Women’s workIt still amazes me that, in 2024, there are still some people who speak of “women’s work.” Not in the simple sense of work that women just so happen to do, but as work that supposedly, by its very nature, is work that women are best suited to do – and where the idea of ‘best suited’ quickly morphs into one where women have the obligation to do such work. For instance, closing the gender gaps in employment could boost Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita by 20 percent across all regions. The primary cause of women being held back from full economic equality and empowerment lies in the continued prevalence of the idea of “women’s work,” of the stubborn persistence of gender-based division of labor. On average, women spend around three times more time on unpaid care and domestic work than men. It is estimated that closing existing gaps in care services and expanding decent work programmes would create almost 300 million jobs by 2035.”In 2024, it is time to stop partitioning work, and time to get to work – the essential work of improving the lives of women, to improve the lives of all.

As reported by AP, Dong on Sunday accused Washington of causing friction with China because of its support for Taiwan and the Philippines. "Anyone who dares to separate Taiwan from China will only end up in self-destruction." Their main objective is to deter China in its expansionist claims and aggressive actions in the South China Sea, which have led to numerous incidents with vessels and troops of the Philippines and Vietnam, among others. AdvertisementIt is just possible that the deterrence strategy may have already spared Taiwan from an imminent invasion by China. Even more likely, Japan's strong response to Chinese claims to the East China Sea off its coast may have already discouraged Chinese expansionism in the area.

The Director of Water Supplies, Roger Wong Yan-lok, sought to allay public concerns by demonstrating drinking tap water to prove its quality is among the best in the world. Wong emphasized that besides chlorination, the Water Supplies Department (WSD) conducts around 600,000 water sample tests annually, ensuring a robust safety monitoring system. He even drinks directly from the tap, proving that it is safe to consume as long as the building's internal water system is properly maintained. The chief of the water department mentioned that they monitor water quality using over 800 indicators, which is well above the 95 recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). He believes that with proper management of a building's internal water system, direct consumption of tap water is not an issue.

The Immigration Department (ImmD) arrested four people after they smashed a company that arranged for mainland workers to illegally provide cleaning services in Hong Kong. The ImmD has been combating all sorts of illegal workers in different industries to safeguard the local labor market. The department recently noticed that a mainland cleaning company has been using Xiaohongshu to advertise that they can provide cleaning services in Hong Kong. Today, the ImmD officers impersonated customers and launched sting operations, asking them to provide services in Hong Kong and arresting them as they came to Hong Kong to provide their services. During the operation, one 28-year-old owner of the company and three mainland illegal workers aged 19 to 30 were arrested.

How Miss Universe Philippines 2024 Chelsea Manalo handles bulliesMANILA, Philippines — Miss Universe Philippines 2024 Chelsea Anne Manalo had a casual, light and bubbly meeting with members of the press last May 24 in Belmont Hotel in Pasay City. The new queen radiated power in a red suit by Jot Losa. Makeup: @mickeysee @angeludominguezHair: @jerrybuanjavierStylist: @perrytabora @kireilegsy02Designer: @jotlosaHeels: @jojobragaisofficial @bragaisjosejoaquinSpecial thanks to: @mau_s_deleon— Video by C. Mendez Legaspi, video editing by Anjilica Andaya

The latest report from the BPI showed that the country's rice imports from January 1 to May 23 went up by 20.3 percent to 1.97 million MT, higher compared to last year's 1.64 million MT. Thailand delivered some 300,227.24 MT of rice, Pakistan followed with 144,834.50 MT, and some 65,080 MT came from Myanmar. Last year, inbound shipments of the staple totaled 3.6 million MT, down 5.9 percent from the record high of 3.82 million MT logged in 2022. The US agency forecast the country's imports to hit a record 4.2 million MT due to continued growth in consumption. Rice inventory as of the beginning of the month was estimated at 1.64 million MT, lower than the 1.84 million MT logged in the same period of 2023.

Pedestrians are twice as likely to be hit by an electric or hybrid car than by a vehicle that runs on gasoline or diesel, according to a study released recently by researchers in London. Pedestrians in noisy urban areas were almost three times as likely to be hit by an electric or hybrid car. "Electric cars are definitely a thing for the future. But he pointed out that at low speeds, hybrid cars tend to switch from the fossil-fuel engine to the electric drive unit. Safety advocates are concerned that the extra weight of an electric car's battery can lead to more severe pedestrian injuries.

Retail expo tackles AI, sustainable practicesMANILA, Philippines — Discover the intersection of sustainability and artificial intelligence (AI) at the 30th National Retail Conference and Expo (NRCE) presented by the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) – the premier national organization of the country’s top retailers and allied industries – on Aug. 29-30 at the SMX Convention Center Manila. With the theme “Retail today, Empowering Tomorrow,” this landmark event is set to unveil groundbreaking insights into how these two forces can revolutionize the retail landscape. In his session, “From Theory to Practice: Applying AI to Retail,” Pelayo will debunk misconceptions and showcase practical applications of AI in the retail sector. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how AI can optimize inventory management, enhance customer experiences, and drive business success. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain firsthand insights and chart the course for a sustainable and technologically advanced future.

Finally, divorce? These are among the folks who are supporting absolute divorce, which the House of Representatives finally passed on third and final reading before the sine die adjournment. * * *Hypocrisy has always been one of the issues raised by women’s groups against opponents of divorce in this country. Do opponents want divorce proceedings to crawl along like the cases in regular courts, which can take two decades before final adjudication? Surely living together with no need for marriage is not what opponents of absolute divorce have in mind.

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, PALAWAN, Philippines — The Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (TRNP) is suffering from coral bleaching due to prolonged heat brought by the El Niño phenomenon, a report from the Tubbataha Management Office said. It is home to around 360 coral species representing 75 percent of known coral species, and not less than 600 or 40 percent of the world’s reef fish, including 11 shark species, 13 dolphins and whales, and around 100 bird species. ADVERTISEMENTThe only identified affected spot, so far, was the South Park dive site in the North Atoll of the reef and its surrounding areas. She also said that based on projections from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for Tubbataha, the bleaching has just begun. Alaba said corals damaged in Tubbataha are Acropora and Millepora types or branching corals, which are most vulnerable to bleaching.

More than a dozen contractors worked through Sunday to complete emergency repair work on the Sham Shui Po subsidence site, aiming to reopen the area by early Monday. The road collapse at the junction of Hai Tan Street and Kweilin Street in Sham Shui Po measured around 8 by 12 meters and 4 meters deep. A dump truck delivered sand and gravel into the hole, later compacted by a road roller. Authorities aim to reopen affected roads in phases starting Monday morning while investigating the cause of the collapse. The fast lane of the affected road is expected to reopen by 6 am tomorrow, while the slow lane is set to reopen on Wednesday (Jun 5).

(UPDATE) CARLO Paalam and Hergie Bacyadan earned the right to compete in the Paris 2024 Olympics after outlasting their respective opponents in the 2nd World Olympic Qualification Tournament (OQT) in Bangkok, Thailand. Filipina boxer Hergie Bacyadan fulfilled her Olympic dream after winning via unanimous decision against Venezuela's Maryelis Yriza in the women's 75 kg class on Sunday. Meanwhile, Filipino boxer Paalam made his second-straight Olympics appearance as he defeated India's Sachin Siwach (5-0) in the semifinals of the men's 57 kg division on Saturday night. Paalam bounced back strongly in the second round of the tourney and made sure he would represent the Philippines once more in the Olympics. Paalam and Bacyadan will join fellow Olympic-bound boxers Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas.

SUNSHINE Place introduces "Adult Ballet," a special dance class to be taught by Pamela Ramos, a longtime ballet teacher and a pioneer member of the prestigious Philippine Ballet Theater. Sunshine Place is offering a special ballet class for adults ages 25 to 40 led by Pamela Ramos, a pioneer member of Philippine Ballet Theater and artistic director of her own ballet school, Little Ballerina School of Dance. At Sunshine Place, seniors can attest to the fact that learning new things late is better than not learning at all. Lessons will cover essential concepts and fundamental techniques of ballet as well as introductory elements of gymnastics to enhance flexibility and strength. They will be prepared to perform simple ballet routines and will be ready to advance to the next level of ballet training.

(AFP)A volcano in eastern Indonesia erupted on Sunday, spewing an ash cloud seven kilometres into the sky as authorities warned residents to shelter indoors. It is the latest of around 100 eruptions from the volcano since early this year. "People have been advised to avoid outdoor activities and shelter indoors while the ash mixed with sand is still raining down," Abdul said. According to the Geology Agency, Ibu recorded an average of 58 eruptions per day in 2023. Indonesia, a vast archipelago nation, experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its position on the Pacific "Ring of Fire".

Kadafi Sinulinding, a BDA project coordinator, says Camp Badre hosts 200 IP households—mainly Tidurays, but also including Manobos and Lambangians. Another 350 IP families, who had fled discrimination and land-grabbing, are at Camp Omar in Maguindanao. Instead of just planting rice and corn, the Tidurays are now engaged in planting all-season taro and yam and processing value-added products for marketing. Sheik Bashir Abdulbayan, an MILF camp commander, chairs JTFCT in Camp Badre. “The Moros were victims of discrimination and Salamat did not want the indigenous peoples to suffer the same treatment,” said Bashir.