Latest news with #DesignatedSurvivor
GMA Network
2 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
VP Sara Duterte to skip SONA anew —House SecGen
Vice President Sara Duterte will not be attending the fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on July 28, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said Thursday. "We received this note [from her office] that she won't be attending this SONA," Velasco told reporters. Still, Velasco said the House remains prepared to receive the Vice President should she change her mind. He said aside from a reserved seat, there will be a designated holding room for the Vice President and her immediate staff since she is considered as an institutional guest alongside heads of government agencies and justices of the Supreme Court. "We are not excluding the possibility that she will attend," Velasco said. "There will be a seat for her reserved at the center of the [House plenary] gallery, the VIP gallery. If she decides to come, there will be a seat for her," he added. 2025 marks the second straight year that the Vice President will miss the SONA. Last year, the Vice President also skipped the President's SONA by saying that she is appointing herself as the designated survivor. Her statement drew flak since a popular US and South Korean series titled Designated Survivor is a story about a Cabinet official who is a designated survivor and thus skipping the State of the Union address, only for all the rest of those present in the address to be killed in a bomb explosion. Marcos and Duterte formed the Uniteam and resoundingly won the 2022 elections over their rivals. Their relationship, however, has gone sour. The House of Representatives impeached the Vice President in February over allegations of confidential fund misuse and making threats to kill the President and his family.—AOL, GMA Integrated News
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Ballard OTT Release Date: When and where to watch Bosch spin-off show featuring Maggie Q and Courtney Taylor
Ballard OTT Release Date: If you've been waiting for the next big crime drama to watch, here's something to look forward to. A brand-new show called Ballard, a spinoff of the popular Bosch series, is set to release on Prime Video. The entire season drops on July 9. All ten episodes will be available to stream in one go. Ballard continues the story world of Bosch, but this time with a new lead character: Detective Renée Ballard, played by Maggie Q. What is Ballard about? Ballard focuses on Detective Renée Ballard, a hardworking LAPD officer who now heads the department's cold case unit. These are old criminal cases that were never solved, and her job is to dig into them and find the truth. This division is new, and it doesn't have many resources. But Ballard is committed. She's determined to give forgotten victims a voice. One of the cases she looks into involves an old serial killer, while another centres on a murdered John Doe. As she follows the clues, she uncovers something much bigger, a dark secret that might involve people inside the police department itself. Ballard is joined by retired detective Harry Bosch, played by Titus Welliver, who fans of the original Bosch series will recognize. Together, they work through old files, new evidence, and personal struggles to bring justice to people. Who's in the cast? Leading the series is Maggie Q as Detective Ballard. You may know her from action-packed roles in Nikita and Designated Survivor. She's joined by Courtney Taylor, John Carroll Lynch, Michael Mosley, Rebecca Field, Victoria Moroles, Amy Hill, Ricardo Chavira, Noah Bean, Alain Uy, and Hector Hugo. And yes, Titus Welliver returns as Harry Bosch. Although he's retired in the story, he plays an important role in helping Ballard solve the cases. Is Ballard connected to Bosch? Yes, it is. Ballard takes place in the same world as Bosch and Bosch: Legacy. In fact, Renée Ballard first showed up in the Bosch: Legacy series finale earlier this year. This new show is based on characters and stories by best-selling author Michael Connelly. Just like Bosch and Legacy, Ballard sticks to the same serious, realistic tone. Connelly is also one of the executive producers. Others involved in the bankrolling are Henrik Bastin, Michael Alaimo, Kendall Sherwood, Trish Hofmann, Jet Wilkinson, and Melissa Aouate. Jasmine Russ joins as co-executive producer under Fabel Entertainment. Jamie Boscardin Martin, Trey Batchelor, and Theresa Snider also serve as co-executive producers. If you enjoy slow-burn crime dramas with smart storytelling, Ballard might be your next binge-watch.
South China Morning Post
02-05-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
South Koreans frustrated with constant leadership churn: ‘I stopped caring'
In the American drama Designated Survivor, the US secretary of housing and urban development unexpectedly assumes the presidency after 12 officials ahead of him in the line of succession are wiped out. Advertisement A less dramatic but equally surreal scenario unfolded in South Korea on Friday, though the presidential line of succession did not make it to No 13. On Thursday, former acting president and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo resigned to run for president, while former Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Choi Sang-mok stepped down following an impeachment push in the National Assembly by the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). Now, with the snap presidential election set for June 3, Education Minister Lee Ju-ho is serving as acting president. With former president Yoon Suk-yeol impeached last month and the nation's No 2 and No 3 officials no longer in power, South Korea is facing an unprecedented leadership vacuum, intensifying public concerns over the uncertainty of its political future. Advertisement 'Seriously? Even the education minister is acting president now? That was my first thought when I saw the news,' Song Hyun-woo, a 26-year-old preparing to become a navy officer, said.
West Australian
01-05-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Federal election: Labor's Karen Wheatland the Durack ‘underdog', looking to step up for region she grew up in
The Geraldton Guardian asked the Liberal and Labor candidates questions on various topics ahead of Saturday's Federal election. Labor's Karen Wheatland concedes she's the underdog, but says her focus is on showing up and being there. Q. What is your coffee order? Piccolo. Q. What is your favourite cafe in Geraldton? Quiet Life. Q. What was last thing you binge-watched? Designated Survivor. Q. How many kilometres have you covered during this campaign? Easily upwards of 40,000km — I've travelled right across Durack: from the Central Wheatbelt to the Kimberley, through the Pilbara, the Gascoyne, and the Mid West. It's been a huge undertaking — but worth every kilometre. Q. What is the funniest thing that's happening to you campaigning this time? I think one of the most real times was meeting locals/supporters at the Gassy in Carnarvon at the same time as the Old Bastards Club was on. Started yarning with them and I think they didn't believe me when I said I used to fish and work on boats. Wasn't until I name-dropped the names of a couple of old salties I use to work with did they realise I was speaking the truth! Loved meeting them. Q. What do you think of your party leader and his performance during this campaign? I think Albo's shown what real leadership looks like — steady, honest and focused on people, not politics. He doesn't shout the loudest but he listens, and he leads with empathy. He knows what it's like to do it tough. That kind of lived experience shapes the way he leads — and I respect that deeply. Q. Will you move to Geraldton if you win? Gero is always home to me and since Dad has passed, I have been looking at real estate in the area. It's expensive but when I find the right place, I will invest in something. Q. Can you draw much from the State election result, in particular the anti-Labor swing in the regions? For me, the key has been — and still is — showing up, listening and getting around. That's how you build trust. I'm focused on connecting with as many people as I can right up until the last vote is cast. Q. What are the biggest issues affecting Durack and in particular Geraldton and the Mid West? Cost of living is the largest issue by far, followed by housing. Q. Would you agree neither party has promised much exclusively for the Durack electorate this election campaign? A re-elected Albanese Labor government will open an Urgent Care Clinic in Geraldton. The Geraldton Urgent Care Clinic will be the second one in Durack with one already operating in Broome. The Midwest Multicultural Association will get $50,000 for their Festival of Lights Celebration if the Albanese Labor Government gets in. Q. How would you rate your chances and your party's chances on Saturday? I think Federal Labor is going well. Albo is focused and will continue to work hard, but it's not time to contemplate the result. There is still a lot of work to do and it's not over until the polls close. My chances? I am the underdog here, but never say never! Q. One word to best describe your main competition? Honestly, I've been so focused on showing up for the people of Durack, I haven't seen them around. Q. What's the best piece of advice you've ever received? That's a tough question and it makes me emotional but it's got to be another one from the old man. Don't compromise yourself. Draw a line in the sand and step over it for no one. Like both of my parents had to, I have rebuilt my life from struggle. This has helped me throughout my life. Q. How much has Donald Trump and US politics affected this Federal election campaign? Here in Durack, most people are focused on getting by. It's the cost of living, paying the bills, keeping food on the table — that's what's front of mind. That said, trade does matter. The Albanese Government's been getting on with it — like the work behind the scenes that saw the rock lobster ban to China lifted last year. That trade's back up and running, and our commercial fishers are finally seeing better prices again. Q. How is your party best placed to tackle the cost-of-living crisis? We're best placed because we're already doing the work. The Albanese Labor Government has delivered real cost-of-living relief — cheaper childcare, expanded bulk billing under Medicare — and there's more in the works, with additional tax cuts, and energy bill relief for households and small businesses.
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Business Standard
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Raisina Chronicles: A public square for global dialogue and debate
In their editors' note to Raisina Chronicles: India's Global Public Square, S Jaishankar and Samir Saran write: 'The imperative of dialogue in polarised times is self-evident. And it has gained salience precisely because the promise of globalisation has been visibly broken.' The publication of the book celebrates the tenth anniversary of the Raisina Dialogue, an international conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics that has been convened in Delhi since 2016. This platform, which brings together heads of state, government officials, policymakers, diplomats and leaders of intergovernmental organisations, along with business leaders, media persons, experts from the development sector and members of civil society, is a collaboration between the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) and the Government of India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Therefore, it is fitting that the volume is edited by Rajya Sabha member Mr Jaishankar, who has been India's External Affairs Minister since May 2019, and ORF President Mr Saran, who is the Curator of the Raisina Dialogue. The book is valuable for readers interested in international relations and public policy as fields of study and practice. The language used here seems accessible enough for seasoned and early-career professionals, as well as students. Moreover, it is a useful resource for people who watch television shows like Barbara Hall's Madam Secretary, David Guggenheim's Designated Survivor and Deborah Kahn's The Diplomat for the high-octane drama and are curious about how politicians and diplomats build alliances and resolve conflicts in real life. It is divided into seven sections: (1) Changing Realities: Shifts in the World Order; (2) Shared Visions: Unbreakable Bilateral Ties; (3) New Opportunities: European Future in the Indo-Pacific; (4) Guards of Honour: Forging a More Secure World; (5) Viral World: Outbreaks, Outliers and Out of Control; (6) Unblurred Vision: Development with a Difference; and (7) At the Helm of Power: India, Raisina and the New Way Forward. Each section features reflections by speakers from various countries who have participated in the Raisina Dialogue and have rich insights to offer about key priorities in specific geographies and across the world. Rosa Balfour (Director, Carnegie Europe) and Zakaria Al Shmaly (Research Analyst, Carnegie Europe) acknowledge the European Union's 'blind spots', particularly its limited engagement with the 'Global South', and the need to understand critiques of its migration and asylum policy that treats white Christian and brown Muslim refugees differently. Kwame Owino (CEO, Institute of Economic Affairs) and Jackline Kagume (constitution, law and economy programme head at the Institute of Economic Affairs, Kenya) point out that Sub-Saharan Africa is 'the least embedded in global economic affairs and commerce' and advocate for 'access to regional and global markets' to ensure prosperity for countries represented by the African Union. The book addresses subjects such as democracy, climate finance, maritime security, gender equality, soft power, vaccine equity, public-private partnerships, and terrorism. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, for instance, calls terrorism 'a cancer that needs to be faced through wide international cooperation'. With Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announcing his readiness for a neutral investigation into the Pahalgam terror attack, it remains to be seen how this international cooperation pans out, and whether it amounts to more than lip service. Mohammed Soliman (director, strategic technologies and cyber security program at the Middle East Institute, Washington, DC) compliments 'India's growing voice in world affairs' for making the Raisina Dialogue 'a critical pathway for conflicting parties to utilise'. He writes, 'Not many global capitals have the diplomatic pull to host Israel, Iran, the Palestinians, and the Arab states under one roof to debate the most contentious regional and global issues'. Amrita Narlikar (president and professor, German Institute for Global and Area Studies) points out that the Raisina Dialogue 'is more inclusive and more diverse' than the Munich Security Conference and the World Economic Forum. What makes it stand out is not only 'its location in a democratic nation in the Global South' but also the decision to 'enable the participation of the interested public' rather than having closed-door meetings. This congratulatory tone pervades the book. While it reinforces the significance and impact of the Raisina Dialogue for multiple stakeholders, there is hardly any reflection on challenges encountered over the last 10 years and areas of improvement that have been identified either by the organisers or the participants. Introspection and feedback are crucial for growth. The other contributors to the volume range from United Nations Secretary General António Guterres, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Rwandan President Paul Kagame to former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen J Harper, Former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director David Petraeus, and Mexican Minister of Economy Marcelo Ebrard. The absence of voices from India's own neighbourhood — Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Myanmar, Afghanistan, China, and the Maldives — is quite conspicuous. Since the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has failed to help members settle disputes, the Raisina Dialogue could serve as a forum to have some of those conversations.
