Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has decided to close four of its trust fund accounts amounting to over P12.9 million after it was flagged by the Commission on Audit (COA). In a statement on Saturday, the DILG said its four trust fund accounts at the Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) were flagged by COA “for unauthorized bank accounts,” stating that their creation and retention as of year end of 2023 “have no legal basis.” “The accounts were used as depository accounts for funds from other national government agencies,” explained the DILG. “The accounts […]…

Keep on reading: DILG closes 4 trust fund accounts after being flagged by COA

MOSCOW — The Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed in Kazakhstan this week suffered physical “external interference”, the airline and Azerbaijan’s transport minister said Friday, citing preliminary results of an investigation, adding to speculation it was hit by a Russian air defense system. The jet crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau on Wednesday, killing 38 of the 67 people on board, after attempting to land at its destination in the Russian city of Grozny and then diverting far off course across the Caspian Sea. Russia’s aviation chief said Friday that Grozny was being attacked by Ukrainian drones at the time […]…

Keep on reading: Azerbaijan plane crashed due to ‘physical external interference’

The Social Weather Stations (SWS) Christmas Eve report—Fourth Quarter 2024 Social Weather Survey: 65 percent of adult Filipinos expect a happy Christmas, down from 73 percent in 2023 (www.sws.org.ph, 12/24/24)—is, unfortunately, not too merry and bright. Seen in line with 21 earlier surveys, the new percentages of 65 happy, 10 sad, and 26 neither happy […]…

Keep on reading: Measuring Christmas cheer

WOLVERHAMPTON, England — Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has been shown a red card for the third time this season. The Portugal midfielder was sent off against Wolverhampton in the Premier League on Thursday after receiving a second yellow in the 47th minute. The score was 0-0 at the time and United went on to lose 2-0 thanks to goals by Matheus Cunha — direct from a corner — and Hwang Hee-chan. READ: Man City says one of its fans died at derby match vs United Fernandes previously got red cards in back-to-back games, against Tottenham in the league on […]…

Keep on reading: Bruno Fernandes sent off again in Man United loss at Wolves

Erling Haaland’s failure from the penalty spot and Bruno Fernandes’ latest red card compounded the woes of Manchester City and Manchester United on another tough day for the two Premier League giants. There were no such problems Thursday for Liverpool, which rallied to a 3-1 win over Leicester in foggy conditions at Anfield and moved seven points clear atop the standings approaching the halfway point of the campaign. City dropped more points in its improbably poor run of form by drawing 1-1 at home to Everton, with Haaland having a spot kick saved by England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in the […]…

Keep on reading: Haaland penalty failure piles on woes for Man City

Tokyo (Jiji Press)–Japan’s health ministry has drawn up a report that includes a plan to require companies to take measures against customer harassment of workers, it was learned Thursday. The report also calls for expanding the scope of companies obliged to disclose the proportion of women in managerial posts and the gender pay gap, from those with over 300 employees to those with over 100 employees. Based on the report, the ministry will submit related bills during next year’s ordinary parliamentary session. The report was presented and approved at a meeting of a subcommittee of the ministry’s Labor Policy Council […]…

Keep on reading: Japan eyes law requiring measures against customer harassment

MANILA, Philippines—One of the biggest news of the year was President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s decision and order to ban all Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos) and Internet Gaming Licensees (IGLs), by December 31, 2024. Marcos announced this toward the end of his third State of the Nation Address (Sona) last July which dree applause and a standing ovation at the House of Reprsentatives’ plenary hall. With just over a week before the ban’s deadline, what has the government done since Marcos announced it? Assistance to displaced workers In his Sona, Marcos stressed that “the grave abuse and disrespect to our […]…

Keep on reading: 2024, the year of reckoning for Pogos, IGLs

Viewers may gasp, cringe or cry out watching characters die on Netflix’s “Squid Game,” but those simulated deaths have a different effect on its creator, writer and director. Instead, Hwang Dong-hyuk feels happiness seeing them go. The show has a huge cast and Hwang says it was “really difficult” to manage everyone on set. As characters would die, Hwang recalls saying to the actors on their last day, “‘Oh no! How sad! I won’t see you tomorrow,’ but I was always smiling inside.” READ MORE: ‘Squid Game’: Real-life violence that inspired South Korean show ‘Squid Game’ returns looking for win […]…

Keep on reading: ‘Squid Game’ director on killing off show’s characters

Bethlehem, the West Bank city where Jesus Christ was born, was uncharacteristically silent on Christmas Day. Gone was the usually bustling place filled with foreign tourists and pilgrims flocking to the Church of the Nativity. In the past, the presence of busloads of tourists arriving from practically all directions brought a lively vibe that blended […]…

Keep on reading: Silent night in Bethlehem

After seven years, the Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. (PSE) has again reached an agreement with the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP) and other shareholders to take over the country’s bond trading platform. In a regulatory disclosure after the close of trading on Thursday, the PSE said it had signed agreements with BAP, Singapore Exchange Ltd., Whistler Technologies Services Inc., San Miguel Corp., Investment House Association of the Philippines, Golden Astra Capital Inc. and Mizuho Bank Ltd. to sell their shares in Philippine Dealing System Holdings Corp. (PDS). This marks a historic milestone for the operator of the local bourse, […]…

Keep on reading: PSE inks deals to takeover PDS