ImmD arrested four people for advertising illegal works on Xiaohongshu
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.
Source:The Standard
June 03, 2024 15:39 UTC
How Miss Universe Philippines 2024 Chelsea Manalo handles bullies
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
Source:Philippine Star
June 03, 2024 09:59 UTC
Rice imports up 20.3% to nearly 2 million MT
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.
Source:Manila Times
June 03, 2024 04:40 UTC
EVs and hybrids 'twice as likely to hit pedestrians as gas cars'
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.
Source:The Standard
June 03, 2024 03:45 UTC
Retail expo tackles AI, sustainable practices
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.
Source:Philippine Star
June 02, 2024 23:25 UTC
Finally, divorce?
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.
Source:Philippine Star
June 02, 2024 23:25 UTC
Coral bleaching hits Tubbataha due to extreme heat
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.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
June 02, 2024 20:59 UTC
Contractors work overnight to reopen collapsed Hai Ran road by Monday
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).
Source:The Standard
June 02, 2024 17:33 UTC
Paalam, Bacyadan punch their way to Olympics
(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.
Source:Manila Times
June 02, 2024 16:19 UTC
Sunshine Place introduces adult ballet class
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.
Source:Manila Times
June 02, 2024 16:19 UTC
Indonesia volcano erupts, spews ash 7 km into the sky
(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".
Source:The Standard
June 02, 2024 11:53 UTC
The Peacemakers: Tidurays find home
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.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
June 02, 2024 09:37 UTC
Chinese defense minister accuses US of causing friction with its support for Taiwan and Philippines
China's defense minister on Sunday acknowledged the importance of newly renewed military-to-military communications with the United States as tensions escalate in the Asia-Pacific, while at the same time accusing Washington of causing the friction with its support for Taiwan and the Philippines. “We will not allow anyone to bring geopolitical conflicts or any war, whether hot or cold, into our region," Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun told the Shangri-La defense forum in Singapore through a translator. “We will not allow any country or any force to create conflict and chaos in our region,” he added. Dong accused the Philippines of deliberately provoking China, “emboldened by outside powers.”“China has recognized great restraint in the face of such infringements and provocations,” he said. China regards Taiwan as a renegade province that must come under its control, by force if necessary.
Source:The Standard
June 02, 2024 04:38 UTC
Nat’l language body under fire from deaf community
ADVERTISEMENTREAD: Speaking to those who can’t hear: Why sign language matters in campaignsGroups like the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) and the Filipino Sign Language National Network (FSL-NN) have expressed their support for the NCNDO in demanding answers from the commission. ACT, for one, said it had received word that the KWF was planning to “abolish” the FSL unit. ‘Collateral damage’The commission also denied that it was scrapping the FSL unit, saying it is mandated under Republic Act No. 11106, or The Filipino Sign Language Act, to implement such a program. “The staff of the FSL unit has become collateral damage—a tragedy in particular for the two deaf staff who are in unique (nonteaching) policy-influencing positions found in no other national government entity,” Martinez added.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
June 01, 2024 23:04 UTC
India wraps up marathon election amid heat wave
VARANASI, India — Indians flocked to the polls under scorching heat in the Hindu holy city of Varanasi on Saturday as a marathon national election reached its final day, six weeks after voting first began. AFP PHOTOIt is one of the final cities to vote in India's grueling election and where public support for Modi's ever-closer alignment of religion and politics burns brightest. Turnout is down several percentage points from the last national election in 2019, with analysts blaming widespread expectations of a Modi victory, as well as successive heat waves scorching India's northern states. "It's already so hot," Chinta Devi, who arrived to cast her vote at eight in the morning, told AFP. "People now look at India and Indians with a lot more respect, something not accorded earlier."
Source:Manila Times
June 01, 2024 22:42 UTC