Half of world’s democracies in decline, says watchdog IDEA

By Eduardo Porter STOCKHOLM — Half of the world’s democracies are in a state of decline amid worsening civil liberties and rule of law while already authoritarian governments are becoming more oppressive, an intergovernmental watchdog group said on Wednesday. In its annual report, the Stockholm-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) said democratic […]

Four Philippine regions placed under calamity state

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Wednesday placed four Philippine regions under a state of calamity after Typhoon Nalgae (Paeng) caused severe floods, killing more than a hundred people. Covered by the six-month state of calamity under Proclamation 84 are Calabarzon, Bicol, Western Visayas and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, where more than […]

Marcos thumbs down nationwide calamity declaration

PHILIPPINE President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Monday thumbed down proposals to place the country under a state of calamity for a year after Tropical Storm Nalgae, locally named Paeng, affected many areas and killed almost a hundred people, noting that damage from the storm were highly localized.  Speaking to reporters after a situation briefing, […]

State of calamity

THE BANGSAMORO government has declared a state of calamity in the entire region after weeks of torrential rains, including those brought by tropical storm Paeng (international name: Nalgae) caused widespread flooding and landslides in Cotabato City, the regional center, and the Maguindanao provinces. At least 40 people in the region have been confirmed to have […]

Cagayan province declares state of calamity after series of typhoons

CAGAYAN in northern Philippines has been placed under a state of calamity following damage from four typhoons since August, the provincial government announced on Tuesday.   The provincial council unanimously approved on Oct. 24 the state of calamity declaration, which paves the way for the release of local disaster response funds to assist affected residents.   The […]

Marcos sends sister to queen’s funeral

PRESIDENTIAL sister Maria Irene Celestina Marcos-Araneta was set to represent the Philippines during the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.  She was accompanied by her spouse, Gregorio María Araneta III, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said in a statement on Monday.   “Mrs. Marcos-Araneta and her spouse will be attending the events for the […]

Putin denies Gorbachev a state funeral and will stay away

Russian President Vladimir Putin is to miss the funeral of the last Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, denying the man who failed to prevent the collapse of the Soviet empire the full state honors granted to Boris Yeltsin. Gorbachev, idolized in the West for allowing eastern Europe to escape Soviet communist control but unloved at home […]

Japan to spend $1.8M on Abe’s funeral despite opposition

TOKYO — Japan will spend $1.83 million on a state funeral for slain former leader Shinzo Abe, the government said on Friday, despite growing opposition from a public angered by revelations of the ruling party’s ties to the Unification Church.  Abe, Japan’s longest-serving but divisive premier, was shot and killed at an election rally on […]

US supports Philippines in South China Sea, State Department says

WASHINGTON – The United States supports the Philippines in calling on China “to end its provocative actions and respect international law in the South China Sea,” the State Department said on Friday. The Philippines last week lodged new diplomatic protests against Chinese maritime activities within Manila’s 200-mile (321 km) exclusive economic zone. It accused China […]

Tell it to SunStar: Hitler, history and elections

By Reni M. ValenzuelaEvery head of state has a good and bad side. But if the bad side involves the taking of lives, tyranny, ruthlessness, deceit and plunder of a nation’s coffer, then whatever good any head of state with such a bad side has done ought to be considered as garbage. Nothing good can […]

EXPLAINER: Why Cebu City Council tarries on declaring state of calamity for ‘Agaton.’  State of calamity unlocks funding.  State of preparedness isn’t in the law or ordinance, is unclear on what it means.  

AT A GLANCE. [] The Sanggunian has delayed the declaration of a state of calamity. If the issue is put to a vote, however, administration Barug will get its way; it dominates the City Council.[] “Agaton” is gone. The declaration is to meet the law’s requirement for the disaster fund to be used for rehabilitation […]

Banning Tchaikovsky won’t win the war in Ukraine

By Martin Ivens BANNING Tchaikovsky is not the way to win a war. This week, the Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra removed the composer’s popular 1812 overture from its forthcoming program due to the invasion of Ukraine. The work noisily celebrates Russian resistance to Napoleon’s invasion. This absurd decision — Tchaikovsky was seen by his nationalist rivals […]

SHEQONOMI Announces Multi-platform Partnership with Reliance Jio

St. Moritz, Switzerland, Jan 11, 2022 – (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) – SHEQONOMI, (pronounced SHE-CONOMY) the world’s first and only rewards based podcast listening mobile application on Android, JioStore, iOS, and KaiOS, proudly announces its multi-platform partnership with Reliance Jio which will incentivize 150,000,000 JioPhone users to listen, learn, and earn digital assets and rewards […]

PHL has enough calamity response laws — solons

EXISTING Philippine laws are sufficient for the implementation of quick response measures during disaster situations, solons asserted on Tuesday after President Rodrigo R. Duterte said “stupid laws passed by Congress” restricted him from immediately declaring a state of calamity.  “That law should be changed. And it behooves upon this Congress, if they want to, or […]