📰 News & Current Affairs

China's vice foreign minister and his Philippine counterpart have had a "frank and in-depth" exchange on sea-related issues, in particular the issue of the Sabina Shoal, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Wednesday. During their meeting, China reiterated its demand for the immediate withdrawal of a Philippine vessel and vowed to "firmly uphold its sovereignty", the ministry statement showed. Source: Philippines, China hold 'frank' talks on Sabina Shoal

In a social media post accompanied by a collage of pictures of him and his father, Marcos Jr. noted how Marcos Sr.'s wisdom remains a guiding force and a steady voice of reason as he leads the country. Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/11/marcos-jr-pens-tribute-to-father-on-his-birthday-1155

BEBINCA INTENSIFIES INTO A SEVERE TROPICAL STORM BREAKING NEWS: Bebinca has intensified into a Severe Tropical Storm as of 11 p.m. on Wednesday, September 11, the state weather bureau announces. It is also forecasted to intensify further into a typhoon by Thursday evening, September 12. "Despite being far from the Philippine landmass and not directly affecting the country, the trough of Bebinca and the Southwest Monsoon will bring moderate to intense rainfall over MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Visayas, and the northern and western portions of Mindanao beginning tomorrow," said Pagasa. #CDNDigital 📸: Pagasa

anong masasabi nyo mga sir/mam sa statement na ito? MANILA, Philippines — Lawmakers have refuted Vice President Sara Duterte’s allegation that they are using the issue about her office’s secret funds to discredit her, saying that attacking a sitting vice president was the game plan of the previous administration. In a press briefing on Wednesday, 1-Rider party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez and La Union 1st District Rep. Paolo Ortega V were asked about Duterte’s claims that lawmakers are attacking her because vice presidents are always perceived to be aiming for the presidency. Gutierrez disputed her allegation. “Maybe that’s the playbook of the previous administration, but as far as we’re concerned, I don’t care who the...

He added the Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) commitments secured by the PEZA are for expansion projects of existing registered business enterprises for filing within the year. Source: 6 Chinese firms eye P4.6 billion investments in Philippines

NBI agents met Mabilog as soon as he stepped out of a Cathay Pacific plane that arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 at 11 a.m. yesterday. The warrants of arrest were issued by the Sandiganbayan 3rd Division and Lapu-Lapu City Regional Trial Court Branch 73 in Cebu. Source: Mabilog, ex-mayor of most ‘shabulized’ city, back in Philippines

The DBM said the amount was distributed to 257 departments and agencies as of Tuesday afternoon, while 58 more are being processed. The department also explained that the release of funds is based on an agency’s submitted request for salary increase computation. Source: DBM releases P31.93 B for pay hike differential of gov’t workers

In a press briefing, Remulla said that an immigration case against Guo, also identified by authorities as Chinese national Guo Hua Ping, took “precedence over everything” as this is non-bailable. Source: Alice Guo should be under BI custody —Remulla

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has announced that Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ religious group, will remain detained at Camp Crame, despite a court order instructing his transfer to another facility. According to PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo, the decision to keep Quiboloy at the national headquarters was based on security concerns. "The safety of the accused is our priority, and logistical factors also play a significant role in this decision," Fajardo stated. The court's order for Quiboloy's transfer reportedly stemmed from concerns over impartiality and security, but the PNP has cited the high-profile nature of the case and potential risks as reasons for maintaining his detention at Camp...

The tropical storm with the international name “Bebinca” is expected to enter the country’s area of responsibility by Friday, Sept. 13, and will likely enhance the effects of the southwest monsoon (habagat) as the weekend approaches, PAGASA said on Wednesday, Sept. 11. Once it enters, it will be given the local name “Ferdie.” READ: ‘Bebinca’ may enter PAR on Sept. 13, to enhance ‘habagat’

In a post on Instagram, Swift told her over 280 million followers that she will vote for the U.S. vice president in the Nov. 5 election, in the biggest celebrity endorsement yet for Harris. Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/taylor-swift-says-she-will-vote-kamala-harris-2024-09-11/

In a 7 p.m. advisory, Phivolcs said that “[v]olcanic sulfur dioxide (S02) gas emission from the summit crater of Kanlaon based on campaign Flyspec measurement today, 10 September 2024, averaged 9,985 tonnes/day. This is the highest emission from the volcano recorded since instrumental gas monitoring began.” Source: Kanlaon Volcano alert level may rise due to high sulfur dioxide emission

The narrow significance of the Sabina incident is that it could yet spark a military encounter at sea. China might make more aggressive attempts to bully the Philippines out of the shoal. The broader implications go far beyond a few rocks and ships, since such an encounter would test America’s appetite to come to the aid of the Philippines: risking American lives and treasure over an uninhabited shoal would be unpopular in Washington. Yet if the Philippines retreats it is unlikely to get the shoal back. That would trigger memories of its loss of Scarborough Shoal in 2012, and prompt questions in Manila about the reliability of its bigger treaty ally. Source: The scary new map of the South China Sea

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) assured senators on Monday that it was implementing measures to mitigate flooding in the country. Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan made the statement during the Senate hearing on his department’s proposed P898-billion budget for 2025. Several senators pointed out that many Filipinos still suffer from perennial flooding despite the big budget allocated to the DPWH for flood control and management. According to Bonoan, the agency has been implementing flood control projects under the Build Better More program of the Marcos administration. “But at the end of the day, we cannot experience its benefits by next year … we just want to manage the expectations of our fellow citizens...

Peace talks are for those who want peace. Apparently, the CPP-NPA have no intention of holding their end of the bargain. And why would the government sign a peace treaty with a losing terror group? Source: Soldier killed in NPA ambush in Sorsogon town

https://fb.watch/uwTJyY5KH-/

#KAPAPASOKNABALITA | Binigyan umano ng ultimatum na dalawang oras ng Philippine National Police (PNP) ang mga miyembro ng Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) na ilabas at isuko si Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, bago nila pasabugin ang KOJC Cathedral na nasa loob ng KOJC compound sa Davao City, batay sa ulat ng DZAR SMNI Radio. MAKI-BALITA: KOJC Cathedral, pasasabugin ng PNP 'pag hindi sinuko si Quiboloy

JUST IN: LRT-2 is temporarily operating at a reduced capacity due to a power supply issue. Trains are running from Antipolo to V. Mapa and back only. | Via Jefferson Fernando #LRT2 #DailyTribune

President Marcos' communications office will designate fact-checkers in Philippine state media to fight the spread of fake news in the country. The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) on Monday, September 9, said it will intensify its efforts in fighting disinformation and fake news under the new leadership of its chief, Cesar Chavez. Chavez made such an assurance during the budget hearing at the House of Representatives, where he was asked about the spread of disinformation in the country. According to Chavez, he is now planning to issue a memorandum circular to designate a "fact-checking officer" in all PCO-affiliated agencies. “Immediately after I took my oath as Acting Secretary of PCO, I met the Malacañang Press Corps and...

Grabi pala! ang corruption! Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OE6PAvwOEoU News Source: VP Sara claims Romualdez, Co 'controlling' nat'l budget; Co denies allegations

“What is interesting is why haven't her lawyers raised this and why hasn't she posted bail. It's as if Alice wanted, or is at least in agreement, for this case to be filed against her,” Escudero said in a statement. Source: Timing of court-issued arrest warrant for Alice Guo questioned

The informants whose tips led to the arrest of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and four other suspects will receive a reward of PHP 14 million, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said on Tuesday. Source: Tipsters on arrest of Quiboloy, 4 others to bag P14-M bounty – PNP

Context - https://www.facebook.com/kieffer.medina/videos/504441918874173/?app=fbl

Citing parliamentary courtesy, the House of Representatives for the third consecutive year did not scrutinize the proposed P10.5-billion budget of the Office of the President (OP) for 2025 despite the objections of some members. Source: Despite members’ objections, House panel ends hearing on OP’s budget

Despite voting against it, Sulu was still included in the BARMM which prompted it to file a petition before the high court assailing the constitutionality of the organic law. This interpretation, according to the Supreme Court violated Article X, Section 18 of the Constitution, which mandates that only regions voting favorably in the plebiscite should be included in the autonomous region. Source: Supreme Court: Sulu not part of BARMM

Tesla is starting to hire in the Philippines – hinting at an imminent launch the Southeast Asian market. From the introduction of the Roadster to the Model Y, Tesla had a rapid global expansion into many new markets, but as it coverage expanded globally, its launches in new markets have greatly slowed down. Tesla is now in most major auto markets around the world with the exception of a few, like India, which wasn’t from a lack of trying. The automaker has yet to launch primarily in Africa and South America, and it has yet to establish a presence in a few Asian markets. Now, Tesla is addressing this issue in a Southeast Asian market: The Philippines. The Philipines represents a relatively small auto market with about 440,000 car...

(Reuters) - Sweden will send its 17th aid package to Ukraine with further military support totalling 4.6 billion Swedish crowns ($443 million), Defence Minister Pal Jonson said on Monday. The new package will include ammunition for infantry fighting vehicles already donated by Sweden, as well as purchases that would facilitate a transfer of Gripen fighter jets in the future, though no such transfer has been decided on yet. "We want to have the ability to donate Gripens to Ukraine at a possible later stage," Jonson told a press conference. Jonson said support included additional combat boats, missiles and camouflage gear as well as funding to support defence procurements for Ukraine. The measures were decided in close collaboration...

The popular messaging app has quietly removed its end-to-end encryption feature for private chats, just two weeks after its CEO, Pavel Durov, was arrested on allegations of allowing criminal activities on the platform. Any thoughts on this? :Bruh:

BEIJING/HONG KONG, Sept 10 (Reuters) - The United States and China held theatre-level commander talks for the first time on Tuesday, Chinese authorities said, as the two nations look to stabilise military ties and prevent military misunderstandings. https://www.reuters.com/world/top-us-chinese-military-officials-hold-first-video-call-2024-09-10/

“We defer entirely to the discretion and judgment of the committee regarding our budget proposal for the upcoming year,” Duterte said in a letter submitted to the House on Tuesday, September 10. Source: Sara Duterte, entire OVP snub 2nd round of House budget deliberations

The Supreme Court en banc on Monday ordered oral arguments in January 2025 for two petitions questioning the return of unused reserve funds of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to the national treasury. Source: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1232944

The court said the five should be transferred "immediately" upon the receipt of the order. The wardens of the two Quezon City jail facilities, meanwhile, were ordered to produce Quiboloy and the others before the court on Friday morning for their arraignment and pre-trial "via videoconference hearing." Source: Court orders transfer of Quiboloy, 4 others to Quezon City Jail