Malala warns of crisis in Afghanistan: ‘We cannot see a country going back centuries’
London – Nobel Peace Prize Malala YousafzaiThe one who survived the Taliban shooting in 2012 for standing up for women’s education, today warned against it.....»»
Lasers, drones vs China
If you may remember, the Afghans beat back the superior Russians from Afghanistan by secretly obtaining portable heat-seeking missiles from the US, which eventually changed the tide of the war. The missile device was so portable, it was smuggled by donkey to remote mountains. It was so user-friendly, even ordinary foot soldiers could use it. The missiles destroyed dozens of Russian warplanes, and eventually forced the Russians to withdraw from Afghanistan. We can use the same tactic in the West Philippine Sea against the superior Chinese warships and warplanes. If Marcos Jr. can somehow obtain lasers and drones, not necessarily from the US, not necessarily in secret, for the Philippine Coast Guard, Chinese warships may think twice before bullying us with their lasers and water cannons. China is currently harassing Filipinos in the Ayungin Shoal, triggering diplomatic protests. This aggression is virtually an act of war. Responding with legal arguments for China to respect the UNCLOS and The Hague court decision is useless. Social media exposés and campaigns cannot solve the problem. We have to face them in our territory in the West Philippine Sea. If we do not, we might as well concede. If we do, are we ready for the consequences of escalation? Has China secretly discovered oil in Ayungin, so it has to keep Filipinos away? Another strategy is to get a US firm as a partner in oil exploration in the Ayungin Shoal, escorted by US warships. Let’s get to the oil before China does. If there are competing explorations and oil rigs, this will prevent war. There is, however, a risk of a full-blown US-China naval confrontation. If we up the ante, China may back out or resort to an unpredictable escalation. Can we handle the escalation? Are we ready to go into this new stage of war, not just physically in terms of possible collateral damage, but also spiritually in terms of the political will to fight? This remains to be seen. Asymmetrics as a Game Changer “Asymmetric” weapons refer to small cheap high-tech weapons that can take out big expensive weaponry. For example, hypersonic missiles taking out aircraft carriers, killer drones neutralizing an entire naval base, super lasers shooting down satellites in outer space, silent electro-magnetic pulse bombs jamming an enemy assault. This is called the equalizer, the use of asymmetrics against far superior foes. Lasers and drones on our coast guard ships are asymmetrics. Asymmetrics are becoming popular. Ukraine is using them against Russia, and Iran against the US in the Strait of Hormuz. China is now able to jam the electronic signals of US warplanes in the WPS. These new sophisticated asymmetrics have evolved as powerful game changers in modern warfare in favor of the underdog. The Vietnam Model Vietnamese water cannons faced Chinese water cannons, forcing the latter to abandon an oil rig close to the Vietnamese shore. We can learn from the Vietnamese, adopt its warrior ways, its spiritual orientation of defiance and belligerence. But we must be cautious as there may be consequences we are not yet ready for. Vietnam has been fighting China for centuries. China respects Vietnam’s audacity while it looks down on Filipinos whose leaders can easily be offered quid-pro-quo deals (Duterte) and whose tin can coast guard vessels they can easily step on. Can we change China’s attitude through a new type of belligerence using asymmetrics? Vietnam is the epitome of David defying Goliath, two Goliaths, in fact, the French and the Americans. France surrendered its colonization of Vietnam in the battle of Dien Bien Phu. The Americans gave up Vietnam after a 20-year guerrilla war, an embarrassing blow for a superpower falling to its knees to a “lowly” Third World country. Centuries before that, at its birth, Vietnam defied and splintered from the powerful Chinese Empire. Viet means south, nam means kingdom — the kingdom south of the empire. From where does Vietnam draw its strength? Vietnam is monolithic, one solid land mass. The Philippines is granulated, a scattered archipelago. It took more than 10,000 years of slow migration (the so-called Austronesian Dispersal) for Malays in improvised boats (balanghays) to populate the Philippines. While this was happening, Vietnam was growing in strength by defying the Chinese empire. Vietnam is a single neutral gray, the Philippines a rainbow. Vietnam has one central language, the Philippines 125-odd dialects. Except for the Hmong, Vietnam has few ancient ethnic groups. We have 85 ethnic groupings. Anthropologically, Vietnam and the Philippines are complete opposites. The Vietnamese is a natural warrior, the Filipino a natural adventurer. The French and the Americans failed to colonize Vietnam. The Filipino was conquered by the Spaniards, Americans and Japanese. The Vietnamese was defiant, the Filipino subservient. The Filipino absorbed colonization and foreign culture, the Vietnamese kept its culture intact. The post Lasers, drones vs China appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Malala warns of crisis in Afghanistan: ‘We cannot see a country going back centuries’
London – Nobel Peace Prize Malala YousafzaiThe one who survived the Taliban shooting in 2012 for standing up for women’s education, today warned against it.....»»
Kaspersky Shares Cybersecurity Tips for a Peaceful Getaway during the holy week
As the holiday season approaches, the urge to unwind and kick back is natural. And it’s all too common for people to let their guard down completely when connecting to the Internet too– but shouldn’t. Recently, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Cybercrime Group shared its findings on identity theft cases in the country. Between November […].....»»
EDITORIAL — Next, speedy justice
After a year of being on the run, Arnolfo Teves Jr. is finally being brought back to the country to face multiple indictments for serious offenses. Teves was arrested Thursday in East Timor’s capital Dili by local police. He had been hiding in plain sight in Timor-Leste, occasionally posting videos taunting Philippine authorities who wanted him for multiple murder cases......»»
ADB approves USD 100 mln loan to support small and medium-sized enterprises in Sri Lanka
Manila [Philippines], March 19 (ANI): The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 100 million loan to provide small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Sri Lanka more access to finance and build their resilience to external shocks, such as the economic crisis and climate change. SMEs play a critical role in Sri Lanka's economy, contributing 52 per cent to the country's gross domestic product and employ 45 per c.....»»
Miss Saigon co-creator praises musical s Philippine connections
Claude-Michel Schönberg is back in the country to witness the comeback of "Miss Saigon," which has close ties to the Philippines because of all the Filipino actors who took part in its numerous stagings, beginning with theater legend Lea Salonga......»»
NUSTAR celebrates tradition with larger-than-life Easter eggs
As the Easter season approaches, NUSTAR Resort Cebu prepares to pay homage to a centuries-old tradition: painting Easter eggs. Dating back to ancient civilizations, the custom of adorning eggs with intricate designs symbolized new life, fertility, and rebirth. Over time, this tradition evolved and became intertwined with Christian symbolism, particularly during the celebration of Easter......»»
The living ruins of Perge
Deserted temples. Columns on the ground. Crumbled boulders. Crushed stone upon stone. Cracked walls and pavements. Isolated statues. They are all mute witnesses to the ancient city of Perge, also known as Perga. Nestled along the breathtaking shores of Antalya, some six hours drive from Turkey’s capital Ankara, Perge is a remarkable archaeological site which boasts of a rich history dating back to the Bronze Age and flourished under Hellenistic and Roman rule. We were absolutely captivated with architectural wonders and its well-preserved onlookers of the past, which hold secrets from the old world. Notably, this is the birthplace of influential Greek mathematician Apollonius, who developed the now-familiar — yet taken for granted — conic concepts of the circle, ellipse, parabola, and the hyperbola. And perhaps this genius rubbed off on the structures — as each was a sight to behold in their own right. Perge was likewise mentioned in the Bible particularly in the Acts of the Apostles written by Saint Paul of the road to Damascus fame. The metropolis served as a stepping stone for other areas in central Turkey where the Apostle of the Apostles would preach the word of God. Here are five spots you should visit on your trip to the ruins of Perge: Columned Main Street: The Beating Heart Our journey initially led us to the Columned Main Street, a marvel that was once the beating heart of the community and was the artery of the north-to-south direction. Twenty-two meters wide, it hosted the bustling markets and was the vibrant social hub as well. In addition, it connected to other major sites of importance. It must be noted that unlike other settlements of yore, the gran via did not follow a perfect straight path — it wrapped around the plots erected during the Hellenistic Period. [caption id="attachment_200851" align="aligncenter" width="1310"] PROPYLON[/caption] Propylon: Gateway to the Sacred Our next stop was the Propylon, with its towering columns and intricate carvings. It was symmetrically designed with a two-step marble covered platform, filled with smooth granite columns in Corinthian style, plus geometric and floral decorative reliefs. This monumental entry led citizens to the sacred precinct. Built in the year 197 to 211, this impressive edifice was the introduction to the major area of Perge and was as a zone of transition to and fro the main layout. [caption id="attachment_200852" align="aligncenter" width="1309"] 12,000-seater Stadium.[/caption] Stadium: Sports and Laurels Our following destination was the majestic Stadium, a 12,000-seater arena which was the venue of sporting events, from chariot races to athletic competitions. It drew in the crowds — from commoners to royalty. It gave glimpses into the entertainment options of the aged civilization, as it showcased different seating tiers, perhaps based on one’s caste. [caption id="attachment_200850" align="aligncenter" width="786"] Hadrianus’ Arch[/caption] Hadrianus’ Arch: An Iconic Portal We then encountered Hadrianus’ Arch, an entrance dedicated to the Roman Emperor Hadrian. This stood as a symbol of their loyalty to the Roman Empire, while also spotlighting its artistic and architectural prowess. Through the centuries, only four pylons have survived — and yet, it remains adorned with great beauty. We stood in awe of carvings of the Greek Goddess of the Hunt Artemis, and Greek Goddess of Luck and Fortune Tykhe, alongside revered emperors Divus Augustus, Divus Nero and Divus Traianus. [caption id="attachment_200841" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Southern Bath[/caption] Southern Bath: A Sanctuary of Ritual and Hygiene Our final stop was the Southern Bath, one of two major hygienic and communal complexes. Dating between first to second century AD, it was embellished with sculptures known as the Three Graces, together with deities like Athena, Nemesis, Hygieia, Asklepious and Genius. This was a congregation zone where inhabitants met not just to bathe, but also for recreation and relaxation. The interiors consisted of connecting rooms, namely, the changing quarters, then the swimming pool, a cold bath, and finally, a hot bath. They may then emerge to enjoy other physical activities. These are our five magical postcards. What’s yours? The post The living ruins of Perge appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Quantum dots: the tiny ‘rainbow’ crystals behind chemistry Nobel
Quantum dots are tiny crystals that scientists can tune to different colors, giving an extra-vivid pop to next-generation TV screens or illuminating tumors inside bodies so surgeons can hunt them down. Three scientists won the Nobel Chemistry Prize on Wednesday for their work turning an idea first theorized in the 1930s into a reality that now has pride of place in living rooms across the world. What are they? Quantum dots are semiconducting particles just one-thousandth the width of a human hair. In 1937, the physicist Herbert Froehlich predicted that once particles were small enough -- so-called nanoparticles -- they would come under the strange spell of quantum mechanics. To explain this quantum phenomenon, American Chemical Society president Judith Giordan said to "think of it like a little box". When a particle is shrunk down small enough, the electron is "going to whack into the sides of the box," she told AFP. In a larger box, the electrons would whack the sides less often, meaning they have less energy. For quantum dots, the larger boxes emit red light, while the smaller ones show up blue. This means that by controlling the size of the particle, scientists can make their crystals red, blue and everything in between. Leah Frenette, an expert on quantum dots at Imperial College London, told AFP that working with the nanomaterial was like "watching rainbows all day". But it would be 40 years after Froehlich's prediction that anyone was able to actually observe this phenomenon. Who discovered what? In the early 1980s, Russian-born physicist Alexei Ekimov -- one of Wednesday's new laureates -- melted coloured glass and X-rayed the results. He noticed that the smaller particles were more blue, also recognizing that this was a quantum effect. But being glass, the material was not easy to manipulate -- and being published in a Soviet scientific journal meant few noticed. At around the same time in the United States, another new laureate Louis Brus -- oblivious of Ekimov's work -- became the first to discover this colorful quantum effect in a liquid solution. "For a long time, nobody thought you could ever actually make such small particles, yet this year's laureates succeeded," Nobel Committee member Johan Aqvist said. "However, for quantum dots to become really useful, you needed to be able to make them in solution with exquisite control of their size and surface." The third new Nobel winner, French-born Moungi Bawendi, found a way to do just this in his lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1993. By precisely controlling the temperature of a liquid mixture of particles called colloid, Bawendi was able to grow nanocrystals to the exact size he wanted, paving the way for mass production. What are they used in? The most common everyday use of quantum dots is probably in "QLED" televisions. Cyril Aymonier, head of France's Institute of Condensed Matter Chemistry, told AFP that the nanocrystals "improve the resolution of the screen and preserve the quality of the colour for longer". Doctors also use their bright fluorescence to highlight organs or tumours in the bodies of patients. Frenette said she is working on diagnostic tests which would use the dots as "little beacons" for diseases in medical samples. One problem is that most quantum dots are made using cadmium, a toxic heavy metal. Both Aymonier and Frenette said they are working on quantum dots that are not toxic. Future use? In the future, quantum dots could have the potential to double the efficiency of solar cells, Giordan said. Their strange quantum powers could produce twice as many electrons as existing technology, she explained. "That's amazing, because we are coming closer to the limit of current solar materials," she added. Past use? While quantum dots are considered on the cutting edge of science, people have probably been using them for centuries without knowing it. The reds and yellows in stained glass windows as far as back as the 10th century show that artists of the time unwittingly took advantages of techniques that resulted in quantum dots, according to scientists. The post Quantum dots: the tiny ‘rainbow’ crystals behind chemistry Nobel appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Budgetary leverage
By passing a financing bill at the last minute, the United States Congress avoided a federal government shutdown this week. However, the Biden administration’s top priorities, including defense financing for Ukraine, were left out of the final package. For countries like the Philippines, which has cozied up anew to Uncle Sam, this is cause for concern because America has practically left Ukraine high and dry without the full backing it needs to defend itself against Russia. Okay, so Biden said they “will not walk out of Ukraine.” Still, without funding, that’s just lip service. Having perfected the art of emotional suasion at one end of the pole and brinkmanship on the other, we would not be surprised if Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky would tell Biden: “Show us the money.” Sacrificing Ukraine casts doubt on America’s dependability as a coalition partner and ally, even as it stakes a claim to a long tradition of backing democracies in their fight for independence. The Philippines should take note. In the US, it’s clear that whatever the executive branch pledges, the US Congress can always override or, as made apparent again now, starve of funding. That’s the power of holding the purse string that could certainly affect America the mighty’s projection of power. From propping up South Vietnam with billions of dollars in war materiel only to leave Saigon in a huff — with choppers flying off the rooftop of the US Embassy in a hasty, humiliating retreat in 1975 — to giving substantial aid to Israel and Middle Eastern countries, the US has not stopped its posturing as the “policeman of the world.” As in Vietnam and Afghanistan, where in the latter it also abruptly pulled out its forces, thereby allowing the Taliban to retake the country in 2021, the US, for all its fire-and-brimstone statements at the start of the Ukraine-Russia war, may have turned its back on its legal and moral responsibility to aid Kyiv. As an adversarial state under madman Vladimir Putin, Russia has been destabilizing international norms, and Ukraine, by fighting back, has been sending the strong message that autocratic governments cannot make the globe their playground. By not including money for Ukraine’s defense in the 2024 spending bill, the US has lost the chance to demonstrate its dedication to the defense of democracy. But such are the vagaries of the budgeting process in the United States and, of course, the Philippines, with the latter’s form of government and jurisprudence loosely patterned after America’s. In the US, government shutdowns have happened before and will happen again when the legislature and the executive branches are unable to reach an agreement on priorities and lawmakers do not enact a budget in a timely manner. The budget can also be wielded as a political baton with which to make the executive branch more malleable. An example would be the 2013 shutdown in an attempt to defund the Affordable Care Act. Frequent disagreements on spending priorities between the two parties in the US Congress have led to stalemates, with neither side willing to pass the budget unless their demands were met. Budget delays had caused negative effects on the economy and public services. Some may argue that past shutdowns of the US federal government would show the Philippines has a more mature budgetary system in place, as a failure to pass the budget for a new fiscal year only results in a reenacted budget. But the problems associated with a reenacted budget abound. There’s the delayed implementation of new programs and projects. This, as a reenacted budget only allows for the funding of existing programs and projects. A reenacted budget also limits government flexibility to respond to changing needs. For example, if the economy experiences a downturn, the government may need to increase spending on social programs or infrastructure projects. However, this is not possible under a reenacted budget. But probably the biggest risk associated with a reenacted budget would be corruption, as it can give the executive branch more leeway or elbow room to fund projects while reallocating “savings” from projects that had been funded previously. In the shadow of budgetary bludgeoning and political brinkmanship, the recent passage of the US funding bill left Ukraine’s defense hanging by a thread, a stark reminder of the capriciousness of budgeting processes in both the United States and the Philippines, where legislative complexities often take precedence over strategic imperatives. The budget’s power to shape policy and dictate priorities, as seen in the Philippines with past reenacted budgets, illustrates the pitfalls of wielding fiscal levers as political weapons. In both nations, the budgeting process, while designed to reflect the will of the people, is susceptible to political posturing, causing disruptions and imperiling the very ideals of democracy it should be upholding. The post Budgetary leverage appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Valenzuela City kicks off joint Christmas and 400th-anniversary celebration
Welcoming two momentous events in one, the City of Valenzuela held its annual “Tree of Hope” lighting ceremony at the Valenzuela City People’s Park on 30 September, an event graced by special guests Jose Mari Chan, Patrick Quiroz and Itchyworms. The ceremony also marked the beginning of the three-month-long celebration of the 400th founding anniversary of the city. The “Tree of Hope” lighting ceremony, a city tradition since2004, sees the lighting of a 50-foot Christmas tree and the installation of holiday decor to set the Christmas spirit early for Valenzuelanos. This year, the lighting ceremony is coupled with another historical commemoration — the kick-off celebration of the 400th founding anniversary of the City of Valenzuela. It is a modern Pinoy Christmas theme bridging the past and future. Mayor Wes Gatchalian was joined bythe CDO Foodsphere and SM Supermalls in lighting up the Tree of Hope this year. The city also welcomed PWD children as the primary beneficiaries of the event, along with students from PLV and VALPOLY. Singers from PLV performed Christmas carols, while the local government invited Christmas icon Jose Mari Chan to sing his signature song, “Christmas in Our Hearts”, while the Tree of Hope was lit amid fireworks. A colorful and dashing fountain display provided the finishing touches to the occasion. Multiple attractions in the city such as Valenzuela City Family Park, WES Arena, Fatima Avenue and Polo Family Park are also set to turn on their Christmas installations in the coming days. A post-lighting concert took place at the Valenzuela City Amphitheater where guests Patrick Quiroz and The Itchyworms livened up the crowd. The city's 400th founding anniversary celebration happens on 12 November, following Pueblo de Polo’s founding date of 12 November 1623. Back-to-back celebrations awaits the city with the Polo Fiesta and Casa de Polo inaugurations as two of the grand events slated for #Valenzuela400 this month. Other huge events unfolding in the following months include the Oktoberfest, Polo Fiesta activities, Mass at San Diego de Alcala Church, Casa de Polo blessing and inauguration, Industry Summit, Gawad Dr. Pio Valenzuela Awarding, Cultural Night, Valenzuela’s coffee-table book launch, a visit from delegates of Bucheon, South Korea, Food Fiesta, and a Christmas Bazaar. Over the past 400 years, the City of Valenzuela has never stopped evolving. From an agricultural provincial town of Polo, it has become a highly urbanized, industrial and livable city, recognized as one of the progressive urban centers in the country. Thus, reaching four centuries of growth and progress is a milestone worth celebrating for all Valenzuelanos, and an inspiration to continuously commemorate and honor the rich history that established the city. The post Valenzuela City kicks off joint Christmas and 400th-anniversary celebration appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Billionaire US collectors to return ancient artefacts to Cambodia
A billionaire family in the United States will return more than 30 looted ancient artefacts to Cambodia after agreeing it "wrongfully possessed" the treasures, the Cambodian government said Wednesday. Years of civil war followed by the genocidal Khmer Rouge rule saw historical sites looted with near-impunity in Cambodia, which is famed for its Angkor Wat temple complex. Many of the pieces are thought to date back to the Khmer Empire, a once-mighty dynasty that sprawled across much of modern-day Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos between the ninth and 15th centuries. A trove of stolen artefacts has been sent back to Cambodia in recent years from Western museums and private collectors. Now, 33 items from the Lindemann private collection will be "voluntarily" returned to Cambodia, its ministry of arts and culture said Wednesday. The move "sets an excellent and proper example for other museums and private collectors... to follow and return our national treasures," Minister of Culture and Fine Arts Phoeurng Sackona said. The government did not say when the items will arrive in Cambodia. They include a reclining Vishnu and Ardhanarishvara sculpture -- believed to be from the remote northern ancient city of Koh Ker -- which witnesses say was looted in the 1990s, according to the official statement. "Having purchased these items from dealers that we assumed were reputable, we were saddened to learn how they made their way to the market in the United States," The New York Times quoted the Lindemann family as saying in a statement. Last month, the National Gallery of Australia said it will return three sculptures to Cambodia after an investigation found they were likely to have been "illegally exported". The bronze sculptures from the 9th-10th century were bought for $1.5 million in 2011 by British art dealer Douglas Latchford, who was later "convincingly implicated in the illegal trade of antiquities", the gallery said. The post Billionaire US collectors to return ancient artefacts to Cambodia appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Biden urges ‘national unity’ 22 years after 9/11
President Joe Biden called Monday for Americans to unite despite bitter political differences as the United States marked the 22nd anniversary of Al-Qaeda's 9/11 attacks. Bells were rung and the names of nearly 3,000 people were read out in somber ceremonies in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania where the hijacked planes struck. "Let's honor September 11 by renewing our faith in one another," said Biden, speaking at a US military base in Anchorage, Alaska as he traveled back from a trip to India and Vietnam. "We must never lose our sense of national unity, so let that be the common cause of our time." Speaking in front of a huge flag, Biden added that "terrorism, including political and ideological violence, is the opposite of all we stand for as a nation." His speech comes as the United States is increasingly polarized, with tensions likely to increase as Biden, a Democrat, heads into a likely election rematch next year with Republican former president Donald Trump. Trump has been indicted four times since April, including for efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, with the 6 January 2021 Capitol attack by his supporters still fresh in the public's memory. 'Never forget' In New York, Vice President Kamala Harris and current and former mayors joined victims' families at the 9/11 memorial on the site of the World Trade Center twin towers brought down by two aircraft flown by hijackers. The names of the more than 2,600 who died in New York were read out by family members and young relatives not alive at the time of the attack. "I wish I had a chance to really know you. Everyone in the family misses you. We will never forget," said the grandson of firefighter Allan Tarasiewicz, who was killed at age 45 during rescue operations at the World Trade Center. At the Pentagon in Washington, where the attackers plunged a third aircraft into the headquarters of the US military, a sailor rang a ship's bell for each of the 184 killed there. And in western Pennsylvania, where a fourth hijacked plane apparently heading toward Washington was forced to crash, bells were rung for each of the 40 passengers and crew who died. "September 11 made America a nation at war, and hundreds of thousands stepped up to serve our country in uniform," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said at the Pentagon ceremony. "I know that it aches to remember this milestone year after year... The men and women of the Department of Defense will always remember." Across New York City, in Congress and elsewhere, a moment of silence was held to mark the attack, plotted by Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, who was found and killed nearly a decade later by US Navy Seals in a raid on his hideout in Pakistan. Biden noted in his speech that he himself had given the order for bin Laden's successor Ayman al-Zawahiri to be sent to the "gates of hell" last year in an airstrike in Afghanistan. "The soul of America is the fortitude we found in the fear of that terrible September day," he added. "The terrorists believed they could bring us to our knees, bend our will, break our resolve. But they were wrong, they were dead wrong." The post Biden urges ‘national unity’ 22 years after 9/11 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Small islands take ocean protection case to UN court
Leaders of small island states turned to the UN maritime court on Monday to seek protection of the world's oceans from catastrophic climate change which threaten the very existence of entire countries. The nine island states are asking the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) to determine if carbon dioxide emissions absorbed by the oceans can be considered pollution, and if so, what obligations countries have to prevent it. "This is the opening chapter in the struggle to change the conduct of the international community by clarifying the obligation of states to protect the marine environment," said the prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne. "The time has come to speak in terms of legally binding obligations rather than empty promises that go unfulfilled," he said, addressing the court in Hamburg, Germany. Ocean ecosystems create half the oxygen humans breathe and limit global warming by absorbing much of the carbon dioxide emitted by human activities. But increasing emissions can warm and acidify seawaters, harming marine life. At the heart of the case is the international treaty UNCLOS that binds countries to preventing pollution of the oceans. The UN treaty defines pollution as the introduction by humans of "substances or energy into the marine environment" that leads to harm to marine life. But it does not spell out carbon emissions as a specific pollutant, and the plaintiffs argue that these emissions qualify. Marine heatwave The push for climate justice won a big boost when the UN General Assembly in March adopted a resolution calling on the International Court of Justice to lay out nations' obligations on protecting Earth's climate and the legal consequences they face if they fail to do so. The ICJ's advice is still pending but the action has opened up a new front to bind countries to pledges on reducing emissions. The move at the UN had been led by Vanuatu, which also counts among the islands that had brought Monday's case before the ITLOS. Small islands like Vanuatu are particularly exposed to the impact of global warming, with seawater rises threatening to submerge entire countries. "Just a few years -- this is all we have before the ocean consumes everything my people built across centuries," Tuvalu's Prime Minister Kausea Natano told the court. "If international law has nothing to say about an entire country going underwater... then what purpose does it serve?" he asked, pleading for a clear direction from the court. Across the two-thirds of the planet covered by seas, nearly 60 percent of ocean surface waters experienced at least one marine heatwave in 2022, according to the annual State of the Climate report led by scientists from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This is 50 percent more than pre-industrial levels and "the highest in the modern atmospheric record and in paleoclimate records dating back as far as 800,000 years", the report published this month noted. The world's oceans also set a new temperature record in August. Average sea surface temperatures reached an unprecedented 21 degrees Celsius (69.8 degrees Fahrenheit) for over a week, according to the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service, after months of unusually high temperatures. Other island states joining the ITLOS case include The Bahamas, Niue, Palau, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia as well as St Vincent and the Grenadines. Thirty-four other state parties will also participate in the court hearing, with sessions scheduled through to 25 September. The post Small islands take ocean protection case to UN court appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bomb blast kills 11 Pakistan laborers
Eleven laborers were killed when a bomb attached to their vehicle exploded in northwestern Pakistan near the border with Afghanistan Saturday evening, a local government official said Sunday. Rehman Gul Khattak, senior government official for North Waziristan, said in a statement that the victims were working at an under construction post for the Pakistan army. In a post on X, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar condemned the senseless violence that Amir Muhammad Khan, a senior police official in the area, called a terrorist attack. No one has claimed responsibility for the bombing but militants are suspected. Pakistan has seen a sharp rise in militant attacks since the Afghan Taliban surged back to power in neighboring Afghanistan in 2021. Pakistan’s home-grown Taliban group, Tehreek's e-Taliban Pakistan, has waged a growing campaign against security officials, including police officers. The militant assaults have been focused in regions abutting Afghanistan, and Islamabad alleges some are being planned on Afghan soil — a charge Kabul denies. WITH AFP The post Bomb blast kills 11 Pakistan laborers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Taliban mark second year in power
The Taliban were to lead the celebration Tuesday of the second year of their ouster of the United States-led foreign forces despite the lack of international recognition of their so-called Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. A military parade in the Taliban movement’s birthplace, Kandahar, also marks their return to power after the fall of the US-backed government and exile of its former leaders in 2021. The parade includes scores of military vehicles and weapons left behind by international forces after a weeks-long chaotic withdrawal two years ago. Elsewhere, convoys of Taliban members are due to drive through the streets of Herat in the west, while in the capital Kabul, the education ministry will host a celebration at a school. But while some Afghans celebrate the end of fighting and Taliban rule, others see it as a grim anniversary. “All the girls and women of Afghanistan want their freedom back,” former student Hamasah Bawar said. In the two years since Taliban authorities have reimposed their strict interpretation of Islam on the country, women were banned from working and attending school. Afghan women ahead of the anniversary have expressed fear and despair over the loss of rights — a handful holding small demonstrations, many of their faces covered with masks. “Despite reassurances by the Taliban de facto authorities that any restrictions, particularly in terms of access to education would be temporary, the facts on the ground have demonstrated an accelerated, systematic, and all engulfing system of segregation, marginalization and persecution,” a group of United Nations experts said on Monday. The international community continues to grapple with how, and if, to engage with the Taliban authorities, with restrictions on women’s rights a key obstacle in negotiations over aid and recognition. Afghans also pointed to worry over an economic and humanitarian crisis in motion since the Taliban takeover, as aid dried up and sanctions were imposed. WITH AFP The post Taliban mark second year in power appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Islamic State claims responsibility for Pakistan blast that killed 54
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility Monday for a suicide bomb blast in Pakistan that killed at least 54 people, including 23 children, at a political party gathering ahead of elections due later this year. The blast has raised fears Pakistan could be in for a bloody election period following months of political chaos prompted by the ousting of Imran Khan as prime minister in April last year. Around 400 members of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F) party -- a key government coalition partner led by a firebrand cleric -- were waiting Sunday for speeches to begin when a bomber detonated a vest packed with explosives and ball bearings near the front stage. "I was confronted with a devastating sight -- lifeless bodies scattered on the ground while people cried out for help," Fazal Aman, who was near the tent when the bomb went off, told AFP. Shaukat Abbas, a senior official with the counter-terrorism department (CTD) told AFP that 54 people had been killed, including 23 under the age of 18. On Monday the Islamic State group claimed responsibility. "A suicide attacker from the Islamic State... detonated his explosive jacket in the middle of a crowd" in Khar, the jihadist group's news arm Amaq said in a statement Monday. The attack occurred in the town of Khar in the northwestern Bajaur district, just 45 kilometers from the Afghan border, in an area where militancy has been rising since the Taliban took control of Kabul in 2021. Parliament is likely to be dissolved after it completes its term in the next two weeks, with national elections to be held by mid-November or earlier. The local chapter of the jihadist Islamic State group has in the past targeted JUI-F rallies and leaders. Shattered family On Monday, blood-stained shoes and prayer caps littered the site, along with ball bearings and steel bolts from the suicide vest. Pieces of human flesh could still be seen, blasted 30 meters (100 feet) from the stage where the bomber detonated his device. Thousands of mourners attended the first funeral ceremonies, including for two young cousins aged 16 and 17. "It was not easy for us to lift two coffins. This tragedy has shattered our family," said Najib Ullah, the brother of one of the boys. "Our women are profoundly shocked and devastated. When I see the mothers of the victims, I find myself losing my own courage." JUI-F's leader, cleric Fazl-ur-Rehman, started political life as a firebrand Islamist hardliner, and while his party continues to advocate for socially conservative policies, he has more recently forged alliances with secular rivals. He has operated in the past as a facilitator for talks between the government and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a rival of the jihadist Islamic State group. Last year, IS said it was behind attacks against religious scholars affiliated with JUI-F, which has a huge network of mosques and schools in the north and west of the country. The jihadist group accuses the JUI-F of hypocrisy for being a religious party while supporting secular governments and the military. JUI-F officials hit out at the government for failing to provide security in areas where militants operate. "The state has not fulfilled its responsibilities. I think the state has failed regardless of who is in power," said Shams uz Zaman, deputy general secretary of its Bajaur branch. "For God's sake take notice of the situation." While Rehman's party never musters more than a dozen or so seats in parliament, they can be crucial in any coalition and his ability to mobilize tens of thousands of religious school students allows him to punch above his weight. "It is important to consider why workers of a religious inclined political party could have been subjected to such bestial violence," Dawn newspaper said in an editorial Monday. "However ultra-conservative the JUI-F's worldview, the party has chosen to contest power and operate within the parameters set by the Constitution of Pakistan." A spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Joseph Borrell said the blast was "an attempt to weaken democracy". Rise in attacks Pakistan has seen a sharp rise in militant attacks since the Afghan Taliban surged back to power in neighboring Afghanistan in 2021. In January, a suicide bomber linked to Pakistan's Taliban blew himself up in a mosque inside a police compound in the northwestern city of Peshawar, killing more than 80 officers. The militant assaults have been focused in regions abutting Afghanistan, and Islamabad alleges some are being planned on Afghan soil -- a charge Kabul denies. Analysts say militants in the former tribal areas have become emboldened since the return of the Afghan Taliban. The blast coincides with a visit to the country by a senior delegation of Chinese officials, including Vice Premier He Lifeng, who arrived in the capital Sunday evening. The post Islamic State claims responsibility for Pakistan blast that killed 54 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Trump belittles DeSantis at Lincoln Dinner
Former US President Donald Trump, who has pledged to run for president again if convicted and sentenced in one of the cases engulfing his comeback bid, shared a stage with his Republican rivals for the first time on Friday in Iowa. Trump’s appearance at the party’s Lincoln Dinner fundraiser came as he faced new charges over his handling of classified government documents — and a possible fresh indictment over his alleged efforts to overturn the result of the 2020 election. The Lincoln Dinner format of 10 minutes for each candidate kept the fireworks to a minimum, but the frontrunner did not hold back in telling the audience what he thought of his main opponent, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. “I wouldn’t take a chance on that one,” Trump said after offering a barrage of poll data suggesting he would easily defeat incumbent President Joe Biden while DeSantis would lose against the veteran Democrat. Trump provided a rapid-fire summary of his achievements while in office, from appointing three conservative-leaning Supreme Court justices to withdrawing US troops from Afghanistan, and only briefly alluded to his legal woes. “If I weren’t running, I would have nobody coming after me,” the 77-year-old said. DeSantis, for his part, delivered his usual stump speech and did not seize the opportunity to criticize Trump. “The time for excuses is over. We must get the job done. I will get the job done,” he told attendees in Des Moines. Earlier in the day, Trump used a radio interview to insist that his legal problems would not derail his presidential campaign. When asked by radio host John Fredericks if being sentenced would put an end to his 2024 campaign, Trump responded, “Not at all.” There’s nothing in the Constitution to say that it could.” “And even the radical left crazies are saying not at all, that wouldn’t stop (me) — and it wouldn’t stop me, either,” he added. “These people are sick. What they are doing is absolutely horrible.” The twice-impeached former president was first indicted in the classified documents case last month, accused of endangering national security by holding onto top secret nuclear and defense information after leaving the White House. The Justice Department added charges Thursday to its more than three dozen counts against Trump, who was found by a jury in a civil trial in May to have raped a writer in Manhattan in the 1990s. WITH AFP The post Trump belittles DeSantis at Lincoln Dinner appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Marcos says reforms to improve investment climate in Phl ‘long overdue’
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday said the country needs to improve its investment climate to make it globally competitive “on an even basis," as requirements for investors to set up operations in the country are more demanding than in other countries. The Chief Executive said this as Marcos launched and signed Executive Order (EO) No. 18, which created strategic investment green lanes to attract more investments. In his speech, Marcos acknowledged that the reforms to create an environment that is conducive to business growth and development are "long overdue." He said that some permits take 36 months to complete in the country, while other Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam, take two weeks to complete and approve the applications. “We cannot continue to hide behind protectionist laws and protectionist policies because no country ever got wealthy by following a protectionist policy. The wealth of the nation is defined by the amount of trade that it has gone. We can look back many centuries, and it has always been trade that has been the key to the wealth of any nation, of any economic system,” Marcos explained in his speech. “It is a continuing application of the principle of whole-of-government response to the continuing challenge of dismantling the obstacles faced by investors whenever they decide to do business here in our country,” Marcos added. With the EO, Marcos said the policy will pave the way for the government to realize the many investment pledges it has secured both domestically and internationally. Marcos Jr. also vowed that his administration is committed to realizing the vision of “Making-It-Happen” in the Philippines, noting that the Board of Investments has partnered with 36 agencies on the fast-track approvals of permits and resolution of concerns, particularly for identified strategic investments. Noting the sentiments of investors and entrepreneurs in the country, Marcos ensured that his administration is committed to making government transactions and processes “efficient, transparent and responsive to the needs of these potential investors.” "We will continue to closely monitor the performance of these processes in order to track our progress and (identify) – and we will see the areas for continuous improvement, even as we continue to pursue other projects and endeavors that will make the Philippines an even more fertile ground for investments,” he said. Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual, also present during the event, said the EO aims to resolve business registration issues like long lines for permits and applications. "The EO is meant to expedite, streamline, and automate government approval and registration processes for priority investments or strategic investments. The strategic investments are those aligned with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028,” Pascual said. The event highlighted the presentation of the first Certificate of Endorsement to SunAsia Energy, Inc. and BlueLeaf Macquarie Capital, a Singapore-based company. This certificate recognized their involvement in the construction of a floating solar project with a capacity of 1,300 megawatts at Laguna Lake. The total investment for this project amounts to $1.2 billion. SunAsia Energy, known for its expertise in developing clean and renewable solar energy solutions in the Philippines, partnered with BlueLeaf and Macquarie Capital. During President Marcos' visit to Singapore in 2022, the companies expressed their commitment to invest in this project. Following this commitment, SunAsia applied for Strategic Investment status for 10 of its projects under EO 18. By using the green lane services, they were able to expedite the permitting and licensing procedures for these projects. The post Marcos says reforms to improve investment climate in Phl ‘long overdue’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
CBCP declares Quiapo Church as national shrine
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Sunday approved a petition declaring the Archdiocesan Shrine of the Black Nazarene, or Quiapo Church, as a national shrine. In granting the petition of Cardinal Jose Advincula of Manila, the CBCP bestowed upon Quiapo Church the title of “National Shrine of the Black Nazarene”, effectively making it the country’s 29th national shrine. Quiapo Church in Manila is home to the centuries-old image of the Black Nazarene. It has served as a center of devotion for Filipinos and a prominent landmark for pilgrims, particularly during the “traslacion”, which commemorates the transfer of the image of the Black Nazarene from Recollect Church in Intramuros to its present shrine in Quiapo. Back in 1987, St. John Paul II, who was a pope then, elevated the church to the status of the "Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene" due to its cultural impact on the religious practices of Filipinos. The post CBCP declares Quiapo Church as national shrine appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»