14/05/2025

WEDNESDAY | MAY 14, 2025

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Marcos set to deliver on policy agenda

What began as a united front between two powerful families in 2022 unravelled last year into an acrimonious feud, marked by a torrent of personal accusations and a bid to impeach Duterte on allegations she misused funds, amassed unexplained wealth and threatened to assassinate Marcos, the first lady and the House speaker. She denies wrongdoing. The Senate contest was critical, with its members to become jurors if an impeachment trial goes ahead, where Duterte faces removal from office and a lifetime ban if convicted. Though Marcos has the edge, the voting indicates Duterte has a chance of acquittal, with four allies set to win Senate seats and give her an important foothold to rally support in the high-profile chamber, where a two-thirds majority is needed to convict her. “This is not the end – it’s a renewed beginning,” Duterte said in a statement. “We invite all citizens, regardless of background or past affiliation, to join us in building a powerful and principled opposition.” “We can shape a future that is fair, inclusive and just. Stand with us.” Ederson Tapia, a political scientist at University of Makati, said that although Marcos will hold clout in the Senate, things may not always go his way. “We will see even more fragmentation, especially, since many will jockey for 2028,” he said of the next presidential election.

o Sara Duterte fighting to survive impeachment

government since federation in 1901. The Labor Party rode a voter backlash against global instability caused by US President Donald Trump’s policies to a come-from behind victory on May 3. The opposition Liberal Party, whose leader Peter Dutton lost his seat at the election, selected Sussan Ley (pic) as its new leader yesterday. Ley will become the first woman leader of the federal Liberal Party, which lost city seats in Sydney and Melbourne to women who ran as independent candidates in the last two elections. The Australian Electoral Commission is yet to finalise vote counting in several seats, although Labor has claimed at least 92 seats out of the 150-seat House of Representatives. It was the largest Labor caucus since Australia was formed by the federation of six former British colonies in 1901. Albanese and his ministers were sworn in at Government House in Canberra by Governor-General Sam Mostyn. The key roles of treasurer, foreign affairs, defence and trade are unchanged. In new roles, Michelle Rowland was sworn in as attorney general, Murray Watt as environment minister and Tanya Plibersek as social services minister. Business Council of Australia chief executive Bran Black said in a MANILA: Allies of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr looked set to win at least half of the available Senate seats in a midterm election, an unofficial tally showed, in a contest seen as a referendum on his leadership and a fierce proxy battle with his estranged vice-president. Although 18,000 positions including mayors, governors and lawmakers were up for grabs, attention was firmly on the race for the influential Senate, with a bitter row between Marcos and his popular Vice-President Sara Duterte dominating the election. With most votes counted in the unofficial tally, Marcos’ allies were on course for half of the 12 available seats in the 24-member Senate, likely guaranteeing support for his policy agenda after the dramatic collapse of his once formidable alliance with Duterte, the daughter of maverick former leader Rodrigo Duterte. Analysts say a Marcos-friendly Senate would not only secure passage of key legislation and backing for his pro-US foreign policy, it could give him sway in deciding the political fate of his adversary Duterte, a likely 2028 presidential contender with Marcos limited to a single term.

Protesters raise placards during a demonstration against alleged voting irregularities in Manila yesterday. – AFPPIC

president to a foreign court, both of which he has rejected. Despite the elder Duterte’s detention in The Hague, unofficial results showed he was set to be elected mayor in a landslide in his hometown Davao City, with his son as vice-mayor. – Reuters

facing trial over a “war on drugs” during which thousands were killed. He maintains his arrest was illegal, amounting to kidnapping. Sara Duterte has accused Marcos of trying to destroy their family politically and of selling out sovereignty in giving up a former

“Duterte’s influence cannot be written off altogether.” Fuelling the flames of the already charged election was former president Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest by Philippine police in March at the request of the International Criminal Court, where he is detained and

Labor sworn in for 2nd term SYDNEY: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was sworn in for a second term yesterday, alongside his ministers, after a landslide win at a national election he said had returned the largest centre-left Labor

Myanmar airstrike kills 22 at school DEPEYIN: An airstrike hit a school on Monday killing 22 people, including 20 children, witnesses said, despite a purported humanitarian ceasefire called to help Myanmar recover from a devastating earthquake. bags were piled before a pole flying the Myanmar flag outside, as parents chiselled small graves out of the hard earth to bury the shrouded bodies of their children.

“There was no airstrike on non military targets,” it said in a statement. Myanmar has been riven by civil war since the military deposed a civilian government in 2021, with the government suffering stinging losses to rebels. But the military pledged a ceasefire throughout this month “to continue the rebuilding and rehabilitation process” after the magnitude 7.7 quake in Myanmar’s central belt that killed nearly 3,800 people. Tens of thousands are still living outside after the catastrophic jolt demolished or badly damaged their homes, facing the prospect of the monsoon season starting in the coming weeks. – AFP media campaigns, processions, rallies, or conferences, until the International Crimes Tribunal completes its proceedings. Hasina, credited with turning around the economy but accused of rights violations and the suppression of dissent, won a fourth straight term last year, but the poll was boycotted by the main opposition. The country has seen rising tensions and protests in recent months, after deadly protests forced Hasina to flee to India in August 2024 and an interim government led by Muhammad Yunus took charge. Yunus has pledged reforms and said elections could be delayed until next year. – Reuters

“For now 22 people in total – 20 children and two teachers – have been killed,” said a 34-year-old teacher at the school, asking to remain anonymous. “We tried to spread out the children, but the fighter was too fast and dropped its bombs,” she said. “I haven’t been able to collect all the casualty data.” An education official from the area of the village in Sagaing region gave the same toll. The government information team said reports of the strike were “fabricated news”. suspend the party’s registration,” Election Commission Secretary Akhtar Ahmedsaid late on Monday. Under Bangladesh’s electoral laws, a political party must be registered with the Election Commission to take part in polls. The suspension means the Awami League, which led the country for more than 20 years, is now officially disqualified from contesting future elections unless the ban is lifted and the registration restored. The Election Commission also issued a directive prohibiting the party and its affiliates from conducting any political activities, including publications, media appearances, online and social

The strike hit a school in the village of Oe Htein Kwin, locals said. UN chief Antonio Guterres is “deeply alarmed” by reports of the strike, his spokesman told reporters in New York, adding that “schools must remain areas in which children have a safe place to learn and not be bombed”. The green school building was a shattered husk on Monday afternoon, its metal roof crumpled with gaping holes blasted through its brickwork walls. Over a dozen abandoned book

statement the ministry showed stability, adding that industry wanted to see reform of environment laws. “With one in four jobs being trade dependent, it’s crucial that business and government continue to secure new opportunities abroad to grow our economy at a time of geopolitical uncertainty,” said Black. Ley said her appointment “sent a signal” to Australian women, although her agenda would be “much more than that”, flagging the need for new policies on economic and tax reform. “We did let women down, there is no doubt about that, and it is true that the number of women supporting us is declining and I want to rule a line under that,” she told a press conference in Canberra. The Liberal Party needs to “meet modern Australia where they are”, she said. “Government is always formed in the sensible centre.” A former aerial stock mustering pilot who raised three children on a farm before graduating from university, Ley entered parliament in 2001. – Reuters

Hasina’s party barred from election DHAKA: Bangladesh’s Election Commission has suspended the registration of ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League, effectively barring the party from contesting the next elections. The move comes after the interim government banned all activities of the Awami League under the Anti Terrorism Act after days of protests. The government cited national security threats and a war crimes investigation against the party’s top leadership over deaths of hundreds of protesters.

“With the Home Ministry’s ban on all activities of the Awami League and its affiliated organisations, the Election Commission has decided to