Nadal abandons latest comeback bid
Rafael Nadal AFP PHOTOThe 22-time Grand Slam champion had been due to open at Indian Wells on Thursday against Canada's former Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic. "It is with great sadness that I have to withdraw from this amazing tournament at Indian Wells," Nadal said in a statement. Indian Wells tournament director Tommy Haas expressed disappointment at Nadal's withdrawal. "He is one of the all-time fan favorites here, and we hope to see him back in Indian Wells again in the future." I had the determination to keep going," Nadal said.
Source:Manila Times
March 07, 2024 22:12 UTC
Article 23 to be gazetted today
John Lee Andrew Leung Previous NextThe full draft of Basic Law Article 23 will be gazetted and tabled to the Legislative Council for first reading today. Non-official Exco members also said they fully support the gazette of Article 23, which is "necessary and urgent." Leung therefore announced a special meeting at 11am today for the first and second readings of the bill - called Safeguarding National Security Bill. At yesterday's meeting of the Legco subcommittee on Article 23 legislation, Kowloon Central lawmaker Kitson Yang Wing-kit sought officials' clarification on sedition under the legislation. Meanwhile, Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, who is in charge of Hong Kong and Macau affairs, told Hong Kong NPC deputies that the legislation of Article 23 is "a strong consensus and urgent hope of the SAR community," according to Hong Kong NPC delegation head Ma Fung-kwok.
Source:The Standard
March 07, 2024 20:26 UTC
US judge orders ‘unsealing’ of arrest warrant vs Quiboloy
US judge orders ‘unsealing’ of arrest warrant vs QuiboloyMANILA, Philippines — A judge from the California Central District ordered the arrest warrant of doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy and his co-accused to be “unsealed”. The cases involve charges of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud, coercion, sex trafficking of children, conspiracy and cash smuggling. With Quiboloy’s warrant unsealed, it could be the first step in initiating an extradition process and the Interpol may include the preacher in the Red Notice, according to GMA’s report. It is not a warrant of arrest. On Nov. 10, 2021, a federal warrant for Quiboloy's arrest was issued.
Source:Philippine Star
March 07, 2024 15:18 UTC
Tesla fails to stop leading to school bus collision
A Tesla collided with a school bus in Sham Shui Po after failing to stop at the double white lines on Wednesday afternoon. According to the video recorded yesterday (Mar 6), it showed a Tesla, heading toward the junction of Tai Nan Street and Wong Chuk Street, and failing to stop at the road markings signalling a mandatory stop at the intersection and directly exited the Tai Nan Street. At the same time, a school bus driving along Wong Chuk Street is suspected to have been unable to brake in time, leading to a collision. The police spokesman confirmed the collision happened around 12.16 pm yesterday (Mar 6), with the 43-year-old driver, surnamed Tam, driving the Tesla in the direction of boundary street via Tai Nan Street. While the 71-year-old school bus driver, surnamed Leung, was heading towards Tai Po Road via Wong Chuk Street.
Source:The Standard
March 07, 2024 06:42 UTC
Cabby and woman arrested after hit and run leaving biker to die
The incident occurred around 10 pm as the motorcycle collided with a taxi while the biker was cutting into the adjacent lane. The biker was thrown off from his vehicle and collapsed in the middle of the road. Yet, both the 67-year-old cabby, surnamed Ma, and the 65-year-old driver, surnamed Lau, didn’t pull over and fled the scene. The biker, sustaining severe injuries, was rushed to Caritas Medical Centre and was eventually pronounced dead at 10.38 pm. After an in-depth investigation, police arrested Ma in the early hours of Thursday.
Source:The Standard
March 07, 2024 04:35 UTC
'Sad' Nadal abandons latest comeback with Indian Wells withdrawal
'Sad' Nadal abandons latest comeback with Indian Wells withdrawalSpain's Rafael Nadal reacts as he plays against Australia's Jordan Thompson during their men's singles match at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane on January 5, 2024. The 22-time Grand Slam champion had been due to open at Indian Wells on Thursday against Canada's former Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic. "It is with great sadness that I have to withdraw from this amazing tournament at Indian Wells," Nadal said in a statement. Indian Wells tournament director Tommy Haas expressed disappointment at Nadal's withdrawal. Wednesday's withdrawal at Indian Wells will stoke inevitable speculation about the Spaniard's retirement date.
Source:Philippine Star
March 07, 2024 04:23 UTC
Marcos calls Chinese presence in Philippine Rise 'clear intrusion'
Marcos calls Chinese presence in Philippine Rise 'clear intrusion'The Philippine Rise, formerly known as the Benham Rise, is a seismically active undersea region and extinct volcanic ridge located in the eastern Philippine seaboard facing the Pacific Ocean. MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Wednesday that the reported presence of Chinese vessels in the Philippine Rise constituted a “clear intrusion” into the country’s territory. Marcos called their presence a “great concern” and “unnecessary.”“If it is truly a research vessel, then we could have come to a very simple agreement that the research vessel will ply the waters and do the research,” the president said. Ray Powell, director of Sealight at the Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, said last week that two Chinese research vessels were “loitering” northeast of Philippine Rise, formerly known as Benham Rise. In 2017, former President Rodrigo Duterte signed an executive order renaming Benham Rise to Philippine Rise to emphasize the country’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the area.
Source:Philippine Star
March 07, 2024 02:18 UTC
BatStateU students 3rd in World Engineering Day Hackathon
THREE sanitary engineering students of the Batangas State University (BatStateU) raised the flag of the Philippines by securing third place at the World Engineering Day (WED) Hackathon as streamed live from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Federation of Engineering Organizations (Unesco WFEO) event in Lisbon, Portugal, on Monday, March 4. BatStateU is the Philippines' National Engineering University by virtue of Republic Act 11694. The Level 4 state university has produced over 180 engineering board topnotchers, cementing its position as the country's largest engineering university. BatStateU is the first and, thus far, the only state university in the Philippines with engineering and computing programs accredited by ABET's Engineering Accreditation Commission and Computing Accreditation Commission. It has earned three stars in the QS Stars Rating and was ranked as the 300th World's Most Sustainable University in the 2023 UI GreenMetric World University Rankings.
Source:Manila Times
March 06, 2024 21:50 UTC
Zubiri: Economic Cha-cha may face ‘problem,’ ‘challenge’ in Senate
In a press conference, Zubiri maintained that he did not ask Marcos’ help to convince senators who are against economic Charter change (Cha-cha). We did not ask for his help because it’s more of an independent issue by Congress and Senate,” Zubiri told reporters. ADVERTISEMENTThe Senate is currently leading talks on economic Cha-cha under Marcos’ directive. Again, as I’ve said, it’s a challenge,” Zubiri added. Hontiveros and Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III only need seven votes to block the Cha-cha initiative in the upper chamber.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
March 06, 2024 19:07 UTC
Beginner's Spanish at Sunshine Place
Sunshine Place is hosting a beginner's language class with Prof. María Gladys Tomas, with 15 sessions starting on Apr. She is a multilingual instructor handling French, Spanish, Italian, German and Nihongo. She is a member of the Association des Professeur de Français aux Philippines (Association of French Language Teachers in the Philippines), Asociación Filipina de enseñanza de ELE (Association of Spanish Teachers in the Philippines) Philippine Italian Association (PIA) and Philippine Association of Language Teachers (PALT). She also handled French, Italian and German language training for the seafarers of Magsaysay Maritime Corp.Handouts and certificates of completion will be provided for language learners. Email [email protected] or visit http://www.sunshineplaceph.com and follow Sunshine Place on Facebook @SunshinePlace56Jupiter or Instagram @sunshineplaceph for more information.
Source:Manila Times
March 06, 2024 17:11 UTC
Palawan's Hidden Beach included in another global 'best beaches' list
Palawan's Hidden Beach included in another global 'best beaches' listMANILA, Philippines — Hidden Beach in El Nido, Palawan was recognized by travel magazine and website Condé Nast Traveler on its latest list of Best Beaches in the World. Published last month by Lizzie Pook, Hidden Beach is the 19th best beach out of a total 34 listed by the travel outlet. Hidden Beach was ranked the third-best beach in the world last year in a list by pharmaceutical company Banana Boat. Related: Palawan's Hidden Beach named 3rd best beach in the worldThe No. Former top-ranked Lucky Bay in Australia was not included in the Condé Nast Traveler list, but another Australian beach topped the list.
Source:Philippine Star
March 06, 2024 14:37 UTC
US Senate committee takes up bill targeting China's BGI, WuXi Apptec
A bill in the U.S. Senate that would restrict business with China's BGI, WuXi Apptec and other biotech companies on national security grounds faces its first big test in Congress on Wednesday. The bill has spurred deep concern among investors, driving a sell-off in the shares of WuXi AppTec when news of its introduction first reached Chinese markets last month. As currently written, it would prohibit federal agencies from contracting with China's BGI, MGI, Complete Genomics, WuXi AppTec, their affiliates and other biotechnology companies deemed of concern. WuXi Apptec, which provides R&D and manufacturing services to the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry, allegedly has ties to the Chinese military, according to the House version of the bill. Once it moves out of committee, the bill must pass in both the full Senate and the House, and then needs be signed by the president.
Source:The Standard
March 06, 2024 13:14 UTC
(Video) Double-decker bus veers into opposite lanes in Causeway Bay
Internet users were shocked after the footage of a double-decker Citybus driving in the opposite lane in Causeway Bay on Tuesday (Mar 5) night went viral. The dashcam footage captured the incident as the bus - not in service - entered Leighton Road in the wrong direction towards Causeway Road. The bus driver realized the mistake midway and turned on the hazard lights, though the bus continued to move slowly. Eventually, the bus was pulled over to the side of the road and luckily no accidents occurred. In response to media inquiries, Citybus stated that it has conducted an internal investigation, suspended the duties of the concerned driver, and will fully cooperate with the police.
Source:The Standard
March 06, 2024 12:52 UTC
Govt proposed higher penalties for national security offences involving external forces
According to the document, the government is considering adding clauses to four types of national security offenses, indicating that a higher penalty would be imposed should external forces be involved. They include “offence of seditious intention”, “offense of misprision of treason”, “unlawful disclosure of classified information”, and “offence of sabotage endangering national security”. Meanwhile, the government said some of the elements of the existing offences relating to “seditious intention” lack clarity, leading to legal disputes over the elements of the relevant offences during trials. “We recommend clarifying or improving the elements of the offences based on past practical experience in the current legislative exercise. “One of the examples, for the offence of “seditious intention”, is whether proof of the intention of inciting public disorder or inciting violence is required,” it noted.
Source:The Standard
March 06, 2024 10:58 UTC
China sets 5% growth goal for 2024
The parliament is set to focus on a litany of economic and security challenges during the weeklong conclave. The first order of business will be Premier Li Qiang's work report, at which he officially unveils the GDP goal. But 12 months later, all focus will be on the dire state of China's economy. And analysts agree that stuck between deep reforms to restart economic growth and efforts to strengthen the state's power, China's policymakers have little room for maneuvering. "It will not help the economy, but could help the party-state weather the storm of economic crisis," said Hung.
Source:Manila Times
March 06, 2024 04:23 UTC