Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories:Senator Sonny Angara will be replacing Vice President Sara Duterte as the new Education Secretary, the Palace announced Tuesday. ADVERTISEMENTThe Presidential Communications Office said in a statement that Angara will take the helm of the Department of Education (DepEd) starting July 19. The P35 wage hike for private sector workers in Metro Manila is “insufficient” to meet the real needs of the people, senators said Tuesday. Running for president in 2028 is not yet part of her plan, according to Senator Risa Hontiveros. What she is certain for now is that the opposition will field its senatorial bets in the 2025 midterm elections and probably a full slate in 2028.

Senator Sonny Angara has yet to officially take over as Department of Education (DepEd) secretary, but Makabayan solons already have a challenge for him. And that's to turn things around in the education sector as for its stakeholders, according to ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro and Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas. READ: https://mb.com.ph/2024/7/2/hinamon-agad-makabayan-solons-challenge-angara-to-solve-education-sector-woes-1Subscribe to the Manila Bulletin Online channel! - https://www.youtube.com/TheManilaBulletinVisit our website at http://mb.com.phFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/manilabulletinTwitter: https://www.twitter.com/manila_bulletinInstagram: https://instagram.com/manilabulletinTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manilabulletin#ManilaBulletinOnline#ManilaBulletin#LatestNews

BEIJING, July 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- New Oriental Education and Technology Group Inc. (the "Company" or "New Oriental") (NYSE: EDU/ 9901.SEHK), a provider of private educational services in China, today announced that it will report its financial results for the fourth quarter ended May 31, 2024, before the U.S. market opens on July 31, 2024. New Oriental's management will host an earnings conference call at 8 AM on July 31, 2024, U.S. Eastern Time (8 PM on July 31, 2024, Beijing/Hong Kong Time). Participants can join the conference using the below options:Dialling-in to the conference call:Please register in advance of the conference, using the link provided below. New Oriental's program, service and product offerings mainly consist of educational services and test preparation courses, private label products and livestreaming e-commerce and other services, and overseas study consulting services. New Oriental is listed on NYSE (NYSE: EDU) and SEHK (9901.SEHK), respectively.

Marcos approves P6.3-trillion proposed budget for 2025President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. visits San Jose de Buenavista, Antique to provide financial assistance and livelihood grants to farmers and fishermen affected by El Niño on June 27, 2024. MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has set the proposed national budget for 2025 at P6.352 trillion — a record-high outlay that captures the administration's macroeconomic targets and spending priorities in an election year. The proposed P6.532 spending plan for 2025, which Marcos approved during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, is at least 10% higher than the current year's P5.768 trillion budget. Education stands to get the lion's share of the proposed budget, as required by the 1987 Constitution. Pangandaman said the government is eyeing to submit the proposed budget to Congress on July 29, a week after Marcos' third State of the Nation Address.

Datasea intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for research and development, market development and for general corporate purposes. In July 2023, Datasea established a wholly-owned subsidiary, Datasea Acoustics LLC, in Delaware, in a strategic move to mark its global presence. This underlies Datasea's commitment to Intelligent Acoustics and its intent to offer leading edge acoustic solutions to the US market. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation, the timing for closing of the offering, the satisfaction of customary closing conditions related to the registered direct offering, and the expected use of proceeds from the offering. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will", "expects", "anticipates", "future", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", "target", "going forward", "outlook," "objective" and similar terms.

MANILA, Philippines — A P35 daily wage hike was approved for private sector workers in Metro Manila by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB). The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said the RTWPB’s order will take effect 15 days from its publication or on July 17. “The wage order is expected to directly benefit around 988,243 minimum wage earners in NCR (National Capital Region),” the DOLE said. “About 1.7 million full-time wage and salary workers earning above the minimum wage may also indirectly benefit as a result of upward adjustments at the enterprise level arising from the correction of wage distortion,” it added. Barangay Micro Business Enterprises, on the other hand, are not covered by the minimum wage law pursuant to Republic Act No.

Innovation and the convergence of AI and ESG in PhilippinesMANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is experiencing a transformative period marked by the convergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles. AI and ESG: A powerfulcombinationAI’s capacity to analyze vast datasets and generate actionable insights is being increasingly harnessed to tackle ESG issues. The convergence of AI and ESG in the Philippines fosters innovations that support sustainable development while promoting economic growth. In addition, the Philippine government inked a memorandum of understanding with a California-based startup focusing on AI weather forecasting. AI for governance and transparencyGovernance is a critical aspect of ESG and AI is enhancing transparency and accountability in the Philippines.

Philippines’ oldest political prisoner releasedThis photo shows 85-year-old Gerardo Dela Peña holding his certificate of discharge when he was released from the New Billibid Prison on June 30, 2024. MANILA, Philippines — The country’s oldest political prisoner has been released from detention on Sunday, prisoner rights group Kapatid said. Dela Peña was arrested on March 21, 2013 at the age of 75 in Vinzons, Camarines Norte. "The release of political prisoner Gerardo Dela Peña is a testament to the power of perseverance, vigilance and community in overcoming challenges. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice has yet to respond to Philstar.com's request for a comment on Dela Peña’s release.

Giant pandas Ying Ying (left) and Le Le (right). The government has been in liaison with the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office and the National Forestry and Grassland Administration to discuss the arrival arrangements of the giant pandas, a spokesman said. “The new pair of giant pandas will become close ‘family members’ of Hong Kong people, bringing us laughter and joy,” Lee continued. The Hong Kong leader also expressed his deepest gratitude to the Central Government for gifting another pair of giant pandas and said this fully demonstrates its care and support for the city. Details of the arrangements for welcoming the giant pandas to Hong Kong will be announced in due course, the spokesman added.

Why Japan is always a good idea for funThe last time I was in Osaka was back in 2019, when I went with my mom and daughter Gabbie. We left Wednesday afternoon and, after a two-hour delay in NAIA, arrived in Kansai airport past 8 p.m. Japan time. I almost forgot that Osaka is the land of “falling in line.” The good places to eat always have lines, and Hanamaruken was no exception. It was a good decision because their ramen turned out to be delicious. Japan is always a good idea for shopping, eating, and bonding.

Sara Duterte says no confidential fund proposed for OVP's 2025 budgetMANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte said that the Office of the Vice President (OVP) did not request confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) from the 2025 national budget. “For the Office of the Vice President, no, wala kaming proposal ng confidential funds for next year,” Duterte said in an interview with reporters. (For the Office of the Vice President, no, we do not have a proposal for confidential funds for next year.) A month later, the OVP retracted its appeal to receive P650 million in confidential funds from the 2024 national budget. The first petitioners assailed the constitutionality of the P125 million transfer of the Office of the President’s contingency fund to the OVP’s CIF in 2022.

South African players wait on the field after losing the T20 World Cup final to India © Randy Brooks / AFPSouth Africa captain Aiden Markram said he was "gutted" after his team lost their first-ever T20 World Cup final by seven runs to India. Heinrich Klaasen's blistering 52 from 27 balls, with five sixes and two fours, put South Africa in position to win before India's 'death' bowlers turned the screw. It was a great game of cricket, I'm chuffed with all my guys, it's hard not to get over the line but I'll always be proud of them," he said. "One thing you can guarantee from South African people is that they are competitive, but they are respectful. It's tournament cricket, it's tough cricket, it's not easy to win trophies and you've got to take your hats off to a team like India for lifting the trophy.

India players celebrate after winning the T20 World Cup. The clash between the tournament's two unbeaten sides lived up to expectations and provided intense drama that culminated with India claiming their second T20 World Cup 17 years after their first. It was a fitting finale to the biggest T20 World Cup featuring a record 20 teams, which created quite a buzz in United States, the joint tournament hosts with West Indies. Afghanistan also gave a good account of themselves until South Africa hammered them in the semi-finals. It was the first time South Africa made the final of a World Cup in any format, but Aiden Markram's side fell agonizingly short of the title.

As ice melts, Everest's 'death zone' gives up its ghostsTents of mountaineers are pictured at Everest base camp in the Mount Everest region of Solukhumbu district on April 18, 2024 on the tenth anniversary of an avalance which killed 16 Nepali guides. Rescuers took hours to chip away the ice with axes, with the team sometimes using boiling water to release its frozen grip. Many are inside the "death zone", where thin air and low oxygen levels raise the risk of altitude sickness. One body, encased in ice up to its torso, took the climbers 11 hours to free. "I feel that we have to give back to them, we have to remove the trash and bodies to clean the mountains."

China factory activity contracts for second straight monthAn employee produces building material processing equipment at a factory in Nantong, in China's eastern Jiangsu province on Dec. 5, 2023. BEIJING, China — Factory activity in China shrank for a second straight month in June, data showed Sunday, underscoring the country's shaky economic recovery ahead of a key political gathering expected to focus on deepening reform. A PMI figure below 50 indicates a decline activity, while anything above indicates an expansion. China's non-manufacturing PMI -- which takes activity in the services sector into account -- expanded in June at 50.5, the NBS also said Sunday. Among the hurdles policymakers face are a prolonged debt crisis in the once-roaring property sector, sluggish consumption and high unemployment -- particularly among youth.