NEWS BRIEFS | 26 March 2024
P101-M sea wall to rise in Surigao Sur town A P101.3 million sea wall will be constructed in Marihatag, Surigao del Sur to protect lives and properties from storm surges there. Rep. Romeo Momo (1st District, Surigao del Sur) led the ground breaking of the Marihatag Seawall Project last Sunday, March 24. “The project is a […].....»»
DepEd s SHS vouchers fall short of decongesting public schools, helping poor learners
"It's a waste that we don't solve the problem of congestion because we are randomly giving the voucher program to students," the senator said......»»
Lufthansa to build 2nd hangar in Philippines
MANILA, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Germany's flag carrier Lufthansa is looking to build a second hangar in the Philippines, as part of its expansion plans in the Southeast Asia region, said Philippine Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual on Thursday. Pascual said the plan was discussed during a meeting between Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos and Lufthansa's managers in Berlin where Marcos was o.....»»
No excuses for Obiena after Berlin disappointment
Following a disappointing finish in the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow a couple of days ago, EJ Obiena underscored the need to be more prepared as the 2024 Paris Olympics draws near......»»
Obiena soars to glory anew
Paris Olympics-bound Filipino pole-vaulter EJ Obiena added another record-breaking effort as he shattered the 26-year-old Asian indoor mark in a golden performance in the ISTAF Indoor in Berlin, Germany Friday......»»
Obiena soars to another gold, rules Berlin tilt
Another golden victory for the golden boy......»»
New feat as EJ Obiena resets Asian indoor record in Germany tilt
EJ Obiena rules the ISTAF Indoor Berlin for the second time in four years as the Filipino pole vault star eclipses the previous Asian indoor record that stood for over two decades.....»»
Iranian directors say they are ‘forbidden’ to join Berlin Film Festival premiere
'We are forbidden from joining you and watching a movie on the silver screen that is about love, about life, and also about freedom, a lost treasure in our country," the directors said in a statement after being barred by Iranian authorities.....»»
From Romblon to Berlin: Cinemalaya’s ‘Huling Palabas’ to compete at the Berlinale
The 19th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival entry “Huling Palabas,” which earned Best Director award for Ryan Espinosa Machado and Best Performance of a Supporting Actor for Bon Andrew Lentejas, is poised to compete at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival or Berlinale under its Generation 14plus category......»»
US set to overtake China as Germany s top trade partner - data
Berlin has been exporting less to the Asian country in recent years, statistics have shown The US is on track to surpass China as Germany's leading trade partner as soon as next year, Reuters reported this week, citing the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK). China has held the top spot for the past seven y.....»»
Kazakhstan: Baseless Extremism Case Heads to Court
(Berlin, February 8, 2024) - A journalist in Kazakhstan is to face trial on February 12, 2024 on unfounded extremism-related charges, as authorities there ramp up prosecutions against critics on similar charges, Human Rights Watch said today. The authorities should drop their unfounded case against the journalist and activist, Duman Mukhammedkarim, and im.....»»
Kyrgyzstan: Activist Held for Opposing Flag Change
(Berlin, December 22, 2023) - Kyrgyz authorities have brought a criminal case against an activist and blogger, Aftandil Jorobekov, after he publicly opposed and called for protests against the government's proposal to alter the country's flag, Human Rights Watch said today. The charges, which include calling for mass unrest, violate his freedom of express.....»»
Azerbaijan: Prominent Opposition Figure Arrested
(Berlin, December 19, 2023) - Azerbaijani authorities have arrested a prominent opposition leader and unrelenting government critic, Tofig Yagublu, on bogus forgery and fraud charges, Human Rights Watch said today. Yagublu's arrest is the latest in a series of arrests in Azerbaijan targeting journalists and other government critics.Police arrested.....»»
Kyrgyzstan: Domestic Violence Against Women, Girls with Disabilities
(Berlin, December 14, 2023) - Women and girls with disabilities in Kyrgyzstan experience abuse, including rape, beatings, neglect, and humiliation, often by those closest to them, Human Rights Watch said in a report published today. Kyrgyzstan has taken positive steps in recent years to tackle domestic violence and to uphold the rights of people with disabilities and should act now to protect women with disabiliti.....»»
Uzbekistan: Blogger Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison
(Berlin, December 5, 2023) - A criminal court in Uzbekistan sentenced a blogger from the Ferghana region to eight years in prison and ordered his social media accounts and channels blocked on December 1, 2023, for "insulting" and "slandering" public officials and for dubious financial offenses, Human Rights Watch said today.The authorities had detained the blogger, Olimjon Khaidarov, 34, on July 29, as he was al.....»»
Russia: Supreme Court Bans 'LGBT Movement' as 'Extremist'
(Berlin) - Russia's Supreme Court ruled today that the "international LGBT movement" is an "extremist organization," jeopardizing all forms of LGBT rights activism in the country, Human Rights Watch said today. In a closed hearing, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Justice Ministry's lawsuit accusing the "LGBT movement" of inciting social and religious discord. Russian authorities should immediately e.....»»
To Tackle Hate against Jews and Muslims, EU Governments Need Better Statistics
A Muslim lawmaker in Berlin has received hate-filled flyers mixed with glass and feces. A Jewish woman was stabbed in Lyon, France. Other such incidents have.....»»
Azerbaijan: Crackdown on Independent Media
(Berlin, November 22, 2023) - Azerbaijani authorities have arrested Ulvi Hasanli and Sevinc Vagifgizi, top leaders of Abzas Media, an independent media outlet known for investigating and exposing corruption, Human Rights Watch said today. Authorities also detained Mahammad Kekalov, a social entrepreneur who has also worked with Abzas Media.On November 21, 2023, Baku's Khatai district court placed Hasanli and Vag.....»»
Xinhua world economic news summary at 1240 GMT, Nov. 14
BERLIN -- Retailers across Germany expect modest Christmas sales gains this year, the German Retail Federation (HDE) said on Monday. Adjusted for inflation, sales in November and December are predicted to fall 5.5 percent year-on-year. With a 4 percent drop in sales in real terms, online retail is "also unable to provide any major impetus" to Christmas business, which is the strongest sales period of the year fo.....»»
Kazakhstan: Government Critic on Trial for Extremism
(Berlin, November 9, 2023) - The politically motivated prosecution of an outspoken critic of the Kazakhstan government for alleged membership in a banned "extremist" organization violates his rights to freedom of expression, association, and assembly, Human Rights Watch said today.In an October 30, 2023, preliminary hearing in Astana, Kazakhstan's.....»»