Saudi Arabia hosts & lsquo;Davos in Desert& rsquo; amid pandemic
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia---Saudi Arabia will host a two-day Davos-style investment forum starting Wednesday, with dozens of global policymakers and business tycoons lined up to speak at the partly virtual event amid the coronavirus pandemic......»»
US State Secretary Blinken begins Middle East tour, marks his first stop in Saudi Arabia
Jeddah [Saudi Arabia], March 21 (ANI): US State Secretary Antony Blinken who began his Middle East tour arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, marking his first stop on this trip to discuss efforts to reach an "immediate ceasefire agreement" between Israel and Hamas, The New York Times reported. Blinken's visit to Jeddah came as US President Joe Biden's administration was hoping it could convince Saudi Arabia to establish.....»»
The Daily Guardian: Competitive Battle for Market Share Arises as U.S. Oil Production Soars
Title: Saudi Arabia Struggles to Stabilize Oil Prices Amid Rising US Production In a bid to support oil prices, Saudi Arabia and its OPEC+ allies.....»»
PBBM brings home $120-million investment contract from Saudi Arabia trip
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday said he secured a $120-million investment contract for the Philippines amid a short trip to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In his arrival speech at Villamor Airbase in Pasay, Marcos said Saudi Arabia expects to invest in the Philippines, making their partnership a "two-way street." "It's time that they bring investment to the Philippines to support their food supply situation, and to support the industries that they are going to expand," Marcos said. Still, the Philippines relies on its labor export background. The country signed multiple Saudi investment deals. Marcos claimed $4.26 billion in deals will help 15,000 Filipinos "in training and employment opportunities across a wide range of professions in the construction industry." A $120 million investment in the Philippines will train at least 2,000 Filipinos in construction crafts. To work on Saudi projects, Filipino skilled laborers are to be sent. Marcos' backing for these ventures reflects the Philippines' long-standing labor export program, which has produced billions in remittances. Marcos also told Filipinos that he would continue to promote the Philippines as a dynamic economic environment and deepen links with the Arab country on his overseas journey. "Let me assure you that we will continue to advance our national interest as we further expand our partnerships abroad," he added. Marcos also assured that his administration promoted the country's priority abroad. He emphasized collaboration in food and energy security, logistics and supply chains, digital transformation, and free trade. President Marcos declared he wanted to protect and upskill 2 million hardworking Filipinos in the Middle East. Marcos asked his fellow leaders from the two blocs to preserve a rules-based international order to ensure world harmony, especially with the Israeli-Hamas war. "The summit also provided ASEAN and GCC leaders an opportunity to convey their views on the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza. I shared our hope for peace, that it should prevail, and for the welfare and safety of civilians to be upheld in accordance with international humanitarian law," he said during his arrival speech. He urged Gulf governments to collaborate with ASEAN to promote "peace, security, and stability in both our regions, the South China Sea, and the Arabian Sea, grounded on the rules-based international order to ensure stability and prosperity of our countries and the rest of the world." The post PBBM brings home $120-million investment contract from Saudi Arabia trip appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Shun mass protests in Egypt
Filipinos in Egypt have been advised to avoid joining any protests following the mass demonstrations, denouncing the bombing of a hospital in the Gaza Strip that reportedly killed at least 500 civilians. In an advisory, the Philippine Embassy in Egypt cautioned Filipinos against joining the random demonstrations and planned mass actions. “The Philippine Embassy in Cairo advises everyone to exercise caution, keep away from mass congregations, and stay home unless necessary,” it said. According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, there are 1,990 Filipinos in Egypt. Egyptians took to the streets to express their anger over the bombing of the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza, which left hundreds of Palestinians dead. In one of the demonstrations, a Palestinian flag was raised while an Israeli flag was burned. The demonstrations came after Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi called on Egyptians to express solidarity with the Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas war. This developed as top diplomats of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Friday denounced the ongoing war in the Middle East. End bloodshed In a statement, the foreign ministers of the 10-member regional bloc called for an immediate end to the bloodshed. “We strongly condemn the acts of violence which have led to the deaths and injuries of civilians, including ASEAN nationals,” the foreign ministers said. “We urge the immediate end of violence to avoid further human casualties and call for the full respect of international humanitarian law,” it added. Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas are engaged in armed conflict following the surprise attack launched by the terror group on Israel last 7 October. The attack by Hamas has left more than 1,400 dead, most of them massacred on the first day of the assault. Meanwhile, the widespread airstrikes on the Gaza Strip have reportedly left at least 3,478 dead. ASEAN also called on “all parties to create safe, rapid and unimpeded passages of human corridors.” Last week, Israel imposed a 24-hour deadline for 1.1 million civilians to evacuate northern Gaza ahead of its ground offensive in the Palestinian territory. Since then, millions of civilians, including foreign nationals, have scrambled to move from northern Gaza to southern Gaza in hopes of exiting the war-torn territory. The bulk of civilians are swarming to the Rafah border in an attempt to enter Egypt despite the border remaining closed and the restricted availability of food, water and electricity. Two-state solution Meanwhile, ASEAN reaffirmed its support for a “negotiated two-state solution that allows Israelis and Palestinians to live side-by-side in peace and security consistent with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.” “This will be the only viable path to resolving the root cause of the conflict,” it said. The regional bloc also called on the “international community to support the peace process in order to ensure long-lasting peace and stability in the region.” “We have issued our respective national statements on the escalation of armed conflicts in the Middle East,” it said. On Wednesday, the Philippines, one of the founding members of ASEAN, expressed its “profound sadness” over the bombing of a hospital in the Gaza Strip, which reportedly killed at least 500 civilians. Israel and Hamas denied being behind the attack and blamed each other for the bombing. The Philippines said all parties should “do their utmost to protect civilians in times of war and armed conflict.” “We support efforts of the United Nations to provide humanitarian relief in the conflict areas,” it said. According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, there are 135 Filipinos in the Hamas-controlled Gaza. Deep concern In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is attending the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit, the Chief Executive expressed deep concern over the rising number of victims and the safety of those affected by the conflict. In his intervention during the 1st ASEAN-GCC Summit here on Friday, Marcos said, “All parties (should) exert their utmost efforts to de-escalate the situation, stop all violence, and engage in dialogue and diplomacy.” He called on the members of the GCC and ASEAN to work together to promote peace, security, and stability in the South China Sea and the Arabian Sea. Marcos also underscored the importance of cooperation between member countries of the two regional groups to ensure their continued prosperity. “As the two regional organizations located astride the major sea gates and vital corridors of the world’s commerce and communications, it is imperative that we work together to promote peace, security, and stability in both our regions, the South China Sea and the Arabian Sea, grounded on the rules-based international order to ensure the stability and prosperity of our countries and the rest of the world,” Marcos said. “Peace and stability are indispensable to ensuring continued prosperity in our respective regions and the world,” he added. The six GCC member countries are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, while the 10 ASEAN member countries are Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. President Marcos attended the ASEAN-GCC Summit, where he discussed business opportunities in the Philippines and urged investors to invest in the Maharlika Investment Fund, among other significant opportunities in the Philippines. The post Shun mass protests in Egypt appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Saudi Arabia puts Israel deal on ice amid war, engages with Iran, sources say
Saudi Arabia puts US-backed plans to normalize ties with Israel on hold as conflict with Hamas escalates.....»»
DoE advice: Find cheaper fuel amid coming price hike
The Department of Energy on Saturday advised motorists to look for gasoline stations that are selling affordable fuel products amid the upcoming surge in prices this coming Tuesday A whopping more-than-P2 increase in the price of diesel and gasoline fuel, as well of kerosene will hit consumers next week. “Let’s be wise and use the power of choice. According to the price monitoring of the DoE, there are gasoline stations that provide as much as a P4 discount per liter,” said DoE’s Assistant Secretary for Oil Industry Management Bureau Rodela Romero in a radio interview on Saturday. Price hikes start Tuesday The forecast for diesel and kerosene starting Tuesday, 18 September, said diesel will have price spikes between P2.30-P2.60 per liter, while kerosene will have a P2-P2.30-per liter increase. Gasoline prices, meanwhile, will be jacked up from between P1.70 to P2 per liter. Among independent fuel players providing lower prices are gasoline stations located in Quezon City’s Commonwealth area. As of 14 September, the prevailing price of diesel provided by independent players was at P60.85 and 61.80, while gasoline was at P63.25 and 63.25. Private motorists will feel more The price spikes will be felt more by private motorists; for their part, public transport drivers and operators are set to receive fuel subsidies from the government. Earlier this week, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said it has already commenced distributing P2.95 billion in fuel subsidies for operators of public utility vehicles to ease the impact of fuel price spikes. The LTFRB said it would facilitate handing out fuel subsidies to 280,000 beneficiaries, namely jeepneys, taxis, buses, and other public utility vehicles. Operators of modern jeepneys and modern UV Express, meanwhile, will receive P10,000 in subsidies while traditional jeepneys, taxis, buses, and other PUVs will receive P6,500. The DoE said among the reasons for the price spikes is the enduring tight supply of oil after Saudi Arabia and Russia announced their extension of voluntary production cuts through the end of 2023, and United States crude stocks showing a larger-than-expected decline. The post DoE advice: Find cheaper fuel amid coming price hike appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Saudi protests Koran ‘insult’
Saudi Arabia summoned a Swedish envoy late Thursday to criticize the issuance of licenses for protests that supposedly insult the Koran. The Gulf kingdom’s foreign ministry said in a statement that it would hand over to the Swedish charge d’affaires “a protest note that includes the kingdom’s request to the Swedish authorities to take all immediate and necessary measures to stop these disgraceful acts.” The move comes amid rising tensions between Sweden and Iraq over an Iraqi refugee who burned portions of the Koran outside Stockholm’s biggest mosque last month. Salwan Momika, a refugee, trod on the Koran but did not burn it in the most recent incident, which occurred on Thursday. The news that Swedish authorities would allow the march to take place prompted hundreds of Iraqis to storm and torch Sweden’s embassy in Baghdad in a chaotic pre-dawn attack. The Iraqi government denounced the incident but replied against the Swedish complaint by dismissing its ambassador, pledging to terminate ties, and suspending the operating license of Swedish telecom company Ericsson. Saudi Arabia also condemned the June Koran burning and urged Sweden to “stop all actions that directly contradict international efforts to spread the values of tolerance, moderation, and rejection of extremism, and undermine the necessary mutual respect for people-state relations.” That tragedy occurred during the Eid al-Adha holiday, eliciting outrage and diplomatic objections from Muslims around the world. The 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation condemned the latest Stockholm demonstration on Thursday as “another provocative attack” that could not be justified under the right to free expression. The post Saudi protests Koran ‘insult’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Plastic pollution: Treaty talks get into the nitty-gritty
Countries grappling with the "immense" task of ending plastic pollution began a new round of talks in Paris on Monday, amid protests and warnings of the urgency to act. Representatives of 175 nations with divergent ambitions met at the UNESCO headquarters with the aim of making progress towards reaching by next year a historic agreement covering the entire plastics life cycle. As the talks opened, the head of the negotiations, Gustavo Meza-Cuadra Velazquez of Peru, said the challenge was "immense, as we are all aware here, but it is not insurmountable". "The world's eyes are on us," he said. French President Emmanuel Macron urged participating nations to put an end to a "globalized and unsustainable" production model, where richer countries export plastic waste to poorer ones. "Plastic pollution is a time-bomb and at the same time already a scourge today," he said in a video message, adding that the materials, based on fossil fuels, posed a risk to global warming goals as well as to biodiversity and human health. He said the priorities of the negotiations should be first to reduce the production of plastics and to ban "as soon as possible" the most polluting products like single-use plastics. The stakes are high, given that annual plastics production has more than doubled in 20 years to 460 million tonnes, and is on track to triple within four decades. Two-thirds of this output is discarded after being used once or a few times, and winds up as waste. Less than 10 percent is recycled, while more than a fifth is dumped or burned illegally. Environmental groups have raised concerns about the influence of industry lobbying on the talks, with protests outside the venue on Monday carrying signs saying "Kick industry out". "What do we want? Global plastic treaty! When do we want it? Now!" protesters chanted. In nature, microplastics have been found in ice near the North Pole and in fish navigating the deepest recesses of the oceans. In humans, microscopic bits of plastic have been detected in blood, breast milk, and placentas. Plastic also contributes to global warming, accounting for 3.4 percent of global emissions in 2019, according to the OECD. Gushing pollution In February 2022, nations agreed in principle on the need for a legally binding UN treaty to end plastic pollution around the world, setting an ambitious 2024 deadline to reach an agreement. Policy actions to be debated during the talks include a global ban on single-use plastic items, and production caps on new plastic production. Delegates in Paris have to narrow down what elements should be included in the eventual draft treaty text, though technical debates had already slowed down the schedule on Monday. Environmental groups are concerned the treaty may not include targets to reduce overall plastic production. Reduction of plastic use and production is part of a plan by the High Ambition Coalition of some 50 nations led by Rwanda and Norway and including the European Union, Canada, Chile, and –- as of a few days ago -- Japan. But many countries are reluctant to aim for absolute cuts in production, insisting that recycling and improved waste management are the answer. These include China, the United States, Saudi Arabia, and other OPEC countries, all of which have large petrochemical industries. The head of the UN Environment Programme, Inger Andersen, told the delegates that a throwaway plastic culture was "gushing pollution galore, choking our ecosystems, warming the climate, damaging our health" and that the most vulnerable were the hardest hit. To applause, she added: "We cannot recycle our way out of this mess". Sprint The Paris meeting, which runs to June 2, is the second of five sessions in the process. One more meeting will be held this year and two in 2024 before the treaty is set to be adopted by the middle of 2025, said Jyoti Mathur-Filipp, executive secretary of the negotiating committee, adding that it would be a "sprint". Organizers said limited space at the venue was causing the access limitations, adding that there were some 612 organizations listed to attend in total, with around 40 linked to the business. Campaigners kept the pressure on over-access to the venue during the day. Tweeting a picture of a group of around three dozen campaigners, the Center for International Environmental Law called for greater public participation in the process. "We will not be silenced!" said CIEL's Jane Patton, adding that fewer than a third of those pictured had been allowed into the venue. The post Plastic pollution: Treaty talks get into the nitty-gritty appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Watch out
Last week, investors were spooked by a potential cut in OPEC+ output. Oil prices rose amid fierce warnings made by Saudi Arabia’s energy chief to oil speculators......»»
ASEAN ‘centrality’ needed amid challenges
INDONESIA — Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo on Tuesday emphasized the importance of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ centrality as the organization faces increasingly complex challenges. Speaking at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting, Manalo acknowledged the growing interest in ASEAN from the international community, with Panama, Saudi Arabia and Spain recently joining the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia. “Through the increased interest of the international community in ASEAN, that already points to the affirmative, that ASEAN does matter,” Manalo said. However, the Foreign Affairs chief also stressed the need to ensure that ASEAN’s profile and interests remain at the forefront of engagements with external partners. “We must channel this greater interest into high-quality engagements, with a robust agenda that puts ASEAN’s profile and interest front and center,” said Manalo, as he highlighted the importance of reinforcing ASEAN’s centrality outward and projecting it beyond the organization’s 10 member states. “We need to ask how ASEAN can matter not just to our circle of 10, soon to be 11, but to the larger region and the world,” said the DFA chief. He also cited the implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific as an example of how ASEAN can project its centrality in the region as he stressed the need for an ASEAN-led resolution to the Myanmar crisis, despite the mobilization of international support. The post ASEAN ‘centrality’ needed amid challenges appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
U.S. special forces evacuate Americans in Khartoum
United States special forces in helicopters evacuated staff of the US embassy in Khartoum as fighting between rival military factions of Sudan intensified in the capital city. More than 100 American troops rescued fewer than 100 people from the US embassy using three Chinook helicopters and flew to Djibouti, where other foreign governments are staging rescue mission for their own citizens caught in the crossfire in Khartoum. US President Joe Biden condemned the fighting and called for an immediate ceasefire on Sunday. Ferocious battles between the Sudanese army and a paramilitary group — which has seen fighter jets launch airstrikes and street fighting with tanks in densely populated Khartoum — have killed more than 400 people and left thousands wounded. Khartoum’s airport has been the site of heavy fighting with aircraft destroyed on the runway and is under the control of the Rapid Support Forces. More than 150 people from various nations reached the safety of Saudi Arabia. Heavy fighting broke out on 15 April between forces loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy turned rival Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the powerful paramilitary RSF. The RSF emerged from the Janjaweed militia unleashed in Darfur by former strongman leader Omar al-Bashir, where they were accused of war crimes. Burhan and Daglo seized power in a 2021 coup but later fell out in a bitter power struggle. US Undersecretary of State John Bass said that the RSF “cooperated to the extent that they did not fire on our service members.” Bass warned that a coordinated US government effort to evacuate other American citizens was unlikely in the coming days. More than 150 people from various nations reached the safety of Saudi Arabia after naval forces launched a rescue across the Red Sea on Saturday, collecting 91 Saudi citizens and around 66 nationals from 12 other countries from Port Sudan, in the first announced evacuation of civilians. A ceasefire declared on Friday by the two sides for the Eid al-Fitr holiday that marks the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan was shortlived. Meanwhile, civilians shelter inside their homes in Khartoum, with power largely cut amid sweltering heat in the city of five million people. Many have ventured out only to get food and water, supplies of which are dwindling, or to flee the city. Adding to residents’ woes was a “near-total collapse of internet connectivity” across the country, according to web monitor NetBlocks. The post U.S. special forces evacuate Americans in Khartoum appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
News from home: Delayed Saudi OFW payouts, 51% of Pinoy families feel poor
From news of a longer delay for payouts to overseas Filipino workers owed salaries by Saudi Arabia companies to 51% of Filipino families feeling poor amid the rising cost of living, these are among our headlines from the past week we think you should know if you’re a Filipino based abroad......»»
Saudi Arabia hosts & lsquo;Davos in Desert& rsquo; amid pandemic
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia---Saudi Arabia will host a two-day Davos-style investment forum starting Wednesday, with dozens of global policymakers and business tycoons lined up to speak at the partly virtual event amid the coronavirus pandemic......»»
Cash remittances dip 6.4% in January-May
The central bank said cash remittances or transfers via the banking system has declined by 6.4 percent year-on-year in the first five months of the year to $11.554 billion from $12.349 billion. “The decline in cash remittances was due to the negative effects of the continued limited operating hours of some banks and institutions that provide money transfer services during the lockdown and the repatriation of many OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) in March 2020,” said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) in a statement Monday. The cash remittances of land-based overseas Filipinos dropped 7.2 percent to $8.965 billion compared to same time last year of $9.664 billion. The remittances of sea-based workers also dipped 3.6 percent to $2.589 billion from $2.684 billion. “By country source, the US registered the highest share to total overseas Filipinos remittances at 39.4 percent for January–May. It was followed by Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Japan, the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Hongkong, Qatar, and Taiwan,” the BSP said. “The combined remittances from these countries accounted for 78.8 percent of total cash remittances.” For the month of May only, remittances sent through the banks decreased by 19.3 percent to $2.106 billion compared to $2.609 billion same time in 2019. Also for the month of May, personal remittances fell by 19.2 percent to $2.341 billion versus $2.896 billion in May 2019. Personal remittances from land-based workers with work contracts of one year or more slipped by 21.2 percent to $1.77 billion in May from $2.24 billion. Sea-based workers and land-based workers with work contracts of less than one year also declined by 12.4 percent to $519 million from $592 million in 2019. According to the BSP, “this is the third consecutive month that personal remittances posted year-on-year contraction amid the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on global economic activity, travel, and employment, resulting in the repatriation or deferment of employment of many OFWs.” For the cumulative January-May, personal remittances went down by 6.4 percent year-on-year to $12.835 billion from $13.707 billion. Personal remittances as defined by the BSP, is the “sum of net compensation of employees, personal transfers and capital transfers between households.” For 2020, the BSP expects cash remittances to contract by five percent and end up with $28.6 billion and then recover next year, bouncing back to a four percent growth to $29.8 billion. Last year, cash remittances reached $30.133 billion or up 4.1 percent from 2018, while personal remittances grew by 3.9 percent year-on-year to $33.467 billion......»»
It s Showtime hosts to play in Family Feud
The hosts of the Kapamilya noontime show "It's Showtime" will make a guest appearance on the Kapuso game show "Family Feud," hosted by Dingdong Dantes......»»
Winds destroy houses in two Central Mindanao towns
Around 40 houses were destroyed by strong winds that pummeled lowlands in the adjoining towns of Montawal, Maguindanao del Sur and Kabacan, Cotabato amid heavy rains on Thursday afternoon......»»
US reaffirms support for Philippines sovereignty amid its tensions with China
Washington, DC [US], March 28 (ANI): US Secretary of Defence Llyod Austin has reaffirmed Washington's commitment to Manila in defending its sovereignty while criticising China's "dangerous" water cannon attack at the Philippine supply mission vessel on Saturday. In a telephonic conversation between Austin and his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro, the US Secretary reiterated the US-Philippines Mutual Defence Treaty.....»»
Philippines announces decisive measures amid tensions with China
Manila [Philippines], March 28 (ANI): Amid the escalating tensions in the South China Sea, Philippine President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr has announced decisive measures to protect his country's sovereignty and maritime rights while ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. Marcos, known as Bongbong, said that the measures, aimed at addressing what he said is the "open, unabating, and illegal" actions by China's Coast.....»»
DMW sets April 15 deadline for kin of deceased Saudi OFW wage claimants
DMW sets April 15 deadline for kin of deceased Saudi OFW wage claimants.....»»
Mayor Uy posts cryptic messages amid Igacos power problems
ISLAND Garden City of Samal (Igacos) Mayor Al David Uy posted cryptic messages regarding the power crisis in Igacos......»»