Some mothers-to-be welcomed the newborn baby bonus announced in the Policy Address, while kindergarten principals said this could stimulate births along with addressing the under-enrolment issue. The birth rate has declined in recent years, resulting in kindergartens cutting staff and being at risk of ceasing operations due to under-enrolment. However, some experts said boosting the fertility rate requires a comprehensive plan rather than relying on a single measure. Yip added that the current fall in the birth rate is attributed to people marrying late or choosing not to marry. He suggests encouraging young couples to marry is also a way to improve the general fertility rate.

Castro to Paolo Duterte: Don’t downplay death threats as criticismMANILA, Philippines — Rep. Paolo Duterte (Davao City, 1st District) is the latest member of the Duterte family to trade barbs with critics after Rep. France Castro (ACT Teachers) clapped back at her House colleague for labeling his father’s alleged death threats against her as mere criticism. Calling out Paolo Duterte — the eldest son of former president Rodrigo Duterte — for appearing to take exception with the grave threats case she filed against his father, Castro said that “we have to draw the line” at death threats broadcasted on national television. “Death threats and red-tagging aired on television must be stopped because they endanger the lives of people. It is far different from criticisms and should not be tolerated because it fosters the state of impunity,” Castro said. Criticism is different from death threats," Castro added.

Xi Jinping made his first known visit to the central bank yesterday. BLoomberg, Reuters Previous NextMainland stocks and the yuan outperformed their Asian counterparts after a new round of support from a state fund, as President Xi Jinping reportedly visited the country's central bank for the first time. The vice premier also visited the nation's sovereign wealth fund, the people added. The onshore yuan rebounded 75 basis points to 7.3075 per US dollar, the highest for nearly two weeks. However, other Asian regions underperformed with markets in Japan and Taiwan inching up by 0.2 percent and 0.4 percent respectively.

WASHINGTON, D.C.: US and Chinese officials held a "productive" first meeting on Monday of a new economic working group, the Treasury Department said, as both countries seek to steady ties. The economic working group was set up after US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen visited Beijing in July, where she met high-level officials including Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. While the United States has said it now sees China as its top geopolitical rival, China has pushed back over what it calls a US policy of containment and encirclement against it in the Pacific and elsewhere. US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said on a visit to China in August that the United States was seeking a more normalized relationship with the world's second-biggest economy. Last week, the United States accused China of orchestrating a "concerted" campaign of dangerous and provocative air force maneuvers against US military planes in international airspace, warning such moves could spark inadvertent conflict.

RIYADH: The war between Israel and Hamas could deal a "serious" blow to global economic development, the president of the World Bank told an investor conference in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. The militants also took 222 people hostage, among them elderly people and young children, according to the Israeli authorities' latest count. Saudi Arabia has in recent weeks condemned violence against civilians in Gaza and affirmed its support for the Palestinian cause. This has been the fastest rate increase since the early 1980s and has caused significant and unpredictable disruptions," he said. Yet he voiced optimism that "even in a high interest rate environment, we can see the acceleration of growth and productivity."

More Pinoys seeking repatriation from IsraelOverseas Filipino Workers (OFW) from Israel arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City on October 23, 2023. “We still have more or less 120 requests for repatriation,” Cacdac said in a radio interview, noting that the Philippine government is already processing the repatriation. Most of the Filipinos requesting repatriation are caregivers while the rest are hotel workers. The repatriation from Israel remains voluntary. Cacdac, however, said the number of those seeking repatriation is expected to increase.

On Wednesday, October 18, the lower house of Russia's Duma overwhelmingly approved a bill that would withdraw Russia's ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban treaty. Even though it was the driving force behind the creation of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban treaty in the first place, the US has itself never formally ratified it. Elsewhere, China, desperate to put itself on par with the traditional nuclear superpowers, is currently undergoing a rapid expansion of its nuclear capabilities. We call upon our government to take a strong stand against nuclear proliferation and seek the support of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) as well. We must demand that all nuclear-armed nations, friend or foe, immediately return to formal adherence to the test ban treaty, stop producing new weapons, and work together to eliminate nuclear weapons once and for all.

JERUSALEM — Since Israel activated the Iron Dome in 2011, the cutting-edge rocket defense system has intercepted thousands of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip. On October 7 alone, the first day of fighting, Hamas launched at least 2,000 rockets, according to data from West Point. ADVERTISEMENTREAD: Cyber Dome: Israel’s Iron Dome against digital warfareMost of the rockets have been intercepted. Here is a look at the accomplishments – and limitations – of the Iron Dome. READ: US Congress backs Israel’s Iron Dome missile defenseOnce the radar detects a rocket, the system determines whether the rocket is headed toward a populated area.

DICT: Website not hackedThe website http://www.dict.gov.ph was not hacked, according to DICT spokesman Renato Paraiso. MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Information and Communications Technology’s website appeared to have been hacked yesterday, but the DICT confirmed that the web portal was up and running. The website http://www.dict.gov.ph was not hacked, according to DICT spokesman Renato Paraiso. “The DICT website was not hacked although we would confirm that one particular site was infiltrated,” Paraiso told reporters. The DICT said the website is a dormant site, adding that it was never used and no sensitive data was compromised.

UN, Philippines sign new partnership for sustainable developmentThe UN logo is seen on a door at the United Nations headquarters ahead of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City on September 15, 2023. MANILA, Philippines — The United Nations and the Philippine government signed Tuesday a document outlining the UN’s plan of action to drive the nation toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. The UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, which spans the period from 2024 to 2028, will mobilize the global knowledge, capacities and resources of 23 UN entities supporting the Philippines in addressing its major national priorities. The second focus is sustainable and inclusive economic development and innovation. Climate action for environmental sustainability and disaster resilience is the third key priority of the cooperation framework.

BULACAN's Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) is set to receive a Mobile Water Treatment Plant (MWTP) from the Department of Science and Technology (DoST). STATE-OF-ART WATER FILTER The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office will soon have a modern water treatment plant which can be used in times of calamities to produce potable water out of sea water, flood, underground and rain. Photo shows the model of a Mobile Water Treatment Plant from the Department of Science and Technology. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO STATE-OF-ART WATER FILTER The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office will soon have a modern water treatment plant which can be used in times of calamities to produce potable water out of sea water, flood, underground and rain. Photo shows the model of a Mobile Water Treatment Plant from the Department of Science and Technology.

THE Philippines has contributed $30,000 to support the Integrated Technical Cooperation Program (ITCP) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). CONTRIBUTED PHOTOThe country has contributed $30,000 through a formal Letter of Agreement between the IMO and the Philippines. Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom Teodoro Locsin Jr., the permanent representative of the Philippines to the IMO, presented the donation to IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim. Pia underscored the role of the Philippines in ensuring the sustainability of the IMO's technical cooperation programs during the 73rd Session of the IMO Technical Cooperation Committee (TC73) at the IMO Headquarters in London from Oct. 16 to 19, 2023. The Philippines assured the IMO that it will continue to host the regional presence scheme in East Asia, and its IMO regional coordinator, Josephine Marie Uranza, will ensure the implementation of the IMO technical assistance needs of the region.

A video file from interrogations by the Israeli Security Agency (ISA) and the police of Hamas terrorists from the Nukhba Unit who took an active part in the massacre in Southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, reveals information about the morning of the raid and the massacre in the south that may also be used to attack targets in the Gaza Strip. Video from ISA CommunicationsGet 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

After a three-year hiatus due to Covid, MINDSET - Jardine Matheson's registered mental health charity - held its signature fundraising event, Walk Up Jardine House. The event featured more than 300 enthusiastic steppers running up 49 floors - 947 steps - from the ground floor to the Penthouse of Jardine House, raising a record HK$5 million for mental health. "Your Mind Matters, aims to raise awareness of mental health practices and emotional well being so that everyone is empowered to take control of their own mental health," said Andrew Wong, chairman of MINDSET. Altogether, 65 teams and 28 individuals took part in the physically grueling event. Danny Luk from Jardine Matheson, a 17-time racer, said the 'magnificent view at the top' keeps him motivated to run the race.

RARE APPEARANCE | British-US author Salman Rushdie (center) is applauded as he receives the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, awarded annually by the German Publishers and Booksellers Association which runs the Frankfurt Book Fair. Rushdie, in his remarks, tackled AI and other challenges facing the publishing industry. Among book industry players there is “a deep sense of insecurity,” said Juergen Boos, director of the Frankfurt Book Fair, the world’s biggest, where the topic was in focus last week. ADVERTISEMENTStill, critics say the works are of low quality and sense little threat from AI for now. British author Salman Rushdie told a press conference at the fair that recently someone asked an AI writing tool to produce 300 words in his style.