Marcos attends Partido Federal oathtaking
Marcos attends Partido Federal oathtakingPresident Marcos graces the oath-taking ceremony for 32 newly inducted members of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas on Friday. Also in photo are Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr., some members of the House of Representatives and elected local government officials. MANILA, Philippines — Thirty-two political personalities, including Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr., have joined the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), the party that carried President Marcos in the race for the presidency last year. Abalos confirmed to The STAR that he has joined the political party of President Marcos. Dakila Carlo Cua, Cabanatuan City Mayor Myca Elizabeth Vergara, Meycauayan Mayor Henry Villarica, Pasay Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano, Mandaluyong Vice Mayor Carmelita Aguilar-Abalos and South Cotabato Vice Mayor Antonio Bendita.
Source:Philippine Star
November 12, 2023 13:02 UTC
Texas police officer and suspect killed in a shooting; two other people were found dead
A Texas police officer was killed early Saturday in a shooting that left the shooter dead, a second officer wounded, authorities said. “SWAT officers arrived on scene and forced entry into the residence ... to rescue the victims,” Henderson said. “Two apparent victims of the suspect were located inside of the residence with fatal injuries” and were dead at the scene, Henderson said. “This event jarringly brings home that truth.”The Austin Police Retired Officers Association asked for prayers for both the slain and the wounded officer. Greg Abbott also issued a statement calling for prayers for the family of the slain officer, for the wounded officer and for the city's police department.
Source:The Standard
November 12, 2023 12:55 UTC
At least 40 Indian workers trapped in tunnel collapse: rescue worker
At least 40 construction workers were trapped Sunday after the road tunnel they were building collapsed in northern India, with rescuers scrambling to reach them beneath piles of debris. The collapse occurred early Sunday morning in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand when a group of workers were moving out and replacement workers were going in. "About 200 metres (218 yards) of the tunnel have collapsed," Durgesh Rathodi, a state disaster response official, told AFP from the site. "About 40 to 41 workers are trapped inside. "Pray to god that those workers trapped inside the tunnel are brought out safely," Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami wrote on social media platform X.
Source:The Standard
November 12, 2023 10:00 UTC
Students' safety, well-being should not be compromised
Thousands of students, along with teachers and school personnel, were reportedly traumatized by the sound of gunfire exchanged between rebels and soldiers. During a recent conference, Unesco highlighted a strong link between school violence and mental health and called for urgent action to foster safe learning environments. It seems notable that Mrs. Duterte was also dropping the request for confidential and intelligence funds for the Office of the Vice President. Some, including Mrs. Duterte herself, seem to prefer ignoring the political factor for now. As Mrs. Duterte said, young Filipinos are the future of this country.
Source:Manila Times
November 12, 2023 04:13 UTC
Making a strategy strategic
I AM not sure if you share the observation that social media platforms today are swarmed with announcements of seminars and online conferences on the topic of "strategy," whether they are schools offering programs like MBAs or companies promoting courses or training on entrepreneurship and strategic marketing. This is quite understandable since we live in a world that demands competitiveness in all fields, whether in business or education. This made me think of how much or how little I know about strategy. When we try to go back to some important principles or concepts concerning strategy, we need to cite the Harvard Business School's foremost professor, Michael Porter, whose authority on the subject gravitates toward the theory of "competitive advantage."
Source:Manila Times
November 12, 2023 04:05 UTC
Asking for help
This is why a monicker says: “The reward for good work is more work.”Asking for help and being labeled by untrained and insensitive bosses as “weak and inefficient is so old-school.” But going back to the helpless and distraught leader asking for advice, there is a lot of cognitive reframing required to understand leadership and the power of asking for help. However, there are moments in a leader’s journey when they yearn for someone to step in and help carry the load. Admitting that you need help may be difficult, but asserting, “I am no Marvel or DC superhero, and I cannot do everything alone” is liberating. It’s acceptable to say, “I need help.” Mark Johnson says: “Leadership is not a solitary journey; it’s a shared expedition, where asking for help is a sign of wisdom, not weakness.”The leadership experience and journey are paved with the willingness to acknowledge one’s limitations and seek help when necessary. Don’t be afraid to say, “I need help,” because in doing so, you inspire greatness in yourself and those you lead.
Source:Philippine Star
November 12, 2023 03:58 UTC
This year’s barangay polls most violent since 2010
MANILA, Philippines — This year’s barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) are poised to be the most violent village polls in the past 13 years, according to the latest data from the Philippine National Police. ADVERTISEMENTThese validated ERIs led to the killing of 26 persons and the wounding of 96 others. The figure was 174.3 percent higher than the 35 confirmed ERIs recorded during election day on Oct. 30. This year’s figure was almost equal to the 97 validated ERIs recorded during the 2010 village polls. In 2010 there were 97 ERIs, in 2013 there were 57 and in 2018, it was down to 40 ERIs.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
November 11, 2023 23:11 UTC
More intelligence funds sought after latest Ayungin water cannon incident
More intelligence funds sought after latest Ayungin water cannon incidentThis photo taken on Nov. 10, 2023 shows China coast guard personnel sailing aluminum hulled boats at Second Thomas Shoal in the disputed South China Sea. "This incident should push Congress to finally approve a higher budget for the intelligence funds for agencies that defend our territories. "We must also upgrade the capabilities of our Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy to maneuver past the Chinese blockade of our troops on Ayungin Shoal. This move occurred despite Ayungin Shoal being well within Manila's 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The CCG last August also utilized water cannons against Philippine vessels delivering provisions to the military outpost in Ayungin Shoal.
Source:Philippine Star
November 11, 2023 20:57 UTC
Chinese vessels in high-seas chase of Philippine boat with media
Chinese vessels in high-seas chase of Philippine boat with mediaThis photo taken on Nov. 10, 2023 shows China coast guard personnel sailing an aluminum hulled boat at Second Thomas Shoal in the disputed South China Sea. Moments later, the Philippine Coast Guard craft carrying AFP and a local media outlet slipped into the shallow waters of the shoal. China claims almost the entire South China Sea and has ignored an international ruling that its stance has no legal basis. Manila accuses Chinese vessels of harassing and blocking Philippine boats delivering food, water and materials for badly needed repairs. The Philippine Coast Guard identified five Chinese coast guard, 28 "maritime militia" and five navy vessels floating nearby.
Source:Philippine Star
November 11, 2023 20:42 UTC
Hospital Authority calls on people to register as organ donors on Organ Donation Day
Hospital Authority calls on people to register as organ donors on Organ Donation DayThe Hospital Authority on Saturday - the city’s Organ Donation Day - called on people to register as organ donors, adding that over 2,400 end-stage renal disease patients in Hong Kong are waiting for kidney transplants as of September this year. The Authority believed that conservative local cultures are still major barriers to organ donation, leading to suboptimal donation rates in recent years. However, it noted that the number of registrations for organ donation has slowly been increasing in recent months, and they urge citizens to support the cause. It said the process affects the patients' daily lives, also quoting patients who underwent kidney transplants who say they were given a new lease on life after the transplant. The SAR government has designated the second Saturday of November every year as Organ Donation Day.
Source:The Standard
November 11, 2023 20:17 UTC
HEADLINES: Support swells as PH files new China protest | Nov. 12, 2023
Support swells as PH files new China protestSEVERAL countries have expressed their support for the Philippines, calling out China's "dangerous" actions in the West Philippine Sea, as the Philippines, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, filed another diplomatic protest. Under the revised IRR, the President "may either accept or reject" the recommendation of the advisory body regarding the nominees for the M.I.C. Roads after Santiago was a "tribute to her incredible achievements and a reminder of her unwavering dedication to the country." Ireland's first trade mission is in PHIn business, Ireland has brought its first high-level trade mission to the Philippines as it considers the Philippines an important market in Southeast Asia. The two-day Irish trade mission here, through the Bord Bia (Irish Food Board), aims to boost Ireland's food exports, especially dairy and meat products, and look into opportunities in partnering with local companies.
Source:Manila Times
November 11, 2023 17:19 UTC
Hong Kong's anti-graft agency chief pledges to crack down on people calling on others to cast blank votes in elections
Hong Kong's anti-graft agency chief said on Saturday that authorities will crack down on those who urge people to cast blank votes in elections, including those who relayed the message. Speaking on a TV program, ICAC Chief Danny Woo Ying-ming, said the anti-graft body will strictly enforce the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance in the upcoming District Council elections. Meanwhile, Woo said the agency will establish the Hong Kong International Academy Against Corruption next year. Two floors at the agency’s North Point headquarters, as well as the training camp in Tuen Mun, will be utilized as school campuses. He said the academy will organize training for anti-corruption professionals from around the world, as well as for the public and private sectors in Hong Kong, with an aim of organizing 20 overseas and 10 local courses next year for some 2,000 people.
Source:The Standard
November 11, 2023 17:05 UTC
39 Filipinos remain in Gaza amid Israeli-Palestinian conflict
39 Filipinos remain in Gaza amid Israeli-Palestinian conflictPalestinian families fleeing Gaza City and other parts of northern Gaza towards the southern areas, walk along a road on November 10, 2023 amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement. MANILA, Philippines — Over three dozen Filipinos are still in Israeli-occupied Gaza as bombs target Palestinians, more than a month into the conflict. The DFA had placed Gaza under Alert Level 4 last October due to the intensification of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, making evacuation for Filipinos mandatory. Entry permits remain a problemAccording to De Vega, some Palestinian spouses of Filipinos were not given clearance to leave. The "Operation al-Aqsa Storm," conducted by Palestinian militants, is reportedly a response to attacks by Jewish settlers, along with confrontations in Jenin and the Al-Aqsa mosque.
Source:Philippine Star
November 11, 2023 12:33 UTC
Two workers hit by falling metal bars at Yau Ma Tei construction site
Two workers were hit by falling metal bars at a construction site in Yau Ma Tei on Saturday, with one of the workers said to be unconscious after the incident. The incident happened at around 1.43 pm today on the construction site located at the intersection of Ferry Street and Kansu Street. Sources said the metal bars fell from a height when they were being lifted by a crane. The other worker was said to be pinned under the metal bars. Two other workers also suffered minor injuries when evading the falling metal bars.
Source:The Standard
November 11, 2023 12:25 UTC
Robert de Niro company liable for discrimination
LOS ANGELES, California: A US jury on Thursday found Robert de Niro's production company liable for gender discrimination against a former employee who said she had been forced to perform "stereotypically female" jobs for the actor. The jury dismissed the original lawsuit filed by Canal Productions against Chase Robinson. "We are delighted that the jury saw what we saw and returned a verdict in Chase Robinson's favor against Robert De Niro's company, Canal Productions," her lawyer David Sanford wrote in a statement to Agence France-Presse (AFP). De Niro, who did not attend Thursday's hearing, was not found individually liable. Earlier in the two-week trial, he had testified that Chase Robinson's claims were "nonsense."
Source:Manila Times
November 11, 2023 10:19 UTC