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Mets stop Phillies from clinching division for second straight game

BRANDON NIMMO homered leading off the sixth inning, and the surging New York Mets once again prevented the visiting Philadelphia Phillies from clinching the National League East title with a 2-1 win Sunday night in the finale of a four-game series.

The Mets (87-69) took three of four from the Phillies (92-64), who would have clinched the division with a win either Saturday or Sunday.

New York, which is 18-5 in its past 23 games, moved into a tie for the second NL wild-card spot with the Arizona Diamondbacks, who lost to the Milwaukee Brewers 10-9. The two teams are two games ahead of the Atlanta Braves, whom the Mets visit for a three-game series beginning Tuesday.

Alec Bohm had an RBI single in the first for the Phillies, who left the bases loaded against Tylor Megill. The Mets built their tying rally with two outs in the second against Zack Wheeler (16-7) when Mark Vientos doubled and scored on Tyrone Taylor’s single.

The teams combined to get just one runner into scoring position over the next three innings before Nimmo hit Wheeler’s first pitch of the sixth just beyond the right field wall.

Mets relievers Phil Maton (3-3), Jose Butto and Edwin Diaz combined for five innings of one-hit ball. Diaz, who got a four-out save in Saturday’s 6-3 win, recorded the final six outs Sunday to notch his 20th save.

The right-hander surrendered a one-out single in the eighth to Trea Turner, who stole second and third but was stranded when Diaz retired Bohm on a grounder to short. Diaz walked Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh in the ninth before striking out Kody Clemens to end the game.

It was Diaz’s first six-out save since Aug. 4, 2022.

Jose Iglesias went 2-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to 16 games. Taylor also finished with two hits.

Turner and Nick Castellanos each had two hits for the Phillies.

Megill allowed one run on four hits and two walks while striking out six over four innings.

Wheeler took the hard-luck loss after giving up two runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out eight over seven-plus innings. — Reuters

TV polls show Harris gaining ground on Trump

US Vice-President Kamala Harris and former US President Donald Trump are seen in a combination of file photographs. — REUTERS FILE PHOTO

WASHINGTON — US Vice-President Kamala Harris leads Republican rival Donald Trump by 5 percentage points in an NBC News poll released on Sunday that found that respondents have come to see her more favorably since she emerged as the Democratic candidate for president.

Asked about their views of Ms. Harris since she became the nominee, 48% of 1,000 registered voters surveyed said it was positive compared with 32% in July — the largest jump among politician ratings polled by NBC since President George W. Bush’s favorability rose after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Asked about Mr. Trump, 40% of those polled said they viewed him positively compared with 38% in July, the news network said. The poll, conducted Sept. 13-17, has a margin of error of 3 percentage points.

A separate CBS News poll also found Ms. Harris leading Mr. Trump, by 4 percentage points, 52% to 48%, among likely voters, with a margin of error rate of plus or minus 2 percentage points.

The findings are broadly in line with other recent national polls, including those by Reuters/Ipsos, that show a close contest heading into the Nov. 5 election.

While national surveys offer important signals on the views of the electorate, the state-by-state results of the Electoral College determine the winner, with a handful of battleground states likely to be decisive.

Mr. Trump, 78, is making his third consecutive bid for the White House after losing to Joe Biden in 2020, which he continues to falsely blame on widespread voter fraud while facing federal and state criminal charges over efforts to overturn the election results.

Ms. Harris, 59, is a former US senator and prosecutor now serving under Mr. Biden. She would be the first woman to serve as president in the nation’s 248-year history.

“She’s been able to change this from a race that was a referendum on Joseph R. Biden to a race that is a referendum on Donald Trump,” Amy Walter, publisher and editor in chief of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, told NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

In CBS’ poll of 3,129 registered voters surveyed Sept. 18-20, Ms. Harris edged up 2 percentage points after a 50-50 split in August, shored by her performance in the Sept. 10 debate and brightening economic news. — Reuters

Summit of the Future: Leaders warn of growing mistrust between nations as climate-fueled disasters rise

UNITED NATIONS Secretary-General António Guterres (at the podium and on screens) addresses the opening of the Summit of the Future. — UN PHOTO/LOEY FELIPE

NEW YORK – United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres launched a two-day, climate-themed “Summit of the Future” on Sunday as part of the UN General Assembly, where some leaders warned of growing mistrust between nations as climate-fueled disasters mount.

National leaders addressed the group after adopting a “Pact for the Future” aimed at ensuring and increasing cooperation between nations, with many calling for urgent access to more climate finance.

“International challenges are moving faster than our ability to solve them,” Mr. Guterres told leaders at the summit. “Crises are interacting and feeding off each other – for example, as digital technologies spread climate disinformation, that deepens distrust and fuels polarization.”

Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados echoed Mr. Guterres’ warning and urged a “reset” in how global institutions are governed so they can better respond to crises and serve those most in need.

“The distress in our institutions of governance, the mistrust between the governors and the governed, will continue to foster social alienation the world over at the very time that we need to find as many people as possible to shape a new world,” Ms. Mottley said.

The UN climate summit continues on Monday with speeches from China, India, and the United States.

Elsewhere during the week, US President Joseph R. Biden is expected to deliver a speech at an event also attended by actress and climate activist Jane Fonda and World Bank President Ajay Banga, among others. Another event hosted by the Clinton Foundation features speeches by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and actor and water activist Matt Damon.

The Climate Group, which is coordinating Climate Week, counted some 900 climate-related events planned across the city this week, hosted by multinational corporations, international nonprofits, governments and activists.

BIG AGENDA
Climate summits and events like Climate Week, held alongside the UN General Assembly, have taken on a more urgent tone in recent years as rising temperatures fuel increasingly extreme disasters like heatwaves and storms.

Some observers of climate negotiations regretted that the global pact adopted Sunday morning by the General Assembly did not go further than last year’s COP28 summit in Dubai in affirming a commitment to transition away from fossil fuel use.

Countries are showing “collective amnesia” about the need to tackle these polluting fuels, said Alden Meyer, a senior associate at the climate think tank E3G.

Leaders have also been grappling with a more urgent challenge on the climate agenda. There are just two months left until the UN’s COP29 climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, leaving little time for agreeing on a new global finance target to replace the annual $100-billion pledge that expires in 2025.

With some UN agencies estimating the annual financing need in the trillions, leaders are looking beyond their own budgets for ways to boost climate cash.

The World Bank and other multilateral development banks are undergoing reform processes this year, which could see them making more funding available or taking on more climate-related risk.

Under an initiative led by Barbados, France and Kenya, countries also continue to discuss imposing new global taxes to help pay for climate finance, such as a financial transaction tax or a shipping tax.

Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland noted that some of the world’s poorest countries were now facing climate-fueled disasters along with an increased debt burden.

“We have to do more to understand the fundamental unfairness of the debt crisis that most of our developing countries are going through,” Ms. Scotland told Reuters. “The development banks and the World Bank have to step up to that reality.” — Reuters

French prime minister flags tax hike on the wealthy

The logo of French luxury group Hermes is seen on a shop window in Paris, France, July 5, 2019. — REUTERS

PARIS — Prime Minister Michel Barnier on Sunday opened the door to raising taxes on France’s wealthiest individuals and some big corporations to help close a gaping hole in the public finances, but said he would protect the lower and middle classes.

President Emmanuel Macron’s office this weekend unveiled a right-leaning which he hopes will break the political deadlock that followed a summer snap election. Its most immediate and daunting task will be to put together a budget for 2025 at a time France is struggling to contain a spiraling budget deficit.

“I’m not going to further increase taxes on all French people, neither on the most modest, nor on people who work, nor on the middle classes. But I cannot exclude the wealthiest from the national effort to rectify the situation,” Mr. Barnier told France 2 television.

France’s total debt is at 110% of gross domestic product, or close to 3.2 million euros. Weaker-than-expected tax revenues and higher spending by local governments has left its public sector budget deficit spiraling towards 6.2% of economic output next year if nothing is done to rein it in.

It is in breach of European Union (EU) deficit rules and credit rating agencies are scrutinizing French decision-making carefully.

“A large part of our debt has been placed on international and foreign markets. We have to maintain France’s credibility,” Mr. Barnier said.

Mr. Barnier, who was the EU’s lead negotiator during Britain’s Brexit negotiations, also said he was also open to changes to Mr. Macron’s pension reform but that any changes should not undermine the pension system’s precarious finances.

He said by way of example that he wanted to better take into account the hardships faced by working mothers over the course of long careers and that he was open to the input of employers and unions.

Mr. Macron’s political opponents on the left and far right have already threatened votes of no confidence against Mr. Barnier’s government. They say the government is not a reflection of how the French voted in the July poll.

“This is more Macron. It’s a government that has no future,” Jordan Bardella, chairman of Marine Le Pen’s National Rally party, earlier said.

Mr. Barnier’s government lacks a majority and will need to keep the far-right on side and deter it from voting to bring the government down if it is to survive. Perhaps with that in mind, Mr. Barnier said he would get tough on immigration.

“We need a European response. We need to take action at home too,” Mr. Barnier said. “We need to deal with the immigration issue much more rigorously.” — Reuters

Some 40% of regions, cities and companies lack emissions-cut targets, survey says

A man cycles past a chimney giving off emissions in an industrial area of Singapore Jan. 5, 2016. — REUTERS

SINGAPORE — More than 40% of major companies, cities and regions have still not set any targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions, according to an annual “stocktake” released on Monday to gauge global progress in the fight against catastrophic climate change.

While more governments and enterprises have issued net-zero pledges since last year, their attention has been further diverted by wars, elections and economic challenges, leaving a significant “commitment gap”, said Net Zero Tracker, a coalition of research groups at the University of Oxford.

As countries prepare to submit new 2035 climate targets to the United Nations (UN), policy makers and company boardrooms are struggling to translate long-term goals into concrete action, with transition plans still lacking robustness and detail, the researchers said.

“A common theme throughout this report is the persistent lack of integrity across the board,” said John Lang, who heads Net Zero Tracker’s Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit.

The report looked at net-zero commitments and action plans from 198 countries, 706 sub-national regions, 1,186 cities and nearly 2,000 publicly-listed companies.

They found that while 1,750 entities out of more than 4,000 had made formal net-zero pledges, nearly 1,700 hadn’t set targets of any kind.

Among the listed firms, just under 60% had set net-zero targets, up 23% since last year’s report, with a significant rise in pledges from Asia.

The total number of companies with no emissions targets dropped to 495, from 734 last year. They include electric vehicle makers Tesla and BYD, Nintendo and Berkshire Hathaway, Net Zero Tracker said.

The report cited Costa Rica, Volvo and Google owner Alphabet as examples of “good practice” when it comes to implementing net-zero pledges.

However, only 5% of regions, cities and companies met all of Net Zero Tracker’s criteria for “robustness” — which include having detailed plans to phase out fossil fuels, it said.

Around half of the regions, cities and companies have failed to set targets for non-CO2 greenhouse gases like methane, and many firms also failed to account for emissions across their entire value chains or clarify how much they will rely on offsets to meet targets.

As many as 148 states covering 88% of the world’s total population have net-zero commitments, with Mexico, Iran and Azerbaijan, host of the COP29 climate talks in November, among the exceptions, the report said.

Technologies exist to triple the current levels of climate ambition, and the next round of nationally determined contributions (NDCs) submitted to the UN need to provide more details about how targets will be implemented, it concluded.

“There’s been some good progress, but we need a lot more,” said Catherine McKenna, a former Canadian environment minister who chairs a UN expert group on net-zero commitments. — Reuters

Iran’s Guards ban communications devices after strike on Hezbollah, security officials say

STOCK PHOTO | Image by Pongsawat Pasom from Unsplash

IRAN’S ELITE Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has ordered all members to stop using any type of communication devices after thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies used by its Hezbollah allies in Lebanon blew up in deadly attacks last week, two senior Iranian security officials told Reuters.

One of the security officials said a large-scale operation is underway by the IRGC to inspect all devices, not just communication equipment. He said most of these devices were either homemade or imported from China and Russia.

Iran was concerned about infiltration by Israeli agents, including Iranians on Israel’s payroll and a thorough investigation of personnel has already begun, targeting mid and high-ranking members of the IRGC, added the official, who declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter.

“This includes scrutiny of their bank accounts both in Iran and abroad, as well as their travel history and that of their families,” the security official said.

Iran’s Foreign, Defense and Interior Ministries were not immediately available to respond to the comments made by the security officials to Reuters.

In a coordinated attack, the pager devices detonated on Tuesday across Hezbollah’s strongholds. On Wednesday, hundreds of Hezbollah walkie-talkies exploded. The attacks killed 39 people and injured more than 3,000 people.

Lebanon and Hezbollah say Israel was behind the attacks. Israel has neither denied nor confirmed involvement.

The security official declined to give details on how the IRGC force, comprising 190,000 personnel, are communicating. “For now, we are using end-to-end encryption in messaging systems,” he said.

According to the same official, there is widespread concern among Iran’s ruling establishment. IRGC officials have reached out to Hezbollah for technical assessments, and several examples of exploded devices have been sent to Tehran for examination by Iranian experts.

MISSILE, NUCLEAR FACILITIES
Another Iranian official said the Islamic Republic’s main concern was the protection of the country’s nuclear and missile facilities, particularly those underground.

“But since last year, security measures at those sites have increased significantly,” he said in reference to stepped up measures after what Iranian authorities said was Israel’s attempt to sabotage Iran’s missile program in 2023. Israel has never commented on this.

“There has never, ever been such tight security and extreme measures in place as there are now,” he added, suggesting that security has been significantly increased beyond previous levels after the pager explosions in Lebanon.

The IRGC is a powerful political, military and economic force in Iran with close ties to the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Set up after the 1979 Islamic Revolution to protect the clerical ruling system, it has its own ground force, navy and air force that oversee Iran’s strategic weapons.

It exerts influence in the Middle East through its overseas operations arm, the Al Quds Force, by providing money, weapons, technology and training to allied groups: Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, Yemen’s Houthis and militias in Iraq.

Iran’s military uses a range of encrypted communication devices, including walkie-talkies, for secure communication, said the first Iranian source. While specific models and brands might vary, Iranian military communications equipment was often developed domestically or sourced from a combination of local and foreign suppliers, he said.

He said Iran’s armed forces have stopped using pagers for over two decades.

Tehran has developed its own military-grade radio transmissions through its defence industry to avoid reliance on foreign imports, especially due to Western sanctions imposed on Tehran over its nuclear program, he added.

However, in the past, Iran has imported communication devices from countries such as China and Russia and even Japan.

Iran and Israel have been locked in a shadow war for decades, with mutual allegations of sabotage and assassination plots.

The conflict, including between Israel and Hezbollah, has intensified in the past year in parallel with the Gaza war, which erupted after the Palestinian Hamas group attacked southern Israeli communities on Oct. 7.

Iran and Hezbollah have blamed Israel for assassinating Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah’s most senior military commander, Fuad Shukr, in Beirut a few hours earlier in July. Israel said it killed Shukr but it has not confirmed it was behind Haniyeh’s death.

Iran does not recognize Israel’s right to exist. Khamenei has previously called Israel a “cancerous tumor” that “will undoubtedly be uprooted and destroyed.”

Israel believes that Iran poses an existential threat. It also accuses Iran of secretly trying to develop nuclear weapons, though Iran denies seeking to build a nuclear bomb. — Reuters

Coolaire Consolidated, Inc. celebrates 55th anniversary

Coolaire Consolidated, Inc., the leading provider of the country’s most widely used refrigeration systems, just recently celebrated its 55th anniversary with a press conference and campaign launch held in Quezon City. Introducing its new campaign, “Preserving Your Dreams,” the event highlighted Coolaire’s journey in the refrigerated truck industry, its new tagline, and the company’s future innovations aimed at supporting Filipino businesses. In attendance were the Coolaire family together with guests from media.

A three-generation family-run engineering company primarily serving the food and pharmaceutical sectors in the Philippines, Coolaire Consolidated, Inc. was founded in 1969 by engineer Filadelfo Tugade, Jr. The company has since then grown under the leadership of his son Jerry Tugade, and grandsons Joel and Patrick. Coolaire has expanded from providing air-conditioning services for US government facilities to becoming the Philippines’ top provider of refrigerated vans and cold storage solutions. Coolaire attributes its longevity in the industry by making innovations, customer service, and after-sales central to its operations. Moving forward, Coolaire is ready to meet the growing demands of the food and logistics industry while focusing on sustainability and work values.

Life in the Philippines poses significant challenges to the agricultural and food industry. Our tropical climate requires consistent, dependable, and optimal controlled temperatures. Perishable goods like fruits, vegetables, meat, and seafood require proper equipment to maintain freshness and avoid spoilage. Refrigerated trucks help ensure these products reach markets or consumers in prime condition. As many Filipinos count on these industries for livelihood and opportunities for a brighter future, Coolaire aims to do its part in helping Filipinos achieve their dreams. Coolaire is there to ensure that the hard work of farmers to food suppliers and distributors reaches every Filipino table safe, fresh, and delectable as their producers intended.

An ISO-certified company, Coolaire Consolidated, Inc. currently has four business center locations throughout the Philippines, providing services for refrigeration, cold storage, rooftop and cab air-cons, and after-sales requirements of equipment. Business centers are located in Quezon City, General Trias in Cavite, Mandaue City in Cebu, and in Mindanao, Cagayan de Oro and Davao.

On its 55th year, Coolaire Consolidated, Inc. is a testament to the Filipino’s commitment to hard work, innovation, and love for the country. With the legacy that the Coolaire has built, the company looks forward to more decades of serving the Filipino nation.

For more information about Coolaire Consolidated, Inc., its services, or the “Preserving Your Dreams” campaign, visit its website and social media accounts or contact (02) 8372-8879 to 82.

Facebook: Coolaire Consolidated, Inc.
Instagram: coolaireph
Website: www.coolaireconsolidated.com

#Coolaire #PreservingYourDreams #Coolaire55thAnniversary

 

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e27 and Brainsparks join forces for Echelon Philippines 2024

In a groundbreaking collaboration, e27, renowned as Asia’s leading tech and startup media platform, joins forces with Brainsparks, the pioneering founder-centric Incubator+ in the Philippines. Together, they proudly present the inaugural Echelon Philippines 2024, scheduled to take place on Sept. 26th and 27th, 2024, at the SMX Convention Center.

Echelon, an annual startup and tech conference in the Asia-Pacific region headquartered in Singapore, is one of the largest and most acclaimed events of its kind. With over 90,000 attendees across its past 10 editions, Echelon is known for its impressive reach and impact within the tech industry. Notably, after a decade of successful installments, the conference is making its highly anticipated debut in the Philippines, marking a significant milestone in its growth and expansion.

Echelon Philippines 2024, a dynamic convergence of startup leaders, visionary entrepreneurs, and forward-thinking investors, will foster regional partnerships, investments, and business matching. The conference aims to showcase insights from thriving and emerging sectors, unveiling new avenues for growth and stimulating entrepreneurship. Additionally, it seeks to cultivate fresh talent, arming them with the necessary tools and resources to navigate existing markets and drive growth.

In addition, the conference will feature fireside chats, panel discussions, and keynote speeches from esteemed local and international speakers with the likes of Angeline Tham, Co-Founder & CEO of Angkas; Adriel Yong, Head of Investments of Ascend Network; Jojo Malolos, CEO of Paymongo; ER Rollan, Founder and CEO of Growsari; Mario Domingo, Global Chief Technology Officer of UBX Philippines; Visa Kannan, Managing Partner of Saison Capital; Gregorio Mantaring, Director of JG Digital Equity Ventures; Amanda Cua, Founder & CEO of Backscoop; Jay Fajardo, Executive Director of Ideaspace; Carlo Chen-Delantar, Co-Founder of Gobi-Core Philippine Fund; Rene Cuartero, Co-Founder & CEO of AHG Lab; John Aguilar, Founder & Host of The Final Pitch; and many more.

Aside from the insightful speakers, the conference will feature a diverse range of exhibitors who will showcase their distinctive products and services, opening up a realm of possibilities for attendees. Among these exhibitors are BuildHub, Smile API, InsightGenie, Gateway of Asia, AHG Lab, Zoho, Plug and Play, and Founders Launchpad. Each exhibitor brings their unique offerings, providing attendees with opportunities to explore innovative solutions and connect with industry experts.

Echelon Philippines 2024 promises to be a pivotal event, showcasing not only the most recent technological advancements but also offering crucial support for the growth of the local startup ecosystem.

One of the highlights of this event will be the Startup Pitch Competition, dedicated to spotlighting the most promising startups in the Philippines. This segment will provide a platform for local innovators to showcase their solutions to real-world problems faced by the country.

Join us in Manila this September for an extraordinary gathering of ideas, innovation, and inspiration at Echelon Philippines 2024. Secure your tickets here: https://e27co.e27.co/ECPH.

 

Spotlight is BusinessWorld’s sponsored section that allows advertisers to amplify their brand and connect with BusinessWorld’s audience by publishing their stories on the BusinessWorld Web site. For more information, send an email to online@bworldonline.com.

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Celebrate adulting wins at The Pasta Happy Hour with the new creamier and meatier Del Monte Carbonara Pasta Sauce

Del Monte Extra Creamy Carbonara Pasta Sauce

Raise those forks and toast to the small victories of adulting because it’s time for a celebration of epic proportions! The Del Monte Pasta Happy Hour is here, and it’s all about savoring those little wins with joy, and, of course, pasta. Whether it’s a recent work promotion, a personal milestone, or simply making it through a challenging week, there’s no better way to reward oneself than with the creamier and meatier goodness of the new Del Monte Extra Creamy Carbonara Pasta sauce!

Unveiling the New Creamier and Meatier Del Monte Carbonara Sauce

It’s not just any carbonara sauce — it’s a leap forward in creaminess and meaty goodness. With its new and improved taste, it’s the ticket to crafting mouthwatering and restaurant-quality pasta dishes that taste like a celebration. Versatile in sizes of 200g and 400g, convenient to buy from any grocery stores, and easy-to-use, whipping up a classic, Asian-flavored or fusion-style carbonara will surely impress when sharing adulting wins with the people who made it possible.

Pasta Happy Hour Highlighted: Fun, Games and Pasta Galore

Fun moments at the Del Monte Pasta Happy Hour

The Pasta Happy Hour was a by-invitation only fun event for promo winners and select media at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig and was live-streamed on Del Monte’s official social media accounts.

Exciting games at the Del Monte Pasta Happy Hour

One of the memorable activities was the pasta roulette for a chance to win exciting prizes, including exclusive Kitchenomics Cookbooks, mittens/aprons and kitchen equipment. There was a Pasta Gallery which featured pasta dishes and pizzas made of Del Monte Extra Creamy Carbonara. The Chicken & Mushroom Truffle, Beef Stroganoff, Salmon Creamed Spinach Lasagna, Shrimp & Pesto Cream Pasta and Four Cheese Mini Bacon Pizzas were highly-raved.

Fun moments at the Del Monte Pasta Happy Hour

A pasta-themed photo booth, rib-tickling performances of SPIT Manila, meet-and-greet with social media influencers and participants expressing their love for Del Monte Carbonara pasta enlivened the festivities. Ivan King, Del Monte’s Group Brand Manager, was also present for more fun and surprises.

Bring the Pasta Happy Hour experience at home, where every bowl of pasta is a tribute to achievements. So, here’s to celebrating adulting wins with Del Monte Extra Creamy Carbonara — because every success, big or small, deserves a delicious reward! To explore recipes, visit https://kitchenomics.com/.

 

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China urges vigilance against Taiwanese cyberattacks

REUTERS

BEIJING/TAIPEI – China’s national security ministry said on Monday a Taiwan military-backed hacking group called Anonymous 64 has been carrying out cyberattacks against targets in China, urging people to report “anti-propaganda sabotage.”

Taiwan’s defense ministry denied the allegations, saying China was the real disturber of the peace with its cyber attacks and military harassment.

Since the beginning of this year, Anonymous 64 – which China’s national security ministry said belonged to Taiwan’s cyber warfare wing – has sought to upload and broadcast “content that denigrates the mainland’s political system and major policies,” on websites, outdoor screens and network TV stations, it said in a blog post.

Taiwan frequently accuses Chinese groups of seeking to spread online disinformation or carry out cyberattacks across the democratically governed island. China claims sovereignty over Taiwan and has ramped up military and political pressure against over the past five years to assert its claims.

The Taiwan defense ministry’s Information, Communications and Electronic Force Command said China’s accusations were untrue.

“The current enemy situation and cyber threats are severe,” it said in a statement. “The Chinese communist military and forces that coordinate with it continue to use aircraft, ships and cyber attacks to harass Taiwan and are the originators of undermining regional peace.”

Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims.

The hacking group’s X account said it was set up in June 2023 and showed screenshots of efforts to broadcast videos likening Chinese President Xi Jinping to an emperor, marking the second anniversary of protests against Beijing’s strict COVID curbs and commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square demonstrations.

One video was an address from an Anonymous 64 member wearing the Anonymous hacking group’s Guy Fawkes mask in the style of the graphic novel and film V for Vendetta.

Neither the X site nor the blog post from China’s national security ministry said whether Anonymous 64 had any affiliation with the international hacking group.

Reuters was not immediately able to verify where the group was based or whether they had actually carried out the hacking attacks they were accused of.

In the blog post published on its official WeChat account, the national security ministry said its investigation into the group had found many of the websites Anonymous 64 claimed to have accessed were fake or had little no traffic. Posts showing it having infiltrated numerous university and media websites had been photoshopped, the ministry added.

The security ministry published screenshots of the group’s X account with heavily redacted text. It also said it had opened a case against three members of Taiwan’s cyber warfare wing.

“We advocate that netizens should not believe in or spread rumors and should promptly report cyberattacks or cases of anti-propaganda activity to the national security authorities,” the blog post said. – Reuters

Samsung invests $1.8 billion more in Vietnam for OLED manufacturing plant

HANOI – South Korean electronic manufacturer Samsung Display Co plans to invest $1.8 billion for a factory this year in northern Vietnam to produce OLED displays for automobiles and technology equipment, the Southeast Asian country said on Sunday.

The new facility for the manufacture of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays will be located in Yen Phong industrial park in Bac Ninh province east of Hanoi and close to an existing Samsung electronics plant, the government said in a statement released after the meeting between Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the General Director of Samsung Vietnam Choi Joo Ho.

Bac Ninh authorities and Samsung Display on Sunday also signed a memorandum of understanding of the project, local media reported, adding the investment would raise Samsung’s total investment in Bac Ninh to $8.3 billion from the current $6.5 billion.

Vietnam has over the last decade emerged as one of the most attractive production hubs for electronics companies.

According to Choi, Samsung has established six manufacturing plants, one research and development center, and one sales entity in Vietnam, with a cumulative investment of $22.4 billion. – Reuters

Regional victory brings Germany’s Scholz brief respite from growing pressure within party

A GERMAN national flag flies atop the illuminated Reichstag building in Berlin, Germany Dec. 9, 2022. — REUTERS

BERLIN – German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD) staved off the far-right in a regional election on Sunday, likely providing him only a brief reprieve from growing criticism of his leadership within his own party.

The center-left SPD staged a last minute comeback in the eastern state of Brandenburg, where they have ruled since reunification in 1990 and Mr. Scholz has his own constituency, to win the election on 30.9% of the vote.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which had topped polls for the past two years in the state, won 29.2%, according to provisional official results by the State Electoral Commissioner.

Still the AfD was up 5.7 percentage points since the last Brandenburg election five years ago, after it earlier this month became the first far-right party to win a state election in Germany since World War Two.

The AfD party continues to gain momentum as it capitalizes on worries about a cost-of-living crisis in Europe’s largest economy, irregular immigration and a possible escalation of the war in Ukraine due to German weapons deliveries to Kyiv.

Moreover, three-quarters of those who voted for the SPD did not do so out of conviction but rather to fend off the AfD, according to the exit poll published by broadcaster ARD, in the election with a record turnout of 72.9%.

Brandenburg’s SPD premier Dietmar Woidke avoided campaigning with Mr. Scholz, Germany’s least popular chancellor on record, and even criticized the federal coalition’s policies and constant bickering.

As such, the regional election results are unlikely to end the growing debate within the SPD over whether Scholz is the right person to lead the party into next year’s federal election given what critics call his hesitant leadership and poor communication skills.

Asked on Sunday if the SPD federal leadership was the right one, Mr. Woidke said this was not the right time to answer that question.

“But we must also learn the lessons from this election,” he said, noting the SPD needed to get closer to the people. “Especially as the federal level is concerned, there is a lot of catching up to do in the coming months and years.”

The SPD is polling just 15% at national level, down from 25.7% in the 2021 federal election. That is behind the AfD on around 20% and opposition conservatives on 32%.

Last week, the mayor of Munich, Germany’s third largest city, was the latest SPD party politician to suggest it should consider fielding the popular Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, 64, as its candidate for the 2025 elections.

Party insiders say Mr. Scholz, 66, who already announced his intention to run for a second term, is unlikely to step aside and more senior officials remain loyal to him.

 

MORE TENSIONS IN BERLIN

The junior partners in Mr. Scholz’s ideologically heterogeneous coalition suffered dismal performances in Sunday’s election which could further stoke tensions in Berlin.

The Greens fell below the 5% threshold to make it into the state parliament for the first time in two decades on 4.1%, while the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) scraped less than 1% of the vote.

“Either the traffic light coalition shows that it can draw the necessary conclusions from these elections, or it will cease to exist,” warned FDP Vice Wolfgang Kubicki. “This is a matter of a few weeks. We won’t wait until Christmas. We can’t put the country through that.”

Last week, FDP leader and Finance Minister Christian Lindner had called for an “autumn of decisions”, giving a cryptic answer when asked if his party would break up the coalition.

Still, analysts say the government is unlikely to fall apart given none of the three coalition parties would currently stand to gain from snap elections. Together they are currently polling at around 30% combined, less than the conservatives alone. – Reuters

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