THE country’s rising outstanding debt as a share of the overall economy is expected to ease to 61 percent by the end of the year, according to Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto.
“Yes, roughly 61 percent by yearend,” Recto told BusinessMirror in a message on Friday, affirming that the government will achieve its goal of bringing down the ratio of national debt with the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
The government is targeting a reduction in the debt-to-GDP ratio to 60.4 percent in 2025, and lowering it further to 56.3 percent by 2028.
However, global economic risks may make it “unrealistic” for the government to meet its target, according to Ateneo de Manila University economist Leonardo A. Lanzona.
After the economy grew 5.5 percent in the second quarter of 2025, Lanzona told BusinessMirror that this already signaled “poor prospects” even before the full implementation of US tariff policies.
“It will be more difficult [for the economy] to grow once these policies have reached their full effect in the coming months,” Lanzona said.
Following the GDP print in the second quarter, the debt-to-GDP ratio jumped to 63.1 percent from 60.9 percent in the same period a year ago. This is also higher than the
THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) released P5.936 trillion of this year’s budget as of end-July to bankroll the administration’s priority programs and projects.
Latest DBM data showed the amount released from January to July accounts for 93.8 percent of the P6.326-trillion total budget for 2025. This is higher than the P5.434 trillion issued during the same period last year, although the release rate then was slightly higher at 94.2 percent of the P5.767-trillion budget for 2024.
According to the data, the DBM disbursed P3.876 trillion under the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), representing 92.1 percent of the P4.211 trillion budget allocated. Under the 2025 GAA, the DBM distributed P3.509 trillion to line departments, or 95.3 percent of their P3.681-trillion budget. Releases for special purpose
A broader look at today’s business
62-percent debt-to-GDP ratio posted in the first quarter of 2025.
“Easing the ratio depends on the economic growth that is achieved. But if the debt increase remains higher than the GDP increase, then this is impossible,” Lanzona said, pertaining to the government’s aim of easing the debt-to-GDP this year.
While the 5.5-percent secondquarter GDP growth was slightly faster than the 5.4 percent in the first quarter, it was slower than the 6.5 percent posted in the second quarter of 2024.
Meanwhile, the government’s outstanding debt breached the P17-trillion mark, reaching P17.267 trillion as of end-June.
Still, achieving this year’s debt-to-GDP target could be attainable if the economy grows at a much faster pace along with the government’s sound fiscal management, according to Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) Senior Research Fellow John Paolo Rivera.
“The second-quarter debt ratio uptick to 63.1 percent shows how sensitive the metric is to both growth fluctuations and financing needs,” Rivera told BusinessMirror Rivera said a GDP expansion
funds also reached P367.534 billion, covering 69.4 percent of the P529.595-billion allocation. Meanwhile, automatic appropriations amounted to P1.903 trillion or 90 percent of the P2.115 trillion total.
This included the P68.549 billion in retirement and life insurance premiums for government workers fully released in January, plus an additional P7.965 billion in July. The DBM also completed as early as January the full disbursements of the national tax allotment worth P1.034 trillion and block grant amounting to P83.421 billion. Further, P480,000 worth of pensions of former presidents or their widows and the special account in the general fund of P37.352 billion were entirely remitted in February. Tax expenditures fund worth P14.5 billion was also fully allo -
of
along with improvements in revenue collection and tighter control over borrowings, for the government to hit its target.
“To stay on track,
cated in April.
However, disbursements for interest payments and net lending remained at 75 percent or P636.023 billion and P21.525 billion, respectively, as of end-July.
The DBM has yet to release the remaining P212.007 billion for interest payments and P7.175 billion for net lending this year.
Moreover, other releases reached P155.465 billion as of end-July.
Of the amount, P54.586 billion was earmarked for various automatic appropriations, including grants or donations, the AFP Modernization Program and other special accounts in the general fund.
About P14.896 billion was for continuing appropriations from the previous year, while P85.982 billion was allocated for unprogrammed appropriations.
Unprogrammed appropria-
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
tions serve as a standby authority allowing agencies to have additional obligations for priority programs or projects once revenue collections surpass targets, or when extra grants or foreign funding become available.
The bulk, or P69.819 billion, of the unprogrammed appropriations was allocated to support the foreign-assisted projects of the departments of Agrarian Reform, Finance, Health, Social Welfare and Development, Public Works and Highways and Transportation.
Foreign-assisted projects of the Philippine Competition Commission and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority were also provided funding.
The Department of Education also received P9.894 billion as assistance for government infrastructure and social programs, while the National Food Authority was granted P6.269 billion as budgetary support.
generating enough decent jobs to absorb them,” he explained.
FUNAN AND GAMES BY THE RIVERSIDE The Funan River along Heblan Street in Jinniu District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, comes alive at night with
the glow of riverside restaurants, including the iconic Bridge Restaurant, and the bustle of promenades where locals stroll and exercise. Chengdu,
Beijing leverages Nvidia tensions to counter US trade strategies amid ongoing chip dispute
By Bloomberg News
AS the US and China look for any sort of leverage in a prolonged trade fight, Beijing sees an opportunity to win over the world by taking a stand against the Trump administration’s plans to track high-end chips.
Chinese Internet regulators last week summoned Nvidia Corp. staff over alleged security risks with its less-advanced H20 chips. The action, citing calls from US lawmakers to build tracking features into the most powerful semiconductors, has yet to lead to any type of formal ban or restrictions.
Either way, analysts see the move as not so much about the H20s, which Chinese state-backed entities have publicly employed for some time, but rather an easy way for Beijing to send a series of messages about the US plans: Domestic firms should be cautious, the world should be wary and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang should influence the White House to shift course.
“The recent summons of Nvidia serves as a warning for Nvidia’s future products rather than a sign that the Chinese gov -
ernment found any loophole in H20,” said George Chen, partner and co-chair of digital practice at The Asia Group, which was cofounded by former US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell. “China wants to use the Nvidia case to show China is a buyer, but it won’t be a blind buyer.” For now, the spat looks unlikely to blow up the wider USChina relationship. Beijing said the two sides agreed to maintain a tariff truce after talks last month in Stockholm, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent later said it’s up to US President Donald Trump to make that call.
“We’re getting very close to a deal,” Trump said in an interview with CNBC on Tuesday. “We’re getting along with China very well.”
Michael Kratsios, one of the architects of a White House action
plan on AI that calls for exploring chip-tracking technologies, told Bloomberg Television on Tuesday that officials are discussing the use of software or physical changes to better track restricted chips. He added that he’s not had conversations “personally” with either Nvidia or Advanced Micro Devices Inc. about exploring locationtracking technology.
Nvidia on Tuesday declared its opposition to any sort of backdoors, saying they enable hackers and undermine trust in US technology.
“There are no back doors in Nvidia chips. No kill switches. No spyware,” Nvidia said in a blog post. “That’s not how trustworthy
systems are built — and never will be.”
The Chinese Cyberspace Administration’s action suggests Beijing is drawing a broad line against any surveillance capabilities in American semiconductors, a position that may resonate around the globe, even with US allies. Trump’s first administration warned governments to avoid using equipment from Huawei Technologies Co. over risks that China could use it for spying.
“We started attacking Huawei because of the idea that there are secret backdoors in it, and now here the US is openly suggesting we should legally mandate backdoors in hardware that we sell. It’s a huge deal,” said Tom Nunlist, associate director at the Beijing-based consultancy Trivium. “What government would accept this?”
The H20s have become a focal point in the broader debate over US export controls on China after American officials claimed that they allowed Beijing access to the chips as part of earlier trade talks in London.
Trump’s move to lift an earlier ban on their exports generated criticism from more hawkish lawmakers, who argue that the chips, while a diminished version of years-old Nvidia technology, will
help China compete in AI. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick defended the decision, saying the US wanted to “sell the Chinese enough that their developers get addicted to the American technology stack.”
China’s Commerce Ministry disputed the US version of events in a statement last month, saying the US “proactively” approved the sale of H20 chips and suggesting they weren’t part of any wider tradeoff in return for rare-earth magnets. China views the H20s as on par with domestic offerings, even though it could still use them because local companies can’t churn out enough AI chips to meet demand.
“Yes, China does want the H20,” said Ray Wang, a Washington-based research director focusing on semiconductors at The Futurum Group, citing significant purchases by leading tech companies such as ByteDance Ltd., Tencent Holdings Ltd. and DeepSeek before the US cut off access to the chips in mid-April. “They clearly prefer to have access to the H20.”
The Chinese Commerce Ministry didn’t respond to faxed questions.
Chinese state media has turned up the scrutiny on imported chips, with a commentary in the ruling Communist Party’s flagship mouthpiece People’s Daily calling devices with location tracking “infected.” A Sunday editorial by China Daily dismissed the H20 as “castrated” and offered a different reason for the US policy reversal.
“It is China’s breakthroughs in producing its own AI chips that has prompted the US to lift its curbs on the exports of H20 chips just three months after they were banned,” the newspaper said.
Shares in Chinese chipmakers including Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. and Cambricon Technologies Corp. rose immediately after Beijing disclosed the meeting with Nvidia employees, as investors bet on homegrown alternatives.
“It’s a straightforward option for China to now put Nvidia on the negotiation table, either to trade for more supply security promises or to further push domestic substitution,” said Tilly Zhang, a technology analyst with Gavekal Dragonomics. “Either way, it wouldn’t be a loss from Beijing’s point of view.”
While the two sides reached a truce that allowed the US to access rare-earth magnets, which are needed to make high-tech goods including smartphones and missiles, a final deal has yet to be worked out. In an interview aired over the weekend, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said both sides are “about halfway there” on easing China’s export controls on rare earths.
The desire for the chip-tracking technology stems from the US struggle to enforce export controls around the world. A proposed Chip Security Act, introduced to the House of Representatives in May, would require location-verification mechanisms on more advanced chips like Nvidia’s H100 and B200, but not the H20.
One possible method is “delaybased” location verification, which measures the time it takes for a signal to travel from trusted servers to target equipment to determine its location, according to analysis by Bloomberg Intelligence. Whether the US will press ahead with new mandates on chips remains an open question. Trump’s desire for a deal with China means further curbs on chips are unlikely before the expected summit this fall, according to Chris Miller, professor of international history at Tufts University and author of Chip War
“The administration has many priorities and it’s hard to see which is going to win out,” he said. “It’s very clear that the White House is going to try to balance the hawks’ desire for restrictions with the broader US-China relationship.”
With assistance from
Sentro: PHL needs robust public employment plan to ease job crisis
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that 50.47 million individuals were employed in June 2025, slightly higher than the 50.28 million recorded in the same period last year.
However, the employment rate dropped to 96.3 percent from 96.9 percent in June 2024.
Unemployment also rose to 3.7 percent—or 1.95 million Filipinos—up from 3.1 percent or 1.62 million individuals last year.
Mata said the figures reflect the slow pace of labor market recovery, further hindered by persistent job skills mismatch and economic uncertainty.
alarming. This points to ongoing de-industrialization, made worse by global uncertainty and Trump’s new wave of tariff wars. Exportoriented industries are hurting, and workers are paying the price,” he said.
As a potential solution, Mata cited the creation of climate jobs and green public employment—a proposal supported by projections from the International Labour Organization (ILO), which earlier estimated that the Philippines could generate up to 3 million new jobs by 2030 through investments in the green economy.
However, the country’s current workforce readiness may not be enough to meet that target, with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda)
Uptick signals program review PSA also reported that 623,000 of last month’s job losses were among the youth—an increase of 41,000 from the 582,000 recorded in June 2024.
For the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the rise in unemployment serves as an “early warning device” to reassess its employment programs.
Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma told BusinessMirror that any increase in joblessness—whether among youth, women, or adults—is a concern for the agency.
“The continued loss of jobs in manufacturing is particularly earlier reporting that only 14 percent of employers consider their workforce “fully prepared” to shift to green jobs.
He added that the uptick may be due to more new entrants into the labor force and youth workers opting to return to school.
“It also serves as an early warning device to guide us in reviewing our programs,” he said. Among the programs being enhanced are the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES), Government Internship Program (GIP), JobStart, and the Career Support and Development Programs.
Laguesma added that Tesda’s scholarship and training initiatives are also being made more accessible and aligned with private sector needs.
NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang in Beijing in July. ANDREA VERDELLI/BLOOMBERG
www.businessmirror.com.ph
DHSUD, QC eye rental housing option
TBy Bless Aubrey Ogerio
HE Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD)
is in talks with the Quezon City government to pilot a rental housing scheme under the administration’s Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program, targeting squatter or informal-settler families in high-risk areas.
Housing Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling and Quezon City Mayor Ma. Josefina Tanya Go Belmonte met on Thursday to discuss a potential partnership that would develop rental units on city-owned land.
The initiative aims to provide affordable housing to informal-settler families, particularly those residing in high-risk areas, while addressing the constraints posed by high land prices in Metro Manila.
Data from the United Nations Habitat showed that there are 3.7 million ISFs nationwide, with around half a million residing in slums or disaster-prone areas in the capital region.
Belmonte said the city has identified
a blighted property in the urban core that could be redeveloped for the project, with affected residents either relocated or given rental subsidies.
“I also agree for rental scheme for that property. If we proceed with that, people are ready,” she said, noting that ownership remains financially out of reach for many households in highly urbanized cities.
The DHSUD has earlier identified rental housing as a complementary modality to homeownership under 4PH, citing its potential in urban markets where property costs constrain affordable housing supply.
A pilot scheme had previously been considered within the University of the Philippines Diliman campus.
Although President Marcos made no direct mention of housing in his State of the Nation Address (Sona) last month, the DHSUD said it remains committed to deliver projects under 4PH.
A day after the Sona, Aliling announced a shift in strategy “focused on impact rather than volume,” shelving the original goal of building three million housing units by 2028 without setting a new target.
Allianz PNB Life moves to new home
IFE insurer Allianz PNB Life Inc.
L(AZPNBL) has moved into its new headquarters in Makati City, in its bid to expand its reach and tap into the country’s largely underserved insurance market.
Senator to BSP: Force e-wallets to cut ties with online gambling platforms
By Butch Fernandez
SENATOR on Friday called on the Bangko
ASentral (BSP) to disallow e-wallets from directly linking their digital platforms to online gambling sites.
“The BSP should prohibit e-wallets from providing direct links to online gambling platforms. By severing this direct connection, the BSP can protect countless Filipinos from the destructive cycle of gambling addiction,” Gatchalian said.
He noted that direct access to online gambling platforms has allowed many Filipinos, including young people, to engage in online gambling which often leads to financial ruin.
“Puwedenangi-ban ng BSP ang connectio n ng e-wallets sa mga online gambling [sites]. Ito kasi ang isang nagiging pinto sa pagsusugal ng mga kababayan natin dahil napakabilisnilangmaka-connect samga online gambling sites,” he added.
Gatchalian earlier filed a bill seeking stricter regulation of online gambling. One of the provisions of the measure includes a prohibition on non-bank electronic money issuers, such as e-wallets, from directly linking their electronic instruments to online gambling platforms through URLs, including app links, hyperlinks, and other similar methods.
Stakeholder conference
PRESIDENT Marcos, meanwhile, announced that he will convene a stakeholder’s conference on online gambling before deciding on the proposal to ban the said activity.
Marcos said he will invite concerned groups including the Catholic Bishops’ Conference (CBCP), which is backing the total prohibition of online gambling.
“We are talking about—the many—we hear a lot from the CBCP. So, we will include them [in the conference], priests, bishops.
The parents, of course, are stakeholders here because the victimized sector is the youth,”
Marcos said partly in Filipino during the third part of the third episode of his video blog, which was released on Thursday.
He said he will use the inputs from the conference to weigh in on the pros and cons of the proposed online gambling ban.
“Well, we have to talk to the people who will—if—if we regulate, who will be doing the regulation,” Marcos said.
The chief executive said his decision on the matter will focus on determining if online gambling makes more youth addicted to gambling.
“The problem is not online gambling. The problem[s] are the social effects on our children and those who are addicted to gambling,” he said.
Some lawmakers and members of the CBCP are advocating the prohibition of online gambling owing to its destructive effects on
the youth and families.
The Department of Finance (DOF) expressed its reservation on the proposal since it can lead to the proliferation of illegal gambling. Instead of the ban, it proposed stricter regulations for online gambling. Online gambling contributed about half of the P200 billion taxes collected by the
Weary of scapegoating, RSA offers help on NCR floods at no cost to govt
By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco
A“This is a clear statement of commitment, confidence and trust to this market for a very, very long future. There’s no end in sight in my view,” Gross said.
In a media briefing in its new corporate headquarters in One Ayala, Makati, AZPNBL President and Chief Executive Officer Joseph Gross said the move reflects the company’s “huge” confidence in the Philippines’ insurance market.
See “PNB,” A4
FTER San Miguel Corporation (SMC) was dragged into the blame game for the recent city floods—with the construction of MRT-7 along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City cited as supposedly one cause—business tycoon Ramon S. Ang has volunteered to help solve the perennial flooding problem in Metro Manila at “no cost” to the government. Ang made the offer during a joint conference with Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman
Romando Artes and several Metro Manila mayors on Friday at the San Miguel head office in Pasig City. Ako po San Miguel, Ramon Ang, nagvo-volunteer ako ngayon. Ako na ang tutulong sa buong Metro Manila ma-solve angbaha at no cost to the people at no cost to the government,” Ang said.
Earlier, the MRT-7 Project Management Office (MRT-7 PMO) clarified on Tuesday that its facilities near Batasan Station on Commonwealth Avenue are not the cause of the flooding that occurred in the area, also affecting some cities in
Metro Manila. This, after some quarters resurrecting statements linking the incident in part to the ongoing project, of which SMC is the concessionaire.
“Kasalananbanamin‘yun?Hindi.Wala nang turuan. Pinalitan namin lahat ng kanal. Kami ang gumawa noon [Is that our fault? No. Let’s stop this scapegoating. We changed all the canals],” Ang said.
During the conference, SMC presented before Artes and Mayors Isko Moreno of Manila, Wes Gatchalian of Valenzuela , Ruffy Biazon of Muntinlupa, and Imelda Aguilar of Las Piñas, Las Piñas Rep. Mark Santos, and
other representatives of Metro Manila local government units who were also present, a report showing that as of July 31, a total 8.52 million cubic meters of waste were removed from 163.03 kilometers of river systems in 10 key waterways. As to why there is still flooding even the rivers were cleaned, the SMC said: n Garbage and solid waste have clogged storm drains n Old storm drains are not able handle the volume of heavy rains
See “SMC,” A4
DepEd, group assail shooting in classroom
By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco
THE Department of Education
(DepEd) on Friday condemned the shooting incident at Sta. Rosa Integrated School in Nueva Ecija that left two people critically wounded.
Police said that the victim is a 15-yearold Grade 8 female student who was allegedly shot by an 18-year-old drop out.
Investigation indicate that the assailant barged into the victim’s classroom on Thursday, around 10:45 a.m., and shot her in the neck. Afterwards, the gunman also shot himself.
The two are still being treated at Nueva Ecija’s Doctors Hospital in Cabanatuan City, police said.
“We stand in full solidarity with the learners, teachers, and the entire school community affected by this appalling incident. We commend the swift response of the Schools Division Office of Nueva Ecija in working with local authorities to investigate the incident and bring those responsible to justice,” the DepEd said in a statement, adding that the agency supports the ongoing efforts to provide assistance to the families of the wounded persons.
Heartbreaking
THE Teachers’ Dignity Coalition, meanwhile, described the incident as “heartbreaking,” as it occurred at a time when the DepEd has strengthened its policies against bullying and violence, and the entire education
system is exerting all efforts to ensure the safety of children in schools.
“Just this week, for instance, DepEd National Capital Region [NCR] rolled out its stakeholder consultations on the regional policy for safe schools—a testament to our collective commitment to protect our learners,” the group said as it called on all sectors of society to work together in addressing violence, both inside and outside school grounds, so that every child may learn in an environment free from fear and harm.”
“We, likewise, urge the government to invest more in school safety by deploying adequate security personnel, procuring equipment, and hiring more mental health professionals, as well as guidance and
counseling practitioners to strengthen psychosocial support services for our learners,” the group added.
Protect
THE DepEd at the same time reaffirmed its “unwavering commitment to protect the welfare of every learner, teacher, and school personnel.”
“Our schools must be sanctuaries of safety and learning. Any form of violence, especially within or near school grounds, is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” DepEd said in a statement.
DepEd also called on its partners in the community to strengthen school security protocols, and uphold the shared duty to make every school a zone of peace.
Kawasaki management files notice of lockout against 289 employees
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
ATOTAL of 289 rank-and-file workers of Kawasaki Motors Philippines Corp. may be locked out of work soon after its management filed a formal notice of lockout before the Labor department’s National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) on August 4.
In a statement, Kawasaki management accused the workers of committing unfair labor practices, particularly for staging what it called an illegal strike and boycotting company-sanctioned events, including a mandatory overtime schedule intended to recover production losses.
“The 289 union workers have violated the ‘No Strike/No Lockout’ clause of the collective bargaining agreement in 2022
signed by union and management… The union workers have boycotted three company-sanctioned activities last year, which include the anniversary celebration last July 24 and Sportsfest last June 15 and the mandatory overtime to catch up on production which was announced last April 30, 2025,” the management said. Tension between management and workers have escalated since the Kawasaki United Labor Union (Kulu) launched a strike on May 21—nearly a year after the expiration of the company’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The union is demanding a 10.5 percent wage increase, which it says is still negotiable, while the company has offered only 5 percent, citing financial losses from the pandemic.
Kawasaki’s lawyer, John Bonifacio, maintained that the workers’ boycott of company events constituted a breach of the “No Strike/No Lockout” clause in the CBA.
“We have exhausted all legal means possible to convince union workers to accept our offer and return to work, because they are disrupting operations, but to no avail,” Bonifacio said.
Under Rule XXII of the Labor Code, employers may declare a lockout in cases of collective bargaining deadlocks or alleged unfair labor practices.
Once a notice is filed, a mandatory cooling-off period of 30 days for bargaining deadlocks or 15 days for unfair labor practice cases must be observed.
During this time, the NCMB is expected to exert all efforts to mediate and help both
Marcos to China: Give early notice of rocket launches
PRESIDENT Marcos has called on China to give early notice before rocket stages or debris fall into Philippine waters, saying it would help avoid risks and allow authorities to recover them safely.
parties arrive at an amicable settlement. However, in cases involving the dismissal of a union officer—which may constitute union busting—the 15-day cooling-off period is waived and the union may take action immediately.
In a social media post, Kulu said they are still awaiting guidance from their legal team before deciding on their next steps regarding the notice of lockout.
“We are confident, and we know the truth and the answers to the new issues once again being raised by management. It’s just disheartening that the company seems to have so much funding to pay their legal team and release stories in tabloids and on social media news—even as they continue to claim they’re incurring losses,” the union said in Filipino.
Napolcom strips Pampanga mayor of police powers over bribery case
THE National Police Commission has suspended the power and control over the police of a town mayor who was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation for alleged bribery, extortion and other charges.
Commissioner Rafael Vicente Calinisan, Napolcom vice chairman and executive officer, has ordered the suspension of San Simon, Pampanga Mayor Abundio Punsalan Jr.’s operational control and direction over the town’s police.
Calinisan issued the suspension order in the wake of Punsalan’s arrest in an entrapment operation on Tuesday by the NBI for allegedly accepting part of an P80million bribe in exchange for a favorable resolution from the local government, as alleged by complainant Real Dteel Corporation.
In a statement on Friday, Calinisan directed the commission’s Inspection,
Monitoring and Investigation Service (Imis) to conduct a motu proprio (on its own initiative) investigation for the possibility of a full revocation of the authority granted by the Napolcom to Punasalan to exercise operational supervision and control over the police force within his jurisdiction. This authority includes the power to issue directives on police operations, assign police personnel, develop safety plans, and select the chief police based on legal qualifications.
Calinisan stated that “under the law, mayors and governors are automatically considered representatives of Napolcom to perform these duties, even without a formal oath-taking.”
“Their responsibilities also include overseeing police performance, supporting police seminars and training, and formulating plans for community public safety,” the Napolcom chief added. PNA
Mark Villar on his vote to uphold SC decision: ‘twas in defense of Charter
SENATOR Mark Villar, explaining his vote against proceeding with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte following the Supreme Court’s July 25 ruling, said he did so in defense of the Philippine Constitution.
The Supreme Court had earlier declared the Articles of Impeachment against the Vice President unconstitutional, citing violations of the “one-year rule” and due process. The unanimous decision, handed down on July 25, was central to his explanation of vote, Villar said.
ger a constitutional crisis that would only undermine the foundations of the country’s democratic system.
“KungsusuwaytayosadesisyonngSupremeCourtsaisangisyungkonstitusyonal, binabalewalanatinangkonstitusyon[If we disobey an SC decision on a constitutional issue, it’s tantamount to disregarding the Constitution],” he said, stressing the need for institutional integrity and mutual respect among coequal branches of government.
“We just wish that perhaps they could warn us a little earlier so that we know the path of the rocket, where the path is and kungmagbibitawsilangstages kungsaan babagsak [if they will release stages, where they will fall],” Marcos said in a press briefing with the Philippine media in India on Friday.
Marcos said this was not the first time suspected Chinese rocket debris ended up in Philippine waters, but stressed that no law was violated.
“There have been no casualties… The good side to all of this, wala naman casualty. Wala naman tinamaan. Hindi naman nagkaproblema […there were no casualties. No one was hit. There was no problem].”
The President recalled telling Chinese leader Xi Jinping during an earlier trip to Beijing that Manila was not interested in keeping the debris.
“You know, we have no interest in your rockets. Just tell us where they will land, we will collect it and give it to you. And that continues to be my offer to China… ‘Pag may babagsak, kukunin namin sa dagat tapos dadalhin namin sa inyo. Wala naman problema [If something falls, we will get it from the sea and bring it to you. No problem with that],” he said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier expressed concern over the reported debris of China’s Long March 12 rocket into Philippine maritime territory, urging spacefaring nations to act responsibly and safeguard the interests of other states. PNA
The insurer’s bullishness is driven by its goal of providing more Filipinos with support and financial protection.
“The opportunity in the Philippines is just huge,” Gross said, citing the country’s population of more than 117 million.
“The country’s growing middle class, consistent economic growth of 5 to 6 percent and young population present a strong demographic advantage,” Gross said.
“[This] demographic dividend, which
n Infrastructure projects that impedes the water flow towards drains, creeks and rivers
n Low lying areas and Coastal area are more prone to flooding
n Rising sea level and high tides
n Land subsidence or sinking of land
n Severe weather due to climate change
However, the SMC assured the public that it will continue to: clean up the rivers of Paranaque and Laguna; pursue cleanup of other rivers—Alabang River in Laguna Lake, Las Pinas River in Manila Bay; conduct maintenance cleanup of rivers with signs of siltation; Tullahan river, Meycauyan and Taliptip Rivers in Bulacan, Laguna Rivers; andssist in clearing and de-clogging drainage lines, too.
At the end of the presentation, SMC stressed that cleaning up our rivers and addressing flooding problems is everyone’s responsibility.
means the Philippines—by definition— whatever you do, statistically, wealth will grow in this country,” Gross said.
“The market opportunity is huge. More and more Filipinos will have the affordable income to buy this declaration of wealth,” he added.
Low insurance penetration in the country also contributes to AZPNBL’s optimism about capturing more clients, as this presents huge upside potential, according to Gross.
Data from the Insurance Commission (IC) showed insurance penetration in the Philippines remains low at 1.67 percent as of 2024, a slight improvement from 1.61
In his speech after the Senate voted 19-4-1 to archive the fourth impeachment complaint against Duterte, Villar emphasized the Senate’s obligation to respect the SC’s authority as the ultimate interpreter of the Constitution. He quoted Article VIII, Section 1 of the Constitution, which establishes the judiciary’s power to check grave abuses of discretion by any government branch—including the Senate acting as an impeachment tribunal.
“No one, including the Senate, can substitute its opinion over the Court’s in any matter concerning the Constitution,” Villar declared, citing the historic Angara vs. Electoral Commission case to reinforce the Supreme Court’s constitutional role.
Shifting from legal to moral duty, Villar invoked the senators’ Oath of Office, which binds them to uphold the Constitution and obey legal orders. He warned that disobeying the Court’s ruling would trig -
percent in 2023.
To capture more of the market, Gross said AZPNBL will continue to invest in improving client service, expanding distribution channels and developing tailored financial solutions to meet Filipinos’ needs.
Supporting this is AZPNBL’s new headquarters in Makati City, which is more than just a relocation but a push for a customer-focused transformation, digital innovation and sustainability.
“The office is designed with both clients and employees in mind—prioritizing accessibility, collaboration and service excellence. It is a space that enables us
Villar echoed the sentiments of Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, the ponente of the Court’s decision, that the impeachment process must remain faithful to due process, even though it is inherently political. He underscored that the protection of rights and adherence to proper procedure must apply to everyone—from high-ranking officials to ordinary citizens.
“This decision proves that due process is not an empty phrase,” Villar said. “It is a promise of fairness that our institutions are prepared to uphold.” He concluded with a powerful quote from Justice Leonen: “There is a right way to do the right thing at the right time. This is what the Rule of Just Law means.” Villar’s explanation affirmed his commitment to the constitutional order and legal due process, asserting that his vote was not a surrender of the Senate’s independence but a stand for the supremacy of the rule of law.
to elevate the customer experience while driving sustainable growth,” Gross said. According to AZPNBL, the office is LEEDcertified and meets global standards for safety, design and environmental responsibility. AZPNBL was established in 2016 through a joint venture between German-based Allianz Group and the Philippine National Bank (PNB).
AZPNBL currently operates 25 business centers in key cities in the Philippines, with over 400 financial advisors serving customers of its bancassurance partner PNB, and 2,250 active insurance specialists. Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
NCSC
promotes Alzheimer’s awareness, boosts employment for pensionless senior citizens
By Wilnard Bacelonia
MANILA—The National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) is ramping up efforts to promote Alzheimer’s and dementia awareness while expanding employment and livelihood opportunities for older Filipinos, especially those without pensions.
In an interview on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon on Wednesday, NCSC Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Mary Jean Loreche said the agency is set to meet with doctors from the Philippine General Hospital and members of the Alzheimer’s Disease Association of the Philippines to begin coordination on a national intervention program.
“This meeting will begin after this interview. We’ve long planned to coordinate with the doctors from the Alzheimer’s Disease Association of the Philippines,” Loreche said.
She said the program would proceed in stages, beginning with education and awareness campaigns.
“We will start with awareness—helping the public understand what Alzheimer’s or dementia is,” she added.
Promoting mental wellness and social connection
LORECHE said the NCSC is also addressing emotional and cognitive wellness among the elderly, noting that many older persons experience isolation, depression, and anxiety.
“We must restore to them the sense that they are important to our nation and our communities,” she said.
The Commission is promoting “social prescribing” in its community-based care centers, where seniors can interact with peers and younger generations to foster connection and wellbeing.
Employment for non-pensioned seniors
RESPONDING to questions, Loreche detailed ongoing efforts to provide skills training and job opportunities to elderly Filipinos without pensions.
“We are currently coordinating with the National Institutes of Health, Institute on Aging to finalize medical guidelines,” she said.
These guidelines will ensure that reemployment opportunities are age-appropriate and aligned with each senior citizen’s health and capabilities.
The Commission is also partnering with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Department of Tourism to provide training based on seniors’ inter -
ests, which vary per region.
“What are they interested in? What do they want to pursue?
Surprisingly, their top priority is agribusiness,” she said. Loreche said the NCSC is holding a roundtable discussion in Kidapawan City to prepare older persons for fruit preservation enterprises, in collaboration with TESDA and DOLE.
The agency has also received applications for the first batch of seniors to be trained for tourism-related work, such as tour guiding in Intramuros and national museums.
The third phase —conducting training— is already underway, she added.
Proposed reforms in senior citizen hiring, voting ON senior citizen hiring, Loreche said changes in employment status and benefits would require legislation.
“Benefits can’t be provided right away because it would require revisiting the law,” she said.
In the meantime, the NCSC is coordinating with LGUs and the private sector to offer honoraria, funding, and training for returning senior workers.
She said the agency will engage with policymakers to discuss extending the working age beyond the current limits.
“Considering that the new normal today is 70 and not 60 or 65,” she said.
Loreche also reported that the NCSC is working with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to propose expanded voting privileges for seniors.
“We want to extend the voting period to an entire day before the general elections,” she said.
Loreche also recommended improvements to polling site accessibility, provision of medical kits, hydration stations, and dedicated lanes and precincts for senior citizens.
Government support LORECHE assured elderly Filipinos that the government is serious about advancing their welfare and inclusion.
“Our senior citizens are truly valued by this administration,” she said.
Loreche cited the rollout of the expanded centenarian cash gift, participation in the “Trabaho para sa Bayan” program, and the development of communitybased care centers as concrete steps in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s eightpoint agenda.
“We want these systems in place so our older adults won’t have any difficulty during election day,” she added. PNA
Angel R. Calso
NCSC pushes for retooling, rehiring of senior citizens
By Liza Agoot
BAGUIO CITY—The National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) continues to exert efforts to help members of the elderly sector, especially those who have little to no pension, provide for their needs through skills training and employment.
NCSC Chair and Chief Executive Officer Mary Jean Loreche said allowing senior citizens to work is more than just giving them a chance to earn money.
“This is more of giving them the feeling that they are needed, they have value. It is the sense of belongingness and inclusivity that will compensate more than the monetary value,” she said in an interview on Tuesday.
“We want them to have a purposedriven life again and that is part of the wellness of the person.”
Loreche attended the service caravan for senior citizens here, where she relayed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s message that the elderly are important partners in nationbuilding.
To effectively implement initiatives beneficial to senior citizens, including retooling, rehiring and retraining, the NSCS is coordinating with other government agencies like Department of Tourism, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agricul-
ture, and the Department of Labor and Employment.
The private sector is also involved, Loreche said, citing the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the SM Group as an example.
“Soon we will see them (senior citizens) working at SM, taking on tasks which are light and appropriate for their age,” she said.
She added that they are waiting for the technical working group to
come up with the guidelines on the hiring of senior citizens, particularly on the subjects of pay, working hours and privileges.
Loreche said the issue of regularization and social benefits will not be part of the guidelines as they require amendments to existing laws. There are about 12 million senior citizens in the country, including an estimated 50,000 in Baguio City, according to the NSCS. PNA
Elite schools do not automatically make ‘quality’ employees
IWAS not surprised at all when I came across a survey of employers in the Philippines who rated Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) as their top school when it comes to hiring employees. I felt vindicated, something like confirmation bias.
According to that 2023 survey by employment platform JobStreet, PUP graduates are preferred by 23.39 percent of employers, as workers from the PUP are “effective team players in the workplace.”
Furthermore, according to the JobStreet survey, employers prefer graduates from the said university due to their positive work ethic. The report pointed out that employers believe in the school’s reputation of producing quality graduates.
Why PUP and not UP, Ateneo, La Salle, or other more prestigious schools? Let me tell you why.
Long ago, when I was a creative director of a medium sized advertising agency, I had the final say in choosing new hires for the creative and production department.
Most ad agencies in my time, especially the big ones, had a bias for graduates of prestigious schools like UP, Ateneo, La Salle, and occasionally San Beda or UST. If you were not a graduate of those elite schools, your application was automatically cast aside and put on a tray reserved for “rejects.”
In my case, I practiced reverse snobbery. Whenever I came across an application of a graduate from any of the elite universities mentioned, I would give it back to Personnel for their archive of rejected applicants.
I had my reasons for rejecting them outright. I knew most had an inflated sense of themselves. As a graduate of an elite college, I used to think like them. They only wanted to work in companies that they could brag about. The more foreign sound-
ing the name, like McCann-Erickson, J. Walter, Dentsu, the better. I was also disappointed with graduates of UP, who were supposed to be “scholars ng bayan” presumably because their parents couldn’t afford their schooling. It turned out most of them came from rich families.
ated the most about a PUPian was his work attitude and work ethic. He would work beyond office hours without whining. He was flexible and had no qualms about being given an assignment no matter how lowly it would seem. “Hindi ma-arte or “maere” as we would say. He could do creatives at one moment and be a gofer next. He was willing to wear many hats: a production man, an extra in a commercial shoot, a wardrobe assistant, a typist or whatever task was needed to be done at the moment. And that was before “multi-tasking” became a buzzword. Too much work?
He thrived on it.
Would a pampered graduate of Ateneo or La Salle or UP be willing to take the bus or jeepney to go to a client for a briefing or to present a layout? A PUPian would. He had no
Worse, they were more “snobbish” and “choosy” than the Ateneans and La Sallites when it came to companies to apply for.
Maybe it was sour graping on my part but the applicants that interested me most were some of the “rejects” of the major ad outfits. Through the years, my circle of preference got smaller and smaller until finally I only considered male and female graduates of PUP.
I had my reasons. Firstly, a PUPian applicant did not demand a high compensation. Salary was not a deal breaker for him. It would seem that he was happy just to have a job. Usually, he came from low-income households and his family needed him to earn an income to share the financial burden. I hasten to add that our company gave fair wages to all employees.
Secondly, the thing I appreci-
hesitation in going to any address of the client, whether Sucat or Navotas or Bulacan and would use public transportation because he knew our agency had limited transpo budget.
The last thing our agency needed were glamor boys or girls, unwilling to get their hands dirty. We needed hardy work horses willing to carry the heavy load against all odds. We did not want star players in our team but rugged bench players who could carry and pass the ball to score. We wanted dog soldiers willing to go through the muck and grind it out. PUP graduates fitted that bill.
If there’s one encompassing quality that separates a PUP graduate from the graduates of elite schools it is the colloquial word “ batak.” Loosely translated as “experienced in the ways of the real world which could be harsh and unfair.”
Coming from poor families, some
from the slums, a PUPian knew what it meant to feel hungry, to elbow one’s way to board a jeepney or bus, wade through flooded streets to get to school or reach home. Growing up in a financially strapped household, he learned to count his blessings and his few pesos of daily allowance and to seize whatever opportunity would come his way. Tough mentally and emotionally, he could land from a fall on his two feet without breaking. This is what gives the typical PUPian a strong sense of self, a grateful self and not an entitled sense of self. Being close to the ground, he was my reliable source of authentic information about the market. In touch with latest trends and street lingo, he could contribute a lot of out-ofthe-box ideas in our creative brain storming sessions. Many times, his comments would stiffen and perk up many of our initially flaccid advertising concepts.
Comparing notes with my wife, I found out that many of her onetime students in a public high school in Taft who also belonged to poor struggling families in Pandacan and San Andres Bukid ended up being successfully employed in companies such as Boeing, IBM, Kaiser and Bangko Sentral. One became a judge. At one of the reunions where she and I were invited, she couldn’t believe the transformation: “Mga gusgusin lang dati, ngayon tindig elitista na.” Poverty can indeed make you or break you. Now as a retired old executive who used to sniff out new hires, I’ve come to believe that the measure of quality in potential employees among college graduates is not the prestige associated with an educational institution. It’s not a university’s world ranking that matters most but the work ethic and values it inspires in its students. In short, attitude not altitude. However, in spite of my bias towards PUP graduates, it doesn’t mean one shouldn’t hire graduates from elite and exclusive universities. They are often articulate and smart and they do make good corporate and government executives, lawyers or businessmen.
Still, if I was in the trenches at the battle front, I would choose to have a PUPian or any graduate of a non-elite university to fight beside me, knowing he’s got my back no matter what.
SENIOR citizens pose with local government and National Commission of Senior Citizens officials during the service caravan for senior citizens in Baguio City on August 5, 2025. The NCSC said it is pushing for the retooling, rehiring and retraining of senior citizens not just for monetary reward but also to add purpose into their lives. PNA PHOTO BY LIZA T. AGOOT
Editor: Gerard S. Ramos
Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo advocates for financial responsibility
JUDY
AI can broaden role of CSR in PHL
STEAM IN HOT WATER OVER
‘CENSORSHIP’
ISSUE, MASTERCARD SWIPES OFF
BY PATRICK VILLANUEVA
A WELL-KNOWN gaming distributing platform, Steam has recently caught fire with its new rule, now known as “Rule 15,” in its “Onboarding” procedures for gaming studios who want to publish their games on Steam.
The new rule states: “Content that may violate the rules and standards set forth by Steam’s payment processors and related card networks and banks, or internet network providers. In particular, certain kinds of adult-only content” is not allowed on the platform. Moreover, this move was followed by Steam pulling out games that allegedly “violated” the card companies’ guidelines, specifically games with the “Adult Only” tag and that were sexual in nature. Needless to say, this angered gamers as they claimed this move was not just about the removal of
‘ALLEGATIONS’
the games, but more so about censorship and how it sets a precedent over the next moves.
However, few understood the pain point and were not angry at Steam. After all, the guideline stated that it was following the rules of said “payment processors.” As such, gamers pointed out that card companies should not have control over what they can or cannot buy, emphasizing that their role is just to process.
“When I think [it] is debatable what kind of content should be more okay to sell or not, card companies shouldn’t be the ones who decide,” a user on Reddit said under a post criticizing this move.
“The main purpose of credit card companies is ease of transaction and providing micro loans with no collateral at high interest rates. They shouldn’t dictate where you get to spend your money,” another commenter added.
Mastercard, one of Steam’s payment processors,
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clarified the recent events by saying that they have neither evaluated nor restricted creators who publish on the platform. “Mastercard has not evaluated any game or required restrictions of any activity on game creator sites and platforms, contrary to media reports and allegations,” their post reads.
“Our payment network follows standards based on the rule of law. Put simply, we allow all lawful purchases on our network,” it added, while saying that merchants should have controlled measures to protect their company from being used in unlawful, illegal adult content. However, players did not accept this response, calling out that their actions pushed Steam to put tightened and overboard measures. “No one was saying Mastercard was stating if a game is okay to sell, they stated what they won’t process using their service and it forced Steam to remove games,” a Redditor commented.
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satellite data, which can help companies monitor their environmental impact in real-time. This can be used to track pollution, deforestation, and resource consumption, allowing for more targeted and effective sustainability initiatives.
As companies in the Philippines increasingly adopt AI, SGV and KPMG also urged business organizations to develop and adhere to ethical AI principles in their CSR programs.
This includes addressing issues of algorithmic bias, data privacy, and the potential for job displacement. By creating and promoting a framework for “Responsible AI,” they said companies can ensure that their technological advancements benefit, rather than harm, society.
“In essence, by leveraging AI and digital technology, companies in the Philippines can move from a traditional, often reactive approach to CSR to a more strategic, data-driven and proactive model. This not only helps them better address the country’s unique development challenges but also aligns with the global shift toward a more integrated and impactful form of corporate responsibility,” said KPMG, SGV and MDPI.
BusinessMirror
JBL Tour One M3 Smart TX: The tiny transmitter that changes everything
THE moment Clara Benin began to sing, the room faded away. It was no longer a press event—it felt like a private performance meant just for me.
But I’m getting ahead of myself.
As Metro Manila battled stormy weather recently, JBL staged what may have been the most serene product launch in recent memory.
Inside a packed ballroom of Shangri-La The Fort, there were no loudspeakers. No booming sound systems. Just guests, and a pair of JBL Tour One M3 headphones waiting for them as they settled into their seats. The presentations began—not through stage mics or speaker arrays, but piped directly into our ears. It was surreal. Every word from JBL Philippines Country Manager Larry Secreto and the rest of the JBL team came through with pristine clarity. Every transition, soundbite and ambient cue felt like it had been mixed in a private studio.
So when Clara Benin took the stage, her soft, unfiltered voice filled the silence—soothing and intimate, as tender as the lyrics themselves. After her set, Janine Teñoso followed with her own repertoire, blending mellow ballads with more upbeat tracks. But just like Clara, every layer of her vocals came through with studio-grade precision.
I wasn’t just listening to the JBL Tour One M3: it felt like I was inside the sound itself.
It was the ultimate quiet flex—JBL not telling, but making us experience how the Tour One M3 turns sound into solitude, and solitude into something deeply personal.
JBL’S FINEST—AND PRICIEST FOR a brand long known for its bold bass and partyforward audio gear, the Tour One M3 signals a new kind of flex—one that favors nuance over volume. It’s not just about sound anymore; it’s about silence, clarity, control, and comfort. Priced at P26,999, this is JBL’s most premium pair of headphones, and a bold claim in the flagship space.
The question is: Does it live up to the price tag?
With True Adaptive Noise Cancelling 2.0, Spatial Audio with head tracking, Personi-Fi 3.0 personalized tuning, and the debut of the Smart TX transmitter, it’s built for people who want a seamless, platformagnostic audio experience—whether in the air, on the ground, in the office, or off the grid.
It’s a headphone that answers a series of “what ifs”:
■ What if you could personalize your sound like a hearing aid?
■ What if your headphones worked with any device—even those without Bluetooth?
■ What if you never had to take them off just to join a conversation?
The Tour One M3 answers all those questions.
DESIGNED FOR COMFORT
AT first glance, the Tour One M3 isn’t flashy—and that’s exactly the point. It looks like what premium should: sleek, confident, and understated. No garish accents. No sci-fi stems. No aggressive branding. Just a smooth matte finish, intuitive touch controls, and three elegant colorways: Black, Latte, and Blue.
But the defining experience is comfort.
Weighing just 278 grams, it’s lighter than most flagship over-ear headphones. The vegan leather cushions feel soft without overheating. The memory foam adapts to your head instead of clamping it. The frame folds compactly and slips into a sturdy, lowprofile case.
Wearing these for hours feels less like putting on a device and more like settling into your own sonic workspace.
SOUND
natural sound that adapts both to your content—and to how you hear it.
Powered by 40mm Mica Dome drivers, it offers a well-balanced profile. Vocals are crisp. Instruments are separated with clarity. No one frequency dominates. Everything feels just right.
Whether you’re listening to acoustic folk, cinematic scores, or electronic mixes, the headphones handle them all with ease and elegance.
But what truly personalizes the experience is Personi-Fi 3.0.
Once you complete a quick hearing test via the JBL Headphones app, the M3 builds a custom EQ profile based on how your ears interpret sound. It compensates for subtle hearing differences— delivering a fuller, clearer, more intimate listening experience.
Meanwhile, Spatial Audio with head tracking adds immersion when watching videos or gaming. As you move your head, the soundstage stays anchored, enhancing realism without feeling gimmicky.
ANC: A PERSONALIZED BUBBLE ON DEMAND
NOISE cancellation is no longer just “on or off.” With True Adaptive Noise Cancelling 2.0, the Tour One M3 constantly adjusts in real time.
Using eight microphones, it analyzes your environment and dynamically tweaks the ANC to match—not just for ambient noise, but how you’re wearing the headphones and how long they’ve been on.
Need awareness while walking? Ambient Aware lets in just enough external sound to keep you safe. Talking to someone? TalkThru automatically lowers your music and enhances nearby voices.
Spontaneously say something? SmartTalk detects your voice, pauses your audio, and activates ambient mode—then resumes when you’re done.
It’s an audio filter that understands your surroundings—and your intent. Call quality is excellent, too. A four-mic beamforming array powered by AI ensures your voice remains clear even in chaotic environments. Whether in meetings or on the move, this headphone doesn’t force a compromise between listening and being heard.
SMART TX: TINY BOX WITH HUGE IMPACT
THE Smart TX transmitter bundled with the Tour One M3 Smart TX edition is what makes it truly a game-changer.
Want to watch an in-flight movie? Normally, you’d have to dig out a pair of wired earphones—or worse, use the scratchy airline-issued ones—just to plug into that 3.5mm jack on your seat. The Smart TX changes that. The Smart TX transforms any device
with an audio output (analog or digital) into a wireless audio source. Simply plug it into the seat’s headphone jack, and it instantly streams the audio straight to your Tour One M3 headphones. No wires. No latency. No Bluetooth pairing issues. Just seamless, highquality sound.
It doesn’t stop at analog sources either. Smart TX also connects via USB-C, allowing it to pull digital audio directly from laptops, tablets, smartphones, or even gaming consoles. That means you can use it with everything from your office setup to your Nintendo Switch—without needing to change settings or fiddle with software.
It even has a built-in touchscreen interface that gives you full access to your headphone’s core functions. Without touching your phone or digging through the JBL app, you can adjust volume, switch between noise cancelling and ambient awareness modes, tweak EQ presets, and manage device pairing—all from the transmitter itself.
And then there’s Auracast. This next-generation feature allows you to broadcast your audio from one source to multiple JBL headphones or speakers. Want to share a movie on a flight with a travel buddy? No problem. Need to route a podcast to a nearby JBL speaker while still wearing your headphones? It’s as easy as a tap.
In short, Smart TX isn’t just a clever add-on—it’s the missing link between legacy audio devices and the modern, wireless world. It bridges the gap between old and new, between solo and shared experiences. And once you’ve used it, you’ll wonder why every pair of headphones doesn’t come with one.
BATTERY AND CONNECTIVITY: QUIETLY
EXCELLENT
WITH noise cancelling turned off, you get up to 70 hours of playback—a staggering number that can stretch over an entire week for most users. Even with ANC enabled, the headphones still deliver up to 40 hours, making them perfect for long-haul travel or days filled with back-to-back meetings and commutes.
And when you’re caught with a low battery, a fiveminute charge gives you five hours of playback.
Connectivity is just as seamless. Thanks to Bluetooth 5.3, you get fast, stable streaming with low latency, ideal for watching videos or gaming. Multipoint pairing allows you to stay connected to your phone and laptop at the same time, eliminating the need for constant switching.
FINAL WORD: The JBL Tour One M3 doesn’t need comparisons. As the demand and market for premium headphones continue to grow, the JBL Tour One M3 Smart TX earns its price by delivering a true flagship experience—whether you’re flying, working, listening, or simply seeking peace in a noisy world. You’re getting studio-quality sound tuned for your ears, real-world noise cancellation that adapts on the fly, and the kind of intelligent accessories—like the Smart TX—that make the whole system feel futureready.
It isn’t just another flagship headphone trying to compete in a crowded space. It’s a deliberate and confident answer to the needs of those who actually
listen— those who notice detail, care about personalization, and demand flexibility from their gear. It’s not meant to be an impulse buy. But for people who want their headphones to keep up with their habits, surroundings, and expectations, it feels less like a purchase and more like an investment.
FOR many, payday doesn’t feel like a reward, it feels like a reset button. Money comes in, obligations go out, and by week two, you’re already stretching every peso. That’s why leading digital bank Maya is changing the game. With smart tools and a seamless experience, Maya helps you build financial breathing room and long-term stability— no spreadsheets required.
Here’s how Maya helps you move from just getting by to actually getting ahead:
■ MAKE SAVINGS PART OF THE PLAN, NOT THE AFTERTHOUGHT. Instead of waiting to see what’s left at the end of the month, Maya helps you set aside funds the moment your income hits. Maya Savings offers up to 15 percent p.a. interest, credited daily so your money grows while you focus on everyday needs. No pressure, no lockin, no guesswork.
■ TURN EVERYDAY SPENDING INTO REAL REWARDS. Most people separate spending from saving but the digital bank connects the two. Use Maya for your everyday payments like bills, groceries, shopping, and get rewarded with higher savings interest. It’s a system that works with your lifestyle, not against it.
■ KEEP YOUR GOALS CLEAR AND ORGANIZED. Trying to save for multiple things at once? Maya Personal Goals lets you create up to five customized savings pockets, each earning a base interest rate of 4 percent p.a. Whether it’s for rent, school fees, a trip, or a backup fund, you can stay organized and track progress without mixing up your priorities. And when you need a financial cushion, Maya offers Easy Credit, a built-in revolving credit line of up to P30,000 that you can use for emergencies, essentials, or even last-minute bills. It’s a smart, flexible way to stay on track when life doesn’t go as planned.
■ ONE APP, TOTAL CONTROL. Instead of bouncing between multiple apps, Maya brings everything— banking, saving, credit, and payments into one clean, intuitive space. You get a full view of your money and fewer missed payments or budget blind spots. You shouldn’t have to overhaul your lifestyle to feel more secure with your money. Maya is designed to help you make the most of what you have, plan with confidence, and stop living from one cutoff to the next. More information can be found at www.maya.ph or www.mayabank.ph. Maya Philippines Inc. and Maya Bank Inc. are regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (www.bsp.gov.ph). BREAK FREE FROM PAYCHECK-TO-PAYCHECK CYCLE WITH THESE SMART MONEY MOVES
A8
August 9, 2025
Going from ideas to impact: Young Filipino entreps embark on their ‘BEST’ journey yet
THE University of the Philippines (UP) wrapped up the Building for Entrepreneurial Skills Training (BEST) for the Youth program that empowered young participants from vulnerable sectors with knowledge and the confidence to pursue entrepreneurial paths.
Backed by the Institute for Small-Scale Industries’ (ISSI) Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Devel opment, the program ran from March to June 2025 and gathered 20 youth members aged 18 to 24. For completers, the experience went beyond learning business jargon: They learned resilience, equipped themselves with relevant skills and competencies, and acknowledged that in business, there should be an allowance for changes and adjustments. More importantly, they learned that being young does not mean being incapable.
Mentored by industry experts and guided by UP ISSI’s experienced trainers,
Athe youth participated in various discussions: understanding the micro, small and medium enterprises or MSME sector, productivity tools for the youth, digital marketing and government registration, green productivity and accounting. Through the 6th BUYanihan sa Diliman bazaar, participants stepped into the real world and talked to customers, refined pitches, and learned to stand tall after persuasions and rejections.
Ideas beyond the classrooms
UP ISSI Director Melanie M. MoragaLeaño captured the heart of the mission during her closing remarks: Empowering
youth through entrepreneurship grounded in honor and excellence. The program prepared them for business, and their hearts to serve others.
Graduates like Julia Singson and Raphael Rodriguez, recognized for their standout business plans, are just some of those who carried sparks of ingenuity.
“Turn your ideas into impact,” emphasized Singson during the culmination, which for her was not a conclusion, but a call to action.
For 13 young minds, the journey of turning ideas into reality had only just begun. On the final day of the seven-session program, a proud young Muslim woman smiled through tears as she recalled how a business simulation revealed the gaps in her knowledge, and the promise of her future.
Heart of BEST
THE BEST for the Youth program is funded through the extension grant of UP Diliman OVCRD through the project leader Jake A. Villanueva and assistant project lead Marvin “Marga” M. Manlapas who are both from the Training and Entrepreneurship Education Division of UP ISSI.
In a world often too quick to dismiss the young, the BEST for the Youth program stood as a loud affirmation that they matter, and their future is worth building, said the organizers. According to them, what began as hesitant steps turned into purposeful strides for these young entrepreneurs who are no longer dreaming, but building.
“The BEST for the Youth program isn’t just another training—it’s a transformative space where ideas and possibilities meet purpose,” they said.
Data, dialogue, direction: FEU Public Policy Ctr., women leaders shape a more inclusive future
WHAT does it take to shape a future where leadership is equitable, inclusive, and sustainable in our social and institutional systems?
That was the central question at the
“Breaking Barriers: Women Leading in Business and Beyond” forum organized by the Nextgen Organization of Women Corporate Directors last June at the BPI Wealth Lounge in Makati City. The event brought together leaders from business, government, and academia to reflect on the progress of women’s leadership and the structural changes needed to support it.
At the forefront of the conversation was the Far Eastern University (FEU) Public Policy Center, whose participation affirmed the higher education institution’s long-standing commitment to research, inclusion and future-ready leadership.
FEU Public Policy Center Executive Director Julia Andrea Abad moderated a dynamic panel discussion with Mariana Zobel de Ayala of Ayala Land, Robina Gokongwei-Pe of Robinsons Retail, Col. Francel Margareth Padilla of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and Political Science Professor Dr. Jean Franco of UP Diliman. Together, they explored the lived realities of women in leadership, the role of mentorship, and how institutions can evolve to foster greater diversity at the top.
on gender attitudes among Filipino college students. Referencing their 2024 College Experience Survey, the study revealed that sexist views remain prevalent among young people, especially males, and are often linked to higher interest in leadership roles. These, Basilio said, raise important concerns for the country’s future leadership landscape.
“We found that many of those aspiring to lead still hold beliefs that could [undermine the very inclusivity they aim] to champion,” she shared. “This calls for deeper reflection on how we cultivate both skills and values in our future leaders.”
Consultant for External Affairs Gianna Montinola represented FEU’s senior leadership at the event, where she introduced Zobel de Ayala as keynote speaker. Montinola’s involvement highlighted FEU’s broader institutional advocacy for diversity, equity, and inclusion across sectors.
“Inclusive leadership doesn’t happen by accident: It requires intention, investment, and collaboration,” she said. “As an academic institution, FEU takes this responsibility seriously, both in what we teach and in the research we pursue.”
2-time women’s volleyball MVP shares her recipe for success
FTER steering the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) to a historic four-peat crown with two season MVP plums and a finals MVP title in tow, Lady Blazers team captain Mycah Go wrote a storybook ending to her decorated volleyball career in the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
“I will remember that particular moment for life,” she shared in Filipino. “I was so overwhelmed because we’ve been through a lot as a team. It’s fulfilling since it was my last playing year, and my goal for Season 100 was to exit as a champion.”
On top of her stellar athletic achievements, the 25-year-old outside spiker recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Culinary Arts from the DLS-CSB School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management (SHRIM) program. While she wowed her followers and fans with her clever placement hits and leadership skills on the court, Go was a regular student on campus, donning her chef’s toque and white uniform while getting her hands busy in the kitchen.
“I enjoyed our baking classes because I love making bread and pastries,” she beamed. “Asian cuisine was also my favorite class, where I prepared Chinese, Japanese, and Korean food. I’m a foodie, so I love exploring different dishes.”
From indulging her taste buds with authentic pad thai during her recent travels to Bangkok to whipping up her specialty tomato-based pasta, the self-confessed food enthusiast takes on gastronomic adventures during her leisure time.
“Sometimes, I experiment when I’m not busy,” Go noted. “When my parents are at home, they always prepare our meals. Now that I don’t have classes anymore, I sometimes cook since I’m usually free the whole day.”
Her future career plans involve the possibility of pursuing a master’s degree in Marketing. Perhaps, she may even start her own café or restaurant business, where she can apply the knowledge gained from school.
But those dreams will have to wait: The skipper, who was selected 17th overall by Zus Coffee Thunderbelles in the second round of the 2025 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Rookie Draft, has no intention of hanging up her jersey anytime soon.
“I’m still adjusting to my new team,” she stated. “It’s different at Benilde, where part of my role was to give reminders to my teammates. Even though our coaches are the same
[at Zus], I’m still observing their system and movements so that I can keep up with them. There are a lot of famous and talented players in the PVL, and I want to experience that level of competition.”
Not love at first sight
IT may sound as a surprise to her followers and fans, but volleyball was not Go’s first love. As a child, she immersed herself in various fields, including other sports and campus journalism.
“When I was young, I tried chess and badminton,” she revealed. “I was also a representative for feature writing in the Regional Schools Press Conference.
But fate penned another script for the Cebuana volley belle.
Athleticism is in the DNA of the Season 100 First Best Outside Spiker, hailing from a family that’s passionate about her sport. The promising scholarship opportunity that came with it also encouraged Go to enter the game.
“My parents were both into the sport, and my uncle formed a team. My brother played volleyball until high school, and my sister is currently a volleyball team member at the Chiang Kai Shek College,” she shared.
At 12 years old, Go started to get into competitive volleyball as part of the high school squad of Southwestern University in Cebu. She eventually transferred to Hope Christian High School under the tutelage of coach Jerry Yee.
“I remember the first time I watched Ate Justine [Dorog], who also came from ‘Hope’,” she reminisced. “They went to Cebu for a game; they played really great.” The future MVP’s career blossomed further
when she continued her studies at Benilde, where she won three NCAA championships as a player in Seasons 97, 99, and 100. In a Season 98 tune-up game, she sustained an injury to her anterior cruciate ligament or ACL. That sidelined her and forced her to remain at the Lady Blazers’ bench as a member of the coaching staff that year.
“I did not give up on myself because I still wanted to fight,” she recalled. “It’s normal to feel down and lonely. There were many things that I didn’t understand back then when I had to sit out. But as our coach always told us, ‘Volleyball is life.’”
“If I stopped, what else would I do? I had to finish what I started,” Go added. “I became patient with myself, and believed that time would come when I would get to play again.”
Trust in perfect timing SLOWLY but surely, she has recuperated and regained her old form. Go did not force herself to jump into the professional league right away—even when it meant she would get left behind by her former teammates in Benilde.
“I learned the importance of self-discipline,” she said. “I watched what I ate, took my supplements, and exercised regularly. I didn’t want to rush my recovery even if my batchmates went ahead of me [in turning pro].”
After surviving a career-threatening injury, Go played in the NCAA for two more years and graduated with a bunch of farewell gifts: the championship tiara, an MVP-clinching performance, a college diploma and a PVL team.
“If you’re patient with yourself, you’ll find something that’s meant for you,” she noted.
“Sustainability includes building systems that empower people equitably and evolve with the times,” Abad noted. “True progress requires dismantling the barriers that keep leadership from reflecting the diversity of our society.”
In a key moment in the forum, FEU Public Policy Center data analyst Patricia Thea Basilio delivered a research presentation
Bringing the lone academic research voice to the table, FEU contributed a unique perspective that blended empirical insights with practical recommendations for cultivating inclusive leadership in a changing world. The event closed with a call to continue building networks that support women not only in reaching leadership roles, but in thriving within them.
As for the university, the work continues: generating data that matters, fostering dialogues that challenge norms, and preparing students to lead with both competence and values.
100 students begin transformative internship journey in Ayala Group
THE Ayala Group recently welcomed 100 students to a transformative internship program that aims to help them thrive in their professional lives.
The Ayala Group Summer Internship Program (AGSIP) is a six-week journey of opportunity for interns to find their own purpose and values with real-world experience that will help mold them into the conglomerate’s next-generation talent.
This year’s batch of students comes from 20 schools across the Philippines, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada.
“AGSIP is integral to our commitment to the development of next-generation talent not just for the Ayala Group but for the country,” said Ayala Corporation Chief Human Resources Officer Paco Milán. “The internship provides the students not just practical, on-the-job experience in Ayala companies, but also guides them in identifying their own personal purpose and values that we believe should be at the core of their future pursuits.”
During their six-week journey, the interns will immerse themselves in Ayala’s various businesses. At their onboarding, the students
learned about Ayala’s history and evolution into one of the country’s largest conglomerates. They also recently toured the ACEN plant in Alaminos, Laguna and took part in an activity where they helped plant nearly 500 fast-growing native trees. They also engaged in a masterclass with human resources chiefs across the Ayala Group, including those from ACEN, Ayala Land Inc., BPI and Globe. In the session, they learned about companies under the Ayala Group that place their respective purposes and values into action. The interns also received guidance on crafting their own purpose and values.
The students will also get to join a hackathon hosted by GCash, in partnership with Amazon Web Services and BPI. In this event, they will have the chance to use generative AI and no-code AWS tools for creative problemsolving.
The internship will culminate in a masterclass where four senior Ayala leaders will share ways in applying Ayala’s core values in making strategic and critical decisions.
For more information about AGSIP, visit ayala.com.
Editor: Mike Policarpio
GO is a decorated NCAA and DLS-CSB student-athlete. COMPLETERS of the program with UP ISSI organizers
PANEL members during the forum
COOKING keeps Mycah going—one recipe closer to her professional dreams.
Tourism Editor: Edwin P. Sallan
PEARL OF THE BALTIC
Finnishing my Northward trip in Helsinki
Story & photos by Joshua Berida
IHAD a great time exploring the quaint and historic city center of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. Its lovely narrow alleys, cobblestone streets, and ancient churches and buildings whet my appetite for adventure. After my short jaunt through the Baltics, I was eager to set foot in Helsinki, Finland. I bought round trip ferry tickets online and I was on my way to Helsinki.
Suomenlinna’s Fortified Islands
I OFTEN look for historic attractions when I visit a new city because it provides me with a brief glimpse into its past. I discovered that Suomenlinna fit the bill of what I was looking for.
Thankfully, the fortified island is convenient to reach from the city. I
took a short ferry ride to this historic attraction in Helsinki. Swedish Admiral Augustin Eherensvärd supervised the construction of the fort on the islands in the mid-18th century. The Swedes had it built to fend off the Russians. However, the Russians managed to take
over the fort in the 19th century. The Finns renamed the fort ‘Suomenlinna’ when they gained independence in 1917. The fort’s military importance diminished over the years after World War II and by the 1970s the Finns converted the fortified islands for civilian use. It’s now a famous UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular tourist destination for both visitors and locals.
I still saw vestiges of its heyday as a military stronghold as I explored the area. As I explored the island more, the more it reminded me of our very own Intramuros in Manila with its ancient walls and historic atmosphere. There are also museums, monuments and look out points that provide spectacular views. There’s plenty of walking trails if you’re up for a leisurely stroll.
The City of Cool IN my brief encounter with Helsinki, the one word I’d describe it with is
MALAY, AKLAN—WHO comes to a beach to talk about business?
It’s easy to dismiss a convention center in Boracay as overkill. However, the Boracay Newcoast Convention Center [BNCC] doesn’t try to replace the island. It respects it. And in doing so, it redefines what a productive island event can look like.
“For us here in Boracay Newcoast, this (BNCC) is something we’re really proud of,” Jesse Ray Lazaro, marketing for Savoy Hotel Boracay and Belmont Hotel Boracay, told BusinessMirror
“We’re far from the crowded area. As far as I see it, this is one of the most exclusive… even if they say that the whole Boracay is overcrowded, if they see this area, they’ll find privacy,” he added. And here’s why BNCC sets the tone on what island events can actually be:
Reimagined but not retrofitted
UNLIKE other island venues that retrofit ballrooms or dining halls for conferences, BNCC was designed from
the ground up as a purpose-built convention center.
Opened in 2022 inside the masterplanned, hundreds-of-hectare Boracay Newcoast estate by Megaworld, the center features a total event floor area of over thousands of square meters.
It also has a central foyer and three distinct wings—Oceana, Palmera and Tropicana—that can function as one large space or be divided into three mid-sized venues (each with up to 400 theater-style capacity or 250 banquet guests).
Built-in projection screens, motorized panels and sound systems are part of the infrastructure, so planners aren’t scrambling for tech rentals or plug-and-play fixes.
Still within reach
LOCATED in Barangay Yapak, BNCC sits on the northeastern stretch of Boracay, which is well away from the dense crowds and foot traffic of the famous beaches, establishments and other landmarks.
Yet, this doesn't mean isolation. It’s directly connected to Savoy and Belmont Hotels, with hundreds of accommodation rooms available and complimentary shuttles for guests. The
area is walkable and master-planned, surrounded by curated gardens and a coastal view of the sea.
Always ready FOR island-based events where outages can ruin timelines and presentations, it is crucial that the event's place is fully air-conditioned and has its own 100 percent backup power system.
BNCC is equipped with high-speed WiFi, modern audiovisual infrastructure, fixed projection systems and motorized screens. So, from hybrid meetings to livestreamed panels, the space is built for reliability.
It’s for more than just meetings
BNCC has hosted wellness festivals, religious gatherings, product launches and cultural events, proving that the space isn’t limited to specific ideas and views. It also has its outdoor garden lawn, which provides options for open-air events or breakout sessions beyond the
‘cool,’ the city encapsulates various aspects of it from the weather to the architecture to its people (Finns are some of the happiest people in the world).
Fast facts about Helsinki:
n Sweden’s King Gustav I Vasa established Helsinki as Helsingfors in the 16th century.
n In 1812, Helsinki became the capital during Finland’s Russian period.
n Helsinki is a Creative City of Design.
n It is also referred to as the “white city of the north.”
Senate Square is what I would consider the city’s confluence point. This was the first place I went to during my jaunt around the city. This was also where I found the most recognizable landmark of the capital, the Helsinki Cathedral. Carl Ludvig Engel designed this stunning cathedral that
dates to the mid-19th century. The church resembles a Greek cross and statues of the twelve apostles adorn its pediments. The Helsinki Cathedral and its massive dome dominate the city’s skyline.
As a UNESCO Creative City of Design, I found quite a few quirky and eye-catching architectural gems while exploring the city, one of which is the Temppeliaukio Church. The distinguishing factor of this place of worship is that it was directly built and carved out of a massive rock.
Its skylight allows natural light to flood the interior during a clear day.
The church is a go-to concert venue because of its superb acoustics. The Oodi Helsinki Central Library deserves a special mention. Its structure blends steel, glass, and wood which results in a striking exterior. It’s not just a beautiful building, but is also another human-centered piece of architecture that serves multiple purposes.
The ground floor has a cozy cafe, a
cavernous lobby, and event spaces. The other two floors are home to an urban workshop, more cafes, reading spaces, boatloads of books, work and meeting venues, and others. Helsinki is a walkable creative city. It lets your mind wander and rest on beautiful architecture that blends with its city and seascape. The Esplanadi, Senate Square, parks, and even random spaces outside libraries, churches, and museums are confluence points that allow you to soak everything in. Sometimes you don’t even have to enter a museum to see a beautiful art installation. Pick a cafe, restaurant or bench to relax in, read a book, drink a cup of coffee, or eat after a day of exploring the city on foot. It’s a walkable city that doesn’t forget its sense of history. After wrapping up my northward march through Europe from Poland to Lithuania to Latvia to Estonia then finally to Helsinki, Finland, I couldn’t help but plan my next adventure.
Story & photos by Bless Aubrey Ogerio
BNCC
THE Helsinki Cathedral dominates the cityscape.
ADD the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Suomenlinna to your Helsinki itinerary.
THE Central Railway Station is considered one of the most beautiful train stations in the world.
THE Uspenski Cathedral dates to the 19th century.
ONE of the many vantage points you’ll find while exploring Suomenlinna.
THE Oodi Helsinki Central Library is one of many architectural gems you’ll see in Helsinki.
BORACAY Newcoast Convention Center
THE Temppeliaukio Church
A10 Saturday, August 9, 2025
Editor: Angel R. Calso
Israel announces plan to retake Gaza City in another escalation of the war
&
TBy Melanie Lidman, Wafaa
EL AVIV, Israel—Israel said early Friday that it plans to take over Gaza City in another escalation of its 22-month war with Hamas. The decision, taken after a late-night meeting of top officials, came despite mounting international calls to end the war and protests by many in Israel who fear for the remaining hostages held by Hamas.
Israel’s air and ground war has already killed tens of thousands of people in Gaza, displaced most of the population, destroyed vast areas and pushed the territory toward famine. Another major ground operation would almost certainly exacerbate the humanitarian catastrophe.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier outlined more sweeping plans in an interview with Fox News, saying Israel planned to take control of all of Gaza. Israel already controls around three quarters of the devastated territory.
The final decision, which came after Israel’s Security Cabinet met through the night, stopped short of that, and may be aimed in part at pressuring Hamas to accept a ceasefire on Israel’s terms.
It may also reflect the reservations of Israel’s top general, who reportedly warned that it would endanger the remaining 20 or so living hostages held by Hamas and further strain Israel’s army after nearly two years of regional wars.
The military “will prepare to
take control of Gaza City while providing humanitarian aid to the civilian population outside the combat zones,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement after the meeting.
‘There is nothing left to occupy’ ISRAEL has repeatedly bombarded Gaza City and carried out numerous raids there, only to return to different neighborhoods again and again as militants regrouped. Today it is one of the few areas of Gaza that hasn’t been turned into an Israeli buffer zone or placed under evacuation orders.
A major ground operation there could displace tens of thousands of people and further disrupt efforts to deliver food to the hungerstricken territory.
It’s unclear how many people reside in the city, which was Gaza’s largest before the war. Hundreds of thousands fled Gaza City under evacuation orders in the opening weeks of the war but many returned during a ceasefire at the start of this year.
Palestinians were already an -
ticipating even more suffering ahead of the decision, and at least 42 were killed in Israeli airstrikes and shootings on Thursday, according to local hospitals.
“There is nothing left to occupy,” said Maysaa al-Heila, who is living in a displacement camp.
“There is no Gaza left.”
‘We don’t want to keep it’ ASKED in the interview with Fox News ahead of the Security Cabinet meeting if Israel would “take control of all of Gaza,” Netanyahu replied: “We intend to, in order to assure our security, remove Hamas (from) there.”
“We don’t want to keep it. We want to have a security perimeter,” Netanyahu said in the interview. “We want to hand it over to Arab forces that will govern it properly without threatening us and giving Gazans a good life.”
Israel’s military chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, warned against occupying Gaza, saying it would endanger the hostages and put further strain on the military after nearly two years of war, according to Israeli media reports on the closed-door Security Cabinet meeting.
Hamas-led militants abducted 251 people and killed around 1,200 in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered the war. Most of the hostages have been released in ceasefires or other deals but 50 remain inside Gaza, around 20 of them believed by Israel to be alive.
Almost two dozen relatives of hostages set sail from southern Israel toward the maritime border with Gaza on Thursday, where they broadcast messages from loudspeakers.
Yehuda Cohen, the father of Nimrod Cohen, an Israeli soldier held in Gaza, said from the boat that Netanyahu is prolonging the war to satisfy extremists in his governing coalition. Netanyahu’s
far-right allies want to escalate the war, relocate most of Gaza’s population to other countries and reestablish Jewish settlements that were dismantled in 2005.
“Netanyahu is working only for himself,” Cohen said.
Palestinians killed and wounded as they seek food
ISRAEL’S military offensive has killed over 61,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many were fighters or civilians. The ministry is part of the Hamasrun government and staffed by medical professionals.
The United Nations and independent experts view the ministry’s figures as the most reliable estimate of casualties. Israel has disputed them without offering a toll of its own.
Of the 42 people killed on Thursday, at least 13 were seeking aid in an Israeli military zone in southern Gaza where U.N. aid convoys are regularly overwhelmed by looters and desperate crowds.
Another two were killed on roads leading to nearby sites run by the Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian
medical charity known by its French acronym MSF, published a blistering report denouncing the GHF distribution system. “This is not aid. It is orchestrated killing, “ it said.
MSF runs two health centers very close to GHF sites in southern Gaza and said it had treated 1,380 people injured near the sites between June 7 and July 20, including 28 people who were dead upon arrival. Of those, at least 147 had suffered gunshot wounds—including at least 41 children.
Foundation, an American contractor, according to Nasser Hospital, which received the bodies.
GHF said there were no violent incidents at or near its sites on Thursday. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.
The military zone, known as the Morag Corridor, is off limits to independent media.
Hundreds of people have been killed in recent weeks while heading to GHF sites and in chaotic scenes around U.N. convoys, most of which are overwhelmed by looters and crowds of hungry people.
The U.N. human rights office, witnesses and health officials say Israeli forces have regularly opened fire toward the crowds going back to May, when Israel lifted a complete 2 1/2-month blockade.
The military says it has only fired warning shots when crowds approach its forces. GHF says its armed contractors have only used pepper spray or fired into the air on some occasions to prevent deadly stampedes.
Israel and GHF face mounting criticism DOCTORS Without Borders, a
MSF said hundreds more suffered physical assault injuries from chaotic scrambles for food at the sites, and multiple patients with severely aggravated eyes after being sprayed at close range with pepper spray. It said the cases it saw were only a fraction of the overall casualties connected to GHF sites.
“The level of mismanagement, chaos and violence at GHF distribution sites amounts to either reckless negligence or a deliberately designed death trap,” the report said.
GHF said the “accusations are both false and disgraceful” and accused MSF of “amplifying a disinformation campaign” orchestrated by Hamas.
The US and Israel helped set up the GHF system as an alternative to the U.N.-run aid delivery system that has sustained Gaza for decades, accusing Hamas of siphoning off assistance. The U.N. denies any mass diversion by Hamas. It accuses GHF of forcing Palestinians to risk their lives to get food and say it advances Israel’s plans for further mass displacement.
Shurafa reported from Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip and Krauss from Ottawa, Ontario. Associated Press writers Josef Federman contributed from Jerusalem and Natalie Melzer contributed from Nahariya
PALESTINIANS carry a wounded man who was injured while trying to collect humanitarian aid airdropped by parachute in Gaza City, in the northern Gaza Strip, Thursday, August 7, 2025. AP/JEHAD ALSHRAFI
Shurafa
Joseph Krauss The Associated Press
Trump’s punitive India tariff spoils Modi’s Russian oil math
By Serene Cheong & Rakesh Sharma
AUS decision to double tariffs on Indian goods as punishment for ongoing purchases of Russian crude leaves the world’s third-largest oil consumer in a tight spot and its refiners in disarray, but the move is unlikely to prompt a radical rethink in New Delhi.
For Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it’s a dilemma that has cast the spotlight on an uncomfortably large oil import bill—as well as the dangers of walking a geopolitical tightrope in an age of exceptional volatility.
If New Delhi yields to the threat, it could jeopardize a long-standing relationship with Moscow that extends beyond energy, and it would give up a strategic advantage that provided vital fiscal space. If Modi allows refiners to keep buying, as his defiant response and domestic pressure would suggest, he instead courts a direct blow to the economy and damaged ties with the country’s top trade partner, risking far more than he might gain.
India saved a modest $3.8 billion in the year to March on oil purchases as discounts on Russian crude narrowed, according to ratings agency ICRA. But it exported roughly $87 billion worth of goods to the US in 2024.
A well-supplied oil market, plus less attractive discounts for Moscow’s flagship Urals crude, mean that in theory Modi has space to wean the country off Russian oil entirely, dialing back imports that have surged dramatically since 2022. But practice could prove quite different, as his top opponent and party peers line up to criticize US tactics, stirring nationalist fervor.
“It’s very, very unlikely that Indian oil imports from Russian will go to zero,” said Vandana Hari, founder of consultancy Vanda Insights. “Everyone understands
Trump’s aim is to try and pressure Putin, but to do it with a gun on India’s shoulder is not going down well with New Delhi.”
US President Donald Trump— eager to slash the US’s trade deficit with India and, simultaneously, to gain traction in discussions with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to end the conflict in Ukraine—has demanded that India stop “fueling the war machine” with purchases of discounted Russian barrels. He threatened earlier this week to impose punitive levies on top of a planned 25% that kicks in later this week. Washington confirmed on Wednesday an extra 25% would be added within 21 days.
In the absence of official guidance, Indian refining executives expect an increase in buying from the US as talks continue, but also expressed caution. State-owned processors, which tend to purchase Russian crude through spot deals, are already staying on the sidelines, according to people with direct knowledge of their procurement plans. They asked not to be named as they are not authorized to speak to the media.
Refiners like Indian Oil Corp., Bharat Petroleum Corp. and Hindustan Petroleum Corp. have instead stepped into the spot market over the past week to buy a variety of grades from alternative suppliers—including the US, Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates—seeking cargoes for prompt delivery.
For longer-term supplies, Asian traders expect Indian refiners to approach Middle Eastern producers such as Saudi Arabia and Iraq. With year-long contracts typically negotiated near the close of the Indian fiscal year ending in March, buyers will likely be able to seek small incremental volume adjustments from the likes of Saudi Arabian Oil Co., known as Aramco.
But, absent a full sanctioning of Russian oil, no one in the industry has yet pointed to a formal or a
wholesale change.
Historically, India has not been a significant importer of Russian crude, depending more heavily on the Middle East. All that changed in 2022, after the invasion of Ukraine and a $60-per-barrel price cap imposed by the Group of Seven nations that aimed to limit the Kremlin’s oil revenues while keeping supplies flowing globally.
India eschews sanctioned crude from Iran or Venezuela, but this was a permitted bargain and purchases leapt higher, often at the expense of more traditional suppliers like Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Nigeria. Russia, which accounted for a negligible portion of India’s total imports in 2021, today makes up around 37%, according to data analytics firm Kpler. That’s made India one of the two dominant buyers of Russian crude, along with China.
Government officials argue that
the shift helped to prevent a supply crunch and to cool sky-high prices—and until now the US seemed to agree. On a visit to India last year, Treasury officials described the price cap as “a mechanism for India and other partners to access Russian oil at discounted prices.”
The focus was on guaranteeing supply, and there would be no effort to curb Indian purchases, they said.
Trump’s decision to abruptly move away from that position— without imposing fresh sanctions— has left the government nonplussed, with officials warning that removing Russia would push global oil prices to more than double from their current levels, a warning that harks back to sharp moves in 2022.
The timing, though, has been fortuitous for India, making it at least possible to curb Russian imports. Oil is trading at under $70 and is plentiful, thanks to a move by the Organi-
zation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to return more barrels to the market. It has the option to add more. That leaves choices for a buyer that remains a key source of future demand growth—even if that means being forced to rebuild some relationships.
“If you look at the size of India’s trade with the US, and look at how much savings India gets from buying Russia crude, it’s pretty clear what India would do,” said Warren Patterson, head of commodities strategy at ING Groep NV in Singapore. “Are you going to risk up to $87 billion worth of exports to the US in order to save a few billion from oil discounts?”
Discounts on Russian oil have certainly narrowed. In May, Indian buyers paid $4.50 a barrel less for their Russian crude imports than they did for Saudi purchases. That’s far less impressive than back in 2023, when the gap exceeded $23 a barrel, even though India is a priceconscious market.
“The economic cost of shifting suppliers away from Russia is not actually that big,” said Shilan Shah of Capital Economics. “It feels like a political decision rather than an economic one. India doesn’t want to be seen caving to Trump’s demands. India and Russia have pretty longstanding trade relations, which I think India would be keen to maintain.”Assuming the full tariff is in fact implemented, the lasting headache here may be for Russian producers, left to find other buy-
ers for India’s roughly 1.8 million barrels per day of purchases. China has shown itself happy to take sanctioned oil—but has also long demonstrated its eagerness to retain diverse supply to guarantee energy security. It has little appetite to become dependent on Russian crude, cheap or otherwise.
Still, China may take just enough crude to at least cushion the blow for global oil markets as India winds down, leaving no other substantial buyers to fill the gap.
“China will be very, very careful about soaking up all the Russian crude that’s being diverted from India,” Vanda Insight’s Hari said. “The oil will likely be offered at deeper discounts. But, if China absorbs a substantial amount, guess where Trump’s eye will turn next?”With assistance from Weilun Soon and Sudhi Ranjan Sen / Bloomberg
Trump’s new tariffs on imports set to impact US businesses and consumers as trade costs surge
By Anne D’innocenzio & Dee-Ann Durbin AP Business Writers
AMERICAN businesses and consumers soon will have a better idea of how President Donald Trump’s foreign trade agenda might affect them now that the United States has imposed higher tariffs on products from dozens of countries.
It’s been nearly 100 years since the nation had an overall import tax rate as high as the one set Thursday. But the individual impact on business costs and consumer prices could vary as much as the tariffs applied to goods of nearly 70 US trading partners, from complicated economies like the European Union to the small African nation of Lesotho.
Exports from a majority of them are getting taxed at 15%. For a handful of countries in Asia, the rate is 19%. Products from the rest are subject to taxes of 20% to 50%. Meanwhile, a 55% tariff on Chinese-made goods is scheduled to take effect next week if a USChina trade deal is not agreed on before then.
Businesses in the US and abroad have been dealing in various ways since February with Trump’s fluctuating tariffs on specific products and countries. Many automakers appeared to have absorbed the costs for now. But recent government data indicated that retail prices for groceries, furniture and appliances started creeping up in June.
Because tariffs are a tax on imports, economists have expected US consumers to foot at least part
of the bill eventually. The country-specific round enforced Thursday, together with the president’s earlier tariffs on specific sectors such as automobiles and steel, will increase prices 1.8% in the short term, the Budget Lab at Yale estimated. That’s the equivalent of a $2,400 loss of income per US household, according to the non-partisan policy research center
The projections were based on an analysis of duties implemented this year through Wednesday, as well as a doubling of the levy on items made in India that Trump said would be implemented near the end of August.
“Retailers have been able to hold the line on pricing so far, but the new increased tariffs will significantly raise costs for US retailers, manufacturers and consumers,”
Jon Gold, vice president of supply chain and customs policy at the National Retail Federation trade group, said in an e-mailed statement to The Associated Press. Here’s what to know about the tariffs and where US consumers are most likely to notice effects:
How we got here
TRUMP unveiled sweeping import
taxes on goods coming into the US from 66 countries, the European Union, Taiwan and the Falkland Islands in April. He said the “reciprocal” tariffs were meant to boost domestic manufacturing and restore fairness to global trade.
The president paused the country-specific tariffs a week later but applied a 10% tax to most imports. In early July, he began notifying countries that their exports would be subject to higher tariffs on August 1 unless they reached trade deals. A week ago, he pushed the start date to Thursday.
In the meantime, Trump announced a 35% tariff on imports from Canada, but delayed action on Mexico while negotiations continued. However, a free trade agreement reached with Mexico and Canada during Trump’s first term shields most of those countries’ products from punishing duties.
The president also ordered a 50% tariff on goods from Brazil. This week, he signed an executive order to take India’s tariff rate from 25% to 50% for its purchases of Russian oil. The timing gives India and Russia a chance to negotiate with the Trump administration.
Other duties not specific to countries remain in place, such as a 50% tariff on imported aluminum and steel announced in June. Trump also threatened 100% tariffs on computer chips that aren’t made in the US. The administration has said tariffs are still coming on imported pharmaceutical drugs.
Tariffs are already impacting prices
THE US Commerce Department reported on July 31 that prices rose 2.6% in June, up from an annual pace of 2.4% in May. Earlier in July,
the government reported that its primary inflation measure, the Consumer Price Index, also ticked higher in June as the cost of furniture, toys and other frequently imported items increased.
Shoppers should be prepared to pay more for clothes and shoes because the combined tariffs “disproportionately affect clothing and textiles,” according to the Budget Lab at Yale. It estimates that shoe prices will go up 39% temporarily and stay 19% above where they are now. For apparel, the Budget Lab put the comparable figures at 37% and 18%.
Overall, Americans face an average tax of 18.6% for imported products, the highest rate since 1933, the research center said.
Food and drink prices will climb THE tariffs will almost certainly result in higher food prices, according to an analysis by the nonpartisan Tax Foundation. The US simply doesn’t make enough of some products, like bananas or coffee, to satisfy demand. Fish, beer and liquor are also likely to get more
expensive, the foundation said. The US Wine Trade Alliance and other alcohol industry trade groups sent a letter to Trump that warned a 15% tariff on European wines and spirits could result in more than 25,000 American job losses and cost the industry nearly $2 billion in lost sales.
“Mr. President, we need toasts, not tariffs, as we head into the most important season for our industry,” read the letter dated Wednesday.
Wine distributors and retailers avoided price increases before now by accelerating shipments from France and other EU countries earlier in the year. But with the EU’s tariff rate raised to 15% on Thursday, customers may see European wines costing 30% more in September, US Wine Trade Alliance President Ben Aneff said.
Car prices hold steady—so far SOME automakers already raised prices to counteract tariffs. Luxury sports car maker Ferrari said last week it was waiting for more
details of Trump’s trade deal with the EU before scaling back a 10% surcharge it put on most vehicles in the US.
For the most part, automakers waited for details instead of passing on tariff costs to consumers. But that could change.
General Motors said on July 22 that the impact of the tariffs could get more pronounced in the third quarter of the year. GM has estimated the tariffs will cost it $4 billion to $5 billion this year.
Toyota reported Thursday a 37% drop in profits in the AprilJune quarter, cutting its full-year earnings forecasts largely because of Trump’s tariffs.
Still a clouded picture EVEN with so many new tariffs kicking in, the tariff situation remains fluid. Trump’s use of an emergency powers law to implement tariffs is being challenged in the courts. The case is expected to wind up before the US Supreme Court. Moreover, the tariffs on goods from China haven’t been finalized. Consumers may start seeing more effects when the administration ends a tax exemption for small parcels sent from other countries. Trump last week signed an order to suspend the “de minimis” exemption that has allowed shipments valued at $800 or less to enter the US duty-free. International e-commerce companies have widely used the rule to avoid paying customs charges.
Trump withdrew the exemption in early April for goods shipped from China and Hong Kong tarifffree. It is now set to be eliminated for low-value packages from every country on August 29.
AP reporter Colleen Barry in Milan contributed to this report.
Japan’s aging atomic bomb survivors speak out against nuclear weapons
By Mari Yamaguchi
The Associated Press
HIROSHIMA, Japan—
Eighty years after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, a dwindling number of the aging Japanese survivors are increasingly frustrated by growing nuclear threats and the acceptance of nuclear weapons by global leaders.
The US attack on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, and three days later on Nagasaki, killed more than 200,000 people by the end of that year. Others survived but with radiation illness.
About 100,000 survivors are still alive. Many hid their experiences to protect themselves and their families from discrimination that still exists. Others couldn’t talk about what happened because of the trauma they suffered.
Some survivors have begun to speak out late in their lives, hoping to encourage others to push for the end of nuclear weapons.
An English-speaking guide at Hiroshima’s peace park
DESPITE numerous health issues, survivor Kunihiko Iida, 83, has devoted his retirement years to telling his story as a way to advocate for nuclear disarmament.
He volunteers as a guide at Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park. He wants to raise awareness among foreigners because he feels their understanding of the bombings is lacking.
It took him 60 years to be able to talk about his ordeal in public.
When the US dropped a uranium bomb on Hiroshima, Iida was 900 meters (yards) away from the hypocenter, at a house where his mother grew up.
He was 3 years old. He remembers the intensity of the blast. It was as if he was thrown out of a building. He found himself alone underneath the debris, bleeding from shards of broken glass all over his body.
“Mommy, help!” he tried to scream, but his voice didn’t come out. Eventually he was rescued by
his grandfather.
Within a month, his 25-yearold mother and 4-year-old sister died after developing nosebleeds, skin problems and fatigue. Iida had similar radiation effects through elementary school, though he gradually regained his health.
He was almost 60 when he finally visited the peace park at the hypocenter, the first time since the bombing, asked by his aging aunt to keep her company.
After he decided to start telling his story, it wasn’t easy. Overwhelmed by emotion, it took him a few years before he could speak in public.
In June, he met with students in Paris, London and Warsaw on a government-commissioned peace program. Despite his worries about how his calls for nuclear abolishment would be perceived in nuclear-armed states like Britain and France, he received applause and handshakes.
Iida says he tries to get students to imagine the aftermath of a nuclear attack, how it would destroy
both sides and leave behind highly radioactive contamination.
“The only path to peace is nuclear weapons’ abolishment. There is no other way,” Iida said.
A regular at anti-war protests FUMIKO DOI , 86, would not have survived the atomic bombing on Nagasaki if a train she was on had been on time. The train was scheduled to arrive at Urakami station around 11 a.m., just when the bomb was dropped above a nearby cathedral.
With the delay, the train was 5 kilometers (3 miles) away. Through the windows, Doi, then 6, saw the flash. She covered her eyes and bent over as shards of broken windows rained down. Nearby passengers covered her for protection.
People on the street had their hair burnt. Their faces were charcoal black and their clothes were in pieces, she said.
Doi told her children of the experience in writing, but long hid her status as a survivor because of fear of discrimination.
Doi married another survivor. She worried their four children would suffer from radiation effects. Her mother and two of her three brothers died of cancer, and two sisters have struggled with their health.
Her father, a local official, was mobilized to collect bodies and soon developed radiation symptoms. He later became a teacher and described what he’d seen, his sorrow and pain in poetry, a teary Doi explained.
Doi began speaking out after seeing the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster following a strong earthquake and tsunami, which caused radioactive contamination.
She travels from her home in Fukuoka to join anti-war rallies, and speaks out against atomic weapons.
“Some people have forgotten about the atomic bombings ... That’s sad,” she said, noting that some countries still possess and develop nuclear weapons more powerful than those used 80 years ago.
“If one hits Japan, we will be destroyed. If more are used around the
world, that’s the end of the Earth,” she said. “That’s why I grab every chance to speak out.”
At Hiroshima, learning from survivors AFTER the 2023 Hiroshima G7 meeting of global leaders and the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the grassroots survivors’ group Nihon Hidankyo last year, visitors to Hiroshima and Nagasaki peace museums have soared, with about one third of them coming from abroad. On a recent day, most of the visitors at the Hiroshima peace park were non-Japanese. Samantha Anne, an American, said she wanted her children to understand the bombing.
“It’s a reminder of how much devastation one decision can make,” Anne said.
Katsumi Takahashi, a 74-yearold volunteer specializing in guided walks of the area, welcomes foreign visitors but worries about Japanese youth ignoring their own history. On his way home, Iida, the survivor and guide, stopped by a monument dedicated to the children killed. Millions of colorful paper cranes, known as the symbol of peace, hung nearby, sent from around the world.
Even a brief encounter with a survivor made the tragedy more real, Melanie Gringoire, a French visitor, said after Iida’s visit. “It’s like sharing a little piece of history.”
The Associated Press video journalists Mayuko Ono and Ayaka McGill contributed to this report.
Harvard scientists say research could be set back years after funding freeze
By Leah Willingham & Michael Casey The Associated Press
CAMBRIDGE,
Mass.—Harvard University professor Alberto Ascherio’s research is literally frozen.
Collected from millions of US soldiers over two decades using millions of dollars from taxpayers, the epidemiology and nutrition scientist has blood samples stored in liquid nitrogen freezers within the university’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
The samples are key to his awardwinning research, which seeks a cure to multiple sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases. But for months, Ascherio has been unable to work with the samples because he lost $7 million in federal research funding, a casualty of Harvard’s fight with the Trump administration.
“It’s like we have been creating a state-of-the-art telescope to explore the universe, and now we don’t have money to launch it,” said Ascherio. “We built everything and now we are ready to use it to make a new discovery that could impact millions of people in the world and then, ‘Poof. You’re being cut off.’”
Researchers laid off and science shelved
THE loss of an estimated $2.6 billion in federal funding at Harvard has meant that some of the world’s most prominent researchers are laying off young researchers. They are shelving years or even decades of research, into everything from opioid addiction to cancer.
And despite Harvard’s lawsuits against the administration, and settlement talks between the warring parties, researchers are confronting the fact that some of their work may never resume.
The funding cuts are part of a monthslong battle that the Trump administration has waged against some the country’s top universities including Columbia, Brown and Northwestern. The administration has
taken a particularly aggressive stance against Harvard, freezing funding after the country’s oldest university rejected a series of government demands issued by a federal antisemitism task force.
The government had demanded sweeping changes at Harvard related to campus protests, academics and admissions—meant to address government accusations that the university had become a hotbed of liberalism and tolerated anti-Jewish harassment.
Research jeopardized, even if court case prevails
HARVARD responded by filing a federal lawsuit, accusing the Trump administration of waging a retaliation campaign against the university. In the lawsuit, it laid out reforms it had taken to address antisemitism but also vowed not to “surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights.”
“Make no mistake: Harvard rejects antisemitism and discrimination in all of its forms and is actively making structural reforms to eradicate antisemitism on campus,” the university said in its legal complaint.
“But rather than engage with Harvard regarding those ongoing efforts, the Government announced a sweeping freeze of funding for medical, scientific, technological, and other research that has nothing at all to do with antisemitism.”
The Trump administration denies the cuts were made in retaliation, saying the grants were under review even before the demands were sent in April. It argues the government has wide discretion to cancel federal contracts for policy reasons.
The funding cuts have left Harvard’s research community in a state of shock, feeling as if they are
being unfairly targeted in a fight has nothing to do with them. Some have been forced to shutter labs or scramble to find non-government funding to replace lost money.
In May, Harvard announced that it would put up at least $250 million of its own money to continue research efforts, but university President Alan Garber warned of “difficult decisions and sacrifices” ahead.
Ascherio said the university was able to pull together funding to pay his researchers’ salaries until next June. But he’s still been left without resources needed to fund critical research tasks, like lab work. Even a year’s delay can put his research back five years, he said.
Knowledge lost in funding freeze
“It’s really devastating,” agreed Rita Hamad, the director of the Social Policies for Health Equity Research Center at Harvard, who had three multiyear grants totaling $10 million canceled by the Trump administration. The grants funded research into the impact of school segregation on heart health, how pandemic-era policies in over 250 counties affected mental health, and the role of neighborhood factors in dementia.
At the School of Public Health,
where Hamad is based, 190 grants have been terminated, affecting roughly 130 scientists.
“Just thinking about all the knowledge that’s not going to be gained or that is going to be actively lost,” Hamad said. She expects significant layoffs on her team if the funding freeze continues for a few more months. “It’s all just a mixture of frustration and anger and sadness all the time, every day.”
John Quackenbush, a professor of computational biology and bioinformatics at the School of Public Health, has spent the past few months enduring cuts on multiple fronts.
In April, a multimillion-dollar grant was not renewed, jeopardizing a study into the role sex plays in disease. In May, he lost about $1.2 million in federal funding for in the coming year due to the Harvard freeze. Four departmental grants worth $24 million that funded training of doctoral students also were cancelled as part of the fight with the Trump administration, Quackenbush said.
“I’m in a position where I have to really think about, ‘Can I revive this research?’” he said. “Can I restart these programs even if Harvard and the Trump administration reached some kind of settlement? If they do reach a
Haiti’s new transitional leader faces gang threats amid rising violence
PBy Evens Sanon & Dánica Coto
The Associated Press
ORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti—A wealthy businessman on Thursday became the head of Haiti’s transitional presidential council tasked with restoring order in the troubled country as a top gang leader underscored the challenges facing the nation by vowing to overthrow the government.
Laurent Saint-Cyr’s appointment at the council’s heavily guarded office in the capital, Port-auPrince, where criminal gangs control 90% of the neighborhoods, marked the first time that members of Haiti’s private sector serve in both the rotating presidency and the post of prime minister, two positions that share the country’s executive duties. Saint-Cyr had his start at a local insurance company while Haiti’s current prime minister once ran an internet firm.
“Our country is going through one of the greatest crises in all its history,” Saint-Cyr said as he was sworn in. “It’s not the time for beautiful speeches. It’s time to act.”
Gang leader issues a warning HOURS earlier, a powerful gang federation that has long denounced Haiti’s oligarchs threatened to overthrow the government, and gunfire erupted in parts of the capital.
In a video posted on social media, Viv Ansanm gang leader Jimmy Chérizier—better known as “Barbecue”—warns residents to give his armed group free passage through neighborhoods to reach the council’s office.
“People of Haiti, take care of yourselves and help us…in the battle to free the country,” Chérizier says, wearing a bulletproof vest and with an automatic rifle slung around his shoulder.
A UN-backed mission led by Kenyan police said in a statement that officers thwarted potential attacks by around-the-clock patrols and by boosting the number of armed forces in certain
neighborhoods and around critical infrastructure.
“Armed gangs had plotted to disrupt national stability and render the country ungovernable,” it said.
A call for order
SAINT-CYR thanked all national and international actors who have helped Haiti, as well as the private sector, which he called the engine of the country’s economy. He noted that while he’s from the private sector, he would serve all people equally.
Saint-Cyr previously served as president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Haiti and of the country’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He’ll be working with Prime Minister Alix Didier FilsAimé, a one-time president of an internet company in Haiti and also a former president of the country’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Saint-Cyr said security was a priority. He called on the armed forces to intensify their operations and on international partners to send more soldiers, offer more training and help boost a mission lacking resources and personnel.
“We must restore state authority,” he said. “The challenges we face are certainly linked to insecurity, but they also are the result of our lack of courage, a lack of vision and our irresponsibility.”
He questioned what was preventing the government from offering services Haitians deserve, including health and education. “Mister prime minister, assume your responsibilities!” he said.
Meanwhile, 58 organizations from countries that include the United States in a letter to Saint-Cyr accused the council of violating its legal obligations to Haiti’s women and girls.
“Collective rape is endemic,” they said, noting that sexual violence has surged as gangs persist in their rampage. The organizations also accused Haiti’s government of being “completely absent” at shelters where rape survivors need basic services.
A growing number of people have grumbled about Haiti’s private sector leading the country.
Some of Haiti’s wealthy elites and powerful politicians have long been accused of financing and
arming dozens of gangs.
“The elites have always wanted power, and they have always wanted to control Haiti, and now they’re in control,” said Marline Jean-Pierre, a 44-year-old teacher who braved gunfire to visit a friend at a hospital in downtown Port-au-Prince.
She said she has lost hope that things will change, accusing former council presidents of making promises they didn’t keep.
“Nothing really happened,” she said. “Young women are being raped, families are being dismantled.”
However, dozens of Haitians wearing white T-shirts and clutching signs emblazoned with SaintCyr’s photograph gathered outside the council’s office to support him.
Skirmishes broke out hours later between supporters and those who opposed Saint-Cyr.
“Even though he’s a mulatto with good hair, he’s Haitian,” one supporter said of Saint-Cyr, who is part of the country’s small and powerful lighter-skinned elite—as is Fils-Aimé.
‘Remain on guard!’
AS the country prepared for Saint-Cyr’s swearing-in ceremony, Haitians posted a flurry of warnings about violence in hopes that people could remain safe.
“Those of you in the capital, you will hear gunshots both ahead of you and behind you. Remain on guard!” one message stated.
Tripotay Lakay, a local news site, reported that one person was killed and another injured while driving into Port-au-Prince on Thursday, though it was unclear how that happened. A video posted on social media shows a woman’s body slumped in the car.
Heavy gunfire around downtown Port-au-Prince persisted on Tuesday afternoon, with local media reporting that several people were wounded. Small explosions from police-manned drones also were heard.
Violence also was reported in Kenscoff, a once peaceful farming area above the hills of Port-au-Prince.
The UN-backed mission said it lost two armored vehicles after they became trapped in trenches dug
settlement, how quickly can the funding be turned back on? Can it be turned back on?”
The researchers all agreed that the funding cuts have little or nothing to do with the university’s fight against antisemitism. Some, however, argue changes at Harvard were long overdue and pressure from the Trump administration was necessary.
Bertha Madras, a Harvard psychobiologist who lost funding to create a free, parentfocused training to prevent teen opioid overdose and drug use, said she’s happy to see the culling of what she called “politically motivated social science studies.”
White House pressure a good thing?
MADRAS said pressure from the White House has catalyzed much-needed reform at the university, where several programs of study have “really gone off the wall in terms of being shaped by orthodoxy that is not representative of the country as a whole.”
But Madras, who served on the President’s Commission on Opioids during Trump’s first term, said holding scientists’ research funding hostage as a bargaining chip doesn’t make sense.
“I don’t know if reform would have happened without the president of the United States pointing the bony finger at Harvard,” she said. “But sacrificing science is problematic, and it’s very worrisome because it is one of the major pillars of strength of the country.”
Quackenbush and other Harvard researchers argue the cuts are part of a larger attack on science by the Trump administration that puts the country’s reputation as the global research leader at risk. Support for students and postdoctoral fellows has been slashed, visas for foreign scholars threatened, and new guidelines and funding cuts at the NIH will make it much more difficult to get federal funding in the future, they said. It also will be difficult to replace federal funding with money from the private sector.
“We’re all sort of moving toward this future in which this 80-year partnership between the government and the universities is going to be jeopardized,” Quackenbush said. “We’re going to face real challenges in continuing to lead the world in scientific excellence.”
out by gangs. It said Kenyan policemen came under an attack with Molotov cocktails but “courageously held their ground, inflicting significant damage on the assailants.” Three officers received minor injuries.
Videos posted on social media show suspected gang members laughing and cheering as they surrounded one of the armored vehicles that was later set on fire.
“Come get it back if you can!” one gunman is heard jeering.
A plea for more officers
IN a report released Thursday, the UN-backed mission noted that it has 991 personnel, far less than the 2,500 envisioned, and some $112 million in its trust fund—about 14% of the estimated $800 million needed a year.
The mission said it has no air support for operations and that only 200 officers can be deployed at a time because of insufficient equipment, including vehicles.
The mission also noted that the government remains fragile: “Partisan infighting within the transitional government has had the effect of paralyzing the government and emboldening the gangs.”
Gangs in Kenscoff recently kidnapped eight people from an orphanage, including an Irish missionary and a 3-year-old child. They remain missing.
Violence surged in the aftermath of the July 2021 killing of President Jovenel Moïse, and ongoing violence has displaced more than 1.3 million people in recent years.
At least 1,520 people were killed and more than 600 injured from April to the end of June across Haiti. More than 60% of the killings and injuries occurred during operations by security forces against gangs, with another 12% blamed on self-defense groups, according to the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti.
Coto reported from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
HARVARD University Professor Alberto Ascherio opens a liquid nitrogen freezer used to store blood samples used for research at the university’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, in Boston. AP/LEAH WILLINGHAM
Over troubled sand in Jeddah
By Josef Ramos
THE Philippines took a second consecutive blow on Thursday night in Jeddah this time at the hands of New Zealand to go 0-2 won-lost in the 2025 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia Cup. A deep hole but not worse enough to bury whatever chances Gilas Pilipinas has left to salvage a ticket to the knockout phase.
“We are disappointed, but the tournament is not over for us,” said Cone after his team took an 86-94 beating from the Kiwis—Gilas’s second straight loss after the 87-95 disappointment it got from Chinese-Taipei.
“We have a big game against Iraq and let’s see if we can get to the next round,” he added. Iraq, the lowest-ranked team in Pool D at No. 92, is also 0-2 after consecutive setbacks to No. 22 New Zealand (78-100) and No. 73 Chinese-Taipei (60-87).
The Filipinos, who are No. 34 in the world, clash with the Iraqis at 4 p.m. Saturday also at the King Abdullah Sports Center.
That lone victory over Iraq would position the Philippines at No. 3 to keep its head above water in the pool.
The top teams from each of the four pools will advance outright to the quarterfinals while the next four will be determined by a playoff among the second- and third-placed teams, thus giving Gilas Pilipinas that small lifeline to advance deeper in the tournament.
“We just need to keep battling, keep our heads moving forward—don’t sink from these two losses because we cannot afford that,” Cone said. “There is still more to do, and we will be going to
Ibe ready for our next game.”
N a mano-a-mano showdown between friends on and off the course, Keanu Jahns kept his punches rolling from start to finish and floored Angelo Que with a blazing final-round charge to clinch the fiercely contested International Container Terminal Services Inc. Caliraya Springs Championship with a blistering 64 on Friday in Cavinti, Laguna.
Jahns took control from the opening tee of the Lakeside course of the Caliraya Springs Golf Club, capitalizing on his length to set up precise wedge approaches and relying on a steady putter to do the rest.
The 29-year-old Filipino-German star carded a closing eight-under card, powered by a scorching five-birdie stretch from No. 5 that would have shaken off any challenger.
But it was his composure down the stretch—four birdies over the last seven holes under intense pressure from Que—that turned a tightly anticipated showdown into a runaway win. At least, in this P2.5 million championship.
Two-up with two to play, Jahns birdied the 17th while Que faltered with a bogey from the bunker, sealing the contest with a commanding swing.
“I just stayed composed and kept pace with Angelo because I knew someone was bound to shoot another low score today,” said Jahns, after capping off a brilliant performance with a 72-hole total of 22-under 266, clinching a decisive four-stroke win over the Tour’s hottest player.
“We were battling it out up until No. 15—it was a great match,” he said.
“It was fun. I enjoy these kinds of battles—they test your experience and character, and I’m proud I handled the pressure well,” added Jahns, who banked the champion’s purse of P440,000. With the outcome all but sealed, the walk up the 18th became a victory march for Jahns, who had been building back momentum on the Philippine Golf Tour
If the Philippines beats Iraq, it winds up No. 3 spot in Group D and play the No. 2 team—either host Saudi Arabia or Jordan—in Group C in the crossover playoffs for the remaining quarterfinal berths.
The Kiwis were in control throughout but they had to fend off several attempts by the Filipinos to turn the tables around.
Gilas succumbed to New Zealand’s 50 percent (13 of 26) shooting from the three-point zone as the Filipinos made only nine of 28 attempts—32 percent—from far out.
Justin Brownlee was again on fire for Gilas Pilipinas with 37 points on 7 of 12 shooting from three-point zone while Dwight Ramos had 19 points and June Mar Fajardo added 11 points.
But New Zealand’s gunners were on a spree with Jordan Ngatai getting 22 points and Taylor Britt scattering 19 points to go unbeaten in the pool along with Chinese-Taipei.
New Zealand played more chemistry with seven more assists at 23 and controlled the boards with authority, 41-33. The Kiwis and Taiwanese clash for Pool D’s No. 1 spot on Sunday.
Fil-German Jahns wins with final-round charge
with a tie for sixth at Pradera Verde, a share of 17th finish at Eagle Ridge, and a joint runner-up showing at Forest Hills. Que, ever the fighter, matched fire with fire for much of the round, mounting birdie surges to stay close, though bogeys and missed opportunities crept in. Just one back entering the final round, he matched Jahns’ frontside 32 with a five-birdie, one-bogey card, including back-to-back feats on Nos. 5 and 7. But as Jahns shifted into overdrive, Que couldn’t keep pace, settling for a two-birdie, one-bogey back nine. He signed off with a second straight 67 for a 270 total, good for runner-up honors and P287,500.
Rupert Zaragosa rallied late with a four-birdie blitz from No. 12 to shoot a 68 and snare solo third at 274, earning P160,000.
Fidel Concepcion, who began the day just two shots back and had only two bogeys across 54 holes, faltered in the final round. His frontnine bogey-birdie split left him six back at the turn. Though he carded three birdies against a bogey at the back, a costly double bogey on the last hole dropped him to fourth at 276, worth P127,500.
Abubakar makes presence felt, Trinidad impresses in Chengdu
TWO athletes made a big splash at the Sancha Lake Arena just as Rudzma Abubakar introduced herself at the heart of megacity Chengdu as action in the 2025 World Games turned a new level on Friday.
Raph Trinidad was as confident from his flag-bearer duties on Thursday night’s opening ceremony to his stuntfilled ride in cable wakeboarding, riding the waters confidently and scoring 80.20 points to finish atop his heat and place third among the 10 qualifiers to the semifinals set Saturday at the same venue.
Max Milde and Germany (83 points) and Loic Deschaux of France (80.40) ruled the qualification round.
In wake surfing, Eric Ordonez did just enough to make it to the semifinals with 36.67 points to join eight other participants in the next stage.
He needs to do more to impress the judges and make it to the finals, with elite athletes Jett Lambert of USA (83.75) and BM Jomboon of Thailand (80) were way ahead after the heats.
Trinidad, Ordonez and the rest of the 47-strong Philippine delegation are supported by Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and the Philippine Sports Commission headed by chairman Patrick Gregorio.
room for celebration as she battles China’s Xiaohui Lui in the next round set at 6 p.m. Saturday. In the morning sessions, wushu bet Agatha Wong placed eighth out of the nine participants in the women’s taolu taijiquan at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center.
Wong, an unstoppable force in the Southeast Asian Games, earned 9.160 points in the bare hands event. She could improve her total and give herself a shot at a podium finish when she performs taijijian or sword in the evening contest set at 7:50 p.m. Friday evening.
While Chengdu turned the World Games fever on, the Filipino contingent slowly gets the manpower it needs to fire up its medal drive in the days to come.
The dragon boat team competes in the open 8-seater 2000-meter final at the Xinglong Lake Hubin Arena on Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
With John James Pelagio serving as steerer, the power and tenacity should come from Roger Masbate, Alfred Reformina, John Rey Barca, Jim Vincent Arsenio, Robert Pantaleon, Roda Daba, Joanna Barca and Rosalyn Esguerra.
Returning to the court is the men’s floorball team against Sweden at 11:45 a.m. at the Xindu Xiangcheng Sports Centre.
Jeff de Luna, meanwhile, favored the World Games over invitations to money games as he vies in men’s 10-ball beginning Sunday at the Civil Flight University of China Campus. De Luna, 41, along with Rubilen Amit and Chezka Centeno are competing in pool action in the games.
Gregorio stresses grassroots plans
HILIPPINE Sports Commission
P(PSC) chairman Patrick Gregorio is keen on building regional training centers to further strengthen grassroots development and promote inclusivity even in remote provinces.
Attendibng his first international mission as PSC chief, Gregorio arrived in Chengdu on Wednesday afternoon to attend the opening ceremony and give his word of support to the national team.
And what a perfect time to lay out his grand plan of putting up training hubs in key locations in the Philippines with the presence
THE Ironman 70.3 Lapu-Lapu presented by Megaworld promises a fast and furious battle when the starting gun fires Sunday at the scenic Mactan Newtown.
With a powerhouse cast of global triathlon talents and a race course built to ignite competition, the chase for top honors is expected to push athletes to their limits.
While numerous titles are up for grabs across age-group categories ranging from 18–24 to 75-andabove, the spotlight will be firmly on the pro division.
Dilao siblings add color to Olivarez netfest
the likes of Matthias Go, Sky Berille, Enzo Masaga,
Cablitas and Aaron Coyiuto.
12-and-under side, meanwhile, is bannered by Tyronne Caro, with a competitive mix that includes Yuan Torrente, Liam Harrow, Raven Licayan, Rafael Cablitas, Angelo Alegria, Joaquin Dacyon and Alexander Calingasan.
Also at stake are titles in the girls’ 12-, 14-, 16- and 18-under divisions, along with the 10-andunder unisex category.
Over at the Sichuan Gymnasium, located right at the atrium of the bustling Chengdu metropolis, Abubakar made noise and punched her ticket to the Muay Thai semifinals with a 30-27 win over the taller Anastasiia Mykhailenko of Ukraine. So powerful were her strikes that she cut the Ukrainian’s right eyebrow in the second round which obviously gained the Filipino the momentum she needed to win all three rounds.
Though first-match jitters seemed like a non-factor for the striker, Abubakar, who has Chef de Mission Stephen Arapoc by her side, has little
of Filipino athletes who joined this significant multi-sports event for non-Olympic disciplines.
“We must develop these centers to give young athletes an equal chance of honing their talents and avoid them being taken away from their families at a very young age,” said Gregorio, who met with Team Philippines Chef de Mission Stephen Arapoc to also discuss his next big project for the sports agency.
“There is already a directive from the Office of the President to put up regional training centers. It is now all about creating a framework which will work for both the PSC and the
“Playing for flag and country is my primary goal for now. I sacrificed all the money games like the US Open for this,” De Luna said. “I trained for this for so many months and I hope to win the gold.”
stakeholders,” added Gregorio, who was himself a chef de mission to the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Alabama, where karatedo Junna Tsukii won gold in women’s kumite 50kg. He mentioned Laoag City in Ilocos Norte, Clark in Pampanga, Tayabas in Quezon Province, Ormoc City in Leyte, Bacolod City/Negros Occidental, and urbanized areas in Mindanao like Bukidnon, Zamboanga City, and General Santos City as possible hubs. Also being planned to become a water sports training center is Siargao, one of the popular surfing destinations in the south.
The 1.9-km swim, 90-km bike and 21-km run are set to test not just speed, but stamina, strategy and mental grit–likely down to the last stride or push.
Local triathletes, from battle-tested veterans to rising stars, will share the stage with elite pros in the Open and Bagong Bayani divisions.
But all eyes will be on the premier men’s pro race, led by New Zealand’s Sam Osborne, who returns seeking redemption after settling for second to pro, Osborne, however, has to contend with a stacked Australian contingent—Caleb Noble, Calvin Amos, Brett Clifford, Josh Ferris, Tomasso Puccini and Nicholas Free— and fellow Kiwi Mike Phillips. The women’s pro field is similarly stacked led by Australia’s Lauren Hume, Sophie Malowiecki and Sarah Thomas and New Zealand’s Paige Cranage and Amelia Watkinson. Also on the menu is the
