More consumption vouchers required, extra for needy, accounting group says
One of the largest professional accounting bodies globally, CPA Australia, on Wednesday called on financial secretary Paul Chan Mo-po to issue another round of spending vouchers in his budget. The group said Hong Kong should reintroduce the capital investment entrant scheme, also expanding the scheme to cover Chinese nationals. The group suggested that all eligible residents could be handed HK$2,000 worth of the vouchers, while an extra HK$6,000 would be given to those less well-off. Theresa Chan, Deputy Chairperson of CPA Australia’s Taxation Committee – Greater China said Hong Kong residents were facing higher costs, particularly hurting low-income earners. The government should also consider increasing the salaries tax allowances at least in line with inflation.” Chan said.
Source:The Standard
February 16, 2023 03:04 UTC
Woman imprisoned three years for assisting husband in rape of daughters
A 42-year-old female was sentenced on Wednesday morning to three years imprisonment for assisting and abetting her husband in sexually assaulting her two underaged daughters. The beautician, dubbed “L.M.,” appeared in the High Court today before Judge Judianna Barnes Wai-ling. "I was told that it would benefit my daughter’s health if I asked my husband to touch her body," the defendant explained. According to the court, X had self-harmed afterward and was found by a social worker at her school in November 2019 to have cut marks on her arms. The defendant’s husband faces accusations of rape and sexual assault and will face his sentence on March 27.
Source:The Standard
February 15, 2023 16:21 UTC
Philippines' Marcos summoned Chinese envoy over laser incident: spokeswoman
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos on Tuesday summoned Beijing's envoy to Manila to express "serious concern" after a Chinese security vessel was accused of using a military-grade laser light against a Philippine patrol boat. Marcos confronted Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian "over the increasing frequency and intensity of actions by China against Philippine Coast Guard and our Filipino fishermen... the latest of which was the deployment of a military grade laser against our Coast Guard vessels," spokeswoman Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil said.
Source:The Standard
February 15, 2023 00:39 UTC
Ballooning
This is a ballooning phenomenon. Here, too, we are not told how much of the downed object was recovered from the frozen sea. All that has been shared is the observation that the downed object did not seem to have any system of propulsion or control. We know next to nothing about the larger framework within which these strange flying objects was launched. Beijing does not have to explain anything until the remnants of downed flying objects reveal them to be of Chinese origin.
Source:Philippine Star
February 14, 2023 03:52 UTC
Hot pink bra awaits its owner
Passengers of a KMB bus were shocked to see a hot pink bra lying on a seat of the lower deck area, stirring some amusement on the bus. A web user posted two photos on a Facebook group yesterday that show a pink bra lying on a seat of the bus, just near the sign which read: "Keep the bus clean." The owner please go to claim it by yourself," wrote the web user, creating a buzz online. "A red bra is seemingly mysterious," another comment reads, adopting the lyrics of Red Racecar, a song sung by local band Tai Chi in 1986. But do not expect the bra conundrum to become clear anytime soon as it awaits its original owner.
Source:The Standard
February 13, 2023 19:11 UTC
Triple Thrill Deals for the whole month of February
Dubbed as Triple Thrill Deals, patrons and customers can now have the new Ertiga Hybrid, the All-New Celerio and the dependable Carry models with as much as P63,000 cash discounts and down payment as low as P38,000 until Feb. 28, 2023. With the Triple Thrill Deals, these concerns are what we can offer to address it," said Norihide Takei, Suzuki Philiippines' drector and general manager for automobile. The New Ertiga Hybrid is a stylish seven-seater compact multi-purpose vehicle (MPV). It is the first and only hybrid MPV in the market and is one of the iconic models of Suzuki. The Ertiga Hybrid is the perfect solution of having the means and the convenience to travel, do business or other needs but without the burden of having to spend so much on fuel.
Source:Manila Times
February 12, 2023 22:53 UTC
‘Terrorist’ captured
‘Terrorist’ capturedIsnirul Kirih, alias Kiri and Kirin, was arrested at around 8 a.m. in Barangay Sinunuc by a 13-member team of the 74th Special Action Force (SAF). ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — An alleged associate of a slain Abu Sayyaf leader and Islamic State affiliate was captured following a raid in this city yesterday morning. Kirih was reportedly a close aide of the late Abu Sayyaf leader and IS affiliate Isnilon Hapilon as well as of Radulan Sahiron, another Abu Sayyaf leader based in Sulu. Maj. Dominador Mauricio, chief of the SAF’s 7th Special Action Battalion, said that Kirih was one of Hapilon‘s most trusted men. Police said Kirih used other fictitious names such as Sakirin Kiram, Sakirin and Isnain Kiram to elude authorities.
Source:Philippine Star
February 12, 2023 21:57 UTC
Japan trip nets Philippines $600-M infrastructure investment pledge
Japan trip nets Philippines $600-M infrastructure investment pledgePresident Marcos boards a plane for Japan at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City yesterday for a five-day official visit. MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines received a $600-million investment pledge to support its infrastructure projects from Filipino and Japanese investors. A Philippine delegation, led by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., is wrapping up their five-day official working visit in Japan. Mitsui is also interested in investing in the Philippines’ agriculture, renewable energy, and digital transformation plans. Aside from this, Philippine business firms also bagged 35 other investment deals from Japanese companies during the trip.
Source:Philippine Star
February 12, 2023 21:31 UTC
SIM registration touchpoints at malls
Eight more SM establishments will host Smart and TNT-assisted SIM Registration booths in the next few days, bringing to 44 the total count of covered SM Supermalls. Republic Act (RA) 11934 or the "Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Registration Act" gives all SIM users until April 26, 2023, to register their SIMs under their name. The SIM Registration Act regulates the use of SIM cards to help curb the proliferation of text scams and other mobile phone-aided criminal activities. Smart and its value brand TNT have also deployed assisted SIM Registration booths in 15 far-flung municipalities in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao since last week. This is part of our commitment that our SIM Registration will be inclusive and that no one will be left behind," said Caeg.
Source:Manila Times
February 11, 2023 20:30 UTC
SWS: 57% ‘very happy’ with love life
SWS: 57% ‘very happy’ with love lifeResults of the Dec. 10 to 14 survey released on Friday night showed that 57 percent of the respondents assess their love life as “very happy.”MANILA, Philippines — More than half of adult Filipinos are “very happy” with their love life, a recent survey conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed. Results of the Dec. 10 to 14 survey released on Friday night showed that 57 percent of the respondents assess their love life as “very happy.”Some 25 percent said it “could be happier,” while 17 percent said they have no love life. The same survey also showed that 30 percent experienced unrequited love or love that was not reciprocated. Among those who confessed love for a friend, half said they experienced unrequited love. The survey had 1,200 respondents and a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percent.
Source:Philippine Star
February 11, 2023 16:33 UTC
Gallent, SMB remain wary of Converge
A rejuvenated Terrafirma, meanwhile, clashes against perennial contender TNT in the opening game at 4:30 p.m. The veteran mentor however credited the players for the perfect start particulary Cameron Clark who is proving to be a perfect fit to the Beermen’s loaded lineup. Our import kasi came early so Cam is a very big factor here in this 5-0 start. All of them are playing hard so yung 5-0 na iyon is because of all of them playing hard and because of them learning to play with one another,” he added. Such cohesion is exactly what SMB needs to keep if it wished to overcome the tough challenge of Converge which is known to be a very disciplined run-and-gun team.
Source:Manila Times
February 11, 2023 14:40 UTC
2 Filipinos confirmed dead in Turkey quake
(UPDATE) THE Philippine embassy in Ankara, Turkey, on Friday confirmed that the two Filipinos died in the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that devastated Turkey and Syria last February 6. "It is with deepest regret that the Embassy must inform the public of the passing of two Filipinos. In a statement, the President said the Philippine embassy is working "tirelessly" to verify and consolidate information on Filipinos affected by the quake. The Philippines has deployed an 85-man team to assist in search, rescue and relief operations in Turkey. "Our team in Turkey is well coordinated with the Turkish government and with our embassy officials.
Source:Manila Times
February 10, 2023 23:58 UTC
Parallelism as a mark of good writing – 6
IN the first five parts of this series, we reviewed the various ways of achieving parallelism when constructing sentences. This time, we will see how parallelism can be pursued beyond the sentence level to make our writing clearer and more forceful, and our language more elegant and pleasing to the ears. Of course, we must not wrongly assume that we should aim for parallelism only for such elaborate pieces as expository writing or speeches. Our Grasp of English Usage and Style [noun phrase]A. Constructing Sentences [gerund phrase]Structure [noun] Logic [noun]B. Having seen in this six-part series the many wonders that parallelism can do in organizing and presenting ideas in more expressive and powerful ways, we now have every reason to pursue parallelism even more thoughtfully and methodically in our own writing.
Source:Manila Times
February 10, 2023 06:26 UTC
Indians told: Hug cows on Valentine's Day
NEW DELHI: India's government-run animal welfare department has appealed to citizens to mark Valentine's Day this year not as a celebration of romance, but as "Cow Hug Day" to better promote Hindu values. The Animal Welfare Board of India said on Wednesday that "hugging cows will bring emotional richness and increase individual and collective happiness." Devout Hindus, who worship cows as holy, say the Western holiday goes against traditional Indian values. Hardline political groups like Shiv Sena and Bajrang Dal say such actions pave the way to reassert Hindu identity. The animal welfare board's appeal asks people to go out and physically hug cows on February 14.
Source:Manila Times
February 10, 2023 05:59 UTC
LIV Golf stars crash out of Saudi tilt
KING ADBULLAH ECONOMIC CITY: Mexico's Abraham Ancer retained his one-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Saudi International on Friday as a slew of big names from the rebel LIV Golf tour failed to make the cut. Reigning Open champion Cameron Smith, six-time major winner Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson and Bryson DeChambeau — all star signings for the Saudi-backed tour — dropped out at the par-70 Royal Greens Golf & Country Club. Ancer added a four-under par 66 to his 63 on Thursday to move to an 11-under par 129, keeping American star Cameron Young at bay by one shot. If the wind stays kind of like today, I think 20-under would have a really nice chance. He is tied for sixth place with PGA Tour star Lucas Herbert of Australia.
Source:Manila Times
February 04, 2023 14:18 UTC