Madre: A rusting hope beacon appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US Justice Dept names special counsel to probe Biden’s son
The US Justice Department on Friday escalated its investigation into President Joe Biden's son Hunter, naming a special counsel amid allegations he engaged in illicit business deals overseas. Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Delaware federal prosecutor David Weiss, who recently investigated Hunter Biden on tax and gun charges in a case that remains open. Weiss, who opened his probe in 2019, recently revealed that he was investigating Biden along other lines, and Garland said Weiss had requested special counsel status to be able to pursue his probe more widely. "Upon considering his request, as well as the extraordinary circumstances relating to this matter, I have concluded that it is in the public interest to appoint him as special counsel," Garland said. Deals in China, Ukraine Hunter Biden has come under investigation in Congress over business deals he did in China, Ukraine, and elsewhere during and after his father's 2009-2017 term as vice president. A former business associate told Congress recently that Hunter had gotten his father involved in telephone calls with his foreign partners several times. Republicans allege Joe Biden used his political position to help his son -- a claim the president denies. The move comes as Joe Biden is running for reelection, possibly in a rematch with former president Donald Trump, himself accused of felony crimes in the investigation by another Justice Department special counsel, Jack Smith. Garland gave no hint on the subject matter of Weiss' expanded probe, saying his elevation to the special counsel "reaffirms" the independence and authority of his investigation. Last month, the 53-year-old Hunter aborted a plea deal with Weiss over gun and tax charges after a judge pointed out inconsistencies in the agreement. The deal would have seen Biden avoid prison: he would have been sentenced to probation on two tax avoidance counts, and be forced into a counseling and rehabilitation program for the firearms charge. But the deal fell apart after Judge Maryellen Noreika queried why the gun charge was included in a tax case, and whether the agreement protected Biden from charges that might arise from a wider investigation of his business dealings. Biden then entered a not-guilty plea, and the two sides were expected to work out a new agreement. But in a filing in Delaware court on Friday, Weiss said those talks had reached an impasse and withdrew the offer of a plea deal. Instead, he indicated that the tax charges could be expanded to other venues. Republicans say DOJ protecting Biden There was no comment from the White House on Weiss's elevation to special counsel. In a social media post, a Trump spokesperson alleged that the Biden family had been "protected by the Justice Department for decades." "There is overwhelming evidence and credible testimony detailing their wrongdoing of lying to the American people and selling out the country to foreign enemies for the Biden Cartel's own financial gain," the spokesperson said, without offering evidence. Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy indicated that the Congressional probe of Hunter Biden will continue. "This action by Biden's DOJ cannot be used to obstruct congressional investigations or whitewash the Biden family corruption," he said on social media. The post US Justice Dept names special counsel to probe Biden’s son appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Forked-tongue promises
Commitment to transparency is among the qualities of a corporation that investors and the public look at before making the crucial decision to either infuse some capital into it or buy its products. Power companies have the bigger responsibility for disclosures during the difficult period of rising prices, coupled with the global effort to save the earth from climate catastrophe as a result of greenhouse gases. In 2017, a movement among global big businesses for full disclosure of their projects that may impact the environment called Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures, or TCFD, was launched. Since then, the country’s biggest corporations have signed up to the global transparency movement but not San Miguel Corp. Instead, SMC said in its annual report that it “developed a comprehensive, standardized data template to capture pertinent data and disclosures on our material ESG topics from our various subsidiaries,” without actually signing up for the global accord. Among companies engaged in power generation, SMC also lags in terms of its climate commitments. Think tank Center for Energy, Ecology and Development said in 2019 that First Gen of the Lopez Group announced it will “lead the transition to a decarbonized energy system in line with the United Nations target of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.” SMC, which now dominates energy production through fossil fuel, also has not made any commitments to align with the 1.5°C Paris temperature goal. CEED said that unlike some of the biggest conglomerates in the country, SMC has yet to indicate unqualified support for TCFD. The body was created to develop recommendations on the types of information that should be disclosed by corporations to support investors, lenders and insurance underwriters in appropriately assessing and pricing a specific set of risks related to climate change. The Aboitiz Group, through its holding company Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., was the first local supporter of TCFD. The global movement said on its online site that companies that express support for TCFD recommendations “join a cohort of leading companies that take action against climate change and are thoughtful to consider how climate change will impact their businesses.” “Easing transparency makes markets more efficient, and economies more stable and resilient,” Michael Bloomberg, TCFD chairperson said. According to CEED, the disclosure of climate risks in key private undertakings would guide SMC and its shareholders in making informed choices in “an increasingly carbon-constrained world.” It added that the value of climate-disclosure information and SMC’s plans for a low-carbon economy are becoming increasingly valuable for stakeholders. SMC, by the way, has major shareholders affiliated with the Catholic Church that have kept silent amid the reluctance of the Asian giant for full disclosure. Church groups, ironically, have been calling for action and accountability from financial institutions, energy and extractive companies, and government leaders to contribute to efforts to save the planet. In July 2021, SMC announced plans to move away from building new coal facilities, including those that use “clean technology,” and move towards clean energy. SMC, however, never discloses which power plant projects will be dropped except for three projects in Quezon and Cebu that have total capacities of 1,500 megawatts. CEED said data from the DoE from July 2020 showed plans for new coal-fired power plants with a total capacity of 3,628 MW until a moratorium imposed by the Department of Energy disrupted these plans. SMC also stated that it is aggressively pursuing more sustainable sources of energy which include expensive liquefied natural gas. The duplicity is very apparent since the company’s environmental commitments clash with its actual program to dominate power generation through imported fossil fuel. The post Forked-tongue promises appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
First US nuclear reactor in seven years goes online
A new reactor at a US nuclear power plant entered into operation Monday, a first in seven years in the country where conventional reactors may give way to smaller-scale nuclear facilities. The Vogtle Unit 3 near Waynesboro, in the southeastern state of Georgia, has begun serving some 500,000 homes and businesses, operator Georgia Power said in a statement. "The new unit represents a long-term investment in the state's clean energy future and will provide reliable, emissions-free energy to customers for decades to come," the company said. The project comes online seven years after it was supposed to start producing power. The costs for Unit 3, and a fourth reactor anticipated to enter operation in late 2023 or early 2024, have topped $30 billion, according to an estimate by the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia (MEAP). That is more than double the budget of $14 billion announced at the start of the project. Cost overruns pushed original investor Westinghouse, a subsidiary of Japan's Toshiba, to file for bankruptcy in 2017, and it withdrew from the project. Once all four units are in operation, Vogtle will become the largest generator of clean energy in the nation, according to Georgia Power. Vogtle Units 3 and 4 were the first new reactor projects approved by US authorities since 1979 and an incident at Pennsylvania's Three Mile Island, the most serious nuclear accident in US history. The most recent prior commission of a nuclear reactor was Unit 2 at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant in Tennessee, in 2016. Construction for that reactor had begun in 1973. Work was suspended for more than two decades before the project was revived. Low-carbon nuclear power has been hailed as a climate-friendly energy source as the world struggles to combat global warming. Environmentalists, however, worry about safety and warn that disposing of radioactive waste carries huge risks. Since 1990 only three reactors have entered into operation in the United States: the two units at Watts Bar, in 1996 and 2016, and Vogtle Unit 3 on Monday. No other conventional reactor project is underway. Construction of two reactors at the Virgil Summer Nuclear Station in South Carolina was abandoned in 2017, despite $9 billion already invested in the projects. Manufacturers have now reoriented themselves towards smaller, new-generation facilities known as small modular reactors, or SMRs. The newer designs -- none of which have yet to come into operation in the United States -- are expected to be less expensive, take less time to build, and are considered safer than conventional power plants. The post First US nuclear reactor in seven years goes online appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Belgica, 4 others ordered dismissed
Despite separate rulings by the Justice Secretary and the Office of the President on the Anti-Red Tape Authority’s, or ARTA, directives pertaining to the assignment of frequency to NOW Telecom, an Omnibus Order and Minute Resolution was issued by the officers of the agency affirming its earlier resolution and Order of Automatic Approval which is illegal. With this, former Anti-Red Tape Authority director general Jeremiah Belgica and four other officials of the agency were ordered dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman after finding them guilty of grave misconduct. The termination order was contained in a 14-page decision prepared by a four-member special panel and approved by Ombudsman Samuel Martires. It declared Belgica, his former deputy Eduardo Bringas, division chief Sheryl Pura-Sumangil, and directors Jedrek Ng and Melamy Salvadora-Asperin accountable. The ruling carries the accessory penalties of cancellation of civil service eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, and perpetual disqualification to hold public office. If the accused were already separated from the service and the penalty could no longer be, the same shall be converted into a fine in the amount equivalent to the respondents’ salary for one year, payable to the Office of the Ombudsman, and may be deductible from their retirement benefits, accrued leave credits or any receivables by respondents from their office. The case against Belgica and company stemmed from a complaint filed by DITO Telecommunity Inc., which accused the respondents of giving preferential treatment to NOW Telecom. Sweetheart deal The alleged preferential treatment was evidenced by ARTA’s 1 March 2021 OAA assigning contingent frequencies to NOW Telecom, which came after the government awarded the same frequencies to DITO as the country’s new telco major player. The order cited the respondents’ “clear intent to violate the law” when they issued the assailed ARTA Resolution and OAA despite being aware beforehand of the status of NOW Telecom with the National Telecommunications Commission. As early as December 2005, NTC records showed Now Telecom was already found to be non-compliant and was disqualified from the assignment of 3G frequency bands due to unpaid supervision and regulation fees and spectrum user fees amounting to P2.6 billion. The telecom company in January 2006 was issued a provisional authority that was not specific to 3G and was premised on the condition on the payment of its outstanding SRF and SUF obligations. At that time, the issue on the outstanding SRF and SUF was already pending with the Supreme Court. In December 2017, NOW Telecom was assigned the 20MHz contiguous bandwidth, 3520 to 3540 MHz, under the 3.5 GHz on the same condition that it settle its outstanding SUF and SRF. NOW Telecom’s PA was extended for 36 months until September 2020 subject again to the condition regarding the SUF and SRF, but was never fulfilled by the company. The post Belgica, 4 others ordered dismissed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
ANGKAS: Driving force of the future
Millions of commuters brave the road every single day. At the same time, being on the road and picking up passengers despite unpredictable weather conditions and uncertain times has become the primary source of income for drivers — and this is how Angkas become a driving force for both commuters and drivers despite the worsening transportation crisis in the Philippines. Angkas CEO George Royeca is a beacon of hope for commuters struggling to find a ride amid bustling crowds and everyone who wants to earn money from ride-hailing. "We're looking at empowering the informal sector, particularly those that own a motorcycle. We can quickly help reinforce the motorcycle as a business concept to many Filipino brothers and sisters so they can lead a good life," Royeca said in a recent interview. Bounce back As pandemic restrictions ease and more Filipinos return to the road since last year, Angkas champions as one of the best ride-hailing companies in the Philippines, offering an affordable and reliable ride that commuters can enjoy without compromising their safety. During the pandemic's peak, back riding on motorcycles has been limited to people within the same household. With the government allowing Angkas to reopen its services to the public, it became a viable option for commuters, considering the seating capacity restrictions of trains, buses, and other public utility vehicles. With Angkas' upstanding performance in serving Filipinos in their everyday lives, Royeca is optimistic about the mobile application's future in the market. "I'm thrilled that every person that we talk to, whether they're from the government or the private sector, they believe in this industry that we have been able to establish, and I think that we have proven that it is a safe form of transportation and also an affordable option, alternative to the existing transportation public utility vehicles," he said. Royeca also mentioned expanding the mobile application to the informal sector. "Outside Manila, there's still a lot of habal-habals (motorcycles-for-hire) that are informal, and it is time to make them a part of the legitimized (system)," Royeca said, believing that all riders should experience the same opportunities as Angkas riders. With the Republic Act 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, private owners of motorcycles can be sued when they accept or transport passengers in exchange for payment. Despite good intentions to provide an alternative and ease commuter needs, habal-habal remains unregulated and illegal under Republic Act no. 4136 — and it becomes heavily discouraged by the authorities since private riders cannot offer safety or insurance when extreme circumstances arise. Fulfilling dreams Angkas bring forward a positive change towards their bikers in pushing through with their goals and life aspirations. A living testament to Angkas' strong commitment towards its bikers is Kleiy Zarus Escalona, an Angkas rider who was able to graduate with a degree in BS Criminology. In a Facebook post that garnered a positive reaction from netizens, Escalona thanked Angkas for helping him finish his studies while earning at the side. “SALAMAT ANGKAS since 2017 hanggang ngayon ANGKAS kasama kita. Laking tulong mo sa mga estudyante(ng) nakakapaghanapbuhay ka ng hindi nakaka-abala sa pag-aaral mo kaya maraming salamat sayo (Angkas) nakapagtapos ako ng pag-aaral sa kursong BS CRIMINOLOGY, (Thank you Angkas for being with me since 2017. You are a big help to working students that’s why I am thankful to Angkas because I was able to finish my studies with a degree in BS Criminology.)” the Facebook post reads. Escalona's story proves how perseverance and hard work pay off. At the same time, it is a story that shows how Angkas' business model helps its riders have a productive and meaningful life outside the ride-hailing platform. Royeca is proud of the rider for his success, adding that Angkas firmly adheres to creating more job opportunities and alleviating poverty. Royeca confirmed that 30,000 registered bikers on their platform are out of the poverty line — and they will continue to extend their services to the Filipino people. With more than seven to eight million downloads of the mobile application, Royeca is hopeful and persistent in bringing the well-loved ride-hailing service to cities outside Metro Manila in the future. "We're hopeful that we can open up and provide services to the places that needed it the most, which are the provinces, so I think there is a lot of opportunity there," Royeca said, noting that Angkas is on the process of extending their reach outside Metro Manila, including Cebu and Cagayan de Oro. The post ANGKAS: Driving force of the future appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DA studies Taiwan-inspired agribiz proposals
The Department of Agriculture is hoping to adopt Taiwan’s agricultural technologies such as data analysis and mobile applications. In a statement on Friday, DA said officials will be reviewing business proposals from 47 agri-entrepreneurs who recently completed the Filipino Young Farmers Internship Program in Taiwan and returned to the Philippines on 14 July. The program ran for 11 months and was created through the partnership of DA-Agricultural Training Institute, Manila Economic and Cultural Office, and Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office. “Youth involvement in the agriculture sector is highly important as we are facing the challenge of an aging farmer population. Having completed their international internship program, we believe that they are now prepared to take the next level of their training,” ATI Director Remelyn R. Recoter said. Through a planning workshop, the young agri-entrepreneurs were required to write agribusiness proposals on agricultural and fisheries techniques, marketing strategies, and management practices. Recoter said this will also help the youth apply for new foreign internships in the future. Since 2017, Taiwan has been implementing smart agriculture with the use of sensors, the internet, mobile applications, robotics and artificial intelligence to boost its agricultural production amid a faster aging population. Global data show that half of the population of Taiwan are aged 40 and older; meanwhile, in the Philippines half of total population are 25 years old and younger. Taiwan’s Council for Agriculture is advancing the aforementioned technologies for greenhouse farms where plants are protected from the harmful effects of the sun and rain, resulting in stable production levels year-round. Philippine agricultural exports decreased by 20.8 percent to $1.55 billion in the first quarter this year from $1.95 billion in the same period last year, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. The post DA studies Taiwan-inspired agribiz proposals appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Grand night of classical music with an electric audience
Three youthful musicians, Mark Kenedy Rocas, Adrian Nicolas Ong and Aidan Ezra Baracol, recently wowed — make that brought the house down — an appreciative, mostly Gen Z audience at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater at Circuit Makati. The hyped evening featured the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra — under the baton of Maestro Herminigildo Ranera — the country’s leading orchestra, presenting the Young People’s Concert. An educational guide with a friendly and amiable approach, he gainfully conducted an educational tour in an informal and candid manner before the actual concert. He gleefully introduced the PPO according to the four sections: percussion, strings, woodwind and brass, as each team stood up and outdid each other with little catchy tunes. [gallery columns="2" size="large" ids="159369,159370"] This is in keeping with the Cultural Center of the Philippines Arts Education Program-focused event — more aimed for the younger generation. Ranera is a product of the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music with a Bachelor of Music degree major in Trombone and Theory. He likewise possesses a Master of Music degree in Conducting from the renowned University of Northern Colorado and Doctor of Philosophy major in Educational Management from the Cagayan State University. The arrangements of the three-time winner of the National Music Competitions for Young Artists or NAMCYA have been featured in the albums of lauded conductor Redentor Romero, together with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra and the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra. Through the years, we have been blessed to have witnessed the greatest and the best performers. Thus, we were absolutely baffled with these three young gentlemen with exceptional talent and technical ability. And to think they already have a stellar resume this early on into their musical forays! Rocas performed “Orpheus in the Underworld by German-born French composer Jacques Offenbach” (1819-1880). The piece’s rousing initial fanfare was followed by a gentle love song and an infernal passage. The finale was the ever-popular and all-too-familiar Can-Can of Moulin Rouge fame. He further showed his skills by a rendition of the Flute Concerto No.2 in D Major and K. 314 first and second movements by Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791). His love affair with the flute began at nine years old. He became a member of the Philippine Youth Symphonic Band from 2005 to 2012. A graduate from the University of the Philippines College of Music, he enrolled in several masterclasses under renowned international artists and mentors. Currently, he is an assistant principal flute of the UP Symphony Orchestra. [gallery columns="2" size="large" ids="159371,159372"] Ong’s prowess on the violin was exhibited with the Tzigane by French composer, pianist and conductor Maurice Ravel (1875-1937). The 10-minute obra is a continuation of the Romantic tradition of show pieces for violin virtuosi in a wholehearted gypsy style. He made his professional debut at 17 with the PPO. A scholar of the Interlochen Arts Academy by the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan, he graduated with honors and served as the concertmaster. He recently completed with one of the highest distinctions from the Mannes School of Music in New York City. Notably, he has debuted at the holy grail for performers, the prestigious Carnegie Hall of New York, in May 2023. He is now slated for international concerts with the Asian Youth Orchestra. Baracol revealed mastery of the keys through the Piano Concerto No. 2 OP .18, C Minor by Russian composer, pianist and conductor Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943). This masterwork established his name in the annals of history and is an enduring piece that breathes air into his childhood experiences. This was eloquently and passionately interpreted by Baracol. [caption id="attachment_159373" align="aligncenter" width="525"] (L-R) CCP Vice President and Artistic Director Dennis Marasigan, CCP Consultant Alex Cortes, CCP Board of Trustees Vice Chairman Michelle Nikki Junia, CCP President Maria Margarita Moran-Floirendo, violinist Adrian Nicolas Ong, flutist Mark Kenedy Rocas, pianist Aidan Ezra Baracol, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Consultant Edu Jarque and Niña Romualdez Estela | Photos courtesy of the Cultural Center of the Philippines[/caption] His first brush with the piano was at age 10 and had his first solo piano recital at the SEARCA Auditorium of the University of the Philippines in 2017. During the pandemic, he continually joined international competitions, earning top placements. This coming September 2023, he has been awarded entrance scholarships and admissions at the Royal Academy of Music, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Royal College of Music, all in London, plus the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music at the National University of Singapore. Amid cheers, applauses and bravos, the three promising young men took bow after bow after bow. I could only imagine that the future holds international acclaim, with recital after recital after recital in front of discerning audiences around the world. The post Grand night of classical music with an electric audience appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
India announces new French fighter jet deal as Modi visits Paris
India announced a new multi-billion-dollar deal for French fighter jets on Thursday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Paris for a two-day trip that will see him feted as the guest of honor during France's national day celebrations. India's defense ministry said that the country intended to order 26 more Rafale jets as well as another three Scorpene-class submarines, with the price and other terms still being worked out. India is one of the biggest buyers of French arms, and Modi announced a landmark deal for 36 Rafale fighter jets during a 2015 trip to Paris that was worth around 4.0 billion euros at the time. Some of those Indian-piloted Rafales will take part in a flypast on Friday during France's Bastille Day military parade where Modi will sit alongside French President Emmanuel Macron as guest of honour. "This closeness is not limited to just the leaders of two countries, it is in fact a reflection of the unwavering friendship between India and France," Modi told an enthusiastic crowd of Indians living in France on Thursday evening. Despite differences over the war in Ukraine and tensions over human rights in India, Western democracies are courting Modi and India as a counterweight to China in Asia. Macron's red carpet welcome comes weeks after Modi was given the rare honor of a White House state dinner in Washington -- a city he was once banned from visiting. "India is one of the pillars of our Indo-Pacific strategy," an aide to Macron told reporters this week on condition of anonymity. Human rights But amid the pomp and diplomatic courting in France, a resolution from the European Parliament on Thursday served as a reminder of Modi's controversial leadership style and Hindu nationalist agenda that has critics at home and abroad. Sitting in Strasbourg in eastern France, EU parliamentarians approved a motion that urged India to end violence in the country's restive northeastern Manipur state and to protect minorities there. Clashes between the majority Meitei, who are mostly Hindus, and the mainly Christian Kuki tribe have left at least 120 people dead, 50,000 displaced and over 1,700 houses destroyed, the parliament said. It criticized the "nationalistic rhetoric" of the local state government, run by Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party. Modi's role during Bastille Day in France was "an affront not only to India's minority communities, journalists and human rights defenders but also to India as a democracy," the text's chief negotiator, Pierre Larrouturou, said. A protest called against Modi drew only a few dozen people in central Paris on Thursday. Strategic partnership Modi has visited France four times since Macron came to power in 2017, while Macron was honored with a state visit to New Delhi in 2018. Aides on both sides have talked up the personal chemistry between the two leaders and pointed to cooperation on climate change, space technology, and nuclear power as part of a 25-year-old "strategic partnership" between France and India. Modi told the French newspaper Les Echos that bilateral trade had doubled in the last nine years and Macron's "thinking really matches ours". India and France "are naturally compatible" and "we see France as one of our foremost global partners," Modi added. Few observers expect Macron to raise rights concerns with Modi publicly. "The fact that explains France's relative success in this relationship is that unlike the US, the UK, Canada, Germany and a few other European countries, you've hardly seen France commenting on the internal affairs of India," Constantino Xavier from the Centre for Social and Economic Progress, a New Delhi-based think tank, said this week. "That has been appreciated on the Indian side." Modi has been dogged by allegations he was complicit in religious violence during his tenure as chief minister of the western state of Gujarat in 2002 when around 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in sectarian riots. The Indian government and judicial probes have cleared him of culpability. Since his first crushing electoral victory in 2014, he has also been denounced by rights groups for increased discrimination and violence towards the country's Muslims, as well as stifling independent media. "Diversity is the biggest strength of our democracy," he told the meeting on Thursday evening that also lauded the country's economic growth. Many European and American businesses, including US tech giant Apple, are ramping up production there to mitigate the threat of supply chain disruptions from China. The war in Ukraine has heightened concerns in the West about the risk of conflicts disrupting the flow of key raw materials and technology from China, but it has also exposed a rift with India. New Delhi, which has long sought to balance its ties with Moscow and the West, has declined to condemn Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine and has emerged as a top buyer of discounted Russian oil during the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II. The post India announces new French fighter jet deal as Modi visits Paris appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
German far-right party notches up another win
Germany's far-right AfD notched up another first Sunday when its candidate was elected a full-time town mayor, in a further boost for the anti-immigration party. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) has surged to record highs in opinion polls, and the latest result comes just a week after they won their first district election. Hannes Loth was elected mayor of the small town of Raguhn-Jessnitz, in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, in a run-off against independent candidate Nils Naumann, according to results on the town's Facebook page. Loth, reportedly a 42-year-old farmer who was already a member of the local parliament, won 51.1 percent of the vote against 48.9 percent for Naumann in the town of about 9,000 inhabitants. It marks the first time the party has won an election race for a full-time mayor's position, German media reported. AfD members have held positions as voluntary, or part-time, mayors in smaller places. An AfD member was a full-time mayor of a town in southwest Germany from 2018 to 2020 but was not elected under the party's banner -- he joined the outfit during his term. Loth thanked his supporters for the "wonderful result." "I will be mayor for everyone in Raguhn-Jessnitz," he wrote on social media. In last week's election, Robert Sesselmann, a lawyer and regional lawmaker, won a runoff for district administrator in Sonneberg in the central state of Thuringia, near the border with Bavaria. Recent surveys have put support for the AfD at a record 18 to 20 percent, neck-and-neck with Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats and behind only the conservative CDU/CSU bloc. Thomas Krueger, head of the federal agency for civic education, warned this weekend the party should not be dismissed as a "mere protest movement". "Voters want this party... the situation is serious," he told the RND media group. Created in 2013 as an anti-euro outfit before morphing into an anti-Islam, anti-immigration party, the AfD has benefited from growing discontent with Scholz's three-party coalition amid concerns about inflation and the affordability of the government's climate plans. High immigration also remains a key voter concern. The AfD stunned the political establishment when it took around 13 percent of votes in the 2017 general elections, catapulting its lawmakers into the German parliament. It slid to around 10 percent in the 2021 federal election. sr/gw © Agence France-Presse The post German far-right party notches up another win appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Nuclear arms spending, arsenals swell as global tensions grow: studies
The world's nuclear powers, and China in particular, increased investment in their arsenals for a third consecutive year in 2022 amid swelling geopolitical tensions, two reports showed Monday. The world's nine nuclear-armed states jointly spent $82.9 billion on their arsenals last year, with the United States accounting for more than half of that, according to a new report from the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute meanwhile released a report showing that the total number of nuclear warheads held by Britain, China, France, India, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia and the United States was down to 12,512 at the outset of this year, from 12,710 at the start of 2022. While some of that included older warheads scheduled to be dismantled, SIPRI said that 9,576 were in "military stockpiles for potential use" -- 86 more than a year earlier. "We are approaching, or maybe have already reached, the end of a long period of the number of nuclear weapons worldwide declining," SIPRI director Dan Smith told AFP. 'Beginning to tick up' Pointing to the stockpile of usable nuclear warheads, Smith said that "those numbers are beginning to tick up", while adding that they remain far below the more than 70,000 seen during the 1980s. The bulk of the increase was in China, which increased its stockpile from 350 to 410 warheads. India, Pakistan and North Korea also upped their stockpiles and Russia's grew to a smaller extent, from 4,477 to 4,489, while the remaining nuclear powers maintained the size of their arsenals. Russia and the United States together have almost 90 percent of all nuclear weapons. "The big picture is we've had over 30 years of the number of nuclear warheads coming down, and we see that process coming to an end now," Smith said. $157,664 every minute The higher spending reported by ICAN appeared to back that up. ICAN, which was awarded the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize, found that spending on nuclear weapons had risen three percent from 2021, marking the third consecutive annual increase. The $82.9 billion spent amounted to $157,664 for every minute of 2022, it said in its report entitled "Wasted: 2022 Global Nuclear Weapons Spending". Washington spent $43.7 billion, which was slightly less than a year earlier but was still far ahead of all other countries, the report showed. China was next in line with $11.7 billion spent, followed by Russia at $9.6 billion -- both marking an increase of around six percent from 2021. India meanwhile showed the most drastic spending jump, dishing out $2.7 billion -- 21.8 percent more than a year earlier -- while Britain raised its spending level by 11 percent to $6.8 billion. The report also highlighted how arms companies involved in the production of nuclear weapons received new contracts worth just under $16 billion last year, and in turn spent $113 million lobbying governments in the United States and France alone. Globally, nuclear-armed countries have contracts with companies to produce nuclear weapons worth at least $278.6 billion, continuing in some cases through to 2040, it said. Diplomatic setbacks Researchers at SIPRI also noted that diplomatic efforts on nuclear arms control and disarmament had suffered setbacks following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February last year. Russia has for instance suspended participation in New START, a Cold War-era treaty that limits warheads and allows verification by both sides. At the same time, Smith said the increase in stockpiles could not be explained by the war in Ukraine, as it takes a longer time to develop new warheads and the bulk of the increase was among countries not directly affected. China has also invested heavily in all parts of its military as its economy and influence have grown. "What we're seeing is China stepping up as a world power," Smith said. The post Nuclear arms spending, arsenals swell as global tensions grow: studies appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Thousands flee flooded homes after Ukraine dam destroyed
Thousands were fleeing their homes Wednesday after the destruction of a frontline Russian-held dam in Ukraine flooded dozens of villages and parts of a nearby city, sparking fears of a humanitarian disaster. Downstream from the breached Kakhovka dam, Ukrainian police and troops in the southern city of Kherson were bringing people out from inundated areas in inflatable boats, most clutching only a few documents and pets. Despite the evacuations, officials said Russian forces have kept shelling the residential neighborhoods. Ukraine and Russia have traded blame for the dam being ripped open early Tuesday, prompting Turkey's president to propose to both nations' leaders an international probe of the breach. The destruction has also raised fears of an environmental disaster and nuclear safety risks as it provides cooling water for Europe's largest nuclear plant. One woman, Nataliya Korzh, 68, had swum part of the way to escape from her house. She emerged from a rescue boat barefoot, her legs covered with scratches, her hands trembling from cold. "All my rooms are underwater. My fridge is floating, the freezer, everything. We're used to shooting, but a natural disaster is a real nightmare. I wasn't expecting that," she told AFP. She feared for her two dogs and cat, which she was unable to save. "To get to the room where the dogs were, I would have had to dive. I don't know what's happened to them." The water was waist-deep in the central streets of Kherson and the ground floors of buildings were submerged. A spokesman for Ukraine's emergency services, Oleksandr Khorunzhyi, said that "currently there is no information about the dead or injured". Water levels in Kherson have risen by five meters (16 feet), he said. While finger-pointing continued over the dam's destruction, Moscow accused Kyiv of blowing up a key pipeline that Russia used before the war to export ammonia and whose re-activation it has requested as part of grain deal talks. Continued shelling The governor of the Kherson region, Oleksandr Prokudin, said 1,700 people had been evacuated so far and reported that ongoing shelling was endangering rescuers and locals. Moscow-installed officials on the Russian-occupied side of the river said on Tuesday that more than 1,200 people had been evacuated. A policeman, Sergiy, 38, was using a radio to coordinate the rescue boats. "Today we've already saved 30 people, 10 pets. There was one child. We will work until we've brought out all the people," he told AFP. Washington warned there would be "likely many deaths" due to the breach of the Kakhovka dam. Kyiv said the destruction of the dam -- seized by Russia in the early hours of the war -- was an attempt by Moscow to hamper its long-awaited offensive, which Ukraine's leader stressed would not be affected. The United Nations warned that hundreds of thousands could be affected on both sides of the frontline. The governor of the Kherson region, Oleksandr Prokudin, said 1,852 houses had been flooded by early Wednesday. "According to our forecasts, the water level will increase by one meter within the next 20 hours," he warned. An official in President Volodymyr Zelensky's office, Daria Zarivna, said that in the occupied territory "the Russians simply abandoned people" and in the town of Oleshky on the opposite bank from Kherson, "many spent the night on the roofs of houses". 'Environmental bomb' Zelensky accused Russia of detonating an "environmental bomb of mass destruction", saying authorities expected up to 80 settlements with tens of thousands of residents to be flooded and urging the world to "react". "This crime carries enormous threats and will have dire consequences for people's lives and the environment," Zelensky said. But the explosion would "not affect Ukraine's ability to de-occupy its own territories", he added. Last October, Zelensky accused Russia of planting mines at the dam, warning that its destruction would spur a new wave of refugees into Europe. Kyiv said 150 tonnes of engine oil had spilled into the river, and the agricultural ministry said about 10 thousand hectares of farmland on the right bank of the river would be flooded and "several times more" on the left bank. China expressed "serious concern" over the dam destruction, while EU chief Charles Michel called it a "war crime" and NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg condemned it as "outrageous". Russia has said the dam was partially destroyed by "multiple strikes" from Ukrainian forces and urged the world to condemn Kyiv's "criminal acts". Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office said he proposed setting up an international commission to investigate the destruction of the dam in calls with Zelensky and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. The Soviet-era dam, built in the 1950s, sits on the Dnipro River, which provides cooling water for the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant some 150 kilometers (90 miles) away. The UN nuclear watchdog agency said the dam break was posing "no short-term risk" to the plant. Separately, Moscow accused a Ukrainian "sabotage" group of blowing up a section of the Togliatti-Odesa pipeline that Russia used to export ammonia and that is part of the international talks on allowing grain exports from Ukraine amid the conflict with Russia. Ukrainian officials have accused Russian forces of firing at the ammonia pipeline. The post Thousands flee flooded homes after Ukraine dam destroyed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Herbosa thumbs down revival of Dengvaxia vaccines
Newly sworn Health Secretary Ted Herbosa on Wednesday rejected the possibility of the reuse of the controversial Dengvaxia vaccine. In an ambush interview a day after he took his oath before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Malacañang Palace, Herbosa simply said “no,” when asked if he is keen on the possibility of reusing the dengue vaccine. He issued the remarks amid the rising cases of dengue in the country, which are about to reach the 50,000 mark. Based on the latest Disease Surveillance Report of the Department of Health (DOH), there were 48,109 cases of dengue reported for the period of 1 January to 13 May, which is 38 percent higher compared to the 34,963 dengue cases reported during the same period last year. The majority of the dengue cases were recorded in the National Capital Region(6,395), Calabarzon (5,135), Davao Region (4,842) and Central Luzon (4,722). Meanwhile, comparing data from the same period last year, Mimaropa has recorded the greatest number of cases from 704 to 3,281, which is equivalent to 366 percent. In 2017, the Food and Drug Administration ordered the suspension of the sale, distribution, and marketing of the Dengvaxia vaccine and the withdrawal of the product from the market after Sanofi Pasteur announced that its vaccine could pose risks to those who have never had dengue but were vaccinated. Last July, then Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said that the Health department would review the use of dengue vaccines amid increasing dengue cases in the country. The post Herbosa thumbs down revival of Dengvaxia vaccines appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Herbosa pushes healthcare reforms
Dr. Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa took his oath on Tuesday as secretary of the Department of Health, a position that had been vacant since June last year. He was sworn into office by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at Malacañang. Herbosa pledged to fully implement the Universal Health Care Law, or UHCL, by sustaining its gains, strengthening health sector strategy interventions and introducing healthcare reforms. The UHCL, or Republic Act 11223, was enacted in 2019 to provide universal health coverage for all Filipinos, regardless of their income or employment status. “The DoH family welcomes this development, as this is crucial to the department’s operations. With this transition, the DoH ensures that healthcare services will remain unhampered,” the agency said. Marcos named Herbosa Health secretary Monday night, putting him at the helm of the department vice Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire, who had led the agency since July of last year. Vergeire assured the public that DoH will provide “all-out support” and a smooth transition for Herbosa. “Secretary Ted can be assured of our sincere support from the whole DoH family,” she said. Before his appointment, Herbosa served as an undersecretary at the DoH from 2010 to 2015, contributing to various initiatives such as the establishment of the Hospital Accreditation Commission, modernizing the Philippine Orthopedics Center, and promoting public-private partnerships in health. He is also a former undersecretary and concurrent regional director at the DoH-National Capital Regional Office. From October 2017 to April 2021, Herbosa served as executive vice president of the University of the Philippines System, contributing to its development and growth. He has held various key positions, including chief of the Division of Trauma at the Department of Surgery, Philippine General Hospital; chairman of the board of Physicians for Peace Philippines, and third vice president of the UP Alumni Association. He has likewise served as a professor in the Emergency Department at Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and at the National University of Malaysia. Herbosa has been involved in numerous international roles and collaborations, including serving on the board of directors of the World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine. He is a former medical consultant and adviser for the Australasian Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians in Melbourne, Australia, and Regional Education Coordinator for the HOPE (Hospital Preparedness and Emergencies) Program at Johns Hopkins University Center for International Emergencies, Disasters and Refugee Studies in Maryland, USA. Amid the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, Herbosa served as a Special Adviser to the National Task Force Against Covid-19, offering guidance and contributing to the formulation of strategies to mitigate the impact of the virus. He also served as an international consultant in several countries, including Palau, Maldives, Malaysia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Vietnam, Tunisia and Thailand, making notable contributions to emergency medicine and trauma care. Dr. Herbosa’s involvement in the development of the STOP DEATH Program and his membership in the Safe Surgery Saves Lives Global Task Force, which developed the WHO safe surgery checklist, demonstrated his dedication to improving healthcare systems. ‘Interestingly, Gibo is a trained pilot. And he knows that our defense requirements are evolving from mainly insurgency-based to more territorial protection — and that requires air superiority in our own airspace.’ Herbosa also held a prominent position as a professor at the College of Medicine at the University of the Philippines Manila. Aside from Herbosa, Marcos named Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. as secretary of the Department of National Defense. Meanwhile, senators expressed their support for the appointments of Teodoro and Herbosa as Defense and Health chiefs, respectively. “Secretary Teodoro is a tried and tested public servant and we trust that he will head the Department of Defense most capably, particularly amid this atmosphere of brewing tensions in our waters,” Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said in a statement. “And we are happy to see the Department of Health helmed by an experienced public health expert. Secretary Herbosa’s appointment comes at an opportune time, with our Regional Specialty Centers Act having just gotten bicameral approval, and we are hopeful that he will spearhead a truly whole-of-nation approach in the improvement of our public health services,” he added. He said with the appointments of Teodoro and Herbosa, the President has “just addressed the two most pressing challenges of our time — territorial integrity and our full recovery from the pandemic.” “Their appointments should give a big boost to our fight to have a secure and stronger nation supported by a healthy population,” he said. Likewise, Senator Grace Poe welcomed the appointments of the new department heads. “We trust that their expertise and experience in their respective fields will help them carry out the gargantuan tasks that lie ahead,” she said in a separate statement. Poe said the new secretaries are “crucial in deciding and implementing strategies in addressing the various health issues we are facing and in upholding the country’s territorial integrity against various threats.” “Focus and commitment on the job coupled with straight and true service will fortify our health and defense sectors and deliver the services our people deserve,” she added. Senator JV Ejercito urged Teodoro to ensure the successful modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. “We need to expedite these efforts to put up a robust defense posture and reinforce our coastal defenses amid the growing tensions in the West Philippine Sea and South China Sea,” he said. Meanwhile, former Health secretary, now Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin, wished Herbosa all the luck and the perseverance to deliver accessible healthcare to Filipinos. According to Garin, the DoH needs a manager who can oversee the prompt delivery of services to the public. She added Herbosa also needs to tackle the so-called infodemics or the proliferation of fake medical news. Speaker Martin Romualdez and Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said the President made the right choices in Teodoro and Herbosa. “Interestingly, Gibo is a trained pilot. And he knows that our defense requirements are evolving from mainly insurgency-based to more territorial protection — and that requires air superiority in our own airspace,” said Salceda. The post Herbosa pushes healthcare reforms appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»