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Advancing OFWs’ welfare, protecting Filipinos abroad
Overseas Filipino Workers, or OFWs, are indeed modern-day heroes. They help boost our economy, but more importantly, they help uplift the lives of their families to give them a better future and also showcase Filipinos' talents, skills, and work ethic to the world. I was in London, United Kingdom last week for an official trip upon the invitation of the British Group Inter-Parliament Union. Led by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and co-head of delegation Senator Grace Poe, we embarked on several meetings aimed at strengthening relations of the Philippine Senate with our counterparts in the UK parliament to exchange best practices in policymaking while enhancing bilateral relations, fostering economic security, exploring areas of cooperation between the two countries, and promoting the welfare of Filipinos working there. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, I also expressed my gratitude to the UK for donating vaccines during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. Moreover, we thanked them for other development assistance extended by the UK to the Philippines and for their help in strengthening the Bangsamoro Region. As vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers, I also maximized the visit to highlight efforts in promoting the welfare of more than 200,000 OFWs in the UK, particularly the more or less 40,000 Filipino nurses working there. We were able to raise to the UK policymakers the concerns of Filipino nurses regarding their rights to proper benefits, just compensation, and a safe working environment. We should be proud of Filipino medical frontliners in the UK, particularly nurses who are among the world’s finest. Take, for example, May Parsons, a Filipina-British nurse who became known globally for administering the first COVID-19 vaccine outside of a clinical trial and receiving the UK's George Cross Award. I have co-sponsored a Senate resolution earlier recognizing and commending her achievement. After our official meetings, I met with a group of OFWs, some of them were fellow Dabawenyos, Filipino Muslims, Ilonggos, and Ilocanos, among others. The stories they shared were proof of how resilient our OFWs are. Despite their sacrifices, homesickness, and worries about their families in their hometowns, they maintain their cheerfulness and positive outlook. I brought some good news to our OFWs by informing them about the establishment of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) through Republic Act No. 11641, a legislation for which I am proud to be one of the authors and co-sponsors in the Senate. This measure streamlines the organization and functions of all government agencies related to overseas employment and migration to better address the needs and concerns of migrant workers. I have also filed Senate Bill No. (SBN) 2297 to institutionalize the OFW Hospital and ensure its continuous operation in San Fernando City, Pampanga, primarily intended for OFWs and eligible dependents. More importantly, a Malasakit Center is operational there to help reduce their out-of-pocket expenses. The establishment of the DMW, the OFW Hospital, and its own Malasakit Center are just a few of our dreams that are now realities for Filipinos to benefit from. These are testaments of our commitment to promote the welfare of migrant workers and their dependents. However, we acknowledge that there is more work to be done. That is why we continue to listen to their concerns, serve them to the best of our abilities, and pursue initiatives to further their cause. I have also filed SBN 2414, which seeks to establish OFW wards in Department of Health (DOH) hospitals if enacted into law. While our efforts continue to safeguard the welfare of Filipinos abroad, our commitment to serve Filipinos facing challenges in their communities remains unwavering. This week, we had groundbreaking ceremonies for Super Health Centers in Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte; Brgy. Labangon in Cebu City; Pitogo, Zamboanga del Sur; and in Tigbauan, Iloilo. Through the collective efforts of DOH, LGUs, and fellow lawmakers, we continue to advocate for establishing more community health facilities to help bring public health services closer to those needing medical attention. We have also assisted 1,000 indigents in Llanera, Nueva Ecija, with the office of Cong. Jose Padiernos; 500 members from various sectors in Barangay Mintal, Davao City; 1,900 in Caloocan City, with the office of Congresswoman Mitch Cajayon-Uy. In Cebu City, we also distributed aid to 1,700 residents of the South District with Congressman Edu Rama; 450 in Nagcarlan, Laguna, with Mayor Elmor Vita and Councilor Rey Comendador; and 333 in Pulupandan, Negros Occidental, in collaboration with the Malasakit@Bayanihan group. We also aided 1,000 United Senior Citizens Association members of Quezon City, with Congresswoman Mila Magsaysay, Senator Robin Padilla, and private sector volunteer organizations. My office also extended additional aid to 93 displaced workers in Lumban, Laguna; 210 in Pilar; 217 in Carmen and Batuan in Bohol. DOLE also gave qualified beneficiaries temporary employment. We also supported 200 scholars during their TESDA Orientation in Daet, Camarines Norte. There are also 43 residents of Davao City and nine in La Paz, Agusan del Sur, who were victims of fires and 32 victims of flooding in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat. They were provided separate assistance and the livelihood kits they received through the DTI program, which we advocated for before and continue to support. We also supported 283 victims of past fires in Cagayan de Oro City by giving separate aid in addition to the emergency housing assistance received from the NHA through a program we pushed for so that they could buy materials like nails, roofing, and other necessities for home repairs. My office also provided immediate help to victims of recent fires, such as 50 families in Baseco, Manila City, and 11 families in Brgy. Alabang, Muntinlupa City. No one is exempt from facing life’s hardships. However, our OFWs have shown us how resilient Filipinos can be. Let us learn from them and, more importantly, do our part in uplifting their lives by advocating for their welfare, promoting their rights, protecting their families, and providing the genuine public service they deserve. The post Advancing OFWs’ welfare, protecting Filipinos abroad appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
What we know about the Hamas assault on Israel
Gun battles raged Sunday between Hamas militants and Israeli forces a day after the Islamist group launched a surprise attack on Israel from Gaza, in a dramatic escalation of the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Hundreds of people have been killed on both sides since the Iran-backed Hamas launched the multi-pronged assault at dawn on Saturday, with Israeli forces fighting holdout militants and pounding the Gaza Strip with air strikes. This is what we know about the conflict so far: How it unfolded The army said hundreds of Hamas militants attacked Israel from around 6:30 am (0330 GMT) on Saturday, the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, in an assault that also came 50 years after the outbreak of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war. The Islamist group fired thousands of rockets into Israel from Gaza as its militants used explosives and bulldozers to break through the fence surrounding the blockaded Palestinian enclave. Using motorbikes, pickup trucks, motorized gliders, and speed boats, the militants streamed into Israeli urban areas including Ashkelon, Sderot, and Ofakim, which is about 22 kilometers (13 miles) from Gaza. The gunmen attacked a rave party attended by hundreds of young Israelis near Kibbutz Reim, close to Gaza, Israeli media reported. Israel said Hamas has taken more than 100 hostages in Israel. They include an unknown number of Americans and Germans. The militants overran several locations inside Israel, including a Sderot police station where they engaged in a shootout with Israeli forces on Sunday. How Israel is responding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to reduce to "rubble" Hamas hideouts in Gaza, an impoverished enclave of 2.3 million people hemmed in by an Israeli blockade for more than 15 years. The army said it has deployed tens of thousands of soldiers to fight the militants who were still "on the ground" Sunday on Israel territory. It has also carried out air strikes on Hamas positions inside Gaza, in an operation it has dubbed "Swords of Iron". Army spokesman Richard Hecht said the air raids had struck 800 targets including Gaza tunnels, buildings, and other infrastructure. The military said it aims to rescue Israeli hostages and then evacuate the entire region within 24 hours. Almost 1000 killed Israel says Hamas gunmen have killed more than 600 people and wounded over 2,000 in Israeli cities, towns, and kibbutz communities. AFP journalists have seen the bullet-riddled bodies of civilians lying on the streets in at least three locations in Israel: the city of Sderot, the nearby kibbutz of Gevim, and Zikim beach north of the Palestinian coastal enclave. An unknown number of people were reportedly killed at the rave. On the Gaza side, at least 370 people have been killed and more than 2,200 wounded, taking the combined toll to almost 1,000 dead. A British man who had been serving in Israel's army was among those killed in the Hamas attack, his family said. Two Ukrainian women who had been living in Israel were also killed, Ukraine said. Thailand has said two of its citizens were killed, while Cambodia reported the death of a Cambodian student. What Hamas said about the offensive Hamas said it fired 5,000 rockets in an offensive it has branded "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood". Its chief Ismail Haniyeh on Saturday vowed to press ahead with "the battle to liberate our land and our prisoners languishing in occupation prisons". Hamas has called on "resistance fighters in the West Bank" as well as in "Arab and Islamic nations" to join the battle. Early on Sunday, Lebanon's Iran-backed Shiite militant group Hezbollah said it launched missiles and artillery shells into northern Israel "in solidarity" with the Hamas offensive. The Israeli army said it retaliated with artillery fire. Elsewhere, media outlets in Egypt said a policeman opened fire on an Israeli tour group in the northern city of Alexandria on Sunday, killing two Israelis and one Egyptian. How the world has reacted United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned "in the strongest terms" Hamas' attack on Israel and called for "diplomatic efforts to avoid a wider conflagration". The West, much of which has designated Hamas a "terrorist" organization, has also condemned the Islamist group's assault on Israel. President Joe Biden said the United States support for its key ally Israel was "rock solid and unwavering". The White House said on Sunday he had ordered "additional support" for Israel. The European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen said: "I unequivocally condemn the attack carried out by Hamas terrorists against Israel." Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi said the Islamic Republic supported the Palestinians' right to self-defense and warned Israel must be held accountable for "endangering the security of nations in the region". Russia has called for an "immediate ceasefire". Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who strongly supports the Palestinian cause, on Sunday urged both sides "to support peace". Saudi Arabia appealed for an "immediate halt to the escalation between the two sides, protection of civilians, and self-control". The post What we know about the Hamas assault on Israel appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Native Aussies supporters urge ‘yes’ vote
Thousands of Australians rallied in major cities Sunday for a “yes” vote to the proposed indigenous rights reform that is facing strong opposition from other citizens in the land down under. The “Walk for Yes” marches were four weeks ahead of the 14 October referendum that the minority group and the government hope will address the marginalization of the natives. More than 200 years since British colonization, indigenous people — whose ancestors have lived on the continent for about 60,000 years — have shorter lives than other Australians, poorer education and are far more likely to die in police custody. A favorable referendum result would give them a voice in parliament, which supporters believe is long overdue. Supporters of the Voice, who also gathered in Melbourne, Canberra, Perth, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart and Alice Springs, say a “yes” vote would help address inequalities. Opponents, however, argue that it would confer special privileges on indigenous peoples while adding an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy. In the referendum, voters will be asked: “A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognize the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration?” Voting is compulsory, with non-voters who don’t have a valid reason liable to a fine of 20 Australian dollars. WITH AFP The post Native Aussies supporters urge ‘yes’ vote appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Kuwait invasion hostages suing UK, airline
Airline passengers and crew members held captive and used as human shield by Iraqi forces for four months during the Kuwait invasion in 1990 are planning to sue the United Kingdom government and British Airways for damages. McCue Jury & Partners, the legal counsel of some of the victims, said the legal action would “ensure the truth is fully disclosed, those responsible are held to account, and due compensation is paid.” It said each of the hostages “may claim an estimated average of £170,000 ($213,000) each in damages.” The law firm said that “what the hostages now know is that evidence exists” that the UK government and the airline “knew the invasion had already begun” but allowed the flight to land anyway. The victims claimed “the flight was being used to insert a black ops team of former special forces and security services” into Kuwait, the firm added. A total 367 passengers and crew of BA flight 149 were taken off the Kuala Lumpur-bound plane when it landed in the Gulf state on 2 August 1990, hours after Saddam Hussein’s troops swept into the emirate. “We were not treated as citizens, but as expendable pawns for commercial and political gain,” Barry Manners, who was on the flight and is taking part in the claim, said. WITH AFP The post Kuwait invasion hostages suing UK, airline appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Representation
The performance grading report for this administration will be out soon as the President delivers his second State of the Nation Address, or SoNA, this coming July 24th. It will be interesting to see how our government fared in the eyes of the public, and while the attention will be on the Executive Branch and the Cabinet of President Bongbong Marcos Jr., we will also get the chance to assess the performance of the VP, the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Judiciary as well. And every time this comes up, we always raise the question of whether we are truly represented and heard by our government. Of course, in the Executive, there is no doubt about this, as there is a Cabinet portfolio for every sector of our society, and it’s not really a question of existence but of performance and delivery. As for the Senate, we are supposed to have 24 senators, and it would have been ideal if they were voted on a regional basis, meaning one for each of the 17 regions, plus perhaps an additional one for each of the autonomous regions and NCR. But the current setup is far from ideal, and we vote for the senators at large, so we are not really represented as far as the prevailing national interests are concerned. Personally, I find it redundant, and we should really bat for better representation in the Senate. For the House of Representatives, it is res ipsa loquitur. Three hundred and sixteen (316) congressmen currently are supposed to be occupying seats in the Batasang Pambansa, with an amalgam of administrative, autonomous, sectoral, and marginal representation. In our ideal notion, it is in the HOR where we ordinary citizens can really seek answers to questions —generally on our welfare and development, and particularly on our need for basic services. In the British Parliament, the equivalent of the HOR is called the House of Commons, so you can already deduce why is it called that. Still, we ask — are we and our interests as citizens of this nation being represented by our congressmen? Are we being heard? And is there equality in representation? Take the case of the Zamboanga del Norte’s 1st congressional district, which comprises seven municipalities plus the city of Dapitan. Currently, it has no representative sitting in the House, even if there is an elected one (Romeo Jalosjos Jr). Why is the House leadership not acting on this case to seriously resolve the issue? Right now, no one is attending to the needs of the district’s constituents, and the LGUs have been calling out Speaker Martin Romualdez to address this concern, lest there be suspicions of political flexing and power play. With the upcoming SoNA comes the resumption of Congress sessions, and it will be a great disservice to the people of the Zamboanga del Norte 1st district if they do not have a voice in the only chamber of government where they can truly be heard. It is unfair to them, especially at a time when most of the regions in our country have been moving forward. It is an injustice that they are being left behind and abandoned like children without a parent or guardian. Figuratively, this is an anomaly that should be corrected as soon as possible. As it is with all the other cases in Congress of a similar nature. Because we all deserve the representation that we are entitled to. It is not a privilege, but a right. Mark my word. The post Representation appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DICT seeks workers to fill over 500 digitalization programs
The Department of Information and Communications Technology recently said peopleware and collaborations with technology firms are badly needed by the government to advance 500 to 1,000 digitalization programs in the country. Mon Gutierrez, DICT chief of staff for E-Governance, said last Thursday that the government is working on only less than 10 percent of the total number of digitalization programs currently to guide 22 other government departments and 1,700 local government units. Huge gap “That’s why we’re trying to get help from the private sector to boost our capacity. We know there’s a huge gap between our goals and where we are now in the digitalization journey. We’re not even sure if we’re going to finish digitalization in the next several years,” Gutierrez said in a forum organized by the British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines. He said the government aims to tap a range of private businesses to help train Filipinos on information technology and require them to work in the government for three to five years. Meager salaries in the government However, Gutierrez said most of those in the workforce are repelled by the meager salaries offered by the government for IT workers compared with those by the private sector. “So that’s the big challenge. It’s not exactly encouraging to work in the government when the private sector offers three times the salary of a government IT worker.” Aside from basic IT work, Gutierrez said private firms can also help the government create a gauge to be used by all its agencies in determining the progress of their digitalization efforts. Help in developing a metric system “We’re inviting other firms to help us develop a metric system to determine how we are in terms of digital transformation. Right now, there’s no such thing that would tell us how an agency is trying to achieve its digital transformation journey, whether on a scale of one to ten. For now, nobody can say where.” Through these efforts, Gutierrez said the country can seize opportunities for further economic growth as the country’s industries become diverse and its citizens more productive. “There are studies that in ten to 15 years, the amount of digital transformation happening in any country will be substantial. We see in the next 10 years that we’ll be able to surpass what overseas Filipino workers are contributing to the Philippine economy which is about 10 percent of gross domestic product,” he said. The post DICT seeks workers to fill over 500 digitalization programs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Delays at UK airports after e-gate failure
UK airports were chaotic on Saturday after glitches in the passport e-gate system held up people arriving in the country for hours. It comes at a busy weekend with a bank holiday overlapping with a school holiday. Travelers said on social media they waited hours as those eligible to use the e-gates had to have their passports checked by immigration officials instead. A woman who landed at Heathrow early Saturday wrote: "Returning from Dubai overnight to this mother of queues. "My plane landed at 6 a.m., there is still a sea of people in front of me, passport checks are being done manually." London's two main airports -- Heathrow and Gatwick -- were among those affected. Heathrow said it was "working closely with Border Force", which operates the e-gates, "to help resolve the problem as quickly as possible" and has deployed additional staff. The Home Office said it was working "with port operators and airlines to minimize disruption". Border Force has "robust plans in place" to send its officers to help reduce wait times, it added. Long queues also formed at Dover, a major port for ferries to France in the southeast of England, due to IT issues at French passport control. The Port of Dover said on Twitter that the technical issues were resolved and that the average waiting time was down to 30-45 minutes, compared to 90 minutes earlier in the day. There are over 270 e-gates at 15 air and rail ports in the UK, according to the government, available to British nationals, EU citizens over the age of 12 as well as passport holders of several other countries, such as Australia and Canada. The delays come after UK's British Airways airline canceled dozens of flights through Heathrow airport over the course of Thursday and Friday following a knock-on technical issue. The post Delays at UK airports after e-gate failure appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Crusade for the elderly
Granny Sho-er, an 87-year-old Internet celebrity who owned a traditional laundry shop in central Taiwan, passed away this week. Sho-er and her husband, 86-year-old Chang Wan-ji, went viral by bringing joy to the people the world over as they modeled clothes forgotten by their customers in their laundromat—some marooned there for more than 10 years—a creative reminder to pick up their laundry. The old couple’s story was featured in the New York Times, CNN, People, British Vogue and various other media in Malaysia, Indonesia, India and Thailand. The schtick was the brainchild of their grandson, who dressed up Sho-er and Chang Wan-ji for Instagram to stave off the old couple’s boredom and loneliness sitting in the laundromat day in, day out, and to remind people that octogenarians can be trendy, as well. Since their Internet stardom, the couple has been invited to walk the runway of Taipei Fashion Week. They made a lot of young friends out of their laundromat customers, and their life became more fulfilled. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen visited the old couple in 2020 to wish them healthy body and a merry celebration of the Double Ninth Festival (Day of Older Persons in Taiwan). Sho-er and Chang Wan-ji told the President that, while they were old in age, they were still young in mind, their liveliness and cheerfulness inspiring people of various demographics to live their lives to the full. The story of Grandma Sho-er reminds me of the famous Apo Whang-Od, known as the last and oldest practitioner of the art of Kalinga tattoo in the Philippines. Whang-Od recently made it as the oldest person on the cover of Vogue. Most Taiwanese did not know Whang-Od until Vogue, no matter her works are strikingly akin to traditional face tattoos by some indigenous groups in Taiwan. In the days of yore, members of Atayal, Truku, Seediq and Saisiyat tribes had to pass various tests, such as headhunting for men and weaving for women, to be qualified bearers of the face tattoos. Those who don’t have face tattoos were not allowed to marry. The body art was a symbol among indigenous people that they had come of age and were now able to survive as adults. During the Japanese colonial era, face tattoos were considered uncivilized and thus strictly banned, so many indigenous people had to hide in the mountains to carry on with the tradition. lpay Wilang, a Seediq woman who died in 2022 at the age of 100, was the last practitioner of Taiwan’s fading art of traditional face tattoo. It is valuable that Whang-Od is not only alive, but still able to practice her tribe’s heritage art at the age of 106. The Filipinos’ respect for the elderly through the enduring gesture of pagmamano impresses foreigners who visit the Philippines. President Marcos Jr. described the aging population in Southeast Asia as “an opportunity and a challenge.” According to the Asian Development Bank, one out of four people in the Asia Pacific will be over the age of 60 by 2050. Thus, the President couldn’t stress it enough: “Asean should start discussing the concerns of the ageing population, consistent with the Asean tradition of valuing our elders.” It takes creative public policies to help senior citizens lead more fulfilling lives and make contributions to the world. The post Crusade for the elderly appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Giving the best?
A Philippine government advertisement on a London bus featuring May Parsons, a Filipina-British nurse, launched during King Charles III’s coronation last week, stirred controversy. In the ad on a double-decker bus, Parsons was holding up a syringe and described as the nurse who gave the world’s first Covid-19 vaccine, with the tagline “A Filipina. We Give the World Our Best. The Philippines.” It did not sit well, though with Senate Committee on Tourism chairman, Sen. Nancy Binay who said, “There seems to be a disconnect in the messaging. It’s bothersome because when you see the ad, it seems that we are offering the world our nurses — which is a bit off since we’re already running low on health workers here.” “We don’t want to commodify our people, and we don’t want to be labeled as a country that exports labor,” she went on to say. “What is the connection of a nurse, syringe, and vaccine to the tourist destinations we’re promoting.” Office of the Presidential Adviser on Creative Communications Secretary Paul Soriano was quick to clarify that the ad was part of a “country branding campaign” to raise the spirits of Filipinos who are doing well in other countries. “We Give the World Our Best — The Philippines” is meant to promote and focus on the Filipino achievers abroad,” he said. “PACC wants to clear the confusion and clarify that it was not meant, in any way, to promote the country’s tourist destinations.” While Binay recognized that the results of such an advertisement have yet to be seen, Binay said the ad’s messaging is not aligned with the country’s goals for tourism. Tourism ad or not, Binay’s comments make sense. The government should not be focused on labor export but instead, prevent brain drain by providing decent-paying jobs, and promoting the country’s tourist destinations. The government’s neglect of our healthcare workers pushes them to seek good fortune in other countries, while those who choose to stay have to make do with meager pay. It should stop acting as a recruitment agency rather than giving its citizens a living wage. The life of an overseas Filipino worker is not a movie material that the government can produce to influence others to leave their families and homeland. We should walk the talk when we praise our local healthcare workers for their heroism during the Covid-19 pandemic by providing them their due protection through adequate support and benefits. A case in point is the unpaid Health Emergency Allowance during the pandemic. Although sending workers abroad can sometimes be related to tourism, it is not necessarily a core aspect of the tourism industry. In some cases, workers may be sent abroad to work in tourism-related jobs, such as hotel staff, tour guides, or restaurant workers who may play an important role in facilitating tourism experiences for visitors. Exporting labor can be related to other industries such as construction, healthcare, or technology, and not necessarily related to tourism. Clear as day, the tourism industry consists of many components, such as transportation, attractions, events, and activities that do not involve sending workers abroad. The role of health workers in tourism is usually focused on ensuring the health and safety of tourists, rather than promoting tourism itself — typically viewed as a public health and safety issue, rather than a component of tourism promotion. Campaign branding abroad can wait. Why not improve country marketing first which will drive tourist traffic to the Philippines and define the overall tourist experience? Start with the country’s gateways — airports and seaports. It is an overdue plan announced in August 2022. There is so much to be done to bring improvements to the country’s air and seaports that will encapsulate the “Filipino Brand” and give tourists a good first and last impression when they visit the Philippines. Pick up the lessons learned from the NAIA fiasco and horrific seaports. For now, the best tagline should be “We Give Tourists Our Best. The Philippines.” The post Giving the best? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Foreign nations evacuate citizens in Sudan
Evacuation flights for foreigners were continuing in Khartoum, Sudan early Monday, with hundreds of people flown out overnight on military planes amid clashes of army and paramilitary forces there. Foreigners also fled the capital Khartoum in a long United Nations convoy, while millions of frightened residents hunkered down inside their homes, many running low on water and food. More than 1,000 European Union citizens were evacuated from conflict-hit Sudan over the weekend, the bloc’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters on Monday. British and Canadian forces have rescued diplomats and their families in Sudan’s capital city and they are now safe outside the country, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. Germany and France, meanwhile, said they had also begun evacuating their nationals and those from other countries. Two French planes carrying around 200 people of multiple nationalities landed in Djibouti. The German army said it had evacuated 101 people on the first of three military aircraft sent to Sudan. The first Airbus A400M “landed safely in Jordan” at around midnight local time, the Bundeswehr said on Twitter. Another plane with 113 people was on its way to Jordan, it said. Italy evacuated about 300 people in total, according to their foreign ministries. Egypt, Sudan’s large neighbor to the north, said it had evacuated 436 nationals by land. Long convoys of UN vehicles and buses were seen leaving Khartoum heading east to Port Sudan on the Red Sea, 850 kilometers away by road, carrying “citizens from all over the world,” according to one Sierra Leonean evacuee. Across the city of five million, army and paramilitary troops have fought ferocious street battles since 15 April, leaving behind charred tanks, gutted buildings and looted shops. More than 420 people have been killed and thousands wounded, according to UN figures, amid fears of wider turmoil and a humanitarian disaster in one of the world’s poorest nations. Forces loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy turned rival Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, are fighting for control of the city and the country. The post Foreign nations evacuate citizens in Sudan appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
The UK is not complying with the Brexit agreement on the rights of EU citizens, according to an organization
Written by Sam Tobin LONDON (Reuters) – The British government is violating its withdrawal agreement with the European Union by requiring EU citizens to re-apply.....»»
Changes with Spanish driving license in the United Kingdom
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Settling down in Spain as British, a “mission impossible” post-Brexit
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Brexit ends Britain’s right to live and work in the European Union
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United Kingdom government recognizes University of the Philippines scientists’ achievements
Two scientists at the University of the Philippines-Diliman were recognized by the British government for their contributions to Philippine research and development......»»
The dangers of voting by non-citizens
Only US citizens may vote in federal elections......»»
Drug den in Punta Princesa, Cebu City shut down, three men nabbed
CEBU CITY, Philippines — With the help of concerned citizens, law enforcers arrested three newly identified drug personalities and dismantled a suspected drug den in Sitio Tres de Abril, Barangay Punta Princesa, Cebu City on Thursday afternoon, March 21, 2024. The drug bust took place at around 1:25 p.m. in the barangay, which was previously.....»»
Order expanding senior discounts on groceries signed
Senior citizens and persons with disabilities will soon enjoy a higher special discount when buying basic necessities and prime commodities each week......»»
Aaron Taylor-Johnson offered James Bond role — report
British actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson has reportedly been offered the role of James Bond, succeeding Daniel Craig who portrayed Agent 007 for 15 years......»»
Bill ensuring employability of seniors gets House nod
Efforts to ensure employment for senior citizens gained a boost after the House committee on ways and means yesterday approved a bill providing for it......»»