Apple prepares to enter low-cost laptop market for the first time
APPLE, INC. is preparing to enter the low-cost laptop market for the first time, developing a budget Mac aimed at luring away customers from Chromebooks and entry-level Windows PCs.
The new device — designed for students, businesses and casual users — will target people who primarily browse the web, work on documents or conduct light media editing, according to people familiar with the matter. Apple is also targeting would-be iPad buyers who might prefer a traditional laptop experience instead.
Code-named J700, the machine is currently in active testing at Apple and in early production with overseas suppliers. The Cupertino, California-based company plans to launch it in the first half of next year, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the product hasn’t been announced.
An Apple spokesperson declined to comment.
The move would represent a strategic shift for Apple, which has historically focused on premium devices with hefty profit margins. The company also has vowed not to chase market share with lower-end offerings.
But Apple is facing a growing threat from Chromebooks, the low-cost laptops that run Google’s operating system, Chrome OS. There’s also a potential opportunity to entice Windows customers. Microsoft Corp.’s shift to Windows 11 has rankled some users of the previous-generation software and left them without security updates.
Shares of personal computer maker HP, Inc. briefly dipped to a session low on the news. The stock and that of fellow PC maker Dell Technologies, Inc. were both down about 2% as of 12:03 p.m. in New York. Apple gained less than 1% to $270.25.
Apple plans to sell the new machine for well under $1,000 by using less-advanced components. The laptop will rely on an iPhone processor and a lower-end LCD display. The screen will also be the smallest of any current Mac, coming in at slightly below the 13.6-inch one used in the MacBook Air.
This would mark the first time that Apple has used an iPhone processor in a Mac, rather than a chip designed specifically for a computer. But internal tests have shown that the smartphone chip can perform better than the Mac-optimized M1 used in laptops as recently as a few years ago.
Apple has long used iPhone chips to power the iPad but shifted those devices to its M-series processors for higher-end models a few years ago.
The company has previously experimented with the market by selling a discounted M1 MacBook Air for under $700 through Walmart, Inc. and other retailers. But the upcoming model will be an entirely new design, rather than a discounted older machine.
Apple’s cheapest Mac currently is the $999 M4 MacBook Air — a price that can drop to $899 with educational discounts. Chromebooks, meanwhile, sell for as little as a few hundred dollars, with premium versions reaching about $600.
In schools, Apple’s entry-level iPad paired with the Magic Keyboard Folio is a popular setup, costing roughly $600 combined. The new Mac would fall in a similar range but offer better battery life, the greater flexibility that comes with the macOS software and an integrated keyboard. That could appeal to students and consumers alike.
Apple held about 9% of the global PC market in the third quarter, according to IDC. It ranks fourth in the industry, trailing Lenovo Group Ltd., HP and Dell — all of which sell Windows or ChromeOS devices.
A much cheaper Mac that maintains Apple’s design and works smoothly with the company’s other products could spur a new wave of Mac adoption — particularly in the US, where the iPhone dominates.
Already, the Mac segment was the fastest-growing hardware category for Apple last quarter, rising 13% to $8.73 billion. That growth is expected to decelerate this quarter, but mainly because Apple will only have one new model in the period: the entry-level MacBook Pro with an M5 chip.
The company is planning a flurry of updates in 2026. Beyond the new low-end laptop, Apple has finished work on an M5 MacBook Air due early in the year, as well as M5 Pro and M5 Max-powered MacBook Pros.
Also on the road map: new M5 and M5 Pro Mac mini models and M5 Max and M5 Ultra Mac Studio updates. And there’s a revamped MacBook Pro with an M6 chip and an iPhone-style OLED touch screen planned for late 2026 or early 2027. Apple will debut two new external Mac displays as well. — Bloomberg
Subdued Philippine inflation leaves door open for BSP rate cut in December
MANILA – Philippine inflation stayed below the central bank’s target for the eighth straight month in October, giving it leeway to lower interest rates again next month to support economic growth.
Annual inflation held steady at 1.7% in October, as slower increases in the cost of food and transport offset the rise in utility, clothing and footwear prices, the statistics agency said on Wednesday.
Inflation in October, which was unchanged from the previous month, was below the 1.8% median forecast in a Reuters poll and less than the central bank’s 2.0% to 4.0% target band.
Goldman Sachs Research said in a note October’s inflation reading could allow for more monetary easing in December.
“We continue to expect the (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) to cut policy rates by another 25 bp in the December 2025 meeting — taking the terminal rate to 4.50%.”
Manageable inflation allowed the BSP to cut its key policy rate for the fourth straight time in October.
Last month, BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr said another rate cut was possible at the BSP’s final policy meeting in December and did not rule out further easing next year, backtracking on earlier guidance that the current cycle was nearing its end.
Excluding volatile food and energy costs, core inflation eased to 2.5% in October from the prior month’s 2.6%.
Contributing to easing food inflation was the 17% annual decline in rice prices, compared with the prior month’s 16.9%.
The Philippines has extended a ban on rice imports that took effect on September 1 until the end of the year to shield farmers from the impact of cheaper imported rice.
The central bank said in a statement after the data that risks to the inflation outlook were limited as price pressures were expected to ease amid stabilising global commodity prices.
However, it said the outlook for domestic economic growth had weakened. “This outlook reflects in part the impact on business confidence of governance concerns about public infrastructure spending,” it said.
“Going forward, the Monetary Board will continue to review newly available information and reassess the impact of prior monetary actions in light of evolving economic conditions and their implications for inflation and growth,” the central bank said.
Third quarter GDP data will be announced on Friday, and economists in a Reuters poll expect the economy to have expanded 5.2% from last year, weaker than the previous quarter’s 5.5%. — Reuters
Typhoon Tino leaves 66 dead, over 700,000 people affected
More than 66 deaths and over 700,000 affected individuals were reported following the onslaught of Typhoon Kalmaegi, locally known as Tino, which caused widespread flooding and massive destruction across the Visayas, particularly in Cebu, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).
Diego A. Mariano, deputy spokesperson of the OCD, confirmed that 49 of the reported deaths were in Cebu, mainly due to fallen debris, landslides, and flooding, with some incidents still under investigation.
The six bodies recovered by the Philippine Air Force following a helicopter crash in Agusan del Sur on Tuesday were also included in the total death toll.
In the provinces of Bohol, Capiz, and Leyte, one death was reported in each, all caused by fallen trees.
The Negros Island Region also recorded seven deaths: two were due to fallen debris and drowning, while the causes of the remaining five are still under investigation
Mr. Mariano also confirmed a total of 26 missing individuals, with 13 in Cebu and another 13 in La Castellana, Negros Occidental.
There were also ten reported injuries caused by fallen debris and floodwaters, while the causes of the others have yet to be determined.
Following the onslaught of Typhoon Kalmaegi, a total of 706,549 individuals, or more than 203,000 families, were affected, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said in its 6:00 a.m. situational report. The council is administered by OCD.
The report also said that most of the affected individuals were from Regions VI, VII, VIII, and CARAGA.
Affected families were already provided with over P31 million in estimated cost of assistance.
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said that it has already distributed more than 123,000 boxes of family food packs and 1,652 boxes of ready-to-eat goods to areas largely affected by the typhoon as of 6:00 a.m. Wednesday.
The NDRRMC also said that more than 50 cities and municipalities remain without electricity, while power has been restored in 11 areas as of 6:00 a.m. Wednesday.
The Department of Energy said Tuesday it is coordinating with the energy sector to ensure the restoration of power in affected areas. — Edg Adrian A. Eva
Multisectoral push needed to improve PHL media, information literacy, says MVP
The Philippines needs a multisectoral approach in advancing media and information literacy (MIL), aimed at shaping informed and critical-thinking Filipinos, media tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan said on Tuesday, amid the growing threat of disinformation in the country.
“First, we need the government to champion MIL as a core policy initiative, integrating it into national security, education, and technology,” MediaQuest Chairman Pangilinan said in his speech at the Philippine MIL Conference (MILCon) 2025.
“Second, we need the business sector, not just media companies, but all companies to integrate MIL into their corporate social responsibility frameworks,” he added, underscoring the need to invest in training, tools, and workplaces that train employees with MIL.
Universities and schools must also be responsible in shaping students who can “question bravely and think carefully” to remind the people that freedom of expression comes with an obligation, Mr. Pangilinan said.
“We always speak of nation-building in terms of bridges, towers, fiber, power plants, steel, and iron. But the truest foundation of a democracy is neither one of those — it is truth,” he said.
“People misled cannot move forward, but the people informed cannot be defeated,” he added.
By advocating for the “truth in media” through initiatives like MILCon, he hopes to enable Filipinos to be more discerning with the media outlets they trust and the content they consume. “At the end of the day, it will be the consumer of media who will likely drive this desire to know the truth in anything you read, you watch, or you see,” he told reporters at the sidelines of the event.
“You have to be selective in what you can believe in as to be true. It’s going to be a guide for your academic life or for your business career,” he added.
Social media has emerged as a primary source of information for people around the globe, UNESCO Jakarta Director Maki Katsuno-Hayashikawa said.
“Every day, people watch more than a billion hours of video on YouTube, and almost 3 billion use Facebook often as a primary source of information about the world,” she said at the same event.
“Globally, 20% of the 18 to 24-year-olds use TikTok as their main source of news,” she added.
In the Philippines, a report by the Reuters Institute revealed that 66% of the respondents use social media for news weekly. The study added that Facebook remains a ‘critical’ medium for news in the country, while younger audiences and creators rely on TikTok.
NOT JUST TROLLS
MediaQuest Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Cignal President Jane Jimenez-Basas said that the significant number of Filipinos using social media for news further presses the need for MIL.
“The enemy has evolved; it is no longer just fighting trolls in the comment section,” she said in her speech. “It is fighting the highly sophisticated threat of synthetic media, deep fakes, and algorithmic bias that can warp political outcomes and destroy trust in seconds.”
The MediaQuest executive underscored that the recent functional literacy report from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) mirrors the state of MIL in the country.
“Without strong literacy and comprehension skills, these children are highly vulnerable to misinformation, manipulation, and the failure to engage critically with what they encounter online and offline.”
Functionally illiterate Filipinos have doubled to 24.8 million over the past 30 years, according to a report by EDCOM 2.
The commission said the increase in functional illiteracy stems partly from the Department of Education’s (DepEd) involvement in too many interagency bodies, which has diverted its focus from basic education.
Mr. Pangilinan also raised his concerns about the widening literacy gap and warned against corruption that could further worsen the situation.
“It’s a serious problem, and it won’t help that you reduce the budget for education and move it to somebody as you take money from the many and insert it into the pockets of the few,” he said during a panel discussion.
“The temptation to shortcut is very high. Especially if you want to attain a certain level of wealth in your life,” he added.
START AT THE TOP
In terms of dealing with corruption within organizations, addressing the problem must begin at the “top,” said Mr. Pangilinan.
“The solution is to start at the top because you cannot wipe out corruption in one go,” he said. “Start with big-ticket items. Forget about the petty crimes first because that’s hard to deal with – it’s endemic within the system.”
“When you start with the big amount first, then slowly work down to the middle layer, then the bottom layer, this would take years… It’s been around for quite some time,” he added.
The DepEd said in an official statement on Tuesday that it calls for “full and sustained funding” for all education mandates to address the country’s literacy challenges.
“With the support of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., we are aligning resources, streamlining functions, and focusing on what matters most — foundational learning and literacy recovery,” it said.
The department has proposed a P928.52 billion budget for 2026 to address classroom shortages, student malnutrition, and the lack of academic materials nationwide. — Almira Louise S. Martinez
Philippine annual inflation at 1.7% in October
MANILA – Philippine annual inflation stood at 1.7% in October, unchanged from the previous month, the statistics agency said on Wednesday.
Last month’s inflation was below the 1.8% median forecast in a Reuters poll, and brought the year-to-date average inflation to 1.7%, below the central bank’s 2.0% to 4.0% target for the year.
Excluding volatile food and energy costs, core inflation eased to 2.5% in October from the prior month’s 2.6%. — Reuters
Signal No. 4 still up in parts of Palawan amid Typhoon Tino
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 still threatens several areas in Palawan due to Typhoon Kalmaegi, locally known as Tino, which is expected to bring significantly life-threatening winds to the affected areas, according to the state weather bureau.
Kalmaegi was last located over the coastal waters of El Nido Palawan and has maintain its typhoon category strength despite multiple landfalls, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in an 8:00 a.m. advisory.
It was packing 120 kilometers per hour (kph) of sustained winds and 165 kph gustiness, moving west northwestward at 25 kph.
Signal No. 4, where significant to severe life-threatening winds are expected, is hoisted in the northernmost portion of Palawan, covering El Nido, Taytay, Araceli, and the Calamian Islands.
Signal No. 3, where moderate to significant life-threatening winds are expected, is in effect in the northern portion of Palawan, including Dumaran, San Vicente, Roxas, and the Cuyo Islands.
Meanwhile, Signal No. 2 is placed in the southern portion of Occidental Mindoro, including Magsaysay, San Jose, Rizal, and Calintaan, as well as in Puerto Princesa City and the Kalayaan Islands, where minor to moderate life-threatening winds are expected.
Signal No. 1 is hoisted in the rest of Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, the southern portion of Romblon, and the southern portion of Palawan, where minimal to minor life-threatening winds are expected.
PAGASA also raised storm surge warnings for various coastal areas of Palawan, particularly in the low-lying areas of El Nido, Bacuit, San Vicente, and Taytay, where storm surges of more than 3.0 meters may occur.
The bureau advised that all marine activities be canceled and that residents evacuate immediately.
Possible Super Typhoon brewing
PAGASA is considering the possibility that the tropical depression east of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) may intensify into a typhoon, or even a super typhoon, in the coming days.
The tropical depression, packing sustained winds of 55 kph and gusts of up to 70 kph, was last located 1,925 kilometers east of northeastern Mindanao, moving west-southwestward at 25 kph, PAGASA said in an 8:00 a.m. advisory.
The tropical depression is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Friday evening or Saturday morning and will be locally named Uwan, becoming the country’s 21st tropical cyclone this year.
PAGASA has not yet indicated whether the storm may make landfall in the country, as it is still outside the agency’s five-day forecast period.
The weather bureau advised the public to monitor updates on the storm, as forecasts may still change given its current distance. — Edg Adrian A. Eva
Shutdown could close some US airspace, airline stocks fall
WASHINGTON/CHICAGO — US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned on Tuesday he could be forced to close some of the national airspace to air traffic if the federal government shutdown extends for another week, warning of travel chaos and sparking a selloff in airline shares.
The shutdown entered its 35th day due to a political stalemate over government funding, forcing air traffic controllers and airport security screeners to work without pay. The standoff is amplifying staffing shortages, causing widespread flight delays and longer security wait times.
An airline industry group estimates that over 3.2 million passengers have been affected by flight delays or cancellations due to a spike in air traffic controller absences since the shutdown began October 1. Airlines have been raising concerns with lawmakers about the impact on operations.
‘MASS CHAOS’ AHEAD: DUFFY
“If you bring us to a week from today, Democrats, you will see mass chaos, you will see mass flight delays. You’ll see mass cancellations, and you may see us close certain parts of the airspace, because we just cannot manage it,” Mr. Duffy said at a press conference. “We will restrict the airspace when we feel it’s unsafe.”
The comments represented the Trump administration’s most dire warnings of impending impacts from rising air traffic controller absences.
Shares of Southwest, Delta, United, and American Airlines closed down 3% to 5% after the comments.
Mr. Duffy did not provide details on how the government would structure such a move. Industry experts warn that because the air traffic control system is an intertwined network, even a partial closure of the airspace would have nationwide consequences.
“You can’t simply close one sector without it affecting the rest of the country,” said Sheldon Jacobson, a professor at the University of Illinois.
The last time the United States fully closed its airspace for domestic air traffic was on September 11, 2001, in response to terrorist attacks.
THOUSANDS OF FLIGHTS DELAYED
Airlines say the shutdown has not significantly affected their business, but have warned bookings could drop if it drags on.
Tens of thousands of flights have been delayed over the last month. On Tuesday alone, more than 2,900 flights were delayed as the FAA imposed delays in Phoenix and Houston after seeing staffing issues in Denver, Detroit, and elsewhere.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said on Fox Business’ “Varney & Co” that 20% to 40% of controllers at the agency’s 30 largest airports are failing to show up for work.
Democrats blame Republicans for not negotiating with them to reopen the government. The shutdown has exacerbated staffing shortages, forcing 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration officers to work without pay, leading many of them to call in sick or absent.
In 2019, widespread disruptions in air travel pressured lawmakers into ending a 35-day government shutdown during President Donald Trump’s first term in office.— Reuters
EU eyes weaker climate goal in scramble for deal by COP30, sources say
BRUSSELS — EU climate ministers on Tuesday were considering further weakening their planned 2040 climate target, EU diplomats told Reuters, a last-ditch attempt to pass the goal and avoid going to the UN COP30 summit in Brazil empty-handed.
The European Union had hoped to clinch backing from member countries to cut emissions 90% by 2040, from 1990 levels. The upcoming COP30 talks will test the will of major economies to keep fighting climate change in the face of opposition from US President Donald Trump.
After 13 hours of negotiations failed to yield a breakthrough, ministers on Tuesday evening were discussing various options to weaken the 90% emissions-cutting goal. These included buying foreign carbon credits to cover 5% of the target, EU diplomats told Reuters.
That would effectively weaken to 85% the emissions cuts required from European industries. It would make up the rest by paying foreign countries to cut emissions on Europe’s behalf.
The European Commission had originally proposed a 90% emissions-cutting target, with a maximum 3% share of carbon credits.
Countries including France, Italy and Portugal had demanded the 5% flexibility, while others including Poland sought as much as 10%. Spain and the Netherlands were among those opposed to weakening the target further, said the diplomats, who were granted anonymity to discuss the closed-door negotiations.
Ministers were debating a raft of other options, the diplomats said – including a clause to allow a further weakening of the 2040 goal by adding more carbon credits in future, plus fresh changes to an upcoming EU carbon market, which Poland and the Czech Republic have opposed.
The EU was making a last-ditch attempt to land a deal before European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen meets other world leaders at the COP30 summit on November 6.
“We have a lot at stake. We are risking our international leadership, which is fundamental in this extraordinarily complicated context,” Spanish Environment Minister Sara Aagesen told reporters on Tuesday.
OPPOSING VIEWS
The dilution of the climate target reflects a backlash against Europe’s ambitious climate agenda, from industries and some governments skeptical that it can afford the measures alongside defense and industrial priorities.
“We don’t want to destroy the economy. We don’t want to destroy the climate. We want to save both at the same time,” Polish Deputy Climate Minister Krzysztof Bolesta said.
Support from at least 15 of the 27 EU members is needed to approve the new target on Tuesday. EU diplomats said they expected a tight vote that could depend on one or two countries flipping positions.
Poland, Italy, the Czech Republic and others opposed this as too restrictive for domestic industries struggling with high energy costs, cheaper Chinese imports and US tariffs.
Others, including the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden, cited worsening extreme weather and the need to catch up with China in manufacturing green technologies as reasons for ambitious goals.
The EU’s independent climate science advisers have warned that buying foreign CO2 credits would divert much-needed investments away from European industries.
Brussels has also vowed to change other green measures to attempt to win buy-in. These include considering weakening its 2035 combustion engine ban, as requested by Germany and Italy.
Ministers will try first to agree the 2040 goal, and from there come up with an emissions pledge for 2035 – which is what the UN asked countries to submit ahead of COP30.— Reuters
French court probes TikTok on algorithms’ risks regarding suicide
PARIS — French judicial authorities said on Tuesday they had opened an investigation into Chinese social media platform TikTok and the risks that its algorithms could push young people to suicide.
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said the probe was in response to a French parliament committee’s request to open a criminal inquiry into TikTok’s possible responsibility for endangering the lives of its young users.
The committee sought to examine the psychological effects of TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance, on young people after seven families accused it in a 2024 lawsuit of exposing their children to content pushing them to commit suicide. Social media companies have faced numerous US lawsuits as well that allege their algorithms have helped fuel mental health problems among teenagers.
Ms. Beccuau said a report by the committee had noted “insufficient moderation of TikTok, its ease of access by minors and its sophisticated algorithm, which could push vulnerable individuals toward suicide by quickly trapping them in a loop of dedicated content”.
A TikTok spokesperson said in an email to Reuters: “We strongly refute the accusations and legal grounds referred to in the press release of the Paris prosecutor and will vigorously defend our record.”
“With more than 50 preset features and settings designed specifically to support the safety and well-being of teens, and 9 in 10 violative videos removed before they’re ever viewed, we invest heavily in safe and age-appropriate teen experiences.”
The Paris police cybercrime brigade will look into what the prosecutor called the offence of providing a platform for “propaganda in favor of products, objects, or methods recommended as means of committing suicide”, which is punishable by three years’ imprisonment.
PARLIAMENT REPORT SAID TIKTOK “ENDANGERS LIVES OF YOUNG USERS”
The parliamentary committee’s chairman said on September 11 that TikTok had deliberately endangered the health and lives of its users and therefore referred the matter to the court.
TikTok said at the time it “categorically rejects the Commission’s misleading presentation, which seeks to make our company a scapegoat for issues that concern the entire sector and society as a whole”.
The prosecutor’s office said that besides the parliamentary report, the inquiry would also consider findings from a 2023 Senate report highlighting risks involving freedom of expression, data collection and offensive algorithms.
It said it will also review a 2023 Amnesty International report warning that TikTok algorithms are addictive and pose a risk of self-harm among young people, and a February 2025 report by French state agency Viginum, which tracks foreign digital interference and warned that public opinion could be manipulated in elections.— Reuters
Typhoon Kalmaegi kills at least 58 in the Philippines, heads toward Vietnam
CEBU – At least 58 people were dead after Typhoon Kalmaegi left a trail of destruction in the central Philippines and continued to batter parts of Palawan island on Wednesday as it headed toward the South China Sea.
Among the fatalities were six military personnel whose helicopter crashed in Agusan del Sur on the island of Mindanao during a humanitarian mission.
Scenes of devastation emerged in the province of Cebu, a major tourist hub, as floodwaters receded, revealing destroyed homes, overturned vehicles, and widespread debris. The disaster agency reported 13 people missing.
The devastation from Kalmaegi, locally named Tino, comes just over a month after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck northern Cebu, killing dozens and displacing thousands.
Kalmaegi, which has weakened after making landfall early Tuesday, is forecast to regain strength while over the South China Sea, state weather agency PAGASA said in its latest bulletin.
More than 200,000 people were evacuated across the Visayas region, including parts of southern Luzon and northern Mindanao, ahead of a storm that submerged homes and caused widespread flooding and power outages.
Packing winds of 120 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 165 kph, Kalmaegi, the 20th storm to hit the Philippines this year, is heading towards Vietnam where preparations are underway ahead of its expected landfall on Friday.
In September, Super Typhoon Ragasa swept across northern Luzon, forcing schools and government offices to shut down as it brought fierce winds and torrential rain. — Reuters
US may ask UN to mandate international force in Gaza for two years, document shows
UNITED NATIONS — The United States has drafted a United Nations resolution that approves a two-year mandate for a Gaza transitional governance body and an international stabilization force in the Palestinian enclave, according to the text seen by Reuters on Tuesday.
The draft – which is still being developed and could change – was shared with some countries this week, but has not yet been formally circulated to the 15-member Security Council for negotiations, diplomats said. It was not immediately clear when Washington planned to do that.
A State Department spokesperson said discussions with UN Security Council members and other partners on how to implement President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan were ongoing and declined to comment on “allegedly leaked documents.”
The two-page text would authorize a so-called Board of Peace transitional governance administration to establish a temporary International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza that could “use all necessary measures” – code for force – to carry out its mandate.
The ISF would be authorized to protect civilians and humanitarian aid operations, work to secure border areas with Israel, Egypt and a “newly trained and vetted Palestinian police force, which the ISF will be responsible for training and supporting.
The ISF would stabilize security in Gaza, “including through the demilitarization of non-state armed groups and the permanent decommissioning of weapons, as necessary.”
SECOND PHASE OF TRUMP PLAN
Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas agreed a month ago to the first phase of Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza, a ceasefire in their two year war and hostage release deal.
The next phase of the plan, which the draft UN resolution would endorse, is to establish the Board of Peace and the ISF.
The Trump plan also ends Hamas governance of Gaza and says the enclave would be demilitarized. Hamas has not said whether it will agree to disarm and demilitarize Gaza — something the militants have rejected before.
The ISF would deploy under a unified command agreed by the Board of Peace and in close consultation with Egypt and Israel after detailed status of mission and forces agreements have been reached, according to the resolution.
While the Trump administration has ruled out sending US soldiers into the Gaza Strip, it has been speaking to Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and Azerbaijan to contribute to the multinational force.
It remains unclear whether Arab and other states will be ready to commit troops to the international force and Israel has repeatedly objected to the deployment of Turkish troops.
The draft UN resolution calls on the World Bank and other financial institutions to facilitate and provide financial resources to support the reconstruction and development of Gaza, “including through the establishment of a dedicated trust fund for this purpose and governed by donors.”
It was not immediately clear when the United States could put a draft resolution to a vote in the Security Council. A resolution needs at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the US, Britain, France, Russia or China to be adopted.
The draft resolution was first reported by Axios. — Reuters
Flexible rice tariff adjustments OKd
THE Economy and Development (ED) Council has approved the recommendation to allow a more flexible rice tariff scheme starting in 2026, the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) said.
“Starting Jan. 1, 2026, a more gradual and flexible tariff adjustment shall be adopted, with adjustments by 5 percentage points per 5% change in international prices, subject to a minimum rate of 15% and a maximum rate of 35%,” DEPDev said in a statement on Tuesday.
This was the recommendation presented by the Tariff and Related Matters Committee (TRMC).
However, this fell short of farmer groups’ demand to restore the 35% rice tariff, slamming the lower rate for flooding the market with cheap imports and gutting farmgate prices.
The ED Council also approved the TRMC recommendation to maintain the current Most Favored Nation tariff rate on rice imports at 15% until Dec. 31, for both in-quota and out-quota imports.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. had issued Executive Order (EO) No. 102 extending the rice import freeze until Dec. 31, in line with the Department of Agriculture recommendation.
However, DEPDev Secretary and ED Council Vice Chairperson Arsenio M. Balisacan said Mr. Marcos’ order makes tariffs “redundant,” and will not affect local prices.
“The TRMC’s recommendation is part of a broader government strategy to ensure stable rice prices and protect both farmers and consumers, while safeguarding macroeconomic stability,” DEPDev said.
Meanwhile, the Council also tweaked scope and implementation arrangements of the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project-Stage II to facilitate the completion of the remaining project works and ensure delivery of irrigation water to farmer beneficiaries.
It also approved new rules for formulation, prioritization and monitoring of Infrastructure Flagship Projects (IFP) amid a corruption crackdown on flood control projects.
This seeks to streamline the IFP list, tighten agency accountability, and lock projects into the government’s planning and budgeting pipeline.
ODA LOANS
At the same meeting, the ED Council greenlit two official development assistance (ODA) loans from the World Bank amounting to P53.25 billion.
This includes the Department of Education’s P38.27-billion Program for Learning Upgrading and School Development (PLUS-D) that aims to bolster learning outcomes, education management and delivery systems in the country.
PLUS-D is set for implementation from 2026 to 2032 and will introduce system-level interventions, provide targeted support to schools, and establish monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, DEPDev said.
The program, with public schools as the primary beneficiaries, focuses on raising literacy and numeracy among Kindergarten to Grade 6 learners.
It also approved the P14.98-billion Accelerating Water Supply and Sanitation for the Poor and Lagging Areas project. This is targeted to improve access to safe water supply and sanitation services in underserved communities.
The project will be implemented in the Loboc Cluster (Bohol), Siargao Island (Surigao del Norte), and Jolo (Sulu).
The ED Council also endorsed an EO that facilitates voluntary Social Security System, Philippine Health Insurance Corp., Pag-IBIG Fund contributions for contract of service and job order personnel in National Government agencies.
“The proposed EO seeks to close gaps in social protection coverage by making it easier for non-regular government workers to maintain contributions through a voluntary, payroll-based mechanism,” it said. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante