Why Xi Jinping Threatened War If the Philippines Drills for Oil

 News
Jun 142017
 

Though nothing Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte has said or will say carries any shock value anymore, his surprising announcement on May 19 caused seismic tremors. At a Manila press conference on that day, Pres. Duterte disclosed that while attending the “One Belt, One Road” summit in Beijing on May 15, Chinese Premier China Xi Jinping warned him that there would be war if the Philippines tried to enforce a United Nations arbitration ruling and drill for oil in the West Philippine Sea …

PH climbs 10 ranks in World Happiness Index

 News
Apr 102017
 
PH climbs 10 ranks in World Happiness Index

Filipinos are known to be one of the happiest people in the world and we continue to prove it as the Philippines ranks 72nd among 155 countries on the 2017 World Happiness Report. [via We the Pvblic] The Philippines reached high scores in the following happiness index measures: social support area measure (1.254) gross domestic product (GDP) per capita (0.858) freedom to create life choices (0.585) health life expectancy (0.468) generosity (0.194) perceptions of corruption (0.099) The Philippines climbed 10 notches from its 82 nd place in the 2016 Happiness Index, making it one of the top 20 countries in Changes of Happiness from 2005-2007 to 2014-2016. In Asia, Singapore is the happiest country, at No. 26 overall, followed by Thailand (32), Taiwan (33), Malaysia (42), Japan (51), Hong Kong (71), Philippines (72), China (79) and Indonesia (81).  Norway was recognized as the world’s happiest country followed by Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland, Finland, Netherlands, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and Sweden. The World Happiness Report annual ranking of 155 countries published by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network under the United Nations defines happiness as “considered to be the proper measure of social progress and the goal of public policy.”   The post PH climbs 10 ranks in World Happiness Index appeared first on Good News Pilipinas. Related posts: PHL climbs 7 notches in global competitiveness index Filipinos are happiest workers in Asia – JobStreet.com PHL jumps 8 notches in World Economic Freedom index PH one of the world’s best to raise a family Read More …

Catholic Church adopts 4Ps approach vs. human trafficking

 News
Mar 162014
 
Catholic Church adopts 4Ps approach vs. human trafficking

The Catholic Church is adopting a new “4 Ps” approach to strengthen its efforts against human trafficking, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines said. Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said this approach involving “Prevention, prosecution, protection and partnership” should particularly protect women and children. ”We partner with all these initiatives so that all these small streams can become a river that can sweep away this evil, as all evil, human trafficking thrives in darkness,” Pabillo told Church-run Radio Veritas. Excerpts of the interview were posted on the CBCP news site. Pabillo added this approach is also in support of the United Nations’ protocol to fight the problem. Also, the CBCP noted the International Justice Mission had said at least 100,000 cases of human trafficking involving children were reported in 2013, including sex trafficking of minors. “As long as the problem is not recognized, the evil doers can continue and expand their activities. Truth is our powerful weapon,” Pabillo said. — LBG, GMA News

World sends emergency relief to battered PHL

 Entertainment
Nov 122013
 
World sends emergency relief to battered PHL

Marines board a KC-130J Hercules aircraft Nov. 10, 2013, at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, moments before departing for a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief mission to the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David N. Hersey MANILA (AFP) – The United States, Britain, Australia and the United Nations mobilised emergency aid to the Philippines as the scale of the devastation unleashed by Super Typhoon Haiyan continued to emerge Tuesday. The Pentagon sent Marines and equipment while Britain was to send a ship and a transporter plane to assist with the relief effort followng the typhoon, which may have killed more than 10,000 people in what is feared to be the country’s worst natural disaster. Even Vietnam, despite coping itself with a mass evacuation programme as a weakened Haiyan swung through its territory Monday, provided emergency aid worth $100,000 and said it “stands by the Philippine people in this difficult situation”. The relief operation was focused on the city of Tacloban on Leyte island, four days after one of the biggest storms in recorded history demolished entire communities across the central Philippines and left countless bodies as well as gnawing desperation in its wake. Delivering on a promise of quick help from President Barack Obama, about 90 US Marines and sailors based in Japan flew into Tacloban aboard two C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, after receiving a bird’s eye view of the immense scale of destruction across Leyte. They brought communication and logistical equipment Read More …

US deploys aircraft carrier to PHL for relief ops in aftermath of Yolanda

 News
Nov 112013
 
US deploys aircraft carrier to PHL for relief ops in aftermath of Yolanda

The United States is sending the aircraft carrier USS George Washington to the Philippines to support disaster relief efforts in the wake of super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), a US defense official told Reuters. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, could not immediately provide further details. The aircraft carrier has been on a port visit to Hong Kong. Based in Yokosuka, Japan, the nuclear-powered Washington is the most visible sign of an increased U.S. naval presence across Asia that has been steadily growing for the last five years – a key element in the controversial U.S. “pivot”. The Washington strike group – that often includes destroyers, cruisers and a fast-attack submarine backed by up to 90 aircraft – protects the only one of 10 carriers deployed permanently outside the continental United States. U.S. military forces arrived in the Philippines on Monday to bolster relief efforts, officials said, with military cargo planes transporting food, medical supplies and water for victims. Other U.S. aircraft were positioning to assist the Philippines, with U.S. forces operating out of Villamor Air Base in Manila and in Tacloban.   Deployment of the US George Washington was revealed as rescue workers were trying to reach towns and villages in the Visayas on Tuesday that were cut off by Yolanda in an operation that could reveal the full extent of the loss of life and devastation from the disaster. Officials in Tacloban City, which bore the brunt of one of the strongest storms ever recorded when it slammed Read More …

Palace: P2.3-B quick response funds still available for emergencies

 News
Oct 252013
 
Palace: P2.3-B quick response funds still available for emergencies

After extending assistance to victims of recent calamities including last week’s magnitude-7.2 quake in Central Visayas, the government still has some P2.3 billion in quick response funds for emergencies, Malacañang said Saturday. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the standby funds are with the implementing agencies tasked to provide speedy assistance in areas hit by disasters. “Quick response funds are standby allocations that are part of the budget of the departments … for them to provide quick assistance in areas struck by disaster,” she said on government-run dzRB radio. She said a breakdown of the amount includes: – Office of Civil Defense, P554 million– Department of National Defense Office of the Secretary, P326 million– Department of Agriculture, P196 million– Department of Social Welfare and Development, P200 million– Department of Public Works and Highways, P600 million Valte also reassured residents in Bohol, the area hit hardest by the Oct. 15 quake, that the government continues to mobilize funds to help them. “Meron tayong sapat na pondo (We have enough funds),” she said. Also, she thanked the international community for the aid they have sent to the quake victims. “Nagpapasalamat tayo sa ating kaibigan na hindi nag-atubiling tumugon sa panawagan ng United Nations para tumulong sa kababayan natin (We thank our friends who did not hesitate to respond to the call of the United Nations to help our fellow Filipinos),” Valte said. — LBG, GMA News

UN chemical weapons inspectors arrive at Beirut intl airport — witness

 News
Aug 312013
 
UN chemical weapons inspectors arrive at Beirut intl airport — witness

BEIRUT – The team of United Nations inspectors that was investigating the alleged chemical weapons attack in Syria arrived at Beirut International Airport on Saturday, a Reuters witness said. The team had crossed the land border from Syria into Lebanon earlier in the day after completing its four-day investigation. – Reuters

Re-emergence of traditional security threats worries Defense chief

 News
Jun 032013
 
Re-emergence of traditional security threats worries Defense chief

By Frances MangosingINQUIRER.net 5:55 pm | Monday, June 3rd, 2013 Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin. FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines – Territorial disputes, among other traditional security concerns, remain high as it re-emerges in the regional security agenda, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said. Gazmin made the statement on Sunday during his speech at the 12th International Institute for Strategic Studies at the Shangri-la Dialogue held in Singapore. The annual security forum was attended by defense ministers, military chiefs and top defense analysts from 27 countries. “Traditional security concerns, including territorial disputes, issues surrounding the Korean Peninsula, military modernization and arms race, and proliferation of weapons, remain high in the regional security agenda,” Gazmin said, but did not make mention of China, which is locked in a territorial dispute with the Philippines over the hotly-contested West Philippine Sea. The defense chief said that these sensitive issues “placed in the backburner” in the past have “re-emerged to take center stage,” and would be solved if states involved would settle these issues “through mechanisms provided by international law.” “This dispels notions that these issues have become irrelevant in the 21st century with the emergence of non-traditional security challenges,” he said. “Given this, while sensitive issues will not be resolved overnight, it would be timely for states to cooperate in finding means to achieve long-lasting regional stability through mechanisms provided by international law, with the hope of settling these issues with a sense of finality,” he added. At the same time, Gazmin also recognized maritime security, Read More …

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