Stand by
These NIWs are those currently in the US whose employers have filed an immigrant visa petition for them. The priority date of an employment-based immigrant visa applicant is the date when the permanent labor certification was filed, not when the petition was received at a USCIS office. AdvertisementIn November 2020, the State Department reported that there were 3,978,487 beneficiaries waiting for their immigrant visas. With the backlog of DQ applicants with NVC still at more than 400,000, these beneficiaries may just literally fall in line while waiting. AdvertisementInstead of being eligible to play the immigrant visa game, DQs who fall in line while waiting becomes subject to the original meaning of DQ — disqualified.
Source:Manila Times
October 20, 2024 16:12 UTC
(Video) Tour bus hits bottom of bridge, one injured
A tour bus driver was injured after he drove into the bottom of a bridge in Sha Tau Kok with a height restriction on Sunday morning. Shortly before noon today, a tour bus was driving along the Lin Ma Hang Road, driving into the Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point Public Transport Interchange, but due to the height of the tour bus, it rammed into the bottom of the bridge, and the tour bus backed up. According to a video posted online, the tour bus somehow drove along to the entrance and rammed into the bottom of the bridge, causing a loud noise. The tour bus reverses as smoke starts to billow from the vehicle, with the front heavily damaged, the windshield dented, and parts coming loose. As the video ended, there were no other vehicles seen nearby and no passengers on the bus.
Source:The Standard
October 20, 2024 15:05 UTC
Indian ex-official indicted by US dismisses allegations, family says
(Reuters)An Indian ex-official charged by the U.S. with directing a murder-for-hire plot has dismissed the allegations, his family said, expressing shock that Vikash Yadav was wanted by the FBI. "The family has no information" about him working for the spy agency, Yadav's cousin said in the village of Pranpura in Haryana state. But in Pranpura, Yadav's cousin pointed to the family's modest, single-storey house, saying, "Where will so much money come from? Another cousin, Amit Yadav, 41, said Vikash Yadav had been a quiet boy interested in books and athletics and was a national-level marksman. "Only the government of India and Vikash know what has happened," he said, adding that Indian officials should inform them.
Source:The Standard
October 20, 2024 14:00 UTC
Bomb hoax threats to Indian airlines spark chaos
Bomb hoax threats to Indian airlines spark chaosNEW DELHI, India — More than 70 fake bomb threats have been made against flights operated by multiple Indian airlines this week, Indian media reported Sunday, sparking fear among passengers and global delays. At least one person -- a minor -- has been arrested in India, but the threats have continued. A report in The Indian Express said that an anonymous account on X, formerly Twitter, was suspended after posting bomb threats to at least 40 flights on Friday and Saturday. On the same day, Singapore scrambled fighter jets to escort an Air India Express plane. On Thursday, British RAF fighter jets escorted an Air India Boeing 777-300 after a threat was made against the plane, which landed safely in London.
Source:Philippine Star
October 20, 2024 11:37 UTC
WATCH: Green Archers take down Soaring Falcons to secure final four berth
Defending champion De La Salle blasted Adamson, 70-45, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion on Oct. 19, 2024 to clinch its sixth straight win and secure a Final Four berth in the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament. The Green Archers improved to 9-1, a record that will be enough to make the semis as five teams have at least six losses, including the fifth seeded Soaring Falcons who dropped to 3-6 after the loss to La Salle. Video by Niel Victor Masoy
Source:Manila Times
October 20, 2024 03:52 UTC
Bustling new destination
Bustling new destinationMore than seven years after selling the family’s tobacco business to Japan Tobacco Inc. (JTI), the Wongchuking family has diversified into other businesses, either as a family or individually. After his father died, Caesar shepherded the tobacco business into becoming the second largest cigarette company in the country. The Bulacan international airport will be able to accommodate initially 70 million passengers when it opens in 2028 and eventually, 150 million passengers. Recently announced were increases in parking fees, landing and take-off fees which are already being implemented, and terminal fees by next year. In a country like the Philippines, where air travel is often a necessity due to its archipelagic geography, these rising costs could reduce demand for flights both internationally and domestically, they said.
Source:Philippine Star
October 19, 2024 20:33 UTC
Museum moments
My heart fluttered upon setting foot in Xian’s Terra Cotta Warriors On-Site Museum in China’s Shaanxi province. While admiring a painting at Jakarta’s Fine Arts and Ceramic Museum, the artist’s name – Antonio Maria Blanco – intrigued me. Could he be related to the renowned Blanco artists of Angono, Rizal? Here in New York, museum visits are part of my delightful rituals, either with the UN hospitality committee or with visiting family and friends. Maybe not as grand, but I associate The Met with our own National Museum and the San Agustin Museum, which I had recently revisited.
Source:Philippine Star
October 19, 2024 20:31 UTC
Evolving IoT security risks, impact on business continuity
ARTIFICIAL intelligence (AI) is beginning to merge with Internet of Things (IoT) devices, creating what is known as AIoT. Cybercriminals can exploit vulnerabilities in AI models, poisoning the data to force IoT devices into unsafe behaviors or decision-making. The best practice would be to implement AI security measures in a very early stage. In many cases, IoT devices are deployed in large numbers with little oversight, creating a vast attack surface for cybercriminals. Many IoT devices, especially low-cost consumer devices, use components from suppliers with poor security practices.
Source:Manila Times
October 19, 2024 16:08 UTC
HKO logs record-breaking latest occurrence of very hot weather of the year
The Hong Kong Observatory said the temperature recorded at its headquarters until 12.30 pm was 33.6 degrees, marking the latest occurrence of very hot weather of the year. It is also the latest recorded very hot weather of the year since records began in 1884, breaking the previous record set on October 16, 1939. Meanwhile, the weather watchdog said a fresh to strong easterly airstream will affect the coast of Guangdong in the next couple of days. The weather will be generally fine over the region midweek next week. However, there are uncertainties in its subsequent movement, said the HKO.
Source:The Standard
October 19, 2024 15:31 UTC
China's Xi calls for troops to boost war preparedness
SHANGHAI, China — Chinese President Xi Jinping called this week for troops to strengthen their preparedness for war, state media reported on Saturday, just days after Beijing staged large-scale military drills around Taiwan. Xi made his comments while visiting a brigade of the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force on Thursday, according to state-run broadcaster CCTV. Xi said the military should "comprehensively strengthen training and preparation for war, (and) ensure troops have solid combat capabilities", CCTV reported. China's communist leaders have insisted they will not rule out using force to bring Taiwan under Beijing's control. Xi on Thursday said the Chinese military must "strongly safeguard the country's strategic security and core interests", according to the CCTV report.
Source:Philippine Star
October 19, 2024 12:41 UTC
One hospitalized after five-car pile-up on Kap Shui Mun Bridge
A man was sent to hospital on Saturday morning following a five-car pile-up on Kap Shui Mun Bridge. The accident occurred at around 8.22 am this morning and involved five private cars. The vehicles had their front or rear ends damaged following the collision. An investigation is ongoing.
Source:The Standard
October 19, 2024 10:21 UTC
China using overproduction to dominate world markets
You can see it in the numbers," Singh told an event hosted by the Alliance for American Manufacturing. Data showed that China had a significant overcapacity relative to projected demand for electric vehicles, batteries or semiconductors, Singh said, noting that Chinese producers were reporting "persistent losses." Advertisement"China is flooding strategic sectors with supply that's well beyond what global demand can plausibly absorb, and therefore wiping out the competition," he said. Washington has previously said the US may need to take further and "more creative" actions beyond tariffs to protect US industries and workers against China's growing excess industrial capacity. And so there is a gigantic amount of overcapacity that is threatening our own attempts to build in these areas," she said.
Source:Manila Times
October 19, 2024 04:17 UTC
Melioidosis infection believed to have caused mystery monkey deaths in HK
Melioidosis bacterial infection could be the cause behind the death of nine monkeys that died at the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens within two days. Authorities previously announced that eight monkeys were found dead on Sunday, and another died Monday after displaying unusual behavior. Sources said on Friday that necropsies and laboratory tests revealed the deaths could have been caused by a melioidosis bacterial infection. According to CHP info, melioidosis is a disease caused by the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei. The infection can be treated with antibiotics, while long-term treatment may be necessary for some chronic infection cases.
Source:The Standard
October 19, 2024 01:13 UTC
'WagMagpaloko' financing companies remind the public
The pioneers of the #WagMagpaloko campaign hope to enjoin more finance companies in the fight against scammers. The observed increase in reported online lending scams was seconded by other financing companies such as SAFC, Global Cebuana, Cycle Financing and Cebuana Cycle. Dragonpay believes that the absence of a formal payment gateway and/or platform in some online lending companies, combined with the public's lack of awareness of various malicious schemes online, contributes to the increasing number of scam cases. Its core members included the vehicle mortgage loan and financing providers SAFC and Global Dominion, motorcycle mortgage loan provider Cycle Financing, OFW loan provider Global Cebuana, motorcycle financing provider Cebuana Cycle, and payment gateway provider Dragonpay. The pioneers of the #WagMagpaloko campaign hope to enjoin more finance companies in the fight against scammers.
Source:Manila Times
October 18, 2024 22:36 UTC
Viral misinformation
But advertisers will not set aside traditional media since it complements with new media. Unfortunately, these advertisers will focus their traditional media budget on maybe just the number one or even top two for each form – print, television, radio. While new media and social media in particular can be considered as a boon to marketing, it definitely has its disadvantages. The best way to avoid fake news on social media, she added, is not to use social media as your primary news source. The next time you find yourself having the urge to hit ‘share’ on that next viral post, think twice.
Source:Philippine Star
October 18, 2024 20:31 UTC