ICC finds ‘reasonable basis’ to pursue formal probe on Duterte’s drug war in 2021
The International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor said on Monday there is “reasonable basis” that crimes against humanity were committed under the Duterte administration’s war on drugs campaign and may decide to investigate this by first half of 2021......»»
7 nanlaban drug suspects dead after Baste Duterte declares drug war
Less than a week after Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte declared a "war on drugs" in the city, at least seven drug suspects were killed during a buy-bust operation in the city — violence that highlights the seriousness of the mayor's recent threat of outright killing persons caught using illegal drugs......»»
CHR alarmed by war vs drugs in Davao City
THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is alarmed by Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte’s “war against drugs”, as seven drug users were killed from different barangays in the city over the weekend, just a few hours after his declaration......»»
CHR probes Davao drug war deaths
The Commission on Human Rights yesterday expressed grave concern over Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte’s recent declaration of a war on drugs in the city......»»
Drug killings 95 percent lower than in previous admin
The number of deaths recorded under the Marcos administration’s war on drugs has decreased by over 95 percent, in contrast to the bloody anti-drug campaign of his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte......»»
7 dead after Davao City Mayor Duterte declares war vs. drugs
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 26 March) – Two more drug suspects died in separate buy-bust operations in Toril District here before dawn Tuesday, after they allegedly resisted arrest, a police official said. This brought the number of fatalities to seven since Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte declared a “war” on illegal drugs last March […].....»»
Al-ag proposes to repeal ordinance requiring delivery riders biz permits
Davao City Councilor Bernie Al-ag has proposed the repeal of an ordinance that requires delivery riders to obtain business permits. The ordinance in question, City Ordinance 0612-21 series of 2021, classified delivery riders as independent service contractors, mandating them to apply for business permits. However, a joint memorandum circular issued by various government agencies exempts individuals providing personal services, including delivery riders, from securing business permits. Al-ag emphasized that the city government must adhere to the guidelines set forth in the memorandum. While the proposed repeal is pending, Al-ag advised delivery riders to comply with the existing ordinance. He expressed confidence in the passage of the repeal, citing the solid basis provided by the joint memorandum. Despite a group of delivery riders seeking an audience with Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte on the matter, Al-ag's proposal was drafted in response to a separate petition. He clarified that the repeal is not about monetary collection but aligning with national law, which exempts delivery riders from obtaining business permits. Al-ag remains optimistic about the repeal's approval, pointing to the support provided by the joint memorandum as a strong foundation for his proposal......»»
How nations allow or restrict legal gender change
A small number of countries have made it easier for transgender people to change their legal gender, while other nations have restricted such changes, notably Russia and Pakistan. Here is a snapshot of the situation around the world. Exception, not the rule According to the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA), 24 UN member states have legally allowed people to change their gender on the basis of self-identification. In about 40 other countries, the legal and administrative process can take years and may include requirements such as psychiatric diagnosis, hormone treatment, gender confirmation surgery, or even sterilization. Making it easier Argentina has led the way on transgender rights, allowing a change of gender on national ID cards with a simple declaration since 2012. Several Latin American countries have followed suit. Denmark was the first European country in 2014 to allow adults to apply for a gender change without undergoing medical or psychological assessments, with Belgium, Ireland, Malta, Norway, Portugal, and most recently Spain following suit. Since 2017, France has allowed transgender people to change their status on their ID documents without treatment, surgery, or sterilization but they must receive court approval. The issue of trans rights sparked a fierce row in 2022 in Scotland, where parliament passed a bill making it easier for people to self-identify their gender that was sensationally vetoed by London. The German cabinet in August 2023 signed off plans under which Germans will be able to change their name or legal gender by making a simple application to their local registry office. The law still has to go to parliament. Hesitating Sweden, one of the world's most liberal countries, was the first in the world to authorize physical and legal gender reassignment for adults in 1972. But last year it began restricting hormone therapy available for children diagnosed with gender dysphoria, such as puberty blockers, citing the need for caution following a strong increase in demand. It also restricted access to mastectomies for teenage girls wanting to transition. Finland in 2020 had already restricted hormone treatment for minors. Making it harder Russia adopted new legislation in July 2023 banning "medical interventions aimed at changing the sex of a person" and "the state registration of a change of gender without an operation". President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly railed against transgender rights in his speeches. Pakistan's religious judiciary ruled in May that landmark transgender legal protections from 2018 are un-Islamic and therefore void. An appeal is being sought with the Supreme Court. Pakistan continues to recognize the existence of a third gender, neither masculine nor feminine, as do India and Nepal. Restricting gender-affirming treatment, such as puberty blockers for minors, has become a major campaign of US conservatives. Arkansas in 2021 became the first US state to ban physicians and health workers from offering transition-related treatment to transgender minors. A federal judge in June overturned the ban. Around 20 states, including Florida and Texas, have passed similar laws. Anti-LGBTQ sentiment in Hungary has escalated during the rule of Viktor Orban's right-wing government. In May 2020, the country passed a law making it impossible for transgender people to change their name and gender on their ID documents. The post How nations allow or restrict legal gender change appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Narcolepsy, cancer tipped as Medicine Prize opens Nobel week
Narcolepsy, cancer, or mRNA vaccine research could win the Nobel Medicine Prize on Monday when a week of announcements kicks off, but experts see no clear frontrunner for the Peace Prize. The awards, first handed out in 1901, were created by Swedish inventor and philanthropist Alfred Nobel in his 1895 will to celebrate those who have "conferred the greatest benefit on mankind." The Medicine Prize is first out and will be announced in Stockholm on Monday around 11:30 a.m. (0930 GMT), followed by the awards for physics on Tuesday, chemistry on Wednesday, and literature on Thursday. The Peace Prize, the most highly-anticipated Nobel and the only one announced in Oslo, will follow on Friday, before the Economics Prize rounds things off on October 9. The Medicine Prize has over the years crowned groundbreaking discoveries like the X-ray, penicillin, insulin, and DNA -- as well as now-disgraced awards for lobotomy and the insecticide DDT. Several Nobel watchers have suggested this year's prize could go to research into narcolepsy and the discovery of orexin, a neuropeptide that helps regulate sleep. It could also go to Hungarian-born Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman of the United States for research that led directly to the first mRNA vaccines to fight COVID-19, made by Pfizer and Moderna. Their discovery has already won a slew of major medicine prizes, but the Nobel committee nowadays often waits decades to bestow its laurels to ensure the research stands the test of time. "Maybe the Academy thinks it needs to look into it more, but someday they should win," predicted Annika Ostman, science reporter at Swedish public radio SR. Gene engineering and IceCube telescope But Ostman said her guess for this year was on Kevan Shokat, an American biologist who figured out how to block the KRAS cancer gene behind a third of cancers, including challenging-to-treat lung, colon, and pancreatic tumors. T-cell therapy for cancer treatment and work on the human microbiome could also be contenders, said David Pendlebury, head of the Clarivate Analytics group which identifies Nobel-worthy research. "There are more people deserving of a Nobel Prize than there are Nobels to go around," he told AFP. Lars Brostrom, Ostman's colleague at SR, singled out two American biologists, Stanislas Leibler, and Michael Elowitz, for their work on synthetic gene circuits which established the field of synthetic biology. It enables scientists to redesign organisms by engineering them to have new abilities. But Brostrom noted the field could be seen as controversial, raising "ethical questions about where to draw the line in creating life". For the Physics Prize, twisted graphene or the IceCube Neutrino Observatory in Antarctica were seen as possible winners, as well as the development of high-density data storage in the field of spintronics. Peace Prize to Iranian women? For Wednesday's Chemistry Prize, Pendlebury suggested next-generation DNA sequencing could get the nod, or research into how to target and deliver drugs to genes. Brostrom said he would love to see it go to US-based chemist Omar Yaghi for his work into porous materials known as MOFs, which can absorb poisonous gases or harvest water from desert air, and is an "important field for the future" with enormous potential for the environment. Criticism over a lack of gender and geographical diversity has plagued the Nobels over the years. US-based men have dominated the science fields, while women account for just six percent of overall laureates -- something the various award committees insist they are addressing. Among the names making the rounds for Thursday's Literature Prize are Russian author and outspoken Putin critic Lyudmila Ulitskaya, Chinese avant-garde writer Can Xue, British author Salman Rushdie, Caribbean-American writer Jamaica Kincaid and Norwegian playwright Jon Fosse. But for the Peace Prize, experts have been scratching their heads over possible winners, as conflicts rage around the globe. Some have pointed to the Iranian women protesting since the death in custody a year ago of Mahsa Amini, arrested for violating Iran's strict dress code imposed on women. Others suggest organizations documenting war crimes in Ukraine, or the International Criminal Court, which could one day be called upon to judge them. "I think that climate change is a really good focus for the Peace Prize this year," Dan Smith, the head of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, told AFP after a year of extreme weather around the world. For the Economics Prize, research on income and wealth inequality could be honored. Recent winners of the Nobel Medicine Prize Here is a list of the winners of the Nobel Medicine Prize in the past 10 years: 2022: Swedish paleogeneticist Svante Paabo for his discoveries on the genomes of extinct hominins and human evolution. 2021: US duo David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian for discoveries on human receptors responsible for our ability to sense temperature and touch. 2020: Americans Harvey Alter and Charles Rice, together with Briton Michael Houghton, for the discovery of the Hepatitis C virus, leading to the development of sensitive blood tests and antiviral drugs. 2019: William Kaelin and Gregg Semenza of the US and Britain's Peter Ratcliffe for establishing the basis of our understanding of how cells react and adapt to different oxygen levels. 2018: Immunologists James Allison of the US and Tasuku Honjo of Japan, for figuring out how to release the immune system's brakes to allow it to attack cancer cells more efficiently. 2017: US geneticists Jeffrey Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael Young for their discoveries on the internal biological clock that governs the wake-sleep cycles of most living things. 2016: Yoshinori Ohsumi of Japan for his work on autophagy -- a process whereby cells "eat themselves" -- which when disrupted can cause Parkinson's and diabetes. 2015: William Campbell, an Irish-US citizen, Satoshi Omura of Japan, and Tu Youyou of China for unlocking treatments for malaria and roundworm. 2014: American-born Briton John O'Keefe, May-Britt Moser, and Edvard I. Moser of Norway for discovering how the brain navigates with an "inner GPS". 2013: Thomas C. Sudhof, a US citizen born in Germany, and James E. Rothman and Randy W. Schekman of the US for work on how the cell organizes its transport system. The post Narcolepsy, cancer tipped as Medicine Prize opens Nobel week appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
India, Malaysia bristle over territorial grab
India has dismissed China’s new standard map that claims disputed territories between the two countries as its own. “Putting out a map does not mean anything,” said India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. “These territories are very much a part of India. Jaishankar said China had issued such maps in the past, and that “making absurd claims does not make other people’s territories yours.” The map showed the India-administered northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh and the disputed Aksai Chin region as part of China. It also expanded Beijing’s claim to territories belonging to the Philippines in those parts of the South China Sea that overlap with the West Philippine Sea (see related story). Like the Philippines and Malaysia, India lodged a strong protest with China over the map, calling the claims “without basis.” Bilateral relations between India and China have been strained in recent years, due to several territorial disputes. In 2020, a border clash between Indian and Chinese troops in the Ladakh region left 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers dead. China renamed 11 locations in Arunachal Pradesh, which India considers its territory, in April 2023. In response, India renamed ten locations in the region. The two countries have held several military talks to de-escalate tensions along the border, but no major breakthrough has been achieved. Malaysia, too Malaysia, on Wednesday, also rejected China’s new map of the South China Sea, through which trillions of dollars in trade pass annually. Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Brunei have overlapping claims in parts of the sea, while the United States regularly sails its naval vessels through it to assert freedom of navigation in international waters. “Malaysia does not recognize China’s claims in the South China Sea, as outlined in the China Standard Map 2023 Edition which covers Malaysia’s maritime area,” its foreign ministry said in a statement. Describing the South China Sea issue as “complex and sensitive,” Kuala Lumpur said the dispute must be “handled peacefully and rationally through dialogue” based on international law. Malaysia also said it supports the creation of a Code of Conduct for the sea, which Southeast Asian nations are currently negotiating. Kuala Lumpur summoned Beijing’s envoy in 2021 after Chinese vessels entered its exclusive economic zone. Malaysia said the South China Sea area it claims north of Borneo Island — including five maritime features in the Spratly Islands chain — falls within that zone. In recent years, China has ramped up its development of artificial islands, outfitting some with military facilities and runways. Other Southeast Asian nations like the Philippines have also accused Chinese vessels of harassing their fishing boats. With AFP The post India, Malaysia bristle over territorial grab appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Malaysia rejects new Chinese map over South China Sea claims
Kuala Lumpur rejected Wednesday a new Chinese map that claims waters off Malaysia's coast in the South China Sea, in the latest war of words between the Asian allies over Beijing's assertiveness in the waterway. China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea -- through which trillions of dollars in trade pass annually -- despite an international court ruling that Beijing's entitlement has no legal basis. Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Brunei also have overlapping claims in parts of the sea, while the United States sends naval vessels through it to assert freedom of navigation in international waters. China released a "standard map" this week that included its unilateral claims in the sea, which overlap with Malaysia's exclusive economic zone off the coast of the Sabah and Sarawak states on Borneo island. "Malaysia does not recognize China's claims in the South China Sea, as outlined in the 'China Standard Map 2023 Edition' which covers Malaysia's maritime area," the foreign ministry said in a statement. Describing the South China Sea issue as "complex and sensitive", Kuala Lumpur said the dispute must be "handled peacefully and rationally through dialogue" based on international law. Malaysia also said it supported the creation of a Code of Conduct for the sea, which Southeast Asian nations are currently negotiating. Kuala Lumpur summoned Beijing's envoy in 2021 after Chinese vessels entered its exclusive economic zone. Malaysia says the South China Sea area it claims north of Borneo island -- including five maritime features in the Spratly Islands chain -- falls within that zone. In recent years, China has ramped up development of artificial islands and outfitted some with military facilities and runways. Other Southeast Asian nations have also accused Chinese vessels of harassing their fishing boats. The post Malaysia rejects new Chinese map over South China Sea claims appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl accuses China Coast Guard of firing water cannon at its boats
The Philippines condemned the China Coast Guard Sunday for allegedly firing water cannon at its vessels in the disputed South China Sea, describing the actions as "illegal" and "dangerous". The latest incident happened Saturday as the Philippine Coast Guard escorted boats carrying food, water, fuel and other supplies for Filipino military personnel stationed at Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands. In a statement, the US State Department condemned the Chinese actions, saying they were carried out by the coast guard and "maritime militia", and that they directly threatened regional peace and stability. Beijing claims almost all of the sea, through which trillions of dollars in trade passes annually, and has ignored a 2016 international court ruling that its assertion has no legal basis. China's coast guard and navy vessels routinely block or shadow Philippine ships patrolling the contested waters, Manila says. Saturday's incident was the first time since November 2021 that the Chinese coast guard had used water cannon against a Philippine resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal. "The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) strongly condemns the China Coast Guard's (CCG) dangerous maneuvres and illegal use of water cannons against the PCG vessels," the Philippine Coast Guard said in a statement. "Such actions by the CCG not only disregarded the safety of the PCG crew and the supply boats but also violated international law." The Armed Forces of the Philippines said China's coast guard had "blocked and water cannoned" one of its chartered resupply vessels. Due to the "excessive and offensive" actions, a second chartered vessel was unable to unload its cargo for the routine troop rotation and resupply operation, military spokesman Colonel Medel Aguilar said in a statement. "We call on the China Coast Guard and the Central Military Commission to act with prudence and be responsible in their actions to prevent miscalculations and accidents that will endanger peoples' lives," Aguilar said. The Chinese embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Latest maritime incident Manila and Beijing have a long history of maritime disputes over the South China Sea, but former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte was reluctant to criticise his more powerful neighbour as he sought closer ties with Beijing in the hope of attracting investment. Since taking power in June 2022, however, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos has insisted he will not let China trample on his country's rights in the sea, and has gravitated towards the United States as he seeks to strengthen defence ties. Tensions between Manila and Beijing flared earlier this year after a Chinese coast guard vessel allegedly used a military-grade laser against a Philippine coast guard boat near Second Thomas Shoal. Beijing accused the Philippine boat of intruding into China's sovereign waters without permission. After China occupied Mischief Reef in the mid-1990s, the Philippines ran a derelict navy vessel aground on the nearby shoal to assert Manila's territorial claims in the waters. Members of the Philippine marines are based there. In another incident in April a Chinese coast guard ship cut off the Philippine patrol vessel Malapascua as it carried journalists near Second Thomas Shoal. An AFP team was on another coast guard vessel and witnessed the near-collision. In that incident, the Malapascua's commanding officer Rodel Hernandez said the Chinese ship came within 45 metres of his boat and only his quick actions avoided the steel-hulled vessels crashing into each other. The post Phl accuses China Coast Guard of firing water cannon at its boats appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Greece to stagger Acropolis visitors from September: officials
Greece from September will stagger and cap visitors to the Acropolis, its most-visited site, to reduce massive queues and bottlenecks at peak hours, the culture ministry said Wednesday. The new time-slot system would be introduced on a "trial basis" on September 4, it said in a statement. Daily visits at the monument will also be capped at 20,000, and visitors will be assigned to hourly times-lots during the 12 hours that the Acropolis is open each day, it said. The move is designed to protect the 2,500-year-old monument and "improve the experience for visitors," the ministry said, noting that up to 23,000 people turned up at the Acropolis in recent weeks. A similar system at other Greek archaeological sites will be introduced from April 1, Culture Minister Lina Mendoni told Real FM radio. According to the Greek state statistics agency Elstat, over three million people visited the Acropolis last year, up from 1.2 million in 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic. Authorities in July repeatedly limited visiting hours at the Acropolis, as the country sweltered under a two-week heatwave. Greece is counting on tourism to boost its economy after its near-decade debt crisis. Officials hope to exceed the 31.3 million arrivals recorded in 2019, a record year for the country. Tourist numbers visiting Greece are ticking up to levels rivalling pre-pandemic times as the world witnesses a resurgence in demand for leisure travel. The post Greece to stagger Acropolis visitors from September: officials appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
ARTA backpedals, nixes TOP-CRMS
The Anti-Red Tape Authority, or ARTA, made a surprising move in backtracking on an earlier approval of a port digitalization plan, apparently bowing to pressures from several powerful groups. ARTA’s about-face effectively shot down what could be the Marcos administration’s most potent anti-smuggling weapon. ARTA issued a memorandum last 25 July signed by ARTA director general, Secretary Ernesto Perez, in which it said its reevaluation of the Trusted Operator Program-Container Registry and Monitoring System or TOP-CRMS regulatory impact statement, or RIS, convinced it that reducing the cost of container deposits from the scheme was not accurate based on the benefit-cost analysis. Perez said the decision is “final” and denied bowing to outside pressures. “That’s our final recommendation unless either party will submit to us additional relevant documents,” Perez indicated. Part of the ARTA report reads: “Port congestion may not be used by PPA or Philippine Port Authority as a justification for government intervention,” with the proposed TOP-CRMS. It added that the PPA “cannot use congestion as a justification or basis to establish the proposed... TOP-CRMS.” The PPA which is the main beneficiary of the digitalization scheme indicated that it is studying its options. “We’ll study our options. As far as we are concerned, ARTA already issued a Good Practice RIS with a 36/40 rating for the TOP-CRMS program. I don’t think they have retracted that or recalled the rating which they previously issued,” PPA general manager Jay Santiago said. “So I don’t know what was the purpose of that ARTA memo nor its value or its effect on the previously issued Good Practice RIS rating. We submitted all required documents to ARTA sometimes twice even and they even consulted all stakeholders including oppositors before they issued the Good Practice RIS. The situation has not changed so we don’t understand what happened,” Santiago added. Complete reversal The latest ARTA memorandum is a complete turnaround from its 2 February evaluation which greenlighted the TOP-CRMS implementation and allowed the PPA to resume its suspended modernization plan. ARTA gave the program a rating of 36, meaning a “Good Practice RIS.” ARTA said in a February statement after it assessed the program, “PPA has provided concise and satisfactory evidence on all RIA sections. Hence, the RIS was assessed as Good Practice.” ARTA stressed there should be more regulations to address the current issue, which is also the leading cause of the problem. The PPA’s TOP-CRMS also meets ARTA’s criteria for cost-saving mechanisms, including the fee on container deposits and port access roads, and has reduced the dwell time of empty container returns to less than 72 hours. Under Section 6 of Presidential Decree 857, PPA must supervise, control, regulate, construct, maintain, operate, and provide facilities or services belonging to the Authority. Thus, under this mandate, TOP-CRMS will provide efficient port services to the public. Santiago said then, “With the approval by ARTA, I believe the concern on ease of doing business has been sufficiently addressed.” “PPA will continue to fine-tune the program, and the implementation of PPA AO No. 04-2021 and its IOG will be constantly monitored, and the necessary adjustments to the IOG will be made as necessary. TOP-CRMS seeks to remove the payment of container deposits and efficiently manage the return of empty containers. There have been a series of public consultations, and we have adjusted based on the need of the stakeholders,” Santiago added. Anti-smuggling initiative Ironically, ARTA reversed its TOP-CRMS recommendation a day after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. warned in his State of the Nation Address that the days of smugglers and hoarders of agricultural products are numbered as he identified the proposed Amendment of the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act as a priority legislation. The Chief Executive said in Filipino, “One of the reasons behind the higher prices is that smugglers and hoarders manipulate the prices of agricultural products. We will run after them, and we will file charges against them. We will not let these practices continue. The days of the smugglers and hoarders are numbered.” The President is also the secretary of agriculture. The PPA’s TOP-CRMS is a government-owned container monitoring system providing a whole-of-government approach to tracking container movement and management by giving relevant government agencies access to information and even automating and streamlining their processes. The anti-smuggling feature of the TOP-CRMS preempts cargo diversion or diverting shipments to another warehouse with real-time container tracking. Law enforcers could quickly identify where the shipments are located, which port stakeholders said would eliminate “for hire consignees,” as all foreign-owned shipping containers, both laden and empty, are monitored. Similar to the tracking system now in use among private port operators, the technology makes it easy for investigators to identify and prosecute suspected smugglers. Pressure from smugglers Industry insiders suspect that a powerful group of smugglers is pressuring concerned government agencies and regulators to stop the implementation of the TOP-CRMS because it would have a profound negative impact on their illegal activities. More importantly, the TOP-CRMS can detect illegal contraband and prevent entry into the country’s ports. It can eliminate smuggled drugs from entering any country’s entry points, including illegal arms shipments and, God forbid, nuclear materials. The data collected by the system can be shared with concerned agencies in charge of tax collection, law enforcement, import permit authorization, trade department, anti-smuggling units, intelligence units, etc. The wealth of data from the system will provide the PNP, AFP, BOC, BIR, DTI, DA, DSWD, Intelligence Community, and other relevant agencies an efficient tool to deter all forms of smuggling activities. The post ARTA backpedals, nixes TOP-CRMS appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Trump expects arrest, more indictments
WASHINGTON (AFP) — As special counsel Jack Smith winds down his high-stakes investigation of Donald Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, the former US president faces a slew of potential charges. The 77-year-old Trump said Tuesday he had received a letter from Smith confirming he was a target of the probe and added that he expected to be arrested and indicted soon. The special counsel, who was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in November, declined to comment, but US media reports said the letter cited three federal criminal statutes: conspiracy to defraud the United States; obstruction of an official proceeding, and deprivation of rights. Trump has already been indicted and pleaded not guilty in two other criminal cases — for mishandling top secret government documents after leaving the White House and for allegedly paying 2016 election-eve hush money to a porn star. Here is a look at the charges Trump — the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination — may face in connection with efforts to overturn his election loss to Democrat Joe Biden and the January 6, 2021 storming of the US Capitol by his supporters: The conspiracy statute makes it a crime if “two or more persons conspire either to commit any offense against the United States, or to defraud the United States.” Daniel Richman, a former federal prosecutor who now teaches at Columbia University, said the statute is “very broad” and can be applied in a number of ways to Trump’s conduct before and after the election, which he baselessly claimed was “stolen.” “I’m assuming that a fraudulent effort to mislead Congress and to delay or prevent the certification of the election would be very plausible,” Richman told AFP. It could be applied to Trump’s attempts to pressure Mike Pence into not certifying Biden’s election victory at the January 6 joint session of Congress — which the then-vice president ultimately refused to do. It could also be used to prosecute Trump for another failed bid to stay in power — the submission of false slates of electors in seven states which Biden won. Michigan charged 16 “false electors” this week with conspiracy, forgery and fraud for their role in the scheme, which was guided by two attorneys close to Trump, Rudy Giuliani and John Eastman. Trump also called the secretary of state in Georgia and urged him to “find” enough votes to reverse Biden’s victory in the southern state, according to a recording of the phone call. Giuliani and Eastman, along with other Trump associates, are believed to be a focus of Smith’s investigation and there would need to be other defendants in addition to Trump for prosecutors to bring a conspiracy charge. Conspiracy to defraud the government is punishable by up to five years in prison. The charge of corruptly obstructing, influencing or impeding an official proceeding — the January 6 joint session of Congress — has been brought against more than 300 Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol that day. When it comes to Trump, “there could be multiple obstruction counts, there could be a multiple-prong obstruction conspiracy with different aspects to it,” Richman said. “One basis for an obstruction charge might be dealings that Trump and those around him had with witnesses in the case, those testifying before congressional committees, or doing other things to cover their tracks after January 6,” he said. Trump did not personally go to Congress on 6 January, but before his supporters stormed the Capitol he delivered a fiery speech nearby repeating his election-fraud falsehoods and urging the crowd to “fight like hell.” Obstruction of an official proceeding carries a maximum prison term of three years. Deprivation of rights This statute stems from the post-Civil War era in US history when it was used to prosecute attempts to prevent formerly enslaved African Americans from exercising their voting rights. It makes it a crime “for a person acting under color of law to willfully deprive a person of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States.” That includes the right to vote and have it counted. “In more recent times, the statute has been used against election fraud or election misconduct,” Richman said. “What’s important about this charge, unlike the others, is it really puts front and center that the victims are not just government actors,” the former prosecutor said, but ordinary Americans who risked being deprived of their votes. Deprivation of rights is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The post Trump expects arrest, more indictments appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bills up amid P24-B recovery
Luzon customers may soon pay for additional charges in their monthly electricity bills as the Energy Regulatory Commission, or ERC, prepares to issue an order that will implement a high court-approved recovery of at least P24 billion in generation losses. In an interview with reporters last week, ERC chairperson lawyer Monalisa Dimalanta disclosed that the collection, which will likely be on a staggered basis within three years, takes effect next year. “We have calculated it, so the timing (of collection) is what we care about now. The cost is somehow hefty so we will spread the collection for three years,” Dimalanta said. ERC order According to her, the ERC will issue an order to allow the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines, or IEMOP, to start the Luzon-wide collection of generation charges. “It will be co-collected with the consumers, but not all generation companies have claims, there are others who will pay for it,” she noted. For Manila Electric Co., or Meralco alone, the development means that customers will collectively pay to recover as much as P22.64 billion in generation loss from way back in 2013. This is part of the Supreme Court, or SC, ruling released last year. SC voids ERC order It can be recalled that the SC — through a decision promulgated on 3 August 2021, a copy of which was only released online on 1 July 2022 — voided the ERC order that was supposed to regulate prices in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, or WESM for November to December 2013. The move, according to ERC, should have capped spot market prices for the period to cut rates and lessen the high prices impact on customers by more than a third, or to just P7 million from P24 billion. The SC pointed out that the ERC’s order cannot be implemented due to the possibility of market power abuse, which could affect electricity prices. Address abnormal spike However, in its order, the ERC argued that it only wanted to address the abnormal spike and unreasonable electricity costs imposed by generation companies, or gencos during the period. The regulatory body also investigated alleged collusion among gencos to manipulate prices of electricity in the spot market during the maintenance shutdown of the Malampaya gas facility for a similar period. Yet, the SC pointed out that the ERC failed to notify the affected parties about its probe, which violated the gencos’ right to due process. The post Bills up amid P24-B recovery appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
ICC confirms $30m reparations in DR Congo warlord case
The International Criminal Court on Friday confirmed a more than $30 million reparations package for thousands of victims of DR Congo warlord Bosco Ntaganda, including former child soldiers. Named the "Terminator" for his reign of terror in the vast African country in the early 2000s, Ntaganda was jailed for 30 years in 2019 for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Judges afterward awarded $30.3 million (27 million euros) in reparations, but last year ordered a review saying the number of victims was unclear. But on Friday "the Chamber unanimously assesses Mr Ntaganda's liability for reparations at USD $31,300,000," the Hague-based court said in a statement. Although Ntaganda is liable for the payment, the ICC found that he did not have the funds, which would now be paid from the Trust Fund for Victims at the ICC. Judges asked court officials to "continue exploring whether Mr. Ntaganda possessed any undiscovered assets" and monitor his finances "on an ongoing basis." Judges added that based on available information, there were an estimated 7,500 direct and indirect victims of violent attacks, as well as 3,000 direct or indirect victims of crimes against child soldiers. No financial amounts were given for specific victims, but payment would include around $11 million in socio-economic support and around five million dollars ($5 million) for mental care resulting from "psychological harm" suffered during the attacks. Rehabilitation of former child soldiers was estimated at around $4,000 per person. The ICC 2021 upheld a 30-year sentence on appeal for war crimes against Ntaganda. "The Chamber reiterates that Mr. Ntaganda's conviction is final and his liability to repair the harm caused to the victims of his crimes is under no discussion," the judges stressed in Friday's order. "The Chamber will continue striving to advance these reparation proceedings in the most efficient and effective manner possible... ensuring that the victims of his crimes receive the reparations they are entitled to, and for which they have waited for more than two decades, without further delay," they said. The Rwandan-born Ntaganda, 49, was convicted of 18 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes, including murder, sexual slavery, rape, and using child soldiers. Ntaganda was the first person to be convicted of sexual slavery by the court. Many of the other charges related to massacres of villagers in the mineral-rich Ituri region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The post ICC confirms $30m reparations in DR Congo warlord case appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Divided ASEAN condemns Myanmar violence again, supports five-point plan
ASEAN foreign ministers on Thursday condemned violence in Myanmar again and repeated support for a peace plan ignored by its junta rulers, as the divided bloc struggled to find unity over the protracted crisis. Myanmar has been ravaged by deadly violence since a military coup ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's government in February 2021, unleashing a bloody crackdown on dissent. A joint communique finally arrived late Thursday, more than a day after a two-day Association of Southeast Asian Nations ministerial meeting ended as the fractured group wrangled over its content and wording. It said a five-point plan agreed with Myanmar's junta two years ago -- which they have failed to implement -- remained the bloc's best hope of solving the crisis, despite Thailand launching a separate track to ASEAN efforts in recent months. "We... reaffirmed our united position that the five-point consensus remains our main reference to address the political crisis in Myanmar," it said. "We strongly condemned acts of violence, including air strikes, artillery shelling, and destruction of public facilities and urged all parties involved to take concrete action to immediately halt indiscriminate violence (and) denounce any escalation." It asked all sides of the Myanmar conflict to "create a conducive environment for the delivery of humanitarian assistance and inclusive national dialogue." ASEAN chair Indonesia had on Wednesday urged a political solution to the crisis at two-day foreign minister talks. But more than two years after the coup, the divided 10-member bloc's peace efforts remain fruitless, as the junta ignores international criticism and refuses to engage with its opponents. A Southeast Asian diplomat attending the meetings told AFP on condition of anonymity the delay was because they were "working on the language on Myanmar". An early draft seen by AFP on Tuesday had left a section on Myanmar blank. The diplomat said some countries wanted outright re-engagement with the junta, while others said the five-point plan that aims to end the violence and renew talks must remain the basis for re-engagement. This confirmed the "deep divisions within ASEAN on the Myanmar issue", the diplomat added. Thai dialogue track Thailand has made its own initiative to speak directly with the Myanmar junta and other actors in the conflict. Last month, Bangkok hosted the junta's foreign minister for controversial "informal talks" that further split the bloc. Then on Wednesday, on the second day of ASEAN talks, Thailand's top diplomat announced that he met last week with Suu Kyi -- who has been detained since the coup, and jailed by a junta court for a total of 33 years. Don Pramudwinai said he met the Nobel laureate on Sunday in Myanmar's capital Naypyidaw and that she was in "good health" and "encouraged dialogue". Don "freely discussed what he wanted" with Suu Kyi, junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun said in an audio statement posted by the military's information team Thursday, adding that her health was "good". On Thursday, Don told reporters: "It has been two years now, (and) not much improvement. So there must be re-engagement with Myanmar." 'Safe, stable, prosperous' Indonesia has said any other efforts must support ASEAN's existing five-point peace plan. Malaysian Foreign Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir told reporters that all members were working towards the "same issue", which was ensuring that Southeast Asia was "a region that is safe, stable and prosperous". Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said Jakarta had engaged in "quiet diplomacy" with all sides of the conflict, and in its seven months as chair had held more than 110 engagements concerning Myanmar. But analysts said Thailand was taking the lead on the crisis, undercutting ASEAN efforts and shifting the centre of negotiation to Bangkok. A Thai foreign ministry official declined to comment on Indonesia's work as ASEAN chair. The post Divided ASEAN condemns Myanmar violence again, supports five-point plan appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
AMRO predicts PHL GDP will grow 6.5% in 2024
The ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) on Tuesday maintained its growth and inflation forecasts for the Philippines in 2023 as the country's inflation sharply declined amid reliance on consumer spending to churn growth. In a press conference, AMRO maintained their forecast that the Philippine gross domestic product (GDP) will grow by 6.2 percent in 2023 and 6.5 percent in 2024. AMRO also expects consumer prices in the Philippines to have an average of 5.9 percent in 2023, before falling sharply to 3.8 percent in 2024. AMRO’s chief economist Dr. Hoe Ee Khor explained that the optimism about the Philippine economy stems from the structure of the economy. “Because of the structure of the economy, the other economies are dependent on manufacturing, whereas the Philippines is a service-driven economy,” the AMRO's chief economist said. He added that the Philippine economy is largely driven by consumer spending. For context, the economy grew as mobility restrictions were loosened, which allowed people to spend more money in the third quarter of 2022. Remittances from overseas Filipinos also contributed to consumer spending and household incomes. Data from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed that remittances accounted for 8.9 percent of the country's GDP in 2021. BSP has raised its benchmark interest rate by 425 basis points since May 2022 in an effort to curb inflation. However, the BSP has acknowledged that the high prices are largely due to supply chain disruptions, both domestically and internationally. Meanwhile, AMRO expects the ASEAN region to grow by 4.5 percent in 2023, slightly slower than their previous projection of 4.9 percent. However, AMRO is still bullish on the region's prospects, and they believe that the economy will turn a corner towards the end of the year. “Downside risks have receded slightly primarily on account of better-than-expected improvement in the global economy,” they added. The post AMRO predicts PHL GDP will grow 6.5% in 2024 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Trans fat ban iffy sans DTI-FDA deal
Even if the Food and Drug Administration and Department of Health’s order is already in effect for manufacturers to reformulate their products to remove trans fatty acids or trans fat from their products, the DTI said it cannot mandate the pull-out of existing products in supermarkets nor supervise how traders are heeding the order. Issued in 2021, DoH Administrative Order 2021-0039 and FDA Circular 2021-028 and 2021-028A gave food manufacturers until 18 June 2023 to heed the orders to tweak the formulation of their food products and totally eliminate trans fat from their products. Speaking for DTI Assistant Secretary for Legal Agaton Uvero, Trade Undersecretary for Communications Kim Bernardo-Lokin said the full force of the order and circular should be imposed by the FDA and the DoH which have the power to do so. “The issue is under the jurisdiction of the FDA and the DoH. DTI cannot enforce the DoH and FDA regulations on its own in the absence of an agreement between the two agencies,” Lokin said. Based on the DoH and FDA order, food manufacturers were given two years to reformulate and remove TFAs from their products or face sanctions. Even if products with high trans fat are usually found in supermarkets and grocery stores that are under the jurisdiction of the DTI, Lokin said a memorandum of agreement is needed for them to check if the trans fat content of manufacturers’ products is reformulated, or pull them out from supermarkets and groceries. Products that are traditionally high in iTFA or industrial trans fat, include margarine, coffee creamer, instant noodles, and baked goods such as donuts and cookies, among others. “We cannot easily pull them out since many products in supermarkets have trans fat in them,” Lokin said. iTFA is created by adding hydrogen to oil and, based on medical studies, it has no known health benefits and is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease and stroke worldwide, estimated to cause around 540,000 deaths every year. 564 food products Last week, Michael Pelagio, a science research specialist at the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute chemical laboratory revealed that based on a chemical examination of 564 food products tested, 17 percent had high trans fatty acid or TFA content that was risky for consumers. He said oils and fats such as sesame oil and mayonnaise, unsalted butter, all-purpose cream, and bread and pastry products such as cookies and doughnuts have a TFA content of more than two grams per 100-gram serving. “Based on our results, 17 percent of sample foods contain more than two grams per 100-gram fat. 564 samples were analyzed for TFA content. Average results in the food category showed that fats and oils had the highest TFA content, followed by milk and dairy products,” Pelagio revealed during the DoST-FNRI seminar at the Dusit Thani Manila on Friday. On the other hand, Atty. Mikhail Millan of ImagineLaw urged the public to join in the effort to enforce the DoH and FDA orders and report any manufacturers violating the orders. According to the FDA, if a company violates a provision of the circular, it will be basis for disapproval of the company’s application for a Certificate of Product Registration, or if already issued a CPR, it will be a ground for suspension or revocation of the CPR, Millan said. Late enforcement The Philippines is already late in enforcing the ban given that the World Health Organization said new laws should protect more than 3.2 billion people from TFAs by the end of 2020. Many countries, including Canada, the European Union and South America have implemented bans or restrictions on trans fats in food products. Trans fat, according to medical experts, is the worst type of fat to eat. Unlike other dietary fats, trans fats, which are artificial, raise “bad” cholesterol and lower “good” cholesterol. Cardiologists will always tell you that a diet laden with trans fats increases the risk of heart disease, the top killer of Filipinos, aside from hunger. The post Trans fat ban iffy sans DTI-FDA deal appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
UN chief arrives in Haiti for ‘solidarity’ visit
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Haiti on Saturday for a lightning visit aimed at showing "solidarity" with the country's people as it navigates a "tragic cycle" of overlapping security, political and economic woes, his spokesperson said. For months, the world body's leader has raised the alarm bell about the situation in the Western Hemisphere's poorest country, which has been wracked by gang violence, a worsening public health situation, and political instability. Guterres -- making his first visit to Haiti as UN secretary-general -- is expected to meet with Prime Minister Ariel Henry as well as other political leaders and members of civil society, his spokesperson said in announcing his arrival. Guterres will "reiterate the UN's support for Haiti, his strong appeal for the international community to continue to support Haiti and its humanitarian needs, as well as his call for the immediate deployment of an international force to assist the Haitian National Police," his office said. The United Nations and Henry have repeatedly made the case for a multinational force to stabilize Haiti, which has not held national elections since 2016. But nine months after Guterres first asked the Security Council for such a force, no country has been willing to step forward to lead one, fearing high risks and uncertain success. Canada and Brazil have both been heavily involved in discussions and several Caribbean nations have backed a multinational force. President Joe Biden has made clear that the United States, which has a long history of intervention in Haiti, will not lead a force and instead wants to focus on bolstering the fledgling national police. The United Nations has meanwhile been clear about the nightmare suffered by many Haitians on a daily basis -- shootings, kidnappings, and rapes are frequent. 'Never been worse' "Haitians and our team there tell me it's never been worse than it is now," UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) Executive Director Catherine Russell said this week after returning from Port-au-Prince. Russell highlighted "unprecedented hunger and malnutrition, grinding poverty, a crippled economy, resurgence of cholera, and a massive insecurity that creates a deadly downward spiral of violence." Compounding the crises, the flooding and earthquakes which ravage the country "continue to remind us all just how vulnerable Haiti is to climate change and natural disasters," she told a briefing. And then Russell recounted the horrific story of an 11-year-old girl who was kidnapped by five men -- and raped by three of them. "She was eight months pregnant when we spoke and gave birth just a few days later," she said, recalling that armed gangs control more than 60 percent of the capital and large swathes of the countryside. Faced with such violence, residents have occasionally taken matters into their own hands. In April, a group of civilians beat to death several suspected gang members who were in police custody and burned their bodies in the street. And in June, Haiti's minister of planning and external cooperation Ricard Pierre warned of the risk that the country could descend into civil war if an international assistance force is not deployed soon. "The risk of civil war is very real," he said. Some 5,2 million Haitians -- nearly half of the country's population -- need humanitarian assistance. Three million of those in need are children. Guterres is also planning to "underscore the need for a Haitian-led, inclusive political pathway towards elections and the return of constitutional order in Haiti," his spokesperson said. Henry, who was named to his post shortly before the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise, has faced questions about his own legitimacy. Following his stop in Haiti, Guterres will head to Trinidad and Tobago for a summit of the Caribbean Community, or CARICOM. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will also attend that meeting, where he plans to meet Henry. The post UN chief arrives in Haiti for ‘solidarity’ visit appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»