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INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Global push to regulate kid's digital habits gains momentum
ISTANBUL, April 18 ------ Countries are increasingly imposing restrictions on children and adolescents due to concerns about the amount of time spent online, which has grown with the widespread use of social media.
Austria recently announced that starting May 1, mobile phones and smartwatches will be banned in primary and secondary schools, sparking renewed attention on digital device restrictions. Excessive screen time, particularly among children and adolescents, has raised concerns about issues such as manipulation, digital bullying, disinformation, hate speech, explicit content, privacy violations, fraud, and cybersecurity. As a result, countries are implementing new regulations, restrictions, and bans on smartphones and social media platforms.
Research shows that excessive use of social media and smartphones contributes to mental health issues in children, including anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and depression, as well as physical health problems like poor posture and obesity. Anadolu compiled a list of restrictions that countries have imposed or plan to impose on digital devices and social media platforms due to concerns over the growing trend of children and youth spending excessive time online.
Europe
In many European countries, laws require parental consent for children of certain ages to use social media. In Austria, a new regulation set to take effect on May 1 will prohibit the use of digital devices such as mobile phones and smartwatches in primary and secondary schools. Students will be allowed brief communication with their families but are prohibited from using these devices during school hours. Teachers will be allowed to temporarily confiscate the phones of students who do not comply with the regulation. In the case of repeated violations, confiscated phones will only be returned to parents.
In 2023, France passed a law requiring parental consent for children under 15 to create social media accounts. A commission chaired by President Emmanuel Macron recommended even stricter measures in April 2024, including a ban on mobile phones for children under 11 and restricting internet-connected phones for those under 13. In Germany, children under 16 are required to have parental consent to use social media. However, enforcement is difficult due to challenges in verifying parental consent during registration, as well as users potentially providing false birthdates. The state government of Hessen is reportedly planning to ban smartphone use in schools. Belgium's 2018 law requires children to be at least 13 to open a social media account with parental consent, while in Italy, children must be at least 14.
The Americas
Several countries in the Americas are also implementing regulations to address the potential negative effects of social media on children. In the United States, while policies vary between states, access to mobile phones is partially or entirely banned in schools across states such as California, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Ohio, South Carolina and Virginia. Florida became the first US state to restrict phone use in schools after passing a law in 2023 that bans mobile phone use during class time in public schools and blocks access to social media via school Wi-Fi networks. While such restrictions are being debated in other states, it is noted that due to the frequent occurrence of school shootings in the US, many parents are concerned about limiting phone access in the case of emergencies.
In Venezuela, authorities are debating restrictions on children's use of social media. After blaming TikTok "challenge videos" for the deaths of three children, the company was warned to take preventive measures. On December 31, 2024, Venezuela's Supreme Court fined TikTok $10 million for failing to implement these measures. On Jan. 13, 2025, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva signed a law banning the use of mobile phones in primary and secondary schools. The regulation allows phones to be used only for pedagogical purposes and under the supervision of teachers.
Asia and Australia
On Nov. 28, 2024, the Australian Senate passed a bill banning social media access for children under 16, making it the first country to do so. The law, which will go into effect after a 12-month period to allow social media companies to implement necessary changes, will impose fines of up to approximately $33 million on global platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, Instagram, and X if they fail to comply. Following Australia's decision, Indonesia's Mental Health Director Imran Pambudi of the Health Ministry suggested that Indonesia may also take similar steps. Noting that monitoring children's social media use is a family responsibility, Pambudi stated that implementing a regulation banning social media for minors could take at least three years to implement.
In India, there is no regulation on age restrictions for social media use, but under the 2023 Digital Personal Data Protection Act, children under 18 must obtain "verifiable parental consent" for the processing of their personal data. However, this does not limit their access to social media. South Korea currently does not impose restrictions on children's access to social media, but the Seoul government is considering implementing an age restriction of either 14 or 16 years for social media accounts.
Source: pna.gov.ph
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Air ‘traffic is back’: These are the world’s 10 busiest airports
April 18 ------ In 2024, global passenger numbers finally surpassed 2019 levels, after years of ripples from the massive disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
There were about 9.5 billion passengers globally last year — a 3.8% gain from pre-pandemic levels in 2019 and a 9% increase over 2023, according to preliminary global airport data released on Monday by Airports Council International (ACI) World. ACI represents the interests of 2,181 airports in 170 countries. “We’re very happy to see that the traffic is back, and we’re anticipating significant growth moving forward right now, even with some of the headwinds that we’re seeing,” Justin Erbacci, ACI World director general, told CNN Travel.
The world’s busiest airport is once again Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The Delta Air Lines hub in Georgia’s capital city has held the No. 1 spot for 26 of the last 27 years, slipping from its top ranking once in 2020 as passenger traffic cratered.
The No. 2 airport, Dubai International Airport, became the second-busiest airport in the world for the first time in 2023 and retained that position in the latest top 10 rankings. At No. 3, traffic at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport jumped up 17% in 2024 from 2019 levels and increased more than 7% from 2023. Tokyo Haneda and London Heathrow — frequent top 10 airports — came in at No. 4 and No. 5, respectively. At No. 6, Denver International Airport serves as an example of strong passenger volume at US hubs, with a more than 19% increase from its 2019 passenger level and a nearly 6% increase from 2023. “Coming out of the pandemic, we saw that the hub airports in the US grew very fast, actually even during the pandemic, because the major airlines were emphasizing their hubs,” Erbacci said.
The airports in Istanbul, Turkey, and New Delhi, India — Nos. 7 and 9, respectively — “have been thriving due to airline expansion, infrastructure growth and enhanced global connectivity,” according to an ACI World news release. At No. 8, passenger volume at Chicago O’Hare International Airport is still down about 5% from 2019 levels (up about 8% from 2023) but is “building up for higher growth,” Erbacci said. And rounding out the top 10 in the 2024 rankings is Shanghai Pudong International Airport, which saw the biggest jump in the rankings — going from No. 21 in 2023 up to No. 10, with a whopping 41% increase in traffic.
The airport’s substantial jump was driven by “expanded visa policies, the resumption and expansion of international flights, operational enhancements, and the recovery of the Asia-Pacific region, particularly China,” according to ACI World.
Big growth in emerging markets
Atlanta seems poised to retain its top spot, although its 2024 traffic about 108 million passengers — was still about 2% below its 2019 passenger volume. “We foresee Atlanta to be maintaining its high position for a while,” Erbacci said, but the most future growth is expected in other regions. “You’ll continue to see more significant growth in the Asia Pacific, India, China, Latin America regions, to some extent Africa as well. And we’ll see less prominent growth — but nonetheless still growth — in the developed countries in North America and Europe,” he said.
ACI cited economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, production delays from aircraft manufacturers and other strains among the challenges the industry faced in 2024. But ACI World’s outlook remains positive. “I think that we’re seeing the continued resiliency of passenger travel, even with some major global disruptions,” said Erbacci. There’s still geopolitical and economic uncertainty ahead, and Erbacci expects these forces will have some impact on air travel. How much impact — on areas such as airline capacity or passenger demand — remains to be seen. “Obviously, if the uncertainty and the tariffs and everything continues it could impact the growth that we’re projecting right now,” Erbacci said in an interview last week prior to President Donald Trump’s pause on the latest round of US tariffs. ACI World will be monitoring global developments closely. “But the prognosis for further growth is high, and we anticipate that our traffic numbers will double by 2045,” Erbacci said.
World’s top 10 busiest airports for passenger traffic in 2024
1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (ATL): 108.1 million passengers; up 3.3% from 2023
2. Dubai (DBX): 92.3 million passengers; up 6.1% from 2023
3. Dallas Fort Worth (DFW): 87.8 million passengers; up 7.4% from 2023
4. Tokyo Haneda (HND): 85.9 million passengers; up 9.1% from 2023
5. London Heathrow (LHR): 83.9 million passengers; up 5.9% from 2023
6. Denver (DEN): 82.4 million passengers; up 5.8% from 2023
7. Istanbul (IST): 80.1 million passengers; up 5.3% from 2023
8. Chicago O’Hare (ORD): 80 million passengers; up 8.3% from 2023
9. New Delhi (DEL): 77.8 million passengers; up 7.8% from 2023
10. Shanghai Pudong (PVG): 76.8 million passengers; up 41% from 2023
Source: cnn.com
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MARITIME NEWS
Economic Impact: Cruise Boom Benefits Port Communities
April 18 ------ At the eastern end of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia on the island of Cape Breton sits the small port of Sydney. By comparison to dozens of other North American ports, it's small potatoes. But what's important, and even vital, to Sydney is the revenue generated by its cruise industry.
In 2024, Sydney had a record year with 117 vessel calls, 13,297 passengers arriving on 20 cruise lines and millions of dollars in economic activity. Again, in comparison to the Miamis of the world, small potatoes. But big impact.
For both large and small ports, figures show the growing economic impact of cruising. Cruise Lines International Association's (CLIA) global economic impact study in 2023 "revealed the highest-ever global economic impact from cruise tourism and reaffirmed that 2023 surpassed 2019 as the benchmark year for cruise industry performance." The report also confirmed the cruise sector's role as a "robust job creator." According to the study, the global cruise industry in 2023 generated $168.6 billion in total economic impact, a nine percent increase over 2019. And 2024 was even better, although final figures are not yet in.
Cruise lines are riding the wave of popularity with over 25 cruise ships on order in the next two years, according to a Travel Market Report. Capacities will range from 100 to 6,700 passengers. Cruise ports also continue to see the ever-growing importance of cruise and are investing in infrastructure with a continued focus on clean energy.
New Records
In 2025, the Port of Seattle will mark its first full season with all three of its cruise berths having shore power capability. The installation of shore power at the Bell Street Cruise Terminal at Pier 66, a $44 million investment, made Seattle capable of providing shore power simultaneously to three cruise ships, eliminating harmful emissions. "With the installation of shore power at Pier 66, I'm proud to say Seattle is one of the only ports globally able to simultaneously power three cruise ships with low-carbon electricity," says Port of Seattle Commissioner Fred Felleman. Seattle has announced all homeported cruise ships will be required to plug into shore power by 2027, moving the original target date up by three years.
Seattle is also expecting new cruise lines.
"This summer we'll welcome the Queen Elizabeth from Cunard for a series of 10- and 11-day cruises from Pier 91," notes Brad Olsen, Senior Manager of Maritime Marketing. "In addition, existing homeport brands are deploying larger ships in 2025 including Norwegian's Joy and Oceania's Riviera. In 2026 we'll see MSC and Virgin Voyages sailing seven-day cruises from Pier 91." Seattle posted 275 ship calls and 1.75 million passengers last year. The preliminary schedule for 2025 includes 299 vessel calls and an expected 1.9 million passengers. "We'll continue to set new records for cruise traffic," Olsen says.
Linda Springmann, the port's Director of Cruise & Maritime Marketing, adds, "Cruise passengers are a crucial part of our economy's success and contribute significantly to Seattle's vibrancy. Plus, SEA (Seattle-Tacoma International Airport) has strong international reach, which means cruise lines can attract international visitors who tend to stay longer, go further into our region and spend a little more."
Banner Year
It's expected to be a banner cruise year for the Port of Galveston as the port celebrates its 200th birthday. "Galveston is the fourth most popular cruise port in North America and eighth busiest in the world because our cruise partners offer a great product and because of our location," exclaims Galveston Wharves' Port Director Rodger Rees. "As the only cruise homeport in Texas, we serve much of the central U.S. and beyond, offering more sailings to more destinations on newer and larger ships. We host Carnival, Disney, Norwegian, Princess and Royal Caribbean."
In 2024, a total of 3.4 million passengers moved through Galveston's three cruise terminals, a new record in the port's 25-year history as a homeport. More than 380 cruise ships called in 2024, another record. In 2025, the port forecasts more than 400 sailings and almost 3.6 million passengers. To meet the growing demand, the port will open a fourth cruise terminal in 2025. The $156 million terminal will be home to MSC and Norwegian cruise lines.
Similar to many ports, Galveston's cruise industry is a major economic engine for local and regional businesses. In 2023, cruise operations generated 4,547 jobs, $733 million in business revenues, $291 million in personal income and $25 million in state and local taxes. The port's cruise operations are located adjacent to Galveston's historic downtown, filled with restaurants, shops, galleries and attractions. More than a third of cruise passengers stay in local lodging before or after their cruises to enjoy the many attractions.
Powering Up
Florida's Port Everglades, the third busiest cruise port in the world, has jumped on its own clean energy bandwagon and completed a study to add shore power to its eight cruise terminals. The study by Moffatt & Nichol, a global infrastructure advisory firm working in cooperation with Florida Power & Light (FPL), Carnival Corporation, Disney Cruise Line and the Royal Caribbean Group, recommended a plan to deliver up to 16 megawatts of electricity simultaneously to each of the eight terminals. The projected cost, including estimates for FPL upgrades, is approximately $21.5 million per terminal for a total of $172 million. The project is expected to be financed through federal and state grants, contributions from FPL, the participating cruise lines and Broward County.
"In just the first few months of our fiscal year, we're seeing solid growth in our cruise business," says Joseph Morris, CEO & Port Director at Port Everglades. "There are cruise ships making more visits to our port and we anticipate a record 4.4 million cruise guests this year. We're also making progress on our Master/Vision Plan Update that will improve the experience for cruise lines and their guests, and we're powering forward with plans to renovate Terminal 29 for the Royal Caribbean Group."
Port Everglades, which hosts 10 cruise lines and a ferry, welcomed more than four million guests in FY 2024, a 39 percent increase over FY 2023 and a new record. There were 889 ship calls including 241 calls from Baleària's Caribbean ferry. Disney Cruise Line opened its second homeport at the beginning of FY 2024 and joined Celebrity, Princess and Royal Caribbean with year-round sailing itineraries.
Terminal Upgrades
On the California coast, at the Port of San Diego, shore power will be a sure thing. The port's Board of Commissioners has approved a contract for an additional shore power outlet to enable vessels with starboard connections to access shore power at the B Street Cruise Terminal's south berth, adding further versatility to the existing system. The shore power addition will be accompanied by other infrastructure work.
Early this year the port is expecting to have the construction and design document completed for the B Street Cruise Terminal's upgrades with construction beginning as soon as late summer and completion sometime in 2026, states Josh Kellems, Principal Marketing & Public Relations Representative: "Terminal upgrades will include expanded security screening, new bathroom facilities, improved lighting and new flooring." The port anticipates 265,000 passengers in 2024-25 and 324,000 in 2025-26.
In addition, notes Kellems, "We're excited to have a six-call increase with Holland America Line in the 2025-2026 season with the Nieuw Amsterdam being homeported in San Diego." The port will also welcome a new cruise ship in the 2025-2026 season, Virgin Voyages' Brilliant Lady.
We're #1
At PortMiami, the world's leading cruise port with over 8.2 million passengers, up 12 percent in FY 2023-24, it's only fitting it should be home to a massive new cruise facility. MSC Cruises will open the world's largest cruise terminal this year in Miami, able to accommodate two MSC ships simultaneously.
In addition to the new terminal, the port has launched a shore power program. In partnership with Miami-Dade County, Carnival Corporation, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Royal Caribbean Group, Virgin Voyages and FPL, PortMiami is the first major cruise port on the U.S. eastern seaboard offering shore power capability at five cruise berths. In the coming year, 21 cruise ships will be outfitted for shore power and will connect in Miami. The seaport will have more than 350 vessel calls plugging into its shore power system. "We're committed to being a sustainable global gateway," says Hydi Webb, PortMiami Director & CEO. "We thank our mayor, county commissioners and port partners for their continued support of our resilience initiatives."
Source: maritime-executive.com
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The Energy Transition’s Global Shipping Challenge
April 18 ------ The International Energy Agency (IEA) says the world must transition from fossil fuel to renewable power. Their declaration is endorsed by many global institutions, governments, environmentalists, policymakers, and the media. Such a transition means relying primarily on greater use of wind turbines, solar panels, and batteries for electric vehicles. It also means managing grids with increasingly unreliable sources of electricity generation, even as demand rises due to policies seeking to electrify everything else before 2050.
According to the IEA and others, building all that renewable hardware entails a massive fourfold to sixfold increase in the use of critical and rare earth minerals. That unprecedented increase in the volume of these minerals mined and refined will necessarily entail a collateral increase in the need to transport all those gigatons of materials, most of them by sea.
The global maritime industry already faces significant logistical, infrastructure, and manpower challenges to meet today’s needs for moving bulk goods. Advocates of an energy transition have failed to consider the shipping capacity required to transport the staggering rise in maritime ton-miles needed for the transition.
The transition-driven demand for more maritime ton-miles means there will need to be a monumental expansion of the world’s merchant vessel fleet. The data suggest that the world will need to nearly double shipyard capacity to build enough ships to carry the new tonnage by 2035 to support transition goals (and to replace older existing vessels). Today, the U.S. annually builds less than 1% of the world’s new vessel tonnage.
Nearly 80% of all the world’s goods in trade are already carried on ships. Ships are unavoidably critical for an energy transition because most mines supplying the necessary minerals are not in the United States, Europe, or even China for that matter; the majority of the refining of “energy minerals” takes place in China before transport to global buyers. If transition aspirations continue, the location of all the new mining and refining enterprises will determine just how much maritime traffic increases and how many more ships will be needed.
Setting aside which countries will or can build new vessels, shipowners now face additional uncertainty over how their vessels will be powered, given the International Maritime Organization’s mandates to decarbonize their fuel. The approved fuels will impact new ships’ costs and daily operating expenses, thereby inflating cargo costs.
U.S. policymakers need to examine this country’s existing maritime regulations, domestic and allied industrial capacities, and geopolitical exposures arising from the coming demand for minerals. It is also past time to explore the options for rebuilding domestic shipbuilding, infrastructure, and labor force capabilities not only because of commercial imperatives, but also because such capacities were, for example, critical to winning World War II. It is profoundly naïve to believe that shipbuilding capabilities are no longer required for global commerce or this country’s national security.
Source: maritime-executive.com
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Fincantieri and Viking Unveil World's First H2-Powered Cruise Ship
April 18 ------ Fincantieri and Viking have announced the world's first hydrogen-powered cruise ship designed to use the alternative fuel for both propulsion and auxiliary power. The future Viking Libra is already under construction at the Ancona yard in Italy, and will deliver towards the end of 2026.
Viking Libra is a small 54,000 GT vessel with room for about 1,000 guests. With H2 fuel cell power, it will be able to operate with zero carbon emissions, which will soon be a regulatory requirement for operations in Norway's World Heritage fjords (a major attraction in Viking's core Scandinavian market). It will be fitted with fuel cells producing up to six megawatts of power, equivalent to roughly 8,000 horsepower of generator capacity. The PEM fuel cell technology and related equipment are supplied by the Fincantieri subsidiary Isotta Fraschini; to solve the supply chain problems of hydrogen bunkering, it uses a containerized fuel storage system to load and store the fuel. “LNG is not a way to the future, but . . . this new solution is a good bet for the future," said Viking chairman and CEO Torsten Hagen in a presentation at Seatrade Cruise Global.
Viking said that price is an issue for H2-powered operation, but they believe that the price will come down in the future, and they want to illustrate a path forward for the industry. The containerized approach addresses the challenges of storage and distribution, and makes it possible to add incremental power capacity with more 1.5 MW units. "Viking made the principled decision to invest in hydrogen, which offers a true zero-emission solution," said Hagen. "We look forward to welcoming the world's first hydrogen-powered cruise ship to our fleet."
A follow-on vessel, Viking Astrea, will also be fitted for hydrogen power and is already under construction at Ancona. In a parallel announcement, Fincantieri said that it has signed a 2+2 contract with Viking for additional vessels, starting with a firm orders for two hulls to deliver in 2031. "We are driving a systemic evolution by integrating cutting-edge technologies, fostering supply chain innovation, and creating a model for the widespread adoption of hydrogen," said Fincantieri CEO Pierroberto Folgiero in a statement.
Source: maritime-executive.com
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PHILIPPINE NEWS
PH stocks, peso climb after BSP cut policy rates
April 18 ------ Philippine stocks and the peso rose as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) signaled further monetary policy easing this year after a 25-basis-point rate cut.
The 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange Index inched up by 4.62 points, or 0.08 percent, to close at 6,082.44, while the broader all-shares index declined 1.18 points, or 0.03 percent, to settle at 3,621.76. “Philippine shares traded slightly in the green as investors weighed the impact of President Trump’s 90-day tariff reprieve while digesting the recent BSP decision to cut rates by 25 bps,” Regina Capital Development Corp. head of sales Luis Limlingan said. “Locally, stocks extended their gains as investors welcomed the tariff pause, viewing it as a window for renewed trade talks and easing global tension,” he said.
The peso closed at 56.97 against the US dollar Friday, up from 57.35 Thursday. Analysts said while the US suspension of reciprocal tariff eased fears of possible global recession, investors are worried about the escalating trade war between the US and China.
Sectors ended mixed, with mining and oil rising by 2.48 percent and financials by 0.63 percent. Property declined 0.29 percent, followed by industrial which went down by 0.24 percent. Value turnover amounted to P5.47 billion, with 87 gainers, 90 decliners and 57 unchanged stocks. BDO Unibank Inc. emerged as top index gainer, advancing 3.69 percent to P160, while Bank of the Philippine Islands lost 2.26 percent to P130.
Source: manilastandard.net
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Government borrowings drop to P340 billion
MANILA, Philippines, April 18 ------ The Marcos government saw its borrowings fall by nearly 50 percent to P340 billion in February even with the issuance of global bonds aimed at plugging the budget gap. Data from the Bureau of the Treasury showed that the administration brought down its gross borrowings by nearly half to P339.55 billion from P663.42 billion during the same month in 2024. Even after raising $3.3 billion from the issuance of dollar and euro-denominated sustainability bonds, there was no retail Treasury bond issuance in February that ate up the borrowings in the same period last year.
In February, the government registered its latest round of global bonds, amounting to $3.3 billion or P192 billion, causing the spike in external financing. In the same period last year, only P4.74 billion was from foreign sources. The Philippines raised $2.25 billion and one billion euros ($1.04 billion) in sustainability bonds as part of general budget financing and to refinance assets. Apart from the global bonds, the government received P6.79 billion in project loans in February to account for the remainder of external borrowings.
On the other hand, the government slashed its local borrowings by 78 percent to P140.8 billion from P658.68 billion, due to the removal of a one-time debt a year ago. Domestic financing in February was made up of P130 billion in Treasury bonds and P10.8 billion in Treasury bills. For the two-month period, the government has cut its borrowing volume by 36 percent to P552.69 billion from P866.57 billion a year ago.
The government quadrupled foreign borrowings to P259.69 billion as of end-February, but this was offset by the 63-percent decline in local borrowings to P293 billion.
Source: philstar.com
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BIR adds more medicines to VAT-exempt list
MANILA, Philippines, April 18 ------ The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has issued the updated list of value-added tax (VAT)-exempt medicines for various diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. In its latest revenue memorandum circular, BIR has approved the list of the 12 percent VAT-exempt products under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law and the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act. This comes after the Food and Drug Administration of the Department of Health endorsed the updated list.
The circular covered the inclusion of certain medicines for hypertension, mental illness, diabetes and high cholesterol. A total of eight drugs were added to the list, four of which are for the treatment of diabetes. Some two kinds of medicines are meant for high cholesterol. The BIR also approved one drug each for hypertension and mental illness.
Dosage of the medicines are in the forms of tablets. In December last year, the BIR included 16 VAT-exempt medicines for cancer, diabetes and mental illness. In January 2019, the government started implementing the VAT exemption for prescription drugs used to treat cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the top three causes of death in the country last year were heart disease, cancer and cerebrovascular disease, accounting for a combined 40 percent of mortality.
Source: philstar.com
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ICC, not Philippines, to shoulder witnesses’ expenses – lawyer
MANILA, Philippines, April 18 ------ Contrary to claims circulating online, it will be the International Criminal Court (ICC), not the Philippine government, that will shoulder the expenses of those who will testify in the ongoing proceedings against former president Rodrigo Duterte, a lawyer said. “Clarification regarding the participation of victims as witnesses in the ICC case against Duterte. The Philippine government will not be the one to spend for the witnesses, it will be the ICC using their own funds,” ICC assistant to counsel Kristina Conti said in Filipino.
“The ICC is very strict when it comes to witness qualifications, and even stricter if they are included in the witness protection program,” Conti said. She urged Duterte’s supporters not to divert the issue by attacking the victims, noting that testifying before the international tribunal “is no joke.” “They will not be considered as tourists given their schedule and movement limitations. They will also not be considered freeloaders, as the trade-off is the loss of livelihood, security threats and psychological trauma,” Conti added.
She called out those claiming that the deaths related to Duterte’s drug war only involved addicts or criminals. “If you want to file a case in the ICC or elsewhere regarding crimes against humanity or murder, feel free to do so. Just be ready for the work, as comments on Facebook are not enough to serve as the basis for a case,” she added.
Meanwhile, one of the five accredited lawyers of the ICC said the confirmation hearing on the crimes against humanity case of detained former president Rodrigo Duterte may still be postponed by the pre-trial chamber, amid the various petitions expected to be filed by the defense. In an interview over Teleradyo Serbisyo, Joel Butuyan, president of the Center for International Law, said the announcement of lawyer Nicholas Kaufman – the lead legal counsel of Duterte – that his client’s core defense team for the ICC proceedings has been finalized, will hasten the process of the case against the former chief executive. “It is good news that the legal team of former president Duterte is already complete as it will hasten the process as between now and Sept. 23, where the confirmation of charges will be heard, the camp of Duterte can file various petitions. This is the time where the camp of Mr. Duterte can file challenges and the application for interim release,” Butuyan said. He added that the defense team is expected to question the jurisdiction of the ICC over Duterte. “They can say that the Philippines is no longer a member (of the ICC), and therefore the jurisdiction of the ICC should not be recognized for the Filipino citizens,” Butuyan said.
He said Duterte’s camp can also question the implementation of the warrant of arrest against the former president, following his arrest in the Philippines. “For the interim release, (the defense team) can say that the case (against Duterte) can proceed while he is outside and he can also file a petition to allow him to return to the Philippines while the case is ongoing. We expect all of this to be filed by the camp of former president Duterte,” Butuyan noted.
Duterte is being held at the Scheveningen penitentiary for crimes against humanity over his war on drugs. According to Butuyan, the prosecution team is expected to oppose all the petitions to be filed by the defense team. “If these (petitions) are filed near Sept. 23, the prosecution still needs to answer and both sides are expected to file answers. For me, there is a possibility that the deliberations of the petitions will overlap on Sept. 23, it is possible that the Sept. 23 initial hearing of the confirmation of charges may be postponed,” he said.
Butuyan said the appeals chamber of the ICC will hear any appeal of the prosecution. “During the confirmation of charges, it will be discussed whether the case (against Duterte) will be continued to a trial. It will not be the pre-trial chamber who will hear the case. The main case will be heard by the trial chamber. If the pre-trial chamber says there is basis to demand prosecution, the case will be endorsed to the trial chamber, that’s the trial on the merit of the case,” he said.
Source: philstar.com
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DA logs higher vaccine distribution vs. ASF
MANILA, April 18 ------ The Department of Agriculture (DA) reported a higher vaccine distribution among healthy hogs against African swine fever (ASF) using AVAC live vaccine. The AVAC live vaccine from Vietnam is currently being used for the government-controlled ASF vaccination. “Sa vaccine, ang na-administer na ay (For the vaccine, the doses administered is around) 33,552 as of March 28. Karamihan pa rin dito ay (Most of which are in) Region III at IV-A,” DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said in an interview.
According to the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), this covers 32 farms in the provinces of Bulacan and Tarlac in Central Luzon, and Batangas, Rizal, and Laguna in Calabarzon, The said doses are higher than the 27,937 administered in 29 farms in early March. De Mesa said the AVAC live vaccine appears to be “effective” against ASF. “Maganda iyong resulta… Kung titingnan mo iyong total na namatay versus doon sa (The result is good… If you’ll look on the total fatality versus the) dosage, less than 1 percent,” he said.
The DA eyes to secure approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the commercial use authorization of the AVAC live vaccine against ASF in May. De Mesa, meanwhile, reported a slight increase in areas affected by ASF. As of March 28, villages with active ASF cases increased to 42 from 39 on March 14. These villages are located in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR); Central Luzon; Mimaropa; Western, Central, and Eastern Visayas; and Caraga.
Affected provinces include Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Nueva Ecija, Zambales, Marinduque, Negros Occidental, Bohol, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, and Surigao del Sur.
Source: pna.gov.ph
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CAAP urges travelers to comply with power bank safety guidelines
April 18 ------ The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) reminded the public to adhere to guidelines and safety protocols regarding the use of power banks on commercial flights.
CAAP reiterated that passengers must inspect their power banks for damage and comply with safety protocols for a “safe and incident-free travel experience for all.” This is to ensure that flights will not be disrupted due to misuse or malfunction of lithium batteries. “CAAP stresses that these safety protocols are provided under Philippine Civil Aviation Regulations (PCAR) and are in line with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air. As such, adherence to these protocols is mandatory and essential for the protection of all passengers and crew,” the statement read.
The statement comes days after CAAP prohibited power banks exceeding 160Wh on board airplanes. CAAP regulations stated that power banks not exceeding 100Wh may be allowed in hand-carry luggage, while power banks exceeding 100Wh up to 160Wh may be allowed with approval from airlines.
Source: gmanetwork.com
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No La Niña or El Niño conditions from now till September – Pagasa
MANILA, Philippines, April 18 ------ La Niña conditions are no longer observed or expected to develop in the Philippines and in the tropical Pacific until September this year. This information comes from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) announced.
Deviations from the average sea surface temperature reached neutral levels in the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), according to the national weather agency in a bulletin on Friday. This means, both the warm El Niño and the cool La Niña are not the prevailing conditions anymore. The agency also said La Niña-like patterns of above-normal rainfalls in parts of Luzon, most of the Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas and northeastern Mindanao, are “not likely to linger.”
“With this development, [the Department of Science and Technology] Pagasa ENSO Alert and Warning System Status is ‘inactive,’” the agency said. “El Niño or La Niña conditions are not observed or expected to develop in the tropical Pacific within the next three (3) months,” it observed.
Noting the onset of the warm and dry season, Pagasa is still advising the public and the government to take precautionary measures against heat stress.
Source: inquirer.net
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14.4 million Pinoy families poor – SWS
MANILA, Philippines, April 18 ------ An estimated 14.4 million Filipino families consider themselves poor in the first quarter of 2025, a new survey conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS) said. The survey, conducted from March 15 to 20 and released on Friday, showed that 52 percent of the respondents consider their families poor, almost similar to 50 percent in January and 51 percent in February.
Based on the results, self-rated poverty in the first quarter of the year eased from the 21-year high of 63 percent obtained in December 2024. Meanwhile, those who rated their families as “not poor” was at record-high 36 percent in the first three months of the year, up from 26 percent in the December 2024 survey.
Those who said they were “borderline” poor range from 12 percent to 14 percent in the first three months of the year, from 11 percent in December. Across areas, self-rated poverty was highest in March among those in the Visayas at 62 percent (from 74 percent in December), followed by those in Mindanao at 60 percent (from 76 percent), balance Luzon at 46 percent (from 55 percent) and Metro Manila at 41 percent (from 51 percent). Those who rated their families as “not poor” were highest among those in Metro Manila at 48 percent (from 40 percent), followed by those in the rest of Luzon at 43 percent (from 34 percent), Mindanao at 27 percent (from 15 percent) and the Visayas at 25 percent (from 11 percent).
The latest survey also showed that hunger rose among poor families, from 31.5 percent in December to 35.6 percent in March.
Source: philstar.com
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ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Cup of Joe makes the global chart
April 18 ------ Multo is now the highest-ranking Filipino track ever on Spotify Global at No. 28. This is an historic event. Cup of Joe also entered the Spotify Global Top Artists at No. 182. Multo’s videos are nearing 20 million views in various versions on YouTube. The track is also No. 1 in Apple and No. 2 in Billboard Philippines’ Hot 100 list.
Getting into the global hit list is no joke. It means an average of over 16 million streams a day or some 2.55 million daily streams. Think of that number of people listening repeatedly to Multo day and night. It also means being on the same level as Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Billie Eilish, Bad Bunny, JENNIE, Luther and other internationally renowned artists.
Cup of Joe is made up of lead vocalists Gian Bernardino and Rafa Ridao, with Gab Fernandez on lead guitar, CJ Fernandez on rhythm guitar and keyboardist Xen Gareza. Rafa is the songwriter of Multo. I am sure that they thought of something like this happening in their future when they started out as high school boys who just wanted to make music six years ago in Baguio. Dreams come for free, so why not. But I am sure they also thought it impossible until it suddenly happened last Friday, April 4. That is not all, the success of Multo has also generated questions, conversations, even disagreements about what indeed is your “multo.” Everybody has one or two or a lot of multos. That is multos, as in ghosts.
The song says it feels like this: “Humingang malalim/ pumikit na muna/at baka sakaling namamalikmata lang/ Ba’t nababahala? Di ba’t ako’y mag-isa? Kala ko’y payapa/ boses mo’y tumatawag pa.” This multo can be a feeling, a memory, a traumatic event, an omission, anything from the past you thought you had forgotten until something triggers the visitation. It is what comes a-haunting, disturbing one’s quiet place. Maybe it is something you promised to do but didn’t or that person you ghosted who has now returned as a multo. And Pinoys love to be scared. They maybe cowering in fear but are also indulgent about the feeling. “... Hindi na makalaya/ dinadalaw mo ko bawa’t gabi/ wala nang nakikita/ haplos mo’y ramdam pa rin sa dilim/ hindi na nananaginip/ hindi na ma makagising/ pasindi na ng ilaw/ minumulto na ko ng damdamin ko….”
Now, wouldn’t you love to find out what multo became the inspiration for the song Multo and what can be haunting the boys of Cup of Joe? But whatever multos they have should only be good vibes nowadays. After entertaining their faithful Joewahs in the packed two-night stint at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Feb. 8 and 9, Cup of Joe followed up with shows in Cebu and Davao. Next on their schedule is the USLS Coliseum in Bacolod on Friday, June 13. And then they will be off to the US of A and Canada.
Meanwhile, to better enjoy Multo, it might be good to listen to the album Silakbo in its entirety. The song line-up includes Bagyo, Wine, Kanelang Mata, Bubog, Siping, Pahina, ‘Di Maaari, Hinga and the title cut. These tackle the various stages of grief and each track expounds on those emotions that led to the arrival of the multo.
Source: philstar.com
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Gabrielle Basiano says no to pageant comeback for now
April 18 ------ With a slew of national beauty pageants that the Philippines is seeing, one name that has been floating among the possible aspirants for several crowns is 2022 Binibining Pillipina Intercontinental Gabrielle Basiano. It has been almost two years since the seasoned beauty queen’s reign as national titlist ended, but fans have been clamoring for her to stage a comeback through other competitions such as the Miss Universe Philippines, Miss World Philippines and Miss Grand Philippines pageants.
“As of the moment, I feel that I do not yet have the energy to join again. If you will recall, I competed for four straight years with no break. It became draining for me after that,” Basiano told an intimate group of media scribes in a recent gathering in Quezon City.
INQUIRER.net also asked the Waray lass how it feels to be the last woman to receive the Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental title, a crown she won in the 2022 national pageant, but never got to relinquish to a successor after a year-long reign. “For me, it feels great to hold that title. Everytime someone asks for a greeting, I always say I’m the last Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental. I remember the other Binibinis were also remembered for their title. So for me it’s an honor,” Basiano said.
The Bb. Pilipinas Charities Inc. held the Philippine franchise for the Miss Intercontinental pageant from 2014 to 2022, and was able to produce the first Filipino winner, Karen Gallman (2018), and the last queen from the Philippines Cinderella Faye Obeñita (2021). The rival Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant regained the license in 2023 after losing it in 2014, and sent its 2022 winner Iona Gibbs to compete in Egypt, becoming Basiano’s de-facto successor.
Aside from being the last to be crowned as Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental, Basiano also holds another distinction in the national pageant by being one of the few to win both Best in Swimsuit and Best in Evening Gown awards. The last woman to do so before her was 2018 Miss Universe Catriona Gray. And having joined the pageant twice, first finishing as a runner-up, she also achieved the immensely rare feat of bringing home the Best in Evening Gown for two consecutive years.
She confessed that bagging the Best in Swimsuit award made her cry, because of some observers’ unfavorable remarks about her physique when she came back to compete a second time. Basiano also said that she shed even more tears of joy after scoring back-to-back Best in Evening Gown, and credited her designers Ken Batino and Jevin Salaysay, who provided her wardrobe “since Day 1.” And while on a pageant hiatus, Basiano is busy heading the JCI (Junior Chamber Internatonal) Las Piñas Water Lily Chapter, assuming the year-long presidency at the start of 2025. A fellow beauty queen got her on board, 2013 Miss World Philippines Second Princess and 2018 Miss Philippines-Air Zahra Bianca Saldua, the group’s charter president. “After the coronation of the next queens, I asked myself what’s next for me. I wanted to do something different, something I can enjoy at the same time. And the first reason I joined (JCI) is sisterhood. They also became my family,” she shared.
Basiano said that as the president of the only all-woman JCI chapter in the Philippines, her team focuses on young girls through the “Pinay Power” program, which provides education to the female youth. She said she aims to increase her chapter’s membership even more as president. “It’s difficult when you’re all women, because us women have a lot of things to do, and things we want to achieve. So we get volunteers. But we’re really aiming for growth so we can amplify our breakthroughs,” Basiano explained.
The Waray beauty queen is also embarking on a career in show business. After a short stint as host in “Wil to Win,” Basiano said she is ready to pursue acting, preferably as a “kontrabida” (antagonist). Basiano said her fellow Borongan City native Boy Abunda has taken her under his care, and he has already lined her up for acting workshops and even more mentoring sessions for hosting.
Source: inquirer.net
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Neri Naig reflects on healing after ‘darkest days’
April 18 ------ The holy week has got celebrity mom and businesswoman Neri Naig into reflecting about the “darkest days” in her life, as she acknowledged that “healing takes time.”
The “Wais na Misis” has drawn strength from her family, especially her husband Chito Miranda who has consistently been supportive of the actress-businesswoman. Amid the ridicule and the judgment from those who feasted on her lowest point, Naig took solace in that beauty eventually grows even in adversities — just like how a sunflower patiently undergoes stages before reaching its full bloom. “These sunflowers didn’t grow overnight. They needed light, care, and time,” she said, showing herself harvesting such on a field. “Cutting these blooms reminds me: Even after the darkest days, something beautiful can still grow.” “From pain, peace. From silence, strength. From the soil of sorrow, joy can rise again,” she continued.
Naig’s arrest stemmed from accusations of syndicated estafa and securities violation against her following her prior endorsement of skincare company Dermacare, which was involved in an alleged investment scam. The case would eventually be dismissed for lack of probable cause, and she was eventually released from detention on Dec. 4. That experience, however, will forever be etched in her heart, throbbing like a fresh wound. But just as the wise woman that she is would say, healing takes time. “If you’re going through something right now—this is your reminder: healing takes time, but you will bloom too. One gentle day at a time,” she said in her inspirational reminder.
Source: inquirer.net
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SPORTS NEWS
Rondina, Pons to represent PH in SEA Games beach volleyball
April 18 ------ SISI Rondina and Bernadeth Pons will step back from indoor volleyball action to return to where it all began for the heralded duo the sands. The renowned ‘SiPons’ pairing will represent Alas Pilipinas in women’s beach volleyball in the 33rd Southeast (SEA) Asian Games in Thailand in December.
This is why Rondina, an Alas mainstay in last year's bronze-medal hat-trick in AVC competitions, and Pons were omitted from the indoor national team's 33-woman wishlist, as their beach volleyball return was already in the works for months now. After a two-year stint in the PVL, Rondina shared how the decision to go back to her beach volleyball roots was built on a promise she once made to Pons to restore lost glory in the sands. “Focus muna kami sa beach volley kasi wala na talagang players. Well, ‘di naman sa wala nang players, pero para makapag-prepare din kasi magandang [opportunity] yung SEA Games,” Rondina told SPIN.ph. “Mahabang time na preparation, mas okay. Ibabalik pa namin yung rhythm namin, lalong-lalo na kami ni Pons. “Kami, ako, ready ako, I’m super excited to be back sa beach volley talaga kasi 2023, nag-promise na ako kina Pons na let’s get a podium again kasi siyempre du’n kami nawala nu’ng 2023. Sana makuha namin and siyempre, trabaho ulit.” she added.
Rondina’s decorated UAAP career with University of Santo Tomas began in the sands before it culminated in indoor play. She was once a four-time collegiate beach volleyball champion and MVP for the Golden Tigresses before taking her high-flying act to the international stage — with Pons for the most part. ‘SiPons’ won bronze in the regional meet in two consecutive editions back in 2019 (Philippines) and 2021 (Vietnam; staged in 2022 due to the pandemic).
The former had now-Creamline player Dij Rodriguez and Dzi Gervacio as their competing compatriots, while the latter also featured Rodriguez and ZUS Coffee’s Jovelyn Gonzaga. But in the 2023 edition in Cambodia, a historic hat-trick of podium finishes wasn’t to be, as Rondina and Pons — playing with different partners in Gonzaga and Rodriguez, respectively — missed out on semis play after both failing to make it out of the group stage.
That heartbreak will be where Pons’ personal redemption-seeking pursuit will be bent on come December. “Medyo disappointed kami sa result namin nung SEA Games kasi nga coming from bronze tapos biglang wala kaming place nung last na SEA Games. Du’n pa lang talaga, gusto na namin talaga na bumawi sa darating na SEA Games, so yun yung [dahilan kung] bakit gusto pa namin ulit maglaro,” said Pons. “Sobrang happy and sobrang excited na rin kasi parang medyo matagal na rin eh. Nu’ng last na SEA Games, hindi rin kami yung partner and bumalik kami ng indoor so excited ako sa pagbabalik namin [sa beach volleyball] […] May mga transition phase muna bago doon dumating sa medyo bakbakan. After this conference mag-start na rin kami ng training sa beach kasi marami rin kasing mga tournament na gusto ng coach namin na masalihan namin bago yung SEA Games.” she added.
Their two-year PVL stints saw ‘SiPons’ won MVP nods, top outside hitter awards and a handful of championships for Pons as a Cool Smasher. But as the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference comes to an end, with Pons taking home silver with Creamline and Rondina dropping to fourth with Choco Mucho, all eyes are on one common goal for ‘SiPons’ back in their original stomping grounds — the gold.
Source: spin.ph
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Tim Cone says Gilas will be ready for Fiba Asia Cup
MANILA, Philippines, April 18 ------ Coach Tim Cone can’t wait to be back on the Gilas Pilipinas sidelines four months before the 2025 Fiba Asia Cup. Cone expressed his excitement over his upcoming duty with the national team following Tuesday night’s draw where Gilas was slotted in Group D along with New Zealand, Chinese Taipei and Iran. “Our draw: NZ, Taiwan, Iraq. Can’t wait to get back with the Gilas guys and get back to work,” wrote Cone. “All-Filipino first, but looking forward to the Asia Cup in August. We’ll be ready.”
Gilas has had recent success against New Zealand and Taipei having faced the two squads during the Asia Cup qualifiers. It may not have shown in the third leg when Gilas dropped both games to Chinese Taipei and New Zealand but in the second leg, the Philippines toppled New Zealand, 93-89, at Mall of Asia Arena.
Gilas also defeated Chinese Taipei convincingly in the qualifiers’ first window, also on home soil, 106-53. Iraq, though, is a foe that the Philippines hasn’t faced in quite a while. Their last Fiba match was all the way back in 2017 when Gilas defeated the Iraqis, 84-68, with a completely different lineup. Now, it’s back to square one for all four teams in Group D, much like it will be for the other groupings.
Qatar, Australia, Lebanon and Korea will duke it out in Group A. Filipino-Guamanian Jericho Cruz will be in Group B alongside powerhouse Japan, Syria and Iran. Group C, meanwhile, is comprised of China, Jordan, India and Saudi Arabia. Before Cone can focus on Gilas duties, though, he will first have to manage Ginebra in the Philippine Cup after a disappointing loss to TNT in the Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
Source: inquirer.net
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Like old times for PBA greats
MANILA, Philippines, April 18 ------ Like kids to newly-arrived playmates, members of the old PBA’s “Greatest Players” welcomed the 10 new additions to the elite club with open arms and sincere smiles. Four-time MVP Alvin Patrimonio, part of the first 25 named in 2000, arrived with contemporaries Nelson Asaytono and Bong Hawkins, having a nice banter as they entered the red carpet for the PBA’s 50 Greatest Players Gala Night Friday night at Solaire Resort North.
Two-time MVP Danny Ildefonso, who was enshrined in the 40 Greatest list in 2015, gave Danny Seigle, his sparring partner in the 2000s, the warmest hug and handshake as they met for the first time in a long while. It was a grand reunion for former teammates and rivals who share the same passion for basketball and gratitude for the 50-year-old league that provided a platform for their greatness. “Overwhelmed. Finally, nakasama tayo,” said Asaytono, the bull-strong power forward from the 1990s whom many believed should have been in the “Greatest” roster much earlier. “Masarap ang feeling kasi part ng life mo as a PBA player, so thank you, maraming salamat sa PBA.”
The entry of Hawkins, another sturdy post-up player in the 90s, and Alaska teammate Jeffrey Cariaso completed the grand slam-winning circle in the esteemed list alongside Johnny Abarrientos and Jojo Lastimosa. “Masaya syempre, ‘yung core ng grand slam andito,” said Hawkins of the team that won the grand slam in 1996.
Siegle, who revolutionized the small forward position with his efficiency from inside-out, postponed a trip to Japan to attend to the glitzy affair that highlighted the PBA’s golden bash. “I couldn’t miss this,” said the Fil-Am while stressing he was fine with getting the accolade only now. Seigle is honored to be in the company of legends like Sonny Jaworski and Mon Fernandez in the expanded list. “The previous legends, we were just carrying the torch for them, they raised the bar. Just like them I’d like to leave an impact on the game and make sure that younger players, the taller ones, know they can play inside-outside.”
Ildefonso couldn’t hide his joy for Asaytono and Seigle, both of whom he had the honor of collaborating with during his San Miguel years. “In 1998, dalawang championship kaagad yung binigay sa akin ni Nelson Asaytono. Ang laking tulong sa kumpyansa ko as a rookie na nag-champion at nakasama ko si ‘The Bull’ agad, nakita ko kung gaano siya kagaling at kalakas maglaro,” said Danny I. “Kay DS (Seigle) naman, ang dami naming memorable experiences. Hindi ako mag-MVP saka hindi ako mag cha-champion kundi sa kanya. Naging magaan ang trabaho ko dahil lumuluwag ang depensa dahil sa kanya,” he added.
The entire PBA board, led by chairman Ricky Vargas and commissioner Willie Marcial, led the ceremonies that celebrated the greatness of the 50 honorees.
Source: philstar.com
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