Sara Duterte takes on 'caretaker' duty as Marcos heads to JapanVice President Sara Duterte gives a speech during the Philippine Councilors League-Iloilo Chapter year-end assembly at SMX, Davao City. MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte steps in as a "caretaker" while President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. attends the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – Japan Commemorative Summit in Tokyo. "The Vice President will discharge her duties and will preside as Chairperson of the Executive Committee meetings in Davao City during the official travel abroad of President Marcos from December 15 to 18," said the Office of the Vice President in a statement this Saturday. "She will hold office in DepEd NEAP Davao and OVP Davao Satellite office." Marcos left for Japan last Friday for the three-day summit, a meeting which will commemorate the "50 years of friendship and cooperation" between the ASEAN region and the north Asian country.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Mrs. Yuko Kishida welcome President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos at the Akasaka Palace Moto-Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo during the reception at the Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)-Japan Friendship and Cooperation on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. Video by PPA PoolGet 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

Dr Lee Foo Khong from Ocean Park Hong Kong. Mr Lell Luk from Ocean Park Hong Kong. Previous NextOcean Park Hong Kong brought forth a delightful female cownose ray (viviparous ray) into the world through the world’s first successful artificial insemination (AI) procedure this April. Ocean Park said the breeding program for cownose rays holds immense significance, given the challenges to the oceans and the growing threats to aquatic biodiversity. Ocean Park is also mulling to extend the breeding programs to other elasmobranchs.

Teamed up with Make-A-Wish®, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort (HKDL) hosted Summer Snow Day Wishes celebration at the immersive new land World of Frozen today. They are among the approximately 130 guests traveling from local Make-A-Wish affiliates from Hong Kong, Singapore, the Philippines and Taiwan. For the first time ever, we are granting wishes from the Southeast Asia region at Hong Kong Disneyland,” said Dr Kevin Lau, Board Director of Make-A-Wish International. To grant wishes and make lifelong memories for Wish children living with critical illnesses and their families, HKDL will keep working with Make-A-Wish Hong Kong and other Make-A-Wish International affiliates. HKDL intends to contribute a total of HK$600,000 to the development of Make-A-Wish Hong Kong, including proceeds from the resort's recent "Wish Upon A Chocolate Cake" charity sales.

TOYOTA Motor Philippines Corp. (TMP) has signed a retail supply contract with TeaM Energy Corp. to provide power for its manufacturing plant in Santa Rosa, Laguna beginning December 26. Together with an existing 1.46-megawatt rooftop solar power system, the deal will allow TMP to achieve 100 percent renewable energy (RE) ratio. "This energy transition will neutralize TMP's Scope 2 Emissions, particularly the indirect carbon dioxide emissions from purchased electricity for manufacturing operations," TMP President Atsuhiro Okamoto said in a statement. In June 2022, Okamoto said the company planned to make its Santa Rosa production plant carbon-neutral by 2035. TMP created a carbon neutrality roadmap in 2021 under the pillars of renewable energy use and energy efficiency, which local dealers and suppliers supported.

COS introduces a curated edit of gifts for the holiday season and beyond. Seasonal red tones and metallic shine finishes blend seamlessly with winter neutrals and playful prints. Seasonal red tones and metallic shine finishes blend seamlessly with winter neutrals and playful prints. Soft winter jumpers, scarves and hats feature Good Cashmere Standard or recycled cashmere fibres alongside RWS wool and RMS Mohair styles. COS' festive gift edit is available now in stores and online globally.

Duterte absent again at second preliminary probe on grave threat rapsPresident Rodrigo Roa Duterte updates the nation on the government's efforts in addressing the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang on March 30, 2020. MANILA, Philippines — Former President Rodrigo Duterte once again missed the preliminary investigation into the grave threats complaint lodged against him by Rep. France Castro (ACT-Teachers). (Former President Duterte didn't arrive again. (Former President Duterte might have previously made those threats and disrespectful remarks, including red-tagging, in a casual or jesting manner. In his counter-affidavit, Duterte denied Castro’s accusations of grave threats, saying that he was only recounting a conversation with his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte.

Philippines to study charter change for investment push — MarcosThe National Economic and Development Authority Board, chaired by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., approves on Dec. 14, 2023 four high-impact projects, plans and policies crucial to the country’s social and economic transformation. MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos said Friday he has ordered a study on whether the country's constitution needed to be revised to draw more foreign investment. Guided by economic provisions from the constitution, Philippine law outrightly bans foreign equity in mass media and small-scale retail trade. "My primary interest is to try and make our country an investment-friendly place," Marcos said Friday, adding the study was at an early stage. House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez -- the president's cousin -- has separately said he would push for changes to the economic provisions of the constitution next year.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with the Philippine delegation, arrives at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023 to participate at the Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)-Japan Friendship and Cooperation from December 15 to 18. Video by PPA Pool

A husband and wife got into a physical altercation over money on Thursday night in Tin Shui Wai and both were arrested. Yesterday night (Dec 14) at 9.30, a husband and wife got into a heated argument over a monetary issue, which gradually intensified. During the argument, the 41-year-old husband, surnamed Lok, slapped his wife twice, leading the 40-year-old wife, surnamed Wong, to attempt to contact the police for assistance. Lok was arrested on suspicion of assault and criminal intimidation, while Wong was arrested on suspicion of assault. Wong, who suffered from discomfort in her head, and her 67-year-old mother-in-law, also surnamed Wong, who suffered from chest pains, were taken to Tuen Mun hospital for medical attention.

The Philippines hosts the 2023 Asia Artist Awards (AAA), the largest gathering of Korean celebrities, at the jam-packed Philippine Arena in Bulacan on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023. Among the AAA Grand Prize (Daesang) winners of the event from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. were SEVENTEEN BSS, Performance of the Year; Stray Kids, Stage of the Year; NewJeans, Song of the Year; NewJeans, Singer of the Year; and Lee Junho, Actor of the Year. Video by Iza IglesiasGet 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

The defending champions Creamline Cool Smashers aim to deliver the killer blow against sister team Choco Mucho Flying Titans in Game 2 of the 2023 PVL 2nd All-Filipino Conference best-of-3 Finals on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Creamline took Game One, 26-24, 19-25, 26-24, 25-22, at the Mall of Asia Arena, on Thursday, December 14, to put itself on the cusp of a third straight All-Filipino Conference title. Video by Niel Victor MasoyGet 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

OPM bands SB19 and Ben&Ben accept their awards at the 2023 AAA at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023. SB19, along with K-pop group NewJeans, won the Hot Trend Award while Ben&Ben won the Best Choice Award. The Asian Artist Awards (AAA) is known as the Oscars and Grammys of Asia. Video by Iza Iglesias

MANILA, Philippines — Experts from the United Nations stressed Thursday the need to establish a national body dedicated to preventing torture as they wrapped up their visit to the Philippines. Victor Zaharia, who heads the UN Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture (SPT), said the Philippines should fast-track the adoption of bills that will create a national monitoring body called National Preventive Mechanism. “This national mechanism, with adequate resources, will be a key partner in preventing torture and ill-treatment in the Philippines,” he added. At the end of the visit, the SPT delegation presented its confidential preliminary observations to the government. It has documented 488 victims of torture since July 2010 despite the passage of the Anti-Torture Act of 2009.

Moscow, Russia: Russia on Wednesday warned against a "chaotic" exit from fossil fuels, while welcoming the "compromise" deal reached at the COP28 summit in Dubai on transitioning away from them. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during the Tripling Renewable Energy and Doubling Energy Efficiency by 2030 session at the COP28 United Nations climate summit in Dubai on Dec. 2, 2023. AFP PHOTO"We have at every opportunity stressed the consequences of a chaotic exit without the backing of science," Ruslan Edelgeriyev, Russian President Vladimir Putin's special envoy for climate issues, was quoted by TASS news agency as saying. Russia is one of the main gas, oil and coal producers in the world. But discussion of climate issues is virtually absent from public discourse in Russia, particularly since the start of the Ukraine offensive in February 2022.