Sulu residents led cops to lair of woman tagged as 'terrorist'
Sulu residents led cops to lair of woman tagged as 'terrorist'Myrna Ajilul Mabanza did not resist arrest when policemen and soldiers arrived at her hideout and served her the warrants for her arrest. COTABATO CITY — The support of Muslim clerics in Sulu helped government operatives arrest the most wanted terrorist in the Bangsamoro region, linked to transnational terror groups. She was arrested Barangay Pasil in Indanan town in the province on Thursday. More than 500 Abu Sayyaf members in Sulu had surrendered in batches via local government units in the province since 2016, all reintegrated into mainstream society. “To all the civilians who helped work out the arrest of Mabanza, we are thankful,” Galido told reporters on Friday morning via text message.
Source:Philippine Star
February 16, 2024 17:46 UTC
DepEd urged to shield students from retaliation in sex abuse cases
MANILA, Philippines — A group that monitors sexual harassment cases in schools has called on the Department of Education to establish concrete anti-retaliation policies to protect victims when they file complaints against school authorities, including their teachers accused of sexual misconduct. New demands were drawn up during the gathering, which had “galvanized” student leaders from different schools to take action on the continued rise in sexual harassment cases in their own campuses, Enough is Enough (EIE) said in a statement. Based on its monitoring, EIE has recorded at least 61 incidents of campus sexual misconduct that have taken place. But “multiple cases … have either been dropped or remain unresolved” while several accused remain unpunished, the group said. Last year, EIE reiterated its call for DepEd to ensure that it takes action on all those accused of sexual harassment in schools, noting that fear of reprisal or humiliation has prevented several victims from speaking out.
Source:Philippine Star
February 16, 2024 17:38 UTC
India's opposition claims funds frozen
NEW DELHI: India's main opposition Congress party said Friday that its bank accounts had been frozen by the tax department just weeks before the expected announcement of national elections. "We were told that the accounts of India's main opposition party have been frozen," Congress party spokesman Ajay Maken told a press conference. FROZEN FUNDS Congress party spokesman Ajay Maken addresses a press conference at All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in New Delhi on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. "When the principal opposition party's accounts have been frozen just two weeks before the announcement of the national elections, do you think democracy is alive in our country?" Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi, scion of the dynasty that dominated Indian politics for decades, was convicted of criminal libel last year after a complaint by a member of Modi's party.
Source:Manila Times
February 16, 2024 16:28 UTC
WATCH: PhilHealth viable to serve needy patients
Agri Rep. Wilbert Lee and former presidential candidate Leodegario 'Leody' De Guzman tells a press conference at the Club Filipino in San Juan City on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024, that the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is viable enough to increase its case rates by as much as 30 percent. Lee cautioned, however, that PhilHealth should not act as an 'investment company' and should use its more than P400 billion in funds to serve needy patients. Video by Red MendozaGet the latest newsdelivered to your inbox Sign up for The Manila Times newsletters By signing up with an email address, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Source:Manila Times
February 16, 2024 12:05 UTC
Democracy slides amid wars, polarization–study
PARIS—Democratic standards across the world fell in 2023 amid the spread of wars, authoritarian crackdowns and declining levels of trust in mainstream political parties, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) said on Thursday. While the number of countries categorized as democracies increased by two last year, the global average index score fell to 5.23 in 2023 from 5.29 the year before, its lowest level since the first study was published in 2006.W. The study said it was the first time that North America has not placed as the world’s highest-scoring region. Your subscription has been successful. Subscribe to our daily newsletter SIGN ME UPThe top three places in the index are occupied by Norway, New Zealand and Iceland, while the final three countries are North Korea, Myanmar and Afghanistan.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
February 16, 2024 11:11 UTC
Online food orders more expensive than take out, consumer watchdog finds
The Consumer Council earlier tested six commonly used food ordering platforms among Hong Kongers and found that the majority of prices on food ordering platforms were higher than those of takeout. The consumer watchdog tested six ordering platforms, Deliveroo, Foodpanda, KeeTa, KFC, McDelivery, and Pizza Hut. The watchdog found that about 83 to more than 90 percent of food prices are higher than the average takeout price. Only about 9 to nearly 14 percent of food prices were cheaper due to the platform. In comparison, KFC holds 70 percent of the food prices that were more expensive compared to restaurant takeout, and nearly 30 percent of the food prices were lower.
Source:The Standard
February 16, 2024 06:01 UTC
What is behind the US economy's strength?
While interest rates have hit the highest level in more than two decades, a situation ordinarily accompanied by higher unemployment and a consumption pullback, it has not been the case this time. 'Value of talent'Low unemployment, wage growth and hiring have underpinned consumers' willingness to spend. Purchasing powerAmericans are snagging jobs and wage increases, while annual real wage growth has been positive since May 2023, said ZipRecruiter chief economist Julia Pollak. This "allowed corporations to issue debt at very low interest rates," North said, adding that many companies did just that. But the outlook this year remains positive with interest rate cuts on the horizon as inflation has fallen — a development that generally spurs business activity.
Source:Manila Times
February 16, 2024 04:11 UTC
Germany overtakes Japan as 3rd-biggest economy
TOKYO: Once forecast to become the world's biggest economy, Japan slipped below Germany last year to fourth place, official data showed on Thursday, although India is projected to leapfrog both later this decade. DEMOTED People commuting to work in the morning cross a pedestrian crossing in Tokyo, Japan, on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. Japan’s moved down to being the third-largest economy to fourth after being overtaken by Germany last year. AFP PHOTO DEMOTED People commuting to work in the morning cross a pedestrian crossing in Tokyo, Japan, on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. Japan's moved down to being the third-largest economy to fourth after being overtaken by Germany last year.
Source:Manila Times
February 16, 2024 03:43 UTC
'More NATO members to hit spending goal'
The Republican White House frontrunner was widely rebuked after saying he would not defend NATO members who had not met their financial obligations, in his most extreme broadside yet against the military alliance. AFP PHOTOStoltenberg laid out new defense spending estimates, showing the number of states reaching 2 percent of their gross domestic product was expected to jump from 11 in 2023. Overall, though, he said European allies and Canada would have added more than $600 billion to their defense spending since they set the 2-percent goal a decade ago. Spurred on by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, last year saw an "unprecedented rise" of 11 percent of spending by European members and Canada, Stoltenberg said. But the US still accounts for the vast bulk of combined defense spending by NATO members.
Source:Manila Times
February 15, 2024 21:46 UTC
Gilas buckles down for FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers campaign
Gilas buckles down for FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers campaignMANILA, Philippines – Gilas Pilipinas has started its preparations for the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers. Photos uploaded by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) on Thursday showed the team training at the Inspire Sports Academy Philippines. “The journey starts now for Gilas Pilipinas. Training continues in preparation for their two important matches at the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers 1st Window,” the SBP said in the Facebook post. The team will kick off its campaign against Hong Kong on February 22.
Source:Philippine Star
February 15, 2024 21:14 UTC
‘Price crash’
Any price reduction is welcome news, but I would hardly call it a “crash” in egg prices. The prohibition might have even raised the rates, thus negating any price “crash” at the farm gate. Today the lowest retail price for white refined sugar in the wet market is P80 a kilo; in the supermarkets, the price can be as high as P110. * * *For rice, a farmers’ group said this week that the average retail price of well-milled rice had gone down by P2, to P52 a kilo. In my part of town yesterday, rice retail prices ranged from P50 to P56 for non-special varieties.
Source:Philippine Star
February 15, 2024 20:30 UTC
Antitrust watchdog OKs CLI-NTT venture
THE Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) has cleared a proposed joint venture by Cebu Landmasters Inc. (CLI) with Singapore-registered NTT UD Asia Pte. In a filing on Thursday, property developer CLI said it had received the PCC certification, dated February 6, authorizing the establishment of CLI NUD Ventures Inc.. CLI announced its partnership with NTT last September, saying the proposed residential project would add to its more than 100 developments across the Visayas and Mindanao regions. NTT, meanwhile, is an international developer of office buildings, residential properties, and other mixed-use developments in Southeast Asia. CLI shares were unchanged at P2.62 each on Thursday amid a 0.4-percent rise in the benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index.
Source:Manila Times
February 15, 2024 16:31 UTC
Kim oversees missile tests in security push
(UPDATE) SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the test firing of a "new-type surface-to-sea missile," state media reported on Thursday, part of a purported fresh drive to ramp up maritime border security. FIRING TIME A new type of surface-to-sea missile Padasuri-6 is test-fired toward the East Sea of Korea at an undisclosed location in North Korea on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024. The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Kim had overseen the "evaluation test-fire of new-type surface-to-sea missile Padasuri-6 to be equipped by the navy." The maritime border between the two countries, known as the Northern Limit Line, has never been officially demarcated, and has been the site of previous clashes between the two Koreas. Earlier this week, North Korea announced it had tested a new control system for a multiple rocket launcher it said would have an "increased" battlefield role.
Source:Manila Times
February 15, 2024 16:31 UTC
WATCH: Beermen claim 29th PBA title
Coach Jorge Gallent and the Best Player of the Conference and Finals MVP, CJ Perez, answer the media as the San Miguel Beermen secured their 29th PBA title with a thrilling 104-102 victory over the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots in Game 6 of the Commissioner's Cup finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday night, Feb. 14, 2024.
Source:Manila Times
February 15, 2024 15:41 UTC
BS Bio magna cum laude leads 594 CLSU graduates
With the theme "Generating Knowledge, Cultivating Partnerships and Nurturing Entrepreneurial Skills in Advancing Agricultural Innovations," CLSU has 594 graduands. PHOTO FROM HTTPS://CLSU.EDU.PHThe CLSU Strategic Communication Office (StratCom) said the commencement exercise will be livestreamed via the CLSU official Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/clsuofficialpage. StratCom noted that among the graduands, 111 will receive academic honors and special awards to be led by Angelica Quitalig, a Bachelor of Science in Biology student. Quitalig achieved the highest academic honor and will graduate magna cum laude with a general weighted average of 1.31. As class valedictorian, she addressed her fellow graduates during the Tea Party and Recognition Program on Wednesday, February 14.
Source:Manila Times
February 14, 2024 22:11 UTC