Dust in the air worsened in 2022 — UNGENEVA, Switzerland — The amount of dust in the world's air worsened in 2022, the United Nations said on Thursday, as it called for more research into how climate change may increase sandstorm hotspots. "Human activities are having an impact on sand and dust storms," WMO chief Petteri Taalas said in the global weather agency's Airborne Dust Bulletin. "The global average of annual mean dust surface concentrations in 2022 was slightly higher than that in 2021," it said. The severe dust storm over the Middle East in May which "dramatically reduced the visibility all over the region" and the cropland dust storm in the eastern United States that month were also detailed. "Sand and dust storms have impacts on health, on transport including aviation, ground transportation, road and railroad transportation and agriculture.

A mother posted online that she was able to find a foreign domestic helper who could serve as both a caregiver and a tutor, leading many netizens to feel envious regarding her hire. She added that the helper even used Google Translate to teach and mark his homework. “I admire her as she is even more concerned about my boy.”Many netizens praised the domestic helper and stated that the employer was lucky that she was able to hire such an excellent domestic helper. Some of them even noticed that she had great writing and drawing skills to explain the words to the boy. The poster later revealed that the domestic helper, who used to be a teacher in the Philippines, chose to come to Hong Kong to find a better-paying job as a domestic helper.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) announced on Thursday that they will be holding a celebratory raceday on Sunday to celebrate Hong Kong's historic results at the Asian Games. In order to celebrate the outstanding achievement of the Hong Kong athletes at the Hangzhou Asian Games, where they won 53 medals, the HKJC has announced they will be holding the Hong Kong China’s Asian Games Medalists Celebration Raceday on October 22 (Sun). Entry will also be free of charge during the racing day, and the Sha Tin Racecourse will be open earlier than usual at 10.30 am to allow more citizens to participate in the award-giving ceremony of the Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme. The schema aims to provide cash incentives to recognize those who earn distinction for Hong Kong by winning gold, silver, or bronze medals in top-level competitions and covers most major events ranging from the Olympic Games to the FISU World University Games. Cash rewards will also be awarded to athletes finishing in fourth to eighth places in the Olympics and Paralympics in recognition of their achievements.

SWS: 46 percent see better life in next 12 monthsA woman gives change to a customer at a market in Manila on October 5, 2023. MANILA, Philippines — Forty-six percent of Filipinos expect the quality of their lives to improve in the next 12 months, a recent survey conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed. Meanwhile, the number of those who expect their lives to worsen in the next 12 months decreased by a point from six percent to five percent. The “net personal optimism” score is obtained by subtracting those who said their lives will worsen from those who said their lives will improve in the next 12 months. According to SWS, optimism for a better quality of life has trended upwards to pre-pandemic levels since the country recorded its historic low of -19 in May 2020.

Blatant violations seen on first day of campaignA man in a Spider-Man costume helps put up campaign posters during the start of the campaign period for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in Baguio City yesterday. The campaign posters were placed on electric posts near electrical wires, which could be a fire hazard. “There are a number of violations like placing campaign materials on electric posts and power lines,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia said. Campaign kicks offBSKE candidates were up as early as midnight to help in displaying their posters as soon as the campaign period started. Relatively peacefulThe first day of the campaign period for the BSKE was relatively peaceful, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported on Thursday.

Seoul, South Korea — Relations between Russia and North Korea have reached a “qualitatively new, strategic” level, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday in Pyongyang, according to Moscow state media. “After the landmark summit … we can say confidently that (Russia-North Korea) relations have reached a qualitatively new, strategic level,” Lavrov reportedly told North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui at a Thursday meeting. September’s Kim-Putin summit fanned Western fears Pyongyang might provide Moscow with weapons for its drawn-out war in Ukraine. According to a graphic provided by the White House, a load of containers was shipped by sea from North Korea to Russia between September 1 and October 1. The tightening of the alliance between Moscow and Pyongyang comes with relations between the two Koreas at a historic low and diplomacy stalled.

Kathleen Tolentino, one of the Filipino workers from Israel, shares the emotional farewell she had with her patient. Tolentino was one of 17 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who was repatriated due to its ongoing conflict with Hamas militants. They arrived in Manila on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. Video by Claire Mondares

Sara tells supporters to brace for higher cost of goods in thank you messageMANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday assured her supporters that her rejected request for confidential funds was minuscule compared to the tough economic times brought by the continued surge in prices. The vice president also concluded her statement with a call for unity and for those at odds to work together for the country’s welfare. Duterte’s statement comes after ranking members of the House of Representatives traded barbs with Duterte’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, over the House’s decision to reallocate the vice president’s requested confidential funds. A Pulse Asia survey in October found that public disapproval of how the Marcos government is handling inflation has risen to 56% in September from 37% in June. A separate Pulse Asia poll also showed that Marcos and Duterte suffered double-digit declines in approval ratings from June to September.

16 OFWs return home from IsraelThis picture taken on Oct. 11, 2023 shows an aerial view of buildings destroyed by Israeli air strikes in the Jabalia camp for Palestinian refugees in Gaza City. Israel declared war on Hamas on October 8 following a shock land, air and sea assault by the Gaza-based Islamists. MANILA, Philippines — The first batch of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Israel has returned safely to the Philippines. According to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), 16 OFWs and a baby were repatriated on Wednesday, October 18. This is the first batch of OFWs to return to the country since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

In the third chapter, the researcher describes the "how" — the research design, the methods used, who the research respondents were, and where they were (the setting of the study — which details are context components of the research questions). The theoretical and conceptual frameworks are different ways of representing the relationship phenomena/situation or variables in a research study. [how to write chapter 01 of a dissertation - Search (bing.com)] (5) Have research hypotheses (null hypotheses) as a platform to answer the question/s in the research statements. This section refers to defining the keywords of the research, which includes the variables employed in the research. Chapter One concludes with a brief reminder to the reader of the purpose of the research and the research statements.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/10/16/japan/japan-australia-postpone-security-talks/PoliticsAustralia seeks new ways to lift Indigenous living standardsAustralia will look for new ways to lift Indigenous living standards after voters soundly rejected a proposal to create a new advocacy committee, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said. Indigenous Voice campaigners were flying Aboriginal flags at half-staff across Australia on Sunday as a mark of their disappointment, Inquirer.net has reported. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1846388/australia-seeks-new-ways-to-lift-indigenous-living-standards-after-referendum-lossEconomyInterest rates could soon be hiked once again—RBAAustralians could be facing another interest rate hike unless inflation eases, 9News reported. The quarterly inflation data will be released this month and will play a significant role in November’s interest rate decision. https://www.9news.com.au/finance/reserve-bank-australia-minutes-interest-rates-warning-inflation/e061143f-71c9-49b9-956e-0ffea921f395RegionsQueensland’s electric scooter riders face $2,600 finesThe Queensland Government has proposed legislation that could result in electric scooter riders being fined almost $2600 – and face time in court – if they are deemed to be riding dangerously, Drive.com reported.

(UPDATE) DEPARTMENT of Transportation (DoTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista on Tuesday slapped a cyber libel complaint against a transport group leader and a journalist following a controversy involving the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista is on his way to the Department of Justice office in Manila on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023. Bautista also filed a cyber libel complaint against Panganiban because of the journalist's social media post regarding the same issue. When pressed on the matter, Panganiban told The Times that he was clueless about the complaint. The former executive aide also issued a public apology to Guadiz and Bautista.

He said that all of them died "consistently due to multiple organ enlargement, lung and brain hemorrhage as a severe adverse reaction to the Dengvaxia vaccine." Dengvaxia vaccine. File Photo Dengvaxia vaccine. But Erfe insisted that all of the eight children died "consistently due to multiple organ enlargement, lung and brain hemorrhage as a severe adverse reaction to the Dengvaxia vaccine." "They are not just common patterns, they are pain suffered by all 161 children and adults who eventually died after days, weeks, or months of suffering excruciating pain," Erfe said.

Filipinos from Israel, Gaza begin arrivingResidents inspect the damage to their building in the southern city of Ashkelon on October 9, 2023, after it was hit during the night by a rocket from the Gaza Strip. Rafah, which borders Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula with the Hamas-controlled Gaza, is the only border crossing in Gaza not controlled by Israel. The names of Filipinos in Gaza, including the 78 waiting to be allowed into Egypt through the Rafah border, have been submitted to Egyptian authorities for processing of their request. The DFA said Filipinos in Gaza who would be able to make it to Egypt would be repatriated to the Philippines. According to De Vega, all the 135 Filipinos in Gaza were safe, with 78 of them at the Rafah border.

‘Wars as headwinds and economic opportunities’An Israeli army M109 155mm self-propelled howitzer fires rounds near the border with Gaza in southern Israel on October 12, 2023. The Israel war with Hamas, which has put the Middle East on war alert, could lead the global economy into greater uncertainties. The Israeli war against Hamas could only contribute to the heightening of concerns about global energy supplies. Such is the grave danger of the current Israeli Hamas war. The two hot wars brought about – on the economic front – the rise of global demand for commodities that enabled many countries in East Asia to accelerate their economic growth during the period.