Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger hit with worldwide outage
Meta has apologized for the inconvenience it may have caused to its users following the worldwide outage on Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram. On its official page on X, Meta wrote it was aware that users had difficulties accessing their social media applications as it thanked them for their patience. Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram were hit with outage problems late Thursday, March 5. Internet users also weren't able to send messages via Messenger and refresh their own feeds on Instagram for a while. Users took to X to talk about the outages on the said social media platforms, making the topics “Facebook and Messenger,” “FB & IG,” “Facebook and IG,” Mark Zuckerberg,” “Session Expired,” and “#instagramdown” trend on the social media platform in no time.
Source:Philippine Star
March 06, 2024 04:05 UTC
Philippines, US to hold military drills in islands facing South China Sea, Taiwan
The Philippines' Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro arrives to attend the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) in Jakarta, Indonesia, November 15, 2023. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan/Pool/File PhotoThe Philippines and the United States will carry out annual military exercises next month in key locations including Philippine islands facing the South China Sea and Taiwan, as tensions with China in the region continue to simmer. China claims Taiwan as its own territory despite the island's rejection and routinely stages air and naval military operations near the island. The exercises will also include areas in Palawan province in the South China Sea where frequent maritime run-ins between Manila and Beijing have occurred over the past year. France and the Philippines are both seeking authority to negotiate a military agreement.
Source:The Standard
March 05, 2024 21:10 UTC
Man throws son off Kowloon City Plaza and jumps to his own death
A seven-year-old boy is now in intensive care after he was thrown off Kowloon City Plaza on Monday by his 58-year-old father who later plunged to his own death, suspectedly because he was overwhelmed with gambling debts. The father was rushed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital but was eventually pronounced dead at 10.17 pm. The boy was rushed to Kwong Wah Hospital and remains in the intensive care unit. Dial 2896-0000 for the Samaritans or 2382-2007 for Suicide Prevention Services. You can also call Suicide Prevention Services at 2382-0000 or the CEASE Crisis Centre of Tung Wah Groups of Hospitals at 18281.
Source:The Standard
March 05, 2024 17:11 UTC
Marcos denies family’s ill-gotten wealth anew, accuses critics of 'propaganda'
Marcos denies family’s ill-gotten wealth anew, accuses critics of 'propaganda'People wave flags as Philippines' President Ferdinand Marcos Jr delivers a speech to members of the local Filipino community during an event on the sidelines of the Australia-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit in Melbourne on March 4, 2024. MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has again denied his father’s plunder of billions of public funds during his two-decade rule, calling as “propaganda” the campaign for the Marcos family to return their ill-gotten wealth to the government. Estimates of the amount the Marcoses reportedly amassed in the last few years of Marcos Sr. presidency range from US$5 billion to $13 billion. This sizeable loot far exceeds the yearly salary that Marcos Sr. was earning as president, which was about $4,700 or P100,000. In 2003, the Supreme Court ordered the forfeiture of $658 million worth of frozen Swiss bank deposits belonging to Marcos Sr.
Source:Philippine Star
March 05, 2024 16:04 UTC
WATCH: Quiboloy supporters hold rally at Senate
Supporters of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC), gather in front of the Senate building along Pasay on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Quiboloy has been subpoenaed to appear at a Senate inquiry into his alleged sexual abuses. Video by Javier Joe Ismael
Source:Manila Times
March 05, 2024 14:45 UTC
WATCH: PH, Chinese ships collide anew off Ayungin Shoal
Video shows the collision between the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship BRP Sindangan (MRRV-4407) and China Coast Guard (CCG) 21555 on Tuesday, March 5, off Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. The collision resulted in minor structural damage to the PCG vessel. The PCG ship was one of two escorting a resupply mission to troops stationed at the grounded BRP Sierra Madre when Chinese vessels formed a blockade to prevent the Philippine ships from passing through. Video courtesy of the PCG
Source:Manila Times
March 05, 2024 12:00 UTC
WATCH: From Screen to Stage | The Manila Times CSI On The Go!
PETA gives a taste of the much-awaited musical adaptation of the hit movie, 'One More Chance.' Relive the story of Popoy and Basha, with the hit tunes of Ben&Ben from April 12 to June 30, 2024, at the PETA Theater Center in Quezon City. Video by Christina Alpad
Source:Manila Times
March 05, 2024 10:18 UTC
Japan's Nikkei passes 40,000 for the first time
Japan's Nikkei 225 share index rose to 40,314.64 but fell back slightly. BREACHING People walk in front of an electronic stock board showing Japan’s Nikkei 225 index on Monday, March 4, 2024, in Tokyo. Japan’s Nikkei 225 share benchmark has topped 40,000 for the first time as strong demand for technology shares drives the index higher. AP PHOTO BREACHING People walk in front of an electronic stock board showing Japan's Nikkei 225 index on Monday, March 4, 2024, in Tokyo. Japan's Nikkei 225 share benchmark has topped 40,000 for the first time as strong demand for technology shares drives the index higher.
Source:Manila Times
March 05, 2024 10:03 UTC
Safe hands
Safe handsYou are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble. — Psalm 32:7Like the unraveling of a rope, the threads of Doug Merkey’s life were breaking one by one. These collective events, combined with living in a cramped attic, became the setting from which his sculpture The Hiding Place emerged. It depicts Christ’s strong, nailed-scarred hands openly cupped together as a place of safety. Doug explained the design of his artwork this way: The “sculpture is Christ’s invitation to hide in Him.” In Psalm 32, David wrote as one who had found the ultimate safe place—God Himself.
Source:Philippine Star
March 04, 2024 17:29 UTC
5 things you didn’t know Filipinos designed, invented
5 things you didn’t know Filipinos designed, inventedFrom left: Local goods made of Pinyapel and other pineapple by-products; chair with arm rests made of Permacane technologyMANILA, Philippines — For many years, Filipinos believed that it was their fellowmen who invented the fluorescent lamp, the Moon Buggy and yoyo, and these were even taught in schools or printed in textbooks. At the recent opening of “Art x Design: A Special Reception of the 50 Years of Philippine Design and Beyond” exhibition in National Museum of Fine Arts, it was revealed that there are at least five things that Filipinos indeed designed and invented and have since been useful not only to Filipinos, but to humankind. Safe abaca fiber-extracting machinePhilstar.com/Deni Rose M. Afinidad-Bernardo Unlike plastic, the abaca net disintegrates into the soil, making the net instrumental for sustainable replanting and reforestation. Unlike plastic, the abaca net disintegrates into the soil, making the net instrumental for sustainable replanting and reforestation. The main challenge in mass-producing Pinyapel, however, is that it requires very expensive technology to produce, said Roces.
Source:Philippine Star
March 04, 2024 17:27 UTC
WATCH: UST Golden Tigresses pull off reverse sweep vs Lady Tamaraws
The UST Golden Tigresses pulled off a reverse sweep, 22-25, 21-25, 25-23, 25-20, 15-7, against the FEU Lady Tamaraws at the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday, March 3, to go 4-0 in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament. Angge Poyos tied her career-best of 24 points laced with five excellent digs and five receptions to lead the Golden Tigresses, who ran rampage in the fifth set after taking the third and fourth stanzas. UST got off to a 10-3 start and never looked back as Xyza Gula eventually sealed the win with a kill. Video by Niel Victor Masoy
Source:Manila Times
March 04, 2024 15:16 UTC
WATCH: Legarda, DAR Honor Women Farmers
Senator Loren Legarda and Agrarian Reform Undersecretary Niña Taduran honored women farmers and employees for their contributions to society during the Department of Agrarian Reform's celebration of Women's Month in Quezon City on Monday, March 4, 2024. Legarda called on Filipinos to continue fighting for women's rights to ensure equality for all. Video by Ismael De Juan
Source:Manila Times
March 04, 2024 14:45 UTC
China seeks ways to revive slowing economy and salvage property market as annual congress convenes
At 41, he's struggling to find work in a labor market where companies tend not to hire anyone over 35. The downturn in the property market followed a crackdown on excess borrowing by real estate developers. Many cities have relaxed controls on property deals imposed earlier to cool price bubbles, and some 6,000 property projects have been green-lighted for lending. “The property market has been such a significant source of China’s growth and now it has gone into reverse,” Wright said, though he noted there are signs the market is stabilizing. One strategy would be to shift more national wealth into workers’ pockets, says Michael Pettis, a leading expert on the Chinese economy and professor at Beijing University.
Source:The Standard
March 04, 2024 12:21 UTC
WATCH: Heart Evangelista slays Paris Fashion Week runway
WATCH: Heart Evangelista slays Paris Fashion Week runwayMANILA, Philippines — Kapuso star Heart Evangelista slayed the runway at the Paris Fashion Week. In her Instagram story, Heart posted a video of her strutting the catwalk as she opened the show for Vietnamese designer Phan Huy. Apart from walking the runway, Heart also attended the shows of Yves Saint Laurent, Giambattista Valli and Hermes, among others. She also attended several shows in Milan Fashion Week before going to Paris. RELATED: ‘Like it’s my first time again‘: Heart Evangelista reveals renewal of vows with Chiz Escudero
Source:Philippine Star
March 04, 2024 10:34 UTC
A matter of confidence
It has been difficult to attract FDIs because investors lack confidence in our economy, in our government and in our future. Nowhere is this lack of investor confidence expressed daily as in our stock market. If these investors are not enthusiastic about our equities market or lack confidence, potential FDIs may think they must have good reasons for staying out. For the local bourse to get exciting again, it needs foreign portfolio investors to join the fun. Once portfolio investors are convinced our country has a bright economic future, their confidence may rub off on potential FDIs.
Source:Philippine Star
March 04, 2024 04:46 UTC