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PPPs eyed for offshore wind farms in ports
The government may consider public-private partnerships (PPPs) in its plan to transform ports into offshore wind projects, as it could take as much as $80 million to redevelop each one of them......»»
Visita Iglesia 2024: San Fernando Rey Parish Church in Liloan
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Liloan town in northern Cebu is known to be the home of the delightful ‘rosquillos.’ But apart from their signature delicacy, a seemingly unique placement of a religious structure was built in this town. If you plan to have a Visita Iglesia this Holy Week, you may want to include.....»»
MVP Cup 2024: One Invitational golf tilt fires off
Smart Infinity kicks off the summer by treating its members to a memorable and exclusive two-day golf tournament at the recent MVP Cup 2024: One Invitational held at the Manila Golf and Country Club......»»
Biden to Host Japan PM Kishida, Philippines President Marcos
WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden will host Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for a White House summit next month amid growing concerns about North Korea's nuclear program, provocative Chinese action in the South China Sea and differences over a Japanese company's plan to buy an iconic American steel company.White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in a sta.....»»
Ukraine pitches peace plan at Malta talks
Malta opened talks on a Ukraine-proposed peace plan in its capital Valletta on Saturday with representatives from more than 50 countries attending, except boycotting Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hopes the two-day meeting, held behind closed doors, will drum up support for his 10-point plan to end the war sparked by Russia’s February 2022 invasion. It is the third Ukrainian-backed peace talks after similar summits in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Copenhagen, Denmark this summer. National security and policy advisors from more than 50 countries plus international institutions are expected — more than the 40-odd nations at the Saudi summit in August. Zelensky’s peace plan calls for Russia to withdraw all its troops from Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders, including from the territory of Crimea, which it annexed in 2014. Russia — which claimed to annex the four Ukrainian regions of Lugansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in September 2022 — has rejected any settlement that would involve giving up land. The discussions would focus on five key areas — food security, energy security, nuclear security, humanitarian issues and restoring the territorial integrity of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine’s presidential office, said this week. Organizers are hoping for a joint statement from the Malta summit, after both previous meetings ended without a final declaration. Talks participants include the United States, the European Union and Britain, staunch supporters of Kyiv, as well as Turkey, which has offered itself as a mediator between Ukraine and Russia. Also attending are South Africa, Brazil and India, members of the influential BRICS bloc, which also includes Russia. South Africa and India have not condemned the invasion, while Brazil has refused to join Western nations in sending arms to Ukraine or imposing sanctions on Moscow. China, which insists it is neutral and refuses to criticize the invasion, was present in Jeddah and is hoped to take part in Malta, diplomats said. WITH AFP The post Ukraine pitches peace plan at Malta talks appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
An inane idea
The conflict in the disputed waters in the West Philippine Sea has birthed unnecessary and unpalatable narratives plus inane proposals to dramatize the country’s condemnation of the provocative and aggressive navigational acts coming from some government functionaries, apart from escalating the tension between claimants China and the Philippines. The repeated infuriating bullying by the Chinese Coast Guard on our own Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine vessels has been relentless. China has been oblivious to our countless diplomatic protests and calls for it to stop its incursions on our territorial waters, respect our sovereign rights and accept the arbitrary ruling handed by the Permanent Arbitration Court. It has turned deaf ears to our protestations. It has been unmoved by the collective expression of condemnation of its acts of aggression against the Philippines from countries consisting of the European Union, Japan, Australia Canada, and the United States. Not even the threat by the latter to use counter-offensive and defensive measures by way of enforcing the Mutual Defense Treaty between it and our country could soften China’s provocative and aggressive stance. It stubbornly refuses to recognize the arbitral ruling of the Permanent Arbitration Court that has rejected its nine-dash expansionist claim over a large part of the South China Sea while validating the Philippines’ claim over Ayungin Shoal as within its exclusive economic zone. China’s emergence from an underdeveloped and weak country to a superpower like the United States and Russia made it easy for it to adopt the maxim that might is right. Truly, from a sleeping giant, it has become a mighty dragon spewing fire. China’s unacceptable and outrageous assaults on our territorial waters, which must be stopped, is, however, not an excuse to call for a boycott of its products. It’s a stupid idea. The proponents have not considered the repercussions if we enforce such an inane thought. We cannot be hostage to that vexing conflict with China and throw to the winds the benefits derived from our trade relations with it. China, being the largest supplier of manufactured goods, is known as the “ world’s factory.“ Every imaginable household use, clothes, shoes, textiles, construction materials, kitchen and toilet fixtures, beauty equipment, electronic gadgets, toys, outdoor and interior decors, tiles, air conditioning units, electric fans, engineered floors, kitchen utensils, heavy machinery and equipment, engineered wood floors, and a thousand other items. Compared to US and European-made, Chinese-manufactured goods are much cheaper. No wonder, they are much preferred now by the average Filipino because of the affordable prices of these products. Quality-wise, they can give Western merchandise a run for their money. A government policy of boycotting goods coming from China will deprive millions of ordinary Filipinos to have them. This is an anti-poor program. The propagates of this boycott idea seem to be either ignorant or oblivious to the fact that China is the biggest trade partner of the Philippines. Philippines exports to China have reached a whopping $10.97 billion in 2022 while imports from China rose to $28.2 billion per the latest data. If we enforce a boycott policy of Chinese products, those figures will be jeopardized. Do those propagators of such foolish advocacy realize the monstrosity of that monumentally folly? (To be continued) The post An inane idea appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
S. Leone radio station goes off air before critical US interview
A prominent radio station in Sierra Leone went off air Wednesday shortly before a pre-recorded interview with the US ambassador highlighting concerns about the general election was due to be broadcast. Radio Democracy 98.1 temporarily went off the airwaves during Wednesday's breakfast program, when an interview with US Ambassador David Reimer, recorded a day earlier, was due to be broadcast. In a leaked recording of part of the interview authenticated by the embassy, Reimer can be heard enumerating Washington's concerns about the disputed June 24 vote and "the integrity and the credibility of the results" announced by the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone. "The United States is concerned about irregularities in the results that were announced by the ECSL -- that includes a big difference between the ECSL announced results and the parallel vote tabulation, as well as inconsistencies that were analyzed by domestic and international observers," Reimer said. "All of these things raise questions in our mind... about the integrity of the official results." International observers had noted "statistical inconsistencies" and condemned a "lack of transparency" in the ballot count. A national observation group also found significant discrepancies between voter results for presidential, parliamentary, and local council elections. Sarah Van Horne, a US embassy public affairs officer, confirmed to AFP that the interview had been recorded on Tuesday to be broadcast on Wednesday, but that it was not aired. She said the embassy has been told it will instead air on Thursday. Reimer affirmed in the interview that President Julius Maada Bio, who won 56 percent of the presidential vote, according to official results, was president. But, he said, "What we have not done is congratulated him." He said the US would not change its work "with the people of Sierra Leone", including health programs, but would review its government-to-government programs, including a Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact grant worth hundreds of millions of dollars. "In the year or two preceding the compact, we were very clear with the government of Sierra Leone that in order to get a compact they needed to have a fair, free, open, and transparent election," he said. "Sierra Leone had done everything else up to that point to get a compact... (but) given the fact that there are all sorts of questions about the results, we're taking a look at everything, and that includes the MCC compact." He said Washington would like to see an "outside, independent look at the election" and a government dialogue with civil society and political parties. Bio in early August announced that a committee comprising members of civil society and development partners would be set up to review the vote, under the leadership of his vice president. But, Reimer said in the interview, "It's just not possible for someone who was a candidate in the election to then look at the process and be not biased." The opposition All People's Congress, which disputes the results, has refused to participate in local or national government, with most MPs boycotting parliament since it opened for business in July. Reimer called on the APC not to boycott the government and to serve the Sierra Leoneans who voted for the party. The post S. Leone radio station goes off air before critical US interview appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Boy Kuting
Senate President Migz Zubiri has shouted “boykotin ang Chinese products” to show Filipinos’ disgust over the Chinese Coast Guard’s water cannonading of our vessels resupplying the grounded BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal recently. On cue, Senator Risa Hontiveros echoed the call in a Tweet, although her post carried the ironic line, “Sent from my iPhone 14,” a device that is wholly made in China. That is exactly the problem with this course of action: The use of Chinese products is well-nigh inescapable. And while it is right for every patriotic Filipino to exhibit outrage over this latest show of Chinese bullying, there must be some way to show our reproach other than calling for something that is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to execute, lest we be again mortified by our lack of capability. Let’s start with cars. It would be easy enough not to buy a Foton, JAC, GAC or MG automobile, as a lot of us consider them — fairly or not — as inferior to other makes. But if you buy one of the lower-end Toyotas, you must know that a great number of its components are made in China, through a tie-up with FAW. The same goes for Nissans and Hondas, especially when it comes to electronics and drive train components. Okay, so the well-heeled snobs among you will say, “To hell with the Asian carmakers, I’m going European!” Fine, except that Mercedes Benz is 15 percent outrightly owned by two Chinese companies, BYD (10 percent) and SAIC (5 percent). More than half of the components of BMW cars are made by the companies Power Xinchen and Beijing Shougang. Wanna make a wild guess as to the nationalities of these companies. As for Audi, a lot of them are made in the cities of Changchun and Foshan in… where else? This is because China is Audi’s biggest market, not Europe or North America. As for some Volkswagen models, many are totally made in China, so you can forget about that, too. Hitler, that ultimate racist and white supremacist, who designed the Volkswagen Beetle, would be turning in his grave (if he had one). Go electric, go Tesla, you might say, as it’s owned by that all-American Elon Musk. But almost all of Tesla’s batteries are made in China, so no cigar. Gadgets are also out of the equation. 95 percent of iPhones are made in China (with some made in India, but sometimes they don’t arrive). My Oppo Reno is made in China, and so are Huaweis. Even the legacy Nordic brand Nokia is made in China. You’d be better off with Samsung, which makes many of its phones in Vietnam, but not much. The Vietnamese have built structures in the disputed Spratly Islands. Clothing is also not a good category for boycotting. Skechers is an American brand, but its shoes are all Chinese. Rivals Adidas and Puma are in the same boat. Fans of Japan’s Uniqlo must know that they’re basically wearing Chinese-made clothes. The Amboys who prefer Guess are doing the same thing. Even luxury clothing brand Ralph Lauren has its products made by the same people who insist on the nine-dash line. I could go on and on, but I know, dear readers, that you get my drift. Our politicians, of course, thrive on grandstanding. But before they stand in the halls of the Senate before a podium made of Chinese wood laminate, to fulminate for a boycott of Chinese products into a microphone of Chinese manufacture, their irate voices amplified by electronics assembled by a Chinese company, so that their histrionics may be read on Chinese-made tablets and phones, they should remember that most of what we use is made in China. It is one of the tigers of the world economy; we are just a kitten and all our rantings just the meowing of a small “kuting, a boy kuting.” The post Boy Kuting appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Culture wars put American companies on the defensive
Boycotting a beer, attacking products celebrating the LGBTQ community, and criticizing shareholders for promoting diversity: In the face of growing criticism from conservatives, American companies are backtracking on progressive corporate initiatives. .....»»
Culture wars put American companies on the defensive
Boycotting a beer, attacking products celebrating the LGBTQ community, and criticizing shareholders for promoting diversity: In the face of growing criticism from conservatives, American companies are backtracking on progressive corporate initiatives. For Bud Light beer, it was a partnership with a transgender influencer that triggered the ire of right-wing consumers, and calls for a boycott. Typically, such a protest has little impact, but this time in-store sales have seen a slump, with Bud Light even losing its position as the best-selling beer in the United States to Modelo Especial in recent weeks, according to Bump Williams Consulting. Anheuser-Busch InBev, Bud Light's parent company, quickly launched a marketing counteroffensive with a more typically patriotic ad featuring American landscapes, followed on Wednesday by a campaign highlighting its employees. The Target discount retailer, for its part, chose to withdraw certain items marketed for Pride Month due to threats against employees. And at annual shareholder meetings, the number of resolutions opposing companies' inclusion of environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria -- particularly on diversity -- has more than doubled in the past three years, according to the Sustainable Investment Institute (SII). - Reaction to Trump - While such resolutions usually garner very few votes, they are nevertheless having an impact. Larry Fink, the head of asset manager BlackRock, which has promoted sustainable investments in recent years, recently told a conference in Colorado that he has stopped using the term "ESG" because it has become too politicized. This new vigilance extends to the world of sport: after some players voiced reluctance over wearing rainbow symbols, the National Hockey League decided that teams should no longer wear special jerseys supporting LGBTQ rights because they had become a "distraction." "The tension of navigating between groups of people that think very, very differently has always been there," said Alison Taylor, a specialist in corporate ethics at New York University. But the situation has changed as political life has become increasingly polarized, she added. Corporations "got involved in controversial questions in 2017-2018, when there was a lot of organized resistance to Trump -- this seemed like a really good way to attract young people and generate shareholder value," she said. While the prospect of affecting real change on issues like abortion and gun control no longer seems possible in the political arena, young people have come to believe they can bring pressure to bear via business, according to Taylor. - Lobbyists at work - Unlike their elders, for whom political involvement boils down to the ballot box or party donations, younger people "are more inclined to bring their politics into how you invest, into how you shop, even into your office," said David Webber, a specialist in investor activism at Boston University. The sharp reactions to some company initiatives have been amplified by political leaders including Florida governor and 2024 presidential candidate Ron DeSantis, who targeted Disney over some of its progressive positions. And DeSantis is not alone. "Conservative organizations," financed in part by companies in the oil and gas sector, "started a campaign to pass legislation in different states to target ESG practices," Webber said. So far, the results have been mixed. "Some companies may, at least, back away from some of the rhetoric on ESG. But we've seen very little serious reallocation of assets," he said. Driven by customers, shareholders and employees, companies have no choice "but to be involved in some political issues," Daniel Korschun, a marketing specialist at Drexel University, told AFP. However, "people really start to react negatively when they feel like they're being pushed too far," as was the case in the Bud Light controversy, he added. "There's a very delicate balance between advocating and pushing too hard," he said. In response, "many managers are pulling back for the moment until they can figure out this new terrain that they're in," he added. jum-da/nro/tjj © Agence France-Presse The post Culture wars put American companies on the defensive appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Oreo-maker faces Scandinavia boycott over Russia
Scandinavian organizations are boycotting US group Mondelez, maker of snacks like Oreo and Toblerone, due to the group's continued presence in Russia, as Norway's government held a meeting Wednesday with several actors. Airlines SAS and Norwegian, hotel chains, the Norwegian football federation and the Swedish military are among those rejecting products made by the company formerly known as Kraft Foods and its subsidiaries Freia in Norway and Marabou in Sweden. In late May, Mondelez was added to a list of "international sponsors of war" drawn up by Ukrainian authorities, accused of being susceptible of financing Moscow's war in Ukraine by maintaining activities in Russia and paying taxes there. The Swedish military therefore this week asked its suppliers to replace Mondelez products with other brands. "We are doing this to be in line with our other actions towards Ukraine," spokeswoman Guna Graufelds told AFP. Several actors, including retail chains -- none of which have joined the boycott at this stage -- requested guidelines from Norwegian authorities during a meeting on Wednesday. "Our message is clear that it is up to companies themselves to make these choices and for consumers to decide", and not up to authorities, said Halvard Ingebrigtsen, a state secretary in Norway's Trade and Industry Ministry. Mondelez insisted it has only "limited operations" in Russia and that none of its subsidiary Freia's products are made in the country. "Our parent company, Mondelez International, respects all political decisions and sanctions," Freia said. Other groups on the Ukrainian list of "sponsors of war" include Auchan, Procter & Gamble, Metro, Yves Rocher and Bonduelle. nzg-phy/po/rl © Agence France-Presse The post Oreo-maker faces Scandinavia boycott over Russia appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Toni was my first love team : Sam Milby distances self from Toni Gonzaga issue
Kapamilya actor Sam Milby doesn't want to answer the rumors that ABS-CBN stars are boycotting Toni Gonzaga's ALLTV program "Toni.".....»»
Toni was my first love team : Sam Milby distances self from Toni Gonzaga
Kapamilya actor Sam Milby doesn't want to answer the rumors that ABS-CBN stars are boycotting Toni Gonzaga's ALLTV program "Toni.".....»»
Arab artists boycott UAE after Israel deal
The United Arab Emirates' move to pursue normalisation with Israel has prompted a backlash from Arab artists and intellectuals, who are boycotting Emirati-backed cultural awards and events to support the Palestinian cause......»»
Firms boycotting Facebook ads over failure to curb hate speech
US telecoms giant Verizon joined the growing list of brands vowing to stop buying advertising on Facebook on Thursday over its perceived failure to crack down on hate speech and incitements to violence......»»