LONDON — Liverpool opened up a 13-point lead in the Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United as closest pursuers Arsenal played out a 0-0 stalemate at Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.
If the weekend’s results appeared to have given Liverpool one hand on the trophy, Arne Slot’s team now seem unstoppable.
Goals in each half by Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister were enough for Liverpool to see off Newcastle who slipped one place in the table to sixth.
Szoboszlai struck in the 11th minute when Luis Diaz cut the ball back for the Hungarian whose shot beat Nick Pope.
Mac Allister doubled the home side’s lead in the 63rd minute after Mohamed Salah picked him out.
Liverpool has 67 points from 28 games with Arsenal on 54, albeit having one game in hand. Forest has 48 points. — Reuters
“One more year!” The chants from the 11,333-strong crowd reverberated at the Footprint Center as the buzzer sounded to mark the end of the Mercury’s 2024 regular season. Considering that they spotted the visiting Storm 21 points in the first quarter alone, the fans in the arena could have left much earlier. Instead, they stayed on, bent on convincing the cornerstone of the purple and orange for the last two decades to keep plodding on. Needless to say, Diana Taurasi was noncommittal. “If it is the last time, it felt like the first time” was all she volunteered.
Certainly, Taurasi knew she didn’t have anything left to prove in and for the sport she thrived in since donning the colors of the University of Connecticut at the turn of the millennium. Three national championships, three WNBA titles, six Olympic gold medals, and six Euroleague crowns punctuated her hoops history. And that wasn’t even counting the individual honors she had been bestowed en route. The only question was whether she had already felt her heart to be full, never mind the prolonged valedictory the Mercury feted her within the week leading up to the homestand against the Storm.
Five months later, Taurasi gave a definitive answer. Not that anybody was shocked that she opted to formally put a period to her playing career the other day. At 42, she found the daily grind too taxing to be worth the opportunity cost. No doubt, she loved burning rubber; it was the intense preparation prior to doing so that finally ate at her resolve. Her advancing age, increasing susceptibility to injury, and, yes, her overcrowded mantel all signaled to her that it was time to exit stage left. “There’s still days where I’m like: I can still do this, I can still want to play basketball,” she said then. “But then there’s days where I can barely crawl out of bed. That’s the struggle when you’re at this point in your career; you have to do so much you have to do to get back on the court.”
Taurasi is embracing retirement as the WNBA’s undisputed leading scorer of all time, but she knows records are meant to be broken. For one year, at least, she got to see the significant strides the WNBA had made. A geometric progression in follower volume, charter flights, a new collective bargaining agreement on the horizon, expansion — all these, and more, made her beam with pride as she pondered on her invaluable contributions along the way. And so she looks ahead to better things, knowing full well the legacy she leaves behind.
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.
PLDT Inc. is interested in acquiring KKR & Co.’s stake in its fintech affiliate in a move that could allow the top Philippine telecom company retake control of the now-profitable business.
“It looks like Maya is starting to turn the corner. We’d be keen to increase our stake,” PLDT Chairman and CEO Manuel Pangilinan told reporters on Thursday.
PLDT reported its 2024 net income rose 21% to P32.3 billion ($558 million) as Maya Innovations Holdings became profitable in December, backed by the strong performance of its digital banking arm.
PLDT founded Maya — formerly called Voyager Innovations — in 2013 and owns about 38% of the company. KKR holds a stake of around 30%.
The global fund, which first invested in the fintech group in 2018, is “scanning the market for values for Maya,” Pangilinan said. “We’d be a buyer of whatever might be available,” he said.
Retaking control of Maya would allow PLDT to have more say in the company that’s facing growing competition with bigger rival GCash. Backed by Jack Ma’s Ant Group, GCash has dominated mobile payments in the Philippines and is working to build its banking business, an area of focus for Maya.
Along with PLDT and KKR, other investors in Maya include PLDT parent First Pacific Co., Chinese technology giant Tencent Holdings Ltd. and the World Bank’s International Finance Corp.
Mr. Pangilinan also said PLDT is in talks with a foreign investor for the sale of a minority stake in its data center unit after negotiations with CVC Capital Partners ended without a deal. He declined to identify the prospective buyer.
He earlier valued PLDT’s data center business at over $1 billion and a partial sale would help the group cut its debt. The company may sell some property assets if efforts to find an investor for the data center business fail.
“Compared to data centers around the region, we’re modest sized. We want to grow that so that we achieve the right timing for the right valuation for our data centers and not pre-sell it ahead of its time,” he said. — Bloomberg
DigiPlus and BingoPlus Foundation delivers solar solutions in remote communities and
recovery assistance to disaster-stricken families, as part of its KabuhayanPLUS
resilience program.
DigiPlus Interactive, through its social development arm, BingoPlus Foundation, continued efforts in promoting resilience in vulnerable communities by bringing its KabuhayanPLUS program in South Luzon regions. Anchoring on disaster response and sustainable livelihood, the Foundation delivered solar solutions in Mangyan Indigenous People (IP) communities in Mindoro and financial assistance to typhoon victims in the Bicol Region as part of post-disaster recovery initiatives.
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From the challenge of completing housework and studies in the dark, Mangyan
households now benefit from solar powered lights from BingoPlus Foundation.
From the challenge of completing housework and studies in the dark, Mangyan
households now benefit from solar powered lights from BingoPlus Foundation.
Lighting Up IP Communities of Mindoro
Bright lights and bright smiles spread across the Mangyan Indigenous People (IP) community as BingoPlus Foundation trekked the mountains of Manalansay, Oriental Mindoro to provide solar lights and solar generators in response to Samahan ng Magbubukid ng Manaul or SaMa Manaul’s request for assistance to solve their electricity problems.
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BingoPlus Foundation delivers its promise of supporting the Mangyan IP community’s decades-long challenge with electricity in the mountains of Mindoro.
BingoPlus Foundation delivers its promise of supporting the Mangyan IP community’s decades-long challenge with electricity in the mountains of Mindoro.
According to IP residents of Manaul, the lack of electricity has impacted their ability to maximize hours to produce their handicraft and other forms of livelihood. Children must also study despite the dark, reading by the furnace or with only a flashlight.
Communications is also dependent on the ability to travel to the town proper to charge mobile phones.
“Even if I want to finish my work, I can’t because I can only work until there is light. As a mother, it really pains me to see my kids not being able to accomplish their requirements in school because it’s too dark to work at night,” said Liza Gayot, who’s been a long-time resident of Manaul. “I’m thankful for BingoPlus Foundation because you are the light of our life and home,” said Gayot. “After 20 years, we finally have lights in our own homes,” she added.
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DSWD Assistant Secretary Paul Ledesma and DSWD Regional Director Norman Laurio join BingoPlus Foundation Executive Director Angela Camins-Wieneke in a turnover ceremony in Pili, Camarines Sur.
DSWD Assistant Secretary Paul Ledesma and DSWD Regional Director Norman Laurio join BingoPlus Foundation Executive Director Angela Camins-Wieneke in a turnover ceremony in Pili, Camarines Sur.
Bringing Hope to Typhoon Victims in Bicol Region
Meanwhile, BingoPlus Foundation concluded its commitment to provide financial assistance to bereaved families of Super-Typhoon Kristine, as part of a P37-million pledge initiated since November 2024. From January to February 2025, the Foundation collaborated with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office V in Bicol Region to provide financial aid to 74 affected families from Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Catanduanes and Masbate.
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Janette Ojeda, a mother who lost her eldest son because of Typhoon Kristine, received her financial aid as she tries to continue living her life despite the tragedy she went through.
Janette Ojeda, a mother who lost her eldest son because of Typhoon Kristine, received her financial aid as she tries to continue living her life despite the tragedy she went through.
The DSWD also donated family food packs, drinking water, hygiene supplies and first aid kits. The turnover ceremony held in Pili, Camarines Sur was joined by DSWD Assistant Secretary for Regional Operations Paul Ledesma and DSWD Bicol Regional Director Norman Laurio.
“Our hearts go out to all the families affected by Typhoon Kristine,” said Angela Camins-Wieneke, Executive Director of BingoPlus Foundation. “While the typhoon has since passed, the loss of loved ones — many of whom were breadwinners — is an additional burden to bear in the journey to recovery.” According to beneficiaries, the financial assistance of P250,000 will be used not only for house repairs, but also to sustain the education of orphaned children and daily household needs of families left behind.
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Packets of Nissin Food instant noodles sit on a shelf at a store in Hong Kong. — BLOOMBERG/CALVIN SIT
Nissin Foods Holdings Co., one of the world’s largest instant noodle makers, plans to invest “many hundreds of millions of dollars” in the next several years for expansion in Japan and elsewhere, according to its chief executive officer.
Nissin Foods expects continued demand for cheap precooked noodles even as the industry works to shed its image of being an unhealthy staple, President and CEO Koki Ando said in an interview on the sidelines of the World Instant Noodles Association summit in Manila on Wednesday.
“We are planning to increase our investments,” said Mr. Ando, who also heads the association. The Tokyo-based company expects to boost capital expenditure up until 2030, devoting “many hundreds of millions of dollars” in Japan and other countries, Mr. Ando added.
Instant noodles, originally from Japan and now a global staple, are undergoing a change as producers create healthier variations of the meal. They aim to revive interest in the product after consumption dropped in 2023 for the first time in four years. That followed a 14% increase between 2019 and 2022.
Global consumption of instant noodles dipped nearly 1% to 120.2 billion servings in 2023, based on the latest industry data. Last year’s number “slightly exceeded” 2023, Ando said, adding that the industry group sees at least 120 billion servings this year.
Demand grew during the coronavirus pandemic with families holed up in homes. But consumption eased in 2023 as economies reopened and noodle prices rose in many countries, he said. China, Indonesia and India are the world’s top instant noodle markets.
Nissin Foods reduced salt in its Udon noodle by a third between 2005 to 2024, company data show. It also launched products fortified with various nutrients, such as protein, vitamins and minerals. —Bloomberg/Neil Jerome Morales
Pag-IBIG Fund declared the highest-ever amount of dividends for its members’ savings at the Chairman’s Report 2024 held Thursday at the Philippine International Convention Center.
For 2024, Pag-IBIG Fund reported P55.65 billion in total dividends, marking the largest payout in the agency’s 44-year history. As a result, the dividend rates for the Regular Savings climbed to 6.6%, while the agency’s popular Modified Pag-IBIG 2 (MP2) Savings rate rose to 7.1%.
“For nearly five decades now, this institution has empowered individuals and families to find, acquire, and build the homes they aspire for—all in a system founded on trust, integrity, and shared opportunity,” President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said in a message. “This Chairman’s Report 2024 stands as proof of how your unwavering commitment has grown the contributions entrusted to your care, enabling every hardworking Filipino to achieve their dream homes. Let us remain steadfast in creating a strong, secure, and inclusive Pag-IBIG Fund that uplifts communities and ensures no Filipino is left behind in this era of Bagong Pilipinas.”
Pag-IBIG Fund recorded another banner year, with its 2024 net income reaching P67.52 billion—a 36% increase from P49.79 billion in 2023. The agency also surpassed the P1-trillion mark in total assets, closing the year at P1.069 trillion, another all-time high.
Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar, who chairs the 11-member Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees, underscored the agency’s outstanding performance and robust financial standing. “Pag-IBIG Fund has once again marked 2024 as one of its best-performing years, achieving record highs in both total assets and net income. This accomplishment directly benefits our members, as we declared P55.65 billion in dividends—equivalent to 82.71% of our net income, exceeding the 70% dividend requirement by law,” Acuzar said. “With our strong performance, sound investments and robust finances, we are well-equipped to continue providing our members with responsive benefits, and advance our efforts under the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program, ensuring that more Filipino workers can access affordable homes.”
Meanwhile, Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Marilene C. Acosta highlighted the agency’s record-setting performance in 2024. She noted that Pag-IBIG released P129.73 billion in home loans, helping 90,640 members acquire new or better homes. The agency also collected a total of P132.81 billion in membership savings—P73.74 billion of which were voluntarily saved under Upgraded and MP2 Savings—and disbursed P70.33 billion in cash loans to assist more than 3.2 million members.
“Truly, when Pag-IBIG Fund performs well, our members benefit the most,” Acosta said. “We take great pride in our record-high achievements in 2024, which reflect our commitment to helping members achieve their dream of homeownership, find relief in trying times, and save for a brighter future. We remain steadfast in safeguarding our members’ contributions and ensuring they yield the best possible returns—because our members deserve nothing less than the highest level of public service and the most prudent stewardship of their hard-earned savings.”
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Palawan Group of Companies executives: Bernard Kaibigan, Group Marketing Head; Ilyn Rose Dizon, Palawan Pawnshop and Jewelry Selling Brand Manager; and Jeff Dimaano, Integrated Marketing Communications Head, at the 12th Annual International Finance Awards 2024
Palawan Group of Companies (PGC) swept three major awards at the 12th Annual International Finance Awards 2024 held in Waldorf Astoria Bangkok, securing recognition for excellence in financial inclusion and services. PGC was awarded Most Innovative E-Wallet App for PalawanPay, Best Pawning Company, and Most Innovative Remittance Company, in the Philippines.
Bernard Kaibigan, Group Marketing Head at PGC, expressed gratitude for the recognition of the company’s dedication to championing financial inclusion: “For almost 40 years, we’ve made it our mission to provide affordable, fast, and hassle-free services. Whether through Palawan Pawnshop, Palawan Express Pera Padala, or PalawanPay, we’ve strived to make financial services accessible to every Filipino, especially the unbanked and underbanked.”
Bernard Kaibigan, Group Marketing Head at PGC, was grateful to the PGC team and most importantly to their “sukis” — beloved customers who remain at the core of the company’s mission.
The International Finance Awards, established in 2013 by UK-based International Finance magazine, celebrate excellence in the global financial sector. Recognizing talent, leadership, and innovation, these awards honor organizations and individuals driving market development through sustainability, financial inclusion, and technological advancement. International Finance, a leading source of credible financial news and analysis, employs a rigorous research process to select winners based on proven achievements.
Palawan Group of Companies proudly received multiple trophies during the awarding night, recognizing their commitment to providing affordable, fast, and hassle-free services to Filipinos while championing financial inclusivity.
Recognized as the “Best Pawning Company,” Palawan Pawnshop provides transparent collateral evaluation, competitive rates, and exceptional service. Its trademark of high appraisal values and low interest rates provides its “sukis” with greater cash payouts, solidifying its reputation as a reliable pawning partner.
Palawan Pawnshop-Express Pera Padala is a leading provider of domestic and international remittance services. Its nationwide presence, encompassing over 10,000 outlets, ensures accessibility for Filipinos throughout the country, including those in remote areas.
PalawanPay, awarded “Most Innovative E-Wallet”, has rapidly onboarded over 20 million users in just two years. Aside from its affordable cash-in and cash-out rates, it also offers innovative and convenient in-app access to services such as pawn renewal, microinsurance, and gold and jewelry transactions, all at competitive rates.
With these accolades, PGC reaffirms its stance as a leader in accessible, affordable, and innovative financial solutions. Grounded in its “mura, mabilis, at walang kuskos balungos” (affordable, fast, and hassle-free) philosophy, PGC is undoubtedly raising industry benchmarks. Most importantly, the company remains true to its commitment of empowering Filipinos by providing accessible and inclusive financial services.
ABOUT PALAWAN GROUP OF COMPANIES
The Palawan Group of Companies includes products and services such as Palawan Pawnshop, Palawan Express Pera Padala, Palawan ProtekTODO, Palawan Credit, and PalawanPay. A brand trusted by Filipinos for almost four decades, PGC is one of the fastest-growing financial institutions in the country. With its strength in remittance and pawning services, the company is the market leader in the industry and has over 70,000 branches, Pera Padala outlets, and PalawanPay Money Shops nationwide.
Palawan Group of Companies offers a wide range of services, including pawning, domestic and international remittances, microinsurance, bills payment, electronic mobile phone loading, cash-in and cash-out of e-wallets, money exchange, ATM withdrawal, and cash disbursements. Additionally, the company sells jewelry and gold bars, catering to customers looking to invest in valuable assets.
Palawan Group of Companies introduced PalawanPay, an e-wallet app that allows users to send and receive remittances anytime, anywhere. PalawanPay is the company’s latest digital solution, offering faster, safer, and more convenient transactions. In addition to remittances, the app provides access to other financial services, including bills payments, mobile load top-ups, and scan-to-pay QR Ph codes. The app also features integrated functionality for pawn renewal, purchasing jewelry and gold items, ProtekTODO personal insurance, and claiming international remittances.
Palawan Group of Companies is supervised by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
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Global Dominion President & Managing Director Patricia Poco-Palacios
By Jay Ann Bonghanoy
The 43rd Agora Awards Gala, hosted by the Philippine Marketing Association (PMA), was held at the Manila Ballroom of the Manila Marriott Hotel. Under the theme “AGORA S.M.I.L.E. — Stellar Marketing Innovators: Legacy of Excellence,” the event, known as the “Oscars of the Philippine Marketing Industry,” celebrated outstanding individuals and organizations that have significantly contributed to the growth and development of marketing practices in the Philippines.
At this prestigious event, Global Dominion was awarded Outstanding Achievement in Entrepreneurship — Large Scale Category. It was proudly received by Global Dominion President and Managing Director Patricia Poco-Palacios, together with other esteemed Global Dominion Officers.
This recognition acknowledges the titans of the industry in the Large-Scale Business Owner Category and celebrates visionaries who have spearheaded large enterprises to grow and pivot with remarkable success. Recipients of this award have demonstrated exceptional business acumen, strategic foresight, and the ability to navigate complexities amidst disruptions while achieving substantial growth and influence in the market.
To qualify for this distinction, companies must exhibit substantial revenue and market share, demonstrating significant revenue generation and industry dominance. They must also have an established global presence, operating beyond national borders with a strong international footprint. Furthermore, awardees are recognized for their industry leadership, setting trends and influencing market dynamics. A commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) through impactful social and environmental initiatives is also a key factor. Lastly, continuous innovation plays a crucial role, as companies must showcase sustained innovation and strategic vision that drive their growth and competitive edge.
Global Dominion’s achievement in this category is a testament to its unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and social responsibility, solidifying its position as a leader in the business financing sector.
During the event, Global Dominion’s Ms. Poco-Palacios shared the company’s inspiring journey, stating: “GDFI started in 2003 with less than 10 million in capital, and like many small businesses, it struggled with funding as the demand for small loans was strong and unserved. Today, GDFI has grown to 13 billion in assets, 150 branches nationwide, with more than 1,800 employees, and with more than 40,000 in active clients, and hundreds of thousands served. Lastyear alone, we disbursed a record 10 billion in small loans, infused into the Philippine economy. We have partnered with banks both local and international to help address the lack of financial inclusion in the country and to contribute to economic development. We find ourselves privileged to be able to practice our purpose: to ignite and accelerate the growth of people and organizations to transform lives for the better. This award symbolizes the possibilities of entrepreneurship and that hard work, innovation and the right network[…] can go a long way. Our thrust, like the PMA, has always been to support the hardworking Filipino business person — whom we call — lovingly call our Ka-partners. This is not just our win, but the win of the Filipino entrepreneur.”
This recognition further strengthens Global Dominion’s position as a key player in the financing industry, paving the way for an even more impactful year ahead. It reaffirms the company’s commitment to empowering Filipinos through financial solutions that drive progress and economic growth.
Beyond providing financial assistance, Global Dominion is dedicated to equipping entrepreneurs with the essential tools and resources needed for long-term success while promoting sustainability in the financial sector. By collaborating with industry associations and local communities, the company continues to explore expansion opportunities and develop tailored financing solutions that fuel business growth.
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Babae Ako Partylist continues to gain strong support, securing a higher ranking in the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted from December 2025 to February 2025. This upward trajectory highlights the growing trust in its advocacies and unwavering commitment to championing women’s rights in the Philippines.
The partylist’s increasing voter confidence reflects its active role in addressing key issues affecting Filipino women. One of its flagship programs, the Bantay Abuso Hotline, provides immediate assistance and legal aid to victims of abuse and violence. Additionally, Babae Ako Partylist is pushing for scholarships for single mothers, ensuring they have access to education and better employment opportunities.
Rossel “Shantal D.” Dimayuga, the partylist’s first nominee, reaffirmed their commitment to these advocacies. “We are incredibly grateful for the trust and confidence that our fellow Filipinos have given us. This inspires us to work even harder in creating programs that empower and uplift women and their families.”
Recognizing the struggles of working mothers, Babae Ako Partylist is advocating for a Day Care Program for Single Working Mothers, ensuring accessible childcare services. The Tulong Pangkabuhayan Program also aims to equip women with the skills and resources needed to start and sustain their own businesses.
Furthermore, the partylist is pushing for the House Administrator Bill, which seeks to grant legal recognition and rights to household administrators, particularly those who have dedicated their lives to managing homes and raising families. Another critical advocacy is the Senior Citizens Employment Continuation Act, designed to provide elderly women with opportunities to remain in the workforce if they choose to, ensuring financial security and continued societal participation.
As the 2025 elections approach, Babae Ako Partylist remains committed to intensifying its efforts in crafting policies that create meaningful and lasting impact on women’s lives nationwide. The overwhelming support from the public strengthens its resolve to be a steadfast advocate for women’s rights in Congress.
Babae Ako Partylist extends its heartfelt gratitude to all its supporters for their unwavering trust and belief in its mission. Together, we can build a future where every Filipina is empowered, protected, and given the opportunity to thrive.
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TikTok wants its users to express themselves not just on the platform but also in the polling booth come election day, according to Peachy Paderna, public policy manager of TikTok Philippines.
A NAVY miniature is seen in front of displayed Chinese and Taiwanese flags in this illustration taken April 11, 2023. — REUTERS
TAIPEI – Taiwan’s defense ministry on Thursday reported a surge in Chinese military activity the previous day, but officials said they did not detect any live-fire exercises in a drill zone off the island’s southwestern coast.
Democratically governed Taiwan, which China views as its own territory, said on Wednesday the Chinese military had set up a zone for “shooting” drills in the southwestern part of the Taiwan Strait, off the major population centers of Kaohsiung and Pingtung.
Taiwan’s government condemned the move as dangerous, provocative and a threat to commercial flights and shipping, adding no prior notice was given. China has yet to comment.
In its daily morning update of Chinese military activities in the prior 24 hours, Taiwan’s defense ministry said it had detected 45 Chinese military aircraft and 14 navy ships operating around the island, including seven ships in the Chinese-declared drill zone, 40 nautical miles off Taiwan.
In an accompanying map, the ministry showed the location of the drill zone which it said was 70 nautical miles long and 20 nautical miles wide, though well outside of Taiwanese territorial waters.
NO LIVE FIRE
Two senior Taiwanese officials, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the situation, said Taiwan did not detect any live-fire shooting in China’s “drill zone” and there was no further escalation of military tensions.
They said the Chinese move was very similar to China’s other recent military activity in the region, such as in the South China Sea and that off Australia’s coast, during which China’s navy did not give adequate notice about their exercises.
“This is extremely rare and exceeds general expectations,” one of the officials said, referring to the Chinese military’s move of running exercises without prior warning.
“Allies are exchanging ideas,” the official said. “The democratic camp must do some risk management for our defense.”
Taiwan’s foreign ministry said in a statement that China was the “biggest troublemaker” in the region.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on the international community to continue to pay attention to the security of the Taiwan Strait and the region, and to jointly condemn China’s repeated and unilateral actions,” it said on Thursday.
Speaking in Washington on Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump declined to comment in response to a question about whether the United States would ever allow China to take control of Taiwan by force.
However, in a separate interview with Fox News, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the government had a long-standing position on Taiwan it was not going to abandon, namely being against any forced or coercive change in Taiwan’s status.
“America has existing commitments that it has made to prevent that from happening and to react to it, and that would be executed on…The Chinese are aware of this as well,” he said, when asked what would the U.S. do if China attacked.
CHINA HOLDS PARLIAMENT MEETING NEXT WEEK
Taiwan, whose government rejects China’s sovereignty claims, has repeatedly complained of Chinese military activities, including several rounds of full-scale war games during the past three years.
Next week, China holds the annual meeting of its largely rubber stamp parliament, the country’s biggest domestic political event, where it will unveil its defense budget for the year.
March also marks the 20th anniversary of China’s “anti-secession law” that allows it to use force on Taiwan in extreme cases, though the legislation is vague.
This week, Taiwan also detained a Chinese-linked cargo vessel on suspicion of damaging an undersea communications cable.
Late on Wednesday, prosecutors in the southern city of Tainan said they had ordered the ship’s Chinese captain detained, and prohibited the seven other crew members, also all Chinese, from leaving Taiwan.
China said on Wednesday that Taiwan was casting aspersions before the facts were clear, and that undersea cables around the world are routinely damaged by accident. – Reuters
WASHINGTON – U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration on Wednesday ordered federal agencies to undertake more large-scale layoffs of workers, while the president let downsizing czar Elon Musk take a star role at his first cabinet meeting and discuss his ambitious budget-cutting targets.
A new memo instructed agencies to submit plans by March 13 for a “significant reduction” in staffing to a federal workforce already reeling from waves of layoffs and program cuts by Mr. Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency. It did not specify the number of new layoffs.
The memo represents a major escalation in Mr. Trump and Mr. Musk’s campaign to slash the size of the U.S. government.
Thus far, the layoffs have focused on probationary workers, who have less tenure in their current roles and enjoy fewer job protections. The next round would target the vastly bigger pool of veteran civil servants.
At the cabinet meeting, Mr. Trump said Lee Zeldin, the Environmental Protection Agency administrator, plans to cut up to 65% of his more than 15,000 employees.
On Tuesday, an Interior Department source told Reuters that bureaus such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs have been ordered to prepare for workforce reductions as high as 40%.
Some 100,000 of the nation’s 2.3 million civilian federal workers have been fired or taken buyouts.
Mr. Trump offeredMr. Musk an extraordinary sign of support by inviting the billionaire to tout his work to the presidential cabinet, some of whom had pushed back on his recent demand that all of their employees justify their work or face termination.
Mr. Musk is not a cabinet-level official — and faced no approval by the U.S. Senate — and the White House has claimed in court papers that he is not in charge of DOGE, even though Trump has said he is and Musk aides staff DOGE.
As cabinet secretaries looked on, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO – wearing a black “Make America Great Again” baseball cap and a T-shirt reading “tech support” – expressed confidence he can cut the $6.7 trillion budget by $1 trillion this year. That extremely ambitious target would likely entail significant disruption of government programs.
Mr. Trump made it clear he backed Mr. Musk’s effort, giving him the floor at the top of the meeting and later asking the gathered officials, “Is anyone unhappy with Elon?” to scattered laughs.
Later on Wednesday, Trump signed an executive order directing agencies to work with DOGE to review and terminate all “unnecessary” contracts and instructing the General Services Administration, which manages the government’s real estate, to create a plan for disposing of any unneeded property.
Thus far, Mr. Trump and Mr. Musk have failed to slow the rate of spending. According to a Reuters analysis, the government spent 13% more during Trump’s first month in office than during the same time last year, largely due to higher interest payments on the debt and rising health and retirement costs incurred by an aging population.
Mr. Trump reiterated his promise to refrain from cutting popular health and retirement benefits, which account for nearly half of the budget.
“We’re not going to touch it,” said Mr. Trump.
Mr. Trump is simultaneously pushing Congress to extend his 2017 tax cuts, set to expire at year’s end. The nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates the 2017 cuts added $2.5 trillion to the nation’s debt, now $36 trillion, and that extending the tax cuts could cost more than $5 trillion over a decade.
Republicans are weighing cuts to healthcare and food aid for the poor to help pay for the tax cuts, though specifics have not yet emerged.
CONFUSION AND THREATS
Some cabinet secretaries were taken by surprise over the weekend when federal workers received an email requiring them to list their accomplishments for the week, a demand Musk said would result in termination if ignored.
Some agencies told employees to ignore the directive, prompting days of confusion over whether Musk and Trump could make good on the threat.
Mr. Musk, the world’s richest person, told the cabinet his email was an attempt to find out whether government paychecks were going to actual workers.
“We think there are a number of people on the government payroll who are dead,” he said, without providing any evidence.
Mr. Trump again suggested the roughly 1 million workers who did not respond to Musk’s email might be at risk of losing their jobs.
Mr. Trump and Mr. Musk’s unprecedented government overhaul has also frozen foreign aid and disrupted construction projects and scientific research.
In a court filing on Wednesday, the Mr. Trump administration said the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development had canceled nearly 10,000 grants and contracts.
The GSA, informally known as the government’s landlord, plans to terminate 1,100 leases for office space by the end of the year, according to a person briefed on the matter.
The terminations will target so-called soft-term leases, which are no longer subject to cancellation penalties and can be easily ended, the person said. The GSA manages roughly 2,800 soft-term leases in total, and thousands more “firm-term” leases that cannot be ended without cause. – Reuters
