WATCH: Ramen – The noodles everyone loves
Ramen is one of the most popular types of Japanese noodles. The first ramen shop in Japan opened about 100 years ago, serving with soy sauce flavored broth, which suited Japanese tastes. Over the years, more varieties of broth were developed for a wider selection. Now, there is even a Michelin Guide Tokyo awarded ramen restaurant, whose chef's excellent fusion of Japanese and Western ingredients is a hit around the world. Halal ramen is another innovation helping spread the appeal of ramen worldwide.
Source:Manila Times
August 02, 2023 14:06 UTC
Artiste Roy Chow pleads guilty to spitting at cop after being arrested for threatening wife
Artiste Roy Chow Wing-hang on Tuesday pleaded guilty to resisting and assaulting a police officer for refusing to let the cop collect his fingerprints and spitting at the cop in April, after he was arrested for threatening to slash his wife to death. The court heard Chow was arrested on April 17 over another case and he immediately requested to be sent to a hospital. The cops then arrested Chow for the second time. Yet, the officer directly took Chow in to take his fingerprints and made Chow felt aggrieved. The lawyer agreed Chow should have followed the officer’s instructions instead of letting his rage to take charge of him.
Source:The Standard
August 02, 2023 00:37 UTC
PH calls on 5 nuclear weapons states to report disarmament obligations
THE Philippines has called on the five nuclear weapons states (NWSs) to report on their disarmament obligations to allow all state parties to scrutinize them, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. The meeting of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Working Group convened in Vienna, Austria from July 24 to 28, the DFA said. The Philippines "worked actively towards consensus on detailed measures that aim to hold nuclear weapon states accountable for their disarmament obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), including an interactive reporting process," the DFA said on Tuesday. This obligation is part of the NPT's "grand bargain," under which non-nuclear weapon states (NNWSs) forego their sovereign right to develop nuclear weapons on the condition that they will have access to peaceful uses of nuclear energy and that the five nuclear weapon states will disarm, the DFA said. But no such mechanism exists to hold the five nuclear weapon states accountable for their nuclear disarmament obligations, the DFA stressed.
Source:Manila Times
August 01, 2023 20:09 UTC
HSBC launches buyback as profit rockets 150pc
Caroline ZhengHSBC has announced a fresh share buyback program of US$2 billion (HK$15.6 billion) and raised its earning guidance after seeing its interim pretax profit soar nearly 150 percent to US$21.7 billion. HSBC will also repurchase an additional US$2 billion following a previous buyback program revealed three months ago. The better-than-expected results came as Quinn believes that the debate over a potential split of HSBC is over. Quinn noted that HSBC has been offering fair and appropriate products to customers, whether they are mortgage or saving products. On possible investments, Quinn said HSBC will be open-minded to do further bolt-on acquisitions after the lender recently acquired the UK arm of collapsed Silicon Valley Bank.
Source:The Standard
August 01, 2023 19:15 UTC
House ethics panel to investigate Teves as 2nd suspension lapses
A committee of the House of Representatives will investigate Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. whose second suspension for his absence from work has lapsed. The Committee on Ethics and Privileges will "acquire jurisdiction" over Teves, said Ako Bicol Rep. Raul Angelo "Jil" Bongalon, its vice chairman. Coop Natcco Rep. Felimon Espares, the committee's chairman, told reporters last week that the committee, "once no Congressman Arnie Teves is reporting in the House," might conduct a "meeting to acquire jurisdiction." The House in May adopted the committee's recommendation to suspend Teves for another 60 days or from May 31 to July 30, 2023, after the first one had lapsed. The House penalized Teves due to his refusal to come home from the US even after his official leave had expired.
Source:Manila Times
August 01, 2023 17:17 UTC
Philippine factories pick up production in July
Philippine factories pick up production in JulyMANILA, Philippines — Local factories managed to eke out output growth in July, fueled by improving demand for Filipino goods, as purchasing activity hits its fastest pace since the start of 2023. “Continued improvement in the underlying demand picture helped drive the latest upturn, with both production and new orders recording stronger rates of expansion,” she said. The recovery in production in July wasn’t confined to orders, as output growth picked up after easing to a 10-month low back in June. Local factories witnessed average lead times extended for the second straight month, while deliveries hit their worst pace since December 2022. Nicholas Antonio Mapa, senior economist at ING Bank in Manila, said the latest outturn showed signs of recovery for local factories.
Source:Philippine Star
August 01, 2023 14:47 UTC
DMW upgrades digital app
THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Monday said that its technical team had done its system and maintenance upgrade to the digital App and is now back to sending One-Time Password (OTP). Hong Kong – ID card and permanent ID card5. Malaysia – ID card and permanent residence card6. Japan – ID card, residence card and visa10. United Kingdom – Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) for work visa holders and residence permit visa.
Source:Manila Times
August 01, 2023 04:36 UTC
Wall Street rallies on profit reports
BACK ON TRACK Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, Wednesday, July 26, 2023. Wall Street is back to rallying after receiving encouraging news on profits and inflation is relaxing. AP PHOTO BACK ON TRACK Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, Wednesday, July 26, 2023. Wall Street is back to rallying after receiving encouraging news on profits and inflation is relaxing. "Don't underestimate central bank commitment to 2 percent inflation," Bank of America economists wrote in a BofA Global Research report.
Source:Manila Times
August 01, 2023 04:20 UTC
Inundated
Today, after two storms skirted Luzon, the very same areas identified as prone to drought are completely inundated. Severe weather caused by climate change includes both severe rain and long droughts. The present situation where our dams are dry one week and overfilled the next will likely become the usual pattern. If Ukraine is unable to export its grains, there will be food shortages in many parts of the world. Built many decades ago, our existing dams are too small to service the needs of a substantially larger population.
Source:Philippine Star
July 31, 2023 22:01 UTC
LTO: 5 million driver’s license plastic cards up for delivery
LTO: 5 million driver’s license plastic cards up for deliveryMANILA, Philippines — At least five million plastic cards for driver’s licenses are set to arrive this year, with an initial one million up for delivery within two months, Land Transportation Office (LTO) Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II announced yesterday. Mendoza said Banner Plasticards Inc. vowed to deliver 500,000 plastic cards every month. “All in all we’re looking at around one million plastic cards in the next 60 days. So that would be sufficient to wipe out whatever backlog we have now,” he said. The delivery of the plastic cards in the next two months will be able to address the backlog of 900,000 plastic cards for the driver’s license, according to Mendoza.
Source:Philippine Star
July 31, 2023 22:01 UTC
Myanmar junta extends state of emergency, delaying polls
YANGON: Myanmar's National Defense and Security Council agreed Monday to extend the country's state of emergency by six months, state media said, likely delaying elections the junta had pledged to hold by August. Acting president Myint Swe announced the decision to prolong the state of emergency — declared when the generals toppled Aung San Suu Kyi's government in February 2021 — for another six months, according to state broadcaster MRTV. AFP PHOTO/ Myanmar's Military Information Team This handout photograph taken and released by the Myanmar's Military Information Team on July 31, 2023, shows Soe Win (left) Myanmar's military Deputy Commander in Chief of Defense Services speak during a defense and security council meeting in Naypyidaw. AFP PHOTO/ Myanmar's Military Information TeamThe state of emergency was due to expire at the end of July but on Monday the junta-stacked National Defense and Security Council met to discuss the state of the nation. Myint Swe told the meeting that the "state of emergency period would be extended another six months starting from August 1st, 2023."
Source:Manila Times
July 31, 2023 17:59 UTC
WATCH: Cutting-edge surgical Instruments
Surgeons around the world always seek better instruments for their life-saving procedures. Some of these world-class medical devices are actually made in tiny Japanese factories. One example is the world's thinnest surgical needle. Another factory in Tokyo produces cutting-edge surgical scissors used by brain surgeons worldwide. Surgical instruments and their production continues to evolve along with the medical care itself.
Source:Manila Times
July 31, 2023 14:34 UTC
Group ensures happy birthdays for hundreds of less-fortunate kids
Hundreds of less fortunate children tasted the happiness of celebrating their birthdays, thanks to the help of Birthday Happiness Asia, an non-profit organization which organized birthday parties for them. Fernandes co-founded the original Birthday Happiness along with Marilou with the firm belief that all children, not only their children and grandchildren, should celebrate their birthdays. Birthday Happiness Asia was started in memory of Marilou. We give them a birthday party, have games such as pass the parcel and musical chairs, as well as a birthday cake, preferably homemade. Birthday Happiness Asia works with partnering organizations that provide centers for parties to be held, while Birthday Happiness provides the volunteers, decoration, cakes, presents etc.
Source:The Standard
July 31, 2023 07:10 UTC
Suicide bomber kills at least 44 people, wounds nearly 200 in Pakistan
KHAR, Pakistan — A suicide bomber blew himself up at a political rally in a former stronghold of militants in northwest Pakistan bordering Afghanistan on Sunday, killing at least 44 people and wounding nearly 200 in an attack that a senior leader said was meant to weaken Pakistani Islamists. The Bajur district near the Afghan border was a stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban — a close ally of Afghanistan’s Taliban government — before the Pakistani army drove the militants out of the area. It said initial investigations suggested the Islamic State group — which operates in Afghanistan and is an enemy of the Afghan Taliban — could be behind the attack, and officers were still investigating. The Pakistan Taliban, or TTP, said in a statement sent to The Associated Press that the bombing was aimed at setting Islamists against each other. Feroz Jamal, the provincial information minister, told The Associated Press that so far 44 people had been “martyred” and nearly 200 wounded in the bombing.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
July 31, 2023 05:03 UTC
Ukraine reports fierce fighting in northeast
A senior Ukrainian official reported heavy fighting in the northeast of the country on Sunday, with Kyiv’s forces holding their lines and making gains in some areas. Russia’s military said it had halted Ukrainian forces in the northeast. Maliar said the Russians had suffered “no fewer losses than during the heated battles in Bakhmut”, which fell to Russian forces after more than 10 months of fighting. Maliar said Russian forces were also “tenaciously trying to seize back” areas on the southern front taken by Ukraine. Russian forces, it said, had also repelled four Ukrainian attacks near the town of Lyman, further south.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
July 31, 2023 04:35 UTC