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Filipino reported injured in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration or OWWA confirmed that a Filipino was reported injured in the ongoing war in Israel. This was confirmed by OWWA Deputy Administrator Arnell Ignacio in an interview adding that the injured Filipino is now recovering at a hospital. “These are purely reports, but I think you are referring to Joey Pasulingan. If I’m not mistaken, Joey is currently in the hospital. If you are referring to him, he was hit by a bullet and he is now recovering,” Ignacio said. Hamas launched its most severe attack on Israel on Saturday firing rockets and sending armed men to several Israeli cites. At least 22 people died in the said war. Israeli’s Home Front Command declared a “state of war alert” after the incident. As the army reported combat with the militants in several Israeli cities and military bases near Gaza, Israel claimed the Iran-backed group had declared war. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to take action in response. According to a report from Agence France-Presse, the number of those killed in the attacks increased to around 1,000 as claimed by the officials on both sides on Sunday. The post Filipino reported injured in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian Conflict appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Luxembourg, EU’s richest country, grapples with housing crisis
Luxembourg's residents may be classified as the wealthiest in the European Union, but the sky-high cost of buying or renting a home in the country has made living there nearly impossible for some. The crisis has become the number one concern in the Grand Duchy of 660,000 people -- smaller than Rhode Island, the smallest US state -- as it goes to the polls on Sunday. Pascale Zaourou, a teacher and mother of three children, had to wait five years before being able to access coveted social housing. "On the private market, renting an apartment with two rooms costs at least 2,000 euros -- it's difficult with only one income," she told AFP at a recent demonstration in Luxembourg City. "Affordable housing is scarce, especially for young people and single-parent families," she said. Antoine Paccoud, a researcher at the Housing Observatory, which compiles data guiding government policy, backed up that sentiment. "More and more Luxembourgers are crossing the border to live in Germany, Belgium, or France just because rents and property prices are lower," he said. The situation is jarring for a country with a flourishing economy based around financial services. Net average earnings for a single worker in Luxembourg were 47,000 euros ($49,000) annually in 2022, according to estimates from the EU's statistics agency -- the highest in the bloc. 'Overshadows all others' In the capital city, new-build flats sell for 13,000 euros per square meter (around $1,300 per square foot) and older ones go for 10,700 euros. The average cost of a house is 1.5 million euros. Rents increased by 6.7 percent between June 2022 and June 2023, much faster than the inflation rate of 3.4 percent over that period. Philippe Poirier, a political analyst at the University of Luxembourg, told AFP that housing has become "the question that overshadows all others" at the legislative elections. He ticked off "the scarcity of housing and land, the cost of construction or purchase, and the high rents" as the key problems. The two major political parties hoping to spearhead the next government have pledged action. Prime Minister Xavier Bettel's Liberal Party promised to create a super-ministry for housing, wants to tax vacant properties more and invest in social housing. Socialist leader Paulette Lenert -- the health minister in the current coalition government -- is pushing for huge investments in affordable housing. 'Holding on to land' But the structural problems with housing run deep and changing them will not be easy. Paccoud said a lack of inheritance tax and only symbolic duties have encouraged owners to sit on land without developing it. "0.5 percent of the resident population, or 3,000 people, own half of the buildable land," he said. "These owners are holding on to their land as long as possible because prices are increasing." The economic opportunities on offer also bring in droves of foreign workers, which helps drive up the cost of the limited housing pool. Around half the people living in Luxembourg are not citizens of the country. There is a wide gulf in terms of homeownership rates between native Luxembourgers, at 80 percent, and foreign residents at just 50 percent. While many Luxembourgers have nearly guaranteed jobs working for state institutions, foreigners have to deal with the changeable job market. "Those who are at the bottom of the scale in Luxembourg are rather the resident foreigners," Poirier said. As a result, and despite the high salaries and an official minimum wage of 2,571 euros a month, Luxembourg ranks in the top three in the eurozone in terms of risk of poverty for single-parent families with one income, according to a recent report by the Chamber of Employees. The post Luxembourg, EU’s richest country, grapples with housing crisis appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Push at UN for reform to meet elusive development goals
Developing countries on Monday urged a shake-up in the global order to help the world's poorest, at a United Nations summit on ambitious anti-poverty promises that remain far off track. Hoping to show a focus on more than the war in Ukraine, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres convened the development summit on the eve of the annual General Assembly, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to take center-stage. In 2015, UN member states adopted the Sustainable Development Goals, 17 targets to transform the world by 2030 including by completely ending extreme poverty and making sure not a single of the planet's eight billion people goes hungry. Guterres called for a "global rescue plan" on the targets, as he acknowledged that only about 15 percent were on track to be met and that metrics on some were heading in reverse. "The SDGs aren't just a list of goals. They carry the hopes, dreams, rights and expectations of people everywhere," Guterres told the summit. "In our world of plenty, hunger is a shocking stain on humanity, and an epic human rights violation. "It is an indictment of every one of us that millions of people are starving in this day and age." Addressing the summit, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said, "Ultimately, the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals depends on the fundamental reform of global social, economic and political relations." Ambitions sidetracked In a declaration adopted by consensus Monday, UN member-states reaffirmed their commitment to the goals and to eradicating extreme poverty, defined as living on less than $2.15 a day. The nations agreed to "act with urgency" to implement the "plan of action for people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership, leaving no one behind," the declaration said. But efforts to devote money and attention to the goals have been repeatedly set back, including by the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and other tumult, worsening climate catastrophes and sharp increases in the cost of living. The declaration also backed in general terms reform of international financial institutions, weeks after a G20 summit in New Delhi focused on increasing representation in the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. But Mia Mottley, prime minister of Barbados, told the summit that the issue went deeper. "The calls for international reform of the financial system really are not just about governance, but they are for us about longer money, cheaper money, and being able to use it for the purposes for which we need to reduce all of our inequalities and achieve the elements of the SDGs," she said. Poorest 'counting' on momentum French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, addressing the summit, said that Paris was increasing its development assistance despite an era of tight budgets, with special attention on climate. "We need to demonstrate an electroshock of solidarity," she said. The United States, which has pumped $43 billion in military aid into Ukraine to help defend against Russian invasion, has hoped to show it is also interested in development. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the United Nations, called the declaration on Monday "historic." "This is an important step, but it must be followed by accelerated action," she said. "All member-states must continue to drive progress forward. The world's most vulnerable are counting on us, and we must leave no one behind." But one senior European diplomat warned the gap was growing between the developing and developed worlds. One goal for the summit is "making sure that that rift doesn't grow further," the diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The post Push at UN for reform to meet elusive development goals appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Stiffer penalties for economic sabotage backed
Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said imposing stiffer penalties against individuals engaged in economic sabotage will serve as a “proactive and prompt response” to the alarming cases of smuggling in the country. Dela Rosa backed the introduction of Senate Bill 2432 or the “Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act,” at the recent Senate plenary session earlier this week. “I must say that this is truly a proactive and prompt response to the alarming number of cases of smuggling in the country,” Dela Rosa said. “At the same time, and more importantly, this is a decisive action towards the protection of our Filipino farmers,” he added. The proposed bill seeks to repeal Republic Act 10845 or the “Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016” which the lady senator deemed as a “failure” after the Bureau of Customs, its lead implementing agency, recorded zero number of convictions seven years after its enactment. Dela Rosa stressed the need to create an Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Council, “in order to more fully and effectively implement” the proposed law should it would be enacted. “To assist the Council in the prosecution of crimes, a Special Team of Prosecutors shall be created. At the same time, the bill also proposes to create an Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Enforcement Group to assist the Council in matters relating to enforcement,” Dela Rosa added. Dela Rosa then urged Congress and the public to support the measure to ensure justice, bring renewed hope, and build a better life for our local farmers. “If we take care of our farmers, of their dreams and hopes for the future, then we are also taking care of the dreams and hopes of the rest of the nation. Let us cultivate, rather than destroy, their optimism,” he said. The post Stiffer penalties for economic sabotage backed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Japan fishermen want Fukushima water release halt
Around 100 fishermen and locals living near Fukushima will file a lawsuit this week seeking to stop the release of wastewater from the stricken Japanese nuclear plant, they said Monday. Twelve years after one of the world’s worst nuclear accidents, on 24 August Japan began releasing treated cooling water from the facility into the Pacific Ocean. Many Japanese fishermen have been against the release, fearing that it will undo years of efforts to improve the industry’s image in the wake of the 2011 catastrophe. More than 100 plaintiffs, including fishermen in Fukushima and neighboring prefectures, will file the lawsuit in the Fukushima District Court on Friday, Sugie Tanji, who is a member of the group’s secretariat, told AFP. “The government failed to keep to its promise of gaining agreement from fishermen before taking such a decision to release,” she said. “This is a wrong policy as it ignores strong opposition from not only the Fukushima fishermen’s cooperative but also from cooperatives across the country,” the group said in a statement. “The release to the ocean can never be tolerated as it brings about further suffering to victims of the nuclear accident,” it added. The release has generated a fierce backlash from China, including a blanket ban of Japanese seafood imports. Japanese government officials have made efforts to appeal to the public that the action has little impact on health or safety issues. Last week, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and the US envoy to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, among others, ate Fukushima fish in front of TV cameras. Japan has repeatedly insisted the wastewater is treated and is harmless, a position backed by UN atomic watchdog the International Atomic Energy Agency. In total, plant operator TEPCO plans to release around 540 Olympic swimming pools’ worth of water over the next several decades. with AFP The post Japan fishermen want Fukushima water release halt appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Upping the ante
Beijing always ups the ante when it senses that its rival for the region’s security, the United States, is making its move to challenge its dominance in the region, which was probably how the 10-dash line came to be. With the release of the new map showing an expanded “historical” claim that included parts of India, China issued a strong criticism of the Americans with Senior Col. Wu Qian, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense, saying the US should “stop meddling in the South China Sea issue, stop sowing discord and fanning the flames, and stop disrupting regional peace and stability.” The comment was in response to US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III’s statement that “the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling is binding on all parties” and “the Mutual Defense Treaty extends to Philippine public vessels, aircraft and armed forces — to include those of its Coast Guard — in the Pacific, including in the South China Sea.” Vice Admiral Karl Thomas, commander of the US Navy’s Seventh Fleet, backed the American position, saying the recent use of a water cannon by China’s Coast Guard against a Philippine vessel “must be challenged and checked.” He also “assured the Philippines of US backing.” Wu reiterated China’s position that the Philippines infringed on its sovereignty and violated the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea to justify the China Coast Guard’s action. “We hope regional countries can stay vigilant, faithfully implement the DoC, and work with the Chinese side to maintain peace and stability in the region. The Chinese military will resolutely safeguard China’s national sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, as well as peace and stability in the South China Sea,” the spokesperson stressed. The increasing challenge from China should be matched by the US, according to geopolitical experts. A former Pentagon official, Michael Rubin, suggested the “reflagging” of islands in the disputed areas to send a clear message to China. Rubin recalled an incident in 1987 when President Ronald Reagan ordered the reflagging of nearly a dozen Kuwaiti tankers to stop Iran from attacking them to force the emirate to cease its trade with and loans to Iraq. “Reagan ignored criticism that reflagging the tankers could embroil the United States in war because he understood that at stake were not only Kuwait’s oil exports but also freedom of navigation and the rules-based order,” Rubin explained. He said that while skirmishes did occur, “once the ayatollahs understood Reagan stood firm, Iranian forces suspended their provocations.” Rubin believes that since China challenges the freedom of navigation and the broader liberal order, “perhaps the US could take a page from Reagan’s playbook and reflag not ships but rather some of the rocks, reefs, and atolls over which China now erroneously claims sovereignty.” The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague invalidated in 2016 the historical claim of China through its nine-dash line as being without basis. The root of the claim was a 1947 map the authenticity of which historians dismissed. “That Beijing bases its claim on supposed historic Chinese fishing activity further displays the emptiness of the Chinese Communist Party’s logic. After all, Vietnamese, Taiwanese, Malay, Filipino and Indonesian fishermen also plied the same waters and perhaps even some closer to China,” Rubin noted. “Regardless, using the fictional map, China, in one fell swoop, claimed the bulk of the South China Sea and its considerable fishing and oil reserves,” he said. His proposal would be based on “leases drawn between the US government and its regional partners.” The leases would be backed by the arbitral award. “While the current US legal position supports the 2016 Hague tribunal judgment that finds no power can legally exercise sovereignty over disputed territories, the White House might reconsider this (stance),” Rubin added. But Rubin admitted that a greater problem might be the unwillingness of the regional states to offer leases. The proposal breaks with the usual conventions in the settling of disputes. Americans have a term for that, however: “It’s so crazy, it just might work.” The post Upping the ante appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
U.S. talk stays cheap
China’s release of a new map expanding its maritime area within a “10-dash line” that includes the West Philippine Sea has been condemned by the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, Brunei, and Vietnam. Conspicuously absent from the first responders was the United States which had earlier issued a brave warning that it would protect the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. The US had said it would protect international ship passage in one of the world’s most contested waterways, where more than $3 trillion in trade passes each year. China on Monday released a new version of its infamous U-shaped dashed line that now covers about 90 percent of the South China Sea, including Taiwan which it regards as a renegade province. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague invalidated the so-called historic “nine-dash line” claim of China, but Beijing made it clear that it did not recognize the decision and insisted on bilateral agreements with other claimants to settle territorial conflicts. China holds to its position that its sovereignty and rights in the South China Sea were established throughout the long course of history, claiming that this was “duly recognized by international treaties and accords which are not to be infringed upon by any illegal awards.” China instead accused the Philippines of taking unilateral action to initiate the arbitration that “breached its bilateral agreement with China to settle relevant disputes in the South China Sea through negotiation.” It claimed that this commitment was also contained in the non-binding Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea signed by China and the ASEAN countries, including the Philippines, in 2002. Beijing, however, has continuously put a damper on concluding the Code of Conduct that ASEAN has been pushing to finally settle the conflicting claims. The presence of American forces appeared to have deterred China from making good on its “historical” claims that are continuously expanding. A delayed reaction by the US to the new Chinese propaganda offensive may prove fatal to the region. Dean Cheng, a senior advisor to the China program in the government-backed US Institute of Peace, observed that Beijing has been gambling on American willingness or lack of it to confront China’s “salami-slicing tactics against its neighbors.” Cheng recalled that in 2012, the United States persuaded the Philippines to withdraw from Scarborough Shoal “while making no effort to compel the People’s Republic of China to do the same. In effect, Washington forced Manila to cede that set of features to the PRC.” Cheng recounted how this was followed by a three-year hiatus in US freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea, which he noted was an absence “that coincided with massive Chinese construction on features it controlled.” For the United States to once again fail to counter the latest Chinese efforts “would reinforce a perception of American withdrawal,” Cheng pointed out. He warned of the possible consequences if the US continues to waffle on its position regarding China’s increasing aggressiveness. “If the United States were to not respond, its credibility as an ally would be called into question, certainly by Manila. The various efforts to renew US access to Philippine facilities under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, especially in the event of a Taiwan contingency, will certainly falter. Why should the Philippines support American efforts to support Taiwan if the United States won’t support the Philippines?” Cheng said. If recent events were the basis, the Philippines has always been made to suffer the backlash of Washington policies in the region, such as the Asian pivot of former President Barack Obama. The Philippine government was made to support the American program but was left in the lurch when the going got tough. The US still has to prove that it walks the talk on its supposed protection of the region from predatory actions. The post U.S. talk stays cheap appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Niger’s military rulers order French ambassador out
Niger's military rulers, who seized control of the government in July, gave the French ambassador 48 hours to leave the country, Niamey's foreign ministry said in a statement Friday. Relations between the new regime in Niamey and several Western powers, as well as the West African bloc ECOWAS, have deteriorated since the coup on 26 July. France's government quickly rejected the order against its ambassador, repeating that it did not recognize the military rulers' authority. The French foreign ministry told AFP on Friday evening: "The putschists do not have the authority to make this request, the ambassador's approval coming solely from the legitimate elected Nigerien authorities." The ultimatum against the French envoy comes days after ECOWAS threatened military action to reverse last month's coup, which overthrew president Mohamed Bazoum. Paris has repeatedly backed calls by ECOWAS for the reinstatement of Bazoum. France has 1,500 soldiers based in Niger who have been helping Bazoum fight against jihadist forces that have been active in the country for years. Pressure from ECOWAS Earlier Friday, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) urged Niger's coup leaders to reconsider their position and pushed for a return to civilian rule, with the threat of force still "very much on the table". While the generals who ousted Bazoum have called for a three-year transition period, ECOWAS demands the immediate return to constitutional order. With delegations shuttling into Niamey, ECOWAS said negotiations remained its priority as defense chiefs prepared a standby mission for a possible "legitimate use of force" to restore democracy if needed. "Even now, it is not too late for the military to reconsider its action and listen to the voice of reason as the regional leaders will not condone a coup d'etat," ECOWAS commission president Omar Alieu Touray told reporters in Abuja. "The real issue is the determination of the community to halt the spiral of coup d'etats in the region." ECOWAS has already applied sanctions against Niger to pressure the new regime. Three other governments have fallen to military rebellions in the Sahel region since 2020, and jihadists control swathes of territory. ECOWAS leaders are already negotiating with military administrations in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea who are all working towards transitions to democracy after their own coups. After initially balking, Niger's new rulers have said they remain open to negotiations. But they have sent mixed messages, including a threat to charge Bazoum -- who remains detained at his official residence with his family -- with treason. Aggression Niger's military leaders have also warned against any intervention, accusing ECOWAS of preparing an occupying force in league with an unnamed foreign country. The officers on Thursday said they would let troops from neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso intervene in Niger in case of aggression. But Touray dismissed plans for ECOWAS "declaring war" or an "invasion" of Niger, insisting the standby mission would be a legitimate force allowed under ECOWAS statutes agreed by members. "The instruments include the use of force. So it is very much on the table, as are other measures we are working on," he said. "If peaceful means fail, ECOWAS cannot just fold its hands." ECOWAS has intervened militarily in past crises, including in civil wars. Few details of the new standby force have emerged. But preparations for any possible use of military force in Niger are risky and already face political resistance in northern Nigeria, a key player in ECOWAS and the region. Niger's northern neighbor Algeria has also warned of disastrous consequences for the region from an intervention. Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf this week toured West African countries to try to find a solution to a crisis in which Algiers firmly opposes any military option. "There is a time for everything and we are currently in the time of finding peaceful solutions," he said on a visit to Benin. "Let's put all our imagination into giving every chance to a political solution." The post Niger’s military rulers order French ambassador out appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ipilan mining cease order backed
Puerto Princesa City, PALAWAN — Anti-mining supporters in a Southern Palawan town gathered Monday morning for a celebratory motorcade and assembly to rally behind the implementation of the cease-and-desist order issued by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples against the mining activities of Ipilan Nickel Corporation. The motorcade started from Barangay Calasaguen and passed through Barangay Maasin, the location of Ipilan’s mining operations in Brooke’s Point town, and proceeded to the poblacion area to the Octagon Plaza. They said that the move aims to increase awareness about the purpose of the CDO directed at the mining company and organizer Job Lagrada expressed gratitude to all attendees and stressed the significance of united efforts in the ongoing struggle. “The objective of this is to communicate to all of you the purpose of this CDO issued against INC. Thank you to all who participated in this activity for your continuous fight, and now we’ve been heard,” Lagrada said. Gil Valdestamon, a farmer from Barangay Aribungos supporting the anti-mining cause, also conveyed a message during the rally. Valdestamon is among the farmers opposing Ipilan’s operation, believing it will cause significant harm to Brooke’s Point, particularly the Mt. Mantalingahan Protected Landscape where Ipilan’s mining operation is said to have encroached. “May this be a great help for us, we’ve been heard. Let’s stay united to continue our fight; we need to stand together,” Valdestamon said. Meantime, Vice Mayor Mary Jean Feliciano — a strong advocate against mining -- emphasized that the journey to uphold the writ of kalikasan and the CDO had only just begun. She also urged the youth to join the fight and make their voices heard, sharing her own experience of suspension due to accusations of abusing power. “This writ of kalikasan and CDO are really just the beginning; the journey is far from over. Let’s fight for this. To the youth, stand up for this. You remember, I was suspended because they said I abused my mayoral powers,” Feliciano said. “Even though the law is good, if this is how it’s interpreted, where else can I turn? I’ve done nothing but pray, and my daily prayer is that they won’t be given silence because what they’re doing is wrong,” she added. She also discussed concerns about the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, highlighting past resolutions that have been proposed. Feliciano questioned why the mining activities of Ipilan, operating without proper permits and compliance, had not been adequately addressed. “The DENR, MGB, we’ve had numerous resolutions since then. This is the mine without permits, without CP. Why haven’t you taken action?” Feliciano said. Last week, Ipilan acknowledged the Supreme Court’s decision to issue a writ of kalikasan as the ruling offers them an opportunity to address and refute repetitive baseless allegations, which have consistently been disproven by various government entities. According to the mining company, the ruling does not disrupt Ipilan’s activities since the request for a Temporary Environmental Protection Order has been declined. It added that it contrary to claims, they refrained from mining within the overlapping area in Mt. Mantalingahan, and that allegations related to tree-cutting activities were conducted under the authority of a valid permit, upheld by the court. The post Ipilan mining cease order backed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Crackdown vs ‘e-sabong’ intensified
The Police Regional Office in Mimaropa region has ordered its police commanders to intensify its war against operators of online cockfighting or e-sabong. PRO-4B director Brig. Gen. Joel Doria stressed on Sunday that the agency has an unwavering commitment to eradicate this illicit activity across the region as they respond to the call of Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. The PRO-4B earlier solidified its stance against e-sabong, leaving no stones unturned in its pursuit of a region free of online cockfighting. “We stand united with SILG, resolute in our determination to crush the existence of e-sabong within our beloved nation,” Doria said. Building on their previous efforts, Doria said that the PRO-4B has employed a rigorous one-strike policy that holds unit commanders fully accountable for eradicating e-sabong in their respective jurisdictions. “We will not tolerate commanders who fail to prevent or address e-sabong activities within their jurisdictions. Immediate and decisive action will be taken, leaving no room for compromise or leniency,” Doria said. “Our objective is not simply to suppress e-sabong, but to completely eradicate it. The one-strike policy serves as a powerful reminder of the duty our unit commanders bear. Under their watch, there will be no tolerance for those who allow this illegal activity to thrive,” he added. Previously, PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said they also continue to work with various government agencies, especially those whose mandate is concerned with information and communications technology, in running after online cockfighting operators. Acorda has ordered an “intensified crackdown” against illegal gambling, backed by the one-strike and no-take policy. Police, regional, provincial and district directors; chiefs of police stations and community precinct commanders; and other leaders of units who will be found inefficient or wanting in their efforts to eradicate and stop illegal gambling in their respective areas of jurisdiction shall be relieved of their post. They will also be charged administratively under the doctrine of command responsibility. Acorda’s latest directive comes after the PNP and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office forged an alliance to intensify the national campaign against all forms of illegal gambling. The specialized units will employ their expertise in gathering intelligence, conducting thorough investigations, and executing strategic interventions, fortifying the nation’s fight against illegal gambling. The post Crackdown vs ‘e-sabong’ intensified appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Canada dock workers reject new salary offer
Dock workers on Canada's west coast have rejected the latest salary offer from an employers group, after earlier launching a 13-day strike with major economic consequences for the country. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) of Canada -- whose leaders had backed the tentative agreement -- called on employers to "come to the table and negotiate something that works for our members and the industry," according to a brief statement released late Friday. The employer's group, the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association, said it was disappointed by the rejection of an offer proposed by a federal mediator. In a statement, it called the proposal "a good deal that recognized the skills and efforts of B.C.’s waterfront workforce while providing certainty and stability for the future of Canada’s West Coast ports." The tentative accord had called for a 19.2 percent salary increase over the course of a four-year contract. "Regrettably," the employers' statement went on, "ILWU’s rejection once again leaves businesses, Canadians, and all those who depend on a stable, well-functioning supply chain hanging in the balance." It said that while the union had "not communicated their next steps, they retain the ability to provide 72-hour strike notice." A 13-day strike in early July affected crucial economic sectors, notably Canada's automotive industry. Workers rejected the first agreement in principle on 18 July. After announcing plans to again strike, they canceled that after authorities said the law required 72 hours advance notice for such action. Negotiations resumed under a federal mediator, resulting in the tentative pact that the workers rejected late Friday. The automation of ports, the cost of living, and the issue of subcontracting are the key points separating the two sides. Key Canadian exports (coal, wheat, canola, and other food products) and imports (clothing, petroleum products, automobiles, and parts) pass through the ports daily, providing important transit links to Asia and the United States. The Port of Vancouver alone -- the nation's largest -- handles some Can$305 billion (US$342 billion) worth of goods annually and contributes Can$11.9 billion to the nation's annual output. The post Canada dock workers reject new salary offer appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US regulator investigating ChatGPT over bad content
The US Federal Trade Commission is investigating OpenAI to determine if its hugely popular ChatGPT app harms consumers by generating false information and whether its technology mishandles user data. Microsoft-backed OpenAI was notified of the investigation in a 20-page questionnaire in which the company is asked to describe incidents in which users were falsely disparaged, and share any company efforts to ensure this does not happen again. The investigation by the US regulator was first reported by The Washington Post. OpenAI's release of ChatGPT last November stunned the world as it displayed the power of large language models (or LLM), a form of artificial intelligence known as generative AI that can churn out human-like content in just seconds. Amid the marvel at the technology's capacities, reports came in that the models could also churn out offensive, false or just strange content, sometimes called "hallucinations." FTC chair Lina Khan addressed a congressional committee hearing on Wednesday, and while she did not mention the investigation, she told lawmakers that her agency had concerns about ChatGPT's potentially libellous output. "We've heard about reports where people's sensitive information is showing up in response to an inquiry from somebody else," Khan said. "We've heard about libel, defamatory statements, flatly untrue things that are emerging. That's the type of fraud and deception that we are concerned about," she added. The FTC's investigation is mainly focused on how this aspect could harm users, according to the questionnaire, but also delves into OpenAI's use of private data to build its world-leading model. The company's GPT-4 is the bedrock technology behind its own ChatGPT as well scores of other programs from companies that pay a fee to OpenAI to access its model for their own uses. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in a tweet that he regretted news of the investigation was leaked to the press, which "does not build trust." He added that "of course" OpenAI will work with the FTC and that "it's super important to us that our technology is safe and pro-consumer, and we are confident we follow the law." An FTC probe does not necessarily bring further action and the regulator can close the case if it is satisfied by the target company's answer. If the FTC perceives illegal or unsafe practices, it will demand remedial action and possibly launch a lawsuit. OpenAI and the FTC did not respond to a request for comment. The post US regulator investigating ChatGPT over bad content appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Beijing hits U.S. as arbitral ‘mastermind’
After several countries backed the 2016 arbitral ruling that favored the Philippines’ claim in the West Philippine Sea, China yesterday maintained the same to be “void.” “China’s position on the so-called South China Sea arbitration and the award is consistent, clear, and firm. The arbitral tribunal gravely violated UNCLOS (UN Convention on the Law of the Sea) and general international law,” the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines said in a statement on Wednesday night. “The award is illegal, null, and void. China does not accept or recognize it and will never accept any claim or action based on the award,” it added. Likewise, the Chinese Embassy took a swipe at the United States for “playing up” the 2016 arbitral award to exert pressure on China. China averred that as “the mastermind behind the South China Sea arbitration,” the US “ropes in allies to play up the issue each year on the anniversary of the illegal award to gang up against China, exert pressure, and force China into accepting the award.” On Wednesday, the Philippines commemorated the seventh anniversary of the 12 July 2016 arbitral ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration and received an outpouring of support from different countries. Foreign ministers and ambassadors from at least eight countries, such as the United States, Japan, the European Union, Australia, France, Canada, the United Kingdom, and India, reiterated their support for the landmark ruling. They also urged Beijing to recognize the arbitral ruling and stop its “harassment” in the South China Sea. Beijing, however, stood by its historic rights over the West Philippine Sea, which is part of the larger South China Sea. “China’s sovereignty and relevant rights and interests in the South China Sea were established in the long course of history and are solidly grounded in history and the law. This shall under no circumstances be affected by any illegal award,” the embassy said. The post Beijing hits U.S. as arbitral ‘mastermind’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Israel shells Lebanon after missile attack
Israel’s army fired artillery shells towards southern Lebanon sites where an anti-tank missile was launched earlier and struck Israeli territory. There was no report of casualties in the exchange and the commander of the United Nations peacekeepers in Lebanon called on the two sides to exercise restraint. Parts of the missile fell in the town of Ghajar and no one claimed responsibility for the attack, Israel’s military said. A spokesperson for the town, Bilal al-Khatib, said the projectile struck “close to homes. Meanwhile, the Israeli shelling hit open land away from residential areas, an Agence France-Presse correspondent in Lebanon said. Lebanon’s official National News Agency said “more than 15 artillery shells” hit around the communities of Kfar Chouba and Halta. Earlier on Thursday, Lebanon’s armed Hezbollah movement had denounced Israel for building a concrete wall around Ghajar. The so-called Blue Line cuts through Ghajar, formally placing its northern part in Lebanon and its southern part in the Israeli-occupied and annexed Golan Heights. The Iran-backed Shiite group called on the Lebanese state to take action to “prevent the consolidation of this occupation” by Israel of Ghajar, home to around 3,000 people. Khatib said residents built the barrier to protect their lands and children from wild animals. The two countries are still technically at war, and peacekeepers from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon patrol the border between them. The post Israel shells Lebanon after missile attack appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
EU moves closer to launching digital euro
The European Union (EU) on Wednesday took its first significant step towards launching a digital version of the euro, a controversial project that has been questioned by politicians and banks. From China to the United States, Jamaica to Japan, more than 100 central banks worldwide are exploring or preparing to put in place digital currencies as electronic payments grow, changing the way people spend their money. The move to create a digital version of the single currency began in 2020 when European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde suggested the idea and her Frankfurt-based body launched a public consultation. The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, published a proposal on Wednesday that will be the legal foundation on which the ECB could launch a digital euro. The currency would be available to individuals living in the euro area and for visitors. It would offer an additional payment option for citizens to use online and offline with their digital wallets, thus ensuring as much anonymity as coins and banknotes. The final law must be backed by the EU's 27 member states and the European Parliament. Digital euro enthusiasts say it will complement cash and ensure the ECB does not leave a gap later filled by private -- usually non-EU -- players and other central banks. "Given that the euro is already the world's second most-traded currency, it is not an area where can afford to stay behind the curve. We need to move ahead with a digital currency," commission vice president Valdis Dombrovskis told reporters. Critics question the need for a digital euro and banks warn of major risks, while the ECB's own study found the public was concerned over payment privacy. The ECB and the commission "have yet to make a compelling case of why we need the digital euro and what added value it will deliver," German MEP Markus Ferber said. Benefits 'outweigh' costs The commission's proposal argued that the digital euro's "long-term benefits... outweigh its costs" and warned, "the costs of no action can potentially be very large". Lagarde said in March that the digital currency was important for resilience and to "safeguard European payment autonomy". Many means of payment are "not necessarily European", she noted, adding it was "very unhealthy to rely on one single source of payment". US giants Visa and Mastercard currently dominate the global card payment market. Others argue, however, that the bloc's plans spell trouble unless the EU takes necessary other steps. Banks have warned of the risk of bank runs as customers could hold their funds in digital euro accounts and wallets, moving them away from the banks' balance sheets. "To shield banks from the risk of deposit flight and to limit the negative impact on banks' ability to finance the economy, it is important to set appropriate and firm limits in holdings and transactions," the European Banking Federation said on Wednesday. The proposal indicates there will be a limit to how much money people can keep in digital euros. ECB officials have suggested a cap of 3,000 euros ($3,300). The digital currency will be granted "legal tender" status, meaning it must be accepted as payment. But there would be exceptions, including for small businesses that do not accept any form of digital payment. The ECB is set to give the formal green light to a digital euro in October and the expectation is it would be available from 2027 onwards. The ECB welcomed the commission's proposal, which it said offered "private intermediaries appropriate economic incentives to distribute the digital euro as they do other digital means of payment while preventing excessive fees for merchants". Privacy concerns The ECB has a difficult battle to win over Europeans. A public consultation showed that the number one priority when it comes to the digital euro is privacy. To calm people's fears, the ECB has stressed it would not attempt to control how people can spend digital currency or use it for surveillance, as critics claim is the case in China. "This is not a Big Brother project for online payments," the EU's financial services commissioner, Mairead McGuinness, said during a press conference in Brussels. "With the digital euro, the data privacy will be the same as for existing private digital means of payment. For offline payments, the data privacy will be even higher." The commission's proposal said the digital euro "will be designed so as to minimize the processing of personal data by payment services providers" and the ECB. The post EU moves closer to launching digital euro appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DND: No decision yet on Afghan refugees issue
Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro on Monday said they are still awaiting the legal opinion of the Department of Justice regarding the United States' request to grant some Afghan refugees special immigrant status in the Philippines. In a chance interview, Teodoro said the government is still “carefully” assessing the legality of the request. “Hinihintay pa namin ang opinyon ng DOJ kung ito ay legal at pwedeng pagbigyan o hindi kung hindi maari sa batas ng Republika, ano pa ang pag-uusapan natin? (We’re still waiting opinion from the DOJ if it is legal and can granted or not. If it is not allowed in our law, what we should talk about?),” Teodoro told reporters. Teodoro said the Philippines has yet to craft a formal response to the US’ request, but it has no timeframe. “Lahat ng gawain natin kailangan may legal basis tayo. Hindi puwedeng wala (In everything we do, we must have legal basis),” he said. Teodoro said the matter is yet to reach President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for discussion, as they still need to evaluate if the country has sufficient resources to house the US-backed Afghan nationals. “Bagamat gusto nating tumulong, ay may mga kababayan din tayo dito na nangangailangan din ng tulong, pabahay at pangangalaga (While we want to help, our fellow Filipinos also need help, housing and care),” he said. In a separate television interview, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez earlier said the country's response to the request may become available on 15 July. “I would think that before the middle of July, we should be able to make a decision. The memorandum for the President’s approval or disapproval, whichever the case may be, will be sent to Malacañang as probably as late as July 15… That is more or less what we are tracking right now from here, from Washington DC,” Romualdez said. Last Friday, Senator Imee Marcos urged Teodoro and National Security Adviser Eduardo Año to explain the US’ request to grant some Afghan refugees special immigrant status in the country. The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations launched an investigation after Marcos filed Senate Resolution 651, seeking an inquiry into the request. Marcos noticed that no data have been made public on the said Afghans' status as legitimate refugees, employees of the US government, or American companies. There's a lack of transparency in the present case," Marcos said, comparing the previous administration's policy of accepting Afghan refugees when the Taliban took over Afghanistan in August 2021, following the withdrawal of American troops. "We need to know the real nature of the agreement between the Philippines and the United States and the course of action the executive branch plans to take," she stressed. The Philippine Immigration Act of 1940 stated that the admission of refugees for religious, political, or racial reasons should serve a humanitarian purpose and not be opposed to the public interest. Meantime, Teodoro noted that the US did not cite humanitarian considerations in its request. "Ito, hindi humanitarian ang hinihingi eh. SIV (special immigrant visa) ito so ibang kaso ito at kahit na humanitarian ang rason, inaaral pa rin ng ating gobyerno ang lahat ng implikasyon (The reason for their request is not humanitarian. This is about SIVs, so it is a different case. And even if it is for humanitarian reasons, the government needs to study all the implications),” he said. The post DND: No decision yet on Afghan refugees issue appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Subservient no more
While the United States and China face off in the West Philippine Sea, the balanced diplomatic policy of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. enables him to keep the lines open to both superpowers. The Philippines has a “traditional” alliance with the United States imbued, as a former colony, with a cultural affinity that had resulted in deep relations. Both countries share experiences in history, primarily in World War 2 where the commitments of both countries to defend each other emanated. Former President Rodrigo Duterte tried to deviate from the norm and sought closer relations with China while asserting that the Philippines should not be subservient to the Americans, which was a track that showed success but Beijing fell short of its commitments. A more pragmatic tack was taken by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. which is gaining recognition as the right approach with China and the United States. The country has resumed its normal relations with the US while BBM works for deeper economic and diplomatic relations with the mainland. The direction President Marcos has taken is meant to prove to the two superpowers that it is in the best interest of the Philippines that its relations remain strong and balanced with all countries. The US helps with military modernization, while both countries maintain assistance with various development projects, mainly infrastructure. The country’s role in the volatile West Philippine Sea issue is then relegated to the background. The Philippines has the international community behind it as a result of the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling which, even as it avoided settling the territorial claim, favored the Philippines in terms of the exercise of maritime rights. The 2016 arbitral award significantly invalidated the nine-dash line claim of China on the West Philippine Sea. Enforcing the ruling is difficult since China did not recognize the proceeding but the importance of the decision has emerged in terms of being a reference of countries in addressing the incursions in the West Philippine Sea. Elbridge Colby, former Pentagon Deputy Assistant Secretary and co-founder of the think tank Marathon Initiative, said in a recent forum that the Philippines is “on the right track in building up its defense capabilities.” Building such capabilities will “blunt” potential aggressions in the region, he added. Colby, who engineered the United States 2018 National Defense Strategy, said, “The Chinese are not going to take your diplomacy seriously if you’re operating from a position of weakness; they take it seriously if it’s backed by force that they don’t think they can mess around.” The twin moves of President Marcos to strengthen defense capabilities through the long-held pacts with the US while modernizing the Armed Forces of the Philippines have become a cornerstone of the defense strategy in deterring maritime aggression. Colby underlined the importance of effective deterrence which is meant to avoid the escalation of conflict in the region. Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro is firm in asserting the position of the country to be independent of the superpowers as it tracks its course amid the heightened geopolitical tensions in the region. President Marcos added that he will not allow provocative actions by any country nor allow the Philippines to become a staging post for any kind of military action. The position of strength comes from the ability of the nation to express what it wants within its international rights that other countries should learn to respect. The post Subservient no more appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
School-based mental health bill gains backing
Senate Bill 2200 or the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act seeking to institutionalize a school-based mental health program in public and private basic education institutions nationwide reached the Senate plenary. “You are not weak for struggling with mental health issues,” Senator Win Gatchalian said. He stressed that every youth silently bearing the weight of their mental health struggles will benefit from the proposed measure he sponsored before the other senators on Wednesday. Gatchalian, who chairs the committee on basic education, said it will define the role of every stakeholder in the school community to appropriately respond to mental health concerns through prevention, intervention, postvention and recovery. Meantime, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, the co-author of the bill, said the well-being of students shouldn’t be overlooked as it is also among the prerequisite to children’s academic excellence. “We must acknowledge the inseparable connection between education and mental health, as a child cannot thrive academically if his or her mental well-being is compromised,” said Go, who also chairs the committee on health and demography. Go also stressed the need to establish available mental health care services not only in basic education but also within higher education, thus, filing Senate Bill 1786 which mandates Public Higher Education Institutions to also establish their own mental health offices. If passed into law, students can sufficiently acquire essential school-based mental health services, including screening, evaluation, assessment, and monitoring, mental health first aid, crisis response and referral system, mental health awareness and literacy, emotional, developmental, and preventive programs, and other support services such as strengthening the learners’ family bonds. Under the bill, the Department of Education shall implement complementary measures to eliminate the stigma of mental health counseling. This will be backed by mental health awareness programs and literacy and appropriate mental health-related referrals to teaching and non-teaching personnel. “The cornerstone of this legislation is the establishment of a Care Center in every public basic education school in the country, and ensuring their establishment and maintenance in private schools,” Gatchalian said. The lawmaker explained that the Center will be equipped with functional physical facilities, located within an adequate space -- where confidentiality is maintained and accessible to the learners, teachers, and non-teaching personnel. The law also urges DepEd to “hire and capacitate competent personnel” whose duties and responsibilities shall be geared towards promoting and ensuring the mental health and well-being of all learners. Senator Ronald dela Rosa, on the other hand, said the increasing number of mental health victims in basic education should gain attention. “We must take action. I am moved by this measure, and I support such a wonderful bill, as it aims to equip our children with the needed tools both to believe in themselves and to believe that their lives are worth living,” said Dela Rosa. Other co-authors of the bill are Senators Joel Villanueva, Nancy Binay, Ramon Revilla Jr., and Lito Lapid. Senators Risa Hontiveros, Dela Rosa, Sonny Angara, and Loren Legarda as well as Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri co-sponsored the measure during the plenary. The post School-based mental health bill gains backing appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Diokno backs move to pause rate hike cycle
Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno has backed the case for a pause on interest rate hikes, saying that the current inflation rate is still within the government's target range. During Diokno’s weekly 'Chat with SBED briefing,' the Finance Secretary said that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas should "reassess its monetary policy stance" in light of the recent decline in inflation. "The BSP should reassess its monetary policy stance in light of the recent decline in inflation," Diokno said. "The current inflation rate is still within the government's target range of 2-4 percent," he added. Diokno noted that the BSP has already raised interest rates by a total of 175 basis points since August 2021 to contain inflation. However, he said that the recent decline in inflation suggests that the BSP may need to pause on its rate hike cycle. "The recent decline in inflation suggests that the BSP may need to pause on its rate hike cycle," Diokno said. "The BSP should monitor the inflation trend closely and adjust its policy stance accordingly," he added. The central bank has been raising interest rates since May 2022 to combat inflation. The current rate is 6.25%, which is the highest it has been in nearly 16 years. However, inflation has been slowing down, and in April it reached 6.6%. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, is still high at 7.9%. This suggests that the central bank may pause in raising interest rates. Diokno, who is also a member of the central bank's Monetary Board, agrees that there is no need to raise interest rates further. He believes that the current rate is high enough to slow down inflation without harming economic growth. The BSP will next meet on 23 June to decide whether to raise interest rates again. It is expected to keep rates unchanged, but it will be closely watching inflation data to see if it needs to take further action. “Why are we talking further rate hikes, who’s doing the rate hikes? We’re not thinking of further rate hikes," Diokno said. He further stated that “Yes, I’m for a pause, that’s my opinion.” Diokno, who serves as the former BSP governor, noted that inflation is going down, the country has huge foreign reserves, and the current account deficit has expanded. "It’s financially manageable and that’s because of the improved economy, plus infrastructure spending,” Diokno said. The post Diokno backs move to pause rate hike cycle appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Lim ends hiatus, returns to tennis action in Brookside Open
Lim, who has dominated the junior circuit and vied in a number of Grand Slam junior events, reaching the second round of the Australian Open in 2017, went on a hiatus due to illness but has since worked his way back to form in time for this week’s championship backed by Rep. Michael John “Jack” Duavit......»»