Marcos adopts new strategy vs money laundering, terrorist and weapon financingMANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has ordered all government agencies to adopt a new strategy on anti-money laundering and counterterrorism financing, Malacañang announced Thursday. Malacañang said the adoption of the National Anti-Money Laundering, Counter-Terrorism Financing, and Counter Proliferation Financing Strategy (NACS) 2023-2027 will enable the Philippines to improve its anti-money laundering, counter terrorism financing, and counter proliferation financing (AML/CTF/CPF) regime. The new order renamed the previous National Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Strategy to National Anti-Money Laundering, Counter-Terrorism Financing and Counter-Proliferation Financing Strategy. An additional sub-committee on Proliferation Financing — the use of funds to make, transfer or stockpile nuclear, chemical and biological weapons — was also created. Marcos also ordered the reorganization of the Terrorism Financing and Proliferation Sub-commitee into two separate sub-committees—the Terrorism Financing Sub-committee and the Proliferation Financing Sub-committee.

Hongkongers will not be disqualified from receiving the HK$2,000 consumption voucher on July 16 even if they fail to reply to the government's eligibility-check SMS messages within three days. A government spokesman said residents will not lose their eligibility even if they do not reply to the texts. But voucher scheme representatives will call or send another message if people do not respond to the first text, he said. Authorities, meanwhile, have recorded a dozen suspected scams using "verification messages." Chong also said more than 10 suspected cases of voucher scams have been referred to police.

The famous Hong Kong-born singer-songwriter Coco Lee Man died at the age of 48 on Wednesday after committing suicide at home, her family announced. Lee's sisters broke the sad news on social media tonight and said that Lee had a long battle with depression in recent years and committed suicide on Sunday (July 2) at her residence. The family added that Lee's condition deteriorated drastically over the last few months. Dial 2896 0000 for The Samaritans or 2382 2007 for Suicide Prevention Services. You can also call Suicide Prevention Services at 2382 0000 or CEASE Crisis Centre of Tung Wah Groups of Hospitals at 18281.

FORMER Education secretary Leonor Briones said all was not lost in the Philippine educational system, as some public schools perform well on par with Singapore and some EU countries. The top performers in PISA 2018 were the Pasig City Science High School (PCSHS) and the Regional Science High School for Western Visayas (RSHS-6). They shared their best practices in their commitment to delivering quality education, yet no one seemed to listen, Briones said. She urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to look into the "secrets" of these schools. BCNHS has been cited by the former DepEd chief for scoring the highest in reading literacy results in PISA 2018.

Without them, Rhett's statement would come across as the immature rant of an adolescent, totally without finesse and irony. Commas, of course, are generally used for the mildest interruptions: "Ofelia, an expert jeweler, said the diamonds were fake." This essay is a condensation of an 819-word chapter that appeared in the author's 2004 book "English Plain and Simple." Read this essay and listen to its voice recording in The Manila Times: "Parenthetically speaking"Next, July 13, 2023: The long and short of English proseVisit Jose Carillo's English Forum, http://josecarilloforum.com. You can follow me on Facebook and Twitter and email me at [email protected]

Salem takes another crack at triathlon title in Bohol 5150MANILA, Philippines – Lanao del Norte’s Satar Salem packed up his gear and headed to Bohol armed and ready for another shot at the overall championship in the Sun Life 5150 Triathlon, which unwraps Sunday at the Bellevue Resort on Panglao Island. The Bohol event also serves as the first of three 5150 races for the next three months organized by The IRONMAN Group/Sunrise Events, Inc. For the second straight year, the Bohol 5150 is staged as part of the Sandugo Festival celebrations, a project of the Province of Bohol under Gov. Fierce duels are also seen in various age-group categories, from 15-19 to 65-69, both in the men’s and women’s sides. Backers of the event are Sun Life, Go For Gold, The Bellevue Resorts, Province of Bohol, Municipality of Dauis, Municipality of Panglao, Sandugo 2023, Rudy Project, Sante, Active, Manila Bulletin and Tempo.

Australian-based activist Ted Hui is wanted by police in Hong Kong. (James Gourley/AAP PHOTOS)Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday criticized Hong Kong authorities over their pursuit of two pro-democracy activists who live in Australia. Albanese said his government was concerned and disappointed by Hong Kong authorities issuing arrest warrants for Australian citizen Kevin Yam and Australian permanent resident Ted Hui. He said Cheng was being held “without proper process.”“We continue to advocate for the interests of Australia. And this decision overnight is an example of where Australia and China do have different approaches to these issues.

Smart, Eplayment team up anew for Liga Adarna Season 7 'Ang Bagong Lipad'With the theme, "Ang Bagong Lipad," the upcoming season of Liga Adarna aims to highlight the exceptional skills and gameplays of Filipina gamers from July 9 to December 17. MANILA, Philippines — PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) has once again teamed up with Eplayment Entertainment for the seventh season of Liga Adarna, the country's biggest all-female esports league. With the theme, "Ang Bagong Lipad," the upcoming season of Liga Adarna aims to highlight the exceptional skills and gameplays of Filipina gamers from July 9 to December 17. This upcoming season, Smart Omega Empress is set to defend their crown as the back-to-back MLBB champions of Liga Adarna Season 4 and 5. Avid gamers and enthusiasts can watch the games live on the official Facebook pages of Liga Adarna and SMART Sports.

THE Philippines is "nearing elimination" of malaria, with only a few cases recorded in Palawan, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters in Malacañang, Herbosa said the government aims to achieve a malaria-free status in two to three years. "We are talking to the Global Fund and they said that we are nearing elimination of malaria," Herbosa said during a chance interview. "We need to have two to three years of zero detection," he added. The Department of Health (DoH) had reported that all provinces in the country have achieved malaria-free status except for Palawan.

A truck flipped on its side in Tai Po on Tuesday noon, fortunately with the driver unscathed. The accident that happened at around noon saw the truck traveling along Tai Wo Road near Po Heung Street suddenly lost control and flipped onto its side. The driver was reportedly trapped in the vehicle, while he managed to grab a smoke inside the driver’s compartment before firefighters arrived at the scene to free him. The scrap metal the truck was carrying spread all over the road. Police were on the scene investigating the accident.

Sing Tao Previous NextStacy ShiFormer sports commissioner Yeung Tak-keung, who stepped down from the post last year, will help the SAR in hosting the 15th National Games in 2025 along with Guangdong province and Macau, sources said. Wong, 58, and executive director of the Hong Kong Table Tennis Association, is a two-time Asian Games silver medalist in windsurfing in 1994 and 1998. He became a windsurfing coach at the Hong Kong Sports Institute in 2000 after retirement. He was appointed as program manager for the athletes career and education program in 2008 and became Hong Kong Amateur Hockey Club executive director in 2017. Meanwhile, nearly 70 percent of sports associations in Hong Kong have registered names to include "Hong Kong, China," the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China announced.

Senators want ‘Barbie’ film banned over 9-dash-line scenesThe film, directed by Greta Gerwig, is set to hit Philippine cinemas on July 19. Still, senators were in an uproar over the fantasy film’s depiction of the nine-dash line. Vietnam, also with overlapping claims over the South China Sea, earlier banned the film over the nine-dash line depiction. The film briefly showed a map with China’s nine-dash line next to the Philippines. Instead of banning the film, Hontiveros said there should just be a disclaimer that a particular scene is fictional.

PAL's parent moves to boost capital stockPhilippine Airlines' parent company is making moves to increase its authorized stock, in a bid to expand its valuation years after filing for bankruptcy in the middle of the pandemic. In a disclosure sent to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Tuesday, PAL Holdings Inc. said they submitted an amendment to their application to increase authorized capital stock. Disclosure broken down revealed PAL Holdings received 323.77 million common shares in its flag carrier subsidiary. The board of PAL’s parent firm already approved a move to issue up to 5.615 billion common shares in exchange for up to 360.66 million shares of the flag carrier. PAL’s parent posted a consolidated operating income of P17 billion in 2022.

"MORE" guests are expected to attend President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 24 compared with last year's SONA, an official at the House of Representatives said on Tuesday. Secretary General Reginald Velasco reminded those who would attend the President's SONA to be vaccinated and to bring their vaccination cards as proof that they have received two primary doses of Covid-19 vaccine. As to those who are unvaccinated, Velasco said "preferably huwag na lang um-attend (they should just not attend) but if necessary to take an RT-PCR test before the SONA. Paul Soriano, presidential adviser on creative communications, will direct the event. Velasco said that "there could be [...] additional help but so far, as of this moment, si Paul Soriano ang designated (Paul Soriano is the designated)" director.

He initiated an urban renewal program he hoped his successors would sustain under the slogan “Buhayin ang Maynila.” Last month, the City of Manila recognized Lito Atienza’s work and awarded him Most Outstanding Manilan. He initiated the renewal of the city’s commercial core: the districts of Binondo, Sta. As city mayor, Atienza banned reclamation projects at the Bay and worked to expel the hazardous oil depots at Pandacan. Unfortunately, Atienza was succeeded for 12 years by two elderly mayors who had little interest in urban renewal and greater interest in selling down the city’s assets. By honoring the Malate-born Atienza with its highest decoration, the city government signals its commitment to the vision of renewal the man so passionately pursued.