Rescuers use hand-held drills to free 41 workers trapped in Indian tunnel
ADVERTISEMENTRescuers have also started to create a vertical channel with a newly replaced drilling machine, officials said. The work being done now is designed to create a passageway for evacuating the trapped workers. They could also face similar risks or problems they encountered earlier that damaged the first drilling machine attempting to cut through rocks. Most of the trapped workers are migrant laborers from across the country. Authorities have supplied the trapped workers with hot meals through a 6-inch (15-centimeter) pipe after days of surviving only on dry food sent through a narrower pipe.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
November 28, 2023 06:24 UTC
Soldiers dig by hand to free trapped tunnel workers
SILKYARA TUNNEL, India: Indian military engineers on Monday were preparing to dig by hand to reach 41 workers trapped in a collapsed road tunnel for 16 days, a rescue operation hit by repeated setbacks. DETERMIND TO DIG Rescue personnel arrive for manual drilling at the collapsed Silkyara tunnel in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand state, northern India on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023. AFP PHOTO DETERMINED TO DIG Rescue personnel arrive for manual drilling at the collapsed Silkyara tunnel in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand state, northern India on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023. "Preparations are being made to start manual drilling work," he said. Digging, blasting and drilling have also begun from the far side of the road tunnel, a much longer third route estimated to be about 480 m.The 41 construction workers have been trapped in the Silkyara road tunnel since November 12.
Source:Manila Times
November 27, 2023 22:10 UTC
Families of MH370 victims push to restart search as hearings begin
More than 40 families have filed lawsuits against Malaysia Airlines, the aircraft manufacturer Boeing, engine maker Rolls Royce and Allianz insurance group, state broadcaster CCTV said. Families "hope to search for flight MH370 on our own," the letter said, adding "they are willing to invest their own money or cooperate with capable individuals and companies." "What I want is that Malaysia Airlines gives me the truth. Each family filed for civil compensation of between 10 million yuan (HK$11.14 million) and 80 million yuan, as well as moral damages of 30 million yuan to 40 million yuan, CCTV reported. The families of more than 110 other passengers have already reached a settlement with the defendants and received between 2.5 million yuan and 3 million yuan, the broadcaster said.
Source:The Standard
November 27, 2023 19:14 UTC
Ayala launches all-new BYD Atto 3 crossover
FOLLOWING its first local appearance at the 2023 Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit last month, the Ayala Group, through Mobility Access Philippines Ventures Inc., officially launched the all-new BYD Atto 3 crossover. Entering the Philippine automotive market, the BYD Atto 3 boasts some of the most advanced EV technologies available globally. Serving as a testament to its popularity in other markets, the BYD Atto 3 achieved its 500,000th production unit milestone in September 2023. Aside from the fun electric driving performance, the top-of-the-line BYD Atto 3 offers a driving range of up to 480 kilometers (km). Checkout the all-new BYD Atto 3 full electric crossover at BYD dealerships.
Source:Manila Times
November 27, 2023 17:11 UTC
Filipino crew members of tanker seized off Yemen safe
Filipino crew members of tanker seized off Yemen safeMANILA, Philippines — The crew members of a tanker that was seized off Yemen, which include two Filipino seafarers, are now safe, according to media reports. Agence France-Presse reported that armed assailants seized M/V Central Park, a tanker owned by a United Kingdom-based, Israel-linked company, in the Gulf of Aden Sunday. Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels had previously threatened to attack the tanker if it did not divert to the port of Hodeidah in Yemen. The incident comes nearly a week after Houthi rebels seized Galaxy Leader, an Israeli-linked cargo ship, in the Red Sea and held hostage its 25 international crew members, including 17 Filipinos. Filipino mariners comprise more than 25% of 1.5 million sea-based workers worldwide, the highest number from any country, according to the government.
Source:Philippine Star
November 27, 2023 16:04 UTC
NAIA-3 to undergo electrical system upgrade, brief power interruption expected
NAIA-3 to undergo electrical system upgrade, brief power interruption expectedMANILA, Philippines — The Manila International Airport Authority is set to conduct another series of scheduled electrical maintenance activities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 as part of its medium-term program of upgrading its electrical system. The electrical maintenance work will begin at midnight (12:01) a.m. until 3 a.m. on November 29. Aside from the three-power interruption at NAIA, MIAA said some areas will experience limited disruptions. “We assure the public that this scheduled electrical upgrading and maintenance is a vital step toward enhancing the airport’s electrical system reliability,” he said. These electrical system upgrades came after the NAIA 3 experienced power outages on May 1 and June 9 this year.
Source:Philippine Star
November 27, 2023 16:02 UTC
Customs seize over 450 kilograms of dried shark fins at airport
Customs announced on Sunday that they seized over 450 kg of dried shark fins, including suspected dried shark fins of scheduled endangered species, with an estimated market value of about $1.3 million on Friday. Following the detection of a suspected case of smuggling scheduled dried shark fins from an air passenger at Hong Kong International Airport last Thursday (Nov 23), Hong Kong Customs detected another similar case one day later on Friday (Nov 24)A 35-year-old male passenger had arrived in Hong Kong from Brazil via Ethiopia on November 24, and he made a customs declaration for the batch of controlled items and presented an image of a Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) document to customs officers. However, the documents were later confirmed invalid by officers of the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department (AFCD), along with confirming that some of the dried shark fins in his 15 pieces of check-in baggage are of endangered species. They were able to seize over 450 kilograms of dried shark fins, including suspected dried shark fins of scheduled endangered species with an estimated market value of about HK$1.3 million. Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting an endangered species without a license is liable to a maximum fine of HK$10 million and imprisonment for 10 years.
Source:The Standard
November 27, 2023 15:40 UTC
US police look into 'hate crime' after Palestinian students shot
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Three university students of Palestinian descent were wounded in a shooting in the city of Burlington, Vermont over the weekend, in what police said appeared to be a "hate-motivated crime." A police statement said two of the victims were in stable condition, and the third suffered "much more serious injuries." The Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee said: "We have reason to believe this shooting occurred because the victims are Arab." It called on Vermont authorities to investigate the shooting as a hate crime. The shooting came as civil rights groups have warned of a rise in hate crimes against Arab and Muslim Americans.
Source:Manila Times
November 27, 2023 09:55 UTC
De Lima urges probe of former Justice chiefs after CA ruling
De Lima urges probe of former Justice chiefs after CA rulingFormer Philippine senator and human rights campaigner Leila de Lima talks during an interview with AFP in Manila on November 24, 2023. MANILA, Philippines — Former senator Leila de Lima has called for the investigation into former Justice chiefs Vitaliano Aguirre II and Menardo Guevarra after the Court of Appeals ordered the Office of the Ombudsman to act on her complaints against the two. De Lima secured another legal victory as the CA reversed the Ombudsman's dismissal of her complaints against Aguirre and Guevarra over the government’s use of convicted criminals as state witnesses. “With the reversal of the Ombudsman dismissal by the CA, I expect the Ombudsman to now conduct a full investigation of both Aguirre and Guevarra,” De Lima said. De Lima appealed the Ombudsman decision dismissing her complaints with the CA and the Supreme Court in 2020.
Source:Philippine Star
November 27, 2023 08:03 UTC
Gender consideration urged for infrastructure projects
WOMEN should be given opportunities to take part in infrastructure development as the region continues to recover from the pandemic, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said on Friday. "As we try to close a huge infrastructure gap in Asia and the Pacific, we must integrate gender considerations across all stages of the infrastructure development cycle," the ADB said. The Manila-based lender stressed that while women should theoretically comprise half of the workforce in the infrastructure sector, the lack of acknowledgment and understanding of gender disparities results in insufficient integration of gender considerations into infrastructure design. The bank stated that Asia and the Pacific faced a significant infrastructure gap, requiring annual investments of $1.7 trillion, which the public sector alone cannot cover. Moreover, ADB highlighted that these partnerships could leverage the government's role in delivering essential public infrastructure projects.
Source:Manila Times
November 26, 2023 23:09 UTC
Seven-month-old baby hurled from car in accident on Tolo Highway
A seven-month-old infant boy was flung from the car after a traffic accident in Tai Po on Sunday, while four others were also injured. The 53-year-old driver lost control of his 7-seater and rammed into the road divider on Tolo Highway near Classical Gardens at 2.44 pm. The door on the left suddenly opened, which resulted in a foreign domestic helper and the baby boy being thrown out of the car. The infant was conscious and was rushed to the Prince of Wales Hospital wearing a neck brace. The driver, his wife, and another friend were all sent to the hospital for treatment.
Source:The Standard
November 26, 2023 21:31 UTC
A stampede during a music festival in southern India university has killed at least 4 students
A stampede during a music festival at a university in southern India on Saturday killed at least four students and injured 60 others, according to news agency Press Trust of India. The disaster happened at the Cochin University of Science and Technology in Kerala state where students were enjoying a live musical event that was interrupted by rain, leading the audience to scamper for shelter that resulted in a stampede. At least two people among the injured are in critical condition, news website Indian Express reported. Pinarayi Vijayan, the top elected official in Kerala, said he had ordered an investigation.
Source:The Standard
November 26, 2023 16:52 UTC
Anne Jakrajutatip calls Miss Universe 2023 'one of the best, most-watched' in pageant's history
Anne Jakrajutatip calls Miss Universe 2023 'one of the best, most-watched' in pageant's historyMANILA, Philippines — Thai businesswoman and Miss Universe owner Anne Jakrajutatip has called this year's Miss Universe show as "one of the best and most-watched Miss Universe shows in many years." Sheynnis Palacios took home Nicaragua's first crown at the end of the coronation night on November 18 held in San Salvador, El Salvador. She was warmly welcomed yesterday night when she arrived from her Miss Universe stint, that included a stop in Mexico, the host country of Miss Universe 2024. A week before the Miss Universe 2023 coronation night, Thai media company JKN Global Group, owned by Jakrajutatip, has filed for bankruptcy. JKN said that it will try to resolve a “liquidity problem.”RELATED: Liquidity woes cause Miss Universe owner to declare bankruptcy days before pageant
Source:Philippine Star
November 26, 2023 16:11 UTC
SWS: More Filipinos feel quality of life declining
SWS: More Filipinos feel quality of life decliningA man pushes a trolley along a market in Manila on May 11, 2023. MANILA, Philippines — The number of Filipinos who reported a decline in their quality of life over the past year has increased in the latest survey by the Social Weather Stations. The latest survey resulted in a “net gainer” score of -2, classified by the polling firm as “fair.”“The September 2023 net gainer score was 13 points below the very high +11 in June 2023. The pollster explained that the net gainer score was “generally negative” until 2015 when it rose to positive numbers. 13-point declineAccording to SWS, the decline in the nationwide net gainer score was due to decreases in all areas.
Source:Philippine Star
November 26, 2023 16:02 UTC
Nonoy, Cansino brace for finals
(UPDATE) MANILA, Philippines: ONCE teammates at UST, Mark Nonoy and CJ Cansino now meet from the opposing sides in the first-ever La Salle-UP finals duel in UAAP men's basketball history. As their paths crossed as rivals this time, Nonoy said he and Cansino, both playing their respective final UAAP seasons, will give the fans a treat on the court. Nonoy said it feels good to make the Finals again and vows to the La Salle community that the Green Archers will do their best against the Fighting Maroons. We want to thank all those people who support us and I hope they keep on supporting us, the whole La Salle community [keep on supporting us]. Nonoy and Cansino aren't the only teammates turned rivals in this UP-La Salle finals duel.
Source:Manila Times
November 26, 2023 10:51 UTC