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Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1600 GMT, March 25
JAKARTA -- One was killed and nine others, including children, went missing after a landslide struck a village in the Indonesian province of West Java on Sunday, a local official said Monday. The disaster took place in Cibenda village in West Bandung regency on Sunday after torrential rain reportedly poured over the area for around two hours. (Indonesia-Landslide) - - - - SYDNEY -- Local media repo.....»»
3 suspected rebels killed in clash in Philippines Batangas
MANILA, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Three suspected rebels were killed in a clash with government forces in Batangas province, south of Manila, on Tuesday, the Philippine military said. The military said a 30-minute gunfight broke out around 6:30 a.m. local time after the troops ran into a group of New People's Army (NPA) rebels in Rosario town. The troops recovered three rifles, six jungle packs, and some mater.....»»
Army troops kill BIFF training officer in Maguindanao clash
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews / 25 March) – Philippine Army troops killed an alleged ranking member of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) during an encounter in Maguindanao del Sur last Friday. Brig. General Jose Vlademir Cagara, commander of the Army’s 1st Brigade Combat team, said troops killed Abu Halil, a training officer of the […].....»»
Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1600 GMT, March 25
JAKARTA -- One was killed and nine others, including children, went missing after a landslide struck a village in the Indonesian province of West Java on Sunday, a local official said Monday. The disaster took place in Cibenda village in West Bandung regency on Sunday after torrential rain reportedly poured over the area for around two hours. (Indonesia-Landslide) - - - - SYDNEY -- Local media repo.....»»
Japan, U.S.: ‘We got your back’
Key allies of the country expressed their unwavering support after a Chinese Coast Guard ship intentionally collided with a Philippine Navy boat to stop a resupply mission to the grounded BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal. Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. described the maneuver as an escalation of China’s aggression within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines. Japan issued a statement expressing support after the incident. “Japan expresses serious concern for actions which increase regional tensions, including a dangerous action that caused a collision between Chinese and Filipino ships on 22 October,” the Japanese Foreign Ministry said. It added that Japan believes the issue of the South China Sea is directly related to the peace and stability in the region and is a legitimate concern of the international community, including Japan. “Thus, Japan opposes any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force as well as any actions that increase tensions in the South China Sea,” it said. Citing the Japan-Philippines Joint Statement last February, the Foreign Ministry said the “government of Japan concurs with the Philippines’ long-standing objections to unlawful maritime claims, militarization, coercive activities, and threat or use of force in the South China Sea.” “Furthermore, Japan highly appreciates the government of the Philippines for having consistently complied with the arbitral tribunal’s award as to the disputes between the Republic of the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China regarding the South China Sea, and has shown its commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes in the (West Philippine Sea), as stated in the statement by the Foreign Minister of Japan issued on the occasion of the seventh anniversary of the issuance of the award,” it said. Japan said it would continue to cooperate with the international community, such as the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the United States, to “protect free, open and peaceful seas.” ‘Ironclad’ vow The United States, meanwhile, reiterated its “ironclad” commitment to the Philippines. According to a White House statement, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan assured National Security Adviser Eduardo Año of US support in safeguarding its sovereign rights in the WPS under the Mutual Defense Treaty between both nations. “Sullivan reiterated US support for our Philippine allies following the PRC Coast Guard and maritime militia’s dangerous and unlawful actions on 22 October, obstructing a routine Philippine resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal,” the statement read. “Sullivan emphasized the ironclad US commitments to the Philippines under theUS-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, which extends to armed attacks on Philippine public vessels, aircraft and armed forces — to include those of its Coast Guard — in the Pacific, including in the West Philippine Sea,” it added. Signed in 1951, the Philippines and the United States agreed that an armed attack in the Pacific area on either of the parties would be dangerous to its own peace and safety and declared that it would act to meet the common dangers by its constitutional processes. The White House said Sullivan and Año “reaffirmed the enduring alliance and friendship between our nations and discussed upcoming US-Philippine engagements and ways to further strengthen our close partnership.” Manila vs Beijing Both Manila and Beijing condemned the incident, which they said violated their sovereign rights over Ayungin Shoal, a low-tide elevation in the WPS. The two countries traded blame for the incident, which also sparked concern from Australia, Canada and South Korea. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration rejected Beijing’s historical nine-dash line claim to the WPS. Militia boats utilized Teodoro labeled the Chinese actions near the shoal as deliberate. “Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels, in blatant violation of international law, harassed and intentionally hit the Unaiza May 2 and Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Cabra,” Teodoro said. “We are here to decry in the strongest terms this egregious violation and illegal act within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone and the obfuscation of the truth by China’s distorting of the story to fit its own ends.” His comments came hours after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met with security officials and ordered the Coast Guard to investigate the incident, which was “being taken seriously at the highest levels of government,” Malacañang said. The military monitored “a large number of Chinese maritime militia vessels” swarming in the West Philippine Sea, National Security Council spokesperson, Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya, said. In a television interview, Malaya said these vessels were spotted “not only in the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal and Bajo de Masinloc but also in other features, including (Scarborough Shoal) and Sabina (Escoda) Shoal.” “We are alarmed by the environmental degradation our Coast Guard ships were able to monitor in these areas,” he told the ANC. Malaya noted that environmental degradation or coral destruction would directly impact the livelihood of the fishermen in the WPS. “Sometimes we forget the reasons why we are pushing our rights in the WPS. Some critics say this is just posturing on the part of the Philippines or a tug-of-war between China and the Philippines. No, this is not,” he stressed. “This is a battle for the resources of our country, particularly for our fishermen, so that when we monitor coral destruction in parts of the WPS, it alarms the government because it directly impacts the livelihood of our fishermen,” he said. Malaya also slammed China’s “maligned information operation” and sharing of “false narratives” in its sweeping claims on the WPS. “Definitely, there’s a maligned information operation going on nowadays that is shared to the public and we are just happy it is not just the Philippine government that is sharing our side here — we have allies, if we may call them witnesses, from the media,” he said. The post Japan, U.S.: ‘We got your back’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Negotiation not an option
The terrorist group Hamas has been playing with international sentiment using the hostages of different nationalities it seized in the 7 October act of treachery to put global pressure on Israel to implement a ceasefire. The United States thwarted a resolution at the United Nations Security Council calling for a halt in Israeli operations as the superpower cited the right of Israel to self-defense. Simply put, Hamas as a terror organization cannot demand a ceasefire with Israel, which is a legitimate state. The Israeli airstrikes have essentially crippled the capability of Hamas to pursue its terror campaign against Israel and it now needs an opportunity to regroup, hoping that it will secure help from other terror groups waiting in the wings. Crushing Hamas quickly is necessary to avert the possible participation of other foreign armed groups in the Gaza conflict. Nations that have feuded with Israel sponsor armed militants that are now aching to get an order to strike and join the battle with Hamas. Prolonging the conflict is to Hamas’ advantage as global outrage is guaranteed when civilian deaths pile up and the hostages are released one at a time. An estimated 200 people, including 30 teenagers and young children and 20 people over the age of 60, are being held hostage in Gaza, based on estimates from an Israel Defense Forces source. Among the hostages are a still undetermined number of Filipinos who mostly work as caregivers. The strategy of the terror group to win international sympathy by using subterfuge has backfired in most cases. A commentary in the Thai broadsheet, The Examiner, indicated rising awareness of the level of deception being engineered by Hamas and its supporters. According to the newspaper, comments by the Iranian Ambassador in Bangkok “demonstrate Hamas is using the 19 Thai hostages as leverage to halt the bombardment of the enclave.” Ambassador Seyed Reza Nobakhti said in Bangkok that the Hamas leader had assured the Iranian foreign minister the Thai hostages would be released, but this could not happen until hostilities ceased. “However, Hamas, which Iran funds, made it clear that the hostages were being held in Palestinian safe houses but that no place was safe in Gaza,” according to the commentary. Thailand said 19 of its citizens were seized by Hamas during the terror strike over two weeks ago. On Friday, Hamas released two American hostages, a mother and her daughter, following mediation by Qatar. The armed group said more will be released under a ceasefire. Israel has resisted calls for a halt in its offensive against Hamas, saying the release of hostages will not affect its ongoing military operations. Its target is the elimination of all Hamas infrastructure and facilities and the release of all hostages will follow. The problem, however, is that as the crisis plays out longer, and the surgical strikes to take out Hamas targets can’t be completed unless all the civilians evacuate, casualties will tend to rise and so will international indignation. Such a situation favors Hamas which will assume the role of victim, which is preposterous as it initiated the war with Israel with the slaughter of the innocents. Israel, which is now being accused in the United Nations and elsewhere of atrocities, however, had repeatedly warned residents to leave the war zone. Israel has not been remiss in urging the residents to move south, towards a safer humanitarian area. The IDF’s notices to the people of Gaza, which were intended to protect them from the strikes on Hamas, stand in contrast to the way Hamas treats its civilians, using them as shields. Since Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, one of its most reprehensible deeds is endangering Palestinian civilians during its terror operations, such as by positioning rocket launchers and command centers deep in the heart of Gaza. It even fortified tunnels under UN schools. “Our war is not with the people of Gaza. It’s with a murderous organization that attacks Israelis, while intentionally endangering its residents to protect its leadership,” the IDF said. Hamas is a terror group no different from the Islamic State, which both use mayhem to attain their objective of replacing civilized existence with a fundamental Islamic empire. The post Negotiation not an option appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Amsterdam sex workers protest planned ‘erotic center’
Amsterdam's sex workers Thursday protested against the transfer of their famed red light district to an out-of-town "erotic center", in what is seen as part of a battle for the city's soul. Many wearing masks to shield their identity, dozens of sex workers marched through the streets towards City Hall, one carrying a banner saying: "If sex workers are not to blame, then why are we being punished?" Mayor Femke Halsema wants to uproot the red light district and move it out of town to a purpose-built "erotic center", aiming to rid Amsterdam's image as a "sin city" while reducing the number of tourists and petty crime in the area. But she has found herself up against local residents who do not want the new center on their doorstep, as well as sex workers who feel they are scapegoats for the criminals and crowds surrounding their neon-lit booths. Halsema has long opposed the centuries-old red light district, known as De Wallen, with its neon-lined windows in canalside houses where sex workers stand waiting for customers. The city council has earmarked three possible sites for the erotic center, which would have 100 rooms for sex workers. One sex worker who identified herself only as Lucie dismissed the idea as "one big gentrification project". "It's mainly about combatting the crowds in De Wallen, but that is not the sex workers' fault so I don't see why we should be punished for it," said Lucie, who declined to give her last name. 'We just don't want it' Even the European Medicines Agency has been caught up in the controversy after it emerged one possible site for the erotic center was near its headquarters. The EMA voiced outrage, saying it could affect the safety of people working late at the office. More than 20,000 have signed a petition against the transfer of the booths, calling instead for better crowd control in the area and greater police surveillance, especially at night. Mariska Majoor, a former sex worker who now advocates for their rights, said the protests against moving the district had already been going for 16 years and that City Hall kept changing the goalposts. "The authorities had a plan to reduce part of the brothels already in 2007. Then it was because of the fight against people trafficking and abuse and now it's about the fight against mass tourism," she told AFP. Moving the red light district is Amsterdam's latest effort to transform its image as a party capital. It has also launched a "stay away" campaign to discourage stag nights and boozy tourists, which caused a stir in Britain after the council said it would start by targeting British men aged 18 to 35. The demonstration also attracted out-of-town locals who might suddenly find themselves living next to the new "erotic center." Cynthia Cournuejouls, a 42-year mother living to the south of the city, told AFP: "We don't want the biggest brothel in Europe in our neighborhood." "We just don't want it. We want to keep it here." The post Amsterdam sex workers protest planned ‘erotic center’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Tunnel warfare
When Marawi residents were finally allowed to check on their houses about seven months after the dust of battle had settled, they saw holes in the walls and tunnels underneath. This was in the so-called “most affected areas” or ground zero, which experienced the heaviest and most devastating bombardment in the 2017 Marawi siege. Initially, the residents did not know the significance of the holes and tunnels. Later, they learned that it was to facilitate the movement of the rebels from one building to another without being exposed on the roads that were being monitored using satellites and drones, courtesy of foreign countries. They could evade the modern penetrating binoculars and sophisticated war weapons that honed in on body heat. Tunnel or subterranean warfare is a feature of modern urban wars that we saw in the Vietnam war, the Syrian civil war, and the campaigns against the terrorist ISIS and similar groups. We are seeing it now in the Israel-Hamas conflict. In the Marawi war, the Maute-Abu Sayyaf Group took advantage of the labyrinth of sewers and canals that crisscrossed buildings underground. This could have been the reason for the protracted fighting, which brought government forces aided by modern technology and intelligence provided by countries like the United States five months to quell even if the rebels were clearly outnumbered and outgunned. In the basement of the Bato Ali Mosque, which was used as a temporary shelter cum headquarters of the rebels, there was a covered canal going down towards the Dansalan area where the wet market or padian was situated and where the other rebel forces were holding out. It was in this area that sniper bullets killed rebel leaders Omar Maute and Istilon Hapilon before dawn on 16 October 2017. The current war in the Middle East will not be a walk in the park for the Israeli forces. How do we deal with the network of tunnels that were dug before the wars between Israel and the Arabs that are now being used by Hamas? There are more than a thousand subterranean tunnels in Gaza alone. They connect to the countries surrounding Gaza. They were initially used by smugglers of illegal drugs and by human traffickers. They are now referred to as “terror tunnels.” They were dug so deep that even the most destructive bombs of Israel cannot destroy them. The Palestinians built tunnels beneath hospitals, schools, churches and mosques, which are not likely to be bombed. They were used to pull off the surprise attack on Israel on 7 October. The Middle East is full of these ancient tunnels and underground cavities because they were easy to construct under the desert sand and served as shelters from the sun’s scorching heat. The hostages taken by Hamas are likely being held in these tunnels, making it doubly hard for Israeli forces to find them. The other thing going for Hamas is its familiarity with the terrain. They could plant bombs and mines in the strategic entrances and exits to Gaza, or they could hide in the remaining buildings and rain down Molotov bombs on the invading tanks (Are Molotov bombs still effective against modern tanks? We saw unexploded Molotov bombs in our house in Marawi when we visited it for the first time). The siege of Gaza will not be a blitzkrieg — it will be protracted and hard-fought because of these mines. Meanwhile, world pressure is on Israel and the US to respect the United Nations’ rules of engagement and avoid hitting non-combatants, women, and children. NATO, in fact, has called for “proportionality” when Israel attacks Gaza. amb_mac_lanto@yahoo.com. The post Tunnel warfare appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hundreds dead in Israel-Gaza war as Hezbollah launches attacks
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday warned of a "long and difficult" war, as fighting with Hamas left hundreds dead on both sides after a surprise attack on Israel by the Palestinian militant group. The conflict's bloodiest escalation in decades saw Hamas carry out a massive rocket barrage and ground, air and sea offensive Saturday that Israel's army said had killed more than 200 Israelis and wounded 1,000, while soldiers and civilians were taken hostage. Gaza officials said intense Israeli air strikes on the coastal enclave had brought the Palestinian death toll to at least 256, with nearly 1,788 wounded. As fighting raged Sunday, Lebanon's powerful Iran-backed Hezbollah movement said it had fired "large numbers of artillery shells and guided missiles" at Israeli positions in a contested border areas "in solidarity" with Hamas. Israel's army had earlier said it fired artillery on southern Lebanon in response to a shot from the area without identifying the attackers. "We are embarking on a long and difficult war that was forced on us by a murderous Hamas attack," Netanyahu said on X, formerly Twitter, early Sunday. "The first stage is ending at this time by the destruction of the vast majority of the enemy forces that infiltrated our territory," he added, pledging no "respite" until victory. Overnight Israel battered the Gaza Strip with air strikes as rockets from the blockaded Palestinians territory rained on Israel. Sunday morning gun still battles raged between Israeli forces and hundreds of Hamas fighters in multiple locations, including at the Sderot police station across the border from Gaza. Police and Israeli army special forces "neutralized 10 armed terrorists" who were holed up inside the station, a police statement said. The bloody air, sea and land attack launched Saturday by Hamas came half a century after the outbreak of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, taking Israel and the world by surprise. As the UN Security Council called an emergency meeting for Sunday, President Joe Biden voiced "rock solid and unwavering" support for the US ally and warned "against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation". - Hostages and 'so many bodies' - The Israeli army said overnight its forces were still engaged in gun battles in a string of Israel locations, in an operation labelled "Swords of Iron", as reservists were being called up. Hamas earlier released images of several Israelis taken captive, and another army spokesman, Daniel Hagari, confirmed that soldiers and civilians had been kidnapped. "I can't give figures about them at the moment," he said late Saturday, adding there was also a "severe hostage situation" in the Negev desert communities of Beeri and Ofakim east of Gaza. According to Ynet Israeli news website "dozens of Israeli captives, including numerous women, children and elders, are believed to have been taken into the Gaza Strip". The fighting prompted Israel to cut off Gaza's electricity, fuel and goods supplies, Netanyahu said. The Islamist group started the multi-pronged attack around 6:30 am (0330 GMT) on Saturday with thousands of rockets aimed as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, some bypassing the Iron Dome defense system and hitting buildings. Hamas fighters -- traveling in ground vehicles, motorized paragliders and boats -- breached Gaza's security barrier and attacked nearby Israeli towns and military posts, opening fire on residents and passersby. "Send help, please!" one Israeli woman sheltering with her two-year-old child pleaded as militants outside opened fire and tried to break into their safe room, Israeli media reported. Bodies were strewn on the streets of the Israeli town of Sderot near Gaza and inside cars, the windscreens shattered by a hail of bullets. "I saw many bodies, of terrorists and civilians," one man told AFP, standing beside covered corpses on a road near Gevim Kibbutz in southern Israel. "So many bodies, so many bodies." AFP journalists witnessed Palestinian armed men gather around a burning Israeli tank, and others driving a seized Israeli military Humvee vehicle back into Gaza, where they were met by cheering crowds. - 'Gates of hell' - Israeli army Major General Ghasan Alyan warned Hamas had "opened the gates of hell". An AFP journalist in Gaza saw clouds of dust from the remains of bombed residential towers which Gaza's interior ministry said contained 100 apartments. Israel's military said it had warned residents to evacuate before targeting the multi-story buildings used by Hamas. The escalation follows months of rising violence, mostly in the occupied West Bank, and tensions around Gaza's border and at contested holy sites in Jerusalem. Before Saturday, at least 247 Palestinians, 32 Israelis and two foreigners had been killed this year, including combatants and civilians, according to Israeli and Palestinian officials. Hamas labeled its attack "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood" and called on "resistance fighters in the West Bank" as well as in "Arab and Islamic nations" to join the battle. Its armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, claimed to have fired more than 5,000 rockets, while Hecht said Israel had counted more than 3,000 incoming rockets. Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said the group was on the "verge of a great victory", vowing to press ahead with "the battle to liberate our land and our prisoners languishing in occupation prisons must be completed". - 'Dangerous precipice' - Air raid sirens wailed across southern and central Israel, as well as in Jerusalem on Saturday, and there were major disruptions at Tel Aviv airport where many carriers canceled flights. Israel said schools would remain closed on Sunday which marks the start of the week. Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, leading to Israel's crippling blockade of the impoverished enclave of 2.3 million people. Israel and Hamas have since fought several wars. The last major military exchange, in May, killed 34 Palestinians and one Israeli. Violence also erupted across the West Bank, including annexed east Jerusalem, with five Palestinians killed and 120 wounded in clashes with Israeli forces and settlers, Palestinian medical services said. Countries around the world condemned the wave of attacks by Hamas, which Israel, the United States and European Union consider a terrorist group. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the attack "terrorism in its most despicable form". But Hamas drew support from other foes of Israel, with Iran's supreme leader declaring he was "proud". UN Middle East peace envoy Tor Wennesland warned of "a dangerous precipice" and called on all sides to "pull back from the brink". (Rosie Scammell with Adel Zaanoun in Gaza) az-rsc-jd/hkb © Agence France-Presse The post Hundreds dead in Israel-Gaza war as Hezbollah launches attacks appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘They put a price on everything’: extortion hits Mexican economy
Plots of land lie empty among lime and banana plantations in one of Mexico's most violent regions -- abandoned by their owners due to widespread extortion squeezing Latin America's second-largest economy. As in many other agricultural zones around the country, criminal gangs in the western state of Michoacan have become a major market force, driving up costs and hurting not just farmers but also consumers. Take limes, for example: despite a national increase in production, and a slowing of overall consumer price inflation, the cost of the citrus fruit rose by more than 50 percent in the past year, according to the Agricultural Market Consulting Group (GCMA), a consulting firm. The impact is huge in a country where limes are a vital ingredient in many dishes. "The prices are through the roof!" said Gabriela Jacobo, a 53-year-old housewife who now only buys a few limes a week. The threat from organized crime is such that trucks transporting limes now have police escorts, AFP reporters saw during a visit to the region. The fallout has even been felt in Mexico City, where drug and gang violence is often seen as a faraway problem and the ability to source food from all around the country eases supply problems. The price of limes in the capital doubled, reaching almost $4.5 per kilo ($2 per pound) in August. "It's not because of a supply issue," but because of extortion, said GCMA analyst Juan Carlos Anaya. Turf wars Michoacan, which covers an area as big as Costa Rica, is riven by bloody turf wars between rival gangs such as the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Los Viagras, and La Familia Michoacana. As well as fighting over drug smuggling routes, they also compete to make money through extortion. Payment is taken in the form of a charge of 11 US cents to package each kilo of limes, a farmer told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity due to fear of reprisal. It may not sound like much, but the region can produce about 900 tons of fruit every day. In the past, "the criminals had their fights but they left us to work. Now they don't even leave us to work,'" the farmer said. Tomato, banana, and mango producers, as well as transporters and distributors, must also pay the gangs, he said. "They put a price on everything," he added. Extortion and theft cost companies in Mexico about 120 billion pesos ($6.8 billion) a year, equivalent to 0.67 percent of the country's annual economic output, according to official figures. In the southern state of Chiapas, extortion and violence have caused food shortages in communities bordering Guatemala. "There's no electricity. There's no food. There's no water. There's no gas," a resident told AFP. The region is gripped by a turf war between the Jalisco New Generation and Sinaloa cartels that has led to dozens of business closures and forced locals to buy supplies in Guatemala, at higher cost. Even the ingredients for tortillas -- a Mexican staple -- are being purchased across the border. Cities such as Chilpancingo, the capital of southern Guerrero state, also saw widespread closures of chicken shops in the past after farmers and merchants who allegedly refused to pay extortion were murdered. 'Deep trouble' Avocado growers have also fallen prey to the battle for control of Michoacan's agricultural riches. Last year the United States briefly suspended avocado imports from the state after a US inspector checking export shipments before the Super Bowl received phone threats. To confront crime, lime producers like Hipolito Mora founded self-defense groups in 2013 that were themselves later accused of links to criminals. After vehemently denouncing drug traffickers, Mora was shot dead in June in Michoacan. "We're in deep trouble with the cartels," said his brother Guadalupe Mora, who was being watched over by several bodyguards. "They charge us a fee for everything -- basic foods, soft drinks, beers, chicken. Everything's very expensive because of them," he said. State prosecutor Rodrigo Gonzalez urged people to come forward to report such crimes. "We're committed to fighting these people, identifying them, arresting them, and bringing them to court," he said. But many fear they will suffer the same fate as Mora if they speak up. Despite the risks, the farmer said that he had no intention to leave his land. "Lots of people depend on us and our work, to provide for their families," he said. The post ‘They put a price on everything’: extortion hits Mexican economy appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Heroes Lounge sans real lionhearts
Once upon a time, in a small town, there lived a retired soldier named Leo who devoted his life to his country, valiantly defending its citizens. He fought in countless battles, demonstrated unparalleled courage and earned the utmost respect of his fellow soldiers. Following years of dedicated service, he eventually retired and returned to his hometown, longing for a peaceful life among the people he had fiercely safeguarded. Regrettably, he discovered that the reality fell significantly short of his expectations. The residents of the town, preoccupied with their own lives and concerns, appeared to have disregarded the sacrifices made by soldiers like him. He was ignored and overlooked; his presence was almost invisible to those around him. He was perplexed at how he transitioned from being a revered hero to an unnoticed figure within his community. Leo’s experience is not unique. Numerous other soldiers, such as retired Marine Colonel Ariel Querubin, can empathize. In a Facebook post on 23 September, the 67-year-old decorated military veteran expressed his disappointment over being denied access, along with other retired generals, to a private lounge at the Tuguegarao airport because it was already occupied. “After a very fruitful trip to Isabela and Tuguegarao the past few days, I was very disappointed to find that myself and a handful of retired generals were not allowed to use the Heroes Lounge at the Tuguegarao Airport because it was reserved for these Chinese-looking individuals,” Querubin’s post read. “Are the Chinese the new heroes in this country? Definitely NOT!” To this day, Tuguegarao Airport manager Mary Sulyn Sogorsor has yet to issue a statement on the degrading incident. Is Manager Sogorsor unaware that real heroes were denied entry to the Heroes Lounge? Does she even acknowledge that Colonel Querubin, a recipient of the Medal of Valor, the highest honor bestowed upon a Filipino, was among them? Colonel Querubin played a crucial role in capturing the MILF’s strategic staging area, Camp Mack in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte, in the early 2000s. Has she forgotten the services and sacrifices of the retired generals, who put themselves in immense danger for decades? Querubin, who is no stranger to brushes with death and sustained 67 battle wounds during his more than 30 years in the military service, lamented: “If they can do it to senior officers, what more to the others?” Retired soldier heroes do not deserve the indifference. Being preoccupied with their own lives is never an excuse not to acknowledge their struggles, sacrifices, and contributions. They may have proven that a hero’s spirit can prevail despite the apathy, but they should never become a symbol of forgotten heroes they who had dedicated their lives to selflessly protecting the nation. Otherwise, it is heartbreaking. The post Heroes Lounge sans real lionhearts appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ukraine battles Russia in legal front
Ukraine was in the offensive against Russia on Tuesday in both battle and legal fronts claiming its forces broke enemy defense lines and telling the International Court of Justice that Moscow’s aggression is a threat to international law. Ukraine’s ground forces commander Oleksandr Syrskyi announced Monday they have broke through Russian defense line in the area of Bakhmut. Ukraine’s defence ministry also said Monday its troops had recaptured a total of seven square kilometers last week near Bakhmut and also along the southern front. The air force said it had brought down 18 out of 24 Russian attack drones over the Black Sea regions of Odesa and Mykolaiv overnight Sunday. Russia, however, said that with the strikes it had hit storage facilities for British Storm Shadow cruise missiles and ammunition with depleted uranium — a controversial weapon supplied by the United States to Kyiv. Twisting international law At the ICJ in The Hague, Netherlands, Ukraine’s lead speaker Anton Korynevych told the court, sitting just a few metres from his Russian opponents in the Peace Palace, that “Russia is not above the law. It must be held accountable,” for attacking Ukraine. “You have the power to declare that Russia’s actions are unlawful, that its continued abuses must stop, that your orders must be followed and that Russia must make reparations,” he told the judges. Korynevych said Russia’s use of the Genocide Convention to justify a war of conquest twists international law into a tool for human right abuses and destruction.” “Russia’s defiance is also an attack on this court’s authority. Every missile that Russia fires at our cities, it fires in defiance of this court,” he added. On Monday, Russia’s legal team argued that ICJ has no jurisdiction over the case. The team said that if Kyiv denies Moscow’s accusation of genocide of pro-Russian Ukrainians,”why is the court even considering a case under the Genocide Convention.” Thanking US Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky is in the United States on Monday to address the United Nations General Assembly in New York and meet with President Joe Biden. “I will thank the US for its leadership in supporting our struggle for freedom and independence,” Zelensky said on X, formerly Twitter. “I’m... pleased to announce that the M1 Abrams tanks that the United States had previously committed to will be entering Ukraine soon,” US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Tuesday at the opening of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Germany. The tanks are part of more than $43 billion in security assistance pledged by the US since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. WITH AFP The post Ukraine battles Russia in legal front appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Greece blaze is ‘largest wildfire ever recorded in EU’
A forest blaze in Greece is "the largest wildfire ever recorded in the EU" and the bloc is mobilizing nearly half its firefighting air wing to tackle it, a European Commission spokesman said Tuesday. Eleven planes and one helicopter from the EU fleet have been sent to help Greece counter the fire north of the city of Alexandroupoli, along with 407 firefighters, spokesman Balazs Ujvari said. The EU's civil protection service said the fire has burnt over 810 square kilometers (310 square miles) -- an area bigger than New York City. "This wildfire is the largest in the EU since 2000, when the European Forest Fire Information System began recording data," the service said. Greece's fire service told AFP that the blaze was "still out of control" in the northeast region's Dadia National Park, a major sanctuary for birds of prey. Since it began on 19 August, the blaze has claimed the lives of 20 people, 18 of them migrants whose bodies were found in a region that is often used as an entry point from neighboring Turkey. The EU currently calls on a fleet of 28 aircraft -- 24 water-dumping planes and four helicopters -- supplied by member countries to help battle blazes in the bloc and in nearby neighbors. It is working on creating a standalone, EU-funded air wing of 12 aircraft that will be fully in place by 2030. "We do know that fires are getting more severe," Ujvari noted. "If you look at the figures every year in the past years, we are seeing trends which are not necessarily favorable, and that calls for of course more capacities at the member states' level." Greece has been ravaged by numerous fires this summer which the government attributes to climate change. The EU air deployment "underscores our commitment to swift and effective collective action in times of crisis," the EU's commissioner for crisis management, Janez Lenarcic, said. The post Greece blaze is ‘largest wildfire ever recorded in EU’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Battle for the Arctic
The Arctic is a very sensitive environmental area. They say that if the Arctic sneezes, the whole world catches a cold. The Arctic also holds vast amounts of oil and gas. Energy is the arch-enemy of the Environment. The Arctic Council was established in 1996 in the Ottawa Declaration “as a high-level forum to provide a means for promoting cooperation, coordination and interaction among the (eight founding) Arctic States” (arctic-council.org). The eight Arctic States are Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States. For some reason, Greenland, the largest island, was not among the eight. The agreement stood until the war in Ukraine. The international spirit of cooperation suddenly vanished. The war in Ukraine made everyone edgy, with two factors as catalysts — energy and security. An intense energy crisis ensued. And security concerns triggered polarizations similar to the ones that preceded World Wars I and II, namely, between the East, led by Russia and China, and the West, led by US-NATO-EU. There was panic over getting new energy resources, and, in fear of wars, panic over procuring new sophisticated weapons, such as hypersonic missiles, killer drones, precision lasers that can take out satellites. Weapons makers like the US and Russia had a field day selling arms to allies. There is now a sudden focus on the vast energy resources of the Arctic, with its billions of dollars in untapped oil and gas — about 13 percent of the world’s oil and about 30 percent of the world’s gas — not to mention uranium, gold, and rare metals, all sitting there under the primordial ice. No wonder the environment is no longer a concern — it has been replaced by the lust for energy. The Arctic Circle The military map above gives an overview situationer on the Arctic Circle. (Source: International Institute for Strategic Studies — Arctic Portal.) There is UN-NATO in the west and Russia in the east. There are two existing shipping routes — the Northwest Passage and the Northeast Passage — which converge at the northern tip of the Arctic Circle. There is a third Future Trans Arctic Route in between west and east. There are 27 US-NATO bases in the west, in blue, and 28 Russian bases in the east, in black. The US-NATO bases are scattered over a wide area, while the Russian bases are concentrated along its northern shores. Note the concentration of both East and West bases in the Norway-Finland area where they face each other eyeball-to-eyeball. Many geopolitical and military analysts consider this the powder-keg for future confrontations. US-NATO cannot build bases near the Russian shorelines, so they concentrated their bases in the Norway–Finland chokepoint. Current energy extractions Russia leads the pack in energy extraction. Its turf covers about 40 percent of the Arctic Circle and 53 percent of coastal areas. There are about two million Russians living in the Arctic Circle in thriving mining communities servicing Liquid Natural Gas Projects 1 and 2. Project 1 is the Yamal LNG Plant. Project 2 is the newer $21-billion Arctic LNG2 Plan, whose goal is to extract 19.8 tons of LNG a year. Global warming has melted a considerable amount of Arctic ice in the last decade, which has triggered a more frenzied exploration and mining among the Arctic States. This is especially true for the ice corridor north of the Russian coastal area, which has triggered more daring Russian ships cutting through the melting ice. There is a 21,000-kilometer passage for Russian ships to bring their export gas to Asian markets through the Suez Canal, a long arduous route through the West, which makes the gas more expensive to deliver. Because of the melting ice, Russia now has an alternative of 13,000 kilometers through the east, 40 percent shorter than the western route. The mining activities of the Western nations will be covered in the next article due to space limitations. Future conflicts The goal of the Arctic military bases is defensive, namely, to protect the mining activities. But an Arctic encounter can be catalyzed by trigger-happy generals, or even by accidental encounters, which have happened before. The first step towards the nuclearization of the Arctic is the introduction of small tactical nukes, similar to those in Belarus, facing Poland, which can be an option if one of two contending forces is “cornered.” Tactical nukes may draw an equal response from the other side in a rapid escalation. Once tactical nukes proliferate on both sides, and an incident occurs, the next steps are the big ICBMs and the war with no winners. The post Battle for the Arctic appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl, Australian armies prep for Exercise Carabaroo 2023
The Philippine Army and its counterpart in Australia are now preparing for the upcoming Exercise Carabaroo this year which targets to enhance both armies’ interoperability and war-fighting capabilities. The Philippine Army’s Exercise Control Group visited the Combat Simulation Centre, Robertson Barracks in Darwin City, Northern Territory last 24 August to meet with their Australian counterpart for a planning conference on their bilateral drills. Key officers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, Training and Doctrine Command, and Headquarters Philippine Army led by the Exercise Director Col. Diosdado Carlos D. Pambid discussed the contingent's role and groundwork for the upcoming battle scenarios that will be held around Robertson Barracks, Melville Island, Tiwi Islands and Gunn Point in Darwin City. Exercise Carabaroo 2023 seeks stronger ties and relationships between participating military forces. The latest bilateral Exercise Carabaroo was held in September last year between the Philippine Army and the Australian Defence Force, where around 150 troops from the Philippine Army’s 1st Brigade Combat Team, First Scout Ranger Regiment and Special Forces Regiment (Airborne) trained alongside their Australian counterparts at the Robertson Barracks and Mount Bundey Training Area in Australia. The post Phl, Australian armies prep for Exercise Carabaroo 2023 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Iloilo City: Bold, vibrant, indelible
The Philippines is no doubt a country with a rich and diverse history, having been colonized by the Spanish, Americans and Japanese and becoming a melting pot of cultures still evident in modern times. [caption id="attachment_175000" align="aligncenter" width="1015"] Iloilo City skyline. Photograph Courtesy Of Wikicommons/paulo Alcazaren/ Cc By-sa 4.0[/caption] [gallery columns="2" size="full" ids="175004,175005"] The influence of these colonizers left a deep imprint in the Filipinos’ heritage and culture, and the semblance of these inherited traits can be seen in Iloilo City, located on Panay Island in Western Visayas. The city faces Iloilo Strait and Guimaras Island across it, making it a natural harbor and a safe anchorage for ships. It is bordered by the towns of Oton in the west, Pavia in the north and Leganes in the northeast. Just across the Iloilo Strait in its eastern and southern coastlines are the towns of Buenavista and Jordan in the island-province of Guimaras. The metropolitan area is composed of the City of Iloilo, the municipalities of Leganes, Pavia, Santa Barbara, Cabatuan, San Miguel, Oton, the Island Province of Guimaras and its five municipalities — Sibunag, San Lorenzo, Nueva Valencia, Buenavista and Jordan. The city was founded in 1566 by Spanish explorer Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. It quickly became a major trading center due to its strategic location on the coast of the Sulu Sea. In the early days of the Spanish period, the first Manila galleons were originally constructed at the port of Oton to the west of Iloilo. The early Visayans were already constructing huge multi-masted four- to five-decked caracoas in their wars against the other kingdoms. Thus, the technical know-how to construct the first Manila galleons was a blend of Visayan shipbuilding and Spanish shipbuilding. After the defeat of the Spanish forces in the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish–American War, the capital of the Spanish East Indies was transferred to Iloilo, with General Diego de los Rios as the new Governor General residing in the city. A truce was declared between the American and the Spanish forces pending the negotiations of the joint commission of both warring countries in Paris, France, for the terms of peace. In the 19th century, Iloilo City became a major producer of sugar which helped further develop the city’s economy and infrastructure. Iloilo City was also a major center of the Philippine revolution against Spain. Major center of education During World War II, Iloilo City was heavily damaged. However, the city was rebuilt after the war, becoming an industrial center and its port transforming into one of the busiest in the Philippines. Iloilo City also became a major center of education, with many universities and colleges opening in the city. The next three decades saw the moderate growth of Iloilo City with the establishment of fish ports, an international seaport, and other commercial firms. Iloilo City also became the regional center of Western Visayas. In 1977, a Comprehensive Urban Development Plan for Iloilo City was approved and was adopted by the Sangguniang Panlungsod. The Land Use Plan and Zoning Ordinance was the implementing tool. However, the 1977 Plan was unable to cope with the demands of rapid urbanization. In late 1993, a multi-sectoral group prepared the 1994-2010 Comprehensive Development Plan of Iloilo City to amend the old plan and address the present and future challenges of urban development. The plan, however, was not carried pending the approval of the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board. Today, Iloilo City is a major commercial and industrial center in the Philippines. It is also a popular tourist destination, known for its beautiful beaches, delicious food and vibrant culture. It has become a hub for trade, commerce, finance, technology, medical tourism, hospitality, real estate, tourism, education and industry in the Western Visayas region. Major industries in the city include port management, telecommunications infrastructure and utilities, banking and finance, retail trading, real estate, tourism and business process outsourcing. The local government has also provided incentives to businesses in certain investment areas, such as income tax holidays and free issuance of permits and licenses. Tourism contributes in a major way to Iloilo City’s economy. Not only is it a gateway to Western Visayas, but the metropolis itself hosts notable festivals that entice thousands of tourists annually, especially during the Dinagyang, Paraw Regatta — Asia’s oldest sailing event — and Fiesta de Candelaria festivals seasons. 'City of Love' Iloilo City’s bannered monickers like “City of Love” and “City of Mansions” and intensified local government’s programs such as the beautification of major thoroughfares in the city and building of parks have all played a role in attracting local and foreign visitors. There are myriad attractions in the city that tourists can visit — heritage landmarks, museums, art galleries, parks and restaurants, to name a few. Nightlife in the metro, with Smallville Complex as the mecca for party-goers, sees revelers out and about every night especially on Friday and weekends. Since it’s a well-known Philippine heritage city built during the Spanish era, heritage tourism also adds to Iloilo City’s charm. Centuries-old churches, old edifices and mansions of well-known Ilonggo families lure sightseers from different places who want to discover Iloilo City’s rich and glorious past. Iloilo City is also a respected gastronomic capital, with famous local dishes that have gained popularity throughout the country — La Paz Batchoy, Pancit Molo, Kansi, Laswa and KBL (Kadyos, Baboy kag Langka). In 2018 alone, Iloilo City attracted the highest tourist arrivals in Western Visayas, posting 1,242,087 total arrivals, including 1,154,550 domestic visitors, 70,787 foreign guests and 16,750 overseas workers. In 2019, it garnered an 11.59 percent increase in tourist arrivals, and in 2020, the city again achieved its target with 1.4 million tourists. The post Iloilo City: Bold, vibrant, indelible appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Conflict’s dark realm
The unseen struggle behind the seething conflict in the West Philippine Sea may be more intense than what has been playing out daily in the open, as recounted by global media. Jamestown Foundation, a Washington-based adviser to US policymakers, has identified several groups in the Philippines conducting so-called foreign influence operations, or FIOs, which it identified as groups that have direct lines to the hierarchy of the Communist Party of the People’s Republic of China, or PRC. The conservative think tank, which is often consulted on the sea conflict said an aspect of “PRC statecraft that has garnered comparatively less attention, is the use of covert, coercive and corrupting practices to distort the national Filipino debate on sovereign competition in the (West Philippine Sea, or WPS).” The report stated that the policy falls under the ambit of the Chinese government’s United Front Work Department, or UFWD, which “squares clearly with the ruling Chinese Communist Party’s, or CCP, general emphasis on achieving information dominance.” The function of the UFWD overlaps and interlinks with the intelligence community. It also works closely with the CCP International Liaison Department and the Central Propaganda Department in promoting “political influence inside and outside of the PRC.” The body is on top of an elaborate network of proxies and front organizations “to reward, intimidate, surveil and ‘positively’ influence the overseas Chinese community as well as foreign academic institutions, political parties, and other influential bodies and personalities.” According to the report, the overarching goal is to win the hearts and minds of “targeted entities and unite them in supporting the Communist Party’s goals while neutralizing critics.” It revealed that the UFWD’s battle cry, “To rally our true friends to attack our true enemies,” came directly from China’s Great Leader Mao Zedong, and President Xi Jinping has himself referred to united front work as an “important magic weapon to win the cause of revolution, construction, and reform, and also realize the greatness of the Chinese nation.” The bulk of the foreign influence operations is now focused on the Philippines amid the heightened rift in the WPS. Based on the report, China’s United Front Work has three broad goals: 1) Sow discord in domestic Philippine politics to encourage the population to focus on internal conflict and tensions rather than on China as a main threat; 2) Weaken the US-Philippine defense alliance and promote a pro-PRC government in Manila, and; 3) Shape Philippine public opinion in support of Beijing’s claims in the South China Sea. The report admitted that much remains unknown about the overall bureaucracy of the UFWD in the Philippines, but its affiliated groups are present and active in the country. The Jamestown Foundation said that UFWD proxies have a specific remit to coopt influential Filipinos and “Chinoy” or Chinese-Filipino community members into backing the PRC’s position on regional affairs. “Concerning the South China Sea, the department focuses on manipulating businessmen, civic leaders, academics, journalists, and politicians to act as pliable conduits for promoting and endorsing Beijing’s presence in this littoral area,” the report said. On the American interest in the covert operations of Beijing, it indicated that an uptick in such operations in the Philippines is of immediate concern “given its sensitivity to any Chinese endeavor that could endanger freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.” The report urged Washington to develop and prioritize proactive initiatives to help Manila identify and counter foreign interference that China is specifically using to expand and entrench its littoral presence around the archipelago’s northwestern waters. An active role by the US in the “development of a robust and resilient counter interference network in the Philippines would not only assist in stemming Chinese territorial adventurism in the WPS but in doing so would also contribute to weakening the Chinese Communist Party’s drive to recalibrate Asia’s power structure in Beijing’s favor,” the report noted. The battle for the minds would thereon be expected to be fiercer than what transpires on the disputed waters. For Filipinos, vigilance and discernment to separate lies from the truth are essential. The post Conflict’s dark realm appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
EMBO residents bid to stay in Makati
To show their opposition to their transfer from Makati City to Taguig City, residents of the so-called Enlisted Men’s Barrio, or EMBO, started yesterday a signature campaign. The movers behind the signature campaign said they want to exercise their right under the concept of people’s initiative. Residents of Barangay East Rembo, one of the 10 barangays that the Supreme Court determined to be under Taguig City’s jurisdiction, began their signature drive as early as 7 a.m. in an effort to meet the three percent requirement. A resident said they support the campaign started by concerned local and non-governmental organizations in their barangay to demonstrate that they are unwilling to move to another city. Senior citizens from the barangay, which has a population of more than 26,000, also voiced their opposition to the transfer under a final and executory Supreme Court order. The seniors said they are afraid the benefits they are getting from Makati City will not be provided by Taguig City. The city government of Makati has boasted of providing free medicines, particularly maintenance medicine, to senior citizens as provided for in their yellow card program. The yellow card is a health card that can be used to get medical services from health centers, and the Ospital ng Makati. Students in Makati also get free uniforms, bags, books, socks, shoes, and others from the city government. The signature campaign, once it reaches the three percent threshold, will be filed before the Commission on Elections, calling for a plebiscite so the people can vote if they want to become Taguig residents or not. The initiative will be conducted simultaneously in the affected barangays, as residents have the general sentiment of not agreeing to be under another city administration. A lawyer who declined to be named said the first such initiative was conducted in Barangay Milograsa in Quezon City to take out informal settlers in the area. He said the initiative is provided for under Republic Act 6735, which says: “Initiative is the power of the people to propose amendments to the Constitution or to propose and enact legislation through an election called for the purpose.” Earlier, Makati City Mayor Abby Binay stressed that she will not transfer the territory given by the Supreme Court to Taguig City if they do not have in their possession the writ of execution from the court of origin. Binay’s statements came after the insistence of the city government of Taguig that it will now get the territory following the end of the 30-year legal battle over the 10 barangays of the second congressional district of Makati City. “As long as they have not presented the writ of execution and only the judgment, we will not transfer. They should get the writ from the court of origin,” Binay said. The post EMBO residents bid to stay in Makati appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
EMBO residents protest Taguig transfer with signature campaign
Residents of the 10 Enlisted Men’s Barrio (EMBO), formerly under Makati City, began a signature campaign on 28 July to oppose their transfer to Taguig City, exercising their right under the concept of people's initiative. As early as 7:00 a.m. yesterday, residents in Barangay East Rembo, one of the 10 barangays that have been ruled by the Supreme Court as under the jurisdiction of Taguig City, started their signature campaign in a bid to reach the three percent requirement. A resident interviewed said they are supportive of the initiative launched by concerned citizens and non-government organizations in their barangay to show that they are not willing to be transferred to another city. Senior citizens are also trooping to different areas in the barangay, which has a population of more than 26,000, as they are afraid that the benefits they are receiving from Makati City will not be provided by Taguig City. The city government of Makati is providing free medicines, particularly maintenance medicine, to senior citizens as part of their yellow card program. The yellow card is a health card that can be used to get medical services from different health centers, including the Ospital ng Makati (Osmak). Students are, likewise, getting their free uniforms, bags, books, socks, shoes, and others from the city government. The signature campaign once it reached the three percent threshold will be filed before the Commission on Elections calling for a plebiscite so the people can vote if they want not to become Taguig residents. The initiative will be simultaneously conducted in the affected barangays as residents have the general sentiments of not agreeing to be under another city administration. A lawyer, who declined to be named, said the first such initiative was conducted in Barangay Milograsa in Quezon City to take out informal settlers in the area. He said the initiative is provided for under Republic Act No. 6735, which said, "Initiative is the power of the people to propose amendments to the Constitution or to propose and enact legislations through an election called for the purpose.” Earlier, Makati City Mayor Abby Binay stressed that she will not transfer the territory given by the Supreme Court to Taguig City if they do not have in possession the writ of execution from the court of origin. Binay's statements came after the insistence of the city government of Taguig that it will now gain control of the territory, as it has already won the 30-year legal battle over the 10 barangays in the second congressional district of Makati City. “As long as they have not presented the writ of execution and only the judgment, we will not transfer. They should get the writ from the court of origin,” said Binay. The post EMBO residents protest Taguig transfer with signature campaign appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Drone attack wounds video journalist
An Agence France-Presse video journalist was wounded by a drone attack while reporting at a Ukrainian artillery position on Monday, AFP reporters who witnessed the explosion said. Dylan Collins, an American citizen based in Lebanon but on assignment in Ukraine, sustained multiple shrapnel injuries in the attack in a forested area near the southern Ukraine region of Bakhmut. He was evacuated to a nearby hospital where he was being treated and doctors have said his condition was not life-threatening. Collins, 35, is conscious and speaking to colleagues. “We are investigating the full circumstances behind this incident. Our thoughts are with Dylan and his loved ones,” AFP’s Europe Director Christine Buhagiar said in a statement. Bakhmut has been at the epicenter of the fighting in eastern Ukraine. The city fell into Russian hands in May after a battle that lasted nearly a year. Since the start of a counteroffensive in June, Ukrainian forces have been advancing slowly to the north and south of Bakhmut in an attempt to surround Russian forces and eventually re-take the city. The attacks along Bakhmut’s flanks run into stiff Russian defenses and minefields. Collins has been working for AFP since 2018 and is currently the agency’s video coordinator for Lebanon and Syria. He has made regular trips to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s invasion in February last year and was in the capital Kyiv in first days of the assault. Collins has worked extensively in Middle East conflict zones and covered the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war for AFP. AFP video journalist Arman Soldin was killed aged 32 by Russian rocket fire near Bakhmut in May. Russia hikes ammo production Meanwhile, Russia said Monday it had dramatically increased production of ammunition and military equipment, as its offensive in Ukraine enters its 18th month. “Since the beginning of this year, many types of weapons and military equipment are being produced in quantities far above last year,” Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov said. “In terms of munitions, we are reaching a level where deliveries in a month exceed last year’s total orders,” Manturov said. Western sanctions have sought to hinder Moscow’s ability to restock by banning exports of machine parts and electronic components that could be used on the battlefield. But analysts say Russia has circumvented some sanctions by importing through third countries. Last week, Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak said Ukraine was using from 5,000 to 10,000 of one type of shell daily. WITH AFP The post Drone attack wounds video journalist appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»