No ‘weapons’ and imitation firearms this Halloween, police urge
With Halloween just around the corner, police have urged the public not to carry any imitation firearm as props during the celebrations. The force also said on Friday that people should steer clear of sharp objects, offensive weapons or other illicit items. Special traffic arrangements will also be implemented in Lan Kwai Fong, Central from October 30 to November 1. Click here for details on the special traffic arrangements at Lan Kwai Fong on Halloween. Drivers and citizens who are going to Lan Kwai Fong for entertainment are advised to follow police instructions and to stay tuned to radio and television announcements.
Source:The Standard
October 28, 2022 20:48 UTC
Thirty-one killed as storm lashes southern Philippines
Landslides and flooding kill 13 people and leave seven missing in the southern Philippines. (Reuters)Landslides and flooding killed 31 people as heavy rain from an approaching storm lashed the southern Philippines, a disaster official said Friday. The storm unleashed flash floods carrying uprooted trees, rocks and mud overnight in mainly rural communities around Cotabato, a city of 300,000 people on Mindanao Island. Many residents were caught by surprise by the rapidly rising floodwaters, Naguib Sinarimbo, the spokesperson and civil defence chief for the regional government, told AFP. The state weather office in Manila said it was partly caused by Tropical Storm Nalgae, which it expects to strengthen at landfall.
Source:The Standard
October 28, 2022 13:44 UTC
Over 7,000 to take Ateneo entrance test
Over 7,000 to take Ateneo entrance testMANILA, Philippines — For the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ateneo de Manila University will hold this weekend its pen-and-paper entrance test for college freshmen admission for school year 2023 to 2024. Over 7,000 examinees are expected to take the Ateneo College Entrance Test (ACET), which will be administered on Saturday and Sunday at the university’s campus in Quezon City. Ateneo advised the university community and the general public to expect traffic jams during the examinations. Another set of entrance tests will be held on Nov. 5 and 6 for applicants from outside Metro Manila. Ateneo said the ACET is a “refreshed version of the examination, seen to help assess applicants better.”Aside from the ACET score, acceptance to Ateneo will be based on academic and non-academic performance from Grades 9 to 11, batch ranking at the end of Grade 11, personal admission essays, recommendation letters, extracurriculars and disciplinary records.
Source:Philippine Star
October 28, 2022 03:53 UTC
HK’s talent acquisition disadvantaged by Covid curbs: former ExCo convenor
Former Executive Council convenor Bernard Charnwut Chan said on Thursday that Hong Kong’s talent acquisition has been disadvantaged by its Covid curbs, but it is not “the end for Hong Kong”. Speaking at an event today, Chan said Hong Kong’s economic development is currently at a bottleneck, in which the city should build a big enough talent pool and develop traditional and emerging industries. He said Hong Kong has been “too confident” in the past and turned a blind eye to the threats, but he believed this is not “the end for Hong Kong”. Hong Kong still has its perks in talent acquisition, including its simple, low-rate tax system and well-established health care and education system, Chan said, adding that the city still has abundant opportunities for economic development. Meanwhile, the former ExCo convenor said that with other places worldwide all stepping up efforts to draw global talent, Hong Kong should not fall behind and implement more aggressive measures to attract talent to drive economic development.
Source:The Standard
October 27, 2022 20:58 UTC
MoBUILDlity 2022: Synergized, Smart, Sustainable
Mike ToledoMetro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) and its subsidiaryMANILA, Philippines — MPT Mobility held a Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue entitled, “MoBUILDlity 2022: Synergized, Smart, Sustainable” last Oct. 21, 2022. Standing at the forefront of business transformation in response to the changing demand of the customers, MPTC is ready to meet the challenge of developing synergized, smart, and sustainable mobility solutions. This led the MPTC business to shift from being a tollways-centric business to becoming a mobility and infrastructure and solutions provider. That means from the need to provide infrastructure, good service, public transport, bus network, human management – all these have to work hand-in-hand. McKinsey & Company Acting Managing Director Jon Canto discussed the impact of smart mobility strategies on quality of life.
Source:Philippine Star
October 27, 2022 20:02 UTC
Of celebrity endorsers and excuses
Of celebrity endorsers and excusesThe brouhaha that hounded an e-commerce site on its decision to hire a controversial celebrity associated with some political personalities has revived the interest on celebrity endorsements. Thus, when I was invited to be a guest in a national broadcast program and was asked whether politics comes into play in hiring celebrity endorsers, I needed to contextualize my response. In choosing a celebrity endorser, the overall question that must always be asked is: Is this celebrity perfect for the brand? After all, the celebrity will be the extension of your brand; thus, the character of the celebrity becomes a major part of your brand identity. Other scholars advise marketing professionals that in choosing celebrity endorsements they must consider several factors.
Source:Philippine Star
October 27, 2022 16:53 UTC
Finance chief Paul Chan tests positive for Covid in Saudi Arabia
Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po tested positive for Covid during his visit to Saudi Arabia, a government statement said on Thursday. Chan led a delegation to Bahrain on Saturday before he headed to Saudi Arabia to attend an international conference held Tuesday to Thursday and run by a think tank under the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the country’s main sovereign wealth fund. It is understood that Chan would seek new investment opportunities and boost ties with the two Gulf states throughout his visit. The statement today noted that Chan tested positive for the coronavirus under a rapid antigen test in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. “Chan had scheduled to complete his visit and depart for Hong Kong today (October 27).
Source:The Standard
October 27, 2022 16:38 UTC
Russia’s parliament passes law banning ‘LGBT propaganda’ between adults
— Russia’s parliament passed a law on Thursday expanding an existing ban on promoting “LGBT propaganda” to children by banning it among people of all ages. Under the new law, passed in its first reading by the State Duma, any event or act regarded as an attempt to promote homosexuality – online, in film, or in public – could incur a fine. ADVERTISEMENTIt was in September when Russia announced it was considering doubling fines for exposing children to LGBT propaganda and making any event or act seen as promoting homosexuality an administrative offense. Russia’s existing “gay propaganda” law, passed in 2013, bans any person or entity from promoting homosexual relationships to children, though lawmakers argued in July the law should be extended to include adults as well. Individuals could be fined up to 400,000 roubles, while foreigners found to spread LGBT propaganda would face deportation from Russia.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
October 27, 2022 09:51 UTC
Real-time arrival alerts expand to Green Minibus across city
The government announced that a real-time arrival information system has covered all routes of the green minibus and shows on the smartphone APP “HKeMobility” to facilitate citizens to plan their trips. The Transport Department said on Thursday (October 27) that real-time information on 98 more routes of the green minibus will be added to HKeMobility, contributing to completing all the 551 routes across the city on the application which launched in March 2021. Before that, the system expanded to 453 routes in six phases. Passengers may check the estimated arrival times of the next three green minibuses that are arriving at specified en-route stops (or departing from the termini) of the routes concerned through HKeMobility. The relevant data will also be released in machine-readable format via the Public Sector Information Portal (data.gov.hk) for public use free of charge.
Source:The Standard
October 27, 2022 09:13 UTC
LTO wants driver’s license of Ferrari owner suspended
LTO wants driver’s license of Ferrari owner suspendedMANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has recommended a 90-day suspension of the driver’s license of the registered owner of the red Ferrari sports car who was recorded on video using the EDSA bus lane. The LTO Intelligence and Investigation Division (IID) made the recommendation after the driver-owner of the Ferrari snubbed the hearing for the second time yesterday. Renan Melitatnte, officer-in-charge of the IID, said it is up to LTO chief Teofilo Gadiz to approve a resolution suspending the Ferrari owner’s license. On Oct. 20, the LTO first summoned the driver of the Ferrari F8 Tributo to explain why he should not be held administratively liable. The car will be placed under alarm, prohibiting its vehicle registration until after its owner appears at the LTO.
Source:Philippine Star
October 27, 2022 08:30 UTC
Russia tells China, India Ukraine planning ‘dirty bomb’ attack
MOSCOW — Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Wednesday reiterated claims that Ukraine is preparing a provocation using a “dirty bomb” in a video call with his Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe, according to Moscow’s defense ministry. Army General Sergei Shoigu conveyed to his Chinese counterpart concerns about possible provocations by Ukraine with the use of a ‘dirty bomb’,” the ministry said in a statement. At its most basic, a dirty bomb is a conventional bomb laced with radioactive, biological or chemical materials which are disseminated in an explosion. Shoigu accused Ukraine of planning to use a “dirty bomb” in calls with several NATO counterparts on Sunday, claims dismissed as “dangerous” lies by Kyiv. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday that Russia has information showing the “existing threat” of Ukraine using a “dirty bomb” and that Ukraine is “preparing for such a terrorist act of sabotage”.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
October 26, 2022 23:13 UTC
Ex-Albay town mayor convicted of graft
Ex-Albay town mayor convicted of graftMANILA, Philippines — Former mayor Carmencita Daep of Manito, Albay and four other former municipal government officials have been convicted of graft over irregularities in the procurement of liquid fertilizer worth almost P3 million in 2004. The case stemmed from the purchase of 4,285 bottles of Hexaplus liquid fertilizer using the municipal government’s share in the controversial Ginintuang Masaganang Ani program of the Department of Agriculture. Government prosecutors said the respondents “acted with manifest partiality, evident bad faith and gross inexcusable negligence” when they entered into a direct contracting agreement with Hexaphil Agriventures Inc. for the procurement of the liquid fertilizer. The anti-graft court noted that without Daep’s assent, the BAC could not have proceeded with direct contracting. The court noted records showing that the BAC zeroed in on one brand even before the scheduled opening of bids.
Source:Philippine Star
October 26, 2022 16:48 UTC
Climate change economic damage may hit 7.6% of 2030 GDP
MANILA, Philippines — Economic damage to the Philippines could reach up to 7.6 percent of gross domestic product by 2030 and by 13.6 percent of GDP by 2040 if no action is taken to address climate change, according to the World Bank. “GDP would be lower by that much if climate change is left unaddressed,” said Ndiame Diop, World Bank country director for Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand. “Without action, climate change will impose substantial economic and human costs, affecting the poorest households the most,” he said. While climate change poses a threat, Coulibaly said adaptation actions could reduce the economic losses by around two-thirds. He said there is also a need to improve the coordination of climate actions at all levels of government, enhance the capabilities of local government units (LGUs) to design and implement climate actions, and focus on effective implementation of existing plans and regulations.
Source:Philippine Star
October 26, 2022 04:09 UTC
Maternal, birth care: When life, death are decided by economic status
It was stressed that in 1972, maternal deaths, which were 1.4 per 1,000 live births, accounted for 0.5 percent of all deaths in the Philippines. Then in 2000, while the maternal death rate saw a decrease—1.0 per 1,000 live births—the Philippines committed to reduce maternal deaths to 55 per 100,000 live births by 2015. So years later, to meet its Millennium Development Goal, the government passed the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health and Nutrition Strategy. This, as home births were considered by the government as the reason for high maternal deaths in the Philippines. However, it said newborn deaths, or deaths caused by certain conditions originating in the perinatal period, is now the 17th leading cause of death in the Philippines, higher compared to 18th last year.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
October 26, 2022 02:52 UTC
PSALM proceeds with Casecnan privatization
PSALM proceeds with Casecnan privatizationMANILA, Philippines — State-run Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) has commenced with the privatization of the Casecnan hydroelectric power plant in Nueva Ecija. PSALM published yesterday an invitation to interested parties to bid for the privatization of the 165-megawatt (MW) Casecnan hydroelectric power plant. Interested parties are directed to first submit a letter of interest to PSALM’s privatization bids and awards committee not later than Nov. 18. PSALM said only interested parties that submit a letter of interest would be allowed to participate in the privatization activities. It was placed under the co-ownership of PSALM and NIA, which represent the government’s interest at 60 percent and 40 percent, respectively.
Source:Philippine Star
October 25, 2022 22:52 UTC