Firefighters were alerted to Shau Kei Wan after a dog was found walking around on a fourth-floor canopy Tuesday afternoon. At 12.13 pm today, the residents discovered that there was a black puppy walking around on the canopy of the fourth-floor of Oi Chak House apartment located on the Oi Tung Estate. The residents were worried about the puppy's safety and contacted the police for assistance. In the end, the firefighter resorted to playing with the puppy to lower its wariness, which caused it to get closer, allowing him to grab ahold of the dog and get it back inside. Many onlookers were seen praising the firefighter and clapping as the puppy was rescued from danger.

The Aldin Ayo-mentored Converge squad went on to score a three-game sweep of the four-team meet, while Phoenix wound up winless. Winston added 17 and six rebounds, showing his readiness to play in the pro league. Javee Mocon led Phoenix with 13 points, while import Johnathan Williams added 12 and eight rebounds in 17 minutes of action. Jayjay Alejandro also scored 12, while rookie big man Ken Tuffin chipped in 11 and seven boards for Phoenix. Phoenix rookie Ricci Rivero, who exploded for 28 points against Blackwater last Sunday, did not play.

(UPDATE) THE Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 48 kicks off its opening day with powerhouse squads TNT and Magnolia Chicken Timplados colliding in the lone game for the Commissioner's Cup on November 5 at Smart Araneta Coliseum. Game time is 7 p.m.Magnolia’s James Laput (left) battles for the rebound against TNT players during the PBA on Tour on June 16, 2023 at the Ynares Sports Arena. PBA PHOTOBefore the titanic match, the PBA will be handing out individual awards to those who stood out from the previous season via the 47th Season Leo Awards at 4 p.m. before being followed by the opening ceremonies at 5 p.m. Defending champion Barangay Ginebra will face off with Magnolia on November 19 at the Big Dome to mark the first "Manila Clasico" of the season. This year marks the first time the PBA will start the new season with the Commissioner's Cup, veering away from the usual Philippine Cup.

The government is mulling extending the application of health care vouchers on the mainland to cover more hospitals located in the Greater Bay Area (GBA), with details to be announced in the upcoming Policy Address, according to sources. Apart from the hospitals and medical institutions in Hong Kong, the elderly can only use their health vouchers in the mainland at the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital and its health centers. Sources have said that the initial target is to extend the voucher application to three to five Tier 3 Class A (Grade 3A) hospitals in the GBA, along with setting guidelines to provide more cross-border medical services to facilitate Hong Kong residents living there. However, due to the relatively complex administrative work and having to connect with the local medical system, it is not feasible for a large number of Grade 3A hospitals to be covered under the health care vouchers scheme immediately. The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions (FTU) said over 500,000 Hongkongers live in the GBA on a long-term basis and hopes the voucher coverage will be expanded to hospitals in Guangzhou, Dongguan, etc.

GAZA STRIP, Palestinian Territories: More than 1 million people have fled their homes in Gaza in scenes of chaos and despair as Israel bombarded the Hamas-ruled territory and continued massing troops Monday in preparation for a full-blown ground invasion. Menahem KAHANA / AFPAfter it suffered the deadliest attack in its history, Israel unleashed a relentless bombing campaign of the Gaza Strip that has flattened neighborhoods and killed at least 2,670 people, mainly civilians. The army has told 1.1 million Palestinians in the north of the Gaza Strip to head to the south of the enclave. Israeli energy minister Israel Katz on Sunday said water supplies to southern Gaza had been switched back on. He categorically rejected the idea floated of expelling Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.

Philippines hailed as ‘Asia’s best cruise destination’The country was awarded as “Asia’s Best Cruise Destination 2023” at the World Cruise Awards in Dubai, United Arab Emirates last Sunday, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT). MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has been recognized by an international body as the “best cruise destination in Asia” for this year. The country was awarded as “Asia’s Best Cruise Destination 2023” at the World Cruise Awards in Dubai, United Arab Emirates last Sunday, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT). The World Cruise Awards is the “sister event of the World Travel Awards,” which also hailed the Philippines as “Asia’s leading dive destination” for this year. Popular beach destination Boracay as well as Subic are also expecting the arrival of cruise ships, while Mindanao is being groomed by DOT as a cruise destination.

It also polled 384 companies and 155,904 staff over 10 industries in nine mainland cities in the GBA during the same period. The results showed that employees in nine cities of the GBA enjoyed a 5.5 percent pay rise on average in 2023, 1.7 percentage points higher than that in Hong Kong. On the employers' side, it showed 98.6 percent of local firms offered a pay increase and 62 percent of them forecast a pay rise next year. In GBA cities, 71 percent of companies said they offered a pay rise this year, with 28 percent of them estimating to offer a salary hike in 2024. CTgoodjobs surveyed 449 graduates from 11 local universities and tertiary institutions and 217 local employers from 23 industries via online questionnaires in the third quarter of this year.

Cricket is back in the Olympics with five sports added to the 2028 Los Angeles Games by the International Olympic Committee yesterday. Flag football is in for a first time and baseball-softball, lacrosse and squash also made it, as sports proposed by Los Angeles officials and recommended by the IOC executive cleared a final hurdle yesterday from the full membership. Flag football and baseball-softball should put NFL and MLB players on the Olympic stage in five years' time. Football in its full-contact form was a demonstration sport at the 1932 Los Angeles Games. Lacrosse was twice played at the Olympics, but squash debuts.

RESIDENTIAL real estate developer Haus Talk Inc. (HTI) on Monday said it would be issuing cash dividends amounting to roughly P27.69 million. HTI's board of directors was said to have authorized the declaration of cash dividends in the amount of one cent per common share to eligible shareholders. For the second quarter, HTI's net income climbed to P43.51 million, compared to P39.38 million recorded the previous year, mainly driven by higher sales. Consolidated revenues were also said to have improved to P230.7 million from P193.6 million in 2022. Total operating expenses, meanwhile, widened to P56.96 million from P34.21 million.

The perfect match of personality, health tech and fashionImagine a smartwatch that can track your breathing, your sleep cycle, your heart rate and possible arrhythmia — and for ladies, even your fertility and menstruation cycles. And imagine it takes the Huawei Watch family even further into innovation, with a fashion-forward series that makes it even more expertly tailored to your personality. The Huawei Watch GT 4 in 46mm has a striking Octagonal Dial design and comes with a strong and sturdy exterior, while the Huawei Watch GT 4 in 41mm has a sleek and pristine Pendant design, fashioned to resemble statement jewelry pieces. Huawei Philippines Consumer Business Group CEO Peter Peng revealed the health features and price points of the GT 4 series. One fan is fashion icon Jericho Rosales: “The Huawei Watch GT 4 is the perfect watch for people who like functionality, style and fun,” he says.

Marcos: More than food, rice is life for PinoysMANILA, Philippines — Rice is life for Filipinos, President Marcos said yesterday, as he likened issues affecting the supply of the food staple to an “existential problem.”“It goes without saying but I think it bears repeating that rice in our countries means more than food. Rice in Asia, rice in the countries where it is the staple, is in fact life,” Marcos told delegates of the 6th International Rice Congress in Pasay. “And whenever we find ourselves in a situation where the supply of rice is threatened, this is almost an existential problem that ordinary people feel,” he added. Marcos said the government invests in research and machinery and supports farmers through the National Rice Program and the Rice Competitive Enhancement Fund. The Philippines has also been working with international institutions like the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and foreign governments to ensure the steady supply of rice and to enhance the development and sharing of crucial technologies and strategies, he added.

Escape from GazaPalestinians evacuate the area following an Israeli airstrike on the Sousi mosque in Gaza City on October 9, 2023. But Israel’s chief military spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, said there was no Gaza ceasefire and that Israel was continuing its operations. Israeli military chief Lieutenant-General Herzi Halevi told soldiers near the Gaza border they would be entering Gaza to root out Hamas, targeting “every place, every commander, every operator.”An Israeli blockade has prevented fuel, food and water from entering Gaza, although Netanyahu had agreed with Biden to resume the water supply to parts of southern Gaza, a minister said. The Israeli military said some 600,000 Gazans had left the northern half of the territory, which includes Gaza City’s more than one million residents. The names of the Filipinos in Gaza, including the 78 now situated near the Rafah border, have been submitted to Egyptian authorities.

Federal Bureau of Investigation officials, as well as Jewish and Muslim groups, have reported an increase of hateful and threatening rhetoric. DISTURBING DEED Joseph M. Czuba, who is charged with committing a hate crime after allegedly stabbing a young Muslim boy to death and serious wounding a woman. The boy was pronounced dead at a hospital, while the woman had multiple stab wounds and was expected to survive. But the boy's paternal uncle, Yousef Hannon, spoke on Sunday at a news conference hosted by the Chicago chapter Council on American-Islamic Relations. The Muslim civil liberties organization called the crime "our worst nightmare" and part of a disturbing spike in hate calls and emails since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war.

Retail price of imported rice should go down – groupMANILA, Philippines — The retail price of imported rice should go down amid the downward trend in the world market as its cost remains high at P60 per kilo in Philippine markets, farmers’ group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura chairman Rosendo So said yesterday. “With this, from more than P60 (per kilo), the retail price of imported rice, particularly the special and premium rice should go down to P50 plus (per kilo),” So said. Based on monitoring of the Department of Agriculture (DA), the retail price of imported special rice ranged between P53 and P60 per kilo; imported premium rice, between P52 and P58 per kilo; imported well-milled rice, between P45 and P48 per kilo and imported regular rice, P43 per kilo. This is 600,000 metric tons lower than three million metric tons of the same period last year,” De Mesa said. Based on DA monitoring, the retail price of local regular milled rice ranged between P41 and P45; regular well-milled rice, between P45 and P48 per kilo; local premium rice, between P47 and P60 per kilo; and local special rice, between P54 and P62 per kilo.

Previous NextThe SAR's biggest pro-establishment party will field more than 100 candidates for the District Council elections, as several political parties announced their representatives standing in the December 10 polls. Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong said over 100 party candidates will contest a seat in all 44 direct election constituencies. "In the previous district council elections, many candidates who had done a lot of district work had lost and made their electors disappointed. Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong plans to tap 34-year-old Jacky Lee Chiu-yu, alongside a few other members, to run in the direct elections. The Hong Kong Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood will field Kwok Wai-shing and Chow Kai-lim.