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Russian journalist’s phone hacked with Israeli spyware — researchers

FREEPIK

NEW YORK — A leading Russian journalist has had her phone compromised using Israeli spyware, researchers said Wednesday, the latest sign that phone hacking tools are being used to spy on media workers and opposition figures worldwide.

A joint investigation by Canadian internet watchdog Citizen Lab and digital rights group Access Now found that the phone of Galina Timchenko had been infected using spyware built by the Israeli company NSO Group. The infection began on or around Feb. 10, 2023, the researchers said. They did not identify who would have deployed it.

Ms. Timchenko — the co-founder and publisher of independent Russian news outlet Meduza — was in Berlin at the time of the hack, the researchers said.

Media defense groups condemned the alleged surveillance, with the Committee to Protect Journalists saying “journalists and their sources are not free and safe if they are spied on.” Timchenko was quoted in a story published by Meduza on Wednesday as saying the hacking left her feeling “like I’d been stripped naked in the town square.”

In an email, NSO said it “always investigates credible allegations of misuse.” The company did not say whether an investigation had been opened in this case, or respond when asked for an example of any past investigation.

Researchers, lawmakers and journalists have repeatedly accused NSO of helping governments spy on political opponents and undermine independent reporting. In 2021, the company was blacklisted by the US government over human rights concerns.  

Timchenko is a particularly high-profile alleged victim. One of the pillars of Russia’s independent media scene, she set up Meduza in Latvia after being fired as the editor of one of Russia’s most popular news websites for falling foul of the authorities. The outlet has since become a prominent source of news amid Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. — Reuters

Taiwan blasts Elon Musk over latest China comments

TWITTER.COM/ELONMUSK

TAIPEI — Taiwan is “not for sale,” the island’s foreign minister said in a stern rebuke to Elon Musk who asserted Taiwan was an integral part of China, as the billionaire again waded into the thorny issue of relations between Beijing and Taipei.

Mr. Musk, the owner of the social media platform X formerly known as Twitter, as well as the Tesla electric car company and Starlink satellite network, made the comments to the All-In Summit in Los Angeles uploaded to YouTube this week.

“Their (Beijing’s) policy has been to reunite Taiwan with China. From their standpoint, maybe it is analogous to Hawaii or something like that, like an integral part of China that is arbitrarily not part of China mostly because … the US Pacific Fleet has stopped any sort of reunification effort by force,” he said.

Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, in a post on X late Wednesday, responded that he hoped Mr. Musk could ask China to “open @X to its people.” China blocks X, along with other major Western social media like Facebook.

“Perhaps he thinks banning it is a good policy, like turning off @Starlink to thwart Ukraine’s counterstrike against Russia,” Mr. Wu added, referring to Mr. Musk’s refusing a Ukrainian request to activate his Starlink satellite network in Crimea’s port city of Sevastopol last year to aid an attack on Russia’s fleet there.

“Listen up, Taiwan is not part of the PRC & certainly not for sale!” Mr. Wu said, using the acronym for the People’s Republic of China.

Taiwan’s democratically elected government strongly rejects China’s sovereignty claims, and says only Taiwan’s people can decide their future.

This is not the first time Mr. Musk, whose Tesla had a large factory in Shanghai, has riled Taiwan. Last October, he suggested that tensions between China and Taiwan could be resolved by handing over some control of Taiwan to Beijing, drawing a similarly strong reprimand from Taiwan. — Reuters

Kim invites Putin to North Korea

RUSSIA’s President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un during a meeting at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the far eastern Amur region, Russia, Sept. 13, 2023. — SPUTNIK/MIKHAIL METZEL/KREMLIN VIA REUTERS

SEOUL/MOSCOW — Kim Jong Un invited Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin to visit North Korea during a rare summit, stoking U.S. concerns that a revived Moscow-Pyongyang axis could bolster Russia’s military in Ukraine and provide Kim sensitive missile technology.

Putin accepted the invitation, according to North Korean state news agency KCNA, though there was no immediate confirmation from the Kremlin. Since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Putin has rarely travelled abroad.

Calling each other “comrades”, Putin and Kim toasted to their friendship on Wednesday with Russian wine after the 70-year-old Russian president showed Kim, 39, around Russia’s most modern space launch facility and they held talks alongside their defense ministers.

“At the end of the reception, Kim Jong Un courteously invited Putin to visit the DPRK at a convenient time,” KCNA said, referring to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, North Korea’s formal name.

“Putin accepted the invitation with pleasure and reaffirmed his will to invariably carry forward the history and tradition of the Russia-DPRK friendship,” KCNA said.

For the United States and allies, the burgeoning friendship between Kim and Putin is a concern: Washington has accused North Korea of providing arms to Russia, but it is unclear whether any deliveries have been made.

Both Russia and North Korea have denied those claims, but promised to deepen defence cooperation, and during a visit to North Korea in July, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu was shown banned ballistic missiles by Kim.

Kim is due on Thursday to visit military and civilian aviation factories in the Russian city of Komsomolsk-on-Amur and to inspect Russia’s Pacific fleet in Vladivostok, Putin said.

‘FRIENDSHIP’
Over a sumptuous lunch of Russian “pelmeni” dumplings made with Kamchatka crab, white Amur fish soup and sturgeon, Kim on Wednesday toasted to Putin’s health, to the victory of “great Russia” and to Korean-Russian friendship, predicting victory for Moscow in its “sacred fight” with the West.

North Korea was founded in September 1948 with the backing of the Soviet Union, and Moscow supported it for decades during the Cold War, though support dropped off after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.

In recent years, China has been seen as the power with the most influence over Kim, but Pyongyang’s leaders have often tried to balance ties with both Moscow and Beijing.

After taking over from Boris Yeltsin in 1999, Putin visited Pyongyang in July 2000 for a meeting with Kim Jong Il, the father of Kim Jong Un.

At the summit on Wednesday, it was unclear just how far Putin was prepared to go in fulfilling North Korean wish lists for technology.

Amid the grinding artillery battles in Ukraine, Russia has ramped up its shell production, but a North Korean supply line could be useful.

North Korea is believed to have a large stockpile of artillery shells and rockets compatible with Soviet-era weapons, as well as a history of producing such ammunition.

Asked whether Russia could simply remove sanctions on North Korea, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia remained a responsible member of the UN Security Council.

But Peskov added that Moscow would develop its relations with North Korea in accordance with its own interests. Russian state television said the West’s rebukes over the summit were typical “hypocrisy” and pointed to U.S. military supplies to its allies in Asia.

The U.S. State Department said the Biden administration “won’t hesitate” to impose additional sanctions on Russia and North Korea if they conclude any new arms deals.

South Korea’s unification minister, Kim Young-ho, who is in charge of relations with the North, expressed “deep concerns” over military cooperation and possible arms transactions between Pyongyang and Moscow, saying the two countries were apparently continuing to pursue “some kind of” a military deal. — Reuters

‘Class B’ athletes have to pay for their own Asian Games campaign

KRISTINA KNOTT — PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

A FIFTH of the 395-strong Philippine team seeing action in the Hangzhou Asian Games scheduled Sept. 23 to Oct. 8 may have to pay for their own campaign in search for sporting glory.

In a document obtained by The STAR recently, 73 athletes categorized as “Class B” would have to pay for everything — uniform, bags, airplane ticket and hotel expenses — while the rest, who are all Category A athletes, would be funded by the Philippine Sports Commission.

In that same letter, the sports-funding agency announced the release of allowances as well as the tracksuit, luggage and other supplies of all Hangzhou-bound delegation members at the third floor of its administration building at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Malate, Manila.

It also announced the sendoff at 9 a.m. on Monday at the PICC grounds in Pasay City.

But for Category B athletes, it was bad news.

“For Category B athletes and team officials (please ask guidance from the Philippine Olympic Committee regarding categories), please be informed that the PSC will be collecting payments for the following before departure: shoes, tracksuit, luggage, airfare (depending on actual cost if booked and ticketed via PSC), and accommodation of $50 a day (based on actual stay),” it said.

The “have money, will travel” scheme is being applied to those athletes who failed to snare either a gold or a silver in the last Southeast Asian Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia last May.

Among the notable athletes who are in this category are former SEA Games gold winners Kristina Knott, William and Clinton Bautista. Fil-Spanish John Cabang Tolentino, who eclipsed the national 110m hurdles record last June, was also on the list.

“Category B (athletes) are those who did not win a gold or silver in the last SEA Games. PATAFA will have to pay for them to the PSC including the track suit, shoes, and luggage. Aside from airfare and accommodation, they won’t be given a travel allowance by the PSC also,” PATAFA Secretary-General Edward Kho told The STAR.

“They are John Tolentino and his coach Martin, KK, Willie Morrison,” he added.

Mr. Kho, however, isn’t certain if they will get reimbursements if they bring home the gold.

“I’m not sure,” he said.

A source also bared that the PSC is doing its best to find some money to cover some or the full expenses of some of these athletes, if not all.

“They are trying to get them all (Category B) funded,” said the same insider.

The STAR tried to get the side of PSC Chairman Richard Bachmann but he did not respond. — Joey Villar

Fil-Am Stephen Holt is the Rookie Draft top choice

STEPHEN HOLT — FIBA.BASKETBALL

FIL-AM Stephen Holt looms large as the top prospect in the talent-rich pool up for selection in Sunday’s PBA Season 48 Rookie Draft.

Although teams didn’t see Mr. Holt in action during the Draft Combine as he attended to his wife and newborn son in Portland, his credentials and extensive experience overseas should be convincing enough.

The 31-year-old Mr. Holt suited up for Canton Charge in the NBA G League in 2014-15 then played for clubs in top-flight leagues in Australia, Spain, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Kazakhstan and Romania.

“It was just perfect timing now in my career. At the end of every season, I’m always getting messages on social media ‘are you going to come to the Philippines?’ It wasn’t until this summer, June, when I got the opportunity to get my (Philippine) passport and once I got that, it was kind of a no-brainer for me to take the jump and join the PBA,” Mr. Holt said in Sports Desk on CNN Philippines.

The 6-foot-4 guard promised to make an impact in his PBA debut — regardless of which team lands his services. Terrafirma, Blackwater and Rain or Shine — owners of the first three picks in the rich draft — are in the frontrunners in the Mr. Holt derby.

“I’ve had a long, long career, nine years in Europe and Australia. It’s been a blessing for me to get to travel the world and play in that type of environment. When I come in, for whoever drafts me, first pick, third pick, whatever, wherever I go, I’ll definitely try to make an impact on and off the floor and affect the game in a positive way and showcase what I can do.”

“It doesn’t matter where I get drafted. I’m just super excited to finally get this opportunity. It’s been one of my goals throughout the entire journey to at least get one season in the PBA. I’ll be grateful to whoever picks me on Sunday. It’s another chapter in my basketball journey and I’m glad I’m going to write that chapter in the Philippines,” he said.

Mr. Holt, a former Gilas Pilipinas target, is part of a record pool of 128 rookie aspirants. Other leading candidates include Ricci Rivero, Brandon Bates, Keith Datu, Zav Lucero, Schonny Winston, Brent Paraiso, Draft Combine MVP Archie Concepcion and PBA 3×3 standouts Dominick Fajardo, Kim Aurin and Ralph Cu. — Olmin Leyba

Stanley Pringle is Gilas Pilipinas 13th man in the Asiad camp

STANLEY PRINGLE — FIBA.BASKETBALL

WHETHER he cracks the final Asian Games roster or not, veteran guard Stanley Pringle is happy to serve Gilas Pilipinas.

Mr. Pringle, who’s been slowed down by injury the past years, readily answered when coach Tim Cone came calling to be virtually Gilas’ 13th man in the Asiad camp.

“It’s a great honor just to be here to do what I can do. Everything that I can do to help the team win and excel and just do my part,” the 36-year-old Mr. Pringle told The STAR. “Great opportunity. I’m blessed, very happy to come here and help the team out.”

The Ginebra veteran guard and Gilas “alternate” feels he’d be ready to battle, in case he would be tasked to eventually suit up in the Sept. 23 to Oct. 8 joust in Hangzhou, China.

“He (Mr. Cone) first told me to come, see how my leg feels ‘coz I’ve been rehabbing the whole time since the (PBA) on Tour. So far, for the first few days it feels good, not bad, better than before,” he said.

If ever, it would be Mr. Pringle’s second foray in the Asiad. He previously played in the 2018 edition in Indonesia, where he joined Jordan Clarkson and the core of Rain or Shine. That group finished fifth.

“Stanley (Pringle) is here as an alternate, as a 13th man. He’s an alternate in case anything happens, in case Messrs. Calvin and Perk can’t make it. He’ll be one of the guys that we’ll place in the lineup or in case somebody gets injured or such,” Mr. Cone said.

Mr. Cone referred to Calvin Abueva and Jason Perkins, whose participation is still subject to approval by the organizers. Messrs. Abueva and Perkins were not part of the initial pool of 60 submitted months ago and Gilas is now appealing to allow them to replace injured players Jamie Malonzo and Brandon Ganuelas Rosser.

RR Pogoy, who is dealing with an undisclosed medical condition, is also waiting for doctor’s clearance to join the Asiad-bound crew.

“He’s on the team but he’s got a medical issue so we hope it clears up. He’s supposed to be part of the Final 12,” said Mr. Cone of the Cebuano gunner. — Olmin Leyba

Injured Sarno finishes unranked in Saudi IWF World Championships

VANESSA SARNO — PHILIPPINE STAR/JUN MENDOZA

NOT all days are sunshine and rainbows for Filipina weightlifting wunderkind Vanessa Sarno.

The 19-year-old Asian and world junior champion from Tagbilaran, Bohol had one of those rare bad moments as she finished unranked after failing to complete her clean and jerk attempts in the IWF World Championships in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia yesterday (Sept. 14).

Ms. Sarno registered 100 kilograms in the snatch but couldn’t do anything in the clean and jerk due to injury in the women’s 71kg division.

The undisputed heiress to Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz’s throne had a history of shrugging off health discomforts in the past.

Like a superhero in the comic books, Ms. Sarno went from the ICU (intensive care unit) straight to the competition venue to sweep all three gold medals in the World Juniors Championships in New Delhi, India.

But in Riyadh, Ms. Sarno was just human after all and succumbed in the event she was supposed to deliver.

Ms. Sarno’s teammate, Kristel Macrohon completed her lift with a total of 225 kg off 97kg in snatch and 128kg in clean and jerk but it was only good for 19th place overall in the event dominated by the mighty Liao Guifang of China with a 273kg off a 120kg in snatch and 153kg in clean and jerk.

It is not yet known if the injury is serious enough to prevent Ms. Sarno from going for the gold in the Hangzhou Asia Games slated Sept. 23 to Oct. 8.

But many expect her to overcome this one too, super-hero style. — Joey Villar

NBA Board of Governors approves new policy on resting more than one ‘stars’

THE NBA Board of Governors unanimously approved a new policy, called the Player Participation Policy (PPP), preventing teams from resting more than one “star” player in a game and setting forth punishment for violating the measure.

A star is defined as someone who made an All-Star team or All-NBA team in the past three seasons. The PPP replaces the Player Resting Policy and will be implemented for the 2023-24 season.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said executive vice president of basketball operations Joe Dumars led the “reset on the issue” under discussion for the past year.

“It’s a shared view by everyone in the league — it’s not just coming from the league office,” Mr. Silver said. “There’s an acknowledgment across the league that we need to return to that principle. It’s an 82-game league. … If you’re a healthy player in this league, you’re expected to play.”

Mr. Silver said the policy, in its initial phase, is meant to diminish egregious examples of resting or sitting out in the name of “load management” without understanding.

The new policy also dictates that teams ensure the availability of star players for nationally televised games and for the in-season tournament, which will make its debut in 2023-24. Teams must balance games missed on the road vs. home, with the preference leaning toward more home games missed, per media reports.

“There’s a sense from all the different constituent groups across the league that this is about the fans,” Mr. Silver said. “It’s gotten away from us. Particularly when you see young, healthy players.”

Teams must refrain from any long-term “shutdowns,” during which a star player stops playing games. And if resting a healthy player, teams must ensure that the player is present at the games and visible to fans.

The penalties for violating the policy are $100,000 for the first, $250,000 for a second, and $1 million more than a previous penalty for subsequent violations.

A group of team doctors and team scientists are working with the NBA to address when rest might be necessary and permitted.

The new policy does include exceptions for injuries, personal reasons and pre-approved back-to-back restrictions based on a player’s age, career workload or serious injury history.

Under the new policy, for example, the Los Angeles Clippers wouldn’t be able to rest stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in the same game.

The NBA has cut down on scheduling back-to-backs in different cities, increasing instances of playing consecutive road games against the same opponent. — Reuters

Cruel twist of fate

Four snaps was all it took for Aaron Rodgers’ season to go down in flames, leading even the most optimistic fans to wonder what the Jets have done to deserve the development. Heightened anticipation accompanied positive prognoses for the green and white after he was formally welcomed to the fold five months ago, and with reason. For all the worries the four-time Most Valuable Player awardee brought with him in the face of his advancing age, he represented a significant upgrade in the sport’s most important position. And he looked to be the answer — make that THE answer — for head coach Robert Saleh, until his freak injury ensured that he would be out for the foreseeable future.

Needless to say, with disappointment came anger, prompting calls for the National Football League to ban artificial field surfaces. The irony, of course, is that the Jets were at home, with MetLife Stadium the proud owner of the new FieldTurf Core system supposedly designed to prevent precisely the type of disablement that downed Rodgers. The change in the track came after players, including the rival Giants, publicly clamored for the installation of natural grass; the latter is deemed the best in any case, and certainly under such extreme weather conditions as that experienced in the Northeastern part of the United States.

It’s significant to note that Rodgers has remained upbeat despite the tear on his left Achilles tendon, and notwithstanding the long timetable for his convalescence. “The night is darkest before the dawn. And I shall rise yet again,” he pledged yesterday at the end of a lengthy Instagram post. Notably, his remarks echo those of Saleh and Jets owner Woody Johnson, and his trademark resiliency lend weight to their confidence. Yet, even assuming his return to be a foregone conclusion, there remains the problem at hand. How do they stay competitive in the meantime?

To be sure, the Jets did go on to win against the Bills in overtime, with the outstanding defense providing the impetus for a dramatic comeback. That said, Zach Wilson under center cannot simply be serviceable given the quality of the competition. Expectations have been tempered accordingly, but a playoff stint for the first time since 2010 seems iffy at best unless he manages to exceed himself. He’s no Rodgers, but he’s all they have; he needs to step up just as he did in their inaugural victory, and with consistency.

The good news is that the Jets still have Rodgers — albeit off the field. Wilson will most definitely benefit from his guidance, and his mere presence should keep the rest focused on the task at hand. And he will want to be involved, if for nothing else than because he has a personal stake as well. When he comes back, he will want them primed and ready. So, yes, they have suffered from a cruel twist of fate. But, yes, it’s also a step back that, with their commitment, should enable them to take two steps forward by the time he dons his cleats anew.

 

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.

Emphasis on technical, soft skills in business training programs seen needed  

JASON GOODMAN-UNSPLASH

Programs for business mentoring and training must strike a balance between technical and soft skills, according to an expert.

This is to develop a well-rounded skillset geared toward future-proofing professionals for complex challenges and building strong client relationships, Nalakumar Rs, vice president at Telus International Digital Solutions, said in an e-mailed interview transcript on Thursday.

Mr. Rs further noted that high-demand technical skills include data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, and cloud computing.

Soft skills include critical thinking, problem solving, adaptability, and effective communication.

“One of the main challenges is aligning the curriculum with the dynamic nature of the industry,” he said on integrating business mentoring into existing school curricula. 

“To address this, businesses must actively collaborate with educational institutions to identify the skills in high demand,” he added.

“It’s crucial to establish a feedback loop to continuously update the curriculum, ensuring it remains relevant and meets the emerging needs of the industry.”

He also noted that practical industry insights, hands-on experience, and specialized skill development can be provided by and supplemented through the integration — a testament to innovation. 

“Innovative mentoring and training initiatives play a crucial role in addressing the skills gap,” he said. 

“Through these initiatives, emerging professionals gain exposure to real-world scenarios, industry best practices, and the latest technological trends, enabling them to become valuable assets for clients with evolving digital needs.”

A report from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said that around 20.1% of workers face a ‘high risk’ of losing their jobs, while 15.7% have a ‘medium risk.’

In its “Reimagine Tech-Inclusive Education: Evidence, Practices, and Road Map” report, the ADB said jobs involving repetitive tasks or those that are easily codified are more likely to be automated, such as jobs in manufacturing, data entry, and some service industries. 

“Emerging technologies offer exciting opportunities to enhance mentoring and training initiatives,” Mr. Rs said on utilizing AI, machine learning algorithms, and blockchain technology for upskill purposes, citing different use cases. 

“By embracing these technologies, organizations can make their mentoring and training programs more effective, efficient, and scalable.” — Miguel Hanz L. Antivola

‘Ber’ months seen to double transport demand; Grab PHL to focus on safety, reliability

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

Grab Philippines expects a surge in transportation demand in the last few months of the year, prompting the company to prioritize safety and reliability, its chief operating officer (COO) said.

“The fundamental issue with the ‘ber’ months is that demand doubles,” Grab Philippines COO Ronald G. Roda said in an interview with BusinessWorld, reflecting on the company’s historical demand throughout the remainder of the year.

“As early as Nov. 15, the demand starts to double,” he said. “So you would need more than necessary to accommodate more people during the Christmas period.”

According to Melissa B. Carunungan, former spokesperson for the Metro Manila Development Authority, there was an increase in the number of vehicles on EDSA, with 417,000 vehicles observed daily as of Nov. 24 of the previous year, compared to 398,000 on Nov. 10 of the same year.

The pre-pandemic record was 400,000, she said. 

However, Mr. Roda said that the transport industry, including buses and jeepneys, has yet to reach pre-pandemic levels at this point due to work-from-home arrangements. 

“The number of people riding is not there, but we’re probably at 70-75%,” he said on nearing the usual volume of passengers. 

“Our goal for the year is to get us back to what we were pre-pandemic,” he added on Grab’s reliability outlook which is less focused on growth.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and the Department of Transportation released 4,500 cars in January, 10,500 in May, and another 10,500 in August for common pool use, Mr. Roda said. 

“Most of these will come on the road in October to November,” he said. 

Grab has begun ramping up its Airport to Anywhere fleet of vehicles to cater the spike in demand for air travel in December, alongside differentiating the service from the everyday GrabCar. 

It has also started doubling down on its motorcycle taxi arm Move It as a cost-efficient alternative, alongside tech features such as GrabShare, multi-stop rides, and multi-service type allocations during peak hours.

Mr. Roda noted that GrabShare made up 20% of Grab’s rides before the pandemic.

HELPING DRIVER-PARTNERS
Grab has introduced new features for driver-partners, including Sessions and Personalized Alerts, to help reduce their idle time and optimize their earning potential on the platform, according to the company.

Both features inform them about areas of high passenger demand, enabling them to maximize their trips per online hour while covering shorter distances, Grab said.

“Our partners drive to earn and support their families,” Mr. Roda said. “We understand how every minute online is a potential income opportunity for them.” 

“In 2022, Grab driver-partners from across Southeast Asia enjoyed a 3.55% reduction in average idle time, compared to that in 2021, helping to further optimize their earnings potential on the platform.” 

According to Grab, it introduced the Share Live Location feature in July, allowing passengers to share their live location with their assigned drivers when they are uncertain about waiting at the pin location.

Other backend features that assist drivers with their bookings comprise back-to-back bookings, auto accept, allocation swaps, and the homegrown navigation system GrabMaps.

Grab has also enabled more pronounced time-based and location-based incentives for drivers to cater the ‘ber’ months demand, Mr. Roda said. 

“Rides are 20% longer than the average GrabCar ride of 10 kilometers,” he said. “On Christmas, this 10-kilometer ride will take one hour. That’s a problem that is difficult to solve.” 

“When a driver drives for ten hours and he used to do 15 rides, he will only be able to do 12 [this time].”

“Incentives are there to try to normalize driver behavior,” he said. “You need some kind of impetus to make sure they behave properly.” — Miguel Hanz L. Antivola

US considering seeking greater base access in Philippines, top admiral says

PHILIPPINE STAR/WALTER BOLLOZOS

The United States is considering seeking access to more military bases in the Philippines under a defense agreement between the two countries, the chief of the US Indo-Pacific command said on Thursday.

Admiral John C. Aquilino in a joint press conference with the Philippines’ military chief Romeo S. Brawner said he had mentioned the possibility of expanded base access with senior leaders under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

Mr. Brawner added the locations of existing bases were not determined by regional threats and the main purpose of EDCA was training and humanitarian response. — Reuters

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