Chot Reyes has no doubt that Gilas pool member Rhenz Abando is a gifted player, who has "a lot of upside and potential" which could be beneficial for the national team in the long run. Abando, the youngest player in the national pool currently training in Europe, has impressed Reyes with his ability to score against tall defenders. "The potential of Rhenz, and his upside is tremendous. "When he gets open, and he gets the opportunity, he's a scorer, a very explosive scorer," noted the 59-year-old Reyes. Abando, who averaged 8.2 points and 2.7 rebounds for Anyang this past season, made his Gilas debut in the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup.

DOT probes ‘stock footage’ in tourism videoThe Department of Tourism (DOT) is now investigating its new “Love the Philippines” tourism campaign video released last week, after allegations surfaced about the use of foreign stock footage taken from the internet. The Department of Tourism (DOT) is now investigating its new “Love the Philippines” tourism campaign video released last week, after allegations surfaced about the use of foreign stock footage taken from the internet. The promotional video was pulled from the DOT’s Facebook and YouTube accounts. Some of the images used in the promotional video can be found on the websites of stock footage providers. Albay Rep. Joey Salceda had earlier complained that Mayon Volcano was not included in the promotional video.

SYDNEY — Thousands rallied in Australia on Sunday to back a campaign to recognize the country’s Indigenous people in the constitution ahead of a referendum later this year, after a recent dip in support for the change. ADVERTISEMENTPrime Minister Anthony Albanese’s centre-left Labor government backs the change, while the opposition Liberal-National conservatives urge a “No” vote. Another attendee, Isabelle Smith, said in her opinion the referendum was the most important issue in Australia. Opponents, including some Indigenous people, have said the proposal lacks detail and will divide Australians. Indigenous Australians, who account for 3.8% of the population, face disadvantages including discrimination, poor health and education outcomes and high incarceration rates.

A large chunk of concrete canopy fell off a building at Mong Kok and hit a truck this afternoon, with the driver being sent to the hospital. The canopy, about 5 meters by 0.5 meters, fell off the exterior wall of the Po On Building at around 2.30 pm, struck a refrigerated truck underneath, and scattered debris all over the road. The 57-year-old driver, surnamed Chiu, had to be taken to the Kwong Wah Hospital after suffering from back pain. It is understood that the concerned building located at 30 Mong Kok Road had not been maintained for quite some time, and the effects of the continuous rain led to the collapse of the canopy roof. Police later arrested two men on suspicion of "allowing objects to fall from a height".

Advertising agency DDB Philippines apologised for the "highly inappropriate" images, which included rice terraces in Indonesia and sand dunes in Brazil. The agency was behind the video for the government's $900,000 "Love The Philippines" tourism campaign launched on June 27. The tourism ministry announced late Saturday that it was investigating allegations that DDB's video included "non-original shots". Popular Philippine blogger Sass Rogando Sasot had posted on Facebook that several images in the campaign video were from other countries. Some of the images used in the promotional video can be found on the websites of stock footage providers.

Significant threat: Around the world, doctors battle impersonatorsMANILA, Philippines — A Thai doctor endorsing a dubious diabetes treatment, a Filipino physician touting crotch-enhancing underwear, a US doctor sparking off anti-vaccine conspiracies – they are all victims of identity theft plaguing health professionals. Agence France Presse’s fact-checkers have exposed a slew of cases around the world in which fraudsters impersonated doctors, fabricating their comments or endorsements to push bogus treatments and products or to peddle propaganda. For ordinary consumers, the growing wave of impersonation scams poses financial risks and often jeopardizes access to safe and reliable health care. “Knowing that he (Rogan) has millions and millions of followers, that felt threatening,” Solenkova told the American Medical Association. “We (physicians) need to keep organizing against disinformation,” Solenkova said.

Brains eyed in attack on photojournalistMANILA, Philippines — Police have identified the likely mastermind in the ambush in Quezon City on Thursday that left a photojournalist and three others wounded. Torre said police investigators have obtained the name of the person who ordered the attack on Abiad in Barangay Masambong. Torre did not name the suspected mastermind so as not to jeopardize their ongoing probe. He added that the attack may be personal in nature. Meanwhile, the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists called on the Philippine government to determine if the attack on Abiad was related to his reporting and immediately bring the perpetrators to justice.

ROY Espinosa, well-known artist and founder of Filarts, announced the publication of his latest coffee-table book, "Filipino Artists: Their Culture, Their Art." This eagerly awaited book, which is Espinosa's seventh coffee-table book, honors the rich artistic heritage of the Philippines and displays the skills of 50 Filipino artists. On July 16 at 6 p.m., the book launch will take place at the famed Nami Art Gallery in Mandaluyong City's SMDC Fame Mall. The cover of ‘Filipino Artists: Their Culture, Their Art’ coffee-table book CONTRIBUTED PHOTOThe featured artists will be available for attendees to meet and purchase autographed copies of this aesthetically spectacular compilation. "We want to honor the amazing skill of Filipino artists through this book while also safeguarding our cultural heritage for future generations," he added.

Nonetheless, Hagedorn said he maintains that he is "innocent" of the charges. PALAWAN 3rd District Rep. Edward Hagedorn. Photo from HoR"It is about PNP-issued firearms, which I was accused of not returning," Hagedorn said, referring to the Philippine National Police. The complaint was filed against Hagedorn by his successor, Mayor Lucio Bayron, who claimed Hagedorn failed to surrender 14 of 20 assault rifles owned by the local government unit at the end of Hagedorn's term as mayor in 2013. "In my years of public service, I have never enriched myself at the expense of the Filipino people.

A 26-year-old bus driver was arrested on Friday night after the double-decker he was driving hit an elderly woman pushing a cart loaded with cardboard in the driving lane of an overpass in Kowloon Bay. The incident occurred at around 11 pm last night when the Tsuen Wan West-bound KMB route 33 was traveling along Wai Yip Street and reached the overpass on Kai Fuk Road. The driver failed to apply the brakes in time and hit a 65-year-old woman named Wong, pushing a cart loaded with cardboard on the overpass. Police are investigating the incident and have arrested the bus driver, also named Wong, for dangerous driving causing death. The bus giant added they had sent staffers to the scene and to the hospital to understand the situation and will fully cooperate with the police investigation.

Filipinos granted visa-free entry to Taiwan until July 2024This photo taken June 30, 2005 shows the sunrise over Taiwan's most famous tourist spot Alishan. Taiwan has announced a one-year extension of visa-free entry for nationals of the Philippines, including Thailand and Brunei. The visa-free privilege, initially set to expire on July 31, 2023, has been extended until July 31, 2024. To take advantage of the visa-free entry, Filipino travelers must fulfill certain requirements before their trip. However, individuals holding diplomatic, official, or service passports are not eligible for the visa-free entry.

AFTER two tune-up matches, Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes expects training to ramp up as the team conducts two-a-day practice in Lithuania. Reyes said the losses to national teams of Estonia and Finland gave them a good handle of what Gilas needs to work on as they continue their build up for the 2023 FIBA World Cup. The Gilas mentor added they are looking at playing four tune-up games in Lithuania as they grow further in team chemistry. Gilas dropped an 81-71 decision to Estonia, followed by a narrow 89-85 result to Finland early this week. Gilas is eyeing to improve on its one-win output in the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Seville, Spain.

Some 40 Hong Kong private cars drove to Guangdong province through the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge on Saturday morning as the government’s northbound travel scheme commenced today. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Lam Sai-hung said a total of 42 Hong Kong vehicles had crossed the border to the mainland as of 10 am this morning. Lam also said over 100 Hong Kong vehicles are expected to travel to Guangdong today under the scheme. Lam stressed that the government would strive to increase the regular quota for vehicles using the bridge with the goal of boosting better use and management of the bridge. Lam noted that the bridge, a crucial policy for Hong Kong integrating into the Greater Bay Area development, connects not only the three regions but also people’s hearts.

The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board has approved a P40 increase in the workers' daily minimum wage. The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) is disappointed by the 'too little' and 'too late' increase in the minimum pay provided under Wage Order NCR-24, which will take effect on July 16, 2023. VIDEO AND INTERVIEW BY EZRAH RAYA

You are here:HOUSTON, June 30 (Xinhua) -- The number of active drilling rigs in the United States fell to 674 this week, down by eight from the previous week and by 76 from this time last year, according to the weekly data released by Houston-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes on Friday. These active drilling rigs included 545 oil rigs operating in U.S. oil fields, down by one from the previous week; 124 gas rigs, down by six from last week; and five miscellaneous rigs, down by one from last week. The rigs included 653 land drilling rigs, two inland water drilling rigs, and 19 offshore drilling rigs. Of them, 50 were directional drilling rigs, 606 were horizontal drilling rigs and 18 were vertical drilling rigs. So far, the Permian Basin in western Texas and eastern New Mexico has been the largest source of shale oil production growth in the United States, having become an engine of supply growth outside the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries in the past years.