Return of hard balancing in Philippine policy towards China's maritime expansion in South China Sea
This is reminiscent of the late President Benigno Aquino III’s policy of hard balancing that challenged China's expansive maritime claim in the South China Sea. Unfortunately, President Marcos's efforts to engage these two great powers in his diplomatic gambit of balancing one power against another do not suit China's long-term strategic goal of maritime expansion into the South China Sea. To assert its sovereignty claims in the South China Sea, China must possess the means to control a maritime feature. These measures aim to balance or challenge Chinese maritime expansion in the South China Sea. President Marcos' hard balancing policy toward China is two-pronged.
Source:Philippine Star
December 23, 2023 23:08 UTC
Marcos meets OFWs who survived captivity, attacks on Israel by Hamas
Marcos meets OFWs who survived captivity, attacks on Israel by HamasPresident Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. had a meet-and-greet in Malacañang with overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) Jimmy Pacheco and Camille Jesalva who survived the attack of the Hamas group in Israel on October 7. MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. personally met with overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) Jimmy Pacheco and Camille Jesalva after surviving attacks by Palestinian group Hamas in Israel last October 7. 'Went through tunnels, savings lost'Pacheco, released on November 24 during the initial "humanitarian truce" between Israel and Hamas, recounted the attack to the president. Jeselva, a 31-year-old woman from Nueva Ecija, became an "instant hero" in Israel after refusing to leave her 95-year-old patient Nitza Hefetz during the Hamas attacks. Jeselva later on thanked President Marcos for his guidance after the said meet-and-greet at Malacañang.
Source:Philippine Star
December 23, 2023 22:52 UTC
Girl dead, scores injured in Cavite road mishap
ALFONSO, Cavite: A 9-year-old girl died while her father is in critical condition after the car they were riding figured in an accident involving a Cavite-Batangas Transport Service Cooperative passenger bus which lost its brakes and plowed 10 vehicles on Friday night, December 22, in Mangas-Luksuhin Road in Barangay Luksuhin Ibaba here. The girl, her injured father and mother were inside their Mitsubishi Expander which was bumped off by a van, one of the 10 vehicles plowed by the passenger bus driven by Gilbert Sepida, in the downhill portion of the highway in Barangay Luksuhin.
Source:Manila Times
December 23, 2023 22:51 UTC
Czechs mourn Prague mass shooting victims
PRAGUE: Flags on public buildings flew at half-staff on Saturday and Masses were scheduled across the Czech Republic for a day of national mourning after a deadly shooting at Prague's Charles University, the worst in the Central European country in decades. A 24-year-old student opened fire at the university's Faculty of Arts on Thursday, killing 13 people and then himself. Another person died in the hospital later on.
Source:Manila Times
December 23, 2023 20:57 UTC
US court: Twitter breached contract over failure to pay bonuses
SAN FRANCISCO, California: A United States federal court ruled on Friday that social media company Twitter, now branded X, violated contracts by failing to pay annual performance bonuses it orally promised its workers. The breach-of-contract lawsuit was brought by former employer Mark Schobinger in June.
Source:Manila Times
December 23, 2023 17:51 UTC
South Korean warship named for torpedoed vessel begins new mission
SEOUL: A South Korean vessel named after a warship torpedoed by Pyongyang in 2010 that resulted in the deaths of 46 sailors began a new mission with "unbeatable combat readiness," Seoul's military said on Saturday. The sinking of the Cheonan has remained a politicized issue in South Korea, where some have questioned whether North Korea really downed the ship.
Source:Manila Times
December 23, 2023 17:35 UTC
Mother accidentally knifes son while intervening in dispute at Winter Solstice dinner
A 51-year-old woman was arrested after she accidentally knifed his son in the head when intervening a dispute between him and another man during Winter Solstice dinner on Friday. The incident took place at Wah Chun House, Wah Fu Estate in the Southern District, and was reported to police shortly after midnight. It is understood that a 37-year-old man, Kwok, lives there and he last night invited a 34-year-old, So, and his 51-year-old mother, Liu, among other family members for a Winter Solstice dinner. Yet, Kwok was unhappy about So’s bad attitude towards his sick mother Liu and the two soon found themselves in an argument. After preliminary investigation, Liu was arrested for wounding and the case is now handled by the Western district crime investigation team.
Source:The Standard
December 23, 2023 12:27 UTC
Israel’s ‘Bring them home’ campaign takes jeepney ride
Israel’s ‘Bring them home’ campaign takes jeepney rideIsrael ambassador ilan fluss places flags on a jeepney adorned with hostage profile tarps as he kicked off an awareness campaign at the quirino grandstand in manila for the release of 129 people still being held by hamas in gaza. Inset shows the ambassador driving one of the jeepneys, which he said were chosen as canvasses to convey a message of solidarity between the philippines and israel. MANILA, Philippines — Using traditional jeepneys, the Israel embassy urged Filipinos yesterday to join in appealing for the release of 129 mostly Israeli hostages still being held by Hamas militants in Gaza. “Today, we’re using jeepneys as canvasses to convey a powerful message of solidarity with Israel and a heartfelt plea for the safe return of the abductees,” Fluss announced. While condemning Hamas’ murders and abuses against around 1,200 Israelis and foreigners they abducted, Fluss also reiterated the need for Hamas to release the remaining 129 hostages.
Source:Philippine Star
December 23, 2023 02:24 UTC
No Filipino student hurt in deadly campus shooting in Prague
No Filipino student hurt in deadly campus shooting in PragueThis photo shows the flags of the Philippines and the Czech Republic. MANILA, Philippines — None of the six known Filipino students at Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic were hurt in the shooting incident that took place on campus on Thursday, according to embassy officials. The shooter is now dead and "the situation is contained," according to the embassy, which cited Czech government authorities. The Philippine Embassy in Prague said that the victims' nationalities have not been publicly released and that it would be notified by Prague police on any possible incidents involving Filipinos. The embassy has advised all Filipinos in the immediate area to avoid the shooting site and to remain on alert.
Source:Philippine Star
December 23, 2023 01:51 UTC
Man arrested in relation to three arson cases in Tseung Kwan O
On Thursday, police arrested a man on suspicion of three cases of arson in Tseung Kwan O. After the arson case that occurred at Shang Chun House in Sheung Tak Estate on December 17, officers conducted an in-depth investigation and combed through security footage, locating and arresting the arsonist in Tseung Kwan O District yesterday (Dec 21). A 46-year-old local man named Lee was arrested on suspicion of arson and is currently remanded in police custody for investigation. The police stated that the investigation showed that in addition to the aforementioned arson case, the arrested person was also suspected of being related to two other arson cases that occurred in Sheung Tak Estate and Tseung Kwan O on December 16 and 19, respectively, which involved the burning of debris in open-air public areas. No one was injured in any of the incidents, and no evacuation was required.
Source:The Standard
December 22, 2023 17:18 UTC
Here are refreshing ways to enjoy your well-deserved weekends
Here are refreshing ways to enjoy your well-deserved weekendsJust some refreshing long-weekend activities to complement your brewMANILA, Philippines — It’s November but there are sizzling afternoons that give summer day feels. Make your well-deserved weekends refreshing with a glistening glass of wheat beer. So, with long weekends ahead this holiday season, here’s a list of refreshing activities to complement your brew. Enjoy good music and good companyA long weekend is the ideal time to relax with your favorite tunes and great friends. An ice-cold can of wheat beer will keep you company as you create memories under the starry skies.
Source:Philippine Star
December 22, 2023 14:49 UTC
Censored
A system of classifying content is provided, to guide the public especially on materials used in movies and broadcasting. Even among certain social media giants, the fine print for setting up accounts includes rules against harmful content. The MTRCB invoked Presidential Decree 1986 issued by Ferdinand Marcos in October 1985, plus the implementing rules and regulations. The Marcos decree provides detailed criteria for content that can be censored, some of which are reasonable while others may be concerning for civil libertarians. If this is done arbitrarily, the precedent may one day be applied to those who are now rejoicing over the Dutertes, Badoy, Celiz and SMNI getting their comeuppance.
Source:Philippine Star
December 22, 2023 03:52 UTC
Not doing enough to battle climate change
Not doing enough to battle climate changeEach year the United Nations organizes an annual summit that solely focuses on the issue of climate change. Easily one of the most important goals of these climate talks is to cut the use of fossil fuels. At this 5 percent rate, even the best case scenario sees a rise of 2.1 degrees C to 2.8 degrees C. It is clear that there is a need for more urgent and larger deduction. It was decided in last year’s climate summit that a loss and damage fund would be established. For the sake of our children and grandchildren, the world must take climate change more seriously.
Source:Philippine Star
December 21, 2023 01:00 UTC
Focus
There has been little commentary on how the new budget may solve the truly crippling problems the nation confronts. All ships using the Suez Canal to deliver goods from Asia to Europe and vice versa have to pass through the narrow strait threatened by Houthi missiles. Previously, they tried firing missiles over a long distance to hit Israel but failed to penetrate the air defense system. As a result of Houthi missile attacks on commercial shipping, several companies have decided to avoid using the Suez Canal. The Houthi attacks are causing serious disruptions in global shipping.
Source:Philippine Star
December 20, 2023 23:26 UTC
Broken evidence chain frees 2 drug convicts
The physical inventory and photograph-taking in the chain of custody in drugs cases must be done immediately at the place of arrest, the Supreme Court reiterated as it acquitted two men initially convicted by a lower court for drug possession in 2012. They were charged in 2012 following a buy-bust operation conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). ADVERTISEMENTIn a statement summarizing the decision, the Supreme Court said during the operation, the PDEA agents marked the seized plastic sachets containing methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu” at the crime scene. The Regional Trial Court convicted Almayda and Quiogue, and the ruling was affirmed by the Court of Appeals. In a resolution dated Nov. 11, 2021, the high court affirmed the conviction, prompting Almayda and Quiogue to file a motion for reconsideration.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
December 20, 2023 22:16 UTC