‘We are like hostages’: Pharmally exec ‘in hiding’ criticizes blue ribbon panel
They want us detained because we asserted our rights, they can’t get what they want to hear from us,” he said. Asked for his response on Dargani’s statement, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said that complying with the requested submission of senators equates to cooperating in the probe. INQUIRER.net has reached out to Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the blue ribbon committee, for comment but has yet to receive a response as of writing. Dargani and his sister, Twinkle, who serves as the company’s president, were earlier cited for contempt and ordered detained in the Senate premises over their “refusal” to submit documents subpoenaed by the blue ribbon panel. “Walang kinalaman ang Presidente sa transactions namin [The President has nothing to do with our transactions] with PS-DBM,” he said.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
October 22, 2021 23:10 UTC
UN plane aborts landing as air strike hits Ethiopia’s Tigray
ADDIS ABABA — An Ethiopian government airstrike on the capital of the northern Tigray region on Friday forced a U.N. aid flight to abort a landing there, the United Nations said. In the neighboring Amhara region, people were fleeing intensified fighting. The United Nations suspended all flights to Mekelle after a U.N. plane with 11 passengers had to abort landing on Friday. Residents in Dessie, a city in Amhara, told Reuters people were fleeing, a day after a TPLF spokesperson said its forces were within artillery range of the town. There are now more than 500,000 displaced people in the Amhara region, the National Disaster Risk Management Commission told Reuters.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
October 22, 2021 22:19 UTC
Carla Abellana, Tom Rodriguez share prenup video, photos
Carla Abellana, Tom Rodriguez share prenup video, photosMANILA, Philippines — Kapuso couple Carla Abellana and Tom Rodriguez released their prenup video and photos on social media. In the video, the couple can be seen inside an ancient house wherein Tom is drawing Carla in a sketchpad. Prior to the release of their prenup video, the couple also shared their prenup photos. Tom shared the snaps by wedding photographer Pat Dy on his Instagram account, describing the shoot as "fun." RELATED: 'A million times, YES': 'Love of My Life' stars Carla Abellana, Tom Rodriguez engaged
Source:Philippine Star
October 22, 2021 17:10 UTC
Small — and SM talk — with Small Laude
Although her name is Small— literally — socialite, entrepreneur, and celebrity vlogger Small Laude knows what it takes to live large. In the show, her latest shopping adventure takes her to SM, as host of "Shop All You Can with Small Laude." Highlighting SM's Call to Deliver service this October until November 15, snippets of her visit are now on view at The SM Store's Facebook page facebook.com/thesmstore. As someone who has traveled and lived abroad extensively, Laude admits "I didn't shop a lot in Manila before." Dubbed the Super Month, the rest of the store specials are outlined on The SM Store's Facebook Page.
Source:Manila Times
October 22, 2021 16:21 UTC
10 most creative 'sustainabilidad challenge' entries named
Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation (APC) Group recently concluded it's first-ever #AjinomotoSustainAbilidadChallenge, an initiative that enjoined Filipinos to share their do-it-yourself (DIY) sustainability projects. One of the winning entries turned an old electronic cartridge into a mini amplifier, while another transformed old throw pillows into new, upcycled ones. Each of the 10 winners will receive P2,000 worth of gift certificate and other special items from APC Group. Moreover, showing its serious commitment to sustainability, APC Group had earlier pledged to reduce its plastic waste to zero by 2030. The organization has already reduced the size and thickness of its packaging that led to lessening its plastic waste by 70-100 tons per year.
Source:Manila Times
October 22, 2021 13:16 UTC
No endorsement of Marcos in 2016, Matula-led Federation of Free Workers says
No endorsement of Marcos in 2016, Matula-led Federation of Free Workers saysMANILA, Philippines (Update 2, 01:16 p.m., October 23) — Labor lawyer Sonny Matula is joining Vice President Leni Robredo’s senatorial slate for the coming polls five years after he reportedly endorsed Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in the 2016 polls. The same courtesy we extended to the other candidates who attended our 2016 election forum," the workers' group said. During this electoral forum, Matula said, one of the topics discussed was the security of tenure. In an online exchange, FFW vice president Julius Cainglet stressed that the "press statement was issued by the Marcos camp, not by the FFW." — with reports from Xave Gregorio[Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect the position of the Federation of Free Workers that neither they nor Matula endorsed Marcos when he was a candidate for vice president in 2016.]
Source:Philippine Star
October 22, 2021 12:54 UTC
Digital gangsters/ Cong. Sabong
Digital gangsters/ Cong. Even after you pull out the USB, the command has been imbedded into your laptop and any data the “digital gangster” wants ends up delivered to them. We all assumed that Facebook was responsible for putting a stop to the criminal digital activity. Apparently not, according to Samaniego, the Facebook account hacks did stop but not because someone shut them down. Samaniego stated that there are several digital cyber security groups that have been monitoring such activities and they all concluded that the Digital Gangsters are now ghost squatters in many accounts.
Source:Philippine Star
October 22, 2021 02:22 UTC
North Korea’s Kim says US is ‘root cause’ of tensions
Analysts say North Korea is seeking to normalize its status as a nuclear power. His address came after North Korea in recent weeks tested a long-range cruise missile, a train-launched weapon, and what it said was a hypersonic warhead. In 2018, Kim became the first North Korean leader ever to meet a sitting US president at the headline-grabbing Singapore summit. The Biden administration has said it is willing to meet North Korean officials at any time or place, without preconditions, in its efforts to seek denuclearization. “North Korea held the exhibition on purpose to claim that their weapons development programs are no different from those of other countries,” he told AFP.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
October 12, 2021 03:56 UTC
How Serbia became the world’s latest COVID-19 hotspot
BELGRADE — Packed bars, few masks and almost no restrictions — in Serbia it seems the pandemic is over. Although wearing a mask indoors and social distancing are mandatory, there is little or no enforcement. ‘It’s a battlefield’On top of issues of enforcement, Serbia has also struggled to get young people inoculated. Panic, who works as an anesthesiologist in a Covid hospital, said doctors were “overwhelmed” and labelled Brnabic “a dilettante”. Serbia was also one of the first countries in the world to offer the booster shot to the general public.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
October 12, 2021 01:52 UTC
Shortened curfew between 12 midnight to 4 AM to be imposed in NCR starting Oct. 13
MANILA, Philippines — The curfew hours in Metro Manila will relax starting Wednesday, Metro Manila Council (MMC) chairman and Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez disclosed on Tuesday. Unified curfew in Metro Manila,” Olivarez told INQUIRER.net in a text message when asked if new curfew hours would be imposed. “IATF will have a meeting on Thursday to assess alert level after Oct 15 [based] on [data],” Olivarez shared. “Alert level will be [based] on [data] regarding reproduction number and health care utilization. In the meantime, the current curfew hours applies,” Malaya said in a text message.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
October 12, 2021 00:45 UTC
Cancelled euthanasia in Colombia triggers lawsuit
BOGOTA — The last-minute cancellation of a Colombian woman’s euthanasia sparked controversy and a lawsuit Monday in the only Latin American country where the life-ending practice is allowed. “I have been very peaceful in my mind since I received the authorization for euthanasia. ADVERTISEMENTShe announced a lawsuit for “cruel and degrading treatment” and for the violation of her client’s right to die with dignity. Euthanasia has been legal since 1997 in majority-Catholic Colombia and is strictly regulated. RELATED STORIESSpain legalizes euthanasia, assisted suicideTerminally ill Peru woman demands right to euthanasiaSubscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
October 11, 2021 23:37 UTC
KUWTT: Health experts to Duterte: Don't hinder Senate probe | Oct. 12, 2021
Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Tuesday, October 12, 2021. READ: Health experts to Duterte: Don't hinder Senate probeA GROUP of doctors and health experts called on President Rodrigo Duterte to allow key government officials to testify in the Senate investigation into the questionable purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health workers. READ: Vaccination of general population beginsTHE government on Monday began to vaccinate the general population against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). READ: Landslide win for Duterte's Senate bets 'a tall order'PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte does not see a landslide victory for the administration candidates for the Senate, given the crowded field in 2022. READ: Gatchalian pushes bill vs nuisance candidatesSEN. Sherwin Gatchalian urged his colleagues to approve his bill that penalizes nuisance political candidates.
Source:Manila Times
October 11, 2021 22:18 UTC
Senators question DSWD on ‘Pharmally-like’ deal
“I think the question is: Is Starpay the Pharmally of the DSWD or not?” Pangilinan said at one point during the budget hearing. ‘Questionable transactions’“Of the P85.1 billion in funding, the DSWD entrusted to Starpay almost 60 percent, or more than P50 billion. The fact that they received the bulk of the cash aid, compared to GCash and PayMaya, which are better known, is suspect. We do not know yet if the money really went to the beneficiaries,” Pacquiao said. Out of the 14 million beneficiaries for SAP 2 (or the second tranche of SAP), the cash aid entrusted to Starpay was intended for 6.9 million beneficiaries,” Pacquiao said in Filipino.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
October 11, 2021 21:22 UTC
Metro ‘winning’ fight vs Delta, says OCTA
MANILA, Philippines — Metro Manila is now at “moderate risk” and “winning” the battle against the more transmissible Delta variant of the novel coronavirus, a fellow of the OCTA Research team said on Monday. “The Delta variant cases are not yet wiped out, but they’re becoming fewer. We’re already winning against the Delta variant, that’s what we can say,” David said. “This is what we call the endgame of the Delta variant,” he said. He said authorities should target lowering COVID-19 cases to 5,000 daily by November, and between 2,000 and 3,000 by December for the whole country.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
October 11, 2021 21:00 UTC
Green groups to e-commerce giants: Less plastic, please
MANILA, Philippines — Environment and climate groups have scored two e-commerce giants for failing to be more mindful of their plastic footprint despite calls from consumers and small businesses to cut down on single-use plastics in their packaging. 12 minutes“Once our orders reach our doorsteps … we are also confronted with another problem: unnecessary plastic packaging waste. It takes an average of just 12 minutes for plastic packaging to transfer from consumer hands to the trash bin,” the petition read. According to Greenpeace, neither of the e-commerce giants has so far responded to the issues raised. “All we are asking is for a commitment [from] these companies to start reducing [the amount of] plastic they use by working with sellers to review their plastic usage and implementing a business policy to halt the use of inessential plastic packaging,” he added.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
October 11, 2021 21:00 UTC