Registration for OFWs seeking back wages extendedOverseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Arnell Ignacio along with other officials assist 102 OFWs in their arrival documents at the NAIA Terminal 3 in Pasay City as they return to the Philippines from Kuwait through the repatriation program of the government on January 20, 2023. MANILA, Philippines — The government of Saudi Arabia has given overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) seeking back wages and separation pay more time to register with the Saudi em-bassy. The deadline for updating information of OFWs entitled to unpaid wages and salary claims has been extended from Jan. 19 to Jan. 31, according to the Department of Migrant Workers. DMW Secretary Susan Ople previously announced that the claimants have until Jan. 19 to register. The DMW said the Saudi embassy requested the agency’s help in informing the claimants of the need to register and update their data.

From bear to bullMost stock markets have undergone a dramatic shift to start the year, transitioning from a bear market to a bull market. Note that 74 percent of the 50 countries that compose the MSCI All-Country Weighted Index (ACWI) are already in a bull market. A bullish stock market is defined as a market index rising at least 20 percent from its lows. Source: Bloomberg, Wealth Securities ResearchChina is leading this new bull market, following a tumultuous 2022 due to the regulatory crackdowns, the “common prosperity” campaign, and the economic impact caused by COVID-19 restrictions. Source: Tradingview.com, Wealth Securities ResearchMajor risks to the nascent bullDespite the recent peak in inflation and reversal in the dollar, there are still significant risks to the nascent global bull market.

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday said it had recorded 1,024,521 voter registrations as of Jan. 13, ahead of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) elections. The Comelec opened its latest leg of voter registration on Dec. 12 and is set to last until the end of January. Laudiangco, however, also noted that the latest figures do not reflect the total number of registrants from its Register Anywhere Project, which has so far collected a total of 3,992 registrations as of Jan. 15. The said project allows the public to register in places other than their residence from Dec. 17, 2022 to Jan. 25, 2023. The Comelec earlier launched voter education seminars to boost the number of registered voters nationwide, prioritizing far-flung areas with low voter turnout.

The government's latest exemptions on Friday night show people can finally go maskless when toasting on stage at an event or eating and drinking at an exhibition starting next Thursday (Jan 26). Citizens also need not wear a mask when delivering a speech in religious activity on a religious premise. The government appealed to the public to remain vigilant and observe personal hygiene to reduce the risk of infection while celebrating the Lunar New Year. The government also called on citizens to get inoculated against Covid-19. Click here to see the latest mask requirements that come into effect on January 26.

A 52-year-old worker at a food processing plant of Café de Coral in Tai Po Industrial Estate collapsed when loading meat onto a truck Saturday morning, and was later pronounced dead. According to security camera footage, the worker surnamed Lui was loading baskets filled with frozen meat onto a truck at 8.53am. Paramedics rushed Lui to Nethersole Hospital in Tai Po but Lui was eventually pronounced dead. It was understood that Lui had been working at Café de Coral’s food processing plant as a logistic worker for eight years. A spokesperson for Café de Coral said they were deeply saddened by the death of Lui and extended condolences to his family.

MELBOURNE: Daniil Medvedev on Friday night became the latest title contender to crash out of the men's draw at the Australian Open, but Iga Swiatek led a charge of the women's seeds into the last 16. The American, son of 1998 Australian Open champion Petr Korda, won 7-6 (9/7), 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) as seventh seed Medvedev followed defending champion Rafael Nadal and Casper Ruud in exiting in the first week. Korda, who faces 10th seed Hubert Hurkacz of Poland next, told Rod Laver Arena: "An unbelievable match. sobbed Zhu, who faces two-time former Melbourne champion Victoria Azarenka next. - 'Bit of a farce' -Off the court, Australian Open chief Craig Tiley insisted there was "no need" to alter the scheduling, despite stinging criticism after the second-latest finish at a Grand Slam ever.

A 59-year-old woman committed suicide at her Sai Wan home Saturday morning by plunging a knife into her chest, and her body was later found by her younger brother who went visit her. Police received a call at 11.18am from a man who said his older sister, surnamed Choi, committed suicide in her home at Bank Building on Des Voeux Road West. It was understood that Choi suffered from emotional illness and once told her brother that she was unhappy. Her brother then went visit her this morning, only to find out that she had committed suicide by stabbing herself in the chest with a 30cm-long knife. Below is a list of 24-hour hotlines that ensure people can get help in time:The Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong: 2389 2222The Samaritans: 2896 0000Suicide Prevention Services: 2382 0000Richmond Fellowship of Hong Kong – Justone: 3512 2626Caritas Family Crisis Support Centre: 18288

A 37-year-old biker was taken to hospital Saturday morning after losing control of his motorcycle and crashing head-on into a sedan traveling on an adjacent lane in Sai Kung. Around 6 am, the biker surnamed Chai was riding along Tai Mong Tsai Road but lost control of the vehicle outside Tai Wan Village, and crossed into the adjacent lane in the opposite direction. A sedan driven by a man surnamed Lo, 35, was in the adjacent lane and could not apply the brakes in time, leading to the head-on collision. The front of the sedan was seriously damaged and the bumper fell off. Lo then stayed at the scene to aid police investigation and the cause of the incident has yet to be confirmed by police.

It seems like San Miguel Beer is taking a new direction for the 2023 Governors’ Cup with a new head coach at the helm. Former San Miguel Beer head coach Leo Austria is taking a break from coaching (PBA Images)Former assistant Jorge Gallent is set to take over the coaching reins for the league’s winningest franchise from erstwhile coach Leo Austria who is set to take a break from coaching although will remain with the team as its consultant. He explained that Austria decided to take a sabbatical from coaching due personal reasons. “Coach Leo met with management a few days ago and informed us that he wishes to take a coaching sabbatical for personal reasons starting the Governor’s Cup,” said Abanilla in a statement. With this development, he will remain with the team as a Consultant and we have elevated Coach Jorge Gallent as the Head Coach.

(UPDATE) THE Department of Education-National Capital Region (DepEd-NCR) said it was "saddened and disturbed" after a 13-year-old student was fatally stabbed in Culiat High School in Quezon City early Friday morning. Together with the Schools Division Office of Quezon City and Culiat High School, it will provide assistance to the family of the victim, the statement said. "Follow-up stress debriefing sessions shall also be administered to students and teachers who witnessed the incident," the DepEd-NCR said. The suspect stabbed the victim, a classmate and Grade 7 student, reportedly in a fit of jealousy inside their school. As of this writing, the Culiat High School is yet to issue a statement on the incident.

"A Man Called Otto" is the newest Tom Hanks movie, it's the Hollywood version of an Oscar winning Swedish film, "A Man Called Ove," based in turn on a Swedish novel. Eva Green and Filipino Folklore, Tom Hanks and a cat, Pedro Pascal and some fungi compete for your eyeballs this week. Eva Green and Filipino Folklore, Tom Hanks and a cat, Pedro Pascal and some fungi compete for your eyeballs this week. Eva Green and Filipino Folklore, Tom Hanks and a cat, Pedro Pascal and some fungi compete for your eyeballs this week. ***Nocebo and A Man Called Otto opened last Wednesday, new episode of "The Last of Us" are out Mondays on HBO, it can also be streamed via HBO Go.

The coach bus driver surnamed Chan. Previous NextA 66-year-old woman died after she was hit by a coach bus at the airport on Thursday, and the 70-year-old driver was arrested for dangerous driving causing death. The incident occurred around 3pm Thursday when the 28-seat coach bus heading towards Tung Chung along Cheong Tat Road reached a bus stop opposite Terminal 1 at the airport. The woman surnamed Tai fell unconscious after she was knocked down by the coach bus and was rushed to North Lantau Hospital. The driver surnamed Chan was then arrested by police for dangerous driving causing death.

Bloomberg and staff reporterChina's oil giants said preliminary net income for last year surged on rising fuel prices and Beijing's emphasis on energy security. CNOOC (0883) expects its 2022 net profit to roughly double and net profit to come in between 139.6 billion yuan (HK$161.1 billion) and 143.6 billion yuan, up 99 and 104 percent. This came as PetroChina (0857) expects net income to jump up to 68 percent to 155 billion yuan. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has upended energy markets, resulting in skyrocketing prices and drastically tighter supply and aiding these state-owned oil and gas giants amid weak demand at home due to the pandemic. Flagging fuel demand in China will, they said in October, rebound in the final quarter, helped by stimulus and a recovering economy.

LONDON: American reality television star and social media colossus Kim Kardashian has purchased the Attallah Cross, the amethyst and diamond pendant famously worn on several occasions by Princess Diana, according to the auction house Sotheby's. The pendant — which Diana notably wore to a 1987 charity gala — fetched more than twice the pre-auction minimum estimate, with Sotheby's confirming it was bought by a representative on behalf of Kardashian. "Jewelry owned or worn by the late Princess Diana very rarely comes on to the market, especially a piece such as the Attallah Cross, which is so colorful, bold and distinctive," Sotheby's Kristian Spofforth said before the sale. "To some extent, this unusual pendant is symbolic of the princess's growing self-assurance in her sartorial and jewelry choices, at that particular moment in her life." Kardashian was initially accused of having damaged the screen legend's gown, but Los Angeles-based museum Ripley's Believe It or Not!, which owns the piece, denied the allegations.

MELBOURNE (AFP) — Second seed Casper Ruud was sent packing in the Australian Open second round Thursday, Jan. 19, with defeat to hard-hitting American Jenson Brooksby, a day after Rafael Nadal also went out. Norway’s Casper Ruud reacts as he plays against USA’s Jenson Brooksby during their men’s singles match on day four of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 19, 2023. (AFP)The Norwegian Ruud, who took a medical timeout after the second set, succumbed 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (4/7), 6-2 to the 39th-ranked Brooksby on Rod Laver Arena. Brooksby, who is on his Australian Open debut, will face Tommy Paul next after his fellow American beat Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in five sets. But, undeterred, the gutsy American reset to break Ruud immediately and race to a 3-0 lead.