besguerra

US economy shrank at 1% pace in 1st quarter

 General
May 292014
 
US economy shrank at 1% pace in 1st quarter

In this June 3, 2009 file photo, Baldor Electric Co. employees Dave Johnston, left, and Steve Davis, right, work inside the company’s factory in St. Louis. The US economy shrank for the first time in three years in the first quarter, underscoring its struggle to gain momentum nearly five years after exiting recession, data showed Thursday. AP PHOTO/JEFF ROBERSON WASHINGTON—The US economy shrank for the first time in three years in the first quarter, underscoring its struggle to gain momentum nearly five years after exiting recession, data showed Thursday. Economic output as measured by gross domestic product (GDP) fell at an annual rate of 1.0 percent in the first quarter, the Commerce Department said, sharply revising lower the initial estimate of 0.1 percent growth. The Commerce Department’s revision was much worse than analysts expected; the consensus estimate was a 0.5 percent decline. It was the second time the world’s largest economy has contracted since officially exiting severe recession in July 2009. GDP fell 1.3 percent in the 2011 first quarter. “Negative GDP growth is rare in expansions, declines of more than a couple of tenths rarer still and two declines of one percent in one expansion unheard of until now,” said Chris Low of FTN Financial. “It’s a reminder that the growth trajectory is flatter than normal, a consequence of an ongoing credit squeeze that has dragged on so long it is easy to forget how unique it is compared to past decades.” The start of the year was marked Read More …

China’s military base in PH territory must absolutely be blocked

 News
May 292014
 
China’s military base in PH territory must absolutely be blocked

Push has now come to shove. Emboldened by the lack of military resistance in occupying Philippine islands and with her fishing and navy boats sailing at will in our waters, China’s military leaders have now initiated a bold land reclamation military base project in Mabini Reef (Fiery Cross Reef). Location:  about 150 miles from Palawan and within the Philippines 200 miles Exclusive Economic Zone as defined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS). China online news Qianzhan.com reported that the military installation would cost around $5 billion and would take ten years to complete.  The No. 9 Design and Research Institute of the State Shipbuilding Corp. has come up with a proposed design for the military base, which is similar to that of a 100,000-ton aircraft carrier. It would function like an anchored aircraft carrier with fighter planes and sophisticated weaponry, which would  likely include missiles eventually. Another similar base is also planned for Mischief Reef (Panganiban Reef), about 120 miles from Palawan. The Qianzhan report announced the intentions of China’s military leaders clearly indicating expansionist motives: “Construction of the two artificial islands at Mischief Reef and Fiery Cross Islands will be equivalent to that of building aircraft carriers but the strategic gains will be very big. The artificial island at Fiery Cross will be an unreplaceable (sic)military base with great strategic significance because of its location and size. Such a base will realize the value of the South China Sea for China and ensure Read More …

No problem with workers’ rights in PH, says Baldoz

 News
May 292014
 
No problem with workers’ rights in PH, says Baldoz

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz: No problem. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz has downplayed the assessment of an international workers’ rights organization that the Philippines is among the worst countries in the world for workers. “It does not necessarily concern the workers’ rights since we don’t have problems with workers’ rights. We can say the industry advocacy for workers in the country is very good,” said Baldoz, referring to the 2014 Global Rights Index of the Brussels-based International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). ITUC ranked 139 countries based on internationally recognized indicators to assess where workers’ rights, such as democratic rights, decent wages, safer working conditions and secure jobs, are best protected, in law and in practice. Countries were ranked from 1 (best) to 5 (worst) based on 97 indicators related to workers’ rights. The evaluation was conducted from April 2013 to March 2014. The Philippines obtained a rating of 5, which meant that legislation protecting workers’ rights were in place but workers effectively had no access to such rights, thus exposing them to autocratic regimes and unfair labor practices. “In terms of quality of work in the country, I can say we are doing OK. The same goes with what they are saying about labor rights,” Baldoz said. But she said that if there was one aspect of the ITUC findings that was accurate, it would be the problem of the extrajudicial killings of workers. According to Baldoz, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has committed to fast-track the Read More …

No Americans yet in Oyster Bay, says Navy spokesman

 News
May 262014
 
No Americans yet in Oyster Bay, says Navy spokesman

WORLD IS THEIR OYSTER Or soon it will be, as Oyster Bay and Ulugan Bay in Palawan province are being developed as a “mini-Subic” where the country’s two former US Coast Guard cutters will be based. Above, an outrigger carrying fishermen sails past a Philippine Navy vessel, one of many scattered on the bay fronting the West Philippine Sea. Oyster Bay is only 160 kilometers from the disputed Spratly Islands where China has been reclaiming Mabini Reef (Johnson South Reef) and building what appears to be an airstrip. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ OYSTER BAY, Palawan—There are no Americans here on Oyster Bay—only a handful of Navy officers and men, with their ships that are docked at this base called Naval Station Carlito Cunanan (NSCC). In fact, the Naval Forces West (Navforwest) denied talks that the US military is helping the Philippine Navy improve the physical structure of the Oyster Bay Navy Detachment or that it will be turned into a US naval station. “The development plan for Oyster Bay is being done by the Philippine Navy,” said Lt. Senior Grade Jonjoe Saquiman, Navforwest spokesperson, when asked about the rumors. The talk is that the Americans will be spearheading the Oyster Bay development after the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) is signed and the NSCC is possibly among the facilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines that will be shared with US troops and their vessels. Edca base AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista has said Oyster Bay is among his Read More …

PH-US ‘war games’ over

 News
May 162014
 
PH-US ‘war games’ over

By Nikko DizonPhilippine Daily Inquirer 8:15 am | Saturday, May 17th, 2014 US and Philippine marines storm the beach to simulate a raid during the joint U.S.-Philippines military exercise dubbed Balikatan 2014 Friday, May 9, 2014 at the Naval Training Exercise Command, a former US naval base. AP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines and its allies will help each other in upholding peace, territorial integrity and sovereignty as the Asia Pacific faces new security challenges in the 21st century “that no nation’s armed forces can face alone.” This was how Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista summarized the Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) relations of the Philippines and the United States as the 30th iteration of the joint military exercises formally closed on Friday. The Australian military also participated for the first time in the war games, where its P3-Orion surveillance plane was used in the Combined Arms Live Fire Exercises at Crow Valley in Capas, Tarlac. “Today’s dynamic security environment presents challenges that no nation’s armed forces can face alone. These challenges of the 21st century include maritime security and climate change,” Bautista said. The military chief said the Balikatan exercises “demonstrated that the only way to overcome these challenges is for everyone to stand shoulder-to-shoulder, which speaks of a global bayanihan.” “[The Balikatan] emphasizes that as friends and allies, the Philippines and the United States will, in our collective capacity, safeguard international peace and security and ensure that territorial integrity and sovereignty are respected,” Bautista said. Read More …

China paper supports ‘non-peaceful’ steps against PH, Vietnam

 News
May 152014
 
China paper supports ‘non-peaceful’ steps against PH, Vietnam

Agence France-Presse 12:05 pm | Friday, May 16th, 2014 http://www.globaltimes.cn/ BEIJING – A state-run Chinese newspaper backed the use of “non-peaceful” measures against Vietnam and the Philippines Friday, as it considered the possibility of war in the strategically vital South China Sea. Vietnam is experiencing its worst anti-China unrest in decades following Beijing’s deployment of an oil rig to disputed waters, with at least one Chinese worker killed and more than 100 injured. “The South China Sea disputes should be settled in a peaceful manner, but that doesn’t mean China can’t resort to non-peaceful measures in the face of provocation from Vietnam and the Philippines,” the Global Times newspaper, which often takes a nationalistic tone, wrote in an editorial. “Many people believe that a forced war would convince some countries of China’s sincerely peaceful intentions,” the paper added. Beijing claims almost the whole of the South China Sea, including areas close to the coasts of other littoral states, and the Philippines has provoked its fury by seeking United Nations arbitration in the dispute between the two. China’s foreign ministry has condemned both Manila and Hanoi, and accused Vietnam’s leaders on Thursday of “indulgence and connivance” with anti-China demonstrators for failing to rein in the protests. The official Xinhua news agency, meanwhile, wrote in a Friday commentary that Hanoi “bears unshirkable responsibility for the violent attacks against Chinese companies and nationals, and must take all necessary and effective measures to ensure the safety of foreign companies and nationals in Vietnam”. Xinhua Read More …

Vietnam PM texts nation amid anti-China riots

 News
May 152014
 
Vietnam PM texts nation amid anti-China riots

Associated Press 11:59 am | Friday, May 16th, 2014 Vietnamese protesters carry a banner with a Vietnamese slogan reading, “China must respect and execute the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.” AP FILE PHOTO HANOI, Vietnam—Vietnam’s prime minister has sent a text message to millions of Vietnamese urging them to boost their patriotism to “defend the fatherland’s sacred sovereignty” but not to engage in violence. The message that was sent late Thursday and into Friday to subscribers of the country’s cell phone operators didn’t directly condemn the riots that have broken out this week following China’s decision to deploy an oil rig in disputed waters off Vietnam on May 1. It said that only that “bad elements should not be allowed to instigate extremist actions that harm the interests and image of the country.” Vietnamese patrol ships sent to the rig are currently locked in a standoff with Chinese ships guarding it. RELATED STORIES 1 dead, 100 hurt in anti-China riot in Vietnam Factories torched in anti-China protest in Vietnam Follow Us Other Stories: China paper supports ‘non-peaceful’ steps against PH, Vietnam China claims ‘indisputable sovereignty’ over reclamation on Mabini reef Biden cautions China in its dispute with Vietnam Young Filipino Professionals Award Scholarships Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in Read More …

China claims ‘indisputable sovereignty’ over reclamation on Mabini reef

 News
May 152014
 
China claims ‘indisputable sovereignty’ over reclamation on Mabini reef

By Matikas SantosINQUIRER.net 9:57 am | Friday, May 16th, 2014 The DFA released photos Thursday of the Mabini Reef showing China’s reclamation activities on the disputed area. DFA MANILA, Philippines – China defended its move to do reclamation and construction activities in Mabini Reef (Johnson South Reef) that is part of the Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea. “Whatever construction China carries out in the Chigua Reef (Mabini Reef) is completely within China’s sovereignty,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said in a press conference Thursday. “China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Islands (Spratly Islands) including Chigua Reef and the contiguous waters,” Hua added. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) released a series of photographs from 2012 to 2014 showing the progression of development China has made on the reef. The first photo in 2012 showed a wide expanse of water with a small outpost on the reef. The second photo taken in 2013 showed a concrete structure already built on the reef with what appears to be a helicopter landing pad. Two photos taken in February and March 2014 show a large portion of the reef already reclaimed with sand making it look like a sand bar. DFA spokesman Charles Jose said in a briefing after the release of the photos that China was likely constructing an airstrip that will be used for military purposes. China rejected the protest filed by the Philippines regarding the reclamation citing its nine-dash line claim that covers nearly the entire South Read More …

Biden cautions China in its dispute with Vietnam

 News
May 152014
 
Biden cautions China in its dispute with Vietnam

Associated Press 9:42 am | Friday, May 16th, 2014 US Vice President Joe Biden. AP FILE PHOTO WASHINGTON — Vice President Joe Biden is conveying America’s objections about China’s behavior in a territorial dispute with Vietnam to the top brass of the Chinese military. Biden met Thursday with Fang Fenghui, the military’s general chief of staff. The White House says Biden told Fang the U.S. was seriously concerned about China’s unilateral actions. Biden told Fang the U.S. doesn’t take a side in the territorial confrontation between the two countries over an area in the South China Sea. That’s where China has triggered protests in Vietnam by deploying an oil rig in the long-disputed seas. One person has been killed, a Chinese worker in Vietnam. But Biden says no nation should take provocative steps in the conflict that undermine stability and peace. RELATED STORIES China defiant, vows to keep operating oil rig opposed by Vietnam 1 dead, 100 hurt in anti-China riot in Vietnam Follow Us Other Stories: Young Filipino Professionals Award Scholarships China defiant, vows to keep operating oil rig opposed by Vietnam PH-US war games end with live-fire exercises MERS virus not yet an emergency, says WHO Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines. Tags: China , Joe Biden , territorial row , Read More …

Young Filipino Professionals Award Scholarships

 General
May 152014
 
Young Filipino Professionals Award Scholarships

INQUIRER.net US Bureau 9:30 am | Friday, May 16th, 2014 http://www.yfpa.org/ SAN FRANCISCO, United States—Giving back and inspiring the youth are some of the Young Filipino Professional Association’s (YFPA) goals when it was established in 2002. Finally this year, YFPA will be holding its first YFPA Scholarship Awards this Friday, May 16, at the Social Hall of the Philippine Center on Sutter Street. Keynote speaker is Ambassador Jose Cuisia. The YFPA Scholarship Program recognizes Bay Area graduating high school students involved in the Filipino community who have an interest in pursuing a college Bachelor’s degree. The objective of the program is to provide financial assistance to those deserving students who have applied themselves in school, exhibited leadership skills, and have decided to seek higher education to pursue their career goals. Scholarship recipients were selected on the basis of academic achievement, educational and career goals; application and essay originality, grammar, and organization; financial need; leadership experience, and interview. There will be two recipients of the first YFPA Awards. Each one will receive a $1,000 scholarship. Reginal Finuliar, FYPA president said. Greg Montemayor, YFPA founder will be on hand as inspirational speaker.The YFPA, a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization, was launched in 2002 as a collaborative forum for Filipino-American professionals in the San Francisco Bay Area to support professional networking, educational and community service activities. The mission of the YFPA is to foster professional connections, ideas and expertise to support and engage Filipino professionals in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Our core values Read More …

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