Sambag 1 killing probe: Cops eye theft cases, victim’s mental condition in attack
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Police are investigting the possible link of the theft cases in the killing of a man, who was shot dead on Sunday night, Sept. 18, in Barangay Sambag 1 in Cebu City. Police Major Nolan Tagsip, Abellana Police Station chief, said during an interview with the media that aside from that […] The post Sambag 1 killing probe: Cops eye theft cases, victim’s mental condition in attack appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
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 […].....»»
Israel says Hamas used North Korea, Iran weapons in attack
The Israeli military said Thursday that a portion of the weapons used by Hamas in its 7 October attacks were manufactured in Iran or North Korea. The military made the statement during an official media tour in which it displayed a variety of weapons recovered from communities in southern Israel attacked by the militants. A range of landmines, rocket-propelled grenades, and homemade drones were part of the haul displayed. Part of the arsenal included Iranian-made mortar rounds and North Korean RPGs. "I think about five to 10 percent of the weapons here [were] made in Iran," said an Israeli military official, who helped oversee the clearance of munitions from areas that came under attack. "And 10 percent [are] North Korean. The rest of it was made inside the Gaza Strip," the official added, speaking on condition of anonymity. Hamas is believed to rely on extensive smuggling networks to bring weapons into the besieged Gaza Strip. The group also produces its munitions, including the rockets it has repeatedly fired at Israeli cities. "I think the most surprising thing was the amount of weapons that they brought inside Israel," the official said. In southern Israel, troops have taken over many of the communities attacked on 7 October including Holit, where on Thursday AFP saw a soldier manning a gun pointed towards Gaza. Scorched homes and bullet holes were visible in the small kibbutz, not far from the Egyptian border, where at least 10 people were killed by militants, according to a volunteer with Zaka, a charity that collects bodies following Jewish practice. Hamas's shock 7 October attacks, the worst in Israeli history, saw throngs of Hamas gunmen pour into Israel from Gaza, killing more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping 224 more, according to official tallies. Israel has retaliated with relentless strikes that Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry said have killed more than 7,000 people, also mainly civilians -- a toll expected to rise substantially if Israeli troops massed near the border move into the Palestinian territory. The post Israel says Hamas used North Korea, Iran weapons in attack appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Russian strike on Ukraine mail depot kills six
Kyiv, Ukraine (AFP) — At least six postal workers were killed while 17 were wounded after Russian missile strikes hit a mail depot in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, officials said. The strike in the northeastern Kharkiv region on Saturday came as Kyiv declared its positions in the embattled city of Avdiivka were “protected” despite Russian attacks, while Moscow said it had downed Ukrainian missiles targeting the Crimean Peninsula. The six killed in the depot attack were all workers at the Ukrainian postal operator Nova Poshta in Korotych, a village on the outskirts of Kharkiv city, regional governor Oleg Sinegubov said. “The victims, aged between 19 and 42, received shrapnel wounds and blast injuries,” he said. Of the injured being treated in hospital, seven were in a serious condition, according to Sinegubov, who said “doctors are fighting for their lives.” The regional prosecutor’s office later updated the number of injured to 17. President Volodymyr Zelensky shared a video on social media of what appeared to be a heavily damaged warehouse surrounded by rubble and a container with the Nova Poshta logo. Sergiy Nozhka, who works for Nova Poshta, described the condition of some his colleagues as “mild to moderate severity,” adding that “there are some people in a very serious condition.” He said that a rocket “flew into the neighboring depot, but at ours too — the windows and shutters flew out. This is not the first time.” According to the prosecutor’s office, Russian forces in the Belgorod region north of Kharkiv fired S-300 missiles, two of which hit the warehouse. “Debris analysis continues at the site in order to establish the exact number of injured and dead,” office spokesperson Dmytro Chubenko told Ukraine’s state broadcaster Suspilne. Separate Russian attacks on villages near the war-battered Ukrainian city of Bakhmut killed at least two people on Sunday, officials said. Both Kyiv and Moscow are preparing for a grueling winter ahead, as Ukraine warns of renewed strikes on its energy infrastructure and Russia contends with a Ukrainian counteroffensive to regain territory. In the eastern Donetsk region, Ukraine’s positions around the frontline city of Avdiivka were “protected”, Zelensky said in his evening address Sunday. The city has been the center of intense fighting in recent weeks as each side struggles to make advances. Ukraine’s general staff said on Friday that Russia had stepped up its military assault on Avdiivka in an ongoing bid to encircle and capture it. “The Avdiivka and Maryinka directions are particularly tough”, Zelensky said. “Numerous attacks by Russians. But our positions are protected.” Avdiivka has been a symbol of Ukrainian resistance since 2014, after it briefly fell to Russian-backed separatists. It lies just 15 kilometers (nine miles) from the Moscow-held city of Donetsk, capital of the Donetsk region that Russia said last September it was annexing. Ukrainian soldiers had been bracing for a new assault after a failed Russian offensive earlier this month using columns of armored vehicles and tanks from three sides. Built around a huge coke plant, Avdiivka had a pre-war population of around 30,000 people. Around 1,600 remain, according to local authorities, living in basements converted into bomb shelters. The city center has been all but destroyed through daily Russian artillery shelling and a months-long aerial bombing campaign. Also on Sunday Russian forces shot down three missiles targeting the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014, a Russian official said. The peninsula is crucial to Russia’s offensive, both for supplying troops in southern Ukraine and for carrying out missile strikes from the sea. The post Russian strike on Ukraine mail depot kills six appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
2 American hostages freed
Gaza’s Hamas rulers freed two Americans among the 200 hostages they kidnapped in the deadly 7 October attacks in Israel. More hostages may be released, the group hinted. According to the Israeli government, Judith Tai Raanan and her daughter, Natalie Shoshana Raanan, were returned to Israel late Friday. There was no word on their condition, but US President Joe Biden was “overjoyed” by the news. Biden called the two women after they were released. Hamas also announced it was working with Qatar and Egypt to free its “civilian” hostages, implying that more could be released. An Israeli emissary met the couple at the Gaza border and took them to a military base in central Israel “where their families are waiting to meet them.” The Ranaan family, like many of the captives, had begun a worldwide campaign to pressure Hamas to release them. Hamas said the “al-Qassam Brigades released two American citizens for humanitarian reasons” after being approached by Qatar and Egypt. The Islamist rulers of Gaza said they were “working with all mediators to implement the movement’s decision to close the civilian (hostage) file if appropriate security conditions permit.” It provided no specifics about its demands. Israel claims that Hamas militants took 203 people during the bloodiest attacks in Israel’s 75-year history, including Israelis, dual nationals and foreigners. According to the authorities, at least 1,400 individuals were killed, mostly civilians. Relentless bombing Israel has retaliated with a continuous bombing campaign against Gaza, killing at least 4,137 people, mostly civilians. The hostages have become a massive problem in Israel, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stating that the government will use “any means available to locate all those missing and bring all those kidnapped home.” The International Committee of the Red Cross said it helped transport the freed Americans to Israel. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for more releases “immediately and unconditionally.” “Every single one of them should be released,” said Blinken, adding that a team from the US Embassy would visit the two freed women. Qatar is a major aid donor to Gaza, and two Hamas leaders are based in the Gulf state. A Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson said the country had mediated between Hamas and the United States and that the release followed “many days of continuous communication between all the parties involved.” The Israeli military said earlier Friday that most of those abducted to Gaza were still alive even though some dead bodies have been found on incursions into Gaza. The military said more than 20 hostages were minors, while between 10 and 20 were over the age of 60. Saudi factor Biden said Friday he believed Hamas’ brutal attack on Israel two weeks ago aimed to disrupt the warming ties between the country and Saudi Arabia. “One of the reasons they acted like they did... why Hamas moved on Israel... (was) because they knew I was about to sit down with the Saudis,” Biden told guests at a campaign fundraiser. “The Saudis want to recognize Israel... unite the Middle East,” he said. The momentum toward a landmark US-brokered deal to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia — the guardian of Islam’s two holiest sites — was shattered by the 7 October attack by Hamas militants on Israel. A bombing campaign launched in response by Israel has leveled entire city blocks in Gaza, so far killing 4,137 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Saudi officials announced on 14 October during a visit to Riyadh by US Secretary Blinken that the country had suspended talks with Israel on the normalization of relations. Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, had spoken of progress with Israel but also insisted on movement on the Palestinian cause. The Gulf kingdom has never recognized Israel and did not join the 2020 Abraham Accords, brokered by the United States, which led neighboring Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, as well as Morocco, to establish diplomatic ties with Israel. With AFP The post 2 American hostages freed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Egypt prioritizing Pinoys’ Gaza escape
Egypt’s government has pledged to prioritize the entry of Filipinos into the country once the Rafah crossing for those fleeing bombed-out Gaza is opened, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo de Vega said on Saturday. De Vega cited a commitment made by Egyptian Ambassador to the Philippines Ahmed Shehabeldin, who said Filipinos would be at the top of the list once passage is allowed across the border. De Vega added that the ambassador had told his government that Filipinos should be given priority and not to give them any problems when crossing the border. Some 135 Filipinos are currently in Gaza, with about 80 awaiting the opening of the Rafah crossing near the Sinai Peninsula. “Potentially, we have 135 Filipino nationals (in Gaza). But we don’t expect those who will actually cross to reach 100 because those who were seen at the crossing at the beginning were only 78. Only up to 80 are interested,” De Vega said. He explained that while they could not convince all the Filipinos in Gaza to cross into Egypt, they had high hopes all would eventually do so to ensure their safety. Gaza aid Israel, which has been bombing Gaza in retaliation for the killing of 1,400 of its nationals by Hamas last 7 October, is expected to launch a ground assault on the enclave to flush out the extremist group. “We are hoping they would cross when ready because we cannot guarantee their safety and condition once the ground assault by Israel starts and Gaza (militants) attack,” De Vega said. Egypt has turned down calls to accommodate Gaza Palestinians within its borders. Earlier, United States President Joe Biden announced that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi had agreed to open the Rafah border crossing, allowing roughly 20 trucks with humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. The conflict between Israel and Gaza has sparked a global appeal for peace and the cessation of hostilities. Four Filipinos were killed during the attack by Hamas on Israel on 7 October. The Gaza Strip is predominantly administered by Hamas, an organization deemed a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union. The post Egypt prioritizing Pinoys’ Gaza escape appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
England, Wales grapple with growing teen knife violence
Elianne Andam was headed to school like any other teenager in London last month when she was stabbed to death, becoming the latest victim of rising knife crime in England and Wales. The 15-year-old suffered a "brutal attack" in Croydon, south London, shortly after she and her friends had stepped off a public bus on a Wednesday morning, prosecutors have said. A 17-year-old boy arrested nearby just over an hour later will stand trial for her murder next April. One of the latest tragic cases of teen-on-teen violence in the British capital, it has become an increasingly common problem nationwide over recent decades. A few days after Andam's death, 16-year-old Taye Faik died in Edmonton, north London, following another knife attack. He was the 14th teenager to be killed with a blade in the city this year. The UK government, and mayors in some of its biggest cities and regions, have repeatedly vowed to tackle the persistent scourge of youth violence, but appear to be failing. Between 2012 and 2022, the number of knife and offensive weapon offences amongst children aged 10-17 increased by 19 percent across England and Wales, according to the Ministry of Justice. That compared with an eight percent increase among adults. 'Social issue' With the sale of guns strictly controlled in Britain, teenagers intent on violence typically turn to blades, including machetes and so-called "zombie" knives. Inspired by horror films, they often have one smooth blade and one serrated edge, and feature graphics or text on the blade or handle glorifying violence. Possessing them has been illegal since 2016, but some manufacturers have managed to evade this quasi-ban by altering their design. The government unveiled plans in August to outlaw them entirely and give police more powers to seize the weapons, which it said "seem to be designed to look menacing with no practical purpose". The new legislation will also increase the maximum penalty for their "importation, manufacturing, possession and sale" from six months to two years. However, machetes and zombie-style knives can be bought with relative ease for less than £50 ($60) on social media platforms like TikTok or Snapchat, circumventing online age restrictions, according to anti-knife crime campaigners. They urge more focus on the roots of the problem. "Knife crime isn't just a law-and-order issue, it's a social issue," Patrick Green, president of the Ben Kinsella Trust, told AFP. The anti-knife crime charity is named after a London teenager murdered in 2008. "When you start to unpick knife crime, you start to look at social deprivation, poverty, the lack of social mobility, mental health probation for young people," Green said. 'Awful weapons' Youth knife violence is more prevalent in Britain than many other European countries, he noted. "It's difficult to determine why exactly," Green added. London mayor Sadiq Khan's office blamed the austerity policies of successive Tory governments in power since 2010, which it argued have "decimated youth services" in the capital and beyond. As many as 130 centers offering sports and arts activities in the city have closed over that period, its statement noted. The pandemic and the country's worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation, driven by decades-high inflation, are also seen as contributing to the problem. Following the recent knife crime deaths in the capital, the Labour mayor urged the Conservative government in a letter "to speed up the legislation so we can ban these awful weapons as soon as possible". "The proposals also need to be toughened up to close the loopholes that could still allow the sale of these weapons," Khan added. He also wrote this month to London's 500 secondary schools reiterating that wand metal detectors to screen pupils for weapons were available, as well as police officers to deliver knife crime prevention talks. His opposition Labour party -- well ahead in polls for over a year -- has pledged to spend up to £100 million if it wins power in an election expected next year on a "Young Futures" program. It would fund new youth mentors and mental health hubs in every community, youth workers in schools set up for troubled students and hospitals, alongside wide-ranging public sector reforms. The post England, Wales grapple with growing teen knife violence appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
War in Israel a new front in US election campaign
The surprise Hamas assault on Israel has opened up a new front in the US election campaign as Republicans accuse President Joe Biden of being soft in his defense of Israel and in his handling of Iran. "I think this is a great opportunity for our candidates to contrast where Republicans have stood with Israel -- time and time again –- and Joe Biden has been weak," Ronna McDaniel, chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, said Saturday on Fox News. Americans will choose a new president and control of Congress in November 2024, with Biden, 80, seeking another term in a race that looks likely to pit him against former president Donald Trump as the Republican candidate. Trump used the stunning Hamas attack by land, sea, and air at dawn Saturday to target Biden. “The Israeli attack was made because we are perceived as weak and ineffective and with a very weak leader,” he said. Other Republican presidential hopefuls, like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former Vice President Mike Pence, also dismissed Biden as weak. US stands with Israel A stern-faced Biden gave a short speech from the White House on Saturday to stress firm US support for Israel. "Today, the people of Israel are under attack, orchestrated by a terrorist organization, Hamas," Biden said. "In this moment of tragedy, I want to say to them and to the world and to terrorists everywhere that the United States stands with Israel. We will not ever fail to have their back." Republicans zeroed in on a recent decision by the Biden administration to release $6 billion in Iranian oil revenue frozen in South Korea in exchange for the release of five Americans who were being held prisoner in Iran. Tehran is the main sponsor of Hamas, which the United States and other countries classify as a terrorist group. Senator Rick Scott, for instance, said that in unfreezing that money -- it was transferred to a bank account in Qatar for use only for humanitarian purposes -- the United States had in effect financed the Hamas attack, which won praise from Iran. That charge angered the White House, which called it a "shameful lie" and insisted that the money was tightly controlled in how it could be used and none of it had been spent. A senior administration official speaking to reporters on Saturday accused Republicans of spreading disinformation. Help from congress The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stressed it was too early to say whether Iran was directly involved in Hamas' large-scale attack, but that there was "no doubt Hamas is funded, equipped and armed by Iran and others." Aside from the 2024 election, the Republican attacks pose political problems for Biden. The United States already provides billions of dollars a year for Israel but Biden will need Congress if he wants to send more now that Israel has declared itself at war with Hamas. That means Biden has to work with the Republicans, who are blocking passage of a yearly budget. Making matters worse, the House of Representatives is in chaos and limbo now because of the ouster of its speaker, Kevin McCarthy, last week in a revolt by a handful of far right Republicans. The White House would also like the Senate to approve Jack Lew soon to be the new American ambassador to Israel. His nomination was announced more than a month ago. This will require goodwill from the Republican minority in that chamber. The post War in Israel a new front in US election campaign appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
CA junks telco’s frequency plea, mandamus case vs. NTC
The Court of Appeals junked the petition for mandamus filed by NOW Telecom Company Inc. against the National Telecommunications Commission or NTC over the company's provisional authority or PA application to operate a cellular mobile telephone service within specific frequency ranges. In a 16-page decision, the appellate court's Special Ninth Division said "the court is powerless" to grant NOW Telecom's plea, especially since the company failed to show a clear legal right to the frequencies it sought. The CA said the decision, penned by Associate Justice Tita Marilyn B. Payoyo-Villordon and concurred in by Associate Justices Myra V. Garcia-Fernandez and Walter S. Ong, followed a careful examination of the case. The case began from NOW Telecom's request for NTC's automatic approval issued by the Anti-Red Tape Authority or ARTA. NOW Telecom had filed a petition for mandamus under Rule 65 of the Revised Rules of Court to compel the NTC and former Commissioner Gamaliel Asis Cordoba to stick to ARTA's resolution and OAA both dated 1 March 2021. These ARTA documents stated that NOW Telecom's application for a PA to operate in the frequency range 1970 Mhz-1980 Mhz paired with 2160 Mhz to 2170 Mhz and 3.6 GHz to 3.8 GHz frequency ranges was automatically approved by operation of law. It followed Republic Act 11032, otherwise known as the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018. However, an ARTA resolution dated 17 June 2022 reversed the previous decisions and formally recommended NOW Telecom's application for frequency assignment to the NTC. NOW Telecom's mandamus petition was notably based on its claim for the rights to specific frequency ranges, alleging that the NTC had unjustly neglected its duty to assign them. Yet, court records showed that as early as December 2005, NTC already found NOW Telecom to be non-compliant and was disqualified from the assignment of 3G frequency bands due to unpaid supervision and regulation fees or SRF and spectrum user fees or SUF amounting to P2.6 billion. NOW Telecom has a pending petition filed before the Supreme Court for this penalty imposed by the NTC. NOW Telecom received its PA in January 2006, but it was not specific to 3G and under the condition of paying its outstanding SRF and SUF obligations. In December 2017, NOW Telecom was designated the 20MHz contiguous bandwidth, 3520 to 3540 MHz, under the 3.5 GHz on the same condition that it resolved its outstanding SUF and SRF fines. NOW Telecom's Provisional Authority was extended until September 2020, but the NTC reiterated that the company failed to fulfill the conditions regarding SUF and SRF. Despite the issues hounding the company, NOW Corp. CEO Mel Velarde said he hopes the "Marcos administration" will aid the immediate settlement of its cases as a way of maintaining a "level playing field." _ The post CA junks telco’s frequency plea, mandamus case vs. NTC appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Herbosa no-show, but DOH 2024 budget hurdles Senate Finance panel
The Senate Committee on Finance on Thursday approved the proposed P311.3 billion budget of the Department of Health for the upcoming fiscal year without the attendance of Health Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa. Herbosa skipped the DOH’s budget deliberation, normally led by the agency’s head, days after he failed to secure the approval of the Commission on Appointment. During the budget deliberation, DOH senior officials led by Undersecretary Lilibeth David, former Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario-Vergeire and Undersecretary Gloria Balboa presented the agency’s proposed budget. Senator Francis Tolentino specifically questioned Herbosa’s absence in the budget deliberation, fearing that the agency is now in an “auto-pilot mode”. Senator Pia Cayetano, who presided over the agency’s budget deliberation, quickly clarified that the DOH is not “headless”. “Actually, all of the senior members of the team approached me a while ago and they acknowledged that, of course, it is a bit of an awkward situation,” Cayetano said. “But as you all know, Usec Dr. Vergeire was the OIC for many years and was very actively exercising her leadership not just in the past year, but even during the time of President Duterte. Dr. Usec. David is the most senior undersecretary. So I’m quite confident in the presentation today that they can answer,” she added. Tolentino explained that he is asking for Herbosa’s presence because “budget presentations would require answers concerning accountability.” “And perhaps the head of the department should be the one doing that. Otherwise, it would be in an auto-pilot mode,” he said. For her part, Senator Loren Legarda also expressed confidence in the senior officials of the DOH. “Let me just say that I’m certain that our very competent Usecs. and Asecs. down the line would be able to communicate the policies of the Secretary who still has to be confirmed,” Legarda said. “I am very confident that they will be able to answer our questions. I do not think that they would divert from any policy of the Secretary or say anything that would be against his policies,” she added. Cyber-attack on PhilHealth Senators also touched on the recent cyber-attack on the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or PhilHealth. Legarda quizzed PhilHealth officials about the effect of the cyber-attack on the state-run health insurer’s operation, as well as the steps being taken by the agency to prevent similar cases in the future. Responding to the lawmaker’s query, Atty. Eli Dino D. Santos, PhilHealth’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, said the agency has yet to restore its online system. “All transactions are offline, and we've resume operations meaning membership, employer submission, and payment over the counter,” Santos said. “Our benefits availment continues. We have already informed our partner providers that while the system is turned off, they can still submit claims or prepare the submission of claims,” he added. “At present, to confirm the statement of our President, we are set to turn on our systems today, but we are still completing the preventive measures before we turn it on. We are targeting to turn on our PhilHealth website, member portal, as well as the e-claims.” Over the weekend, PhilHealth confirmed reports that there was an “information security incident” on its online system, which prompted them to turn it off as part of its “containment measures”. The Department of Information and Communications Technology previously stated that the agency’s system was attacked by Medusa ransomware. A multinational cyber security software company, Trend Micro, defines “ransomware” as a type of malware that prevents or limits users from accessing a system, either by locking the system’s screen or by locking the users’ files until a ransom is paid. The Medusa ransomware group was demanding $300,000 from PhilHealth in exchange for access to its system. The group threatened to leak the personal information of PhilHealth members if it did not pay the ransom. The state-run health insurer previously stated that it would not give in to the group’s demand. The post Herbosa no-show, but DOH 2024 budget hurdles Senate Finance panel appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
3 wanted suspects fall in Rizal sting
Three wanted persons were arrested in separate manhunt operations on Tuesday, the Rizal police provincial office said Wednesday. Rizal police provincial director P/Col. Rainerio de Chavez said the three individuals were nabbed for various cases in the towns of Rodriguez and Tanay, and Antipolo City. In Rodriguez, the 42-year-old accused, identified only as alias Zaldy, was arrested by operatives of the Rodriguez Municipal Police Station by virtue of a warrant of arrest for the crime of frustrated murder. It can be recalled that the accused was allegedly tagged behind the stabbing incident against alias Ryan who miraculously survived the attack after he was rushed to a nearby hospital. In Antipolo, rape suspect alias Junior was nabbed by the police by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Jose Bayani Usman of Puerto Princesa City Regional Trial Court Branch 50 (Family Court) for the crime of two counts of rape, acts of lasciviousness, and violation under Republic Act 7610 or the Anti-Child Abuse Law. The post 3 wanted suspects fall in Rizal sting appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Total lawfare’: Ukraine’s other front in the war
On 26 February 2022, while Russian tanks were barrelling towards Kyiv, Ukrainian lawyers were fighting on a different front, submitting a case against Moscow at the International Court of Justice. The gilded halls of the Peace Palace in The Hague, where the court sits, are a world away from the trenches of Donbas but Ukraine believes its legal attacks on Russia are a critical part of the fight. What cases are open in Ukraine's campaign of all-out "lawfare" against Moscow and, with little chance of Russian compliance, what's the point? Where are the legal front lines? The Hague, Strasbourg, and Hamburg. Ukraine has dragged Russia before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which rules on disputes between nations, arguing that President Vladimir Putin abused the UN Genocide Convention when he used an alleged "genocide" in eastern Ukraine as a pretext for invasion. The final arguments in this case will be heard later Wednesday. Also in The Hague, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Putin, accusing him of unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children, a war crime. Neither of these courts, however, can try Russian leaders, including Putin, for the crime of "aggression", defined as an attack on one state by another in breach of the UN charter. So a special group of prosecutors from Ukraine, the EU, the United States, and the ICC has been set up in The Hague with a view to establishing a special tribunal to bring senior Russians to trial. Ukraine also has cases open at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg over alleged Russian human rights abuses. Finally, Ukraine also brought cases to the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in Hamburg over what it says is Russia's disregard for international maritime law. Will Russia comply? It seems unlikely that Russia would comply with any ruling from an international court -- for example, in March 2022, the ICJ ordered Moscow to immediately halt its invasion. Russia didn't even turn up to the hearings in that case. But it's far from an academic exercise, said Cecily Rose, assistant professor of public international law at Leiden University. "There are examples of cases in which Russia has complied at least partially with an adverse ruling by an international court," Rose told AFP, citing a 2015 verdict in which Moscow reportedly stumped up half the cash it was ordered to. "It shows that non-compliance cannot be cynically assumed. Most of the time, states do comply with awards and judgments rendered by international courts and tribunals." What's the point? Even if Russia doesn't comply, Kyiv and most legal experts think the international community needs to draw a line in the sand. "Some countries do not comply with the law, including Russia. However, it is still important to call them out and to bring a case against them when they do breach the law," said Melanie O'Brien, assistant professor at the University of Western Australia Law School. "The case demonstrates that other countries do not view Russia's conduct as acceptable -- but rather, as unlawful," O'Brien told AFP. A ruling from the ICJ against Russia would be a further element in isolating Moscow and confirming it broke international law, she said. "It is also an important acknowledgment for victims of human rights abuses and international crimes such as war crimes that what happened to them and their loved ones was not lawful," she added. Proving that Russia's actions were in contravention of international law could also be key in future peace negotiations, including over potential reparations, noted Rose. How long will it take? The wheels of justice grind slowly. The ICJ "genocide" case is only about whether the court even has jurisdiction. A special tribunal is politically sensitive and will take a long time to establish. But the wheels of justice also grind exceedingly fine. "Just because Putin won't comply with a ruling now, he won't be in power forever," said O'Brien. "At some point, a change of regime will occur and may lead to compliance with international law." The post ‘Total lawfare’: Ukraine’s other front in the war appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Mark Villar seeks probe of cyberattacks vs. PhilHealth, other gov’t portals
A resolution was filed in the Senate on Tuesday seeking an inquiry over the recent cyber attack incidents against the government agencies in the country. The filing of Senate Resolution 811 by Senator Mark Villar stemmed from the recent hacking of the “Medusa ransomware” group of the state health insurer Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or PhilHealth’s online portal. The hackers have asked $300,000 or roughly P17 million in exchange for the stolen data for PhilHealth. It also threatened the government that it would publicly expose the entirety of the hacked PhilHealth data if the ransom was not paid. Villar said the threat would compromise the confidential information of Filipinos, including names, addresses, contact information, medical records as well as internal memorandums of the agency. Ransomware is a kind of malicious software that encrypts files in a device or system with access to a computer that is being blocked by hackers. To regain access to the hacked site, cybercriminals demand a ransom. Villar condemned the cyber attack incident against the PhilHealth, saying: “It is not only a huge case of information theft but an extensive attack against public health and welfare.” “These attacks compromise the medical information of the members of PhilHealth,” he added. The resolution targets to tackle the increasing number of cyber attacks, not only with PhilHealth's case but also the cases of other government agencies that were subjected to hacking. “It is high time that we strengthen our cyberspace security as we are dealing with private and delicate information that could endanger, not just of one institution, but of the general Filipino public," Villar stressed. “The regulation of cyberspace is timely and relevant, considering the increasing cases of cyber attacks on government agencies and the cases of online fraud against consumers,” he added. Earlier this week, PhilHealth said it would not pay the ransom and it has shut down its online systems “to assess the impact of the cyberattack." Philhealth also opted for manual processing of the member benefits following the hacking incident. Meanwhile, the Department of Information and Communications Technology said the cyber hackers already uploaded some PhilHealth information and documents to the dark web, with a countdown of days before the state insurer should pay ransom. DICT clarified the PhilHealth database was not compromised. The post Mark Villar seeks probe of cyberattacks vs. PhilHealth, other gov’t portals appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Fools in suits
When a ranking Department of Agriculture official was asked in a recent Congress hearing what steps the agency had taken to break the rice cartel, he replied that he did not believe that a “mafia” existed. Coming from a high DA official, the statement revealed that nothing was being done to stop the syndicate that everyone in the industry knows about since, to the authorities, it does not exist. In the reenacted Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016, smuggling, hoarding, profiteering, and forming cartels for agricultural and fishery products are considered economic sabotage and are non-bailable offenses for which a long jail term could be meted out. The strengthened law, however, lacks strong teeth against government officials who are in cahoots or protect the syndicates. Contained in the proposed bill is a provision indicating that any government officer or employee found to be an accomplice in the commission of the crime will “suffer the additional penalties of perpetual disqualification from holding public office, exercising the right to vote, from participating in any public election, and forfeiture of employment monetary and financial benefits.” The bill is pending in both houses of Congress. With the slow grind of justice in the country, a public official looking for a fast buck will not hesitate to risk his job in exchange for a huge payback. The recent series of events showed the markets are being manipulated by the big players in the sugar, vegetable and rice businesses. These syndicates are known to be deeply entrenched due to their connections with government bigwigs who facilitate their domination of the markets either through edicts or the use of public resources. In the most ridiculous situation, the recent spike in onion prices was found to be artificial since farmers were even throwing away their harvests because of low farmgate prices, thus there was no reason for prices to surge. Later, it was exposed in a congressional hearing that a cartel had succeeded in manipulating the onion market to create a condition that would require its importation, from which its members would make a killing. The warehouse and storage facilities are controlled by the mafia which makes it easy to create artificial conditions to which the market reacts by raising retail prices. The ultimate goal is to coax the government to allow importation from suppliers in overseas markets that are also flooded with the commodity, The cartel rakes in profits from both the high markup and the kickbacks from the overseas suppliers desperate to sell their surplus. The woeful victims are the Filipino farmers whom the cartel boxes out of the market. In extreme cases, these farmers just throw away their harvest since they cannot afford to transport their products without the middlemen who are also in the pocket of the cartel. The same goes for the rice industry, where the market was manipulated for a different reason, which was to kill the rice tariffication law that kicked the National Food Authority out of the import business. Rice prices then surged to as high as P56 a kilo, which pushed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to impose price ceilings. The NFA used to have a monopoly on importation, but that resulted in acrimonious confrontations at the apex of government. The tariffication law, in turn, opened importation to all grain traders and relegated the NFA to buying rice from local farmers. Under the new anti-smuggling bill which has the endorsement of Mr. Marcos, an Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Council headed by the President or his designated permanent representative will be formed. The proposed body will have the power to investigate and file charges, as well as freeze violators’ funds, properties, bank deposits, placements, trust accounts, assets and records. The creation of the body looks good on paper but in the real world, it might just add another layer of bureaucracy and source of corruption unless the cartel, which DA officials claim does not exist, is dismantled. Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile has a simple solution for breaking the cartel, which is for the government to confiscate all the rice overstock and let the owners of the warehouses prove that their huge inventory is legitimate. Such a move would prompt the traders to release more rice into the market to avoid confiscation. The imposition of the price cap on rice indicated that the prices are artificial since the markets are now selling at lower than the manipulated prices despite conditions being constant. An expected bumper harvest is also prompting the prices to go back to normal, after the attempt of the cartel to create a price shock to support their effort to return to the old ways. To know the real situation, President Marcos goes out of his way to see what is on the ground. His underlings, particularly at the Department of Agriculture, should do better. The post Fools in suits appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Stop blockade, Moscow told
The president of the European Council Charles Michel has demanded an end to Russia’s blockade of Ukrainian seaports. “This must stop,” Michel told reporters in India’s capital of New Delhi, ahead of a G20 summit. “Ships with grains need to have safe access to the Black Sea,” he said, noting that the United Nations initiative had initially delivered 32 million tons to the market, “especially to developing countries.” Michel also slammed Moscow for attacking Ukrainian seaports hosting grains silos and warehouses. “Over 250 million people face acute food insecurity worldwide, and by deliberately attacking Ukraine’s seaports, the Kremlin is depriving them of the food they desperately need,” Michel added. Russia’s blockade to prevent grain ships sailing in and out of Ukraine was lifted under last year’s UN-brokered deal called Black Sea Initiative. Russia pulled out of the grain agreement in July after claiming that it had failed to fulfil the goal of relieving hunger in Africa. Moscow then stepped up attacks on Ukraine’s export hubs and shipping infrastructure. The Kremlin also asked Turkey to help Russia export its grain to African countries without any involvement from Ukraine. Missile strike Meanwhile, Russian missiles struck cities in central and eastern Ukraine Friday killing one person and injuring dozens of others, officials said. In the central city of Kryvyi Rig, President Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown, a missile attack on a police building killed a policeofficer, Interior Minister Igor Klymenko said. “Rescuers of the State Emergency Service pulled out three more from under the rubble. They are in serious condition,” he said. Photos he shared from the scene showed smoke spewing from the ruins of the building as rescue workers carried an injured person to an ambulance. Over 40 people were injured, the head of the city administration Oleksandr Vilkul said. At least three people were injured after Russia also struck the city of Sumy in northeast Ukraine, officials said, while one man was injured by a rocket attack on Zaporizhzhia in the southeast. “Over the past 24 hours, 93 enemy attacks on 29 towns and villages of the Zaporizhzhia region have been recorded,” Yuriy Malashko, head of the local administration, said. WITH AFP The post Stop blockade, Moscow told appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DIABETIC NEUROPATHY: SAVE YOUR LIFE THROUGH EARLY DETECTION
Tingling, stabbing pain, numbness or burning sensation in your hands and feet? It could be peripheral neuropathy, the most common type of diabetic neuropathy — and early diagnosis is key to avoid a life of disability. [caption id="attachment_178290" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Aalok Agrawal senior vice president of P&G Health in Asia. | photograph courtesy of P&G[/caption] Neuropathy is no joke. It is a condition wherein the nerves located outside of the brain and spinal cord — the peripheral nerves — are damaged or compressed. Infections, traumatic injuries, metabolic problems and inherited conditions are some of the underlying causes of PN. But the most common cause is diabetes. Unfortunately, a staggering 80 percent of patients with diabetic neuropathy were undiagnosed, as revealed by a 2020 study by Georgios Ponirakis et al. Since a patient’s PN symptoms may not seem too severe at its earliest stage, many continue about their daily lives without seeking medical attention. If the underlying cause of peripheral neuropathy is not treated, a person may be at risk of developing a foot ulcer that becomes infected. Untreated, the ulcer can lead to gangrene, and in severe cases, the foot has to be amputated. This is why P&G Health continues to advocate awareness on peripheral neuropathy. Aalok Agrawal, the senior vice president of P&G Health in Asia, India, Africa and Middle East, sat down with DAILY TRIBUNE via video conference to emphasize the need for neuropathy awareness in the Philippines. “Peripheral neuropathy is a significant public health issue that I think needs a significant amount of more awareness from both healthcare practitioners, as well as from patients themselves. It can have a significant impact on both quality of life and serious complications,” he said. “And, to that end, you know, awareness remains very low. We think 80 percent of cases are untreated and undiagnosed. And our efforts, both on Neuropathy Awareness Week as well as World Diabetes Day, are to really bring out just how critical this public health issue is and to bring it up in its awareness. Because the most important thing for collective action here is the fact that this can be managed. This is something that we can diagnose early, and early diagnosis can help improve treatment outcomes, improve quality of life and prevent serious complications.” According to Agrawal, P&G Health’s efforts are tailored across all groups, including the marginalized sector. Hence, they utilize accessible language to better communicate neuropathy to everybody. “Our efforts are tailored across all groups. Our media, for example, is very much in Tagalog in some cases in Mindanao and Visayas, and we also tend to do more local language radio,” he explained. He also shared that P&G Health, apart from gathering global health experts to discuss neuropathy in medical forums and also partnering with media to spread knowledge on neuropathy, sees the importance of pharmacists in the war against PN. “So we have a lot of engagement with pharmacists as they are the frontliners in many cases — especially for marginalized groups that may not even reach out to doctors but they would just go to a pharmacist and say, ‘I have these symptoms; would you suggest something to me?’ And again, our effort has been to educate pharmacists consistently about these risk factors, about asking the right questions, and then about being able to give some sort of first-line therapy while also hopefully referring these patients to a doctor to be able to follow up on their treatment,” he explained. He also explained that demystifying neuropathy is not a one-time event, but is an ongoing effort on the part of P&G Health. “We go quite deep into the community. We’re trying to continue to expand our outreach. We try to make our materials as widely available on as many educational platforms as possible so that we can, again, reach out to doctors who may not be able to physically attend our forum. So, you know, but I think all of the different partners in the community and in the ecosystem will be what will help us create this awareness amongst all of these different groups of patients.” He also underscores the importance of not just seeking immediate medical treatment once you experience unusual sensations on your hands and feet, but also subscribing to a healthy lifestyle to prevent or combat PN. “Diet and exercise are so critical. We’ve got to help patients and consumers understand that a healthy diet with the right combination of fruits and vegetables, a balanced diet and nutrition and exercise for 30 to 60 minutes a day are going to be super critical for us to really overcome and manage both diabetes and peripheral neuropathy. So, it really has to be a combination of lifestyle as well as some early diagnosis and treatment. I hope that we can raise that awareness together to help both the Philippines and Asian consumers in general, who are generally at high risk of diabetes. We want to make sure that the entire region can help combat this public health issue.” When asked about a person’s hesitancy in seeing a doctor for “mild” symptoms due to common reasons like health anxiety or stress over the financial costs of diagnostic tests and consultation, Agrawal gave this advice: “I think the most important thing to help manage both financially and as well from a mental reassurance standpoint is actually an early diagnosis, because, frankly, the costs of not diagnosing early are far greater. You may postpone it for a few months or a year, but then when you’re looking at these serious complications coming from peripheral neuropathy, or loss of sensation in the foot, which can become a foot ulcer and potentially lead to things like amputations and so on, that is a huge and almost unthinkable cost that anybody would have to bear,” he said. “Early diagnosis, I think, can have a very favorable outcome and, in fact, will give you reassurance as well. It can help take care of the symptoms, regenerate the nerves and prevent this from progressing further to the point where it might actually become unaffordable later to do that.” The post DIABETIC NEUROPATHY: SAVE YOUR LIFE THROUGH EARLY DETECTION appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
What is anemia?
Our body needs oxygen to survive, and our blood helps oxygen get to all parts of the body. When you don’t have enough of a component of the blood called red blood cells or hemoglobin, this is called anemia, a common condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Some patients only find out they have anemia when they have routine tests done on an annual examination, in preparation for surgery or before donating blood. [caption id="attachment_178293" align="aligncenter" width="630"] ANEMIA is the lack of healthy red blood cells in the body. | photograph courtesy of 1MG[/caption] There are a few different reasons for having anemia. A common reason is not having enough iron. This is called iron deficiency anemia and can happen when: You have lost a large amount of blood. This can happen slowly over time or all of a sudden. It is the most common cause of iron deficiency anemia. Menstrual periods and pregnancy are common reasons. Bleeding can also come from tumors in the intestines or colon which bleed slowly and in small amounts, so it is not noticeable in your bowel movements. Your body cannot absorb enough iron from food. This can happen in conditions like celiac disease or after surgery of your stomach or intestines. Some medications can also interfere with iron absorption. You do not get enough iron in your food. This can happen if infants or those on restrictive diets do not get enough iron from food or supplements. Vegetarians who eliminate meat can develop iron deficiency anemia. Other causes of anemia are: Deficiency in vitamins like B12 and folate Inherited causes — Thalassemia, sickle cell anemia Aplastic anemia — A rare condition where the body stops producing enough new blood cells Hemolytic anemia — Where red blood cells are destroyed faster than they can be produced Chronic kidney disease — This can affect how red blood cells are made. Patients with anemia sometimes do not have any symptoms when the anemia is mild or when they have had it for a long time as a chronic illness. Those who do have symptoms might have the following: Fatigue and weakness Irritability Pale skin Cold hands and feet Shortness of breath Dizziness or lightheadedness Irregular heartbeat Headaches Difficulty concentrating Abnormal cravings that make them want to eat ice or substances like clay (a condition termed as “pica”) “Restless legs syndrome,” where the legs feel like they need to keep moving, especially at night. Unexplained or easy bruising Anemia is diagnosed with a blood test called a complete blood count or CBC. Depending on the CBC results and your other symptoms, your doctor will order other tests to determine the underlying cause of your anemia. The treatment for anemia will depend on its type and severity. These include: Blood transfusion in severe cases Dietary changes to increase iron or vitamin intake Iron or vitamin supplements as prescribed by your doctor Treatment of other medical conditions contributing to anemia Anemia is a manageable condition but it requires attention and care. While some types of anemia are not preventable, you can reduce your risk by eating a balanced diet with iron, vitamins and minerals and having regular medical check-ups. [caption id="attachment_178294" align="aligncenter" width="525"] MEDICATIONS can interfere with iron absorption. | photograph courtesy of unsplash/ kateryna-hliznitsova[/caption] If you suspect you have anemia, seek prompt medical advice and only take supplements upon the advice of your doctor. With proper diagnosis and treatment, individuals with anemia can lead long, healthy and fulfilling lives. The post What is anemia? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ilocos cops nab stabbing suspect
ILOCOS NORTE — San Nicolas cops conducted a hot pursuit operation against an unidentified male who had allegedly stabbed Kevin Louise Deus, 29, a resident of Barangay 51-A Nangalisan in Laoag City on Friday morning. In the official report of the Philippine National Police, on 1 September 2023, at approximately 8:20 a.m., Liza Deuz, personally reported to the San Nicolas Municipal Police Stations that her son, Kevin Louise Deus, had been stabbed by an unidentified male individual in front of a store in Barangay 1 San Francisco in San Nicolas. According to the account of the victim's mother and his friends, they were purchasing liquor when two unidentified men, who had arrived in an orange Ford with license plate number IAE6527, confronted "Joel", a 29-year-old teacher residing in Brgy 52 A San Mateo, Laoag City. Without any apparent reason, one of the unidentified males punched Joel twice and retreated. Deus attempted to intervene and pacify the situation but was subsequently stabbed in his lower left abdomen by one of the unidentified suspects. Following the attack, the unidentified suspects fled in a southward direction aboard the orange vehicle. The victim was immediately transported to Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital for medical treatment and is currently in stable condition. Following the report, personnel from the San Nicolas PNP conducted a hot pursuit operation to apprehend the suspect. Just a few minutes before lunch, they were able to arrest Mark Jun Arzaga, 30, a butcher and a resident of Barangay 22, San Guillermo in San Nicolas town. In an exclusive interview with Daily Tribune, Arzaga admitted that he stabbed Deus. However, Arzaga said, in his defense, he was disrespected by the group of Deus which prompted him to retaliate and alighted from his vehicle and stabbed Deus. The post Ilocos cops nab stabbing suspect appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PRO-BAR condemns police outpost attack
ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Police Regional Office for Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao on Wednesday strongly condemned the latest hostility launched by the Daulah Islamiyah-Hassan Group which resulted in the wounding of police personnel manning the PNP detachment in Datu Salibo, Maguindanao del Sur last Monday. PRO-BAR director Police Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza said that the injured policemen were all members of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 14 of the PRO-BAR manning a PNP detachment. Nobleza disclosed that the DI-HG — led by Commander Yusa Ganoy — clearly showed utter disregard for human life and the welfare of the Bangsamoro communities. “The incident happened despite the efforts of the local government units, police and military for peace, and security of the Bangsamoro people,” Nobleza said. He also identified the wounded cops as Patrolmen Abdul Lipuas and Alesona Makasandig, and Corporal Fernan Andres. They were rushed to Cotabato Regional and Medical Center located in Sinsuat Avenue, Cotabato City and are now in stable condition. “We will use all its resources to find the people behind this harassment, which targeted our troops who were only performing their duties in maintaining peace and security in the town of Datu Salibo,” Nobleza said. He added that he had placed all police units in the Bangsamoro region on high alert status effective on Tuesday. “The police force will not be disheartened to intensify its effort in performing its mandate of serving and protecting the people of the Bangsamoro,” Nobleza said. The post PRO-BAR condemns police outpost attack appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Teves, cohorts facing charges for Degamo slay; warrants out soon
Criminal charges have been filed against suspended Negros Oriental congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr. and four of his cohorts for the killing of Governor Roel Degamo and nine others in an ambush attack in March. This was confirmed by Department of Justice spokesperson Mico Clavano in a news forum in Quezon City on Saturday. Clavano said murder, frustrated murder, and attempted murder cases were filed before the Manila Regional Trial Court on 18 August while the warrant of arrest against Teves is expected to be out “in the next few days.” Teves was tagged as the mastermind of the crime against Degamo. “‘Yung Degamo case po ay na-i-file na rin po sa Manila. ‘Yun po ay nasa korte na rin at hinihintay na lang po natin ang (The Degamo case has already been filed in Manila. It’s in the court already and we are awaiting the issuance of a) warrant of arrest,” Clavano said, noting that similar criminal cases were already filed against eleven other suspects last July. In 2019, criminal charges were also filed before the Bayawan City RTC Branch against Teves and others due to the number of social injustices and killing incidents in Negros Oriental. Following the investigation of the brutal attack against Degamo and nine others in his residence in Pamplona town as well as other political killings in the province, the Anti-Terrorism Council recently designated Teves and 12 others as “terrorists.” Clavano said the DoJ is requesting the transfer of the trial venue in Manila. “Gusto natin na neutral ground ang magiging venue para sa kaso (We want the venue for the case to be in a neutral ground),” he said. The post Teves, cohorts facing charges for Degamo slay; warrants out soon appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Trump arrested in Georgia racketeering case
Former US president Donald Trump was arrested at a Georgia jail on Thursday on racketeering and conspiracy charges for trying to overturn the 2020 election results in the southern state. During a brief session lasting less than 30 minutes, the 77-year-old Trump was booked on 13 charges at Atlanta's Fulton County Jail, according to records published by the sheriff's office. Trump's height was listed by the jail as six foot three inches (1.9 meters), his weight as 215 pounds (97 kilograms) and his hair color as "Blond or Strawberry." Other defendants in the racketeering case who have surrendered to the Georgia authorities in recent days have had a mugshot taken. The billionaire has been criminally indicted four times since April, setting the stage for a year of unprecedented drama as he tries to juggle multiple court appearances and another White House campaign. In posts on his Truth Social platform shortly before leaving his New Jersey golf club for the flight to Atlanta, Trump said he was being arrested for "having the audacity to challenge a RIGGED & STOLLEN (sic) ELECTION." "This is yet another SAD DAY IN AMERICA!" he added. Trump was able to dodge having a mugshot taken during his previous arrests this year: in New York on charges of paying hush money to a porn star, in Florida for mishandling top secret government documents, and in Washington on charges of conspiring to upend his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden. But Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat said standard procedure in Georgia is to take a defendant's photograph before they are released on bond -- set at $200,000 in Trump's case. The arrest comes one day after Trump spurned a televised debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, featuring eight of his rivals for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination -- all of whom lag well behind him in the polls. He still stole the spotlight, though, with all but two of the candidates saying they would support him as the party's nominee even if he were a convicted felon. During a pre-recorded interview with former Fox News talk show host Tucker Carlson -- which aired on social media at the same time as the debate -- Trump dismissed the criminal cases filed against him as "nonsense." Trump said the Justice Department had been "weaponized" under Biden to hamstring his White House bid. Court dates in election race A tight security perimeter was set up for Trump's booking at the Fulton County Jail, which is under investigation for a slew of inmate deaths and deplorable conditions. Fani Willis, the Fulton County district attorney who filed the sweeping racketeering case, had set a deadline of noon (1600 GMT) on Friday for Trump and the other 18 defendants to surrender. Trump and 11 others have turned themselves in so far. Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows surrendered on Thursday and was released on $100,000 bond. Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, who served as Trump's personal lawyer when he was in the White House and vigorously pushed the false claims that Trump had won the 2020 election, was booked and released on Wednesday. John Eastman, a conservative lawyer who is accused of drawing up a scheme to submit a false slate of Trump electors to Congress from Georgia instead of the legitimate Biden ones, has also been booked and released. A few dozen supporters of the former Republican president gathered outside the jail, including Sharon Anderson who spent the night in her car. "I think this is a political persecution and now that's turned into a political prosecution," Anderson told AFP. Trump is the first US president in history to face criminal charges. His various trials, if they take place next year, may coincide with the Republican presidential primary season, which begins in January, and the campaign for the November 2024 White House election. Special counsel Jack Smith has proposed a January 2024 start date for Trump's trial on charges of conspiring to overturn the last election with a lie-fueled campaign that culminated in the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol by his supporters. Trump's attorneys have countered with a suggested start date well after the election -- April 2026. Willis, the Georgia district attorney, initially proposed that the racketeering case begin in March next year, the same month Trump is scheduled to go on trial in New York on charges of paying hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels. On Thursday, after one of the defendants asked for a speedy trial, she proposed that it begin for all 19 in October of this year, a move met with an immediate objection from Trump's lawyers. The Florida case, in which Trump is accused of taking secret government documents as he left the White House and refusing to return them, is scheduled to begin in May. The post Trump arrested in Georgia racketeering case appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»