Authorities Eyes Surveillance Cameras to Enforce New Tobacco Control Laws
Hong Kong authorities are considering the use of surveillance cameras to enforce stringent new tobacco-control measures passed by the Legislative Council, a move aimed at further reducing the city’s smoking rate, a top health official said Saturday. Henry Tong, head of the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health, told reporters that technologies like CCTV could play a key role...
Philippines Launches Balikbayan Action Center to Safeguard OFW Shipments
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) unveiled the Balikbayan Action Center (BAC) on Saturday, a dedicated initiative to protect the shipments of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and ensure their "balikbayan" boxes are processed with integrity and efficiency, Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno announced. The BAC aims to address longstanding concerns over the handling of balikbayan boxes—packages sent by Filipinos abroad to their families,...
400 Empleyado ng OWWA para sa higit 10 Milyong OFWs sa buong mundo
Bilang bagong Administrator ng Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), layunin umano ni Patricia Yvonne Caunan ang pagpapalakas ng OWWA sa pagbigay ng serbisyo sa mga overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs); ito ang makabuluhang paliwanag nito sa press conference na ginanap noong nakaraang Linggo (7 Sept).Pero, ayon pa rin kay Caunan, hindi alam ng lahat na may 400 na empleyado lamang...
UN General Assembly Backs Resolution to Revive Israel-Palestine Two-State Solution, Excluding Hamas
UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted a resolution Friday aimed at reviving the long-stalled two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, explicitly condemning Hamas and demanding the militant group surrender its weapons and relinquish control of Gaza. The measure, dubbed the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the...
Philippines, Qatar Sign Landmark Labor Agreement for Filipino Household Workers
To bolster protections for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), the Philippines and Qatar have signed a groundbreaking labor agreement establishing the first unified contract for Filipino household service workers, officials announced Friday. The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said the unified contract consolidates employment terms into a single, mutually recognized agreement between the Philippine and Qatari governments. The deal aims to...
Hong Kong Passes Sweeping Tobacco Control Bill to Curb Smoking
Hong Kong’s Legislative Council overwhelmingly passed the Tobacco Control Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2025 on Thursday, introducing stringent measures to reduce smoking rates and protect public health. The bill, approved with 74 votes in favor, one against, and seven abstentions, bans possession of alternative smoking products like e-cigarettes and heated tobacco, expands no-smoking zones in public areas, and prohibits selling...
Hong Kong’s Hot Air Balloon Fest Fizzles Amid Chaos, Refund Demands
A much-hyped hot air balloon festival billed as a vibrant spectacle in Hong Kong collapsed into disarray, leaving thousands of attendees furious, vendors unpaid, and the city’s event-planning ambitions under scrutiny. The inaugural AIA International Hot Air Balloon Fest, held over four days at the Central Harbourfront, promised tethered balloon rides with stunning city views but canceled them on...
Filipino Nationals in Qatar Urged to Stay Indoors After Israeli Airstrike in Doha
DOHA, Qatar — The Philippine Embassy in Qatar urged Filipino nationals to stay indoors and avoid public spaces Tuesday night following an Israeli airstrike targeting senior Hamas leaders in Doha, an attack that heightened tensions in the Gulf state and prompted strong condemnation from Qatari authorities. In an advisory issued late Tuesday, the embassy called on Filipinos to "remain calm,...
Global Support Grows for Manila Declaration on Seafarers’ Rights
MANILA, Philippines — Fourteen nations have endorsed the Manila Declaration on Seafarers’ Human Rights, Safety, and Well-being, a landmark initiative presented by Philippine Ambassador to the United Nations Carlos Sorreta at an international conference in Manila last week, officials said Tuesday. The declaration, backed by Bangladesh, Belgium, Germany, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines, Spain, the United...
Hong Kong Braces for Severe Tropical Storm Tapah as No. 8 Signal Issued
The Hong Kong Observatory hoisted the No. 8 Southeast Gale or Storm Signal at 9:20 p.m. on Sunday as Severe Tropical Storm Tapah intensified, prompting residents to batten down for strong winds, heavy rain, and potential disruptions. The signal, indicating gale-force winds, is expected to remain in effect until at least 11 a.m. Monday, with authorities warning of squally...
