Biden orders strike on Iranian-aligned group after 3 US troops injured in drone attack in Iraq
WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Joe Biden has ordered retaliatory strikes against Iranian-backed militia groups after three US servicemembers injured in a drone attack in Northern Iraq. National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said one of the US troops suffered critical injuries in the attack that occurred earlier Monday. The Iranian-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups, under an umbrella of Iranian-backed militants, claimed credit for the attack.
Source:Manila Times
December 26, 2023 10:20 UTC
Philippines not provoking conflict in South China Sea - military spokesperson
Chinese militia vessels operate at Whitsun Reef in the South China Sea, December 2, 2023. Philippine Coast Guard/Handout via REUTERS/File PhotoThe Philippines is not provoking conflict in the South China Sea, the country's military spokesperson said on Tuesday, in response to China's accusation that Manila is encroaching on Beijing's territory. "Philippines is not provoking conflict. Aguilar said the Philippines is not conducting activities that will put vessels and seafarers in danger, and instead accused China of performing dangerous manoeuvres that sometimes result in collisions at sea. China claims almost the entire South China Sea with its so-called nine-dash line that overlaps into the exclusive economic zones of rival claimants Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam.
Source:The Standard
December 26, 2023 06:09 UTC
Nearly 300 Pakistan activists freed after protest attempt
ISLAMABAD: Police in Pakistan on Monday freed 290 Baloch activists who were arrested when they attempted to hold a protest in the capital Islamabad last week. Their release came days after protest organizers gave authorities a deadline to release all those detained.
Source:Manila Times
December 26, 2023 04:05 UTC
Children's hospitals spread Christmas happiness with patients
The Duchess of Kent Children's Hospital at Sandy Bay and Hong Kong Children's Hospital held various Christmas events on Monday to celebrate with children and let them enjoy the happiness of the festive season. The hospital also held a party in the garden and arranged magic, drum and bicycle stunts performance. Healthcare workers distributed gifts and arranged a festive Christmas meal for the children, bringing them a joyful Christmas day. As for the Hong Kong Children's Hospital, it arranged an array of Christmas programs for its patients to feel the healing power of music and loving care from others. A Christmas party was held in the hospital lobby.
Source:The Standard
December 26, 2023 00:26 UTC
Over 300 hours of below-zero temperatures recorded in Beijing
BEIJING: Beijing has recorded the highest number of hours of sub-freezing temperatures in December in more than seven decades as a cold wave envelops northern and central swathes of China, bringing snowstorms and record-breaking temperatures. A weather observatory in the Chinese capital as of Sunday had recorded more than 300 hours of such temperatures since December 11, the most since records began in 1951, the official Beijing Daily newspaper reported.
Source:Manila Times
December 25, 2023 20:28 UTC
SEC issues advisory vs 'investment' firm
THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has warned the investing public against JTrade FX Foreign Exchange Service, which was found soliciting investments without necessary licenses. In a recent advisory, the SEC said the company was enticing investors to pool their money in exchange for up to a 210-percent return in just 30 days.
Source:Manila Times
December 25, 2023 20:02 UTC
About 1.05m people arrived and departed Hong Kong on Christmas Eve
The long Christmas holiday has begun, and all ports are crowded with Hong Kong residents leaving the country for overseas travel. According to figures from the Immigration Department, Hong Kong's various ports had a total of about 1.05 million arrivals and departures yesterday (Dec 24), of which about 633,000 were departures. The Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau Spur Line control points had the largest number of departures, with more than 135,000 and 123,000, respectively, followed by the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge with 82,000 people. In terms of arrivals, more than 410,000 people entered Hong Kong through various control points yesterday, with the largest number of people passing through Lo Wu, Lok Ma Chau Spur Line, and Hong Kong West Kowloon Station.
Source:The Standard
December 25, 2023 17:52 UTC
Marcos orders identification of services that can be devolved to LGUs
Marcos orders identification of services that can be devolved to LGUsThe high court rejected the petition filed by Batangas Gov. MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered national government agencies to list the functions and services under its mandate that should be devolved to local government units. “Should the LGUs lack the funds to implement the functions and services, the National Government should have a program to assist them,” Marcos said, according to the Presidential Communications Office release. PCO reported that Marcos also ordered the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to come up with a list of basic functions and services that the LGUs should be performing based on their Devolution Transition Plans. This formed the basis of the LGU devolution plan, which passes on certain functions of the executive branch to LGUs.
Source:Philippine Star
December 25, 2023 16:17 UTC
Registered 4Ps beneficiaries to enjoy electricity bill discounts in January 2024
Registered 4Ps beneficiaries to enjoy electricity bill discounts in January 2024Residents of Batasan in Quezon City receive cash aid at Quezon City Polytechnic Univesity from the government's social amelioration package. MANILA, Philippines — Registered beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) will enjoy discounts on their monthly electricity bills starting in January through the government’s new power bill subsidy program, a senator said on Monday. The Lifeline Rate Subsidy Program — which will be fully implemented by the start of 2024 — will provide discounts for registered electricity customers who cannot pay their electricity bills at full cost. How to availTo apply for the Lifeline Rate Subsidy Program, 4Ps beneficiaries should visit the nearest distribution utility or electric cooperative in their respective area to apply for the subsidy program. The signing up process for the Lifeline Rate Subsidy Program should not be too “cumbersome” for 4Ps beneficiaries, Gatchalian said.
Source:Philippine Star
December 25, 2023 16:11 UTC
The birthday boy didn't exist?
MOST people don't really bother to think about what really is a central feature of their lives: their religion, their belief in a deity. This is remarkable in that it is religion that tells us what would happen — or think would happen — after the few decades of our existence. Doesn't that make religion — our religion — an important thing to think about to study? Ordinary people, of course, don't have the leisure to do this.
Source:Manila Times
December 25, 2023 00:43 UTC
US accuses Iran of tanker attack off India
WASHINGTON, D.C.: A Japanese-owned chemical tanker struck off the coast of India on Saturday was targeted by a drone "fired from Iran," the Pentagon said, a sign of expanding risks to commercial shipping beyond the Red Sea. It was the first time the Pentagon has openly accused Iran of directly targeting ships since the start of Israel's war on the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which is supported by Tehran.
Source:Manila Times
December 24, 2023 22:16 UTC
The Word
In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God,and the Word was God. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,and His life brought light to everyone. So there… The baby born on Christmas Day in very humble surroundings, with very humble shepherds around Him, is God. There has to be a strong message for the Son of God to choose to be born in a dirty stable.
Source:Philippine Star
December 24, 2023 19:01 UTC
Philippines detects 18 cases of new COVID-19 variant JN.1
Philippines detects 18 cases of new COVID-19 variant JN.1MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health said Sunday that it has detected 18 cases of JN.1, a form of Omicron classified by the World Health Organization as a “variant of interest.”Despite the detection of a new COVID-19 variant, the DOH stressed that “there has been no significant increase in the number or severity of cases overall.”It added that all COVID-19 patients with JN.1 have recovered, with the earliest sample collected on November 16 and the most recent on December 3. “It is another Omicron subvariant with no evidence of increased severity or unusual clinical presentation. Last week, the WHO classified JN.1 as a separate variant of interest from its parent lineage BA.2.86. The DOH reported last week that hospital admissions remained low despite an uptick in COVID-19 infections. Currently, there are around 5,568 active COVID-19 cases.
Source:Philippine Star
December 24, 2023 18:55 UTC
Pope warns vs inflexible ideologies: Be like the Magi
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has warned against inflexible ideological positions that can hinder the Church from seeing reality and moving forward, speaking days after a declaration allowing blessings of same-sex couples that conservatives have condemned. Francis, who turned 87 on Sunday, made his comments in his traditional Christmas greetings to members of the Curia, the Vatican’s central administration. “We are called, instead, to set out and journey, like the Magi, following the light that always desires to lead us on, at times along unexplored paths and new roads,” the pope said. Shaking foundationsWhile the Pope’s opening to blessings for same-sex couples was welcomed by many, conservatives said it could shake the foundations of the faith and even lead to a Church schism. Subscribe to our daily newsletter SIGN ME UPREAD: Vatican approves blessings for same-sex couples in landmark ruling
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
December 24, 2023 06:25 UTC
OCD, Army strengthen ties in earthquake response
OCD, Army strengthen ties in earthquake responseOffice of Civil Defense administrator Ariel Nepomuceno meets with Army chief Lt. Gen. Roy Galido to discuss a collaboration on disaster response in the country. MANILA, Philippines — The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the Philippine Army (PA) have strengthened their collaboration on disaster response, especially for earthquakes. In addition to the deployment of the Special Disaster Response Unit, the Army will also assist the OCD in training local government units (LGUs) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) on Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue operations. “The target is to train thousands of reliable BFP responders, reserve forces and civilian volunteers to be able to form highly skilled and equipped rescue units against any earthquake threat,” said OCD administrator Ariel Nepomuceno. Nepomuceno is also the concurrent executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council and an undersecretary of the Department of National Defense.
Source:Philippine Star
December 24, 2023 03:55 UTC