Residents in Pandan, Catanduanes, appeal for aid and reinforcement, as local resources prove inadequate in assisting victims of Super Typhoon Uwan

• Rappler
• 3 saat, 43 dakika

PHILADELPHIA — The U.S. ended production of the penny Wednesday, abandoning the 1-cent coins that were embedded in American culture for more than 230 years as symbols of frugality and the price of a person’s thoughts but had become nearly worthless. When it was introduced in 1793, a penny could buy a biscuit, a candle or a piece of candy. But now most of them are cast aside to sit in jars or junk drawers, and each one costs nearly 4 cents to make. “God bless America, and we’re going to save the taxpayers $56 million,” Treasurer Brandon Beach said […]... Keep on reading: US Mint presses final pennies as production ends after over 230 years

• Inquirer
• 4 saat, 8 dakika

WASHINGTON – Jeffrey Epstein suggested Donald Trump knew of the disgraced financier’s sexual abuse and “spent hours” with one of his victims at his house, according to emails released by Democrats Wednesday that piled fresh pressure on the US president. Trump has repeatedly denied any knowledge of the sex-trafficking activities of his former friend, who died by suicide in 2019 while in prison awaiting trial, and accused Democrats of trying to “deflect” from their own failings with the latest messages. But the scandal has proved tough for Trump to shake, and Democrats on the House Oversight Committee said the three […]... Keep on reading: Trump 'knew about the girls,' new Epstein emails claim

• Inquirer
• 4 saat, 24 dakika

The Philippines is a typhoon-prone country, with approximately twenty tropical cyclones entering its area of responsibility per year, including the recent Tino (Kalmeigi)  and Uwan (Fung-wong). Social media is swamped with photos and videos of the impact of these weather disturbances: residents trapped on their roofs as floodwaters quickly rose, streets turn into rivers, cars sink under floodwater, landslides, homes and roads destroyed across the country’s most populous island along with  displacement, injuries and death. Fierce wind and rain flood leave enormous piles of debris – including felled trees, pieces of furniture and entire metal roofs. Typhoon Yolanda, internationally known as Typhoon […]... Keep on reading: Acts of God doctrine in natural calamities

• Inquirer
• 4 saat, 25 dakika

BELÉM, Brazil — China believes the United States eventually will return to climate talks, the head of Beijing’s delegation told Agence France-Presse on Wednesday at the COP30 climate summit, adding the world must show that the green transition “cannot be reversed.” Cooperation between China and the United States, the world’s biggest economies and top polluters, has been key in the past to breaking deadlocks during negotiations at the annual UN climate talks. READ: COP 30: The moment of truth But President Donald Trump, who has pulled the United States out of the Paris climate agreement, and his government have shunned […]... Keep on reading: China hopes US will ‘some day’ return to climate fold

• Inquirer
• 4 saat, 35 dakika

Reflections for today

• Manila Bulletin News
• 4 saat, 43 dakika

MANILA, Philippines — The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will deploy more than 16,000 personnel to maintain peace and order during the simultaneous rallies to be held by the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) and the United People’s Initiative (UPI) movement in Metro Manila next week, its spokesperson said on Wednesday. NCRPO public information office […]... Keep on reading: Metro police deploying 16,433 personnel for 3-day rallies

• Inquirer
• 4 saat, 45 dakika

MANILA, Philippines — Three police officers were shot dead in separate incidents by law enforcers earlier this week. One of the cases took place in Abra province over a misconduct complaint, while the other occurred in Marilao, Bulacan, and involved a Caloocan City police officer who was accused of robbing a convenience store. Philippine National […]... Keep on reading: 3 police officers killed in shootouts with law enforcers

• Inquirer
• 4 saat, 49 dakika

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) is projecting at least 20 percent in savings once it formally takes over the construction of farm-to-market roads (FMRs) starting next year. In a statement on Wednesday, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the DA could slash the cost of building an FMR project to P12 […]... Keep on reading: DA sees 20-percent savings in takeover of farm road projects

• Inquirer
• 4 saat, 51 dakika

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) said on Wednesday that Super Typhoon Uwan (international name: Fung-wong) damaged a total of 2,953 schools or nearly 16,000 classrooms nationwide. Based on DepEd’s latest situation report, a total of 15,889 classrooms were affected, with 10,400 sustaining minor damage. Another 3,503 suffered major damage, while 1,986 were […]... Keep on reading: Uwan damaged 16,000 classrooms – DepEd

• Inquirer
• 4 saat, 53 dakika

MANILA, Philippines — The Court of Appeals (CA) has overturned a Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) ruling that allowed the discharge of a whistleblower in the alleged 2019 “ghost dialysis” scheme to become a state witness. In a 24-page decision dated Oct. 30, the appellate court’s 11th Division reinstated a Municipal Trial Court (MTC) […]... Keep on reading: CA: whistleblower in 2019 ‘ghost dialysis’ scheme can’t be state witness

• Inquirer
• 4 saat, 57 dakika

GENEVA—A blue diamond weighing nearly 10 carats has sold at auction in Switzerland for 20.5 million Swiss francs ($26.6 million) including fees. The 9.51-carat “Mellon Blue”—named for the late American arts patron Rachel “Bunny” Mellon—had been expected to fetch $20-$30 million at the Christie’s auction on Tuesday. The house said the stone came in on the estimated range. The final price includes the “buyer’s premium” and other fees. The diamond was previously sold in 2014, the year that Mellon died, for $32.6 million, which was one of the highest prices ever paid for a colored diamond at auction, Christie’s says. […]... Keep on reading: ‘Mellon Blue’ diamond sells for $26.6M at Swiss auction

• Inquirer
• 5 saat, 1 dakika

MANILA, Philippines — The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) is asking the House of Representatives to consider giving it broader powers to investigate anomalous public works projects, more than just the authority to cite uncooperative persons in contempt. During a hearing on Wednesday of the House committee on government reorganization, ICI executive director Brian Hosaka […]... Keep on reading: ICI seeking  more powers: Subpoena, access to info, shield vs TRO

• Inquirer
• 5 saat, 3 dakika

MANILA, Philippines — A group of information technology (IT) and business process management companies has come to the defense of business process outsourcing (BPO) companies now under fire for allegedly forcing employees to report for work in the middle of Super Typhoon Uwan (international name: Fung-wong). The IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines […]... Keep on reading: ‘Forced work’? Millions depend on BPOs, rain or shine, says group

• Inquirer
• 5 saat, 5 dakika

MANILA, Philippines — The Akbayan bloc in the House of Representatives has filed a bill seeking to ban political dynasties, in a test of Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III’s promise on Tuesday to pursue the politically game-changing legislation under his leadership. Dy, who himself comes from a political dynasty in Isabela, has two years before […]... Keep on reading: Akbayan-backed bill may test Dy’s vow to push antidynasty law

• Inquirer
• 5 saat, 7 dakika

MANILA, Philippines — An official of one of the country’s largest business groups said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. should be given credit for the ongoing drive against corruption, particularly in public works, but it’s the voters who could ultimately “punish” the liable politicians. “He deserves credit, but we’ve got to follow through on this. It’s […]... Keep on reading: MBC exec: Marcos ‘deserves credit’ for antigraft drive, but...

• Inquirer
• 5 saat, 9 dakika