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Consumer group asks DTI to ensure compliance to SRP with Christmas feast items 

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

A CONSUMER rights advocacy group has asked the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to ensure compliance to the recently released suggested prices of items commonly used during the Christmas eve feast.   

The department issued last Saturday the suggested retail prices (SRP) for Noche Buena goods this year, such as ham, cheese, pasta, tomato sauce, and all-purpose cream.   

“With Filipinos scrimping their hard-earned money to enjoy the Holidays, Trade Secretary (Ramon M.) Lopez and the rest of the trade department must ensure these Noche Buena products’ SRPs… are strictly followed and closely monitored to protect Filipino consumers from profiteering producers,” Laban Konsyumer, Inc. (LKI) said in a news release on Wednesday.   

The SRPs of these food products mostly decreased or remain unchanged, while the maximum price of ham went up to P204 (500 grams) and P1,120 (1 kilogram) from P189 and P1,025 last year, respectively.  

In a statement last Friday, Mr. Lopez thanked manufacturers for “heeding the call not to increase prices demonstrating their sense of solidarity with our consumers this Christmas despite the COVID-19 pandemic.”   

Nonetheless, LKI President Victorio A. Dimagiba expressed the group’s disappointment over a shorter list this year with 114 producers no longer included from the 206 last year.   

“While it is great news that some producers are going through great lengths to keep their products affordable, however, it is also baffling that several products have been removed from the DTI’s monitoring list,” Mr. Dimagiba said.  

Among the Noche Buena products with less producers monitored by DTI this year are ham brands to 17 from 33, Queso de Bola brands to seven from 12, five cheese brands from 15, tomato sauce to three from 16, and no fruit cocktail brands from 12 last year.   

The DTI did not give a reason for the reduced list of manufacturers for monitoring this year. — Bianca Angelica D. Añago  

Allow private sector to use vaccines for booster shots — senators 

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

PRIVATE companies should be allowed to use the coronavirus vaccines they bought as booster shots for workers and their family members to prevent wastage, senators said, citing a government policy that prevents them from doing so without approval from the national task force handling the pandemic.   

Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara in a statement Wednesday backed the appeal of 26 business groups who said that “vaccines are arriving faster than they can be dispensed,” fearing that procured vaccines will expire.  

“I totally agree, if there is still vaccine hesitancy then go ahead with the booster shots to A4,” said Majority Leader Juan Miguel F. Zubiri, who chairs the Senate Cooperatives committee, in a Viber message Wednesday. “Let’s not waste the vaccines.”  

The A4 priority group includes economic front liners, personnel who work on-site, and government employees.  

“We understand that there is still a huge portion of our adult population that remains unvaccinated,” said Mr. Angara, “but when we have a situation where vaccines are available and are about to expire, then we should consider the call of the private sector, who are prepared to use them right away.”  

“The Department of Health and our Vaccine Czar should have an idea of the current supply of vaccines. If there is enough to accommodate the request of the private sector, then this should be done as soon as possible,” he added.  

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire has said that private companies with excess vaccines nearing expiry are not allowed to give them to their workers as booster doses unless these employees are senior citizens or part of the list of immunocompromised individuals.  

“If you think these will be wasted or will expire soon, you can undertake this loaning agreement from the national government, where the national government will take the doses currently on hand and will exchange them for fresh stock once the company needs them,” she said in a mix of English and Filipino. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan 

House bill filed on increased benefits for persons with disabilities 

A BILL was filed at the House of Representatives that seeks to increase benefits granted to persons with disabilities (PWDs) to help the sector adapt to the coronavirus pandemic.  

House Deputy Speaker Deogracias Victor B. Savellano filed House Bill 10540, which would mandate the Department of Social Welfare and Development to review and formulate measures that would expand government-funded aid to PWDs.  

The measure also proposes to provide a P500-million fund for the implementation of the proposed law as well as future allocations in the national annual budget to sustain the assistance.   

Mr. Savellano said the bill is needed as PWDs have been one of the hardest hit sectors by the coronavirus pandemic.  

“Discounts in medicine, food, recreation, lodging, and other benefits are minimal as to create significant impact on the quality of lives of people with disabilities,” he said in the bill’s explanatory note. — Russell Louis C. Ku 

Senate energy panel chair tells NEA on BENECO row: ‘locals know best’ 

SENATE Energy Committee chair Sherwin T. Gatchalian urged the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to observe the status quo in the operations of Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO) under the leadership of its board-appointed general manager. 

“My basic principle is that the locals will always know best and the boards, whether it’s a cooperative board or Sangguniang board, they’re empowered to choose the best people for themselves,” Mr. Gatchalian said in a statement on Wednesday.   

“The outsiders shouldn’t meddle as it will only complicate the situation, especially when they do not know how to run cooperatives.” 

BENECO’s board of directors elected Melchor S. Licoben as general manager after the April 2020 retirement of the late Gerardo P. Versoza. 

However, NEA, which supervises electric cooperatives, also appointed Ana Maria Paz Rafael as BENECO’s general manager for scoring highest in the interview.     

Ms. Rafael took over the cooperative on Oct. 18, escorted by around 50 heavily-armed police.   

On Nov. 8, the Benguet provincial board declared Ms. Rafael persona non grata in Benguet. Baguio City Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong has also denounced the takeover and expressed support for the Licoben leadership.  

The lawmaker, who earlier filed a resolution calling on the Senate to probe the management row between NEA and BENECO, assured the latter that he will send its request to maintain the current leadership to the Senate.  

“I’ll bring your request for a status quo of the situation. That’s the best for now,” he said. 

Mr. Gatchalian said that while several cases between the two parties are pending in court, it is best to just leave things as they are to avoid confusion among consumers, particularly on bill payments.   

“These incidents can bring troubles in the operations of BENECO, which will only burden the consumers,” he said. — Marielle C. Lucenio 

15th typhoon may enter PHL this week but no impact seen

SEVERE tropical storm Nyatoh might be within the Philippine area by Thursday morning, but it is expected to just brush through the eastern boundary and stay far from land, state weather bureau PAGASA said on Wednesday.  

Once inside the Philippine territory, it will be designated the local name Odette. Based on the forecast position, it will be 1,375 kilometers east of Central Luzon by 8 a.m. of Dec. 2.   

“This tropical cyclone is less likely to affect the prevailing weather condition in the country for the next 3 to 5 days,” PAGASA said in its 11 a.m. bulletin.  

Nyatoh was packing winds of 100 kilometers per hour (km/hr) near the center and could strengthen into a typhoon with a peak intensity of 150 km/hr, according to the weather agency.

What it will take to make the world’s ships run on time

TAWATCHAI07-FREEPIK

I SPENT nearly 10 years on the deep ocean — entirely out of sight of land. During the long voyages, I would track the massive civilian cargo ships and oil tankers sailing near my warships. An exquisite system keeps them running essentially 24/7, hustling cargoes among a network of global megaports. Those of us at sea watched with respect for their size and scale, mingled with a sense that they were so often on the edge of trouble. Shippers’ margins on time and cost are thin, and their crews are incredibly small, often not adequately trained or sufficiently compensated.

All of these factors are playing into the current delays with raw materials and consumer goods in the global supply chain. Naturally, these delays aren’t entirely dependent on ocean transportation. But given that more than 90% of internationally traded goods move through what the 19th century naval strategist Rear Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan called the “sea lanes of communication,” it is a good place to focus more attention. The huge ports are part of the maritime infrastructure as well, and some of them have become structural choke points, much as we think of critical geographic choke points like the Suez or Panama canals or the straits of Hormuz or Malacca.

At the moment, serious backups and delays continue to be the norm at ports around the world. The largest American complex is in Southern California, the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. For weeks, dozens of vessels have been waiting at anchor offshore. Thousands of empty containers still need to be sent to other ports. And as is the case at many other key ports worldwide, cargo infrastructure is overwhelmed.

Part of the problem has to do with how we think of supply chains. They are not really chainlike in the sense of being simple, linear pathways. If they were, the problems would be easier to fix. They are more accurately envisioned as networks or even a cloud — as nonlinear as the sea itself. In essence, the global supply chain is a host of distinct nodes that function smoothly only if they are synchronized.

When the “just in time” system falters, the network’s extraordinary interconnections — ordinarily a strength — create problems. As COVID-19 has made it difficult to get manpower to the docks to offload ships, those problems have been magnified throughout the network. COVID also impedes the flow of mariners from land to sea and back as national quarantines, testing regimes, and border closings are put in effect.

Global maritime systems still need to adjust to all of this. The big shipping companies (A.P. Moller-Maersk, Mediterranean Shipping Co., China Ocean Shipping Co., Evergreen Marine Corp.) and associated organizations (the UN International Maritime Organization, Lloyd’s of London) have to collectively assess the bottlenecks. Governments need to participate through their associated agencies, such as the US Maritime Administration (MARAD). This is at heart an intelligence function, and only by pooling vast sets of data can the extent of the problem be understood. President Joe Biden is right to keep up a conversation with retailers and other business leaders about measures to get the supply chain moving.

(I am a board member of the Greek Onassis Foundation, which runs a substantial international shipping business headquartered in Europe, and I consult for Crowley Maritime in the US.)

Armed with a clear idea of how the maritime network is functioning, experts can apply appropriate analytical tools (including nascent artificial intelligence techniques) to formulate solutions. In the US, for instance, a plan is needed to shift cargo delivery away from overloaded ports to underused ones. The US has few megaports (only Los Angeles and Long Beach are in the world’s top 20) but many smaller ones — a legacy of our vast coastline and decentralized infrastructure. That weakness could be turned into a strength.

It would also help to know where it’s best to invest in port improvements. As the Transportation department carries out the recently passed infrastructure legislation, this effort should be a priority.

Over the long term, it’s important to invest in global shipping, beginning with mariners themselves. In the US, this means supporting merchant marine colleges, including the US Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York, and state maritime colleges. Governments including the US should also subsidize environmentally safe shipping operations and improvements in port technology — including collapsible shipping containers, “smart” offload cranes, and pop-up warehouses to handle overflow.

The current global system has been desynchronized not only by COVID-induced manpower shortages but also by extraordinary delayed demand for durable goods, aging and neglected infrastructure, and severe weather disturbances. The combined effects will take a year to unwind.

Unfortunately, though unsurprisingly, this problem also has a geopolitical aspect. Controversy over which country runs a particular port or canal discourages the sharing of information and intelligence. The US-China competition also complicates efforts to resynchronize the global shipping system.

The pressure on maritime networks is still growing, and no other option remains for moving most of the world’s goods. International cooperation among nations, interagency coordination within countries, and — above all — a high level of public-private integration will be needed to untangle the snarls in the system.

BLOOMBERG OPINION

Privilege

GERIC10-PIXABAY

When it comes to road use, I have always believed that all duly licensed motorists and bikers, as well as cyclists have equal rights and privilege. Pedestrians, on the other hand, should remain on sidewalks for their safety, except in instances when there are no sidewalks. Then, they can be accorded the courtesy of using the side of the road.

Problems arise when certain groups of people abuse their privilege, to the disadvantage of a larger group of people with just as much right and access to roads. Many times, such abuse is done with impunity and reckless abandon, raising the risk of accident or injury if not death. Worse, such abuse is tolerated by authorities, if not done by people in authority themselves.

Saturday last week, Nov. 27, I was driving up to Tagaytay City with my family around 8 a.m. when we encountered maybe three batches of motorcyclists going up the Tagaytay-Sta. Rosa Road. They had motorcycle “escorts,” presumably motorized policemen, flagging down motorists to slow down and give way to the “riders” in their obviously expensive big bikes.

The bikers and their escorts were going fast, at times counterflowing or overtaking dangerously. There were about 25 bikers, in three batches if I recall, with each batch led by maybe two escorts. At some point, two cars — one of which was a van — presumably part of the biking group, also counter-flowed using the shoulder of the oncoming lanes, posing danger to other motorists. All this, just to get ahead of other vehicles suffering from the slow pace going up.

It is easy enough to let this go, and let the group have their fun. No harm, no foul, right? But the fact remains that what they did is abuse of privilege, and with impunity. Their possible violation of traffic rules, disregard for safety of others, and the use of “escorts” — whether or not policemen — in what appears to be an unofficial function are only a few of the questions raised by the situation.

The same biking group appears to have ended up at the Mushroom Burger restaurant in Tagaytay City at around 9 a.m., with their “escorts” standing guard at the restaurant’s parking lot. I don’t know who these people were or where they came from, and what gave them the right to wantonly disregard traffic regulations and put others at risk. I am also uncertain whether their escorts were indeed policemen, or just bikers illegally using red-blue blinkers.

But I have encountered such biking groups often enough, on their weekend ride to various destinations outside the metropolis. Their recklessness — speeding, weaving in and out, abruptly swerving and changing lanes without signaling, and going between cars or illegally lane splitting — are witnessed even on tollways. The sad part is the fact that despite their recklessness, they seem to get away with it as “escorts” usually accompany them.

Privilege is defined in the dictionary to be a special right, immunity, or benefit enjoyed only by certain persons beyond the advantages of most. Such privilege is not necessarily accorded by law, but simply exercised by choice by those unscrupulous enough to take advantage of their wealth or position to enjoy certain benefits or gains, or to free themselves of certain obligations and liabilities, as they assert themselves to be better than or above others.

The abuse of privilege is a problem not just by locals, mind you. Even visiting foreigners, foreign residents, and even unscrupulous diplomats and diplomatic staff tend to disregard smaller or minor rules, observing them more in breach, and bending them when convenient. Average motorists with violations will have to contend with tickets and fines — or bribes — but not them.

I recall an old story in the Los Angeles Times by staff writer John Goldman noted how New York City protested to the US State Department the non-payment of parking tickets by diplomats. As of 2001, Goldman reported, the city had more than 200,000 outstanding parking tickets from diplomats, totaling more than $21.3 million in fines, of which only over $160,000 had been paid.

The tickets were issued to foreign diplomats from consulates and embassies in the city, and the United Nations Headquarters. This prompted then-mayor Rudy Giuliani, in 1997, to ask the US State Department to revoke the special diplomatic plates for diplomats who ignore parking summonses, but the State Department denied the request.

As I had written previously, this problem is not only in New York City. In The Hague in the Netherlands, for instance, authorities have resorted to impounding over-speeding diplomatic cars rather than ticketing their owners, and that diplomatic status would not ensure the release of impounded vehicles. This is an obvious workaround, since “immunity” applies only to diplomats, and not their vehicles. New York opted to tow, impound, and auction vehicles rather than accost their diplomat-owners.

Is this something that cannot be done here? Is there anybody in Congress willing to author and sponsor legislation that can finally put an end to abuse of privilege that results in recklessness on our roads? Or, is this asking for too much from our government? I recall a 2006 economic study that noted there was a significant correlation between home-country corruption (as measured by Transparency International) and unpaid parking or traffic fines.

The “special” privilege to disregard traffic rules does not belong only to unscrupulous government officials, military officers, and policemen. Even some diplomats think themselves at par with local abusers and allow their staff to act illegally with impunity. It takes political will to put order on our roads. Driver education, regulation, and enforcement need to go together.

The situation is difficult. As I had noted in a previous column, the issue really is how a lot of people believe themselves above laws, rules, and regulations that are meant to apply to all. They do what they do because they know they can get away with it. They believe themselves immune to liability, and thus act with impunity. I can only wonder if this will ever change.

 

Marvin Tort is a former managing editor of BusinessWorld, and a former chairman of the Philippine Press Council

matort@yahoo.com

Faith and sport

One of the unexpected but, nevertheless, welcome benefits of staying home because of the pandemic is the free time one has for other members of the family, to appreciate certain nooks and corners of your home you’ve taken for granted, to reflect on one’s life and raise basic questions like: What is my purpose in life? Why am I here? What more do I want to achieve?

As one compares notes with other senior and super senior citizens on how the pandemic has changed their lives, one hears of fellow seniors “reinventing” themselves by learning new skills, or revisiting old hobbies like cooking, baking, getting busy with physical conditioning activities like stationary biking, doing the treadmill for 30 minutes daily, lifting weights, yoga, and walking.

Others combine the above with reading books that had been long lying around untouched on book shelves and gathering dust. Some, especially those visually challenged, subscribe to audio books by the dozen and finish “reading” the books in no time. After going through two or three in a week’s time, one hears expressions of accomplishment like, “Its great communing with some of the world’s greatest thinkers, political science experts, economists, and management gurus. I should’ve done this much earlier into the pandemic.”

Still others get to pray more often. Private, silent morning prayer for 15 minutes with rosary in hand while still in bed is preferred by quite a number. The country’s difficult economic and political situation has a great number seeking shelter, solace, and assurance from unstructured prayer by simply praying for one’s needs, dreams, safety, good health, loved ones, and for peace in the country. After praying the rosary, others catch different TV/online masses and listen to the homilies of wisdom of priests, monsignors, and bishops.

Scripture reading follows as part of the discernment process. Prayers of petition, gratitude, adoration, and contrition round up what the faithful call “God’s morning.”

Another common household activity is rummaging through one’s old files, photos, old articles, pamphlets, annual reports, brochures, and reference materials on one’s various areas of interest.

One such reference material, which I had placed in a box labeled simply “Interesting and Useful Papers” and which I dug up, is a 2016 paper used in a conference called, “Sport at the Service of Humanity — Conference on Faith and Sport, Vatican.” The formal name of the international gathering, held at the Vatican on Oct. 5-7, 2016, was called “Global Conference on Faith and Sport.”

Although a bit more than five years old, the concepts discussed and issues raised remain extremely relevant as sport activities all over the world intensify and all faiths do some basic reflection on how a particular faith will relate with other great areas of human interest such as sport.

The convenors of the conference — the United Nations, the International Olympic Committee, and the Vatican — state that with the blessings of His Holiness Pope Francis, the Vatican hosted Sport at the Service of Humanity, the first global conference and faith and sport. This new combination of topics was most likely the main reason why I singled out the article for future reading.

The conference, a by-invitation affair, gathered thought leaders from different religious faiths, sports, business, academia, and media, and discussed how faith and sport can work together to serve humanity.

A conference paper says that religious faith and sport are fundamental driving forces within global society. Both share a common purpose in the promotion of human values and both have vital roles to fulfill. A summary of the proceeding states, “The Conference looked at how faith and sport can leverage their combined power and influence to promote positive values, inspire youth, and make contributions for the betterment of humanity.”

The Conference was developed under the direction of Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, an Italian Cardinal of 11 years. World famous athletes, religious leaders, and government leaders attended and explored how the faith and sports communities could better serve the communities, according to a conference paper. A preparation commission was convened one year before the conference. For many hours, the delegates brainstormed under the general theme of Sport in the Service of Humanity.

Cardinal Ravasi “convoked the group to help develop a cultural and pastoral approach to sports and a major international colloquium on “Faith, Culture and Sport” according to a statement of the organizers. Cardinal Ravisi opened the meeting by “delineating four cultural aspects of sport: the body, education, ethics, and play to set the general tone of the meeting.”

The narrative of the Conference relates how an athlete described the influence of coaches as being somewhere between that of a father and an uncle, and few doubt the sporting world reflects, even shapes and influences many of societies priorities, joys, and ills. Another representative laid down the challenge to focus not on “Who is the best?”, but on “What is your best?”

A write up on the conference states that, “the main theme throughout the Conference was the question. ‘What can faith and sport do together for the betterment of humanity? Some of the answers looked at the service that can be given to the poor and vulnerable, promoting tolerance, bringing down of racial and gender barriers, and effective promoting of inclusion, as well as bringing joy to people around the world.”

Combining faith and sport to be of better service to humanity will remain to be a daunting challenge in the years to come. Western and western-oriented societies will be able to respond over time. Other communities will have difficulties adapting to the basic principles of combining faith and sport to contribute to development. Gender inclusion and tolerance for unorthodox marital arrangements will, for example, be put to a test in a place like Doha, Qatar where the 2022 World Cup will be held. Let’s see how the Qataris will adapt to a new paradigm.

 

Philip Ella Juico’s areas of interest include the protection and promotion of democracy, free markets, sustainable development, social responsibility and sports as a tool for social development. He obtained his doctorate in business at De La Salle University. Dr. Juico served as secretary of Agrarian Reform during the Corazon C. Aquino administration.

Is substitution a part of our culture?

FREEPIK

THERE are a limited number of celebrities and powerful people, even counting has-beens and wannabes. These few are sought by the many for ceremonial roles such as wedding godparents, commencement speakers, ribbon cutters for new condos, guests of honor for conventions, and webinar commentators.

Requests for their attendance are made months in advance. Thus, a commitment can be quickly given while the calendar is full of blank spaces, with little thought of possible schedule conflicts. The celebrity soon enough realizes as the once distant appointment approaches that he just isn’t in the mood, and it is too late to cancel — can he send a proxy instead?

The proxy (from the Latin word, procurare — to attend to) shows up for social events on behalf of someone more important and recognizable, usually a boss he cannot refuse. (Sir, I’ve already scheduled a trip to Boracay with the family.) Organizers of events are not expected to take offence at the absence of their important guest, whose name is on the brochure, if he sends a representative to take his place. Proxies, or substitutes, are expected to fill in the no-show gap, even if inadequately.

A proxy must still approximate the status expected by the organizer or host. If the important man cannot attend, he cannot just send a physical therapist in a suit to take his place. His substitute must be of a high enough standing, preferably considered important in his own right in another area (say, weightlifting) and properly attired.

The substitute is introduced as a “worthy representative.” (Is there ever an unworthy one?) When required to deliver a speech, which he may have ghostwritten, he prefaces it with an acceptable reason for the scheduled speaker’s absence. The proxy assures the audience of the original guest’s ardent desire to deliver his speech in person. (He had a severe depression when the doctors informed him that he could not possibly attend this event. The emergency eye bag removal could no longer be postponed.)

This riff intended to break the ice is obligatory. It excuses the no-show for his absence.

The substitute proceeds with his task, speaking confidently in the first person as if he was the absent one. He tries his own warm-up jokes at the start. (I see all of you expected to see someone important addressing you. I am his speech writer.) After a much-shortened speech, there is no need for an open forum as there are few questions anyway addressable to this proxy — what do you think of labor contracting?

The substitute surely feels uneasy with the charade. A big reception line expecting “the important one” to arrive is confronted with a grinning stranger. As revenge, the organizers release a photo of the event to media, referring to the substitute anonymously as the representative of the big shot who was absent. (Don’t invite this guy again.)

Only in the movies are unknowns accepted to stand-in for the big star. Stuntmen have this substitution strategy as part of their job description. It is routine in action movies where someone is thrown out of a speeding car that a double takes the bruises and scratches for the highly paid star. In sex scenes, a “body double” for the female lead may be used with the star taking over facial expressions and words of endearment — are you finished?

The spokesperson is another kind of proxy. The opinions he expresses are not necessarily his own. They reflect those of the person or company he represents. It is possible that the positions he publicly espouses are at odds with the ones he privately holds. Acting is a required talent when lying in wild abandon every night.

In the political setting, substitutes tend to flip the proxy rules. It is the higher-profile personality that bumps off the obscure placeholder. (Why do you say I make a mockery of the rules?) It is also possible that there are more placeholders than expected last-minute substitutes, leaving some of the former stranded in the queue — let me leave that question for now, as I get hold of the script.

In both the social and political realms, the substitute is seen as a gatecrasher not originally in the invitation list. Also, the substitution ploy loses its surprise value when it becomes too familiar… like a joke that has been told at least once before.

 

Tony Samson is chairman and CEO of TOUCH xda

ar.samson@yahoo.com

EU calls on Chinese gov’t to show proof of tennis star Peng Shuai’s well-being

BRUSSELS — The European Union (EU) called on Beijing on Tuesday to show proof of the well-being of tennis star Peng Shuai, adding its voice to international concern about her fate since she alleged sexual assault by a former top Chinese official.

“The EU joins growing international demands, including by sport professionals, for assurances that she is free and not under threat,” the EU’s foreign service said in a statement.

“The EU requests the Chinese government to provide verifiable proof of Peng Shuai’s safety, well-being and whereabouts,” the statement said. The bloc also urged that the Chinese authorities carry out a “full, fair and transparent investigation into her allegations of sexual assault.”

The whereabouts of Peng, a former doubles world number one, became a matter of concern when she disappeared on Nov. 2 after posting a message on social media alleging that China’s former Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli had sexually assaulted her.

She reappeared in mid-November in Beijing and held a video call with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach. But the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has said this did not address or alleviate concerns about her health and safety.

A phone number at the Chinese embassy in Brussels was not answered on Tuesday. Neither Zhang nor the Chinese government have commented on Peng’s allegations, although Beijing has told foreign governments not to interfere in its affairs. The topic has been blocked from direct discussion on China’s Internet. — Reuters

UEFA welcomes EU council adopting resolution on European Sport Model

EUROPEAN soccer’s governing body Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has welcomed the Council of the European Union’s decision to adopt a resolution on the European Sport Model, which calls for strengthening of “value-based organized sport” on the continent.

The resolution was unanimously approved by sports ministers on behalf of the EU’s 27 member states on Tuesday and follows a European parliament resolution this month that opposed “breakaway competitions.”

Twelve of Europe’s leading clubs announced in April that they intended to create a new Super League and break away from UEFA’s established Champions League competition.

After a hostile reaction across the game and from fans and governments, the move collapsed, with all six English clubs plus Inter Milan, AC Milan and Atletico Madrid withdrawing.

Real Madrid and Barcelona plus Juventus have continued to push the idea, however, and proceedings have continued in a Madrid court that stopped UEFA punishing breakaway clubs.

“This is a landmark statement of intent from the EU member states; there can be no doubt left that Europe and European sport will succeed in protecting and promoting our European Sport Model,” UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin said.

“We now have a long-term plan of action at the European level to defend a values-driven, socially embedded, and open vision of European sport.

“With this backing for our model, European football will continue to be the leading example of this.”

UEFA said the resolution emphasizes the need for sports organizations to continue to strive for more transparency and improved governance — including reforms advocated or already implemented by UEFA.

“In addition, it calls for more stakeholder inclusion in decision making processes, specifically in respect of fans and athletes,” UEFA added.

“UEFA looks forward to furthering these discussions with major football stakeholders in the framework of the convention on the Future of European Football.” — Reuters

Woods unsure of return date, ‘would love’ to play British Open

TIGER Woods does not know when he will return to the Professional Goflers’ Association (PGA) Tour following a February car accident that left him in a wheelchair for two months, but said on Tuesday he would love to compete in the British Open next July at St. Andrews.

Woods, who was close to having his leg amputated after he lost control of his car in Los Angeles, won two of his 15 career major titles at the Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland and has not ruled out being in the field.

“I would love to play at St. Andrews, there’s no doubt it. It’s my favorite golf course in the world,” Woods said at Albany Golf Club in the Bahamas where he is host of this week’s Hero World Challenge.

“Physically, hopefully I can. I’ve got to get there first. Tournament’s not going to go anywhere, but I need to get there.”

Woods walked into the news conference, his first since the car accident, without crutches. During the 40-minute session, he admitted that both his leg and back hurt just sitting there.

Woods, who recently posted a video on social media showing him hitting a golf shot, acknowledged he has a long road ahead in the rehab process, including countless reps, breaking up scar tissue and things he said “really hurt.”

When asked about how he feels with the expectations among his legion of supporters who feel he can still win a major, the 45-year-old Woods said he was flattered that people think that highly of his game.

“For that to happen, I have a long way to go,” said Woods. “But I enjoy the challenge of getting in there and trying to push it to the next level. Sometimes, it’s two steps forward and one step back but you got to go through it.

“Maybe, one day, it will be good enough where I can get out here and compete against these best players in the world again.”

Woods collected his most recent major at the 2019 Masters, a remarkable win that followed several surgeries to his back and knee and personal problems that convinced many the best golfer of his generation was done.

Now, Woods, who accepted that the “clock’s ticking” on his storied career, said he has “no desire” to resume a full playing schedule but that he would prefer to ramp up his preparations for a few events.

“There’s no reason that I can’t do that and feel ready,” said Woods, who has not played competitive golf since the 2020 Masters last November.

“I may not be tournament-sharp in the sense I haven’t played tournaments, but I think if you practice correctly and you do it correctly, that I’ve come off surgeries before, I’ve come off long layoffs and I’ve won or come close to winning before.

“So I know the recipe for it, I’ve just got to get to a point where I feel comfortable enough where I can do that again.” — Reuters

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