Ukraine seeks progress towards peace at Saudi Arabia talks
Russia is not attending, though the Kremlin has said it will keep an eye on the talks. Ukrainian, Russian and international officials say there is no prospect of direct peace talks between Ukraine and Russia at present, with the war raging. SAUDI DIPLOMACYWestern officials and analysts said Saudi diplomacy had been important in securing China’s presence at the talks. Zelenskiy attended an Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia last year where MbS voiced readiness to help mediate in the war. In March, Beijing brokered a resumption of ties between Saudi Arabia and its arch regional foe Iran.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
August 06, 2023 01:30 UTC
1/5 of OVP budget are intel, confidential funds
ADVERTISEMENTThe P500-million confidential fund sought by the OVP would account for 21 percent of its proposed 2024 budget of P2.374 billion, which is 1 percent higher than its budget of P2.343 billion for 2023. It is more than the P471.29 million in confidential funds that the Department of Justice is asking for next year. Last year, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman called for a “purge” of “unnecessary and excessive” confidential and intelligence funds in the P5.268-trillion budget for 2023. Lagman singled out the OVP’s P500 million and DepEd’s P150-million confidential funds. Once approved by Congress and enacted by the President, it would be known as the General Appropriations Act, or the national budget.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
August 06, 2023 00:30 UTC
How come the consul said my child ‘aged out’?
How come the consul said my child ‘aged out’? Recently, the priority date became current. At the interview, the consul approved my husband’s and my visas but said my child cannot be included because he “aged out.” If he was only a baby when the petition was filed, how could he have aged out? If the petition was filed before the child’s 21st birthday, the child could benefit from the CSPA, provided they don’t get married. Instead, how old was the child when the priority date finally became current?
Source:Philippine Star
August 05, 2023 22:02 UTC
Rise again
Rise againThough the righteous fall seven times, they rise again. While Hall has celebrated record-setting victories, he’s also known the disappointment of not being able to finish a race. One of his favorite Bible verses is an encouraging reminder from the book of Proverbs that “though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again” (24:16). However, as they continue to seek Him even in the midst of difficulty, God is faithful to give them the strength to rise again. Heavenly Father, thank You that in every trial and disappointment You’re always close, offering comfort and strength to help me rise again.
Source:Philippine Star
August 05, 2023 22:02 UTC
Man arrested as father remains unconscious after failed suicide attempt
A 51-year-old man and his father were sent to hospital after he burned charcoal at their Ma On Shan home to commit suicide. The man was later arrested for attempted murder, and the father fell unconscious. Their 90-year-old father had fallen into a coma in his room, but the man, surnamed Au, remained conscious. After a preliminary investigation, police arrested Au for attempted murder. Sources also said Au decided to commit suicide together with his father because of recent financial troubles.
Source:The Standard
August 05, 2023 16:48 UTC
Kai Sotto reaffirms commitment for Gilas
Kai Sotto FIBA PHOTO"I'm supposed to do 12 sessions, and I've already done six, so slowly but surely, I'm doing my rehab and then I'm also including some weights," he added. "[Playing for the Philippines is] very important, [and] for me basketball-wise, I'm happiest when I play for the national team," Sotto emphasized. "I've proven that since I was 15 when I played for the Under-16, 17, 18 and 19 for the national team. "For me, I just need more time to recover, to do more rehab on my back, and be ready physically and mentally for the World Cup," Sotto said. "I'll not worry what people say, but I'll just focus on myself since I'll be the one playing."
Source:Manila Times
August 05, 2023 16:34 UTC
China executes South Korean for drug trafficking
(AP)China has executed a South Korean national for drug trafficking, Beijing's foreign ministry said, the first time such a sentence has been carried out on a citizen of that country in almost a decade. A court in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou "lawfully pronounced a verdict and executed the South Korean defendant... for drug trafficking" on Friday, the foreign ministry said in a statement. It is the first execution of a South Korean drug offender by China in nine years, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported. In 2020, an Australian was sentenced to death in China for drug trafficking. And in 2019, China sentenced two Canadian nationals accused of drug trafficking to death at a time when relations with Ottawa were nosediving.
Source:The Standard
August 05, 2023 15:36 UTC
Gilas bows to Senegal, suffers 1st loss in China tourney
A physical and tall Senegal squad dealt Gilas Pilipinas a 72-63 beating in their 2023 Heyuan WUS International Basketball Tournament on Friday night at Jiangman En Ping Sports gymnasium. 'Gilas Pilipinas’ June Mar Fajardo FIBA PHOTOAfter a see-saw first half affair, Gilas managed to take a 45-40 lead in the early goings of the third canto. Young big man AJ Edu, then opened the final period with back-to-back baskets to give Gilas back the lead at 57-56. The Senegalese won their second straight match in the China pocket tournament after hammering Iran B, 85-75 on Wednesday evening. Gilas takes a break on Saturday and will face off with Senegal anew the following day.
Source:Manila Times
August 05, 2023 13:11 UTC
Dogs, cats all dressed up for China summer swelter
SHANGHAI — As temperatures in China soar, pet owners are looking for novel ways to protect their four-legged friends from the heat, buying up cooling mats, clothes and miniature sun hats for dogs and cats. Mi Jiayi, a public relations professional in Shanghai, spent more than 500 yuan ($70.04) on a cooling vest for Mary, a small mixed-breed dog that she adopted. Record-breakingJacqueline Cha, another Shanghai resident who has three small dogs and owns a pet care business, said this was the first summer she felt the need to use sun protection shirts on her pooches. ADVERTISEMENTHowever, she added the best treatment was not any product but simple prevention: keeping pets indoors on superhot days. Last year, a report by Euromonitor and Asia Pet Alliance Institute forecast China’s population of dogs and cats would reach 190 million in 2023, up from about 170 million in 2018.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
August 05, 2023 09:44 UTC
12,000 decommissioned MILF combatants given cash aid, attended school
MANILA, Philippines — At least 12,000 decommissioned combatants of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) were either given cash aid or have attended skills training and basic education, Special Assistant to the President Secretary Antonio Ernesto Lagdameo Jr. said Saturday. ADVERTISEMENTThe Palace official also said that 35,000 birth certificate applications of former MILF combatants have been processed under the Normalization Program. Lagdameo likewise confirmed that aside from the continuation of the MILF Decommissioning Phase 3, other aspects of the government’s Normalization Program under the Bangsamoro peace agreement have been resumed. The decommissioning program is part of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), which was signed in 2014 between the Philippine government and MILF. RELATED STORIESOver 1,000 MILF fighters set for deactivation starting AugustBangsamoro leaders laud promise of peaceBARMM governors want MILF decommissioning tackled in Cabinet discussionskgaYour subscription could not be saved.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
August 05, 2023 09:42 UTC
WATCH: Touchless touch screens – A life-changing innovation
Touchless technology using AI and sensors to operate devices without physical contact, is being widely adopted in Japan for its public hygiene and security benefits. A new innovation is the 'aerial display' – a technology that makes images appear in the air. It doesn't just look like an SF movie effect, but you can use it as a virtual touch panel as well. This technology opens up a new world of contactless applications, from suppressing infectious disease to enhancing all kinds of entertainment. VIDEO BY MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF JAPAN
Source:Manila Times
August 05, 2023 08:18 UTC
Amazon, Apple beat earnings forecasts
SAN FRANCISCO: Amazon and Apple on Thursday reported earnings that topped market expectations, aiming for even better days ahead with the help of artificial intelligence (AI). The e-commerce giant said it made a profit of $6.7 billion in the recently ended quarter, eclipsing earnings forecasts. "It was another strong quarter of progress for Amazon," the company's chief executive Andy Jassy said in an earnings release. "AWS has continued to add to its meaningful leadership position in the cloud with a slew of generative AI releases." "What we're doing is democratizing access to generative AI; lowering the cost of training and running models," Jassy said.
Source:Manila Times
August 05, 2023 04:19 UTC
US economy created 200K new jobs in July
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The American economy has generated at least 200,000 new jobs for a record 30 straight months and the streak likely continued into July. On Friday, August 4, 2023, the US government reports the labor market generated more jobs at a steady pace. On Friday, August 4, 2023, the US government reports the labor market generated more jobs at a steady pace. AP PHOTOThe US economy and job market have repeatedly defied predictions of an impending recession. In response to a cooling labor market, wage pressures have eased, but they remain too intense for the Fed's comfort.
Source:Manila Times
August 05, 2023 04:19 UTC
Downgraded
DowngradedFitch Ratings this week downgraded US debt by a notch. The headline inflation rate decelerated from 5.4 percent in June to 4.7 percent in July. The headline inflation rate reflects items of expenditure that are more volatile. The average inflation rate from January to July is still at an elevated 6.8 percent. The headline inflation rate for the NCR is 5.1 percent while the number is 6.8 percent outside the capital region.
Source:Philippine Star
August 04, 2023 22:01 UTC
Greatness
Cuthbert took the fevered boy in his arms, prayed for him, and kissed his forehead. “Do not fear,” he told her, “for no one else of your household will die.” The boy reportedly lived. Jesus once took a small boy into his arms to give a lesson on greatness, saying, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me” (Mark 9:37). True greatness resides in serving the smallest and lowliest (v. 35). How can you pursue Jesus’ kind of greatness today?
Source:Philippine Star
August 04, 2023 21:59 UTC