by admin | Mar 27, 2025 | government, news, politics, politics and government, politics and law
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Former Chief Justice David Maraga nearly found himself in hot water following comments he made at Rongo University that were misconstrued.
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A media outlet broadcasted his statement as support for President William Ruto being described as a listener, which drew the notice of the disruptive X users who have been protesting against Ruto’s administration.
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Nevertheless, Maraga promptly moved to clarify his stance, suggesting that his comments were intended as guidance for the president rather than an expression of support.
Kai Eli, a journalist with SANGGRALOKA.co.ke, has over three years of expertise in reporting on politics and contemporary issues within Kenya.
Former Chief Justice David Maraga aims to debunk the claim that he has become more lenient towards President William Ruto, who leads an administration increasingly disliked by the public.
A media organization, via its X account, cited Maraga as praising Ruto for acting like an attentive president, indicating that the previous chief of the judicial system might be softening his position on proper governance.
It was claimed that he made these comments on Thursday, March 27, during a public address about good governance, constitutional principles, and legal fairness at Rongo University.
The post caught the eye of Twitter users, who promptly started criticizing Maraga for contradicting himself.
They were curious about how the ex-CJ would transition from advocating for good governance to aligning himself with the president, who is criticized for poor leadership.
The temperature was rising, with Maraga having climbed to the top of the trending topics list.
He quickly stepped forward to clarify his stance, indicating that what was perceived as support for the president was actually just advice.
“However, if I were to provide guidance, I would urge him to hear out Kenyans…” said Maraga in a public lecture at Rongo University this morning.
by admin | Mar 27, 2025 | business, economics, global economy, politics, us economy
The United States’ GDP increased by 2.4% in the final quarter of 2024, marginally surpassing the initial estimate of 2.3%.
However, it remains uncertain if the US will be able to maintain steady economic expansion as President Donald Trump engages in trade conflicts, reduces the size of the federal workforce, and pledges large-scale deportations of immigrants who are working unlawfully within the country.
The Commerce Department stated that the GDP growth slowed down to a rate of 3.1% during October-December 2024 compared to the previous quarter.
Throughout the entire year of 2024, the economy, being the largest globally, expanded by 2.8%, which was slightly less than the 2.9% growth recorded in 2023.
Consumer expenditure increased at a rate of 4%, up from 3.7% during the third quarter of 2023. However, business investments declined, primarily due to an 8.7% decrease in equipment purchases.
A decline in business stockpiles reduced the fourth-quarter GDP growth by 0.84 percentage points.
A specific segment of the GDP data reflecting the economy’s fundamental resilience increased at a robust 2.9% annual pace in the final quarter, slightly down from the government’s initial projection of 3.2%, and below the 3.4% growth recorded in the preceding quarter.
This classification encompasses household expenditures and individual investments yet omits fluctuating elements such as export figures, stock levels, and governmental outlays.
The report released on Wednesday indicated persistent inflationary pressures towards the close of 2024. The Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of inflation, the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index, saw an uptick at an annual pace of 2.4%, marking an increase from 1.5% in the previous quarter and exceeding the Federal Reserve’s targeted figure of 2%.
excluding fluctuating food and energy costs, often referred to as core PC inflation, stood at 2.6%, up from 2.2% in the previous quarter.
The government released its third and final assessment of fourth-quarter GDP on Thursday.
The forecast has become more overcast. Trump’s choice to impose tariffs on various goods, including a 25% duty on imported vehicles revealed on Wednesday, might lead to increased inflation and disturb investments, thereby impeding economic expansion.
by admin | Mar 27, 2025 | crime, news, politics, politics and government, politics and law
Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa encouraged ex-President Rodrigo Duterte, who is presently held at The Hague in the Netherlands, to stay resilient and continue battling as he approaches his 80th birthday on March 28, this coming Friday.
Dela Rosa, who is seeking another term and has been a long-time supporter of Duterte, mentioned that he plans to reach out to the ex-president on his birthday to convey his backing.
“Sa kanya lang po masasabi ko: Lahat ng mga hamon na ito ngayon, tatapusin natin yan. Tatapos talaga ito. Wala namang forever dito sa mundo. Lahat ng bagay ay pansamantalang lamang. Kaya siguro panatilihing matatag kami, patuloy ang pakikipagsapalaran, at huwag magsuko,” ani ang miyembro ng kapulis.
(I wish to convey to him that together we can surmount all these obstacles. We shall prevail over this situation. No circumstance on Earth lasts forever; everything is fleeting. Hence, let us remain resilient, continue our struggle, and never yield.)
“Huwag niyang ipinabaya ang pagsibak ng digmaan. Digmaan lamang dahil… ang malaking bahagi ng populasyon ng mga Pilipino, pati na rin yung iba na wala sa bansa o partikular sa ubanging bahaging ng buong universo ay naroon at kasama-samahan siya habang nanunuod para sana’y mapabalik niya ang sarili rito sa Pilipinas,” dagdag pa niya.
(Do not surrender in your struggle. Continue fighting as most Filipinos, including those residing abroad, empathize with him and wish for his return to the Philippines.)
The Filipino national police force, known as the PNP, has been
preparing
For the safety of the birthday rally for Duterte in Davao del Norte on Friday.
As per PDP Laban, they plan to organize gatherings and processions across different regions of the Philippines as well as in multiple international locations to mark President Duterte’s 80th birthday celebration.
On March 11, authorities helped the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) serve an arrest warrant issued by the ICC against Duterte related to his bloody anti-drug campaign, which has been labeled as crimes against humanity.
Following his detention, Duterte was taken to The Hague in the Netherlands.
On March 13 (in Philippine time), Duterte arrived at the Hague Penitentiary Institution, also known as the Scheveningen Prison, where he will remain detained pending his trial.
The scheduled date for the next hearing regarding the verification of the accusations is September 23, 2025.
—RF, GMA Integrated News
This article
Bato during Duterte’s 80th birthday: ‘Always ready’
was originally published in
GMA News Online
.
by admin | Mar 27, 2025 | elections, government regulations, politics, politics and government, politics and law
As the 45-day local campaign period began, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) issued a warning about potential disqualification for both national and local candidates who provide aid (ayuda) without obtaining appropriate approval from the election commission.
“Whenever you use ayuda or distribute ayuda without exemptions from Comelec, it could either be vote-buying or an abuse of resources. We will immediately disqualify such cases right away, with no ifs and buts,” said Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia to reporters on Thursday.
(National and local candidates who will distribute ayuda without proper exemptions will be immediately disqualified, no buts and what ifs.)
“Due process should be followed, yes, but we shouldn’t dwell on that aspect since the Supreme Court has affirmed the power of the Commission on Elections,” stated Garcia.
(Due process will be followed, however, the Supreme Court has upheld our authority to proceed with this action.)
The campaign period for local bettors is scheduled to start from Friday, March 28 through May 10. For the national campaigns, they will run from February 11 till May 10, 2025.
Campaigning will not be allowed on April 17 (Maundy Thursday), April 18 (Good Friday), May 11 (the day before Election Day), and May 12 (Election Day).
Last week, the electoral commission granted exemptions to certain social welfare initiatives under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) from the election expenditure restrictions for Eleksyon 2025. This includes approximately ₱12 billion worth of assistance.
Tulong para sa Programang Pagpapabuti ng Kitas
(AKAP) financing. This additional amount comes atop the P882 million initially sought by the DSWD back in January.
Garcia cautioned politicians and candidates about this reminder:
The DSWD directives for implementing AKAP
which involves banning them from being present along with related items when distributing financial aid.
“Let’s not compromise what our fellow citizens deserve as aid. It wouldn’t be fair for them to be denied help because of your mistakes… No politician or candidate should interfere during the distribution of assistance, and hopefully, our social workers will not sacrifice their professionalism when dealing with this situation,” the election official further stated.
(We must not jeopardize the support that the public requires. It would be unjust for them to be unable to obtain assistance due to the misdeeds of the candidates. Neither politicians nor candidates will be permitted at the time of AKAP distribution.)
According to Section 261 (v) (1) of the Omnibus Election Code, public officials, employees—including those from barangays and government-owned or controlled corporations—are barred from allocating, distributing, or using public money for infrastructure initiatives during the period starting 45 days prior to a regular election and ending 30 days before a special election. This restriction does not apply to maintaining current or finished public works projects, carrying out contracted work via open bidding processes, or responding to emergencies with urgent repairs.
According to Comelec Resolution No. 11060, a certificate of exemption must be obtained for carrying out initiatives and schemes related to social welfare projects and services during the period when public spending is restricted, which spans from March 28 to May 11, 2025.
In December 2024, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) approved the appeal made by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to exclude certain initiatives from the expenditure prohibition. Additionally, it provided exemptions for 48 infrastructure endeavors prior to the May midterm elections.
Similarly, the Comelec declared that it will prohibit the dissemination of various types of financial aid (ayuda) ten days before the May elections, including the contentious one.
AKAP
.
— RSJ, GMA Network News
To access additional information and updates about the Eleksyon 2025, check out
GMA News Online’s Eleksyon 2025 microsite
.
This article
Comelec cautions against disqualifications for candidates giving aid without exception.
was originally published in
GMA News Online
.
by admin | Mar 25, 2025 | foreign policy, international relations, politics, politics and government, ukraine politics
Giorgia Meloni’s main allies in the ruling coalition are causing her problems due to their differing stances on the Ukraine conflict and how the European Union should respond, which has become more pronounced recently.
Antonio Tajani from Forza Italia (European People’s Party), along with Matteo Salvini from The League (Patriots for Europe), act as deputies under Meloni. They serve, respectively, as the ministers of foreign affairs and transportation.
However, they have frequently clashed over significant foreign policy matters: providing military support to Ukraine, the European Union’s initiative for rearming, and interactions with the U.S. administration led by President Donald Trump.
“Tajani is facing issues due to his connections with the US; he ought to allow us to assist him,” stated Claudio Durigon, the League’s deputy secretary.
told
The newspaper La Repubblica on Sunday.
Following a 15-minute telephone conversation between League head Salvini and US Deputy President JD Vance on Friday, which was described as being “marked by great harmony” according to a statement from the League, this occurred.
Tajani hit back,
saying
That “foreign policy is handled by the prime minister and foreign minister,” characterizing the call as a “personal initiative” by Salvini.
“Populist parties alter their stance daily. Those who often yell tend to matter and wield power insignificantly,” he remarked, aiming his jibe at Durigon.
The Italian
press
reported that Tajani discussed the matter with Meloni, voicing his discontent over The League’s criticisms and hinting that the disagreements might result in a governmental crisis.
The Italian government’s stances do not blend well.
Forza Italia keeps a strong pro-Europe position, strongly backing military assistance to Ukraine, and commending the European Commission’s strategy for rearming.
rebranded
As part of Readiness 2030, and even pushing for the establishment of an EU military force in the future.
“We support peace, however, it needs to be equitable…Europe undoubtedly has to be present at the table because European Union has enforced sanctions against Russia,” Tajani stated to reporters regarding Donald Trump’s peace proposal following the concluding EPP gathering in Brussels.
In contrast, The League has always stood as one of the most vocal opponents of the EU’s approach to supporting Ukraine. They have also commended Trump for his attempts to facilitate a peace agreement with Russia, irrespective of any compromises Kiev might have had to agree to.
This matches his strong critique of EU Foreign Policy Chief Kajas Kallas. “If she had her way, we would already be at war,” said Salvini, adding, “She should join the front line herself.”
said
prior to the recent EU summit.
Ursula von der Leyen and her defense strategy have faced criticism as well. “Rearming Europe is not how peace can be achieved,” said Salvini.
declared
during a conference.
Italy’s administration brings together a pro-EU European People’s Party affiliate with a Eurosceptic member of the Patriots for Europe alliance, an alignment that hasn’t succeeded in Germany, Poland, Hungary, and most lately in Austria.
“It’s evident that our party, EPP, holds distinct views compared to the Patriots since we support European unity. Nonetheless, this doesn’t stop our political groups from discovering common ground at the country level,” noted esteemed Forza Italia MEP Salvatore De Meo in an interview with Euronews.
He thinks that Salvini’s conversation with Vance won’t lead to significant harm, yet he emphasized that foreign policy ought to be shaped exclusively by Tajani and Meloni.
“I hope that the Italian government will gradually move towards our stance: establishing a genuine defense framework within the European Union by moving beyond nationalism,” he stated.
Differences in policies regarding EU matters are testing the resilience of Italy’s governing alliance. So far, Meloni has skillfully navigated the contrasting views of her smaller coalition allies. She maintains a steadfastly supportive stance towards Ukraine but has ruled out sending Italian forces into combat zones as part of any security assurances should a peace agreement be reached.
She has also
stopped short
In support of French President Emmanuel Macron’s initiative for increased European Union strategic independence, the emphasis was placed on Europe’s necessity to uphold a robust transatlantic partnership.
Her political tightrope walk probably mirrors the unclear development of her own Brothers of Italy party, which has transformed from a radical, post-fascist group pushing for Italy’s departure from the EU to a more conservative faction generally supporting EU membership.
In the upcoming months, these European-leaning credentials might face scrutiny, potentially positioning Meloni more firmly alongside one of the factions within her contentious coalition allies.
by admin | Mar 25, 2025 | military, national security, news, news media, politics
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Leading US government figures such as Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth have faced accusations of a significant security lapse involving military intelligence. This followed an incident where a journalist inadvertently received confidential plans outlining potential U.S. attacks in Yemen.
On Monday, an article in the Atlantic by Jeffrey Goldberg, who serves as the magazine’s editor-in-chief, disclosed that he had been included in a group conversation on the Signal messaging platform earlier this month.
Consequently, he managed to access communications from high-ranking national security officers regarding impending assaults on the Iran-supported Houthis in Yemen. This included comprehensive details about the objectives and the specific armaments that would be employed in these operations.
Soon after, locations throughout Yemen were hit with bombs on March 15th. Since the militant group started attacking commercial and military ships in the Red Sea in November 2023, the U.S. has conducted airstrike operations against the Houthis.
Goldberg stated that he would refrain from publishing messages from the group chat that might endanger the United States’ national security.
Nevertheless, in the Atlantic piece, the journalist disclosed certain remarks made within the closed group, which counted among its members Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Tulsi Gabbard, who served as Trump’s director of national intelligence.
The released communications initially debate whether the strikes should proceed. Subsequently, they reveal that after the commencement of the military action, members within the group shared congratulatory messages with each other.
The US National Security Council has verified that the text message thread “seems to be genuine.”
One of the biggest mistakes in operational security
Following Goldberg’s disclosure, both politicians and experts voiced their concerns over the news that high-ranking officials within the Trump administration were deliberating about war strategies using Signal.
National security personnel typically talk about military operations through the government’s dedicated channels within secure compartments known as SCIFs (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities).
“We have significant concerns regarding this matter and will investigate it from a non-partisan perspective,” stated Senator Roger Wicker, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a Republican from Mississippi.
At the same time, Chuck Schumer, a prominent Democratic senator from New York, described it as “one of the most astonishing compromises of military intelligence I have come across in a very, very long period.”
His coworker Jack Reed, who hails from Rhode Island and is the leading Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, mentioned that the discussion thread about Yemen might have endangered the lives of U.S. military members.
“The negligence exhibited by Trump’s Cabinet is both astounding and perilous. I am going to demand explanations from the Administration right away,” he stated additionally.
Hegseth criticizes journalist as Trump claims ignorance
The National Security Council stated in an announcement that they were looking into how a journalist’s phone number ended up being included in the Signal group conversation.
In his first comments on the matter, Hegseth attacked Goldberg for being what he called a “discredited so-called journalist”. He did not shed light on why Signal was being used to discuss the sensitive operation or how Goldberg ended up on the message chain.
” Nobody was sending texts about battle strategies, and that’s everything I need to comment on,” Hegseth stated during an interaction with journalists upon arriving in Hawaii on Monday, marking his inaugural journey to the Indo-Pacific region as defense secretary.
Late on Monday, in an official statement, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt mentioned that the president continues to have “complete faith” in his national security team.
On Monday earlier, Donald Trump informed journalists: “I have no knowledge regarding this matter. This is the first I’m hearing about it.”
