BEIJING: China began military exercises along its border with Myanmar on Saturday and urged its citizens to leave that country's northeast, which has been beset by fighting since last month. The groups have seized dozens of military positions and a town that is important for trade with China. Beijing informed Myanmar's military government about the exercises, junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun said Saturday, adding that the armed forces would "cooperate with China to work for peace and border stability." A significant proportion of Myanmar's trade with China transits through this region. China on Friday for its citizens to leave northern Myanmar "as soon as possible" and to stay away from the fighting.

SILKYARA TUNNEL, India: Indian rescuers on Saturday brought in a new digging machine to open a vertical shaft to free 41 workers trapped inside a collapsed road tunnel for two weeks, after efforts through another route hit snags just meters from reaching the men. DELAYED AGAIN A general view of the Silkyara tunnel in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand state, northern India on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, nearly two weeks after it collapsed, trapping 41 workers inside. After the massive drill stopped, rescuers attempting to reach the men through the blocked main tunnel entrance are now working to clear the route without it, rescue officials said. "The work of reaching the laborers trapped inside is in the final stages," Ruhela told AFP. Though trapped, they have plenty of space in the tunnel, with the area inside 8.5 m high and stretching about 2 kilometers in length.

De Lima pursues 'mass murderer' DuterteFormer Philippine senator and human rights campaigner Leila de Lima talks during an interview with AFP in Manila on Nov. 24, 2023. MANILA, Philippines — Freed after nearly seven years behind bars, Philippine human rights campaigner Leila de Lima told AFP on Friday she prays for her safety as she seeks to bring "mass murderer" Rodrigo Duterte to justice. While "extremely happy" to be free, the former senator, justice minister and human rights commissioner said she was taking precautions in case Duterte went after her. De Lima, 64, paid a heavy price for her unflinching pursuit of justice, as Duterte and his allies sought to silence her. Shortly after her release, de Lima was reunited with her 91-year-old bedridden mother, who she had not seen in years.

Thanksgiving Travel Hazards: Potential for Two Feet of Snow Creates Challenges Across the Rockies and MidwestRockies and Midwest Brace for Two Feet of Snow, Challenging Road Conditions AheadAccording to source, as millions of Americans conclude their Thanksgiving holiday weekend, a mixed weather forecast introduces potential travel hazards, with clear skies dominating most areas but predictions of two feet of snow in the Rockies and Midwest. AAA estimates that over 49 million drivers will hit the roads during the Thanksgiving holiday, marking a 1.7% increase from the previous year. The tragic events underscore the risks associated with holiday travel, emphasizing the importance of caution and preparedness, especially as adverse weather conditions, including the potential for two feet of snow, impact some regions. Despite these challenges, the Thanksgiving holiday season is anticipated to be exceptionally busy, with travelers across the country navigating a complex landscape of weather-related concerns and potential travel disruptions. READ ALSO: Snowstorm and Cold Air to Disrupt Thanksgiving Travel Across Rockies and Plains, Triggering Winter Weather Alerts

Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez gives his closing remarks at the 31st Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri declares the forum closed. The two faced the media after the four-day event. Video by Red Mendoza

Thai singer Jeff Satur holding Manila concert in March 2024MANILA, Philippines — Thai singer-actor Jeff Satur is taking his "Space Shuttle No. 8" Asia Tour to Manila in March next year. Satur, who has perfomed at Singapore, Indonesia and even Brazil for the Asia Stars Festival, will be performing at Quezon City's New Frontier Theater on March 2, 2024. Since November 2021 Satur has released eight singles under Warner Music Thailand which have amounted to more than 360 million streams. 8" Asia Tour complements the launch of Satur's first album, with many more to come from the multi-hyphenate.

HONG KONG: Most Asian markets fell on Friday following a broadly healthy week, with traders hoping for fresh Chinese moves to help the country's troubled property sector after officials called on banks to provide support. However, with traders taking a breather, many markets dipped in Asia on Friday. That came after a report saying a draft list of firms eligible for bank support had been drawn up. "The property developer debt issue will be solved sooner or later," Jian Shi Cortesi, of GAM Investment Management, said. Saudi Arabia and Russia earlier this year announced cuts of a million barrels a day through to 2024 to support prices, and there had been expectations Riyadh was planning to extend that or even cut further.

(UPDATE) THE Supreme Court found former Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) chairman Camilo Sabio administratively liable for unethical intervention in a case before the Court of Appeals (CA). Former chairman of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) Camilo Sabio arrives at the Sandiganbayan in Quezon City on Thursday for his arraignment on the cases of malversation of public funds and graft and corrupt practices act filed against him. In denying the petition of the former PCGG head, the Supreme Court defined misconduct as "a transgression of some established and definite rule of action, more particularly, unlawful behavior or gross negligence by the public officer." The high court pointed out that to warrant dismissal from service, the misconduct must be "grave, serious, important, weighty, momentous, and not trifling" and "imply wrongful intention and not a mere error of judgment." Conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, on the other hand, is any act of a public officer which "tarnishes the image and integrity of their public office."

Accountability, international law and the free worldThe Hamas terror organization must be held accountable for the atrocities it has committed, as well as for the ongoing war and the toll it has taken on Israelis and Palestinians alike. On the first day of the attack, Hamas terrorists destroyed ambulances to prevent evacuation of the wounded and attacked clinics, murdering doctors and paramedics. Israel is fighting the war according to the international humanitarian law and the law of armed conflict. No one (except the Hamas supporters) expects Israel to let Hamas attack Israeli civilians once again. If the free world wishes to remain free, it must support Israel’s right to defend itself and allow it to utterly defeat Hamas.

MANILA, Philippines — The newly inaugurated Healthway Cancer Care Hospital (HCCH) will contribute to the Philippines’ potential to become a prominent healthcare destination in Asia, said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday. The President touted the new HCCH as a game changer in the cancer care industry, as it was the first dedicated hospital to cancer in the country. It will certainly positively reflect on the country’s growing potential as a leading healthcare destination in Asia,” said Marcos in his speech. In Taguig City, Marcos led the opening ceremony of the HCCH, a healthcare institution offering a wide range of cancer treatments ranging from screening to post-cancer care. However, with facilities such as this, we will allow our main weapon in combatting cancer: early detection,” said Marcos in his speech.

Security riskNepal has just joined the growing list of countries that have banned video sharing app TikTok, which is owned by Chinese company ByteDance. Under the European Parliament’s ban, lawmakers and staff were also advised to remove the TikTok app from their personal devices. All these countries and institutions were concerned about the online platform’s impact on society, including potential threat to their respective governments and national security. In the Philippines, the National Security Council (NSC) has created a task force that will look at the security threat posed by TikTok. The ad hoc body is wrapping up its investigation and will submit its recommendation to National Security Adviser Edgardo Año before yearend.

For authorities, internet shutdowns have "become the first tool in their toolkit," said Indian online civil liberties activist Mishi Choudhary. Of the 187 internet shutdowns it recorded worldwide last year, 84 were in India, the "most of any country for the fifth consecutive year," it said. Human Rights Watch argues internet shutdowns "disproportionately hurt" the poorest, who depend on the government's online social support systems. "Internet access is vital for realizing economic security," Access Now said. "Your primary defense against misinformation is fact verification and fact checking," said Singh, from the Delhi-based Internet Freedom Foundation.

Japan inflation up 2.9% as energy subsidies reducedMount Fuji (back L), Japan's highest mountain at 3,776 meters (12,389 feet), is silhouetted during sunset behind the highrise buildings of the Shinjuku area in downtown Tokyo on November 20, 2023. TOKYO, Japan — Japanese consumer inflation was up 2.9% year-on-year in October as the government reduced subsidies for electricity and gas bills, government data showed Friday. Stripping out fresh food and energy, Japan's prices rose 4.0%, data published by the internal affairs ministry showed. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's government has been providing subsidies for gasoline since January 2022 and electricity and gas since the beginning of this year. Japan, like other economies around the world, has seen prices rise on the back of the Ukraine war, while a weaker yen has also made imports more expensive.

The Security Bank Foundation, Inc. (SBFI)’s transformative impact on education extends far beyond constructing physical structures. SBFI’s flagship project is “Build a School, Build a Nation” which addresses critical educational issues in the country starting with classroom construction. Through collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd) and local government, the classrooms’ impact is not just quantitative but qualitative. Aside from building classrooms, SBFI also collaborated with international partners and local institutions in the “Mentoring Future Leaders for Nation-Building” program to provide a strategic and impactful approach to enhancing education. From a school principal to an Education Program Supervisor at DepEd, her journey illustrates the holistic approach SBFI takes in transforming education.

MANILA, Philippines — House lawmakers filed a bill that seeks to establish a legal framework to address loss and damage from climate change impacts, and hold those responsible for driving the crisis accountable. “Without a legal framework to address loss and damage from climate change impacts, corporations will continue to defend and promote their unbridled burning of fossil fuels,” House Bill 9609 read. The collected penalty will be directed to the Climate Change Reparations Fund. Any real party in interest or survivors of climate change may seek redress for harm caused by non-compliance of business entities. Climate reparationsThe bill also aims to establish the Climate Change Reparations Fund for the financing of the claims approved by the Climate Change Reparations Board.