The defending champions Creamline Cool Smashers aim to deliver the killer blow against sister team Choco Mucho Flying Titans in Game 2 of the 2023 PVL 2nd All-Filipino Conference best-of-3 Finals on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Creamline took Game One, 26-24, 19-25, 26-24, 25-22, at the Mall of Asia Arena, on Thursday, December 14, to put itself on the cusp of a third straight All-Filipino Conference title. Video by Niel Victor MasoyGet 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

OPM bands SB19 and Ben&Ben accept their awards at the 2023 AAA at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023. SB19, along with K-pop group NewJeans, won the Hot Trend Award while Ben&Ben won the Best Choice Award. The Asian Artist Awards (AAA) is known as the Oscars and Grammys of Asia. Video by Iza Iglesias

MANILA, Philippines — Experts from the United Nations stressed Thursday the need to establish a national body dedicated to preventing torture as they wrapped up their visit to the Philippines. Victor Zaharia, who heads the UN Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture (SPT), said the Philippines should fast-track the adoption of bills that will create a national monitoring body called National Preventive Mechanism. “This national mechanism, with adequate resources, will be a key partner in preventing torture and ill-treatment in the Philippines,” he added. At the end of the visit, the SPT delegation presented its confidential preliminary observations to the government. It has documented 488 victims of torture since July 2010 despite the passage of the Anti-Torture Act of 2009.

Moscow, Russia: Russia on Wednesday warned against a "chaotic" exit from fossil fuels, while welcoming the "compromise" deal reached at the COP28 summit in Dubai on transitioning away from them. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during the Tripling Renewable Energy and Doubling Energy Efficiency by 2030 session at the COP28 United Nations climate summit in Dubai on Dec. 2, 2023. AFP PHOTO"We have at every opportunity stressed the consequences of a chaotic exit without the backing of science," Ruslan Edelgeriyev, Russian President Vladimir Putin's special envoy for climate issues, was quoted by TASS news agency as saying. Russia is one of the main gas, oil and coal producers in the world. But discussion of climate issues is virtually absent from public discourse in Russia, particularly since the start of the Ukraine offensive in February 2022.

With inflation dropping faster than expected in many countries and the economic outlook worsening, policymakers were expected to hold rates steady — with the possible exception of Norway's central bank. With little rate action expected on Thursday, investor attention has shifted to when central banks might start cutting rates, even as policymakers insist it is still too early to sound the all-clear on inflation. Many analysts think the ECB will start slashing rates in June, but a recent fall in eurozone inflation has prompted some to predict a first reduction as early as April. "The lower the ECB's growth and inflation forecasts for 2024 and 2025, the higher the likelihood of rate cuts," said ING economist Carsten Brzeski. Lagarde's communication challenge on Thursday would be to "keep all options open" without sounding "too detached from reality," he added.

Fans scream inside the Philippine Arena as K-Pop groups NewJeans, Le Sserafim, ITZY, Stray Kids, Seventeen BSS and actors Lee Jun-ho and Ahn Hyo-seop walk the red carpet of the Asian Artist Awards 2023 on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023. Also seen was OPM band Ben&Ben. Video by Iza Iglesias

Just two weeks after their controversial breakup, former reel to real couple Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla accept their awards at the 2023 AAA at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023. The two won the 'Fabulous Award,' along with South Korean artists NewJeans, Stray Kids, and Lim Young Woong. Video By Iza Iglesias

Policemen secure Chinese nationals on a bus ahead of their deportation after they were detained in a raid on a suspected sex trafficking and online scam operation in Pasay, Metro Manila. (Image: AFP)The Philippines deported 180 Chinese nationals on Thursday after they were detained in a raid on a suspected sex-trafficking and online scam operation in the capital Manila, officials said. Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Filipino nationals were among the nearly 600 people found inside a compound during the operation in October. The Chinese nationals deported did not have work permits and had been "engaging in online scams", Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission Undersecretary Gilberto Cruz told AFP. Cruz said more foreigners detained in the raid would be deported in the coming weeks.

Host-comedian and actress Melai Cantiveros joins popular South Korean TV and movie stars Kim Sejeong, Ahn Hyo Seop, Lee Dong Hwi, and Lee Jun Hyuk after winning Best Actor at the 2023 Asia Artist Awards (AAA) at the Philippine Rena in Bulacan on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023. Video by Iza Iglesias

The updated code of conduct for civil servants does not grant public officers immunity to say whatever they want in their personal capacity, Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan said on Thursday. She noted that private companies would not allow their employees to badmouth their business and the same works for civil servants working in the government. Meanwhile, Yeung said civil servants should not misinterpret that they have the absolute license to say anything they want when making comments in a personal capacity. "We require civil servants to uphold the rule of law and the constitutional order. If what they say impacts these things, even if it's in a personal capacity, I strongly advise my colleagues to not say it, because the consequences will be serious,” she said.

Google’s defeat in court on Monday, Dec. 12, 2023, has stunned big tech, shaking decades of supremacy on antitrust matters. Google's defeat in court on Monday, Dec. 12, 2023, has stunned big tech, shaking decades of supremacy on antitrust matters. "Big tech is not above the law. This loss isn't just the first antitrust failure for Google, it's the first antitrust loss for any big tech firm," said Matt Stoller, director of research at the American Economic Liberties Project and a critic of big tech business practices. The appeals court that will likely hear the Google case is the same one that largely dismissed Epic's appeal against Apple.

A 44-year-old shirtless man was tied to a street sign by pedestrians after he was caught trying to steal four bottles of shampoo worth some HK$200 from a Mong Kok store on Wednesday morning. According to footage circulated online, the passers-by together subdued the shirtless Nepali man and tied him to the street sign of Canton Road. The man once loosened himself and attempted to flee the scene but another passer-by immediately threw himself on the man to stop him from running. The man was again subdued as other pedestrians helped tied him up using a rope. The man was arrested for theft.

Philippines supports UN resolution demanding ceasefire in GazaA general view shows a screen of votes during a United Nations General Assembly meeting to vote on a non-binding resolution demanding "an immediate humanitarian ceasefire" in Gaza at UN headquarters in New York on December 12, 2023. MANILA, Philippines (Update 1: 3:16 p.m.) — The Philippines has voted in favor of a United Nations General Assembly resolution demanding a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, marking a shift from the country’s earlier decision to abstain. The UN General Assembly overwhelmingly passed a non-binding resolution Tuesday, demanding an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” in Gaza, with 153 countries voting in favor and 23 abstaining. The resolution also calls for the protection of civilians, humanitarian access, and the "immediate and unconditional" release of all hostages. “The Philippines believes that a humanitarian ceasefire is crucial to halt the loss of life and suffering.

MANILA, Philippines — The commuting public should brace for longer waiting times to get a ride as the two-day transport strike to protest the government’s public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP) will start today. Despite the transport strike, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is keeping mum on its preparations on how it will serve affected commuters. The agency said that 262,653 transport operators, drivers and workers have joined the PUVMP and have consolidated into entities. A majority of public transport drivers and operators have “signified they would not join the transport strike,” according to the MMDA chief. Apart from police personnel, the NCRPO will also dispatch a total of 147 service vehicles across the metropolis to provide free rides to commuters who will be affected by the transport strike.

FILIPINA tennis ace Alex Eala has once again climbed the rankings of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA). As of Monday, December 11, she ranked 189th in the WTA, according to its website. Alex Eala PHOTO FROM EALA’S FB PAGEWith her current rank, she equalled her career best singles' ranking from last October 2, where she also placed 189th. In 2023, Eala won two titles in separate International Tennis Federation (ITF) events, her first of the year last June in Yecla, Spain and the second in Roehampton, United Kingdom in August. She came close to winning at two other ITF tournaments in Aldershot, United Kingdom days after her Roehampton win and at Petange, Luxembourg just last month.