While hiding from Congress, Quiboloy hurls conspiracies on social mediaMANILA, Philippines — Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives have threatened to arrest and cite in contempt pastor Apollo Quiboloy for evading their summons to separate committee investigations on his actions as the leader of a megachurch and founder of television network SMNI. Escaping subpoena orderBoth the House and the Senate issued subpoena orders against Quiboloy last week — a legitimate power that lawmakers can use to compel witnesses and key figures to show up to Congress as part of an investigation of an issue. In November 2023, the Senate issued a subpoena against three executives of a POGO company accused of engaging in illegal activities. “What I’m asking from you is to adhere to the legal process, and part of the process is the Senate investigation,” Hontiveros said in Filipino. “Don’t escalate this into a language of killing, even if that’s what you have been used to,” Hontiveros added.

GENEVA, Switzerland: The man leading negotiations on fisheries at the World Trade Organization (WTO) called on Monday on countries to compromise in order to finalize a deal at next week's ministerial conference in Abu Dhabi. After striking an agreement in 2022, which banned subsidies contributing to illegal, undeclared and unregulated fishing, the WTO hopes to conclude a second deal, this time focusing on subsidies which fuel overcapacity and overfishing. The WTO can only take decisions if there is consensus among all of its 164 members. According to many diplomats, the success of the 13th WTO ministerial conference, being held from February 26-29, will depend heavily on concluding a deal on fisheries. Unlike other WTO agreements which aim to lift trade barriers or counter trade distortions, this text just like the 2022 agreement forms part of the United Nations' sustainable development goals.

CAIRO: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Monday that revenues from the Suez Canal had "decreased by 40 to 50 percent" so far this year due to attacks on shipping by Yemen's Houthi rebels. The canal is one of the main sources of foreign currency for Egypt which is gripped by a severe financial crisis. Since November, the Iran-backed Houthis have launched numerous attacks on vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea, which the group says are aimed at ships with links to Israel in solidarity with the Palestinians in the war-torn Gaza Strip. The attacks have caused several major shipping firms to suspend passage through the Red Sea, which usually carries around 12 percent of global trade and divert vessels thousands of miles around Africa. "See what is happening at our borders... with Gaza, you see the Suez Canal, which used to bring Egypt nearly $10 billion per year, [these revenues] have decreased by 40 to 50 percent, and Egypt must continue to pay companies and partners," al-Sisi said during a conference with oil companies.

Japanese founder of Daiso chain passes awayA customer walks out from a Daiso shop at a shopping mall in Shinjuku district of TokyoTOKYO, Japan — Hirotake Yano, the Japanese 100-yen shop pioneer and founder of the Daiso chain, has died, the company said. The billionaire "passed away due to heart failure at the age of 80 in Hiroshima" on February 12, Daiso said in a statement. Five years later, tired of having to put different prices on different items, Yano launched Daiso where all goods cost 100 yen (less than P40). Helped by stagnant wages and prices, Daiso outlets — selling everything from the useful to the silly, and sometimes for more than 100 yen — are now ubiquitous. "It's the value and the fun that customers can find in 100 yen.

The accreditation makes the SEC the first in the government financial sector and the third national government agency to receive the international recognition for people management. The IiP accreditation is given to organizations that demonstrate high-level good practices for leading and managing people, where employees have opportunities to grow and develop. These efforts lay the foundation for continual enhancement and show our unwavering dedication to quality," SEC Chairman Emilio Aquino said. The SEC has consistently been recognized for upholding both local and international standards in its provision of regulatory services. Kelvin Lester K. Lee is a commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Miss Universe queens support Paula Shugart vs pageant's Thai ownerPaula Shugart speaks during the unveiling of the Miss Universe titleholder crown "Force for Good" during a press conference at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center on January 12, 2023. MANILA, Philippines — Miss Universe queens showed their support to the organization's former president Paula Shugart in her battle against the pageant's Thai owner Anne Jakrajutatip. You didn’t work for Miss universe, you lived for Miss universe," added Mittenaere, who was crowned during the pageant's finals in the Philippines. Meanwhile, Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray and Miss Universe 2023 Top 10 finalist Michelle Dee liked Paula's post. RELATED: Ex-Miss Universe president Paula Shugart to sue pageant's owner over 'false' corruption allegations

AFP Previous NextSouth Korean hospitals turned away some patients and delayed surgeries yesterday as hundreds of trainee doctors stopped working in a protest against medical training reforms. South Korean law limits the ability of medical staff to strike. The government's top priority is to "maintain medical emergency services and treatment for serious cases at major hospitals," he said. While doctors claim it would hurt the quality of service, proponents of the plan say doctors are mainly concerned it could erode their salaries and social status. The Korean Medical Association said the government's threats of legal action were akin to a "witch hunt" and claimed the plan would create a "Cuban-style socialist medical system."

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte tells Chinese-Filipino businessmen that their collaboration is important in the review of the curriculum of Senior High School students in her speech at the 12th Biennial Chinese-Filipino Business Club National Convention at the Manila Hotel on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. In a chance interview, Duterte also said that their inputs on skills can make these students job-ready. Video by Red MendozaGet 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

LONDON: Russia is rebuilding its capacity to destabilize European countries and extend its influence in the Middle East and Africa, posing a strategic threat to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as its members focus on the war in Ukraine, a United Kingdom-based think tank said on Tuesday. "As the war in Ukraine protracts, Russia has an interest in creating crises further afield,'' authors Jack Watling, Oleksandr V. Danylyuk and Nick Reynolds wrote, citing the Balkans as a region that is ripe for mischief. "Russia also has an active interest in destabilizing Ukraine's partners, and with a slew of elections forthcoming across Europe there is a wide range of opportunities to exacerbate polarization,'' the authors said. The 35-page report by the think tank, founded in 1831, was released days before the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The threat "extends beyond Ukraine and the active collaboration of those states that are being targeted," it said and urged for "sustained vigilance" over a range of issues.

The pitches made by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in his trips abroad have yielded growing foreign investments, the Department of Trade and Industry said. Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual confirmed that Marcos' foreign trips have started to yield "tangible results." "We will keep our momentum to make more investments happen in the Philippines by turning investment pledges from presidential visits into reality. "Certainly, the presidential visits have been impactful for the Philippine economy, signaling to both local entrepreneurs and foreign investors alike the government's commitment to fostering a conducive environment for economic prosperity. The Philippines has become a premier investment destination for foreign businesses in Asia," he added.

A Royal Air Philippines flight from Boracay to Shanghai had to make an emergency landing at Hong Kong International Airport last night after a power bank exploded and smoke filled the cabin. An online video shows moments just after the explosion aboard flight RW602 on Monday. Some passengers were terrified and moved to the back of the cabin to avoid inhaling the smoke. The captain then made an emergency landing in Hong Kong. It remains unclear what caused the portable battery charger, which is banned from being placed in check-in baggage, to explode.

SINGAPORE: Aviation hub Singapore will require airlines departing from the city-state to use sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from 2026 as part of industry plans to cut carbon emissions, the transport minister said on Monday. Singapore aims to reduce carbon emissions by requiring airlines to use sustainable aviation fuel from 2026. Singapore aims to reduce carbon emissions by requiring airlines to use sustainable aviation fuel from 2026. SAFs are produced from renewable biomass and waste resources and can comprise up to 50 percent of jet fuel mixes. "To kick-start SAF adoption in Singapore, we will require flights departing Singapore to use SAF from 2026," Chee said in a speech.

Four years after his last visit in the Philippines, South Korean actor Park Hyung Sik returned to spend time with his Filipino fans as part of the "SIKcret Time" Asia Tour Fan Meet in Manila on Saturday, Feb. 17 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. During the event, "The Heirs" and "Doctor Slump" star delighted his fans with his songs. Video by Iza Iglesias

BUSIEST Passengers leave the baggage handling hall at the Dubai International Airport terminal 3, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Oct. 25, 2022. AP PHOTO BUSIEST Passengers leave the baggage handling hall at the Dubai International Airport terminal 3, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Oct. 25, 2022. The airport had 89.1 million passengers in 2018 — its busiest-ever year before the pandemic, while 66 million passengers passed through in 2022. Dubai has a second airport, Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central, some 45 kilometers (28 miles) away in its far southern reaches. Dubai International Airport connects to 262 destinations in 104 countries worldwide via just over 100 international carriers.

Dwight Ramos shares the strengths of the current Gilas roster in the send off conference of the FIBA 2025 Asia Cup Qualifiers at the PhilSports Arena on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024. Ramos, who joined the training recently said, "Definitely a bigger team, everyone has good size, and there's a lot of ball movement right now." Video by Nicole Anne D.G.