Monday, May 11, 2026


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PAGASA: Mas matinding ulan mararanasan sa Oktubre

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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PAGASA: Mas matinding ulan mararanasan sa Oktubre

Inaasahang mararanasan ang mas matindi o mas maraming ulan simula Oktubre dahil sa pagpasok ng La Niña Phenomenon, ayon sa PAGASA.

Ayon kay Ana Liza Solis, hepe ng Climatology and Agrometeorology Division ng PAGASA, ang La Niña ay magdadala ng iba’t ibang weather system na nagdudulot ng pag-ulan, kabilang na ang localized thunderstorms, shearline, frontal system, monsoon rains, low pressure areas, at mga bagyo.

“Ang La Niña ay nagdudulot ng mas maraming ulan at mas maraming bagyo na maaaring magdulot ng pagbaha,” ani Solis. Dagdag pa niya, ang epekto ng La Niña ay unti-unting mararamdaman simula Hulyo at magpapatuloy hanggang sa katapusan ng taon.

Bagamat mainit na panahon at mataas na heat index ang mararanasan sa pagtatapos ng Mayo at sa Hunyo dahil sa monsoon break, asahan na sa Agosto hanggang Nobyembre ay mas maraming bagyo ang papasok sa bansa. Dahil dito, magdadala ito ng mas madaming tubig sa mga major river basin at water reservoir o mga dam.

Ang La Niña ay natural na phenomenon na nagdudulot ng mas maraming ulan sa bansa, kaya’t mahalagang maging handa at alerto ang lahat sa posibleng pagbaha at iba pang kalamidad na kaakibat nito.

Israeli military concludes operations in North Gaza’s Jabalia, focus shifts to Rafah

Venus L Peñaflor
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Israeli military concludes operations in North Gaza’s Jabalia, focus shifts to Rafah

JERUSALEM. The Israeli military announced the end of its operations in the Jabalia area of north Gaza following days of intense combat and over 200 airstrikes. As Israeli forces withdraw, they are intensifying efforts in Rafah, the southern city they describe as the last major stronghold of Hamas battalions.

During the operation in Rafah, Israeli troops uncovered caches of rocket launchers, other weapons, and Hamas tunnel shafts. The military’s offensive aims to dismantle the militant combat units entrenched in the city near the Egyptian border.

The Israeli military provided an update on the fierce fighting in Jabalia, stating that troops had completed their mission and withdrawn to prepare for future operations in Gaza. Throughout the operation, Israeli forces recovered the bodies of seven hostages taken by Hamas militants during the October 7 incursion into Israel, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people.

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reports that over 36,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of Israel’s air and land offensive, which has left much of the densely populated enclave in ruins.

A senior Israeli security official stated that Israel will not agree to any ceasefire unless it includes the return of surviving hostages. On Thursday, Hamas indicated a willingness to negotiate an exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners in Israel, provided the fighting stops.

In the densely populated district of Jabalia, which is home to many refugees from the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and their descendants, the Israeli military claims that Hamas turned the area into a “fortified combat compound.” Israeli forces reportedly killed hundreds of militants, seized large weapon caches, and destroyed rocket launchers during close-quarter combat. Underground, they disabled a 10-kilometer tunnel network filled with weapons and killed Hamas’ district battalion commander.

The Israeli military attributes the high civilian casualties to Hamas embedding fighters in residential areas, a claim Hamas denies.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pledge to eliminate Hamas as a political and military force has been challenged by the group’s deep integration into Gaza’s society. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has urged Israel to develop a post-war plan for Gaza to ensure long-term stability and prevent a resurgence of Hamas.

Fighting Intensifies in Rafah

Israeli tanks advanced into central Rafah on Tuesday, launching a series of probing operations. The army reported finding longer-range rockets and stocks of rocket-propelled grenades, explosives, and ammunition during “intelligence-based operational activities” in the city near the Egyptian border.

Last week, Hamas showcased its resilience by launching missiles at Tel Aviv for the first time in months. On Friday, Islamic Jihad, a smaller militant ally of Hamas, claimed to have fired mortar bombs at Israeli forces near the Salah al-Din Gate on Rafah’s southern edge.

Rafah, the last major city in Gaza not yet under Israeli control, had been a refuge for over one million displaced Palestinians. However, most have evacuated following Israeli warnings of an impending assault.

International condemnation has grown over Israel’s plans to attack Rafah while it remains populated with displaced civilians. The risks were highlighted on Sunday when an Israeli airstrike targeting Hamas commanders near Rafah ignited a fire that killed at least 45 people sheltering in tents.

As the conflict continues and Gaza’s infrastructure collapses, malnutrition is spreading among the 2.3 million residents, with the United Nations warning of an impending famine due to severely limited aid deliveries.

Kailan nagiging mali ang pamantasan at tama ang mga mag-aaral?

DC Alviar
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Kailan nagiging mali ang pamantasan at tama ang mga mag-aaral?

Kailangang magbalanse nang maigi sa tuwing may mga nagbabanggaang karapatan. Maaaring tama ang mag-aaral pero may desisyon na ang propesor niya at, sa pangkalahatan, ang individual academic freedom ng propesor ang nasusunod. (May institutional academic freedom din ang higher education institutions.) Kwestiyunin man siya ng estudyante, hanggang doon na lang iyon. Pagpag-kamay si prof, at iiyak mo na lang iyan, Totoy/Nene. Ibang sitwasyon naman: Paano kung nagpoprotesta ang mga mag-aaral at mismong kaguruan (faculty) ang sumusuporta sa kanila?

Hindi na bago ang pagkiling ng mga propesor sa university student demonstrations sa halos lahat ng kontinente. Natututukan ng mga camera ang kaganapan sa Estados Unidos at sa Europe kaya ang dating ay doon lang ang malalakas at patuloy na lumalakas na mga panawagan. Pero hindi lang sa kanila. Sa Pilipinas din.

Maaaring tumatamlay ang mga protesta, pero dahil iyon sa pagpapakabuti ng mga pamahalaan at mga pamantasan. Kaso, sa pag-ikot ng mundo, bumabalik din ang problema. Bumabalik ang mga pang-aabuso, pagwawaldas ng pampublikong pondo na ang malaking bahagi ay dapat na napupunta sana sa sektor ng edukasyon (pangkalusugan at pagawaing bayan din).

Dati: “The British are coming!” Ngayon: “The fascists are coming!” (Ressa, 2024)

Merong labintatlong estudyante ng Harvard ang hindi pina-graduate. Dahilan: Kakaprotesta nila, kakasigaw nila laban sa itinuturing nilang mapaniil na lipunan kontra sa lipunan ng iba. Itigil na ang digmaan, karahasan, kagutuman sa Gaza, anila.

Hindi na mapigil-pigilan ang pagdagsa ng mga ralyista sa kalsada mula sa malalaki at kapita-pitagang pamantasan sa mundo. Ang tanong: Kung mali ang mga nagpoprotestang estudyante, bakit pa sila nasusuportahan ng university staff and faculty? Baka wala namang mali at pinalalala lang ang turing sa kanilang ginagawa hindi para sa sarili kundi para sa bayan at sa sangkatauhan.

Sa nag-iisang frame sa TV, nasa kaliwa ang host-interviewer, nasa gitna ang isang estudyanteng “nakatapos na ng lahat ng requirements para magkadiploma” pero naparusahang hindi mapabilang sa Class of 2024, at sa kanan, isang propesora. Kinaklaro muna ng guro na ang katabi niya at ang iba pang mga mag-aaral ang unang may panawagan. Matapos nito, motu propio silang mapakikinggan ng kaguruan, at doo’y mamumuo ang pinagsanib na pwersa ng studentry-faculty. Pero sumusuporta lang ang faculty, hindi sila ang promotor ng panawagan, sang-ayon kay prof.

Mahalaga ang naturang paliwanag. Isipin mo na lang, ikaw na nagtuturo, matapos mong turuan ang mga kabataan, kakikitaan mo sila ng konkretong aplikasyon ng mga naituro mo. Tunay ngang hindi nagtatapos ang pag-aaral at pagkatuto sa apat na sulok ng silid-aralan. Lalabas at lalabas ang mga mag-aaral, makikihamok, magpupursige, magdodoble o tripleng gawain, dahil merong ibang tao sa paligid nila na nagbabalewala sa pagtupad sa tungkuling napakalaki ang ambag sa proseso ng katarungan at kapayapaan, pero mga sariling kapakanan ang inaatupag.

Kung oras ng gulo, tulog. Kung kailan namang may mga giyera, saka pa mapagwaldas ng pera.

Kaya hindi masisisi ang mga mag-aaral na mangalampag ng mga natutulog sa tungkulin. At heto na, hindi masisisi, dahil doon, ang mga tagapagturo, na magbigay ng karampatang suportang emosyonal, na naisasabuhay sa papel sa paraang ipepetisyon sa pamantasan ang karaingan ng mga kabataan gaya ng nangyari at nangyayari sa Harvard. Sa abot ng kanilang makakaya, patuloy nilang hinihiling na marebisa at maisama sa listahan ng mga magsisipagtapos ang mga lider-estudyante (tapos na ang seremonya ng pagtatapos).

Speaking of leaders, hinimok ang mga nagsipagtapos sa Harvard na kung nais nilang manguna sa lipunan gaya ng pinangangalandakan ng kanilang respetadong institusyon ng karunungan, gawin na nila ito ngayon. Hindi bukas. Mauubusan na raw sila ng mga isyung napapanahon, mga samu’t-saring suliran at kung bukas pa sila aaksyon, paano pa ang panawagan ng nag-arugang alma mater nila na umaasang sila ang mamumuno? Maaaring huli na ang lahat at wala nang kakailanganing liderato o pangunguna bukas, sang-ayon sa naturang paghimok ng kanilang panauhing pandangal at tagapagsalita sa madamdamin at maaksyong pagdiriwang ng kanilang pagtatapos sa pag-aaral.

Nauna nang binati sila sa kanilang pagtatapos dahil talaga namang sila’y “battle-tested.” Na-lockdown sa COVID-19 pandemic, at nasundan pa ng dalawa sa pinakamamalala, pinakamagastos (at patuloy pang pinagkakagastusan at inaarmasan ang mga bansa), pinakamapanghating digmaan sa kasaysayan ng daigdig. Kulang ang pagbati. Nagsanga-sanga ang problema ng mga bansa na nagpagulo sa kalendaryo ng mga gawaing pangkampus at pagtuturo at nahirapan ding magkaintindihan ang mga estudyante at kanilang mga magulang dahil bukod sa nawalay sa piling nila, mas magastos ang sitwasyon na nauwi pa nga sa patong patong na utang. Kung sumapat ba ang teknolohiya at metodolohiya sa online, face-to-face, at blended learning, hindi na masusing pinag-uusapan ang mga iyon sa mga bulwagan ng kongreso ng mga demokratikong bansa, bagama’t sapat ang pananaliksik at maraming tagapagsaliksik mula sa mga pamantasan.

Kinulang man sa pagbati, sumapat naman sa halos perpektong pananalita ang commencement speaker. Iba talaga ang speech. Sabi ko nga sa post ko sa X (dating Twitter na dating nasa twitter.com, ngayo’y nasa x.com na lang; pwede pala iyon): Action speaks. Speech entails action. Harvard is getting better now, I guess.

Hindi kabisado ni Maria Ressa ang kanyang talumpati. Master niya ito.

Naalala niya si Mark Zuckerberg na isa sa mga nagtatag noong 2004 ng napakamakapangyarihan na ngayong social networking site na Facebook. Parehas daw kasi silang napiling magtalumpati sa harap ng mga napakatatalinong estudyanteng magsisipagtapos (batch 2017 ang kay Zuckerberg); tiningala siya at ang Facebook ng graduating class noon. Ngayong 2024 nama’y ang Pilipinang Nobel Laureate at ang news site na Rappler.

Pero dito mo masasabing mas maigi ang panahon ngayon, kaysa dati. (Kalimitan, mas maigi ang panahon noon, kaysa ngayon kung titingnan mo sa antas ng pinasimpleng pamamaraan ng pagtuturo at pagkatuto, pati pagtitiis pero malayo ang ninais at narating para ang kasalukuyang henerasyon naman ang pangunahan at pagtiisan sa dami ng gadget at oras sa kalayawan.)

Bagama’t hindi o (pinaka-hindi) makontrol-kontrol ang teknonolohiya sa impormasyon at komunikasyon, may mga kabataang mag-aaral na namumulat, may mga mamamahayag na bumubusisi ng kung ano-ano ang “facts, truth, trust” kung meron man (Ressa 2021).

Kung panatag tayo na hindi maalon patungong Panatag Shoal; kung maayos kausap ang mga kapit-bahay natin; kung payapa tayong nakapaglalayag; kung atin talaga ang atin (tutal hindi naman natin inaangkin ang South China Sea kundi yung ating West Philippine Sea lamang); kung ang mga pinuno ng mga bansa ay puno ng pilosopiya at integridad, sa halip na katraydoran at pagkakamal ng salapi at kapangyarihan; kung walang krisis sa edukasyon; kung walang nagugutom; at kung walang napapatay o nakukulong sa maling akala o gawa-gawang akusasyon; masarap talagang pakaisiping hindi tayo nangangailangan ng pangangalampag. Masarap isiping magsusunog lang ng kilay ang mga mag-aaral, magtuturo lamang ang mga tagapagturo, at hindi magpapakaaktibong gamitin ang karapatang magpahayag at humingi ng makabuluhang pagbabago ngayon. Muli, hindi bukas kundi ngayon dapat kakikitaan ng pagbabago.

Kung saksi ang mga durungawan at pader ng pamantasan sa kabuktutan, pagmamalabis, pamemera, pagbabalewala sa karaingan ng mga mamamayan, maaaring maging tama ang mga mag-aaral. Maling order. Maling kagawian. Hindi lang sa pwede silang pakinggan, kundi maaari rin silang suportahan.

Hindi mahirap unawain ng mga propesor iyan. Batid nilang mahuhusay sa paggamit ng mga makabagong kagamitan ang mga kabataang nakatuntong ng kolehiyo at, higit sa lahat, hindi nagpapabayad ng prinsipyo ang mga kabataang mag-aaral lalo na kung ang pagkamamamayan nila ang nakataya. Dahil dito marami na ring desisyon ang Korte Suprema sa Pilipinas na pumapabor sa mga progresibong estudyante at hindi pumapabor sa mapaniil na gawi ng ilang pamantasan.

Inaasahang mag-aaral din ang mga namamahala ng pamantasan kung paano sila magtatama ng mga nakakitaang mali sa kanilang pamamahala na kalimitan ay hinggil sa due process o kawalan nito. Nauulit kasi ang kasaysayan. Baka nagkakalimutan. Sa hanay naman ng mga nagkokolehiyo, inaasahang sa kabila ng pagtatanggol sa mga karapatan, hindi mawawala ang kanilang kababaang-loob, pagkamagalang, at pagpapakahusay/pagpapakadalubhasa habang kapiling sila ng pinakamamahal nilang pamantasan.

Nurse fired after calling Gaza conflict ‘genocide’ in award speech

Paraluman P. Funtanilla
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Nurse fired after calling Gaza conflict ‘genocide’ in award speech

NEW YORK. A nurse was terminated by a New York City hospital after she referred to Israel’s actions in Gaza as a “genocide” during her acceptance speech for a compassion award.

Hesen Jabr, a Palestinian American labor and delivery nurse, received recognition from NYU Langone Health for her dedication to caring for mothers who had lost babies. During her speech on May 7, she drew parallels between her work and the suffering of mothers in Gaza.

“It pains me to see the women from my country going through unimaginable losses themselves during the current genocide in Gaza,” Jabr stated in a video of the speech she posted on social media. “This award is deeply personal to me for those reasons.”

Jabr later detailed on Instagram that she was summoned to a meeting with the hospital’s president and vice president of nursing upon her return to work on May 22. They discussed how her comments “put others at risk,” “ruined the ceremony,” and “offended people.” After working most of her shift, Jabr was brought back to an office, read her termination letter, and escorted out of the building.

NYU Langone spokesperson Steve Ritea confirmed Jabr’s firing and mentioned a prior warning. “Hesen Jabr was warned in December, following a previous incident, not to bring her views on this divisive and charged issue into the workplace,” Ritea said. “She instead chose not to heed that at a recent employee recognition event that was widely attended by her colleagues, some of whom were upset after her comments. As a result, Jabr is no longer an NYU Langone employee.” Ritea did not provide details about the previous incident.

In an interview with The New York Times, Jabr defended her remarks, asserting their relevance given the nature of the award. “It was an award for bereavement; it was for grieving mothers,” she explained.

The Gaza Ministry of Health reports that more than 36,000 people have died in the territory since the war began following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. Approximately 80% of Gaza’s 2.3 million population has been displaced, and U.N. officials report parts of the territory are facing famine. Critics argue that Israel’s military campaign constitutes genocide, a charge South Africa’s government formally supported in January, requesting the United Nations’ top court to order a halt to Israeli military operations in Gaza. Israel denies these accusations, asserting it is making every effort to protect Gaza’s civilian population.

Jabr is not the first NYU Langone employee fired over Middle East conflict-related comments. Previously, biologist Benjamin Neel, who directed the hospital’s cancer center, was terminated after posting anti-Hamas political cartoons. Neel has since filed a lawsuit against the hospital.

Jabr, who previously sued a Louisiana public school for being forced to accept a Bible as a child, remarked, “This is not my first rodeo.”

New research confirms HPV vaccines prevent cancer in both men and women

Venus L Peñaflor
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New research confirms HPV vaccines prevent cancer in both men and women

SINGAPORE. New research indicates that HPV vaccines are effective in preventing cancers in men as well as women. Despite this, fewer boys than girls are receiving the vaccine in the United States.

Initially developed to prevent cervical cancer in women, the HPV vaccine has been credited, alongside regular screenings, with significantly lowering cervical cancer rates. Evidence of its effectiveness in preventing HPV-related cancers in men has been slower to emerge. However, the latest research suggests that vaccinated men experience lower rates of mouth and throat cancers compared to those who did not receive the vaccine. These types of cancers are more than twice as prevalent in men than in women.

The study analyzed data from 3.4 million individuals of similar ages, divided equally between vaccinated and unvaccinated groups. As anticipated, vaccinated women showed a reduced risk of developing cervical cancer within at least five years of receiving the vaccine. Notably, vaccinated men also exhibited a lower risk of developing any HPV-related cancers, including those of the anus, penis, mouth, and throat.

“We think the maximum benefit from the vaccine will actually happen in the next two or three decades,” said Dr. Joseph Curry, a co-author of the study and a head and neck surgeon at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center in Philadelphia. “What we’re showing here is an early wave of effect.”

The results of this study, along with another, were released Thursday by the American Society of Clinical Oncology and will be discussed at its annual meeting in Chicago next month. The second study highlights rising vaccination rates but notes that males still lag behind females in receiving the HPV shots.

HPV, or human papillomavirus, is a highly common sexually transmitted infection. Most HPV infections cause no symptoms and resolve without treatment, but some can progress to cancer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports approximately 37,000 cases of HPV-related cancers annually in the U.S.

Since 2006, the HPV vaccine has been recommended for girls at ages 11 or 12, and since 2011, the same recommendation has applied to boys. Catch-up vaccinations are advised for anyone up to age 26 who has not been vaccinated.

In the second study, researchers examined self- and parent-reported HPV vaccination rates in preteens and young adults using a large government survey. From 2011 to 2020, vaccination rates increased from 38% to 49% among females and from 8% to 36% among males.

“HPV vaccine uptake among young males increased by more than fourfold over the last decade, though vaccination rates among young males still fall behind females,” noted Dr. Danh Nguyen, co-author of the study and a researcher at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

Jasmin Tiro of the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center, who was not involved in the research, emphasized the importance of vaccination for both boys and girls. “Parents of boys, as well as girls, should know that HPV vaccines lower cancer risk,” she said. She also highlighted that young men who have not been vaccinated can still receive the shots. “It’s really important that teenagers get exposed to the vaccine before they’re exposed to the virus,” Tiro added.

Tunay na ina ni Mayor Guo, tinutukoy sa Senado

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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Tunay na ina ni Mayor Guo, tinutukoy sa Senado

MAYNILA. Naglabas si Sen. Risa Hontiveros noong Huwebes ng mga dokumento na nagpapakita ng posibleng pagkakakilanlan ng ina ni Mayor Alice Guo, na si Lin Wen Yi, isang incorporator na sangkot sa maraming negosyo ng mayor sa Bamban, Tarlac.

Ito ay matapos ang panayam ni Sen. Win Gatchalian, kung saan isiniwalat niya na maaaring patunayan ng mga residente ng Valenzuela na noong naninirahan pa sa lungsod ang alkalde, isang Lin Wen Yi ang sinasabing ina nito.

“The identity of Mayor Alice’s mother is crucial to this whole saga. Kung Chinese pala ang ina, at Chinese umano ang ama, mapapatunayan na hindi nga talaga Pilipino si Mayor. Kung totoo ito, ang mas malaking tanong: bakit kinailangan niyang magkunwari? Bakit may pagtatago at pagsisinungaling?” ani Hontiveros.

Sinabi ni Hontiveros na ang mga co-incorporator ni Mayor Guo ay hindi bababa sa pito sa kanyang mga negosyo — katulad ng QJJ Group of Companies, QJJ Farms, QJJ Embroidery, QJJ Meat Shop, 3LIN-Q Farm, QJJ Slaughterhouse, at QSeed Genetics — kasama ang kanyang mga kapatid na sina Shiela L. Guo at Siemen L. Guo, ang kanyang ama na si Jian Zhong Guo, at itong si Lin Wen Yi.

“Kung nagawang magsinungaling ni Mayor Alice tungkol sa mga kapatid niya, hindi malayong mangyari na tinatago niya rin ang totoong pagkatao ng nanay niya. Nagsisinungaling siya sa nakalipas na dalawang pagdinig. Ang daming imbento, halos wala nang lumalabas na totoo sa bibig niya,” ani Hontiveros.

“Magkakamag-anak ba silang lahat? Is this one big, dubious family business? As Sen. Win also noted, travel records show that Jian Zhong Guo and Lin Wen Yi travel together at least 170 times in the span of six years. Business partner lang nga ba o baka asawa talaga?” tanong pa ni Hontiveros.

Ibinahagi rin ni Hontiveros ang isang dokumento ng Bureau of Internal Revenue na nagpapatunay sa mga petsa ng kapanganakan at address ng mga kasamang incorporator ni Mayor Guo, na sinasabing mga miyembro ng kanyang pamilya.

“1971 ang birth year nitong Lin Wen Yi. Kung siya ang tunay na ina, 15 years old lang siya nang iniluwal si Alice. At kung siya din ang ina ni Sheila na aminado si Alice na kapatid niya, aba 13 years old lang siya nung niluwal si Sheila? Unless ito ay gawa-gawa lang lahat, kathang isip ng isang sindikatong Tsino na pinahintulutan ng mga kawani ng gobyerno,” ani Hontiveros.

“May isa pa kaming source na nagsasabi na ‘Winnie’ ang tawag sa nanay ni Mayor Guo. Filipinoized version kaya ito ng Lin Wen Yi? Bakit kaya sinisikreto? Sino ba itong pamilya na ito? Bakit nakapalibot sa misteryo? We will get to the bottom of this,” pagtatapos ng senador.

US-China tensions, global conflicts set to dominate Shangri-La Dialogue

Venus L Peñaflor
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US-China tensions, global conflicts set to dominate Shangri-La Dialogue

SINGAPORE. The tense relationship between China and the United States is poised to overshadow Asia’s premier security meeting this week, along with the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, and the simmering tensions in the South China Sea.

The Shangri-La Dialogue, which gathers top defense officials, senior military officers, diplomats, weapons makers, and security analysts from around the globe, will run from May 31 to June 2 in Singapore.

Approximately 600 delegates from nearly 50 countries are set to attend the meeting. Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will open the dialogue with a keynote address, focusing on the South China Sea, an area where he has criticized new rules imposed by China’s coast guard as an escalation and “worrisome.”

“This affects the region and it affects the world,” Marcos stated, emphasizing the significance of his address on the South China Sea.

The event will feature a speech from the U.S. delegation on Saturday and from China on Sunday. This year’s edition includes a special session by Indonesia’s President-elect Prabowo Subianto, who has expressed openness to both the U.S. and China.

The dialogue is noted for its bilateral and multilateral military-to-military meetings on the sidelines, which analysts believe are crucial despite the absence of formal meetings between key delegates last year. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has not participated, and no Israeli delegation is attending this year.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is scheduled to meet his Chinese counterpart, Dong Jun, on Friday, aiming to ease tensions while addressing regional and global security issues. In Beijing, China’s defense ministry spokesperson Wu Qian confirmed Dong’s attendance at the conference but did not verify a meeting with Austin. “China believes that high-level China-U.S. strategic military communications help stabilize military-to-military relations,” Wu said.

Drew Thompson, a former Pentagon official now at the National University of Singapore, cautioned that while the dialogue is crucial, it might not lead to substantial outcomes. “The U.S. and China have so little trust or consensus about common interests,” Thompson noted.

Collin Koh, a security scholar at Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, concurred. “The schism between the two powers is so deep that the Sino-U.S. rivalry has become a structural reality,” he said.

Spotlight on China

While the dialogue is expected to address issues in Ukraine and Gaza, the focus will likely be on China. Marcos’ keynote address will highlight South China Sea issues, and discussions about the Taiwan Strait are expected from the U.S. and its allies. “Taiwan is surely a matter of international security concern,” Koh remarked, noting the sensitivity of the topic.

Thompson pointed out that China’s aggressive policies have strained its relationships with many neighbors, who now look to the U.S. for security and cooperation. “We’ve seen a rapid development of security relationships between countries like Korea, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines,” he said. “This is largely in response to China’s aggressive foreign policy and opaque military buildup.”

The Shangri-La Dialogue continues to be a crucial platform for addressing pressing security issues in Asia and beyond, with this year’s meeting set against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical tensions and ongoing global conflicts.

2 patay, 1 sugatan sa pamamaril sa Quezon Province

Arman B. Cambe
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2 patay, 1 sugatan sa pamamaril sa Quezon Province

LUCENA CITY, Quezon. Dalawa ang nasawi at isa ang malubhang nasugatan sa magkahiwalay na insidente ng pamamaril sa bayan ng Sariaya, ayon sa ulat ng Quezon Police Provincial Office (QPPO) kahapon.

Batay sa ulat ni Quezon Police Provincial Office Director PCol. Ledon Monte, ang unang insidente ay naganap sa Barangay Sampaloc 2. Natutulog sa loob ng kanyang bahay ang vendor na si Jayson Alzona, 37, bandang 7:30 ng gabi, nang pasukin ng suspek na si alyas Reymart, 27, ng Barangay Sampaloc 1. Pagkakita sa biktima, malapitan itong binaril sa batok at mabilis na tumakas bitbit ang hindi pa batid na kalibre ng baril na ginamit sa krimen.

Sa ikalawang insidente, nasa harapan ng isang tindahan sa Sitio Ilang-ilang, Barangay Bignay 2, bandang 11:30 ng gabi si Emmerson Roño, 42, ng Barangay Manggalang 1 nang pagbabarilin ng mga hindi nakikilalang kalalakihan. Patay agad ang biktima dahil sa mga tama ng bala ng kalibre .45 sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng katawan. Tinamaan din ng bala sa katawan at ngayon ay ginagamot sa Quezon Medical Center (QMC) sa Lucena City ang kaibigan nitong si Pryan Buela, 42.

Patuloy pa pagsasagawa ng imbestigasyon ng pulisya kasabay ng pagtugis sa mga salarin.

Israel seizes control of Gaza-Egypt border, intensifying raids on Rafah

Venus L Peñaflor
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Israel seizes control of Gaza-Egypt border, intensifying raids on Rafah

CAIRO. Israeli forces have taken full control of the buffer zone along the Gaza Strip’s border with Egypt, the Israeli military confirmed on Wednesday, granting Israel effective authority over Gaza’s entire land border.

Despite a directive from the International Court of Justice to cease its attacks, Israel has continued its deadly raids on Rafah in southern Gaza. Half of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents had previously sought refuge in Rafah, only to face renewed violence.

In a televised briefing, chief military spokesperson Daniel Hagari announced that Israeli forces had gained “operational” control over the “Philadelphi Corridor,” a 14-kilometer-long (9-mile) stretch along Gaza’s sole border with Egypt. “The Philadelphi Corridor served as an oxygen line for Hamas, which it regularly used to smuggle weapons into the Gaza Strip,” Hagari explained. Hamas is the armed Palestinian group governing the blockaded territory.

While Hagari did not detail what “operational” control entailed, an Israeli military official mentioned earlier that there were Israeli “boots on the ground” along parts of the corridor. Previously, the southern border with Egypt was the only land boundary of Gaza not directly controlled by Israel.

On Wednesday, Israeli tanks conducted raids into Rafah, penetrating deep into the city for the first time on Tuesday despite the UN court’s order to halt the assault. The World Court criticized Israel for not explaining how it would ensure the safety and basic needs of Rafah evacuees. The court’s ruling also demanded that Hamas release hostages taken from Israel on October 7 unconditionally and immediately.

Residents of Rafah reported Israeli tanks pushing into Tel Al-Sultan in the west and Yibna and near Shaboura in the center before retreating to a buffer zone along the Egypt border. “We received distress calls from residents in Tel Al-Sultan where drones targeted displaced citizens as they moved toward safe areas,” said Haitham al Hams, deputy director of ambulance and emergency services in Rafah.

Palestinian health officials reported that 19 civilians were killed in Israeli airstrikes and shelling across Gaza. Israel accused Hamas militants of hiding among civilians, a claim denied by Gaza’s ruling Islamist group.

Health Minister Majed Abu Raman urged Washington to pressure Israel into opening the Rafah crossing to aid, noting that patients in besieged Gaza were dying for lack of treatment. “There was no indication that Israeli authorities would do so soon,” he said.

Tzachi Hanegbi, Israel’s National Security Adviser, indicated that fighting in Gaza would persist throughout 2024, signaling Israel’s refusal to end the conflict until its objectives were met. “The fighting in Rafah is not a pointless war,” Hanegbi asserted, emphasizing Israel’s goal to end Hamas rule in Gaza and stop its attacks on Israel.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken advised Israel to develop a post-war plan for Gaza to prevent lawlessness and chaos. The U.S., Israel’s closest ally, reiterated its opposition to a major ground offensive in Rafah while acknowledging that such an operation was not currently underway.

The Gaza Health Ministry reported over 36,000 Palestinian deaths in Israel’s ongoing offensive. Israel launched its war following Hamas-led militants’ October 7 attack on southern Israeli communities, which resulted in around 1,200 Israeli deaths and over 250 hostages being taken.

Ceasefire Negotiations in Limbo

No updates were provided on Wednesday regarding ceasefire and hostage release talks. Hamas stated that negotiations were futile unless Israel ended its offensive on Rafah.

Hamas and allied Islamic Jihad claimed to have countered Israeli forces in Rafah with anti-tank rockets, mortar bombs, and explosive devices. The Israeli military reported three soldiers killed and three severely wounded, with public broadcaster Kan radio confirming an explosive device detonation in Rafah.

Palestinian health officials reported injuries from Israeli fire and aid stores set ablaze in eastern Rafah. Many homes were destroyed due to Israeli bombardment in areas ordered evacuated by Israel.

According to the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees UNRWA, around one million Palestinians who sought shelter in Rafah have now fled following Israeli evacuation orders.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) evacuated its medical teams from the Al-Mawasi area due to ongoing bombardments, with two staff members killed when an ambulance was hit during a rescue mission. Another airstrike in Gaza City killed five Palestinians, and an overnight strike in Khan Younis killed three, including a former senior Hamas police officer.

Donald Trump found guilty on all 34 counts in hush money trial

EDGARDO HERNAL
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Donald Trump found guilty on all 34 counts in hush money trial

NEW YORK. Donald Trump became the first U.S. president to be convicted of a crime when a New York jury found him guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a hush money payment made before the 2016 election.

The verdict was delivered after two days of deliberations by the 12-member jury, who reached a unanimous decision. Trump remained impassive as the jurors were individually polled to confirm the verdict.

Justice Juan Merchan has scheduled Trump’s sentencing for July 11, mere days before the Republican National Convention where Trump is anticipated to secure the presidential nomination. “Nobody can make you do anything you don’t want to do. The choice is yours,” Merchan told the jurors, thanking them for their service.

The conviction throws the United States into uncharted territory just months ahead of the November 5 presidential election, with Trump, the Republican frontrunner, aiming to reclaim the White House from incumbent Democratic President Joe Biden. Trump, 77, maintains his innocence and is expected to appeal the verdict. “This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who is corrupt,” he told reporters. “The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people. I am a very innocent man.”

Facing a maximum sentence of four years in prison, Trump will not be jailed before sentencing. A conviction does not bar him from campaigning or taking office if elected. Opinion polls indicate a tight race between Trump and Biden, and a Reuters/Ipsos poll suggests the guilty verdict could erode Trump’s support among independent and Republican voters.

A source within Trump’s campaign revealed that the verdict might accelerate discussions on selecting a female vice-presidential running mate. Meanwhile, Biden’s campaign responded, emphasizing that the ruling underscores that no one is above the law. “There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box,” the campaign stated.

The jury reached their decision at 4:20 p.m. (2020 GMT) and delivered the 34-count guilty verdict shortly after 5 p.m. Reactions were swift, with House Speaker Mike Johnson calling it “a shameful day in American history.”

The five-week trial featured explicit testimony from Stormy Daniels, who claimed a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006 while he was married to Melania. Trump denies the affair. His former lawyer, Michael Cohen, testified that Trump authorized a $130,000 payment to Daniels during the 2016 election to silence her, with reimbursements disguised as legal fees. Trump’s defense questioned Cohen’s credibility, citing his criminal record and history of lying.

Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, requested the verdict be overturned, arguing it relied on Cohen’s unreliable testimony. Justice Merchan denied the request. Trump’s expected appeal will likely challenge Daniels’ testimony and the legal theory used by prosecutors, although legal experts believe his chances of success are slim.

Falsifying business records is typically a misdemeanor in New York, but prosecutors elevated the charges to felonies, arguing that Trump was hiding an illegal campaign contribution. Trump has consistently claimed he could not receive a fair trial in his heavily Democratic hometown.

This case, revived by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg after his predecessor declined to prosecute, was viewed as the least significant of the four criminal cases Trump faces. It featured long-publicized allegations of sex and deceit but was substantiated by financial records.

As the only case likely to go to trial before the election, its outcome could have significant political repercussions. If elected, Trump could potentially dismiss the two federal cases alleging his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and mishandling classified documents. However, he would be powerless to stop a separate election-subversion case in Georgia.

Trump, who has pleaded not guilty in all cases, portrays his legal battles as politically motivated attacks by Biden’s allies. The nation now watches closely as the implications of this historic verdict unfold.

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