International News
Philippine: Tropical Storm Trami Leaves 40 Dead, Towns Underwater
Philippine rescue teams are in a race against time to reach residents stranded on rooftops after Tropical Storm Trami triggered widespread flooding, landslides, and left at least 40 dead as it exited the country on Friday.
The storm unleashed two months’ worth of rain in just 48 hours, forcing tens of thousands of people from their homes and cutting off access to several communities.
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“Many are still trapped on the roofs of their homes, asking for help,” reported Andre Dizon, police director for the flood-ravaged Bicol region.
With waters starting to recede, officials hope conditions will improve for rescue efforts, which have been hindered by blocked roads and dangerous debris.
President Ferdinand Marcos addressed the nation Friday, highlighting the unprecedented nature of the disaster.
“There were landslides in areas that didn’t have landslides before … so I guess the soil is completely saturated, the water has nowhere to go,” he said.
Marcos added that the cities of Naga and Legazpi were reporting “many casualties,” though emergency teams had yet to reach some of the worst-hit areas.
Trami, which crossed over the South China Sea early Friday, inflicted severe damage in Batangas province, where six unidentified bodies were discovered in Sampaloc village after flash floods hit the area.
“Our people are still in the area to check if there are other casualties,” said Police Staff Sergeant Nelson Cabuso.
Additional fatalities were confirmed in the coastal village of Subic Ilaya, where five people died in flash floods, pushing the current death toll to at least 40, according to police and local officials.
While Manila was spared the worst, the storm inundated neighboring areas.
Floodwaters submerged entire subdivisions south of the capital, with rescue teams working tirelessly to extract residents from waterlogged homes.
Government offices and schools across Luzon, the country’s largest island, were ordered closed Friday, with storm surge warnings remaining in place along the west coast.
According to meteorologist Jofren Habaluyas, Batangas received a staggering 391.3 millimeters of rain between October 24 and 25, equivalent to two months of typical rainfall.
By Thursday night, an estimated 193,000 people had been evacuated, many from towns swamped by floodwaters and volcanic sludge.
In the Bicol region alone, over 30,000 people fled their homes as flood levels surged.
Rescue boats in Naga City and Nabua Municipality moved from house to house, responding to calls for help from stranded residents, some of whom had posted pleas on social media.
In Lemery, a town 97 kilometers south of Manila, a hospital was forced to shut down after floodwaters overwhelmed its wards and emergency facilities.
Search teams also temporarily halted efforts to locate a fisherman who went missing off the coast of Bulacan due to strong currents.
The Philippines, one of the world’s most typhoon-prone countries, experiences around 20 significant storms annually.
International News
ICC Issues Arrest Warrants For Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Others
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has taken a historic step, issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
The charges include crimes against humanity and war crimes allegedly committed during Israel’s recent assault on Gaza.
In a detailed statement, the ICC accused the Israeli leaders of “intentionally and knowingly depriving the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity.”
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The ICC’s move marks a significant escalation in international scrutiny of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Netanyahu and Gallant are alleged to have orchestrated policies that caused severe harm to the civilian population in Gaza, leading to widespread condemnation from human rights organizations.
Alongside the charges against Israeli officials, the ICC also issued an arrest warrant for Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif. Deif has long been a central figure in Hamas’s military operations. Israel’s military claims to have killed him in a July airstrike, although this has not been independently verified.
The warrants highlight growing calls for accountability amid the ongoing conflict in the region. The ICC’s actions are likely to provoke heated debate and may complicate diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the crisis.
With the warrants issued, global attention now turns to how the international community will respond and whether any practical steps will be taken to enforce them.
International News
COP29: Climate Summit Faces Deadlock Over Vague Funding Proposals For Vulnerable Nations
As the 29th United Nations Climate Change Summit (COP29) nears its conclusion, tensions are rising over a newly published funding proposal aimed at assisting developing nations in addressing climate-induced crises.
The proposal, released by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on Thursday, has sparked widespread debate among delegations, activists, and observers at the summit.
The document, spanning ten pages, outlines funding options to support developing countries in implementing their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the 2015 Paris Agreement.
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However, it fails to specify how much wealthier nations are required to contribute annually—a key sticking point that has drawn criticism from the Global South and climate advocates.
Ambiguity in Funding Commitments
Critics argue that the absence of concrete figures undermines the credibility of the proposed framework.
Mohamed Adow, Founder and Director of Power Shift Africa, described the proposal as “a blank piece of paper,” highlighting the lack of clarity on financial commitments.
“This is the ‘finance COP.’ We came here to talk about money. The way you measure money is with numbers. We need a cheque, but all we have right now is a blank piece of paper,” Adow remarked during an interview.
The Global South, led by African delegations, is demanding at least $1.3 trillion annually by the end of the decade to adapt to climate change impacts and transition to sustainable energy systems.
Yet, developed nations have yet to commit to a specific annual figure, raising concerns over the summit’s ability to deliver tangible outcomes.
Key Provisions and Concerns
The new text acknowledges the disproportionate impact of climate change on developing nations and the financial barriers they face, including high costs of capital and limited fiscal space.
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It proposes the establishment of a New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) for climate finance, suggesting a framework of “at least USD [X] trillion annually” from 2025 to 2035.
However, the absence of defined numbers has led to frustration among negotiators.
David Tong, Global Industry Campaign Manager at Oil Change International, emphasized the critical role of finance in achieving meaningful progress.
“Without finance, there is no phase-out [of fossil fuels], no energy transition, no adaptation. The ambitious options are simply missing,” Tong stated during a press briefing.
Rising Frustration from the Global South
Delegates from the Global South have expressed dissatisfaction with what they perceive as weak commitments from developed nations.
Many fear that without concrete financial pledges, the summit’s outcomes may fall short of expectations.
“This summit is about delivering justice to those who suffer most from climate impacts. Wealthy nations must step up and provide the necessary funding,” said an African negotiator, speaking on condition of anonymity.
A Critical Juncture
With less than 48 hours remaining in the summit, the stakes are high. The COP29 negotiations in Baku, dubbed the “finance COP,” are expected to set a precedent for addressing the financial needs of vulnerable nations.
Delegates are calling on world leaders to finalize an ambitious NCQG target and bridge the growing divide between developed and developing nations.
International News
Biden Approves Anti-Personnel Mines For Ukraine
In a significant policy move, U.S. President Joe Biden has authorised the transfer of anti-personnel mines to Ukraine, signaling heightened support for the country amid its ongoing struggle against Russian forces.
The decision underscores the administration’s commitment to bolstering Ukraine’s defensive capabilities as the conflict shows no signs of abating.
This announcement follows reports that Ukrainian forces have employed U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles to conduct precision strikes within Russian territory.
These developments have reportedly prompted Russian President Vladimir Putin to modify elements of Russia’s nuclear doctrine, further intensifying global scrutiny of the conflict’s escalation.
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In addition to the mines, the U.S. is set to unveil a new $275 million military aid package for Ukraine in the coming days. The package is expected to include a range of munitions and equipment aimed at enhancing Ukraine’s operational readiness.
This move aligns with Washington’s broader strategy to maintain robust support for Kyiv, even as questions loom over potential shifts in U.S. foreign policy with the approaching transition to a new administration.
The U.S. government has remained steadfast in its support for Ukraine, with officials emphasizing that these measures are essential for helping Ukraine defend its sovereignty. The provision of anti-personnel mines, however, marks a controversial step, reflecting the urgency of the situation on the ground.
As the conflict continues, the Biden administration’s decisions will likely have profound implications not only for Ukraine but also for the broader geopolitical landscape, where tensions remain high and outcomes uncertain.