MANILA, Philippines – Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Friday, September 6, assigned Deputy Director General Melvin Ramon Buenafe as officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) after President Rodrigo Duterte fired Nicanor Faeldon.

Buenafe has been appointed OIC of BuCor before when his classmate, now Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, quit the post to run for the elections.

Buenafe, along with Dela Rosa, is part of the Philippine Military Academy's Sinagtala Class of 1986, the current ruling class of the Philippine National Police.

Guevarra has a tall order for Buenafe: "To adopt strict measures to ensure the integrity and proper safekeeping of official records of good conduct time allowances (GCTA) and other similar time credits," as said in the secretary's department order assigning Buenafe as OIC.

Buenafe would oversee BuCor as the bureau deals with the revocation of earlier granted release orders to heinous crimes convicts.

Guevarra instructed Buenafe to "take appropriate steps for the formal revocation of release orders improvidently issued and for the recommitment of Persons Deprived of Liberty erroneously released from prison by reason thereof."

The freedom of earlier released 1,914 heinous crimes convicts is at stake. It will also open the BuCor to possible suits from these convicts.

Guevarra also created a committee composed of his men – Undersecretary Deo Marco, as well as Assistant Secretaries Neal Bainto and George Ortha – "to exercise close administrative supervision over the bureau pending appointment by the President of a new director general."

Guevarra said he would launch an investigation into the alleged "GCTA for sale" scheme following a testimony in the Senate of a convict's wife who said BuCor officials asked money from her in exchange for her husband's early release.

"That will be part of the investigation because after we have completed the guidelines or even before that I intend to conduct an inquiry into what's going on at the BuCor in connection with the GCTA allowances," Guevarra said.

The Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior and Local Government are currently conducting a joint review of the GCTA law guideline, with the goal of excluding heinous crimes convicts from Republic Act No. 10592 or the expanded GCTA law.

Before bowing out of the police service, Buenafe served as the top cop of the Bicol Region. Prior to the commander post, he led the police Highway Patrol Group. He is a native of Naga City.

MANILA, Philippines – Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Friday, September 6, assigned retired Deputy Director General Melvin Ramon Buenafe as officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) after President Rodrigo Duterte fired Nicanor Faeldon.

Buenafe has been appointed OIC of BuCor before when his classmate, now Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, quit the post to run for the elections.

Buenafe, along with Dela Rosa, is part of the Philippine Military Academy's Sinagtala Class of 1986, the current ruling class in the Philippine National Police.

Guevarra has a tall order for Buenafe: "To adopt strict measures to ensure the integrity and proper safekeeping of official records of good conduct time allowances (GCTA) and other similar time credits," as said in the secretary's department order assigning Buenafe as OIC.

Buenafe would oversee BuCor as the bureau deals with the revocation of earlier granted release orders to heinous crimes convicts.

But he could find himself in a tight situation. Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said previous BuCor chiefs, including Buenafe's classmate Dela Rosa, should be covered by the investigation.

Guevarra instructed Buenafe to "take appropriate steps for the formal revocation of release orders improvidently issued and for the recommitment of Persons Deprived of Liberty erroneously released from prison by reason thereof."

The freedom of earlier released 1,914 heinous crimes convicts is at stake. It will also open the BuCor to possible suits from these convicts.

Guevarra also created a committee composed of his men – Undersecretary Deo Marco, as well as Assistant Secretaries Neal Bainto and George Ortha – "to exercise close administrative supervision over the bureau pending appointment by the President of a new director general."

Guevarra said he would launch an investigation into the alleged "GCTA for sale" scheme following a testimony in the Senate of a convict's wife who said BuCor officials asked money from her in exchange for her husband's early release.

"That will be part of the investigation because after we have completed the guidelines or even before that I intend to conduct an inquiry into what's going on at the BuCor in connection with the GCTA allowances," Guevarra said.

The Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior and Local Government are currently conducting a joint review of the GCTA law guideline, with the goal of excluding heinous crimes convicts from Republic Act No. 10592 or the expanded GCTA law.

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Before bowing out of the police service, Buenafe served as the top cop of the Bicol Region. Prior to the commander post, he led the police Highway Patrol Group. He is a native of Naga City.

MANILA, Philippines – It was a tragedy for the Olegenio family. One of their own, Marvin Olegenio, drowned on Tuesday, September 3, at the San Juan River in Manila.

But their grieving did not stop there.

According to a report from the Manila Polcie District (MPD) released to the media on Friday, September 6, Funeraria Cruz in Manila took Olegenio's body "without permission," then charged his family P360,000 for its cleaning.

Police Major Rosalino Ibay, chief of the MPD's Special Mayor's Reaction Team, said the body was essentially "taken hostage" by the funeral home.

Knowing well that the price was sky-high, the mother of the victim, 58-year-old Mirasol Olegenio, went straight to the cops. The police then cooked up a buy-bust operation. (READ: The cost of dying in Duterte's war on drugs)

On Thursday, September 5, cops posed as payers of the fee, then arrested the manager, Rolando Duran, and the secretary, May Manahan.

"The suspect demanded the complainants with intimidation amounting P360,000 in exchange for release of the cadaver," the police report said.

Both are set to face extortion complaints.

Following the report, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno ordered the Manila Health Department to "crack down" on funerarias that would overcharge already grieving families. – Rappler.com

CEBU CITY, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte said he still trusts ex-Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Nicanor Faeldon, despite firing him earlier this week.

He called Faeldon “tarung nga tawo” (straight-edged person) in a speech in Naga City, Cebu, on Friday, September 6. “Faeldon, he’s a straight edge. I still believe in him,” Duterte said in Cebuano.

Faeldon was fired after “disobeying” orders from the President.

Duterte said he fired Faeldon because he insisted at the Senate committee hearing that rape-slay convict and ex-Calauan Lagunar Mayor Antonio Sanchez was eligible for early release under the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) law. (READ: Duterte fires Nicanor Faeldon as BuCor chief)

Faeldon was summoned to the Senate’s blue ribbon committee after Sanchez' near release under the GCTA law sparked public outrage. 

A total of 1,914 convicts of heinous crimes have already been released on good conduct credits. 

Duterte explained his continued trust in Faeldon by sharing an anecdote about how it was Faeldon who alerted him over the fake tax stamps used by Mighty Corporation to avoid paying taxes in March 2017. (READ: Duterte orders arrest of Mighty Corp owner)

The incident happened during Faeldon's stint as Bureau of Customs chief. (READ: FAST FACTS: Who is outgoing Customs chief Nicanor Faeldon?)

“There was a time that there was a businessman who had 3 warehouses of cigarettes with fake stamps. It was Faeldon who alerted me about it,” Duterte said. “‘If he was quiet and asked for hush money, he could have made millions.”

“When he raided it, I told the owner, ‘Putang ina ka’ (Fuck you), fix your case because taxes can be subject of a compromise,” the President said. “Fix your debts because if not I will see it you will rot in prison. By the time I finish my presidency, I will be stingy with you, I’ll have you grilled. So pay.”

“We earned – because of that report by Faeldon – we earned P37 billion,” Duterte said.

Mighty Corp settled with the government, paying only P30 billion of its nearly P37-billion tax debt. (READ: Philippine tobacco giant Mighty Corp pays P30 billion to settle tax case)

Faeldon served as customs chief from June 2016 to August 2017, when he was relieved after the discovery of 5 metal cylinders containing shabu in Valenzuela City. The P6.4-billion worth of illegal drugs entered the country through the Manila International Container Port.

He was transfered to the Office of Civil Defense as deputy administrator for operations in December 2017 until October 2018. Duterte appointed Faeldon Bureau of Corrections chief in November 2018. (READ: Nicanor Faeldon's gov't posts and the controversies that trailed him)

Duterte was in Cebu for the groundbreaking of a housing project on the Balili property in Barangay Tinaan, Naga City, for families who lost their homes in a landslide that hit the city in September 2018. The devastating landslide killed over 50 people and left hundreds of families homeless. 

Duterte, who is known for his long-winded extemporaneous speeches, spoke for only 30 minutes. He left for another event in Davao City immediately after. – Rappler.com

ZAMBALES, Philippines – Police on Friday morning, September 6, recovered 5 packs of shabu (crystal meth) worth P80 million from an abandoned speedboat in Palauig, Zambales.

Initial reports said police received a call from Barangay Captain Eddie Aurelio of Locloc that a speedboat has been abandoned along the village's shoreline before noon.

This prompted local police, along with the Zambales Maritime Unit and the Philippine Coast Guard, to check the area at about 11:30 a.m.

Authorities then found the speedboat, which has no markings, and later discovered that 10 kilograms of shabu in 5 packs were left inside the boat.

Police are still trying to determine the owner of the speedboat and the source of the illegal drugs. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The widow of a security guard killed by cops in a buy-bust operation in Pulilan, Bulacan, has decided to fight back, accusing the police of murder and other criminal and administrative offenses.

In a complaint filed with the Office of the Ombudsman on Friday, September 6, Mary Joy Sta Rita accused the following Pulilan town police officials and operatives of murder, planting of evidence, obstruction of justice, grave misconduct, grave abuse of authority, and conduct unbecoming of a public official:

1. Major Avelino Protacio II - Pulilan police chief 
2. Major Joy Placido - chief intelligence officer
3. Master Sergeant Noel San Pedro
4. Staff Sergeant Patrick Nagal
5. Staff Sergeant Renato Bagan
6. Staff Sergeant Marlon Lace Mito
7. Staff Sergeant Jonathan dela Cruz
8. Staff Sergeant Ronaldo Terana Jr
9. Captain Erico Cruz
10. Patrolman Rodolfo Floresca Jr
11. Patrolman Joe Lino Lisondra
12. Patrolman Sean Patrick Aliga

Sta Rita then accused Captain Alexander Ancheta, the investigator assigned to the case, of committing obstruction of justice, grave abuse of authority, and conduct unbecoming of a public official.

Her husband was among hundreds killed in 2018 anti-drug operations by Central Luzon cops, which have exceeded the kill numbers of Metro Manila police despite seizing less illegal drugs.

What did the cops do? The police were accused of killing Sta Rita’s husband, Jerson, in what the cops reported as a buy-bust operation on November 15, 2018. (READ: Bulacan drug war: Cops say he fought back, his wife says it was an execution)

Jerson’s case shows indications that cops initiated and executed a buy-bust at breakneck speed, despite the standing order by the Philippine National Police (PNP) that cops must be meticulous in anti-drug operations.

Based on police testimonies earlier obtained by Rappler, Pulilan cops found out about Jerson's alleged drug involvement, validated this, formed a team, and mounted a police operation that led to his death all on in one day, on November 15.

All their accusations were based only on the account by an unnamed informant.

This, despite the PNP top officials repeatedly reminding cops to conduct thorough investigations in their so-called “drug war,” following reports of anti-drug operatives abusing their power and killing drug suspects – even innocent civilians – without basis.

What Mary Joy believes: For Mary Joy Sta Rita, this only meant that her husband was murdered. (READ: Women fighting: Widows, mothers of drug war casualties come together)

“Pinatay ang aking asawang si Jerson Sta Rita habang nasa kustodya ng Pulilan Police. Malinaw na hinuli siya…at namatay siya…[nang] parehong araw,” Sta Rita said in her complaint-affidavit. (My husband Jerson Sta Rita was killed while under the custody of the Pulilan Police. It is clear that he was captured and died the same day.)

She added: “Malinaw na may sabwatang naganap o conspiracy dahil ayon na rin sa kanilang mga sinumpaang salaysay, pinagplanohan nila diumano ang drug buy bust operation na nagresulta sa pagpatay sa aking asawa.”

(It is clear that there was collusion and conspiracy, because according to their sworn statements, they supposedly planned the buy-bust operation that resulted in the death of my husband.) – Rappler.com

BEIJING, China – German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Friday, September 6, the rights and freedoms of people in Hong Kong "must be guaranteed" after meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing.

Hong Kong has been plunged into months of pro-democracy protests, and ahead of her three-day visit to China this week demonstrators in the semi-autonomous city appealed to the German chancellor to support them in her meetings with China's leadership.

Merkel said she had discussed tensions in the former British colony, and civil rights there, with her hosts and had "pointed out that these rights and freedoms must of course be guaranteed."

"In the current situation everything must be done to avoid violence," Merkel said at a joint press conference with Li, as seen in video footage published by German media.

"And the solutions can only be found in a political process – meaning through dialogue."

Merkel arrived in China on Thursday, September 5, with a large business delegation in tow.

The companies travelling with Merkel include Volkswagen, Allianz and Deutsche Bank according to the German daily Bild, which carried a headline Friday that read: "Do our companies not care about Hong Kong's freedom?"

'Diplomatic farce'

Press access to her visit was unusually tight, with a number of members of the Beijing foreign press corps, including Agence France-Presse, unable to get accreditation for the event.

Chinese officials blamed a lack of space due to a large contingent of journalists accompanying Merkel.

In a statement, the German Federation of Journalists criticized the limited access as a "diplomatic farce."

"What image do the organizers have of the travelling German press? Did they think that the chancellor of Germany is coming with her courtiers, who politely listen, ask no questions and report meekly?" it said.

Merkel also met Chinese President Xi Jinping Friday evening, according to state news agency Xinhua, and the two leaders were scheduled to have dinner together.

The German leader is also due to give a speech to university students in the central city of Wuhan on Saturday, September 7.

Ahead of her trip, prominent Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong and others had recalled in an open letter published by Bild on Wednesday, September 4, that Merkel grew up in the communist police state of East Germany.

"You have first-hand experience of the terrors of a dictatorial government," the letter read.

"We hope that you will express your concern about our catastrophic situation and that you will convey our demands to the Chinese government during your stay in China."

Business ties

Hong Kong has endured dozens of sometimes violent pro-democracy protests triggered by opposition to a now-withdrawn bill that would have allowed extradition to mainland China.

In their open letter, the protesters also warned that "Germany should be on its guard before doing business with China, as China does not comply with international law and has repeatedly broken its promises."

A number of Chinese dissidents have been given refuge in Germany, including artist Ai Weiwei.

In May, two former Hong Kong independence activists were granted refugee status in Germany in what is one of the first cases of dissenters from the semi-autonomous Chinese city receiving such protection.

On a visit to China last year, Merkel met with the wife of a Chinese human rights lawyer charged with state subversion, an extremely rare meeting between a dissident and a visiting head of state.

The trip marks her 12th visit to China as chancellor.

Xinhua said in a commentary on Friday that Merkel's visit came as "productive cooperation between the world's two major economies is much needed against the backdrop of global uncertainties."

The agency said China accounted for the largest share of imports into Germany in 2018 with goods worth 106.2 billion euros ($117.4 billion). – Rappler.com

LONDON, United Kingdom – Britain's upper house on Friday, September 6, gave final approval to a law that would force Boris Johnson to delay Brexit, in a fresh setback for the British Prime Minister who is struggling in his bid to call an early election.

The draft, which now requires formal assent by Queen Elizabeth II to become law, would seek to postpone Brexit beyond the current deadline of October 31 if Johnson does not manage to strike a divorce agreement with the EU next month.

Johnson, who has said he would rather be "dead in a ditch" than ask for a delay, wants an early general election that could give him a mandate to take Britain out of the European Union with or without a divorce deal.

He spent Friday morning campaigning in Scotland among fishermen, who strongly backed the Brexit referendum in 2016.

Johnson received a boost when the High Court in London rejected a legal challenge against his decision to suspend parliament from next week.

But it granted permission for the case to go to the Supreme Court for an appeal scheduled for September 17.

"My legal team and I will not give up the fight for democracy," pro-EU campaigner Gina Miller told reporters.

Johnson has branded the bill a "surrender" that would allow the other 27 EU leaders to dictate the terms on which Britain leaves its closest neighbors after 46 years.

He sacked 21 Conservative rebels who voted for the legislation in the House of Commons on Tuesday, September 3.

The decision left him without a working majority in parliament.

Johnson's opponents are now widely expected to block for the second time Monday, September 2, his attempt to schedule snap polls for October 15.

"Never in history has there been an opposition party that has been given a chance to have an election and has turned it down," Johnson said in Scotland.

"I think that they are making an extraordinary political mistake."

Deal 'not possible'

Johnson has been adamant that he will not seek a third Brexit delay this year.

The main opposition Labour Party is planning a strategy with smaller groups that could leave Johnson with no other alternative but to resign.

They are reportedly trying to make sure that an election is held only after Johnson is forced to go back on his word and seek a divorce delay.

This would happen if no new agreement is reached when Johnson attends an October 17-18 EU leaders' summit in Brussels.

None is expected and EU officials say they have heard no new proposals from Johnson's team.

Finnish Prime Minister Antti Rinne – whose Nordic country holds the rotating EU presidency – said a chaotic "no-deal Brexit" seemed unavoidable.

"I hope that we can reach a situation where this can be solved so that there is no mess, but it seems not possible now," Rinne said in Helsinki.

"We don't know what's happening there. It seems very obvious that we are not getting Brexit with an agreement."

Johnson disagreed.

"I don't think we'll get a no-deal Brexit," he said in Scotland.

"I am very confident I will get an agreement at the summit on October 17."

'Cunning wheeze'

Labour was negotiating on Friday with the pro-EU Scottish National Party (SNP) and smaller groups about their preferred date for the imminent election.

Johnson was also set to meet his team over the weekend to prepare for what promises to be another momentous week in the Brexit saga.

Labour foreign affairs spokeswoman Emily Thornberry said lawmakers did not trust "this prime minister, who is as slippery as can be."

She accused Johnson of trying to use an election "as a distraction whilst they, by some cunning wheeze, bounce us out of the EU."

SNP's parliamentary leader Ian Blackford also signalled his party's refusal to back an October 15 poll.

"The idea that he is coming with a motion to try and force an election having lost one (motion) this week is insane," he said.

"He is not going to compel parliamentarians to give him a mandate to determine the timing – we don't trust him." – Rappler.com

HONG KONG – Thousands of Hong Kongers held rallies on Friday night, September 6, rejecting calls by the city's pro-Beijing leader to end their movement as the finance hub braces for another weekend of clashes, including a plan to disrupt the airport.

Police fired brief volleys of tear gas and rubber bullets against a few hundred protesters who had gathered outside a police station in Mongkok district.

But a second, much larger rally in the heart of the city's commercial district remained peaceful.

Millions of pro-democracy supporters have taken to Hong Kong's streets for the past 3 months in the biggest challenge to China's rule since the city's handover from Britain in 1997.

On Wednesday, September 4, the city's unelected pro-Beijing leader Carrie Lam surprised many by announcing she was scrapping a hugely unpopular extradition law  that sparked the huge and sometimes violent rallies, a key demand of protesters that she and Beijing had previously refused to budge on.

She portrayed the move as a bid to de-escalate tensions and start a dialogue.

But it has been widely dismissed by protesters as a hollow gesture after more than 1,100 arrests and many facing lengthy jail sentences.

At the peaceful rally on Friday night in the city's commercial district, many protesters said they planned to continue hitting the streets.

"It's too late now, in these 3 months, a lot of people have sacrificed themselves and been arrested," a retiree who gave his surname Cheng told Agence France-Presse, bursting into tears as he spoke.

A 26-year-old protester called Justin who works in the business said the withdrawal of the bill was "3 months late."

"I think the most crucial thing now is the excessive use of police force and there are no legitimate measures to deal with it," he said.

Airport targeted

Protesters have said their movement will only end when other key demands are met such as an amnesty for those arrested, an inquiry into the police and universal suffrage, all of which Lam and Beijing have rejected.

Online messaging forums used by the largely leaderless movement have called for protesters to "stress test" the airport on Saturday afternoon, September 7, filling up with suggestions for how to disrupt the road and rail links leading to the terminals.

Last month hundreds of flights were cancelled over two days when huge crowds of protesters staged a sit-in at the airport, with ugly scenes as two men suspected of being Chinese spies were beaten.

Since then security has been ramped up around the sprawling hub – which lies on an artificial island west of the main city – and access to the terminals has been restricted to those with boarding passes.

But last Sunday, September 1, protesters returned to the airport and showed they could still wreak havoc.

Operators of the Airport Express train suspended services after the station was besieged, while black-clad protesters built barricades at the bus terminus and attempted to stop traffic on the main road leading to the facility.

Stranded travelers were forced to abandon their lifts and drag their luggage along the airport road.

While the protests were ignited by the extradition law, they soon morphed into a wider movement calling for democratic reform and police accountability.

Hong Kong enjoys freedoms unseen on the Chinese mainland under the "one country, two systems" principle following the handover from Britain in 1997.

But many say those rights are being eroded by an increasingly authoritarian Beijing which has refused calls for Hong Kongers to directly elect their leaders. – Rappler.com

CHARLESTON, USA – The final death toll from Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas could be "staggering," a government minister has said as the storm lashed North Carolina in the US Friday, September 6, with torrential rain and fierce wind.

Bahamian Prime Minister Hubert Minnis told CNN Thursday, September 5, that at least 30 people were killed in the storm, which caused what he called "generational devastation."

Extra morticians and refrigerated coolers to store bodies were being sent to the region to help authorities cope with the deadly impact, Health Minister Duane Sands told local media.

Of the final number killed, he declared: "Let me say that I believe the number will be staggering."

An Agence France-Presse (AFP) team in the town of Marsh Harbour on Great Abaco on Thursday saw scenes of catastrophic damage with homes reduced to matchsticks, overturned cars, fields of jumbled debris, widespread flooding and beached boats.

Dorian was a Category 5 hurricane – the highest on the five-level wind scale – when it slammed into the northern Bahamas on Sunday, September 1, leaving a trail of immense destruction.

Thousands have been left homeless, while the United Nations said 70,000 were in immediate need of aid.

The Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) on Friday downgraded Dorian to a Category 1 storm as it whipped the Outer Banks – finger-like barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina. It warned of life-threatening storm surges and dangerous winds, and said some areas have been hit with flash flooding.

It warned that although weakening, Dorian was still packing winds of 90 miles per hour (150 kilometers per hour), with some areas of the Carolina coast forecast to get between 6 and 12 inches of rain.

Authorities in Florida – which was largely spared by the storm – blamed 6 more deaths on the hurricane, US media reported, though they occurred as the victims were preparing for the storm's arrival or were evacuation-related.

'Hell everywhere'

The slow-moving monster storm also lashed the coast of South Carolina Thursday and the historic city of Charleston, spawning several tornadoes but there were no immediate reports of casualties.

Many residents of coastal areas in the Carolinas heeded evacuation orders while others battened down their homes with plywood and prepared to ride out the tempest.

The storm was expected to move to southeast New England Friday night and Saturday morning, September 7, and then across Nova Scotia late Saturday.

US President Donald Trump tweeted that he had spoken to the governors of North and South Carolina, telling them he is "ready to assist."

The full extent of the damage in the northern Bahamas was becoming known on Thursday as rescue teams fanned out searching for survivors and bringing relief to victims.

"It's hell everywhere," said Brian Harvey, a Canadian from Montreal, told AFP in Great Abaco.

"I was on my sailboat," Harvey said. "I lost everything."

"We need to get out of here," he added. "It's been 4 or 5 days. It's time to move and get out of here."

Steven Turnquest, who arrived in Nassau from Marsh Harbour with his 4- and 7-year-old sons after weathering the storm, told AFP he was grateful to be alive.

Speaking of his sons, Turnquest said he prayed to God to "take me and let them live."

"I survived the hurricane holding on to a door."

Amid fears of lawlessness in the ravaged storm zone, Prime Minister Minnis warned that any looters will be prosecuted "to the fullest extent of the law," and additional police and defense force officers deployed.

US and British helicopters were conducting medical evacuations, aerial assessments to help coordinate relief efforts, and reconnaissance flights to assess the damage.

The US Coast Guard said it had rescued 201 people in the Bahamas as of Thursday.

The UN's World Food Programme said it had 8 tons of ready-to-eat meals poised to arrive in the Bahamas. – Rappler.com

HARARE, Zimbabwe – Several countries hailed Zimbabwe's late ex-president Robert Mugabe on Friday, September 6, as a liberation hero – though his fierce critic, former colonial power Britain, recalled the suffering and repression of his rule.

Here is a selection of top world reactions to his death.

Nigeria: 'Founding father'

Mugabe "fought for the independence of the country from colonial rule, and lived most of his life in public service," said President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria, hailing him as the "founding father" of a nation.

"Mugabe's sacrifices, especially in struggling for the political and economic emancipation of his people, will always be remembered by posterity."

Kenya: 'End of an era'

"We will remember former President Mugabe as a man of courage who was never afraid to fight for what he believed in even when it was not popular," said Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Mwai Kibaki, Kenyan president from 2002 to 2013, said Mugabe's death "marks the end of an era in Africa. It closes the chapter of Africa's founding presidents whose commitment to the emancipation of the people of Africa remains enduringly remarkable."

China: 'Outstanding leader'

"Mugabe was an outstanding national liberation movement leader and politician of Zimbabwe," said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang.

"Throughout his life, he has firmly defended the sovereignty of his country, opposed foreign interference, and actively promoted China-Zimbabwe and China-Africa friendship and cooperation."

Russia: 'Great contribution'

"Many important dates in Zimbabwe's modern history are tied to the name of Robert Mugabe. He made a great personal contribution to the battle for your country's independence, to the building of Zimbabwean state institutions," Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

UK: 'Zimbabweans suffered'

"We express our condolences to those who mourn Robert Mugabe's death. However, Zimbabweans suffered for too long as a result of Mugabe's autocratic role," Britain's foreign ministry said in a statement.

Namibia: 'Tenacious fighter'

In Namibia, which cast off South African rule in 1990, a decade after Zimbabwe won independence from Britain, President Hage Geingob hailed Mugabe as a warrior.

"Comrade Robert Mugabe (was) an outstanding revolutionary, a tenacious freedom fighter and dedicated Pan Africanist.... President Mugabe made enormous sacrifices in the struggle against injustice and the liberation of Southern Africa from racist subjugation and colonial oppression."

Tanzania: 'Brave, determined'

Tanzania's President John Magufuli tweeted in Swahili: "Africa loses a brave, determined leader, an Africanist who turned the rejection of colonization into action. May God let his soul rest in peace."

Zambia: Place in history

"He will be remembered for his fight for Africa's liberation and fearlessly defending the continent. His place in the annals of Africa's history is assured," said Zambia's President Edgar Lungu on Twitter.

EU: Democratic future

"The EU will continue to stand by Zimbabwe and its people, to support reconciliation and to help ensure a united, prosperous, secure a democratic future for all Zimbabweans," a statement said. – Rappler.com

BAGUIO, Philippines – Rihanna Basiwag was born 4 months ago in Ucab, Itogon, the scene of the horrible landslides in October 2018 which killed a hundred residents.

But Rihanna had a minor miracle after she was diagnosed with unilateral clubfoot. According to Dr Rodel Banggiacan, this type of clubfoot, where only one foot is set inward, was less common. Her being born at the Benguet General Hospital (BeGH) was fortuitous as she was immediately enrolled in a new program that set to treat her condition for free.

For the past two months, 20-year-old Diana had been bringing her daughter Rihanna for rehabilitation. Rihanna’s foot had been set in a cast every week and, after that, it would be set in a special brace. The rehabilitation would take up to 5 years, but, at least, Rihanna would be taking the right steps.

The Miracle Feet Project was launched in the Philippines in 2018, with the Philippine NGO Council on Population, Health and Welfare as the lead agency. According to Eden Divinagracia, the executive director of PNGOC, they are already treating 100 clubfoot patients from as young as two days old to 18 years.

Clubfoot, a birth defect which causes one or both feet to turn inwards or outwards, is not that rare. It reportedly affects one in every 800 children worldwide. Mia Hamm, Troy Aikman, Kristi Yamaguchi, and Steven Gerrard were all born with clubfoot and went on to become great athletes. But they were born in a country that could easily treat clubfoot with ease and for free.

In countries like the Philippines, those with clubfoot are often discriminated and neglected. Some stopped going to school and see themselves as a burden to society. Dr. Jean Pierre Leung, the orthopedic surgeon at BeGH Clubfoot Program, had been treating clubfoot patients for years and he said that the whole rehabilitation can cost P100,000 through the years.

Divinagracia said that through the Ponseti method, a non-surgical procedure, they can fully correct the feet in 95% of cases – the younger, the better. And the best thing is that everything is free. She said that with partnership with Google, Clarks Shoes, Global Clubfoot Initiative, Stanford and Oak Foundation, the worldwide coalition plans to fulfill “RunFree2030: Ending Clubfoot Disability.”

After two more castings, Rihanna would be wearing a special brace developed by MiracleFeet that would correct her disability. Last weekend, PNGOC and Dr Leung started training resident doctors in Ilocos and Cagayan Valley regions about the Ponseti method. According to Divinagracia, they have covered 16 regions in the country and already have 22 hospitals in their wings. “When we started, we only had four hospitals,” she said. – Rappler.com 

Life is the last thing you would associate with the eternally dark craters of the lunar poles. But these craters could hold the key to explaining how complex, multi-cellular organisms evolved on Earth hundreds of millions of years ago, affording unimaginable insights into our planet’s biological past.

That’s because huge asteroid impacts, such as the one believed to have killed the dinosaurs, happen frequently and launch thousands of tons of the Earth’s material into space – bacteria, worms, and all. Some of this has ended up on the moon and may have survived intact in craters. Sadly, though, if we push ahead with current moon exploration plans, we may end up destroying them.

On Earth, DNA rarely, if ever, survives much longer than a million years. In principle, however, DNA kept at a few degrees above absolute zero and protected from harmful ionising radiation could survive indefinitely.

Life permeates the entire crust of the Earth. As the Deep Carbon Observatory project has shown, even rocks ejected from kilometres underground would carry complex microbial communities and animals like nematodes into space.

Any living matter that reached space after an impact would be freeze-dried immediately, with its DNA preserved. When ejected at around 11 kilometers per second, terrestrial rocks would linger in an appropriate orbit before being captured by the moon. Scientists have calculated that a typical 100 square kilometers of the moon likely contains up to 28,000 kilograms of terrestrial material.

Researchers examining the material returned from the Apollo missions have confirmed predictions that terrestrial, biological molecules are indeed present, albeit faintly. This is the case even for rock samples exposed to brutal and unprotected day and night cycles. These cycles involve two-week periods of constant, unfiltered solar radiation which can destroy biomolecules. Remarkably, new research also shows that Apollo appears to have returned at least one rock that is actually a meteorite from Earth.

The most likely locations to find well-preserved DNA from Earth would be the craters at the lunar poles that maintain eternal darkness. The Shackleton crater at the south pole has existed for over 3 billion years, a period of time covering the vast majority of Earth’s living history. Shielded from the sun’s intense radiation, it could have captured biological samples from every major asteroid impact in Earth’s history. And its cold, shadowed interior would act like a preservation chamber.

But simply being kept in the dark does not guarantee the survival of genetic material. Though protected from direct solar radiation, the samples would still be exposed to harmful cosmic radiation from the galaxy which could easily destroy molecules such as DNA. Genetic material sufficiently embedded within or under boulders or lava flows, however, might have a chance of being protected.

Genome sequencing

It would be worth finding out. Any DNA preserved in the lunar poles would be of incalculable value for understanding the true history of Earth’s life. For instance, the Chicxulub impact (thought to have caused the last mass extinction which killed the dinosaurs) was recent enough that any genetic material ejected by it would provide an important snapshot of what species were alive then.

Less likely, we might also identify candidate precursor organisms to current life forms on Earth – helping us to trace evolution. And there may be an exceptionally remote chance that sufficiently protected DNA samples of vertebrates, such as dinosaurs, could provide a blueprint for resurrecting the extinct species (a la Jurassic Park).

In contrast, the Sudbury impact, dating to 1.85 billion years ago, ejected rocks containing DNA of early prokaryotes like bacteria. These preceded the development of eukaryotes, which have more complex cellular structures. Sequencing DNA obtained in craters like Shackleton could therefore provide direct genetic information needed to help understand how complex eukaryotes first evolved hundreds of millions of years ago.

Right now, our understanding of ancestral organisms mostly comes from comparing the DNA sequences of species currently alive. For example, if you want to understand what the common ancestor of humans and other great apes was like, you can compare the genomes of currently living species, and guess the identity of many DNA sequences from our common ancestor 5 to 10 million years ago. When combined with hominid DNA sequences from archaeological sites dating to a few hundred thousand years ago, these approaches have spectacularly contributed to understanding human origins, revealing for instance that hominids interbred frequently.

But ultimately, reconstructions of far more ancient common ancestors must always remain an educated guess if we only rely on DNA evidence from Earth. This is certainly the case if you are asking about common ancestors of plants and animals which likely lived more than 500 million years ago. Comparative approaches are also limited in their insights into the functional metabolism of the first photosynthesising prokaryotes alive two billion years ago. With any luck, the lunar poles may hold DNA samples that could answer these profound questions.

Exploration threats

Given the stakes, it is clear that sites containing potential samples must be protected. Worryingly for scientists like me, who would like to analyse such irreplaceable material, current plans for lunar exploration may be a threat to this.

Many companies and space agencies are looking to create a moon base in the next few years, which would most likely involve mining the craters of the lunar poles for frozen water deposits.

Even valid scientific research that risks contamination, such as the deliberate crashing of spacecraft into these craters, poses a risk. So do planned rovers, which are intended to explore the lunar poles and might contaminate these areas.

For these reasons, current flagship missions to the lunar poles should be undertaken only after humanity has established whether these craters might hold an unexpected – and invaluable – paleogenetic legacy. – The Conversation | Rappler.com

Duncan T Odom, is a Director of Research in Evolution and Cancer at the University of Cambridge.

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

CEBU CITY, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, September 6, admitted that he was the one who ordered the transfer of high profile convicts who are witnesses in the trial of detained Senator Leila de Lima, to marine barracks in Fort Bonifacio.

“There's an issue that if I did not send some prisoners jailed in the penitentiary [in] Muntinlupa. I handed them over to the Marines. Why? Because I was scared that De Lima would have more henchmen and witnesses. They will really be killed. By then no one would be able to tell the truth," the President said in Cebuano in a speech in Naga City, Cebu.

"I’m telling you now. It was me. I was the one who gave the orders," Duterte added.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Friday, September 6, that 10 high-profile convicts, including 7 drug lords, were transferred to a marines facility from the National Bilibid Prison for security purposes. (READ: No special treatment in transfer of De Lima witnesses to marine barracks – DOJ)

Guevarra said he was informed of the proposal, but was not aware that the transfer had already been done.

The witnesses against De Lima who were transferred to a marines facility in Fort Bonifacio are Hans Tan, Peter Co, Jojo Baligad, Vicente Sy, Froilan Trestiza, Nonilo Arile, and Joel Capones. The other 3 convicts transferred are Chua Che Ket, Rico Caja, and Allan Senogat.

Presidential pardon, commuted sentence

Duterte said he assumed full responsibility for the transfer, adding that he granted pardon to some convicts and commuted the sentences of others, although he did not specify who they were.

"There were people whom I pardoned and there were those whose sentence I commuted. It’s given in the Constitution. The power to commute and to pardon is absolute," Duterte said in Cebuano.

He said he would not answer anyone questioning his decision on it.

"The people I grant pardon to is my responsibility.  You do not question because the Constitution says it is an absolute power. It doesn’t involve the Congress," the President said. 

"That’s mine alone. And because I saw that there are those who deserved to be released. But I will not answer that. It’s my power. So I will not answer questions why," Duterte added.

De Lima, a fierce critic of Duterte and his bloody campaign against illegal drugs, had earlier asked the court to stop Bilibid convicts from testifying against her. She cited the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Act and the Rules of Court, in filing the petition.

The Supreme Court itself had previously ruled that allowing criminals guilty of crimes involving moral turpitude to become state witnesses is both arbitrary and a gross violation of the Rules of Court. The DOJ had insisted that the convicts were not being used as state witnesses.

In the same speech, Duterte addressed the firing of former Bureau of Corrections chief Nicanor Faeldon over the  botched release of rape-slay convict Antonio Sanchez under the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) law.

The President called Faeldon a "straight edge," and credited him for uncovering for busting Mighty Corporation for using P37-billion in fake tax stamps when he was Customs commissioner. (READ: Duterte after firing Faeldon: I still believe in him)

Duterte was in Cebu for the groundbreaking of a housing project on the Balili property in Barangay Tinaan, Naga City, for families who lost their homes in a landslide that hit the city in September 2018. The devastating landslide killed over 50 people and left hundreds of families homeless. – Rappler.com

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) scrambled to collect more weapons on the eve of the decommissioning ceremony on Saturday, September 7, to increase the number of weapons to present to President Rodrigo Duterte.

BARMM chief minister Murad Ebrahim, who is also MILF chairman, on Friday, September 6, promised the former rebel group will give up more than 1,000 weapons during the ceremony – increasing the initial announcement of 920 weapons – which would closely match the total 1,060 MILF fighters to be decommissioned.

"We're trying to maximize so that others would be part of the event tomorrow. We are seeing that there are more than 1,000. The JNC (Joint Normalization Committee) had a discussion on this.... Since the President is coming, let's maximize to include weapons in  nearby areas. We will be increasing the 920 to more than 1,000," Ebrahim said in a mix of Filipino and English in a media forum on Friday.

Ebrahim said high-powered weapons such as RPG7 and 50 caliber machine guns are among the weapons MILF give up during the ceremony. 

The decommissioning process is a critical stage in the peace process, a commitment the MILF made in exchange for the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The former rebel group is now under pressure from the government, which raised questions about the disparity between the number of MILF fighters and the weapons to be decommissioned.

40,000 fighters but only 7,000 weapons 

The MILF said it has 40,000 fighters but only about 7,000 weapons. This means the weapons the MILF will give up on Saturday already comprise about a third of the 2,100 weapons it will decommission in the first phase of the decommissioning process.

Chief Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr was frank but expressed understanding during the media forum. He said he believed the MILF declaration was “very conservative” but added that he understood combatants are hesitant to give up their weapons because of the existence of other armed groups in the region.

“I believe the firearms they declared is very conservative because I saw that almost all the combatants had firearms,” said Galvez, who served as Philippine military chief before he took the helm of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).

“There is a struggle. Alam naming nahihirapan ang mga combatants dahil nandiyan pa ang mga BIFF (Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters) at private armed groups (We know it is hard for them [to give up their guns] especially because the BIFF remains a threat and there are other private armed groups),” Galvez said.

Galvez hailed MILF efforts to show goodwill in volunteering to decommission more or less 600 rounds of RPGs. 

Murad explained many of the MILF fighters used their own weapons or were issued weapons borrowed from civilians. He said the MILF will encourage its fighters and even civilians to give up privately owned weapons but this would require a different decommissioning arrangement.

IDB is satisfied 

The exchange between Galvez and MILF personalities during the forum put on display a growing issue in the decommissioning process. It highlighted real challenges in asking hardened combatants, who had relied on their weapons for decades, to decommission especially when they lived in neighborhoods where different armed groups operate.

"Why do people want firearms? Why are they purchasing firearms? Sometimes our combatants are saying I can separate from my wife but not from my weapon. It’s very valuable to them. Why is that? Because of survival. They feel that they cannot survive without their firearms," Murad said.

It is the responsibility of the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB) – composed of representatives from Turkey, Norway, and Brunei – to conduct inventory, verification, validation of firearms and weapons of the MILF armed component Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF).

As both parties sort out the issue, Turkish Ambassador Fatih Ulusoy, IDB chairman,  hailed the commitment of both parties to work together. “This decommissioning process is a firm demonstration of the parties’ sincerity and commitment to the peace process,” Ulusoy said during the forum.

"The cooperation and coordination among government, MILF and the IDB has been exemplary. We look forward to a seamless coordination of this process in the upcoming phases as agreed with the parties. The IDB acknowledges the impact of this process, which does not only promote peace to the region in Mindanao but the whole Philippines and beyond," he added. 

Call for understanding

MILF peace implementing panel chair Mohagher Iqbal also sought for understanding. He said instability in many parts of Muslim Mindanao continued to compel people to keep their own guns.

“If there is peace, development, and justice on the ground, that will ensure that people’s psyche will change. If the situation is so unpeaceful then that would also condition the mindset of people to arming themselves,” said Iqbal.

Iqbal said changing people’s mindset might take a while. The decommissioning process is expected to be completed in next 3 years. In the first phase, at least 30% of the fighters and weapons should be decommissioned by April 2020. 

Galvez said he understands the MILF fighters but he is determined to rid Mindanao of loose firearms.

Galvez said the Joint Peace and Security Teams they are establishing – composed of a mix of MILF fighters, soldiers, and police – will be the ones to take care of other armed groups threatening the security situation in the region. Several JPST teams have been formed but their performance have yet to be tested.

Galvez said he was drawing from his experience as a brigade commander cooperating with the local government in Basilan. “If the government will ensure that the children will have scholarships, the fighters will give up all their guns. I believe this is true if they feel the government is really helping them and if there is no more necessity for the firearms to be kept. They have sold most of their firearms to buy farm implements,” he said.

Galvez said he is hoping that the socio-economic packages for the MILF fighters will “entice, inspire, and motivate” them to give up even their personal firearms.

Firearms control law, martial law

Galvez said the only way to ensure enduring peace in Mindanao is to get rid of loose firearms. 

“We believe we can only have enduring peace if we don’t have the tools including the ammunitions and including weapons...used towards perpetrating violence. That is our hope,” Galvez added.

He laid out a government plan to aggressively enforce the firearms control law and even maximize martial law to enforce this. He said the Western Mindanao Command and the JPSTs will also take care of addressing rido or clan wars, disbanding private armed groups, and dealing with other armed groups including ISIS-linked organizations.

“While we are decommissioning, we will implement firearms control. We will also create a national task force to disband the private armed group. This is a simultaneous removing of the tools of violence in Mindanao," said Galvez.

“We are looking forward in 2020 or 2021 the firearms that will be decommissioned will be higher,” said Galvez. – Rappler.com

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – Over a thousand supporters of slain AKO Bicol representative Rodel Batocabe walked in protest and recited the rosary as they made their way to the justice department here on Friday, September 6. 

The group wants Legazpi City Regional Trial Court Branch 10 Judge Maria Theresa San Juan Loquillano to reverse a decision allowing former mayor Carlwyn Baldo– the alleged mastermind in the killing of Batocabe and police escort Orlando Diaz on December 22, 2018 – to post P8.72 million in bail on Wednesday, September 4.

Baldo surrendered to authorities in May after the court issued a warrant for his arrest over the killing of Batocabe and his police escort Orlando Diaz in December 2018. 

Baldo remains in jail after the Batocabe family filed a motion for reconsideration.

Among those present at the protest were Amy Molina Duran and her husband Cesar Duran, the parents of Batocabe's widow, Gertie Duran-Batocabe.

“We’re asking Judge Loquillano to reverse her decision not to allow ex-mayor Baldo to post bail,” -Duran told Rappler.

“At first we were happy that the case of Rodel landed in the sala (seat) of Judge Loquillano who is said to be a straight judge. But with her decision, we’re no longer happy and we are seeking a judge the likes of Judge Harriet Demetriou to handle, hear, and try the case of Rodel to ensure that justice will be attained,” she added.

AKO Bicol Represenative Elizaldy Co said this was the second time the judge allowed Baldo to post bail, following an earlier P3 million bail for an illegal possession of firearms charge.

"Let's us fight to stop another grave injustice to the late AKO Bicol Congressman Rodel M. Batocabe and his brave police escort SPO4 Orlando Diaz," Co said.. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – At least 7 people were hurt following an explosion in front of a public market in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, on Saturday morning, September 7. 

The Sultan Kudarat Provincial Police Office said the incident happened in front of Manolette Bakeshop fronting the public market in Barangay Kalawag 3 in Isulan past 7 am on Saturday.

Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) Spokesperson Major Arvin Encinas said an improvised explosive device (IED) was placed beside a parked motorcycle in the vicinity of the public market.

After the blast, military troops immediately arrived and cordoned off the area, and were still on patrol as of posting time.

The victims were brought to the Sultan Kudarat Provincial Hospital and the Holy Nazarene Hospital.

Westmincom identified the victims as the following:

1. Jomar Catalan Aquino
2. Jarren Binaluon
3. Terrencio Cagadas,
4. Jay Carnaso
5. Gerald Cartagena
6. Gulano Nasim Salip
7. Niño Minus Virgo

Encinas said it was “still to be determined” who was behind the blast. When asked whether the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) were a suspect, the Westmincom spokesman said it was included in their investigation.

This is the latest blast in the Sultan Kudarat capital. In April, an explosion – also in front of a business establishment – rocked Isulan, hurting at least 18 people. 

In August 2018, 3 people were killed and over 30 people injured in a blast in the same village where the latest incident happened. – Rappler.com

BANGALORE, India – India lost contact with its unmanned spacecraft just before it was due to land on the Moon on Saturday, September 7, in a blow to the country's ambitious low-cost lunar program.

India had hoped to become just the fourth country after the United States, Russia and China to successfully land on the Moon.

But as Prime Minister Narendra Modi looked on, the mood in mission control in the southern city of Bangalore soon deteriorated when it became clear that everything was not going according to plan.

After several tense minutes as the expected landing time came and went, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman Kailasavadivoo Sivan announced that communication with the lander had been lost.

"The 'Vikram' lander descent was (going) as planned and normal performance was observed," until the craft had descended to 2.1 kilometres (1.3 miles) above the South Pole region, Sivan said.

"Subsequently the communication from the lander to the ground station was lost. The data is being analysed," he said, surrounded by grim-faced engineers and technicians in the control room.

Modi told them after Sivan's announcement that "what you have done (already) is not a small achievement".

The prime minister was due to address the nation at 0230 GMT.

South Pole

Chandrayaan-2 – or Moon Chariot 2 – took off on July 22 carrying an orbiter, lander and rover almost entirely designed and made in India, a week after an initial launch was halted just before blast-off.

ISRO had acknowledged before the soft landing that it was a complex maneuver, which Sivan called "15 minutes of terror".

The lander – named after Vikram A. Sarabhai, the father of India's space programme – aimed to be the first to reach the lunar South Pole region.

It was carrying rover Pragyan, wisdom in the Sanskrit language, which was due to emerge several hours after touchdown. 

The rover was expected to explore craters for clues on the origin and evolution of the Moon, and also for evidence on how much water the polar region contains.

The 2.4-ton orbiter remains in operation and will circle the Moon for about a year, taking images of the surface, looking for signs of water, and studying the atmosphere.

According to Mathieu Weiss, a representative in India for France's space agency CNES, analysing the South Pole is vital to determining whether humans could one day spend extended periods on the Moon.

Scientists believe that large amounts of water are in the area, making human settlement there more viable.

If people can survive on the Moon, then this means it could be used as a pitstop on the way to Mars, the next objective of governments and private interests such as Elon Musk's Space X.

Ambitious programme

Asia's third-largest economy also hopes to secure lucrative commercial satellite and orbiting deals in the competitive market.

The Chandrayaan-2 space mission – India's most ambitious so far – stood out because of its low cost of about $140 million. The United States spent the equivalent of more than $100 billion on its Apollo missions.

India is preparing Gaganyaan, its first manned space mission, with the air force announcing Friday that the first level of selection of potential astronauts was complete.

The South Asian nation also hopes to land a probe on Mars. In 2014, it became only the fourth nation to put a satellite into orbit around the Red Planet.

China in January became the first nation to land a rover on the far side of the Moon. And in April, Israel's attempt failed at the last minute when its craft suffered an engine failure and apparently crashed onto the lunar surface.

During a live videocast of that mission, control staff could be heard saying that engines meant to slow the craft's descent and allow a soft landing had failed and contact with it had been lost. – Rappler.com

WASHINGTON, DC, USA – US President Donald Trump on Friday, September 6, said the costs of his protracted trade war are falling squarely on China, but a top adviser warned that the struggle between the economic superpowers could drag on for years.

Top-level negotiators are due to resume stalled talks in Washington early next month, with lower-level staff preparing the way in late September, according to officials on both sides.

And Trump says the pressure is on China to come to the table.

"China is eating the tariffs," Trump said on Twitter, repeating his claim that higher duties mean Washington is collecting billions of dollars from the Asian giant, without costs being passed on to US importers.

"China having worst year in decades. Talks happening, good for all!"

The face-off between the number one and two economies began about 18 months ago and now features steep tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of trade. Trump says he wants to force China into radical change on protection for intellectual property and other key aspects of the current trading relationship. 

But White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow cautioned that the trade war could be a drawn-out contest resembling the Cold War under president Ronald Reagan in the 1980s.

"The stakes are so high, we have to get it right. If that takes a decade, so be it," Kudlow told reporters.

"This is the kind of thing where you're looking at far-reaching consequences... so if it takes us more time to do it and to get it right, so be it," he said.

"I didn't go through the whole Cold War, but a lot of it. You know, it took decades, decades, to get where we wanted to be with the old Soviet Union."

Economic fallout

Trump has repeatedly insisted that US tariffs and China's slowing economy will pressure Beijing to cut a deal. There are signs that the trade war has also begun to weigh on the US economy, however.

Corporate earnings reports indicate US companies have been hit by the tit-for-tat measures and overall uncertainty. A report released this week said more than 10,000 job cuts announced last month stemmed from "trade difficulties."

Tariffs were hiked by both sides last month and US duties on Chinese goods are due to rise further in October and December.

However, Kudlow said the face-to-face talks will resume in a good atmosphere.

"I'm just saying it is good thing that they're coming here, and tempers are calmer," Kudlow said on CNBC television.

"We would love to go back to where we were in May, where we were getting kind of close to an agreement, maybe 90 percent of the way," he added.

"It's very positive that we negotiate and it may well be that something positive comes out of that."

Talks abruptly broke up in May, with Washington accusing Beijing of retracting core commitments just when an overall agreement was close to fruition. – Rappler.com

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar – True to his reputation as "pope of the poor", Pope Francis begins a visit on Saturday, September 7, to Madagascar, one of the world's most impoverished nations. 

Arriving from Mozambique, where he pleaded for understanding and the renunciation of violence in a country riven by 16 years of civil war and now hit by jihadist attacks, the Argentine pontiff's first port of call on Saturday was to be a mass and prayer vigil with at least 12,000 young scouts.

Tafika Fanomenza, 39, who is helping to coordinate the scores of volunteers involved in the preparations, as well as in the pontiff's security, hoped Francis' visit would help bring about change in Madagascar.

More than half of young people on the world's fifth-largest island are out of work, even if many boast good qualifications.

In a population of 25 million, nine out of ten people live on less than $2 a day. 

Political instability has done nothing to help the development of an economy largely dependent on agriculture, and the export of vanilla and cocoa in particular.

Liberal-leaning president Andry Rajoelina, elected to a second term last year mainly on promises of jobs and housing, will meet for one-on-one talks with Francis early Saturday.

Crowds of 800,000 

Sunday will mark the high point of Francis' visit with a huge mass in the capital expected to be attended by some 800,000 pilgrims.

Many had already started setting up tents on the outskirts of the city on Friday, armed with posters of the Argentine pontiff.

Prospere Ralitason, a 70-year-old farm worker, arrived with some 5,000 fellow pilgrims from the central eastern town of Ambatondrazaka, 200 kilometres (125 miles) away.

"We are tired, but it's worth making all these sacrifices to see the pope with our own eyes and receive his blessing," he told AFP, impatient to set out on the final two-hour hike on Sunday to attend the mass. 

"We spent 65,000 ariary ($18/16 euros) and brought three kilos of rice to make the trip to Antananarivo," said another pilgrim and farm worker, Jean-Claude Rabemanatrika, 40. 

"There are five of us at home and we don't have enough money so we had to choose just one family member to make the trip."

"We've provided toilet, showers, a sick bay and somewhere to cook for our 5,000 guests," beamed Marino Andriamasy, 35, who is in charge of the makeshift site where the pilgrims are staying. 

John Paul II

The last pope to visit was John Paul II 30 years ago.

"I was a lieutenant when I helped with the security of John Paul II in 1989. Today I am a divisional general and overseeing security for Francis' visit to Madagascar," said Samuel Rakotomalala.

Some 700 police officers will be deployed at the site, which is also equipped with 200 surveillance cameras and the 12,000 young scouts will also help out.

In June, 16 people were killed and dozens hurt in a stampede outside a sports stadium in the capital during a free concert.

The previous year, one person died and 41 were injured in a crush during an African Cup of Nations qualifier. – Rappler.com