United States of America: The bailout will give a huge boost to the education sector economy
With massive infusions of federal aid on the way, schools in the United States are studying how to use resources to mitigate the damage from.....»»
China, Not Russia, Still Tops List of Threats to US
WASHINGTON - Russia's war in Ukraine - portrayed by top U.S. officials as posing a danger to the United States itself - still trails China when it comes to long-term threats to America's security, according to a top Pentagon official.The warning from Ely Ratner, the Defense Department's assistant secretary for Indo-Pacific security affairs, comes in testimony prepared for a hearing Wednesday by the House Armed S.....»»
United States of America: The bailout will give a huge boost to the education sector economy
With massive infusions of federal aid on the way, schools in the United States are studying how to use resources to mitigate the damage from.....»»
Hamas tells mediators it will stick to original position on ceasefire
Hamas earlier presents a Gaza ceasefire proposal to mediators and the United States in mid-March that includes the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for freedom for Palestinian prisoners, 100 of whom are serving life sentences.....»»
Japan policy paper to focus on US, Philippines to counter China
Tokyo [Japan], March 23 (ANI): Japan released a draft of its annual foreign policy report stating that it will pay attention to the importance of boosting collaboration with the United States and the Philippines to counter China's assertive behaviour in the Indo-Pacific region, Kyodo news reported on Thursday. The Diplomatic Bluebook for 2024 will also underscore that Tokyo "cannot afford to waste even a moment" to solve.....»»
The US is cultivating an antagonist to China in Beijing s own backyard
Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the president of the Philippines, is a stark contrast to his predecessor - and besides, Washington has dirt on him The Philippines has been a treaty ally of the United States since 1951, almost as long as it's been an independent country. Before that, it was a colony of the US, which had won it as.....»»
Japan policy paper to focus on US, Philippines to counter China
Tokyo [Japan], March 23 (ANI): Japan released a draft of its annual foreign policy report stating that it will pay attention to the importance of boosting collaboration with the United States and the Philippines to counter China's assertive behaviour in the Indo-Pacific region, Kyodo news reported on Thursday. The Diplomatic Bluebook for 2024 will also underscore that Tokyo "cannot afford to waste even a moment" to solve.....»»
Scorching schools: How heat worsens conditions of poor students in PH
[This is the second and last part of a special report on how extreme heat in 2023 impacted the education sector in the Philippines. Click here for the first part.] CEBU CITY, Philippines – The same analysis by Cebu Daily News Digital (CDN Digital) showed that even private schools, which usually have better facilities and.....»»
U.S. Measles Cases Surpass 2023 Levels, C.D.C. Says – The Daily Guardian
The Daily Guardian – Measles Cases on the Rise in the United States Measles cases in the United States have been steadily increasing this year,.....»»
Creative economy grows to P1.72 trillion
The value of the country’s creative economy rose by 6.8 percent in 2023 from a year ago as the sector employed more people, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority......»»
‘Not war with China; don’t rely only on US’ – Marcos Jr.
In an interview on Bloomberg TV last Wednesday, as reported in another national daily, he made two related comments that could represent important government policy stands. First, regarding China’s increasing aggressive moves against Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea; second, about the United States’ repeated assurance of its “iron-clad” defense commitment under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty. The post ‘Not war with China; don’t rely only on US’ – Marcos Jr. appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
Diffusing tension
In his 2024 State of the Union Address, President Joseph Biden doubled down on his rhetoric against China as he boasted revitalized partnerships in the Pacific. He rattled off India, Australia, Japan, South Korea and the Pacific Islands. He said the United States is standing up against China’s economic practices while standing up for peace across the Taiwan Strait......»»
Philippines, US allot P1.15 billion to fight TB
The Philippines, through the Department of Health (DOH), and the United States government, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), have teamed up to finance a P1.15-billion campaign against tuberculosis (TB) in the country......»»
Asian qualifying results for 2026 FIFA World Cup
BEIJING, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Following are Thursday's results in Asian qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico: Group A At Doha Qatar bt Kuwait 3-0 At Abha, Saudi Arabia Afghanistan tied India 0-0 Group B At Tokyo Japan bt DPR Korea 1-0 At Yangon Myanmar tied Syria 1-1 Group C At Seoul South Korea tied T.....»»
GCash sets sights on further international expansion
With GCash Overseas, Filipinos in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Germany, Qatar, Kuwait, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia can now download and use the GCash app, whether they have Philippine SIMs or local mobile phone numbers in the countries or territories where they live......»»
Villanueva returns to US for fight vs Pierce
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Veteran ring warrior Arthur Villanueva returned to the United States after eight years as he takes on Elijah Pierce on March 29 in Atlantic City, Georgia. Villanueva, an ex-ALA Boxing Gym stalwart, will return to the United States for the first time since 2016. The 35-year-old Villanueva of Bago City, Negros.....»»
Biden to host trilateral summit with Japan, Philippines on April 11
Washington, DC [US], March 19 (ANI): US President Joe Biden will host a three-way summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos in Washington on April 11, as announced by the White House, as reported by Kyodo News. This historic summit, the first of its kind involving the United States, Japan, and the Philippines, aims to bolster defence cooperation in response to China's asse.....»»
US warns China against armed attack on Philippines
Washington, DC [US], March 19 (ANI): US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned China on Tuesday, stating that any "armed" attack on Philippine vessels in the South China Sea would activate a mutual self-defence agreement between Washington and Manila, underscoring the escalating tensions in the region that could potentially embroil the United States in conflict with Beijing, as reported by The New York Times. Despite th.....»»
Belgian wealth fund managers to explore Phl investments
Belgium’s sovereign wealth fund managers are looking to visit the country to explore investments in Philippine firms engaged in a range of public services, the Department of Finance said Saturday. DoF Secretary Benjamin Diokno and officers of the Federal Holding and Investment Company or La Société Fédérale de Participations et d’Investissement discussed opportunities in public-private partnerships in finance, aeronautics and mobility, health, utilities and impact investing. “Koenraad Van Loo, CEO of SFPIM, shared that the company is keen to visit the Philippines to explore partnerships in its priority sectors,” a statement from the DoF said. “SFPIM preserves the long-term stability of the Belgian economy by contributing to the anchoring of strategic assets through smart capital solutions for both promising and established companies,” the DoF added. According to the 2023 World Competitiveness Ranking, Belgium is 13th out of 64 countries in economic performance. The country is also among the top in business efficiency at fifth place and tenth in infrastructure. The Philippines, on the other hand, ranks 40th in economic performance and business efficiency, and 58th in infrastructure. Long-term economic growth President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has vowed to boost infrastructure development for national long-term economic growth through proceeds from the Maharlika Investment Fund which his administration expects to be activated before the end of the year. The Philippine sovereign fund is open to local and foreign investors in the public and private sectors, and aims to support 197 flagship infrastructure projects worth a total of some $155 billion. Diokno said the DoF has met with foreign government and business leaders at the European Union’s first Global Gateway Forum last 25 to 26 October in Brussels, Belgium to also discuss the Philippine sovereign fund. The Finance Secretary said he talked to the Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries or BIO led by its chief executive officer Luuk Zonneveld. “Discussed were opportunities to finance projects in the Philippines that drive sustainable development, particularly gender equality, climate action, and decent work,” he said. BIO uses private funds to support small and medium businesses, and financial institutions also in Africa and Latin America. Confident in the administration Meanwhile, Professor Dindo Manhit of business consultancy outfit, Stratbase ADR Institute said he is confident the Marcos administration can attract more foreign investments in agro-industrial and digitalization through its participation in global economic meetings abroad. “By establishing strong links in the economic space, the Philippines can further solidify its role in the global supply chain,” Manhit said. “We are confident that this administration will continue to advocate for reforms that will ensure our economic growth to make the country a premiere investment destination,” he added. The post Belgian wealth fund managers to explore Phl investments appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Colombia deadliest country for green activists in 2022
Environmental activist murders doubled in Colombia last year, making it the most dangerous country in the world for those trying to protect the planet, a watchdog said Tuesday. In its annual review, Global Witness named 177 land and environmental defenders who had been killed in 2022 -- from the Amazon to the Philippines and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Latin America again bore the brunt of the murders, including 39 killings across the vast Amazon rainforest, a vital carbon sink facing widespread destruction at a time when the world is grappling to curb climate change. The number of those killed has progressively decreased since a record 227 in 2020, however, "this does not mean that the situation has significantly improved," said Global Witness. "The worsening climate crisis and the ever-increasing demand for agricultural commodities, fuel, and minerals will only intensify the pressure on the environment -– and those who risk their lives to defend it," warned the London-based watchdog. While in 2021 most killings took place in Mexico, Colombia last year surged ahead with 60 deaths -- more than a third of all the murders globally. "This is almost double the number of killings compared to 2021 when 33 defenders lost their lives," said the report. Many of those targeted were Indigenous people, members of Afro-descendant communities, small-scale farmers, and environmental activists. At least five children, three of them Indigenous, were among the global tally. "Yet there is hope," said the NGO, praising efforts under new leftist President Gustavo Petro to boost protection for defenders -- a first in the country. Colombian sociologist and activist Nadia Umana, 35, fled her northern home after the murders of four colleagues, all of whom had been fighting for the return of rural lands taken over by paramilitaries. "Knowing that a colleague of yours was murdered is an indescribable pain," Umana told AFP in Bogota. Even the country's vice-president, Francia Marquez -- the 2018 winner of the prestigious Goldman environmental prize -- has faced multiple threats. In 2019, she survived an attack by gunmen who tried to kill her over her work defending her home region's water resources against mining companies. Mining, logging, farming According to Global Witness, almost 2,000 land and environmental defenders have been murdered over the past decade -- some 70 percent of them in Latin America. In Brazil, where British journalist Dom Philips and Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira were killed last year in the Amazon, a total of 34 land defenders were killed. Mexico, Honduras, and the Philippines also had high numbers. Global Witness said that while it was "difficult to identify" the exact drivers for the killings, 10 were found to be linked to agribusiness, eight to mining, and four to the logging industry. Aside from activists, state officials, demonstrators, park rangers, lawyers, and journalists are also among those who lost their lives. "All of them shared a commitment to defend their rights and keep the planet healthy. All of them paid for their courage and commitment with their lives," said the report. The post Colombia deadliest country for green activists in 2022 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
G20 members to unveil EU-MidEast-India trade plan
Major G20 partners will unveil ambitious plans Saturday to bolster trade between India, the Middle East, and Europe, a modern-day Spice Route to bind regions that account for about a third of the global economy. Washington, Saudi Arabia, the EU, the United Arab Emirates, and others will sign an agreement on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi, presenting an alternative to China's wide-ranging strategic infrastructure investments. Officials told AFP the plan would include a slew of data, rail, electricity, and hydrogen pipeline projects. One proposed project would link railway and port facilities across the Middle East -- including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel -- potentially speeding trade between India and Europe by up to 40 percent. "The India – Middle East – Europe economic corridor" is "nothing less than historic" European Union leaders are expected to say when the details of the plans are unveiled later Saturday. The agreement would boost trade but is also seen as another significant step towards Arab Gulf states normalizing relations with Israel. Washington is actively prodding Riyadh -- a major oil producer and security partner -- to normalize ties with Israel after decades of conflict and closed borders. US involvement could also help mend deeply damaged ties between Riyadh and Washington, which frayed after the US-Iran nuclear deal and the 2018 murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The initiative "has enormous potential", according to Jon Finer, US deputy national security advisor. He said the public announcement would come after "months of careful diplomacy, quiet, careful diplomacy, bilaterally and in multilateral settings". The Europe-to-India project is still in the early stages, with participants studying how best to link India's vast 1.4 billion population and quick-growing economy with markets to the West. According to details seen by AFP, the India – Middle East – Europe economic corridor would also develop infrastructure to enable the production and transport of "green hydrogen". It would also strengthen telecommunications and data transfers through a new undersea cable connecting the region. Michael Kugelman, South Asia Institute director at The Wilson Center, said the plan could be a significant response to China's much-vaunted Belt and Road Initiative. The so-called BRI has spread Chinese influence, investments, and commerce across Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America. "If finalised, it would be a game changer that strengthens connectivity between India and the Middle East and would aim to counter BRI," Kugelman posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. The post G20 members to unveil EU-MidEast-India trade plan appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»