Escape from GazaPalestinians evacuate the area following an Israeli airstrike on the Sousi mosque in Gaza City on October 9, 2023. But Israel’s chief military spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, said there was no Gaza ceasefire and that Israel was continuing its operations. Israeli military chief Lieutenant-General Herzi Halevi told soldiers near the Gaza border they would be entering Gaza to root out Hamas, targeting “every place, every commander, every operator.”An Israeli blockade has prevented fuel, food and water from entering Gaza, although Netanyahu had agreed with Biden to resume the water supply to parts of southern Gaza, a minister said. The Israeli military said some 600,000 Gazans had left the northern half of the territory, which includes Gaza City’s more than one million residents. The names of the Filipinos in Gaza, including the 78 now situated near the Rafah border, have been submitted to Egyptian authorities.

Federal Bureau of Investigation officials, as well as Jewish and Muslim groups, have reported an increase of hateful and threatening rhetoric. DISTURBING DEED Joseph M. Czuba, who is charged with committing a hate crime after allegedly stabbing a young Muslim boy to death and serious wounding a woman. The boy was pronounced dead at a hospital, while the woman had multiple stab wounds and was expected to survive. But the boy's paternal uncle, Yousef Hannon, spoke on Sunday at a news conference hosted by the Chicago chapter Council on American-Islamic Relations. The Muslim civil liberties organization called the crime "our worst nightmare" and part of a disturbing spike in hate calls and emails since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war.

Retail price of imported rice should go down – groupMANILA, Philippines — The retail price of imported rice should go down amid the downward trend in the world market as its cost remains high at P60 per kilo in Philippine markets, farmers’ group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura chairman Rosendo So said yesterday. “With this, from more than P60 (per kilo), the retail price of imported rice, particularly the special and premium rice should go down to P50 plus (per kilo),” So said. Based on monitoring of the Department of Agriculture (DA), the retail price of imported special rice ranged between P53 and P60 per kilo; imported premium rice, between P52 and P58 per kilo; imported well-milled rice, between P45 and P48 per kilo and imported regular rice, P43 per kilo. This is 600,000 metric tons lower than three million metric tons of the same period last year,” De Mesa said. Based on DA monitoring, the retail price of local regular milled rice ranged between P41 and P45; regular well-milled rice, between P45 and P48 per kilo; local premium rice, between P47 and P60 per kilo; and local special rice, between P54 and P62 per kilo.

Previous NextThe SAR's biggest pro-establishment party will field more than 100 candidates for the District Council elections, as several political parties announced their representatives standing in the December 10 polls. Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong said over 100 party candidates will contest a seat in all 44 direct election constituencies. "In the previous district council elections, many candidates who had done a lot of district work had lost and made their electors disappointed. Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong plans to tap 34-year-old Jacky Lee Chiu-yu, alongside a few other members, to run in the direct elections. The Hong Kong Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood will field Kwok Wai-shing and Chow Kai-lim.

The former isolation facility in Tam Mei, Yuen Long, is transformed into a dormitory for workers. Previous NextA dormitory for 7,000 imported construction workers in Yuen Long is ready to open this month, Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho said. The former isolation facility in Tam Mei, Yuen Long will start operating this month as a foreign workers' dormitory. The government approved 4,680 construction workers under 20 contracts, making up 39 percent of the Development Bureau's quota for the sector. Authorities announced in June the import of 12,000 mainland and foreign construction workers.

CHICAGO — A 71-year-old Illinois man accused of fatally stabbing a 6-year-old boy and seriously wounding a 32-year-old woman was charged with a hate crime Sunday. FBI officials, along with Jewish and Muslim groups, have reported an increase of hateful and threatening rhetoric. Joseph M. Czuba of Plainfield was charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, two counts of hate crimes and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, according to the sheriff’s office. The sheriff’s office and county public defender’s office did not immediately return messages about Czuba’s legal representation. The Muslim civil liberties organization called the crime “our worst nightmare,” and part of a disturbing spike in hate calls and emails since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war.

MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. played down on Sunday the planned nationwide transport strike set on Monday by transport group Manibela after he received assurances from the country’s largest transport groups that they would not participate in the move. Abalos met with the “Magnificent 7” and “Mighty One” on Sunday to discuss the transport strike and other concerns, which include local enforcers supposedly taking bribes from colorum vehicles in order to operate. Meanwhile, Quezon City has decided against the suspension of classes, according to the recommendations made by the Quezon City government, the Department of Education Quezon City Schools Division Office, and the Quezon City Police District (QCPD). “Based on intelligence reports I have received through our QCPD DD (district director) Gen. Red Maranan, the impact of the planned transport strike will be minimal and class suspension has not been recommended as of this writing. Makati City has ordered public schools to continue in-person classes as the United Transport Federation of Makati is not part of the jeepney strike.

Government allows partial OFW deployment to PakistanMANILA, Philippines — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is now allowing partial deployment of Filipino household service workers (HSWs) to Pakistan. In an advisory, the DMW announced the lifting of the suspension on the deployment of returning or Balik Manggagawa HSWs bound for Pakistan. DMW opted for the resumption of deployment of returning HSWs upon the recommendation of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). According to DMW, the bilateral agreement will ensure the protection of domestic workers to be deployed in Pakistan. The Philippines suspended the deployment of HSWs to Pakistan in 2018 upon the recommendation of the Philippine embassy in Islamabad.

A fireball erupts during Israeli bombardment in the northern Gaza Strip on October 14, 2023. AFP PHOTOThere are 137 Filipinos in Gaza that have to be pulled out before Israeli forces launch an invasion. On Friday, the Israeli military instructed about a million residents in northern Gaza to evacuate within 24 hours, an indication that an assault is imminent. "All the rest have left northern Gaza or Gaza City, which is expected to be the main site for hostilities," Daza said. We should first ensure the safety of our fellowmen in Israel," Marcos said in Filipino.

(UPDATE) SEVERAL schools and universities in and outside Metro Manila suspended classes in anticipation of the nationwide transport strike on Monday, Oct. 16, 2023, Malacañang said Sunday. ABALOS MEETS TRANSPORT LEADERS Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos meets with representatives of transport groups on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023, in Quezon City. Abalos said that a vast majority or 95 percent of transport groups will continue to operate and will not participate. Abalos said they discussed other matters besides the transport strike, including concerns on "kotong." "We will create a technical working group to address the issues being raised by our transport group leaders," he said.

Groups push through with transport strike todayCommuters wait for alternative modes of transportation along Aurora Boulevard in Cubao, Quezon City as public utility jeepneys (PUJs) are rarely seen due to the three-day transport strike on July 24, 2023. Valbuena said at least 500 routes out of the total 785 routes in Metro Manila will join the transport strike. While the transport strike will be concentrated in Metro Manila, provincial transport groups will hold their protest in front of the regional offices of the LTFRB, according to Valbuena. Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos gave assurance that there will be no transport paralysis today as 95 percent of transport groups will continue to operate. She also reminded protesters joining the transport strike not to harass people who have decided to use public roads and transport services.

Eight people were arrested after a huge brawl broke out in Shek Kip Mei early Sunday, with police officers arriving at the scene with shields. Police received multiple reports around midnight that two groups of people were seen fighting on the first floor of a market in Shek Kip Mei. According to sources, those involved in the fight were construction workers who did not know each other. They engaged in a verbal argument that escalated to an all-out physical conflict, with some under the influence of alcohol. Two injured, suffering from scrapes and bleeding wounds, were taken to the hospital for medical attention.

THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) raised Alert Level 4 in Gaza, which means the mandatory repatriation of Filipinos there because of the worsening security situation. "The Department of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform the public that, due to the current situation in Gaza, we have placed Gaza under Alert Level 4 (mandatory repatriation)," DFA spokesman Ma. AFP PHOTO A fireball erupts during Israeli bombardment in the northern Gaza Strip on October 14, 2023. AFP PHOTO"All the rest have left northern Gaza or Gaza City, which is expected to be the main site for hostilities," Daza said in a statement. Gaza remains under a strict blockade.

A 43-year-old male patient has gone missing after leaving United Christian Hospital on Saturday (Oct 14). The man left the hospital without notification after consultation and is pending further assessment. Security guards were deployed to search for the patient within the hospital and the surrounding areas but did not manage to find him. After checking CCTV footage, it was confirmed that the man left the hospital at about 5.30 pm. He wore a green and white short-sleeved top, black shorts, and white shoes when he left the hospital.

MANILA, Philippines — Several local government units (LGUs) and universities have announced suspensions of face-to-face classes and a shift to distance learning due to the impending transport strike on Monday, October 16. Transport group Manibela said on October 9 that it will be holding a nationwide strike to protest the alleged corruption within the transportation sector and call for the deferment and review of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program. ADVERTISEMENTREAD: Transport strike starting October 16 to push through, says groupManibela Chairman Mar Valbuena said about 240,000 traditional jeepneys are expected to join the strike. Here is the list of local governments and schools that announced a suspension of in-person classes and a temporary shift to distance learning:ADVERTISEMENTLGUsSta. Subscribe to our daily newsletter SIGN ME UPUniversity of Santo Tomas (October 16): shift to Enriched Virtual Mode of Instruction, with synchronous and asynchronous sessions, and remote work arrangementskga