Ph scores at The Hague

THE HAGUE Netherlands -- The United Nations arbitral tribunal hearing the West Philippine Sea dispute between the Philippines and China ruled unanimously that it has the right to hear Manila’s complaint over Chinese incursions into its waters.

The tribunal rejected China’s argument that the UN, otherwise known as the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, has no jurisdiction over the case.

The ruling is a big victory for the Philippines as it will then proceed in laying down the merits of its case against China, which has been building military installations on artificial reefs very close to the Philippines.

A decision by the PCA is expected for next year. The PCA said in a news release that it “has held that both the Philippines and China are parties to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and therefore bound by its provisions on the settlement of disputes.”

Image by Bloomberg

Rising star

Christmas is in the air as workers hoisted by a crane affix on a pole a star lantern made from recycled water bottles. Serving as backdrop is a jet contrail that casts an orangey glow from catching the rays of the rising sun on Friday, Oct. 30. 

(text and photo by JhDodson)

Diño out, Duterte in?

All may be set for Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to substitute as the presidential candidate of PDP-Laban in the 2016 elections after the party’s secretary general, Martin Diño, withdrew from the presidential derby according to a report by the Inquirer.

The other day, PDP-Laban announced its selection of Duterte to replace Diño if and when he withdrew or if he is declared a nuisance candidate by the Commission on Elections.

Duterte has until Dec. 10 to withdraw his reelection bid as Davao City mayor and to accept his being the standard-bearer of PDP-Laban, formed in 1986 as the single biggest opposition party that fielded the late Cory Aquino in the snap election that year.

Political analysts say that PDP-Laban must not be without a presidential candidate in next year’s poll being the party formed from the Partido Demokratiko ng Pilipinas (PDP) of former Sen. Nene Pimentel, Jr. and the Lakas ng Bayan (Laban) of the late Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino.

Duterte has said that the possibility of him substituting for Diño depended on the decision of PDP-Laban.

 Image by: politics.com.ph

China blinks

BEIJING—China on Wednesday called for talks to resolve issues after a US warship patrolled near Beijing's man-made islands in the disputed South China Sea.

"China has always upheld resolving relevant issues via talks, not just with the United States but with all other countries. As for China and US, leaders from two countries have reached important consensus in the Washington meeting to resolve all issues through constructive dialogue and consultation," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said in a news briefing.

           

"But of course this issue does not just depend on China. We hope the United States can meet us halfway," he added.

           

China claims most of the South China Sea, through which more than $5 trillion of world trade passes every year. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan have rival claims.

           

The USS Lassen's patrol on Tuesday was the most significant US challenge yet to the 12-nautical-mile territorial limits China claims around artificial islands it has built in the Spratly archipelago.

           

Washington's move followed months of deliberation by President Barack Obama's administration and could ratchet up tension in one of the world's busiest shipping lanes and increase strains in U.S.-China relations.

           

"We hope that any country outside the region should support, rather than interfere in China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)'s joint, friendly efforts, and should not deliberately complicate the issue or damage this situation," Lu said.

           

"This is not beneficial for all sides, including those countries outside the region," he added.

Image by: news.xinhuanet.com

Trigger pulls the trigger

 

A dog called Trigger shot his 25-year-old owner in the foot while they were out hunting.

Allie Carter, of Avilla, in Indiana, was wounded after her 11-year-old chocolate Labrador stepped on the 12-gauge shotgun she had laid on the ground, pressing the trigger.

           

Indiana conservation officer Jonathon Boyd said the gun went off as the safety catch had not been on at the time.

           

Ms. Carter, who had not undertaken a hunter education course, needed hospital treatment for her injured left foot but was later discharged.

           

The accident, which happened in the Tri-County Fish and Wildlife Area in northern Indiana on Saturday, has led officials to remind gun owners to always have the barrel of the weapon pointed in a safe direction and to use the safety mechanism.

           

Mr. Boyd said: "We encourage everyone to take a hunter education course before they venture out in the field."

           

He recalled one other incident when a dog shot its owner in which a man hunting rabbits leaned a gun against a tree and his beagle stepped on it.

Image by: metro.co.uk

Look Ma, Car on the roof

WOODHULL TOWNSHIP, Mich. — When Joyce Kingsley heard "kaboom" while at her Michigan home, she immediately thought about extreme weather.

           

The 83-year-old needed to look up: A Ford Mustang was parked on the roof of her home after the driver had a medical problem Monday and lost control on Interstate 69 in Shiawassee County.

           

Kingsley's home about 20 miles northeast of Lansing is built next to a hill, and the roof is nearly level with the ground, The Argus-Press of Owosso reported.

           

"I was just watching TV inside. I had it up pretty loud — but this was much louder," Kingsley said.

           

State police said the Mustang went through several bushes, trees and a fence before stopping on the roof. The driver was treated for low blood sugar but wasn't hurt.

           

"The driver is extremely lucky," Trooper Ben Rowell said.

           

Kingsley plans to put a tarp over the damaged roof until it can be fixed.

           

"It could've been a lot worse," she said. "I'm glad everyone is all right."

Image by: www.yahoo.com