Frail body, sharp mind: Oldest political prisoner longs for freedom
Despite the deteriorating conditions, political prisoner Gerardo Dela Peña remains hopeful that he will still be reunited with his elderly wife Pilar and their family in Camarines Norte. The post Frail body, sharp mind: Oldest political prisoner longs for freedom appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
British Council celebrates 10 years of sharing LGBTQIA+ stories
CEBU CITY, Philippines – The British Council kicks off the first in-person screening of the Five Films For Freedom programme to live audiences in Cebu on Wednesday, March 13, in partnership with BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival The Five Films For Freedom, launched by the British Council and the British Film Institute in 2014,.....»»
Russia: Why Navalny, and what’s next?
On Feb. 16, the Russian Federation’s Federal Penitentiary Service announced the death in custody of a prisoner at its FKU IK3 “corrective colony.”.....»»
‘Media is a public good:’ Closure of CNN Philippines draws concerns from UN expert
The United Nations special rapporteur on freedom of expression and opinion said that the recent closure of CNN Philippines is a "worrying sign" for media freedom in the country......»»
CHR: Red-tagging among threats to press freedom
In his keynote speech at the opening of the historic 1st Philippine Media Safety Summit, CHR Chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc said critical journalists are being subjected to red-tagging and surveillance, or are faced with the charges of libel or cyber libel. The post CHR: Red-tagging among threats to press freedom appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
Press freedom index: Philippines falls 2 notches to 134th
The Philippines remains a “difficult country” for journalists as it dropped two spots in the annual press freedom index released by media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (Reporters Sans Frontières/RSF)......»»
UN rapporteur to gov t: Repeal Anti-Terror Law, Cybercrime Prevention Act
Khan called these “laws of concern” that threaten the freedom of expression in the Philippines despite the Constitution’s guarantee of the right to freedom of expression......»»
Marcos vows to fight threats to freedom
President Marcos has vowed to continue the fight against threats to freedom and repel those who trample the country’s “sacred shores.”.....»»
Rwanda: End Abuses Against Journalists
(Nairobi) - Rwandan authorities should release journalist Dieudonne Niyonsenga, also known as Cyuma Hassan, and urgently investigate serious torture allegations he has made and ensure his rights to freedom of expression, a fair trial and to freedom from torture and ill treatment are respected, Human Rights Watch said today. The authorities' failure to transparently accoun.....»»
STATEMENT | Bulatlat reminds Philippine military of culpability in cyber-attacks and misinformation
Bulatlat maintains that these so-called “cyber security” efforts could mean online surveillance, distributed denial of service (DDOS) attacks, “fake news” and other forms of attacks aimed to suppress freedom of the press and of expression, as well as the people’s right to information. This issue was brought to the attention of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression Irene Khan who will hold her official country visit next week. The post STATEMENT | Bulatlat reminds Philippine military of culpability in cyber-attacks and misinformation appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
VP Sara ready to face ICC charges only before a Filipino court
Vice President Sara Duterte expressed her readiness to confront any allegations against her but insisted that she would only do so in front of a Filipino judge and within the jurisdiction of a Filipino court. In a statement on her Facebook page, she emphasized her refusal to participate in any process that could tarnish the reputation and integrity of the Philippine judiciary system. Duterte adamantly opposed the involvement of foreign entities in the country's legal affairs, citing it as a dishonor to the sacrifices made by Filipino heroes for the nation's freedom. Duterte, who previously served as vice mayor and mayor of Davao City, vehemently denied any involvement in the Davao Death Squad during her terms in office. She expressed dismay over the sudden appearance of a witness against her in the International Criminal Court (ICC) after assuming the vice presidency. Duterte dismissed the accusations and questioned the motives behind the allegations, asserting her capability to accomplish tasks without resorting to unlawful means. In a related development, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. voiced his refusal to acknowledge the ICC's jurisdiction in the Philippines, considering it a threat to the country's sovereignty. He issued a directive for all government agencies to refrain from cooperating with the ICC, emphasizing the nation's non-recognition of the court's authority. Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV claimed that ICC investigators had gathered substantial evidence against former President Rodrigo Duterte regarding his administration's war on drugs. He anticipated an imminent issuance of an arrest warrant against the former president. Former President Rodrigo Duterte condemned the ICC's decision to initiate a preliminary investigation into the war on drugs, labeling it an insult to the Philippines and challenging the court's jurisdiction within the country. During his presidency, he initiated the withdrawal of the Philippines' membership from the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC. The ICC appeals chamber recently granted a request to resume the investigation into alleged crimes against humanity related to the Philippines' controversial drug campaign, spanning from November 2011 to March 2019. The developments surrounding the ICC's probe into the Philippines' internal affairs have sparked a contentious debate, with key political figures and rights groups expressing divergent views on the matter. The ongoing tensions between the Philippines and the ICC underscore the complex intersection of international law, national sovereignty, and human rights issues......»»
Globe reports steep 73.7% decline in blocked bank-related spam, scam SMS in 2023
The telecommunications company Globe has reported a significant 73.7% decrease in the number of blocked spam and scam SMS related to banks in 2023. This reduction is a result of the interception of 21.9 million bank-related fraudulent messages, a sharp decline from the 83.39 million messages blocked the previous year. Globe attributes this achievement to its proactive strategies and strong partnerships with major banks and financial institutions in the Philippines. The company has established anti-fraud alliances with the Bankers Association of the Philippines and individual players in the finance sector, enabling the sharing of data and intelligence to prevent and investigate fraud effectively. Anton Bonifacio, Chief Information Security Officer at Globe, emphasized the company's commitment to combating financial fraud and enhancing security measures for customer protection. Globe has invested approximately US$20 million to improve its spam and scam SMS detection and blocking system and operates a 24/7 Security Operations Center to filter out unwanted messages from both international and domestic sources. Despite certain limitations, Globe remains dedicated to customer protection and emphasizes the need for a unified approach in the fight against fraud. The company is focused on leveraging technology and strengthening alliances with key stakeholders to combat fraudulent activities. As Globe continues to advance its technologies and collaborations, it aims to provide a safer and more secure digital environment for its customers. For more information about Globe and its initiatives, visit www.globe.com.ph. (SPONSORED CONTENT).....»»
City urged to reconvene terminal accreditation body for PUJ, V-hire
City urged to reconvene terminal accreditation body for PUJ, V-hire.....»»
Church, rights body push for ‘inclusive, just transition’ of jeepney modernization as phaseout deadline looms
Church, rights body push for ‘inclusive, just transition’ of jeepney modernization as phaseout deadline looms.....»»
Afghanistan: Aid Cutbacks, Taliban Abuses Imperil Health
(New York) - The sharp reduction in foreign assistance for Afghanistan's public health system, alongside the Taliban's serious abuses against women and girls have jeopardized the right to health for millions of Afghans, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The healthcare crisis has made the Afghan population increasingly vulnerable to severe malnutrition.....»»
Exporters laud creation of customs consultative body
The Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. has lauded the establishment of a consultative body composed of the Bureau of Customs and its industry partners aimed at providing a forum for addressing issues and concerns related to customs and industry matters......»»
Suspension lifted for Philippine tennis body
After three years in limbo, the Philippine Tennis Association is back in the good graces of the International Tennis Federation after the world-governing tennis body lifted the latter’s suspension......»»
Ireland’s first gay leader quits for personal, political reasons
Ireland’s first gay leader quits for personal, political reasons.....»»
Nestle, Danone see price hikes slowing after years of sharp increases
LONDON/PARIS (Reuters) -Two of the world’s top consumer goods companies, Danone and Nestle, said on Thursday they will slow price increases in 2024 after two years of hikes that prompted many shoppers to seek cheaper alternatives for basic goods like yoghurt and coffee. But Danone, which owns brands including Evian and Badoit waters and Activia.....»»
Traslacion in CDO: from 110,000 last year to only 18,000 devotees this year
CAGAYAN DE ORO (MindaNews / 11 January) – A parish priest here blamed tight police security for the sharp drop in attendance during the Traslacion or the procession of the Black Nazarene here last Tuesday, with only 18,000 attendees compared with last year’s 110,000. Monsignor Rey Monsanto, parish priest of Our Lady Fatima Parish in Barangay […].....»»
Marcos forms human rights coordination body
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has created a body on human rights coordination to enhance mechanisms for the promotion and protection of human rights, a move viewed by advocates as a "desperate attempt to window-dress" the situation in the country. .....»»