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Police probe possible negligence in Tokyo airport runway collision

An aerial view shows burnt Japan Airlines’ (JAL) Airbus A350 plane after a collision with a Japan Coast Guard aircraft at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo, Japan January 3, 2024, in this photo taken by Kyodo. — MANDATORY CREDIT KYODO/VIA REUTERS

TOKYO — Police are investigating whether a crash between an airliner and a smaller plane at a Tokyo airport may involve professional negligence, media reported on Wednesday, as transport authorities began inspecting the charred wreckage for clues.

All 379 people miraculously escaped the Japan Airlines (JAL) Airbus A350 which erupted into flames after colliding with a De Havilland Dash-8 Coast Guard turboprop shortly after landing at Haneda on Tuesday evening.

Five of the six Coast Guard crew, responding to a major earthquake that struck the country’s west coast, died.

Once a recurring safety problem, aviation experts say the number of such runway collisions or incursions have become far less frequent with modern ground tracking technology and procedures.

Japanese authorities say the cause of the crash remains unclear.

Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department are investigating whether possible professional negligence led to deaths and injuries, several news outlets including Kyodo news agency and Nikkei Asia reported.

A police spokesperson said a special unit had set up at the airport and was investigating the runway and planning to interview people involved, but declined to comment on whether they were looking into possible professional negligence.

“There’s a strong possibility there was a human error,” said Hiroyuki Kobayashi, a former JAL pilot and aviation analyst.

“Only one plane is generally allowed to enter the runway but even though landing clearance had been given, the Japan Coast Guard aircraft was on the runway.”

The JAL plane was told to continue its approach to runway 34R at 1743 local time (0843GMT), and was given clearance to land at 1745, two minutes before authorities say the collision occurred on the same runway at 1747, according to air traffic control recordings available at liveATC.net.

“Clear to land 34R Japan Airlines 516,” a controller can be heard saying in a recording.

Haneda airport did not immediately have comment on the recordings.

JAL said in a statement on Tuesday the aircraft recognized and repeated the landing permission from air traffic control before approaching and touching down.

The Coast Guard has declined to comment on the circumstances surrounding the crash, including why the plane was on the runway and whether it was stationary or moving when disaster struck.

The plane, one of six Coast Guard aircraft based at the airport, had been due to deliver aid to regions hit by a deadly earthquake on Monday.

TWO INVESTIGATIONS
As well as the police probe, the Japan Safety Transport Board (JTSB) is also investigating the crash, with participation from agencies in France, where the Airbus airplane was built, and Britain where its two Rolls-Royce engines were manufactured, people familiar with the matter said.

Airbus said it was also sending technical advisers to assist in the investigation.

JTSB has recovered flight and voice recorders from the coast guard aircraft, Kyodo news agency reported, citing the agency.

While all passengers and crew were evacuated around 20 minutes after the crash, the aircraft was completely engulfed in flames and burned for more than six hours, the airline said.

Authorities were set to begin work to remove the charred remains of the JAL aircraft in the afternoon, Kyodo reported, while TV footage showed police and fire department personnel inspecting the site of the accident on Wednesday. — Reuters

‘Hawkish’ China military pressure on Taiwan likely after presidential election

A globe is seen in front of Chinese and Taiwanese flags in this illustration, Aug. 6, 2022. — REUTERS/DADO RUVIC/ILLUSTRATION

BEIJING/HONG KONG — The arms race across the Taiwan Strait and Chinese military pressure against the island Beijing claims as its “sacred” territory is unlikely to end no matter who wins Taiwan’s closely watched elections.

China has cast the Jan. 13 presidential and parliamentary elections as a choice between war and peace, warning an attempt to push for Taiwan’s formal independence means conflict.

China has focused its anger on the run-up to the vote on Lai Ching-te, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) presidential candidate, rebuffing his calls for talks as it views him as a separatist.

Both the DPP and Taiwan’s largest opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), say only they can preserve the peace, and both have also committed to bolstering Taiwan’s defenses and say only the island’s people can decide their future.

The KMT traditionally favors close ties with China although it denies being pro-Beijing.

Wang Zaixi, a deputy head of China’s Taiwan Affairs Office between 2000 and 2006 and a retired Chinese army major general, was quoted last month in China’s Global Times newspaper as saying the DPP’s Mr. Lai was an “extremist” independence supporter.

“If he is elected, you cannot rule out the possibility of a military clash across the Taiwan Strait. We need to be fully aware of this,” Mr. Wang said.

Such an outcome could have grave geopolitical and economic outcomes, pitting China against the United States — the world’s two leading military powers — while blocking key shipping lanes and disrupting semiconductor and commodity supply chains.

“I believe they will take more hawkish actions to try to warn the new president over his future policies towards China,” Admiral Lee Hsi-ming, a former Taiwan military chief, told Reuters, referring to Beijing.

Western security officials are trying to gauge how serious China could be about a military response to the election outcome.

One official, speaking on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media, said Beijing may wait and see, with any strong reaction coming after May 20 when the next president takes office and gives an inauguration speech.

If the DPP wins the presidency but loses its majority in parliament, that could also temper China’s response given it would weaken the DPP’s ability to pass legislation, the Western official added.

China’s defense ministry, which has decried Taiwan’s government for deliberately “hyping up” a military threat from China for electoral gain, did not respond to a request for comment.

Taiwan defense ministry spokesperson Sun Li-fang told reporters its assessment of China’s moves would not be based on whether there is an election or not.

“We’ll look at the signs and what the enemy is up to as a basis for our judgement,” he said.

NEW STATUS QUO
After Chinese and US leaders met in San Francisco in November, President Xi Jinping reportedly stressed to President Joseph R. Biden that while Taiwan is the most “dangerous” bilateral issue, he indicated China is not preparing for an invasion of Taiwan.

However, since the last Taiwan presidential poll in 2020, China has engaged in an unprecedented level of military activity in the Taiwan Strait, including holding two rounds of major war games near the island in the past year-and-a-half.

Chinese jets now regularly cross an unofficial median line in the strait, seeking to wear down Taiwan’s far smaller air force by making them repeatedly scramble.

Some analysts see Taiwan’s contiguous zone that is 24 nautical miles (44 km) off its coast, being increasingly challenged by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in the coming years.

Taiwan is strengthening its armor.

A second Western security official said China was well aware that every year they wait to “resolve the Taiwan problem,” it gives Taipei a further opportunity to beef up its defenses.

“That is not good for the PLA,” the official said.

Defense has featured prominently on the campaign trail.-

The DPP has repeatedly brought up Taiwan’s indigenous submarine, while other arms programs including drones are being developed.

The KMT champions the “3Ds” — deterrence, dialogue and de-escalation.

Jaw Shaw-kong, the KMT’s vice president candidate, said last month Taiwan should ramp up missile production to show it can strike into China in the event of war, although he also said China should allow in Taiwanese military observers as a sign of goodwill and to lessen tensions.

Whoever wins, Taiwan has a big weapons order backlog from the United States.

In the next few years, Taiwan is due to get advanced US weapons including F-16V fighter jets, M-1A tanks, Harpoon anti-ship missiles and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS.

OTHER OPTIONS
While clearly a superior military power, recent purges in the PLA that have felled generals in the Rocket Force, navy and air force and a former defense minister could lower the risk of conflict.

“The more problems they have, the more corruption they have, the better it is for us,” said Lee, the former Taiwan military head. “I don’t think there will be a full-scale invasion in the next few years because they have their own difficulties.”

Over the past week or so, Mr. Xi has given two speeches where he reiterated the need for “reunification” with Taiwan. On both occasions he made no mention of using force, though Beijing has never renounced that possibility.

China could also wield economic pressure post-election, targeting a trade deal signed in 2010 which Beijing says Taipei has breached with unfair trade barriers. Beijing could also ramp up operations to influence people in Taiwan through its “United Front” department.

“China needs to be able to lead and control the situation in Taiwan, and we do that via a variety of means, not just by one means,” said Wu Xinbo, a professor at Shanghai’s Fudan University. — Reuters

Killing of Hamas deputy leader raises risk of Gaza war spreading

REUTERS

BEIRUT/CAIRO/GAZA — Israel killed Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri in a drone strike in Lebanon’s capital Beirut on Tuesday, Lebanese and Palestinian security sources said, raising the potential risk of the war in Gaza spreading well beyond the Palestinian enclave.

Mr. Arouri, 57, was the first senior Hamas political leader to be assassinated since Israel launched a shattering air and ground offensive against the group almost three months ago after its shock assault and rampage into Israeli towns.

Lebanon’s heavily armed Hezbollah group, a Hamas ally, has been exchanging near-daily fire with Israel across Lebanon’s southern border since the war in Gaza began in October.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has warned Israel against carrying out any assassinations on Lebanese soil, vowing a “severe reaction.”

Hezbollah said on Tuesday it had targeted a group of Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of Marj with missiles, following Mr. Arouri’s killing.

Israel has long accused Mr. Arouri of lethal attacks on its citizens, but a Hamas official said he was also “at the heart of negotiations” conducted by Qatar and Egypt over the outcome of the Gaza war and the release of Hamas-held Israeli hostages.

Israel neither confirmed nor denied carrying out the killing, but its military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said Israeli forces were in a high state of readiness and prepared for any scenario.

“The most important thing to say tonight is that we are focused and remain focused on fighting Hamas,” he said when asked by a reporter about the reports of Mr. Arouri’s killing.

‘WAITING FOR MARTYRDOM’
Israel had accused Mr. Arouri, a co-founder of the Hamas’ military wing, the Izz-el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, of ordering and supervising Hamas attacks in the Israeli-occupied West Bank for years.

“I am waiting for martyrdom (death) and I think I have lived too long,” Mr. Arouri said in August 2023, alluding to Israeli threats to eliminate Hamas leaders whether in Gaza or abroad.

Nasser Kanaani, spokesperson for the foreign ministry of Iran, a major supporter of Hamas and Hezbollah, said Mr. Arouri’s killing would “undoubtedly ignite another surge in the veins of resistance and the motivation to fight against the Zionist occupiers, not only in Palestine but also in the region and among all freedom-seekers worldwide.”

Hundreds of Palestinians took to the streets of Ramallah and other towns in the West Bank to condemn Arouri’s killing, chanting, “Revenge, revenge, Qassam!”

Iranian-backed Houthis rebels in Yeman have vowed to continue their attacks on shipping in the Rea Sea until Israel halts the conflict in Gaza, and warned that it would attack US warships if the militia group itself was targeted.

Houthi militants fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles into the southern Red Sea, though no damage was reported, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said late on Tuesday.

Britain’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Authority reported up to three explosions near a merchant vessel in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, east of Eritrea’s Assab, with no reports of damage.

The US has announced an international maritime task force to protect shipping through the Red Sea, which leads to the Suez Canal, a shipping route which carries roughly one third of global container cargo.

AL SHIFA HOSPITAL
The Gaza war was triggered by a shock cross-border Hamas assault on Israeli towns on Oct. 7 in which Israel says 1,200 people were killed and some 240 hostages spirited back to Gaza.

The Gaza health ministry said 207 people had been killed in the past 24 hours, bringing the total recorded Palestinian death toll to 22,185 in nearly three months of war in Gaza.

Israel says it tries to avoid harm to civilians and blames Hamas for embedding fighters among them, an accusation Hamas denies.

The Israeli targeting of Gaza City’s Al Shifa hospital last November stoked global alarm over the fate of civilians and patients who were inside.

Israel said Hamas used tunnels beneath the hospital as a headquarters and was using its patients as shields.

A US official said on Tuesday, citing declassified US intelligence, that US spy agencies assessed that Hamas and Islamic Jihad had used Al Shifa to command forces and hold some hostages but largely evacuated it before Israeli troops entered.

Israeli bombardments have engulfed Gaza’s 2.3 million residents in a humanitarian disaster in which thousands have been left destitute and threatened by famine due to a lack of food supplies.

HAMAS RESPONDS TO CEASEFIRE PROPOSAL
Shortly before Mr. Arouri’s killing, Hamas’ paramount leader Ismail Haniyeh, who is also based outside Gaza, said the movement had delivered its response to an Egyptian-Qatari ceasefire proposal.

He reiterated that Hamas’ conditions entailed “a complete cessation” of Israel’s offensive in exchange for further releases of hostages.

Israel believes 129 hostages remain in Gaza after some were released during a brief truce in late November and others were killed during air strikes and rescue or escape attempts.

Israel has vowed to keep fighting until it has wiped out Hamas but it is unclear what it plans to do with the enclave should it succeed, and where that leaves the prospect of an independent Palestinian state.

In Washington, the State Department denounced as “inflammatory and irresponsible” statements by Israeli cabinet ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir advocating for the resettlement of Palestinians outside of Gaza.

Such statements underscore fears among some in the Arab world that Israel wants to drive Palestinians out of land where they envision a future state, repeating the mass dispossession of Palestinians when Israel was created in 1948. — Reuters

US public debt tops $34 trln as Congress heads into funding fight

United States one-dollar bills are seen in this Nov. 14, 2014 file photo — REUTERS

 – The US federal government’s total public debt has reached $34 trillion for the first time, the US Treasury Department reported on Tuesday, as members of Congress gear up for another series of federal funding battles in the coming weeks.

The Daily Treasury Statement for Friday showed that the total public debt outstanding rose to $34.001 trillion from $33.911 on Thursday.

The debt that counts toward the federal debt ceiling rose to $33.89 trillion on Friday from $33.794 trillion on Thursday. This “debt subject to limit” category excludes the unamortized discount on Treasury bills and zero coupon bonds, debt issued by the Federal Financing Bank and guaranteed debt of certain other agencies.

The milestone comes shortly after the federal debt topped $33 trillion in September amid rising federal deficits fueled by falling tax revenues and rising federal expenditures.

Congress returns to Washington next week to tackle Jan. 19 and Feb. 2 deadlines for settling government spending through September, amid Republican demands to reduce fiscal 2024 discretionary spending below caps agreed in June. Lawmakers also hope to pass emergency aid for Ukraine and Israel, possibly with unrelated US border security provisions attached.

Failure to approve the one-dozen fiscal 2024 spending bills would plunge Washington agencies into shutdown mode. But reaching a compromise could become more difficult with November presidential and congressional elections coming quickly into focus.

Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a fiscal watchdog group, called the $34 trillion federal debt figure “a truly depressing achievement,” attributing it to political leaders’ unwillingness to make difficult fiscal choices.

“We remain hopeful that policymakers will take further measures to reduce our borrowing either by raising taxes, reducing spending, or creating a fiscal commission – or ideally by doing all of the above,” Ms. MacGuineas said in a statement.

White House spokesperson Michael Kikukawa said the debt increases were “trickle-down debt” driven by Republican-passed tax cuts in 2017 that benefited corporations and wealthy Americans.

“Congressional Republicans want to double down on MAGAnomics with more than $3 trillion in giveaways skewed to the wealthy while forcing hardworking Americans to pay the price by cutting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid,” Kikukawa said in a statement.

He added that Mr. Biden plans to reduce US deficits by $2.5 trillion over 10 years by increasing taxes on large corporations and wealthy Americans and cutting spending on pharmaceuticals and tax breaks for oil companies. – Reuters

S.Korea opposition leader in ICU after knife attack amid calls for stronger security

PIXABAY

 – South Korea’s opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung remained hospitalized in intensive care on Wednesday, a day after a knife attack on him shocked political leaders who were vying for the upper hand in a major election three months away.

Surgeons operated on Mr. Lee for more than two hours late on Wednesday to repair a major blood vessel in his neck that was sliced when an assailant lunged and stabbed him with a knife.

“The act of terror against Chairman Lee Jae-myung was clearly a challenge against democracy and a threat against democracy,” Democratic Party floor leader Hong Ik-pyo said at a party leadership council meeting.

He urged a speedy investigation and tougher security for high-profile political figures, echoing renewed questions about the safety on campaign trails in a country with a history of political violence despite tight restrictions on gun ownership.

Jin Jeong-hwa, a party supporter who was a witness at the scene of the stabbing, said the incident clearly showed the need for stronger and professional security protection for political leaders, not simply police who are deployed to monitor.

“People like opposition leaders really need a dedicated security detail,” Mr. Jin said in an interview with Reuters. He added it was clear from his experience at political events that Lee was very much exposed to personal safety threats.

Mr. Lee, a tough talking progressive who narrowly lost the 2022 presidential election, had been rallying the party to retain the parliamentary majority it holds against President Yoon Suk Yeol’s conservatives.

South Korea holds a pivotal election on April 10 where the conservatives will try to win back a majority for the first time since 2016 and help President Yoon Suk Yeol’s pro-business policies including tax cuts, deregulation and social reforms.

The attack against Mr. Lee, which unfolded quickly but was widely captured in footage of the outdoors public event, shocked his party and his rivals alike, who condemned all violence against political figures.

Mr. Lee was airlifted from Busan, where the attack occurred, to Seoul on Tuesday where he received surgery to reconstruct the jugular vein that pumps blood from the head back to the heart and insert a tube to support the damaged vessel.

He was conscious and recovering in the intensive care unit, party officials said.

The leader of the conservative People Power Party scaled back scheduled public events, and both parties urged members to refrain from comments that could inflame voters as Lee recuperates.

Mr. Lee lost to Yoon by less than 1% point of votes, the narrowest margin, in a bitterly fought presidential election and has since faced bribery allegations stemming from a development project when he was mayor of a city near Seoul. He denies wrongdoing. – Reuters

Runway safety concerns in focus as Japan probes Tokyo crash

STOCK PHOTO | Image by skipp604 from Pixabay

 – Japanese investigators are preparing to probe the collision of two airplanes at Tokyo’s Haneda airport, weeks after the global airline industry heard fresh warnings about runway safety.

All 379 people aboard a Japan Airlines Airbus A350 escaped after a collision with a De Havilland Dash-8 Coast Guard turboprop that killed five of six crew on the smaller aircraft.

People familiar with the investigation said the Japan Safety Transport Board (JTSB) would lead the probe with participation from agencies in France, where the airplane was built, and Britain where its two Rolls-Royce engines were manufactured.

Experts have cautioned it is too early to pinpoint a cause and stress most accidents are caused by a cocktail of factors.

But investigators are widely expected to explore what instructions were given by controllers to the two aircraft, alongside a detailed examination of plane and airport systems.

A ministry official told reporters in Japan on Tuesday that the A350 was attempting to land normally when it collided with the Coast Guard plane, also known as a Bombardier Dash-8.

One of the first tasks will be to recover black box recorders with flight data and cockpit voice recordings.

Experts said the location of the accident means physical evidence, radar data and witness accounts or camera footage are likely to be readily available, easing the huge forensic task.

“One obvious question is whether the coastguard plane was on the runway and if so why,” said Paul Hayes, director of aviation safety at UK-based consultancy Ascend by Cirium.

The crash is the first significant accident involving the Airbus A350, Europe’s premier twin-engined long-haul jet, in service since 2015.

And according to preliminary 2023 data, the collision of the Coast Guard plane with a two-year-old jetliner three times its length follows one of the safest years in aviation.

But it also comes after a US-based safety group warned last month about the risk of runway collisions or “incursions”.

The Flight Safety Foundation called for global action to prevent a new uptick in runway incursions as skies become more congested.

“Despite efforts over the years to prevent incursions, they still happen,” CEO Hassan Shahidi said in a statement.

“The risk of runway incursions is a global concern, and the potential consequences of an incursion are severe.”

Although ground collisions involving injury or damage have become rare, their potential for loss of life is among the highest of any category and near-misses are more common.

A collision between two Boeing 747s in Tenerife in 1977, killing 583 people, remains aviation’s most deadly accident.

 

‘TECHNOLOGY GAP’

The Washington-based foundation has found that breakdowns in communication and coordination can play a role in runway crashes or near misses.

But a shortage of electronics to avoid collisions on the ground, rather than in the air where software to trigger avoidance has been available since the 1980s, is also a concern.

“Many of the serious incidents could have been avoided through better situational awareness technologies that can help air traffic controllers and pilots detect potential runway conflicts,” Shahidi said.

The Federal Aviation Administration says some three dozen U.S. airports are fitted with a system called ASDE-X that uses radar, satellites and a navigation tool called multilateration to track ground movements.

But National Transportation Safety Board chair Jennifer Homendy said in November the U.S. aviation network – a bellwether for airports worldwide – lacks sufficient technology to prevent runway incursions.

In 2018, Airbus said it was working with Honeywell HON.N on a system called SURF-A or Surface-Alert designed to help prevent runway collisions by giving pilots visual and audio warnings about approaching hazards on the runway.

Honeywell Aerospace Technologies expects SURF-A, which is operational on its experimental test aircraft, to be certified and available to airlines gradually over the next few years, division CEO Jim Currier said by email.

Far-reaching reforms of European and US air traffic networks that could accelerate the use of such computerized systems have faced chronic delays.

Airbus did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Steve Creamer, a former senior director at the International Civil Aviation Organization, said preventing a landing aircraft striking a plane is among the top five global safety priorities.

Although automated landings are increasing, experts say much still depends on visual checks by pilots who may be distracted by a high workload or the blur of a night-time runway.

“I think the investigation will focus a lot on the clearances … and then also what the (JAL) crew could see. Could they physically see that airplane on the runway,” said former U.S. air accident investigator John Cox.

Lighting was an issue in a 1991 collision between a USAir plane and SkyWest Airlines aircraft at Los Angeles International Airport in California, for example.

“One of the things that came out of that was that the USAir crew physically could not see the SkyWest Metroliner there. Although it was on the runway, the lighting was such that you … physically couldn’t see it,” he said. – Reuters

Singapore’s clandestine cats can soon legally call the city-state home

SERGEY SEMIN-UNSPLASH

 – Sunny prides herself on being a law-abiding Singaporean citizen, but for the last three years, she’s been hiding a feline fugitive called Mooncake.

The fluffy ragdoll lives with Sunny in defiance of a 34-year-old law banning cats in the government-built apartments that house the vast majority of Singaporeans. Luckily for Mooncake, Singapore plans to scrap the ban later this year, freeing Sunny from the threat of a S$4,000 ($3,007) fine or her pet’s potential eviction.

“Cats are so much quieter than dogs. If they allow dogs, I don’t understand why not cats,” said 30-year-old Sunny, who works in marketing and asked to be identified only by her first name because she didn’t want to risk her cat being taken away.

Authorities rarely enforce the ban, which only applies to the high-rise Housing and Development Board (HDB) apartment blocks where 80% of 3.6 million Singaporeans live, and it has long been flouted by countless cat lovers.

The ban does, however, make things difficult: because they technically shouldn’t exist, HDB pet cats like Mooncake are not eligible for pet insurance. Lawmaker Louis Ng, who has campaigned to revoke the ban, said the regulation sometimes becomes leverage for warring neighbors.

“A lot of times, the cats are collateral when there’s neighborly disputes,” he said. “The neighbor will just say: ‘Oh you’re keeping cats, I’ll go and alert (the authorities)’.”

 

“CATERWAULING”

Singapore’s ban on cats in HDB housing is yet another example of the city-state’s infamously exacting rules-based culture, in which, for example, the sale and import of chewing gum remains banned.

Established in 1960, the HDB scheme sells government-built units directly to qualified citizens on 99-year leases. It has led to one of the world’s highest home-ownership rates, but residents are subject to many restrictions and regulations.

Cats were allowed in HDB flats until parliament amended the housing law in 1989. On its website, the HDB justifies the ban by saying that cats are “difficult to contain within the flat … they tend to shed fur and defecate or urinate in public areas, and also make caterwauling sounds, which can inconvenience your neighbors”.

It’s not clear what made the Singapore government change its mind, but the tipping point appears to be an official survey in 2022 that showed 9 out of 10 respondents agreed that cats were suitable pets to keep, including in HDB flats.

The authorities are now surveying members of the public on the “proposed cat management framework” which should come into place later in 2024.

Dogs have not been subject to a similar ban, but they are limited to one per household and only certain breeds and sizes can be kept as pets: ‘yes’ to miniature poodles, ‘no’ to golden retrievers, for example.

Market research firm Euromonitor International has predicted a surge in cat ownership. In a report on prospects for cat food companies, it estimated Singapore’s current pet population at around 94,000 cats and 113,000 dogs.

Lawmaker Ng, who ran an animal welfare group before joining parliament in 2015, also hopes the change will lead more people to adopt rescued cats.

Under the new framework, HDB residents would be limited to two cats. It also mandates licensing and microchipping cats, as well as installing mesh screens on windows so cats don’t fall out.

Some cat lovers say the new regulations don’t go far enough.

Thenuga Vijakumar from the Cat Welfare Society wants the law to mandate sterilization. Cat rescuer Chan Chow Wah, 50, also wants penalties for irresponsible owners. He said he had to take care of a cat that fell from the third-story and whose owners refused to pay its medical bills, as well as another cat that was abandoned after being diagnosed with heart disease.

“I end up taking over these cases. Basically, I look after them until they pass away,” said Chan, estimating he spent S$60,000 ($45,100) on vet bills in 2022.

But for many cat owners like Mooncake’s “mama” Sunny, the law is a blessing that will bring her peace of mind.

“I think it’s a good thing and it’s a step forward after 30 years,” she said. – Reuters

Record-breaking doctors’ strike to pile pressure on health service in England

JCOMP-FREEPIK

 – Junior doctors in England will begin a six-day walkout on Wednesday, the longest strike in the state-run National Health Service’s (NHS) 75-year history which is set to hit patient care during its seasonal winter peak in demand.

Like in other key sectors over the past year, junior doctors represented by the British Medical Association (BMA) have staged a series of walkouts in demand of better pay in the face of soaring inflation.

Cumulatively, the NHS, which has provided healthcare free at the point of use since it was founded in 1948, cancelled 1.2 million appointments in 2023 due to strikes.

The BMA abandoned talks with the government after being offered a pay rise of 8-10%, and held strikes on Dec. 20-23. The union is seeking a 35% improvement which it says is needed to cover the impact of inflation over several years.

The government, which has agreed new pay deals with other healthcare workers, including nurses and senior doctors in recent months, has resisted hikes it says would worsen inflation.

The strikes threaten to increase the pressure on the health service where over 7.7 million patients are on waiting lists for procedures and appointments.

“This January could be one of the most difficult starts to the year the NHS has ever faced,” NHS National Medical Director Stephen Powis said in a statement.

“The action will not only have an enormous impact on planned care, but comes on top of a host of seasonal pressures such as covid, flu, and staff absences due to sickness.”

Junior doctors are qualified physicians, often with several years of experience, who work under the guidance of senior doctors and represent a large part of the country’s medical community.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said deals with other healthcare workers’ unions showed that the striking junior doctors were “outliers”.

“We have sought to come to a fair resolution – fair for the taxpayer, fair for hardworking doctors and health workers. We have achieved that in the majority of cases … we are willing to have further discussions. But obviously the first thing to do is to stop striking,” he told reporters.

The BMA said a record waiting list and underinvestment over the past decade had undermined the NHS.

“As a profession we are exhausted, disenchanted, and questioning whether we want to stay in the health service at all. Add to this years of pay erosion, and it’s no wonder that morale on the frontline has never been lower,” the union said. – Reuters

Texas can ban emergency abortions despite federal guidance, court rules

FREEPIK

The US government cannot enforce federal guidance in Texas requiring emergency room doctors to perform abortions if necessary to stabilize emergency room patients, a federal appeals court ruled on Tuesday, siding with the state in a lawsuit accusing President Joe Biden’s administration of overstepping its authority.

The ruling by a unanimous panel of the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals comes amid a wave of lawsuits focusing on when abortions can be provided in states whose abortion bans have exceptions for medical emergencies.

The US Department of Justice declined to comment. The office of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and two anti-abortion medical associations that challenged the guidance – the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians & Gynecologists and the Christian Medical & Dental Associations – did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Biden administration in July 2022 issued guidance stating that the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA), a federal law governing emergency rooms, can require abortion when necessary to stabilize a patient with a medical emergency, even in states where it is banned. The guidance came soon after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned its landmark Roe v. Wade ruling, which since 1973 had guaranteed a right to abortion nationwide.

Texas and the associations immediately sued the administration, saying the guidance interfered with the state’s right to restrict abortion. A lower court judge in August 2022 agreed, finding that EMTALA was silent as to what a doctor should do when there is a conflict between the health of the mother and the unborn child and that the Texas abortion ban “fills that void” by including narrow exceptions to save the mother’s life or prevent serious bodily injury in some cases.

Circuit Judge Kurt Engelhardt, writing for the 5th Circuit panel, agreed, writing that EMTALA also includes a requirement to deliver an unborn child and it was up to doctors to balance the medical needs of the mother and fetus, while complying with any state abortion laws.

The law “does not provide an unqualified right for the pregnant mother to abort her child,” he wrote.

The ruling upheld a lower court order that blocked enforcement of the guidance in Texas and also blocked the administration from enforcing it against members of two anti-abortion medical associations anywhere in the country.

The federal court’s decision comes a month after Texas’s highest state court ruled against a woman seeking an emergency abortion of her non-viable pregnancy. That court is currently considering a separate lawsuit by 22 women about the scope of the emergency medical exception to Texas’s abortion ban.

A federal judge last year reached the opposite conclusion in a similar lawsuit in Idaho, blocking that state’s abortion ban after finding it conflicted with EMTALA. The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals is expected to hear the state’s appeal of that ruling later this month. – Reuters

Upgrading your assets: Your guide to investing in premium condominiums in the Philippines

Le Pont Residences, a premium condominium in the Philippines by RLC Residences (Artist’s Perspective)

Investing in premium condominiums is not just about acquiring property; it’s a strategic move into a world of exceptional living. As the Philippine real estate market continues to evolve, discerning investors are turning their attention to the country’s upscale condo developments. In this article, we will walk you through the key considerations and strategic insights to help you make informed decisions as you embark on the journey of investing in premium condominiums.

  1. Location

Time has proven how the address of a property greatly impact the value of a development, especially condominiums. Proximity to urban hubs, major roads, and essential establishments are the major reasons that identify if a specific property is worth investing or not. Prime location like destination estates is a good example, one of which is Bridgetowne – an estate that houses major offices and establishments, including condominium properties like Le Pont Residences.

Bridgetowne Destination Estate (Artist’s Perspective)

Developed by RLC Residences, Le Pont Residences’ address provide the much need convenience to future investors, thanks to its strategic location within Bridgetowne. Future owners of this property are in for a guaranteed capital appreciation given its proximity to PEZA-accredited offices, soon-to-open Opus Mall, notable The Victor structure, and The Bridge designed by Philippine National Artist for Architecture Francisco Mañosa found within the estate. As the only township that connects Quezon City and Pasig and has direct access to both C5 Road and Amang Rodriguez Avenue, Le Pont Residences’ value has already increased by 5%, less than a year after its launch in January.

  1. Hyper-sized Amenities

Investing in premium condominiums is not just about securing a property; it’s about upgrading your lifestyle. High-end condo investors are always looking for the amenities available in the property – as these increase desirability of the property resulting in higher value appreciation in the coming years.

Le Pont Residences, for example, features hyper-sized, above-standard amenities that elevates the living experience of its future residents. Its indoor and outdoor facilities are spread out in multiple levels of the property, including the Infinity Pool located at the Clubhouse – a perfect spot that offers a beautiful view of the estate.

Pool at Le Pont Residences (Artist’s Perspective)

Aside from this, the property will have its own fitness facilities such as a gym equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and a Yoga Room. Recreational and socialization areas such as Private Theater, Private Function Room, and Sky Lounge will also be exclusively available to its residents.

  1. Generously-Spaced, Future-Ready Unit Offerings

Homes with roomy area and equipped with advanced technology redefines premium experiences in the condominium space. More than a spacious unit, these living spaces should come with unique features that enhance the quality of life, provide comfortability, and strengthen safety and convenience.

Le Pont Residences is proud to offer units with expansive living spaces – ranging from 1-bedroom flat at 46sqm. (495 sq. ft.) to bi-level penthouse with iconic curved staircase at 380sqm (4090 sq. ft.). All these units come with loggia – an extended living space that allows homeowners to have a relaxing space right inside the unit. In addition, smart home features will come built in all the units for added safety and comfort.

Artist’s Perspective of Le Pont Residences’ three-bedroom unit with loggia

As this property is developed by RLC Residences, future investors can easily manage their own unit in this development via the industry’s first myRLC Home App. Downloadable via Google Playstore and Apple AppStore, myRLC Home allows easy condo investment management anytime, anywhere through in-app billing statements monitoring, online payment feature, and many more.

Interested to upgrade your assets via a premium condo development like Le Pont Residences? Visit rlcresidences.com to learn more or connect with your trusted Broker or Property Specialist to inquire.

 


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IMF’s Georgieva says Americans should ‘cheer up’ about falling inflation -CNN

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva speaks during a conference hosted by the Vatican on economic solidarity, at the Vatican, February 5, 2020. — REUTERS

 – International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said Americans should “cheer up” about the US economy, as inflation subsides further in 2024 amid a strong job market and moderating interest rates.

Ms. Georgieva told CNN in an interview that aired on Tuesday that the US economy is “definitely” headed for a “soft landing” with fairly strong growth prospects.

“People should be feeling good about the economy because they finally would see relief in terms of prices,” Georgieva said, praising the Federal Reserve’s “decisiveness” in raising interest rates to fight inflation.

“While that has been painful, especially for small businesses, it has brought the desired impact without pushing the economy into recession,” Georgieva added.

Asked why many polls show Americans pessimistic about the economy, the IMF chief said that consumers had become accustomed to low inflation and very low interest rates for many years, and when both jumped in recent years, it was a shock.

“My message to everyone is, you have a job and interest rates are going to moderate this year because inflation is going down. Cheer up. It is a new year, people,” Ms. Georgieva said.

Ms. Georgieva repeated her warnings against fragmentation of the global economy along geopolitical lines due to increasing national security restrictions, with countries gravitating towards separate blocs led by the United States and China.

Allowed to continue, she said this could ultimately reduce Global GDP by 7% – roughly equal to the annual out put of France and Germany,” and urged Washington and Beijing to compete on a rational basis, while cooperate on globally important issues.

“So we are all better off to find ways to reduce frictions, to concentrate on security concerns that are real and meaningful, and not go willy-nilly in fragmenting the world economy. We would end up with a smaller pie,” Ms. Georgieva said. – Reuters

US charges ex-fintech CEO who tried to buy Sheffield United with fraud

 – US prosecutors in Manhattan unveiled criminal charges against a Nigerian fintech businessman who recently bid unsuccessfully for an English Premier League soccer club, saying he lied to investors about the finances of his companies.

Odogwu Banye Mmobuosi, the former co-chief executive officer of Tingo Group, was charged with securities fraud, making false US Securities and Exchange Commission filings, and conspiracy in an indictment made public on Tuesday.

Prosecutors said the defendant, known as Dozy, falsely represented that his Tingo Mobile and Tingo Foods were profitable businesses generating hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue.

Mmobuosi sold the businesses to Tingo Group and Agri-Fintech Holdings, caused them to falsely portray his businesses as “cash-rich, revenue-generating companies,” and looted millions of dollars by misappropriating cash and selling stock at inflated prices, the indictment said.

A lawyer for Mr. Mmobuosi could not immediately be identified. Tingo Group, based in Montvale, New Jersey, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The alleged scheme occurred from 2019 to 2023, prosecutors said.

Mr. Mmobuosi temporarily stepped down as Tingo Group’s co-CEO last month, after the SEC filed civil charges accusing him of orchestrating a “staggering” fraud.

The SEC said Mr. Mmobuosi siphoned at least $16 million from Tingo Group and used it to buy luxury cars and travel on private jets, and try to buy the Sheffield United soccer team.

According to the SEC complaint, Tingo Mobile purportedly supplies mobile handsets and related services to farmers in Nigeria, while Tingo Foods is a purported food processor.

Tingo Group is a defendant in the SEC case, and has said it intended to vigorously defend itself.

The indictment was made public nearly seven months after the short-seller Hindenburg Research accused Tingo Group of having “fabricated” its financials, and challenged Mr. Mmobuosi’s claim to have developed Nigeria’s first mobile payment app.

The case is US v. Mmobuosi, US District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 23-cr-00601. Reuters