Taiwan lawmakers denounce China air defense zone

 News
Nov 292013
 
Taiwan lawmakers denounce China air defense zone

Associated Press 9:36 pm | Friday, November 29th, 2013 TAIPEI — Taiwan’s legislature attacked China’s newly declared air defense zone on Friday, with lawmakers demanding in an unusual joint statement that President Ma Ying-jeou’s government lodge a “stern protest” with Beijing. They admonished Ma’s government for its cautious response to China’s announcement last Saturday, including agreeing to supply China with flight plans for planes entering the zone. The statement, signed by caucus leaders of the ruling Nationalists and pro-independence opposition parties, said Taiwan should work together with Japan, the U.S. and other “friendly states in the region” in multilateral negotiations with China. The government said later Friday it will communicate its “stern position” to Beijing. China said all aircraft must notify Chinese authorities before entering the zone, which includes islands controlled by Japan but claimed by Beijing. The U.S., Japan and South Korea have sent flights through the airspace in defiance of China’s rules. Follow Us 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: air defense zone , airspace , China , Diplomacy , Global Nation , Taiwan Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Inquirer’s Reader’s Advocate. Or write The Readers’ Advocate: c/o Philippine Daily Inquirer Chino Roces Avenue corner Yague and Mascardo Read More …

Online gambling billionaire eludes arrest in Manila

 News
Nov 232013
 
Online gambling billionaire eludes arrest in Manila

By Julliane Love de JesusINQUIRER.net 6:31 pm | Saturday, November 23rd, 2013 MANILA, Philippines – Police raided the Makati office of an online gambling billionaire, considered one of America’s most wanted, but failed to arrest him, an official has said. Calvin Edward Ayre, a Canadian businessman, is facing illegal gambling charges in the US, said Senior Superintendent Roberto Fajardo, chief of the Crime Investigation and Development Group-National Capital Region (CIDG-NCR). CIDG elements raided Ayre’s office around 3:30 p.m. on Thursday at the 22nd floor of the Enterprise Tower. Ayre, however, was not in his Makati office and Fajardo told INQUIRER.net that they have yet to confirm to Bureau of Immigration if Ayre has left the country. He was said to have operated call centers or Business Process Outsourcing firms while taking illegal casino and sports bets from international clients. Fajardo said in a phone interview that Ayre’s offices, two more at the RCBC building in Makati and Eton Building in Quezon City, were granted permits to operate by the Security Exchange Commission. Ayre, who used the false name “Calvin Wilson” while in the country, was listed in the US Department of Homeland Security as most wanted for illegal gambling and money laundering charges. The 52-year-old businessman is the founder of Bodog Entertainment Group, an online-based sports betting and casino games. American business magazine Forbes said Bodog is one of the world’s biggest online gambling firms with total winnings of $100 million as of 2012. Fajardo said the CIDG has seized Read More …

AFP forms coordinating center to institutionalize foreign assistance

 News
Nov 212013
 
AFP forms coordinating center to institutionalize foreign assistance

By Julliane Love de JesusINQUIRER.net 7:40 pm | Thursday, November 21st, 2013 Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—Since foreign aid had been pouring in after the onslaught of supertyphoon Yolanda, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday has decided to institutionalize the military assistance given by 16 countries, particularly the United States, to the Philippines in the form of the Multinational Coordinating Center (MNCC). AFP Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Emmanuel Bautista, in a press briefing at the Office of Civil Defense headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, officially announced the creation of the MNCC “to coordinate and synchronize military to military operations and facilitate the cooperation between the AFP and the US Joint Task Force in support of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and the US Agency for International Development (USAID).” As foreign contingents of 61 air assets, 14 naval vessels and seven C-130s fly and dock to the country for relief missions, Bautista said the newly-established council was tasked to ensure that the movements of foreign aid were monitored “perfectly to the general situation of the disaster relief efforts of the national government.” Representing the members of US Marine Corps, Lieutenant General John Wissler said the American forces will continue to provide their relief efforts and augmentation forces for as long as these are needed, noting that the US forces are “simply here to support.” “This tragedy would have brought every nation to Read More …

Interpol forensic experts scheduled to fly to Tacloban

 News
Nov 212013
 
Interpol forensic experts scheduled to fly to Tacloban

By Tetch Torres-TupasINQUIRER.net 6:47 pm | Thursday, November 21st, 2013 AFP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—Forensic experts from the International Police (Interpol) are scheduled to fly to Tacloban City to help in identifying the victims of monster typhoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan). Justice Secretary Leila De Lima told reporters that she has already met with the Interpol’s Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team which will assist the NBI in the huge task of identifying thousands of cadavers. “This weekend, they will go to Tacloban to make an initial assessment to be able to make a proposal on how to go about the DVI given the magnitude of the casualties,” De Lima said. “Of course, Interpol has a lot of experience already not only competence, not only expertise in that area but experience in dealing with this situation on all types of disasters,” she added. The Interpol team is composed of experts from Canada, United Kingdom, Cameron, Jordan, Bosnia and South Africa. “That’s the initial team and depending on the exact process, I think more experts from the Interpol will fly to the country,” she said. De Lima believed that Interpol’s assistance in the DVI operations would be very helpful, citing the same help extended by the international body during the “Princess of the Star” tragedy off Romblon in June 2008. She also said that the integrity of the whole process of identifying the casualties will be ensured with the help of the foreign forensics experts. The first batch of NBI experts flew Read More …

China ready to send medical teams to Philippines

 News
Nov 172013
 
China ready to send medical teams to Philippines

Agence France-Presse 3:25 pm | Sunday, November 17th, 2013 Villagers, isolated by super typhoon Yolanda a week ago, scramble for relief goods being dropped by Philippine Air Force at La Paz, Leyte province in central Philippines, Friday Nov. 15, 2013. AP FILE PHOTO BEIJING, China – China says it is “ready” to send emergency medical personnel to the disaster-hit Philippines after its earlier pledges of financial and material aid were criticized as meager given its economic power. The Chinese government, which has a long-standing territorial dispute with the Philippines, initially offered just $100,000 to help in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda but raised its offer by a further $1.6 million on Thursday. “In light of the current actual needs of the typhoon-hit areas, the Chinese government is ready to dispatch the emergency medical assistance team on humanitarian grounds,” foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in a statement posted on the ministry’s website Sunday. He added that private groups, including one under the Chinese Red Cross, have also expressed willingness to travel to the Philippines to assist in disaster relief. Hong said the rescue teams would depart “when conditions” allow but did not provide further details on the contingent. China was in close contact with the Philippine government on the provision of medical assistance, he said. Beijing’s offer of aid has been dwarfed by contributions from the US, which is leading the relief effort, Britain and Japan. Questions over the size of Chinese assistance come as Beijing and Manila are Read More …

Empire State Building lights up in blue, red, yellow for ‘Yolanda’ victims

 News
Nov 162013
 
Empire State Building lights up in blue, red, yellow for ‘Yolanda’ victims

By Julliane Love de JesusINQUIRER.net 5:38 pm | Saturday, November 16th, 2013 New York’s iconic Empire State Building bathed in blue, red and yellow in solidarity with the victims of Supertyphoon ‘Yolanda’ in the Philippines. Photo by the Philippine Embassy in the United States MANILA, Philippines—For two consecutive nights, blue, red and yellow colors illuminated the iconic Empire State Building in New York City in solidarity with the victims of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan). The 103-story skycraper rising above the Manhattan skyline began to display the colors of the Philippine flag on Friday (Saturday in Manila), and again on Saturday, New York time. Anabel Madueño, a Cuban from New York City, posted on a photo of the building on Instagram. “Empire State Building raises awareness and support for Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines,” the management of the 82-year-old building said on its website. Each night, ESB’s tower lights take on a new lighting sequence, representing major holidays, iconic milestones and global events. Follow Us 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: Empire State Building , Empire State colors , Filipinos , Haiyan , lights , New York , Supertyphoon , tribute , United States , Yolanda Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Inquirer’s Read More …

Pentagon names special report ‘Operation Damayan’ on its website

 News
Nov 142013
 
Pentagon names special report ‘Operation Damayan’ on its website

By Julliane Love de JesusINQUIRER.net 9:51 pm | Thursday, November 14th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—Naming its humanitarian assistance to the typhoon-ravaged Philippines using Filipino words, the Pentagon, or the United States Department of Defense, has dedicated a special report in its official website on “Operation Damayan.” “Damayan” is loosely translated “helping each other.” After Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name Haiyan) barrelled the entire coastal communities in Central Visayas leaving thousands dead, foreign aid poured in the affected areas as global concern for the Philippines grew. In the case of Pentagon, concern and relief efforts for its partner country manifested even in the cyberspace.   With a customized header for “Operation Damayan,” the US Department of Defense featured news articles, videos and photo essays of American troops who came to the Philippines’ rescue. From their preparation in Japan for relief operations, the visuals documented the US soldiers giving aid to the survivors of “Yolanda” in the worst hit Tacloban City in Leyte province, where more than 2,000 have been recorded dead. It also collated statements from US President Barack Obama and US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel alongside the Central Intelligence Agency’s website providing information on the Philippines. A day after Yolanda battered the country, Obama sent his sympathies to the Philippines in a public statement saying: “Michelle (Obama) and I are deeply saddened by the loss of life and extensive damage done by Supertyphoon ‘Yolanda’. But I know the incredible resiliency of the Philippine people, and I am confident that the spirit Read More …

US sends ‘Mercy’ to Yolanda victims

 News
Nov 142013
 
US sends ‘Mercy’ to Yolanda victims

By Julliane Love de JesusINQUIRER.net 8:09 pm | Thursday, November 14th, 2013 USNS MERCYphoto from http://www.med.navy.mil MANILA, Philippines – A US Navy hospital ship will come to the Philippines to support disaster relief efforts in areas ravaged by the supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan). Expected to dock in the Philippines this December, naval ship “Mercy” was activated by US Pacific Fleet on Wednesday for immediate deployment, commander of the US Pacific Fleet Admiral Harry Harris Jr. said in an official statement. “If ordered to deploy, Mercy would get underway in the next several days and could arrive in the Philippines sometime in December, joining other US Pacific Fleet units already supporting Operation Damayan,” the Pentagon’s humanitarian assistance program for “Yolanda” victims launched in cooperation with the US Agency for International Development. Damayan in Filipino means “help in time of need”. As of posting time, the US has transported more than 107,000 pounds of relief supplies. In the official website of USNS Mercy has three to four operating rooms, one emergency room, four Intensive Care Unit beds and isolation ward, 62 ward beds and 22 hotel beds. The US Navy will also send amphibious ships USS Ashland (LSD 48), USS Germantown (LSD 42), USS McCampbell (DDG 85) and USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE 10), which were expected to arrive in the country starting Thursday. “This collection of ships and their complement of aircraft, to include much-needed helicopters, will provide food and water, the capability to move relief supplies to isolated areas, and Read More …

UN to help assess ‘Yolanda’ damage, set up emergency communication lines

 News
Nov 092013
 
UN to help assess ‘Yolanda’ damage, set up emergency communication lines

By Tarra QuismundoPhilippine Daily Inquirer 3:29 pm | Saturday, November 9th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines – The United Nations and its affiliated agencies deployed teams on Saturday to assist the Philippine government in assessing the damage wrought by Supertyphoon Yolanda and establish emergency communication lines as power and telephone lines remained down in much of the Visayas. The UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) said organizations including the UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination, the Asia-Pacific Humanitarian Partnership, Télécoms Sans Frontière and MapAction arrived in the country on Saturday “to assist the government in establishing coordination hubs and conduct initial assessments.” The UN said members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ Emergency Rapid Assessment Team “have deployed to support coordination and emergency telecommunication.” Initial UN assessment showed that some 18 million people were affected and more than 126,000 people living on the path of the typhoon, particularly in Eastern Visayas, had been evacuated early on as a precaution. It cited reports of flooding, landslides and wind damage in Eastern Samar and Leyte, the islands where the typhoon first came ashore early Friday morning. UNOCHA said a needs assessment was under way “prioritizing shelter, food, health, water, sanitation and health facilities, camp management and logistics.” Related Stories: Expressions of sympathy, aid pour in as ‘Yolanda’ exits PH US, Great Britain cite Filipinos’ resilience in the wake of Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ EU expresses solidarity with typhoon-battered Philippines Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and Read More …

EU official to visit PH to boost development ties

 News
Nov 082013
 
EU official to visit PH to boost development ties

By Julliane Love de JesusINQUIRER.net 1:31 pm | Saturday, November 9th, 2013 European Union (EU) commissioner Andris Piebalgs. AFP PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—The European Commissioner for Development will visit the Philippines on Sunday to strengthen bilateral development cooperation between the European Union and the Philippines. European Union (EU) commissioner Andris Piebalgs said the highlight of his visit is the support to the Philippines “on its path to reduce poverty, strengthen the rule of law and support Mindanao’s Peace Process.” Aligned with the Philippines Development Plan for 2011 until 2016, EU development assistance delivers annually to the country about €640 million of grants “to combat poverty.” Piebalgs will meet Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita, Quintos Deles, Socio-economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balicasan, Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla and Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Evan Garcia. Ahead of the visit, Commissioner Piebalgs said in a statement: “I am pleased to see rapid economic growth in the Philippines in past few years. However it is now important to deepen the economic reforms and make this growth more inclusive.” As part of Piebalgs’ itinerary, he will visit the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of the Department of Agriculture, which is supported by the EU Trade Related Technical Assistance (TRTA) project. Aside from the EU development assistance budget, the EU TRTA, in a 12-year period, has granted €18 million aimed at improving laboratory facilities in the Philippines, enhance the control system for fisheries products, training of Fish Health Management and Quality Assurance on export Read More …

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