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[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Jason Brennan"
]
| 2016-08-28T12:49:12 | null | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fopinion%2Fop-ed%2Fla-oe-brennan-epistocracy-20160828-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c09f4e/turbine/la-oe-brennan-epistocracy-20160828-snap | en | null | Can epistocracy, or knowledge-based voting, fix democracy? | null | null | www.latimes.com | Elected officials tend to pass laws they believe will appeal to the median voter. A politician on the left or right usually can win more votes by moving to the center, a theory you can see in action by watching how presidential candidates soften their policies after the primaries.
The median voter wields great power over what politicians ultimately do. But — and here’s the problem — the median voter would fail economics or Political Science 101.
For 60 years, political scientists have studied what voters actually know. The results are depressing. Hundreds of different surveys, such as the American National Election Studies, find that the median voter is ignorant or misinformed not only about the social sciences needed to evaluate candidates’ policy proposals, but even of basic facts and trends, such as what the unemployment rate is and whether it’s going up or down.
An epistocracy would try to copy what makes democracies work, but do it better.
This isn’t because public schools fail us. It’s not because Fox News or MSNBC (take your pick) bamboozles poor voters with well-crafted lies. It’s not because people are inherently stupid or unable to think for themselves. It’s because democracy gives us the wrong incentives.
How we vote matters, but how any one of us votes does not. The chance an individual vote will make a difference is vanishingly small. Thus, we have little incentive to gather relevant information so that we can cast our votes in careful, thoughtful ways. Votes are like lottery tickets. Winning the lottery changes everything, but an individual lottery ticket is nearly worthless. If a philanthropist offered to pay you $10 million if you could pass Economics 101, you’d probably learn basic economics. But if the same philanthropist offered you a 1 in 100 million chance of winning $10 million if you could pass Economics 101, you’d stay ignorant.
While not everything governments do is decided by voters — bureaucracies, parties and officials have significant independence — what voters want makes a difference. And since voters are generally uninformed, we get worse policies that we would with a better-informed electorate. For instance, high-information voters (regardless of race, income or gender) tend to support free trade, while low-information voters have the opposite view; the latter may well force politicians to squelch the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which most experts agree is good for the global economy.
We cannot “fix” this problem because it’s a built-in feature of democracy. So maybe it’s time to consider an alternative to democracy called epistocracy. In a democracy, every citizen gets an equal right to vote. In an epistocracy, voting power is widespread, but votes are weighted: More knowledgeable citizens’ votes count more.
Relatively speaking, representative democracies function rather well: They are in general more prosperous and protect citizens’ rights better than other forms of government. An epistocracy would try to copy what makes democracies work, but do it better. Epistocracies should keep some things — like our basic rights — off the bargaining table. They should make power widespread because concentrating power among the few invites abuse. Epistocracies should have constitutional limits on power, judicial review, checks and balances and a bill of rights — just like representative democracies.
Epistocracy comes in many forms. An epistocracy might give everyone one vote, then grant extra votes to citizens who pass a test of basic political knowledge (such as the citizenship exam). Or it might grant the right to vote only to citizens who pass such a test. Or it might instead hold an “enfranchisement lottery”: Immediately before an election, choose 10,000 citizens at random, and then those citizens, and only those, are permitted to vote, but only if they first complete a competence-building exercise.
Or, an epistocracy might govern through what I call a “simulated oracle.” In this system, every citizen may vote and express his or her policy preferences through public polls. Citizens would not only be asked which candidates they support, but also which policies they support. When citizens vote, we would require them to take a test of basic political knowledge (such as which party controls Congress or what the unemployment rate is) and disclose their demographic information.
Having collected this information — who citizens are, what they want and what they know — any statistician then could calculate the public’s “enlightened preferences,” that is, what a demographically identical voting population would support if only it were better informed. An epistocracy might then instantiate the public’s enlightened preferences rather than their actual, unenlightened preferences.
Don’t confuse epistocracy with technocracy. In a technocracy — a system espoused by many progressives — small panels of expert bureaucrats engage in massive paternalistic social engineering. Technocracy is more about what the government does rather than who the government is.
One major question is what counts, and who decides what counts, as political competence or basic political knowledge. We don’t want selfish parties rigging a political exam for their own benefit. One solution would be to use widely accepted existing tests, such as the American Citizenship Exam. Another, almost paradoxical sounding idea, is that we could allow the qualification exam itself to be chosen though a democratic process. The idea here is that voters might be competent to answer the easy question of what counts as a good voter, even if they are not competent to answer the hard questions about the economics of international trade or immigration.
Some would object that epistocracy is essentially inegalitarian. In an epistocracy, not everyone has the same voting power. But what’s so wrong with that? Only some people have plumbing or hairdressing licenses because we accept that only some people are qualified to fix pipes or cut hair. Perhaps only some people, rather than everyone 18 and over, are truly qualified to decide who will lead the most powerful country on earth.
Another obvious complaint is that in an epistocracy, some demographic groups would have more voting power than others because some demographic groups have more measurable political knowledge than others. In our society, advantaged people are more knowledgeable, and advantaged people are more likely to be old and white than young and brown. Epistocracy could therefore take us back to the bad old days when middle-aged white professionals had more sway at the ballot box than everyone else. But at least some versions of epistocracy — such as the enfranchisement lottery or simulated oracle — avoid this problem. | http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-brennan-epistocracy-20160828-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/809b67d8efbfcac15dd91bb67932bf30050c2c780ffa1a8b12189a0800194ecb.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Pedro Moura"
]
| 2016-08-27T04:49:01 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsports%2Fangels%2Fla-sp-angels-report-20160826-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c10617/turbine/la-sp-angels-report-20160826-snap | en | null | Former Angel Erick Aybar gets a fresh start with the Tigers | null | null | www.latimes.com | The news arrived early last off-season, and it came as a surprise to Erick Aybar. The Angels were all he had ever known in the U.S., since they signed him for $100,000 from his native Dominican Republic in February 2002.
Then, in what appeared to be new General Manager Billy Eppler’s opening salvo but proved the Angels’ biggest off-season move, Aybar was sent to Atlanta in November. Eppler surrendered the organization’s longest-tenured player and top two prospects to seize the opportunity to acquire Andrelton Simmons, an immediate improvement and long-term solution at shortstop.
“Imagine being with one team for your whole career, and then all of the sudden you get traded,” Aybar said through an interpreter Friday. “It was difficult. Those are my boys, man.”
Aybar’s time with the Braves would be disastrous. After eight consecutive years of consistent production, he was the worst player in the sport through May. He missed a game while sedated because a chicken bone became lodged in his throat.
But he went back to being a reasonable facsimile of his old self afterward, and Detroit sought him out earlier this month to play shortstop while Jose Iglesias was hurt. Tigers Manager Brad Ausmus said Friday that Aybar would continue to draw starts at the position when Iglesias is activated Saturday.
Angels Manager Mike Scioscia allowed it was “a little bit odd” to face Aybar. He has managed only one player, Garret Anderson, for a longer period.
Aybar said it was not odd to share a clubhouse with Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander, who once called his bunt to break up a 2011 no-hit bid “bush league.”
“We forget that now that we’re on the same team,” he said. “We don’t talk about that.”
Rotation swap
In a bit of curious timing, the Angels announced Friday they would be removing right-hander Jhoulys Chacin from their starting rotation and inserting left-hander Brett Oberholtzer, at least this time through, Saturday at Comerica Park.
What makes it curious is that Chacin had made three starts since being reinserted in the rotation earlier this month. The first two were terrible; the third, Sunday against the New York Yankees, was scoreless. Chacin also had the best start of his season against the Tigers in May, a complete-game, 10-strikeout effort.
But, in perhaps the surest sign yet they are looking toward 2017, the Angels opted to give another player a chance.
“Jhoulys did have a good start against the Yankees,” Scioscia said. “But in the broad picture of how he’s pitched this year, I think coming out of the ’pen is somewhere he’s performed better. We’re gonna get a look at Obie, and we’ve got some other guys we’re gonna get a look at as we make the turn into September.”
Chacin has a 2.55 earned-run average in relief this year and a 6.21 mark as a starter. Acquired off waivers from Philadelphia earlier this month, Oberholtzer has a 5.27 ERA exclusively in relief.
Short hops
There are eight active major leaguers who hail from Michigan, and two of them are Angels: outfielder Nick Buss and right-hander Matt Shoemaker. Both men have dozens of friends and family members coming to the ballpark this weekend. ...Also with Michigan ties is reliever A.J. Achter, who was honored on the field before Friday’s game because it happened to be Michigan State Night at Comerica Park. He attended college there.
[email protected]
Follow Pedro Moura on Twitter @pedromoura | http://www.latimes.com/sports/angels/la-sp-angels-report-20160826-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/963fb903d02805143444de9e385318c2ec16393fe8410e51c505416dc13e2b84.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times"
]
| 2016-08-30T22:50:02 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fnation%2Fpolitics%2Ftrailguide%2Fla-na-trailguide-updates-trump-to-raise-money-outside-of-1472594644-htmlstory.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c604ce/turbine/la-na-trailguide-updates-trump-to-raise-money-outside-of-1472594644 | en | null | Trump to attend big-dollar fundraiser Sept. 12 in Chicago suburb | null | null | www.latimes.com | Donald Trump, shown campaigning in Michigan earlier this month, will headline a fundraiser in Illinois in September.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump will appear at a big-dollar luncheon fundraiser Sept. 12 outside Chicago.
Attendees at the event at the Bolingbrook Golf Club, in Bolingbrook, Ill., will contribute as much as $250,000 per couple, according to a copy of the fundraiser invitation. Top tickets include "prime seating," a "photo opportunity" and a place at a special "VIP roundtable" prior to the luncheon, which is cohosted by Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar.
Read more >>> | http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/trailguide/la-na-trailguide-updates-trump-to-raise-money-outside-of-1472594644-htmlstory.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/4575021df93b4cbebac32679bbe240a9ef81fd8778462c6462560c3700a5c8da.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Mary Mcnamara"
]
| 2016-08-31T00:50:21 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fentertainment%2Ftv%2Fla-et-st-grieving-the-famous-20160830-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c60471/turbine/la-et-st-grieving-the-famous-20160830-snap | en | null | Gene Wilder and grieving in the digital age: Why we mourn the famous, and in such a public way | null | null | www.latimes.com | On Monday, the news of Gene Wilder’s death provoked a swift-moving, digitally enhanced river of emotion. Tweets of grief, admiration and gratitude rose like a cloud of sparrows startled from a field; media platforms of every sort were stacked with tributes. Facebook filled with video clips and favorite lines — “Put. The candle. Back.” Whether in an office or an airport, Americans paused over their screens to call up scenes from “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory,” “Blazing Saddles” and “Young Frankenstein,” listened to “Pure Imagination” on repeat.
Digital access has fashioned its own modern ritual for grieving the famous, and it has become an art form, due, in part, to much practice. It has been a brutal year: Prince, David Bowie, Muhammad Ali, Harper Lee, Alan Rickman, Doris Roberts — the list of notable deaths is long and varied and it’s only August.
But grief will not be hurried, even when there’s video attached, and despite all the portals of instant connection, certain deaths affect us more than others. Among the legions of famous and beloved, each of us has a short list of who we consider “our people.” When they die, we may Tweet and post and choose sad emoticons but it doesn’t help; we are left unexpectedly dazed and unmoored.
Gene Wilder’s death has left me feeling unexpectedly dazed and unmoored.
I remember the first time I saw “Young Frankenstein” more clearly than I remember my college graduation, the moment I got my first real job or the day I married my husband. I was 10, sitting in a front row of the Carroll Theater in Westminster, Md., with a string of my friends. Already giddy with the freedom of no adult accompaniment, we laughed with increasing hysteria as the film unfurled its black-and-white brilliance across the screen, and my life was never the same again.
For days, weeks, months, years, my friends and I repeated the lines, the bits, over and over again. I saw the film three times during its initial run, an unprecedented demand for my family at the time, when the price of even one movie ticket had to be calculated into the weekly budget.
Sure, I had loved him in “Willy Wonka” but, when that film came out, I was a child and I loved it as a child. It would take me years to appreciate the sly humor, the wary hope of the performance; at the time I mostly liked the somersault.
Two years later, though, the early, pliant stages of personhood had begun to form and Wilder, with his wild-eyed, wild-haired yet exquisitely controlled, perfectly cadenced and oddly vulnerable comedy, reached out and in and left his thumbprint behind.
A look back at some of Hollywood legend Gene Wilder's memorable roles.
I would have followed him anywhere. And I did. Saw every movie he ever made, even the awful ones, which weren’t awful to me because he was in them. Even when working with subpar material, he was so quick and funny and smart and sweet, so patient in his timing, unafraid of chaos yet endlessly empathetic.
It wasn’t that I wanted to be him, or marry him, or even meet him. He, like many others, helped me learn to appreciate humor but I never wanted to be a comedian.
But by watching and imitating him, I learned who I was, what I thought, how I felt and how I wanted to interact with others.
I can’t explain it any better than that. Gene Wilder helped teach me how to be a person in the world.
Now he is gone and though I didn’t know him, never met him, the universe seems to stutter a bit, brought up short by a space where something important should be.
And that is why we grieve these famous strangers in ways that often seem obsessive, over-the-top and weird. Why the world grinds briefly to a halt when some beloved artists dies, why the tweets and tributes fly, the multitudes gather, bathed in candlelight and bearing flowers, for people they have never met.
Caption 'Jurassic World: The Exhibition' at the Franklin Institute “Jurassic World: The Exhibition” at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia opens Nov. 25. “Jurassic World: The Exhibition” at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia opens Nov. 25. Caption Juan Gabriel fans at mortuary As news of Juan Gabriel’s death spread, fans gathered Monday at the Malinow and Silverman Mortuary in Los Angeles to pay tribute to the singer. As news of Juan Gabriel’s death spread, fans gathered Monday at the Malinow and Silverman Mortuary in Los Angeles to pay tribute to the singer.
The contradiction of fame is that it is born of something deeply, painfully, even stupidly personal: People become famous because many other people feel an intense connection with them and their work.
We grieve the death of any artist for many reasons — the change they stood for, the loss of future work, the personal pain that may have led to death, or simply because we associate the work with important times in our own lives.
Everyone has their own list of names, writers or actors, musicians or painters, dancers, directors or composers who, in ways that may defy description, did more than just explain or illuminate the world.
At a certain point in the film “Love Actually,” Harry, played by Alan Rickman (another great changer of souls we recently lost), teases his wife Karen, played by Emma Thompson, about her enduring love of Joni Mitchell. “I love her and true love lasts a lifetime. Joni Mitchell,” she explains, “taught your cold English wife how to feel.”
Many artists entertain, provoke, enrich or educate us, but everyone has a few who helped build us.
When they go, we are as we were, but somewhere inside a floorboard creaks, a joint settles and the interior walls shiver for a moment around a new patch of emptiness.
ALSO
Gene Wilder dies at 83; 'Willy Wonka' star and Mel Brooks collaborator
From 'Willy Wonka' to 'Stir Crazy': Remembering Gene Wilder through his five greatest performances
Remembering Gene Wilder: In (not-quite) defense of 'Silver Streak'
Hollywood mourns the loss of comedy legend Gene Wilder
From the Archives: Gene Wilder on his first turn as a romantic lead in 'Funny About Love' | http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-grieving-the-famous-20160830-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/c813151a93aa1ace9432188c75b0e084b487194cef499f54cbc138ea8bc0ddcf.json |
[
"Daily Pilot",
"Hannah Fry"
]
| 2016-08-26T13:16:30 | null | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsocal%2Fdaily-pilot%2Fnews%2Ftn-dpt-me-monument-20160823-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57bd0746/turbine/tn-dpt-me-monument-20160823 | en | null | Parts of Newport Beach included in proposed national monument | null | null | www.latimes.com | More than 100,000 acres of Orange County, including sections of Newport Beach, could be designated as a national monument under a proposal heading to Congress next month.
U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) is expected to introduce a bill that, if passed by Congress, would establish the Santa Ana Mountains to Sea National Monument.
The area would encompass about 101,500 acres of open space, including Crystal Cove State Park, Upper Newport Bay and Buck Gully Reserve, which consists of about 300 acres near San Joaquin Hills Road.
The monument also would include about 45,700 acres in the Cleveland National Forest, Bommer Canyon in Irvine and Laguna Coast Wilderness Park in Laguna Beach, according to a presentation by Newport Beach city staff during a City Council study session this month.
The national monument would be the 17th in California and the 123rd in the United States. The Statue of Liberty and Castle Clinton in New York are among the most recognized and visited national monuments.
If the bill is approved, a local advisory committee would be created and tasked with submitting a plan for the monument to the federal government. The process would take about three years.
Representatives of Royce's office did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
Laura Detweiler, Newport Beach's recreation and senior services director, said the designation would bring the area more national significance and could provide some federal resources for managing the land. It also would likely increase tourism in the area, she said.
The proposal would not require federal funding and could enhance collaboration among state, federal and public landowners that make up the monument area, Detweiler said.
"One thing that it allows us to do is work on regional level issues that transcend our boundaries, like fire prevention, recreation, trails, invasive species and, most importantly, how we all tie in together with the water quality of our bay," she said.
However, Newport Beach Councilman Scott Peotter raised concerns about the potential for increased federal regulation of the land as a result of national monument status. He suggested the city ask Royce not to include Buck Gully in the bill.
"This is a prestige thing," Peotter said. "There's a potential carrot out there for more money, but there's also a hammer out there for more regulations."
Council members Keith Curry and Tony Petros praised the proposal's effort to maintain open space in Orange County.
"This area will be preserved as open space for future generations of Californians, and I am so proud that we have a small part of this," Curry said.
The city is expected to ask a member of Royce's staff to make a presentation to the City Council in coming weeks to discuss the bill. If the council favors it, city staff would draft a letter of support to be signed by the council.
Orange County Supervisor Todd Spitzer sent a letter to Royce in June indicating his support for the monument.
"The Santa Ana Mountains to Sea National Monument will provide critically important world-class conservation and recreation experiences in the middle of one of the most urban regions in the country," Spitzer wrote. "Designation of these lands as a monument ensures that these special natural and cultural resources, geological features, trails and other visitor facilities will all be managed and cared for in a manner fitting with their national importance."
---
For the Record: This story originally stated that Ed Royce is from Garden Grove. He lives in Fullerton.
---
Hannah Fry, [email protected]
Twitter: @HannahFryTCN | http://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/tn-dpt-me-monument-20160823-story.html | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/7b5ad756392d09a2712f79dcbbb55ad0077ff503c7227e849e40ac9221f3d2ee.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Associated Press"
]
| 2016-08-28T00:49:12 | null | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsports%2Fmore%2Fla-sp-golf-roundup-20160827-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c231cf/turbine/la-sp-golf-roundup-20160827-snap | en | null | Rickie Fowler, bogey-free again, takes one-shot lead at the Barclays | null | null | www.latimes.com | Rickie Fowler kept bogeys off his card for the second straight day and closed with a five-foot birdie putt for a three-under-par 68, giving him a one-shot lead over Patrick Reed going into the final round of the Barclays in Farmingdale, N.Y.
Fowler has gone 45 holes without a bogey at Bethpage Black, the site of two U.S. Opens and among the toughest courses on the PGA Tour. Along with his three birdies Saturday, he made three par-saving putts of at least 10 feet, including one from 25 feet early in his round.
And he needed them all.
Reed overcame three bogeys in a four-hole stretch on the front nine and was tied for the lead on the back nine until the final two holes. Reed missed a five-foot birdie putt on the 17th, and his 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole missed weakly to the right.
Fowler, who was at nine-under 204, is in prime position to win for the first time on the PGA Tour in a year and play his way onto the U.S. Ryder Cup team.
This is the final tournament for Americans to earn one of the eight automatic spots for the Ryder Cup matches at Hazeltine at the end of next month. Fowler was at No. 12 going into the opening FedEx Cup event with its $8.5-million purse and needed at least a third-place finish to earn a spot.
Reed, who is No. 8 in the Ryder Cup standings, settled into his round and wound up with a 71, putting him in the final group with Fowler. Right behind was Adam Scott, who also saw his share of putts go in, especially a 45-foot birdie on the 15th hole. Scott started out his round by holing a lob wedge from 98 yards for an eagle, and his 65 was the lowest score of the tournament.
Scott, who hasn't seriously contended since his back-to-back victories in Florida five months ago, was two shots behind at 7-under 206. Martin Laird (69) and Emiliano Grillo (71) were three shots back, while Justin Thomas got into the game a 66 and was in the group at 5-under 208, which included defending champion Jason Day (70).
Jutanugarn leads by two in Canada
Ariya Jutanugarn missed a chance to take a big lead into the final round of the Canadian Pacific Women's Open, making two late bogeys at Priddis Greens.
A week after withdrawing from the Rio Olympics because of a left knee injury, the 20-year-old Thai player bogeyed the par-four 16th and par-five 18th for a five-under 67.
At 17-under 199, she had a two-stroke advantage over South Korea's In Gee Chun.
Jutanugarn won the Women's British Open in the event before the Olympics to tie Lydia Ko for the LPGA Tour victory lead with four. After a late meltdown in the major ANA Inspiration in April, Jutanugarn picked up the nickname “May” with three straight victories in the breakthrough month.
Chun shot a 66. South Korea's Sei Young Kim and Northern Ireland's Stephanie Meadow were 12 under. Kim had a 68, and Meadow shot 69.
Three-time champion Ko (70) was tied for 10th at 10 under, and Canadian star Brooke Henderson (68) was nine strokes back at 8 under. Ko won the event three of the last four years, the first two as an amateur.
Sauers’ 67 good for lead at Boeing Classic
Gene Sauers took the Boeing Classic lead, two weeks after his breakthrough victory in the U.S. Senior Open.
The 54-year-old Sauers two-putted for birdie on the par-five 18th for a five-under 67 and a two-stroke lead over Joe Durant. The three-time PGA Tour winner had a 12-under 132 total at TPC Snoqualmie Ridge.
Sauers birdied four of the last five holes, making three in a row in Nos. 14-16.
Durant birdied the last for a 65. He won the 3M Championship three weeks ago in Minnesota.
Tom Byrum and Stephen Ames were at nine under. Byrum had a 68, and Ames shot 69.
Kirk Triplett, tied for the first-round lead with Sauers after a 65, had a 71 to drop into a tie for fifth at eight under, along with Bernhard Langer (67).
Dredge has one-shot lead in Denmark
Wales' Bradley Dredge shot a one-over 72 to take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the European Tour's Made in Denmark tournament.
Dredge had a 12-under 201 total at Himmerland Golf and Spa Resort. American David Lipsky (67) was second along with Spain's Adrian Otaegui (68) and Belgium's Thomas Pieters (69). | http://www.latimes.com/sports/more/la-sp-golf-roundup-20160827-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/88cb57eb3306b163fe2aa1850a3533d5f3ff0103db8fd801ed2209ea58fcad2f.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Tre'Vell Anderson"
]
| 2016-08-28T16:49:10 | null | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fentertainment%2Fmovies%2Fla-et-mn-box-office-dont-breathe-suicide-squad-20160825-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c31030/turbine/la-et-mn-box-office-dont-breathe-suicide-squad-20160825-snap | en | null | 'Don't Breathe' breathes life in into slow end to summer box office | null | null | www.latimes.com | Breathing life into what was expected to be a slow end to the summer box office season, Sony Pictures’ “Don’t Breathe” over-performed, leaving three-time box office champ, Warner Bros.’ “Suicide Squad,” in the dust.
The low-budget horror movie raked in a surprising estimated $26.1 million in the U.S. and Canada, well surpassing analyst projections of $12 million to $14 million.
“‘Don’t Breathe’ is a film that, I have to admit, from Day One, we knew we had something special,” said Rory Bruer, the studio’s distribution chief. “It was one of those things where the trajectory ended up being far beyond what we could've imagined, a stunning result.”
The violent thriller about a group of friends whose home invasion plot goes horribly wrong stars Stephen Lang, Jane Levy and Dylan Minnette among others. The $9.8-million flick is the latest financial success for Uruguay-born writer-director Fede Alvarez, best known for 2013’s “Evil Dead" remake. Alvarez has been in high demand in Hollywood since he was discovered through a short film uploaded to YouTube in 2009.
“Don’t Breathe” benefited from one of the biggest, most aggressive digital marketing campaigns in Sony’s history, following recently successful digital-skewing campaigns for “Sausage Party” and “The Shallows.”
Caption The Comedy Comedy Festival in Little Tokyo The comedy festival running Thursday through Sunday in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo neighborhood is an Asian American comedy fest with a bill of more than 100 comics of Asian descent. You probably wouldn't know that from the name of the event: the Comedy Comedy Festival. The comedy festival running Thursday through Sunday in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo neighborhood is an Asian American comedy fest with a bill of more than 100 comics of Asian descent. You probably wouldn't know that from the name of the event: the Comedy Comedy Festival. Caption Director Andrew Ahn on his new film, 'Spa Night' Actor Joe Seo and director Andrew Ahn discuss what inspired the new film "Spa Night." Actor Joe Seo and director Andrew Ahn discuss what inspired the new film "Spa Night."
Audiences and movie critics appear pleased. Moviegoers gave the picture an overall B-plus CinemaScore (A-minus from the under 35 crowd) while 87% of Rotten Tomatoes critics rated the film positively.
“Don’t Breathe” is the latest in well-reviewed horror fare, a genre that has had a vibrant summer at the box office, including hits like “Lights Out" and “The Conjuring 2” from New Line Cinema, and “The Purge: Election Year” from Universal Pictures.
“Suicide Squad” dropped to second place with $12.1 million in its fourth week, still meeting analyst expectations, which were at $12 million this week. The DC antihero mashup, after receiving relatively poor reviews, has taken in $282.9 million domestically. Internationally, the picture has brought in an estimated $353.1 million.
Landing in third was “Kubo and the Two Strings,” from LAIKA and Focus Features, with $7.9 million. In its second week, the animated film has grossed $24.9 million domestically to date.
Sony’s “Sausage Party” continues to be a big money maker, landing in fourth in its third week, with an estimated $7.7 million. The $19-million film has already made back more than four times its price with a domestic gross to date of $80 million.
The only other major release this week, Lionsgate’s “Mechanic: Resurrection,” took the fifth spot with an estimated $7.5 million in ticket sales. Though only meeting analyst expectations of $6 million to $8 million, the film will prove to be a major success for the studio when factoring in projections on the home entertainment front and its UK release.
“Mechanic: Resurrection” is the sequel in a Jason Statham franchise. The first, “The Mechanic,” about an elite hitman, opened to $11 million when it was released by CBS Films in 2011. It eventually grossed $62 million worldwide.
In the new film, Statham, known for action roles in the “Fast & Furious” and “Crank” franchises, is joined by costars Jessica Alba and Tommy Lee Jones.
“Mechanic: Resurrection” has audiences and critics at odds. While moviegoers gave the picture a B-plus CinemaScore, only 24% of Rotten Tomatoes critics favored it.
On the limited-release front, this weekend was “Hands of Stone,” from Weinstein Co. The boxing drama pulled in an estimated $1.7 million from a mid-level release of about 800 theaters, coming in well below analyst projections of less than $6 million.
The film tells the story of Panamanian fighter Roberto Duran (Edgar Ramirez), who became a world champion with the help of legendary coach Ray Arcel (De Niro). R&B singer Usher plays legendary boxer Sugar Ray Leonard.
“Hands of Stone” was originally planned for a wider push, but the company decided to scale back its release plans, a reflection of the data they had collected at the time, said David Glasser, the studio’s president and chief operating officer.
“By going on 800 screens early, [audiences] start to realize who [the film’s characters] are,” he said. “It was about having the audience find it.”
The audience thus far has been 60% male and 50% Latino. And while only 46% of Rotten Tomatoes critics favored the flick, moviegoers gave it an A CinemaScore, with the under-35 crowd giving it an A-plus, according to the studio.
Glasser projects strong word of mouth will see the film’s performance increase next week when it expands to 2,000 theaters.
Another notable debut in limited release is Roadside Attraction’s Barack and Michelle Obama love story “Southside With You.” It took in about $3 million from around 800 locations.
The film starring Parker Sawyers and Tika Sumpter as the First Couple before the White House is a hit with critics, with 93% of Rotten Tomatoes critics favoring the picture.
Up next for premieres on Labor Day weekend is Disney’s “Lights Between Oceans” and a host of small releases.
Follow me on Twitter: @TrevellAnderson. | http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-box-office-dont-breathe-suicide-squad-20160825-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/0e6281c5ed02406038b604296c15629a2f12e3970db39484e3a16a1dd01a38c8.json |
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| 2016-08-26T13:03:29 | null | 2016-08-23T10:00:00 | Hungarian building materials maker Masterplastʼs first-half net income fell 18% year-on-year to €1,428,000, dropping on a financial loss, an earnings report released early today shows, according to Hungarian news agency MTI. | http%3A%2F%2Fbbj.hu%2Feconomy%2Fmasterplast-h1-profit-falls-on-financial-loss-_121005.json | http://bbj.hu/images2/201411/masterplastj_20141112111522605.jpg | en | null | Masterplast H1 profit falls on financial loss | null | null | bbj.hu | Masterplast H1 profit falls on financial loss
MTI – Econews
Hungarian building materials maker Masterplastʼs first-half net income fell 18% year-on-year to €1,428,000, dropping on a financial loss, an earnings report released early today shows, according to Hungarian news agency MTI.
Revenues and cost of sales were flat during the period, while a change in inventories lifted operating profit, but a €182,000 financial loss weighed on the bottom line. In the base period, Masterplast booked a €460,000 financial gain. The company noted that its costs are mostly in euros and dollars, while its sales are in local currencies, making it vulnerable to exchange rate changes.
Revenues came to €37,874,000, while cost of sales reached €31,870,000. Operating profit was up 24% at €1,750,000.
In a breakdown of revenues by country, Masterplast said sales in Hungary stagnated, but still accounted for 29% of group turnover. Sales in Romania accounted for 15% of the total, and sales in Serbia for 11%. Sales in Ukraine were up 18%, generating 8% of total turnover. | http://bbj.hu/economy/masterplast-h1-profit-falls-on-financial-loss-_121005 | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | bbj.hu/4a5ade2c481a9efc4ce19484ab947bad27f5bb4cafd8f617e140123d6c949ca5.json |
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| 2016-08-26T12:51:55 | null | 2016-08-24T14:53:00 | A company headed by István Garancsi, who is close to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and whose firm has already won a number of public procurement contracts, is set to build a new 13,000 square-meter logistics center at Budapest Airport, a report by online news portal hvg.hu says today. | http%3A%2F%2Fbbj.hu%2Fpolitics%2Ffirm-run-by-orban-associate-gets-another-construction-contract_121066.json | http://bbj.hu/images2/201409/epulszervjpg_2014091810335670.jpg | en | null | Firm run by Orbán associate gets another construction contract | null | null | bbj.hu | Firm run by Orbán associate gets another construction contract
BBJ
A company headed by István Garancsi, who is close to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and whose firm has already won a number of public procurement contracts, is set to build a new 13,000 square-meter logistics center at Budapest Airport, a report by online news portal hvg.hu says today.
Market Építő Zrt., the firm owned by the prime minister’s close friend Garancsi, will build a large warehouse at Budapest’s Ferenc Liszt Airport for parcel courier DHL Express. The latter will fly two aircraft from Budapest to Brussels and Leipzig, where its central depot is located – Népszabadság reported today. The new warehouse and office building will have a floor area of over 13,000 square meters.
According to the 2016 Influence Barometer of independent business and finance portal napi.hu, Garancsi is Hungary’s eighth most influential person. As reported in the BBJ in June 2015, Market Építő previously won a contract worth nearly HUF 40 billion to design and build a brand-new indoor swimming pool complex for the 2017 World Aquatics Championships in Budapest. | http://bbj.hu/politics/firm-run-by-orban-associate-gets-another-construction-contract_121066 | en | 2016-08-24T00:00:00 | bbj.hu/b5a12199e0befc7e430e43dd1dc22452ec1e7a8c2f2e20e330bb4f4504d01f86.json |
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| 2016-08-26T12:53:48 | null | 2016-08-24T15:52:00 | Hungary will defend its borders 100%, even if Turkey carries out its threat to release masses of migrants towards the European Union, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said in an interview with Brazilian daily newspaper Folha de S. Paulo, government web portal kormany.hu announced yesterday. | http%3A%2F%2Fbbj.hu%2Fpolitics%2Forban-hungary-would-turn-away-refugee-tide-from-turkey_121073.json | http://bbj.hu/images2/201602/145672984912853h41Flfvtoc9_L.jpg | en | null | Orbán: Hungary would turn away refugee tide from Turkey | null | null | bbj.hu | Orbán: Hungary would turn away refugee tide from Turkey
BBJ
Hungary will defend its borders 100%, even if Turkey carries out its threat to release masses of migrants towards the European Union, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said in an interview with Brazilian daily newspaper Folha de S. Paulo, government web portal kormany.hu announced yesterday.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. (Photo: Kormany.hu)
The São Paulo newspaper recalled that the refugee agreement between the EU and Turkey specified the abolition of compulsory visas for Turkish citizens. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has stressed that if Brussels fails to keep to the agreement, Ankara will unleash waves of refugees towards the EU.
The Hungarian prime minister said that he sees it as “impossible” to allow Turkish citizens visa-free travel to Europe, and that European countries will be unable to keep their promise to Turkey. At the same time, Orbán said he does not fear Ankara’s threat, and declared his support for the Turkish president and the stability of Turkey.
“If there is no stability in Turkey, this will be a problem for the whole region,” said Orbán. “We must support the Turkish government.”
Orbán was also asked in the interview whether the arrival of refugees might help resolve demographic problems in the European Union.
“Never,” he replied. “They could cause a more serious problem by building a parallel society in Europe. Migrants arrive with different cultural notions, and such parallel societies are dangerous, destabilizing EU countries.”
Orbán also repeated his support for U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump in the interview, saying that “Trump’s foreign policy would be the best for us.” He added: “Trump defends the monitoring of migrants. He also opposes democracy building in other countries, and I agree with him on this.”
Meanwhile, as reported by MTI, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim praised Hungary’s attitude towards the attempted putsch in Turkey on July 15 as “an example that should be followed by other European Union countries.”
Speaking at discussions with Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó in Ankara Tuesday, Yildirim described Szijjártó’s visit as a strong expression of solidarity which he valued greatly. He also emphasized that the purges following the attempted putsch would take place within the framework of a democratic state governed by the rule of law, and confirmed that the Hungarian authorities stand willing to cooperate.
Index.hu cited state-run Turkish press agency Anadolu as reporting that Szijjártó voiced Hungary’s support for Turkey in the fight against terrorism, adding that the foreign minister also stressed that the Hungarian government made its position clear from the very start that it regarded the events of July 15 as a terror attack. | http://bbj.hu/politics/orban-hungary-would-turn-away-refugee-tide-from-turkey_121073 | en | 2016-08-24T00:00:00 | bbj.hu/f11fd1ee09f1d45d96e785b943afa406307352cc3ff29d97e8d9cd1fe5accb6c.json |
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| 2016-08-26T13:05:57 | null | 2016-08-23T09:41:00 | Almost HUF 130 billion in venture capital has been distributed among more than 350 Hungarian businesses within the framework of the European Unionʼs Jeremie initiative, business daily Vilaggázdaság reported today, based on data from the Ministry for National Economy. | http%3A%2F%2Fbbj.hu%2Fbusiness%2Fhuf-130-bln-jeremie-funding-for-local-smes_121002.json | http://bbj.hu/images2/201604/14617379909527l9rxEUPx0fHr_L.jpg | en | null | HUF 130 bln Jeremie funding for local SMEs | null | null | bbj.hu | HUF 130 bln Jeremie funding for local SMEs
BBJ
Almost HUF 130 billion in venture capital has been distributed among more than 350 Hungarian businesses within the framework of the European Unionʼs Jeremie initiative, business daily Vilaggázdaság reported today, based on data from the Ministry for National Economy.
The Jeremie initiative was established by the European Union to provide EU structural funds for financing SMEs. The program, which stands for the Joint European Resources for Micro to Medium Enterprises, was launched in 2009, Vilaggázdaság noted.
Although the deadline for using the funds, of which 65% came from Brussels, was the end of 2015, an extension period of five months meant that the funds could be used for longer, the paper added. | http://bbj.hu/business/huf-130-bln-jeremie-funding-for-local-smes_121002 | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | bbj.hu/2e3a2f8c3831ef0c66b76bfadf0adec4e3bad74cd55d30d7de088654cc917dd7.json |
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| 2016-08-26T13:03:51 | null | 2016-08-23T08:43:00 | Sales of homes priced at over HUF 60 million, or about €200,000, accounted for a little more than 4% of all residential property transactions in Budapest in the first half, data compiled by real estate brokerage Duna House show, according to a Monday report by Hungarian news agency MTI. | http%3A%2F%2Fbbj.hu%2Feconomy%2Fdemand-for-homes-over-huf-60-mln-edges-up_121000.json | http://bbj.hu/images2/201603/14573358284254oOydQQ46Ew5_L.jpg | en | null | Demand for homes over HUF 60 mln edges up | null | null | bbj.hu | Demand for homes over HUF 60 mln edges up
MTI – Econews
Sales of homes priced at over HUF 60 million, or about €200,000, accounted for a little more than 4% of all residential property transactions in Budapest in the first half, data compiled by real estate brokerage Duna House show, according to a Monday report by Hungarian news agency MTI.
The proportion of such properties was up about half a percentage point from the same period a year earlier.
Sales of flats priced over HUF 60 mln made up a little more than 3% of the total, up almost a full percentage point from a year earlier.
The proportion of sales of homes in the price category was over 15% in the capitalʼs leafy District II and District XII, as well as in District V and VI in the city center.
About four in ten home buyers in the price category made their purchases as an investment. The same number aimed to move into a bigger home. About 10% were first-time home buyers.
The average age of the buyers was around 50, Duna House said. | http://bbj.hu/economy/demand-for-homes-over-huf-60-mln-edges-up_121000 | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | bbj.hu/03cd9b7f671bcd36cd769addab58bd88869804c9dec866a01b5f7ff0152938f8.json |
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| 2016-08-26T14:46:20 | null | 2016-08-26T14:42:00 | Hitherto operating stores only on the outskirts of Budapest, the sporting goods chain Decathlon yesterday announced the opening of a new store on downtown Nyugati tér, near the Western railway station, online portal index.hu reports. | http%3A%2F%2Fbbj.hu%2Fbusiness%2Fdecathlon-opens-downtown-store-at-nyugati_121170.json | http://bbj.hu/images2/201608/14722156410286qu5D9bzrm85_O.jpg | en | null | Decathlon opens downtown store at Nyugati | null | null | bbj.hu | Decathlon opens downtown store at Nyugati
BBJ
Hitherto operating stores only on the outskirts of Budapest, the sporting goods chain Decathlon yesterday announced the opening of a new store on downtown Nyugati tér, near the Western railway station, online portal index.hu reports.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Managing Director Gábor Pósfai announced that the chain, founded in France, would open its 18th store in Hungary Saturday. With the opening of the downtown store, Decathlon’s first digital store and its fifth in the capital and environs, the chain hopes to bring in a new set of customers, reports news agency MTI.
The company plans to open three more stores this year, in Tatabánya, Sopron and Budapest, while planning additional outlets next year in county towns.
Products in some 70 sports categories will go on sale at the new Budapest digital store, which has floor space of 1,733 square meters. Some items – such as bicycles and heavier gear – will only be available to order online at the store. The company’s online sales are steadily increasing, now reaching almost 3% of total sales, and the new store is being used as a pilot ahead of spreading digital services further.
The chain of sports shops employs almost 1,300 people in Hungary. In 2015 it posted pre-tax profit of HUF 1.4 billion, increasing its turnover by 26%. | http://bbj.hu/business/decathlon-opens-downtown-store-at-nyugati_121170 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | bbj.hu/6be7199aebfc1031052ef23d49002fcbd7e6d3b97263469a2b6b7fd0f14422a2.json |
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| 2016-08-26T12:59:42 | null | 2016-08-25T10:59:00 | A second reading of data confirmed that, in June, the volume of sales in retail shops, according to both raw and calendar-adjusted data, grew by 5.7% compared to the same period last year, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) reported. In the first half of the year, sales rose 5.2% compared to H1 in 2015, KSH confirmed. | http%3A%2F%2Fbbj.hu%2Feconomy%2Fksh-confirms-retail-trade-up-more-than-5-in-june-and-h1_121115.json | http://bbj.hu/images2/201410/cart-15507_1_20141029113256351.jpg | en | null | KSH confirms retail trade up more than 5% in June and H1 | null | null | bbj.hu | KSH confirms retail trade up more than 5% in June and H1
BBJ
A second reading of data confirmed that, in June, the volume of sales in retail shops, according to both raw and calendar-adjusted data, grew by 5.7% compared to the same period last year, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) reported. In the first half of the year, sales rose 5.2% compared to H1 in 2015, KSH confirmed.
Adjusted for calendar effects, the volume of sales rose by 3.4% in specialized and non-specialized food shops, by 9.7% in non-food retail shops and by 3.6% in automotive fuel retailing, KSH said.
The volume of sales in the national retail trade network as well as in mail order and internet retailing increased by 5.7%, according to KSH. | http://bbj.hu/economy/ksh-confirms-retail-trade-up-more-than-5-in-june-and-h1_121115 | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | bbj.hu/84ca874fe71dba276680652064a3fa249ef52de9fda9018adfbcf1e4d7b50ed4.json |
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| 2016-08-26T13:01:42 | null | 2016-08-26T09:59:00 | An emblematic Hungarian soft drink brand with a long history is mulling expansion into the Balkans, online portal napi.hu reported yesterday, citing daily Népszabadság. | http%3A%2F%2Fbbj.hu%2Fbusiness%2Fmarka-plans-own-factory-eyes-balkan-conquest_121167.json | http://bbj.hu/images2/201608/14721983820283sGkgz0Jgrun4_O.jpg | en | null | Márka plans own factory, eyes Balkan conquest | null | null | bbj.hu | Márka plans own factory, eyes Balkan conquest
BBJ
An emblematic Hungarian soft drink brand with a long history is mulling expansion into the Balkans, online portal napi.hu reported yesterday, citing daily Népszabadság.
Márka Üdítőgyártó Kft., maker of the cherry-flavored favorite Márka Meggy and a variety of other fruity soft drinks, currently contracts out production. However, after continuously gaining in popularity, it is currently considering opening its own factory and beginning expansion into the Balkan countries.
The firm plans to build a plant in Felsőlajos, in the Southern Great Plain region of Hungary, at a cost of around HUF 3 billion, a significant proportion of which it aims to finance from the central bank’s Growth Credit Program.
Márka increased revenues from HUF 1.5 bln in 2012 to over HUF 2.6 bln last year, while its pre-tax profits rose from around HUF 100 mln to over HUF 250 mln.
Sweet soft drinks under the Márka brand became popular in the 1970s and 1980s, before more or less disappearing following the change of political regime. The current family-owned enterprise has supplied one of the most ubiquitous brands of the communist era to stores since buying the brand name in 2007.
The new factory is expected to create 50 new jobs, according to Népszabadság, with an expected annual capacity of 55 million two-liter bottles | http://bbj.hu/business/marka-plans-own-factory-eyes-balkan-conquest_121167 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | bbj.hu/52cd46a04ac6aa465970baebce7ae3df8fb17f65a5becc824a1d7d6c909089de.json |
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| 2016-08-26T12:51:26 | null | 2016-08-23T11:21:00 | The Széchenyi Capital Investment Fund (SZTA), a venture capital fund established by the state to support SMEs, has injected HUF 60 million into Bconhunt, whose mobile application pairs bargain hunters with their favorite brands, Hungarian news agency MTI reported today. | http%3A%2F%2Fbbj.hu%2Feconomy%2Fszta-injects-huf-60-mln-into-mobile-app-startup_121009.json | http://bbj.hu/images2/201603/14592383597833o8bJSYibiDik_L.jpg | en | null | SZTA injects HUF 60 mln into mobile app startup | null | null | bbj.hu | SZTA injects HUF 60 mln into mobile app startup
MTI – Econews
The Széchenyi Capital Investment Fund (SZTA), a venture capital fund established by the state to support SMEs, has injected HUF 60 million into Bconhunt, whose mobile application pairs bargain hunters with their favorite brands, Hungarian news agency MTI reported today.
Bconhunt aims to use the funding to enter the domestic market, SZTA said today. SZTA was drawn to the investment due to the preparedness of Bconhuntʼs management and the positive effects of the app, dubbed Bconshop, on retailers, it added.
SZTA has injected almost HUF 13 bln of capital into about 90 Hungarian companies so far. European Union money makes up 85% of the funding. | http://bbj.hu/economy/szta-injects-huf-60-mln-into-mobile-app-startup_121009 | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | bbj.hu/457abed7d06fb915e5e6618bd0796191e18d5ccfe926d58634a5a2db428e8eb3.json |
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| 2016-08-29T12:47:45 | null | 2016-08-29T13:16:00 | Based on a new law on excise tax adopted by Hungarian lawmakers in June, the excise tax on tobacco products will increase from Thursday, and more price hikes are coming, according to Hungarian news agency MTI, reported by business news portal napi.hu yesterday. | http%3A%2F%2Fbbj.hu%2Feconomy%2Fcigarette-prices-to-be-hiked-from-thursday_121228.json | http://bbj.hu/images2/201508/14399654040544ivRkr8oZVvg2_O.jpg | en | null | Cigarette prices to be hiked from Thursday | null | null | bbj.hu | Cigarette prices to be hiked from Thursday
BBJ
Based on a new law on excise tax adopted by Hungarian lawmakers in June, the excise tax on tobacco products will increase from Thursday, and more price hikes are coming, according to Hungarian news agency MTI, reported by business news portal napi.hu yesterday.
The tax on cigarettes remains at 25% of the retail price, while cigars and cigarillos carry a 14% tax. The price of fine-cut and other consumer tobacco will rise from the current HUF 14,000 per kilogram to HUF 15,100.
The report notes that this is only the beginning, as the government is expected to impose two further price rises in order to bring the structure of tax on tobacco products in line with EU guidelines. In order to reach the EU-mandated minimum tax level, Hungary must raise tax on tobacco by 29% by the end of 2017, and this week’s raise is only the first of three steps to reach this target. | http://bbj.hu/economy/cigarette-prices-to-be-hiked-from-thursday_121228 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | bbj.hu/508d7b2297384857b0976aa0a9c3f20d1a00905da22f56c92b03edde408bbfe9.json |
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| 2016-08-29T12:47:43 | null | 2016-08-29T13:36:00 | Two new types of vocational training schools, which will offer students both a technical path and an academic path, will open in Hungary as the semester begins next month, Economy Minister Mihály Varga said during a visit to Kecskemét today, according to state news agency MTI. | http%3A%2F%2Fbbj.hu%2Feconomy%2Fgovernment-to-launch-new-vocational-schools_121231.json | http://bbj.hu/images2/201608/14724706411403JrjwjG87DW8_L.jpg | en | null | Government to launch new vocational schools | null | null | bbj.hu | Government to launch new vocational schools
BBJ
Two new types of vocational training schools, which will offer students both a technical path and an academic path, will open in Hungary as the semester begins next month, Economy Minister Mihály Varga said during a visit to Kecskemét today, according to state news agency MTI.
Economy Minister Mihály Varga making the announcement in Kecskemét today. (Photo: MTI/Ujvári Sándor)
The new schools are being set up as part of the governmentʼs effort to improve vocational training and increase the number of trained workers, Varga reportedly said.
Hungary is facing a shortage of skilled labor, as unemployment continues to drop. Tomorrows release of new unemployment figures could see the rate go below 5%, and employers are urging better vocational training. | http://bbj.hu/economy/government-to-launch-new-vocational-schools_121231 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | bbj.hu/5c5564cb5952abb1351e631111511c1ad88fe1e0cf256aebd224b08ececa2c06.json |
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| 2016-08-26T13:00:46 | null | 2016-08-24T11:32:00 | The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C. yesterday said the Hungarian government should rescind its decision to grant the Hungarian Order of Merit, the stateʼs second-highest award for civilians, to right-wing journalist Zsolt Bayer. | http%3A%2F%2Fbbj.hu%2Fpolitics%2Fus-holocaust-museum-urges-recall-of-bayers-award_121062.json | http://bbj.hu/images2/201608/1472031622281rfTquSOB5wU_L.jpg | en | null | U.S. Holocaust Museum urges recall of Bayerʼs award | null | null | bbj.hu | U.S. Holocaust Museum urges recall of Bayerʼs award
BBJ
The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C. yesterday said the Hungarian government should rescind its decision to grant the Hungarian Order of Merit, the stateʼs second-highest award for civilians, to right-wing journalist Zsolt Bayer.
The Order of Merit of Hungary. (Photo: Národní Museum, Prague)
Bayer has a long record of racist speech and has written highly provocative anti-Semitic and anti-Roma articles in the Hungarian media, according to a statement from the Holocaust Museum. The statement noted that the award he received is supposed to recognize individuals who demonstrate excellence in service to the country and "the promotion of universal human values".
"The government has repeatedly stated a ʼzero toleranceʼ approach to anti-Semitism. And yet it was János Lázár, minister for the Prime Ministerʼs Office and the governmentʼs point person for dialogue and engagement with the countryʼs Jewish community, who personally presented the award to Bayer," the statement said.
The Holocaust Museumʼs statement said that governments have a responsibility to combat hate speech that invites violence.
Bayer was decorated with the Order of Merit, Knightʼs Cross on the August 20 national holiday. Since then, numerous previous recipients of the decoration have declared they were returning their own awards in protest.
Bayer said in an interview published in the government-friendly daily Magyar Idők Wednesday that he did not plan to return the award in the wake of the protests. He said he had not intended to incite hatred against Jews and that one of his articles could have been misinterpreted, which was regrettable. | http://bbj.hu/politics/us-holocaust-museum-urges-recall-of-bayers-award_121062 | en | 2016-08-24T00:00:00 | bbj.hu/d3e52fa8815b62e5ee9a88c7a1a11694f83280109938ec1af1b910334b636b23.json |
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| 2016-08-26T13:05:16 | null | 2016-08-23T09:57:00 | The ratio of late payment of invoices by Hungarian businesses was approximately 32.9% in the first half of 2016, dropping slightly from 33.2% in the corresponding period a year earlier. In the first half of 2014, the proportion was 36.1%, business information firm Bisnode Hungary reported yesterday based on compiled data. | http%3A%2F%2Fbbj.hu%2Fbusiness%2Fslight-improvement-seen-in-late-payments_121004.json | http://bbj.hu/images2/201603/14588914666614NGgKKrc2hWov_L.jpg | en | null | Slight improvement seen in late payments | null | null | bbj.hu | Slight improvement seen in late payments
BBJ
The ratio of late payment of invoices by Hungarian businesses was approximately 32.9% in the first half of 2016, dropping slightly from 33.2% in the corresponding period a year earlier. In the first half of 2014, the proportion was 36.1%, business information firm Bisnode Hungary reported yesterday based on compiled data.
At the same time, Bisnode added that deadlines for the payment of invoices averaged 28 days in the first half, which is almost two days more than in the corresponding periods of the previous two years.
Companies in Somogy County, in the west of the country, paid their overdue invoices the fastest, within ten days on average, Hungarian news agency MTI reported based on Bisnode data. The slowest late payers were in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County, in the northeast, where business partners had to wait more than 30 days past the invoice deadline to get their money, it added. | http://bbj.hu/business/slight-improvement-seen-in-late-payments_121004 | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | bbj.hu/552dac0933a5aa4939102bd6e2483a43cc3a2f7e65bb98b41b323d2b5bb27138.json |
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| 2016-08-26T12:48:50 | null | 2016-08-26T12:23:00 | Prime Minister Viktor Orbán promised to build a new, more permanent fence at Hungary’s southern border, boasting that “even birds can’t fly in without being checked,” during his regular biweekly radio interview, online news portal index.hu and other sources report today. | http%3A%2F%2Fbbj.hu%2Fpolitics%2Forban-plans-super-fence-raises-specter-of-muslim-hordes_121168.json | http://bbj.hu/images2/201608/14722074316929tl2Q8yXcSnJh_O.jpg | en | null | Orbán plans super-fence, raises specter of Muslim hordes | null | null | bbj.hu | Orbán plans super-fence, raises specter of Muslim hordes
BBJ
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán promised to build a new, more permanent fence at Hungary’s southern border, boasting that “even birds can’t fly in without being checked,” during his regular biweekly radio interview, online news portal index.hu and other sources report today.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán during his radio interview today. (Photo: MTI/Szilárd Koszticsák)
Work on the new super-fence will begin once the minister of interior submits the necessary plans, said Orbán, who noted that he regards the current, heavily policed double fence of razor wire, equipped with thermal imaging cameras, as merely a temporary, hastily erected solution, requiring additional reinforcement.
“I’m not a heartless person, but the border cannot be protected with flowers and plush toys,” online portal origo.hu quoted the prime minister as saying. “The future of Europe and Hungary is at stake. The question is if we live together with hordes of Muslims, then what kind of public security will we have, and whether our daughters and wives will be safe. Why would we risk it?”
The prime minister stressed that whoever claims there is no connection between migration and terrorism “doesn’t know what they’re talking about, or for some reason is trying to deny facts that are plainer than day.” Orbán said the Hungarian government’s position is that terrorism has appeared and spread in Europe because hundreds of thousands of people have arrived unchecked from places that regard the Western world as the enemy. “There are states of semi-war, and in such circumstances we cannot take a risk,” he said.
In response to the question of what would happen if Western countries sent back refugees arriving from Hungary, Orbán replied that “there will be no one to drag back to Hungary because even birds cannot fly in without being checked. The Hungarian-Serb and Hungarian-Croat borders are hermetically sealed.”
Index.hu observed that the putative super-fence is based on several hypothetical situations. According to Orbán, it is possible that Turkey’s refugee policy will change, in which case it is possible that Ankara will allow refugees currently in Turkey to travel further. Should both these things occur, then – according to the prime minister – it may happen that “hundreds of thousands of migrants will appear at the border, and they must be kept out even by force.”
On the subject of Hungary’s bid to hold the Olympics in 2024, for which Orbán lobbied in Brazil, the prime minister conceded that Budapest would have a tough time beating the other three bidders, Paris, Rome and Los Angeles. “Three Goliaths and one David are competing for the right to host the Olympics,” he said. At the same time, he said he would like to see the Games come to Hungary as “the Olympics would bring massive economic benefits. We scarcely have to make any investments that we would not need to make anyway.” | http://bbj.hu/politics/orban-plans-super-fence-raises-specter-of-muslim-hordes_121168 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | bbj.hu/94e3090c47372a82991393f9015bd743c0f9a941167a030606ec4b7a21f79e73.json |
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| 2016-08-26T13:04:54 | null | 2016-08-23T09:14:00 | As of today, a running roll-call on Index.hu shows that 69 Hungarians awarded the Knightʼs Cross of the Order of Merit, a recognition bestowed by the government, have returned their awards in protest after Zsolt Bayer (pictured), a pro-government journalist known for his extreme opinion pieces, received the accolade on August 20. | http%3A%2F%2Fbbj.hu%2Fpolitics%2Fextremist-decorated-recipients-reject-awards-in-protest_121001.json | http://bbj.hu/images2/201608/14719369279978ZfOgbvHQySx8_L.jpg | en | null | Extremist decorated, recipients reject awards in protest | null | null | bbj.hu | Extremist decorated, recipients reject awards in protest
BBJ
As of today, a running roll-call on Index.hu shows that 69 Hungarians awarded the Knightʼs Cross of the Order of Merit, a recognition bestowed by the government, have returned their awards in protest after Zsolt Bayer (pictured), a pro-government journalist known for his extreme opinion pieces, received the accolade on August 20.
(Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Andor Elekes)
Bayer, whose strident opinion pieces have incurred a number of fines for the newspapers to which he contributes, has repeatedly propagated anti-Semitic, anti-Roma and anti-Muslim views. Hungarians awarded the same accolade have been returning their Knightʼs Crosses to President János Áder as a way of showing their disagreement with Bayer being awarded such a high honor, as well as to indicate their desire not to appear on the official list of recipients together with him.
However, online news portal Index.hu noted that although many recipients had decided to return their awards (57 at time of writing), no actual legal basis exists for them to do so, adding that under the law the accolades cannot be withdrawn or returned. In this way, the portal noted, the protesting recipientsʼ gesture is only symbolic, and their names will remain on the list of recipients of the Knightʼs Cross alongside Bayer.
Despite the wave of protest, the Hungarian government has unequivocally defended Bayer’s award. The Prime Minister’s Office, headed by Minister János Lázár, sent a statement yesterday to online news daily hvg.hu, saying that Bayer was awarded with the honor for his work in uncovering and representing several Hungarian national issues and interests, as well as for the portrayal of Hungarians in Transylvania and convicts in gulags.
As reported by hvg.hu yesterday, Lázár told Hungarian commercial TV channel RTL Klub that “naturally everybody’s career can be criticized and obviously mistakes can occur,” but that Bayer’s career so far contains more that is worthy of recognition than mistakes.
Bayerʼs writing has nevertheless shocked on many occasions for an aggressive tone and use of profanity hitherto little seen in the Hungarian press. In one article in Magyar Nemzet Online in 2006, Bayer suggested: "Anyone in this country who runs over a Gypsy child will be doing the right thing if they do not even think of stopping. When running over a Gypsy child, we should put our foot on the gas." Another article for Magyar Hírlap in 2013, in which he described Roma as "animals" unfit for cohabiting in human society, incurred the newspaper a fine of HUF 250,000.
More recently, in November 2015, Bayer suggested that every migrant over the age of 14 is a potential murderer - incurring another fine for Magyar Hírlap of hUF 250,000 for incitement to hatred.
On August 1 this year, in response to a statement from Pope Francis that there are followers of all religions who espouse violence and that it is an error to single out Islam, Bayer wrote: "The Pope is either a demented old man entirely unfit to fill the papal post, or a scoundrel." | http://bbj.hu/politics/extremist-decorated-recipients-reject-awards-in-protest_121001 | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | bbj.hu/06d07ec964d373c9f1ec67c796d0b03b065b27438dfe5e4c951db5b686f1f00b.json |
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| 2016-08-26T12:50:53 | null | 2016-08-25T15:33:00 | The Hungarian State Treasury will become the only central agency responsible for payments of state support and public benefits, Cabinet Chief János Lázár said today, as he described changes in administration that would reduce the government workforce. | http%3A%2F%2Fbbj.hu%2Fpolitics%2Flazar-describes-administrative-shakeups_121126.json | http://bbj.hu/images2/201608/14721321172122uLbFWkYfiJ6B_L.jpg | en | null | Lázár describes administrative shakeups | null | null | bbj.hu | Lázár describes administrative shakeups
BBJ
The Hungarian State Treasury will become the only central agency responsible for payments of state support and public benefits, Cabinet Chief János Lázár said today, as he described changes in administration that would reduce the government workforce.
János Lázár, left, and government spokesman Zoltán Kovács, at todayʼs press conference. (Photo: MTI/Zoltán Máthé)
Lázár said at his regular weekly press briefing today that the past few meetings of the new strategic and economic cabinets had addressed planned changes to the institutional system supporting the state administration, including a plan to lay off 20% of the workforce.
The strategic cabinet has decided to continue plans to build new barracks for firefighters and new law-enforcement facilities, increasing capacity for prisoners by 5,000 by 2018. Conditions for establishing wind turbines will also be tightened, Lázár said. | http://bbj.hu/politics/lazar-describes-administrative-shakeups_121126 | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | bbj.hu/ae51770ee22683a3bbfb54fde3cc0ae2a6a3ecd7d8bf82b38d43b38cfac7b0af.json |
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| 2016-08-26T12:56:35 | null | 2016-08-25T14:16:00 | While the Balaton Region is perceived by many as one of the economically most developed parts of the country, data cited yesterday by online portal index.hu suggest the lake region is lagging behind the national average. | http%3A%2F%2Fbbj.hu%2Feconomy%2Fbalaton-lags-in-economic-strength_121122.json | http://bbj.hu/images2/201509/14412753943221z3kfX3SEMoZV_O.jpg | en | null | Balaton lags in ‘economic strength’ | null | null | bbj.hu | Balaton lags in ‘economic strength’
BBJ
While the Balaton Region is perceived by many as one of the economically most developed parts of the country, data cited yesterday by online portal index.hu suggest the lake region is lagging behind the national average.
Index.hu notes that per capita “Community Economic Strength” (Települési Gazdasági Erő) in the specially designated Lake Balaton Resort Area (BKÜ) is gradually declining compared to the national average, signifying a steady weakening of the Balaton Region’s economic position.
In 2013, the economic strength of the region already reached barely 80% of the per capita national average. The index.hu report recalled that this emerged from a survey conducted by the Lake Balaton Development Council pertaining to the period 1994–2013, drawn up within the framework of a long-term Balaton development concept.
The Development Council’s survey revealed huge differences between areas along the lakeshore and those further away. Although the economic strength index of areas away from the shore remained considerably lower than that of lakeside areas, a steep observed decline in the latter saw the two categories increasingly converge, so that even the average development level along the shores of Lake Balaton had fallen below the national average by 2013. | http://bbj.hu/economy/balaton-lags-in-economic-strength_121122 | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | bbj.hu/387a332e8cfd1bcba42808e9901ffb6fa19b2eb6685350a2440c21f3b08c6e58.json |
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| 2016-08-26T12:49:17 | null | 2016-08-25T11:51:00 | The National Bank of Hungary (MNB) forecasts a stronger reduction in the country’s national debt over the next two decades than has been achieved in recent years, Magyar Nemzet Online reported yesterday. | http%3A%2F%2Fbbj.hu%2Feconomy%2Fmnb-optimistic-on-long-term-national-debt_121117.json | http://bbj.hu/images2/201312/debtjpg_20131220101321534.jpg | en | null | MNB optimistic on long-term national debt | null | null | bbj.hu | MNB optimistic on long-term national debt
BBJ
The National Bank of Hungary (MNB) forecasts a stronger reduction in the country’s national debt over the next two decades than has been achieved in recent years, Magyar Nemzet Online reported yesterday.
Based on the central bank’s 20-year projection published yesterday, the ratio of gross government debt to GDP will decrease by an annual average 1.5 percentage points, shrinking to 45% of GDP by the year 2036.
From the debt-to-GDP ratio of 75.3% measured at the end of last year, MNB calculations show that Hungary will reach the 60% debt level expected under the EU’s Maastricht criteria by 2024, preceding by three years the date forecast in this year’s Fiscal Sustainability Report of the European Commission.
The MNB forecast stresses that, based on its technical projection, the 50% debt-to-GDP ratio target prescribed in the Fundamental Law of Hungary (the Constitution) will be met by 2031.
The MNB’s projection is based on the assumption that real GDP growth over 20 years will in itself reduce the debt ratio by 31 percentage points, the report says. It adds that while the primary budget surplus will contribute almost 20 percentage points to the debt-to-GDP reduction, interest payments will increase the debt by a total of a little over 20% of GDP until the end of GDP 2036.
In mapping the course of debt over the next two decades, the MNB study also makes the assumption that the 1.7% and 2.4% deficit in public finances in 2016 and 2017, respectively, will decrease to 1.5% of GDP between 2018 and 2020, in accordance with the projection outlined in the convergence program. It then takes this latter value as its expected long-term deficit target from 2021 until the end of the forecast period.
The MNB likewise applies a technical assumption to GDP growth, projecting a rate of growth of around 3% until 2020, thereafter settling to the currently estimated potential level of around 2.5%. | http://bbj.hu/economy/mnb-optimistic-on-long-term-national-debt_121117 | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | bbj.hu/e78e3065b4c630ed4b3c6b022e8db852e99dbbf30de235de77143c9d5a4382e8.json |
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| 2016-08-28T14:47:12 | null | 2016-08-28T14:59:00 | Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said “migration and social issues should not be managed at the EU level” but the EU should do more to address security, and should establish a European army, at a meeting involving Central European leaders and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Warsaw Friday, according to the governmentʼs website. | http%3A%2F%2Fbbj.hu%2Fpolitics%2Forban-says-eu-needs-an-army-not-refugee-policy_121182.json | http://bbj.hu/images2/201608/1472390992566MV8sGbZFUjoS_L.jpg | en | null | Orbán says EU needs an army, not refugee policy | null | null | bbj.hu | Orbán says EU needs an army, not refugee policy
BBJ
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said “migration and social issues should not be managed at the EU level” but the EU should do more to address security, and should establish a European army, at a meeting involving Central European leaders and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Warsaw Friday, according to the governmentʼs website.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán speaks during the meeting in Warsaw Friday. (Photo: Balázs Szecsődi/Prime Ministerʼs Press Office)
Orbán made his comments at a meeting in which the heads of the Visegrad Four countries – Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia – spoke with Merkel as they discussed a common regional stance before joining an informal European Union summit in Bratislava in mid-September.
According to government website kormany.hu, Orbán said at a press conference before the meeting Friday that “the EU has failed to draw the right conclusions from the global financial and economic crisis, and it has failed to respond to migration and terrorism”. He also criticized the EU for failing to protect its Schengen borders in the face of mass migration.
During the meeting Orbán laid out several proposals including: | http://bbj.hu/politics/orban-says-eu-needs-an-army-not-refugee-policy_121182 | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | bbj.hu/6ab417133a6b9e01747ee72ea85496e4b80728fb6b8f695627d17140d51b2845.json |
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| 2016-08-26T12:58:01 | null | 2016-08-25T14:25:00 | The head of the foundation whose vice president nominated controversial journalist Zsolt Bayer to receive the Hungarian Order of Merit has publicly disowned the nomination, declaring Bayer unfit to receive it and questioning the very basis for the official citation, index.hu reported yesterday. | http%3A%2F%2Fbbj.hu%2Fpolitics%2Fhead-of-gulag-foundation-opposes-award-to-bayer_121123.json | http://bbj.hu/images2/201608/14719369279978ZfOgbvHQySx8_L.jpg | en | null | Head of Gulag foundation opposes award to Bayer | null | null | bbj.hu | Head of Gulag foundation opposes award to Bayer
BBJ
The head of the foundation whose vice president nominated controversial journalist Zsolt Bayer to receive the Hungarian Order of Merit has publicly disowned the nomination, declaring Bayer unfit to receive it and questioning the very basis for the official citation, index.hu reported yesterday.
Zsolt Bayer. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Andor Elekes)
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, whose head János Lázár personally presented Bayer with the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Merit, the accolade was awarded “based on the initiative of the community preserving the memory of those who perished in the Gulags, in recognition of his activity as a journalist in uncovering and representing numerous matters of national interest, particularly in presenting, in an authentic and fitting manner, the fate of those held in the Gulag prison camps and the lives of Hungarians in Transylvania.”
As was widely reported Tuesday, the nomination for the award was submitted by Jolán Pintér, vice president of the Foundation to Preserve the Memory of Those Who Perished in the Gulags. Questioned by the daily Népszabadság, however, the foundation’s president, historian Tamás Stark, stated that he learned of the award only from newspaper reports and was unaware of Bayer’s writings on the Gulags.
In the interview with Stark, quoted by index.hu, the historian was asked if he agreed with the award, to which he replied: “No, I do not agree with it. In my view, Zsolt Bayer is entirely unworthy of a state award. […] On the one hand, because of the sometimes racist nature of his writings, and on the other hand because – as far as I know of his work – he supports a Russian system in his articles which does not face up to the crimes of Stalinism, attempting to trivialize and relativize them. It is precisely the memory of the Gulag’s victims which does not permit such a journalist to be honored.” | http://bbj.hu/politics/head-of-gulag-foundation-opposes-award-to-bayer_121123 | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | bbj.hu/ec20c9972a481505a7b4d6976c6cde8b6813463c6c7415b5ac3e9518aa2077c8.json |
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| 2016-08-26T12:49:46 | null | 2016-08-24T15:30:00 | Bouncing back from last year, when lenders blamed losses on high sectoral taxes and a new law forcing them to convert loans from foreign currency to forints, the countryʼs banking sector saw record profits in the second quarter, the Hungarian National Bank (MNB) reported today. | http%3A%2F%2Fbbj.hu%2Feconomy%2Fcentral-bank-report-shows-profits-returning-to-bank-sector_121072.json | http://bbj.hu/images2/201601/145198023340512YmXxuyIsNhy_L.jpg | en | null | Central bank report shows profits returning to bank sector | null | null | bbj.hu | Central bank report shows profits returning to bank sector
BBJ
Bouncing back from last year, when lenders blamed losses on high sectoral taxes and a new law forcing them to convert loans from foreign currency to forints, the countryʼs banking sector saw record profits in the second quarter, the Hungarian National Bank (MNB) reported today.
According to reports, the sectorʼs after-tax profits totaled HUF 152 billion in Q2, which follows a healthy first-quarter profit of HUF 191 billion in Q1, bringing the after-tax profits for the first half of the year to a total of HUF 343.4 bln. In a statement released with the data, the MNB said that, of the 127 credit institutions over which it has regulatory authority, 83 were profitable and 44 were loss-making at the pre-tax level.
Much of the difference between this year and last is due to the passage of the FX loan law, which forced banks in Hungary to write down big losses as they converted their hard-currency loans to forint loans. The provisions banks were forced to make dropped 87%, from HUF 547.1 bln to HUF 70.4 bln, in the first half of this year compared with the first half of last year.
At the same time, banking activity has been picking up, and costs have been dropping. Net interest income rose 9% to HUF 415.1 bln as interest revenue fell 13% but interest expenditures dropped at an even faster rate, declining by 37%.
Total assets of the banking sector stood at HUF 32.633 trillion at the end of June, down about 0.4% from 12 months earlier, according to the report. | http://bbj.hu/economy/central-bank-report-shows-profits-returning-to-bank-sector_121072 | en | 2016-08-24T00:00:00 | bbj.hu/0105b874d9c1b4ccbff82ff9e608eaa715f4b2ab87edd90faf9146bb1f4f74e5.json |
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| 2016-08-29T12:47:35 | null | 2016-08-29T13:05:00 | Workers have been busy for months at an address on Gutenberg tér in Budapest’s District 8 to complete what will reportedly be an Islamic culture center, according to a report on atv.hu, the website of private TV channel ATV. | http%3A%2F%2Fbbj.hu%2Fbudapest%2Fislamic-culture-center-to-open-in-budapest_121227.json | http://bbj.hu/images2/201608/14724689616118e8RYSUs858A9_L.jpg | en | null | Islamic culture center to open in Budapest | null | null | bbj.hu | Islamic culture center to open in Budapest
BBJ
Workers have been busy for months at an address on Gutenberg tér in Budapest’s District 8 to complete what will reportedly be an Islamic culture center, according to a report on atv.hu, the website of private TV channel ATV.
The Gutenberg Otthon, a historical building dominating the square where the new Islamic culture center is being prepared. (Photo: Wikimedia)
The Józsefváros Local Council told atv.hu that the property in the apartment house at Gutenberg tér 1 was bought at auction in 2014 by a private individual for HUF 30 million, and that to their knowledge the Charity Peace Foundation – a religious and educational foundation representing adherents of the Muslim faith in Hungary – plans to open a cultural center in the building.
Local residents in the neighborhood and workers told atv.hu that they believe the building will house a Muslim prayer house, but the council denied any knowledge of this.
Atv.hu noted that the building is located opposite the Budapest University of Jewish Studies, a rabbinical seminary.
The president of the board of trustees at the Charity Peace Foundation, who was not named in the report, told atv.hu that the property will not contain a typical prayer house, but a cultural center with a gallery. The source added that the site will host various exhibitions, conferences, meetings and clubs for both men and women. | http://bbj.hu/budapest/islamic-culture-center-to-open-in-budapest_121227 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | bbj.hu/714229d5ae6c9fd56e686ad1e1c7df425d4739f2d31853a17a2621b823a9fb15.json |
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| 2016-08-26T12:58:25 | null | 2016-08-25T16:45:00 | More than HUF 68 billion in EU development funds has been distributed among 247 innovative projects by the Ministry for National Economy, according to a ministry press release published today, cited by online portal index.hu. | http%3A%2F%2Fbbj.hu%2Fbusiness%2F247-innovative-firms-share-huf-68-bln-in-eu-funds_121128.json | http://bbj.hu/images2/201608/14721364565833jUfz8LDiifhz_O.jpg | en | null | 247 innovative firms share HUF 68 bln in EU funds | null | null | bbj.hu | 247 innovative firms share HUF 68 bln in EU funds
BBJ
More than HUF 68 billion in EU development funds has been distributed among 247 innovative projects by the Ministry for National Economy, according to a ministry press release published today, cited by online portal index.hu.
The total value of developments to be realized within the scope of a tender for support for companies’ research, development and innovative activity exceeds HUF 128 bln. Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises were able to apply for funding, as well as large firms. The non-refundable money is used to support Hungarian projects that result in the development of new, marketable products, services and technologies containing significant intellectual added value, says the press release.
A list of the successful applicants and their projects can be accessed on the website of the authority responsible for the tender, the National Research, Development and Innovation Office.
Balázs Rákossy, state secretary responsible for the use of EU funds at the Economics Ministry, told Hungarian news agency MTI that during the 2007–2013 EU budgetary cycle a total of HUF 353 bln was made available to bidders for R&D and innovation, while the new development cycle for 2014–2020 makes more than double this amount – some HUF 750 bln – available for innovative goals. This is financed from the HUF 2,730 billion of the Economic Development and Innovation Operational Program (GINOP).
In a related report on index.hu, an additional HUF 5 billion is to be made available from GINOP funds for R&D support for startups in an incubator program in eight cities. Under the scheme, eight selected startup firms in Balatonfüred, Bonyhád, Debrecen, Győr, Kapolcs, Miskolc, Pécs and Szeged will be obliged to provide 20% of the funding themselves. | http://bbj.hu/business/247-innovative-firms-share-huf-68-bln-in-eu-funds_121128 | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | bbj.hu/08761a1d145670bd040e6565daea4bc60afdbbc3b20f8971607e57d48463f2c2.json |
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| 2016-08-29T10:47:32 | null | 2016-08-29T12:30:00 | A delegation from the Hungarian Parliament is visiting Taiwan to explore the feasibility of bilateral cooperation in economics and trade, according to a statement released yesterday by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reported by English-language Taiwan paper The China Post. | http%3A%2F%2Fbbj.hu%2Feconomy%2Fhungarian-mps-visit-taiwan-to-improve-ties_121226.json | http://bbj.hu/images2/201608/14724669168254qSddtmrxslp6_O.jpg | en | null | Hungarian MPs visit Taiwan to improve ties | null | null | bbj.hu | Hungarian MPs visit Taiwan to improve ties
BBJ
A delegation from the Hungarian Parliament is visiting Taiwan to explore the feasibility of bilateral cooperation in economics and trade, according to a statement released yesterday by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reported by English-language Taiwan paper The China Post.
The three-strong delegation to Taiwan aims to gain further understanding of political, economic and social development in the country, and to explore the possibility of cooperation with Taiwan in a wide range of areas, according to the ministry.
While in Taiwan, the Hungarians will call on Legislative Speaker Su Jia-chyuan and Deputy Foreign Minister Wu Chih-chung and visit several central and local government agencies, as well as Hsinchu Science Park, before departing on Sept. 1.
With nearly 30 members, Hungary’s Taiwan-friendly parliamentary group supports substantive exchanges and cooperation in various areas between the two countries, according to the statement. Taiwan and Hungary have signed several agreements to strengthen bilateral relations, including a memorandum of understanding on agricultural cooperation, a working holiday agreement to allow young adults to travel and work, and an agreement for the avoidance of double taxation. | http://bbj.hu/economy/hungarian-mps-visit-taiwan-to-improve-ties_121226 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | bbj.hu/0a644de977809244d995da24d290e06de3841c7120286b149129b4b9eb51de7a.json |
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| 2016-08-26T13:05:37 | null | 2016-08-23T10:18:00 | The Hungarian government is making electronic reporting of invoices with a tax content over HUF 100,000 mandatory as of July next year. The necessary IT developments have been launched, Hungarian daily Magyar Idők reported today. | http%3A%2F%2Fbbj.hu%2Feconomy%2Felectronic-invoice-reporting-mandatory-from-next-july_121006.json | http://bbj.hu/images2/201503/mother-board_20150326104303279.jpg | en | null | Electronic invoice reporting mandatory from next July | null | null | bbj.hu | Electronic invoice reporting mandatory from next July
BBJ
The Hungarian government is making electronic reporting of invoices with a tax content over HUF 100,000 mandatory as of July next year. The necessary IT developments have been launched, Hungarian daily Magyar Idők reported today.
The system will be linked to an existing one used by road haulage companies, allowing Hungary’s National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV) to root out irregularities immediately, Deputy State Secretary Csilla Czinege told the paper.
The introduction of electronic invoice reporting was among the items discussed at the inaugural meeting of the governmentʼs Economic Cabinet last week, Hungarian news agency MTI noted. | http://bbj.hu/economy/electronic-invoice-reporting-mandatory-from-next-july_121006 | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | bbj.hu/4eae50f7dfc0fb575167bdf3e988a6ed57d476b2b344c18183c9a7a087895041.json |
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| 2016-08-26T13:01:16 | null | 2016-08-23T14:00:00 | Hungaryʼs government has made a decision to allocate HUF 23.2 billion for the renovation of the Hungarian State Opera House over the period of 2016-2018, Hungarian news agency MTI reported today, based on a resolution published in the latest issue of the official gazette Magyar Közlöny. | http%3A%2F%2Fbbj.hu%2Fbudapest%2Fopera-house-refit-to-cost-huf-232-bln_121011.json | http://bbj.hu/images2/201608/14719535430308QNMkKImkWngD_L.jpg | en | null | Opera House refit to cost HUF 23.2 bln | null | null | bbj.hu | Opera House refit to cost HUF 23.2 bln
BBJ
Hungaryʼs government has made a decision to allocate HUF 23.2 billion for the renovation of the Hungarian State Opera House over the period of 2016-2018, Hungarian news agency MTI reported today, based on a resolution published in the latest issue of the official gazette Magyar Közlöny.
(Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Elin)
Under the resolution, HUF 1.4 bln has been allocated to be spent on the renovation works this year, with the remaining HUF 21.8 bln to be spent in 2017-2018. The investment will involve the renovation of the buildingʼs facade and the restoration of interior ornamentation, as well as an upgrade of stage equipment and improvements to audience comfort, MTI reported.
The resolution says the building, which was designed by architect Miklós Ybl and inaugurated in 1884, is scheduled to reopen in 2018. | http://bbj.hu/budapest/opera-house-refit-to-cost-huf-232-bln_121011 | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | bbj.hu/80602533ae446203d3533da1579d966d176381a9ee7ace2de0fcbc70c13e9593.json |
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| 2016-08-26T12:56:08 | null | 2016-08-26T13:07:00 | The fruit and vegetable-growing sector is facing a shortage of at least 50,000, but as many as 80,000 seasonal workers, with scarcely anyone to be found to pick crops of tomatoes, cucumbers and apples, according to a report in daily Világgazdaság today. | http%3A%2F%2Fbbj.hu%2Feconomy%2Flack-of-seasonal-workers-leaves-fruit-unpicked_121169.json | http://bbj.hu/images2/201409/fruit_salad__20140915085032570.jpg | en | null | Lack of seasonal workers leaves fruit unpicked | null | null | bbj.hu | Lack of seasonal workers leaves fruit unpicked
BBJ
The fruit and vegetable-growing sector is facing a shortage of at least 50,000, but as many as 80,000 seasonal workers, with scarcely anyone to be found to pick crops of tomatoes, cucumbers and apples, according to a report in daily Világgazdaság today.
Ferenc Ledó, president of the FruitVeb Hungarian Vegetable and Fruit Product Council, noted that seasonal work in fruit and vegetable growing and harvesting is available between the months of May and October, but that each harvest occurs in very concentrated periods, as little as two days in the case of peaches or apples, according to the report. Today, however, it has become almost impossible to gather a sufficient workforce within such a short time frame, Ledó added.
Ledó stressed that not everyone is suited to fruit-picking work, which – though requiring no special training – nevertheless needs care and the right attitude to ensure that the fruit is not spoiled.
“If apples are picked properly and precisely, they can fetch as much as HUF 100 per kilo, but if tossed or squeezed carelessly then they can only be sold for apple juice, often bringing only HUF 15/kilo on the market,” Ledó was quoted as saying.
Previously, student workers could be employed to fill the gaps, and even this summer some 20% more students have worked in the fields than last year. However, according to Ledó, at least 50% more students would be needed in order to fill every available place, according to the report. The problem would be resolved, he added, if higher wages could be offered seasonal workers, or if labor-intensive sectors could be better mechanized. The investments required for new technology are beyond most producers, however.
Another solution could be to employ seasonal workers from abroad, notes Világgazdaság. In Spain, for example, 2–300,000 African seasonal workers work every summer, while Poland employs Ukrainian workers to pick fruit. However, the paper notes, this appears a politically very sensitive solution due to the government’s stridently anti-immigration rhetoric. | http://bbj.hu/economy/lack-of-seasonal-workers-leaves-fruit-unpicked_121169 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | bbj.hu/fb676d54dc2f8fba02d5870fe551c03982bd1d0f96a4054cc420d29ed6800e87.json |
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| 2016-08-26T12:58:49 | null | 2016-08-24T13:28:00 | Hungaryʼs Olympic team was welcomed home and celebrated today by a large crowd at Budapestʼs Syma Arena after bringing back eight gold, three silver and four bronze medals from Rio. Hungary finished in an impressive 12th place in the overall Olympics medals table. | http%3A%2F%2Fbbj.hu%2Fbudapest%2Fhungary-welcomes-home-its-winners-from-olympics_121065.json | http://bbj.hu/images2/201608/14720381186375qbvmXoIDPfNQ_L.jpg | en | null | Hungary welcomes home its winners from Olympics | null | null | bbj.hu | Hungary welcomes home its winners from Olympics
BBJ
Hungaryʼs Olympic team was welcomed home and celebrated today by a large crowd at Budapestʼs Syma Arena after bringing back eight gold, three silver and four bronze medals from Rio. Hungary finished in an impressive 12th place in the overall Olympics medals table.
Kayaker Danuta Kozák, left and swimmer Katinka Hosszú show off their medals today at the Syma Arena. (Photo: MTI/Szilárd Koszticsák)
The ahtletesʼ flight was half an hour late, but they were then quickly bused to the hall for a ceremonious reception just before 9.30 am.
Canoer Danuta Kozak was one of the most popular of the athletes; she won three gold medals at the Games.
The Olympic team walked into the hall led by Katinka Hosszu and her husband and coach Shane Tusup. Hosszu won three golds and one silver in various swimming events.
All Olympic winners were called to the stage one by one to be greeted by fans. | http://bbj.hu/budapest/hungary-welcomes-home-its-winners-from-olympics_121065 | en | 2016-08-24T00:00:00 | bbj.hu/de7c11fbce07d4b0973a11a9657090eaf0a232a80e6ca6a6ec696da99b58c3e3.json |
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| 2016-08-26T12:54:15 | null | 2016-08-25T16:03:00 | Low producer yields and livestock kept at high losses are at the root of problems facing Hungarian agriculture, according to the head of the country’s leading agrarian federation, interviewed in daily Magyar Nemzet Tuesday. | http%3A%2F%2Fbbj.hu%2Feconomy%2Ffarm-leader-crisis-looms-as-hungarian-productivity-is-low_121127.json | http://bbj.hu/images2/201512/1450082231106JMfgz24KowiQ_L.jpg | en | null | Farm leader: Crisis looms as Hungarian productivity is low | null | null | bbj.hu | Farm leader: Crisis looms as Hungarian productivity is low
BBJ
Low producer yields and livestock kept at high losses are at the root of problems facing Hungarian agriculture, according to the head of the country’s leading agrarian federation, interviewed in daily Magyar Nemzet Tuesday.
A crisis is threatening Hungarian agriculture as the productivity of domestic farmers remains below that of their foreign competitors, warned Gábor Horváth, general secretary of the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives and Producers (MOSZ), the agrarian federation primarily grouping the country’s larger producers. Crop yields fall far short of potential, he said, while livestock breeders suffer the effects of maintaining animals for excessive periods due to low market prices.
“It can be stated for certain that this year’s agriculture will not bring the results we managed to achieve in the years following accession to the EU,” Horváth told Magyar Nemzet. He observed that producers receive extraordinarily meager assistance from agricultural policymakers, who have failed to convert promises into reality.
At the same time, Horváth criticized the introduction of a policy obliging farmers to keep livestock, which he said agricultural authorities had “sneakily” linked to the granting of subsidies, fearing a fall in livestock populations. Domestic farmers working with outdated technology and high production costs, he argued, would do better to “get off the hamster wheel of animal husbandry” – and would have done so were it not that subsidy conditions compelled them to maintain a loss-making activity.
Low agricultural procurement prices are causing problems for producers across Europe, but in Hungary the obligation to keep animals results in even lower prices, opined the MOSZ general secretary. Due to the obligation, he observed, meat processors need not fear farmers giving up livestock breeding, and subsequently have had no trouble knocking down procurement prices.
Horváth also foresaw a problematic future for domestic crop production, noting that “we have to move beyond the widespread analysis of the situation that, despite variable quality, the grain crop in 2016 is acceptable because prices are cheap.” He added that the competitive position of domestic grain producers is further weakened by the EU having essentially opened up its markets to Ukrainian agricultural products, putting considerable pressure on Hungarian grain production.
The extent to which Hungarian producers are exposed to grain price fluctuations is apparent in the fact that more than half of domestic arable land is given over to grain, noted Magyar Nemzet. At the same time, yields per hectare of leading EU grain producers are routinely 40-50% higher than what Hungarian producers can achieve.
Horváth emphasized that grain producers must realize that the situation is more problematic than that facing animal husbandry. Consequently, he added, the question again arises of how Hungarian cropland can be exploited in the most profitable way. | http://bbj.hu/economy/farm-leader-crisis-looms-as-hungarian-productivity-is-low_121127 | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | bbj.hu/a75a57f25dd9d0a4ae0c8a90c410af3a1cce50d6d84061cf6513d7fc89179f61.json |
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| 2016-08-26T12:50:20 | null | 2016-08-23T13:46:00 | In spite of oversubscription and falling yields, Hungaryʼs Government Debt Management Agency (ÁKK) sold the announced HUF 20 bln of discount three-month T-bills at an auction today, Hungarian news agency MTI reported. | http%3A%2F%2Fbbj.hu%2Feconomy%2Fin-spite-of-strong-demand-akk-sticks-to-offer-at-three-month-t-bill-auction_121010.json | http://bbj.hu/images2/201601/1453200677237oTKKCIt1iBd_L.jpg | en | null | In spite of strong demand, ÁKK sticks to offer at three-month T-bill auction | null | null | bbj.hu | Economy
The fruit and vegetable-growing sector is facing a shortage of at least 50,000, but as many as 80,000 seasonal workers, with scarcely anyone to be found to pick crops of tomatoes, cucumbers and apples, according to a report in daily Világgazdaság today. | http://bbj.hu/economy/in-spite-of-strong-demand-akk-sticks-to-offer-at-three-month-t-bill-auction_121010 | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | bbj.hu/c18a822136231eb18bd9116c5e47e0eb699c46797f22273c7c7df1477da1ea0a.json |
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| 2016-08-29T12:47:37 | null | 2016-08-29T14:07:00 | The government has designated the insolvent owner of the property at Ajtósi Dürer sor 19–21 a company of high strategic importance, clearing the way for the site and buildings to be taken over by the Capital Circus of Budapest, according to a report yesterday on City Park information site varosliget.info. | http%3A%2F%2Fbbj.hu%2Feconomy%2Fgovernment-clears-path-to-move-circus-out-of-city-park_121233.json | http://bbj.hu/images2/201608/14724730131566OmGiPx3EHzq_L.jpg | en | null | Government clears path to move circus out of City Park | null | null | bbj.hu | Government clears path to move circus out of City Park
BBJ
The government has designated the insolvent owner of the property at Ajtósi Dürer sor 19–21 a company of high strategic importance, clearing the way for the site and buildings to be taken over by the Capital Circus of Budapest, according to a report yesterday on City Park information site varosliget.info.
A goa party in the Dürer kert at Ajtósi Dürer sor 19–21. (Photo: durerkert.com)
Under the law on bankruptcy procedures, the site owner Ajtósi University Ingatlanforgalmazó Kft. needs to be declared strategically important in order to speed up the liquidation procedure and allow the property to be purchased as soon as possible, the report said.
In such a case, the liquidator is appointed by the government, even if a court has already appointed one. Declaring a company strategically important can be necessary when there is a strong national economic interest connected to settling its debt.
The circus is known to be planning a move from its current site opposite the Széchenyi Thermal Bath in City Park, and it now appears likely that the new institution will be built on the site of a one-time Catholic convent on Ajtósi Dürer sor.
The situation is complicated by the fact that outdoor bar and music venue Dürer kert holds a valid lease contract on the property, and will thus have to be compensated.
The site was once the location of Elte Universityʼs language school. | http://bbj.hu/economy/government-clears-path-to-move-circus-out-of-city-park_121233 | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | bbj.hu/7c57a5fa578ef6791bbff24c638533ef5a66ae8d2381adcab76627cab8a1e5a4.json |
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| 2016-08-26T12:53:20 | null | 2016-08-25T11:34:00 | Budapest real estate firm Appeninn Holding today reported that after-tax earnings in the first half of the year were €412,000, a 27% drop in after-tax profits from the same period of last year, according to state news agency MTI. | http%3A%2F%2Fbbj.hu%2Freal-estate%2Fappeninn-property-firm-reports-drop-in-profit_121116.json | http://bbj.hu/images2/201608/1472118325898753P77nsu10dS_O.jpg | en | null | Appeninn property firm reports drop in profit | null | null | bbj.hu | Appeninn property firm reports drop in profit
BBJ
Budapest real estate firm Appeninn Holding today reported that after-tax earnings in the first half of the year were €412,000, a 27% drop in after-tax profits from the same period of last year, according to state news agency MTI.
Still, the company reportedly said it would pay a divident this year.
Appeninnʼs earnings suffered due to unrealized exchange rate losses and the cost of refinancing a CHF 13 million loan, Appeninn said in an announcement released with its earnings report.
In the first half of this year, revenue fell 4%, to €2,150,000, the company said, attributing the drop to the sale of projects undertaken as part of a portfolio restructuring as well as fluctuations in the forintʼs exchange rate, according to MTI.
Appeninn is involved in property investment and asset management. | http://bbj.hu/real-estate/appeninn-property-firm-reports-drop-in-profit_121116 | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | bbj.hu/b619cdda094cfec8fbbffbc0481bce62c914d174e02652d169527ae5feb30bd9.json |
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| 2016-08-26T12:55:41 | null | 2016-08-24T12:18:00 | Amid an increasing shortage of workers on the domestic labor market, foreign-owned supermarket chains are offering ever more attractive wages to employees, while pay for workers at Hungarian owned chains continues to lag behind, a survey published today by online news portal index.hu reveals. | http%3A%2F%2Fbbj.hu%2Feconomy%2Fsurvey-foreign-supermarket-chains-pay-best_121063.json | http://bbj.hu/images2/201512/1449131555904mMj7aUhqGmBd_L.jpg | en | null | Survey: Foreign supermarket chains pay best | null | null | bbj.hu | Survey: Foreign supermarket chains pay best
BBJ
Amid an increasing shortage of workers on the domestic labor market, foreign-owned supermarket chains are offering ever more attractive wages to employees, while pay for workers at Hungarian owned chains continues to lag behind, a survey published today by online news portal index.hu reveals.
(Photo: Jessica Fejos)
With the help of data from company reports, index.hu looked into the approximate wages individual companies paid employees in the Hungarian retail sector in 2015. It emerged from this that Germanybased discount supermarket chains Aldi and Lidl reward their workers’ efforts the best.
The survey calculated approximate monthly wages by taking the companies’ 2015 wage costs, dividing them by 12, and then by the number of staff employed. The report noted that the methodolgy was not perfect for several reasons, but that it can be used for comparison.
One overall trend that seems clear from the index.hu data is that wage rises in the sector are noticeable across the board in recent times.
The survey found that gross monthly wages that can be earned by a shelf stacker or cashier at Lidl amount to HUF 246,856 per month, with a further HUF 22,647 potentially attainable in the form of various bonuses and benefits.
The highest attainable monthly wage for a shelf stacker at Aldi came out somewhat lower in the survey, at a gross HUF 216,500 based on a 40-hour week, but the report found that Aldi cashiers are able to earn as much as HUF 296,300 per month.
Based on an interview with Tesco Hungary Managing Director Zsolt Pálinkás in May, index.hu estimated that a shelf stacker or cashier working a 40-hour week at the chain could make at most HUF 175,950 on average per month.
As far as shop managers are concerned, the index.hu survey found that Lidl paid its managers more than Aldi, citing gross monthly pay estimates of HUF 673,856 and HUF 543,300, respectively, at the two chains.
In response to a query from index.hu, CBA said only that the chain functions as a franchise system, and consequently is comprised of independently functioning economic units making payroll decisions within their own competence. | http://bbj.hu/economy/survey-foreign-supermarket-chains-pay-best_121063 | en | 2016-08-24T00:00:00 | bbj.hu/8874f53bc645041beda4793673f6851fc47c73009e8312e46985064343cb22ad.json |
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| 2016-08-26T14:46:29 | null | 2016-08-26T14:55:00 | Food retail turnover in Hungary grew by 2.5% in the second quarter of 2016 compared to the corresponding quarter of the previous year, a consumer research analysis by Nielsen shows, as reported yesterday by online portal index.hu. The increase in turnover at retailers was apparently due to price hikes, as the actual amount of sold decreased 0.2%, Nielsen said. | http%3A%2F%2Fbbj.hu%2Feconomy%2Ffood-retail-turnover-grows-by-25-in-q2-but-we-buy-less_121171.json | http://bbj.hu/images2/201505/shutterstock_20150527091703409.jpg | en | null | Food retail turnover grows by 2.5% in Q2, but we buy less | null | null | bbj.hu | Food retail turnover grows by 2.5% in Q2, but we buy less
BBJ
Food retail turnover in Hungary grew by 2.5% in the second quarter of 2016 compared to the corresponding quarter of the previous year, a consumer research analysis by Nielsen shows, as reported yesterday by online portal index.hu. The increase in turnover at retailers was apparently due to price hikes, as the actual amount of sold decreased 0.2%, Nielsen said.
According to a summary released to Hungarian news agency MTI, the second quarter saw the lowest measured increase in the value of food retail turnover in Hungary in the past three years, although the 2.5% increase was still significantly greater than the average growth of 0.8% in Europe. The Hungarian indicator was the sixth largest on the continent, maintaining Hungary at the forefront in this regard.
Prices of food, mixed household goods and cosmetics increased by 2.7% on average in Hungary in Q2 2016, compared to Q2 2015, while prices rose an average 0.7% in Europe.
Based on the Nielsen study, the food retail sector in Europe as a whole performed poorly. The study notes that one reason for this may be that Easte | http://bbj.hu/economy/food-retail-turnover-grows-by-25-in-q2-but-we-buy-less_121171 | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | bbj.hu/e455f95832e49fadaaccec04d6d385f3a6d8c7e013f9098278e9fee26edb2faa.json |
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| 2016-08-26T12:57:36 | null | 2016-08-24T12:36:00 | The state budget deficit could be less than the 2% targeted by the government for 2016, and might even be as low as 1.6%, the National Bank of Hungary (MNB) said today in its Budget Report. | http%3A%2F%2Fbbj.hu%2Feconomy%2Fcentral-bank-says-deficit-may-be-under-2-target_121064.json | http://bbj.hu/images2/201505/shutterstock_20150522081218151.jpg | en | null | Central bank says deficit may be under 2% target | null | null | bbj.hu | Central bank says deficit may be under 2% target
MTI – Econews
The state budget deficit could be less than the 2% targeted by the government for 2016, and might even be as low as 1.6%, the National Bank of Hungary (MNB) said today in its Budget Report.
The MNB said today that it is now calculating that the central budget could have a 1.8% deficit compared to GDP this year. If, however, the full amount of budget reserves, including the country protection fund, are not used, the deficit could be as low as 1.6% of GDP, MNB reported.
The 2016 budget bill currently targets an ESA deficit of HUF 704 billion, but the MNB calculates that this could be lowered to as little as HUF 561 billion, representing a 0.4 percentage point of GDP change from the original deficit figure. | http://bbj.hu/economy/central-bank-says-deficit-may-be-under-2-target_121064 | en | 2016-08-24T00:00:00 | bbj.hu/99c08d6f3cab349a165769be29a79b1e171778873d74c575874a0134d52514c6.json |
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| 2016-08-26T13:02:10 | null | 2016-08-25T14:08:00 | The state will pay to rebuild the one-time Royal Riding School in Buda Castle, at a cost of HUF 3.5 billion, according to the EU bulletin of the results of public procurement tenders, as cited by independent blog Átlátszó and reported by online news portal index.hu. | http%3A%2F%2Fbbj.hu%2Fpolitics%2Froyal-riding-school-to-be-rebuilt-for-huf-35-bln_121121.json | http://bbj.hu/images2/201608/14721270145574voBPj6rf6rk_O.jpg | en | null | Royal Riding School to be rebuilt for HUF 3.5 bln | null | null | bbj.hu | Royal Riding School to be rebuilt for HUF 3.5 bln
BBJ
The state will pay to rebuild the one-time Royal Riding School in Buda Castle, at a cost of HUF 3.5 billion, according to the EU bulletin of the results of public procurement tenders, as cited by independent blog Átlátszó and reported by online news portal index.hu.
The old Royal Riding School is visible in the background of this photo from 1913. (Photo: Fortepan)
Budavári Ingatlanfejlesztő Kft., the state-owned non-profit concern overseeing real estate developments in Buda Castle, signed a contract on 15 August with the winning bidders for the project, West Bau Hungária Kft. and Laki Épületszobrász Zrt.
A net amount of HUF 3.479 billion is assigned to rebuilding the institution in its original location in the Csikós Courtyard, with a floor area of 1,912 square meters. The investment will be carried out under the aegis of the National Hauszmann Plan and is to be entirely funded from the state budget, with work expected to take some 400 days, or a little more than a year.
The original Royal Riding School, a large hall for equestrian displays similar to Vienna’s Spanish Riding School, was built in Neo-Renaissance style to the designs of architect Alajos Hauszmann in 1899–1900. Severely damaged during World War II, it fell into neglect in the ensuing decades and was eventually pulled down.
According to the results bulletin, there were four bids in the open public procurement tender, but only the names of the two winning bidders were made public.
Both winning bidders have already won significant contracts in Hungary. Győr-based West Bau Kft. is involved in renovations of the National Riding School near Budapest’s Keleti Railway Station at a cost of HUF 2.5 billion, as well as the riding school in Dunakeszi at a cost of HUF 3 billion, Átlátszó reports. It has also been involved in renovations of the Esterházy Palace in Fertőd and reconstruction of the Várkert Bazaar at the foot of BudaCastle, the report adds.
According to Átlátszó, Laki Épületszobrász Zrt. previously participated in renovation work at the Lotz Hall of Keleti Railway Station, the Vígszínház theatre, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Festetics Palace in Keszthely, among other projects. | http://bbj.hu/politics/royal-riding-school-to-be-rebuilt-for-huf-35-bln_121121 | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | bbj.hu/4ce201fbed1902ee608bafa2c322dba8a7d5335b36ece42447c2d5aab8522697.json |
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| 2016-08-26T13:04:13 | null | 2016-08-23T14:14:00 | The Monetary Council of the National Bank of Hungary (MNB) decided to leave the central bankʼs base rate on hold at 0.90% at a policy meeting today, Hungarian news agency MTI reported. The decision was as expected. | http%3A%2F%2Fbbj.hu%2Feconomy%2Fcentral-bank-leaves-key-rate-on-hold-at-09_121012.json | http://bbj.hu/images2/201507/14381521306071quZySCNVjcDZ_L.jpg | en | null | Central bank leaves key rate on hold at 0.9% | null | null | bbj.hu | Central bank leaves key rate on hold at 0.9%
MTI – Econews
The Monetary Council of the National Bank of Hungary (MNB) decided to leave the central bankʼs base rate on hold at 0.90% at a policy meeting today, Hungarian news agency MTI reported. The decision was as expected.
The Council signaled an end to an easing cycle at a policy meeting in May and has since stood by its position on keeping the base rate on hold, while leaving room for the possibility of using unconventional tools of monetary policy.
The Council also left the interest rate corridor, a band around the base rate that prevents extreme fluctuations of interbank rates, unchanged at the meeting today. The O/N collateralized loan rate, the top of the range, stands at 1.15%, while the O/N central bank deposit rate is -0.05%. | http://bbj.hu/economy/central-bank-leaves-key-rate-on-hold-at-09_121012 | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | bbj.hu/1f9055285e1d6fa2c63a4ad3416e34188be08cdae4c5f262644ea65afb8c098b.json |
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| 2016-08-26T13:04:35 | null | 2016-08-23T09:45:00 | Revenue from premiums at Hungarian insurer CIG Pannónia rose 6% to HUF 8.42 bln in the first half compared to the corresponding period of 2015, an earnings report published today shows, as reported by Hungarian news agency MTI. | http%3A%2F%2Fbbj.hu%2Fbusiness%2Fcig-pannonia-increases-premium-revenues_121003.json | http://bbj.hu/images2/201506/14345355193324APVbVQMoJdso_O.jpg | en | null | CIG Pannónia increases premium revenues | null | null | bbj.hu | CIG Pannónia increases premium revenues
MTI – Econews
Revenue from premiums at Hungarian insurer CIG Pannónia rose 6% to HUF 8.42 bln in the first half compared to the corresponding period of 2015, an earnings report published today shows, as reported by Hungarian news agency MTI.
Revenue from premiums on general insurance policies increased 67%, while premium revenues from life insurance policies dropped 10%.
CIG Pannóniaʼs "other revenues" line more than halved to HUF 1.69 bln.
Operating costs rose at the same pace as premium revenues, reaching HUF 2.75 bln.
After-tax profit was down 44% at HUF 316 mln. | http://bbj.hu/business/cig-pannonia-increases-premium-revenues_121003 | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | bbj.hu/ac2d7936daa9c6a8e4e6541ff739b4252d734055eccacafb59f3809ae61c8e80.json |
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| 2016-08-26T12:48:56 | null | null | Benvingut a Impremta Eco de Sitges | http%3A%2F%2Fecodesitges.com%2Fimpremta%2F%3Fp%3D1.json | http://ecodesitges.com/impremta/wp-content/themes/revolution_business-10/images/favicon.ico | en | null | Impremta L'ECO de SITGES | null | null | ecodesitges.com | eNews & Updates
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| 2016-08-26T12:48:30 | null | null | Todas las noticis de Sitges | http%3A%2F%2Fecodesitges.com%2Fimpremta%2F%3Fp%3D15.json | http://ecodesitges.com/impremta/wp-content/themes/revolution_business-10/images/favicon.ico | en | null | L’Eco de Sitges - Sitgesblog | null | null | ecodesitges.com | eNews & Updates
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[
"Eric Jackson"
]
| 2016-08-26T12:54:49 | null | 2015-07-08T14:07:12 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thepanamanews.com%2F2015%2F07%2Fhello-world%2F.json | http://www.thepanamanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Guerrilla-rag-medium.jpg | en | null | The Panama News lives, and will be up to full speed shortly! | null | null | www.thepanamanews.com | null | http://www.thepanamanews.com/2015/07/hello-world/ | en | 2015-07-08T00:00:00 | www.thepanamanews.com/b38e338928ea9fe47b9a8c4ad1cfcf21ae2336c54cba5eebc224ea96d6fba0eb.json |
[
"Eric Jackson"
]
| 2016-08-26T12:58:07 | null | 2016-08-25T11:02:28 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thepanamanews.com%2F2016%2F08%2Fourrevolution%2F.json | http://www.thepanamanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Vote_esp.jpg | en | null | #OurRevolution | null | null | www.thepanamanews.com | Our Revolution persists
Don’t be discouraged or distracted by the cynics, the trolls and those who think that their nastiness will get them hack jobs in a new administration. It’s a movement that doesn’t go away when set back, but which bounces back up and continues the fight.
~ ~ ~
These announcements are interactive. Click on them for more information. | http://www.thepanamanews.com/2016/08/ourrevolution/ | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | www.thepanamanews.com/ac2c4996874bc82d73fde9c5ca74fe07024d5520eeffbde3a2e6804aebc8dcf1.json |
[
"Eric Jackson"
]
| 2016-08-26T12:53:25 | null | 2015-12-13T13:38:11 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thepanamanews.com%2F2015%2F12%2Fwill-martinelli-be-behind-bars-by-christmas-the-next-steps%2F.json | http://www.thepanamanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/CV82dMHUYAAZg-w-e1449971313841.jpg | en | null | Will Martinelli be behind bars by Christmas? The next steps | null | null | www.thepanamanews.com | What may happen to Ricardo Martinelli, here and in the USA
by Eric Jackson
There are fascinating possibilities for the legal scholar, but what happens to Ricardo Martinelli depends on a complex matrix revolving around laws and political wills in two countries. At the moment Panamanians Supreme Court gears are in motion to get an order for Martinelli’s arrest, but he’s in Miami, beyond the unassisted reach of Panama’s jurisdiction. There are half a dozen criminal investigations pending against the former president, but the one that matters at the moment is the invasion of privacy case revolving around the former regime’s warrantless electronic eavesdropping activities.
Magistrate Jerónimo Mejia is the acting prosecutor in this case, and Magistrate Harry Díaz is the acting judge. Article 490 of the Code of Criminal Procedure provides that to order the arrest of somebody with the status of a legislator — as Martinelli has, because he’s a member of the Central American Parliament — it takes a majority of the nine-member plenum of the Supreme Court. When Martinelli didn’t show up at his December 11 court date, he was held in contempt of court, Díaz wouldn’t entertain any motions from the ex-president’s lawyers and Mejía adjourned the hearing. Later that day Díaz and private attorney Carlos Herrera Morán (who represents several of those whose conversations, movements, homes and families were electronically monitored without a court’s authorization) filed requests to have a plenary session to consider an order to arrest Martinelli. Acting magistrate Abel Zamorano — the suplente for former magistrate and now prison inmate Alejandro Moncada Luna — asked Supreme Court president José Ayú Prado to schedule such a session on December 14 but Ayú Prado, who has been recused from this case because his activities when he was acting Attorney General create an apparent conflict of interest, passed the request on to the court’s vice president, Luis Ramón Fábrega.
If a hearing is held on the 14th, most of those hearing and voting on the matter will be suplentes (alternates) rather than full magistrates. Due to their roles as acting prosecutor and judge, Mejía’s and Díaz’s seats would be filled by their respective suplentes, Luis Carrasco Mandevile and Wilfredo Sáenz. Ayú Prado is recused, and his suplente, Gabriel Fernández, died on December 5. As Mejía, Díaz and Ayú Prado are the court’s three-member Criminal Bench, a suplente from one of the court’s other chambers would have to fill in for Ayú Prado. Two-thirds of the Administrative Bench are suplentes — Zamorano in the wake of Moncada Luna’s incarceration and Nelly Cedeño de Paredes who is acting as magistrate after Víctor Benavides was forced to resign under the pressure of a criminal investigation. Fábrega is the remaining full magistrate from that bench. The three magistrates of the court’s Civil Bench, Oydén Ortega, Harley Mitchell and Hernán De León, would round out the plenum, were it held on December 14. That is, unless there are further recusals, disqualifications or someone is absent due to illness.
The court need not have its plenary session right away, and once it does there is no set time in which a decision must be rendered. December 14 is also the start of legislative hearings on President Juan Carlos Varela’s nominations of jurists who would replace magistrate Mitchell and acting magistrate Cedeño, whose terms end on December 31. Might high court politics favor a delay until new magistrates are seated? Perhaps. On the other hand, there might be a sense of urgency. For ethical reasons and to maintain such mystique in which an institution held in low public regard can shroud itself, magistrates rarely talk about business before the court until they have released their decisions.
If it is decided to hold a plenary session without delay and to issue a prompt decision, one of two things is likely to happen. Five or more votes in favor of ordering Martinelli’s arrest continues the Supreme Court case on this matter, and leads to a request for INTERPOL to issue a “red notice,” an international request to arrest and extradite Martinelli. Five or more votes against ordering the former president’s arrest effectively ends this case as to Martinelli. It would not directly affect any of the other pending cases against Martinelli or the proceedings against several other people, including two former national security directors, in the ordinary courts.
So how is it likely to go? This reporter can’t read minds, does not personally know those who would decide and would not rely on partisan math. There is a 5-4 majority of Martinelli appointees on the high court, but due to Ayú Prado’s recusal and his suplente Fernández’s death those political numbers may not describe the nine judges who would hear a motion for the former president’s arrest. Martinelli’s communique from Miami accused Harry Díaz — one of his own appointees — of being a tool of President Varela’s vengeance. Varela could have moved to replace Zamorano at any time since Moncada Luna was removed early this year but has chosen not to and is considering appointing him to finish the disgraced former magistrate’s full term. Most of the Cambio Democratico caucus in the National Assembly now disregards orders from their party’s founder and boss and it’s highly unlikely that he has an effective loyalist majority on the Supreme Court either. In the event of an arrest warrant call it bribery and intimidation if you are Ricardo Martinelli or judicial independence if you are not.
And then, in Miami…
Presume that Panama’s Supreme Court orders Martinelli’s arrest, and further presume that an annoyed and weary high court summarily brushes off the former president’s multiple habeas corpus motions, such that in effect there is no more time for the accused to buy in Panama. (Those are highly speculative presumptions, not prophesies.) Then you get into a matrix of decisions that INTERPOL might make, things that Martinelli might do, positions that the Obama administration might take with or without the advice and consent of the Varela administration, US law and international law.
INTERPOL would have to decide whether to issue a red notice. This organization has its internal politics and a long and often sordid history. While the ultra-right in the United States likes to portray the institution as this shadowy world government outfit that Barack Obama has deputized to come into the United States to arrest Americans, its authority is actually limited to passing on requests for arrests and extraditions, which may or may not be honored by national governments. INTERPOL has various red notices about Americans charged with torture or kidnapping under the aegis of the CIA or other US governmental or mercenary organizations and these are not honored by the United States or nations subject to US persuasion. Generally INTERPOL looks at due process of law issues more than political considerations these days. If Panama’s high court issues a warrant for Martinelli’s arrest and asks INTERPOL for a red notice, it will probably be issued — but it would not be automatically issued.
When Martinelli sees a red notice coming, does he remain in Miami and fight, accept extradition to Panama or run to a third country? If he tries to run, will the US government allow this?
Presume that he stays in Miami and resists extradition. Perhaps the first legal principle is that the United States and Panama have a 1905 extradition treaty, which contains no provision for extraditing those accused of invasion of privacy or any other electronic eavesdropping offense. But Panama and the United States are also parties to other treaties, such as the UN Convention Against Corruption. Article 19 of that treaty — which is not self-executing — encourages states to criminalize public officials’ abuse of their public functions. The more binding Inter-American Convention Against Corruption might be attacked as only applying to public officials with pecuniary motives but that limitation is not specified and Ricardo Martinelli’s political use of eavesdropping information is arguably the “improper use by a government official… for his own benefit or that of a third party, of any kind of classified or confidential information which that official… who performs public functions has obtained because of, or in the performance of, his functions.” The hemispheric treaty specifically provides for extradition. There are also “War on Drugs” and anti-terrorist mutual legal assistance treaties between the United States and Panama upon which extradition might be based. The law of an extradition for illegal eavesdropping case against Ricardo Martinelli in the United States is vague, complicated and varied enough to generate large attorney fees. He probably can be extradited as a matter of law.
For this particular offense, and with respect to the Obama administration, the political will to extradite is the more important question. Isn’t what Ricardo Martinelli is accused of doing remarkably like what Edward Snowden, supported by many documents, has accused The National Security Agency and other governmental entities of doing on a global scale under Barack Obama’s direction? A Martinelli defense might want to raise that argument. In a US court it would be held to be irrelevant and an attempt to introduce evidence about it an attack on US national security worthy of a gag and non-disclosure order. It the court of public opinion it could play differently.
In the US political realm, it is believed that Obama personally dislikes Martinelli. In the smaller world of right-wing Miami politics, US Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen appears to get along well with Martinelli, while US Senator Marco Rubio has been one of Martinelli’s critics.
And does what Panama thinks figure into Obama’s political calculations? We don’t actually know whether Varela wants his predecessor returned to Panama and adding another distraction to our public discourse. For all we know Varela may have quietly told Obama to let Martinelli spend years on end and much of his fortune fighting in the US courts, or to just let him stay in Miami unmolested.
Presume that Obama prefers to be rid of Martinelli. There would be ordinary extradition proceedings that could be time-consuming, and it could be expected that the former Panamanian president would interpose a request for political asylum, arguing that he would face political persecution if forced to return to Panama. But there are other proceedings far quicker than an extradition fight in the courts.
Did Ricardo Martinelli flee Panama last January with the protection of a diplomatic passport that he had as a member of the Central American Parliament? US presidents have the summary power to declare any diplomat or purported diplomat persona non grata and expel such a person from the United States. The courts have no jurisdiction in those cases.
And what is Martinelli’s immigration status in the United States anyway? Washington does not comment about such things. For all we know he could be a naturalized US citizen or possessed of a green card. Very likely, however, he has a visitor’s visa which he may have already overstayed. The US State Department has the summary power to deny or revoke any foreigner’s visa, but once in the USA such a person would ordinarily have access to the courts.
Would it be such a wonderful opportunity for delay and the continued easy life in an upscale Miami condo if Martinelli decided to resist an extradition effort or a move to deport him for lack of a visa? Perhaps. But the guy would be a flight risk and could be obliged to reside in a jail cell while fighting to stay in the United States.
Moreover, would immigration and extradition law be Martinelli’s only legal concerns in the United States? The contents of Italian criminal case files describe a plan to launder funds from a kickback scheme through a company in Miami. Witnesses and document in the Financial Pacific affair indicate Martinelli’s participation in an insider trading scheme with respect to Petaquilla Minerals gold mining stock. If that commercial paper was traded on Canadian and European but not US exchanges, it was sold over the counter in the United States and there are US laws about stock swindles that happen overseas. American criminal law being as extremist as it notoriously is, a “nuclear option” that the Obama administration probably has if it wants to use it is to indict Martinelli for financial crimes in the United States. The prison terms there are substantially longer than they are here.
But then the Obama administration, for whatever reason, might decide to tolerate Ricardo Martinelli’s continued presence in the United States. Any such policy decision would be subject to review starting in January of 2017, when the next US president takes office.
~ ~ ~
The announcements below are interactive. Click on them for more information | http://www.thepanamanews.com/2015/12/will-martinelli-be-behind-bars-by-christmas-the-next-steps/ | en | 2015-12-13T00:00:00 | www.thepanamanews.com/0dd146d2c629db8dcde911a5e8e141f488e170a49377f5ab67dc01cc642f123d.json |
[
"Eric Jackson"
]
| 2016-08-26T12:58:56 | null | 2016-08-24T13:21:55 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thepanamanews.com%2F2016%2F08%2F2017-boquete-jazz-blues-festival-on-a-growth-curve%2F.json | http://www.thepanamanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Boquete-Jazz-and-Blues-1-e1472038247610.jpg | en | null | 2017 Boquete Jazz & Blues Festival on a growth curve | null | null | www.thepanamanews.com | Boquete’s main musical event grows
Last time the best known member of the 70s band War, since largely a solo artist heading the pack of the world’s harmonica players, the Danish immigrant to the USA Lee Oskar, was the star of the Boquete Jazz & Blues Festival. In 2017 he will be back with the true successor to War, The Lowrider Band. (For those of you who are provincially Panamanian in outlook, lowriding isn’t an isthmian thing — for one thing our streets and roads are too poorly maintained to support it. It’s a Southern California Mexican-American thing. Maybe The Donald’s new Responsible Hispanic Spokespeople might be able to explain it: all Latin American cultures are not the same.) If you are more decidedly a soul-influenced gringo and are down for the struggle, or were back then, you may know the sound of these folks from the anthem.
But look down the chart a bit and you see Patricia Zarate and a band from the Danilo Pérez Foundation in the lineup, and take note of that tie with the much larger, a bit older and more internationally renowned Panama Jazz Festivals. Intertwining institutional roots can probably be broken down mathematically or empirically into several indicia of growth even if the grasping types who have driven the world economy into a hole won’t be able to see anything too significant on the bottom line. Alas, Volcan Baru has a deficit of volcano virgins these days and there are logistical limits to how many people whom the little mountain town of Boquete can comfortably host. If you sacrifice people or things on an altar of growth, then Boquete is perhaps not the place for your wildest dreams, even if the area is and has been growing. So Goldman Sachs is not a corporate sponsor, nor is the Trump Ocean Club. But Wyndham, whose Tryp hotel is at the end of the mall between the national bus terminal and the Albrook airport, surely ought to get some business from those who fly into Tocumen, then take domestic transportation to Boquete and back, then fly back out from Tocumen. The Tryp would be a logical place to stay between international and domestic flights for those who want to make less grueling travel plans. Maybe or maybe not for that reason, Wyndham is one of the Boquete festival’s sponsors this year. Then set aside all of those considerations for a moment and if you’re an old hippie online publisher who periodically puts out emails that include notices of things to do in Panama, the February 9-12 cast of performers at Boquete represents growth.
~ ~ ~
These announcements are interactive. Click on them for more information. | http://www.thepanamanews.com/2016/08/2017-boquete-jazz-blues-festival-on-a-growth-curve/ | en | 2016-08-24T00:00:00 | www.thepanamanews.com/740be113384479776d2cefc3abc91e6722ef12f8eef509b82b897cb41b2c6dd6.json |
[
"Eric Jackson"
]
| 2016-08-26T12:53:53 | null | 2015-07-24T17:15:04 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thepanamanews.com%2F2015%2F07%2Fpoliticians-impunity-laws-being-rolled-back%2F.json | http://www.thepanamanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/BdKqSOGCMAAmh1l.jpg-large.jpg | en | null | Politicians’ impunity laws being rolled back | null | null | www.thepanamanews.com | Sequel to Martinelli’s and Robinson’s failed bid to take over the National Assembly (1)
Statute of limitations for corrupt pols raised, time limits on investigations challenged
by Eric Jackson
On July 23 the National Assembly passed Bill 149, an amendment to the Code of Criminal Procedure that repealed Ricardo Martinelli’s 2013 law that halved the time for the statute of limitations to run for theft of public funds, unjustifiable enrichment while holding public office and diversion of public assets to private uses. As with most crimes — the main exception being murder and offenses deemed crimes against humanity under international law for which there is no statute of limitations — the period in which charges had to be brought for these crimes commonly committed by public officials was (and will again be) twice as long as the maximmum penalty for the offense. The law restoring the old statute of limitations is likely to be signed by President Varela.
So does this aggravate the potential legal woes for Ricardo Martinelli and his minions, or would it just apply to future crooks in high places? If there is to be any retroactive effect, it will not apply to cases already decided, nor those cases that are now in the processes of investigation or trial. But what about a theft of public assets that happened in 2013 which has yet to be formally investigated? Lawyers will surely argue about that one. In the Anglo-American Common Law system there is a fairly clear line about ex post facto laws: procedural laws can be retroactive, but substantive laws can’t be. The norm in that system is that statutes of limitation are substantive and can’t be changed retroactively to the detriment of the accused. But the Civil Code family of legal systems, of which Panama is a part, does not make this distinction between procedural and substantive. Already Ricardo Martinelli’s lawyers have been skirmishing in the Supreme Court over whether the new accusatory system of criminal procedure or the old inquisitory system will apply in his cases. Those issues have yet to be decided.
Meanwhile another of Martinelli’s impunity for politicians laws is under constitutional challenge in the Supreme Court. That 2012 law provides that when legislators — or in Martinelli’s case, members of the Central American Parliament — face trial before the Supreme Court, the investigation must be concluded within two months of the appointment of an investigating magistrate. For anyone else accused of a crime and facing ordinary criminal processes, that period is ordinarily one year. Supreme Court magistrate Oydén Ortega, who has been assigned the prosecutor role in the case of no-bid contracts with kickbaks in the purchase of dehydrated foods for school lunch programs, moved on July 2 for the assigned judge, Jerónimo Mejía, to grant him a 30-day extension of the time to finish his investigation and at the same time interposed a constitutional challenge to the shorter time given for investigating legislators. The case is on hold while the high court decides if the 2012 law is constitutional. | http://www.thepanamanews.com/2015/07/politicians-impunity-laws-being-rolled-back/ | en | 2015-07-24T00:00:00 | www.thepanamanews.com/65ddd9d69e85aaf0f3196a9ba0ca60bdac43a221e915a8d66702bc9e123a82fa.json |
[
"Eric Jackson"
]
| 2016-08-26T12:56:11 | null | 2016-08-21T01:14:41 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thepanamanews.com%2F2016%2F08%2Fscenes-from-the-2016-central-american-percussion-festival%2F.json | http://www.thepanamanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/DSCF0712.jpg | en | null | Scenes from the 2016 Central American Percussion Festival | null | null | www.thepanamanews.com | The Percussion Festival has class(es)
photos and captions by Eric Jackson
Yes, the Central American Percussion Festivals that are one of the cultural features of August in Panama City are promoted as a series of excellent concerts that one need not be possessed of beatnik tendencies to appreciate. But like all of the stuff that the Danilo Pérez Foundation does, it mainly has an educational purpose. The stars of the evening performances are the teachers by day. Nobody gets rich from these events — at least, not directly so in a pecuniary sense — but Panama does get enriched.
~ ~ ~
These announcements are interactive. Click on them for more information. | http://www.thepanamanews.com/2016/08/scenes-from-the-2016-central-american-percussion-festival/ | en | 2016-08-21T00:00:00 | www.thepanamanews.com/78099bbd720de79ceb7a13879a12e57f16e74546da98545753967a6fa775f9a1.json |
[
"Eric Jackson"
]
| 2016-08-26T13:00:09 | null | 2016-08-22T21:14:28 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thepanamanews.com%2F2016%2F08%2Fthe-vegetarian-diet%2F.json | http://www.thepanamanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/th_cover_rapport_prijzen_usa-e1471900101492.jpg | en | null | The vegetarian diet | null | null | www.thepanamanews.com | Lunch and Learn: How shall we sort our protein priorities?
by Manuel Paez
Dr. Tom Watkins, a visiting scholar at FSU Panama, gave a lecture titled ‘How shall we sort our protein priorities’ on the 19th of July, 2016. In this lecture he spoke about how the opinion of western academics regarding vegetarianism has changed over time, and about the benefits of having diets with little or no meat; he also spoke about studies which have shown that animal protein may increase the risk of osteoporosis, which is when bones become fragile or brittle due to a lack of density.
In the past, nutrition experts thought that meat was a necessary part of a balanced diet — since plants do not make a variety of vitamins that are essential for metabolic processes that our bodies need to make energy; such as vitamin B9, or folic acid.The consensus was that we are able to not eat meat for a while and be fine, but that eventually our bodies would become deficient in folic acid, which would lead to symptoms such as weakness, tiredness, and pale skin. However, we now know that this is not necessarily true, since edible fungi produce folic acid and other essential vitamins.
As a student in UC Berkeley, Dr. Watkins decided to see what not eating meat would do to him, he found that his energy levels increased and that he began to feel better overall — which contradicted what his professors had told him.
In 1971, Walker and his team conducted a study in South Africa, where the compared the bone densities of Bantu women, who lived in a rural area and did not eat much meat, and caucasian women in cities. Back then, it was thought that having more children was bad for women’s bone health, and that getting enough calcium was enough for good bone health, however; the study found that Bantu women had better bone health, despite having more children and not getting significantly more calcium than the women from cities.
Native Americans in Alaska have diets that are very high in animal proteins and low in carbohydrates, and they tend to have below average bone densities as they age. Seventh Day Adventists, other other hand, are vegetarians, and they have above average bone densities as they age.
All of this information backs up the idea that animal protein is worse for bone health than plant protein. The reason for this may be because animal protein has a higher percentage of Sulfur than plant protein, which is changed into Sulfuric acid in our bodies. Studies on fishes that live in lakes that are highly acidic show that those fishes have lower bone densities than the ones in normal lakes.
In conclusion, plant protein is better for our health than animal protein, however; plants alone are not enough for a balanced diet since they lack certain vitamins, so fungi need to be incorporated into vegetarian diets.
~ ~ ~
These announcements are interactive. Click on them for more information. | http://www.thepanamanews.com/2016/08/the-vegetarian-diet/ | en | 2016-08-22T00:00:00 | www.thepanamanews.com/519fa18e933f1d639fd8d9f59d8815d61b7dc93e6fd1af903e7f7b9b97fee8a5.json |
[
"Eric Jackson"
]
| 2016-08-27T20:49:44 | null | 2016-08-27T19:58:22 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thepanamanews.com%2F2016%2F08%2Fthe-panama-news-blog-links-august-27-2016%2F.json | http://www.thepanamanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Spanish-PayPal-button.jpg | en | null | The Panama News blog links, August 27, 2016 | null | null | www.thepanamanews.com | The Panama News blog links
Reuters, Big oil tankers need retrofits to use the new locks
Marine Link, Extreme boat lifts installed in the Panama Canal
NPR, A luxury cruise sets sail through the Northwest Passage
KTUU, Military conducts cruise ship rescue training exercise in Arctic waters
Spash 24/7, Iran keen to participate in Nicaragua Canal project
Bloomberg, Panama Papers spark race for tax haven dollars before crackdown
El Confidencial, Dueña del Canal en Iberoamérica es una empresa offshore
Nikkei, Mega Financial hit by US fine
ANP, Para que se equiparen los salarios entre hombres y mujeres
TVN, Contraloría lleva bonificaciones de la UP ante la Corte Suprema
Hoy, Imputaron a dos empresarios por presuntas coimas a funcionarios de Panamá
La Estrella, Préstamos nuevos disminuyeron 3.7%
Epstien & Montecino, Overcharged: the high cost of high finance
Scientific American, What vampire bats can teach us about friendship
PR, Newly discovered multicomponent virus is the first of its kind to infect animals
Mongabay, Dams inevitably result in species decline and losses on reservoir islands
Intercontinental Cry, Varela destroys indigenous communities and claims success
Mongabay, Panama revives stalled dam over strong indigenous opposition
La Estrella, Varela dice que no permitirán que se falte el respeto a las autoridades
Telemetro, Ocho heridos por enfrentamientos tras protestas contra Barro Blanco
TVN, Ana Matilde Gómez busca despenalizar el abandono de bebés
DW, Rousseff impeachment trial resumes after courtroom chaos
The Guardian, Bolivia’s deputy interior minister beaten to death
BBC, GOP governor calls blacks and Latinos enemies to be shot
AP, Trump’s staff talks racism and religious war online
BuzzFeed, Why Europe can’t find the jihadis in its midst
Simpson, Adivinanza
Gandásegui, La corrupción sin control genera más corrupción
Transparency International, Let’s pick up the slow pace of reform in Panama
OFRANEH, La farsa del “acuerdo” de Barro Blanco
Bagama, Fuera Martín Santiago de Panamá
La Estrella, Ministro de Seguridad niega que fotos de Frenadeso sean de Gualaquita
Video, FRENADESO desmiente policía y gobierno
WOLA, Colombia’s 52-year-old conflict with the FARC comes to an end
Perla & Bazak, The Colombia-FARC agreement
Márquez, La mas hermosa de todas las batallas
Ben-Ami, Colombia’s gift to the world
MEV, Manifesto on the Venezuelan situation
Fang, Democratic pundits downplay the Clinton Foundation’s ethical issues
Baker, Fixing Obamacare: the Democrats have to talk about it
Hausmann, Trump’s foreign admirers
América Económica, La herencia de Trump
Digby, The disturbing dawn of the alt-right
Miller, The Great Mexican Wall Deception
Texas Public Radio: “Hands of Stone,” fists of ham
The Undefeated, Usher Raymond IV fighting that good fight
The Tech, Restoration of a tarnished icon
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These announcements are interactive. Click on them for more information.
Estos anuncios son interactivos. Toque en ellos para seguir a las páginas de web. | http://www.thepanamanews.com/2016/08/the-panama-news-blog-links-august-27-2016/ | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.thepanamanews.com/c4718cfbce10c5e262e20234be26a4407f434c1ae4772aa1d1551a46bd7cc1af.json |
[
"Eric Jackson"
]
| 2016-08-26T12:48:45 | null | 2016-05-15T12:46:22 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thepanamanews.com%2F2016%2F05%2Fvote-june-11-no-on-fraud-no-on-a-purge-of-democrats-abroad-panama%2F.json | http://www.thepanamanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Fraud-1b-s.jpg | en | null | Vote June 11 - NO on fraud, NO on a purge of Democrats Abroad Panama | null | null | www.thepanamanews.com | null | http://www.thepanamanews.com/2016/05/vote-june-11-no-on-fraud-no-on-a-purge-of-democrats-abroad-panama/ | en | 2016-05-15T00:00:00 | www.thepanamanews.com/750a1856b19a49e8e0a8386ccbfdc23a8c2848629b2a80711cd15ceb1d7c23b1.json |
[
"Eric Jackson"
]
| 2016-08-26T12:59:20 | null | 2016-08-23T15:42:10 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thepanamanews.com%2F2016%2F08%2Ftaking-the-cinta-costera-route%2F.json | http://www.thepanamanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Walk-2.jpg | en | null | Taking the Cinta Costera route | null | null | www.thepanamanews.com | The “other way” to the Casco Viejo
photos and captions by Eric Jackson
Going to cover an event in the Casco Viejo, the plan was to take the bus in from the Interior, the Metro to the Cinco de Mayo station, then walk up the Peatonal toward where I was going. But I went out the “wrong” exit, the one near the Museo Afroantillano, so decided to walk a different route, down to Avenida Balboa, across to the Cinta Costera, along that seashore development for a stretch and then from there through Santa Ana to the Casco Viejo. The rain restrained itself to a few tiny drops and it was quite a scenic walk. But the westbound part of Avenida Balboa was a challenge because there are not enough pedestrian overpasses, which meant a long wait for a traffic light that never changed, a partial momentary lull in the traffic and a dangerous dash across the street. There is a bridge to get over the eastbound lanes. The Cinta Costera is three different connected projects, with contracting about which we can argue and urban planning merits and demerits of each part. Once past the main pedestrian hazard — there wasn’t a proper pedestrian crossing at the end of my walk along the waterfront strip, but traffic was not nearly so heavy there — I beheld one of the nicer parts of Panama City.
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These announcements are interactive. Click on them for more information. | http://www.thepanamanews.com/2016/08/taking-the-cinta-costera-route/ | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | www.thepanamanews.com/1bc121bca30f065eae7675ce4b63f91bda137c74d3f693b64c5605046aacfa0b.json |
[
"Eric Jackson"
]
| 2016-08-30T18:51:33 | null | 2016-08-30T17:00:31 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thepanamanews.com%2F2016%2F08%2Feditorials-how-much-hypocrisy-will-the-market-bear-and-cuban-migrants%2F.json | http://www.thepanamanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Capture-sacred-stone.jpg | en | null | Editorials: How much hypocrisy will the market bear?, and Cuban migrants | null | null | www.thepanamanews.com | How much hypocrisy will the market bear?
These days the superstition of market worship is the de facto religion of most developed countries, one that they preach and enforce around the world. Panama has joined the ranks of countries that embrace it. So is it time that someone nails 95 theses on the door of the Presidencia, if not the White House?
Panama’s most important day-to-day headlines, particularly those that are about our laws and the institutions in charge of carrying them out, are dominated by hypocrisy at the moment. We have a dictatorship’s constitution which, as a product of General Torrijos’s Revolutionary Process, provides that there shall be no privileges or discrimination based on social class. In practice we see constant assertions of statutory immunity by the political caste and phalanxes of lawyers interposing obstacles that grant impunity to those of the social class who can afford that sort of thing. Then there are all these treaties that were sold as guarantees of property rights and “an even playing field for all.” But what consideration has been given for the property rights of the people of Kiad, who have been evicted without compensation for the Barro Blanco Dam? How even has been the field of their dealings with Honduran thugs and their array of European and Panamanian partners, backers and employees?
Barro Blanco’s promoters filed an environmental impact statement that was replete with the most egregious misrepresentations, and it was accepted by government officials without questions until much later. It set off social conflicts in which the entire Panamanian economy suffered millions of dollars of losses, blood was shed and people were dispossessed. Perhaps the worst of all in the long run, ancient petroglyphs thought to be holy by a religion that much of the Ngabe nation embraces are being destroyed. Those evicted from Kiad were held prisoner without charges in a Catholic Church facility. The seeds of religious conflict have thus been sown by the government. But the lawyer who filed that bogus environmental statement still has a license to practice law. Neither those who filed nor those who accepted the misrepresentations on the government’s behalf have been called upon to personally account for their actions. Why? Because President Varela says that he must uphold international treaties — but not the ones that protect indigenous sites. He cites conventions that protect the banks, even though those don’t actually protect institutions which invest in frauds that they should have discovered.
It’s not the rule of law, let alone of God’s law. It’s the worship of money, and a matter of how much hypocrisy the market will bear.
Replace the Cuban Adjustment Act
The foreign ministers of Panama and eight other Latin American countries have asked for a meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry to discuss the annoying effects of a 1966 US law, the Cuban Adjustment Act, on much of the Western Hemisphere. It’s hard to imagine that in an election season much will change in Washington, but this policy needs to change.
The Cuban Adjustment Act provides that Cubans — and Cubans alone — who manage to set foot on US soil without proper permission can’t be summarily sent back to their country of origin like citizens of other countries. US immigration law isn’t quite that simple, for Cubans or anyone else, but the rule of thumb and the commonly held belief in Cuba is that once in the USA, a Cuban is there to stay for the rest of his or her days.
It’s an outdated bit of Cold War legislation. These days the Republican Party, in whose ranks most of the Cuban-American exile leadership has operated for many years, has turned against Cubans along with all other Latin Americans. One might think that with the thaw in US-Cuban relations this bit of legislation would be vulnerable to repeal. The case for ending the double standard gains force when one considers the problems that it creates for countries along the circuitous routes by which undocumented Cubans seek to sneak into the United States.
Other Latino groups in the United States would have reason to let the Cuban-Americans swim alone against anti-immigrant tides and the currents of history. The policy makes unfair and unreasonable distinctions. The Cuban government is not a democracy and the Cuban people are not prosperous, but Cuba does not have the death squad terror that stalks places like Mexico and Honduras and the government in Havana isn’t notably more corrupt than those of many other Latin American neighbors. Poverty is the lot of many Latin Americans, not just Cubans. Any notion that Cubans are inherently better people than other Latin Americans would be ridiculous, although the fact that Cubans tend to be better educated than their Latin American counterparts would be relevant for US immigration policy — or for Panama’s thinking on the subject, were it rational.
However, there are reasons for the United States to give would-be Cuban immigrants a special break. For starters, the Cuban-American community is the oldest US Hispanic community. St. Augustine, Florida, was a Spanish-speaking town before any English settler arrived in North America and Florida was incorporated into the United States before the annexation of Texas or the Mexican Cession brought many Mexican-Americans into the USA by conquest. The long-established Cuban-American community is willing and able to take in new arrivals and has done so with great success for a long time.
The United States needs a new immigration law anyway, and it’s reasonable to take historic relationships into account in the drafting of such legislation. Panama also has special ties with the United States that ought to be taken into consideration.
There are things short of controversial legislation that the United States can immediately do to deal with the present problem of massive uncontrolled Cuban migration. This is not the first inconvenient Cuban exodus toward the USA, and let us recall measures that were taken in the past.
Those were temporary and partial measures, though. What’s needed is a more comprehensive US immigration reform that among other things replaces the Cuban Adjustment Act.
Bear in mind…
Choose your friends carefully. Your enemies will choose you. Yasser Arafat The public does not like you to mislead or represent yourself to be something you’re not. And the other thing that the public really does like is the self-examination to say ‘You know, I’m not perfect. I’m just like you.’ They don’t ask their public officials to be perfect. They just ask them to be smart, truthful, honest, and show a modicum of good sense. Ann Richards What is man’s chief enemy? Each man is his own. Anacharsis Cloots ~ ~ ~ These announcements are interactive. Click on them for more information. | http://www.thepanamanews.com/2016/08/editorials-how-much-hypocrisy-will-the-market-bear-and-cuban-migrants/ | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.thepanamanews.com/8203811eae1dcb70cb393e93f501ade5971869b47616ff618abce6fc8103df9f.json |
[
"Eric Jackson"
]
| 2016-08-26T12:49:11 | null | 2016-02-12T09:44:59 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thepanamanews.com%2F2016%2F02%2Fa-deadly-carnival-for-some%2F.json | http://www.thepanamanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/FTC4.jpg | en | null | A deadly Carnival for some | null | null | www.thepanamanews.com | 17 die in Carnival mishaps
Every year residential areas — especially in the Panama City and San Miguelito metro area but not only there — empty out as people head for Carnival celebrations, beaches and mountain resorts for the long Carnival weekend. People tend to die, with alcohol often playing a role, in traffic accidents, drownings or violence amidst the crowds of revelers. This year nobody was killed in Carnival scene violence but the overall death toll went up to 17, as compared to 13 in 2015. This year 13 died on the roads and four drowned.
The police changed their traffic deployments from previous years, but aggressive drivers caught on and changed the venues of their obnoxious behavior accordingly. The carnage began early on the evening of Carnival Friday when a driver tried to get ahead of the crush at El Espino in La Chorrera and a rollover accident left one dead and four injured. The initial exodus from the city was perhaps heavier than previous years because there were announced water outages in the metro area on Carnival Saturday and because the capital’s celebrations have been scaled down from the days when Ricardo Martinelli and Salo Shamah used them to skim money from the government by way of lavishly funded Carnivals in which parts of the supposed big paychecks for international artists were siphoned off. By anecdotal evidence the city was quieter and more deserted than usual, but that made the early rush to the Interior heavier. By Saturday morning’s news reports six people had died. The Transito cops made a few readjustments but by the end of the six-day break (counting Carnival Friday, which is officially not a holiday but on which a lot of people take off early from work, and Ash Wednesday, the morning of which is an official half-day off) there were 13 traffic fatalities, two more than in 2015.
The extreme El Niño year has the nation’s rivers running low, which generally makes them less dangerous. However, the dry season winds were exceptionally heavy, making ocean waters choppier and blowing out to sea on the Pacific Side. SINAPROC ordered beaches closed for swimming and bathing on Carnival Saturday, but not everybody respected the red flags and Panama’s coastlines are too extensive for a government presence on every beach. Despite the precautions four people drowned, double last year’s unusually low death toll from that cause.
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The announcements below are interactive. Click on them for more information | http://www.thepanamanews.com/2016/02/a-deadly-carnival-for-some/ | en | 2016-02-12T00:00:00 | www.thepanamanews.com/e043fdb7ed681e4ba8a572fb2e8736cddc3159d87dcf209b14e0de1b8ecc0301.json |
[
"Eric Jackson"
]
| 2016-08-26T12:57:42 | null | 2016-08-24T18:49:16 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thepanamanews.com%2F2016%2F08%2Fbenjamin-us-arms-for-the-saudi-slaughter-in-yemen%2F.json | http://www.thepanamanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Destroyed_house_in_the_south_of_Sanaa_12-6-2015-1.jpg | en | null | Benjamin, US arms for the Saudi slaughter in Yemen | null | null | www.thepanamanews.com | US weapons sales are drenched in Yemeni blood
OtherWords by Medea Benjamin —
When Pope Francis visited the US Congress in September 2015, he boldly posed a moral challenge to his American hosts, asking: “Why are deadly weapons being sold to those who plan to inflict untold suffering on individuals and society?”
“Sadly, the answer, as we all know, is simply for money,” he solemnly concluded. “Money that is drenched in blood.”
In this case, it’s innocent Yemeni blood.
During his almost eight years in office, President Obama has approved a jaw-dropping, record-breaking $110 billion in weapons sales to the repressive Saudi regime, all with Congressional backing.
“In the face of this shameful and culpable silence, it is our duty to confront the problem and stop the arms trade,” Pope Francis said. Our lawmakers have failed miserably at heeding the Pope’s call.
Manufacturers such as Boeing, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, and McDonnell Douglas have been pushing these sales to offset military spending cuts in the United States and Europe. These weapons manufacturers spend millions on lobbying, filling the campaign coffers of both Republicans and Democrats.
In addition to that lobbying power, US officials were pressured to placate Saudi Arabia after the Obama administration made a deal with its adversary, Iran. That appeasement came in the form of a level and quality of arms exports that should’ve never been approved for a repressive regime with an atrocious human rights record.
Saudi Arabia is the number one exporter of radical Islamic extremism on the planet. Fifteen of the 19 Sep. 11 hijackers were radicalized Saudi citizens. The regime oppresses religious minorities, women, LGBT people, and dissidents, while dozens of non-violent participants in their own Arab Spring protests face execution, usually by beheading.
The Pentagon says that providing the Saudis with F-15s bombers, Apache helicopters, armored vehicles, missiles, and bombs supports Saudi Arabian defense missions and helps promote stability in the region. But since March 2015, the Saudis have being using these weapons offensively to intervene in neighboring Yemen.
Their relentless onslaught has killed thousands of innocent civilians, decimated Yemen’s infrastructure, and left more than 21 million people — that’s 4 out of 5 Yemenis — desperately in need of humanitarian assistance. The United Nations has said that Saudi air strikes on civilian targets likely constitute war crimes and calls the situation in Yemen a “catastrophe.”
Despite this carnage, the Obama administration just announced an additional $1.15 billion in Saudi weapons sales.
In the week following that announcement, the Saudis bombed a Yemeni potato chip factory, a school, a residential neighborhood, and a Doctors Without Borders-run hospital. Most of the dead and wounded were women and children.
But it’s not too late for Congress to stop this madness.
By law, they have 30 days after arms sales are announced to stop or modify the deals. And despite the overall apathetic response to the crisis in Yemen, not all members of Congress are turning a blind eye to the violence.
California Democratic Congressman Ted Leiu, for example, is ready to take a stand. “When Saudi Arabia continues to kill civilians, and in this case children, enough is enough,” he said.
Senators Chris Murphy and Rand Paul have also come out against the sale. But for the sake of thousands of innocent civilians who could be slaughtered with these weapons, many more members must act quickly.
It’s high time for Congress to answer the Pope’s challenge to stop the arms trade and help prevent more Yemeni bloodshed.
Medea Benjamin is the cofounder of the peace group CODEPINK and the author of nine books, including the recently released Kingdom of the Unjust: Behind the US-Saudi Connection. Distributed by OtherWords.
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These announcements are interactive. Click on them for more information. | http://www.thepanamanews.com/2016/08/benjamin-us-arms-for-the-saudi-slaughter-in-yemen/ | en | 2016-08-24T00:00:00 | www.thepanamanews.com/7b4de2c52c6ed9ced4db403d47a8e60510194029a3d36103a946ab6331c4a49e.json |
[
"Eric Jackson"
]
| 2016-08-26T12:52:53 | null | 2016-01-04T13:23:17 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thepanamanews.com%2F2016%2F01%2Fthe-new-locks-opening-will-be-delayed-again-for-more-than-the-stated-reasons%2F.json | http://www.thepanamanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Capture-SACYR.jpg | en | null | The new locks’ opening will be delayed again, for more than the stated reasons | null | null | www.thepanamanews.com | It’s not just the bad concrete
by Eric Jackson
The canal expansion project is a disaster. In two or three years it will be obvious this was all a failure.
Juan Carlos Varela
December 2009, quoted in a US embassy cable
released by WikiLeaks
You don’t mess around with something as important as the canal. When one of the bidders makes a bid that is a billion dollars below the next competitor, then something is seriously wrong.
Juan Carlos Varela
January 2010, quoted in a US embassy cable
released by WikiLeaks
I am calling on the contractors for the expansion project to talk with the Panama Canal Authority, to allow work to be completed, to leave legal disputes in the hands of the competent authorities and to avoid media publicity about differences that in no way helps the images of the contractors, the Panama Canal Authority or the Republic of Panama.
Juan Carlos Varela
January 2016 address at the start of the new National Assembly session
Yes, there is the celebrated “crack,” the cause and nature of which neither Panama Canal administrator Jorge Quijano nor the canal minister, Roberto Roy, have forthrightly discussed before the press or public. But things get out, and even if Quijano ducked the questions at a December 18 shipping industry meeting, three days later the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) sent out an update to those media to which it will release information. That note said that the testing of the new Atlantic Side locks will not begin before April. The gCaptain shipping website put two and two together and figured that this means that the previously announced April opening date will be missed. It will be another delay for a project that was supposed to be up and running in August of 2014. The website attributed the delay to a “crack” in a Pacific Side locks sill.
However, three other matters, two alluded to in some of Panama’s Spanish-language media and another not, are also driving the delay. Perhaps the closest thing to an official estimate of how long the delay will be came from President Juan Carlos Varela in his January 2 address at the opening of the current legislative session. He told the deputies and the nation of a job to be completed “around the month of May,” and immediately cast doubt on that by pleading with the contractors to “allow the job to be completed” and fight their legal battles before the designated panels rather than in the press. The president didn’t get into much detail beyond that.
The bad concrete pour — and it was that, rather than insufficient rebar that the GUPC consortium alleges and the ACP won’t dispute in public — may have contributed to the delay but the fix that is being accepted, such as it is, will be finished this month at a reported cost of about $40 million to the contractors. Whether the companies involved can all afford their shares of that expense, and the further costs of finishing the job, are questions hinted at in the Spanish-language press. But the possiblity that the formerly leading partner in the consortium, Spain’s Sacyr, simply can’t afford to go on is a taboo subject both in Panamanian and Spansh corporate mainstream media.
Can Sacyr take the hit?
Has there been insider trading? The sharp decline in Sacyr prices began weeks before the world saw water pouring through an immense sill that was supposed to be watertight in the middle of August. Sacyr prices rallied for a time on reports that the problem was known not to be serious, and then slid again when it became clear that things were worse than initially represented. Of course, share prices may not reflect underlying value. With a company like Sacyr that’s traded on public markets, however, look at share prices as something akin to bettors’ odds, with a herd mentality behind those thought to have done their homework.
Sacyr and the other major partner in the GUPC consortium, Italian construction giant Salini Impregilo, may have dodged a bullet when the ACP accepted cheaper substandard repairs on a bad concrete pour — inserting steel reinforcing bars and cement instead of tearing out and redoing the improper work — but their shares of that repair are on the order of $20 million each. It may be little more than a trifle to Impregilo, but the Italian company is a lot healthier than Sacyr.
Is Sacyr a conglomerate, with other businesses on which it can fall back? Yes it is, but that’s part of its problem. In the heady days before the 2008 finance, real estate and construction crash, Sacyr diversified into the oil industry. As a big player in road construction in Spain and several Latin American countries, this seemed like, among other things, a good way to secure its asphalt supply. But the oil bust has taken that part of Sacyr’s business down along with the economies of places like Venezuela. Is Sacyr politically connected, protected and subsidized, a “too big to fail” company whose collapse could bring the entire economy of Spain down with it? Yes, it’s one of those and neither of the parties that have sustained it for many years, the conservative Partido Popular or the nominally socialist PSOE, won a majority or a reasonable shot at putting together a stable ruling coalition in the December 20 Spanish elections. In the last trading session of 2015, Sacyr shares continued in free fall with a 2.06 percent retreat on the day. On one day in December, Sacyr stock lost more than €1 billion in value.
Sacyr was known to be a sick company when in 2009 it parlayed a lowball bid and a piece of the action to former canal administrator Alberto Alemán Zubieta’s family into new-found prestige as the head of the consortium with the most important of the Panama Canal expansion contracts. In the Spanish media little was published to diminish that prestige, even when the government bailed the company out over bad oil investments, and when later it came out during the late 2013 and early 2014 canal expansion shutdown and corporate shakedown that the performance bond that was paid out by Swiss insurers had been bought by the Spanish government. Even when the new Cocoli Locks sprang a leak Spain’s corporate mainstream didn’t draw any connection with Sacyr’s health. But investors apparently did notice, and the ACP’s information control games about the situation were cause for further alarm. Maybe they also noticed that now it’s executives from Impregilo, not Sacyr, who are making public statements for GUPC.
In late December it was Sacyr CEO Manuel Manrique who sent a letter to the ACP asking for a $190 million loan. That request was rejected.
So why didn’t the ACP demand the usual thing for a concrete construcion error of the sort we have seen, the removal of the faulty work and its reconstruction? Did they know that had they stuck to construction industry norms it could have led to Sacyr’s collapse? And is a potential Sacyr failure — this time without the Spanish government in a position to prop the company up again — the backdrop to the new delays?
Delays in training as well as construction
From the start PanCanal pilots had doubts about the physics of the new locks, through which ships are to be pulled through the chambers by tugs that are also in the chambers rather than by locomotive mules running alongside. The concerns expressed during the canal referendum campaign were cross currents from gates that open and close from the side and the turbulence of prop wash from the tugs inside the chamber. Later questions were raised about high winds, the angles of the lines between the tugs and the ships and the massive inertia that must be overcome to move or stop a huge post-Panamax ship. Pilots complained that the video simulators on which the ACP was training them for the new locks had unrealistic settings.
To address such concerns, the ACP announced that it would obtain a post-Panamax ship on which pilots and tug captains could practice. However, they found that post-Panamax container ships for this purpose are unavailable on the market. Belatedly the authority was able to strike a deal to rent a tanker of the right size for training to begin at the Atlantic Side locks. Plus the ACP has built a 1/25 scale model of the new locks, with working model ships and tugs for the pilots’ and tug captains’ training. While there are doubts about the new simulators as well, pilots and tug captains are generally satisfied that they create a better practice model that can be tweaked to more realistically simulate conditions in the new locks. Training all of the pilots and tug captains on a single tanker rented for a reported $16,000 a day creates time and money issues that lead some to believe that there won’t be enough time to practice under real conditions.
The training issue for pilots is not just the locks. They will have to learn to navigate the channels of Gatun Lake and the Culebra Cut in massive new ships that handle differently from those to which they are accustomed, and a tanker may present some important differences from a container ship when guided through canal waters.
In any case, both the working scale model and the tanker rental come late in the game. Was the April 2016 opening date for the expanded canal was something that the ACP did not believe even as that date was still being given to the international press?
The end game in a lowball bid scheme
The lowball bid strategy is banal in the construction industry. A company or consortium gets the contract by bidding lower than can reasonably be expected to cover the costs of doing the job, let alone making a profit on it. Once the job starts, there are all sorts of extra costs that were not contemplated in the contract, or arguably were not. In any major project there actually are unforeseen contingencies that drive costs up. Usually these are in the budget and the contract includes streamlined methods to resolve disputes about these. A contingency fund and dispute resolution mechanisms are parts of the ACP’s relationship with the GUPC.
The contract for the new locks was awarded on a lowball bid to GUPC, which includes as one of its minor partners Constructora Urbana SA (CUSA). It may have only a modest stake in the GUPC, but CUSA is primarily owned by then canal administrator Alberto Alemán Zubieta’s cousin Rogelio. Alberto Alemán Zubieta had been CEO of that company before he came to work for the canal and claims that he had sold his shares in that company a few months before the bidding process on the locks. Thus, by the ACP’s definition in a nation that has no criminal laws about such things with respect to public officials in general, there was no conflict of interest. But by any ordinary international definition there was a conflict of interest and the GUPC bid, a billion dollars below the next bidder, US-based Bechtel, was widely recognized as a lowball.
This is a $3.12 billion contract, for which the ACP has already paid the GUPC $4.235 billion, some $860 million of that in advances. The ACP has acceded to paying some cost overruns running into the hundreds of millions of dollars, but in various phases of adjudication or arbitration the GUPC is asserting more than 30 claims that total more than $3.4 billion. Many of these claims were to have gone before international arbitrators in Miami in December, but at the GUPC’s request the ACP agreed to put the arbitration off until July.
Will the delay serve to shield Panamanian government officials or mostly European company managers from the wrath to come after the public, or the shareholders, perceive that their side has been rooked out of billions of dollars? Perhaps. But polls suggest that the Panama Canal Authority is the nation’s most popular public institution, with the possible exception of the Bomberos. And how can any mere cost overrun disaster further tarnish any business executive’s reputation in jaded European eyes?
Appearances do mean things to each side, however. See how a relatively tiny part of the payment dispute was recently resolved, and how the sides spun it. Three contingencies beyond the GUPC’s control caused costly lost working days. In 201l and 2012 two former Panamanian presidents died and national days of mourning were declared. In 2012 Ricardo Martinelli’s attempts to blackmail Colon into selling the Colon Free Zone’s land led to disturbances and a state of emergency that kept construction crews from coming to work. The GUPC demand for compensation was $16,434,944 but the ACP only agreed to pay $495,417. The Dispute Adjudication Board awarded $6,207,200. Similarly, the GUPC wanted $28,694,480 in compensation for a two-week construction strike in 2014 and the panel awarded it $11, 271,945. Both of these awards were discounted by the amounts to which the ACP had agreed and already paid. But the consortium, which had submitted grossly inflated claims that were mostly rejected, went on a public relations campaign to declare victory.
In that sort of atmosphere the GUPC is threatening that it won’t finish the job unless it gets more money, while the ACP is saying that if the contractors walk off the job — again — it will put its own engineers to work, hire the construction crews and finish the job by itself. That could be done, but it would probably involve some new labor negotiations with the militant SUNTRACS construction workers’ union and other procedures that would add up to new delays.
~ ~ ~
The announcements below are interactive. Click on them for more information | http://www.thepanamanews.com/2016/01/the-new-locks-opening-will-be-delayed-again-for-more-than-the-stated-reasons/ | en | 2016-01-04T00:00:00 | www.thepanamanews.com/7a8c19a8630abe88b92e8e5fc1adb8b9cef4daa5d5e1e8c667ce030d40ff8b5d.json |
[
"Eric Jackson"
]
| 2016-08-26T12:55:17 | null | 2016-08-22T06:38:25 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thepanamanews.com%2F2016%2F08%2Fthe-wall-on-the-margins-of-the-casco-viejos-memory%2F.json | http://www.thepanamanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Wall-1.jpg | en | null | The Wall on the margins of the Casco Viejo’s memory | null | null | www.thepanamanews.com | The Wall
photos and historical note by Eric Jackson
Morgan’s 1671 raid on Panama la Vieja was one of the last major military campaigns in the Wars of the Reformation — if you don’t count things that have gone on in Ireland, especially Northern Ireland, down into our times — but troubles with the British crown, and with various species of pirates and privateers, did not end. The colonial city established by Pedrarias the Cruel did end in a fashion, as between the Spanish scorched earth policy and the British looting and destruction there wasn’t much that was left intact. Within a few years a new city center was begun on a rocky peninsula a few miles to the west, in what is now the corregimiento of San Felipe. That site was chosen for its ability to be militarily defended. The best preserved defenses are around Plaza Francia, with a tall sea wall, the old dungeons and military and government offices and, as you can see on the side facing Amador, the wall where Liberal guerrilla General Victoriano Lorenzo and others faced firing squads. (There is a plaque on the spot of that infamous act of the Conservative regime that was in control of Panama City in May of 1903.)
But facing landward there was also a tall and thick defensive wall, with gun positions every 200 or so feet, which had a surrounding moat and highly restricted access by three gates with drawbridges. After Morgan’s raid the arguments with the Brits were not so much over the relative merits of Catholicism and its Protestant offshoots but about trade policies, European dynastic successions and esoterica like Captain Jenkins’s ear. But while the Atlantic Side and adjacent Caribbean waters and the roads leading to and from Panama City remained vulnerable to British predation, nobody ever tried to force their way past the wall around the Casco Viejo.
In the middle of the 18th century those hostilities ended with a series of whimpers, but the wall persisted for another century, through Panama’s independence from Spain and into the era of Colombia’s endless civil wars being played out in Panama. With those political changes there was a continuity and a series of alterations in the wall’s purpose.
If British corsairs were the original fear, there was also the function of defending the Spanish elite of church and state from slave revolts. As it turned out this was not as big a problem as feared because the main form of resistance for African slaves was to escape to the jungle and join Cimarron communities, black villages in which aspects of West African culture, religion and governance persisted. There was a Spanish Inquisition court in Cartagena to deal with the African religions but for an increasingly destitute Spanish Empire going after these communities was mostly not worth the bother. The Spaniards still had slavery, with all of its implications, until early in the 19th century. This wall and the rest of the original buildings of the Casco Viejo, like Panama La Vieja and the fortifications of such Atlantic Side sites as Portobelo, Fort San Lorenzo and Nombre de Dios, were built by black slaves.
Surely the names of the architects who drew up the plans for the Casco Viejo’s wall, gates, moat and drawbridges are still written down somewhere — back in Madrid the Spanish government was concerned about the project’s cost and would have wanted to know such details — but along with the wall’s existence and purposes, these data have dropped out of popular memory here. (Research by Dr. Roberto Bruno has revealed the role of Italian military architects in many of Panama’s colonial era fortifications.) The thread of the nation’s memory of the wall picks up in 1856, after slavery was abolished but when racial stratification persisted, and when the rising new threat from the English-speaking world was directed out of Washington rather than London.
Back then there were these would-be American conquerors from the southern slave states, looking to imitate what had happened in Texas by conquering parts of Latin America and turning them into new slave states to affect the balance of power in the US Senate. The most infamous of these men, called filibusters, was a “gray-eyed man of destiny,” William Walker. To have a Casco Viejo in which the only black people welcome at night were domestic servants must have looked like an attractive prospective capital of a new slave state to men like this. To the cruder Americans crossing the isthmus at a time when popular and ultimately legal US opinion was that black people have no rights that whites are bound to respect, a Panama without slavery was a place for constant insults and fights. It came to a head in April of 1856 in the slums outside the Casco Viejo walls, when a white American named Jack Oliver took it upon himself to swipe a piece of watermelon from a black vendor, José Manuel Luna. The latter asserted his right to be paid and the former introduced a pistol into the argument. When the smoke cleared dozens were dead and US forces invaded Panama not long afterward.
So by the middle of the 19th century the wall was not only a symbol that attracted a wrong sort of notice that itself posed a military threat and no longer was needed to resist slave revolts in a place where that social relationship had been abolished. Inside the Casco Viejo much of the colonial construction was in ruins due to the ravages of an earthquake and several major fires. The place needed to be rebuilt and the wall didn’t fit into the plans. Thus, beginning in the middle of the 19th century, the old landward facing fortifications began to be dismantled. This remnant, not far from the Casco Viejo’s Plaza Herrera, is one of the last visible reminders.
~ ~ ~
These announcements are interactive. Click on them for more information. | http://www.thepanamanews.com/2016/08/the-wall-on-the-margins-of-the-casco-viejos-memory/ | en | 2016-08-22T00:00:00 | www.thepanamanews.com/d29f9599358cdc34eac7a85c5d4bbbc69edef48edc44098a2f2eea9417ecf3fe.json |
[
"Eric Jackson"
]
| 2016-08-28T02:49:46 | null | 2016-08-28T02:47:54 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thepanamanews.com%2F2016%2F08%2Fwappin-maybe-you-can-relate%2F.json | http://www.thepanamanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Sia_performing_photograph_by_Kris_Krug.jpg | en | null | ¿Wappin? Maybe you can relate | null | null | www.thepanamanews.com | Can you relate?
Warren Zevon — Veracruz
https://youtu.be/HcFlFLbYo8c
The Corrs – Little Wing
https://youtu.be/ytrPcztllzo
Café Tacvba – Eres
https://youtu.be/0AtsoFxe96M
Rita Coolidge – We’re All Alone
https://youtu.be/SZ-oJl48iYw
Leonard Cohen – Hallelujah
https://youtu.be/bFIPlUQDPzo
Elton John – Sacrifice
https://youtu.be/6EljX5-Wgbo
Carlos Vives – La Gota Fria
https://youtu.be/ucDzRYejL60
Joan Osborne – What Becomes of the Broken Hearted
https://youtu.be/kC24fdGFpfI
Sin Bandera – Maldita Suerte
https://youtu.be/S4BMU9bZFoo
WAR – The World is a Ghetto
https://youtu.be/fLIaUdMzBtM
Zoé – Labios Rotos
https://youtu.be/qG_hTK8Pw0k
Ben E. King – Stand By Me
https://youtu.be/CPYQEJFLhLU
Tracy Chapman & Luciano Pavarotti – Baby Can I Hold You
https://youtu.be/HvRpsckX7qE
Sia – Alive
https://youtu.be/D9bmyrT_sxs
Sly & Robbie meet Nils Petter Molvaer – Warsaw Summer Jazz Days 2015
https://youtu.be/f702zmB5en4
~ ~ ~
These announcements are interactive. Click on them for more information.
Estos anuncios son interactivos. Toque en ellos para seguir a las páginas de web. | http://www.thepanamanews.com/2016/08/wappin-maybe-you-can-relate/ | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.thepanamanews.com/28ab6a88224238ccc6a3c06e4a57d04c4e36b609e147be2e029b10c849b8c5fb.json |
[
"Eric Jackson"
]
| 2016-08-26T12:54:20 | null | 2015-12-11T18:00:32 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thepanamanews.com%2F2015%2F12%2Fmartinelli-held-in-contempt-high-court-plenum-to-ponder-arrest-warrant%2F.json | http://www.thepanamanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/t04aDnel.jpg | en | null | Martinelli held in contempt, high court plenum to ponder arrest warrant | null | null | www.thepanamanews.com | Sends Marta and eight lawyers to court for him, gets held in contempt
Martinelli wimps out
by Eric Jackson
Ten and a half months after he fled the country and after countless delaying motions before the Supreme Court and the Electoral Tribunal, Ricardo Martinelli had a court date on the morning of December 11. The subject was a series of invasion of privacy charges arising from his warrantless electronic eavesdropping activities directed against at least 150 people. He stayed in Miami and sent in former first lady Marta Linares de Martinelli and eight lawyers instead of appearing in court as ordered.
This time the court wouldn’t entertain any of his motions.Supreme Court magistrate Jerónimo Mejía summarily held the former president in contempt (en rebeldía) and adjourned the hearing. Supreme Court magistrate Harry Díaz, the acting prosecutor, said that he would petition a nine-member court plenum to obtain an arrest warrant, which if issued would then lead to a request to INTERPOL for an international “red note” requesting Martinelli’s arrest and extradition. It would then be up to Barack Obama to decide whether to honor the warrant.
~ ~ ~
The announcements below are interactive. Click on them for more information | http://www.thepanamanews.com/2015/12/martinelli-held-in-contempt-high-court-plenum-to-ponder-arrest-warrant/ | en | 2015-12-11T00:00:00 | www.thepanamanews.com/c8954a60c93277ad1941f0548feef83437a11d1f711c79924ac58c25c23d1b76.json |
[
"Manila Times"
]
| 2016-08-30T08:50:15 | null | 2016-08-30T15:03:02 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manilatimes.net%2Fjudgement-vote-looms-for-brazils-rousseff%2F282939%2F.json | http://14255-presscdn-0-60.pagely.netdna-cdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2016/08/MNL-Times_250-x-250-logo.jpg | en | null | Judgement vote looms for Brazil’s Rousseff | null | null | www.manilatimes.net | BRASÍLIA: Brazil’s suspended president Dilma Rousseff faces judgement Tuesday in a Senate vote expected to remove her from office despite her dramatic claim of being the victim of a coup.
The country’s first female president confronted her accusers in a marathon session Monday, telling the Senate that she is innocent and warning that the Brazilian democracy is in danger.
She is accused of having taken illegal state loans to patch budget holes in 2014, masking the country’s problems as it slid into its deepest recession in decades.
The Senate is set to hear closing arguments from lawyers for the two sides on Tuesday before holding a final debate ahead of voting—with the session possibly stretching into Wednesday. Two thirds, or 54, of the 81 senators must vote in favor of impeachment to strip Rousseff of the presidency.
Recalling how she was tortured under Brazil’s military dictatorship in the 1970s, the leftist leader urged senators during her testimony to “vote against impeachment, vote for democracy… Do not accept a coup.”
However, momentum to push her out of office appears unstoppable, fueled by deep anger over Brazil’s devastating recession, months of political paralysis and a vast corruption scandal centered on the state oil giant Petrobras.
Folha, one of Brazil’s main newspapers, published a running count of senators’ voting intentions and had 52 declaring themselves pro-impeachment by late Monday, with 11 undecided.
Rousseff would be replaced by her vice president turned bitter enemy Michel Temer. He said he was watching the process with “complete calm.”
If Rousseff is expelled, he plans to fly to China for a G20 summit as soon as he is sworn in.
Tear gas
Despite her strong words in the Senate, public reaction to Rousseff’s impeachment trial has been characterized by widespread indifference, as Brazilians struggle with rising inflation and unemployment.
Some 2,000 flag-waving supporters rallied to support her near the Senate building in the capital Brasilia—a fraction of the crowds her Workers’ Party has drawn in the past.
Protesters also gathered in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, where they lit fires and riot police fired tear gas to disperse them.
The Workers’ Party under Rousseff and her predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is credited with raising around 29 million Brazilians out of poverty. But they have turned on their rulers, blaming them for the country’s multiple ills, accusing Rousseff of mismanagement in particular.
Temer, of the center-right PMDB party, has already served as acting president since May, using his brief period in power to steer the government rightward.
Although that has earned plaudits from investors, it remains uncertain whether he will have voters’ support to push through the painful austerity reforms he promises.
Rousseff has barely double digit approval ratings. But Temer is hardly more popular, according to opinion polls.
Unlike many high-profile politicians, Rousseff has not been accused of trying to enrich herself through embezzlement or bribes. There is also lingering sympathy for her suffering under the dictatorship.
Although she spoke mostly in a measured tone on Monday, her voice cracked and she appeared close to tears while recalling her suffering as a young leftist guerrilla and during a battle with cancer.
“Twice I have seen the face of death close up,” she said. “When I was tortured for days on end, subjected to abuses that make us doubt humanity and the meaning of life itself, and when a serious and extremely painful illness could have cut short my life.”
“Today I fear only for the death of democracy, for which many of us here in this chamber fought.” AFP
AFP/CC | http://www.manilatimes.net/judgement-vote-looms-for-brazils-rousseff/282939/ | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.manilatimes.net/9f28c54a1b92eab5397c51a76f21e6b4742d1740b0f35142cfc1d9e7eeec7d01.json |
[
"Arlo Custodio",
"Iza Iglesias",
"The Manila Times",
"Karen Kunawicz"
]
| 2016-08-28T10:49:35 | null | 2016-08-28T18:12:45 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manilatimes.net%2Fthe-rigmarole-of-unfollowing-a-follower%2F282556%2F.json | http://14255-presscdn-0-60.pagely.netdna-cdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2016/08/paras20160829-279x300.jpg | en | null | The rigmarole of unfollowing a follower | null | null | www.manilatimes.net | Social media platforms are an indication of one’s popularity and visibility in the digital sphere, especially for a movie or TV personality.
Friends and fellow celebrities follow one another, so when somebody unfollows someone, that certainly becomes a bone of contention not just between individuals but among netizens in general.
Recently, Andre Paras (@andreparas95) sent ripples around the world wide web when he unfollowed his screen partner Barbie Forteza (@dealwithBARBIE) on Twitter.
But the eldest son of PBA legend-actor Benjie Paras and former actress Jackie Forster was quick to explain that it was not just Barbie whom he unfollowed but also “all my showbiz friends, my classmates.”
He said that he only follows “GMA Artist Center, news, [and]his interests,” so that when he wakes up in the morning he is immediately updated for the day.
He also apologized for his actions since he overlooked the sentiments of fans and supporters of their loveteam, but assured that there are no hard feelings between the two of them as they are true friends who understand each other.
“I still follow them [artists]on Instagram and still Like (their posts). Twitter is my social media for news and updates. I don’t follow anything or anyone but news and my interests. Since I have multiple social media accounts, why not have something that’s personal?” he clarified.
Forteza, on the other hand, said that the Twitter brouhaha did not affect their relationship.
“I just wondered why he Unfollowed me but it never became an issue to me, I never asked about it but he explained his reason. Even for me, I don’t get serious on social media. I do post, I promote, I thank sponsors and those are seen by everyone so it’s important to be careful with what you announce. And for Andre, I think, he also doesn’t want to get personal as he could get misunderstood,” the young star said.
Forteza has 1.06 million followers on Twitter and follows 418, 597K followers on Instagram and has 1.3M Likes on Facebook.
Looking into Paras’ Twitter account, it shows that the former UP Maroons hotshot has re-followed Barbie and some other celebrities like Solenn Heussaff, Ruru Madrid, Gabbi Garcia, Yassi Pressman, Nadine Lustre and James Reid. He has 169K followers on Twitter, 562K on Instagram and 22K on Facebook.
ARLO CUSTODIO | http://www.manilatimes.net/the-rigmarole-of-unfollowing-a-follower/282556/ | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.manilatimes.net/ced154df38248ebd033aa21fc44abcebc2471581dda13a8bad5dd8ccf8af1e6e.json |
[
"Jing Villamente",
"William Depasupil",
"Jomar Canlas"
]
| 2016-08-28T14:49:40 | null | 2016-08-28T21:44:10 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manilatimes.net%2Fcoconut-farmers-seek-support-for-geonet-production%2F282633%2F.json | http://14255-presscdn-0-60.pagely.netdna-cdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2016/08/MNL-Times_250-x-250-logo.jpg | en | null | Coconut farmers seek support for ‘geonet’ production | null | null | www.manilatimes.net | BUTUAN CITY: Agusan del Norte’s coconut farmers has sought assistance from the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) for increasing geonet production in the Caraga region.
The Libas Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Jabonga recently presented its P10-million on business proposal on Geonet Production and Marketing during the two-day PRDP Investments for Rural Enterprises and Agricultural and Fisheries Productivity (I-REAP) Business Plan and Technical Review.
“The successful geonet production of the neighboring provinces has inspired us to duplicate its business for the purpose of creating additional source of income among the farmers in the locality,” said Tomas Tener, Provincial I-PLAN Component head.
The proposed project would provide the cooperative with hauling and delivery truck, cooperative’s office, warehouse, weighing scales, and decorticating, twinning and weaving machines. “These machines would efficiently translate to 4,000 coconet rolls per year,” Tener said.
Based on the Vulnerability and Suitability Assessment (VSA) result, Jabonga ranked second in its assessment for most number of coconut trees planted, hence the availability of dehusked nuts.
“It all started when few households began twinning with the coconut husk they gathered, until the neighbors also started the same activity and realized its potential as a lucrative source of income,” said Elson Morada, Cooperative chairperson.
As per financial economic analysis, an individual can earn an average of P250 per day producing five-square meter of geonet. If the cooperative’s proposal will be granted under PRDP’s enterprise development component, a farmer can have an annual income of up to P47,000.
The Provincial Agriculture Office has seen the enthusiasm and cooperation of the coconut farmers in the municipality which encouraged them to assist the farmers in forming a cooperative with coconet production as its main line of business.
Geonet, also known as coconet, has been in demand for mining companies operating in the many areas of Caraga. Its main use is to prevent soil erosion where government agencies such as the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources require its public works constructors and mining operators to use geonet in their preventive and rehabilitation measures.
PIA | http://www.manilatimes.net/coconut-farmers-seek-support-for-geonet-production/282633/ | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.manilatimes.net/6efe1b2e3570cacae6afaab7084a2e07ac9cd2f1d9288336d156fb081cede764.json |
[
"The Manila Times",
"Agence France-Presse",
"Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino"
]
| 2016-08-28T18:49:56 | null | 2016-08-29T00:57:19 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manilatimes.net%2Fshootout%2F282699%2F.json | http://14255-presscdn-0-60.pagely.netdna-cdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2016/08/crime20160829-300x200.jpg | en | null | SHOOTOUT | null | null | www.manilatimes.net | null | http://www.manilatimes.net/shootout/282699/ | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.manilatimes.net/0cc33f49e421ef8c3fc9905c445da13e1382085185bce05812ba4499ccc93cc4.json |
[
"Yen Makabenta",
"Ricardo Saludo",
"Francisco Tatad",
"Rigoberto D. Tiglao",
"Ignacio Balbutin"
]
| 2016-08-30T02:51:56 | null | 2016-08-29T23:57:04 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manilatimes.net%2Fdrug-agency-and-drugs-board-owe-us-a-fact-sheet-on-the-drug-problem%2F282870%2F.json | http://14255-presscdn-0-60.pagely.netdna-cdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2015/08/YEN-MAKABENTA.png | en | null | Drug agency and drugs board owe us a fact sheet on the drug problem | null | null | www.manilatimes.net | First Read
How different national and international perceptions would be if the Senate inquiry into the war on drugs had started by asking our drug agencies for a ‘fact sheet’ on the national drug problem and the national drug control policy! Then none of us would be wondering whether President Duterte is just pulling from thin air all his scare stories and statistics on the drug menace. Then we could see some justification at least for the police policy of shooting first and counting later.
With all respect to our womenfolk, I think Sen. Leila de Lima, despite being a former justice secretary, is too much of a congressional maiden to be leading the Senate inquiry into the administration’s war on drugs.
According to expert probers and Senate veterans, the first focus of the inquiry should have been to establish a clear picture of the drug problem in the country, instead of rushing to highlight or dramatize the casualties of the drug war and the anguish of their families.
The people who would know the drug problem best are the top officials of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB). PDEA is tasked with enforcing our prohibitionist drug policy, while DDB sets broad policy in the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.
Sen. de Lima invited PDEA Director General Isidro Lapena to the hearing, but she noticeably forgot the chairman of the drugs board, Mr. Felipe Rojas, Jr.
Guest list of amateurs
And yet, the senator invited all the commissioners of the human rights commission, even some of its field officers.
She also invited the chairs of various civil society groups concerned with human rights issues, and the human rights centers of UP, Ateneo and La Salle.
To ensure publicity and coverage, she invited top representatives of ABS-CBN, GMA TV and the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
My point is this: Sen. Leila looked nearly everywhere for resource persons, except in the two agencies whose main business is to know the state and scope of the country’s real drug problem.
Her experts were self-styled human rights busy bodies, not people knowledgeable about the drug problem.
PH experts on drug problem
The president of the association of mother superiors, who was invited by Sen. de lima to the hearing, cannot possibly know more about the drug menace than the heads of PDEA and DDB, whose work has been focused on drug control for many years now. Drugs are the reason they hold these positions in government.
It is to them that we must turn first for information and an understanding of the so-called menace that is taking so many lives in our country.
These officials owe the nation, at the minimum, an authoritative fact sheet on the drug problem facing us today. To give them their due, here are briefs on their professional backgrounds and government service.
Mr. Isidro Lapena is the fifth director general of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). He graduated in the Philippine Military Academy as a member of the Class of 1973.
Mr. Felipe L. Rojas, Jr. is the chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board. A retired police deputy director general, he graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in1981.
The question is: do their offices keep up-to-date and coherent data and statistics on the Philippine illegal drug situation? What is their role, if any, in the administration’s war on drugs?
So to repeat, we need from these two agencies a fact sheet on the drug problem.
How serious is the drug problem?
I decided to write this column after reading recently a striking article in the online media website, Rappler.com, which sought to answer the question, “How serious is the Philippine drug problem?”
The authors are a group of graduate students from the University of the Philippines.
Their key findings are revealing:
1) In his first State of the Nation Address, President Rodrigo Duterte said that, based on data from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), there were about “3 million drug addicts” in the country, two or three years ago, and possibly higher at 3.7 million now.
2) A closer look shows that relevant drug law agencies came up with much lower official statistics in recent years
In 2008, a survey conducted by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) estimated a much lower figure of 1.7 million drug users nationwide (1.9 percent of the 2008 population). In 2012, the DDB, in cooperation with the Philippine Normal University, came up with a separate study that put the figure to be even lower at 1.3 million (1.3 percent of the 2012 population).
The DDB attributed this steep decline to supply and demand reduction efforts, like “intensified operations” of drug law enforcement agencies and “drug demand reduction programs.”
The DDB is set to release soon its latest estimates of drug use for 2015, which can serve as a good benchmark for assessing the administration’s drug war.
The research offers a thoughtful conclusion: “As the momentum of the current drug war increases, let’s all keep in mind why we are doing it in the first place: to reduce the prevalence of drug use….
“Policymaking around the world is becoming increasingly evidence-based. The same should apply to the country’s current drug policy. Here’s hoping that the statistics on drug use play a more prominent role in future discussions and evaluations of the intensifying drug war.”
A user is a pusher
I studied this research report alongside the disclosures of Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald dela Rosa at the Senate inquiry last week.
The general disclosed that 1,946 people have died in the government’s war on drugs.
He said police have shot dead 756 suspects in self-defense.
He said, separately, there are 1,190 deaths under investigation, but added they are likely due to drug gangs’ killings of people who could implicate them in illegal drug trade cases.
Last Sunday, Malacañang, through Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, declared that with hundreds of thousands of individuals surrendering to authorities for admitted drug use, the administration’s campaign against illegal drugs is a success.
Data from the PNP shows that nearly 600,000 drug users have surrendered to the authorities.
Why are drug users surrendering? Is drug addiction considered a crime today?
I got a blunt answer from President Duterte yesterday during his speech at the commemoration of National Heroes Day:
He declared: “A user is a pusher.”
It rhymes, and it is scary.
[email protected] | http://www.manilatimes.net/drug-agency-and-drugs-board-owe-us-a-fact-sheet-on-the-drug-problem/282870/ | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.manilatimes.net/ed858df04070ef091e33c3664960ac68ae4d52eb603990c345bf2ce379e1a3d9.json |
[
"The Manila Times",
"Anthony Vargas",
"Froilan E. Magtoto",
"Leander C. Domingo"
]
| 2016-08-29T14:50:05 | null | 2016-08-29T22:14:01 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manilatimes.net%2F839-evisayas-villages-drug-infested%2F282860%2F.json | http://14255-presscdn-0-60.pagely.netdna-cdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2016/08/MNL-Times_250-x-250-logo.jpg | en | null | 839 EVisayas villages drug-infested | null | null | www.manilatimes.net | TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte: The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has listed 839 drug-affected villages in Eastern Visayas as of the third week of August this year, representing 19 percent of the region’s total number of villages.
About 361 villages affected by the drug menace are in Leyte, 219 in Southern Leyte, 75 in Samar, 74 in Eastern Samar, 59 in Northern Samar and 51 in Biliran.
The region has 4,390 villages in six provinces.
In a report to the Regional Development Council, PDEA Eastern Visayas Regional Director Edgar Jubay said 830 villages are slightly affected, nine are moderately affected and no area is seriously affected.
Citing the official list, Jubay added that illegal drugs distribution is being carried out by 3,101 pushers, 65 financiers and 25 traffickers.
The number of users on the PDEA list is at 2,069, way below the nearly 17,000 self-confessed drug dependents who surrendered to the Philippine National Police.
While the drug trade has been minimized because of President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug war, PDEA said illicit activities continue in some areas with the involvement of some government officials.
“One challenge is the capability of high-profile drug personalities to continue their illegal drug trade using new technology such as digital wire transfers through banks without having to expose themselves physically, thus hampering operatives from arresting them,” Jubay explained.
Modi operandi of drug traders include using minors to peddle drugs, peddling through commercial courier services, using some jail facilities as temporary stock and releasing areas, transacting inside hotels, improvising packages, placing drugs inside drinking straws and softdrink bottle and use of cocks trained for fighting.
PDEA identified the region’s drug trafficking route to be Matnog port in Sorsogon, Allen and San Isidro port in Northern Samar, San Ricardo and Liloan port in Southern Leyte, Ormoc City port in western Leyte and other small public and private ports throughout Region 8.
Jubay said he is optimistic that impact of the government’s anti-drug war will be felt in affected communities in the next few months.
Authorities have arrested 695 drug suspects as of August 21 or 54-percent increase from the 451 nabbed in the same period last year.
A total of 13,912.435 grams of shabu have been seized in various operations from January to August 21 this year, way high compared to the 1,523.593 grams in 2015.
PNA | http://www.manilatimes.net/839-evisayas-villages-drug-infested/282860/ | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.manilatimes.net/1c9b71dfc1c6180e0879e24ec4ac09c85d28ca3955642c04dc0bdbb5c665aa7a.json |
[
"Josef T. Ramos",
"The Manila Times"
]
| 2016-08-28T14:49:42 | null | 2016-08-28T21:43:50 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manilatimes.net%2Fginebra-thumps-star-hotshots-gains-share-of-second-spot%2F282548%2F.json | http://14255-presscdn-0-60.pagely.netdna-cdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2016/08/MNL-Times_250-x-250-logo.jpg | en | null | Ginebra thumps Star Hotshots, gains share of second spot | null | null | www.manilatimes.net | Japeth Aguilar and playmaker LA Tenorio led Barangay Ginebra to an exciting 116-103 victory over the Star Hotshots on Sunday in the Philippine Basketball Association Season 41 Governors Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Aguilar delivered 21 points, including thunderous slams in the second half, along with six rebounds while Tenorio added 13 points plus five assists and import Justin Brownlee led the Gin Kings with 38 points on 16-of-26 shooting in the field including five triples and grabbed eight rebounds.
Solomon Mercado added 14 points and seven assists for the Gin Kings, who improved to 6-2 win-loss record. They are now tied with Mahindra in the second place with the same win-loss record.
Joel Wright posted 31 points and 13 rebounds with four steals to lead the Hotshots.
The Star Hotshots fell to 1-6 win-loss record. | http://www.manilatimes.net/ginebra-thumps-star-hotshots-gains-share-of-second-spot/282548/ | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.manilatimes.net/7b2dc97b2134d182d8b0b360ca42984b8e75ebed79a4d1f51844fab29ab9e444.json |
[
"Philippines News Agency",
"James Konstantin Galvez"
]
| 2016-08-26T16:49:10 | null | 2016-08-27T00:43:46 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manilatimes.net%2Fsolon-asks-businessmen-to-invest-in-surigao%2F282315%2F.json | http://14255-presscdn-0-60.pagely.netdna-cdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2016/08/MNL-Times_250-x-250-logo.jpg | en | null | Solon asks businessmen to invest in Surigao | null | null | www.manilatimes.net | SURIGAO CITY: Surigao del Norte 1st District Congressman Francisco Jose Matugas calls on businessmen who participated the 25th Mindanao Business Conference to either invest in tourism-related industries or be a tourist in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte province.
The young solon was the first speaker as the 25th Mindanao Business Conference opened its plenary sessions
Thursday at Gateway Hotel, Surigao City, although some of its preliminaries was conducted since Wednesday afternoon.
The theme for this year’s business conference which will run from Aug. 24-26 and participated by more than 600 delegates from all over Mindanao, with some few representations coming from Luzon and the Visayas is “Mindanao: ASEAN’s Emerging Economic Hub.”
Matugas pointed out that the time for the Mindanaoans to shine is now that the three top leaders of the country, the president, the senate president and the house speaker all hailed from Mindanao.
According to him that the three country top leaders had their primary focus on the development of the Island of Mindanao.
Matugas also made his call for the business people to consider in placing their investments on tourism-related industries on the Island of Siargao or be a tourist particularly during its special sporting events such as the international surfing or game fishing competitions.
According to the legislator, Siargao Island has become the “Surfing Capital” and the “Game Fishing Capital” in the country, and the No. 8 International Surfing Destination.
To those who would just want to relax and enjoy exploring the nature, Siargao also offers a vast number of beautiful natural sites of waterfall, white beaches, diving sites and natural spots for exploration. A tourism master plan is now being developed by the local government units of the area.
An international airport is being planned to be constructed which will be probably realized during the term of President Rodrigo Duterte. He also said that 95 percent of the road network in the island was already paved and the Siargao Nautical Highway Project is now in the pipeline.
Recently, the place was declared by the regional security forces as “Insurgency-free and Ready for Further Development” Matugas saod. | http://www.manilatimes.net/solon-asks-businessmen-to-invest-in-surigao/282315/ | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.manilatimes.net/65adcc82d71d1a387c3110dfe68b0a904b91f3e9ed9516d88a5239f97035043b.json |
[
"Rigoberto D. Tiglao",
"Francisco Tatad",
"Yen Makabenta",
"Romeo Ablazo",
"Ali Kuteg",
"Paolo Merced",
"Johnny Ramos",
"Rudi Miranda",
"Dino Gibb",
"Edwin Subijano"
]
| 2016-08-31T10:52:30 | null | 2016-08-02T22:26:19 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manilatimes.net%2Fjomas-revolutionary-forces-would-fit-in-a-subcompact-european-car%2F277595%2F.json | http://14255-presscdn-0-60.pagely.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/tiglao1_d2baf28b2ede0d1611d82c84a7683b05.png | en | null | Joma’s revolutionary forces would fit in a subcompact European car | null | null | www.manilatimes.net | I hope President Rodrigo Duterte has realized that the megalomaniac septuagenarian Jose Ma. Sison no longer commands, nor has any influence over, the New People’s Army or the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). Even his ideological sway over the communist insurgents has weakened to a mere nostalgia since he was captured in 1977.
If Cory Aquino didn’t resuscitate his mythology, Sison would have long joined the ranks of the old leaders of the pro-Soviet Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas like the Lava brothers whom the young communists have not even come to know or heard about.
The entirety of the revolutionary forces Sison now commands would fit in a subcompact European car, consisting of non-Filipino septuagenarians on their way to posh retirement resorts in Europe: Juliet de Lima, Sison’s wife and sister of Senator Leila de Lima, the ex-clerics Luis Jalandoni and Connie Ledesma, both Dutch citizens; and Fidel Agcaoili, son of the former strongman’s top lawyer, Federico Agcaoili, reputedly a Spanish citizen.
Sison’s expertise really has been propaganda, and he has managed to portray himself as having totally led and who still leads the Communist Party. The reality is that there had been several challenges to his megalomania since 1974, when cadres found out with total certainty that he ordered the Plaza Miranda bombing of the Liberal Party’s miting de avance in 1971 and then blamed Marcos for it.
His decline as the communist leader in the Philippines hastened when he fled the country in 1987, especially as the generation of CPP cadres and NPA commanders who had taken command had come from the youth group Samahang Demokratiko ng Pilipinas (SDK), which Sison ordered dismantled in 1972 to give way to his organization Kabataang Makabayan. (In fact, right after Martial Law was imposed, Sison deployed many of the SDK leaders, like Tony Hilario and Ferdie Arceo, to the countryside to organize NPA units. Poorly armed and financed, and without military training of any sort, they were killed in a few months, mostly by barrio militias who thought they were bandits.)
Sison had awed young patriots into the party (including myself) with his revolutionary opus Philippine Society and Revolution (PSR), which in the early 1970s seemed to be a bolt of lightning in the darkness, presenting a previously unheard of but systematic analysis of the Philippines and a program of action.
But that was when there was no worldwide web.
Revolutionary plagiarism
Now we know that the PSR is a near-total plagiarism — even in its title — of Indonesian Communist Party chairman D.N. Aidit’s Indonesian Society, Indonesian Revolution published in 1949, which in turn was copied from Mao Ze Dong’s 1939 Specific Characteristics of the People’s War in China.
Sison was sent by the old Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas to Indonesia in 1964 to learn from what was then the biggest communist party in Asia (other than the Chinese party), which seemed at the time to be on the verge of revolution. Instead, Suharto (who would be in power for 31 years) overthrew the left-leaning Sukarno, and massacred nearly all Indonesian communists, including Aidit, together with 500,000 Indonesians of Chinese ethnicity. The Chinese-looking Sison just barely missed the pogrom, and would have, with his Chinese-looks, been executed.
An excellent wordsmith, Sison had managed to portray himself as the undisputed leader of the Philippine revolution, who made it grow to be such a threat to the Philippine bourgeois state. In reality, in the CPP’s 48 years of existence, Sison spent barely seven years leading the revolution on the ground, since he went so deep in the underground right after Martial Law was imposed that he lost touch with the NPA and the communist centers of power for two years. He also got jailed for nine years from 1977 to 1986, and has, for nearly three decades since his 1987 escape, been living in the Netherlands.
The revolution’s growth, starting in the late 1970s after Commander Dante, was due to the work of such commanders as Rodolfo (“Commander Bilog”) Salas, Romulo Kintanar, Benito Tiamzon, Jorge Madlos, Edgar Jopson, and of course, for Metro Manila, Filemon Lagman, When he was chairman, Sison presided over the party’s rout, with him, Commander Dante and several other Politburo members captured in one swoop by the Philippine Constabulary in 1977. By the time Cory released him in 1986, the revolution had already grown by leaps and bounds, led by these CPP and NPA leaders.
Sison doesn’t know, let alone met in person, the present CPP leaders and NPA commandeers. In contrast, the real revolution in the mountains and jungles had been carried out for nearly four decades by communist leaders Benito Tiamzon and his wife Wilma Austria, (reportedly the CPP chairman and general secretary, respectively until their capture in 2014), as well as Tiamzon’s alleged successor, Adel Silva, who was captured last year.
The present overall commander of the NPA, who had been in Southern Luzon jungles for almost 40 years, had not met Sison. I was told he was dismissive of Sison and the Utrecht group. The acting Party secretary general had been with Sison in the underground in the early 1970s but has had a falling out with the demagogue, whom he disliked.
In short, I don’t think the CPP and the NPA will follow any agreement signed by Sison, who now hilariously refers to himself as just a National Democratic Front “consultant” but has published a book of his interviews with gullible European leftist writers, entitled “The Philippine Revolution: The Leader’s View.”
Why would anyone follow an agreement signed by Sison, Jalandoni and Agcaoili, who have spent the past three decades in the comfort of imperialist nations’ cities?
Check their credentials
There has to be a way, as it is required in all negotiations, for the Philippine government to check first the credentials of people they are talking to, to be sure they really represent the revolutionary forces on whose behalf they claim to speak. And this just can’t be based on historical precedent.
The communist party’s real leaders with whom President Duterte must communicate to ask them who their representatives are, would be the following: the current Party secretary general, the NPA overall commander (officially termed as head of the NPA National Operational Command), the head of the Party’s legal struggles group (which supervises the leftist party-lists and unarmed leftist groups), and of course, the Tiamzon couple, who are very much respected by the CPP and NPA commanders as their leader in the past 20 years.
Duterte should also change his entire panel of negotiators. Bebot Bello and Jess Dureza are very good men, passionate to have peace in the country. But they have been so close to Sison and the Utrecht group – with whom they have been talking since former President Fidel Ramos’ administration – that they seem to be bosom friends with the Utrecht residents, so that Sison knows how they think. Change, in the case of our peace panel, hasn’t come.
This is a big no-no in negotiations, as this undercuts their negotiating power. Other countries that are engaged in peace talks even routinely change their negotiators, so that the other party is in the dark as to how to handle the negotiators.
Get ex-generals and hardly smiling, stern people, the likes of Senator Panfilo Lacson, to create an atmosphere of seriousness in the talks. Get ex-general Jovito Palparan, the communists’ nemesis, to join our panel, to unsettle them. It’s sickening the way Bello and Dureza keep smiling when talking to Sison, who is responsible one way or another for the deaths of thousands of Filipinos and for our country’s political instability that has been one major factor for our nation’s poverty.
It is also scandalous why this former congressman was included in the panel, allegedly upon the request of Sison. Why the hell would the other party be given a say on who our negotiators should be? Or is he there just so he can regularly visit Amsterdam’s marijuana cafes?
[email protected] | http://www.manilatimes.net/jomas-revolutionary-forces-would-fit-in-a-subcompact-european-car/277595/ | en | 2016-08-02T00:00:00 | www.manilatimes.net/14d72e6a7d285b51447ad3c847bf1e49009d1be4441df71b9bb9af49f5599646.json |
[
"Michael Joe T. Delizo",
"The Manila Times",
"Llanesca T. Panti"
]
| 2016-08-30T18:50:22 | null | 2016-08-19T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manilatimes.net%2Fobama-to-raise-human-rights-in-meet-with-duterte%2F283120%2F.json | http://14255-presscdn-0-60.pagely.netdna-cdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2016/08/190215_obama1-300x200.jpg | en | null | Obama to raise human rights in meet with Duterte | null | null | www.manilatimes.net | US PRESIDENT Barack Obama will meet President Rodrigo Duterte to discuss alleged human rights violations in connection with the Philippine government’s war against illegal drugs, during a regional summit in Laos in September, the White House said on Monday (Tuesday in Manila).
Obama will also raise concerns over certain statements made by Duterte when they cross paths in next week’s East Asia summit in Vientiane, Laos, to be held at the sidelines of the annual meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
“We regularly meet with the leaders of our treaty allies where we have differences whether it relates to human rights practices or derogatory comments. We take the opportunity of those meetings to raise those issues directly,” White House Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes said in a news conference in Washington.
“I think the discussion will encompass both concerns about statements that have been made by the President of the Philippines and our commitment to supporting human rights,” he added.
Duterte has drawn international criticism overseas for the wave of killings of drug suspects, which have reached close to 1,900 since he assumed office on June 30.
The US State Department has raised the matter with the Philippines twice this month.
In a news briefing in Manila, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said on Tuesday Duterte’s first international engagement will primarily be for establishing acquaintances.
Asked if the President would be open to discussing human rights with Obama, Abella said, “This is not … We’re not referring to those matters. Okay?”
Duterte on Monday dismissed his critics, pointing out that he should not be compared with Syrian dictator Bashar Al-Assad, who is accused of various atrocities and crimes against humanity, and the Islamic State.
“Did I kill a child? Did I drop bombs like Assad and those other idiots? Did I burn women who refuse to have sex?” the President said during the National Heroes’ Day rites at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig.
Rhodes said Obama would also discuss with Duterte the tension in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), among other security issues. | http://www.manilatimes.net/obama-to-raise-human-rights-in-meet-with-duterte/283120/ | en | 2016-08-19T00:00:00 | www.manilatimes.net/104b3f9417c544e9ed413393deb011880a95b14b44fb17b9bdca4874c9bc79c8.json |
[
"Nelson Badilla",
"Angelica Ballesteros",
"Jed Villarama",
"Aberon Voltaire Palaña"
]
| 2016-08-30T14:50:20 | null | 2016-08-30T22:00:05 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manilatimes.net%2Flabor-groups-to-launch-shame-campaign%2F283030%2F.json | http://14255-presscdn-0-60.pagely.netdna-cdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2016/08/MNL-Times_250-x-250-logo.jpg | en | null | Labor groups to launch ‘shame campaign’ | null | null | www.manilatimes.net | Militant labor groups on Tuesday said they will launch a “corporate shame campaign” against business establishments that continue to practice contractualizaton or the end of contract (“endo”) system of hiring workers.
In a statement, the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP), SUPER Federation, Metro East Labor Federation, Union Presidents Against Contractualization and Solidarity of Workers Against Contractualization on Tuesday said the shame campaign they will carry out is aimed at forcing President Rodrigo Duterte to warn companies against contractualization.
BMP president Leody de Guzman said Duterte should “show more resolve in fulfilling his campaign promise.”
“It’s been more than 50 days since President Duterte assumed office and yet not a single capitalist or corporation has complied with the President’s order that they end contractualization,” de Guzman noted.
“The President’s viciousness and aggressiveness toward ‘drug lords’ contrasts markedly with his apparent timidity and diffidence toward capitalists exploiting their workers,” he said.
Lawyer Luke Espiritu, SUPER president, pointed out that “employers seem to be openly defying the President and flouting his authority.”
The labor leaders from the five groups slammed the Employers’ Confederation of the Philippines for the latter’s opposition to the anti-contractualization campaign and efforts to mislead the public by redefining contractualization and reducing it to the practice of “endo” or terminating workers after five months of employment.
They said the Duterte administration should end not just “endo” but all forms of contractualization, including “casual,” “project-based” and “sub-contracting” forms of employment.
The initial target of the corporate shame campaign are mall operator SM, telco giant PLDT, snack and beverage maker Universal Robina and fastfood chain Jollibee.
They groups also launched a campaign to gather one million signatures demanding that the President, among others, amend the labor code, deputize union officials as labor inspectors and criminalize the practice of contractualization. | http://www.manilatimes.net/labor-groups-to-launch-shame-campaign/283030/ | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.manilatimes.net/92947ad4e9d1f221202d5814273f3f9ff807306db889bb5111eebbb2b08de598.json |
[
"Mauro Gia Samonte",
"Efren L. Danao",
"Ambassador Amado Tolentino",
"Al S. Vitangcol"
]
| 2016-08-26T18:50:34 | null | 2016-08-27T02:07:49 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manilatimes.net%2Fwhat-some-local-executives-say-on-dutertes-killings%2F282349%2F.json | http://14255-presscdn-0-60.pagely.netdna-cdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2015/10/MAURO-GIA-SAMONTE.jpg | en | null | What some local executives say on Duterte’s killings | null | null | www.manilatimes.net | Spent the week doing the rounds of local government executives. I thought it would be interesting to know what they, as the ones most expected to worry about the illegal drugs problem being ferociously addressed personally by President Digong Duterte, are doing about the matter. Here are two to tee off the series.
Erap dare
Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada plans to propose to President Duterte the solution to the drugs problem that he implemented way back in 1993, when he was vice president of the country and concurrent head of the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission (PACC). Called DARE (Drug Abuse and Resistance Education), the program was a classroom-based approach, which he claims has proven effective in addressing the drug menace in 43 countries around the world.
DARE is Estrada’s way of contributing his share in what he terms as an all-out war of President Duterte against illegal drugs. In a meeting at the Manila Hotel recently of the Board of Directors of DARE Philippines Association, Inc., of which Mayor Estrada is the chairman, he expressed deep concern over the spate of killings related to illegal drugs. He called the drug menace a national epidemic from which the children must be saved.
“What we need, aside from strict law enforcement operations, is an effective and sustainable drug use prevention program to save our youth from the influence of drugs,” Estrada said after the meeting.
Citing statistics, Estrada put the number of drug dependents in the Philippines at more than 2 million. He said the illegal drugs trade value now stands at a staggering $8.4 billion.
According to a statement from the Manila Public Information Office, “DARE employs experienced police officers.
They go to classrooms teaching one-hour, once-a-week DARE lessons to Grades 5 and 6 students, their parents, principals, and teachers. The classroom instruction for each school is completed within three months.”
By the DARE method, children are early on taught knowledge, skills and attitudes by which by themselves they are able to combat the drug menace.
When Mayor Estrada first assumed the Manila local executive post in 2013, he immediately implemented the DARE program in the city. For school years 2015-2017, Estrada said 27,000 Grades 5 and 6 students are targeted to undergo the program. For this purpose, 16 more members of the Manila Police District will undergo a 10-day, intensive DARE Officers Training (DOT). The lessons taught in the training program include child development, classroom management, teaching techniques and communication skills.
The officers’ training course will be conducted by eight DARE American mentors led by Scott Gilliam, a retired Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officer and now officer-in-charge of DARE International.
“Prevention is better than cure,” said Mayor Estrada. “Through DARE school, children get to learn the effects of drugs at an early age and thus, learn not to be involved in them.”
Where there are no illegal drugs users, there won’t be any illegal drugs pushers – there won’t be anyone to punish with extrajudicial killing.
Simple as that.
But one real problem here is that, as things stand, there are already illegal drugs users and illegal drugs pushers. Mayor Estrada admits, there are more than 2 million illegal drug dependents in a lucrative trade with value already running at $8.4 billion. And Duterte’s extrajudicial killings are taking a lot of justification from the situation.
Figure out, then, the Erap DARE.
In the first place, Mayor Estrada implemented the program back in 1993. The fifth and sixth graders at the time should have become 18-year-olds by 2001. How many of them have become part of the more than 2 million illegal drugs dependents by now? Or put it another way, how many of them have not become illegal drug dependents by now?
DARE, no doubt, has its outstanding merits, as proven by its achievements on the international plane. And it can be a part of the solution to the problem at hand. But the true solution is still out for Erap to dare discover.
Will he?
No, no in Angono
Duterte has come out in the open taking responsibility for all the killings that occur in a continuing manner. But a great many of those killings are attributed to the infamous riding-in-tandem gunmen. Are these gunmen law enforcers? Or are they vigilantes as are those that have made Davao City a hub of extrajudicial killings?
In any case, under the principle of devolution, local executives are the ones most expected to be directly concerned with the problem. But there’s this general impression by keen observers that mayors are completely acquiescent to Duterte’s policies and actions on the issue. Either the local executives are really involved in the illegal drugs trade, as Duterte has read their names from a list, or they are simply so intimidated that they won’t say no to whatever their chief says.
Angono, Rizal Mayor Gerardo Calderon has a level-headed assessment of the presidential binge of killing drug addicts.
“It’s half okay, half not okay,” he says. “It has exposed the real extent of the problem that has gone unattended to over the past administrations. What the President is doing is, he is telling us this problem has been with us for so long and nothing has been done about it. Now he is doing something about it, and that’s what’s okay. He is showing the nation that the problem can be solved.”
So what’s not okay about what Duterte is doing?
Calderon answers with another question: “How sure are we that those that get killed are real culprits?”
The mayor seems to strike at the heart of the issue. It’s one thing that criminals are meted swift justice, it’s another that those punished are ascertained to be real criminals deserving of punishment.
Angono is a small town at the foot of Sierra Madre, which has gained the reputation of being the art capital of the Philippines. Home to the world-famous 3,000-year-old Angono hieroglyphics, which are a United Nations-protected cultural heritage, it also prides in having produced two national artists, Botong Francisco for mural painting and Lucio San Pedro for music.
“I won’t allow illegal drugs to besmirch the good image of our town,” Calderon said.
In the ongoing governmental drive to rid the country once and for all of the narco problem, he is practicing restraint, confining himself to what he terms as “intervention,” whereby those caught engaged in the illegal trade, whether pusher or user, are made to engage, instead, in rehabilitative activities that harness their energies for productive purposes.
When he first became mayor of Angono in 1998, illegal drugs were already a problem. The town, being straddled between north and south of Rizal, had naturally become the transshipment point of banned substances. In the beginning, Calderon resorted, too, to such methods as “naming and shaming,” but over time he realized this wasn’t going anywhere by way of permanently solving the drug menace. He persevered in his “intervention” approach, and now into his second three-term stretch as chief executive of his town, he confides that among his constituents has evolved an intelligence network that tracks down drug pushers and users even before they can take roots in the community. Add to this the following incentives for intel info providers: P10,000 for tipsters on pot sessions; P50,000 for info on big pushers.
Extrajudicial killings? He shakes his head, “Di ko gagawin ‘yan.”
(Tomorrow: Terror Tony) | http://www.manilatimes.net/what-some-local-executives-say-on-dutertes-killings/282349/ | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.manilatimes.net/43c0ab21f33500738aa06a8119009c67a15a20ea0f80e3e888dadcb8f2b90124.json |
[
"Leander C. Domingo",
"Anthony Vargas",
"Froilan E. Magtoto",
"The Manila Times"
]
| 2016-08-29T14:50:01 | null | 2016-08-29T22:15:02 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manilatimes.net%2Fdry-spell-destroys-nearly-p1-b-isabela-crops%2F282861%2F.json | http://14255-presscdn-0-60.pagely.netdna-cdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2016/08/MNL-Times_250-x-250-logo.jpg | en | null | Dry spell destroys nearly P1-B Isabela crops | null | null | www.manilatimes.net | ILAGAN CITY, Isabela: The Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) here said El Niño damaged close to P1 billion-worth of agricultural crops in 23 towns in the province.
PAO chief Danilo Tumamao said data released to the media indicating more than P966-million worth of damaged corn and palay (unmilled rice) was verified by the Provincial Disaster Action Team (PDAT).
The data showed that 40,386 affected farmers have lost a total of 73,921 metric tons of corn amounting to P966,912,335 and P35-million worth of palay.
Tumamao said in the 5,500 hectares of both crops in their vegetative stage, 4,900 hectares were partly damaged and 510 hectares destroyed.
He added that there were 48,580 hectares of corn and palay already in their reproductive stage, 42,400 hectares of which were partly destroyed while 6,142 hectares were wasted.
Tumamao said that of the 120,359 hectares planted to corn in this year’s wet season, 54,065 hectares or 44.94
percent were also affected.
Meanwhile, the agriculture office has officially recommended to Gov. Faustino Dy 3rd to declare Isabela province under a state of calamity, citing the huge losses in agricultural crops resulting from delayed effects of the El Niño phenomenon.
Tumamao said the PDAT-verified estimated damage on corn and palay may still increase while full harvest season is yet to come.
He added that placing Isabela under a state of calamity will allow the provincial government to use its calamity funds and other funds coming from other agencies to help farmers affected by the dry season. | http://www.manilatimes.net/dry-spell-destroys-nearly-p1-b-isabela-crops/282861/ | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.manilatimes.net/6d61bc641fbaceb780102fc42c3a9657a12ea3ca63646a8a1f4fb21274d0860e.json |
[
"Catherine Talavera",
"James Konstantin Galvez",
"Agence France-Presse"
]
| 2016-08-30T16:50:17 | null | 2016-08-31T00:44:34 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manilatimes.net%2Ffast-take-up-prompts-alveo-to-get-residential-devt-cracking%2F283096%2F.json | http://14255-presscdn-0-60.pagely.netdna-cdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2016/08/MNL-Times_250-x-250-logo.jpg | en | null | Fast take-up prompts Alveo to get residential dev’t cracking | null | null | www.manilatimes.net | Alveo Land Corp., the upper middle brand of Ayala Land Inc., is set to launch the fourth tower of its Taguig City residential project three years ahead of schedule.
The company said the decision was prompted by the fast take-up of the first three towers.
In a media briefing Tuesday, Alveo Land Senior Division Manager for Project Development Antonio Sanchez III told reporters the original plan was to sell all units of the four-tower Veranda project in four years.
“We’re ahead of schedule. Originally, the four towers of the Veranda was a four-year pipeline for us. But only after two years, we’re launching our last tower na,” Sanchez said.Alveo launched the West Veranda and South Veranda in 2014. The third tower, East Veranda, was launched last year.
Sanchez noted the first three towers of The Veranda are already 80 percent sold.
“The first three towers, we were expecting … to be sold out within … three years, but now we are experiencing a faster take-up at 25 to 30 units per month. For the fourth tower … I think it’s going to take another 12 months,” Sanchez said.
The residential development is projected to rake in P8.2 billion in sales, with the fourth tower generating P1.9 billion.
Alveo noted prices appreciated by 8 percent since the first two towers were launched in 2014 and were priced at P130,000 per square meter.
“North Veranda will launch this September with an average price of P140,000 per square meter,” Alveo said.
It is investing P5 billion to develop the entire project. | http://www.manilatimes.net/fast-take-up-prompts-alveo-to-get-residential-devt-cracking/283096/ | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.manilatimes.net/2b657237d9745f00a1895b1b20b349a8c1ea5b28ec68b6805a71b3fe95bbdb7a.json |
[
"Kristyn Nika M. Lazo"
]
| 2016-08-26T16:48:44 | null | 2016-08-27T00:36:03 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manilatimes.net%2Foriental-peninsula-denr-suspension-of-mine-unit-premature%2F282310%2F.json | http://14255-presscdn-0-60.pagely.netdna-cdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2016/08/MNL-Times_250-x-250-logo.jpg | en | null | Oriental Peninsula: DENR suspension of mine unit ‘premature’ | null | null | www.manilatimes.net | LISTED mining operator Oriental Peninsula Resources Group Inc. said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) hastily suspended its subsidiary’s mine operations “without prior audit” which can have a “negative effect” on the company’s revenue streams moving forward.
In a letter dated August 19 to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Oriental Peninsula alleged that the DENR’s suspension order on its unit, Citinickel Mines and Development Corp. (CMDC), was premature and improperly issued.
“Please be informed that the suspension order dated July 22, 2016 from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the DENR was prematurely and improperly issued as there was no prior audit conducted on the operations of Citinickel in violation of DENR Memorandum Circular 2016-01,” it said in the letter.
.“Without prior audit therefore and any legal basis for a finding of any such violation of environmental and mining laws, the immediate imposition of the penalty of suspension was improper,” it added.
The letter was in response to the SEC’s request for the company to reply within five days from August 10, detailing how the CMDC suspension would affect Oriental Peninsula’s financial flows and performance.
Prior to the DENR suspension, Oriental Peninsula said CMDC had just received an ISO certification — ISO 14001:2004+ Cor. 1:2009 — from TUV Rheinland Philippines Inc. for nickel mining operations and post-mining activities that looked into and monitored the operations of CMDC, which proves that the mining firm was “compliant” with mining laws.
“We are proud to say that at that time of validation and standard audit, no issues or irregularities were found or highlighted by the certifying body. Hence, we are very shocked and surprised that a suspension order was all of a sudden issued against us,” Oriental Peninsula said.
The company also pointed out that prior to the DENR audit, CMDC had slowed down its operations and held its shipments because the price of nickel ore in the world market had steeply declined.
“Therefore, there is no reason to suspend us at such time when we are not in active operations and after a
favorable review and validation from TUV Rheinland,” it said.
Early this month, the DENR Mine Audit Team audited CMDC again but raised no issues, irregularities, or violations of mining laws against its unit, Oriental Peninsula said.
It said the suspension would stop CMDC from generating any revenue moving forward, “which ultimately will have a negative effect on the financial condition of the company on consolidation.”
“Hence, the company and CMDC are exerting all administrative and legal efforts to have the suspension order lifted. The company is optimistic that the MGB shall reasonably appreciate the validity of the contentions of CMDC and that the suspension order shall be lifted at the soonest possible time,” Oriental Peninsula said.
It added it will exhaust all means and actions to prove to DENR its claims and may even pursue legal action, if necessary, for the good of Oriental Peninsula and CMDC’s shareholders.
Incorporated in 2007, Oriental Peninsula is the parent company of mining firm CMDC, which is primarily engaged in exploring, operating and exploiting mineral lands for chromite, copper, manganese, magnesite, silver, gold, and other mineral products.
The company registered a net loss of P4.45 million in the January to June period, a reversal of the P321.92 million net income recorded a year ago due to low prices of nickel ore. Its revenues also declined 82 percent to P203.77 million from P1.218 billion in the year-earlier period. | http://www.manilatimes.net/oriental-peninsula-denr-suspension-of-mine-unit-premature/282310/ | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.manilatimes.net/b27ec8baa948e38a0231dd7592eee96848952f493f46d9ff751600b2d89cbabc.json |
[
"Emil C. Noguera",
"Philippines News Agency",
"Agence France-Presse",
"The Manila Times"
]
| 2016-08-29T12:50:12 | null | 2016-08-29T20:05:54 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manilatimes.net%2Fph-bets-exit-world-9-ball-open%2F282808%2F.json | http://14255-presscdn-0-60.pagely.netdna-cdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2016/08/MNL-Times_250-x-250-logo.jpg | en | null | PH bets exit World 9-Ball Open | null | null | www.manilatimes.net | All Filipino cue masters were booted out in the main draw of the 2016 World 9-Ball Open held at the Pudong Tangzhen Culture and Sports Center in Shanghai, China.
Jeffrey Ignacio was the highest Filipino finisher as he reached the quarterfinals of the tournament sanctioned by the World Pool-Billiard Association.
But Ignacio was not as lucky as he succumbed to Taiwanese Cheng Yuhsuan via a thrilling 10-11 decision.
Yuhsuan also ousted Carlo Biado in the Round-of-16 (11-10) while Jeffrey de Luna fell to Taiwanese Ko Pin Yi in the other Round-of-16 game (3-11).
Johann Chua and Lee Van Corteza dropped their second-round matches.
In the women’s division, Chezka Centeneo and Rubilen Amit faltered in the Last 16. | http://www.manilatimes.net/ph-bets-exit-world-9-ball-open/282808/ | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.manilatimes.net/e445eb785fcb14e790496817dbe36d979100d3232df74eb346b93ce8eee5f6f3.json |
[
"Francisco Tatad",
"Rene Saguisag",
"Yen Makabenta",
"Ricardo Saludo",
"James Velina"
]
| 2016-08-26T13:01:31 | null | 2016-08-26T02:12:39 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manilatimes.net%2Fcan-du30-run-the-nation-without-headlines%2F282152%2F.json | http://14255-presscdn-0-60.pagely.netdna-cdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Kit-Tatad.gif | en | null | Can DU30 run the nation without headlines? | null | null | www.manilatimes.net | A SIDE from the summary drug killings, which, according to TIME magazine, have now reached 1,800, President Rodrigo Dutertes problems have been the result of careless words rather than concrete official deeds. In his first two months in office, he has talked through the oftentimes mindless and undiscriminating media, using inappropriate language to bludgeon some of his more unwelcome critics.
These include the Ambassador of the United States, the UN rapporteur on summary executions, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the chairperson of the Senate committee on justice and human rights. He apparently enjoys the thunder of his expletives, and their effect on the media and the public, and has not noticed their apparent overuse.
He has apologized to the Chief Justice for his rash statement threatening Martial Law if the police were required to produce warrants before going after drug suspects. He has assured the UN that his threat to withdraw from the world body because of its “meddling” in the summary killing of drug suspects was nothing but a poorly delivered “joke.”
But he has refused to apologize for calling the US ambassador a “gay…son of a bitch.” And he remains locked in a propaganda war with Sen. Leila de Lima on her current Senate inquiry into the drug killings on the one hand, and on the other hand her alleged involvement in the drugs trade at the New Bilibid Prisons when she was still Secretary of Justice.
Public opinion appears split between DU30 and de Lima at this point, but unless he has her formally charged with actual drug dealing, (assuming he has evidence that will stand in court), his continuous exposé on her supposed involvement in the drugs trade, including her alleged “sexcapades,” will end up being treated as blatant propaganda, and there will be no valid reason for anyone to demand that she terminate her ongoing inquiry into the drug killings by the police.
Moving past the drug killings
Clearly, there is need for DU30 to move past the drug killings, and past the use of invective and foul language to deal with nay-sayers, skeptics and critics. If the war on drugs is to continue, and many believe it should, serious effort must be exerted to go after the producers, manufacturers, financiers and mega-distributors of drugs, rather than just the petty pushers in the slums and the ghettoes. The war on drugs must also expand into a war on other crimes—smuggling, illegal gambling, prostitution, money laundering, human trafficking land grabbing, etc.
But first of all, the summary killings must stop. Since none of the killings could still be undone, the government must make sure that those guilty of any unjust killing are prosecuted and punished under the law, and the victims properly remunerated and indemnified. Beyond this, the government must create an adequate rehabilitation program to address the case of the 700,000 or so drug users who have surrendered to the police. The accent must shift from the killing of drug suspects to the rehabilitation of drug users, who are not necessarily criminals but unfortunate addicts.
They are not necessarily blameless for their own conditions, but they need help, more than punishment. The government must recognize substance abuse not necessarily as a crime but rather as a disease—one that can be treated and cured. As one medical doctor says on Facebook, the government must show its belief that human beings, imperfect as they are, are redeemable until their very last breath, regardless of how they had lived their lives. The current war on drugs provides the government the opportunity to show this.
DU30 must metamorphose now
In keeping with his promise to “metamorphose” from a caterpillar to a butterfly upon his assumption of the presidency, DU30 should now transition, with finality, from the rustic candidate who thrilled his audiences with the vulgar speech of the barroom, the dockyard, the cockpit or the fish market, into the people’s President who needs no vulgarities to lead 102 million Filipinos toward an unobstructed view of the future that lies ahead.
Although 22 years of being mayor of Davao City may have kept him away from cosmopolitan society and the familiar norms of diplomacy, he is a highly intelligent man who needs no rigorous mentoring to adapt to the conduct and discourse of the presidency. Where Talleyrand saw Napoleon as one so highly intelligent yet so poorly educated, I see DU30 as both highly intelligent and educated, except that he sometimes seems to want to play the clown or the buffoon, at his own expense. In Cabinet meetings, he has been photographed bowing in mock obeisance to Leni Robredo, the Vice President.
It’s time for him to be much more serious about the Presidency.
Drug critics not the real enemies
The first thing he needs to do is to have a clear-headed view of the forces that support and the forces that threaten his government. The threat to his presidency is not coming from those who are telling him the summary killing of drug suspects is wrong, and that there is a better policy. Amnesty International is not wrong when it describes the summary killings as “lawlessness” rather than crime control, and recommends an independent commission to handle human rights abuses committed by the police and vigilantes in the anti-drugs campaign. In the Marcos era, the Church-Military Liaison Committee was tasked to look into such abuses, and did a fairly creditable job of monitoring and reacting to reports of forced “disappearances.”
In one particular instance, however, the Committee just lost track of a Jesuit priest and a religious sister. They just disappeared one day, and despite persistent denials, the Marcos government was blamed for their disappearance. A few years later, they surfaced in Utrecht as a couple. After 1986, I had occasion to participate in a conference on forced disappearances in Singapore. I was in the company of experts, including a Filipino bishop who continued to have strong feelings about Marcos. After I spoke about the couple, the conference chair asked the bishop: “Did the religious community know that the couple had gone to Utrecht?”
The bishop replied, “Yes, of course.”
Why then did you not make it public, instead of blaming the government?”
“We did not want to help Marcos,” the bishop said.
Something similar to that committee may be considered by the present government.
But certain threats seem to lurk in the shadows, probably unrecognized by the new government. I had a sense of this after former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile and I appeared at a “Kapihan with Samahang Plaridel” at the Manila Hotel last Monday morning. We were asked questions on the war on drugs and the Marcos burial at Libingan ng mga Bayani.
Enrile was most emphatic in supporting DU30’s war, saying the President was simply discharging his constitutional duty of providing order to protect the citizens. He said DU30 had every right and duty to use the police and the armed forces, if necessary, to suppress lawless violence. On the Marcos burial, Enrile and I agreed that under the law, there should be no obstacle to Marcos’ remains being finally interred at the Libingan. Duterte himself has expressed full support for it.
PNoy’s hidden hand
Enrile and I faced a battery of ten to 12 unblinking TV cameras during the interview, which lasted more than one hour. But someone who monitored the media play after the interview, even up to the next two days, failed to see a slice of footage of our taped conversations. We had been thoroughly censored. Normally, one suspects the government to be behind any such censorship, especially when the content of the taped material is critical of the government.
In this particular instance, our views on the issues coincided with those of the government. There was absolutely no reason for Malacanang or any of its agencies to black out this particular material. A source close to the Palace has revealed that a pro-Aquino group operating under former Budget Secretary Butch Abad was responsible for the operation.
The same group is reported to be behind rallies against the war on drugs staged yesterday in front of the Philippine embassy in Washington, D.C., and the Philippine consulates-general in New York and San Francisco, as well as a plan to stage rallies in front of the Philippine embassies and consulates abroad on Sept. 7, protesting the burial of Marcos’ remains at the Libingan. The Supreme Court has temporarily deferred action on the burial, at the instance of several oppositors. The Court said it needs a little more time to study the matter.
The law on the burial is very clear, but a lot of extraneous matters have been introduced into the discussion.
Among them is Republic Act 10368, otherwise known as the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013, enacted without public debate during PNoy Aquino’s term in 2013.
This law punishes as a violation of human rights any search, arrest and/or detention without a valid search warrant, including any warrantless arrest or detention during Martial Law, from Sept. 21, 1972 to February 25, 1986, by persons acting in an official capacity and/or agents of the State… It appears to be an ex post facto law, meaning “a law passed after the occurrence of a fact or commission of an act, which retrospectively changes the legal consequences or relations of such fact or deed.” (Black’s Law Dictionary).
There is no move to declare this law unconstitutional, but unless this was done, the next administration could enact a similar law against DU30.
These are some of the things DU30 should think of even now. But what’s happening on the international front—both in terms of diplomacy and the media—deserves his utmost attention. His projected trip to Laos, Brunei and Cambodia next month offers him the opportunity to see that there’s a much bigger world beyond Manila and Davao, where one need not shock and awe to make a point or create headlines.
[email protected] | http://www.manilatimes.net/can-du30-run-the-nation-without-headlines/282152/ | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.manilatimes.net/9bcf8b26a7cf595bc2fc2cf8aeb6dd11d0814c2b856f87540d37061e75fff214.json |
[
"Manila Times"
]
| 2016-08-30T04:50:11 | null | 2016-08-30T11:22:33 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manilatimes.net%2Fwilly-wonka-star-gene-wilder-dead-at-83%2F282927%2F.json | http://14255-presscdn-0-60.pagely.netdna-cdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2016/08/MNL-Times_250-x-250-logo.jpg | en | null | Willy Wonka’ star Gene Wilder dead at 83 | null | null | www.manilatimes.net | LOS ANGELES: Gene Wilder, who delighted audiences with his comic turns in “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” and Mel Brooks classics including “Blazing Saddles” and “The Producers,” died at age 83.
His nephew Jordan Walker-Pearlman said the actor died of complications from Alzheimer’s, holding hands with family members and taking his last breath as Ella Fitzgerald’s “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” played on a speaker.
“It is with indescribable sadness and blues, but with spiritual gratitude for the life lived, that I announce the passing of husband, parent and universal artist Gene Wilder, at his home in Stamford, Connecticut,” Walker-Pearlman said in a statement.
“It is almost unbearable for us to contemplate our life without him.”
Wilder, whose third wife Gilda Radner died of ovarian cancer, was treated for lymphoma in 2000 and had worked only sporadically since.
He was acclaimed for his turn as The Waco Kid in Brooks’s third film, the spoof Western and box office smash “Blazing Saddles.”
The 1974 movie shot down the myths perpetuated about the American West, pouring light on closeted racism, but it is also stacked full of gags and is often listed among critics’ top 10 comedy films.
Brooks and Wilder joined forces on their Oscar-nominated script for the director’s next film, “Young Frankenstein,” which poked fun at the Universal horror pictures of the 1930s.
“Gene Wilder – One of the truly great talents of our time. He blessed every film we did with his magic & he blessed me with his friendship,” Brooks said on Twitter.
The Milwaukee native, known for his impeccable timing and frizzy hair, got his break in the 1961 off-Broadway production of Arnold Wesker’s “Roots” and followed with his Broadway debut as the comic valet in Graham Greene’s “The Complaisant Lover.”
His other Broadway credits include “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” (1963), alongside Kirk Douglas, and a production of “Mother Courage and Her Children” a year later, in which he co-starred with Anne Bancroft.
Bancroft was dating Brooks — her future husband — and introduced the pair, who hit it off immediately.
The director showed Wilder an early script entitled “Springtime for Hitler,” which would eventually become “The Producers.”
Wilder won the first of his two Oscar nominations for his portrayal of Leopold Bloom in the film — his first major role.
It was however his portrayal of eccentric candy impresario Willy Wonka in the 1971 musical fantasy based on Roald Dahl’s 1964 book “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” that turned him into a superstar.
Wilder co-starred with Richard Pryor in several movies including the train-murder comedy “Silver Streak” (1976) and in “Stir Crazy (1980).
“Forever a great comedy film duo Dad and #GeneWilder RIP,” Pryor’s daughter Rain Pryor tweeted.
His last major role was in a TV film version of “Alice in Wonderland” in the late 1990s, which also starred Ben Kingsley and Martin Short.
Born on June 11, 1933, Wilder spent his formative years trying to keep up the spirits of his ailing mother, who had a heart attack when he was just six and died 17 years later. His father was a Russian Jewish immigrant who imported alcohol bottles.
He developed a love for acting when he played Willy Loman in a high school adaptation of Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman,” graduating from the University of Iowa with a degree in theater.
Wilder, whose real name was Jerome Silberman, studied at the Old Vic School in Bristol, England, becoming a talented fencer, and spent some time in the US Army before committing to acting.
In September 1991, Wilder married his fourth wife Karen, a lip-reading coach.
In 1997 he guest-starred on two episodes of NBC’s “Will and Grace,” winning an Emmy Award for outstanding guest actor on a comedy series for his role as Mr. Stein, Will Truman’s boss.
Walker-Pearlman said Wilder’s Alzheimer’s, which he had kept private, “never stole his ability to recognize those that were closest to him, nor took command of his central-gentle-life affirming core personality.”
“He continued to enjoy art, music, and kissing with his leading lady of the last 25 years, Karen. He danced down a church aisle at a wedding as parent of the groom and ring bearer, held countless afternoon movie western marathons and delighted in the company of beloved ones,” he added. AFP
AFP/CC | http://www.manilatimes.net/willy-wonka-star-gene-wilder-dead-at-83/282927/ | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.manilatimes.net/01d7996c5f85f119f071d3384501421c76338395096fe9c675f67987055a3612.json |
[
"Manila Times"
]
| 2016-08-30T08:50:14 | null | 2016-08-30T15:05:38 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manilatimes.net%2Fmexico-police-chief-fired-over-execution-allegations%2F282940%2F.json | http://14255-presscdn-0-60.pagely.netdna-cdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2016/08/MNL-Times_250-x-250-logo.jpg | en | null | Mexico police chief fired over execution allegations | null | null | www.manilatimes.net | MEXICO CITY: Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto fired federal police chief Enrique Galindo on Monday over allegations police summarily executed at least 22 suspected members of a drugs cartel and killed eight others during a protest.
“In light of the recent events and on instructions of the president, Police Commissioner Enrique Galindo has been removed from his position,” Interior Secretary Miguel Angel Osorio Chong said in a statement.
The move was aimed at facilitating “a quick and transparent investigation,” he added without providing further details.
The move comes after the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) issued a scathing report earlier this month indicating police had “arbitrarily executed” 22 civilians during an anti-drug operation in May 2015 on a ranch in the town of Tanhuato, in the western state of Michoacan.
The operation against the powerful Jalisco New Generation cartel was one of the most violent clashes to have taken place since the government launched an anti-drug campaign in 2006. The gun battle killed 42 suspects along with a police officer.
The national security commissioner, Renato Sales, denied the accusations, saying the gun battle between security forces and heavily armed criminals broke out after they refused to surrender their weapons.
However, the CNDH accused police of tampering with evidence, recommending the government investigate the event and deliver financial compensation to victims’ families.
Rivalry between cartels has helped make Michoacan one of the country’s most violent states.
The authorities are also investigating police involvement during a confrontation with protesting teachers in the town of Nochixtlan, in southern Oaxaca state. It left eight dead, seven from gunshot wounds.
Federal police arrived in the village to remove a highway roadblock by the radical CNTE teachers union, which has led protests against Pena Nieto’s education reform since 2013.
Galindo initially said that uniformed police who arrived at the protest unarmed were forced to retreat before returning with weapons after they were confronted by some 2,000 angry protesters, some of them armed.
However, witnesses said the police opened fire first. Various media reports also contradict Galindo’s testimony.
The event was the most violent confrontation between civilian protesters and federal police since the force was instituted in 1999. AFP
AFP/CC | http://www.manilatimes.net/mexico-police-chief-fired-over-execution-allegations/282940/ | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.manilatimes.net/47d501a25694d4acfec7bf7b82d1e9d62c97210ca65962dc8dd561c42c3983ad.json |
[
"Catherine S. Valente",
"Philippines News Agency",
"Anthony Vargas",
"Maria Laura Margherita Angeles"
]
| 2016-08-27T16:49:13 | null | 2016-08-28T00:14:11 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manilatimes.net%2Fph-us-ties-unmarred-by-drug-kills-palace%2F282528%2F.json | http://14255-presscdn-0-60.pagely.netdna-cdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2016/08/MNL-Times_250-x-250-logo.jpg | en | null | PH, US ties unmarred by drug kills - Palace | null | null | www.manilatimes.net | Malacañang asserted that the relations between the Philippines and the Unites States remain “solid” despite the latter’s anxiety over reports of extrajudicial killings in the administration’s war against illegal drugs.
“We are open to the opinions and positions of certain governments,” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said in an interview.
Abella made the remarks after the US Department of State expressed its concerns to the Philippine government about the possible violations of due process as well as human rights during the implementation of the anti-drug campaign.
“The US believes that the rule of law supports long-term security,” State Press Office Director Elizabeth Trudeau said. The US has urged President Rodrigo Duterte to ensure that the country’s law enforcement efforts comply with human rights obligations.
“We think that our relationship, which has spanned 70 years, is a frank and open enough relationship that we can have those conversations,” Trudeau said.
Recently, remarks by the President against US officials, such as Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg and American members of the United Nations, have raised speculation as to the state of relations between the two governments.
Extrajudicial killings allegedly done in the course of the government’s campaign against drugs have grabbed the attention not only of other governments but of international media as well, in view of Duterte’s controversial comments regarding human rights and his defense of the country’s aggressive stance on illegal drugs and crime.
In a press conference Friday, Abella maintained that the government does not sanction killings.
“I think the terms that you use imply that a lot of these are state-sanctioned. Let me just give you my understanding of the whole matter. You have to set it in context, you have to set the whole operation, the whole campaign in context from where the president is and where the president stands. What he sees is basically a nation that has really entered into the mess of narco-politics, where people who are in government and people who are in authority have consciously made choices that actually allow the proliferation of drugs,” he said.
“So the president frames the whole matter in terms of a war,” Abella added. “He actually brings out and highlights the fact that the 600,000 surrenderers are simply a tip of a large iceberg, and how deeply, how deep and frightening, drugs has been used, especially in the lower sectors of society. Basically the president’s concern is to stop the supply that’s coming in to the country and to make sure that the demand is stopped.”
The President has accused ranking government officials, including Senator Leila de Lima, of being involved in the illegal drug trade. | http://www.manilatimes.net/ph-us-ties-unmarred-by-drug-kills-palace/282528/ | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.manilatimes.net/bef2b4c1094d9bf66be63c204ca4d143a58ad67e2faf67ddd4b028cfd5ba3944.json |
[
"Catherine Talavera",
"Kristyn Nika M. Lazo"
]
| 2016-08-26T16:48:33 | null | 2016-08-27T00:38:13 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manilatimes.net%2Fnet-group-open-to-diversification%2F282311%2F.json | http://14255-presscdn-0-60.pagely.netdna-cdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2016/08/MNL-Times_250-x-250-logo.jpg | en | null | Net Group open to diversification | null | null | www.manilatimes.net | BOUTIQUE office developer The Net Group Corporation will continue to focus on its core office buildings business but remains open to opportunities to diversify its product offerings, a company official said.
In a recent interview, The Net Group executive vice president Ramon Rufino told the Manila Times that they have no definite plans of entering other property markets.
Rufino noted that by focusing on the office development sector, they are able to be experts at it.
“A lot of other developers do different things, but at least for us we only do one specific property type and that’s why we become experts at it. So hopefully we continue to do that,” the executive vice president said.
But Rufino noted that the company is not closing its doors on catering to other property segments in the future.
“I think eventually, we could do it. My dad’s partner, Jacques, has expressed interest in looking at other things, but nothing definite,” Rufino said, referring to The Net Group chairman Jacques Dupasquier and chief executive officer Carlos Rufino.
Rufino expressed interest in the hospitality and industrial property sectors.
“The hospitality [sector], that’s interesting but it’s a very challenging business. Maybe industrial is also interesting because of the logistics thing,” he expressed.
“But right now,” he added, “office remains to be our main focus because right now, the demand is still very strong. So it’s a spot that we like very much.”
The Net Group’s previous projects include Net Lima, Net Plaza, Net Quad, Net Square and Net One Center which are all located in Bonifacio Global City.- | http://www.manilatimes.net/net-group-open-to-diversification/282311/ | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.manilatimes.net/65bf1ac3b6a1e1e0562b06eb07690794d38e06e036003df1d690a4aba4802e16.json |
[
"The Manila Times"
]
| 2016-08-31T10:50:23 | null | 2016-08-31T18:06:41 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manilatimes.net%2Frevised-standard-for-business-permits-licensing-system-pushed%2F283153%2F.json | http://14255-presscdn-0-60.pagely.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/MNL-Times_250-x-250-logo.jpg | en | null | Revised standard for business permits, licensing system pushed | null | null | www.manilatimes.net | The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) recently signed a joint memorandum circular that will streamline business permits and licensing system using a revised standard.
From the previous five to 10 days, the new standard now mandates processing of business permits at local governments units (LGU) to take no more than two days.
Renewals of permits were also cut from five days at most of processing time to no more than a day.
DILG Secretary Ismael Sueno said he hopes the shortening of business licensing will attract more local and foreign investors to do business in the country.
Under the circular, the LGUs are also compelled to level up through computerization of their respective business licensing processes with the aid of the DICT, which is now piloting a paperless registration system in Rizal province.
Guillermo Luz, co-chairman of the national Competitive Summit, said the use of ICT tools will avoid queues, the bane of entrepreneurs.
It, however, may take time for the LGUs to familiarize themselves with the new system even if the circular immediately takes effect.
Luz expects the circular to be followed nationwide within the year.
“We should see some improvement but it takes just a little while to roll out the programs and scale them up,” he said.
The DILG said it will go after LGUs that will not live up to the set standard.
“If there are local executives who will not implement this, we will charge them,” Sueno warned.
On the other end, Garry Domingo, chief of the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) of Quezon City, said business permits in the city may be released within the day if requirements for such permits are in order.
“We have to consider if the applicants have submitted all the requirements. They will certainly receive their business permits even on the same day as long as they comply with all the required documentation and regular fees mandated by law,’’ according to Domingo.
Entrepreneurs and investors have long complained about the circuitous and long processing time of acquiring business permits at the local level, apparently some disgruntled businessmen to go to fixers.
These fixers supposedly connive with unscrupulous personnel of the LGUs in bleeding their hapless victims dry. JING VILLAMENTE | http://www.manilatimes.net/revised-standard-for-business-permits-licensing-system-pushed/283153/ | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.manilatimes.net/6560f858288867f053e57573e64adfb1ef010d44058cffd729f06796d418756d.json |
[
"Rachel A.G. Reyes",
"Frank Ching",
"Ma. Lourdes Tiquia",
"Atty. Dodo Dulay",
"Jose Rizal",
"Amnata Pundit"
]
| 2016-08-30T02:51:54 | null | 2016-08-29T23:45:55 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manilatimes.net%2Fpast-wars-on-drugs-all-failed-will-duterte-succeed%2F282867%2F.json | http://14255-presscdn-0-60.pagely.netdna-cdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2016/01/P6-01-For-Long-View-column-logo-RachelReyes.jpg | en | null | Past wars on drugs all failed. Will Duterte succeed? | null | null | www.manilatimes.net | Ronald dela Rosa, head of the Philippine National Police, reckons that since his boss, President Duterte, took office at the end of June, almost 2,000 people have been killed in the current crackdown on drugs. Of that number, he has said that police were responsible for killing 756 drug suspects. Speaking last Tuesday before the Senate, the police chief was quick to emphasize that there was no official policy to kill drug users and peddlers. After all, he stated, police were “not butchers.”
The number of killings is not a measure of success. It is a tragedy.
I am curious to know what officials like Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, Senator Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson, or former Presidents Fidel V. Ramos and Joseph Estrada, might be thinking right now. Perhaps they should speak up. This bloody war on drugs should be sounding horribly familiar to them.
In the early 1970s, Enrile was chief of the Department of National Defense, Ramos was heading the Philippine Constabulary and Integrated National Police (PC-INP), and heroin was the fashionable drug. According to official police figures, there were about 150,000 heroin users in the country. Since heroin abuse at the time was largely prevalent among the moneyed children of Manila’s elite who could afford the expensive habit, there was nationwide panic. The middle and upper classes called on the government to act swiftly. Marcos, who was elected on a law and order mandate much like Duterte, his political descendant, passed strong narcotics laws and set up the Constabulary Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) on the advice of Enrile and Ramos.
As Alfred W. McCoy describes in his book Policing America’s Empire, the CANU was successful in identifying members of Chinese drug syndicates and the Manila operations of major heroin-making laboratories, but corrupt officials, from congressmen and customs officers to police, bribed to take a cut or a blind eye, hampered prosecutions. The Unit did manage to catch one big fish. A Chinese businessman, Lim Seng, a top heroin trafficker, was executed to great fanfare.
It did little to satisfy wealthy families, however, who remained incensed and desperate. They banded together and formed a secret organization – KAP, or Kill A Pusher, that targeted suspected heroin dealers for assassination. Adding to the climate of moral panic over drugs was the fear and disorder fomented by the spate of bombings that occurred all over Metro Manila.
In 1998, Joseph ‘Erap’ Estrada was swept to power on a populist platform of anti-poverty and law and order. As head of the presidential task force against organized crime formed under Ramos, his predecessor, Estrada had proved himself to be adept at orchestrating bloody campaigns against the robberies and kidnappings that were terrorizing Filipino and Chinese business elite.
As President, he too contended with the scourge of drugs. This time, heroin was out and shabu, methamphetamine hydrochloride, the drug of choice for the poor, jobless and uneducated, was most definitely in. Estrada pronounced shabu to be “public enemy number one” and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference couldn’t agree more, backing the President’s war against drugs. Estrada vowed to rid the country of drug trafficking within six months. How familiar can all this get?
Estrada’s so-called “seek-and-destroy” operations against shabu syndicates, as McCoy relates, had widespread appeal. With an estimated number of 1.7 million amphetamine users in the country, the Philippines had one of the highest rates of drug abuse in the world. The heroin labs that secretly operated in anonymous Manila rentals of the past were, by this time, decidedly small scale. According to the US State Department reporting in 2001, every year $1.2 billion worth of shabu from southeastern China was being smuggled into the country to supply almost 2 million users, who spent $5 billion annually. Chinese syndicates lorded it over the imports and local production. The operations of Filipino dealers paled in comparison. Under Estrada, drug seizures amounted to P2.7 billion between 1998 and 1999.
Ping Lacson, once Estrada’s favorite policeman and head of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF), was senator in 2001, having rather masterfully evaded a host of criminal charges, including one for mass murder. Lacson and his police coterie within the PAOCTF were accused of massive involvement in drug trafficking. Stories of Lacson’s PAOCTF boys allegedly making big money from abducting Chinese suppliers, murdering them, and robbing their bank accounts, jostled with newspaper reports of the pitiful lives of poor drug addicts, drug killings, and the finding of chopped-up bodies of drug pushers. Colonel Victor Corpus, who then headed the military’s intelligence service, compared the Philippines to the narco-state of Colombia. How familiar can all this get?
President Duterte’s war on drugs doesn’t seem to be tackling the tenacious roots of the problem – the entrenched operations of drug syndicates and traffickers, the intricate web of graft and corruption that implicates elite businessmen and government officials at all levels, the successful prosecution of the accused, and the vulnerability of the very poor.
The country’s drug problem is of deep concern to us all, and talk of it remains on everyone’s lips. Not so long ago, at a dinner, a retired professor told of his son’s battle with drugs. The professor spoke softly and sadly. His son, he said, had been introduced to drugs as a student at university. The son had quickly become both a user and a pusher.
At the time, the professor and his wife were going through their own troubles and would later separate. As they sorted out their marital issues, neither fully comprehended the extent of their son’s tragic situation. To their great shock, they discovered how their son had dropped out of school, had taken up with a young woman who was also an addict, and both were living in sordid conditions in a Manila slum. The boy was rescued by his parents and put into a rehabilitation center abroad.
That’s the big difference: unlike his impoverished peers, this boy, the son of a professor, was not in danger of being killed by helmeted gunmen at point blank range. His corpse would not turn up on a grimy street bound with packing tape, with a cardboard sign pinned to it saying “Huwag tularan.” This is the unique and grisly feature of the drug campaign under the current President.
Do we really think that such tactics – killing the poor and powerless – will lead to success?
[email protected] | http://www.manilatimes.net/past-wars-on-drugs-all-failed-will-duterte-succeed/282867/ | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.manilatimes.net/9ba6de36f33c6f7b580887a394e90b07e47bbe851ecef018371862b2554b73e7.json |
[
"Agence France-Presse",
"Jaelle Nevin Reyes",
"Jean Russel V. David",
"Philippines News Agency"
]
| 2016-08-26T12:58:51 | null | 2016-08-26T19:52:29 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manilatimes.net%2Fwest-ham-knocked-out-of-europa-league%2F282238%2F.json | http://14255-presscdn-0-60.pagely.netdna-cdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2016/08/MNL-Times_250-x-250-logo.jpg | en | null | West Ham knocked out of Europa League | null | null | www.manilatimes.net | PARIS: English Premier League club West Ham suffered a shock defeat by Romanian side Astra Giurgiu on Thursday (Friday in Manila) that saw them knocked out of the Europa League in a mirror image of last season’s campaign.
Slaven Bilic’s side had left the tie in the balance after a disappointing 1-1 away draw a week ago and that result came back to haunt them as Astra took the lead on the stroke of half-time through Filipe Teixeira.
West Ham were guilty of slack defending as Daniel Niculae found Teixeira free in the box with the striker rolling the ball past Darren Randolph.
That was enough to hand the Romanians a 2-1 victory on aggregate, mirroring Astra’s 4-3 win over the Hammers at the same stage of Europe’s second-tier club competition last season, a hammerblow for West Ham fans hoping to see more European football at the club’s new Olympic Stadium base.
In other results, French side Saint-Etienne endured a torrid final 45 minutes at stade Geoffroy-Guichard after goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier was sent off on the stroke of half time for punching Beitar Jerusalem striker Itay Shechter.
The Israeli striker had collided with the French ‘keeper with his studs showing in a seemingly genuine attempt to play the ball and Les Verts’ Ruffier was appropriately sent off for his reaction.
Despite the red carding, Christophe Galtier’s side were never really under threat and saw out a 0-0 draw to progress to the group stages of the Europa League after winning 2-1 in Israel.
Italian side Sassuolo, who finished sixth in Serie A last year, qualified for the first time in their history for a European competition after a lacklustre 1-1 draw against Serbia’s Crvena Zvezda. The Italians had done the bulk of the work last week, winning 3-0 at home.
Belgian side Anderlecht were another high profile team to progress to the next round after they despatched Salvia Prague 3-0 to complete a 6-0 aggregate win.
Greek side Panathinaikos also advanced to the competitions group stage after a 1-1 draw against Danish side Brondby. The Greeks had won the 1st leg 3-0 giving them an overall win of 4-1 on aggregate.
Turkish side Fenerbahce logically advanced to the group stages after outclassing Swiss outfit Grasshoppers. The Turks scored two second half goals through Fernandao and Miloslav Stoch to guarantee qualification.
AFP | http://www.manilatimes.net/west-ham-knocked-out-of-europa-league/282238/ | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.manilatimes.net/a0240b44f0a56d752bc63deb8a5f285d6386e49ce302d7a5b738a35abff57910.json |
[
"Raadee S. Sausa",
"Catherine Talavera",
"Kristyn Nika M. Lazo"
]
| 2016-08-30T16:50:11 | null | 2016-08-31T00:49:22 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manilatimes.net%2Fmsmes-urged-to-seize-aec-potential%2F283101%2F.json | http://14255-presscdn-0-60.pagely.netdna-cdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2016/08/MNL-Times_250-x-250-logo.jpg | en | null | MSMEs urged to seize AEC potential | null | null | www.manilatimes.net | MICRO, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) should take a proactive stance and seize the opportunities offered by the Asean Economic Community (AEC) instead of cowering in fear of regional competition, one of the country’s top economic managers said.
“Playing a bigger role in the AEC will enable them to grow their business and reap the benefits of being Asean-engaged,” said former National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director General Cielito Habito.
Habito, head of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Trade-Related Assistance for Development (Trade) Project, was speaking at a regional conference titled “Industry Roadmaps and the AEC Gameplan: Roadmaps Localization for Competitiveness” held in Butuan City recently.
Together with Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Assistant Secretary Rafaelita Aldaba, Habito encouraged stakeholders in Region 13 to translate both the AEC Game Plan and various industry roadmaps into local action.
He spoke on the economic opportunities and potentials for local industries and sectors and how they can take advantage of opportunities under the AEC.
“International trade in the contemporary setting has become more complementary and less competitive due to cross-border value chains, thereby rendering trade protectionism irrelevant,” he said.
“MSMEs would do well to invest time and effort to expand their horizons and establish a stronger foothold in the regional market,” Habito said.
He added that MSMEs should study and utilize government programs designed to help them take advantage of trade and investment opportunities under the AEC.
According to Habito, the AEC opens up easy access to a wider market that includes the six economies of Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea and New Zealand apart from the 10 Asean economies.
While the domestic market has 100 million consumers and the Asean market has more than 600 million consumers, the Asean +6 market has 3.45 billion consumers, all of whom become potential customers with duty-free access for Philippine exporters by virtue of the Asean free trade agreements with those six major economies, he explained.
Habito also stressed the significance of new emerging high-level agreements, particularly the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which promise more growth opportunities from an even larger market base.
“The Philippines cannot afford not to be part of these agreements once it is fully operative, as we stand to lose some of our trade with major economies and stand to forego tremendous new trade opportunities that these economies could provide our local exporters,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Aldaba explained the Philippine’s New Industrial Policy for More Competitive Regional Economies and highlighted the need to scale-up the region’s agriculture sector by aligning its dominantly thriving and potential industries with national industry roadmaps. | http://www.manilatimes.net/msmes-urged-to-seize-aec-potential/283101/ | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.manilatimes.net/67be8167405c39460b445f264d1daecc0fc6e05742d97e9d8c84ac4f59fcaf10.json |
[
"Anthony Vargas",
"Maria Laura Margherita Angeles",
"The Manila Times",
"Catherine S. Valente"
]
| 2016-08-27T16:49:13 | null | 2016-08-28T00:22:38 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manilatimes.net%2Fmilitary-lauds-indefinite-ceasefire%2F282536%2F.json | http://14255-presscdn-0-60.pagely.netdna-cdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2016/08/MNL-Times_250-x-250-logo.jpg | en | null | Military lauds indefinite ceasefire | null | null | www.manilatimes.net | THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Saturday lauded the declaration of an indefinite ceasefire by the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).
The GPH and NDFP signed an indefinite ceasefire agreement in Oslo, Norway Friday during the holding of the formal peace talks, marking a breakthrough in efforts to end the decades-old armed conflict with the communist movement.
Col. Edgard Arevalo, chief of the AFP’s Public Information Office, acknowledged in a statement that the indefinite ceasefire pact is a breakthrough in the peace negotiations.
“The AFP have noted with elation and optimism this breakthrough in the peace negotiations,” Arevalo said, adding that the NDFP’s decision to declare a ceasefire is “laudable.”
“It is a laudable move on the part of the CPP-NPA-NDF to respond positively to President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of re-imposition of the ceasefire ‘for as long as necessary’ to attain lasting peace in the land,” he said.
He gave assurance that the AFP, under the leadership of General Ricardo Visaya, will continue to uphold the letter and spirit of the ceasefire declaration of the Commander-in-Chief.
“The nation can rely on every soldier, sailor, marines, and airmen to help provide an environment conducive to peace so that the negotiators from both panels can work under the climate of trust and the prospect of reconciliation.” Arevalo said. | http://www.manilatimes.net/military-lauds-indefinite-ceasefire/282536/ | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.manilatimes.net/653017c0b696fa078f313b03a609d01fa4a3fd7bec9417bbde265bb7e5c21b7d.json |
[
"Efren L. Danao",
"Mauro Gia Samonte",
"Ambassador Amado Tolentino",
"Al S. Vitangcol"
]
| 2016-08-26T18:50:40 | null | 2016-08-27T02:04:22 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manilatimes.net%2Fa-true-fake-hero%2F282348%2F.json | http://14255-presscdn-0-60.pagely.netdna-cdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2013/05/danao1.jpg | en | null | A true fake hero | null | null | www.manilatimes.net | JUN Lozada burst into the national scene about nine years ago with drama worthy of any great playwright. He was looked up then as a crusading hero against the overpricing of the National Broadband Network project awarded to China’s telecom giant ZTE.
Lozada reappeared this week in another dramatic moment, but this time for getting a court sentence of up to 10 years in jail for graft and corrupt practices. The anti-graft crusader has turned out to be one who doesn’t practice what he preaches. As one who covered his appearances at the Senate and followed his public statements, I wasn’t surprised at this turn of events for this glib-tongued “hero.”
He became the darling of the anti-Arroyo movement and of some sectors in the Catholic Church when he claimed he was kidnapped at the airport on his arrival from Hong Kong on Feb. 5, 2008 to prevent him from testifying on the NBN-ZTE deal.
He sought sanctuary at De La Salle-Greenhills and a writ of Amparo from the Court of Appeals, saying he feared for his life. The CA said after hearing the petition that Lozada wasn’t kidnapped and that he needed no writ of Amparo.
As known later, Lozada sought help from then DENR Sec. Lito Atienza for protection upon his arrival at NAIA from HK. Atienza asked PNP chief Avelino Razon to send security detail for Lozada. There was a miscommunication and Lozada didn’t get to know until much later that the policemen who met him were out to protect him.
The blasting to smithereens of the “kidnapping” yarn didn’t prevent him from squeezing the last drop of drama out of his testimony on the NBN-ZTE deal before the Senate blue ribbon committee.
He said he went to the house of Sen. Joker Arroyo and gave the impression that Joker’s wife, Fely, tried to convince him not to testify before the Senate. He omitted some details.
Businessman Antonio Abaya said he arranged the meeting between Lozada and Fely, also a lawyer, after Lozada had expressed fears of testifying before the Senate. Abaya said Mrs. Arroyo advised Lozada that he did not need to testify because he wasn’t being summoned by the Senate at that time (September 2007). Lozada confirmed Abaya’s version with nary a statement of remorse about his half-truths that gave the impression that Mrs. Arroyo wanted him to keep quiet about NBN-ZTE.
Lozada again hogged the headlines when he charged that Cardinal Vidal had issued an order preventing priests in Cebu from celebrating Holy Mass for him. Well, it turned out that Cardinal Vidal had issued no such order. That he made drama out of a supposed order without verifying it didn’t speak well of a man claiming to be on the side of truth.
The Senate assigned two security officers for Lozada, who continually expressed fears for his life. However, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile ordered a review after learning that Lozada had even played golf.
“If he could play golf, then he might no longer believe that there is an immediate threat to his life,” JPE said.
Lozada gave the impression of being a hot shot when he said he was a consultant for several NEDA projects, including the NBN. He lashed at the PNOC for rejecting his P500-million jatropha project proposal “when the government was entertaining overpriced projects like the NBN.”
He didn’t reveal that he merely offered a five-page presentation for his P500-million project proposal. He didn’t return when PNOC’s Dr. Rene Velasco asked him to prepare a more comprehensive presentation.
He even made drama around his son’s failure to land in the honor roll, saying it was a consequence of his quest for truth. He didn’t say that his son was a La Salle student and that La Sallite brothers and nuns had been helping him, for this would have made him less of a martyr.
Ah, but to show his honesty, he admitted that PhilForest, which he headed, had awarded contracts without public bidding and that it had imported 35 goats from Australia to see if they would also eat jatropha and not just grass.
Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago said his “most damning admission” was his statement that a kickback of $65 million for the NBN would have been okay but not $130 million. “Bubukol,” Lozada famously said.
“That meant that if the kickback was only $65 million, he would have kept quiet and be an accomplice in the violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act,” she commented.
Despite these admissions and half-truths, several naive nuns maintained their trust in their hero. They accompanied him to the Sandiganbayan and one even wept when he was found guilty of graft.
And Lozada? Well, he continued to wax dramatic, even comparing his sentencing by the Sandiganbayan to that of Jesus Christ by Pontius Pilate. And many religious continue to believe in him?
[email protected] | http://www.manilatimes.net/a-true-fake-hero/282348/ | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.manilatimes.net/fbe91131a0851f4898cca9ca8e2dc73b9950928c18248e39f5debb2178de268c.json |
[
"The Manila Times"
]
| 2016-08-28T10:49:32 | null | 2016-08-28T17:47:35 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manilatimes.net%2Fus-embassy-launches-new-website%2F282552%2F.json | http://14255-presscdn-0-60.pagely.netdna-cdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Embassyrow20160829-300x281.jpg | en | null | US Embassy launches new website | null | null | www.manilatimes.net | The US Embassy in the Philippines launched its new website, ph.usembassy.gov, on Friday, featuring a more user-friendly layout, with relevant information front and center.
Responding to the needs of the Embassy’s website visitors, shortcuts to visa information, US citizen services, job opportunities, and US policy are all available on the homepage for easier access.
The new website is also mobile-responsive, adjusting layout depending on the visitor’s screen size, and allows for faster loading of content over a mobile internet connection. | http://www.manilatimes.net/us-embassy-launches-new-website/282552/ | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.manilatimes.net/d234c6b84834b071125ecc339ca4b4382d2099565cf4af984539941b22d8c82e.json |
[
"Michael Joe T. Delizo",
"Philippines News Agency",
"Anthony Vargas",
"Maria Laura Margherita Angeles"
]
| 2016-08-27T16:49:12 | null | 2016-08-28T00:10:53 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manilatimes.net%2Fmore-traffic-enforcers-deployed-to-rizal%2F282526%2F.json | http://14255-presscdn-0-60.pagely.netdna-cdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2016/08/MNL-Times_250-x-250-logo.jpg | en | null | More traffic enforcers deployed to Rizal | null | null | www.manilatimes.net | MORE traffic enforcers will be deployed by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to manage the “traffic mess” on Marcos Highway.
The thoroughfare serves as the main gateway to vehicles coming from eastern Metro Manila as well as from the province of Rizal. It crosses the cities of Marikina, Pasig, and Antipolo.
MMDA General Manager Tim Orbos said the agency, coordinating with the newly formed Inter-Agency Committee on Traffic Management (I-ACT), will be deputizing additional traffic personnel from DMCI, the private contractor of the LRT-2 extension project.
The project stretches from Ligaya in Pasig City to Masinag in Antipolo City in Rizal province.
The MMDA has set a rerouting scheme for Marcos Highway:
1. Vehicles coming from Cubao/Katipunan to Antipolo shall take Aurora Boulevard, turn right at Katipunan, C.P. Garcia Avenue (C5), left at Ortigas Avenue extension to destination, and vice versa.
2. Vehicles coming from Cubao/Katipunan to Antipolo shall take A. Bonifacio Avenue (to Marikina City proper), go straight to Sumulong Highway to destination, and vice versa.
3. Vehicles coming from Antipolo to Quezon City shall take the Ortigas Avenue extension, turn left at Kaytikling towards Taytay Palengke, East Bank Service Road, then left at Legaspi Bridge, left at C. Raymundo to destination, and vice versa.
4. Vehicles from Cainta, Rizal, to C5, Quezon City from Felix Avenue, turn left at Kaginhawaan Street/Magsaysay Street, turn right at Amang Rodriguez Avenue, left at Calle Industria to C.P. Garcia (C5), to destination, and vice versa.
5. Vehicles from Cainta, Rizal, via Valley Golf to Cubao, Quezon City, from Ortigas Avenue Extension left to Don Celso Tuazon Avenue, then Sumulong Highway to destination, and vice versa.
Orbos said the MMDA, to monitor traffic, will install six closed-circuit television cameras in strategic areas along the thoroughfare.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade earlier designated the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group to take the lead in traffic management and enforcement. Manpower and other assets, like the motorcycle units of I-ACT member-agencies, can be used by the PNP-HPG. The MMDA, Land Transportation Office, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines will also assist in the new scheme.
The ongoing road improvements at Barangay Mayamot in Antipolo had contributed to the traffic problem along Marcos Highway, the MMDA said.
Other reasons for the road congestion were the high volume of vehicles plying the route and the LRT 2 construction.
Undisciplined motorists trying to squeeze into the split of the two-lane Barangka Flyover going to Marikina City are also causing gridlock at the approach to Marcos Highway, the agency noted. | http://www.manilatimes.net/more-traffic-enforcers-deployed-to-rizal/282526/ | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.manilatimes.net/f2067d58ccbf3bcbeb3093ac6519ab32b426de5fa8b575ce36ee44503319dc0b.json |
[
"Manila Times"
]
| 2016-08-26T13:01:59 | null | 2016-08-26T20:10:25 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manilatimes.net%2Faid-access-in-syria-unacceptable-un%2F282251%2F.json | http://14255-presscdn-0-60.pagely.netdna-cdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2016/08/MNL-Times_250-x-250-logo.jpg | en | null | Aid access in Syria ‘unacceptable’ - UN | null | null | www.manilatimes.net | GENEVA: Humanitarian access to Syria’s besieged areas is “wholly acceptable”, the UN said Friday as it announced that just one aid convoy had completed deliveries this month.
The United Nations humanitarian office (OCHA) said a convoy with life-saving supplies finished its delivery on Thursday to Al-Waer, a besieged area of the district of Homs.
“While we welcome yesterday’s convoy, the level of access to besieged areas this month is wholly unacceptable,” an OCHA statement said.
The two-part delivery to Al-Waer, which included food and medical items, was “the first full completed” convoy to reach a besieged area in August, OCHA further said.
The initial Al-Waer delivery happened on Tuesday. A total of 75,000 people were reached over the two days.
Top UN officials including envoy Staffan de Mistura have blasted Syria’s warring parties in recent weeks for blocking civilians from accessing aid.
Much of the blame has been directed at Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces, who are responsible for most of the sieges of the country’s 18 besieged areas.
Meanwhile, de Mistura joined Friday’s meeting at a Geneva luxury hotel with US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
The talks were expected to center heavily on the UN’s push to restart Syria peace talks.
The UN’s outgoing humanitarian coordinator for Syria, Yacoub El Hillo, said it was “a good thing” that the US and Russia were meeting but accused world powers of shying away from such urgently-needed diplomacy for far too long.
Asked in a BBC interview aired Thursday what could have helped avoid a humanitarian catastrophe in Syria, El Hillo said: “Political guts and courage on the part of the international community, including the Security Council.” AFP
AFP/CC | http://www.manilatimes.net/aid-access-in-syria-unacceptable-un/282251/ | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.manilatimes.net/ae7d94770d60379c6efe593bbf731740fe0adff5ca2d70ff334190ce12d1604b.json |
[
"Emil C. Noguera",
"Philippines News Agency",
"Agence France-Presse"
]
| 2016-08-29T12:49:58 | null | 2016-08-29T20:01:59 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manilatimes.net%2Fhuey-partner-plunge-into-us-open-action-2%2F282798%2F.json | http://14255-presscdn-0-60.pagely.netdna-cdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2016/08/MNL-Times_250-x-250-logo.jpg | en | null | Huey, partner plunge into US Open action | null | null | www.manilatimes.net | Filipino Treat Huey and Belarusian Max Mirnyi will begin their campaign against Nicolas Almagro of Spain and Victor Burgos of Dominican Republic in the men’s doubles of the prestigious US Open tennis championship in New York City.
Huey and Mirnyi are seeded ninth and in the upper half of the draw along with top seeds Herbert Pierre-Hugues and Nicolas Mahut of France, No. 4 Jamie Murray of Great Britain and Bruno Soares of Brazil, No. 5 Jean-Julien Rojer of the Netherlands and Horia Tecau of Romania.
Also in the group are No. 7 Raven Klaasen of South Africa and Ram Rajeev of US, No. 10 Henri Kontinen of Finland and John Peers of Australia, No. 13 Juan Sebastial Cabal and Robert Farah of Colombia, and No. 16 Radek Stepanek of the Cezh Republic and Zimonjic of Serbia.
Prior to the US Open, Huey and Mirnyi made the quarterfinals of the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati but lost to Grand Slam champions Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan of US, 4-6, 6-7 (5).
Huey and Mirnyi are doing well in Grand Slam events this season.
They reached the semifinals of the Wimbledon Championship, quarterfinals of the Australian Open and Last 16 of the French Open.
Last year, Huey and former partner Colin Fleming of Great Britain secured a spot in the Last 16, only to lose against Leonardo Mayer of Argentina and Joao Sousa of Portugal, 4-6, 6-3 3-6.
Veteran campaigner Alberto Lim Jr., the youngest Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) Open champion, will be seeing action in the juniors competition. | http://www.manilatimes.net/huey-partner-plunge-into-us-open-action-2/282798/ | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.manilatimes.net/f7bab4f72618de7ef3cbd14c1bc1798b4f94ab97bfe20638e976959abe77c91d.json |
[
"Manila Times"
]
| 2016-08-31T02:50:15 | null | 2016-08-31T10:39:38 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manilatimes.net%2Fbrazil-senators-inch-toward-rousseff-impeachment-vote%2F283140%2F.json | http://14255-presscdn-0-60.pagely.netdna-cdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2016/08/MNL-Times_250-x-250-logo.jpg | en | null | Brazil senators inch toward Rousseff impeachment vote | null | null | www.manilatimes.net | BRASÌLIA: Brazilian senators waged an emotional marathon debate on the eve of voting on whether to strip Dilma Rousseff of the presidency and end 13 years of leftist rule in Latin America’s biggest country.
Lawyers on both sides of the impeachment trial dividing Brazil made impassioned closing arguments, followed by final speeches from senators, some of them bellowing and gesticulating.
The vote on Rousseff’s fate, originally set for Tuesday, was put off to Wednesday and the final debate stretched into the night.
Brazil’s first woman president, 68, is accused of taking illegal state loans to patch budget holes in 2014, masking the country’s problems as it slid into its deepest recession in decades.
Latest estimates from independent analysts and pro-impeachment senators are that the upper chamber will easily reach the two-thirds majority — 54 out of 81 senators — to convict Rousseff. Loyalists say they haven’t yet lost hope of saving the Workers’ Party president.
“The chances of impeachment not passing and the president being made to step down are virtually nil,” said political analyst Adriano Codato at Parana University.
If Rousseff is forced from office, her former vice president turned bitter foe Michel Temer will be immediately sworn in as president until the next scheduled elections in late 2018.
Temer, 75, took over in an interim role after Rousseff’s initial suspension in May and at once named a new government with an agenda shifting Brazil to the right.
Rousseff, in a 14-hour appearance Monday, defiantly urged senators to acquit her, branding impeachment as a “coup.”
She said it would amount to a “political death sentence.” It would bar her from politics for eight years.
Lawyers presenting closing arguments on Tuesday could not hold back their emotions as the clock wound down on a crisis that has paralyzed Brazilian politics for months.
A lead lawyer for the case against Rousseff, Janaina Paschoal, wept as she asked forgiveness for causing the president “suffering,” but insisted it was the right thing to do.
“Impeachment is a constitutional remedy that we need to resort to when the situation gets particularly serious, and that is what has happened,” Paschoal said, rejecting Rousseff’s “coup” claim.
“The Brazilian people must be aware that nothing illegal and illegitimate is being done here.”
Rousseff’s veteran lawyer Jose Eduardo Cardozo retorted that Rousseff was innocent and was being made to pay for her support of a huge corruption investigation that has snared many of Brazil’s elite.
“This is a farce,” he said in a speech during which his voice alternated from shouts to near whispers.
“We should ask her forgiveness if she is convicted. History will treat her fairly. History will absolve Dilma Rousseff if you convict her,” he said.
Unpopular leaders
Recalling how she was tortured under Brazil’s military dictatorship in the 1970s, Rousseff on Monday had urged senators during her testimony to “vote against impeachment, vote for democracy… Do not accept a coup.”
However, momentum to push her out of office appears unstoppable, fueled by deep anger over Brazil’s devastating recession and the vast corruption probe centered on state oil giant Petrobras.
Public reaction to the impeachment trial has been marked by widespread indifference, as Brazilians struggle with rising inflation and unemployment.
The Workers’ Party under Rousseff and her predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is credited with raising 29 million Brazilians out of poverty.
But many now blame the party for the country’s ills, accusing Rousseff of mismanagement in particular.
Temer, of the center-right PMDB party, has earned plaudits from investors since taking the interim post. However, it remains uncertain whether he will have voters’ support to push through the austerity reforms he promises.
Rousseff has barely double digit approval ratings. But Temer is hardly more popular, according to opinion polls.
If sworn in Wednesday, Temer is expected to leave for China to represent Brazil at the G20 international summit, sources close to him said. AFP
AFP/CC | http://www.manilatimes.net/brazil-senators-inch-toward-rousseff-impeachment-vote/283140/ | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.manilatimes.net/30e4322d43551e3fc69ce5b48da7bb66b2b7eecdf7f072cea3a0d2b3e8455d8a.json |
[
"The Manila Times"
]
| 2016-08-31T06:50:17 | null | 2016-08-31T14:36:23 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manilatimes.net%2Ftrump-to-visit-mexico-wednesday-meet-its-president%2F283143%2F.json | http://14255-presscdn-0-60.pagely.netdna-cdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2016/08/MNL-Times_250-x-250-logo.jpg | en | null | Trump to visit Mexico Wednesday, meet its president | null | null | www.manilatimes.net | WASHINGTON: Donald Trump announced he would travel to Mexico on Wednesday to meet its president, just hours ahead of giving a much-anticipated speech in Arizona on immigration.
The Republican presidential nominee’s surprise trip south of the border comes as debate about his hardline immigration policies is reaching fever pitch.
Although his visit holds potential political peril, Trump could seize control of the campaign narrative at a crucial time, showing a willingness to engage diplomatically on a sensitive issue at the heart of his campaign.
“I have accepted the invitation of President Enrique Pena Nieto, of Mexico, and look very much forward to meeting him tomorrow,” Trump posted on Twitter Tuesday.
Mexico’s presidential office confirmed the visit, posting its own tweet in Spanish to say the billionaire New York real estate tycoon “has accepted the invitation and will meet tomorrow privately with the President @EPN.”
Pena Nieto’s office said in a statement that he had sent invitations to Trump as well as his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.
Her campaign has announced no plans for a visit, with an aide on Tuesday saying Clinton “looks forward to talking with President Pena Nieto again at the appropriate time.”
Trump has routinely assailed Mexican immigrants who illegally cross the border into the United States. Hardline immigration policies including calls for deportations are a key plank of his campaign.
A sudden international trip by a US presidential candidate would be a logistical and security nightmare at such short notice.
But Trump could be sensing an opportunity in the visit as he mulls whether to soften his positions on immigration, particularly the call early in his campaign to deport some 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the shadows.
Any Trump-Pena Nieto meeting could be an awkward affair. In rally after campaign rally, Trump has pledged to “build a wall” on the US southern border if he becomes president and to force Mexico to pay for it.
Pena Nieto for his part has likened Trump to “Hitler and Mussolini” and slammed the Republican nominee for his isolationist positions.
And in a July interview, he told CNN that “there is no way that Mexico could pay for a wall like that.”
Trump used some of the most incendiary language of his campaign when launching his White House bid last year, describing Mexicans as drug dealers, “rapists” and other criminals.
He is scheduled to deliver what is billed as a crucial speech Wednesday evening in Phoenix, Arizona, seen as an opportunity to clarify his positions on immigration.
In recent weeks he has expressed willingness to soften his hardline stance to a “fair and humane” policy ahead of November’s election.
‘Baby steps’
But Trump has vacillated between reaching out to minorities and returning to the anti-immigration rhetoric that goes down well among his most ardent supporters, mainly white working-class males.
That now looms as an obstacle as he seeks to expand his base in the general election contest at the expense of Clinton, who has accused Trump of fueling xenophobia and racism.
Commenting on his Mexico visit, Clinton spokeswoman Jennifer Palmieri pointed to Trump’s insults directed at Mexicans and his campaign promises, including a pledge to ban remittances to families in Mexico if their country refuses to pay for a border wall.
“What ultimately matters is what Donald Trump says to voters in Arizona, not Mexico, and whether he remains committed to the splitting up of families and deportation of millions,” she said.
The recent tweaks to Trump’s tone have included a change from insisting on removing millions of the undocumented to promising deportations of those immigrants with criminal records.
Trump’s new campaign director, Kellyanne Conway, said there has been little real change in the central tenets of Trump’s immigration platform, including “no amnesty” for those in the country illegally.
But she stressed Trump was committed to a “fair and humane” approach to securing America’s borders.
Trump’s son offered a hint Tuesday of the message the brash billionaire will deliver in Phoenix.
“He wasn’t softening on anything,” Donald Trump Jr told CNN when asked about how his father recently appeared to survey a Texas campaign crowd over what he should do about the nation’s undocumented immigrants.
Challenged about whether Trump still wanted to deport them, Trump Jr said that was “correct” but suggested a more moderate tone on the controversial issue.
“You have to start with baby steps,” he added. “You have to eliminate sanctuary cities. You have to get rid of the criminals certainly, first and foremost. And you have to secure the border.”
Trump himself on Tuesday repeated his signature campaign promise to build a wall on the US border with Mexico.
“From day one I said that I was going to build a great wall on the SOUTHERN BORDER, and much more,” he posted on Twitter. “Stop illegal immigration. Watch Wednesday!” AFP
AFP/CC | http://www.manilatimes.net/trump-to-visit-mexico-wednesday-meet-its-president/283143/ | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.manilatimes.net/16b1ed2b366f0b1d624d6691e969ab209ee1583215793168851b522830285a72.json |
[
"Iza Iglesias",
"The Manila Times",
"Arlo Custodio",
"Karen Kunawicz"
]
| 2016-08-28T10:49:28 | null | 2016-08-28T18:21:16 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manilatimes.net%2Fthe-pageant-cop-dishes-out-tough-inspirations%2F282558%2F.json | http://14255-presscdn-0-60.pagely.netdna-cdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2016/08/neil120160829-265x300.jpg | en | null | The pageant cop dishes out ‘tough’ inspirations | null | null | www.manilatimes.net | Mister International 2014 Mariano Flormata Jr., better known as Neil Perez, is definitely more than just a handsome face—and on so many levels too. Most impressively, the 5 feet 11 inches tall celebrity remains part of an elite police unit, and is also a bomb and explosives expert.
Perez’ extremely macho occupation almost always puts him in harm’s way, requiring him to be physically, mentally, and emotionally fit. In achieving all these, he gives credit to his father—his “ideal person”—who had taught him the value of discipline and determination all through his life.
“I’ve been really fit since I was young. I’d carry heavy buckets of water even then and never depended on anybody—even my dad. You see, I grew up in a squatter’s area where water was hard to come by,” Perez recalled in an interview on August 23 at Buffalo Wild Wings, Glorietta Complex, Makati City.
“My father was a security guard, so I became one also. But from there, I didn’t stop going and trained to become a policeman. Now that I’m here [in the service], I continue to join competitions and am usually up against elite forces of the police including the army,” added the 31-year-old.
According to Perez the hardships he encountered both in his personal and professional lives have only made him tougher. And besides being physically fit to hurdle them—most especially trainings in the police force—he related that he has also learned to toughen up on the inside, lest he “goes crazy and easily quit.”
“In what I do—and in life in general—you somehow have to harden your heart and be wiser,” he continued. “You also need to have an inspiration—mine is my fa-mily—so that in all that you do, you will keep on pushing yourself until you reach whatever dreams you have for the most important people in your life.”
If anyone is wondering at this point why Neil Perez is opening up his heart anew, over a year after he crossed over to spotlight when he won Mr. International, it is because cable channel KIX-TV has chosen him as the new ambassador of its reality program, R U Tough Enough? (RUTE).
In the competition, 10 men and women will be recruited to compete in a series of challenges that will test the limits of their physical strength, mental endurance and emotional resilience. Like Perez, they will also be required to overcome every test laid out for them as well as their stories of personal hardships with grit and power.
“In my line of work, I see how tough and disciplined Filipinos can be on a daily basis—not just my fellow police, but the people we encounter from day to day. And so, I believe that this competition is a good one for it will give Filipinos a chance to show how resilient, resourceful and tough we truly are,” enthused Perez.
Pageant cop
With the police force gaining popularity nowadays under the tough partnership of President Rodrigo Duterte and PNP Chief Ronaldo “Bato” dela Rosa, Perez indulged the press in their current fascination for cops, and answered more questions about his celebrity transformation.
He admitted it was not easy to transition from police to represent the Philippines in an international competition that is mainly based on looks.
“I joined Mr. International to promote healthy lifestyle as well as to represent the good image and qualities of the police force,” Perez began. “The biggest challenge back then for me was that I’m very shy by nature. It was my first try to join an international male pageant with no modelling experience.”
“But I didn’t lose hope. I never gave up—I helped my father achieve our goals. Thankfully, I tried and it went well,” he related.
Perez was crowned Mr. International 2014 in Seoul, South Korea on February 14, 2015. He recalled dedicating his win to the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) members who were slain in the foiled Mamasapano encounter on January 25, 2015.
“Tough men also cry, which is what I did after I won the title of Mr. International. I teared up right away because I remembered my batch mates in the SAF. They were the first ones who came to mind when I was crowned and that’s why I cried,” he admitted.
Asked how he prepares for competitions, whether a male pageant or within the force, Perez simply replied, “I sleep right, eat healthy food, go to gym and I show my discipline. Like I said, the number one thing is discipline, and of course faith in God. He will be your guide.”
Sharing his advice for those interested to try out for RUTE, he said, “Remember that showing how tough you are isn’t just about the physical. You have to have a strong will in order to face all the challenges in life. From there you can prove that you are really tough emotionally, mentally and physically.”
More challenges
Now a model and TV personality, besides an active police officer, Perez revealed that challenges continue to come his way.
“Things don’t become easy just because you become a celebrity,” he corrected. “It’s more difficult to be a police officer these days—not just for me but for the entire force—because of the serious fight against drugs.”
But, as in any challenge, Perez has no intentions of backing down. “I’m grabbing this opportunity to especially protect the youth from falling into to this pit. I hope that as the police carry on with this war against illegal substances, the young will be able to focus more on their studies, and maybe even go into sports and exercise.”
Acknowledging he is especially in a position to serve as an inspiration to the youth, he rounded up, “Of course, when the young see me on TV, they can look up to me and emulate my actions. So there is no question about it—I have to do my best and inspire them to stay away from drugs,” he pointed out.
R U Tough Enough? is open to all Philippine residents aged 18 years old and above with guidelines listed online via www.KIX-TV.com/tough. Deadline for submission of applications is September 15, and shortlisted candidates will be invited for a closed door auditions on September 24. P250,000 is at stake for the toughest competitor. | http://www.manilatimes.net/the-pageant-cop-dishes-out-tough-inspirations/282558/ | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.manilatimes.net/6d32cb3c2f25debc9a7729b509f44a133187a1616d5f140d1f79443e773c2c9b.json |
[
"The Manila Times",
"Philippines News Agency",
"Emil C. Noguera"
]
| 2016-08-30T12:50:11 | null | 2016-08-30T20:46:41 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manilatimes.net%2Flady-stags-maroons-dispute-shakeys-v-l-semis-berth%2F283003%2F.json | http://14255-presscdn-0-60.pagely.netdna-cdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2016/08/MNL-Times_250-x-250-logo.jpg | en | null | Lady Stags, Maroons dispute Shakey’s V-L semis berth | null | null | www.manilatimes.net | The Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Collegiate Conference semifinal race reaches its highpoint today with San Sebastian College and University of the Philippines colliding for the third Final Four berth and Ateneo shooting for the last seat against semifinalist Far Eastern U at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
The Lady Stags and the Lady Maroons dropped their last matches to fall into a tie with the Lady Eagles at third at 2-2 with the first two teams knocking each other out in the 4 p.m. opener of an explosive twinbill wrapping up the cutthroat quarterfinal phase of the mid-season conference of the league sponsored by Shakey’s.
But Ateneo, which swept ousted University of Santo Tomas last Monday to keep its backdoor bid alive, will also have a tougher opponent in FEU which is also expected to go all-out for the momentum needed in the Final Four.
The Lady Eagles and the Lady Tams collide at 6 p.m. with both matches to be shown live over ABS-CBN Sports + Action Channel 23 and via streaming on www.sports.abs-cbn.com, according to the organizing Sports Vision.
Defending champion National U and FEU took the first two semis slots with 4-1 and 3-1 slates, respectively, leaving SSC, UP and Ateneo to dispute the last two berths in the tournament backed by Mikasa as official ball and Accel as official outfitter.
Grethcel Soltones hopes to step up as she tries to lead the Lady Stags to the next round although the reigning Open Conference MVP will need to draw solid backup from the likes of Katherine Villegas, Denice Lim, Joyce Sta. Rita, Alyssa Eroa and setter Vira Guillema to get their bid going.
But the young UP squad is also seeking a strong rebound from its four-set loss to NU last Monday with coach Jerry Yee upbeat of their chances to advance behind Diana Carlos, Justine Dorog, Isa Molde, Katherine Bersola, Marian Buitre and playmaker Mae Basarte.
Ateneo is also hard-pressed to pound the win against a solid FEU side with skipper Michelle Morente vowing to dish out their best to surprise their more experienced rivals.
“We will definitely go for it,” said Morente after scoring 10 hits to back up Ana Gopico and Kim Gequillana’s combined 26-point output against UST.
An Ateneo loss will send the Lady Eagles to a playoff against the loser of the SSC-UP duel for the last semis seat to be played Saturday, also at Philsports.
Meanwhile, FEU and La Salle also clash today for the other semifinal seat in Group A of the Spikers’ Turf Season 2 Collegiate Conference. Tied at 3-1, the Tams and the Archers face off at 10 a.m. with the winner joining NU (4-1) in the next round.
Defending champion Ateneo swept Group B to advance with UST (3-1) seeking to notch the other semis seat against ousted Emilio Aguinaldo College at 12 noon, also today.
A UST loss will send the Tigers to a knockout against the UP Maroons, who closed out with a 3-2 mark. | http://www.manilatimes.net/lady-stags-maroons-dispute-shakeys-v-l-semis-berth/283003/ | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.manilatimes.net/5f273a30d7f7a9c0435820cc84f56b54f710c806a236fb93f8bf3727e565a9fe.json |
[
"Homobono A. Adaza",
"Yen Makabenta",
"Francisco Tatad",
"Rene Saguisag"
]
| 2016-08-26T18:49:28 | null | 2016-08-27T02:12:56 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manilatimes.net%2Fpresident-versus-senator-an-analysis%2F282350%2F.json | http://14255-presscdn-0-60.pagely.netdna-cdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2015/07/HOMOBONO-A.-ADAZA-e1439538336876.jpg | en | null | President versus Senator: an analysis | null | null | www.manilatimes.net | “God where are you?” – Rand Mittri, 26-year old student from Aleppo, Syria
“What is happening to our country General? – Late Vice-President Emmanuel N. Pelaez
I was glued to the television on the morning of Aug. 22, 2016, listening to the comments of senators and resource persons on the magnitude of the illegal drug problem in our country during the Senate hearing of the Justice Committee presided over by Senator Leila De Lima. One thing was clear from the very beginning – the problem was insurmountable, unless the government adopted the correct approach to solving the problem and it got the cooperation of the overwhelming majority of our people.
What is the correct approach?
The correct approach is to control illegal drug traffic at its source. Is the source the illegal drug user? Absolutely not! Is it the illegal drug pusher? Certainly no! The sources are the drug lords who import the illegal drugs or their components from abroad and the drug lords who manufacture the illegal drugs in the Philippines. The next line in the illegal drug chain consists of the illegal drug distributors who secure the drugs from the illegal drug importers and manufacturers. After this line in the chain are the distributors to various illegal drug retailers and from the retailers to the illegal drug pushers and finally down to the illegal drug users.
Govt participation in the illegal drug trade
If government officials in the Bureau of Customs, Philippine Coast Guard, and Philippine Navy do their duties, no illegal drugs or their components could enter the country. If there are no illegal drugs or their components entering the country, then there will be no manufacturers or distributors. If there is no illegal drug supply, then there will be no retailers, illegal drug pushers and illegal drug users.
Where do the other government officials come in on the illegal drug trade chain? They are the protectors of drug importers and manufacturers, drug distributors and retailers. As a matter of fact, some of these government officials are not only protectors but distributors and/or retailers themselves. Who are these officials? They are politicians in local and national government; police or military officials in all levels, and officials in the prosecution arm of the government and in the judiciary, not to speak of media practitioners in all levels.
Where is the fault in the govt approach to the illegal drug problem?
How do you kill a snake? You don’t kill the snake by cutting the tail. You kill the snake by cutting the head. Where is the head in the illegal drug problem? The head is composed of the following: the importers of the illegal drugs and components; the manufacturers of illegal drugs, the distributors of the illegal drugs; the retailers of the illegal drugs, the protectors of the illegal drugs and the recyclers of the illegal drugs. Get rid of them, that is the first step in the solution to the illegal drug problem.
The tail of the snake is composed of the illegal drug users and pushers. They are victims of a government manipulated by oligarchs and politicians. The government cannot provide work. Without work these men and women cannot live. To survive, they have to find ways of feeding their families, providing them education and health care. How do these people survive under the present system – they have to push illegal drugs to have money for their survival. For the users, they also have to commit crimes to find ways of surviving and if they can survive, to find ways and means to forget their dismal state.
You don’t have to be a doctor, a psychologist or psychiatrist to know. That’s plain simple common sense – sentido common.
So why are the generals, the mayors, congressmen and other privileged individuals – the rich and infamous – police and military officials treated differently from the poor and downtrodden illegal drug users and pushers? It is plain to see that there are two kinds of laws operating under the Duterte administration – one for the upper class and another for the lower class. If you belong to the upper class, you get interviews and cases are filed against you in court enjoying your human rights, presumption of innocence, due process and equal protection of the law. If you are of the lower class, you are just shot dead – no human rights, no presumption of innocence, no due process and no equal protection of the law.
If the Duterte administration has no appreciation for human rights, rule of law, presumption of innocence, due process and equal protection of the law, then kill the generals, the drug lords, governors, mayors, military men, illegal drug importers and manufacturers, the illegal drug distributors, congressmen and senators, public officials who are suspected of involvement in the drug trade. That way, the snake loses its head and there will be no supply of illegal drugs. If there is no supply of illegal drugs, what would the pushers push and what would the users use? It is as clear as the waters of the Blue Lagoon.
Regarding the pushers and the users, send them to isolated islands or isolated mountain areas – rehabilitate them and reform them. Let them learn new skills; give them education with stress on good and proper human values; and release them when they are totally cured and have learned new skills and the appropriate human values.
The snake is killed and the problem is solved.
Duterte and de Lima
A debate on morals under the present Philippine condition is useless. It is just like
a debate on religion, it is an exercise in futility unless immorality is linked to the commission of a crime such as in this particular case. The President is trying to settle a score with Sen. Leila de Lima. Settling a score is their problem. What is important is whether de Lima, in her previous capacity as secretary of Justice, protected drug lords at the New Bilibid Prisons and received money through her lover who has not denied up to this day. As a matter of fact, from the way de Lima has been very evasive in denying what appeared to be a tempestuous love affair, it is very probable that the charge of PDU30 is true.
If the President has evidence, and it appears that he has, then he should ask his boys to file a case against de Lima. De Lima says that if there is evidence against her she is more than willing to be shot in the presence of the President. So shoot her, that’s what she says. Another senator dead will not make any difference in the life of this country as a rule. In this case, it appears that she is the only senator with balls in the Senate who is willing to risk everything to determine whether there is human rights violation and criminal acts committed in the relentless pursuit of the illegal drug campaign of this administration. As a lawyer who has been trying criminal cases for as long as I can remember, I am afraid that the President, with a mischievous glint in his eyes, will end up watching her being shot.
If there are human rights violations and criminal acts committed, then those who are responsible should be prosecuted – criminally and administratively. Since the culpability reaches up to the level of the President, he should be prosecuted criminally and an impeachment complaint should be filed with the House of Representatives. The President could invoke executive immunity in an effort to evade appearing before the Senate or House of Representatives or the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) or any other investigative agency of government, but this does not mean that the investigation cannot continue. However, even if it is found that there is probable cause against him, under current law, he cannot be prosecuted in court because under Philippine jurisprudence that is prohibited.
Since it is jurisprudence, it can be reversed. Jurisprudence is a creation of the courts and enacted as part of our legal system by Article 8 of the Civil Code of the Philippines. So anyone who thinks that this judicial doctrine should be reversed can file the complaints and if probable cause is found, file the same with the lower courts. If the lower courts dismiss the cases, the complainants can go up to the Supreme Court and attempt to seek a reversal, considering changing times and circumstances. It is not easy to do. But people should remember the famous dissenting opinions of Justice Oliver Wendell Homes in the American Supreme Court. His dissents eventually became the majority views of the Supreme Court of the USA. As they say it among knowledgeable legal circles, a decision of the Supreme Court is not final because it is infallible, but it is infallible only because it is final.
In the Philippine setting, reversals of previous Supreme Court decisions are not rare. They come many a time even on fundamental concepts in the past two to three decades. So the brave ones one can make the attempt; they have nothing to lose but time, effort and money. But if they win, they can come out of the experience in incandescent glory.
So Sen. de Lima, the ball is in your court. You have nothing to lose but a Senate seat, your reputation and your life.
Sen. De Lima’s faults
Obviously, Sen. de Lima has not read Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. As chairperson of the Commission On Human Rights during President Arroyo’s time, she had the courage to go to Davao City in an effort to subdue Duterte, the Davao lion in his den, for violation of human rights. De Lima was not able to a file a single criminal case against him. Of course, the lion took offense; that is natural because it appeared that de Lima was conducting a propaganda war against him. Why no case? De Lima’s reply was – the witnesses were afraid to testify against Duterte. If she is a warrior, she ought to have known that. She should have not dared to go to the lion’s den without studying her enemy – the lion. This is the biggest single mistake of a warrior, she did not study the enemy, she failed to study herself. De Lima committed that mistake. It is unforgivable.
That no case was filed is her fault. If she was a law practitioner, she does not know her onions. A better lawyer could have done better.
Another serious mistake is not to realize that a fight against a President is a fight she cannot win. She lost to Duterte when he was only a mayor of a city, how does she expect to win a fight against a popular President who
controls both houses of Congress?
She has not lost all her options, though, despite her horrendous mistakes. She can wage her war in media and with the people. Her biggest problem, though, is that she is not a knight in shining armor. She is a morally flawed person because of her sexual peregrinations. This is one lesson I learned from the greatest and most brilliant Jesuit I have ever met, Father James McMahon: when you have an immoral dalliance with anyone, you should see to it that there are only three people who know about it – you, the other person and God. If there is a fourth person who knows, the whole world will know about it.
Unfortunately for Sen. de Lima, it is not only the President who knows, the whole country knows so her goose is cooked. It is not only once; it is not only twice but thrice – the unidentified, Ronnie and Warren. De Lima should have known that a senator must only be above suspicion but beyond reproach. And more, all’s fair in love, war and politics – video, pictures and all. | http://www.manilatimes.net/president-versus-senator-an-analysis/282350/ | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.manilatimes.net/37e70f84f629a549fd341c7d43efb33f1cdcf1a69e5cfe6362585813b77863d0.json |
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