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Speaker cites bigger cancer benefit

House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez — PHILIPPINE STAR/KRIZ JOHN ROSALES

AS THE FOURTEENFOLD increase in Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth) breast cancer benefits package takes effect this month, Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez stressed the need to expand its coverage for earlier detection of the disease.

In a statement on Sunday, Mr. Romualdez welcomed the increase in PhilHealth’s “Z benefit” for breast cancer patients from P100,000 to P1.4 million.

“The decision of PhilHealth to increase the benefit package for breast cancer patients is a commendable move as it will undoubtedly alleviate the financial burden faced by patients and their families during their battle against this life-threatening disease,” he said.

The PhilHealth increase was approved in February and takes effect this month as part of the National Women’s Month celebration.

It is important, the Speaker said, for the benefit “to cover the cost of cancer screenings, enabling early detection and intervention” of the disease. At present, this benefit is only offered at 18 hospitals in the country. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

President’s visit to Basilan encourages business groups 

PHILIPPINE STAR/KRIZ JOHN ROSALES

COTABATO CITY — Business groups said on Sunday that President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s visit in Basilan, a former bastion of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group, provides the province a much needed boost to encourage trade in the area.

On Saturday, the President was in Barangay Mahatallang in Sumusip, Basilan to witness the destruction of 550 unlicensed firearms seized in the province.

“That was something so good for our efforts to entice investors from other regions in the country and from abroad to come to Basilan. That showed that peace, indeed, is spreading around Basilan now,” Mohammad Omar Pasigan, chairman of the Bangsamoro Board of Investments (BBOI), told reporters here on Sunday. 

The disposal of the firearms culminated the campaign called the Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) Management Program, which seeks to rid the six provinces and three cities of the Bangsamoro region of loose firearms previously used in rebellion and outlawed activities.

“The destruction of hundreds of unlicensed firearms in a former stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf, in the presence of President Marcos, is a good development, something so inspiring for us,” Clarito B. San Juan, a senior member of the Lamitan City Business Chamber in Basilan, said.

Accompanying Mr. Marcos in Sumisip were Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., Special Assistant to the President Ernesto F. Lagdemeo, Defense Secretary Gilbert C. Teodoro, Chief Minister Ahod B. Ebrahim of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and senior officials of the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police. 

Mr. Teodoro and Mr. Galvez are both staunch supporters of the SALW campaign that the office of Basilan Gov. Hadjiman Hataman Salliman, Brig. Gen. Allan V. Luzon of the Army’s 101st Infantry Brigade, the Basilan Provincial Police Office and the League of Mayors in the province launched last year. – John Felix M. Unson 

Early warning systems, digital approach needed for cities’ climate resilience 

LOCAL government units (LGUs) and tech companies are one in supporting disaster early warning systems and digital approaches to climate-related hazards in order for cities to bolster their climate resilience.

This was the consensus as Komunidad presented its innovative approach to using data for disaster preparedness in a recent panel discussion and webinar hosted by Liveable Cities Philippines. 

“We have a lot of private sector data coming from many organizations. But no one is taking the time to consolidate it because we are used to the traditional way of buying the equipment and just monitoring it,” Komunidad founder and Chief Executive Officer Felix R. Ayque told the forum. 

One of Komunidad’s applications for harnessing data to prepare its citizens against natural disasters is the Resilient and Integrated Systems for the Urban Population (iRISE UP) system in partnership with Quezon City. 

IRISE UP provides real-time weather updates to early warning systems and carbon footprint assessment, all available on their website and application. 

All barangays in Quezon City have emergency operation centers and physical risk assessments converted from document to digital, similar to the process of Project Noah but taking a more city-level approach. 

One of its features is if a red alert arises, it automatically posts warnings on LGUs’ social media pages without human assistance. 

Apart from urban cities, Komunidad proved it can be done in remote coastal towns like Calaguas Island with the Tech4Ed Center Project and Climate-Smart Siargao Project. 

Meanwhile, Angel Gulmatico, head of Technology Innovation at Globe Telecom, presented project CALF (Cow at a lesser footprint) which provides temporary mobile communication services including voice, SMS, and mobile data. 

In the same forum, Miko Ignacio, head of Acceleration and Innovation Group at M360, cited the impact of Globe offering utilized free SMS blasts for 30 days to all LGUs in Odette-stricken areas covering at least 83 towns. 

In the talks of local government’s mitigation efforts against climate disaster, Naga City Mayor Nelson S. Legacion shared its Center for Safety and Resilience (CESAR) facility that will apply data-driven management and monitoring. 

“Our philosophy when it comes to CESAR is based on the need for the accuracy of our data and information to guide most effective governance processes,” he said. 

CESAR has three technology development methodologies that include infrastructure systems, ComCen Systems, and Data Centers. 

For her part, Makati City Mayor Marlen Abigail “Abby” Binay-Campos said prioritization is the key to mitigating climate-related hazards in the city, but it should be an effort pursued by neighboring territories.   

Makati’s dredging activity to mitigate flooding, for example, would not be fully achieved if neighboring cities cannot prioritize and fund this kind of project, she said. – Aubrey Rose Inosante

Biado wins 2024 WPA Predator World 10-Ball Championship

FROM being a golf caddy and a high school dropout when he was just a poor, famished and a wide-eyed 13-year-old dreaming big dreams, Carlo Biado, now 40, has gone a long, long way.

And on this one momentous Sunday and under the bright lights of the cavernous Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Mr. Biado added another feat to his long list of accomplishments with an electric 2024 WPA Predator World 10-Ball Championships conquest.

Mr. Biado showed little to no mercy against all the rivals he faced, including World No. 2 Fedor Gorst of the United States in the semis and a dazed Naoyuki Oi of Japan, whom the former smashed, 3-1 (4-1, 3-4, 4-2, 4-1), in claiming the crown, the top purse worth $75,000, or a cool P4.2 million, and the title as the best in the sport.

It came just over a month after he reigned supreme in the Chinese Taipei Open in Taipei City.

It was his second world title after he also ruled world nine-ball seven years ago.

That was apart from his other triumphs that included his 2021 US Open victory, three Southeast Asian Games gold medals and a World Games conquest also in 2017.

Most important of all, his triumph completed the Filipinos’ sweep of the two world 10-ball crowns with Chezka Centeno owning the other one after her magnificence in Klagenfurt, Austria in October last year.

Mr. Oi tried to put up a fight though but he couldn’t find his rhythm and was just too befuddled by Mr. Biado’s superb shot making.

When it was over, Mr. Biado raised his fists in jubilation, shook hands with his bedazzled Japanese foe, acknowledged the loud, appreciative crowd including a small but animated group of Filipinos and pointed to the heavens in gratitude for all the blessings he received.

Dreams did come through for him.

Istonia’s Dennis Gray and American Fedor Gorst won the bronze medal while  Japan’s Naoyuki Oi is the silver medallist and Carlo Biado the gold medal winner. — Joey Villar

UE head coach Jerry Yee suspended for the rest of UAAP Season 86

UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST COACH JERRY YEE — UAAP MEDIA TEAM

THE UNIVERSITY Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) has suspended University of the East (UE) head coach Jerry Yee for the rest of the ongoing Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament.

The UAAP said the decision was based on a complaint of one its member schools “on account of conduct violative of the purposes of the UAAP, a platform for Member Universities to foster camaraderie and fair play.”

Mr. Yee’s suspension will not affect UE’s win-loss record and he may still train Lady Warriors and coach the team in non-UAAP events. “After a thorough deliberation by the UAAP Board of Managing Directors (BMD), a recommendation was elevated to the Board of Trustees (BOT). On Feb. 29, 2024, the BOT concurred with the BMD findings that coach Yee had engaged in acts inconsistent with the league’s objectives,” the UAAP said.

The UAAP did not disclose the said member school that raised the complaint but the issue apparently stemmed on Mr. Yee’s departure from his former team Adamson, according to his own statement. Mr. Yee blasted the “unfair” UAAP decision and cleared once and for all that there was “no ethical breach” with regards his “mutual” Adamson exit and later on appointment as the UE head coach.  “I express my utmost disappointment with the UAAP board’s decision to suspend me for the rest of the season,” said Mr. Yee.

“I maintain that there was no ethical breach in my decision to accept UE’s head coaching job because it was a mutual parting of ways for both Adamson and me. Unfortunately, this career decision of mine has been met with vitriol at the late onset, born out of vindictiveness, ironically from an institution that prides itself on instilling Catholic virtues and teachings.”

Mr. Yee, who also mentors two-time champion College of St. Benilde in the NCAA, authored Adamson’s UAAP Final Four return in Season 85 after a nine-year drought before his appointment as head coach of Farm Fresh in the PVL.

That development led to a conflict between two parties as Adamson’s backer, Akari, also plays in the PVL — resulting into their separation last June as per Mr. Yee. 

Shortly after, Mr. Yee found a new home in UE, which he promises to help in turning its fortunes around in the UAAP volleyball despite a dilemma that snowballed into the ongoing season where the Lady Warriors are showcasing some potential for the first time in years.

“My commitment to restoring a winning culture to the UE Lady Warriors remains steadfast despite the tremendous disadvantage we now face as a team without its leader. Nonetheless, I will continue to perform my duties as coach to the Lady Warriors despite this unmerited decision by the board,” he concluded. — John Bryan Ulanday

UPHSD routs SSC-R, tops elimination round for twice-to-beat advantage

UNIVERSITY of Perpetual Help (UPHSD) unleashed a 45-point barrage in the third quarter as it came back to smash San Sebastian College-Recoletos (SSC-R), 111-80, yesterday and claim the top seed and twice-to-beat Final Four bonus in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 99 junior basketball at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.

Down by 10 points after the first canto and five after the half, the Junior Altas went on a scoring rampage behind the prolific duo of Jan Pagulayan and Amiel Acido as they closed out the elimination round alone on top with an 8-1 record.

It also sealed the John Cleopas-mentored side the critical incentive in the semis where it could face SSC-R, which fell to No. 4 with a 6-3 mark, again.

The game also produced scoring feats for UPHSD as it set season-highs in total points scored by the winning team in a game and points in a quarter with that spectacular 45-point third quarter splurge. But what made it more special was the Junior Altas continued to close in on a dream breakthrough high school cage crown. When the smoke of battle dissipated, Mr. Pagulayan finished with a game-high 25 points while UPHSD captain Amiel Acido dropped a massive double-double effort of 23 points and 20 rebounds.

Mr. Acido’s mammoth game on both ends likewise pushed him on cusp of claiming his first MVP award after coming close a year ago when he ended up finishing in the Mythical First Team and a Defensive Player of the Year award to boot.

High-leaping and slam-dunking Lebron Jhames Daep stole some of the spotlight and came through with 16 points, nine caroms and two blocks.

In another result, Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) bested Jose Rizal University (JRU), 63-47, to finish its campaign with a 4-5 mark. The Light Bombers ended up with a 3-6 card. — Joey Villar

The scores:

First Game

UPHSD 111 — Pagulayan 25, Acido 23, Daep 16, Gojo Cruz 11, Borja 11, Diaz 7, Roluna 6, Callangan 3, Valencia 3, Baldoria 2, Cristino 2, Ayon 1, Asuncion 1m, Panelo 0, Bernaldez 0

SSC-R 80 — Penaverde 20, Danag 19, Porcadas 9, Bonus 8, Melano 7, Marasigan 5, Bamba 4, Jimenez 3, Casan 2, Herrera 2, Apostol 1, Rodriguez 0, Bautista 0, Rosales 0

Quarterscores: 20-30; 43-48; 88-69; 111-80

Second Game

EAC 63 — Mariquit 13, Campana 12, Castillo 10, Coronel 10, Canonigo 7, Asay 5, Luna 4, Graham 2, Razo 0, Bautista 0, Jawali 0, Rodriguez 0, Tecson 0, Lumbo 0

JRU 47 — Piuneda 19, Enal 7, Satparam 7, Rivera 4, Ferrer 3, Natividad 3, Abequibel 2, Guarino 2, To 0, Rico 0, Pinzon 0, Teruel 0, Taparan 0, Almario 0

Quarterscores: 15-20; 35-25; 44-37; 63-47

Lionel Messi scores twice as Inter Miami beats Orlando City

LUIS Suarez scored the first two goals of his MLS career and provided the final pass on two more, Lionel Messi added two goals, and host Inter Miami romped to a 5-0 victory over Orlando City on Saturday afternoon.

Robert Taylor added the other goal for unbeaten Miami (2-0-1, 7 points) in what was easily its most lopsided result of the young season. Julian Gressel made the final pass on Suarez’s two goals, both coming inside the opening 11 minutes.

Drake Callender made two saves to keep his second clean sheet for the Herons, who for the first time offered the kind of dominant performance that matched their status as oddsmakers’ MLS Cup favorites.

Pedro Gallese failed to make a save for Orlando (0-1-1, 1 point), which suffered its worst regular-season defeat since a 5-0 loss at New York City FC in late July 2021.

The Lions have now lost two games when Messi plays for the Herons by a seven-goal margin, having fallen 3-1 in the round of 32 of the Leagues Cup back on Aug. 2. — Reuters

Eastridge survives Manila Southwoods’ big charge, keeps lead

MANOLO FORTICH, Bukidnon — Jhondie Quibol softened Manila Southwoods’ day-long charge with a blistering seven-under-par 65 at the Del Monte Golf Club on Sunday, helping Eastridge take a five-point lead into the final round of the 75th Philippine Airlines Men’s Interclub golf team championships.

Mr. Quibol, one of six Davao-born players in the squad, shot a tournament and personal-best 43 points as Eastridge held on to keep the driver’s seat with 323 points.

Mr. Quibol left his hometown last year to join the Eastridge golf program under general manager Gimo Asuncion. He said he plans to turn pro next year.

Alexander Bisera backed up Mr. Quibol with 36 points while Edison Tabalin added 33.

Defending champion Manila Southwoods brought in the big guns in the third round in the hope of seizing the momentum.

It nearly did.

Ryan Monsalve fired 39 while Aidric Chan and Lanz Uy chipped in 38 apiece as Southwoods found no need for Masaichi Otake’s 36 points.

The 115 was the best score by any team this week, auguring well for Manila Southwoods’ bid for a ninth championship.

“We played very well today, my last man scored even par and did not count,” said Southwoods non-playing captain Thirdy Escano. “Another one like today should be able us to do the job. Let’s hope for the best.”

Del Monte had a disappointing result in its home course, shooting 98 points to slip further in third place with 309, 14 points behind Eastridge.

Raul Miñoza and Julius Bautista carded 35 and 34, respectively but Romeo Jaraula could only come up with 29 points.

South Pacific Davao was a far fourth with 264 with Nino Villacencio scoring 36 points.

With only five points separating Eastridge and Manila Southwoods, a dramatic showdown looms at Pueblo de Oro on Monday.

Eastridge has Ronel Taga-an, Jeffren Lumbo, Chris John Remata, and Gary Sales while Southwoods boasts Shinichi Suzuki, Zach Castro, Miko Granada, and Otake.

“Final round will be exciting,” said Mr. Asuncion. “Super round from our player Jhondie Quibol. We battled all day. One more day. Proud of team effort.

Also heading to a climactic conclusion is the close fight in the Founders division.

Cebu Country Club stayed on top with 290 points but close on its heels was Valley Golf with 286. Running third with 282 was Pueblo de Oro which made the biggest move with 103 points.

Julius Pierre Neri led CCC with 33 with Mark Anthony Dy and Peter Tyler Po adding 32 and 31, respectively.

Valley leaned on the 35 of Tom Marcelo, 32 of Marvin Mendoza, and 30 of Meynard Ko.

Pueblo, on the other hand, drew 37 points from Mark Benedict Javier and a pair of 33s from Seve Gonzales and Gerard Arriola.

Also with an outside chance to win are Del Monte Team 2 with 279 and Forest Hills with 274.

40,000 points

As expected, LeBron James canned his 40,000th point against the Nuggets yesterday. With his regular season tally at 39,991 and a double-figure-scoring streak of 1,204 matches dating back to 2007 in his pocket, he was certain to hit the mark in front of Lakers fans at the Crypto.com Arena. And, sure enough, it took him just six shots and 18 seconds short of 10 minutes of exposure to achieve the milestone. Interestingly, the capacity crowd of 18,997 was already on its feet prior to his drive, their mobile phones out and ready to capture the moment.

James would go on to score 17 more markers (along with four boards, nine dimes, and three swipes) in 37 minutes of action — his numbers a reflection of his remarkable consistency even as he looks to climb more mountains. He has already said he plans to continue toiling beyond his 21st year, and for as long as he puts up All-Star stats, there’s no telling how much his aggregate will be when all is said and done. It’s a testament to his longevity that he’s already 1,630 points past erstwhile career leader Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and a whopping 11,675 ahead of second-running Kevin Durant among active players.

If there’s any black mark to James’ feat yesterday, it’s that he failed to will the Lakers to victory. For some reason, the Nuggets simply have their number; including the egg they laid in the immediate past Western Conference Finals, they’ve lost to the reigning National Basketball Association champions eight straight times. As with most other encounters against their rivals during the streak, they managed to stay close until the final minutes, only to fold in the face of relentless reliability. They invariably seem to be up against unfailing confidence; the Core Four of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., and Aaron Gordon have such a surfeit of self-assurance to the point of producing exactly what’s needed when needed.

All the same, James was appropriately mindful of the extent of his accomplishment in the aftermath. He stands alone in pro hoops annals, and for all the arguments on the undefeated nature of Father Time, he’s doing his damned best to delay the inevitable with aplomb.

 

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.

UK-owned ship sunk by Houthi militants threatens Red Sea environment

CARGO SHIP Rubymar, carrying Ukrainian grain, is seen in the Black Sea off Kilyos near Istanbul, Turkey Nov. 2, 2022. — REUTERS

ADEN, Yemen — A United Kingdom (UK)-owned ship attacked by Houthi militants last month sank in the Red Sea, the US military confirmed on Saturday, as it echoed a warning from Yemen’s internationally recognized government that the vessel’s cargo of hazardous fertilizer posed a risk to marine life.

The Belize-registered Rubymar is the first vessel lost since the Houthis began targeting commercial ships in November. Those drone and missile assaults have forced shipping firms to divert ships to the longer route around southern Africa, disrupting global trade by delaying deliveries and sending costs higher.

The sinking bulk carrier also “presents a subsurface impact risk to other ships transiting the busy shipping lanes of the waterway,” US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in its statement on social media platform X.

The Iran-aligned Houthis, who control the north of Yemen and other large centers, say their campaign is a show of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

The Houthi attacks have prompted a series of strikes against their positions by the United States and Britain, and have led other navies to send vessels to the region to try to protect the vital Suez Canal trade route.

The Rubymar went down in the southern Red Sea late on Friday or early on Saturday, according to statements from the Yemen government and CENTCOM.

The US military previously said the Feb. 18 missile attack had significantly damaged the bulk vessel and caused an 18-mile (29-km) oil slick. The ship was carrying about 21,000 metric tons of fertilizer, CENTCOM said on Saturday.

Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, the foreign minister in Yemen’s internationally recognized government in Aden, said in a post on X: “The sinking of the Rubymar is an environmental catastrophe that Yemen and the region have never experienced before. “It is a new tragedy for our country and our people. Every day we pay the price for the adventures of the Houthi militia …”

The internationally recognized government, which is backed by Saudi Arabia, has been at war with the Houthis since 2014.

MARINE LIFE THREATENED
The release of such large amounts of fertilizer into the Red Sea poses a serious threat to marine life, said Ali Al-Sawalmih, director of the Marine Science Station at the University of Jordan.

The overload of nutrients can stimulate excessive growth of algae, using up so much oxygen that regular marine life cannot survive, said Mr.  Al-Sawalmih, describing a process called eutrophication.

“An urgent plan should be adopted by countries of the Red Sea to establish monitoring agenda of the polluted areas in the Red Sea as well as adopt a cleanup strategy,” he said.

The overall impact depends on how ocean currents deplete the fertilizer and how it is released from the stricken vessel, said Xingchen Tony Wang, assistant professor at the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Boston College.

The ecosystem of the southern Red Sea features pristine coral reefs, coastal mangroves and diverse marine life.

Last year, the area avoided a potential environmental disaster when the United Nations removed more than 1 million barrels of oil from a decaying supertanker moored off the Yemen coast. That type of operation may be more difficult in the current circumstances.

The Houthi attacks have stoked fears that the Israel-Hamas war could spread, destabilizing the wider Middle East.

In a separate report, the UKMTO agency said it had received a report of a ship being attacked 15 nautical miles west of Yemen’s port of Mokha.

“The crew took the vessel to anchor and were evacuated by military authorities,” the UKMTO said in an advisory note.

Italy’s defense ministry also said that one of its naval ships had shot down a drone flying towards it in the Red Sea.

The Houthi Transport Ministry, meanwhile, said there had been a “glitch” in undersea communication cables in the Red Sea as a result of actions by US and British naval vessels. It did not give further details. — Reuters

Gaza talks expected as crisis rages on

PEOPLE react as Palestinians search for casualties at the site of an Israeli strike on a residential building in Gaza City, Oct. 25, 2023. — REUTERS

CAIRO — Mediators expected to reconvene in Cairo as soon as Sunday and search for a formula acceptable to Israel and Hamas for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, sources with knowledge of the talks said, after foreign governments resorted to airdrops to aid desperate civilians in the Palestinian enclave.

Israeli and Hamas delegations were expected to arrive in Cairo on Sunday, two Egyptian security sources said, although another source briefed on the talks said Israel would not send a delegation until it got a full list of hostages who are still alive.

Hopes for the first pause in fighting since November rose last week after a previous round of talks mediated by Qatar and Egypt in Doha and indications from US President Joe Biden that agreement was close.

A senior US official said on Saturday that the framework for a six-week pause in fighting was in place, with Israel’s agreement, and now depended on Hamas agreeing to release hostages it has held in Gaza since its attacks on southern Israel on Oct. 7.

“The path to a ceasefire right now literally at this hour is straightforward. And there’s a deal on the table. There’s a framework deal. The Israelis have more or less accepted it,” the official told reporters. “The onus right now is on Hamas.”

Mr. Biden has said he hopes a ceasefire will be in place by the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which starts on March 10.

Mr. Biden and other world leaders are under growing pressure to ease the increasingly desperate plight of Palestinians after five months of war and Israeli blockade of Gaza. The United Nations says a quarter of the population – 576,000 people — is one step from famine.

Gaza health authorities said Israeli forces killed 118 people trying to reach a relief convoy near Gaza City on Thursday, prompting global outrage over the humanitarian catastrophe. A day later Mr. Biden announced plans for the US airdrop on Saturday, which also involved Jordanian forces.

Other countries including Jordan and France had already conducted airdrops of aid into Gaza.

HUMANITARIAN CATASTROPHE
The US has for months been calling for Israel to allow more aid into Gaza, something Israel has resisted. Some experts said being forced to resort to costly, inefficient airdrops was the latest demonstration of Washington’s limited influence over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

Israel denies restricting humanitarian aid for Gaza civilians.

The US military aircraft released 38,000 meals over Gaza, falling far short of the assistance needed by the territory’s 2.2 million people. US authorities said it was the first of what would be a sustained effort.

Israel disputes the health ministry’s death toll in the food convoy catastrophe and said most victims were trampled or run over.

Israel launched the offensive in response to the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, whose militants poured over the border from Gaza, killing 1,200 people and abducting another 253, according to Israeli tallies.

The assault has devastated Gaza. Much of the Hamas-run enclave has been laid to waste and more than 30,000 people have been killed and tens of thousands more injured, according to Gaza health authorities.

Fighting raged in the early hours of Sunday, as residents reported the sound of heavy shelling and tanks advancing around Khan Younis, a city in the southern Gaza Strip.

Around Rafah, another southern city where more than 1 million Palestinian have been seeking refuge on the border with Egypt, authorities said 25 people were killed on Saturday and into Sunday morning. They included 11 who died when an Israeli airstrike hit a tent near a hospital and another 14 in one family, who died when a strike hit a house.

Hamas has not backed away from its position that a temporary truce must be the start of a process towards ending the war altogether, the Egyptian sources and a Hamas official said.

However, the Egyptian sources said assurances had been offered to Hamas that the terms of a permanent ceasefire would be worked out in second and third phases of the deal. The duration of the initial pause of about six weeks had been agreed upon, the sources said.

Hamas and Israel did not respond to requests for comment. — Reuters

Trump wins Michigan, Missouri, Idaho caucuses in dominant show of force

REUTERS

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan — Donald Trump on Saturday easily won the Republican caucuses in Michigan, where the party has been riven by infighting that some Republicans fear could hurt his campaign in the key battleground state as he gears up for the general election in November.

The former US president also won the Missouri and Idaho Republican caucuses on Saturday, according to Edison Research.

In all three states Trump trounced Nikki Haley, his last remaining rival for the Republican presidential nomination, moving him closer to becoming his party’s White House standard-bearer and a likely general election rematch with President Joe Biden, a Democrat.

In Michigan, Mre. Trump beat Haley in all 13 districts taking part in the nominating caucuses, according to the state Republican Party.

Overall, Mr. Trump won with nearly 98% percent support: 1,575 votes to just 36 for Haley.

Pete Hoekstra, the Michigan Republican Party’s chair, called it an “overwhelming, dominating victory.”

More than 1,600 party insiders participated in the presidential caucus in the western Michigan city of Grand Rapids, where they were choosing delegates for Trump or former U.N. Ambassador Haley for the party’s national nominating convention in July.

Haley is fast running out of time to alter the course of the Republican nominating race. Next up is Super Tuesday on March 5, the biggest day in the primaries, when 15 states and one territory will vote.

With victories in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, the U.S. Virgin Islands, South Carolina, and now Michigan, Missouri and Idaho under his belt, Trump is far and away the frontrunner in the race, with Haley hanging on thanks to support from donors keen for an alternative to the former president.

For this election cycle, Michigan Republicans devised a hybrid nominating system, split between a primary and a caucus.

Mr. Trump won the primary convincingly on Tuesday, securing 12 of 16 delegates up for grabs. He took all of Michigan’s remaining 39 delegates at stake on Saturday.

At one of the 13 caucus meetings, the participants — knowing Trump would win easily — decided to save time by simply asking anyone who backed Haley to stand up. In a room of 185 voting delegates, 25-year-old Carter Houtman was the only person who rose to his feet.

“It was a little lonely,” Mr. Houtman told Reuters in an interview afterward.

Mr. Houtman said he would likely vote for Mr. Trump in November’s general election if he is the nominee but felt it was important to stand up for his beliefs on Saturday.

“I didn’t like the way that Trump handled himself after the last election,” Mr. Houtman said.

Dennis Milosch, 87, a Trump supporter, said the former president’s dominating win on Saturday underscored how the party has been transformed from one aligned with big business to one focused on the working class.

“Wherever he goes, whatever he does, he pays attention to, responds to, the average person,” Milosch said.

RIFT IN MICHIGAN PARTY
The contest in Michigan on Saturday had the potential for confusion. Internal turmoil has been percolating in the party for months, pitting backers of Michigan’s former Republican Party chair, Kristina Karamo, against the faction of party members who voted to oust her on Jan. 6, and installed Hoekstra as chair.

Hoekstra, whom Trump backed as chair, was overseeing the convention in Grand Rapids. Karamo had been planning to chair a dueling convention in Detroit on Saturday, but that was canceled after a Michigan court this week affirmed her ouster and an appeals court denied her request to stay the ruling.

Pro-Karamo party chairs for at least two districts held caucus meetings in separate locations from Grand Rapids in protest. However, the results from those are unlikely to be accepted by the Republican National Committee, which last month formally recognized Hoekstra as state party chair.

Hoekstra was the US ambassador to the Netherlands during Trump’s presidency. Speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of the caucus meetings, he said he was confident the Michigan Republican Party would unite around the objectives of winning the White House and a US Senate seat up for grabs and retaking the state House of Representatives.

“There is not a philosophical divide or an issue divide,” Hoekstra said. “This is about getting the party ready to win in November. … The focus is on beating Joe Biden.”

Trump’s victories in Missouri and Idaho netted him 54 and 32 delegates respectively. — Reuters

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