Malaysia defies China with offshore drilling

October 2, 2024 | 6:23 pm

Bloomberg-Malaysia-China Coast Guard — CHINA COAST GUARD ships during a resupply mission for the BRP Sierra Madre in the Second Thomas Shoal in the disputed South China Sea, Nov. 10, 2023. — LISA MARIE DAVID/BLOOMBERG

MALAYSIA is expanding oil and gas exploration in the disputed South China Sea despite pressure from Chinese vessels that have maintained a constant presence in waters where both sides have overlapping claims, according to a new report.

Short-range coastal tracking data show that China’s coast guard ships operated in waters claimed by Malaysia “like clockwork,” with at least one of its vessels stationed in Malaysia’s exclusive economic zone or continental shelf area nearly every day of the year, according to the Washington-based Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative.

“Despite the CCG’s efforts, Malaysia has not only continued its existing oil and gas production but also expanded exploratory activity,” according to the report published Tuesday. It adds that Chinese vessels spent most of their time near Luconia Shoals, a group of mostly submerged reefs 80 nautical miles (150 kilometers) northwest of Sarawak state on Borneo that sits between a number of major Malaysian oil and gas projects.

The study comes after the leak of a diplomatic letter weeks ago in which Beijing privately urged Malaysia to halt its offshore oil and gas activities near Luconia Shoals, prompting a rare public acknowledgment of the long-running dispute from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim just as his government seeks to foster deeper economic links with China.

“China is a great friend, but of course we have to operate in our waters and secure economic advantage, including drilling for oil in our territory,” he said during a visit to Russia.

Stretching from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan down to Malaysia and Indonesia, the South China Sea is a critical artery for global trade, including about 37% of the world’s maritime crude. China has laid claim to a vast swath of the waters, based on a vague 1940s map that has broadly been rejected by other nations and a UN tribunal.

To assert its expansive claims, China has utilized a maritime militia of fishing fleets and coast guard vessels to swarm resource rich waters, effectively blocking other claimant nations like the Philippines and Vietnam from tapping the deposits beneath the surface.

“While China’s presence at Luconia Shoals is continuous, it doesn’t come close to matching the scale of activity farther north in the Spratly Islands, where Beijing has deployed dozens of coast guard and hundreds of militia ships to contest Philippine activities in disputed waters,” the AMTI report said.

“However, with Malaysia’s expanding drilling and a potential reduction in China-Philippine tensions, Beijing could ratchet up the pressure on Malaysian hydrocarbon production,” it said. — Bloomberg

Sheinbaum sworn in as Mexico’s first female president

October 2, 2024 | 6:21 pm

MEXICO CITY — Claudia Sheinbaum was sworn in as Mexico’s first woman president on Tuesday, vowing to bolster women’s rights and ensure Latin America’s No. 2 economy remains a secure destination for international investment.

Sheinbaum, a 62-year-old scientist and former mayor of Mexico City, took the oath of office and received the presidential sash in a boisterous ceremony in Mexico’s Congress, which marks the start of her six-year term.

“It’s time for transformation, it’s time for women,” she said, her voice rising with emotion.

“I’m a mother, a grandmother, a scientist and a woman of faith, and from today, by the will of the Mexican people, the president,” she said.

Ms. Sheinbaum also used her first speech as head of state to address investor concerns after the passing of a sweeping judicial reform pushed by her predecessor, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

She reiterated that the central bank would be autonomous and told investors: “Rest assured that the investments of national and foreign shareholders will be safe in our country.”

Alberto Ramos, head of Goldman Sachs Latin American economic research, said Ms. Sheinbaum will be judged on whether she can construct “a predictable and investment-friendly policy and regulatory framework.”

“Disciplined management of the budget and of state-owned enterprises, progress on public security, and safe-guarding the integrity of key institutions will be key to preserving market sentiment and sovereign debt ratings,” Mr. Ramos said, emphasizing the importance of heavily-indebted state oil company Pemex.

Ms. Sheinbaum pledged that the Mexican oil giant will look to maintain daily oil production at 1.8 million barrels, in line with current output.

The November presidential elections in the United States, Mexico’s largest trading partner, could add to market volatility, especially if former President Donald Trump, who has vowed to increase tariffs on Mexican goods, wins.

Ms. Sheinbaum’s government will present its first budget before Nov. 15, which is expected to be highly scrutinized for clues on whether she will make good on commitments to reduce the fiscal deficit to 3.5% of gross domestic product from 5.9%, where it is predicted to close the year.

In an afternoon speech in the capital’s historic Zocalo square, she offered 100 pledges, ranging from expanding public healthcare and education to building 1 million new homes, capping prices for key goods and sending Congress a package of reforms to battle gender violence and discrimination.

Ms. Sheinbaum said she will unveil the package on Thursday, and said it will include proposed changes to the constitution and seek to reduce impunity and protect women in a nation that records some of the world’s highest femicide rates.

“Our guide is the happiness and wellbeing of the people,” she said. “I pledge to you to keep making history.”

CONTINUITY WITH CHANGE?
Mr. Lopez Obrador, whose six-year term began in late 2018, managed to double Mexico’s minimum wage, reduce poverty and unemployment, broaden the base of social programs and oversee a previous strengthening of the peso. Touting these successes boosted his popularity and helped usher Ms. Sheinbaum, his protégée, to a landslide victory in the June elections.

Mexican presidents are limited to serving a single six-year term.

Ms. Sheinbaum, however, who has promised “continuity with change,” will inherit the largest budget deficit since the 1980s and lagging economic growth.

Experts say Mexico’s economy will require a tax reform to increase revenues, though Ms. Sheinbaum has for now ruled out a sweeping tax overhaul.

Instead, she has said she will pursue other options, including improving the efficiency of tax collection at customs.

Ms. Sheinbaum “will have to deliver an important fiscal consolidation if she wants to keep the positive view that markets have today towards her,” said Bernardo Keiserman, an economist at investment bank Bradesco BBI.

“We believe the government is committed to an adjustment, but delivering one sizable enough is not going to be an easy feat. The economy is weaker and likely weakening further,” said Mr. Keiserman.

Recently, the central bank cut its GDP growth forecast for this year to 1.5% from the previous 2.4% and lowered its estimate for 2025 to 1.2%.

Nearshoring, the trend of companies moving production closer to their main market, has helped Mexico attract investment, but Sheinbaum will face a challenge to increase foreign investment while implementing the judicial reform.

The judicial reform, under which judges will be elected by popular vote, has scared investors and drawn criticism from the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, who said it threatened the rule of law.

“I’ll govern for everyone and be assured that I’ll put my knowledge, strength, my history, and my life itself at the service of the people and the country,” said Ms. Sheinbaum. — Reuters

Walz and Vance’s ‘Midwestern nice’ debate gives US voters a break

October 2, 2024 | 6:20 pm

USA-ELECTION-DEBATE — A screen shows Republican vice-presidential nominee US Senator JD Vance (R-OH) and Democratic vice-presidential nominee Minnesota Governor Tim Walz attending a debate hosted by CBS in New York, US, Oct. 1, 2024. — REUTERS

NEW YORK — Americans who watched the vice-presidential debate between Democrat Tim Walz and Republican JD Vance were in for a big surprise: a cordial tone and an emphasis on ideas the two have in common.

Mr. Walz, who is Vice-President Kamala Harris’ running mate, and Mr. Vance, who is former President Donald Trump’s vice-presidential pick, shared what might be called a “Midwestern nice” approach to Tuesday night’s more than 90-minute discourse.

They shook hands at the start and lingered afterward to introduce their wives. It was a welcome relief for some US voters unhappy with the tenor of politics in the run-up to the Nov. 5 election.

“So refreshing to have a normal debate for once,” wrote Robert Rubin-Beman from Orlando, Florida, on X. “No incoherent rambling or trying to get a soundbite… I can’t wait for Trump to leave politics so we can go back to this.”

Mr. Walz, who is Minnesota’s governor, and Vance, a senator from Ohio, both hail from the US heartland, a region that prides itself on a wholesome and neighborly attitude.

Each offers a geographic diversity to his presidential ticket with Ms. Harris hailing from the West Coast and Trump from the East Coast.

While the candidates disagreed sharply on issues such as abortion, climate change, the economy, immigration and taxes, they kept the tone polite and largely avoided personal attacks on each other, focusing instead on Ms. Harris and Mr. Trump.

“Now, Tim just mentioned a bunch of ideas,” Mr. Vance said during a discussion on housing availability in the US. “Now some of those ideas I actually think are halfway decent, and some of them I disagree with.”

Molly Bentley, a 42-year-old nurse who studied global geography under Mr. Walz, attended a Minnesota debate watch party with alumni of Mankato West High School, where Mr. Walz formerly taught.

Mr. Walz’s performance reminded her of sitting in his classroom 20-something years ago, she said. “He respectfully disagreed with JD Vance. He said, ‘Hey you’re right on this,’ and then he built on it.”

Ms. Bentley added that was exactly what he would have done as a teacher when two “16-year-old hotheads” were butting heads.

The tone was a far cry from Ms. Harris and Mr. Trump’s presidential debate in September, during which Ms. Harris, 59, put Mr. Trump on the defensive over his 2020 election loss and other issues. Mr. Trump, 78, responded with falsehood-filled retorts.

Mr. Vance, 40, and Mr. Walz, 60, were showing smart political instincts, some analysts said.

“Both sides were trying to appeal to the few undecided voters,” Jeremi Suri, professor of public affairs and history at the University of Texas at Austin, said of Tuesday’s debate. “Both sides were trying to look like they could act reasonably.”

This year’s presidential cycle has been dogged by political division and intense rhetoric, two assassination attempts against Mr. Trump and the former president’s sometimes racist and sexist attacks against Ms. Harris.

While Mr. Vance and Mr. Walz debated, Mr. Trump repeatedly referred to Walz on social media as “Tampon Tim,” a nickname mocking a law Walz signed as governor that requires schools to supply pads, tampons or other products for “all menstruating students” in restrooms, language meant to include trans students.

While Ms. Harris leads Mr. Trump by 2.6 percentage points in national polls, according to aggregator FiveThirtyEight, the election is expected to be won by razor-thin margins in battleground states that decide elections and include Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

Even during the most fundamental disagreement between Mr. Walz and Mr. Vance, highlighted by a question on whether Mr. Vance would challenge this year’s election results, neither man raised his voice.

Mr. Walz said he and Mr. Vance were “miles apart” on the issue, and turned to Mr. Vance and said, “Did he (Trump) lose the 2020 election?”

Mr. Vance replied “Tim, I’m focused on the future.” — Reuters

Airlines scramble to divert flights after Iran missile attack

October 2, 2024 | 6:19 pm

Plane-flight — STOCK PHOTO | Image by Stefan Fluck from Unsplash

PARIS — Israel’s neighbors closed airspace and airline crews skirted an escalating conflict, with many seeking diversions, after Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday.

A spokesperson for tracking service FlightRadar24 said flights diverted “anywhere they could,” and a snapshot of regional traffic showed flights spreading in wide arcs to the north and south, with many converging on Cairo and Istanbul.

FlightRadar24 said Istanbul and Antalya in southern Turkey were becoming congested, forcing some airlines to divert south.

On Tuesday, about 80 flights, operated by the likes of Emirates, British Airways, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways and bound for major Middle East hubs such as Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi, were diverted to places such as Cairo and European cities, its data showed.

Many airlines have also suspended flights to the region or are avoiding use of affected air space.

Iran launched the strikes in retaliation for Israel’s campaign against Tehran’s Hezbollah allies in Lebanon, and Israel vowed a “painful response” against its enemy.

Earlier, Eurocontrol, a pan-European air traffic control agency, had warned pilots of the escalating conflict.

“A major missile attack has been launched against Israel in the last few minutes,” it said in an urgent navigation bulletin. “At present the entire country is under a missile warning.”

Shortly afterwards it announced the closure of Jordanian and Iraqi airspace, as well as the closure of a key crossing point into airspace controlled by Cyprus.

An Iraqi pilot bulletin said its Baghdad-controlled airspace was closed until further notice, due to security concerns.

Iraq’s transport ministry later re-opened its airspace to civilian flights using its airports. On X, FlightRadar24 said, “It will be a while before flights are active there again.”

Jordan also re-opened its airspace after a closure following the volley of Iranian missiles towards Israel, the Jordanian state news agency said.

Lebanon’s airspace will be closed to air traffic for a two-hour period on Tuesday, Transport Minister Ali Hamie said on X.

The latest disruptions are expected to deal a further blow to an industry already face curbs due to conflicts between Israel and Hamas, and Russia and Ukraine. — Reuters

Pope Francis, ahead of Vatican summit, asks pardon for abuse, treatment of women

October 2, 2024 | 6:18 pm

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis on Tuesday led a prayer service asking forgiveness for the failings of the Catholic Church, including treatment by clergy of women and survivors of sexual abuse, as Catholic leaders prepared to begin a month-long summit at the Vatican.

The ceremony in St. Peter’s Basilica featured testimony from an abuse survivor, who told hundreds of bishops in attendance that the abuse scandals “have shaken the faith of millions (and) tarnished the reputation of an institution that many look to for guidance”.

The pope returned on Sunday from a trip to Belgium, where he faced some of the strongest criticism yet levied during one of his foreign trips.

The country’s king and prime minister urged more concrete actions to address the abuse scandals, and leaders at two Catholic universities denounced the pope’s stances on the role of women in the church and society.

As part of Tuesday’s service, seven cardinals, the highest figures after the pope in the 1.4-billion-member global Church, made requests for pardon for different Church failings. Francis told attendees he wrote the requests himself “because it was necessary to call our sins by their first and last names”.

Cardinal Sean O’Malley, the retiring archbishop of Boston who leads the Vatican’s commission on clergy sexual abuse, asked forgiveness for abuse. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, a former bishop of Dallas who leads the Vatican’s department for lay people, asked pardon “for all the times that we have not recognized and defended the dignity of women.”

Francis said the service was intended “to begin to heal wounds that never stop bleeding”.

“We ask forgiveness, feeling ashamed, from those who have been hurt by our sins,” said the pope.

The Vatican summit, known as a synod, opens on Wednesday. The meeting includes cardinals, bishops and lay people from more than 110 countries. The synod members will vote on a final text in late October that may suggest doctrinal changes.

An earlier summit, held last year, featured discussions on divisive issues such as women’s ordination and blessings for same-sex couples. But most of the hottest issues for this assembly have been assigned to study groups that will make final reports next June to Francis, who is 87. — Reuters

BingoPlus holds star-studded launch of latest digital perya game Pinoy Drop Ball

October 2, 2024 | 3:00 pm

Photo-11-OL — AB Leisure Exponent, Inc. President Jasper Vicencio, special guest Maine Mendoza, and DigiPlus Chairman Eusebio H. Tanco introduce the public to the latest classic Filipino game on the digital BingoPlus platform: Pinoy Drop Ball.

BingoPlus, the country’s top platform for digital entertainment, introduces its newest perya game Pinoy Drop Ball in a star-studded launch on Sunday, Sept. 29, at the Grand Hyatt Manila, featuring performances from its endorser and TV host Main Mendoza and celebrity guests Julie Anne San Jose and PPop idol Alamat.

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This thrilling addition is a homegrown creation, carefully designed to deliver a nostalgic perya experience that Pinoys know and love, but in dynamic and fresh ways that only BingoPlus offers.

Pinoy Drop Ball joins DigiPlus’ popular lineup of digital games, including Bingo, Tongits, and Perya Games. Notably, Pinoy Drop Ball is the first-ever live-streamed drop ball game in the Philippines, setting a new standard in digital perya gaming. But more than just another game, Pinoy Drop Ball reflects DigiPlus’ deep understanding of what Filipino players want — authentic and culturally resonant entertainment that fuses tradition with technology.

AB Leisure Exponent, Inc. President Jasper Vicencio answering questions from the media about the exciting release of Pinoy Drop Ball

“As a brand deeply rooted in Filipino culture, it has been our mission to elevate traditional Pinoy entertainment and bring this experience to the modern age. Like our well-loved Filipino games Bingo Mega, Color Game, and Papula Paputi, Drop Ball promises to reignite your excitement and engage you further in the BingoPlus platform,” said DigiPlus Interactive Corp. Chairman Eusebio H. Tanco during his speech at the grand reveal. “Drop Ball is another leap forward in this mission, as BingoPlus continues to bridge offline traditions with modern technology, creating a more seamless and exciting experience for all.”

What makes Pinoy Drop Ball stand out is the thrilling chance to win big from multipliers. Players can enjoy the classic feel of the perya game while competing for prizes. Pinoy Drop Ball follows a set of payout rules for the six betting areas. If a card has a single ball on it, players will receive a 2x payout and if there are two balls on a card, then there will be a 3x payout. Meanwhile, if three balls land on a card, the game will enter a special Pachinko round, where players are given a shot at bigger rewards. Once triggered, this bonus round opens up 15 slots filled with multipliers of 10, 50, 100, and even up to 200, pushing the stakes higher and creating a truly immersive experience. Triple cards can occur up to an estimated 40+ times in a day. With the game streamed live 23/7, players are right there in the moment, sharing the excitement of every move anytime, anywhere.

Excitement was high at the Grand Hyatt Manila as DigiPlus introduced their latest offering on the BingoPlus platform: Pinoy Drop Ball.

Developing a digital game rooted in Filipino culture requires significant effort, and BingoPlus has invested heavily in research and development to ensure that Pinoy Drop Ball truly captures the essence of a game reminiscent of the joy in local town fiestas, while bringing it to life in a convenient, mobile-friendly format.

Influencers Jai Asuncion and Albert Nicolas get their first glimpse of Pinoy Drop Ball in action.

BingoPlus assures that its efforts have paid off, with all its equipment tested and licensed by PAGCOR. The playing tables have been precisely measured to ensure stability throughout a game and the balls have been especially weighed and manufactured to ensure consistent gameplay all throughout. Each inspection of the equipment and playthrough have also undergone thorough observation by PAGCOR officers to guarantee players that every round gives honest results and follows strict regulatory measures. Additionally, BingoPlus will switch hosts every 30 minutes in consideration of the various ways they may throw the balls.

With the release of Pinoy Drop Ball, BingoPlus continues to revolutionize how Filipinos experience the games they’ve loved for generations, in new and more rewarding ways.

DigiPlus is the fastest-growing digital entertainment company in the country. It operates the country’s leading digital platforms BingoPlus, ArenaPlus, PeryaGame, Tongits+, and Gamezone, with more to come. BingoPlus is a leading platform for various forms of entertainment for Filipinos where players can explore tongits, bingo, perya games and many other game choices to have fun at home. For more information, visit www.bingoplus.com or download the app now from App store and Google Play.

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White House sides with union as dockworker strike enters second day

October 2, 2024 | 1:09 pm

NEW YORK – President Joe Biden’s administration heaped pressure on U.S. port employers to raise their offer to secure a labor deal with dockworkers on strike for a second day on Wednesday, choking half the country’s ocean shipping.

The strike by the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) union has blocked everything from food to automobile shipments across dozens of ports from Maine to Texas in a disruption analysts warn will cost the economy billions of dollars a day.

More than 38 container vessels were already backed up at U.S. ports by Tuesday, compared with just three on Sunday before the strike, according to Everstream Analytics.

“Foreign ocean carriers have made record profits since the pandemic, when Longshoremen put themselves at risk to keep ports open. It’s time those ocean carriers offered a strong and fair contract that reflects ILA workers’ contribution to our economy and to their record profits,” Mr. Biden said in a post on X late on Tuesday.

He directed his team to monitor for potential price gouging activity that benefits foreign ocean carriers, the White House said.

The ILA, which represents 45,000 port workers, launched its strike just after midnight on Tuesday after negotiations with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) for a new six-year contract collapsed.

USMX had offered the union a 50% wage hike, but the ILA’s fiery leader, Harold Daggett said the union is pushing for more, including a $5 per hour raise for each year of the new six-year contract and an end to port automation projects that threaten union jobs.

“We are prepared to fight as long as necessary, to stay out on strike for whatever period of time it takes, to get the wages and protections against automation our ILA members deserve,” Mr. Daggett said on Tuesday.

Hundreds of dockworkers demonstrated at a New York City area shipping terminal in Elizabeth, New Jersey, on Tuesday carrying signs and shouting slogans like “ILA all the way!” as music blared and vendors hawked food.

Mr. Trump on Tuesday blamed the strike on inflation, which he said was caused by the Biden-Harris administration.

“Everybody understands the dockworkers because they were decimated by this inflation, just like everybody else in our country and beyond,” Fox News Digital quoted Mr. Trump as saying in an interview.

“DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES”

The strike, the ILA’s first major stoppage since 1977, is worrying businesses that rely on ocean shipping to export their wares or secure crucial imports. It affects 36 ports – including New York, Baltimore and Houston – that handle a range of containerized goods from bananas to clothing to cars.

The walkout could cost the American economy roughly $5 billion a day, JP Morgan analysts estimate.

The National Retail Federation called on Biden’s administration to use its federal authority to halt the strike, saying the walkout could have “devastating consequences” for the economy.

Republicans, including Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, also called on Mr. Biden to end the strike, warning of its impact on the economy.

Mr. Biden has repeatedly said he will not do so.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Tuesday it does not expect significant changes to food prices or availability in the near term.

And retailers accounting for about half of all container shipping volume said they have been busily implementing backup plans to minimize the impact of the strike as they head into the winter holiday sales season. – Reuters

China’s coast guard enters Arctic for the first time for patrol with Russia

October 2, 2024 | 1:04 pm

A Chinese coast guard fleet has entered the Arctic sea for the first time, for a joint patrol with Russian counterparts, state media reported on Wednesday.

The arrival of ship “Meishan” on Tuesday coincided with the 75th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China, state television said. It also marked the 75th anniversary of China-Russia diplomatic relations.

This follows similar joint patrols the two nations have been carrying out in the northern Pacific Ocean since Sept. 21, the report said.

Arctic sea routes are being used increasingly as an alternative trade route between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans as global warming shrinks ice packs and allows vessels longer ice-free periods in the seas.

Although significantly shorter, the routes are challenging and often require the assistance of icebreakers to help vessels pass along the northern coast of Russia.

China and Russia have been working together to develop Arctic shipping routes as Russia seeks to deliver more oil and gas to China amid Western sanctions, while China seeks an alternative shipping route to reduce its dependence on the Strait of Malacca in Southeast Asia. – Reuters

Myanmar civil war fuels surge in cross-border drug trade, Thailand official says

October 2, 2024 | 1:01 pm

ai-generated-addiction-8467687_1920 — STOCK IMAGE | Image by Dee from Pixabay

BANGKOK, – Thailand has seen a surge in illegal drugs trafficked from neighboring Myanmar and a sharp increase in methamphetamines and heroin seizures, as a civil war adds fuel to the regional drug trade, a senior Thai counter-narcotics official said.

Apikit Ch.Rojprasert, deputy secretary-general of Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), said the northern region remains the main trafficking route into Thailand, with dealers going through the mountains or on the Mekong river to bring in methamphetamine tablets and crystal meth, also known as ice.

Thai authorities say organized crime networks have allied with militias and rebel groups to set up “super labs” in Myanmar’s Shan and Kachin States.

A junta spokesperson declined to comment for this story but Myanmar’s ruling junta has previously said it is committed to working with neighboring countries to tackle narcotics.

“Because of the armed conflict, the drug trade is one of the factors used to fund weapon purchases or drive the fighting forces,” Mr. Apikit told Reuters in an interview.

“We have to be vigilant about crimes that are linked to drug trafficking and work with neighboring countries.”

Myanmar is locked in a civil war, with the military fighting on multiple fronts and losing territory to an armed resistance movement loosely allied with several ethnic minority rebel groups. The military took over the Myanmar government in 2021.

Seizure of meth tablets in the first eight and a half months of this year in Thailand’s northern provinces of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son increased by 172% from the amount seized in all of 2023 to 346 million pills, ONCB data showed.

Seizure of crystal meth in those provinces increased by 39% over the same period to 6.48 tons, the data showed.

Heroin is also making a comeback with 327 kg (721 lb) seized this year, nearly seven times the amount seized in 2023.

STREET PRICE SLUMP

The political unrest in Myanmar has led to a surge and expansion of synthetic drugs production and trafficking as well as a resurgence of opium cultivation, according to United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

Despite the increase in seizures, the price of meth pills continues to fall in Thailand, suggesting far more volumes were eluding authorities than being stopped, Mr. Apikit said.

The average price of a meth tablet in Thailand was about 25- 30 baht ($0.78-$0.93), he said, compared with 80 baht ($2.49) in 2017 and was 200 baht ($6.21) in 2013.

General Narit Thanwornwong, commander of Thailand’s drug suppression unit in the northern border told Reuters his task force believed more than 50 million meth pills were waiting to be trafficked into Thailand.

He said only some armed groups fighting the Myanmar junta were involved in drug trafficking, while other organizations not party to the conflict were involved in production and trade.

The drug seizure in the three northern Thai provinces have all surged since the 2021 coup in Myanmar, with crystal meth increasing by 284%, amphetamine tablets by 201% and heroin by 77%, ONCB data showed. – Reuters

Taiwan shuts down for Typhoon Krathon, torrential rain forecast

October 2, 2024 | 12:53 pm

KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan – Taiwan shut down on Wednesday, grounding hundreds of flights and closing schools, offices and financial markets ahead of the arrival of a weakening Typhoon Krathon, forecast to lash the coast with storm surges and torrential rain.

Officials in the key port city of Kaohsiung, set to be in the eye of the storm, told people to stay home and avoid the sea, rivers and mountains, warning of a repeat of 1977’s Typhoon Thelma that killed 37 and devastated the city of 2.7 million.

Although the typhoon has weakened, the threats from a storm surge, strong winds and rain remain as it slowly makes its way towards Taiwan’s coast, weather forecasters said.

The typhoon would lose power once it hit land, said Kaohsiung mayor Chen Chi-mai, but would still bring intense winds and rain.

“But if it moves north, the winds will strengthen again, so the threat to Kaohsiung will continue to exist, and people cannot take this lightly,” he told reporters.

All the island’s cities and counties declared a day off, shutting financial markets .TWII and cancelling domestic flights, along with 246 international ones, while more than 10,000 people were evacuated, mostly in the south and east.

Typhoons often hit Taiwan’s mountainous and sparsely populated east coast facing the Pacific, but Krathon is set to make landfall on its flat western plain.

It is forecast to hit between Kaohsiung and its neighbouring city of Tainan in the early hours of Thursday, before heading northeast up towards Taipei, the capital, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said.

“Because of Typhoon Gaemi being quite severe earlier this year, everyone is more cautious and prepared this time around,” said sales representative Yu Ren-yu, 35, picking up sandbags at a government office, referring to July’s storm that killed 11.

“First be prepared, then we can face this typhoon.”

The typhoon has revived the older generation’s bad memories of Thelma, prompting extra precautions, said Chou Yi-tang, a government official working in the Siaogang district home to the airport.

“We were hit directly by the eyewall,” he added, describing events almost five decades ago. “Power was out for two weeks and no water for almost a month. It was disastrous.”

More than 700 sandbags have been distributed in his district, a record for a typhoon, while authorities are making more to meet demand, Chou said.

Taiwan’s defence ministry said it had put more than 38,000 troops on standby.

The fire department reported 46 injuries, mostly in the mountainous eastern county of Taitung, with one person missing in the central county of Yunlin.

The north-south high speed rail line stayed open, but scaled back services.

TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker and a major Apple and Nvidia supplier, said on Tuesday it did not expect the typhoon would have a significant impact on operations.

TSMC’s factories are along the west coast, some in the city of Tainan. – Reuters

Iran says attack on Israel is over as fears grow of wider conflict

October 2, 2024 | 12:50 pm

Israel-Iran-Flags — Israeli and Iranian flags are seen in this illustration taken, April 24, 2024. — REUTERS/DADO RUVIC/ILLUSTRATION

JERUSALEM/BEIRUT – Iran said early on Wednesday that its missile attack on Israel was over barring further provocation, while Israel and the US promised to retaliate against Tehran as fears of a wider war intensified.

Washington said it would work with longtime ally Israel to make sure Iran faced “severe consequences” for Tuesday’s attack, which Israel said involved more than 180 ballistic missiles.

The United Nations Security Council scheduled a meeting about the Middle East for Wednesday, and the European Union called for an immediate ceasefire.

“Our action is concluded unless the Israeli regime decides to invite further retaliation. In that scenario, our response will be stronger and more powerful,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in a post on X early on Wednesday.

Israel renewed its bombardment early on Wednesday of Beirut’s southern suburbs, a stronghold of the Iran-backed armed Hezbollah group, with at least a dozen airstrikes against what it said were targets belonging the group.

Large plumes of smoke were seen rising from parts of the suburbs. Israel issued new evacuation orders for the area, which have largely emptied after days of heavy strikes.

IRAN’S BIGGEST ATTACK ON ISRAEL

Iran’s attack marked it biggest ever military blow against Israel.

Sirens sounded across the country and explosions rattled Jerusalem and the Jordan River valley as the entire population was told to move into bomb shelters.

No injuries were reported in Israel, but one man was killed in the occupied West Bank, authorities there said.

Iran described the campaign as defensive and solely aimed at Israeli military facilities. Iran’s state news agency said three Israeli military bases had been targeted.

Tehran said its assault was a response to Israeli killings of militant leaders and aggression in Lebanon against Hezbollah and in Gaza.

Israel activated air defenses against Iran’s bombardment and most missiles were intercepted “by Israel and a defensive coalition led by the United States,” Israeli Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a video on X, adding: “Iran’s attack is a severe and dangerous escalation.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to hit back.

“Iran made a big mistake tonight – and it will pay for it,” he said at the outset of an emergency political security cabinet meeting late on Tuesday, according to a statement.

Iran’s General Staff of the Armed Forces said in a statement carried by state media that any Israeli response would be met with “vast destruction” of Israeli infrastructure. It also said it would target regional assets of any Israeli ally that got involved.

Fears that Iran and the US could be drawn into a regional war have risen with Israel’s growing assault on Lebanon in the past two weeks, including the start of a ground operation there on Monday, and its year-old conflict in the Gaza Strip.

Iran’s forces on Tuesday used hypersonic Fattah missiles for the first time, and 90% of its missiles successfully hit their targets in Israel, the Revolutionary Guards said.

Israel’s Hagari said central and southern Israel received limited strikes. A video released by the military showed a school in the central city of Gadera heavily damaged by an Iranian missile.

US Navy warships fired about a dozen interceptors against Iranian missiles headed toward Israel, the Pentagon said. Britain said its forces played a part “in attempts to prevent further escalation in the Middle East”, without elaborating.

US President Joe Biden expressed full US support for Israel and described Iran’s attack as “ineffective.” Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate for U.S. president, backed Mr. Biden’s stance and said the US would not hesitate to defend its interests against Iran.

“We will act. Iran will soon feel the consequences of their actions. The response will be painful,” Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon told reporters.

US DOES NOT URGE RESTRAINT

The White House similarly promised “severe consequences” for Iran and spokesman Jake Sullivan told a Washington briefing the US would “work with Israel to make that the case.”

Mr. Sullivan did not specify what those consequences might be, but he stopped short of urging restraint by Israel as the U.S. did in April when Iran carried out a drone and missile attack on Israel. The Pentagon said Tuesday’s airstrikes by Iran were about twice the size of April’s assault.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned what he called “escalation after escalation”, saying: “This must stop. We absolutely need a ceasefire.”

French President Emmanuel Macron said in a statement that he strongly condemns Iran’s new attacks on Israel, adding that in a sign of its commitment to Israel’s security it mobilized its military resources in the Middle East on Wednesday.

Mr. Macron reiterated France’s demand that Hezbollah cease its terrorist actions against Israel and its population, but also wished for Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity to be reinstated in strict compliance with a United Nations Security Council resolution.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also called for an immediate regional ceasefire. “The dangerous cycle of attacks and retaliation risks … spiraling out of control,” he posted on X.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with the leaders of Germany and France, and they agreed on a need for restraint from all sides, Downing Street said.

Nearly 1,900 people have been killed and more than 9,000 wounded in Lebanon in almost a year of cross-border fighting, most in the past two weeks, according to Lebanese government statistics on Tuesday. – Reuters

The PENSHOPPE Group wins first-ever Retail Employer Award

October 2, 2024 | 11:00 am

1-OL — GOLDEN ABC’s Senior and Junior Management Team at the Outstanding Filipino Retailers Awards Night

While the awards have been around since 1997, the Retail Employer Award was first introduced at the 2024 Outstanding Filipino Retailers (OFR) Awards Night — with the PENSHOPPE Group being the inaugural winner

The Penshoppe Group — formally GOLDEN ABC, Inc. (GABC) — was conferred with the first-ever Retail Employer Award at the Outstanding Filipino Retailers (OFR) Awards on Sept. 25 at the Solaire Resort North. The said accolade was introduced in an endeavor to recognize retail employers who are committed to fostering a positive and inclusive workplace. As such, the criteria for judging encompassed people development initiatives, employee engagement and satisfaction, innovative HR practices, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and community engagement, workplace diversity and inclusion, and employee benefits and well-being.

VP for Strategy & Operations Bryan Liu delivering the acceptance speech for the Retail Employer of the Year on behalf of GOLDEN ABC

“As a company, the Penshoppe Group holds ourselves to the highest standard of excellence in our ways of working, serving our customers and the community, and building a values-centric organization that nurtures a culture of integrity, continuous learning, and innovation,” said Bryan Liu, GABC VP for Strategy and Operations, upon receiving the accolade during the OFR Awards Night.

“We are grateful for this validation of all our efforts, but at the same time, we recognize the weight of the responsibility the award brings. While we continue to upskill, train, and empower our people to develop their professional talents in the retail industry, we are reminded to never lose sight of what ultimately drives us, and that is our purpose to inspire greatness in anyone and everyone, and this includes the whole of Team GABC, whose lives we touch and change for the better,” he added.

The awarding body likewise considered how GABC’s people development initiatives have impacted the growth and advancement of its people, as well as how its employee engagement activities have fostered a fulfilling work environment. The ways in which GABC’s HR and CSR practices have shaped its business practices were likewise lauded with the conferment of the award.

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“Since our founding nearly 40 years ago, we have always believed that the better we perform as a business, the more good we can do as a company. This reflects in the programs we provide our people with, as well as the initiatives we do for the community. After all, our successes are borne out of the hard work and commitment of our people,” said GABC President and COO Alice Liu.

Under her leadership, Liu placed focus on operational innovation, employee engagement, and organizational development. This prioritization has been a strategic and deliberate decision by Liu whose practices are informed by other positions she holds across key business organizations. On top of serving as GABC’s president, Liu is a Board Director and Vice-President of the Philippine Retailers Association, board member of the Philippine Franchise Association, and a member of the Makati Business Club.

In its efforts to boost employee morale and engagement, GABC mounts regular town hall and service award events.

Through her leadership, Liu says GABC will remain focused on importing even more talent and toolboxes that will enable GABC to succeed in what she anticipates will still be a disruptive industry.

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“As we continue to work toward our vision of building brands for the world, we will strengthen our core values that will guide us with our behavior and decisions. Likewise, the skills and training that we provide our people will keep becoming more sophisticated and advanced, so these will be commensurate with the goals we have set to achieve. While we relentlessly develop talent internally, we will also continue to bring in new talents whose tools and practices can help us improve and reinvent how we serve our customers — not just in the Philippines but across the globe,” said Liu.

The OFR Awards was established in 1997 by the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to celebrate excellence in the Philippine retail industry. The annual awards ceremony aims to put the spotlight on retail enterprises whose successes demonstrate unique growth, creativity, and business practices. The OFR also serves as a venue to recognize retailers who possess a unique business acumen that make them stand out in the ever-evolving landscape of retail.

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