📰 News & Current Affairs

Duterte, who was appointed as KOJC administrator of properties, believes the CA order is wrong since the money comes from a church organization and no public funds are involved. He also believes the case will reach the Supreme Court. In a podcast episode yesterday, the former chief executive pointed out that there is neither an allegation of misuse nor a KOJC member saying he was defrauded of his contribution. Source: CA erred on freeze order on KOJC assets – Duterte

The Supreme Court has ordered the government to comment on a petition questioning the constitutionality of a provision on unprogrammed appropriations (UA) in the 2024 national budget, tapping PHP89.9 billion in unutilized funds of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth). Source: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1231275

National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Año said Wednesday the New People’s Army’s (NPA) force continues to dwindle, with its weakened guerrilla fronts now down to five. Source: Security exec: NPA force down to 5 weakened guerrilla fronts

JUST IN | NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan inamin sa Senado na wala pang aprubado na malaking flood control project ang Marcos Administration sa kabila ng bilyon-bilyung ginagastos ng gobyerno kada taon para sa feasibility study nito.

The Commission on Audit (COA) should not be satisfied with just auditing the confidential funds (CF) under the previous Office of the Vice President (OVP) budgets, as it should check all secret allocations, Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas said. Source: Brosas urges COA: Don’t stop at OVP, audit all secret funds

Fresh from the excitement of the 2024 Paris Olympics, a group of teachers and education workers gathered at the Department of Education (DepEd) Central Office in Pasig City on Wednesday, Aug. 15, where they held an Olympic-themed protest to urge the agency to discard the “ill-conceived and burdensome” MATATAG curriculum. READ: Teachers blame DepEd’s MATATAG Curriculum for turning schools into ‘arenas of suffering’

Authorities in Russia’s Kursk region have decided to evacuate the population of its Glushkov district, acting governor Alexei Smirnov said late on Wednesday, August 14, amid the continued advance of Ukrainian forces into the border region. Source: Russia to evacuate thousands more from Kursk region attacked by Ukraine

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has ordered the non-working holiday in observance of Ninoy Aquino Day from Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, to Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. Source: Marcos moves Ninoy Aquino holiday to Aug. 23, 2024

ACTIVE police and military personnel are no longer required to undergo drug tests as well as psychological and psychiatric exams for the renewal of their license to own and possess firearms (LTOFP), Philippine National Police (PNP) Civil Security Group (CSG) spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Eudisan Gultiano said Thursday, August 15, 2024. Cops, military exempt from drug tests, psych exams for firearms license renewal

Thailand’s parliament said it will meet Friday to choose a new prime minister after the Constitutional Court removed Srettha Thavisin on Wednesday over an ethics violation. Source: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1231250

THE PAROJINOGS ARE BACK? A police officer is one of the persons of interest in the robbery of two jewelry shops in Barangay Ermita here. This was disclosed by the special investigation task group (SITG) created to solve the twin robberies after the suspected getaway vehicle was discovered to be owned by a police master sergeant assigned in Metro Manila. The police officer was on leave when the robbers struck Macy’s Gold and Silver Jewelry Store and DGC D’ Gold Chain and Jewelry Store on August 8. “We are preparing cases for these people so let’s see where the evidence will lead," said Macatangay in a press briefing at the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) headquarters on Wednesday morning, August 14. The suspected getaway vehicle, a...

The world population is expected to start shrinking within this century after hitting a peak in the mid-2080s due to lower fertility levels, particularly in China, according to the latest projection by the United Nations. Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/world/2024/8/13/world-population-to-shrink-in-21st-century-amid-birthrate-fall-u-n-1420

Senator Imee Marcos has opposed the proposed revival of e-sa̾bong, or online cockfighting, in the country and the plan to spare 12 Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogo) from the ban. Source: Marcos opposes revival of e-******, plan to spare 12 Pogos from ban

Schultz admits being guilty to charges of conspiring to obtain and disclose national defense information, exporting technical data related to defense articles without a license, conspiracy to export defense articles without a license, and bribery of a public official, the Department of Justice said in a statement. Source: US soldier sold defense info to China, including on PH drills

Ukraine is pushing farther into Russia’s Kursk region after claiming hundreds of square miles of territory. CNN has uncovered online job vacancies for trench diggers in Russia’s Kursk region, as satellite imagery shows a new trench system has been dug in the region. CNN’s Erin Burnett reports. Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/08/14/world/video/russia-ukraine-advances-war-ebof-digvid

David said that as he observed during their video call, Guo lost weight, looked stressed and was in a somber mood. The lawyer said he is now preparing Guo’s motion for reconsideration on her dismissal by the Office of the Ombudsman. “The MR is a prerequisite so that we can elevate the case before the Court of Appeals through a petition for review,” David said. Source: Alice Guo still in the Philippines, preparing motion — lawyer

The World Health Organization said mpox is spreading so rapidly in parts of Africa that it constitutes a global health emergency. There are several important differences between the type of mpox that was spreading globally (including around the U.S.) in 2022 and the type of mpox that prompted the WHO’s new declaration. Source: https://thehill.com/homenews/nexstar_media_wire/4828204-mpox-is-a-global-emergency-who-says-is-it-spreading-the-us/

An official of the National Nutrition Council (NNC) on Wednesday said P20 per meal per person was insufficient for maintaining a healthy diet. Source: NNC: P20 per meal not enough

“I think the day of reckoning is coming closer, because what I’m hearing is that a warrant of arrest will be issued by the ICC sometime in September,” Carpio said in an interview on the vlog of political analyst and Inquirer columnist Richard Heydarian. Source: Carpio: ICC warrant may be out by September

In a privilege speech, Dela Rosa urged his colleagues in the Senate to consider approving a measure similar to the US Service-Members Protection Act, which E×ρréššly prohibits US courts, agencies or entities of any state or local government, including any court, from cooperating with the ICC. Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/12/bato-suggests-law-banning-cooperation-with-icc-1825

Timbang, the only councilor left in the municipal council, is also the sole councilor who had a “difference of opinion” about the granting of permit to the Pogo in the town, according to Abalos. Source: Alice Guo replaced by councilor as Tarlac town mayor

Alleged Data Breach Involving Philippine Airlines: 12.8 Million Users Allegedly Affected Date Published: August 14, 2024 Last night, we received a notification about a possible data breach involving Philippine Airlines. A recent post circulating in several private channels allegedly shows that the breach has affected 12.8 million users. The breach appears to display sensitive information, including passport numbers, birthdates, full names, and addresses, linked to a site associated with Clark International Airport. This breach was reportedly originally posted on a channel tied to an alleged Lockbit affiliate, a notorious ransomware group known for targeting large organizations. The data, which may include information shared between...

“UP purportedly champions fearless scholarship and critical thinking, but its administration now wants to ‘strategically align (its) resources and expertise’ with a coercive institution that we all know has been accused countless times by local and international human rights watchdog groups of trampling on civil liberties in its purported counterinsurgency campaigns and attacks on government critics and dissidents,” said a joint statement by the university’s sectoral regents representing faculty, students and personnel, Kasama sa UP and Defend UP Network. Source: UP community denounces accord with military

Diplomatic Timeline: Wu advocates for China to “diplomatically set a timeline for the Philippines to withdraw from the Second Thomas Shoal,” specifying deadlines for military personnel withdrawal and arrangements for humanitarian aid during the transition. He argues that a clear timetable could end the protracted “cat-and-mouse game” over the contested reef. Source: China's 'Three-Point Strategy' To Annex Philippines' 2nd Thomas Shoal: Chinese Scholar Shares Cunning Plan

The Department of Education (DepEd) is keeping a close watch on reports of public school teachers leaving for job opportunities abroad, thereby increasing the teacher shortage in the country. Source: Teacher exodus alarms DepEd; Education cluster formed

For tourists and migrants, New Zealand is thought to be one of the world’s most attractive destinations. But it looks like the natives don’t seem to agree. Source: Why is New Zealand seeing a record number of its citizens leaving?

Andrey Gurulyov said that Russia's military knew about Ukraine's invasion plans for Kursk about a month before it happened but was told "not to panic" because "those above know better." Source: A Russian lawmaker says the military knew Ukraine was planning to hit Kursk, but everyone was told 'not to panic' because 'those above know better'

Angara said the Cabinet cluster for education would consist of the DepEd, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the Department of Labor and Employment, and the Department of Budget and Management. Source: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1231054

THE dictator Marcos would have admired the uniformity and obedience of Philippine mainstream media under his son's watch. For two days now, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his security officials, including this country's most intellectually vacuous foreign secretary ever, have been fuming over China's People's Liberation Army fighter jets intercepting over Bajo de Masinloc a Philippine Air Force aircraft, even firing flares in front of it. Huh? Aquino lost 'Bajo' 12 years ago, didn't he?

Russia pulled some troops out of southern Ukraine and back into its own territory to try to fend off an escalating incursion by Kyiv’s forces, a Ukrainian official said on Tuesday. Source: Putin pulls units out of Ukraine to defend Russia, Kyiv says

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Giniit ng Chinese Theater Command na nagsasagawa sila ng military exercise sa air space ng Bajo de Masinloc nang pumasok ang aircraft ng Philippine Air Force. Binigyan umano nila ito ng warning bago nila itinaboy sa paraang na a-ayon sa batas. Source: China, naglabas na ng pahayag hinggil sa pagpapalabas ng flare sa Bajo de Masinloc - Brigada News Philippines