China's ultimate goal in stirring up SCS tensions – one Sino commentator's view
China's ultimate goals in SCSIn Lei's video of Jan. 6, 2024 titled "China's 3 ultimate goals in creating South China Sea conflicts," she addresses an issue of burning importance. In the South China Sea, Beijing has been escalating tensions with the Philippines. The South China Sea therefore is a good testing ground for Beijing to gauge Washington's determination. Therefore, the South China Sea has become a good testing ground." 'In the South China Sea, the most important thing is to break the blind faith in the US military capability.
Source:Manila Times
January 13, 2024 04:54 UTC
One dead and one injured after two separate incidents on Kai Tak worksites
One worker is in critical condition and one has been pronounced dead after two separate incidents in Kai Tak on Friday afternoon. Around 11 a.m. today, a construction worker was struck down by a piece of rock while working and he lay bleeding on the third-floor platform of Shing Fu Lane, located in Kai Tak. Paramedics took the worker, who had suffered severe neck injuries, to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for urgent medical attention. He was taken to the United Christian Hospital, where he was declared dead after failing to be resuscitated. After a preliminary investigation, it is believed that he died due to extreme fatigue from overworking.
Source:The Standard
January 12, 2024 16:52 UTC
India shows maritime might vs pirates
EXPANDED NAVAL FORCE Photo taken on March 10, 2021 shows the commission ceremony of the INS Karanj, India's third Scorpene-class diesel-electric submarine, in Mumbai, India. It showed India "can mount a credible naval presence in the Indian Ocean region when required at short notice," said Bhaskar, who is a retired naval officer. Beijing and New Delhi are vying for influence across the Indian Ocean, and India has previously deployed patrols to the disputed South China Sea and Western Pacific. "We have no ambitions to say that the Indian Ocean is India's ocean." But he was also confident Beijing had "taken note" of India's rapid response, forcing pirates to "run away like rats."
Source:Manila Times
January 12, 2024 16:24 UTC
India's TCS, Infosys see revenue dips on client spending cuts
NEW DELHI: Indian IT giants TCS and Infosys both signaled weak revenue growth in quarterly results on Thursday as a client spending slowdown deepened a seasonally weak time for the sector. Both companies, the second- and fifth-biggest in India by market cap, respectively, earn more than 80 percent of their revenue from Western markets and each benefited from a digital services boom during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Source:Manila Times
January 12, 2024 16:10 UTC
AP Bren reigns supreme, first team to win on home soil
AP Bren reigns supreme, first team to win on home soilAP Bren is only one of the teams to watch throughout the MLBB world, with more young Filipino players gaining recognition and showing gradual improvement. AP Bren was forced down to the lower brackets to fight for survival after Kiboy and Kairi’s dominating combinations. AP Bren targeted Sensui once more as they pulled him away from his comfort zone by banning the Utility Heroes he was seen prioritizing. But within minutes, AP Bren took the first win as the crowd roared in excitement. After that 1-1 standing, AP Bren went on a rampage in Games 3 and 4, taking both matches that led them to matchpoint.
Source:Philippine Star
January 12, 2024 13:47 UTC
Suzuki welcomes 2024 with big cheers, big deals for Ertiga Hybrid and S-Presso
Suzuki welcomes 2024 with big cheers, big deals for Ertiga Hybrid and S-PressoDon't miss out on Suzuki’s January promo and drive home your dream car! Suzuki Philippines is kicking off 2024 with unbeatable offers on two of their standout cars—the Ertiga Hybrid and the S-Presso. According to Norihide Takei, Suzuki Philippines director and general manager for the automobile division, “We understand that owning a car is a top priority for many Filipino families. For more information, check out any authorized Suzuki Auto dealerships nationwide or visit http://suzuki.com.ph/auto/. For daily updates on Suzuki, please like Suzuki Auto PH’s Facebook page, follow them on Twitter and Instagram at @suzukiautoph.
Source:Philippine Star
January 12, 2024 12:42 UTC
Africa’s Catholic hierarchy refuses same-sex blessings
The Vatican declaration restated traditional church teaching that marriage is a lifelong union between a man and woman. But it allowed priests to offer spontaneous, non-liturgical blessings to same-sex couples seeking God’s grace in their lives, provided such blessings aren’t confused with the rites and rituals of a wedding. READ: Vatican says no heresy in allowing blessings for same-sex couples after pushback by some bishopsIn his statement, Ambongo said it wasn’t appropriate for African priests to offer such blessings because of the scandal and confusion it would create. READ: EXPLAINER: How can Catholic priests bless same-sex unions? He admitted that it may not apply to some parts of the world and that further “pastoral reflection” might be necessary.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 12, 2024 05:57 UTC
Live coral smuggling investigation leads to detection of money laundering case involving HK$7.4 million
A man was arrested in a suspected money laundering case involving about HK$7.4 million after a follow-up investigation on a live coral smuggling case identified in 2022 by customs. The man was arrested for money laundering. Customs detected a sea smuggling case in July 2022, with three men arrested and seized a batch of goods including suspected scheduled live corals that worth around HK$800,000. The funds, about HK$7.4 million in total, were suspected to be crime proceeds connected with the smuggling case. The man arrested today has been released on bail pending investigation.
Source:The Standard
January 12, 2024 01:01 UTC
China: Taiwan's top poll bet dangerous
China views Taiwan as a renegade province and has never renounced the use of force to take it one day. In a statement on Thursday, China's Taiwan Affairs Office said if Lai "comes to power, he will further push for 'Taiwan independence' separatist activities [and create] turbulence in the Taiwan Strait." Lai, who had once called himself a "pragmatic worker for Taiwan's independence," has taken a softer line on the issue on the campaign trail. "Accepting China's 'one-China' principle is not true peace," he added, referring to Beijing's doctrine that Taiwan is a part of China. Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a recent address that unifying Taiwan with China was an "inevitability."
Source:Manila Times
January 11, 2024 22:13 UTC
Bulusan Volcano shows signs of increased activities
Bulusan Volcano shows signs of increased activitiesIn this June 6, 2022 photo, smoke rises from Bulusan volcano (C) as seen from Sorsogon City, Sorsogon province. MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said Thursday it is closely monitoring Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon following an increase in seismic activities. “The seismic parameters indicate shallow hydrothermal activity is underway and may lead to steam-driven or phreatic eruption,” the institute said. Last week, the Phivolcs also reported increased activities at Bulusan. Bulusan is under Alert Level 1, which means it is in a state of low-level unrest, with an increased likelihood of stream-driven or phreatic eruptions.
Source:Philippine Star
January 11, 2024 19:33 UTC
Ralph Recto named as new Finance secretary
Ralph Recto named as new Finance secretarySenate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto filed a resolution seeking legal mechanisms against deep fakes to strengthen the government’s “implementation of cybercrime and data privacy laws, safeguarding the privacy, information and identity of all Filipinos and protecting the integrity of Philippine social, political, economic and financial institutions.”MANILA, Philippines — House Deputy Speaker Ralph Recto has been named as the new secretary of the Department of Finance, according to lawmakers. In a statement, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said that he welcomes Recto’s appointment as the new Finance chief, remarking that Recto was known in the Senate as the “resident numbers genius.”"More than most, he understands how to bridge the gap between the abstractions of mathematics and the very concrete realities that we face as a nation," Zubiri said. Diokno was handpicked as Marcos' fiscal chief in May 2022 and before that had served as governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas from 2019 to 2022. In September 2023, Diokno admitted to reporters that the president did not consult his economic managers before implementing a controversial price ceiling on rice, saying that he was “shocked” by the executive order implementing the measure when it came out. Diokno said that while price ceilings don’t work in “ideal market conditions,” the presence of price manipulators like smugglers and hoarders led to the president’s decision.
Source:Philippine Star
January 11, 2024 19:01 UTC
Court junks Garin plea to dismiss Dengvaxia cases
(UPDATE) THE Sandiganbayan's Second Division rejected the appeal of former Health secretary Janette Garin to drop the charges against her related to the government's purchase of Dengvaxia vaccines. In a nine-page resolution promulgated on Wednesday, the court thumbed down Garin's motion to quash or dismiss the case filed by the Office of the Ombudsman. It also said that Garin and her co-accused were charged under two separate charge sheets, each pertaining to only one offense. In the same resolution, the Second Division threw out the consolidated motion to quash filed by Bayugo and Ducusin, the motion to quash by Lecciones, and the motion to dismiss by Hartigan-Go. In a statement in 2023, Garin, now a congresswoman representing Iloilo, said her conscience was clear.
Source:Manila Times
January 11, 2024 17:49 UTC
Avalanche kills 1, injures 3 at California ski resort that once hosted Winter Olympics
"This is a very sad day for my team and everyone here," said Dee Byrne, president of Palisades Tahoe, her voice emotional. People through the parking area of the Alpine Base Area at Palisades Tahoe during a winter storm Friday, Feb. 24, 2023, in Alpine Meadows, California. AP PHOTO People through the parking area of the Alpine Base Area at Palisades Tahoe during a winter storm Friday, Feb. 24, 2023, in Alpine Meadows, California. The death Wednesday was the first US avalanche fatality of the season, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, which monitors nationwide. A 2020 avalanche at Alpine Meadows killed one skier and seriously injured another a day after a major storm.
Source:Manila Times
January 11, 2024 13:37 UTC
Marcos, Widodo to boost defense cooperation
(UPDATE) PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Wednesday agreed to boost defense cooperation and agreements on border cooperation between Manila and Jakarta as they discussed developments in the South China Sea. Marcos and Widodo held a bilateral meeting in Malacañang, where they agreed to continue the two countries' cooperation on political and security matters. To stronger ties President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. toasts Indonesian President Joko Widodo at the state luncheon held at Malacañang on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024. Widodo said he and Marcos also agreed to strengthen the border and trade cooperation between Indonesia and the Philippines. Marcos and Widodo witnessed the exchange of MoU on energy cooperation between the Department of Energy and Indonesia's Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources after their bilateral meeting.
Source:Manila Times
January 11, 2024 07:47 UTC
DA to draft procurement guidelines for agricultural crises
DA to draft procurement guidelines for agricultural crisesMANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced on Wednesday that they are in the process of drafting the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for a law clause, seeking to stabilize necessities and commodities supply while protecting consumers from unjustified price hikes during food shortages. 7581, also known as the Price Act. “Secretary Tiu Laurel ordered the TWG to develop a clear and concise set of rules to implement Section 9 of the Price Act,” the DA said in a statement. The DA also said that it will work with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and other government agencies in crafting the IRR. An IRR is generally a set of rules defined by an appointed government agency that serve as guidelines for the implementation of a law.
Source:Philippine Star
January 10, 2024 23:24 UTC