Prices up among ‘noche buena’ items
The price guide includes 240 shelf keeping units (SKUs)—which manufacturers use to identify and track their inventory—such as ham, fruit cocktail, pasta, spaghetti sauce and queso de bola. A 430-gram of Dole fruit cocktail went up from P63 to P63.83, while a 3-kilo Del Monte Fiesta brand in extra light syrup increased from P279.95 to P298. Market forcesNograles said prices of cheese products increased by as much as P49, the highest among the listed items. The DTI does not regulate or approve prices of noche buena products, unlike essential food items and necessities as mandated by the Price Act. As market forces dictate their pricing, the surge in demand during the Christmas holidays tends to push prices higher.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
November 22, 2023 14:39 UTC
Up to 7 percent growth possible next year
Up to 7 percent growth possible next year“The outlook for higher growth in 2024 at six to seven percent is also hinged on the expected monetary policy easing by the BSP and other major central banks,” Metrobank Research said. Metrobank Research’s growth outlook, however, is still below the gross domestic product (GDP) growth target of 6.5 to eight percent set by the Cabinet-level Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) for next year. Metrobank Research said the strong economic growth in the third quarter suggests that overall economic activity has remained resilient despite a high-interest rate environment. It said the strong growth gives the BSP more room for a rate hike should inflation expectations become problematic this year. The risk-adjusted inflation is equivalent to baseline inflation forecasts plus the probability weighted impact of the different upside and downside risks to inflation outlook.
Source:Philippine Star
November 22, 2023 12:29 UTC
Self-rated poverty, hunger down in Q3
Self-rated poverty, hunger down in Q3Residents of Barangay San Nicolas in Binondo, Manila go about their daily routine on September 20, 2023. Self-rated poverty was at 43 percent in March 2023 and 41 percent in October 2022. According to OCTA, the decrease in self-rated poverty was due to a significant drop among respondents in Balance Luzon. It was down five points from the 15 percent or an estimated 3.9 million families that experienced hunger in the second quarter of the year. Seventy-four percent of those who experienced involuntary hunger in the third quarter said they experienced it only once, while 17 percent said it happened a few times.
Source:Philippine Star
November 22, 2023 12:09 UTC
Man arrested after seeking help from firefighters to release handcuffs he put on at home
The man was later arrested by police for possessing the handcuffs, which officers said were restricted items. The incident occurred at around 2 am after the man had put on the handcuffs gifted by a friend of his, which he thought were toys. The couple then visited the fire station and firefighters helped free the man from the handcuffs, also informing the police of the incident. Police officers arrived on the scene finding the handcuffs to be restricted items, and arrested the man for possession of offensive weapon. Officers were now investigating the source of the handcuffs.
Source:The Standard
November 22, 2023 10:23 UTC
Detroit's 'Big 3' auto workers ratify contract
NEW YORK CITY: Workers from Ford, General Motors (GM) and Stellantis ratified new contracts with hefty wage hikes, their union announced on Monday, closing the books on an historic auto workers strike at the three Detroit giants. VICTORY UAW (United Auto Workers) local 862 members strike outside of Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, Kentucky, on Oct. 12, 2023. Workers from Detroit’s ‘Big Three’ ratified new labor contracts that promise hefty wage hikes, the United Auto Workers announced on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023. AP PHOTO VICTORY UAW (United Auto Workers) local 862 members strike outside of Ford's Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, Kentucky, on Oct. 12, 2023. Workers from Detroit's 'Big Three' ratified new labor contracts that promise hefty wage hikes, the United Auto Workers announced on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023.
Source:Manila Times
November 22, 2023 04:29 UTC
OpenAI staff threaten mass resignation
"We want to partner with OpenAI and we want to partner with Sam so irrespective of where Sam is he's working with Microsoft," chief executive Satya Nadella said in a streamed Bloomberg interview. "Microsoft has assured us that there are positions for all OpenAI employees at this new subsidiary should we choose to join." A key AI executive at Microsoft confirmed that they all were welcome from OpenAI if the board that removed Altman didn't resign. Nadella wrote on X that Altman will lead a new advanced AI research team at Microsoft, joined by OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman. Global tech titan Microsoft has invested more than $10 billion in OpenAI and has rolled out the artificial intelligence pioneer's tech in its own products.
Source:Manila Times
November 22, 2023 04:29 UTC
Philippines-US air, maritime patrols in West Philippine Sea launched — Marcos
Philippines-US air, maritime patrols in West Philippine Sea launched — MarcosMANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and the United States started the joint maritime and aerial patrols in the West Philippine Sea, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Tuesday. "This significant initiative is a testament to our commitment to bolster the interoperability of our military forces in conducting maritime and air patrols. "These joint patrols are part of a series of events agreed upon by the Mutual Defense Board - Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) of both nations. Today marks the beginning of joint maritime and air patrols— a collaborative effort between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the United States Indo-Pacific Command in the West Philippine Sea. This significant initiative is a testament to our commitment to bolster the… — Bongbong Marcos (@bongbongmarcos) November 21, 2023He also said that the joint patrols are scheduled to continue until November 23.
Source:Philippine Star
November 22, 2023 03:46 UTC
Sara: Family to support father's political comeback
MANILA, Philippines: Vice President Sara Duterte said that the family would support any decision of her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, if he decides to go back into politics. Her statement comes after the elder Duterte, in his "Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa '' program on SMNI News on Monday, said that he was open to a political comeback if his daughter is impeached over the use of confidential and intelligence funds. Vice President Sara Duterte. Contributed PhotoACT Teachers Rep. Francisca "France" Castro" claimed that there were moves in the House of Representatives to file an impeachment complaint against Sara Duterte over the transfer of contingent funds from the Office of the President to the Office of the Vice President in 2022. In a chance interview with reporters at the culmination of the National Reading Month in Quezon City on Tuesday, Duterte said that the family will "wholeheartedly support" his decision to run.
Source:Manila Times
November 22, 2023 00:32 UTC
Indian workers trapped in tunnel seen on camera
DEHRADUN, India: Forty-one Indian workers trapped in a collapsed road tunnel for 10 days were seen alive on camera for the first time on Tuesday as workers attempted to create new passageways to free them. ALIVE AND ANXIOUS Some of the 41 workers trapped inside a collapsed tunnel that was being built are pictured with an endoscopic camera lowered to their location in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand state, northern India on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. "We will bring you out safely, do not worry," rescuers can be heard telling the helmet-wearing men trapped inside as they gather near the camera, video released by state authorities shows. It is hoped that a drone can also be sent down to assess the stability of the area where the men are trapped. "We have sent 24 bottles with meals and bananas to the trapped workers," top local civil servant Abhishek Ruhela told Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Source:Manila Times
November 21, 2023 22:09 UTC
HK wins historic first gold for Sanda at World Wushu Championships
Hong Kong wushu athlete Leung Yu-hong won the city's first Sanda gold on Monday. On the final day of the 2023 World Wushu Championships held in Texas yesterday (Nov 20), the Hong Kong Sanda representative faced off against a Vietnamese rival Nguyen Man Cuoug at the 60kg men's Sanda final. Leung, who first defeated Spanish, South Korean, and Kyrgyz rivals in the first three rounds of the event, came face-to-face with a Vietnamese rival at the finals of the 60 kg Sanda event without even dropping one round. At the finals, he continued his hot streak by shutting out the Vietnamese rival with a game score of 2:0 helping the Hong Kong team win their first ever gold medal at the Sanda event. The Hong Kong team finished the 2023 Edition Championship with three gold, silver, and bronze medals respectively, and fourth on the total medal table behind Macau and ahead of Singapore.
Source:The Standard
November 21, 2023 21:12 UTC
Another transport group to continue PISTON strike
Another transport group to continue PISTON strikeJeepney drivers are joined by groups in their protest during the second day of their three-day transport strike at the corner of Agoncillo Street and Pedro Gil Avenue in Manila on November 21, 2023. MANILA, Philippines — As the three-day transport strike launched by the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) ends today, another group, Manibela, will launch a similar activity from now until Friday. “We will stick to the original plan for a three-day nationwide strike on Nov. 22, 23, 24,” Valbuena said, referring to the supposed joint transport immobilization by PISTON and Manibela members. Tarlac and Cavite will also join the transport strike,” Valbuena added. Valbuena responded to a statement of the Land Transportation, Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) that a transport strike is not a solution to the problem pertaining to the deadline of the transport modernization.
Source:Philippine Star
November 21, 2023 17:30 UTC
Take note
For instance, a video of a pregnant lady driver and an irate vehicle owner at the T3 car park went viral many weeks ago. On the EDSA Busway, an MMDA operation against drivers entering the Busway reached the Philippine Senate where “Bong vs Bong” went viral on social media! Too many cars being allowed in the car park that forced drivers to block, illegally park or go around in circles until they get so mad and take it out on somebody. Car park owners and operators have gotten away with this abuse and lack of accountability. Any smart lawyer could have and should sue the car park operator at NAIA and the LTO for failure to do their jobs.
Source:Philippine Star
November 21, 2023 17:29 UTC
First images from Indian tunnel show workers trapped for nine days
SILKYARA, India — The first images emerged on Tuesday of 41 men trapped for more than a week in a highway tunnel in the Indian Himalayas, showing them standing in the confined space and communicating with rescue workers. Efforts to bring out the 41 men have been slowed by snags in drilling through the debris in the mountainous terrain. Authorities are simultaneously working on five other plans to pull out the workers, including drilling vertically from the top of the mountain. The trapped men are low-wage workers, most of them from poor states in India’s north and east. “He said he is doing fine,” Sunita Hembrom, the sister-in-law of one of the workers trapped in the tunnel, Surendra Kisko, told reporters after she spoke to him.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
November 21, 2023 06:26 UTC
Thailand economy stagnates in Q3
BANGKOK: Thailand's economy grew less than expected in the third quarter (Q3) owing to still-weak exports, officials said on Monday, as the government pushes a stimulus program that includes cash handouts worth about $14 billion. The National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) said gross domestic product grew 1.5 percent on-year in July-September, well off the 2.2 percent tipped by the NESDC and slower than the previous three months. The council said it now expected the economy to grow at the low end of a forecast 2.5 to 3.0 percent this year. New prime minister and former businessman Srettha Thavisin has promised a range of stimulus measures to spur the economy. He has also embarked on numerous foreign trips, seeking to attract much-needed fresh investment in the kingdom.
Source:Manila Times
November 21, 2023 04:19 UTC
OpenAI investors seek return of fired CEO
Investors as important as Microsoft and venture firm Thrive Capital "are making efforts to bring back Sam Altman," The Wall Street Journal reported, citing unnamed sources. Microsoft and Thrive are the two largest investors in OpenAI, but other investors are supportive of these efforts, the Journal said. BRING HIM BACK Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, speaks during The Wall Street Journal’s WSJ Tech Live Conference in Laguna Beach, California, on Oct. 17, 2023. Investors of OpenAI are working on getting Altman to return after he was fired by his own company citing their loss of confidence in him. Greg Brockman, one of OpenAI's co-founders, was pushed from the company's board in the shake-up Friday.
Source:Manila Times
November 21, 2023 04:17 UTC