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Lakers’ lack of effort

The Lakers very nearly snatched defeat from the throes of victory yesterday. Facing opponents with the second-worst record in the National Basketball Association, they ended the set-to with just about as much — or, to be more precise, as little — effort as they did from the opening tip and throughout. Only their evident roster superiority, coupled with the Wizards’ inherent ineptitude, saved them from an embarrassing outcome. All the same, their performance speaks volumes of their lack of readiness for the playoff wars ahead — that is, if they even qualify at all.

True, the Lakers were on the sixth and last stop of a grueling schedule that had them playing on the road for the last nine days. On the other hand, it wasn’t as if they faced a bevy of contenders along the way; of their competition, only the Bucks and the Pacers had winning records. And, viewed from all angles, the manner in which they did battle at Scotiabank Arena yesterday left much to be desired. They barely showed up, often going through the motions, clearly believing they could coast against the Wizards.

Admittedly, playing to the level of the competition isn’t unique to the Lakers; others with far better odds to claim the crown have likewise been afflicted with apparent ennui. That said, the Lakers cannot afford to slack off; they have neither the standing nor the body of work in their 2023-24 campaign to feel entitled. And with an outright postseason spot still in their sights, the last thing they want is to have their momentum halted by a mailed-in showing against certified patsies.

On paper, the Lakers managed to emerge victorious for the eighth time in their last nine contests. Yet, it’s telling that they remain exactly where they were when they began their winning skein: ninth in the bunched-up West and on course to hurdle two do-or-die affairs just to qualify for the playoffs. And with four of their final five encounters slated to be dogfights, they would do well to ensure they’re in the right mindset from here on. Else, disappointment will reign in La-La Land.

 

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and human resources management, corporate communications, and business development.

Taiwan quake to hit some chip output, disrupt supply chain, analysts say

REUTERS

BEIJING — Taiwan’s biggest earthquake in at least 25 years is likely to tighten supply of tech components such as display panels and semiconductors, analysts said, as manufacturers in the global tech powerhouse restore operations at affected facilities.

The powerful 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan’s eastern coast near Hualien County on Wednesday morning, killing nine people and injuring more than 1,000.

The island plays an outsized role in the global chip supply chain as it is home to the world’s largest chipmaker, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), which supplies chips to Apple and Nvidia.

The country also houses smaller chipmakers, including UMC, Vanguard International Semiconductor, and Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing.

Manufacturers in Taiwan have been hardening their factories against earthquakes for decades and many use automatic shutdown systems to minimize damage to their production and tools, analysts said.

“For a lot of the tools that go into automatic shutdown, it can take you no more than 36 or 48 hours to bring them back up and re-qualify them,” said Dan Hutcheson, vice chair at Canadian research firm TechInsights.

“When you look at the business side of it — will this affect quarterly revenues? — the odds are it won’t. But it’s going to be a real headache for everyone involved to get this stuff back up and running.” While most of their facilities are not close to the earthquake’s epicenter, many of the firms said they had evacuated some of their manufacturing plants and shut down some facilities for inspections.

TSMC said on Wednesday work at its construction sites, which has been halted, will resume after inspections, while impacted facilities are expected to restart production throughout the night.

It said overall tool recovery of its chip fabrication facilities reached more than 70% within 10 hours of the earthquake, with new fabs reaching more than 80%.

Nvidia, whose popular AI chips are manufactured by TSMC, said it had consulted with its manufacturing partners and the firm does not expect supply chain disruptions from the earthquake.

TSMC, whose facilities in Hsinchu, Tainan and Taichung have experienced varying degrees of disruptions, may have to delay some shipments and increase wafer input to compensate for this, consultancy Isaiah Research said in a note.

“Mitigating the impacts of the earthquake necessitates careful measures and time to restore production and uphold quality standards, presenting additional implications and obstacles,” they said.

TSMC’s Tainan operations for advanced process nodes, such as 4/5nm and 3nm, were temporarily suspended, they said. In addition, the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography equipment crucial for these advanced nodes was halted at the site for a period of 8-to-15 hours.

Barclays analysts said some highly sophisticated semiconductor fabs need to operate seamlessly 24/7 in a vacuum state for several weeks and the halts would disrupt the process, pushing up pricing pressure in the sector.

This could spillover to cause a “short-term hiccup” to electronics manufacturing in economies focused on upstream products, such as Japan and Korea, as well as economies focused on downstream products, such as China and Vietnam, they said.

The report noted that lower inventory levels among customers could allow Taiwanese and Korean chipmakers to raise prices.

Research firm TrendForce expected shipments of television panels would also be affected, as manufacturers have already been operating at near full capacity globally to meet solid demand, and as the earthquake was likely to tighten supplies.

It said TV panel prices were projected to continue rising into April, but the longer-term effect of the earthquake would be limited, unless Taiwanese panel makers are forced to suspend operations for more than a week. — Reuters

Chef Jose Andres says Israel targeted his food aid workers ‘systematically, car by car’

A PALESTINIAN man rides a bicycle past a damaged vehicle where employees from the World Central Kitchen (WCK), including foreigners, were killed in an Israeli airstrike in in Deir Al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, April 2, 2024. — REUTERS

WASHINGTON — Celebrity chef Jose Andres told Reuters in an emotional interview on Wednesday that an Israeli attack that killed seven of his food aid workers in Gaza had targeted them “systematically, car by car.”

Speaking via video, Mr. Andres said the World Central Kitchen (WCK) charity group he founded had clear communication with the Israeli military, which he said knew his aid workers’ movements.

“This was not just a bad luck situation where ‘oops’ we dropped the bomb in the wrong place,” Mr. Andres said.

“This was over a 1.5, 1.8 kilometers, with a very defined humanitarian convoy that had signs in the top, in the roof, a very colorful logo that we are obviously very proud of,” he said. “It’s very clear who we are and what we do.”

Mr. Andres said the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was aware of the convoy’s whereabouts. He called for investigations of the incident by the US government and by the home country of every aid worker that was killed. “They were targeting us in a deconflicting zone, in an area controlled by IDF. They know that it was our team moving on that road … with three cars,” he said.

The aid workers were killed when their convoy was hit shortly after they oversaw the unloading of 100 tons of food brought to Gaza by sea. Israel’s military expressed “severe sorrow” over the incident and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it unintentional.

Mr. Andres said there may have been more than three strikes against the aid convoy. He rejected Israeli and US assertions that the strike was not deliberate. “Initially, I would say categorically no,” Mr. Andres said when asked if he accepted that explanation.

“Even if we were not in coordination with the (Israel Defense Forces), no democratic country and no military can be targeting civilians and humanitarians,” he added.

Asked for comment on Mr. Andres’ remarks, an Israeli military spokesperson referred to prior comments by chief of staff Herzi Halevi in which he called the incident a grave mistake and said the attack “was not carried out with the intention of harming WCK aid workers.”

Mr. Andres said he was personally supposed to be there with his team but was not able to go back to Gaza at the time.

The US needs to do more to stop the war, he said. Mr. Andres spoke to President Joseph R. Biden on Tuesday. “The US must do more to tell Prime Minister Netanyahu this war needs to end now,” he said. He questioned Biden administration moves to supply aid in Gaza while also arming Israel.

“It’s very complicated to understand … America is going to be sending its Navy and its military to do humanitarian work, but at the same time weapons provided by America … are killing civilians,” he said.

The chef also wondered aloud how Mr. Netanyahu could wage a war to save Israeli hostages “when they may be dying under the rubble of the same weapons” Israel used against Palestinians. 

CAR BY CAR
Mr. Andres said his organization was still studying the safety situation in Gaza as it contemplates starting aid deliveries again.

Australian, British and American citizens were among seven World Central Kitchen aid workers killed as it was leaving its Deir al-Balah warehouse.

At least 196 humanitarian workers have been killed in Gaza since October, according to the United Nations, and Hamas has previously accused Israel of targeting aid distribution sites.

Mr. Andres described how he learned of the attack, saying first his group lost contact with its team in Gaza, and did not realize what happened until seeing images of the bodies.

He said that after the IDF attacked the first armored car, the team was able to escape and move to a second car which was then attacked, forcing them to move to the third car.

The aid workers tried to communicate to make clear who they were, he said, adding IDF knew they were in the area which it controlled.

Then the third car was hit, “and we saw the consequences of that.”

World Central Kitchen began last month moving food aid to starving people in northern Gaza via a maritime corridor from Cyprus, in collaboration with Spanish charity Open Arms. The charity coordinated closely with Israel’s military, Arab nations and others, Mr. Andres said earlier.

Mr. Biden said he was “outraged and heartbroken” by the deaths. The US sided with Mr. Netanyahu’s assertion that the strikes were not deliberate.

Founded by Jose Andres, 54, in 2010 after a Haiti earthquake, World Central Kitchen has tried to sidestep red tape around the world to rush aid to disaster-hit areas, including Ukraine after the Russian invasion. The conflict began after Hamas attacks on southern Israel on Oct. 7 that killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli figures.

Since then, much of the densely populated territory has been laid waste and most of its 2.3 million population displaced. More than 32,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to the health ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza.

Mr. Andres condemned the war as a whole.

“This it seems is a war against humanity itself. And you can never win that war. Because humanity eventually will always prevail,” he said. — Reuters

Majority of recent CO2 emissions linked to just 57 producers, report says

CHRIS LEBOUTILLIER-UNSPLASH

BRUSSELS/BERLIN — The vast majority of planet-warming carbon dioxide emissions since 2016 can be traced to a group of just 57 fossil fuels and cement producers, researchers said on Thursday.

From 2016 to 2022, the 57 entities including nation-states, state-owned firms and investor-owned companies produced 80% of the world’s CO2 emissions from fossil fuels and cement production, said the Carbon Majors report by non-profit think tank InfluenceMap.

The world’s top three CO2-emitting companies in the period were state-owned oil firm Saudi Aramco, Russia’s state-owned energy giant Gazprom, and state-owned producer Coal India, the report said.

Saudi Aramco, Coal India and Gazprom did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The report found most companies had expanded their fossil fuel production since 2015, the year when nearly all countries signed the UN Paris Agreement, committing to take action to curb climate change.

Since then, while many governments and companies have set tougher emissions targets and rapidly expanded renewable energy, they have also produced and burned more fossil fuels, causing emissions to rise.

Global energy-related CO2 emissions hit a record high last year, the International Energy Agency has said.

InfluenceMap said its findings showed that a relatively small group of emitters were responsible for the bulk of ongoing CO2 emissions, and it aimed to increase transparency around which governments and companies were causing climate change.

“It can be used in a variety of cases, ranging from legal processes seeking to hold these producers to account for climate damages, or it can be used by academics in quantifying their contributions, or by campaign groups, or even by investors,” InfluenceMap Program Manager Daan Van Acker said of the report.

A previous edition of the Carbon Majors database was cited last month in a legal case brought by a Belgian farmer against French oil and gas company TotalEnergies. The farmer argued that as one of the world’s top 20 CO2-emitting companies, TotalEnergies was partly responsible for damage to his operations from extreme weather.

The database was first launched in 2013 by the non-profit research organisation Climate Accountability Institute.

It combines companies’ self-reported data on coal, oil and gas production with sources like the US Energy Information Administration, national mining associations and other industry data.

Carroll Muffett, chief executive officer  of the non-profit Center for International Environmental Law said the database would improve investors’ and litigators’ ability to track companies’ actions over time. — Reuters

Russia says new South Korean sanctions are ‘unfriendly,’ will respond

UNSPLASH

MOSCOW — Russia considers South Korea’s decision to impose sanctions against Russian individuals and entities as an unfriendly move and will respond in due course, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday.

South Korea has imposed sanctions against two Russian vessels which it says were carrying military cargo to North Korea. Seoul said on Tuesday it had also sanctioned two Russian organizations and two Russian citizens linked to Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programs.

“This is an unfriendly move by Seoul and is deeply regrettable. The imposition of — I emphasize — illegitimate sanctions will have a negative impact on relations with Russia,” MS. Zakharova told reporters at her weekly briefing.

“Russia is developing good neighborly ties with friendly North Korea in accordance with the norms of international law, without harming the national security of (South Korea),” she added.

Ties between Moscow and Pyongyang have strengthened following North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s visit to Russia’s far east last year.

Last week Russia vetoed the annual renewal of a panel of experts monitoring enforcement of United Nations sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.

The US has accused North Korea of transferring weapons to Russia for use in its war in Ukraine. Both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied the accusations, but vowed last year to deepen military relations.

Seoul did not have a problem with ties between North Korea and Russia, South Korea’s foreign ministry spokesman Lim Soo-suk said.

“As the Russian side itself states, Russia-North Korea cooperation must be conducted in compliance of Security Council resolutions and international laws and in a way that does not adversely affect our security,” he told a briefing.

South Korea continues to work on its ties with Moscow, Mr. Lim said, adding: “We urge Russia to make sensible efforts as well.”

As a permanent member of the Security Council, Russia had voted to adopt multiple sanctions resolutions against the North until 2017 including bans on weapons trade, caps on supply of fuel and expulsion of North Korean workers.

Ms. Zakharova on Wednesday reiterated that Moscow remained committed to UN Security Council resolutions on North Korea “in their entirety” but added that sanctions on Pyongyang were not working as intended.

“It is clearly seen that endless sanctions are completely useless for achieving the designated goals. They lead to a financial and economic blockade of an entire state with all the ensuing consequences for the population,” she said.

Ms. Zakharova accused the United States of seeking to foment “instability” on the Korean peninsula.

“South Korea apparently lacks the immunity to protect itself from Washington’s external influence,” she added. — Reuters

Philippine Merchandise Trade Performance (Annual)

THE record trade deficit posted in 2023 has been revised upward to $52.59 billion from the $52.42 billion initially reported, the Philippine Statistics Authority said. Read the full story.

 

Philippine Merchandise Trade Performance (Annual)

BPI wins at the PR Awards 2024 for its Sustainability Communications Campaign

Awarding night at Pan Pacific Hotel in Singapore. Presenting the award is (leftmost) Prerna Suri, Sony Music Entertainment Vice President for Communications for Asia and the Middle East, to Joey Silvestre, BPI’s External Communications and Media Relations Officer.

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) won the bronze award at Marketing-Interactive’s 11th Annual PR Awards 2024 in Singapore, besting 18 other entries under the Best PR Campaign: Banking/Financial Services category. The bank was recognized for its Sustainability Awareness Month program in June 2023.

Presented by Marketing-Interactive, the PR Awards is the definitive awards programme for PR practitioners on both the client and agency side. Designed to recognize outstanding work in the PR and communications industry across Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Oceania regions, the awards feature 40 different categories, reflecting the diverse industry verticals and disciplines across the public relations spectrum. For this year, the PR Awards received over 400 entries from eligible participating regions.

“We are truly honored to be recognized as among the outstanding programs at this year’s PR Awards. This recognition further affirms BPI’s excellence in pioneering programs that impact the people and planet sustainably, aligned with our vision to help build a better Philippines – one family, one community at a time,” said Elena Torrijos, BPI Head of Public Affairs and Communications.

Aligned with BPI’s Sustainability Strategy, the Sustainability Awareness Month celebration featured the Green and Beyond Sustainability Fair in Glorietta and a blend of activities crafted to engage the target audience and inspire them to do more in living a more sustainable life. The mounted activities during the event raised awareness of the bank’s environmental, digital, and financially inclusive products and services among the public.

Moreover, BPI’s #FinancialEducationFridays public service awareness campaign was a finalist in the Best Use of Social Media category. This ongoing campaign disseminates fundamental banking and financial management concepts through the bank’s social media accounts.

BPI’s “Want to Withdraw? Do it Yourself.” was launched to communicate an important reminder to the bank’s clients about keeping their accounts safe.

“In an era where digitalization has reached its peak, our mission goes beyond merely granting clients access to their accounts. We are also committed to empowering and educating them to navigate the digital space securely, ensuring that they safeguard their online presence against emerging threats and vulnerabilities,” Torrijos added.

 

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Aura Ruz Medical Group can help you get summer-ready with its newest skincare treatments

Strut the beach walk and reveal a more radiant you this summer season with the help of the Aura Ruz Medical Group.

Established in 2015, Aura Ruz has been helping men and women of all ages achieve their most beautiful and confident self with its extensive array of advanced treatments designed to enhance skin health and beauty.

“At Aura Ruz, we are dedicated to providing our clients with the most advanced skincare solutions available,” says President and CEO Aura Xeryl R. Abad. “With our expanded range of services and top-of-the-line equipment, we aim to empower individuals to look and feel their best, enhancing their confidence and quality of life.”

This summer, Aura Ruz offers a more comprehensive suite of services tailored to meet the diverse needs of its clientele. From combating signs of aging to addressing various skin concerns, it offers solutions that deliver exceptional results with minimal downtime.

Picosure Pro: Love the Skin You’re In 

Achieve smooth, youthful-looking skin by stimulating collagen and elastin production through the help of Picosure Pro. This treatment effectively removes unsightly pigment and reduces wrinkles, acne scars, and fine lines. Within just a few sessions, see an overall improvement of your skin tone and texture, resulting in a brighter and more radiant complexion. Picosure Pro is also effective in removing tattoos.

A Lifted Look

To achieve perfectly lifted skin, try the Ulthera Therapy, a non-invasive procedure that utilizes ultrasound energy to stimulate collagen production, resulting in firmer, more supple-looking skin. You can complement this with Exosomes Therapy, which renews and revitalizes your skin through cellular repair and regeneration.

For the best, natural-looking results, Thermage FLW and Thermage CPT helps tighten sagging skin by using advanced radiofrequency technology.

A Radiant Glow

Beam with pride and confidence by achieving the most stunning complexion. Try the Nu Era Tight treatment, which uses non-invasive radiofrequency to target wrinkles and fine lines. Pair this with Vivace, which stimulates collagen production and skin elasticity.

To minimize imperfections and renew your skin’s surface, the Dermablate Laser Resurfacing is ideal. Achieve smoother, more radiant skin in just a few sessions. Then, you can enhance your skin tone and texture while reducing the appearance of pores with the Clear and Brilliant Laser Therapy, a gentle yet effective treatment suitable for all skin types.

Sculpt and Tone

The Exilis Ultra 360 is a revolutionary treatment that combines radiofrequency and ultrasound energies for optimal results. Achieve ultimate body contouring and skin tightening with this painless therapy.

Skincare for Self-Care

You can also combat acne scars and other skin imperfections with Advalight, a cutting-edge photodynamic therapy that targets bacteria and promotes skin healing.

Medisol, also known as Medical Grade Light Therapy, and the Aura Ruz Dome treatments are great for promoting overall skin wellness and rejuvenation.

Discover the transformative power of advanced skincare technology at Aura Ruz. Schedule your consultation today.

 

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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Tropical forest loss eased in 2023 but threats remain, analysis shows

JUSTIN CLARK-UNSPLASH

SAO PAULO – Tropical forest loss declined last year, but other indicators show that the world’s woodlands remain under tremendous pressure, according to an analysis released on Thursday by the Global Forest Watch monitoring project.

Destruction of forests helps drive global climate change. Because trees absorb climate-warming carbon dioxide and store it as carbon in their wood, that greenhouse gas is released when the wood rots or burns. This destruction also imperils biodiversity because of how many plant and animal species call forests home.

Here are key takeaways from Global Forest Watch’s annual forest loss data.

 

TROPICAL FORESTS FARED BETTER

The loss of primary forests – those untouched by people and sometimes known as old-growth forests – in the tropics declined 9% last year compared to 2022.

But Global Forest Watch researchers said the destruction remains stubbornly high. The world last year lost about 37,000 square kilometers (14,000 square miles) of tropical primary forest, an area nearly as big as Switzerland and larger than the US state of Maryland.

Global Forest Watch is a project of the Washington-based nonprofit research organization World Resources Institute, using satellite imagery. Most of the data is compiled by University of Maryland researchers.

Declining forest loss in Brazil and Colombia was largely offset by greater losses elsewhere, Global Forest Watch director Mikaela Weisse told a press briefing.

“The world took two steps forward, two steps back,” Ms. Weisse said.

Scientists consider tropical primary forests to be among the most precious as their lush vegetation is the most densely packed with carbon. These forests also are treasure troves of biodiversity. The Amazon rainforest, for instance, is home to at least 10% of Earth’s known species.

Last year’s tropical primary forest loss caused greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to half of US emissions caused by the burning fossil of fuels annually, Ms. Weisse said.

Brazil, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Bolivia topped the ranking of tropical countries with the most primary forest loss. That is in spite of destruction in Brazil falling 36%, as President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva pursued aggressive conservation policies, particularly regarding the Amazon, Ms. Weisse said.

Neighboring Colombia experienced a 49% drop in forest loss. President Gustavo Petro made environmental preservation a key part of the peace process with armed groups that dominate jungle areas, Ms. Weisse noted.

Forest destruction in the Democratic Republic of Congo remained relatively stable but high at around 5,000 square km (1,930 square miles).

In third place, Bolivia experienced record-high primary forest loss for the third year in a row, with destruction surging 27%. Agricultural production and fires drove most of the loss.

 

DEFORESTATION INCREASED

Deforestation globally rose 3.2% in 2023, according to the report.

Forest loss includes natural destruction such as wildfires, pests and windstorms of woodlands that may grow back. Deforestation refers to people permanently converting woodlands to other uses such as agriculture and is harder to measure.

More than 140 countries in 2021 committed to end deforestation by the end of the decade, a goal that requires huge declines in destruction each year, World Resources Institute forests director Rod Taylor said.

“We are far off track and trending in the wrong direction when it comes to reducing global deforestation,” Mr. Taylor said.

Brazil, Indonesia and Bolivia led in deforestation, followed closely by the Democratic Republic of Congo.

 

CANADA WILDFIRES OFF THE CHARTS

Tree cover loss increased 24% in all forests globally in 2022, mostly because of enormous wildfires in Canada.

Canada’s forest loss of more than 80,000 square km (30,900 square miles) was three times higher than any year on record, offsetting a decline in forest loss in the rest of the world.

“That is one of the biggest anomalies on record,” University of Maryland researcher Matt Hansen said.

While deforestation in the tropics is a human-caused driver of climate change, the fires in Canada are more of a symptom of global warming, which leads to the hotter, drier conditions that fuel bigger blazes.

“It’s a big deal, and it’s a cautionary tale for climate impacts to fire,” Mr. Hansen said. – Reuters

Study finds mercury contamination in Brazil’s Yanomami people

STOCK PHOTO | Image by LhcCoutinho from Pixabay

RIO DE JANEIRO – Indigenous people from nine villages in Brazil’s Yanomami territory were found to be contaminated by mercury, with those living closer to illegal gold mining sites presenting higher levels of contamination, a study released on Thursday found.

The study by Brazil’s state-run Fiocruz institute collected hair samples from about 287 Indigenous people in October 2022. They all tested positive for contamination by mercury, with around 11% of the samples presenting high levels of the heavy metal, which is used by wildcat miners in Brazil to separate gold from ore and earth.

The Yanomami, estimated to number about 28,000, live in Brazil’s largest Indigenous reservation, in the northern states of Roraima and Amazonas. They face a humanitarian crisis due to the invasion of their lands by illegal miners that has caused malnutrition and deaths.

“This scenario of vulnerability exponentially increases the risk of illness in children living in the region,” specially in those under five years-old, Paulo Basta, who coordinated the study, said in a statement.

Indigenous people with higher levels of mercury presented cognitive deficits and more often presented nerve damage on their bodies’ extremities, according to the study.

Over 80% of those who participated in the study told researchers they had had malaria at some point.

Over 25% of children under 11 in the study were anemic, and almost half had acute malnutrition. Around 80% were shorter than expected for their age, suggesting chronic malnutrition as well, the study found.

All of the 47 samples of fish collected by Fiocruz researchers also tested positive for mercury contamination.

“Our children are being born sick. Women are sick, our old people are sick! Our people are dying because of mining,” Dario Kopenawa, head of the Yanomami’s Hutukara Association said in a press statement that accompanied the study. – Reuters

‘Staunch’ friend of Taiwan’s to become top US diplomat in Taipei, sources say

WINSTON CHEN-UNSPLASH

TAIPEI – A staunch friend of Taiwan’s will this summer take over as the top US diplomat in Taipei, three sources briefed on the matter said, roughly coinciding with the island’s new president taking office at a time of rising tensions with China.

Like most nations, the United States has no formal diplomatic ties with Chinese-claimed Taiwan, but is its most important international backer and arms supplier, to Beijing’s anger. China has ramped up political and military pressure against Taiwan.

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media, told Reuters that Raymond Greene, currently deputy chief of mission at the US embassy in Tokyo, will replace Sandra Oudkirk as director of the American Institute in Taiwan, or AIT.

AIT handles relations between the United States and Taiwan in the absence of official relations. Career diplomat Greene, who was deputy head of AIT before going to Japan, will be the de facto U.S. ambassador in Taipei.

AIT referred questions to the US State Department, which did not respond to a request for comment.

“Greene is viewed here as a staunch friend of Taiwan’s and knows Taiwan well,” one of the sources said.

A second source said Greene, who speaks both Japanese and Mandarin, would also be able to serve as a useful conduit between Taiwan and Japan, given Tokyo’s concerns about possible Chinese military action against the island.

Greene will be assuming his new role as Taiwan’s new president, Lai Ching-te, takes charge. Lai, who won election in January but is not inaugurated until May 20, is detested by China which views him as a dangerous separatist and has rebuffed his offers of talks.

Lai says only Taiwan’s people can decide their future, and rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims.

It was not clear exactly when Greene would take up his role, but the sources said it would be this summer when Oudkirk’s term is up. She took the role in July 2021.

Greene was previously the U.S. consul general in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu and Japan’s Okinawa, home to a US military base that lies not far from Taiwan.

In 2021, shortly before moving from Taipei to Tokyo, Greene said in a speech that when he first worked in Taiwan two decades ago, everything AIT did related back to cross-Taiwan Strait issues and how Taiwan fit into the US-China relationship.

But over the preceding three years, efforts had been overwhelmingly focused on deepening ties and working together to help other countries develop their economies and democratic institutions, he said.

“The United States no longer sees Taiwan as a ‘problem’ in our relations with China, we see it as an opportunity to advance our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific and also as a beacon to peoples around the world who aspire for a more just, safe, prosperous, and democratic world,” added Greene.

China considers Taiwan the most sensitive and important topic in its relations with the United States.

The United States holds its presidential election in November, in what could be another uncertain factor for US-Taiwan relations, though Taiwan’s foreign ministry said last week it believed US support would remain unchanged no matter who won. – Reuters

 

Apple services restored after brief outages globally

UNSPLASH

Issues with Apple services including its App Store, video and music streaming platforms Apple TV+ and Apple Music, were resolved after outages that affected users across multiple regions, the company’s website showed.

Issues were also reported on Apple’s fitness service Apple Fitness+, as well as Arcade, Audiobooks, Books and Podcasts, according to Apple’s system status pages for several countries reviewed by Reuters.

Apple services were down for users in countries including the United States, Britain, India, China and Australia. The outage began at about 2213 GMT on Wednesday and lasted for more than an hour, the status pages showed.

More than 6,400 users flagged issues they faced while using the App Store, and both Apple TV+ and Apple Music had over 1,000 reports at the peak of the outage in the United States, according to Downdetector, which tracks outages by collating status reports from several sources, including users.

Apple did not respond to a Reuters request for comment on the cause of the outages. – Reuters

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