Lunar New Year holiday trips inside China surged 74% from last year after authorities scrapped COVID-19 travel curbs, though the number of journeys was still only half of pre-pandemic levels. According to official data, the number of COVID deaths a showed weekly decline, however. An estimated 226 million domestic trips were made by all means including flights during the holiday week, state broadcaster CCTV reported, citing government figures. As for travel abroad, inbound and outbound cross-border trips jumped 120.5% from last year to 2.88 million, the National Immigration Administration said on Saturday. During the Lunar New Year holiday in 2019, 12.53 million cross-border trips were made, the Xinhua news agency reported.

Logistics startup gets $11 million fundingMANILA, Philippines — Singapore-based Reefknot Investments has invested $11 million in a Filipino startup that seeks to streamline logistics solutions for e-commerce players across the Asia-Pacific region. In line with this, Reefknot led the Series A funding for Locad, together with Access Ventures, JG Summit, Sequoia Surge, Febe Ventures, Hustle Fund and Foxmont. Reefknot invested $11 million in Locad to strengthen its logistics operations by pushing it to build an extensive supply chain network in Asia and the Pacific. Locad serves as a logistics engine working with e-commerce brands in growing their reach in the region. Given our global backing and expertise in helping startups expand services and coverage in the region, Reefknot is committed to partnering with more fast-growing supply chain and logistics startups,” Lim said.

P1K polymer banknotes now in more ATMsA photo of an attendant of a gas station holding up a stretched P1,000 polymer banknote he received from a customer on July 12, 2022. MANILA, Philippines — A total of 39 million pieces of P1,000 polymer banknotes are now in circulation and available in more automated teller machines (ATMs) nationwide, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). In April 2022, the BSP began the circulation of the new and improved P1,000 polymer banknotes, that now exists alongside the P1,000 paper banknotes. The BSP partnered with Note Printing Australia (NPA), a subsidiary of the Australian central bank, in the initial roll-out of modern polymer banknotes. It is currently featured on the new P1,000 polymer banknote to celebrate our country’s rich flora and fauna.

Lucas de GuzmanCAGAYAN DE ORO – Davao champion Lucas de Guzman kept track on his bid for back-to-back titles in the Mindanao leg of Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines (JGFP) as he carded an opening round 5-over 77 in the Pueblo de Oro Junior Open on Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country here. The six-year-old de Guzman, who dominated the same division during the Davao meet early this month at Apo Golf, showed poise under pressure after struggling early with his putting. A veteran of the 2022 IMG Academy Junior World Championships in the US, de Guzman mixed his rounds with five birdies, four bogeys and two double bogeys for an 11-shot lead on second running Ethan Franco Lago, who had an 88. With the guidance of renowned coach Toch “J3” Altea – mentor of two-time Philippine Open champion and 2016 Rio Olympics veteran Miguel Tabuena – de Guzman will try to improve his score and win the title in today’s finals of the tournament backed by John Gaisano, Gaisano Malls, Islandwide Distribution Corp. and Pueblo Golf. In the 9-10 boys, hometown bet Ralph Rian Batican submitted the day’s best score as he fired a 4-under par 68 for an eight-shot advantage on Davao leg winner Jared Saban, who had a 76.

(AFP)The Bucks scored a season-high 85 first-half points and led by as many as 33 before fending off a late Pacers rally in Indianapolis, notching a third straight victory. Jrue Holiday scored 23 points and handed out nine assists for the Bucks. Warriors pull awayIn San Francisco, Stephen Curry scored 35 points and Klay Thompson added 29 as the NBA champion Golden State Warriors pulled away late to polish off the Toronto Raptors 129-117. Jonathan Kuminga scored 15 points to lead Golden State’s reserves — who outscored their Raptors counterparts 39-26. Fred VanVleet had 28 points and 10 assists for the Raptors, who lost O.G.

Government Covid advisor Lau Chak-sing said on Saturday that the PCR test requirement for cross-border travel can be dropped one or two weeks later, as he believed the Covid peak on the mainland has passed already. Speaking on radio this morning, Lau suggested authorities easing the curbs gradually as he believed the peak of Covid on the mainland has passed. The government can consider dropping the PCR test requirement for cross-border travel and the daily rapid antigen test mandate for students and teachers about one or two weeks later, Lau continued. Still, he told the public to observe personal hygiene and put on a mask indoors to keep other respiratory diseases at bay. Lau urged elderly, chronic disease patients and citizens with travel plans to receive booster Covid shots, saying the coronavirus will stay.

LIMA: Peru's Congress rejected on Saturday a request by embattled President Dina Boluarte to bring forward elections to December this year as protests that have killed dozens rage on against her leadership. The South American country has been embroiled in a political crisis with near-daily protests since December 7, when former president Pedro Castillo was arrested after attempting to dissolve Congress and rule by decree. Demanding that Boluarte resign and call fresh elections, Castillo's supporters have erected roadblocks on highways, causing shortages of food, fuel and other basic supplies. The government said it would soon deploy police and soldiers to clear the roadblocks. Lawmakers already agreed last month to bring forward elections from 2026 to April 2024.

A 32-year-old man was arrested after he set off fireworks in the middle of a road in Tsim Sha Tsui Tuesday, and further investigations revealed that he was wanted by police for other charges including driving without a valid license. According to clips circulated online, several men dressed in black were spotted setting off the fireworks at the intersection between Cameron Road and Carnarvon Road in Tsim Sha Tsui around 4am and then ran away. The colorful fireworks show went on for a whole minute non-stop and forced vehicles there to stay still over concerns of being hit by the fireworks. The case was then handled by Yau Tsim district anti-triad unit and officers arrested a 32-year-old man surnamed Fung in Fanling around 6pm on Thursday for illegal discharge of fireworks and firecrackers. Police said setting off fireworks in urban areas is extremely dangerous as it could lead to a fire or even explosions and endanger other people's lives.

THE Department of Energy (DoE) has approved and issued a notice to proceed (NTP) in favor of Samat LNG Corp. to develop a small-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminal and regasification facility in Barangay Sisiman, Mariveles, Bataan. The approval is part of the government's efforts to ensure power supply in light of the impending depletion of the Malampaya natural gas reservoir. Small-scale LNG terminals, which are modular and can be constructed quickly, are ideal for an archipelagic nation such as the Philippines. Samat LNG will join the other six ongoing LNG terminal projects development in the country. The proponents of these projects are the Linseed Field Corp., FGEN LNG Corp., Luzon LNG Terminal Inc., Energy World Gas Operations Philippines Inc., Shell Energy Philippines Inc. and Vires Energy Corp.

UPDATED MANILA, Philippines — The remains of Jullebee Ranara, the slain overseas Filipino worker in Kuwait, arrived in the country on Friday. Flight EK 334, carrying Ranara’s remains, landed at PAIR PAGS Cargo in Pasay City at 9:40 p.m., according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). ADVERTISEMENTThe remains of Ranara will be autopsied anew, which will be conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation, DMW Secretary Susan Ople said. Citing an autopsy report conducted in Gulf state, Kuwaiti media said that Ranara was raped and impregnated. According to Ople, the wake of Ranara will start on Sunday, January 29.

Caption: Overseas Workers Welfare Administrator Arnell Ignacio on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, updates The Manila Times on the repatriation of the remains of Jullebee Ranara, the Filipino worker in Kuwait who was murdered by her employer's son, and efforts by the Philippine and Kuwaiti governments to assist her family. As of posting time, Ranara's body would have arrived in the country. Get the latest newsdelivered to your inbox Sign up for The Manila Times’ daily newsletters By signing up with an email address, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy PolicyVIDEO AND INTERVIEW BY EZRAH RAYA

As Filipinos slowly try to recover from months of inexplicably high onion prices, some are now bracing for higher costs of another kitchen staple; garlic. The Department of Agriculture’s (DA) price monitoring also showed that current retail prices of locally grown red and white onions had decreased slightly to P200-P350 compared to the all-time high retail price of P700 per kilogram during the holiday season. However, just as many people began to expect more stir-fry dishes again, they recently noticed yet another round of increasing prices for a different essential vegetable: garlic. In a recent statement, the DA said more garlic consumers continue to prefer purchasing imported garlic sold at around P80 per kilo, than locally grown and harvested bulbs sold at around P300 per kilo. Garlic supply shortageIn some markets in Metro Manila, vendors attributed the increasing cost of locally produced bulbs to low supply.

A 15-year-old boy and his 80-year-old grandfather were sent to hospital after a blaze broke out from a tin sheet house in Wang Lung Tsuen, Tsuen Wan in the early hours on Friday. About 150 firefighters from six breathing apparatus teams were deployed and used six jets to fight the blaze. About 80 residents there were evacuated and photos showed that the blaze burned down three tin sheet houses located next to each other, as well as two private cars and a light goods van nearby. The boy and his grandpa surnamed Law were sent to Yan Chai Hospital after they both inhaled smoke billowed from the fire. It was understood that the tin sheet house where the fire first started was used for storage while the other two housed about 16 people.

OTTAWA — Canada will send four Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine, Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand said on Thursday, after Germany this week allowed other countries to re-export the German-built tank. “This donation, combined with the contributions of allies and partners, will significantly help the armed forces of Ukraine” in the their defense against the Russian invasion, Anand told reporters in Ottawa. ADVERTISEMENTRELATED STORIES:Subscribe to our daily newsletterSIGN ME UP By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

"Everyone wanted a strong comeback...It was a complete success and this showed that Dinagyang and our Sto. Treñas congratulated the Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc. (IFFI), organizer of Dinagyang 2023, the participating tribes and corporate sponsors, among others. The festival's top sponsor was SM City Iloilo; it also served as venue for many Dinagyang activities, including the first-ever Dinagyang Ilomination on Jan.21, Batchoy Festival, festival costumes exhibit, and concert of various performing artists including Asia's Pop Heartthrob Darren Espanto, among others. They were warmly welcomed by Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas and SM Supermalls president Steven Tan. Lifestyle columnist Tessa Prieto, TV Personality Tim Yap and broadcaster Karen Davila at the Dinagyang Exhibit with SM Supermalls president Steven Tan.