(UPDATE) DEPARTMENT of Transportation (DoTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista on Tuesday slapped a cyber libel complaint against a transport group leader and a journalist following a controversy involving the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista is on his way to the Department of Justice office in Manila on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023. Bautista also filed a cyber libel complaint against Panganiban because of the journalist's social media post regarding the same issue. When pressed on the matter, Panganiban told The Times that he was clueless about the complaint. The former executive aide also issued a public apology to Guadiz and Bautista.

He said that all of them died "consistently due to multiple organ enlargement, lung and brain hemorrhage as a severe adverse reaction to the Dengvaxia vaccine." Dengvaxia vaccine. File Photo Dengvaxia vaccine. But Erfe insisted that all of the eight children died "consistently due to multiple organ enlargement, lung and brain hemorrhage as a severe adverse reaction to the Dengvaxia vaccine." "They are not just common patterns, they are pain suffered by all 161 children and adults who eventually died after days, weeks, or months of suffering excruciating pain," Erfe said.

Filipinos from Israel, Gaza begin arrivingResidents inspect the damage to their building in the southern city of Ashkelon on October 9, 2023, after it was hit during the night by a rocket from the Gaza Strip. Rafah, which borders Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula with the Hamas-controlled Gaza, is the only border crossing in Gaza not controlled by Israel. The names of Filipinos in Gaza, including the 78 waiting to be allowed into Egypt through the Rafah border, have been submitted to Egyptian authorities for processing of their request. The DFA said Filipinos in Gaza who would be able to make it to Egypt would be repatriated to the Philippines. According to De Vega, all the 135 Filipinos in Gaza were safe, with 78 of them at the Rafah border.

‘Wars as headwinds and economic opportunities’An Israeli army M109 155mm self-propelled howitzer fires rounds near the border with Gaza in southern Israel on October 12, 2023. The Israel war with Hamas, which has put the Middle East on war alert, could lead the global economy into greater uncertainties. The Israeli war against Hamas could only contribute to the heightening of concerns about global energy supplies. Such is the grave danger of the current Israeli Hamas war. The two hot wars brought about – on the economic front – the rise of global demand for commodities that enabled many countries in East Asia to accelerate their economic growth during the period.

Firefighters were alerted to Shau Kei Wan after a dog was found walking around on a fourth-floor canopy Tuesday afternoon. At 12.13 pm today, the residents discovered that there was a black puppy walking around on the canopy of the fourth-floor of Oi Chak House apartment located on the Oi Tung Estate. The residents were worried about the puppy's safety and contacted the police for assistance. In the end, the firefighter resorted to playing with the puppy to lower its wariness, which caused it to get closer, allowing him to grab ahold of the dog and get it back inside. Many onlookers were seen praising the firefighter and clapping as the puppy was rescued from danger.

The Aldin Ayo-mentored Converge squad went on to score a three-game sweep of the four-team meet, while Phoenix wound up winless. Winston added 17 and six rebounds, showing his readiness to play in the pro league. Javee Mocon led Phoenix with 13 points, while import Johnathan Williams added 12 and eight rebounds in 17 minutes of action. Jayjay Alejandro also scored 12, while rookie big man Ken Tuffin chipped in 11 and seven boards for Phoenix. Phoenix rookie Ricci Rivero, who exploded for 28 points against Blackwater last Sunday, did not play.

(UPDATE) THE Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 48 kicks off its opening day with powerhouse squads TNT and Magnolia Chicken Timplados colliding in the lone game for the Commissioner's Cup on November 5 at Smart Araneta Coliseum. Game time is 7 p.m.Magnolia’s James Laput (left) battles for the rebound against TNT players during the PBA on Tour on June 16, 2023 at the Ynares Sports Arena. PBA PHOTOBefore the titanic match, the PBA will be handing out individual awards to those who stood out from the previous season via the 47th Season Leo Awards at 4 p.m. before being followed by the opening ceremonies at 5 p.m. Defending champion Barangay Ginebra will face off with Magnolia on November 19 at the Big Dome to mark the first "Manila Clasico" of the season. This year marks the first time the PBA will start the new season with the Commissioner's Cup, veering away from the usual Philippine Cup.

The government is mulling extending the application of health care vouchers on the mainland to cover more hospitals located in the Greater Bay Area (GBA), with details to be announced in the upcoming Policy Address, according to sources. Apart from the hospitals and medical institutions in Hong Kong, the elderly can only use their health vouchers in the mainland at the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital and its health centers. Sources have said that the initial target is to extend the voucher application to three to five Tier 3 Class A (Grade 3A) hospitals in the GBA, along with setting guidelines to provide more cross-border medical services to facilitate Hong Kong residents living there. However, due to the relatively complex administrative work and having to connect with the local medical system, it is not feasible for a large number of Grade 3A hospitals to be covered under the health care vouchers scheme immediately. The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions (FTU) said over 500,000 Hongkongers live in the GBA on a long-term basis and hopes the voucher coverage will be expanded to hospitals in Guangzhou, Dongguan, etc.

GAZA STRIP, Palestinian Territories: More than 1 million people have fled their homes in Gaza in scenes of chaos and despair as Israel bombarded the Hamas-ruled territory and continued massing troops Monday in preparation for a full-blown ground invasion. Menahem KAHANA / AFPAfter it suffered the deadliest attack in its history, Israel unleashed a relentless bombing campaign of the Gaza Strip that has flattened neighborhoods and killed at least 2,670 people, mainly civilians. The army has told 1.1 million Palestinians in the north of the Gaza Strip to head to the south of the enclave. Israeli energy minister Israel Katz on Sunday said water supplies to southern Gaza had been switched back on. He categorically rejected the idea floated of expelling Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.

Philippines hailed as ‘Asia’s best cruise destination’The country was awarded as “Asia’s Best Cruise Destination 2023” at the World Cruise Awards in Dubai, United Arab Emirates last Sunday, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT). MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has been recognized by an international body as the “best cruise destination in Asia” for this year. The country was awarded as “Asia’s Best Cruise Destination 2023” at the World Cruise Awards in Dubai, United Arab Emirates last Sunday, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT). The World Cruise Awards is the “sister event of the World Travel Awards,” which also hailed the Philippines as “Asia’s leading dive destination” for this year. Popular beach destination Boracay as well as Subic are also expecting the arrival of cruise ships, while Mindanao is being groomed by DOT as a cruise destination.

It also polled 384 companies and 155,904 staff over 10 industries in nine mainland cities in the GBA during the same period. The results showed that employees in nine cities of the GBA enjoyed a 5.5 percent pay rise on average in 2023, 1.7 percentage points higher than that in Hong Kong. On the employers' side, it showed 98.6 percent of local firms offered a pay increase and 62 percent of them forecast a pay rise next year. In GBA cities, 71 percent of companies said they offered a pay rise this year, with 28 percent of them estimating to offer a salary hike in 2024. CTgoodjobs surveyed 449 graduates from 11 local universities and tertiary institutions and 217 local employers from 23 industries via online questionnaires in the third quarter of this year.

Cricket is back in the Olympics with five sports added to the 2028 Los Angeles Games by the International Olympic Committee yesterday. Flag football is in for a first time and baseball-softball, lacrosse and squash also made it, as sports proposed by Los Angeles officials and recommended by the IOC executive cleared a final hurdle yesterday from the full membership. Flag football and baseball-softball should put NFL and MLB players on the Olympic stage in five years' time. Football in its full-contact form was a demonstration sport at the 1932 Los Angeles Games. Lacrosse was twice played at the Olympics, but squash debuts.

RESIDENTIAL real estate developer Haus Talk Inc. (HTI) on Monday said it would be issuing cash dividends amounting to roughly P27.69 million. HTI's board of directors was said to have authorized the declaration of cash dividends in the amount of one cent per common share to eligible shareholders. For the second quarter, HTI's net income climbed to P43.51 million, compared to P39.38 million recorded the previous year, mainly driven by higher sales. Consolidated revenues were also said to have improved to P230.7 million from P193.6 million in 2022. Total operating expenses, meanwhile, widened to P56.96 million from P34.21 million.

The perfect match of personality, health tech and fashionImagine a smartwatch that can track your breathing, your sleep cycle, your heart rate and possible arrhythmia — and for ladies, even your fertility and menstruation cycles. And imagine it takes the Huawei Watch family even further into innovation, with a fashion-forward series that makes it even more expertly tailored to your personality. The Huawei Watch GT 4 in 46mm has a striking Octagonal Dial design and comes with a strong and sturdy exterior, while the Huawei Watch GT 4 in 41mm has a sleek and pristine Pendant design, fashioned to resemble statement jewelry pieces. Huawei Philippines Consumer Business Group CEO Peter Peng revealed the health features and price points of the GT 4 series. One fan is fashion icon Jericho Rosales: “The Huawei Watch GT 4 is the perfect watch for people who like functionality, style and fun,” he says.

Marcos: More than food, rice is life for PinoysMANILA, Philippines — Rice is life for Filipinos, President Marcos said yesterday, as he likened issues affecting the supply of the food staple to an “existential problem.”“It goes without saying but I think it bears repeating that rice in our countries means more than food. Rice in Asia, rice in the countries where it is the staple, is in fact life,” Marcos told delegates of the 6th International Rice Congress in Pasay. “And whenever we find ourselves in a situation where the supply of rice is threatened, this is almost an existential problem that ordinary people feel,” he added. Marcos said the government invests in research and machinery and supports farmers through the National Rice Program and the Rice Competitive Enhancement Fund. The Philippines has also been working with international institutions like the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and foreign governments to ensure the steady supply of rice and to enhance the development and sharing of crucial technologies and strategies, he added.