MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) recently received two 12m class high-speed boats from the Japanese government as part of the two countries' maritime security cooperation program. 

The two are part of the 13 high-speed boats package, which were requested by President Rodrigo Duterte, a media bulletin from the Japanese embassy in Manila said. 

The speedboats are powered by 3 300 horsepower engines. They can travel at a maximum speed of 50 knots or 92 kilometers per hour.

“I trust that our strong cooperation will remain a steady force that will propel maritime security forward in the entire Philippines,” Japanese Ambassador Koji Haneda said during the turnover ceremony on Wednesday, February 27.

Admiral Elson Hermogino, PCG Commandant, cited Japan as the top benefactor for the PCG. 

Japan has also been the source of the PCG's rescue ship as well as its multi-role response vessels that it uses to fight piracy and patrol the West Philippine Sea. The coast guards of both countries have also conducted joint drills in Manila and in Davao. – Rappler.com 

MANILA, Philippines – A Social Weather Stations' (SWS) survey result released on Friday, March 1, said 78% or almost 4 out of 5 Filipinos are worried that they, or someone they know, will be a victim of extrajudicial killings (EJK).

The SWS survey, conducted December 16 to 19, 2018, noted that this number was "up by 5 points from the 73% (from the survey conducted) in June 2017."

The June 2017 survey showed 73% of Filipinos worried about EJKs. (READ: 7 in 10 Filipinos worried about selves, neighbors becoming EJK victims – SWS)

In the December 2018 survey, anxiety over EJKs was highest in Visayas (83%), with Metro Manila (79%), Mindanao (78%), and Balance Luzon (75%) following closely.

Despite the worry, though, more people in the December 2018 survey said the government was serious about solving the EJK problem at 71% or 7 out of 10 Filipinos, compared to June 2017 at 63%.

The SWS' December 2018 survey also found that the nation is split on who the EJKs target, with 50% saying only the poor are victimized and 48% saying the problem does not choose a class. Three percent say that only the rich are victimized.

Meanwhile, only 12% of Filipinos say that they know someone who was a victim of EJK. This number went down by 3 percentage points since the June 2017 survey.

Of those who knew a victim, most said that the victim was their acquiantance (8%), while less people said it was their neighbor (3%), relative (2%), best friend (2%), or officemate (2%). More of those who knew a victim came from urban areas (18%) than rural areas (12%).

The SWS survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews with 1,440 adults, aged 18 years and above. They spoke to 360 people each in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

They noted that there is a sampling error margin of ±2.6% for national percentages, and ±5% each for Balance Luzon, Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

SWS also noted that their survey was non-commissioned and the results were released as a public service. – Rappler.com

AKLAN, Philippines – Amid Boracay's ongoing rehabilitation, the White Beach remains in the Top 25 Asia’s best beaches rankings of the TripAdvisor’s 2019 Travelers' Choice Awards.

The popular travel website described the 4-kilometer main beach as “calm, warm waters, gently sloping sand, very relaxing...possibly the most beautiful beach in Asia.”

Boracay was ranked 9th out of 25 beaches in Asia. It is the only Philippine beach recognized among the highest rated beach destinations in Asia. In 2018, the White Beach was listed 2nd best beach in Asia.

Yapak Beach (Puka Shell Beach) of Boracay Island also took the 25th spot.

Two other Philippine beaches which made it to this year's elite list. These are Nacpan Beach at No. 13, and Las Cabanas Beach at No. 22, both in El Nido, Palawan.

The TripAdvisor’s list ranked Radhanagar Beach in Havelock Island, Andaman and Nicobar Islands the top beach in Asia, while Kelingking Beach in Nusa Penida, Bali came in second. Nai Harn Beach in Thailand got the 3rd spot and Agonda Beach in India took the 4th place.

Bentota Beach in Sri Lanka was ranked 5th, PhraNang Cave Beach in Ao Nang, Thailand placed 6th, Varca Beach of India came in 7th, Karon Beach of Thailand took the 8th spot and Ngapali Beach of Myanmar was ranked 10th. The other winners in Top 25 best Asia beaches were Cavelossim Beach, India (11th); Kata Beach, Thailand (12th); Mirissa Beach, Sri Lanka (14th); Nusa Dua Beach, Indonesia (15th); Thong Nai Pai Beach, Surat Thani Province (16th); An Bang Beach, Vietnam (17th); Benaulim Beach, India (18th); Passikudah Beach, Sri Lanka (19th); Haeundae Beach, South Korea (20th); Pandawa Beach, Indonesia (21st); Hikkaduwa Beach, Sri Lanka (23rd) and Selong Balanak, Indonesia (24th).

The TripAdvisor's ranking of beaches was determined by the quality and quantity of reviews and rankings for beach destinations, restaurants, hotels, and attractions on the islands, and the traveler booking interest. – Rappler.com

“It’s getting dark, my batteries are running low.” With this final poignant message, the most successful mission to Mars – originally planned to last 90 days – ended after 15 years, in a dust storm in June 2018.

Despite efforts to re-establish contact with its solar-powered rover “Oppy,” NASA declared the mission over on February 13, 2019. The little robotic geologist had transmitted thousands of images from the surface of the planet, transforming our understanding of Mars and paving the way for future exploration.

In 2003, NASA launched its daring new mission with twin exploration rovers Spirit and Opportunity, heralding a new era of discovery on the Red Planet. While not the first rovers on Mars – that was Sojourner on 1997’s Mars Pathfinder mission– they were the first to look beyond the horizon of any stationary landing platform.

With a planned lifetime of 90 days and a range of just one kilometer, Spirit and Opportunity exceeded our wildest expectations. Spirit covered more than 7 kilometers and stopped communication in 2010, 6 years after it landed on Mars in 2004. Oppy continued exploring until mid-2018, setting the record for off-Earth driving distance at 45km.

Chance of a lifetime

Opportunity knocked for me too. Nineteen years ago, searching for a dissertation topic in the final year of a physics degree at the University of Mainz, I happened to come across an ad on a notice board that read: “Let’s go to Mars!” Incredibly, I was the only respondent and soon found myself working with a group developing a miniaturised Mössbauer spectrometer for Mars exploration. This device identifies iron-bearing minerals – important on Mars, also known as the Red Planet because of the iron oxides (rust) on its surface.

The NASA Mars Surveyor lander, originally due to launch in 2001, had been cancelled because of a landing platform failure. But our spectrometer was selected for an ambitious new Mars rover project. I graduated in 2001 but was hooked and wanted to see this thing through to launch, so I managed to secure a PhD position to carry on working with the development group in Mainz.

Against all odds, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory on the outskirts of Los Angeles had managed to build two rovers from scratch in just three years to launch in 2003. Our instruments had overcome various challenges to function properly once integrated into the two new rovers and were on board. After celebrating a successful launch, the fickle nature of space flight and the Martian curse, which had rendered about half of all Mars missions a failure, hit home at the end of the year.

The UK-led Beagle 2 lander, which also had one of our Mössbauer spectrometers on board, landed at Christmas time but failed to respond. Our instruments on board the Mars rover were not working properly either when checked during flight. It looked like all our work had been in vain.

Opportunity’s twin, Spirit, was next. It landed successfully to the immense relief of the engineering team. A lot was riding on the rovers’ success for NASA after two failed missions. Now it was time to jump into action. The rover rolled off the platform to investigate the composition of the planet’s surface. Miraculously, our spectrometer worked flawlessly – the first-ever extraterrestrial application of Mössbauer spectroscopy on the surface of Mars.

Life of Opportunity

Opportunity landed 3 weeks later. We only had 90 days to accomplish the mission goals, working at JPL on Mars time (a day on Mars – a “sol” – is about 40 minutes longer than an Earth day), ignoring Earthly day and night cycles to make it happen. What’s more, Spirit and Opportunity had landed on opposite sides of Mars. With the day’s shift on one rover ending, how could we go to bed without knowing what was going on on the other side of the planet?

The rovers had to drive a minimum distance of 600m and use their instruments to find evidence for the past existence of water, and assess past environmental conditions for their suitability for life. The rocks at Spirit’s landing site in Gusev crater were revealed to have a volcanic composition. Which meant if there had ever been any lake sediments inside the crater, they had been covered by a lava flow. Hills visible at the horizon offered some hope of discovery of evidence for past water. But would Spirit be able to get there given that the distance and timescale needed exceeded what the rover had been designed for?

Opportunity had more luck. The crater it landed in revealed sedimentary bedrock that provided evidence for water. Not only had water soaked the rocks, it had also episodically pooled at the surface. Though it was acidic it would have provided a habitable environment for various known microorganisms. Mission accomplished! But what now?

New chapter of exploration

Of course we know the end of this story. Both rovers continued to function many years beyond their original lifetime, making new discoveries that greatly enhanced our understanding of Mars. They established that there was plenty of liquid water on Mars’ surface in the past, and that this wet environment would have been capable of supporting life. The rovers and the thousands of images they beamed back to Earth have made Mars a familiar place. I moved to the University of Stirling in 2013, where I continued my work, and can say I’ve been going to work on Mars for almost 15 years.

Though Opportunty’s mission is over, Mars exploration will enter a new phase with the NASA Mars 2020 rover and the European Space Agency’s ExoMars rover, Rosalind Franklin, scheduled for next year. This rover will open up a new dimension by excavating material from two metres below the surface. Mars 2020 will kick off the long awaited effort to return rock and soil samples from Mars back to Earth. Both will owe a huge debt to the experience and knowledge gained from Spirit and Opportunity. – The Conversation | Rappler.com

Christian Schroeder is a Senior Lecturer in Environmental Science and Planetary Exploration at the University of Stirling.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

WAGAH, India – A pilot shot down in a dogfight with Pakistani aircraft returned to India on Friday, March 1, after being freed in what Islamabad called a "peace gesture" following the biggest standoff between the two countries in years. (READ: Pakistan says will free Indian pilot as 'peace gesture')

But fresh violence raged in Kashmir, with 7 people killed in the Indian-administered part of the tinder-box territory, suggesting that the crisis may not be over yet.

Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, shot down on Wednesday over Kashmir – divided between the nuclear-armed rivals since 1947 – crossed into India at the famed Wagah crossing point, sporting a black eye from his ordeal.

Thousands of Indians, waving flags, singing and dancing with patriotic fervor, had gathered at the crossing point on Friday afternoon but the crowd dwindled after his release was delayed inexplicably by hours. (READ: Thousands gather at border to welcome back Indian pilot)

In New Delhi the announcement of the experienced pilot's release was seen as a diplomatic victory, but India warned that its military remained on "heightened" alert.

On Thursday and Friday both countries continued to fire barrages across the Line of Control (LoC), the de-facto  border dividing Kashmir, leaving at least one person dead.

Gun battles on the Indian side left two militants and 4 members of the Indian security services dead, while a civilian was killed in later protests, police told Agence France-Presse.

"Influence of terrorists and terrorism has been curtailed and it is going to be curtailed even more. This is a New India," Prime Minister Narendra Modi, facing a tough election due by May, said Friday.

"This is an India that will return the damage done by terrorists with interest," he said.

India's junior foreign minister and former army chief, Vijay Kumar Singh, tweeted that the "welcome" release of the pilot was "the first of many steps that #Pakistan must take to reinforce their commitment to peace".

Suicide bombing

Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since the end of British colonial rule. Both claim it in full and have fought two wars over the Himalayan territory.

India has half a million troops in the part it administers, with militants – backed by Islamabad, according to New Delhi – fighting for independence or a merger with Pakistan.

Tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, have died since a revolt that broke out in 1989. Last year was the deadliest in a decade with almost 600 killed, monitors say.

Matters escalated alarmingly after a massive suicide bombing killed 40 Indian troops on February 14, with the attack claimed by a Pakistan-based militant group. 

Twelve days later Indian warplanes launched a strike inside undisputed Pakistani territory, claiming to have hit a militant camp. 

An infuriated Islamabad denied casualties or damage, but a day later launched its own incursion across the LoC.

That sparked the dogfight which ended in both countries claiming they had shot down each other's warplanes, and Abhinandan's capture. 

Prime Minister Imran Khan unexpectedly announced Thursday that he would be released in the first sign of a potential thaw.

Khan alluded to the catastrophic consequences of nuclear war and called for talks – even as he warned India should not take the announcement as a sign of weakness.

Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi meanwhile said he was boycotting a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held in Abu Dhabi, as India had been invited.

The tensions prompted Pakistan to close down its airspace, disrupting major routes between Europe and South Asia and grounding thousands of travelers worldwide. (

Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said Friday that flights could land and depart from its main airports from 1300 GMT, and that others would be opened "gradually".

Standing ovation

The parents of handlebar-moustached Abhinandan were given a standing ovation by fellow passengers as they boarded a flight to Amritsar near Wagah to welcome their son.

He has become a national hero after purported footage that went viral showed him being beaten by locals after being shot down before Pakistani soldiers intervened, with social media abuzz with #GivebackAbhinandan and #Abhinandanmyhero hashtags.

His subsequent polite refusal to proffer more details than necessary – "I am sorry major, I am not supposed to tell you this" won him particular sympathy in India.

His father, a retired air force officer, told the Times of India newspaper, "Just look at the way he talked so bravely... a true soldier... we are proud of him." – Rappler.com

WASHINGTON, USA – The United States and Russia clashed Friday, March 1 over how to assist crisis-wracked Venezuela, with Moscow pledging new relief channeled through President Nicolas Maduro and Washington slapping sanctions over the blocking of US aid it tried to push through the border. (READ: U.S. calls to 'stand with freedom' in Venezuela as EU gives ultimatum)

A day after Russia and China vetoed a US and European resolution at the UN Security Council that called for unimpeded aid deliveries, Washington said it was targeting 6 Venezuelan military officers for stopping last weekend's US-led convoy. (READ: Trump blasts Venezuela over blocked U.S. aid shipments)

Four people were killed in the melee as Maduro's forces prevented the 178 metric tonnes of rice, beans and other food from crossing into the country from Colombia. The leftist strongman says the aid is a pretext for a US-led invasion.

"We are sanctioning members of Maduro's security forces in response to the reprehensible violence, tragic deaths and unconscionable torching of food and medicine destined for sick and starving Venezuelans," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.

The 6 include Major General Richard Jesus Lopez Vargas, the commander of the Venezuelan National Guard. The sanctions freeze any assets in the United States and penalize US financial dealings with the officials.

The United States also revoked the visas of 49 Venezuelan officials and their family members, the State Department said.

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, whom Washington has recognized as interim president, had hoped to triumph in bringing in the stockpiles of food, which the United States coordinated with Colombia and Brazil.

Guaido has said 300,000 people could die without an influx of aid into Venezuela. 

The United Nations says 2.7 million Venezuelans have fled since 2015 as the socialist economy crumbles, with basic supplies out of reach to the masses. (READ: United Nations to vote on dueling U.S., Russia drafts on Venezuela)

Russia steps up

More than 50 countries recognize Guaido as Venezuela's rightful president – but Maduro enjoys strong support from Russia, which is eager to challenge US interventionism, as well as China, which is concerned over the fate of billions of dollars Beijing has lent to Caracas. (READ: Russia vows more support for 'friend' Maduro, including aid)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, receiving Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez in Moscow, said Russia was stepping up shipments of wheat and was considering sending more medical supplies after shipping 7.5 tonnes.

"We are very closely cooperating and coordinating all our steps in the international arena," Lavrov said.

"This has acquired special significance now that Venezuela is facing a frontal attack and unabashed interference in its domestic affairs," he said.

Elliott Abrams, the US special representative on the crisis, charged that Maduro's forces would turn Russian aid into a "political weapon" by providing it only to supporters.

"Obviously we are in favor of giving humanitarian assistance to Venezuela; we are not in favor of giving it to this corrupt regime," Abrams told reporters in Washington.

Lavrov voiced hope that international pressure would "cool hotheads in Washington" who he said are seeking military intervention in Venezuela. 

He alleged that the United States was planning to buy small arms, mortar launchers and shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles from an "Eastern European country" and station them "close to Venezuela."

Warnings of force

President Donald Trump has not ruled out military intervention in Venezuela, although even close US allies have said they would not support the use of force.

Republican Senator Marco Rubio, who has worked closely with Trump to seek Maduro's ouster, appeared this week to suggest a violent climax as he posted on Twitter two pictures of Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi – one relaxed and smiling while in power, the other bloodied as he was lynched in an uprising.

Defying a travel ban by Maduro, Guaido went first to Colombia to try to bring in the aid and to meet with visiting US Vice President Mike Pence. 

The 35-year-old political newcomer continued on to Brazil, where he met the new right-wing president, Jair Bolsonaro, and on Friday traveled to Paraguay and Argentina.

Guaido has said he will return home "at the latest on Monday" despite threats to arrest him.

After meeting with Argentine President Mauricio Macri, Guaido said: "The only step backwards in this process we have begun in Venezuela will be when many Venezuelans are able to return home."

Abrams said the United States was "very concerned" about Guaido's ability to return home safely and warned of a "very large reaction" if he is arrested. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines - A total of 2,075 persons have been arrested in over  6 weeks due to increased police operations for the 2019 midterm elections, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

These arrests were made from January 13, the start of the election period, until  February 27 said the PNP report released on Thursday, February 28. (READ: Comelec, police inspect checkpoints as 2019 election period begins)

Most of those arrests were during Police Patrol Response (54% or 1,130 people).

The other arrests were due to search warrants (18% or 369 people), Oplan Bakal / Sita / Galugad, etc. (17% or 354 people), checkpoints (10% or 199), and warrant of arrest (1% or 23 people).

Those arrested were mostly civilians (1,962 people), followed by security guards (41), government or elected officials (27), PNP (22), threat groups (10), other law enforcement agencies (5), Armed Forces of the Philippines (3), and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (1). There were no members of the Bureau of Fire Protection or foreign nationals arrested.

The PNP also reported 1,692 total number of firearms confiscated, recovered, or surrendered, and 13,699 total number of deadly weapons seized.

During the election period, the Comelec enforces a number of election-related bans, including the following: (LIST: 2019 election-related bans)

• Alteration of territory of a precinct or the establishment of a new precinct
• Transfer or movement of officers and employees in the civil service
• Gun ban, or the bearing of firearms or other deadly weapons, unless authorized by the Comelec
• Use of security personnel/bodyguards by candidates, unless authorized by the Comelec
• Organization of reaction forces, strike forces, etc.
• Suspension of elective local officials

Filipinos can vote officials into more than 18,000 positions on election day, May 19. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines — Rear Admiral Rene Medina assumed the post as new commander of Western Command (Wescom) in Palawan, the military unit responsible for protecting the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

Armed Forces chief of staff General Benjamin Madrigal led the change of command ceremony on Saturday, March 2.

Medina assumes command as the country continues to navigate ties with the US — its treaty ally — and China, the powerful neighbor that lays claim to practically all of the South China Sea. 

President Rodrigo Duterte appears to have set aside previous plans to pivot away from the United States (US) as he builds warmer ties with China. 

The US has committed to assist the Philippines in the event of armed attacks in the disputes seas.

US Secretary State Mike Pompeo in his visit to Manila this week said the West Philippine Sea is covered under the 67-year-old Mutual Defense Treaty, a clarification the Philippines has been seeking since 2012. 

Before this appointment, Medina was commander of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao based in Zamboanga City. — Rappler.com

ZAMBALES, Philippines – The remaining workers of the financially troubled Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction-Philippines on Friday, March 1, accused the giant shipbuilder of barring them from entering the company's premises in Subic.

Virgilio Rodrigo, general secretary of the workers' group Samahan ng mga Manggagawa ng Hanjin, said 100 workers staged a protest rally at one of the company's main gates at 7 am after they were not allowed to report for duty.

The workers said they could no longer swipe their company IDs at the facility's entrance.

According to Rodrigo, the workers who were locked out of the shipyard belonged to the remaining group which refused to accept the voluntary retrenchment package previously offered by Hanjin management.

The protesting workers held banners demanding the company to give them their jobs back.

Rodrigo said 15 more subcontracting companies of Hanjin have issued notices of closure effective March 31.

He said the workers were given the promise that they would receive their salary for March and separation pay.

Hanjin had earlier declared bankruptcy because it owed some $400 million from Philippine banks aside from $900 million in debts from lenders in South Korea.

The Korean company filed a financial rehabilitation plan before the Olongapo City Regional Trial Court Branch 72.

Last month, the court granted its petition for receivership and placed the South Korean shipbuilding firm under corporate rehabilitation.

Its liquidity problem had forced it to lay off more than 7,000 workers in December last year. – Rappler.com

WASHINGTON D.C, USA – United States (US) President Donald Trump on Friday, March 1, urged China to abolish tariffs on agricultural products imported from the United States – adding that trade talks between the rival powers were going well.

"I have asked China to immediately remove all Tariffs on our agricultural products (including beef, pork, etc.)," the president wrote on Twitter.

He said his request was based on the fact that negotiations with China were "moving along nicely"– and his delay last week of a planned tariff increase on Chinese exports.

"This is very important for our great farmers - and me!" he added.

After months of trade war, the US and China agreed to a 90-day truce to work out their differences. It was scheduled to end Friday, but Trump eventually lifted the ultimatum to increase tariffs, satisfied by progress made in several rounds of talks in Beijing and Washington.

Top White House economic official Larry Kudlow said Thursday the two countries were on the brink of a "historic" trade agreement. A meeting between Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, is also expected this month.

After the latest round of talks in February, US Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue tweeted that China had committed to buying "an additional" 10 million metric tons of soybeans as a "show of good faith."

US farmers rely greatly on such trade with China: in 2017, around a third of US soybean production – worth $14 billion – was exported there, where it is used to feed pigs. 

Those exports plummeted last summer, when China imposed tariffs on US soybeans and other agricultural products.

Previously, in a gesture of goodwill at the start of the countries' truce, China in December resumed soybean purchases.

But Chinese tariffs had already hit America's farming regions hard – areas where Trump has enjoyed plentiful support. – Rappler.com

BANGKOK, Thailand – We spend as much as 9 hours a day sitting – in our cars during our commute to work, at our desk, while watching television, or scrolling through social media.

Prolonged inactivity due to excessive sitting is harmful to your health and has been been linked to obesity, higher blood pressure, and diabetes. In the long term, it makes you more vulnerable to noncommunicable diseases or diseases of long duration and slow progression.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the 4 main types of noncommunicable diseases are cardiovascular diseases (like heart attack and stroke), cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes.

The WHO said noncommunicable diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for about 63% of deaths every year.

Experts advise: Sit less, move more

Pairoj Saonuam, a medical doctor and executive director of the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, suggested incorporating more physical activity into your daily routine by having a standing desk in your office or your workplace at home.

"The standing desk is designed to promote physical activity. You can use the standing desk during meetings with your team," said Saonuam, who launched the standing desk at the recently concluded Prince Mahidol Award Conference – a conference that gathered public health experts to discuss ways to combat noncommunicable diseases.

While standing desks are slowly gaining popularity in online and retail stores, the standing desk designed by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation is decorated with its own exercise manual illustrating various poses and stretches that you can do while standing.

The standing desk is adjustable from 65 centimeter (25 inches for sitting position) to 110 centimeter (43 inches for standing position).

From its high table height, you can bend over and do shoulder stretches, or kick back your legs for table climbers. You can also adjust the standing desk to a lower height and do low-table exercises like knee arches, half squats or even push ups.

Even if you don't feel like bending over into a yoga pose during a meeting with your colleagues, you can burn up to 35 calories just by standing for 15 minutes. Standing for 30 minutes can burn up to 70 calories.

"Your body will expend extra energy and lose some fat while standing. But it is not enough – you should change your posture and add other activities like walking and running," Saonuam said.

The Thai Health Promotion Foundation designed prototypes of the standing desk and is promoting its use in places like meeting rooms where a more active lifestyle is most needed. Saonuam hopes that the standing desk will become a regular fixture in offices and even schools.    

"Standing while working is a win-win. You can complete your job and you can spend time being physically active. Together, it's good for your health and it will make you happy," Saonuam said. – Rappler.com

MONTREAL, Canada – Quebec's appeals court on Friday, March 1, upheld a historic ruling ordering three tobacco firms to pay Can$15.5 billion (US$11.6 billion) to smokers in the Canadian province who claimed they were never warned about the health risks associated with smoking.

Imperial Tobacco Canada, a subsidiary of British American Tobacco, Rothmans Benson & Hedges and JTI-MacDonald have one month to launch an eventual appeal before Canada's Supreme Court.

In June 2015, the Superior Court of Quebec ruled that the three companies should pay the whopping amount to tens of thousands of smokers suffering from emphysema, lung cancer or throat cancer.

According to media reports, accruing interest will bring the final amount to more than Can$17 billion.

The two class action lawsuits behind the award, which were originally filed in 1998, affected nearly one million smokers or ex-smokers, some of whom had been consuming tobacco since the 1960s. The trial only began in March 2012.

"We are disappointed with today's decision," Imperial Tobacco Canada spokesman Eric Gagnon told reporters. "As the ruling in the lower court showed, Canadian consumers know the risks associated with tobacco use. We should not be held responsible."

Lawyers for the plaintiffs meanwhile celebrated the "historic" ruling, going so far as to call it a "masterpiece."

"The ruling reached the same conclusions as did the lower court, solidifies them and confirms that the companies conspired for 50 years to lie to the public," one of the attorneys, Andre L'Esperance, told journalists.

"This is a total victory, on all fronts," added his colleague Philippe Trudel.

The lower court had ruled that the companies failed in their general duty "not to cause injury to another person" and to inform their customers of the risks associated with their products. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Administration Senator Manny Pacquiao said “too much democracy” is hurting the country.

In a Rappler Talkinterview aired Friday, March 1, the world boxing champion turned lawmaker was asked to comment on the state of democracy under his ally President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Alam mo nandyan pa rin yung democracy, under 1987 Constitution pa rin tayo. And naniniwala ako because of too much democracy kaya nagkaganito ganito. Lalong dumami yung corruption, tumigas yung mga tao, walang disiplina (Democracy is still there. We are still under the 1987 Constitution. I believe there is rampant corruption and lack of discipline because of too much democracy),” Pacquiao said.

“'Yun ang problema natin (That is our problem). Although we want democracy, too much democracy is bad for our country.... Kailangan may disiplina ang tao kasi kung ano gusto ng tao, gusto nila insist nila na 'yon masusunod, eh may government tayo na dapat ang tao sumunod sa government (The people should have disipline because some insist that they should be followed. The people should follow the government),” he said.

Citing the need for peace and order, Pacquiao said the President had to “discipline” Filipinos, just as a parent disciplines his or her children. (READ: 4 out of 5 Filipinos worry over extrajudicial killings – SWS)

"Alam mo common sense, paano disiplinahin pamilya mo kung 'di mo paluin mga anak mo? Paano ayusin kung 'di pagalitan ang anak mo, pagalitan at paluin 'pag matigas ang ulo? Ang pamilya maaayos ba na 'di niya pagalitan o disiplinahin? So same thing eh, gusto ng Pangulo ng kapayapaan, kaunlaran, so kailangan disiplina," Pacquiao said. (It's just common sense. How can you discipline your family if you don't spank you kids? How can you fix it if you don't scold them when they're being hard-headed? So same thing, the President wants peace and progress so he needs to discipline the people.)

Asked if the killings of drug suspects is the President's way of disciplining the people, he said: “May conviction na ba na si President nagpapatay? Wala naman eh. Kumbaga tayo lang tao judgmental kaya ganyan tayo mag-isip. In fact, kung titignan natin, ilan daan daang pulis natanggal sa trabaho.”

(Has the president been convicted for the killings. None. The people are just judgemental that's why we think this way. In fact, if we look at it, hundreds of cops have lost their jobs.)

While a few policemen were punished, many were just recycled. (READ: Caloocan police chief sacked after Kian slay now Bulacan's top cop)

Against laws banning political dynasty, turncoatism

While Pacquiao lamented the supposedly excessive democracy in the Philippines, he cited the freedoms enshrined in the Constitution to defend his stand against laws banning political dynasties and turncoatism.

“Yung [batas laban sa] political dynasty makakaapekto yan sa ano mo eh, yung free will mo, kasi demokrasya nga tayo kasi pipili mga tao. 'Di naman ilalagay, iboboto ng mga tao. Meaning tao ang pipili, hindi yung sarili mo o someone put them there (The law against political dynasty will affect people's free will because we are in a democracy, where people will choose their leaders. The leaders will not be appointed, they will be elected by the people),” he said.

Article 2 Section 26 of the 1987 Constitution mandates “equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.”

Pacquiao, however, was noncommittal when asked if he would vote in favor of such legislation in the 18th Congress.

“Pag-aralan nating mabuti kung ano ikabubuti [at] maganda na 'di naman maaapektuhan yung karapatan ng tao (Let's study first what is good, without trampling on people's rights),” Pacquiao said.

“Maganda naman performance nila, pagtulong sa tao. Ang tao naman pipili. Ngayon, kung may bahid ng corruption, may bahid ng nagnanakaw kami, ako pa mismo magsabi sa tao na 'wag n'yo iboto (They have good performance and track record of helping people. The people are the ones choosing them. If we have corruption issues, I would be the first to tell the people not to vote for my relatives),” he added.

In 2010, Pacquiao won as a representative of Sarangani Province. He was reelected in 2013 while his wife, Jinkee, was elected as vice governor. He then won as senator in 2016.

Two of his brothers are also in politics. Rogelio “Ruel” Pacquiao is the incumbent Sarangani Representative while Alberto “Bobby” Pacquiao, who won as General Santos City councilor in 2016, is now running for OFW Family Club party list representative.

The senator’s sister-in-law, Lorelei, is also running for General Santos City vice mayor.

As for a law against political turncoatism or politicians’ shifting of political parties come election time, Pacquiao said:

“Studyhan natin mabuti baka makaapekto na naman sa kalayaan mong lumipat o pumili…. parang pinipigilan siya lumipat kung ayaw nya don (Let's study it furhter because it might affect people's freedom to transfer or choose.... It's like preventing someone to transfer when he or she no longer wants it there),” he said.

Pacquiao was a member of former president Gloria Arroyo’s political party, Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi), from 2007 to 2009. He left in 2009 to run for congressman under the Nacionalista Party.

After the 2010 elections, he joined then president Benigno Aquino III’s Liberal Party (LP) and stayed there until 2012 when he moved to PDP-Laban.

In the May 2016 polls, however, he ran under former vice president Jejomar Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance. In 2016, he again took oath as PDP-Laban member.

Pacquiao also has a local party, People’s Champ Movement, which he intends to become a national political party in 2022. (READ: President Pacquiao in 2022? ‘No plan’ but wants own national party) – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Former Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) chairman Antonio "Bebot" Villar Jr has passed away, DDB chief Catalino Cuy confirmed to Rappler on Saturday, March 2.

Relaying a message he received earlier Saturday, Cuy said Villar passed away Friday night, March 1. The cause of his death is still being confirmed.

Cuy said Villar's remains will be brought to the Cosmopolitan Chapels in Quezon City, before being taken to his hometown in Pangasinan. Villar served as mayor of Sto. Tomas, Pangasinan.

Villar was DDB chief under the Aquino administration, and head of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group under the Arroyo administration.

In 2013, Villar accused a German and Thai doctors of botching his stem cell treatment, supposedly causing him to fall ill. – with a report from Rambo Talabong/Rappler.com

HANOI, Vietnam – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un paid tribute to Vietnam's late revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh on Saturday, March 2, before starting his long journey home through China, after his Hanoi summit with US President Donald Trump ended without a nuclear deal.

Kim boarded his olive green armoured train at the Dong Dang border station in Vietnam before it rolled northward toward China en route to Pyongyang, kicking off a marathon 4,000-kilometre (2,500-mile) journey expected to take two and a half days. 

Earlier Kim made a highly unusual stop at the stark concrete monument where the body of Vietnam's independence hero is on display.

On historic North Korean anniversaries Kim regularly pays tribute – with the "humblest reverence", according to the official KCNA news agency – to his predecessors, his father Kim Jong Il and grandfather Kim Il Sung, at the sprawling memorial palace on the outskirts of Pyongyang where their preserved remains lie in state.

But he is not known to have previously done anything similar for a foreign leader.

The North Korean adjusted the ribbons on a large wreath emblazoned with his name and the message "Cherishing the memory of President Ho Chi Minh" before bowing his head for no less than 48 seconds.

Kim has visited China, the North's key diplomatic protector and main provider of trade and aid, four times but there have been no reports in either country's state media of him going to Mao Zedong's mausoleum in Beijing.

But Kim's grandfather was a close friend of Ho Chi Minh and supplied him with fighter pilots and psychological warfare specialists during his war against the US-backed regime in South Vietnam. 

Pictures of the two together are displayed on the noticeboard outside the Vietnamese embassy in Pyongyang.

Single-string guitar

Kim's trip to Vietnam was the first by a North Korean leader since 1964, when Kim Il Sung also travelled by rail for his journey to the southeast Asian nation.

Kim boarded his own train Saturday and headed towards China, though his route was not known and it was not clear whether he would be stopping to meet President Xi Jinping along the journey.

A smiling Kim waved to crowds at the station and clasped his hands in the air as he was seen off by white-uniformed soldiers and Vietnamese officials.

"I really admire Chairman Kim Jong Un and I see him as a friendly person," said local resident Nguyen Thuy Chi at the station. 

On Friday Kim met Vietnam's top leaders and reportedly tried his hand at playing a dan bau – a traditional single-string guitar. 

Pictures in the Vietnamese press showed the grinning leader with the instrument as a crowd of Vietnamese guests – including President Nguyen Phu Trong – cheered him on. 

Kim and Trump's much-hyped second summit finished abruptly with a signing ceremony scrapped after the pair failed to reach an agreement on walking back North Korea's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.

Both sides said they were open to further talks, though a third summit has not been scheduled. – Rappler.com

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Rights groups denounced Saudi Arabia Saturday, March 2, over its decision to put jailed women activists on trial after holding them for nearly a year without charge.

The public prosecution said Friday, March 1, that the activists had been referred to court, as its investigation is complete.

Some of those detained have allegedly faced torture and sexual harassment during interrogation, following their arrest in May last year in a sweeping crackdown on campaigners.

"The Saudi authorities have done nothing to investigate serious allegations of torture," said Michael Page, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch.

"Now, it's the women's rights activists, not any torturers, who face criminal charges and trials."

More than a dozen activists were arrested just a month before the historic lifting of a decades-long ban on women drivers.

Most were accused of undermining security and aiding enemies of the state. Some were later released.

Amnesty International called Friday's announcement a "shocking sign of the kingdom's escalating crackdown on activists" and demanded "the immediate release of prisoners of conscience."

Trials in the ultra-conservative kingdom are often shrouded in secrecy.

The prosecutor did not specify the charges nor give a date for their trial.

But the announcement sparked speculation that the activists could be released under the cover of a judicial process, after the crackdown prompted scathing criticism against Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. 

"There is a legal process moving forward and I think it will end well," Ali Shihabi, founder of pro-Saudi government think tank Arabia Foundation, said on Twitter.

"Let us see the end result and then judge, not jump to conclusions." 

Those still detained include Aziza al-Yousef, a retired professor at Riyadh's King Saud University.

Another is Loujain al-Hathloul, who was held for more than 70 days in 2014 for attempting to drive from neighbouring United Arab Emirates to Saudi Arabia.

Following their arrest, state-backed newspapers published front-page pictures of some of the activists with the word "traitor" stamped across them in red.

Loujain was one of the activists who faced sexual harassment and torture during interrogation, her family and rights groups said.

The Saudi government has rejected the allegation. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China donated to the Philippines 6 all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) for patrol and emergency assistance in Boracay Island.

Chinese Embassy liaison officer Peter Tay said the ATVs were environmental-friendly and would be used to patrol the beachfront. It will also be used to respond in case of emergencies and drowning incidents.

The ATVs will also allow lifeguards to easily move around the beachfront when watching over visitors. The ATVs will be stationed in strategic life guard towers along Boracay’s shoreline.

Tay said the donation of the ATVs comes after the Chinese Embassy gave 50 sets of walkie talkie radios before the temporary closure of Boracay Island in April 2018.

In 2017, the embassy also turned over an ambulance unit to the Boracay Fire Rescue and Ambulance Volunteers (BFRAV) through Chinese Counselor and Consul General Lou Gang.

“Maybe with the drowning incident of a Chinese national last January, the Chinese Embassy officials decided to offer ATVs for faster emergency response. They visited Boracay weeks ago and they were impressed by the government efforts to clean up the island,” Tay said.

Tay also noted the increasing number of Chinese tourists in Aklan and Boracay Island after it reopened in October 2018. He added China and South Korea were the top sources of inbound travelers in the island.

Meanwhile, Boracay Foundation Incorporated Chairman Leonard Tirol said Globe Telecom is scheduled to turn over beach lifeguard towers this year.– Rappler.com

BEIJING, China – Students in Beijing said Saturday, March 2 that Chinese police had forced them to watch new video "confessions" from fellow labor activists, as authorities tighten their grip on campus activism.

In the past several months, Chinese authorities have cracked down on Marxist students and recent graduates who back efforts to establish independent labor unions in Guangdong, the southern manufacturing province.

The clampdown comes at a sensitive time for China's Communist Party, with the 30th anniversary of the bloody repression of Tiananmen Square protesters coming up on June 4.

The more recent video screenings also took place as the country's leaders prepared for next week's annual meeting of the National People's Congress, during which authorities traditionally step up their muzzling of activists.

Dozens of people who supported a strike at Jasic Technology in Shenzhen last summer have disappeared in the clampdown.

Four of them reappeared in videos that were forcibly shown in January to students who are affiliated with the Jasic Workers Solidarity labor rights group, according to fellow students, who saw the move as an intimidation campaign.

But police were apparently not done.

Student labor activists posted new allegations online on Saturday saying they were summoned in the past week for "meetings" at police stations in Beijing.

They were threatened with expulsion and jail as they were shown videos of 6 other activists, the students said.

"They want to scare us, make us admit fault, turn (our activism) into something illegal," one student, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear for reprisals, told Agence France-Presse (AFP).

The Beijing Public Security Bureau, Peking University and Renmin University did not respond to requests for comment.

'Smear' activist image

One of the people in the videos was He Pengchao, a recent graduate of the prestigious Peking University who had travelled from Beijing to Shenzhen in August to support workers who were dismissed for trying to unionise.

Three months later, He and dozens of other student labor activists disappeared.

Four students who attended the screenings say the new videos show He and 5 others admitting to using labor issues to "subvert the state" and starting worker strikes for their own political advancement.

"In the videos, there's a huge difference in the demeanour of the activists," another student told AFP.

"We know they started fighting for labor rights to support the workers," the student said.

"I feel that what's been shown in the videos... is to smear the image of the labor rights movement."

Authorities also pressured them to provide more information on other student activists and details on their operations, adding that those in the videos will soon go to trial.

Activists are concerned about the safety of He and the dozens of others who remain missing.

"I'm really worried, He has a great influence on our classmates. He is a person who is full of ideals and is very caring about his workmates and classmates at school. He often encourages us. We can say that we all admire," a friend of He said.

'Political terror'

Video confessions are used by authorities as a fear tactic, said Peter Dahlin, director of Safeguard Defenders, a rights group aimed at protecting frontline human rights defenders.

While they have traditionally been shown on state television, they are now being shown directly to those the government wants to intimidate, Dahlin said.

"The purpose is the same, political terror. Using threat of violence and control against an individual or small group, to create fear in the larger community it seeks to affect," Dahlin told AFP.

The students who posted the latest allegations of video confessions are taking a risk.

Seven students and recent graduates from two elite Beijing universities were arrested in January hours after publishing a statement accusing police of recording forced video confessions, according to the Jasic Workers Solidarity group. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Education (DepEd) on Saturday, March 2, said Grade 6 completers for school year 2018-2019 will have a graduation ceremony as their end-of-school-year rites.

DepEd made the clarification after it initially said only Grade 12 completers will have a graduation ceremony while Grade 6 completers will have a "moving-up" ceremony.

"The end-of-school-year rites for Grade 6 completers this school year 2018-2019 shall be a graduation ceremony," Education Secretary Leonor Briones said in a DepEd memorandum dated March 1. 

The same memorandum, however, noted that discussions are still ongoing as to whether Grade 6 completers in the future should have a "moving-up" ceremony instead of a graduation ceremony. 

"The moving-up" ceremony instead of a graduation for Grade 6 completers is under discussion by the Executive Committee. Should this be approved, DepEd assures all concerned that this will be announced with sufficient lead time."

Below are the end-of-school-year rites of the following grade levels:

• Kindergarten - Moving-up ceremony
• Grade 6 - Graduation
• Grade 10 - Moving-up ceremony
• Grade 12 students from schools with DepEd-approved K to 12 transition plan - Graduation
• Grade 12 students from schools with permit to operate senior high school since 2014 - Graduation
• Grade 12 students from international schools with K to 12 program - Graduation

These events should be scheduled not earlier than April 1, 2019 and not later than April 5, 2019, DepEd said.

Briones added that for public schools, expenses related to these events should be charged to the school’s maintenance and other operating expenses. DepEd personnel are not allowed to collect fees for their respective graduation and moving-up ceremonies. 

The theme for the 2019 ceremonies is "Pagkakaisa sa Pagkakaiba-iba: Kalidad na Edukasyon para sa Lahat (Unity in Diversity: Quality Education for All)," which highlights the role of K to 12 in developing Filipinos.

DepEd said schools may translate the theme into their respective mother tongues. – Rappler.com

NEAR BAGHOUZ, Syria – Kurdish-led forces battled jihadists defending their last village on Saturday, March 2 as the operation to flush out the Islamic State (ISIS) group from eastern Syria resumed after days of humanitarian evacuations.

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) pushed into Baghouz, a tiny hamlet near the Iraqi border where ISIS fighters are making a desperate last stand.

As the sun rose above the palm trees lining the Euphrates River, the crackle and thud of gunfire and shelling echoed across the farmland while SDF artillery units could be seen taking up positions, Agence France-Presse journalists near the front line reported.

An SDF officer said he saw jihadists moving between empty buildings and a makeshift camp on the edge of the village where it is feared civilians might still be hunkered down.

"The fighting is intense at the moment," the officer said. "Our forces are advancing from two directions."

The SDF announced the launch of an assault on ISIS’ last redoubt late on Friday after a week-long exodus that saw thousands of people flee the enclave dried up.

While ISIS fighters, who have been besieged for weeks in an ever-shrinking pocket, are vastly outgunned, their use of tunnels, booby-traps and suicide bombers is hampering the SDF advance.

'Surprises'

"We can't put a timeframe on this battle – two weeks, 3 weeks or a week – it will depend on the surprises we get along the way," SDF spokesman Adnan Afrin said.

"Those who have not surrendered by now will meet their fate there," he said.

Most of the more than 50,000 people who left the very last rump of the ISIS "caliphate" in recent weeks were women and children.

Some of the evacuees however were suspected fighters either surrendering to the SDF or attempting to slip back into civilian life.

The jihadists are cornered in a bend of the Euphrates, with Syrian government forces and their allies on the west bank of the Euphrates blocking any escape across the river and Iraqi government forces blocking any move downstream.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said 7 ISIS fighters were shot dead by Syria government forces and allied Iranian militiamen.

Only a few dozen people were evacuated by the SDF on Friday in the smallest convoy in days, prompting the Kurdish-led force to close the humanitarian window and resume their offensive.

The assault will deal a final death blow to the "caliphate" which ISIS supremo Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed in mid-2014 and once covered territory larger than Britain.

At its peak, the proto-state covered large parts of Iraq and Syria, administered millions of people, minted its own currency, levied taxes and produced its own textbooks.

Yazidis

It effectively collapsed in 2017 when ISIS lost major cities such as Mosul and Raqa following massive offensives by government armies and their respective international allies in both countries.

While the last remains of ISIS’ statehood experiment are about to disappear, the group remains a potent force in both Syria and Iraq, where it carries out deadly attacks.

Its brutal legacy is still raw and the scope of the atrocities committed under its rule continues to emerge, even in areas where its fighters were defeated long ago.

The SDF this week announced that yet another mass grave was discovered, this time near Baghouz, and that the severed heads of women were found in it.

While the victims were not immediately identified, local fighters believe the executed women are likely to be members of the Yazidi community.

The mostly Iraq-based religious minority are considered heretics by ISIS, which tried to exterminate them in 2014 with massacres that were among the reasons the United States intervened militarily.

Many of the thousands of women abducted and enslaved by ISIS then are still missing today and it is feared some may still be held captive in Baghouz.

Nadia Murad, the current laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize and herself an Iraqi Yazidi who was kidnapped and raped, urged the US-led coalition backing the SDF to help secure their safe return.

"The Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS must have a plan to help rescue Yazidis that are still missing," she said in a statement Friday.

Some of them managed to slip out with the thousands of civilians who were evacuated over the past 10 days. – Rappler.com