No negligence over inspection of storm damaged Redhill homes, says development secretary
There was no negligence involved in the original inspection of the three luxury homes on the Redhill Peninsula in Tai Tam, said the Development Secretary Bernadette Linn Hon-ho on Saturday, after unapproved building works were uncovered due to the recent heavy rains. In a RTHK interview, the minister said authorities are gathering evidence and will file criminal charges based on it. High-end residential estates were not included in proactive inspections, but those near hillsides and the sea will be given priority, Linn added. "Because for houses built on the slope, if there are any unauthorized building works, there will be a slope stability angle. According to Mak, 2,300 applications have already been submitted from residents and merchants who have suffered losses from the storm.
Source:The Standard
September 16, 2023 05:58 UTC
(Video) Driver nearly struck by vehicle to avoid getting ticketed
A driver was nearly hit by a vehicle in Cheung Sha Wan on Friday morning while rushing to avoid getting ticketed. As traffic police continue to step up their work for illegal parking, many drivers attempt to avoid getting ticketed by any means possible. Suddenly, a man in a green shirt rushed onto the road, with the driver blaring his horn to warn the hurried man. Fortunately, the man was not hit by the vehicle. The driver who posted the clip stated that the rushing man should take care of his life and said money is not the main thing he should be worried about.
Source:The Standard
September 15, 2023 19:20 UTC
More countries eye WPS joint patrols
AT least six countries are interested in having their navies carry out joint patrols with the Philippines in the tension-shrouded South China Sea. But Brawner said Germany, Canada and France are also open to joint patrols. Brawner said joint patrols are "definitely in our plan and right now we are in the process of working with the other countries." Brawner said Canada and France also supported the idea of joint patrols during the recent Defense Chiefs' meeting in Fiji last July. He said at least three other countries are also carrying out joint patrols.
Source:Manila Times
September 15, 2023 19:03 UTC
Man dies after stumbling into moving train at University Station
A 20-year-old man died in the early hours of Friday after he stumbled into a moving train leaving University Station. The man was said to be hit in the head by the moving train and bounced back onto the platform. He suffered severe injuries to his head and was certified dead on the scene after paramedics arrived. After reviewing CCTV footage, officers said the man could be seen a little unsteady on his feet before he lost his balance and fell onto the side of the moving train. Officers are now investigating whether the man had consumed alcohol before the incident happened.
Source:The Standard
September 15, 2023 17:50 UTC
Tokyo beckons with Ginza and all its possibilities
GINZA is a district close to the center of Tokyo. Almost every store has a spot in Ginza, even souvenirs are available, so there are tons of possibilities for pasalubong. This district might be gaining popularity, but not a lot of people know the secret side of Ginza. Instead of a shopping district, walking through the streets is like sneaking a peek into someone's closet. All in all, Ginza is one of the places in the world that lives up to the hype.
Source:Manila Times
September 15, 2023 16:48 UTC
8 cops in Jemboy killing dismissed
8 cops in Jemboy killing dismissedPeople pay respects to 17-year old Jerhode Jemboy Baltazar in his wake in Navotas City on August 11, 2023. MANILA, Philippines — Eight police personnel involved in the killing of 17-year-old Jemboy Baltazar have been dismissed due to evidence showing they attempted to escape accountability over the incident. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez approved the dismissal of eight police officers due to “substantial evidence” that they were “administratively liable” for Baltazar’s killing in August. RELATED: ‘Buhay pa sana anak ko’: Cops barred Jemboy Baltazar's father from retrieving his bodyCarpio and dela Cruz were dismissed for serious grave neglect of duty because they did not personally supervise their team during the operation, the resolution read. Once dismissed, the police officers will lose their benefits, and they will be permanently barred from holding any other government positions.
Source:Philippine Star
September 15, 2023 15:02 UTC
CIC emphasizes safety culture and zero tolerance to industrial accidents
With the industrial accidents, including three fatal ones occurring on the same day, these statistics sounded the alarm for the construction industry. “The biggest risks on construction sites have always been people’s attitude and safety culture,” Ho observed. In underscoring CIC’s zero tolerance to industrial accidents, Ho pointed out that safety culture is at the heart of the whole industry. “Complacency is the greatest obstacle in our concerted effort to achieve industrial safety," he emphasized. But it is incumbent on all industry stakeholders to take up the responsibilities to enhance construction safety and 'Say No to Danger' together.
Source:The Standard
September 15, 2023 12:01 UTC
WATCH: Technology to care for elderly
With an aging population keen on enjoying riches, more fulfilling retirement years, Japan has long pioneered technologies aimed at the elderly. A revolutionary design of floor protects frail bones from fractures by deforming instantly to absorb and cushion the shock of a person falling. Friendly, humanoid robots are now used at many care facilities, with artificial intelligence that lets them memorize over 100 faces and names and hold natural conversations geared specifically to the person they are talking to. We also see a seal-shaped robot designed to create a healing effect, like a pet animal, that has now been certified as a medical device in over 30 countries. VIDEO BY MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF JAPAN
Source:Manila Times
September 15, 2023 08:09 UTC
Morado meets Brazilian legends in Japan
(UPDATE) FILIPINA volleyball player Julia "Jia" Morado-de Guzman has shared her first photos for Japanese side Denso Airybees on her Instagram on Tuesday. Brazilian legend Thaisa Menezes (left) and Jia Morado PHOTO FROM MORADO’S IGShe met Brazilian Olympic silver medalists Rosamaria Montibeller and Gabriela Guimarães, as well as two-time Olympic champion Thaisa Menezes Daher, while in Japan. "I've always been a student of the game, taking in every opportunity to learn what I can. Montibeller will be Morado's teammate on the Airybees, and Morado said she looks forward to playing with her soon. See you soon," commented the Brazilian player on the Instagram post.
Source:Manila Times
September 15, 2023 07:16 UTC
SIM cards from POGOs contain P1 billion in e-wallets
SIM cards from POGOs contain P1 billion in e-walletsMANILA, Philippines — Around 28,000 Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards confiscated from Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) in Pasay City last month were used to siphon P1 billion from the e-wallets of online fraud victims, according to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). “We checked the SIM cards one by one and we accessed their e-wallets. “The POGOs used these SIM cards to steal and load the money in their respective e-wallets. Prior to the POGO raid in August, authorities also confiscated more than 80,000 SIM cards in a Las Piñas facility in June. Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation’s Anti-Cybercrime Division arrested three suspects in Pasay and Las Piñas over the sale of registered SIM cards.
Source:Philippine Star
September 15, 2023 04:32 UTC
Indian man arrested over indecent assault of Korean live streamer granted bail
A 46-year-old Indian man who was arrested on suspicion of indecently assaulting a Korean live streamer in Central was granted bail on Thursday. The man, Amit, was brought to the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today on one count of indent assault. The well-known South Korean live-streamer, may5w, was able to live stream her ordeal and the video has since gone viral. The footage showed the woman being followed by a man from a tram stop to the Central MTR station. She could be seen repeatedly resisting his advances, before he forcefully pressed her against a wall halfway down the Central station staircase.
Source:The Standard
September 14, 2023 19:24 UTC
India’s Nipah virus trackers gather samples from bats, fruit
NEW DELHI– Experts have fanned out in India’s southern state of Kerala to collect samples of fluid from bats and fruit trees in a region where the deadly Nipah virus has killed two people and three more have tested positive. Samples of bat urine, animal droppings and half-eaten fruit were collected from Maruthonkara, the village where the first victim lived, set beside a 300-acre (121-hectare) forest home to several bat species. Fruit bats from the area had tested positive for the Nipah virus during an outbreak in 2018, the state’s first. ADVERTISEMENTOutbreaks are sporadic and previous infections in South Asia were traced to consumption of items contaminated with bat excreta. Kerala’s first Nipah outbreak killed 21 of the 23 infected, while subsequent outbreaks in 2019 and 2021 killed two people.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
September 14, 2023 18:12 UTC
Majority believes PH on right track – survey
(UPDATE) SEVEN out of 10 Filipinos believe that the country is heading toward the right direction, a survey by OCTA Research Group has shown. In its Tugon ng Masa survey conducted from July 22 to 26, 2023, 72 percent of respondents said the Philippines is on the correct path. Only 65 percent of Visayas respondents said they were optimistic about the country's direction, a significant decline compared to March, wherein 87 percent said the country was on the right track, and 9 percent said otherwise. Class ABC, at 74 percent, was also highly optimistic of the country's direction, followed by Class D with 74 percent and Class E with 70 percent. Adult Filipinos in Class E are the highest in terms of being uncertain about the country's direction than any other socioeconomic class at 21 percent.
Source:Manila Times
September 14, 2023 15:36 UTC
Chinese boats renew swarming in WPS
(UPDATE) CLOSE to 30 Chinese fishing vessels (CFVs) have been massing at several locations in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Command (Wescom) reported on Thursday. The renewed swarming of Chinese boats could further fuel the already volatile situation in the WPS where incursions by Chinese coast guard (CCG) and maritime militia have become more frequent. Escoda Shoal serves as a marker for the approach to Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, where Chinese ships have been shadowing and harassing boats delivering supplies to the Philippine military station there, Wescom said. These activities have been a source of tension in the WPS and have contributed to instability in the region," Wescom said in a statement. The US continues to upgrade the camps as part of the overall plan to beef up the Philippines' defense posture.
Source:Manila Times
September 14, 2023 15:24 UTC
WATCH: Digital Art – Sending a message of peace
Digital art creates new worlds right before our eyes with a blend of reality and imagination. MURAMATSU Ryotaro, a digital artist and projection-mapping pioneer, created his Dandelion Project to connect people worldwide in a prayer for peace. This project sends virtual flowers, a symbol of peace, to locations in various countries by transmitting digital fluff. We see visitors in Kyoto experiencing this project and exchanging fluffs from their smartphones with people around the world in real time, the replies generating beautiful blossoms in Kyoto temples. VIDEO BY MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF JAPANGet 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
Source:Manila Times
September 14, 2023 14:09 UTC