House Leaders led by Speaker Martin Romualdez and PTV General Manager Analisa Puod launch Congress TV at the House of Representatives on Monday. Romualdez said that the channel will be a "bridge" that would connect the halls of House of Representatives to "to every home, every school, and every Filipino,"VIDEO BY RED MENDOZA

MANILA, Philippines — The National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) warned senior citizens in a public advisory last week to be wary of false information and fake news on social media about cash gifts and social pension for the elderly. NCSC Chair Franklin Quijano clarified that Senate Bill No. 2028, which proposes to give cash gifts of P10,000 to 80-year-olds, 85-year-olds, 90-year-olds and 95-year olds; and P100,000 to 100 year-olds, was approved by the Senate in September 2023 but has not been signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. So it is not yet a law. Quijano also explained that the social pension for poor senior citizens, which is P500 per month as of 2023, is still under the Department of Social Welfare and Development until the transfer of duties and responsibilities of senior citizens as required by law.

However, as I warned almost a year ago (see my TMT column of March 27, 2023), the Philippines is missing out. Double-digit falls in exportsWhat are the implications of China's soft rebound from the Philippine perspective? Had the status quo prevailed, exports to China would have increased with its soft rebound. Only a year ago, the Department of Tourism (DoT) aimed to have 2 million Chinese visit the Philippines in 2023. Missed opportunitiesAll these adverse trends were discernible already in spring 2023 (TMT, April 24, 2023).

Easy to hate“The conversation about racism is now ‘loud’.” – Dr. Janil Puthucheary, Singapore One People agencyDwight Ramos’ revelation that he has been receiving hate messages as an Asian import in Japan’s B.League was an eye-opener. Generally, we don’t think of hate speech or racism among fellow Asians. We read and see this on the news usually in the United States, particularly with the reported increase in hate crimes against Asians, including Filipinos. China, Japan and the Philippines have had multiple armed conflicts with one another. It’s easy to hate, to destroy.

The US and allies talk of the "rules-based international order" (RBIO). Russia and China prefer a "multipolar" world. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, India's astute foreign minister, recently split the difference by talking about the need for a "multilateral rules-based international order". For the west, the RBIO underpins peace and stability. It demands respect for territorial integrity and international law, and the protection of minorities, small nations, democratic norms and the global trading system.

TOKYO, Japan — Japan, whose unmanned "sniper" probe made a lunar touchdown on Saturday, is one of many countries and private companies launching new missions to the Moon. NASA says commercial tie-ups give it "more shots on goal" although its Peregrine lunar lander, made by US company Astrobotic, failed when it lost fuel after take-off. In October, the country sent a fresh team to its Tiangong space station in the latest crewed mission for the fast-growing space program. JapanJapanese company ispace attempted a lunar landing in April last year but crashed, becoming the third private entity to have failed in the endeavor. RELATED: Japan's 'Moon Sniper' attempts historic lunar landing

PARIS, France — The Eiffel Tower in Paris welcomed 6.3 million visitors last year, its management company said Friday, more than came in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic. France's "Iron Lady" boasted up to 7 million visits in 2014 and 6.2 million five years later. Non-French Europeans accounted for 44%, with the largest numbers coming from Germany, Britain and Spain. Paris's major museums, another of the French capital's top attractions, also returned to pre-COVID visitor numbers or even set new records last year. RELATED: Eiffel Tower closes as staff go on strike

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is expected to remain the world’s top importer of rice this year with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) predicting that the country would increase its procurement of the staple. ADVERTISEMENTThe estimated volume is in contrast to the global rice trade estimated pegged at 52.2 million MT, down by 223,000 MT from 52.4 million MT a year prior. Increased importsAsian countries China, South Korea, Malaysia, and the Philippines are seen to increase imported rice purchases. In the previous year, the Philippines imported 3.6 million MT of rice, down by 5.9 percent from 3.8 million MT in 2021, based on the data from the Bureau of Plant Industry. Sufficient supplyIndia’s shipment was part of the 295,000 MT of rice earmarked by the Indian government despite its export ban on non-basmati white rice.

JERUSALEM – At the end of a kilometer-long, booby-trapped tunnel in the Gaza Strip, Israeli soldiers discovered cramped cells where the military said Hamas kept about 20 hostages. They found a holding area, five narrow rooms behind metal bars, toilets, mattresses, and even drawings by a child hostage who was freed during a November truce, military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said. The military released photos from the underground labyrinth and said it brought in journalists to document the tunnel before it was destroyed. “The soldiers entered the tunnel where they encountered terrorists, engaging in a battle that ended with the elimination of the terrorists,” Hagari said. Others are among the more than 130 captured during Hamas’ Oct. 7 rampage through southern Israel that are still in Gaza.

Vice President Sara bucks Cha-cha moves: Guard the ConstitutionMANILA, Philippines — Rejecting the people’s initiative to amend the 1987 Constitution is “to guard the Constitution,” Vice President Sara Duterte said yesterday, as she joined the pushback against the move seen as “tainted” by reports of bribery by its proponents. People’s initiative proponents are reportedly looking at July as the possible date for a plebiscite to amend the 1987 Constitution. “Voter registration will just continue despite the ongoing receipt of signature pages in our local Comelec offices,” he maintained. Garcia said they just might encounter difficulty in holding voter registration activities once the Comelec begins signature verification work. The personnel we will use for verification will also be the ones to manage voter registration,” he added.

The investigation of 10 complaints alleging professional misconduct of lawyers over the 612 relief fund raised to support arrested protesters has been completed and entered the stage of internal audit, the president of the Law Society of Hong Kong said on Saturday. Chan Chak-ming also said out of the 10 cases some allegations were found by the society to be both substantiated and unsubstantiated. Yesterday (Fri), the Bar Association also released the investigation results of misconduct complaints against 38 barristers for providing legal assistance in cases backed by the 612 protest fund. The bar council unanimously agreed that there was no evidence that suggested the barristers were involved in any acts of misconduct or they acted dishonestly. He also believes that the existing mechanism works and is capable of handling complaints and challenges in the future.

Eight people were killed in a factory explosion in eastern China's Jiangsu province on Saturday, state media reported. "A dust explosion occurred in the production workshop of Shenrong Metal Technology Limited, killing eight people and lightly injuring eight others," Xinhua said. A dust explosion occurs when flammable particles, including metals, in the air ignite. In May last year, nine people died in a blast at a factory used to produce hydrogen peroxide in Liaocheng, a city in China's eastern Shandong province. And in November 2022, more than 20 people were killed at a factory in central China's Henan province, with authorities blaming workers engaged in illegal welding.

Globe Broadband field staff pay a courtesy call at the Balingasa High School, Quezon City. In partnership with local government units, Globe At Home's FTTR installation advances digital learning, bringing the brand closer to its goal of enhancing broadband experiences and improving the country's digital infrastructure. The effort is also in line with the government's push for wider connectivity in educational institutions across the country, as accelerated use of digital technology in learning. By boosting connectivity through FTTR powered by GFiber, Globe is helping public school students experience improved internet service, enabling seamless virtual and interactive learning. Globe At Home continues to lead the way in broadband technology and digital transformation.

Migz: Until final ruling, Jinggoy to continue as senatorMANILA, Philippines — Sen. Jinggoy Estrada will continue performing his functions as senator until and unless his conviction by the Sandiganbayan becomes final and executory, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said. “The Senate also recognizes the fact that there are still remedies available to Sen. Jinggoy under existing laws and the Rules of Court,” Zubiri said in a statement sent to Senate reporters. He can still file a Motion for Reconsideration with the Sandiganbayan; he can still file an appeal by certiorari with the Supreme Court,” Zubiri said. “Until and unless the decision becomes final and executory, Sen. Jinggoy is duty-bound to continue performing his functions as senator.”The Sandiganbayan acquit[1]ted Estrada of plunder but found him guilty of direct and indirect bribery. His lawyer Alexis Abastillas Suarez told “Storycon” on Cignal TV’s One News that the temporary disqualification could be implemented only when the ruling becomes final.

Pagunova Transport and Multi-Purpose Service Cooperative Chairman Leonard Bautista says that income from both traditional and modern jeepneys, consolidated or unconsolidated, is almost the same. However, fleet maintenance, among other benefits, within a consolidated cooperative is a plus compared to individual franchises. Video and interview by Ezrah Raya