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Hawaii fire death toll nears 100, anger grows
The death toll in Hawaii from the deadliest US wildfire in more than a century was expected to cross the 100-mark Sunday, fueling criticism that an inadequate official response contributed to the heavy loss of life. Officials updated the toll to 93 late Saturday but warned the figure was likely to rise as recovery crews with cadaver dogs continued the grim task of searching burned-out homes and vehicles in the epicenter of Lahaina. The historic coastal town on the island of Maui was almost completely destroyed by the fast-moving inferno early Wednesday morning, with survivors saying there had been no warnings. When asked Sunday why none of the island's sirens had been activated, Hawaii Senator Mazie Hirono said she would wait for the results of an investigation announced by the state's attorney general. "I'm not going to make any excuses for this tragedy," Hirono, a Democrat, told CNN's "State of the Union." "We are really focused, as far as I'm concerned, on the need for rescue, and, sadly, the location of more bodies." More than 2,200 structures were damaged or destroyed as the fire tore through Lahaina, according to official estimates, wreaking $5.5 billion in damage and leaving thousands homeless. "The remains we're finding are from a fire that melted metal," said Maui Police Chief John Pelletier. "When we pick up the remains... they fall apart." Among the ruins in Lahaina, a town of more than 12,000 and the former home of the Hawaiian royal family, an iconic, 150-year-old banyan tree remained standing but severely burned, AFP journalists saw. President Joe Biden said on Sunday he was "looking at" the possibility of visiting the island. Questions over alert system The wildfire is the deadliest in the United States since 1918, when 453 people died in Minnesota and Wisconsin, according to the non-profit research group the National Fire Protection Association. The death toll surpassed 2018's Camp Fire in California, which virtually wiped the small town of Paradise off the map and killed 86 people. Maui suffered numerous power outages during the crisis, preventing many residents from receiving emergency alerts on their cell phones. No emergency sirens were sounded, and many Lahaina residents have spoken of learning about the blaze because of neighbors running down the street. "The mountain behind us caught on fire and nobody told us jack," resident Vilma Reed, 63, told AFP. "You know when we found that there was a fire? When it was across the street from us." Reed, whose house was destroyed by the blaze, said she was depending on handouts and the kindness of strangers while sleeping in a car with her daughter, grandson, and two cats. In its emergency management plan last year, the State of Hawaii described the risk wildfires posed to people as being "low". Some residents who fled the flames have also expressed anger at a roadblock put up preventing them from returning to their homes. Maui police said members of the public would not be allowed into Lahaina while safety assessments and searches were ongoing -- even some of those who could prove they lived there. Some residents waited for hours hoping to be allowed in to comb through the ashes or look for missing pets or loved ones. When asked about growing anger at the response, Hirono told CNN she understood the frustration because "we are in a period of shock and loss." Maui's fires follow other extreme weather events in North America this summer, with record-breaking wildfires still burning across Canada and a major heat wave baking the US southwest. Europe and parts of Asia have also endured soaring temperatures, with major fires and floods wreaking havoc. Scientists say human-caused global warming is exacerbating natural hazards, making them both more likely and more deadly. The post Hawaii fire death toll nears 100, anger grows appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Edu’s dream comes true
It’s been AJ Edu’s dream to play for the Philippines at the senior level since making his national team debut at the FIBA Asia U18 Championships in Thailand in 2018 and now, reality will kick in at the FIBA World Cup......»»
Time for the Philippines to go nuclear
With the scorching heat of the sun still going on and the looming dry spell as a result of the El Niño phenomenon, more Filipinos are using electricity to beat the soaring temperature. Unfortunately, the supply of power cannot cope with the demand, so power outages have also become common. [caption id="attachment_167841" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Many Filipinos are increasingly unable to afford power costs, with the cost of electricity in the country among the highest in Southeast Asia. | Photographs Courtesy Of The Philippine Nuclear Research Institute.[/caption] Many Filipinos are also increasingly unable to afford power costs. The cost of electricity in the country is among the highest in Southeast Asia, according to a paper penned for the Ateneo Center for Economic Research and Development. In the Philippines, the kilowatt per hour is $0.16. Compare that to Thailand and Indonesia ($0.10/kWh) and Malaysia ($0.05/kWh). At $0.18/kWh, only Singapore surpasses the country’s Philippines rates. About 50 percent of the country’s power generation comes from coal, with natural gas and renewables accounting for just over 20 percent and the rest coming from oil-fired boilers. The country’s electricity consumption is expected to triple by 2040 — from the 90.2 TWh (Terawatt-hour) in 2018 — due to the rapidly growing economy. It’s time for the Philippines to transition away from its reliance on coal. The adoption of nuclear power is the fastest option and would make electricity costs more affordable, according to the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute. PNRI Director Carlo A. Arcilla said including nuclear power in the country’s energy mix would be beneficial to consumers as it would bring down expensive electricity rates and provide a stable source of power. Gayle Certeza, convenor of Alpas Pinas, a group that educates and advocates for nuclear energy, agrees. “We believe that nuclear energy will positively impact the lives of Filipinos because it will mean lower electricity rates that will better allow for more savings,” she said in a Daily Tribune feature. During the presidency of Rodrigo R. Duterte, Executive Order 164 was signed to include nuclear power in the country’s energy mix. Under the policy, the country “shall ensure the peaceful use of nuclear technology anchored on critical tenets of public safety, national security, energy self-sufficiency, and environmental sustainability.” Energy security The Department of Science and Technology supported EO 164, saying: “Nuclear power is envisioned to bring down the cost of electricity and to contribute to energy security considering the various limitations now being encountered in the other sources which includes natural gas, geothermal, hydro and coal.” The DoST is a member of the Nuclear Energy Program Interagency Committee, tasked to study the adoption of a national position on nuclear power. Nuclear power is one of two major alternatives to fossil fuels; the other is renewable energy (solar power, wind power, hydroelectric, geothermal energy and biomass energy). “Renewables and nuclear can complement each other,” said Arcilla in an interview. “Wind and solar depend on the status of the weather, and they only a 30-percent capacity factor unless you have an expensive battery.” Solar energy also requires one hectare of land to produce one megawatt. “This will become more challenging since the Philippines is an archipelagic country,” Arcilla said. Nuclear, on the other hand, “is more of a baseload energy, meaning it is more reliable due to its continuous production of energy. It could provide backup for wind and solar.” Threats and risks Groups such as the World Nuclear Association, the International Atomic Energy Agency and Environmentalists for Nuclear Energy contend that nuclear power is a sustainable energy source that reduces carbon emissions. But opponents, such as Greenpeace International and Nuclear Information and Resource Service, warn that nuclear power poses many threats to people and the environment, including the problems of processing, transport and storage of radioactive nuclear waste, the risk of nuclear weapons proliferation and terrorism, as well as health risks and environmental damage from uranium mining. Because of these risks, Dr. Art Romero, a geoscientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley, California, emphasizes the need to conduct due diligence, technical hazard studies and engineering and safety reviews. If the Philippines went nuclear, where would it put nuclear waste? “It is very challenging to manage nuclear waste as it will last up to 10,000 years,” acknowledged Arcilla. “We need to isolate them from the human environment.” Arcilla suggests deep borehole disposal. “In the Philippines, we have the capability to drill up to three kilometers. So what we can do is to go to an isolated island, drill up to one kilometer, then we plug in bentonite.” It’s not the first time the Philippines will go nuclear. The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant was built by Westinghouse during the time of Ferdinand Marcos at a cost of $2.2 billion, but it was mothballed in 1986 due to safety concerns and allegations of corruption, even before it could begin operations. During the administration of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, proponents wanted the BNPP rehabilitated. But the project was projected to cost a hefty $1 billion. In 2019, a public perception survey indicated that 79 percent of Filipinos supported the rehabilitation of the shelved BNPP. In addition, 65 percent approved the building of new nuclear power plants. Nuclear power is the second largest source of low-carbon electricity today. With almost 500 operating reactors globally, it provides 10 percent of global electricity supply. It’s time for a rapidly developing country like the Philippines to take a second look at this critical power supply option. The post Time for the Philippines to go nuclear appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Taylor Swift adds Canada tour dates after Trudeau plea
US superstar Taylor Swift announced Thursday several Toronto dates for her much-hyped world tour after a plea from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau not to skip Canada. Concert sponsor, Rogers Communications said in a statement that Swift will perform six shows as part of her "Eras Tour" in Canada's largest city and that tickets would soon go on sale for the November 2024 dates. Swift herself also posted on Instagram: "Turns out it's NOT the end of an era." "Miami, New Orleans, Indy and Toronto: The Eras Tour is coming to you in 2024," she said, with a photo listing Canada stops as November 14-16 and 21-23. US singer Gracie Abrams, the daughter of film director J.J. Abrams, will also be performing, Swift added. Swift's initial snub of Canada when the tour schedule was first announced had greatly disappointed her Canadian fans, and Trudeau apparently could not shake it off. In a tweet referencing the lyrics of Swift's songs, Trudeau last month urged her to fill the blank space and perform in America's neighbor to the north. "It's me, hi. I know places in Canada would love to have you," Trudeau said in a message on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that quickly went viral. "So, don't make it another cruel summer. We hope to see you soon." The artist had just announced the addition of new dates through 2024 to her consistently sold-out tour, which began in March in Arizona. She'd planned more than 100 concerts in the United States, Mexico, Europe, Asia, and Australia, but not Canada. The bad blood risked turning Swift into something of an anti-hero in famously nice Canada. In June, a conservative lawmaker also lamented what he called the singer's lack of respect for the country and similarly implored her to save some dates for Canada. Swift's turnaround was the top story in most Canadian media on Thursday. She last came to Canada in 2018. The post Taylor Swift adds Canada tour dates after Trudeau plea appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Singapore hangs 14th drug convict since last year
Singapore on Wednesday hanged a local man convicted of drug trafficking, officials said, two days before the scheduled execution of the first woman prisoner in the city-state in nearly 20 years. Mohd Aziz bin Hussain, convicted and sentenced to death in 2017 for trafficking "not less than 49.98 grams" (1.76 ounces) of heroin, was executed at Changi Prison, the Central Narcotics Bureau said in a statement. The 57-year-old was the 14th convict sent to the gallows since the government resumed executions in March 2022 after a two-year pause during the Covid-19 pandemic. Hussain's previous appeals against his conviction and sentence had been dismissed, and a petition for presidential clemency was also denied. A woman drug convict, 45-year-old Saridewi Djamani, is scheduled to be hanged on Friday, according to the local rights group Transformative Justice Collective (TJC). She was sentenced to death in 2018 for trafficking around 30 grams of heroin. If carried out, Djamani would be the first woman executed in Singapore since 2004, when 36-year-old hairdresser Yen May Woen was hanged for drug trafficking, according to TJC activist Kokila Annamalai. Singapore has some of the world's toughest anti-drug laws -- trafficking more than 500 grams of cannabis or over 15 grams of heroin can result in the death penalty. Rights watchdog Amnesty International on Tuesday urged Singapore to halt the executions, saying there was no evidence the death penalty acted as a deterrent to crime. "It is unconscionable that authorities in Singapore continue to cruelly pursue more executions in the name of drug control," Amnesty death penalty expert Chiara Sangiorgio said in a statement. Singapore, however, insists that the death penalty has helped make it one of Asia's safest countries. Among those hanged since last year was Nagaenthran K. Dharmalingam, whose execution sparked a global outcry, including from the United Nations and British tycoon Richard Branson, because he was deemed to have a mental disability. The post Singapore hangs 14th drug convict since last year appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Setting out on a journey towards climate goals
In order to build its climate strategy, Cebu Pacific (CEB) established a cooperation with South Pole, which will aid them towards their environmental goals. Leading climate organization South Pole creates the initiatives and solutions required to empower people all around the world to combat climate change. In support of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the International Civil Aviation Organization approved the long-term global aspirational targets of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 in 2022. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced its "Fly Net Zero" promise to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 a year early. "Cebu Pacific supports global aviation’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. With South Pole’s guidance and expertise, we will develop a robust plan of action to prioritize interventions for emission hotspots in our operations. This roadmap will consider and fuse together the tangible initiatives that we have already put in place, as well as plans that will contribute towards our aspirations of meeting aviation’s net-zero commitment," said Mike Szucs, Cebu Pacific’s Chief Executive Officer. Szucs added that the engagement with South Pole involves CEB going through the rigorous process of understanding the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated from its operations and setting its near-term and long-term emission reduction pathways. This roadmap will build into CEB’s current decarbonization strategy, which includes its fleet modernization program, fuel efficiency measures, successful integration of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) into its operations, transition to electric vehicles, and tapping renewable energy, among others. "CEB has been monitoring and reporting its Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions since 2018. But as with other companies, Scope 3 emissions are a blind spot for Cebu Pacific, and we recognize the complexities in accounting for these emissions. To set a credible emissions reduction pathway, it is essential to have a comprehensive validation of our material emissions. Hence, we are tapping into South Pole’s climate expertise in this area," said Alex Reyes, Chief Strategy Officer, who also leads sustainability in Cebu Pacific. South Pole will support CEB in scoping its activities to identify the relevant Scope 3 emissions from its entire upstream and downstream value chains. "To drive a sustainable long-term recovery in the aviation industry, we must continue to facilitate global climate action to achieve net zero by 2050... By placing climate at the center of its strategy, we are confident that CEB will make great strides in its climate journey, and we are proud to support CEB in achieving its sustainability goals," said Shruti Singh, South Pole’s Director, Climate Strategies for Asia Pacific. CEB’s climate strategy roadmap that will be developed under the engagement ensures that its emissions reduction pathway is aligned with climate science and with the global temperature targets under the Paris Agreement. The aviation industry, which, according to IATA, is responsible for 2–3% of global emissions, has a crucial role to play in this transition. The post Setting out on a journey towards climate goals appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Malnutrition, hunger shade Phl growth
The Asian Development Bank’s outlook for the Philippines remains unchanged since April, maintaining that the country’s economy would expand by 6.0 percent for the remainder of the year and grow by 6.2 percent in 2024. In April, Kelly Bird, ADB country director for the Philippines, noted that the economy was in expansion mode after the gross domestic product grew 7.6 percent throughout 2022. “It (Philippine economic growth) is expected to moderate this year (2023) from the previous year’s forecast-beating outturn, but will remain on a healthy expansion mode underpinned by rising domestic demand and a recovery in services, particularly tourism,” he said. In the latest update of its quarterly Asian Development Outlook 2023 report, the ADB said domestic demand and services continue to drive growth in Southeast Asia, with many economies in the region, including the Philippines’, benefiting from strong tourism recovery. It said robust investment and private consumption, along with rising employment, growth in production and retail sales, and upbeat activity in private and public construction, is propelling the Philippine economy forward, making the country a strong candidate for the fastest-growing economy in the region in 2023, even surpassing Singapore’s and Vietnam’s. Filipinos look forward to ADB’s forecast that growth will remain strong, albeit slowed by global headwinds, high inflation, and tighter monetary policy. GDP growth should pick up even more as the external environment improves. Hopes are pinned on private consumption and investment to continue to expand, though easing from 2022’s brisk pace while household spending will be buoyed by rising employment and steady remittances from Philippine workers overseas. The bank’s outlook on the Philippine economy should get President Marcos into a pumped-up mood as he gets ready to address the country in his 2nd State of the Nation address on Monday. But ADB’s sobering notes on hunger and malnutrition threaten to dim whatever bright disposition he may have at the moment. In its report, the ADB notes that despite rapid economic growth in recent years, these “impressive gains” along with whatever efforts to reduce poverty have not lowered hunger, particularly among people in lower income levels. The ADB cites data from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization indicating the prevalence of food insecurity in the Philippines, averaging 43.8 percent of the total population from 2019 to 2021 with 5.2 percent of the people undernourished. An Expanded National Nutrition Survey in 2021 revealed that under-nutrition rates were “very high,” with 26.7 percent of children under five years old stunted. Among school-age children (5-10 years old), the stunting rate was 19.7 percent and much higher among the poorest quintile at 32.7 percent. Alarming figures indicate that chronic malnutrition and stunting are strongly linked to disease and premature death; they adversely affect crucial stages of development (of children), causing cognitive and behavioral deficits, learning disabilities and ultimately a sub-optimal and uncompetitive labor force. The government’s response, the ADB observed, was short-term measures providing social support to vulnerable groups and temporarily easing import restrictions on some agricultural products. And this note should be of particular concern to the President, who remains unmoved by calls to designate a full-time, hands-on expert thoroughly steeped in agriculture at the agency. These data are also alarming: Agriculture growth in the Philippines has underperformed for the past two decades; it grew 3.5 percent on average annually from 2000 to 2010, then by 1.5 percent from 2011 to 2022; Agriculture’s share of GDP has declined from over 15 percent in early 2000 to an average of 9 percent in the past five years, with one-fifth of employment remaining in agriculture; and today’s Philippine agriculture labor productivity continues to lag behind its peers in the Southeast region. The ADB recommended that government strengthens food security and nutrition through social protection responses. Data on poverty incidence showed it declined from 23.5 percent of the population in 2015 to 16.7 percent in 2018 but rose again to 18.1 percent in 2021 because of the pandemic. As the President prepares to take on another year in office, we hope that the President is aware of the urgencies that need to be effectively tackled in the sector he insists on overseeing and of the sociopolitical costs and the not-so-flattering image the country — and the world — would have of his leadership if he leaves these issues substantially unresolved. The post Malnutrition, hunger shade Phl growth appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Senators’ quest for P150 wage hike remains
Senators have committed to still push for a P150 across-the-board wage hike nationwide even with the recent approval of a P40 increase in the daily minimum wage of private sector workers in the National Capital Region. Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. told reporters on Monday that he will continue to push for the passage of the measure legislating a nationwide wage hike of P150. Revilla’s Senate Bill 2018 targets a P150 wage increase for all private sector employees regardless of region. “Laborers are the backbone of the country’s economy and their great contribution to the nation should be reciprocated with a true living wage,” Revilla said, noting that it was high time the government granted the across-the-board wage increase for employees nationwide. Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said he is confident the Upper House will “listen to overwhelming clamors” for a P150 wage increase for workers throughout the country. “The Senate will make a stand on this issue. Alam ko maraming magagalit sa ating mga negosyante, but share-share lang. Kailangan din po nilang magshare ng biyaya sa ating mga manggagawa (I know many businessmen will be angry with us but they must share. They also need to share their blessings with our workers),” Zubiri said in a radio interview over the weekend. Citing the Pulse Asia survey undertaken last month, Zubiri lamented that increasing the pay of workers only ranked second among the top issues in the country next to controlling inflation. Zubiri said he will use the recent Pulse Asia survey as “exhibit A” to convince his colleagues to support the quest for a wage hike when the Senate resumes deliberations on the matter. “The idea is to have a uniform P150 minimum wage increase nationwide, and they are eyeing several proposals on how to accomplish this,” he said. The post Senators’ quest for P150 wage hike remains appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Temperature reaches new highs as heatwaves scorch the globe
Temperatures reached new highs on Monday as heatwaves scorched parts of the Northern Hemisphere, triggering health warnings and fanning wildfires in the latest stark reminder of the effects of global warming. From North America to Europe and Asia, people gulped water and sought shelter from the sweltering heat, with the mercury expected to reach new highs in several places in the next few days. Europe, the globe's fastest-warming continent, was bracing for its hottest-ever temperature this week on Italy's islands of Sicily and Sardinia, where a high of 48 degrees Celsius (118 degrees Fahrenheit) is predicted, according to the European Space Agency. "We're from Texas and it’s really hot there, we thought we would escape the heat but it’s even hotter here," Colman Peavy, 30, said as he sipped a capuccino at an outside terrasse in central Rome with his wife Ana at the start of a two-week Italian vacation. With June already having been the world's hottest on record, according to the EU weather monitoring service, Mother Nature seemed intent on July not falling far behind. China reported a new high for mid-July in the northwest of the country, where temperature reached 52.2C in the Xinjiang region's village of Sanbao, breaking the previous high of 50.6C set six years ago. In nearby Turpan city, where ground surface temperatures sizzled at 80C in some parts, authorities have told workers and students to stay home and ordered special vehicles to spray water on major thoroughfares, the meteorological body said. In Cyprus, where temperatures are expected to remain above 40C through Thursday, a 90-year-old man died as a result of heatstroke and three other seniors were hospitalized, health officials said. In Japan, heatstroke alerts were issued in 32 out of the country’s 47 prefectures, mainly in central and southwestern regions. At least 60 people in Japan were treated for heatstroke, local media reported, including 51 who were taken to hospital in Tokyo. The heat was enough for at least one man to dispense with social mortification in Hamamatsu city. "It’s honestly unbearable without a parasol, although I have to admit it is a bit embarrassing," he told national broadcaster NHK of the umbrella in his hand. Japan's highest-ever temperature was 41.1C first recorded in Kumagaya city in 2018. 'Oppressive' US heat In western and southern states in the US, which are used to high temperatures, more than 80 million people were under advisories as a "widespread and oppressive" heatwave roasted the region. California's Death Valley, often among the hottest places on Earth, reached a near-record 52C Sunday afternoon. In Arizona, the state capital Phoenix recorded its 17th straight day above 109 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius), as temperatures hit 113F (45C) on Sunday afternoon. "We're used to 110, 112 (degrees Fahrenheit) ... But not the streaks," Nancy Leonard, a 64-year-old retiree from the nearby suburb of Peoria, told AFP. "You just have to adapt". Southern California was fighting numerous wildfires, including one in Riverside County that has burned more than 7,500 acres (3,000 hectares) and prompted evacuation orders. Historic highs forecast In Europe, Italians were warned to prepare for "the most intense heatwave of the summer and also one of the most intense of all time," with the health ministry sounding a red alert for 16 cities including Rome, Bologna and Florence. Temperatures were due to hit 42C-43C in Rome on Tuesday, smashing the record of 40.5C set in August 2007. Nevertheless, visitors thronged to tourist hot spots like the Colosseum and the Vatican. "I'm from South Africa. We're used to this heat," said Jacob Vreunissen, 60, a civil engineer from Cape Town. "You have to drink lots of water, obviously wear your hat and that’s about it." Greece saw a respite on Monday, as temperatures eased a bit and the Acropolis in Athens resumed its regular opening hours after shutting for a few hours during the previous three days. But a new heatwave was expected from Thursday and meteorologists warned of a heightened risk of wildfires amid strengthening winds from the Aegean Sea. In Romania, temperatures are expected to reach 39C on Monday across most of the country. Little reprieve is forecast for Spain, where meteorologists warned that "abnormally high" temperatures on Monday, including up to 44C in the southern Andalusia region in what would be a new regional record. Killer rains Along with the heat, parts of Asia have also been battered by torrential rain. South Korea's president vowed Monday to "completely overhaul" the country's approach to extreme weather, after at least 40 people were killed in recent flooding and landslides during monsoon rains, which are forecast to continue through Wednesday. In northern India, relentless monsoon rains have reportedly killed at least 90 people, following burning heat. Major flooding and landslides are common during India's monsoons, but experts say climate change is increasing their frequency and severity. It can be difficult to attribute a particular weather event to climate change, but many scientists insist that global warming is behind the intensification of heatwaves. The post Temperature reaches new highs as heatwaves scorch the globe appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
India announces new French fighter jet deal as Modi visits Paris
India announced a new multi-billion-dollar deal for French fighter jets on Thursday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Paris for a two-day trip that will see him feted as the guest of honor during France's national day celebrations. India's defense ministry said that the country intended to order 26 more Rafale jets as well as another three Scorpene-class submarines, with the price and other terms still being worked out. India is one of the biggest buyers of French arms, and Modi announced a landmark deal for 36 Rafale fighter jets during a 2015 trip to Paris that was worth around 4.0 billion euros at the time. Some of those Indian-piloted Rafales will take part in a flypast on Friday during France's Bastille Day military parade where Modi will sit alongside French President Emmanuel Macron as guest of honour. "This closeness is not limited to just the leaders of two countries, it is in fact a reflection of the unwavering friendship between India and France," Modi told an enthusiastic crowd of Indians living in France on Thursday evening. Despite differences over the war in Ukraine and tensions over human rights in India, Western democracies are courting Modi and India as a counterweight to China in Asia. Macron's red carpet welcome comes weeks after Modi was given the rare honor of a White House state dinner in Washington -- a city he was once banned from visiting. "India is one of the pillars of our Indo-Pacific strategy," an aide to Macron told reporters this week on condition of anonymity. Human rights But amid the pomp and diplomatic courting in France, a resolution from the European Parliament on Thursday served as a reminder of Modi's controversial leadership style and Hindu nationalist agenda that has critics at home and abroad. Sitting in Strasbourg in eastern France, EU parliamentarians approved a motion that urged India to end violence in the country's restive northeastern Manipur state and to protect minorities there. Clashes between the majority Meitei, who are mostly Hindus, and the mainly Christian Kuki tribe have left at least 120 people dead, 50,000 displaced and over 1,700 houses destroyed, the parliament said. It criticized the "nationalistic rhetoric" of the local state government, run by Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party. Modi's role during Bastille Day in France was "an affront not only to India's minority communities, journalists and human rights defenders but also to India as a democracy," the text's chief negotiator, Pierre Larrouturou, said. A protest called against Modi drew only a few dozen people in central Paris on Thursday. Strategic partnership Modi has visited France four times since Macron came to power in 2017, while Macron was honored with a state visit to New Delhi in 2018. Aides on both sides have talked up the personal chemistry between the two leaders and pointed to cooperation on climate change, space technology, and nuclear power as part of a 25-year-old "strategic partnership" between France and India. Modi told the French newspaper Les Echos that bilateral trade had doubled in the last nine years and Macron's "thinking really matches ours". India and France "are naturally compatible" and "we see France as one of our foremost global partners," Modi added. Few observers expect Macron to raise rights concerns with Modi publicly. "The fact that explains France's relative success in this relationship is that unlike the US, the UK, Canada, Germany and a few other European countries, you've hardly seen France commenting on the internal affairs of India," Constantino Xavier from the Centre for Social and Economic Progress, a New Delhi-based think tank, said this week. "That has been appreciated on the Indian side." Modi has been dogged by allegations he was complicit in religious violence during his tenure as chief minister of the western state of Gujarat in 2002 when around 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in sectarian riots. The Indian government and judicial probes have cleared him of culpability. Since his first crushing electoral victory in 2014, he has also been denounced by rights groups for increased discrimination and violence towards the country's Muslims, as well as stifling independent media. "Diversity is the biggest strength of our democracy," he told the meeting on Thursday evening that also lauded the country's economic growth. Many European and American businesses, including US tech giant Apple, are ramping up production there to mitigate the threat of supply chain disruptions from China. The war in Ukraine has heightened concerns in the West about the risk of conflicts disrupting the flow of key raw materials and technology from China, but it has also exposed a rift with India. New Delhi, which has long sought to balance its ties with Moscow and the West, has declined to condemn Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine and has emerged as a top buyer of discounted Russian oil during the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II. The post India announces new French fighter jet deal as Modi visits Paris appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Not ‘another cruel summer’: Trudeau beckons Taylor Swift to Canada
When US superstar Taylor Swift announced yet more dates for her much-hyped world tour -- but once again skipped Canada -- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau could not shake it off. In a tweet referencing the lyrics of Swift's songs, Trudeau urged her to fill the blank space and perform in America's neighbor to the north. "It's me, hi. I know places in Canada would love to have you," Trudeau said in a message on Twitter Wednesday evening that quickly went viral. "So, don't make it another cruel summer. We hope to see you soon." The artist had just announced the addition of new dates to her consistently sold-out Eras Tour, which began in March in Arizona. She plans more than 100 concerts through the summer of 2024 -- in the United States, Mexico, Europe, Asia, and Australia, but none in Canada. The bad blood risks turning Swift into something of an anti-hero in famously nice Canada. Last month, a conservative lawmaker lamented what he called the singer's lack of respect for his country and similarly implored her to save some dates for Canada. Swift last came to Canada in 2018. The post Not ‘another cruel summer’: Trudeau beckons Taylor Swift to Canada appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Blinken on rare Beijing visit in bid to lower temperature
Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday began the highest-level trip by a US official to China in nearly five years as the two powers looked to notch down the temperature in an escalating rivalry. Both sides have voiced guarded hope of improving communication and preventing conflict, with the world's two largest economies at odds on an array of issues from trade to technology and regional security. Officials though have played down hopes of a major breakthrough during Blinken's two days in Beijing. Blinken was originally scheduled to visit in February but abruptly scrapped his plans as the United States protested -- and later shot down -- what it said was a Chinese spy balloon flying over its soil. US President Joe Biden played down the balloon episode as Blinken was heading to China, saying: "I don't think the leadership knew where it was and knew what was in it and knew what was going on." "I think it was more embarrassing than it was intentional," Biden told reporters Saturday. Biden said he hoped to again meet President Xi Jinping after their lengthy and strikingly cordial meeting in November on the sidelines of a Group of 20 summit in Bali, where they agreed on Blinken's visit. "I'm hoping that, over the next several months, I'll be meeting with Xi again and talking about legitimate differences we have but also how there's areas we can get along," Biden said. The two leaders are likely to attend the next G20 summit, in September in New Delhi, and Xi is invited to travel to San Francisco in November when the United States hosts the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. Blinken will see top Chinese officials including over a banquet at the state guesthouse in the ancient Diaoyutai gardens. He has said he would seek to avoid "miscalculations" and to "responsibly manage" relations with the country identified by US policymakers across party lines as the greatest challenge to Washington's global primacy. "Intense competition requires sustained diplomacy to ensure that competition does not veer into confrontation or conflict," Blinken said Friday in Washington. - Array of disputes - The United States and China are at odds over a slew of issues including trade, technology and Taiwan. Beijing has not ruled out seizing Taiwan by force and has conducted military drills twice since August near the self-governing democracy, in response to top US lawmakers' actions. Ahead of Blinken's visit, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the United States needed to "respect China's core concerns" and "give up the illusion of dealing with China 'from a position of strength'". Beijing has been especially irritated by Biden's restrictions on the export of high-end semiconductors to China, with the United States both fearing their military application and eager to prevent the communist state from dominating next-generation technologies. In a rising domestic priority for the United States, Blinken is expected to press China to curb precursor chemicals sent to Latin America to produce fentanyl, the powerful painkiller behind an addiction pandemic that kills tens of thousands of Americans a year. "We're going to discuss this issue directly, and we're going to be looking for steps to reduce the scale of the problem," said a US official traveling with Blinken. Washington has also lashed China over human rights, with Blinken's visit the first by a cabinet member since the United States formally accused Beijing of genocide against the mostly Muslim Uyghur minority. - Keeping allies close - As part of the Biden administration's focus on keeping allies close, Blinken spoke by telephone with his counterparts from both Japan and South Korea during his 20-hour trans-Pacific journey. Biden's national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, traveled to Tokyo for separate three-way meetings involving Japan and both South Korea and the Philippines. In recent months the United States has reached deals on troop deployments in southern Japan and the northern Philippines, both strategically close to Taiwan. Blinken before departure also met in Washington with his counterpart from ally Singapore, who voiced hope that the United States would stay as a power but also find ways to coexist with a rising China. Blinken's "trip is essential, but not sufficient", Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said. "There are fundamental differences in outlook, in values. And it takes time for mutual respect and strategic trust to be built in." Blinken is the first top US diplomat to visit Beijing since a stop in 2018 by his predecessor Mike Pompeo, who later championed no-holds-barred confrontation with China in the final years of Donald Trump's presidency. The Biden administration has gone further than Trump in some areas, notably semiconductors, but has remained open to cooperation in limited areas such as climate. Experts say China sees more predictability with Biden than with Trump, who is running for president again next year. Danny Russel, the top diplomat on East Asia during Barack Obama's second term, doubted Blinken's brief trip would resolve fundamental differences. "But his visit may well restart badly needed face-to-face dialogue and send a signal that both countries are moving from angry rhetoric at the press podium to sober discussions behind closed doors." sct/je/leg © Agence France-Presse The post Blinken on rare Beijing visit in bid to lower temperature appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Give LPE a chance
Newly appointed Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro made a deeply rooted statement about the peace talks between the Philippine government and communist rebels that have dragged on for several decades, with intermittent periods of very little progress and setbacks. Without mincing words, Teodoro said he had always been against entering into peace negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army. This is equally consistent with his position that communist rebels are welcome to return to the government fold given an existing program that offers “to help them, rehabilitate them and give them a new life.” Why is this so? For Teodoro, why engage in peace talks when there is Task Force Balik-Loob — a central coordinating body created by Administrative Order No. 10 dated 3 April 2018 that supervises the government’s reintegration efforts for members of the CPP-NPA-NDF, including their immediate family members. The task force is composed of representatives from the DND, DILG, OPAPRU, and other partner government agencies. I couldn’t agree with the Defense Secretary more. In a recent television interview, he said he was never convinced that the Philippine insurgency — the longest-running in Asia — was ideological. His explanation was clear. “This is all about taking power or whatever. The reason, even in other countries, the sole authority of the Communist Party in other countries is a dictatorship in itself. They call it the dictatorship of the proletariat.” We have in front of us a duplicity of the communist agenda — a pro-people advocacy on one hand, and the overthrow of the government on the other. The history of the peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front, CPP’s political wing, is long and complex spanning several decades. When Corazon C. Aquino assumed the presidency after the People Power Revolution in 1986, peace talks were initiated and detained top communist leaders, including Jose Maria Sison and Bernabe Buscayno, were released. Since then, there have been several attempts at peace negotiations between the government and the Reds, facilitated by third-party mediators, including the Catholic Church, various civil society groups, and foreign governments. The most recent attempt at peace talks was in 2016 during the first year in office of then-President Rodrigo Duterte. It, however, broke down in 2017 after both sides accused the other of violating the ceasefire agreement. Duterte, exasperated by the insincerity, formally terminated the peace negotiations with the CPP-NPA in 2018 through Proclamation 360. Despite this, there have been sporadic calls for the resumption of the peace talks, particularly from civil society groups and the international community. More than 40 rounds of peace talks with the CPP-NPA-NDF since 1986 proved futile, marred by spoilers who used violence to attack the peace process. Or were these attempts aimed at forcing their way into negotiations, and alter a process so that their demands would be included in a settlement? Opinions vary, often dependent on political, social, and ideological perspectives. While some people argue that pursuing peace talks is the best way to end the decades-long armed insurgency, others are skeptical about the prospects as evidenced by the little willingness to negotiate in good faith, human rights violations, coupled with unreasonable and unrealistic demands. Peace is a priority for more than 110 million Filipinos who hope to see an end to the decades-long insurgency in the country. If top-level negotiated settlements fail, there is the Localized Peace Engagement or LPE — a viable alternative solution to the armed conflict. Introduced by the national government in 2017 after the breakdown of the peace negotiations with the Reds, let us give this community-based approach to peacebuilding a chance. After all, who wouldn’t want to address the underlying social, economic, and political grievances that fuel armed conflicts? The post Give LPE a chance appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Austin presses dialogue with China
Dialogue between the United States and China is “essential” to avoid miscalculations that could lead to conflict, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Saturday, after Beijing rejected a formal meeting between him and his Chinese counterpart. Austin and Li Shangfu shook hands and briefly spoke for the first time at the opening dinner of the Shangri-La Dialogue defence summit in Singapore the night before, but the interaction fell short of the Pentagon’s hopes for a more substantive exchange. The US defense chief is on a tour of Asia that previously took him to Japan and will also include a visit to India — part of a push by top American officials to shore up alliances and partnerships in the region to help counter Beijing. “The United States believes that open lines of communication with the People’s Republic of China are essential — especially between our defense and military leaders,” Austin said in remarks at the Shangri-La Dialogue. “The more that we talk, the more that we can avoid the misunderstandings and miscalculations that could lead to crisis or conflict.” The United States had invited Li to meet on the sidelines of the summit, but Beijing declined, with a spokesperson saying “the US knows clearly why there are currently difficulties in military communication.” Chinese Senior Colonel Zhao Xiaozhuo said Beijing also thinks that communication lines are essential, but added that “the problem is for the United States to stop provoking China’s security.” Li was sanctioned by the US government in 2018 for buying Russian weapons, but the Pentagon says that does not prevent Austin from conducting official business with him. Asked if the United States should lift sanctions on Li, Zhao told AFP: “Of course, it is one of the pre-conditions for substantial talks”. A senior US defense official said it was good for the two to speak, but Austin told the defense summit that “a cordial handshake over dinner is no substitute for a substantive engagement.” Austin said he was “deeply concerned that (China) has been unwilling to engage more seriously on better mechanisms for crisis management between our two militaries,” expressing hope that would soon change. He also took aim at Beijing for conducting “an alarming number of risky intercepts of US and allied aircraft flying lawfully in international airspace”, including one last week. The post Austin presses dialogue with China appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
China declines meeting with US defense chief: Pentagon
Beijing has declined a US invitation for a meeting in Singapore between Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu, the Pentagon said Monday. "Overnight, the PRC informed the US that they have declined our early May invitation for Secretary Austin to meet with PRC Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu in Singapore this week," Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder said in a statement, referring to the People's Republic of China. "The PRC's concerning unwillingness to engage in meaningful military-to-military discussions will not diminish (the Defense Department's) commitment to seeking open lines of communication with the People's Liberation Army," Ryder said. A senior US defense official described the declined invitation as "just the latest in a litany of excuses," saying that since 2021, China has "declined or failed to respond to over a dozen requests from the Department of Defense for key leader engagements, multiple requests for standing dialogues, and nearly ten working-level engagements." Li was sanctioned by the US government in 2018 for buying Russian weapons, but the Pentagon says that does not prevent Austin from conducting official business with him. Austin is due to travel to Singapore later this week to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue, a defense summit where he met Li's predecessor Wei Fenghe last June. Austin and Wei met again in Cambodia later in 2022, but tensions between Washington and Beijing soared this year over issues including Taiwan and an alleged Chinese spy balloon that was shot down by a US warplane after traversing the country. Austin and other US officials have been working to shore up alliances and partnerships in Asia as part of efforts to counter increasingly assertive moves by Beijing, but there have also been tentative signs that the two sides were working to lower the temperature. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi in Vienna earlier this month, and President Joe Biden recently said ties between Washington and Beijing should thaw "very shortly," citing the spy balloon incident as a factor that had boosted tensions. The post China declines meeting with US defense chief: Pentagon appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Shanghai records hottest May day in 100 years
Shanghai recorded its hottest May day in 100 years on Monday, the city's meteorological service announced, shattering the previous high by a full degree. Scientists say global warming is exacerbating adverse weather, with many countries experiencing deadly heatwaves and temperatures hitting records across Southeast and South Asia in recent weeks. "At 13:09, the temperature at Xujiahui station hit 36.1 degrees Celsius (97 degrees Fahrenheit), breaking a 100-year-old record for the highest temperature in May," a post on the service's official Weibo account read, referring to a metro station in the center of China's largest city. The temperature at the bustling station climbed even higher to 36.7C (98F) later in the afternoon, Shanghai's meteorological service said. That put it a full degree above the old record, 35.7C, which has been recorded four times previously, in 1876, 1903, 1915 and 2018, according to the weather service. Shanghai residents sweltered under the early-afternoon sun, with some apps showing a "feels like" temperature estimate of more than 40C (104F). "I headed out at noon to pick up a delivery, and got a headache after coming back," read one post from Shanghai on Weibo. Another said: "I almost got heatstroke, it's really hot enough to explode." Deadly heat Parts of India saw temperatures above 44C (111F) in mid-April, with at least 11 deaths near Mumbai attributed to heat stroke on a single day. In Bangladesh, Dhaka suffered its hottest day in almost 60 years. The city of Tak in Thailand recorded its highest-ever temperature of 45.4C (114F), while Sainyabuli province in Laos hit 42.9C (109F), an all-time national temperature record, the study by the World Weather Attribution group said. A recent report from the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned that "every increment of global warming will intensify multiple and concurrent hazards". In May, the United Nations warned that it is near-certain that 2023-2027 will be the warmest five-year period ever recorded, as greenhouse gasses and El Nino combine to send temperatures soaring. There is a two-thirds chance that at least one of the next five years will see global temperatures exceed the more ambitious target set out in the Paris accords on limiting climate change, the UN's World Meteorological Organization said. The 2015 Paris Agreement saw countries agree to cap global warming at "well below" two degrees Celsius above average levels measured between 1850 and 1900 -- and 1.5C if possible. The global mean temperature in 2022 was 1.15C above the 1850-1900 average. The WMO said there was a 66 percent chance that annual global surface temperatures will exceed 1.5C above pre-industrial levels for at least one of the years from 2023-2027. The post Shanghai records hottest May day in 100 years appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Saudi, Canada to restore full diplomatic ties
Saudi Arabia and Canada will restore full diplomatic relations, the kingdom said Wednesday, following a 2018 dispute over human rights that saw Riyadh expel Ottawa's ambassador and freeze new trade. The decision, also announced by Canada's foreign ministry, came after talks last year between Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the sidelines of the summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum in Bangkok. "It has been decided to restore the level of diplomatic relations with Canada to its previous state," Saudi's foreign ministry said in a statement. In 2018, the Saudi government expelled Canada's ambassador and recalled its own envoy to Ottawa, while freezing all new trade over vigorous calls for the release of activists jailed in the kingdom. On Wednesday, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said the two countries will "appoint new ambassadors" and a Canadian foreign ministry statement named Jean-Phillipe Linteau as Ottawa's new envoy to the kingdom. Saudi Arabia made no mention of its pick for ambassador. The latest announcement follows a frenetic stretch of high-stakes Saudi diplomacy triggered by the kingdom's surprise Chinese-brokered rapprochement deal with Iran announced in March. Since then, Saudi Arabia has restored bilateral ties with Syria and ramped up a push for peace in Yemen, where it leads a military coalition against the Iran-backed Huthi rebels. Saudi Arabia is also hosting representatives of Sudan's two warring generals, and, with the US, brokered a seven-day humanitarian ceasefire that took effect Monday. The post Saudi, Canada to restore full diplomatic ties appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go calls for strengthening road safety measures and education campaign
In observance of Road Safety Month, Senator Bong Go emphasized the critical need to strengthen road safety measures in the country, urging for an intensified education campaign and the enactment of Senate Bill No. 1290, also known as the Walkable and Bikeable Communities Act. A co-sponsor of the bill, Go aims to establish safe routes for cyclists, pedestrians, and slow vehicles across the entire country. In an ambush interview after personally providing aid to poor residents in Sta. Praxedes, Cagayan on 18 May, Go expressed his concern about the deaths recorded in the country each year due to road crashes. “According to the DOTr (Department of Transportation), mayroon pong around 11,000 deaths recorded kada taon sa Pilipinas dahil po sa road crashes,” cited Go. “Sa kadalasan po, ito pong drunk driving, over speeding, texting while driving, iwasan po natin ‘yan, at human error,” he added. Based on the 2018 World Health Organization's Global Status Report on Road Safety, the Philippines is showing a growing number of road traffic deaths, with a mortality rate of 12.3 for every 100,000 residents. This positions the country as the tenth most dangerous in Asia in roadway mortalities. Additionally, Southeast Asia is notable for having the second-highest incidence of road traffic deaths worldwide. To combat this issue, Go urged the relevant government agencies involved in the Philippine Road Safety Plan for 2023 to 2028 to intensify the road safety education campaign nationwide. “Halimbawa, ‘yung mga kumukuha po ng driver’s license, siguraduhin pong complied talaga, dapat walang palusot, dapat pumasa sa mga practical at theoretical lessons. Kasi mayro’ng iba sa kanila nagpapakuha na lang sa mga fixer,” Go pointed out. The senator emphasized that road safety is not only crucial for drivers and their passengers but also for pedestrians. He also urged everyone to abide by the law and drive safely, emphasizing the shared responsibility to ensure road safety for all. In addition to his advocacy for education and awareness, Go is also pushing for the enactment of SBN 1290, which aims to provide secure and easily accessible routes for pedestrians, cyclists, and non-motorized vehicles. The bill, authored by Senator Pia Cayetano, has already passed the third reading in the Senate. Go highlighted the importance of promoting alternative modes of transportation, such as cycling, walking, and slow vehicles, by establishing a network of safe pathways, bicycle lanes, walkways, and slow streets across the country. “Importante dito, ligtas at healthy tayo kapag nakapagbike tayo at (friendly) sa ating environment, at exercise din po ito sa ating katawan. Dahil ang bike naman po, walang ginagamit na krudo o gasolina, environment-friendly po ito,” said Go. The post Bong Go calls for strengthening road safety measures and education campaign appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl gears up for green maritime economy
The Department of Transportation on Wednesday said the Philippines reiterated its committment to a green maritime economy during the launch of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation’s Maritime Cooperation in the United States. “The Philippines is geared to implement its national contributions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as it strives for sustainability and clean growth by leveraging the full potential of the Paris Agreement (on climate change) and responding to post-pandemic needs,” Sarmiento said during the launch at the Port of Detroit in Michigan state on Tuesday. Sarmiento underscored the Philippines’ commitment to implement the International Maritime Organization’s Strategy on greenhouse gas reduction from ships and implement decarbonization “on a large scale,” while leveraging the full potential of the Paris Agreement. He said the Philippines is willing to enter into partnerships with other countries and collaborate on key environmental issues. “We look forward to it with great optimism and that this will serve as a foundation for an inclusive, green, and resilient economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, including establishing climate priorities, such as energy transition and nature-based solutions,” Sarmiento added. The event was attended by the US Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and maritime officials from APEC member countries. According to the 4th IMO GHG Study, maritime transport emitted around 1,056 million tons of carbon dioxide in 2018, which is about 2.9 percent of global GHG emissions. To address this issue, the IMO adopted an initial strategy in 2018 to reduce GHG emissions from ships and phase them out as soon as possible. The IMO’s Initial GHG Strategy has three interlinked ambitions, namely the reduction in the carbon intensity of international shipping by at least 40 percent by 2030 compared to 2008; pursuing efforts to achieve a 70 percent reduction by 2050, compared to 2008; and reduce the total annual GHG emissions from international shipping by at least 50 percent by 2050. The post Phl gears up for green maritime economy appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Kuya Bong backs across-the-board wage hike
As the economy continues to gradually recover from the adverse impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go expressed strong support for initiatives in the Upper Chamber seeking an across-the-board increase in daily wages nationwide. “No Filipino should be left behind in our road towards full and inclusive economic recovery. By being inclusive, we mean not just business owners and investors benefiting from the improving economy but also even the most ordinary workers, especially the daily wage earners,” said Go, who is also a member of the Senate Committee on Labor. To recall, the Philippine Statistics Authority on 11 May reported that the Philippines’ gross domestic product grew by 6.4 percent in the first quarter of this year. It exceeded estimates made by economists. No Filipino should be left behind in our road towards full and inclusive economic recovery. It is, by far, the fastest growth rate in Southeast Asia, beating Indonesia with 5.03 percent and Vietnam with 3.32 percent. The International Monetary Fund, however, stressed recently that the country’s economic growth must be sustained at 6 percent this year considering the inflation rate that remains high. In a statement, the Fund said that “risks to inflation remain on the upside, and a continued tightening bias maybe appropriate until inflation falls decisively within the 2-4 percent target range.” While the senator acknowledges that the government has to balance the interest of the employers and workers, Go reminded that companies and enterprises recently enjoyed a lower income tax through the passage of Republic Act 11534 or the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act or “CREATE” which was approved by former President Rodrigo Duterte. On 14 March, Senate Bill 2002, also known as the Across-the-Board Wage Increase Act of 2023, was filed by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri which targets to increase private-sector daily wages in all regions by P150. Zubiri expects that the committee report will be ready within two weeks, hoping that the measure be approved by the Senate before its adjournment next month. The Committee on Labor and Employment, chaired by Senator Jinggoy Estrada, recently approved in principle the said bill, co-authored also by Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda. Go also plans to co-author the bill. Other similar measures tackled by the committee were SBN 2018 filed by Senator Bong Revilla, and proposed measures reviewing labor and wage policies and the Wage Rationalization Act of 1989 which created the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Boards, filed by Senator Raffy Tulfo and Estrada. Go, an ardent advocate of labor welfare, also filed measures seeking to provide better protection and benefits to workers. He filed SBN 2107, or the “Freelance Workers Protection Act”, which seeks to provide protection and incentives for freelance workers. The measure aims to recognize the rights of freelance workers and ensure that they are protected and adequately compensated for their services. The post Kuya Bong backs across-the-board wage hike appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»