June 17 declared a holiday

June 5, 2024 | 7:46 pm

Muslims-pray-end-ramadan — PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. declared June 17, which falls on a Monday, a regular holiday for the observance of Eid’l Adha or the Muslims’ Feast of Sacrifice, according to a proclamation he signed on June 4.

More than six million of Filipinos were Muslim, according to a 2022 census by the state statistics agency.

In the Philippines, a regular holiday is a paid day off enforced on a national level where employees get 100% of their salary. Workers on duty during regular holidays are entitled to double pay. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Class suit vs drug war sought

June 5, 2024 | 7:45 pm

drug raid — PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

RELATIVES of victims killed during the previous administration’s war on drugs were encouraged by a Manila congressman to file a class suit against implementers of the anti-drug campaign.

“Convince the victims [or their surviving relatives]… to go to court as a class suit,” Manila Rep. Bienvenido M. Abante, Jr. said at Wednesday’s House of Representatives hearing on alleged extrajudicial killings (EJK) committed during the Duterte administration.

Human rights lawyer Jose Manuel Tadeo I. Diokno told the hearing that based on a 2017 year-end accomplishment report of the Office of the President, 20,322 Filipinos were killed in the anti-drugs campaign between July 1, 2016 and Nov. 27, 2017, a time when Rodrigo R. Duterte was president.

“This is found in the 2017 year-end accomplishment report of the Office of the President and was cited in the resolution of the Supreme Court of April 3, 2018,” he told the hearing, noting that 3,967 of these people were killed during police operations while 16,355 were slain “by riding-in-tandem and other unknown persons.”

This is way above the almost 9,000 Filipinos reported killed in the war on drugs, based on the data of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Out of the thousands, only 52 cases have been investigated by the Department of Justice (DoJ) so far, said Mr. Diokno.

“Why is that there are no charges filed against him (Mr. Duterte) when he got out of being president,” Mr. Abante said. “He’s no longer president now. If he’s accountable, therefore he must be charged.” — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Lawmakers back rice tariff cuts

June 5, 2024 | 7:45 pm

NFA-rice-warehouse-workers — PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

CONGRESSMEN on Wednesday said the decision to slash the tariff rate on rice imports would make rice cheaper for Filipinos.

However, the government should look into effectively implementing rice support programs under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) to mitigate the effect of the lower rice tariff rate, which is used to finance the rice fund.

“Inflation is still determined and felt primarily through rice prices. So, the decision to reduce tariff rates on rice is the most intuitive step forward,” Albay Rep. Jose Ma. Clemente S. Salceda told BusinessWorld in a Viber message. “We should ramp up the implementation of programs under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, so we cushion the impacts of lower rice tariffs on the domestic sector.”

The government on Tuesday agreed to slash the tariff imposed on rice products to 15% from 35% as part of efforts to reduce the price of the staple food.

Well-milled rice sold on the last day of May averaged P48 to P55 per kilo while regular milled rice ranged around P45 to P52 per kilo.

“This is why I am hopeful that the reduction of the tariff rates will have a significant impact on the high price of rice,” Deputy Minority Leader and Basilan Rep. Mujiv S. Hataman said in a statement. “Many cannot afford to buy rice costing more than P50.”

Mr. Hataman said he hopes that the reduction in rice tariffs would immediately reduce the retail prices of the staple product. “We hope that this would bear fruit… so the people could buy cheap rice immediately,” he said in Filipino.

“The import levy reduction and the direct sale of imported rice by the government through its Kadiwa centers should bring down the retail price of rice substantially, especially for consumers,” House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said in a separate statement.

The government has already accumulated P16 billion worth of rice tariff collections, he said, which is enough to fund farmer assistance programs. “This means that the government has enough funds to help farmers, while it is trying to bring down rice prices through the import tariff cut and direct Kadiwa sales.”

The Kadiwa program is a marketing initiative by the DA allowing direct farm-to-consumer access. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

PHL-UAE ties set for big boost

June 5, 2024 | 7:44 pm

PHILIPPINE Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique A. Manalo and United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zared Al Nahyan met this week to discuss boosting their countries’ ties in renewable energy, tourism, transportation and investments, according to the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

In a statement on Wednesday, the DFA said the two envoys met in Manila on June 3 and 4 to discuss existing ties in agriculture, investment protection and promotion.

“Noting the robust exchanges between the two countries, the UAE Foreign Minister expressed his confidence that much more can be done in the coming years,” it said.

Mr. Al Nahyan also paid a courtesy call to Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and First Lady Marie Louise Araneta-Marcos during his two-day trip.

The Department of Trade and Industry in December said negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) deal with the UAE could begin as early as the first quarter of this year, with a timeline of up to two years.

The UAE was the Philippines’ 6th largest source of remittances, 17th major trading partner, the 21st largest export market, and the 16th largest source of imports. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

King Charles banknotes enter circulation in UK

June 5, 2024 | 6:28 pm

LONDON — Banknotes featuring a portrait of King Charles entered circulation in Britain on Wednesday, nearly two years after he succeeded the late Queen Elizabeth as head of state.

Charles’ image will appear on the new notes for five, 10, 20 50 pounds issued by the Bank of England (BoE). Existing notes featuring Elizabeth will continue to circulate.

“This approach is in line with guidance from the Royal Household, to minimize the environmental and financial impact of this change,” the BoE said. “This means the public will begin to see the new King Charles III notes very gradually.”

Queen Elizabeth was the first monarch to feature on British banknotes, in contrast to coins in England which have carried images of kings and queens for more than 1,000 years.

The design of the new banknotes was revealed in December 2022, shortly after coins featuring King Charles entered circulation. Other than the new monarch, the design of the banknotes is unchanged.

Cash usage has fallen sharply in Britain in recent years as consumers favor debit cards and other electronic payments.

According to the British Retail Consortium, cash accounted for more than half of transactions in shops in 2014, but had fallen to 15% by 2021 — partly due to COVID-19 restrictions — before rising to 19% in 2022.

“We are committed to providing banknotes for as long as the public demand them. Bringing these new notes into circulation is a demonstration of that commitment,” BoE Governor Andrew Bailey said on Wednesday.

Britain’s government passed legislation last year to require banks to ensure ready access to cash. — Reuters

Spain tightens protections for children on smartphones

June 5, 2024 | 6:26 pm

mobile-phone — STOCK PHOTO | Image by Pongsawat Pasom from Unsplash

MADRID — Spain announced measures on Tuesday to ensure parental controls on smartphones by default as part of new steps to protect children from the harmful effects of social media.

The government will also criminalize the creation of “deepfake” artificial intelligence-generated images involving sexual content and the sharing of pornographic material with children, Justice Minister Feliz Bolanos told reporters after a cabinet meeting.

The age of data protection consent would be raised from 14 to 16 and a digital restraining order — banning certain people from contacting others online — to be introduced, he said.

“We want to give families the peace of mind that when their children are in a digital environment, they can be sure that the government of Spain cares for them,” he said.

The bill has to be approved by parliament to become law.

The European Union’s sweeping Digital Services Act (DSA)brought in last year includes some specific protections for children but countries are also generating their own legislation to respond to public concerns.

France made a parental control available by default on all internet-connected devices in September 2022. In Britain, an Online Safety Act that came into force in October last year requires platforms such as Meta’s Facebook or Instagram and Alphabet’s YouTube to remove illegal content and be effective in checking their users are at least 13 years old.

The potential risks for children of using social media are still being investigated and debated.

In May 2023, the US Surgeon General said that while social media offered some benefits, there were “ample indicators” it could also harm the mental health of children.

Social media use may cause and perpetuate body image issues, affect eating behaviors and sleep quality, and lead to social comparison and low self-esteem, especially among adolescent girls, he warned in an advisory.

The Spanish government also intends to roll out a national education campaign for children and teenagers to help them navigate social media and training for teachers and healthcare staff in identifying those struggling with it, Bolanos said. — Reuters

Slovenia becomes latest EU country to recognize Palestinian state

June 5, 2024 | 6:26 pm

LJUBLJANA — Slovenia became the latest European Union (EU) country to recognize an independent Palestinian state after its parliament approved the move with majority vote on Tuesday, dismissing a call for a referendum on the issue by the largest opposition party.

The government last week decided to recognize Palestine as an independent and sovereign state following in the steps of Spain, Ireland and Norway as part of a wider effort to coordinate pressure on Israel to end the conflict in Gaza.

“Today’s recognition of Palestine as a sovereign and independent state sends hope to the Palestinian people in the West Bank and in Gaza,” Prime Minister Robert Golob said on X.

The vote was scheduled for Tuesday and a parliamentary group for foreign affairs on Monday endorsed the government decision with majority vote.

The right-wing Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) of former premier Janez Jansa, however, then submitted a proposal on a consultative referendum on the recognition bid, which would have delayed the vote for at least a month.

The SDS, the largest opposition party, argued it was not the right time to recognize an independent Palestinian state and that the move would only award the “terrorist organization Hamas.”

After the ruling coalition, which holds a majority in Slovenia’s 90-member parliament, tried to find the way around the referendum demand and proceed with the vote, the SDS withdrew their proposal but submitted it again hours later.

The parliament committee for foreign affairs declared it inadequate and dismissed it at an extraordinary session.

The decision was approved with 52 votes, and nobody against it after the opposition SDS party had left the session.

Of the 27 members of the EU, Sweden, Cyprus, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria have already recognized a Palestinian state. Malta has said it could follow soon.

Israel has been fighting against Hamas, which rules Gaza, since the cross-border Oct. 7 attack by militants in which some 1,200 people were killed and over 250 taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies. Nearly 130 hostages are believed to remain captive in Gaza.

Gaza health authorities say more than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war over the past seven months. — Reuters

TikTok says cyberattack targeted brands and celebrity accounts, including CNN

June 5, 2024 | 6:25 pm

Short video app TikTok has taken measures to stop a cyberattack targeting several brand and celebrity accounts, including news network CNN, a spokesperson for the company said on Tuesday.

“We have been collaborating closely with CNN to restore account access and implement enhanced security measures to safeguard their account moving forward,” the spokesperson said.

TikTok said that the number of accounts compromised is “very small” and it is working with affected account owners to restore access if needed.

A source at TikTok told Reuters the account of reality TV star Paris Hilton was targeted but had not been compromised.

TikTok parent company ByteDance is currently challenging a law in courts that requires it to sell TikTok by next January or face a ban in the country. The White House said it wants to see Chinese-based ownership ended on national security grounds.

TikTok has argued it will not share U.S. user data with the Chinese government and that it has taken substantial measures to protect the privacy of its users. — Reuters

Here’s what you should look out for in TikTok Shop’s 6.6 Bigating Birthday Sale

June 5, 2024 | 4:35 pm

TikTok Shop’s 6.6 Birthday Sale is a not-to-be-missed event, packed with opportunities to save on a wide variety of products and categories including electronics, lifestyle, FMCG, and fashion.

With a bit of planning, you can make the most of the exclusive discounts, special offers, and engaging events. Whether you’re a seasoned TikTok Shop user or a first-time shopper, this guide will help you navigate the sale and score some fantastic deals.

Here’s an in-depth look at what to expect and how to make the most of this special birthday sale.

Tune in to TikTok Shop’s 6.6 LIVE Giveaway

James Afante, the top record holder for TikTok Shop Philippines’ Creator Live Sessions, will host a key live session wherein 12 winners will receive Infinix Zero 30 4G phones.

Exciting Deals on Trending Categories and Super Brands

The sale covers a wide range of categories, each offering unique discounts:

Fashion: Find deals on trendy clothing, shoes, and accessories from MPMG. Whether you’re updating your wardrobe for the season or looking for specific pieces, enjoy exclusive savings during these brands’ livestream sessions.

Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG): Expect great deals coming from Super Brand Klued and brands like SariSuki, Nestle, Haruharu, Mr Squirrel, SiLong Kitchen, with exclusive livestream prices and buy one, get one free special promotions on select items.

Electronics: Look forward to discounts on gadgets from Super Brands Simplus and Tecno, and technology companies like Realme, Infinix, and JISULIFE. Whether you’re looking for the newest smartphones or essential household electronics, you can discover substantial savings.

Home and Living: Take advantage of deals on home decor, kitchenware, and furniture to give your living space a refreshing update. Keep an eye out for exclusive livestream offers from Aquaflask, New Every Day, YuanDa Shangpin, and GeminiHome.ph on select items.

Aside from these special product offers, there will also be key live sessions from TikTok Shop 6.6 Idol Club and this will feature six top creators, including @zaralopez_official, @dave_villanueva, @shoplovechanelle, @
jmsfnt, @elmaasagra and @ser.geybin, each specialize in a distinct category within TikTok Shop: Beauty, Fashion, Personal Care, Electronics, and Lifestyle. These creators are experts in their fields, presenting the newest trends, products, and styles to captivate and motivate consumers.

Special Discount Vouchers

In addition to product-specific discounts, shoppers can get huge savings by using exclusive vouchers from 11 a.m. till 7 p.m. key live session, with up to 90% off capped at Php 150. TikTok Shop users can also receive up to 1 million livestream rewards.

TikTok Shop 6.6 Birthday Bash on It’s Showtime

Apart from the lavish offers and deals, don’t miss an exclusive TV segment on GMA Network’s “It’s Showtime” as it features the TikTok Shop 6.6 Bigating Birthday Sale with its ever-talented brand ambassador, Ivana Alawi. She will perform, highlight key products, and encourage viewers to join the anniversary celebration for a chance to win exciting rewards.

Keep these tips in mind to maximize your shopping experience and snag some great deals during TikTok Shop’s 6.6 Bigating Birthday Sale.

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.

Join us on Viber at https://bit.ly/3hv6bLA to get more updates and subscribe to BusinessWorld’s titles and get exclusive content through www.bworld-x.com.

Strong for Life with Kinetix+

June 5, 2024 | 2:10 pm

KINETIX+ is here to be your dedicated partner in promoting active lifestyle and enabling recovery from demanding activities

In order to lead a long and fulfilling life, one must strive to achieve physical and mental well-being. While it is not necessary to aspire to be the strongest individual, it is important to possess a basic level of strength to support our everyday activities. For the purpose of appreciating all that life has to offer, the objective should be to be Strong for Life.

Aside from prioritizing your mental, emotional, and social health, it is critical that you make time to be active and exercise on a daily basis in order to achieve optimal physical health.

Engaging in regular strength and conditioning training can provide significant physical benefits. It has the potential to decrease the probability of developing diseases, prevent injuries, promote healthy aging, manage weight, and enhance mood. The path to being Strong for Life may present challenges, but it will definitely bring great rewards. Kinetix+ is the ideal companion for this journey.

Kinetix+ is the first luxury boutique gym in the Philippines that prioritizes strength and conditioning training. It caters to individuals who are dedicated to enhancing their physical fitness while also valuing the advantages of exclusivity and a top-notch gym experience. Intense exercise sessions should not be as uncomfortable as they typically are. The vast area of the gym allows it to fit high-quality gym equipment, bespoke dumbbells and barbell plates, and the AI-driven BioStrength line machines.

As Kinetix+ prioritizes space and outstanding exercise equipment, one of its strengths lies in the knowledgeable professionals who play a crucial part in guiding your fitness journey.

The gym has carefully chosen coaches who can assist you in attaining a variety of goals, including weight loss to shifting from a sedentary lifestyle to a more active one or to enhance athletic ability in your favored sport. Kinetix+ coaches are qualified to create a program especially for you that will both challenge and develop you. On this road to strength, having a qualified coach to guide you through the process of reaching your physical goals will also function as the ideal accountability partner for you. Working with a coach at Kinetix+ is akin to having a team of experts at your side who are all dedicated to helping you become the strongest version of yourself. It will be the client and the Kinetix+ coach who will communicate most. The coach will, meanwhile, also have the opportunity to consult with the entire Kinetix team, which consists of other coaches and gym specialists. Along with offering instruction on proper form and exercise technique, your coach will also monitor your progress closely to make sure you are always being challenged, act as a trustworthy accountability partner, and be there to celebrate your physical achievements.

Should you feel any discomfort, Kinetix+ has the Recovery Lab, where you can utilize cutting-edge equipment and manual therapy from the gym’s in-house physiotherapists to help your body heal from strain and soreness. Any injuries you receive during sports or exercise can be treated with a rehabilitation plan by the skilled physiotherapists at Kinetix+. This strategy might include stretches, manual therapy, and Kinetix+ modalities.

The gym also has a nutritionist who can offer professional guidance by creating customized dietary recommendations to support your workouts and promote muscle repair. Working with the in-house nutritionist at Kinetix+ helps you gain a crucial understanding of how your diet affects your strength training and general health.

To further promote our Strong for Life campaign, Kinetix+ has designed a variety of membership packages to appeal to all individuals interested in joining the gym. We offer the Active Aging, Corporate Wellness, Muscle Foreging, and Fit for a Queen packages. All packages include a range of sessions for coaching, recovery, stretching, and nutrition guidance. To learn more about these programs, please visit Kinetix+ at Level 3, Shops, Ayala Triangle Gardens, Makati, where we would gladly tell you more.

As per Kinetix+ Co-Founder Coach Marlon Lugue, “Strength is the summary of our days passed, current state and hopeful future. Live your best life by recapturing the vigor of your youth, making the most out of your present and training to be the best that you can be for days to come.”

Your dedication to maintaining being Strong for Life will likely be the most significant, challenging, and fulfilling commitment you will ever make. It entails dedicating a specified amount of time exclusively to pursue your own goals of valuing yourself. Being strong plays a crucial part in our existences. There’s no better time than the present to invest in our overall strength. Turn to the experts, turn to Kinetix+.

For more information, follow Kinetix+ on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/kinetixplus) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/kinetixplus). You can also visit its website at https://kinetixplus.com/. Kinetix+ is located at the 3^rd Floor, Shops at Ayala Triangle Gardens, Makati.

#StrongForLife #KinetixPlus

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.

Join us on Viber at https://bit.ly/3hv6bLA to get more updates and subscribe to BusinessWorld’s titles and get exclusive content through www.bworld-x.com.

US Southwest expected to roast with pre-summer heat wave

June 5, 2024 | 12:03 pm

san-francisco-1630372_1280 — STOCK PHOTO | Image by Simon from Pixabay

LOS ANGELES – Millions of Americans from the Gulf Coast of Texas to California’s San Francisco Bay area were warned on Tuesday to curb outdoor activity and stay well-hydrated during a major pre-summer heat wave expected to roast much of the Southwestern US this week.

Unseasonably high daytime temperatures were forecast to soar above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius) across several states into Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters attributed the excessive heat, coming more than two weeks before the official June 20 start of the summer season, to a strong ridge of atmospheric high pressure parked over the region and intensifying.

Areas of particular concern for triple-digit temperatures included California’s inland Central Valley and the state capital, Sacramento, where an “excessive heat warning” was in effect.

Closer to the Pacific Coast, a less dire “heat advisory” was for slightly milder but still oppressively high mercury readings in the Bay area.

In low-elevation areas of southern Arizona and Nevada, forecasters warned that temperatures would climb above 110 degrees F, likely topping 112 degrees F in Las Vegas on Thursday, which would become the city’s earliest recorded 112 degree reading on record.

Phoenix, Arizona’s state capital and its biggest city, could see highs reaching 115 on Thursday.

The heat wave as a whole, with temperatures 20-30 degrees above normal, was expected to peak over California’s Central Valley on Wednesday, before expanding into the Desert Southwest later in the week, the NWS said.

“Widespread temperature records are expected to be tied or broken across much of the aforementioned areas,” it said.

Forecasters and local officials urged residents to stay in air-conditioned indoor areas, especially during the hottest times of the day, drink plenty of fluids, and check on neighbors and relatives during the heat wave.

“Extreme heat is an invisible but dangerous consequence of climate change, and CA’s outdoor workers, seniors + children are particularly vulnerable,” California’s Environmental Protection Agency said in a social media post.

A bout of extreme heat that has baked much of Texas for about a week was expected to peak on Tuesday but persist for a few days more, the weather service said.

The prevailing conditions are seen as a prelude to hotter-than-normal temperatures that are likely to become a common occurrence over the next three months in many regions, according to the NWS.

In addition to risks posed to human health, the extreme heat puts a strain on power grids. In May, the North American Electric Reliability Corp, which sets energy reliability standards for the U.S. and Canada, said that large parts of the United States remain at risk for supply shortfalls due to the demands of summertime air-conditioning.

The hot weather outlook also could mean more wildfires in California this summer as arid, windy conditions fuel blazes. A 14,000-acre (5,665 hectares) wildfire, called the Corral Fire, was 75% contained after forcing thousands of residents to evacuate east of San Francisco over the weekend. – Reuters

Australia regulator files lawsuit against Medibank over data breach

June 5, 2024 | 11:57 am

SYDNEY – Australia’s privacy regulator said on Wednesday it had filed a lawsuit against the country’s biggest health insurer Medibank over a data breach that exposed personal information of millions of customers on the dark web.

In civil penalty proceedings filed in the Federal Court, the Australian Information Commissioner said Medibank “seriously interfered” with the privacy of Australians by failing to take reasonable steps to protect data from misuse.

Medibank in 2022 disclosed a hacker stole the personal data of 9.7 million current and former customers and released it on the dark web in one of Australia’s biggest data thefts.

“We allege Medibank failed to take reasonable steps to protect personal information it held given its size, resources, the nature and volume of the sensitive and personal information it handled, and the risk of serious harm for an individual in the case of a breach,” Acting Commissioner Elizabeth Tydd said.

The Federal Court can impose a civil penalty of up to A$2.22 million ($1.48 million) for each violation of the Privacy Act.

Australia’s banking regulator told Medibank last year to set aside A$250 million in extra capital, citing weaknesses identified in its information security after the breach.

Medibank, in a statement released to Australia’s stock exchange, said it intends to defend the lawsuit.

Ms. Tydd said in a statement the case should serve as a wakeup call to Australian companies to invest more in their digital defenses to thwart cyber threats.

Australia has seen a spike in cyber intrusions over the last two years, prompting the government to reform security rules and set up an agency to oversee government investment and help coordinate responses to hacker attacks. – Reuters