“Not an #election — a ritual.” #Djibouti’s 97.81% result & @_AfricanUnion praise spark sharp #criticism over #democracy, #power, & the #future of #governance in #Africa. #Somaliland @IsmailOguelleh

https://saxafimedia.com/djibouti-election-2026-au-praise-guelleh-democracy/

Plaid Cymru Navigates Senedd Election Amidst Shifting Political Tides

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth says the Senedd election on May 7th is about improving NHS and families, not independence. Who is affected?

#SeneddElection, #PlaidCymru, #WelshPolitics, #NHSWales, #Governance

https://newsletter.tf/plaid-cymru-focuses-on-welsh-needs-senedd-election/

Plaid Cymru's Senedd election strategy shifts focus from independence to key Welsh issues like NHS waiting times and childcare costs.

#SeneddElection, #PlaidCymru, #WelshPolitics, #NHSWales, #Governance
https://newsletter.tf/plaid-cymru-focuses-on-welsh-needs-senedd-election/

Almost nothing about our daily life feels like a constitutional question.

Until it does.

Until a decision affects us and there’s no clear reason. No clear responsibility. No clear place to push back.

That’s usually the moment we realise something shifted.

Rights are still there. But the way power operates around them has changed.

https://associationredefine.substack.com/p/eu-charter-fundamental-rights-teaching-digital-age?r=6l8ed8

#Rights #Democracy #DigitalRights #EU #RuleOfLaw #SystemsThinking #Governance #CivicEducation #RightsMatter

What is HIPAA?
https://negativepid.blog/what-is-hipaa/

#HIPAA #dataSecurity #dataPrivacy #compliance #governance #GDPR #HIPAA #Europe #US #dataRegulations #privacy #onlinePrivacy #negativepid

The fuel crisis and Australians’ love affair with petrol guzzling monster cars

Now that the government is spruiking BIG car owners to "unload excess weight" and do their 'little bit' because of dwindling reserves, we are looking back on last year 's headlines to unravel how we got here.:

" Australians are obsessed with SUVs and huge utes, but experts say they are making our roads deadlier
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/13/australian-suv-huge-ute-obsession-roads-more-dangerous

* Big cars are increasing Australia’s emission and fuel bills – but what are the alternatives for families?
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/30/australia-fuel-efficient-family-cars-guide-best

* ‘You have unmet needs’: the psychology behind Australia’s love affair with big cars
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/15/you-have-unmet-needs-the-psychology-behind-australias-love-affair-with-big-cars

* Road hogs: what is Australia’s love of big cars costing us all?
https://www.theguardian.com/global/2025/mar/16/road-hogs-what-is-australias-love-of-big-cars-costing-us-all

* The cars eating Australia: should we be trying to reverse our attraction to SUVs and utes?
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/17/the-cars-eating-australia-should-we-be-trying-to-reverse-our-attraction-to-suvs-and-utes

** The Government launches $20 million fuel saving campaign: "Every little bit helps" Along with asking the public to consider using their car less, the ads promote tips to improve vehicle fuel efficiency, such as "driving smoothly" and "unloading excess weight". >>
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-11/government-launches-multi-million-dollar-fuel-saving-campaign/106555004

Image: Australia loves huge SUVs and trucks. First Dog on the Moon
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/oct/18/australia-loves-huge-suvs-and-trucks-will-nobody-think-of-the-car-parks

#FossilFuel #fuel #petrol #cars #vehicles #SUVs #CarDependency #PetrolDependency #EnergySecurity #consumption #climate #pollution #RaodTrauma #BigCars #BigCarparks #FuelGuzzlers #FuelSaving #TaxPerks #NegativeExternalities #RoadFatalities #RoadDeaths #speed #pedestrians #MobilityDesign #governance #Australia #love #big #ExcessWeight #roads

Imagine if policymakers had never decided that it was good to turn housing into an investment for the few instead of a necessity & human right for all.

The problem’s not immigration. It’s that’s our governments have drunk the cool aid & believe the absurd proposition that further enriching the wealthy is good for everyone.

Imagine if we expected our governments to see their business as supporting the common good - that’s for everyone, all beings, our precious earth - instead of ruining distractions as cover for accelerating plunder by those whose mega wealth buys them electoral success.

Imagine.

#housing #governance #plunder #AusPol

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/12/canada-migration-levels-housing-costs-australia-ntwnfb?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Expansion Contract Worth Almost P600 Million Signed By Best Western Plus Hotel Subic

Best Western Plus Hotel Subic, the 4-star hotel located along Dewey Avenue, signed the expansion project contract worth almost P600 million with the proponent Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), according to the SBMA’s official announcement.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from official announcement by the SBMA. Some parts in boldface…

Best Western Plus Hotel Subic has confirmed plans to expand its operations after signing the contract that will allow the construction of a new building beside the current hotel.

The expansion project was signed between the proponent, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and developer Simon & Stanley International Trading and Development Co. Inc.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño and Best Western Plus Hotel Subic Chairman and CEO Jaime “Jack” Uy led the contract signing for the expansion project at the Corporate Boardroom of the Administration Building on March 31, 2026.

Architect Jayson Steffen Uy, Vice-president for Facility and Construction of Savers Group Holdings Inc. (SGHI), shared that the new building will consist of 120 additional hotel rooms, several commercial spaces, a three-floor parking area, restaurants, and parks.

SGHI is the exclusive developer for Best Western in the Philippines as the conglomerate that owns and manages Best Western Plus Hotel Subic.

Uy added that the new building will be an extension of Best Western with infused committed investment worth P587,967,200.00.

“With the current need for more spaces, function halls, and rooms, we decided to expand our operations in Subic,” Uy added.

The official stated that the design phase should be finished either this year or next year while the construction should be able to commence as early as the first quarter of 2027.

“As for employees, the company intends to source its manpower requirements locally,” he further said.

Meanwhile, SBMA Director Ted Del Rosario, Senior Deputy Administrator (SDA) Renato Lee III, SDA Ramon O. Agregado, and other agency officials were also present during the said contract signing ceremony.

Chairman Aliño welcomed the expansion project of Best Western Plus Hotel Subic, citing the growing need of hotels and establishments in Subic Bay Freeport. He added that aside from the company’s committed investment, the agency also welcomes the job opportunities from the expansion project.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Have you ever stayed at the Best Western Plus Hotel Subic already? Do you think the newly signed contract will lead to improvements on tourism inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone over the next few years? Do you think this new development could influence other hotel operators to expand or renovate their respective places in order to attract more tourists and corporate clients?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Philippines Inflation Jumps To 4.1% In March 2026

With the sharp spikes on fuel prices caused by the war in the Middle East, the inflation rate of the Philippines jumped to 4.1% for the month of March 2026, according to a news report by GMA Network.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from GMA News. Some parts in boldface…

Inflation rate sped up in March driven by the series of hikes in the retail prices of petroleum products due to the ongoing war in the Middle East, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Tuesday.

At a press briefing, National Statistician and PSA chief Claire Dennis Mapa said inflation — the rate of increase in the prices of goods and services — accelerated to 4.1% last month from 2.4% in February 2026 and 1.8% in March 2025.

This was the quickest inflation rate since the 4.4% in July 2024.

Year-to-date inflation rate stood at 2.8%, still within the government’s 2% to 4% ceiling.

Mapa said the main culprit from the higher inflation print was Transport index which saw an inflation rate of 9.9%, a reversal from 0.3% decline month-on-month, and a 54.8% share to the overall uptrend.

“Ang nag-ambag sa mas mataas na antas ng inflation ng Transport nitong Marso 2026 ay ang pagtaas ng presyo mula sa pagbaba ng presyo noong Pebrero 2026 ng mga gasolina at diesel,” he said.

(The main contributor to the higher Transport inflation in March 2026 was the increase in the prices of gasoline and diesel from a decline seen in February 2026.)

In particular, inflation for gasoline soared to 27.3% last month from -5.7% in February while diesel’s inflation rose to 59.5% from -1.3% a month prior.

The global oil price shock amid the continuing US-Israel versus Iran conflict has caused petroleum pump prices in the country to jack up to historic highs in March.

Also contributing to inflation acceleration in March was the Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages index which climbed to 3% from 1.8% in February with an overall share of 26.9% to the uptrend, driven by cereals (such as rice) growing 3.7% from -1.3% in the prior month.

The inflation for Housing, Water, Gas and Other Fuels index likewise increased to 4.5% from 3.5% month-on-month with a share of 12.7% on the back of increments across electricity (9.2% from 6.7%), LPG (2.2% from -2.2%), and rentals (3.2% from 3%).

Inflation felt by the bottom 30% income households clocked in at 4.2% from 2.5% in February, bringing its first quarter average to 2.8%.

The inflation for the bottom 30% income class was brought about by the 3.9% growth in Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages as well as Transport which posted a 7.2% from a contraction of 0.6% in the previous month.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Considering how high fuel prices are, do you think it is a matter of time before the nation’s inflation rate surpasses 5% in the next month or two? Do you think the government of the Philippines can provide financial relief as inflation spikes?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco