Truckers welcome PPA proposal on logistics feeCargo trucks queue along Road 10 at the North Harbor Port in Manila on September 15, 2022. MANILA, Philippines — The Confederation of Truckers Associations of the Philippines (CTAP) said yesterday it is open to the Trusted Operator Program Container Registry and Monitoring System being proposed by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to address the soaring logistics costs imposed on truckers. “For the longest time, our biggest issue in the logistics sector is dealing with the various charges imposed on us. “Before, the fees ranged from P10,000 to P15,000 for a 40-footer shipping container. We hope that this insurance fee system could be a solution,” she added.

I'd like to dwell this time on Boy Abunda's much-vaunted, not necessarily contentious, return to GMA, his original home. Already a PR consultant for GMA, Kuya Boy, as I fondly address him, was convinced by then-network executive Bobby Bareira to try TV hosting. It was on the late-night program Show and Tell with co-host Gretchen Barretto where Boy got his proverbial baptism of fire. But while with GMA, Boy seemingly enjoyed the company of those in the production team and vice versa. If a good deal is swung in his favor, Boy would like to co-produce this on GTV, GMA's sister channel.

By NIKOLE JAVIERManila Hustle 3×3 will stage the first Philippine women’s invitational basketball game on Feb. 4 to 5 at Robinsons Magnolia in Quezon City. A total of 12 teams from five Asian countries are expected to participate as Uratex and Smart together with the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) launch the first invitational basketball game featuring an all-women lineup. There is much learning to be made from that,” said Peachy Medina, tournament director and Uratex Managing Director. In the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the 3×3 basketball format was officially added to the ball games featuring both men’s and women’s categories. “We are very optimistic that the number of 3×3 leagues across the country will grow because of this event.

In photos, video: Binondo Chinese New Year 2023 celebrationsBINONDO, Philippines — Even if fire broke out in a building near Lucky Chinatown Mall, prompting all of Binondo's volunteer firefighters into the scene, nothing can stop revelers from welcoming the Year of the Water Rabbit yesterday in arguably the world's oldest Chinatown dating back to the 1600s. Apart from street food fests and street entertainment like acrobats and fire eaters, local and foreign visitors took part in Chinese New Year celebrations such as fireworks displays and traditional Chinese dragon dances. — Video by Philstar.com/Deni Rose M. Afinidad-BernardoLUNAR NEW YEAR IN BINONDOFilipinos visited Chinatown in Binondo, Manila to celebrate the Lunar New Year on Sunday. Jose Monsieur Santos for https://t.co/3UWeeHiNED pic.twitter.com/yvkOmra6lW — Philstar.com (@PhilstarNews) January 23, 2023Philstar.com/Deni Rose M. Afinidad-Bernardo A temple was setup in the middle of Lucky Chinatown Mall, a favorite Chinese New Year destination in Binondo, Manila. RELATED: Great year for romance: Joseph Chau's forecast for the Year of the Water Rabbit

Australia said on Monday it would accelerate plans to buy advanced sea mines to protect its maritime routes and ports from "potential aggressors" amid China's plans to increase its influence in the Pacific region. The so-called smart sea mines are designed to differentiate between military targets and other types of ships, a defence department spokesperson said in a statement. "(Australia) is accelerating the acquisition of smart sea mines, which will help to secure sea lines of communication and protect Australia's maritime approaches," it said. The federal government will soon announce a contract to buy "a substantial number" of sea mines from a European weapons supplier, the report said, citing unidentified defence industry sources. So we have looked at missile defence, we're looking at cyber security, we're looking at all of these issues," Albanese said.

Hong Kong’s health chief said the city’s Covid-19 rule will be eased further after the Lunar New Year, despite the infection numbers may increase after the holidays. Lo said, however, Hong Kong now has a better immunity barrier against Covid and a well-prepared healthcare system to amble the city to walk steadily on the road to normalcy. He expected that the minimal anti-epidemic measures still remaining will be eased further after the Lunar New Year holidays, whereas authorities will continue their dialogue with mainland authorities to work on the arrangement of the second phase of border reopening. Lo stressed that the easing in Covid rules does not mean the city has given up fighting the epidemic. “Getting vaccinated remains the most crucial element on the road to normalcy,” he said.

And when their owners are away, there are rabbit lovers ready to look after their lonely pets at Bunny Style, a luxury rabbit resort. Li, who has two pet rabbits of her own, set up Bunny Style in June, starting with just a playroom offering space to hop and relief from Hong Kong's hot, humid weather. “To begin with, my idea was mainly about setting up a safe indoor play space with a suitable temperature for rabbits," Li said. With 15 rabbits, Li and her staff will be busy over the holiday, the most important in the Chinese calendar. Bunny Style charges about $15 per night, including half an hour of supervised play time.

Registration for OFWs seeking back wages extendedOverseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Arnell Ignacio along with other officials assist 102 OFWs in their arrival documents at the NAIA Terminal 3 in Pasay City as they return to the Philippines from Kuwait through the repatriation program of the government on January 20, 2023. MANILA, Philippines — The government of Saudi Arabia has given overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) seeking back wages and separation pay more time to register with the Saudi em-bassy. The deadline for updating information of OFWs entitled to unpaid wages and salary claims has been extended from Jan. 19 to Jan. 31, according to the Department of Migrant Workers. DMW Secretary Susan Ople previously announced that the claimants have until Jan. 19 to register. The DMW said the Saudi embassy requested the agency’s help in informing the claimants of the need to register and update their data.

From bear to bullMost stock markets have undergone a dramatic shift to start the year, transitioning from a bear market to a bull market. Note that 74 percent of the 50 countries that compose the MSCI All-Country Weighted Index (ACWI) are already in a bull market. A bullish stock market is defined as a market index rising at least 20 percent from its lows. Source: Bloomberg, Wealth Securities ResearchChina is leading this new bull market, following a tumultuous 2022 due to the regulatory crackdowns, the “common prosperity” campaign, and the economic impact caused by COVID-19 restrictions. Source: Tradingview.com, Wealth Securities ResearchMajor risks to the nascent bullDespite the recent peak in inflation and reversal in the dollar, there are still significant risks to the nascent global bull market.

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday said it had recorded 1,024,521 voter registrations as of Jan. 13, ahead of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) elections. The Comelec opened its latest leg of voter registration on Dec. 12 and is set to last until the end of January. Laudiangco, however, also noted that the latest figures do not reflect the total number of registrants from its Register Anywhere Project, which has so far collected a total of 3,992 registrations as of Jan. 15. The said project allows the public to register in places other than their residence from Dec. 17, 2022 to Jan. 25, 2023. The Comelec earlier launched voter education seminars to boost the number of registered voters nationwide, prioritizing far-flung areas with low voter turnout.

The government's latest exemptions on Friday night show people can finally go maskless when toasting on stage at an event or eating and drinking at an exhibition starting next Thursday (Jan 26). Citizens also need not wear a mask when delivering a speech in religious activity on a religious premise. The government appealed to the public to remain vigilant and observe personal hygiene to reduce the risk of infection while celebrating the Lunar New Year. The government also called on citizens to get inoculated against Covid-19. Click here to see the latest mask requirements that come into effect on January 26.

A 52-year-old worker at a food processing plant of Café de Coral in Tai Po Industrial Estate collapsed when loading meat onto a truck Saturday morning, and was later pronounced dead. According to security camera footage, the worker surnamed Lui was loading baskets filled with frozen meat onto a truck at 8.53am. Paramedics rushed Lui to Nethersole Hospital in Tai Po but Lui was eventually pronounced dead. It was understood that Lui had been working at Café de Coral’s food processing plant as a logistic worker for eight years. A spokesperson for Café de Coral said they were deeply saddened by the death of Lui and extended condolences to his family.

MELBOURNE: Daniil Medvedev on Friday night became the latest title contender to crash out of the men's draw at the Australian Open, but Iga Swiatek led a charge of the women's seeds into the last 16. The American, son of 1998 Australian Open champion Petr Korda, won 7-6 (9/7), 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) as seventh seed Medvedev followed defending champion Rafael Nadal and Casper Ruud in exiting in the first week. Korda, who faces 10th seed Hubert Hurkacz of Poland next, told Rod Laver Arena: "An unbelievable match. sobbed Zhu, who faces two-time former Melbourne champion Victoria Azarenka next. - 'Bit of a farce' -Off the court, Australian Open chief Craig Tiley insisted there was "no need" to alter the scheduling, despite stinging criticism after the second-latest finish at a Grand Slam ever.

A 59-year-old woman committed suicide at her Sai Wan home Saturday morning by plunging a knife into her chest, and her body was later found by her younger brother who went visit her. Police received a call at 11.18am from a man who said his older sister, surnamed Choi, committed suicide in her home at Bank Building on Des Voeux Road West. It was understood that Choi suffered from emotional illness and once told her brother that she was unhappy. Her brother then went visit her this morning, only to find out that she had committed suicide by stabbing herself in the chest with a 30cm-long knife. Below is a list of 24-hour hotlines that ensure people can get help in time:The Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong: 2389 2222The Samaritans: 2896 0000Suicide Prevention Services: 2382 0000Richmond Fellowship of Hong Kong – Justone: 3512 2626Caritas Family Crisis Support Centre: 18288

A 37-year-old biker was taken to hospital Saturday morning after losing control of his motorcycle and crashing head-on into a sedan traveling on an adjacent lane in Sai Kung. Around 6 am, the biker surnamed Chai was riding along Tai Mong Tsai Road but lost control of the vehicle outside Tai Wan Village, and crossed into the adjacent lane in the opposite direction. A sedan driven by a man surnamed Lo, 35, was in the adjacent lane and could not apply the brakes in time, leading to the head-on collision. The front of the sedan was seriously damaged and the bumper fell off. Lo then stayed at the scene to aid police investigation and the cause of the incident has yet to be confirmed by police.