News
Germany proposes a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine
LONDON – German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has underscored the critical need for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, asserting that Israelis and Palestinians can only live side by side in peace “if one’s security equals the other’s.” “This can only be achieved when everyone is willing to acknowledge the other’s suffering. We must spare no effort…
Pope calls for global ban on surrogacy
ROME – Pope Francis on Monday called for the practice of surrogate motherhood to be banned worldwide. “The path to peace demands respect for life, for every human life, starting with that of the unborn child in its mother’s womb, which cannot be suppressed, nor become an object of commodification,” Pope Francis said during a New Year audience…
South Korea bans dog meat trade
ISTANBUL – The South Korean Parliament on Tuesday passed a law that will ban the breeding, butchering, distribution and marketing of dogs for meat by 2027. The bill bagged 208 votes and two abstentions, as reported by the Seoul-based Yonhap News Agency. Law enforcement will begin in 2027, and violators could face a maximum two years in prison or a fine of up…
Unemployment further dips to 3.6% in November 2023
The country’s unemployment rate dipped to its lowest level in November last year, while employment reached its highest since April 2005, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported Tuesday. At a briefing, National Statistician Dennis Mapa said results of the PSA’s latest Labor Force Survey (LFS) showed that unemployment rate further dipped to 3.6% during the month, down from the 4.2% recorded…
DTI vows to lure in more investments producing high-quality jobs
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) which is responsible for generating jobs in the country, has vowed to continue attracting investments that produce higher-quality and higher-paying jobs. During the Bagong Pilipinas briefing Tuesday, DTI Undersecretary Kim Bernardo-Lokin said state investment promotion agencies (IPAs) are strengthening their investment strategies while improving the ease of doing business in the country to lure…
Former NPA rebels commit to help gov’t anti-insurgency efforts
By Liza Agoot BAGUIO CITY – Five years ago, former New People’s Army rebel “Ka Iyong” was always fearful that each sunrise would be his last — until he grabbed the opportunity to surrender and provide a brighter future for his family. Ka Iyong, 35, retained his underground nickname even now that he has become…
Iloilo City allots P14M for calamities in 2024
FIRE. A fire burns over 60 houses during a conflagration in Barangay Habog-Habog Salvacion in Molo district, Iloilo City on Dec. 16, 2023. The city government has allocated PHP14 million to buy food and non-food items in case of calamities this year. (File photo by CDRRMO-USAR) ILOILO CITY – The city government here has allocated P14 million for food and…
Iloilo asks Congress to fix power problem in its area
IN A HURRY. Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. has sought the help of Congress to have power issues in the Western Visayas region fixed immediately and avoid a repeat of the outage that plunged Panay, Guimaras, and portions of Negros Occidental in darkness on Jan. 2-5, 2024. In an interview on Tuesday (Jan. 9), Defensor said…
Negros Occidental to develop world-class nature resort
BACOLOD CITY – The Negros Occidental provincial government is set to develop the Mambukal Resort and Wildlife Sanctuary in Murcia town into an ecological-friendly, world-class resort to boost tourism in the province. The updates on the proposed developments include the planned enhancement of hotel facilities and the introduction of new tourism features. In a statement, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Lacson…
PH, Indonesia agree to further upgrade their bilateral relations
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (2-L) and his wife Louise Araneta-Marcos (L) smile with Indonesian President Joko Widodo (2-R) and wife Iriana Joko Widodo (R) during their meeting at Presidential Palace in Bogor, Indonesia, on September 5, 2022. Achmad Ibrahim, EPA-EFE/Pool/file The Philippines and Indonesia have agreed to further upgrade their bilateral relations and cooperation as they mark their 75 years of…