Plane fares are expected to become cheaper next month after the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) brought down the fuel surcharge for the first time since February. In its latest advisory, CAB announced that the fuel surcharge for July would be Level 5. ADVERTISEMENTThe last time the regulator implemented a Level 5 fuel surcharge was in February. READ: Plane tickets to get cheaper in FebruaryUnder Level 5, airlines are allowed to collect fuel surcharges of P151 to P542 for domestic flights while those flying outside the country will pay additional P498.03 to P3,703.11 each. Fuel surcharges are additional fees by airlines to help them recover fuel costs.

Philippines' John Ray Onifa and Cara Dacnis show endurance in the Vertical Uphill Climb after clinching silver medals in Day 1 of the Southeast Asian Trail Running Cup 2024 here in Bontoc, Mountain Province on June 21, 2024. Nanda Yusri of Indonesia took the gold while Thailand's Kianchaipaaiphana Jantaraboon copped the bronze. In the women's division, Thailand's Phitchanan Mahachot bagged the gold while Singapore's Chan Yumei clinched bronze. VIDEO BY NICOLE ANNE D.G. BUGAUISANGet 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 Policy

ILYA Sutskever, one of the founders of OpenAI who was involved in a failed effort to push out Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman, said he is starting a safety-focused artificial intelligence (AI) company. AP PHOTOThe three said Safe Superintelligence is an American company with roots in Palo Alto, California, and Tel Aviv, "where we have deep roots and the ability to recruit top technical talent." At OpenAI, Sutskever jointly led a team focused on safely developing better-than-human AI known as artificial general intelligence, or AGI. When he left OpenAI, he said that he had plans for a "very personally meaningful" project, but offered no details. OpenAI later announced the formation of a safety and security committee, but it's been filled mainly with company insiders.

The company said the 1,800-horsepower Tourbillon car is now in its "testing phase" and that deliveries of the 250 planned cars would start in 2026. The car, with its carbon body and 3D-printed parts, has three electric motors and one newly designed 1,000-horsepower fuel engine. The electric battery only has an autonomy of 60 kilometers, however, said the company which is owned by Porsche and Croatian company Rimac. Also going against the grain of the rest of the car industry, the Tourbillon has only a small screen for digital indicators. Made at a factory in Molsheim in eastern France, the Tourbillon has a "starting price" of 3.8 million euros ($4.1 million), the company said.

Three alleged hackers were arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Wednesday for hacking private and government websites, banks, and Facebook accounts. One has been a Manila Bulletin data officer for the past five years, another was a cybersecurity researcher in a company in Taguig City, and the third was a graduating student. ADVERTISEMENT‘Details of exploit’Inquirer.net, a sister company of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, reported that Samaniego denied the data officer’s allegations. According to the Bulletin data officer, one of the recent instructions Samaniego allegedly gave was to check the vulnerability of the 1Sambayan mobile app. ‘Vulnerability tests’Roren Marie Chin, chief of the NPC’s Public Information and Assistance Division, told the Inquirer that the investigation was connected to the case of Samaniego.

BANGKOK — Thailand's Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira will discuss the inflation target with the central bank governor, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on Friday, adding additional stimulus measures would be announced next week. The government has been at loggerheads with the central bank for months over interest rates, with the prime minister calling for a rate cut to boost Southeast Asia's second-largest economy. The Bank of Thailand bank held its key interest rate steady at 2.50 percent at a review earlier this month. In May, when Pichai assumed office, he said he would review the inflation target of 1 percent to 3 percent with the central bank. The central bank has previously said that interest rates and the inflation target were suitable.

Philippines calls for prompt implementation of ceasefire plan in GazaA smoke plume erupts over Khan Yunis from Rafah in the southern Gaza strip during Israeli bombardment on December 26, 2023, amid continuing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas militant group. MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, has reiterated its call for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, urging the United Nations Security Council to promptly implement its proposed ceasefire deal to end the war. "The Philippines reiterates its call for an immediate ceasefire, the safe release of hostages, and the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. “The Philippines remains committed to supporting efforts aimed at achieving a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Gaza. Whether Israel and Hamas agree to the ceasefire plan remains in question, but the resolution’s strong support in the UN’s most powerful body puts added pressure on both parties to approve the proposal.

Micah Christenson says it feels like a home game for USA in its past two games in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Manila leg. Christenson and Team USA picked up their first win in Manila, recovering from their loss to Iran with a 25-21, 18-25, 25-21, 22-25, 15-9 victory against Brazil at the Mall of Asia Arena on June 20, 2024. VIDEO BY RIO DELUVIOGet 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 Policy

“The application shall cover all assets within the compound where Lucky South 99 Corp. is situated that are linked to unlawful activity as defined by [Republic Act No.] According to Bersamin, the assets to be frozen or preserved would include the whole compound of the illegal Pogo and all the vehicles found parked within the compound. ADVERTISEMENTPAOCC initially said that 158 foreigners were rescued from Lucky South 99. But when authorities noticed the photos and videos of dead people on his cellular phone, he was considered a “torture master” for Pogo workers who failed to follow the management’s orders. Casio said that had not a “leak” of supposedly confidential information happened, at least 1,000 Pogo workers would have been rescued.

HOUSTON, Texas — Global crude oil and oil products shipments taking the long route between Asia, the Middle East and the West is up 47 percent since attacks began on vessels using the shorter Red Sea route, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said on Tuesday. The longer route around the Cape of Good Hope to avoid attacks by Yemen's Houthis has pushed up shipping costs, as about 12 percent of world total shipping traffic historically sailed through the Red Sea and Egypt's Suez Canal. Saudi Arabia and Iraq sent more crude oil to Europe around the Cape, rather than through the Red Sea and Suez Canal, accounting for 15 percent of the total increase. Asian and Middle Eastern refiners increased their refined product exports to Europe and diverted the cargoes around the cape, representing 29 percent of the increased trade. AdvertisementRussia sent nearly four times as much crude oil and refined products, including volumes from the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, to Asia around the cape in the first five months of 2024 than in 2023.

Bishop: Unite in prayer against atheistic China“China is a threat,” Catholic Archbishop Socrates Villegas warns. Wikipedia photo Archbishop Socrates Villegas: “If God is with us, no power can prevail against us”The prelate enumerates China perils:• “It maintains agents capable of espionage and subversion. • “Not only are our maritime zones usurped and fishermen evicted from fishing grounds, our marine environment is wrecked as China converts features into militarized islands. • “The possibility that the government has been infiltrated by persons on Beijing’s payroll puts our country’s sovereignty and independence on the line. Do not cower in fear lest our sacred rights be trampled on.”* * *Catch Sapol radio show, Saturdays, 8 to 10 a.m., dwIZ (882-AM).

Pinoys losing creativity? We want to believe that Pinoys are tops in creativity. Then the Koreans came around with better stories, better production values and even Pinoys were binge watching Korean telenovelas. I still believe that Pinoys are very creative but that natural creativity must be nurtured or it will be lost. The PISA test on creativity released last Tuesday has depressing news.

ONE could reasonably ask, "What does India's election have to do with us?" The lessons include inclusive growth, minority rights and sacrifice among the underdogs are often critical to curbing the majority. Well, elections can be curious and unpredictable, especially when done in India's way, which was over a couple of months and not a day. Wonder why PNoy's party hasn't won an election since the midterm of his presidency? His party won less seats that they could by not contesting seats where there was a stronger opposition candidate than that of Congress.

Why teachers want the next DepEd secretary to stay above politicsPupils line up as they wait for their face-to-face classroom assignments at Malanday Elementary School in Marikina. Her background is not appropriate and she is too divisive to mobilize broad public support for education reforms,” Arguelles added. The teachers’ union publicly traded barbs with Duterte in 2023 after the group criticized the department’s efforts to address classroom shortages — a legitimate concern that has been the problem of nearly every DepEd secretary. Sara’s exit from DepEd opens doors for teacher unionsVladimir Quetua, ACT chairperson, said that the next DepEd secretary should be principled and capable of building consensus among teachers and students. The country “needs a DepEd Secretary who listens well, values democratic consultation and practices democratic leadership,” Quetua added.

The eligible elderly can head to eight additional locations to receive assistance with setting up their JoyYou Card so that they can continue to enjoy their travel discounts. The government announced today that it will set up eight temporary application service centers across Hong Kong to assist residents aged 60 or above to apply for the JoyYou Card so that they can continue to enjoy the HK$2 rides. Starting from August 25 this year, all Hong Kong residents aged 60 or above must use a JoyYou Card to enjoy the HK$2 Scheme. As for eligible persons with disabilities aged below 60, they can continue to enjoy the HK$2 Scheme using the Personalised Octopus encoded with "Persons with Disabilities Status" and need not apply for a JoyYou Card. The locations of the eight temporary application service centers can be found here.