SPENDING priorities in the Asia-Pacific region will likely shift next year to more discretionary items, particularly goods, the Mastercard Economics Institute (MEI) said in a report. Consumer spending in the region will remain resilient, MEI said, with an easing of monetary policies likely to factor in how households allocate budgets. "Economies in Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and Oceania will enter their third year without pandemic restrictions in 2024," MEI noted. Grocery purchases were down for both, but spending on fuel was up about 1 percent, reflective of higher pump prices.As for discretionary spending, travel and entertainment were ahead of discretionary retail in both categories. That said, it is worth monitoring how households cope with a higher payment rate for outstanding debt..."

Ex-party-list lawmaker files civil raps vs Badoy, Celiz over red-taggingThis photo shows a picture of former NTF-ELCAC spokesperson Lorraine Badoy and Jeffrey Celiz on SMNI. In response to the complaint, Celiz said that he would face the charges filed against him and Badoy. The complaint of Casiño was similar to the charges filed by journalist Atom Araullo against Badoy and Celiz last September which are also civil suits. Days later, the spouses of Badoy and Celiz filed a petition before the Supreme Court to question the constitutionality of their detention. 1499, on December 11 urging the National Telecommunications Commission to suspend the operations of SMNI for violating the terms and conditions of its franchise.

Public pushback vs Sara’s confidential funds kept it out of 2024 budget — Senate finance panel chairMembers of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan troop to the House of Representatives along Batasan Road in Quezon City on September 26, 2023 to demand the abolition of confidential funds in different government agencies. MANILA, Philippines — Public sentiment against the confidential and intelligence funds under Vice President Sara Duterte influenced the decision of lawmakers to keep the controversial secret fund out of the proposed 2024 national budget, the Senate finance committee chairperson said on Monday. “It's also a reading of the public opinion, (and) the public opinion wanted greater transparency on the budget,” Angara said in an interview with ANC’s Headstart on Monday. But also because the vice president said she is not pursuing it. Controversy over the secret lump sum began after Makabayan bloc lawmakers sought to question Duterte about the P125 million in confidential expenses of the OVP in 2022 during budget deliberations at the House of Representatives.

ADVERTISEMENTBut according to the Philippine National Police, the strike was held in seven areas in Metro Manila, joined by 385 protesters. ‘It’s different today’Construction worker Celso Macalintal, 57, walked from his house near the Litex public market to his workplace near Quezon Avenue some 10 kilometers away. ADVERTISEMENT“The transport strike is only a burden to us commuters,” Macalintal said. Call center agent Angelina Reyes, 26, said she had just finished her shift at 7 a.m. The agency said 153,787 out of 222,617 PUVs were already part of cooperatives as of last month.

The same cannot be said of most developing countries. Barring a few exceptions, such as South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore, the developing world embraced trade openness only after the WTO's establishment. Second, leaders in developing countries often face political pressures to respond to US tariffs that are viewed as detrimental to their exports. Given that developing countries' domestic markets are much smaller than that of the US, liberal trade policies play a larger role in driving their economic growth. While there are potential solutions to the fragmentation of global trade, geopolitical dynamics and the self-serving agendas of major powers present significant challenges.

Speaker Martin Romualdez says President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will sign the proposed P5.768-trillion national budget for 2024 on Wednesday. He expresses confidence that the President will not veto any provisions of the 2024 General Appropriations Bill. The Speaker joined the President in his visit to Tokyo, Japan to participate in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Japan Summit. VIDEO BY CATHERINE S. VALENTE

The government of Japan has formally announced its support funding of $10 million grant for the Asia-Europe Foundation's (ASEF) Stockpile Project for strengthening preparedness and response to Covid-19 and other emerging diseases. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) will implement the project across five ASEM countries: the Philippines, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan. This significant initiative will facilitate the procurement and distribution of essential medical equipment and supplies. PHOTO FROM ASEF OFFICIAL WEBSITEThis significant initiative will facilitate the procurement and distribution of essential medical equipment and supplies, like pulse-oximeters, oxygen concentrators, cold-chain equipment for vaccines and other medical devices, Covid-19 rapid testing kits, personal protective equipment, and medicines. The ASEF Stockpile Project serves as a testament to the ongoing partnership between Japan and the ASEF in promoting global health security and resilience.

Minibus drivers and passengers complained about the increased fare brought by the time-varying charge implemented on the three cross-harbor tunnels on Sunday. At least eight cross-harbor minibus routes have raised their fares by up to 43 percent as commercial vehicles have to pay HK$50 from the previous HK$10 for using the cross-harbor tunnel in Hung Hom under the new arrangement. With the new tolls kicking in, at least eight red minibus routes that pass through the tunnel have raised their fares. Some passengers have criticized this fare increase as excessive compared to other cross-harbor minibusses and have stated that they will no longer take these routes in the future. While some other passengers have expressed understanding that the minibusses need to raise fares to sustain their operations, they still find the fare increase substantial.

2 Timothy 4:7The school where my son Brian coaches football lost the state title game in a hard-fought battle. Along the same vein, it’s good to know that believers in Jesus will not hear harsh words of condemnation from Him. He’ll see what we’ve done as we’ve followed Him (2 Corinthians 5:10; Ephesians 6:8). If we stand before Him in the merits of God’s Son, each one will “receive [his] praise” from God (1 Corinthians 4:5). Thank You, God, for the promise that because I have Jesus as my Savior, I’ll never be condemned.

As she stepped down as home secretary, Suella Braverman produced with a flourish what she believed was proof of a deal with UK prime minister Rishi Sunak. She claimed he agreed to a list of her conditions for taking on the role. It was the latest example of a phenomenon that has long fascinated me: people who make deals that turn out to be imaginary. We've probably all seen a friend come a cropper by assuming a personal commitment was mutual, only to be let down with a bump. At work, similar problems seem most often to centre on misinterpreting doing favours, or giving help as a downpayment on a future reciprocal good turn — mentally banking a useful IOU.

4 artists take the spotlight at Sentro Artista exhibitMANILA, Philippines – Just weeks after successfully mounting the biggest art competition in the country’s history, Sentro Artista continues to live up to its reputation as one of the leading platforms in the local art scene, this time with an exhibit titled “Synchronicity” featuring works of contemporary artists. The exhibit showcased the works of four visionary artists representing various eras, mediums and styles, exclusively in one place and for a limited time. This mindset has given her a reputation as a prolific visual artist and a sculptor. The Reyes and Valero collaboration produced at three art pieces. Despite being relatively new in the art scene, Sentro Artista is coming off a very successful staging of the “Hindi Umuurong sa Pagtulong” art competition last month.

ROBOSHEEP Studios is a pioneering film, video and VFX company in the Philippines enabled for on-set virtual production. (From left) Gina Godinez, Jaime Godinez, Chase Hui, Wesley Villarica, Micah Fernandez and Paolo Jaminola at the opening of Parallax Studio’s new site in Pasig City on Dec. 7, 2023. Wesley Villarica, owner of Parallax Studio and co-owner of Robosheep Studio is one of the most respected and sought-after photographers in the Philippines with 18 years of expertise in the field of advertising. His Parallax Studio supplies the demand for lifestyle, fashion, food, product and other corporate photography and video production needs. Get 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 PolicyDuring the recent opening of Parallax Studio last Dec. 7, 2023, Villarica announced a co- production between Parallax Studio, Robosheep Studio, GV Labs and Will Studios for the film titled "The Guardian."

CHICAGO: Quaker Oats on Friday recalled several of its granola products, including granola bars and cereals, saying the foods could be contaminated with salmonella. Salmonella infections can cause fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and stomach pain, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Quaker, which is owned by PepsiCo, said in a news release that it has not received any reports of salmonella infections related to the recalled granola products. The full list of recalled foods includes granola oats cereals and Quaker Chewy Bars, which are also sold in PepsiCo's snack mixes. The company is asking customers with recalled products to throw them away and contact its customer support line or visit the recall website for more information and reimbursement.

LOS ANGELES: Matthew Perry died from the acute effects of the anesthetic ketamine, according to the results of an autopsy on the 54-year-old "Friends" actor released Friday. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner said in the autopsy report that Perry also drowned in "the heated end of his pool," but that it was a secondary factor in his Oct. 28 death, deemed an accident. People close to Perry told investigators that he was undergoing ketamine infusion therapy, an experimental treatment used to treat depression and anxiety. The assistant told investigators Perry had not been sick, had not made any health complaints, and had not shown evidence of recent alcohol or drug use. It would have been risky to mix the central nervous system depressant with ketamine "due to the additive respiratory effects when present with high levels of ketamine," according to the autopsy report.

NEW YORK: The European Central Bank (ECB) and the United States Federal Reserve (Fed) have each said that they do not intend to abolish physical cash if and when a central bank digital currency (CBDC) is introduced. There are good reasons not only to support the early introduction of CBDCs but also to pay interest on them and abolish cash. Another concern is that the central bank, as the CBDC issuer, might obtain sensitive information about CBDC holders' finances and private spending decisions. If — and only if — a CBDC bears interest and is accompanied by the abolition of physical cash, it will enhance the effectiveness of monetary policy by eliminating the effective lower bound (ELB) on policy interest rates. Similarly, while no CBDC can fully replicate the privacy of physical cash, that might not be so bad.