MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday sealed a deal with the joint venture of SMS Global Technologies Inc. and Sequent Tech Inc. for the first-ever online voting and counting system (OVCS) for Filipino overseas voters. The joint venture had the lowest calculated bid for the procurement of OVCS among four bidders for the upcoming 2025 midterm elections. In his speech, Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia stressed that online voting would encourage more Filipinos to exercise their right to vote. There’s no difference with internet voting.) “Nag-comply fully itong joint venture sa ni-prescribe naming terms of preference,” he added.

Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories:Former President Rodrigo Duterte, Davao 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte, and Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte will run for senator in the 2025 elections, Vice President Sara Duterte confirmed on Tuesday. PRD for senator, my brother Paolo Duterte, currently a congressman, for senator, and Sebastian Duterte,” the Vice President said in Filipino in an ambush interview in Cagayan de Oro City. Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday said becoming a part of the political opposition is not yet in the picture, as her “priority” is the turnover of leadership in the Department of Education (DepEd). Duterte has resigned as DepEd chief and vice chair of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict. Lawmakers are asking them to answer issues involving alleged extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during the Duterte administration’s drug war.

PLDT blocks over 500 million smishing triesPLDT, together with its wireless unit Smart Communications Inc., is beefing up its cybersecurity protocols to block messaging scams and unmask the masterminds behind them. PLDT, together with its wireless unit Smart Communications Inc., is beefing up its cybersecurity protocols to block messaging scams and unmask the masterminds behind them. Likewise, Smart is easing the process for reporting messaging scams to encourage subscribers to be proactive in flagging fraudulent activities. Recently, Smart’s parent company PLDT introduced a cybersecurity tool called Watchdog, where PLDT employees can submit screenshots of smishing attempts. To date, Globe maintains a subscriber base of about 58.5 million, removing more than 30 million SIMs during the registration period from Dec. 27, 2022 to July 30, 2023.

DMW to bar deployment of Pinoy seafarers traversing routes vulnerable to Houthi attacksA grab from handout footage released by Yemen's Huthi Ansarullah Media Centre on Nov. 19, 2023, reportedly shows members of the rebel group during the capture of an Israel-linked cargo vessel at an undefined location in the Red Sea. MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said it would prohibit the deployment of Filipino seafarers to vessels traversing the routes that are prone to the attacks of Houthi rebels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. He also said that the agency will require these shipping owners to submit “threat and risk assessments” before allowing Filipino seafarers to board vessels bound for Houthi-plagued waters. The vessel was attacked by the Houthis in the Red Sea over the weekend along with aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower. The Houthis are the Iran-backed rebel group that has hijacked commercial ships in the Red Sea, Babal-Mandab Strait and the Gulf of Aden since November.

China once again urged the Philippines to stop “provocation” after President Marcos awarded the Order of Lapu-Lapu to navy personnel who came under assault by the Chinese Coast Guard as they attempted to deliver food and other supplies to an outpost on West Philippine Sea. Subscribe to the Manila Bulletin Online channel! - https://www.youtube.com/TheManilaBulletinVisit our website at http://mb.com.phFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/manilabulletinTwitter: https://www.twitter.com/manila_bulletinInstagram: https://instagram.com/manilabulletinTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manilabulletin#ManilaBulletinOnline#ManilaBulletin#LatestNews

The eastern sections of Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao may experience cloudy skies, scattered rain showers, and thunderstorms due to warm winds from the Pacific Ocean, known as the easterlies, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Tuesday, June 25. READ: https://mb.com.ph/2024/6/25/pagasa-rain-showers-thunderstorms-to-prevail-over-eastern-parts-of-the-philippinesSubscribe to the Manila Bulletin Online channel! - https://www.youtube.com/TheManilaBulletinVisit our website at http://mb.com.phFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/manilabulletinTwitter: https://www.twitter.com/manila_bulletinInstagram: https://instagram.com/manilabulletinTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manilabulletin#ManilaBulletinOnline#ManilaBulletin#LatestNews

Cabagnot and McCarthy were on the opposing end though, being the main guards for the Mustangs, who gave a good fight against Gilas despite playing without former NBA stars Dwight Howard and DeMarcus Cousins, as well as ex-Golden State Warriors sharpshooter Quinn Cook. "From playing against them, they (Gilas players) are good. On the other hand, the 34-year-old McCarthy said the latest Gilas squad is much bigger and moved the ball well against them. The Filipino-American guard, who scored 12 points and issued three assists, considered the Gilas tuneup match as a "good test" for the Mustangs, who are also preparing for the Asian Tournament's third leg this July. "It was a real good test for us and hopefully, we helped get Gilas prepared for the battles ahead."

Caption: Former Supreme Court justice and West Philippine Sea advocate Justice Antonio Carpio reiterates the National Maritime Council's position that the recent clash between Chinese and Filipino troops in Ayungin Shoal could not be considered an armed attack. Carpio said that those involved were not carrying guns, but were only equipped with "melee" weapons. Video and Interview by Ezrah Raya

Net income was RMB57.3 million ( US$7.9 million ) compared to RMB32.6 million for the first quarter of 2023. Core net income (non-GAAP)[3] increased 21.5% year over year to RMB60.7million ( US$ 8 .4million)[1]SHANGHAIJune 25, 2024China/PRNewswire/ -- GreenTree Hospitality Group Ltd. (NYSE: GHG) ("GreenTree", the "Company", "we", "us" and "our"), a leading hospitality and restaurant management group in, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter of 2024. The terms Adjusted EBITDA and core net income are not defined under U.S. GAAP, and Adjusted EBITDA and core net income are not measures of net income, operating income, operating performance or liquidity presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. In addition, our Adjusted EBITDA and core net income may not be comparable to Adjusted EBITDA and core net income or similarly titled measures utilized by other companies since such other companies may not calculate Adjusted EBITDA and core net income in the same manner as we do. About GreenTree Hospitality Group Ltd.GreenTree Hospitality Group Ltd. ("GreenTree" or the "Company") (NYSE: GHG) is a leading hospitality and restaurant management group in China.

ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFPThe Philippines is eyeing talks with China to discuss a violent clash last week between their sailors in the South China Sea, Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo said Tuesday. Chinese coast guard personnel wielding knives, sticks and an axe foiled a June 17 Filipino navy attempt to resupply marines stationed on a derelict warship that sits atop Second Thomas Shoal. A Filipino soldier lost a finger in the clash, with Manila also accusing the Chinese coast guard of looting guns and damaging three boats as well as navigational and communication equipment. Beijing insisted its coast guard behaved in a "professional and restrained" way and blamed Manila for the clash. China deploys coast guard and other boats to patrol the waters around the shoal and has turned several reefs into artificial militarised islands.

P42/kilo rice possible as tariff cut takes effectIndustry group expects rice prices to range from P42 to P46 per kilogram this July as a result of the reduced rice tariffs. MANILA, Philippines — Some retailers in the country vowed yesterday to sell rice for as low as P42 per kilogram beginning next month once the reduced tariff rates on imported staple takes effect. The Philippine Rice Industry Stakeholders Movement (PRISM) said it expects rice prices in the market to range from P42-P46 per kilogram as a result of the reduced rice tariffs. President Marcos recently formalized the reduction in rice tariffs to 15 percent from the present 35 percent through Executive Order (EO) 62. Under the EO, the tariff cut would take effect on July 5, 2024.

Melody ChenFamily offices from the Middle East and India have showed interest in coming to Hong Kong in the past six months, said Jessica Cutrera, chairman of the Family Office Association Hong Kong. Speaking at the Hong Kong Investment Funds Association's annual conference, Cutrera said family offices seek to diversify their investments by participating in large real estate projects and initial public offerings while also looking for partners to collaborate with. Hong Kong has seen a 24 percent growth in family offices, hedge fund managers and private equity fund managers over the past three years, surpassing Singapore, with 2,700 single-family offices currently operating in the city, Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun said in his keynote speech at the event. Wong said that Hong Kong continues to see capital inflows, with bank deposits reaching HK$16.6 trillion in the first four months of this year, an increase of over 2 percent compared to last year. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority said that authorities will explore upgrading the Wealth Management Connect to attract uninvested cash held by mainland households and bring new opportunities to the industry.

A Philippine flag flutters on BRP Sierra Madre, a dilapidated Philippine Navy ship that has been aground since 1999, on the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, part of the Spratly Islands, in the South China Sea. (Reuters)The Philippines will continue with resupply missions to troops on an atoll in a disputed part of the South China Sea despite Chinese coast guard vessels deliberately disrupting a mission last week, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said on Monday. A Philippine sailor suffered serious injury after what its military described as "intentional-high speed ramming" by the Chinese Coast Guard, aiming to disrupt a resupply mission for troops stationed on the Second Thomas Shoal on June 17. China's foreign ministry has disputed the Philippines' statements, with a spokesperson saying last Thursday that the necessary measures taken by the coast guard were lawful, professional and beyond reproach. President Ferdinand Marcos said on Sunday that the Philippines was not in the business of instigating wars and would always aim to settle disputes peacefully.

The Police Licensing Office (PLO) of the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) launched the "HKP e-Licence" mobile application on Monday for issuing electronic licenses and permits, providing applicants with further convenience through e-service. All eight types of licenses and permits processed by the PLO Arms Licence, Temporary Liquor Licence, Lion/Dragon/Unicorn Dance Permit, Security Personnel Permit, etc., will be issued through the application. License or permit holders can now access their approved licenses and permits at any time through "HKP e-Licence", which also features a push notification function to remind users to renew their licenses or permits. Both electronic and paper licenses and permits contain identical information with QR codes, and the holders can present either format for inspection by enforcement officers. "HKP e-licence" supports iOS and Android operating systems, and members of the public can download it from Apple App Store, Google Play and HUAWEI AppGallery.

But both these capitals probably need the confrontation to linger to appease domestic constituencies. The moment, for instance, Beijing renounces its claims over Taiwan and the South China Sea reefs, its legitimacy will quickly dissipate. Ironically, both Beijing and Manila are in a deathly embrace in this continuing squabble over a few rocks littering the South China Sea. By late Friday, the Executive Secretary, speaking as head of some maritime affairs committee, convened an unusual press conference. Over the recent period, given the skirmishes in the South China Sea and the dubious activities going on in some POGO hubs, that thin line could be breached.