FOLLOWING its first local appearance at the 2023 Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit last month, the Ayala Group, through Mobility Access Philippines Ventures Inc., officially launched the all-new BYD Atto 3 crossover. Entering the Philippine automotive market, the BYD Atto 3 boasts some of the most advanced EV technologies available globally. Serving as a testament to its popularity in other markets, the BYD Atto 3 achieved its 500,000th production unit milestone in September 2023. Aside from the fun electric driving performance, the top-of-the-line BYD Atto 3 offers a driving range of up to 480 kilometers (km). Checkout the all-new BYD Atto 3 full electric crossover at BYD dealerships.

Filipino crew members of tanker seized off Yemen safeMANILA, Philippines — The crew members of a tanker that was seized off Yemen, which include two Filipino seafarers, are now safe, according to media reports. Agence France-Presse reported that armed assailants seized M/V Central Park, a tanker owned by a United Kingdom-based, Israel-linked company, in the Gulf of Aden Sunday. Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels had previously threatened to attack the tanker if it did not divert to the port of Hodeidah in Yemen. The incident comes nearly a week after Houthi rebels seized Galaxy Leader, an Israeli-linked cargo ship, in the Red Sea and held hostage its 25 international crew members, including 17 Filipinos. Filipino mariners comprise more than 25% of 1.5 million sea-based workers worldwide, the highest number from any country, according to the government.

NAIA-3 to undergo electrical system upgrade, brief power interruption expectedMANILA, Philippines — The Manila International Airport Authority is set to conduct another series of scheduled electrical maintenance activities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 as part of its medium-term program of upgrading its electrical system. The electrical maintenance work will begin at midnight (12:01) a.m. until 3 a.m. on November 29. Aside from the three-power interruption at NAIA, MIAA said some areas will experience limited disruptions. “We assure the public that this scheduled electrical upgrading and maintenance is a vital step toward enhancing the airport’s electrical system reliability,” he said. These electrical system upgrades came after the NAIA 3 experienced power outages on May 1 and June 9 this year.

Customs announced on Sunday that they seized over 450 kg of dried shark fins, including suspected dried shark fins of scheduled endangered species, with an estimated market value of about $1.3 million on Friday. Following the detection of a suspected case of smuggling scheduled dried shark fins from an air passenger at Hong Kong International Airport last Thursday (Nov 23), Hong Kong Customs detected another similar case one day later on Friday (Nov 24)A 35-year-old male passenger had arrived in Hong Kong from Brazil via Ethiopia on November 24, and he made a customs declaration for the batch of controlled items and presented an image of a Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) document to customs officers. However, the documents were later confirmed invalid by officers of the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department (AFCD), along with confirming that some of the dried shark fins in his 15 pieces of check-in baggage are of endangered species. They were able to seize over 450 kilograms of dried shark fins, including suspected dried shark fins of scheduled endangered species with an estimated market value of about HK$1.3 million. Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting an endangered species without a license is liable to a maximum fine of HK$10 million and imprisonment for 10 years.

WASHINGTON, D.C.: Three university students of Palestinian descent were wounded in a shooting in the city of Burlington, Vermont over the weekend, in what police said appeared to be a "hate-motivated crime." A police statement said two of the victims were in stable condition, and the third suffered "much more serious injuries." The Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee said: "We have reason to believe this shooting occurred because the victims are Arab." It called on Vermont authorities to investigate the shooting as a hate crime. The shooting came as civil rights groups have warned of a rise in hate crimes against Arab and Muslim Americans.

De Lima urges probe of former Justice chiefs after CA rulingFormer Philippine senator and human rights campaigner Leila de Lima talks during an interview with AFP in Manila on November 24, 2023. MANILA, Philippines — Former senator Leila de Lima has called for the investigation into former Justice chiefs Vitaliano Aguirre II and Menardo Guevarra after the Court of Appeals ordered the Office of the Ombudsman to act on her complaints against the two. De Lima secured another legal victory as the CA reversed the Ombudsman's dismissal of her complaints against Aguirre and Guevarra over the government’s use of convicted criminals as state witnesses. “With the reversal of the Ombudsman dismissal by the CA, I expect the Ombudsman to now conduct a full investigation of both Aguirre and Guevarra,” De Lima said. De Lima appealed the Ombudsman decision dismissing her complaints with the CA and the Supreme Court in 2020.

WOMEN should be given opportunities to take part in infrastructure development as the region continues to recover from the pandemic, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said on Friday. "As we try to close a huge infrastructure gap in Asia and the Pacific, we must integrate gender considerations across all stages of the infrastructure development cycle," the ADB said. The Manila-based lender stressed that while women should theoretically comprise half of the workforce in the infrastructure sector, the lack of acknowledgment and understanding of gender disparities results in insufficient integration of gender considerations into infrastructure design. The bank stated that Asia and the Pacific faced a significant infrastructure gap, requiring annual investments of $1.7 trillion, which the public sector alone cannot cover. Moreover, ADB highlighted that these partnerships could leverage the government's role in delivering essential public infrastructure projects.

A seven-month-old infant boy was flung from the car after a traffic accident in Tai Po on Sunday, while four others were also injured. The 53-year-old driver lost control of his 7-seater and rammed into the road divider on Tolo Highway near Classical Gardens at 2.44 pm. The door on the left suddenly opened, which resulted in a foreign domestic helper and the baby boy being thrown out of the car. The infant was conscious and was rushed to the Prince of Wales Hospital wearing a neck brace. The driver, his wife, and another friend were all sent to the hospital for treatment.

A stampede during a music festival at a university in southern India on Saturday killed at least four students and injured 60 others, according to news agency Press Trust of India. The disaster happened at the Cochin University of Science and Technology in Kerala state where students were enjoying a live musical event that was interrupted by rain, leading the audience to scamper for shelter that resulted in a stampede. At least two people among the injured are in critical condition, news website Indian Express reported. Pinarayi Vijayan, the top elected official in Kerala, said he had ordered an investigation.

Anne Jakrajutatip calls Miss Universe 2023 'one of the best, most-watched' in pageant's historyMANILA, Philippines — Thai businesswoman and Miss Universe owner Anne Jakrajutatip has called this year's Miss Universe show as "one of the best and most-watched Miss Universe shows in many years." Sheynnis Palacios took home Nicaragua's first crown at the end of the coronation night on November 18 held in San Salvador, El Salvador. She was warmly welcomed yesterday night when she arrived from her Miss Universe stint, that included a stop in Mexico, the host country of Miss Universe 2024. A week before the Miss Universe 2023 coronation night, Thai media company JKN Global Group, owned by Jakrajutatip, has filed for bankruptcy. JKN said that it will try to resolve a “liquidity problem.”RELATED: Liquidity woes cause Miss Universe owner to declare bankruptcy days before pageant

SWS: More Filipinos feel quality of life decliningA man pushes a trolley along a market in Manila on May 11, 2023. MANILA, Philippines — The number of Filipinos who reported a decline in their quality of life over the past year has increased in the latest survey by the Social Weather Stations. The latest survey resulted in a “net gainer” score of -2, classified by the polling firm as “fair.”“The September 2023 net gainer score was 13 points below the very high +11 in June 2023. The pollster explained that the net gainer score was “generally negative” until 2015 when it rose to positive numbers. 13-point declineAccording to SWS, the decline in the nationwide net gainer score was due to decreases in all areas.

(UPDATE) MANILA, Philippines: ONCE teammates at UST, Mark Nonoy and CJ Cansino now meet from the opposing sides in the first-ever La Salle-UP finals duel in UAAP men's basketball history. As their paths crossed as rivals this time, Nonoy said he and Cansino, both playing their respective final UAAP seasons, will give the fans a treat on the court. Nonoy said it feels good to make the Finals again and vows to the La Salle community that the Green Archers will do their best against the Fighting Maroons. We want to thank all those people who support us and I hope they keep on supporting us, the whole La Salle community [keep on supporting us]. Nonoy and Cansino aren't the only teammates turned rivals in this UP-La Salle finals duel.

The late-night exchange was held up for several hours after Hamas accused Israel of violating the agreement. Overall, Hamas is to release at least 50 Israeli hostages, and Israel 150 Palestinian prisoners. In the West Bank, hundreds of people burst into wild celebrations for a second night as a busload of Palestinian prisoners arrived early Sunday. Most were from Kibbutz Be’eri, a community Hamas militants ravaged during their Oct. 7 cross-border attack. The mother of one of the released hostages, 12-year-old Hila Rotem, remained in captivity, the spokesperson said.

New Delhi: At least four people were killed and dozens injured Saturday evening in a stampede at a university in southern India, local officials and media reported. The stampede occurred at an outdoor auditorium in the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) in southwest Kerala state, where a concert had been planned. In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, Kerala state governor Arif Mohammed Khan said he was "deeply shocked and grieved to know about the sad demise of four students" at CUSAT. Prayers for speedy recovery of injured," he added. State Health Minister Veena George said in a statement that four people had been brought dead to the Kalamassery Medical College Hospital while four more were in critical condition, the PTI news agency reported, adding that over 60 people had been injured.

Agnes Devanadera was recognized as the "Woman of the Year" at the Asia Leaders Awards 2023 held at the Manila Hotel on November 20. Devanadera received the prestigious award in recognition of her achievements as a public servant, earning her the title "Woman of Many Firsts." She said she is hoping for a day when these nurtured leaders will collectively shape a better world. Every woman has to be a good wife, a good mother, a good sister, and now, in our age, a good grandmother. More leaders who one day will also join in the ripples in the very big ocean.