Over 200K units produced under CARS program – DTIMANILA, Philippines — The two companies participating in the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) have already produced over 200,000 units under the program, according to an official of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). In contrast, MMPC, which started production in February 2018, produced a total of 72,923 units of its Mirage model. Apart from the produced units, Rodoldo shared that other achievements of the program include improved localization or the share of parts sourced locally , which is now above 40 percent for both enrolled units. TMP has been pushing for an extension of the six-year compliance period for the CARS program as early as 2020, based on previous news reports. Second, we also recognize that the CARS program participants have already complied with their investment commitments.

A 48-year-old man pleaded guilty on Wednesday to fifteen allegations of sexually assaulting and abusing his six-year-old daughter over 100 times in six years. The defendant appeared at the High Court today before Judge Joseph Yau Chi-lap. The defendant, a renovation worker, was from the mainland and lived with his wife and daughter in Tai Kok Tsui. He conducted multiple sexual assaults on his daughter from 2014 to 2019, including touching her private parts and forcing her to masturbate for himself. In 2019, the victim, who was 11 years old, told her mother about the defendant’s acts.

Implicit or intrinsic transition hooks (Continuation)In Parts 2 and 3, we looked into several intrinsic or implicit strategies for making a transition to a new paragraph from the one preceding it. This time we'll take up the use of the words "it," "such," and "there" as implicit paragraph transitions. Strategy 5: Use the anticipatory pronoun "it" to begin the new paragraph. They thus caution that for short compositions, more than one paragraph beginning with these hooks would probably be too much. Next week, Dec. 29, 2022: Making effective paragraph transitions – 5Visit Jose Carillo's English Forum, http://josecarilloforum.com.

KABUL — Afghanistan’s Taliban-run higher education ministry on Tuesday suspended access to universities by female students until further notice, drawing strong condemnation from the United States, Britain and the United Nations. A letter, confirmed by a spokesperson for the higher education ministry, instructed Afghan public and private universities to suspend access to female students immediately, in accordance with a Cabinet decision. ADVERTISEMENTThe announcement by the Taliban administration, which has not been internationally recognized, came as the United Nations Security Council met in New York on Afghanistan. Foreign governments, including the United States, have said that a change in policies on women’s education is needed before it can consider formally recognizing the Taliban-run administration, which is also subject to heavy sanctions. RELATED STORIESTaliban orders Afghan women to cover faces againTaliban bans Afghan women from gyms and public bathsRead Next

The government announced to ease the Covid curbs further starting this Thursday, including exempting citizens from showing a negative Covid-19 rapid antigen test result before going to bars, banquets, or joining local group tours. At a press conference on Tuesday, the health authority confirmed that the new arrangements will be put into force from December 22. The maximum headcount of guests at banquets, which used to be 240, will be scrapped. Besides, mandatory requirements for people to show RAT results when entering bars, clubs, banquets, and local travel activities will also be cancelled. People can also eat and drink in outdoor spaces of entertainment premises, including public entertainment places, Mahjong rooms, Tien Gow rooms, and sports venues.

A United Airlines flight from Hong Kong to Guam has turned back for an emergency landing as a suspected engine failure on Tuesday morning. No injuries have been reported so far. The flight, numbered UA2831, was scheduled to take off from Hong Kong International Airport to Guam at 10.30 am but later returned to the Hong Kong International Airport and made an emergency landing at 11.39 am. The incident was suspected to be caused by a bird hitting the aircraft's engine, which led to a spark busting. Police and firefighters rushed to the scene after receiving the report and deployed five ambulances to stand by.

What is SIM Registration? SIM card registration for new usersStarting Dec. 27, new SIM cards will require SIM registration prior to activation. SIM card registration for existing usersSmart Prepaid, Smart Bro, and TNT subscribers must register through https://smart.com.ph/simreg. SIM card registration for minorsFor minor end-users, the registration of the SIM shall be under the name of the minor’s parent or guardian. To learn more about SIM Registration, follow Smart and TNT official social media accounts.

ACEN takes over SSPCMANILA, Philippines — ACEN Corp. has acquired shares from two companies in line with its takeover of a special purpose vehicle that will develop a 60-megawatt peak (MWp) solar power plant in San Manuel, Pangasinan. ACEN, in a stock exchange filing, said it signed a deed of absolute sale of shares with Sungrow Power Renewables Corp. (SPRC) for the acquisition of 4,400 Class A common shares in Sinocalan Solar Power Corp. (SSPC). The company also inked a deed of absolute sale of shares with Havilah AAA Holdings Corp. for the acquisition of 600 Class B common shares in SSPC, as well as a deed of assignment of subscription rights to 6,000 Class B common shares in SSPC. Further, a subscription agreement was also entered into with SSPC for the subscription by ACEN to 600,000 Redeemable Preferred Shares B (RPS B), to be issued out of the increase in authorized capital stock of SSPC. Upon the acquisition of the 400,000 RPS A shares, ACEN will have 100 percent ownership of SSPC.

BSP pushes amendments to century old warehouses receiptsBSP Governor Felipe Medalla promoted a warehouse receipts financing bill to update the Warehouse Receipts Law of 1912 and address the development needs of the agriculture and MSME sectors. In a forum, BSP Governor Felipe Medalla promoted a warehouse receipts financing bill to update the Warehouse Receipts Law of 1912 and address the development needs of the agriculture and MSME sectors. The proposed changes will also expand access to credit, by professionalizing the warehousing activity through the accreditation of warehouses and warehouse operators and establishment of an electronic warehouse receipts registry. The forum featured presentations on the elements of a dynamic warehouse receipts financing market and features of the proposed warehouse receipts bill from the International Finance Corp. and trade consulting firm TradeAdvisors. By bringing the Warehouse Receipts Law of 1912 up to the times, it would promote wider acceptance of warehouse receipts as credible collateral for bank loans.

DA: Agriculture output growth could reach 1.5%MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) expects the country’s agriculture output to grow by as much as 1.5 percent this year as the rice and livestock sectors recover. The agriculture sector’s growth is projected at 1.2 to 1.5 percent this year and by 2.3 to 2.5 percent next year, DA Undersecretary for policy, planning, and regulations Mercedita Sombilla said in an interview with reporters yesterday. “Hopefully, the livestock sector will drive growth if the hog industry recovers… also the palay production. The agriculture sector declined by 0.3 percent and 0.6 percent in the first and second quarter, respectively. The third quarter growth also reversed the 2.6 percent contraction of the farm production in the same period last year.

Police arrested three suspects involving the death of a 14-year-old Ukrainian boy who was found dead after taking drugs in Chungking Mansion. The force received a report on Saturday morning that a boy fell unconscious in a flat of the Mansion. Officers rushed to the scene only to find the boy dead and arrested a 56-year-old man, whose nationality was confirmed as the Bahamas. After a preliminary investigation, police located the 15-year-old local boy in a residential flat in Ngau Tau Kok at 8 pm on Sunday. He added the two arrestees - the boy and the 56-year-old - had taken drugs with the deceased at Chungking Mansion.

File PhotoThe Faster Payment System (FPS) services have been extended to payment of online government services, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau announced. FPS payments will be available for designated online services of the Immigration Department, the Official Receiver's Office, the Security Bureau, and the Transport Department starting from Monday. Citizens can scan the FPS QR codes on the departments' web pages or use the FPS Web-to-App payment function on mobile applications. Currently, citizens can pay taxes, rates, government rent, and water charges through FPS services. "More government departments are expected to provide the same service next year to bring greater convenience to the public," said a government spokesperson.

Multiple emergency units in hospitals once saw waiting times exceeding seven hours on Monday, with doctors suggesting that patients with mild symptoms consult general outpatient clinics or private clinics. "Hospitals are now gathered with more patients from this morning," said Tuen Mun Hospital's Deputy Hospital Chief Executive Terry Lau Chu-leung, "the cold weather, coupled with the epidemic, may trigger or exacerbate diseases of patients, especially the seniors." Non-emergency patients may take at least seven hours to see doctors in the emergency departments at United Christian Hospital and Yan Chai Hospital, according to the 'A&E Waiting Time' on the Hospital Authority website. Lau suggests patients with mild symptoms consider going to private or general outpatient clinics for quicker treatment. More than 5,000 people asked for help in the past three days under the cold weather, according to the association.

Suffering Argentines explode with joy after 'epic' World Cup winFans of Argentina celebrate winning the Qatar 2022 World Cup against France at the Obelisk in Buenos Aires, on December 18, 2022. BUENOS AIRES – Watching football icon Lionel Messi inspire Argentina to World Cup glory on Sunday (Monday, Manila time) made the economic suffering engulfing the country "worth it," according to ecstatic fans. 'Richly deserved distraction'Watching the World Cup final and dreaming about winning has been a much needed exercise in escapism for citizens of a country that has suffered years of economic turmoil due to spiraling inflation. Ska band La Mosca played a concert in Buenos Aires with an updated version of the team's official World Cup song "Muchachos," with the lyrics tweaked to acknowledge Argentina's third title. "I've been waiting my whole life to enjoy the World Cup."

Russian troops that were moved to Belarus in October to become part of a regional formation will conduct battalion tactical exercises, the Russian Interfax news agency reported on Monday, citing the Russian defense ministry. “The final assessment of the combat capability and combat readiness of the units will be given by the command at the final stage of coordination – after the battalion tactical exercises have been conducted,” Interfax cited the ministry’s statement. ADVERTISEMENTIt was not immediately clear when and where in Belarus the exercises will be conducted. Belarus defense ministry said in October that 9,000 Russian troops were moving to the country as part of a “regional grouping” of forces to protect its borders. RELATED STORIESBelarus, Russia to form joint military group, Lukashenko saysUkraine watchful of borders as Putin heads to BelarusRead Next