G Tongi slams Arnell Ignacio for calling celebrities dumb, calls DDS jologs
Actress Giselle "G" Tongi took a swipe at TV host Arnell Ignacio for saying that celebrities these days are dumb. .....»»
Government calls for Earth Hour switch-off tonight
Government agencies are calling on the public to join the Earth Hour today by switching off non-essential lights from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m......»»
Celebrities, netizens call for justice following dog killings
Hundreds of Filipinos are calling for justice to be handed down following the wrongful deaths of two dogs named Killua and Erika......»»
Child with Cancer from Zamboanga del Norte Calls for Help
A four-year-old girl from Brgy. Poblacion, Siayan, Zamboanga del Norte is calling for financial assistance to help sustain her chemotherapy treatment. Lucille Jhen Dionaldo was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) last September 19, 2023, 2 months after she celebrated her 4th birthday. Her symptoms started to manifest weeks prior to her diagnosis as pallor,.....»»
Envi group calls for unbiased probe into Masara landslide
A DAVAO City-based environment group is calling for a just and biased-free investigation of the massive landslide incident that occurred in Barangay Masara, Davao de Oro, on the evening of February 6, 2024......»»
Magbayad ka : Michael Cinco calls out Pinoy celebrities demanding free outfits
Dubai-based Filipino fashion designer Michael Cinco called out Filipino celebrities and influencers who ask fellow local designers for free outfits......»»
Phone etiquette 101: Why texting before calling matters for Jessy Mendiola
For actress Jessy Mendiola, she prefers that she would be given a heads up before someone calls her......»»
Calls for sustainable news business model mount after CNN Philippines closure
“As an educational institution that produces media practitioners, we stand with our alumni and with the media industry in calling for a more sustainable and ethical business model for local media instead of the for-profit model that continues to dominate the media industry.".....»»
China blasts proposed permanent Filipino structures in Ayungin, calls it illegal
Beijing's Foreign Ministry vehemently opposed plans by Manila's government to construct a permanent structure within the West Philippine Sea to shelter Filipino fisherfolk, calling the move as "inconsistent with international law.".....»»
Landmark UN Report Calls for Sex Work Decriminalization
The struggle for sex worker rights has been a marathon, not a sprint, but the chorus of voices calling for an end to stigma, abuse, and criminalization is growing. The United Nations Working Group on discrimination against women and girls released a landmark report in October calling for the full decr.....»»
Chip maker Intel beats earnings expectations as it pursues rivals
US chip giant Intel on Thursday said it made more money than expected in the recently ended quarter as it continued to invest in a "geographically balanced" supply chain. Intel shares jumped more than 7 percent to $34.88 in after-market trades. "We delivered a standout third quarter, underscored by across-the-board progress on our process and product roadmaps; agreements with new foundry customers, and momentum as we bring AI everywhere," said Intel chief executive Pat Gelsinger. Intel reported revenue of $14.2 billion, which was 8 percent less than the amount seen in the same quarter a year earlier but ahead of forecasts. Net income tallied $300 million, compared with $1 billion profit in the same period in 2022, earnings figures showed. "Our results exceeded expectations," said Intel chief financial officer David Zinsner, who said earnings benefited from "expense discipline." Intel has been working to catch up with rivals, especially Nvidia, when it comes to powerful chips needed to handle the computing demands of artificial intelligence. Intel touted investments being made in chip production facilities with an aim of creating a "geographically balanced, secure, resilient supply chain." California-based Intel is seen as a key tool for the United States to reduce its dependence on major global producers, such as Taiwan's TSMC. Earlier this year, Intel announced it would spend $25 billion on a new plant in Israel, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling it the country's single largest foreign investment. The "agreement in principle" would see the semiconductor firm build the facility in the southern city of Kiryat Gat that would open by 2027 and operate at least until 2035, Israel's finance ministry said. Intel has been operating in Israel since the 1970s with development centers and a production site that employs some 12,000 people, the finance ministry said. In 2017, Intel acquired Israel-based Mobileye, which makes technology for automated driving systems in vehicles, for just over $15 billion. Gelsinger said Intel teams have kept operations going despite the war between Israel and Hamas. "Our utmost priority is the safety and welfare of our people in Israel and their families," Gelsinger said. "Despite all of these challenges, they're performing extremely well. I am praying for a swift return to peace." China Gelsinger said Intel was carefully studying updated rules in the United States that tighten curbs on exports of state-of-the-art AI chips to China. "We do believe that we'll have plenty of opportunity in China," Gelsinger said. "We are continuing to deploy our products there broadly, even as we comply and work with (the United States) around the regulations that they're putting in place." The new rules tighten measures from a year ago that banned the sale to China of microchips crucial to manufacturing powerful AI systems. Calls to further close the supply chain grew after the popularity of generative AI platform ChatGPT. When announcing the beefed-up curbs, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo insisted they were intended to close loopholes and prevent China's development of AI for military use. "It's true that AI has the potential for huge societal benefit. But it also can do tremendous and profound harm if it's in the wrong hands and in the wrong militaries," she told US media. The rules will not affect chips used in consumer goods such as laptops, smartphones, and gaming consoles, though some will be subject to export licensing requirements. China has said it is "strongly dissatisfied" and "firmly opposes" the curbs. "The US continues to generalize the concept of national security, abuse export control measures, and implement unilateral bullying," the commerce ministry said in a statement. The post Chip maker Intel beats earnings expectations as it pursues rivals appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US police launch huge manhunt for shooter who killed at least 22
A massive manhunt was under way Thursday for a gunman who a local official said killed at least 22 people and wounded "many" more in mass shootings in the US state of Maine, the deadliest such incident this year. Police said Robert Card -- seen in surveillance footage pointing a semi-automatic weapon with an extended clip as he walked into a bowling alley in the town of Lewiston -- "should be considered armed and dangerous." Card is a certified firearms instructor and a member of the US Army Reserve, CNN reported, citing law enforcement sources. Lewiston city councilor Robert McCarthy told CNN that law enforcement had "confirmed 22 dead, many, many more injured", with local media reporting shootings had occurred at multiple locations. Swathes of Lewiston were locked down, with businesses urged to shutter and people ordered to shelter in place, as the scourge of horrifying gun violence once again ripped through an American community. Maine public safety official Mike Sauschuck said he was not prepared to give a death toll, calling it "a very fluid situation." He told reporters police were flooding the streets as they sought the gunman. "We have literally hundreds of police officers working around the state of Maine to investigate this case, to locate Mr. Card," he told reporters. Rescue vehicles rushed in from around central Maine to tend to the wounded, city councilor McCarthy said, and the two Lewiston hospitals "have called in every off-duty staff member that they could to deal with this." President Joe Biden made calls -- stepping away from a state dinner honoring Australia's prime minister -- to Maine's governor, its two senators and a local congressman to offer federal support, the White House said. Early on Thursday, armed police were seen guarding the Central Maine Medical Center, where some of the wounded were being treated. Several Maine school boards and educational institutions, including Bates College, said they would not be holding classes on Thursday, according to statements. Multiple locations Police and rescuers reportedly arrived at the Sparetime Recreation bowling alley at about 7:15 pm local time (00:15 Thursday GMT) in response to an active shooter, and then received reports of another shooting at the Schemengees Bar & Grille, according to the Sun Journal local newspaper. Police issued a number of photographs of 40-year-old Card at the bowling alley, where he appears calm and composed as he moves through the doorway with his rifle raised. "Please contact law enforcement if you are aware of his whereabouts," they said. Sauschuck said officers had located a "vehicle of interest" they had been looking for -- a white sport utility vehicle (SUV) -- in Lisbon, a town around eight miles (12 kilometers) from Lewiston, where residents had also been warned to stay off the streets. Card was not in the vehicle, reports said. Law enforcement "are investigating two active shooter events," the Androscoggin County Sheriff's Department said on social media. "We are encouraging all businesses to lock down and or close while we investigate. The suspect is still at large." Maine Governor Janet Mills said she was "aware of and have been briefed on the active shooter situation in Lewiston." CNN reported that at least 50 people were wounded in the incidents, citing multiple law enforcement sources, but said it was unclear how many of the injuries were the result of gunfire. It was unclear if initial reports of shots being fired at a third site, a Walmart distribution center, were accurate. My hometown Maine Congressman Jared Golden wrote on social media that "like all Mainers, I'm horrified by the events in Lewison tonight. This is my hometown." "Right now, all of us are looking to local law enforcement as they gain control of the situation and gather information. Our hearts break for those who are affected," he said. Distraught citizens flocked to local hospitals. "I'm just overwhelmed. I've been here trying to spread, you know, some kind of comfort, some kind of support," Cynthia Hunter, a local resident, told CBS affiliate WGME. The shooting is one of the deadliest since 2017, when a gunman opened fire on a crowded music festival in Las Vegas, killing about 60 people. Gun violence is alarmingly common in the United States, a country where there are more guns than people and where attempts to clamp down on their spread are always met with stiff resistance. The United States has recorded over 500 mass shootings this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive (GVA), a non-governmental organization that defines a mass shooting as four or more people wounded or killed. Wednesday's attack was the deadliest mass shooting in 2023 so far, according to the GVA's data. Efforts to tighten gun controls have for years run up against opposition from Republicans, staunch defenders of the constitutional right to bear arms. The political paralysis endures despite widespread outrage over recurring shootings. Lewiston is the second most populous city in Maine located some 30 miles north of the largest city, Portland. The post US police launch huge manhunt for shooter who killed at least 22 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Negotiation not an option
The terrorist group Hamas has been playing with international sentiment using the hostages of different nationalities it seized in the 7 October act of treachery to put global pressure on Israel to implement a ceasefire. The United States thwarted a resolution at the United Nations Security Council calling for a halt in Israeli operations as the superpower cited the right of Israel to self-defense. Simply put, Hamas as a terror organization cannot demand a ceasefire with Israel, which is a legitimate state. The Israeli airstrikes have essentially crippled the capability of Hamas to pursue its terror campaign against Israel and it now needs an opportunity to regroup, hoping that it will secure help from other terror groups waiting in the wings. Crushing Hamas quickly is necessary to avert the possible participation of other foreign armed groups in the Gaza conflict. Nations that have feuded with Israel sponsor armed militants that are now aching to get an order to strike and join the battle with Hamas. Prolonging the conflict is to Hamas’ advantage as global outrage is guaranteed when civilian deaths pile up and the hostages are released one at a time. An estimated 200 people, including 30 teenagers and young children and 20 people over the age of 60, are being held hostage in Gaza, based on estimates from an Israel Defense Forces source. Among the hostages are a still undetermined number of Filipinos who mostly work as caregivers. The strategy of the terror group to win international sympathy by using subterfuge has backfired in most cases. A commentary in the Thai broadsheet, The Examiner, indicated rising awareness of the level of deception being engineered by Hamas and its supporters. According to the newspaper, comments by the Iranian Ambassador in Bangkok “demonstrate Hamas is using the 19 Thai hostages as leverage to halt the bombardment of the enclave.” Ambassador Seyed Reza Nobakhti said in Bangkok that the Hamas leader had assured the Iranian foreign minister the Thai hostages would be released, but this could not happen until hostilities ceased. “However, Hamas, which Iran funds, made it clear that the hostages were being held in Palestinian safe houses but that no place was safe in Gaza,” according to the commentary. Thailand said 19 of its citizens were seized by Hamas during the terror strike over two weeks ago. On Friday, Hamas released two American hostages, a mother and her daughter, following mediation by Qatar. The armed group said more will be released under a ceasefire. Israel has resisted calls for a halt in its offensive against Hamas, saying the release of hostages will not affect its ongoing military operations. Its target is the elimination of all Hamas infrastructure and facilities and the release of all hostages will follow. The problem, however, is that as the crisis plays out longer, and the surgical strikes to take out Hamas targets can’t be completed unless all the civilians evacuate, casualties will tend to rise and so will international indignation. Such a situation favors Hamas which will assume the role of victim, which is preposterous as it initiated the war with Israel with the slaughter of the innocents. Israel, which is now being accused in the United Nations and elsewhere of atrocities, however, had repeatedly warned residents to leave the war zone. Israel has not been remiss in urging the residents to move south, towards a safer humanitarian area. The IDF’s notices to the people of Gaza, which were intended to protect them from the strikes on Hamas, stand in contrast to the way Hamas treats its civilians, using them as shields. Since Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, one of its most reprehensible deeds is endangering Palestinian civilians during its terror operations, such as by positioning rocket launchers and command centers deep in the heart of Gaza. It even fortified tunnels under UN schools. “Our war is not with the people of Gaza. It’s with a murderous organization that attacks Israelis, while intentionally endangering its residents to protect its leadership,” the IDF said. Hamas is a terror group no different from the Islamic State, which both use mayhem to attain their objective of replacing civilized existence with a fundamental Islamic empire. The post Negotiation not an option appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
UN chief urges ceasefire to end Gaza’s ‘godawful nightmare’
UN chief Antonio Guterres pleaded Saturday for a "humanitarian ceasefire" in the war between Israel and Hamas militants that has devastated much of Gaza, demanding "action to end this godawful nightmare". Addressing a Cairo summit that ultimately proved fruitless, according to Arab diplomats, Guterres said the Palestinian enclave of 2.4 million people was living through "a humanitarian catastrophe" with thousands dead and more than a million displaced. The latest bloodshed began on October 7 when Hamas militants killed at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians who were shot, mutilated or burnt to death on the first day of the raid, and took more than 200 hostages, according to Israeli officials. Israel has hit back with a relentless bombing campaign, killing more than 4,300 Palestinians, mainly civilians, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, and cut off supplies of water, electricity, fuel and food. According to Arab diplomats who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity, the meeting in Cairo failed to reach an agreement, with Western representatives seeking "a clear condemnation placing responsibility for the escalation on Hamas", which Arab leaders refused. The Western officials also wanted to call for the release of those held by Hamas. Egypt's presidency instead released a statement -- drafted with the approval of Arab attendees, the diplomats said -- saying the war had laid bare "a defect in the values of the international community". World leaders have long "sought to manage the conflict, and not end it permanently, by proposing temporary solutions and palliatives that do not live up to even the lowest aspirations of a suffering people", the statement read. In response, Israel bemoaned the lack of a condemnation of what it called "Islamic terror" that endangered the region and entire world. "It is unfortunate that even when faced with those horrific atrocities, there were some who had difficulty condemning terrorism or acknowledging the danger," a foreign ministry statement said. "Israel will do what it has to do and expects the international community to recognise the righteous battle." 'Global silence' In the opening session, Guterres had said "the grievances of the Palestinian people are legitimate and long" after "56 years of occupation with no end in sight" but stressed that "nothing can justify the reprehensible assault by Hamas that terrorised Israeli civilians". He then stressed that "those abhorrent attacks can never justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people". In the meeting which also included the leaders of the United Arab Emirates, Spain and Italy, Jordan's King Abdullah II called for "an immediate end to the war on Gaza" and condemned what he labelled "global silence" on Palestinian death and suffering. "The message the Arab world is hearing is loud and clear: Palestinian lives matter less than Israeli ones. Our lives matter less than other lives," he charged. "The application of international law is optional. And human rights have boundaries -- they stop at borders, they stop at races, and they stop at religions." The summit came on the day a first convoy of aid trucks rumbled into southern Gaza, which Guterres said needed to be rapidly scaled up, with "much more" help sent through. The UN has said that about 100 trucks per day are needed to meet worsening needs in Gaza. The Palestinians need "a continuous delivery of aid to Gaza at the scale that is needed", the UN chief told the Cairo "Summit for Peace". 'We will not leave' Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi argued that the "only solution" to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is "justice" and said that "Palestinians must realise their legitimate rights to self-determination" and have "an independent state on their land". Abbas stressed his demand for a two-state solution and an "end to Israel's occupation" and rejected what he has warned could be a "second Nakba" -- a reference to the more than 760,000 Palestinians who fled or were expelled from their lands during the creation of the state of Israel in 1948. "We will not leave," he repeated three times at the end of his speech. Cairo and Amman have repeatedly rejected calls for large numbers of refugees to enter Egypt from Gaza, warning that the "forced displacement" would lead to the "eradication of the Palestinian cause". Egypt and Jordan were the first Arab states to normalise relations with Israel, in 1979 and 1994 respectively, and have since been key mediators between Israeli and Palestinian officials. Turkey's foreign minister Hakan Fidan urged for the current conflict to become, "rather than a regional conflagration, a breeding ground for a just and lasting peace". He also condemned "unconditional military aid to Israel which only serves to maintain the occupation", while Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan condemned the failure of the UN Security Council to pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire after a US veto. The post UN chief urges ceasefire to end Gaza’s ‘godawful nightmare’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Hindi ko kayo dini-discredit’: Rendon Labador apologizes to Vice, Ion, Michael V.
Controversial "motivational speaker" Rendon Labador, who recently lost all his social media platforms apparently due to the mass reporting by netizens angry at the tirades he has directed at a number of well-loved celebrities such as Coco Martin, Vice Ganda and her partner Ion Perez, Nadine Lustre and Michael V., sat down with veteran showbiz scribe Ogie Diaz at the latter's YouTube channel to explain his side. Labador said his abrasive talk on social media is not personal -- he has nothing against the personalities he has targeted, whom he doesn't know personally, he said. But as the self-proclaimed "Boses ng Masa", he wants to correct the mistakes of people in the limelight so they could be good examples to the public. And his "laging galit" way of calling them out is just his tough style, said Labador, so he could challenge them to change for the better. Pointedly chided by Diaz that he seemed to come off as "perfect" and better than everyone else, not to mention being a clout-chaser, because of his penchant to slam well-known personalities, Labador acknowledged that his harsh words may indeed have hurt some people, and that he is learning to recognize his own shortcomings. In the end, Labador extended an apology to the people he had blasted -- but still with the caveat that he had no ill intentions whatsoever, and just wanted to "motivate" them to overcome his broadsides and become stronger. "Kung nasaktan ko man kayo, kay Vice, Ion, sa lahat ng artista, Michael V. -- I'm apologizing at wala akong masamang intention sa inyo. Hindi ko kayo dini-discredit. I'm thankful sa mga nagawa ninyo. Ang gusto ko lang matulungan,magising. Sana kasama ko kayo sa pagbago ng Pilipinas," he said. The next days and weeks should see whether Labador's charm offensive would see the return of his social media platforms, which he said has made social media personalities like him become the dominant forces in the current mediascape while traditional or mainstream media has become "laos" (outdated), fated to -- another bold declaration -- disappear in five years or so. The post ‘Hindi ko kayo dini-discredit’: Rendon Labador apologizes to Vice, Ion, Michael V. appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Regulate them’: Hard-up Indonesia traders urge TikTok sales ban
As clothing seller Hendri Tanjung struggles to hawk his tunics to Indonesian buyers outside his market shop, he says customers are turning to cheaper versions on TikTok, pummeling his income. The 35-year-old sells his wares at Tanah Abang, Southeast Asia's largest textile market, where sellers are desperately calling out to passersby. The market in the capital Jakarta is less crowded than usual, with some outlets shuttered, as many of its thousands of merchants selling products made in factories or by tailors and weavers complain about the impact of TikTok's booming e-commerce arm on their business. "We want the government to close TikTok Shop, or at least regulate them. I feel bad for my employees," said Tanjung. Indonesians spent more money on the Chinese-owned app than anywhere else in the region over the past year, as TikTok Shop rapidly gained a substantial regional market share and millions of sellers since its 2021 launch. But government ministers in Southeast Asia's biggest economy have threatened to ban the app outright because of its impact on local sellers, including those at Tanah Abang who rely on offline buyers. Tanjung said a tunic he sells at 60,000 rupiah ($3.90), can be found for 40,000 rupiah on TikTok Shop, undercutting his business. "I don't know where they source their products to sell at such low prices. Ours are our own products and we cannot sell them at that price," he said. After a daily revenue drop of more than 80 percent from 30 million rupiah ($1,948) to five million ($324) in recent months, he was forced to lay off five of his 30 employees. Laws in the archipelago nation do not cover transactions through social media platforms such as TikTok, Facebook or Instagram. But President Joko Widodo said new regulation on social media transactions could come as early as Tuesday. The draft regulation, expected to be presented soon after Widodo said Monday it was "being finalized in the trade ministry", will aim to curb what Jakarta says are monopolistic practices. Level playing field Experts say such regulation would create a level playing field for local businesses. "The key is to regulate social commerce to be on par with e-commerce and traditional offline retailers," said Nailul Huda, a researcher at the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance. "The government should enhance protection for local products by tightening regulations on imported goods and offering disincentives for imports." TikTok has criticized calls for a ban, saying it would harm Indonesian merchants and consumers. "Close to two million local businesses in Indonesia use TikTok to grow and thrive through social commerce," Anggini Setiawan, TikTok Indonesia's head of communications, told AFP earlier this month. Indonesia is TikTok's second-largest market, with 125 million users, according to company figures. It is owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance. The country represented 42 percent of TikTok's $4.4 billion regional gross merchandise value last year, according to Singapore-based consultancy Momentum Works. TikTok's chief executive Shou Zi Chew visited Jakarta in June, pledging to pour billions of dollars into Southeast Asia in the coming years. But the market sellers want TikTok's rise restricted. Atinah, a 21-year-old who sells clothing, said she could no longer hope for high weekend sales at her shop at Tanah Abang, which used to bring in around 10 million rupiah per day. "We are happy if the government can regulate TikTok Shop since now we can only make around three million rupiah on weekends," said Atinah, who like many Indonesians goes by one name. "Buyers always compare the prices here with what they see on TikTok Shop." The post ‘Regulate them’: Hard-up Indonesia traders urge TikTok sales ban appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DND chief: China charge ‘hypocritical’
China accusing the Philippines of being an environmental menace for allowing the rusting BRP Sierra Madre landing ship to remain moored at Ayungin Shoal is “hypocritical,” Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said. “The statement of China that the grounded Sierra Madre is causing irrevocable harm is, to put it as politely as possible, hypocritical,” Teodoro, reacting to Mao’s statement, told reporters on Saturday. Teodoro was reacting to Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning’s statement that the rusting BRP Sierra Madre ship was a pollutant and source of waste in the West Philippine Sea. The BRP Sierra Madre is a landing vessel deliberately grounded on Ayungin Shoal in 1995 to serve as an outpost manned by a platoon of Marines. Mao called the Philippines to tow the Sierra Madre away from the shoal. He urged to “stop polluting” the waters around it “if it really cares about the environment.” Philippine officials were not amused, however. The Office of the Solicitor General said it is considering filing a lawsuit against China before an international court for destroying corals in at least two key features in the WPS, namely, Rozul or Iroquois Reef and Escoda or Sabina Shoal. Pot calls kettle black “Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. China continues to damage the WPS with its illegal reclamation activities after it was found to be a violator of international law in the 2016 Arbitral Award when such activities damaged the marine environment,” Teodoro said. He described China’s remarks as mere “propaganda” to divert international attention from its illegal activities in the WPS. “Disingenuous propaganda lines such as this only serve to expose China’s insincerity and will only heighten the mistrust of the Filipino people and the rest of the world toward the Chinese government,” Teodoro said. China has repeatedly denied the Philippines’ sovereign right over the WPS based on the 2016 arbitral ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague. Coral destruction, a crime The Chinese foreign ministry also recently criticized the Philippines for creating “political drama” when it alleged massive coral harvesting at Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal. “The destruction of corals goes far beyond drama. It is a violent act and a serious crime against humanity,” said Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “Stop making (allegations) that the BRP Sierra Madre is polluting the waters, but blame it (on) your numerous Chinese maritime militia vessels swarming the Philippines’ EEZ,” Tarriela said. Tarriela noted that the PCG conducted extensive underwater surveys of the seabed at both Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal. “The results of these surveys showed that the marine ecosystem in the subject features appeared to be lifeless, with minimal to no signs of life. Moreover, the surveys conducted at Escoda Shoal revealed visible discoloration of its seabed, strongly indicating that deliberate activities may have been undertaken to modify the natural topography of the underwater terrain,” he said. On Thursday, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the government would file environmental cases against China for its destructive activities in the WPS before the Permanent Court of Arbitration as it has a lot of evidence to pursue a case. Remulla said the case filing was not connected to the territorial dispute, maintaining that the “destruction of the environment is a sin against humanity.” On the other hand, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra confirmed the plan to file charges against China before the arbitral court. @tribunephl_raf The post DND chief: China charge ‘hypocritical’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Belmonte calls for reforms in BFP-QCFD
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Monday called on the Bureau of Fire Protection to undertake reforms in the BFP - Quezon City Fire District (QCFD). Belmonte made the call as results of the probe conducted by the city government and the Quezon City Council revealed lax inspection, backlog in the examination of businesses, and other lapses in the performance of the BFP-QCFD. "The BFP should look into how the BFP-QCFD fulfilled its mandate in the light of tragic loss of lives and properties due to recent fires in the city. Were the BFP-QCFD leadership remiss in their duties? They should hold their personnel accountable if proven guilty of inefficiency," she said. Belmonte earlier sought the relief of two officials from the BFP-QCFD following a review of the performance of the agency prompted by the tragic loss of lives caused by the fire last 31 August in Tandang Sora. An evaluation conducted by the city government of each fire incident that occurred this year showed on average, more damage, injury, and death compared to the previous year. “The capability and effectiveness of the BFP-QCFD in responding to these fires have lessened significantly. The city government recognizes that each fire has its own distinct volatile circumstances. Nonetheless, the severity of this year's incidents necessitates a call for a change in the leadership of the agency. A change is needed for the welfare of our citizens. We look forward to a better performance from the BFP," Belmonte said. The two officials were identified as BFP-QCFD fire marshall, Fire Senior Superintendent Aristotle Bañaga, and the chief of the QCFD Fire Prevention Branch, Fire Chief Inspector Dominic Salvacion. Data from the BFP revealed that from January to August 2023, there were 153 fires recorded in the city, while there were only 219 fires from January to December 2022. With a third of the year left, there have already been eight firefighters and 63 civilians injured compared to only two firefighters and 60 civilians for the entirety of last year. Moreover, there were already 24 deaths in the first eight months of this year while there were 30 from January to December 2022. There were 8,362 individuals or 2,380 families affected by the fires up to August this year, higher than the whole of last year’s record of 7,295 individuals or 2,005 families. “For this reason and to protect the people of Quezon City, I am calling upon the national leadership of the Bureau of Fire Protection to assign to us a new fire marshall for the QCFD and a new inspection head,” Belmonte added. Belmonte also called on the BFP to be more transparent in their own investigation of the Tandang Sora fire. “The BFP has failed to reciprocate the city government’s efforts to exercise transparency. They resisted our calls to be apprised of the progress of their own probe, or to our requests for coordination. We therefore ask the BFP to cooperate fully with the city government as mandated by law, to ensure full transparency and clarity in these investigations. Our people demand more, and the victims and their families deserve nothing less,” Belmonte said. Belmonte earlier ordered the City Legal Department to form a Special Panel of Investigators to probe the incident and if warranted by evidence, to file the appropriate case(s) against pertinent and surviving officers of the business establishment involved in the deadly fire in Tandang Sora. Local government personnel found to be liable after the conduct of the investigation will likewise face administrative and criminal charges. “The city government continues to thoroughly investigate the devastating fire of August 31. It has coordinated with and interviewed its departments, the barangay, the homeowners association, the relatives of the victims, and the survivors, to ascertain the circumstances that brought about this tragedy. We will leave no stone unturned, and we will not spare even our own officials and personnel,” the mayor added. The mayor assured the residents that the city government will continue to beef up the city’s fire prevention measures and efforts. On 14 September, Mayor Belmonte extended financial assistance to the families of the fire victims. Earlier, the city government helped arrange for the cremation of the remains of the victims, among others. The post Belmonte calls for reforms in BFP-QCFD appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Mla slams Beijing’s expanded SCS claim
The Department of Foreign Affairs has strongly protested China’s inclusion of the entire West Philippine Sea in the newest version of its standard map, calling it “unacceptable.” Manila, through the DFA, made this very clear to Beijing on Thursday as it rejected China’s map that depicts its new “10-dash line” claim to the entire South China Sea, including maritime zones of the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Indonesia. The map was issued by China’s Ministry of Natural Resources on 28 August, drawing protests from Malaysia and India (see related story). “This latest attempt to legitimize China’s purported sovereignty and jurisdiction over Philippine features and maritime zones has no basis under international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,” the DFA said. The DFA reiterated to China that a 2016 international arbitral ruling invalidated its “nine-dash line” claim in the South China Sea and affirmed the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea. This was in reference to the final judgment rendered by the Permanent Court of Arbitration on 12 July 2016. “It (decision) categorically stated that ‘maritime areas of the South China Sea encompassed by the relevant parts of the nine-dash line are contrary to the Convention and without lawful effect to the extent that they exceed the geographic and substantive limits of China’s maritime entitlements under the Convention,’” the statement said. “The Philippines, therefore, calls on China to act responsibly and abide by its obligations under UNCLOS and the final and binding 2016 Arbitral Award,” the DFA added. China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea, but has not recognized the arbitral ruling. Neither did Beijing participate in the court’s proceedings. During a Malacañang press briefing, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Daniel Espiritu confirmed Manila had filed a diplomatic protest with Beijing regarding the issue. Beijing’s revised map features a sequence of 10 dashes arranged in a U-shape, encompassing not only parts of the Philippines but of self-ruled Taiwan as well as parts of the exclusive economic zones of Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Indonesia. “Suffice it to say that we have already expressed our opposition to that matter,” Espiritu told Palace reporters. “We are definitely against it, we reject it, and we continue to advocate for a peaceful resolution of disputes in that aspect,” he added. Asked how this would affect the Philippine position when Marcos meets with his Southeast Asian and Chinese counterparts during the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit, Espiritu said the leaders would not complete their discussions on the matter in just one, two, or three meetings. “Progress has been made. We also expressed our profound satisfaction with recent developments in the South China Sea, particularly on the issue of the water cannoning,” Espiritu said. “We emphasized that these actions must be avoided, as they erode trust, escalate tensions in the South China Sea, and destabilize the peace and stability in the region,” Espiritu added. China’s defense For its part, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs defended the map, saying it is “in accordance with the law.” “On 28 August, the Ministry of Natural Resources of China released the 2023 edition of the standard map. It is a routine practice in China’s exercise of sovereignty in accordance with the law,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said. Wang called on the countries affected by the new map to “stay objective and calm, and refrain from over-interpreting the issue.” Four of the 10 members of ASEAN are primary claimants to the resource-rich South China Sea — Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines. Final and binding In reaction, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said the Philippines does not recognize China’s nine-dash line claim, more so its expanded 10-dash line. “The arbitral award is final and binding,” Año said. “It gives us our maritime entitlement, our extended economic zone, our territorial waters, and our extended continental shelf.” The Philippines, he said, is not alone in its rejection of the 10-dash line. India and Malaysia have also expressed their opposition to the new map. “There would be more countries, I think, to react adversely against this 10-dash line,” Año said. “Our Armed Forces, our uniformed services, our government will do everything in their capacities to ensure that we are protecting our national interest.” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., meanwhile, will push for a rules-based international order and for parties to follow the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea during the upcoming 43rd Asean Summit next month, DFA Undersecretary Espiritu said on Thursday. “The Philippines will continue to uphold and exercise freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea in accordance with international law,” Espiritu added. He said Marcos is expected to have one-on-one meetings with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, and Timor Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão. “With Vietnam, the focus will be on strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries and, of course, cooperation on rice and food security,” he said. ‘Cancel China projects’ With Beijing’s unrelenting expansion into the SCS, Infrawatch PH convenor Terry Ridon said the government should reconsider existing and upcoming China-assisted infrastructure projects. “Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri had earlier suggested a boycott of all Chinese companies and products, including the Chinese Communication Construction Company, to protest Beijing’s continued incursion into our territory,” Ridon said. “Why not push that call up a notch and call on the Marcos administration to cancel all China-assisted infrastructure projects in the pipeline?” he added. There are presently six major infrastructure projects financed with Chinese loans, the biggest of which is the PNR South Long Haul Project, a 380-kilometer railway that will link Calamba in Laguna and Legazpi in Albay. The project, which started in 2016 and is set to be completed in 2024, has a total price tag of P175.3 billion. The post Mla slams Beijing’s expanded SCS claim appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Japan PM eats ‘safe and delicious’ Fukushima fish
Japan's prime minister ate what he called "safe and delicious" fish from Fukushima on Wednesday, days after wastewater was released from the area's crippled nuclear plant into the Pacific. A video clip showing Fumio Kishida eating Fukushima fish, published on social media by his office, comes after China banned all seafood imports from its neighbor following the discharge that began on 24 August. "This is very good," Kishida said as he chewed on a slice of flounder sashimi, calling on viewers to enjoy "safe and delicious" Japanese seafood to support the northeastern region. The clip, overlaid by cheery music, showed the conservative leader joined by three other ministers at his office for sashimi, boiled pork, fruits, rice and vegetables from the Fukushima region. It was designed to promote products from the area 12 years after Fukushima was devastated by a huge earthquake and tsunami that triggered one of the world's worst nuclear disasters. Even before the wastewater release, many in Japan's fishing industry were worried about what it would do to the reputation of the country's seafood domestically and abroad. The discharge, equivalent to more than 500 Olympic swimming pools, is expected to take decades and will allow engineers to start removing highly dangerous radioactive fuel from three wrecked reactors. Bricks and eggs have been thrown at Japanese schools and consulates in China and Tokyo has advised its nationals there to keep a low profile. Businesses in Japan have also been swamped with nuisance calls from Chinese numbers. Kishida was expected to visit Tokyo's main Toyosu fish market on Thursday to sample more Fukushima fish. Japan has demanded that China -- its biggest market for fish -- drop its ban on seafood imports while warning it will complain to the World Trade Organization. Kishida's government is also reportedly planning a package of financial aid for the fishing industry while also helping it find new export markets. Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), reiterated on Wednesday that the water being released was safe according to the UN watchdog. In a show of support for Japan, the US ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, was due to visit the Fukushima area on Thursday and eat locally caught seafood. The post Japan PM eats ‘safe and delicious’ Fukushima fish appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Brick thrown at Japan embassy
Chinese harassment of Japanese over Tokyo’s discharge of nuclear plant wastewater into the ocean continues with a brick thrown at Japan’s embassy in Beijing. Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi confirmed media reports of the incident in Tokyo on Tuesday. “It is extremely regrettable and worrying,” Hayashi said. “We would like to urge the Chinese government again to take appropriate measures immediately, such as calling on its citizens to act calmly to prevent the situation from escalating, and to take all possible measures to ensure the safety of Japanese residents and our diplomatic missions in China,” he added. A spokesperson of the embassy also reported that some individuals tried to enter the place but were led away by police. Asked what action Beijing would take over the stone-throwing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Monday that China “always protects the safety and legitimate rights and interests of foreigners in China, in accordance with law.” At the same time, Wang strongly urged Japan to immediately stop the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water into the sea. A range of businesses in Japan, from bakeries to an aquarium, have reportedly been subjected to thousands of crank calls that have included abusive and racist language. with AFP The post Brick thrown at Japan embassy appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»