House panel won't invite Rodrigo Duterte to EJK probeFormer president Rodrigo Duterte and former Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa attend the funeral mass of Archbishop Emeritus Fernando Capalla at San Pedro Cathedral in Davao City on Jan. 15, 2024. "I don’t even think that if we invite (Duterte and Dela Rosa) that they will be able to attend. They were denied their rights," Abante said. Will the findings of the House human rights panel be forwarded to the ICC? Official figures put deaths from Duterte's anti-narcotics campaign at more than 6,000, but estimates from human rights groups peg the actual number of fatalities as at least 30,000.

Marcos: All Tarlac politicians don't know Alice GuoMANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Thursday that no single politician from Tarlac knows Bamban Mayor Alice Guo and that the government has been investigating her for some time over her alleged dubious records. ("I know all the politicians from Tarlac, and no one knows her. Marcos said the government earlier "caught" Guo after an official raid at Bamban surfaced her questionable documents. The president did not clarify whether this raid is the same as the raid conducted on a POGO compound in Bamban. Guo's identity came into question after a Senate hearing led by Sen. Risa Hontiveros found that the Bamban mayor did not have a birth certificate.

Marcos' education priorities: Climb world rankings, keep free tuition lawPresident Marcos and Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte repaint chairs in a classroom during a visit to the Victorino Mapa High School in San Miguel, Manila yesterday as part of the annual ‘Brigada Eskwela’ aimed at preparing schools for the opening of classes on Aug. 29. Marcos said during the National Higher Education Day Summit on Wednesday that "much work still needs to be done" after no Philippine university broke into the top 100 schools in THE's 2024 Asia University Rankings. But we should also allow private parties to participate and not shove private parties to the sidelines," Marcos added. "When it comes to educating our youth, government and private schools are not competitors but must be regarded as equal partners," he said. Marcos said: "We know that whatever is spent on education, we should never regard as an expenditure.

Overseas tour groups on cruise boats will be able to enter and stay in China without a visa for up to 15 days, according to the National Immigration Administration. Source: AFP/Getty ImagesChina will allow visa-free entry for foreign tour groups that come to the country via cruise ships in a further bid to attract international visitors and boost its sluggish inbound travel market. Overseas tour groups on cruise boats will be able to enter and stay in China without a visa for up to 15 days, according to the National Immigration Administration. “The visa-free entry policy for foreign tour groups on cruise ships will provide policy support for the development of the cruise industry,” Mao said. A total of 107,000 passenger trips were made via cruise ships in China in 2023, according to Zhu.

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Robin Padilla wants the rice tariffication law amended as he seeks to restore the role of the National Food Authority (NFA) in managing the country’s supply chain. ADVERTISEMENTPadilla’s measure was lodged in light of the House of Representatives’ ongoing push for amending the Rice Tariffication Law. READ: House OKs proposed rice tariff law amendments on 2nd readingSenators Cynthia Villar, Sonny Angara and Nancy Binay earlier said the government needs to carefully study plans to reinstate the mandate of NFA to buy and sell rice. However, agriculture chief Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. clarified that the proposed amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law do not necessarily seek to bring back the “full power” of the NFA. Subscribe to our daily newsletter SIGN ME UPREAD: DA chief says RTL amendments won’t restore ‘full power’ of NFA

Philippines deports 165 Chinese nationals from Bamban POGO hubOne hundred sixty-five workers from Zun Yuan Techonology Inc. have been deported to Pudong District in Shanghai, China on May 14, 2024. MANILA, Philippines (Updated 5:08 p.m.) — A total of 165 out of 167 Chinese nationals, employed by a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) situated in Bamban, Tarlac, were deported on Tuesday, May 14. PAOCC spokesman Winston Casio said the cases of the two Chinese nationals left involve violations of trafficking in persons and serious illegal detention. The deported Chinese nationals will also be included in the immigration bureau’s blacklist. The 165 Chinese workers were involved in "scamming activities" and did not have proper travel documents, making them "undesirable aliens", the immigration statement said.

Going in circlesTo progress, one must move forward. The problem with our government is its propensity to make decisions that merely goes around in endless circles. It has not proven itself to be taking care of the welfare of the rice farmers and the consumers,” Villar said. Hardly did the rice price contribute to total food inflation.”But the Ukraine-Russian conflict caused fuel and fertilizer prices to soar. Going around in circles makes sense for our officials.

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationYouTube will comply with Hong Kong's court decision and block access to video links related to a protest anthem in the city. "We are disappointed by the Court's decision but are complying with its removal order," YouTube said in a statement after it blocked access to 32 video links deemed protest anthem in Hong Kong. YouTube said the geoblocking of videos would take effect immediately for viewers in Hong Kong, and the links to the videos will no longer show up on Google Search in the city eventually. Industry groups, including the Asia Internet Coalition, which represents big tech firms like Meta, Apple and Google, have said keeping a free and open internet in Hong Kong is "fundamental" to maintaining the city's edge. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman has said that stopping the song's spread was necessary for Hong Kong to safeguard national security.

Singapore's Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong attends the G20 Finance Ministers Meeting in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia July 16, 2022. He was promoted to deputy prime minister and led a high-profile public consultation exercise to chart a "social compact" between the government and the people on dealing with issues like sustainability, inequality and employment. Wong made a very minor cabinet reshuffle on Monday, promoting the trade minister to become his deputy, noting that continuity and stability were key considerations. Lee will remain in Wong's cabinet as senior minister, as former Singapore prime ministers have done, preserving the political clout of the long-serving Lee family. "As I prepare to hand over Singapore in good order to my successor, I feel a sense of satisfaction and completeness," an emotional Lee told the crowd.

READ: Overcast skies, rain expected over parts of extreme northern LuzonThe weather bureau said most of the country will still endure strong El Niño heat. In Kalinga province, a lightning storm near the boundaries of the towns of Pasil and Lubuagan killed Army Cpl. Andrew Five Monterubio and Army Pvt. ADVERTISEMENTArmy Maj. Gen. Audrey Pasia, commander of the 5th Infantry Division, and fellow soldiers extended their sympathies to the families of the fatalities. La Niña, which has the opposite effect of El Niño, is characterized by heavy rains that trigger floods an other rain-induced calamities.

Philippine-based Indian production company marks 10th anniversaryThe night was filled with music, dance and festivities attended by Indian expatriates, local Indian business owners and friends of the community. MANILA, Philippines — Philippine-based Indian production Desi Matters celebrated their 10th year anniversary in the business with "Baisakhi Fest 2024" held in Hilton Manila in Newport City recently. In an interview with the media before the event, Desi Matters Productions Rav Singh said that the production caters to Indian community in the Philippines. "Desi Matters Productions started as a small entertainment company which caters to Indian community here in the Philippines. At the same event, Singh announced that the production company now has a creative hub, Desi Matters Studio, and an events company, DMS Prime.

SHANGHAI, May 8, 2024 PRNewswire -- The seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE), hailed as an access point for global companies looking to expand their presence in the Chinese market, is scheduled to take place this November in Shanghai. MNCs see fruitful results at past CIIEsOver the years, companies from 173 countries and regions have made appearances at the CIIE and carried out tentative transactions worth $424.23 billion. AdvertisementLast year, the expo saw the participation of over 230 US companies, including major companies such as Ford, Tesla, and Johnson & Johnson, making it the largest US delegation in history. In addition to the Business Exhibition, 72 countries and international organizations wowed visitors with their scientific and technological achievements, culture and art at the Country Exhibition of the sixth CIIE in 2023. AdvertisementThe first list of exhibitors of the seventh CIIE, including 252 companies and institutions specializing in food, automobiles, green energy, artificial intelligence, chemicals, electronic components, consumer goods and other fields, has been officially released.

BEIJING, May 8, 2024 PRNewswire -- Baidu, Inc. ("Baidu" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: BIDU; HKEX: 9888 (HKD Counter) and 89888 (RMB Counter)), a leading AI company with strong Internet foundation, today announced that it will hold its annual general meeting of shareholders (the "AGM") at Baidu Campus, No. 10, Shangdi 10th Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100085, People's Republic of China on June 26, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. (BeijingHong Kong time). Holders of record of the Company's Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares as of the Shares Record Date are entitled to receive notice of and attend the AGM and any adjourned meeting thereof. Baidu is a leading AI company with strong Internet foundation, trading on Nasdaq under "BIDU" and HKEX under "9888". One Baidu ADS represents eight Class A ordinary shares.

A male secondary school teacher was arrested on suspicion of soliciting prostitution while participating in a mainland study tour sponsored by the Education Bureau, according to rumours circulating online. The bureau said it dealt with the case seriously and asked the teacher and the school where he teaches to submit a report. At the same time, the Education Bureau reiterated its commitment to comprehensively review the relevant information and will not make further comments at this stage, ensuring a fair and thorough investigation. A netizen posted on the online discussion forum "LIHKG" on Saturday (May 11) that a male teacher from a secondary school in Tin Shui Wai was arrested on suspicion of soliciting prostitution while participating in a study tour to the mainland. According to the "Training Calendar System" of the Education Bureau, it was found that the bureau held a "Mainland Study Tours for Newly-joined Teachers" on May 8 (Wed) and visited Wuhan for four days.

Former Senator Leila de Lima on Monday said Marcos’ move to create a human rights body is a correct move, and shows the intention of the administration to prioritize the protection of Filipinos’ rights. READ: Marcos creates special committee for human rights protection in PH“BBM’s creation of a human rights coordinating body is a step in the right direction. Feedback, consultation from the CHR“However, the body should institutionalize feedback and consultation from the CHR and human rights NGOs so as not to become an echo chamber of government propaganda of its human rights record. 22 creating a so-called inter-agency “super body” which will require government agencies to boost and promote universal human rights protection. 22 will allow for a better coordination between stakeholders in the human rights sector.