G7 lambasts Beijing over trade practices
ELMAU CASTLE, Germany: Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) on Tuesday condemned China's "nontransparent and market-distorting" international trade practices in an end-of-summit statement that hit out directly at Beijing for the first time. There, the 30-member, United States-led alliance was also poised to toughen its stance against Beijing in an update of its "strategic concept." The US has long cast a wary eye at China over its trade practices, which Washington believes are designed to accord an unfair advantage to Chinese companies over foreign companies. The leaders also voiced concern about human rights violations in China, urging Beijing to respect fundamental freedoms. To offer an alternative to the world's poorest, the G7 on Sunday pledged $600 billion for global infrastructure programs.
Source:Manila Times
June 28, 2022 22:26 UTC
Pass the Land Use Act
A tool exists to correct this — a National Land Use Code — but successive Congresses for nearly 30 years have been unwilling to pass it. As of last year, there were 18 different land use bills pending in the House of Representatives, and four in the Senate. Parameters would be established for sustainable land use at all levels of government in terms of land protection, different types of production, infrastructure use, and settlement uses. Not having a comprehensive land use code has resulted in what anyone can easily see in the Philippines now. Agriculture land is converted, sometimes illegally, for industrial or commercial use, or residential real estate development.
Source:Manila Times
June 28, 2022 22:16 UTC
Philippines Supreme Court rejects last bid to thwart incoming president Marcos
Philippine president-elect FerdinandThe Philippines Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a final bid to disqualify President-elect Ferdinand Marcos from last month's election, local media reported, clearing the way for his inauguration later this week. Marcos, 64, won the May 9 election in a landslide and will be sworn in on Thursday for a six-year term. The Supreme Court justices unanimously dismissed the consolidated cases, media reported. The court did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation and details of its decision had yet to be published. The Marcos camp had long dismissed the petitions as efforts by his opponents to hobble his campaign.
Source:The Standard
June 28, 2022 19:10 UTC
Dr. Shiba, Pawssion Project's shared passion for pets
To give back to the community, the brand has forged a partnership with animal welfare group Pawssion Project. Since its establishment, Pawssion Project has rescued 2000 dogs and cats and regime 1000 of them. It will help us go a long way in this battle for animal welfare," Perez said. For those who want to join this endeavor, simply purchasing Dr. Shiba treats will go a long way as a portion of every purchase will be directly donated to the organization. Dr. Shiba is now available online.
Source:Manila Times
June 28, 2022 09:00 UTC
India arrests Modi critic who runs fact-checking website
NEW DELHI—Indian police on Monday arrested the co-founder of a top fact-checking website who has been a vocal critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, his colleague said. Mohammed Zubair was arrested in Delhi after being called in for questioning in an earlier case, said Pratik Sinha, who runs the Alt-News web site together with Zubair. He has faced several legal cases over the years which his supporters dismiss as politically motivated attempts to silence a critic. On Saturday, police detained activist Teesta Setalvad who hails from Modi’s western home state of Gujarat. Setalvad has been campaigning to have Modi declared complicit in deadly sectarian riots 20 years ago.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
June 28, 2022 08:48 UTC
P62M worth of marijuana plants burn down in Kalinga
MANILA, Philippines — A total of P62 million worth of full-grown marijuana plants have been seized and burned down in Kalinga, Benguet province by police operatives over the weekend. ADVERTISEMENTThe marijuana plantation sites, which have a combined land area of 25,950 square meters, were found in barangays Buscalan, Butbut Proper, and Loccong, Tinglaya. No suspect or cultivator was arrested during the operations, Danao said. Let us further intensify all efforts to hunt down all those responsible behind the planting and cultivation of these prohibited plants,” Danao said. Earlier, the Provincial Mobile Force Company of the Benguet Police Provincial Office also confiscated and scorched marijuana plants worth P848,000 in the province.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
June 28, 2022 05:38 UTC
DTI underscores MSME upskilling programs
STARTING and expanding businesses can avail of several government programs for upskilling and reskilling their workers and financial resources to grow their business. PTTC-GMEA is under the DTI. She said the PTTC also has a program that provides training to startups involved in digital technology and developing digital business solutions for micro, small and medium enterprises or MSMEs as well. For example, its regional program Food Connect aims at assisting food manufacturers to understand the standards, documentation and application of the "gate-to-plate" processes in the food chain. "After the training, they can immediately go into their own entrepreneurial activities," he said.
Source:Manila Times
June 28, 2022 01:58 UTC
Bullfight ban pushed as gallery collapse kills four
Screen grabs and aerial views show amateur bullfighters face off with a bull before a grandstand collapses during a festival in Colombia. A full three-story section of wooden stands filled with spectators collapsed, throwing dozens of people to the ground. A video taken at the scene showed people trying to escape from the stands while a bull continues to roam in the arena. Another person died earlier this month after being gored by a bull during a corraleja in the town of Repelon. While animal abuse is a crime in Colombia, bullfights and cock fights are protected because of the cultural history behind them.
Source:The Standard
June 28, 2022 01:23 UTC
Eagerly anticipating Xi's goodies
It is highly likely the president will come for the anniversary event in person rather than remotely online. In recent days, the question of whether or not Xi will come to Hong Kong has been the subject of intense speculation in local political circles and the financial market. Knowing that Xi will come, the stock market has also livened up. This will be a major political milestone for Xi - and investors are brimming with anticipation. It is evident from yesterday's market performance and the large trading volume that the treasure hunt is underway.
Source:The Standard
June 27, 2022 20:27 UTC
Ailing oceans in the spotlight at major UN meet
LISBON—A long-delayed UN conference on how to restore the faltering health of global oceans kicks off in Lisbon Monday, with thousands of policymakers, experts and advocates on the case. Wild fish stocksMicroplastics — found inside Arctic ice and fish in the ocean’s deepest trenches — are estimated to kill more than a million seabirds and over 100,000 marine mammals each year. “At least one-third of wild fish stocks are overfished and less than 10 percent of the ocean is protected,” Kathryn Matthews, chief scientist for US-based NGO Oceana, told AFP. Another major focus will be “blue food”, the new watchword for ensuring that marine harvests from all sources are sustainable and socially responsible. If properly managed, “wild ocean fish can provide a climate-friendly, micro-nutrient protein source that can feed one billion people a healthy seafood meal every day — forever,” said Matthews.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
June 27, 2022 16:54 UTC
Dr. Clarita Carlos, the nemesis of 'groupthink'
This June 23, 2022 file photo shows incoming National Security Adviser Dr. Clarita Carlos speaking during a talk in Ortigas Center, Pasig City. PHOTO BY JOHN ORVEN VERDOTEBEFORE the national spotlight shone on her, Dr. Clarita Reyes Carlos was a retired professor of political science at the University of the Philippines. In 2020, she was among the appointees of the Commission on Higher Education in its technical panel for political science. But Dr. Carlos never claimed she was still teaching at UP; she always said she was a retired professor. On June 8, 2020, President-elect Marcos announced that Dr. Carlos would be his national security adviser.
Source:Manila Times
June 27, 2022 16:07 UTC
Yuka Saso finishes at joint 30th in KPMG Women’s PGA Championship
Yuka Saso limped home with a five-over-par 77 to finish tied at 30th place in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in Bethesda, Maryland Sunday (Monday in Manila). Yuka Saso (AFP)Saso struggled with five bogeys and a double bogey against two birdies to finish with 292, nine strokes behind eventual champion In Gee Chun. The Fil-Japanese had earlier rounds of 72, 70 and 73. Saso blew cold at the front nine with bogeys on the second and seventh, and a double bogey on the par-4 fifth hole. Meanwhile, Bianca Pagdanganan staggered with a 78 for 301 following earlier rounds of 74, 73 and 76.
Source:Manila Times
June 27, 2022 16:03 UTC
Teen aged 17 among three arrested over seizure of imitation guns
Three males aged 17 to 44 were arrested over three imitation gun cases, as police seized 38 fake guns and some anti-government flags. Poice cracked three cases of possession of imitation guns and searched several flats on Monday morning, seizing 38 imitation guns, eight knives, a retractable stick, a number of gas masks and anti-government flags. Senior superintendent Ho Chun-tung said preliminary investigations found no relation between the three arrested. He was arrested this morning and was found with an air gun, a retractable stick, a folding knife, a hammer, an anti-government flag, and some cloth badges with anti-government slogans. In addition, West Kowloon police identified a unit in Sham Shui Po, where they arrested a 44-year-old delivery worker and seized 27 air guns, 56 magazines, and three sabers.
Source:The Standard
June 27, 2022 11:05 UTC
4 dead, dozens hurt as stands collapse in Colombia bullring
Handout picture released by Colombia's National Police showing locals working at the bullring after a grandstand collapsed, in the Colombian municipality of El Espinal, southwest of Bogota, on June 26, 2022. A full three-story section of wooden stands filled with spectators collapsed, throwing dozens of people to the ground, according to images broadcast on social media. Aerial view of the collapsed grandstand in a bullring in the Colombian municipality of El Espinal, southwest of Bogotل, on June 26, 2022. When he served as mayor of Bogota, the leftist Petro put a stop to bullfights in the city's signature bullring, La Santamaria. While animal abuse is a crime in Colombia, bullfights and cock fights are protected because of the cultural history behind them.
Source:Manila Times
June 27, 2022 09:45 UTC
Mikey Williams, Chot Reyes keep focus amid contract negotiation
TNT head coach Chot Reyes and star guard Mikey Williams won’t let the grueling contract negotiations hinder their performance on the court. Mikey Williams (PBA Images)“Even from the start, when we were talking, I think the critical part was we had to keep our player-coach relationship strong and differentiate that from the player-manager relationship,” Reyes said. Reyes, meanwhile, lauded the professionalism of Williams who despite the ongoing talks regarding his contract, continued to put the work in hopes to help TNT defend the all-Filipino Cup title. If he makes a mistake on the court, he actually prefers that you tell him directly,” Reyes said of his high-scoring sophomore. I think that’s the important thing.
Source:Manila Times
June 27, 2022 09:44 UTC