MANILA: Immigration authorities have prevented three foreigners wanted for several offenses from leaving the country at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City.

In a statement Thursday, Commissioner Norman Tansingco, citing the report of the border control intelligence unit said the three – a Chinese, a Japanese, and a Taiwanese were arrested in separate incidents this week.

Chinese national Liu Shengtao, 44, was apprehended at the NAIA Terminal 3 on Jan. 14 as he attempted to board a Singapore-bound flight.

Liu, who is wanted by Chinese authorities for covering and concealing criminal proceeds, has been in the Philippines and has a working visa issued in 2022.

The BI received information about Liu’s crimes in China in September 2023, triggering an investigation to locate and arrest him.

Meanwhile, 36-year-old Japanese national Aoi Ikeda was intercepted on Jan. 15 also while attempting to depart via an Emirates flight to Dubai.

According to records, several complaints have
been filed with the National Bureau of Investigation against Ikeda for his involvement in a company that allegedly operates scams.

He is said to be the president of a Philippine-based business process outsourcing company based in Makati.

Ikeda entered the country in August 2023 under a working visa and is now facing deportation for undesirability.

On Jan. 16, Taiwanese national Chai Kaw-Sing, 48, was arrested as he attempted to board a Cathay Pacific flight to Hong Kong.

Chai last entered the country with an Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Travel Card, which is given to individuals and government officials engaged in APEC business.

He, however, was found to be the subject of an Interpol Red Notice for fraudulent fundraising.

All three foreign nationals will be detained in the BI warden facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig pending the issuance of their summary deportation.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Bulgaria: At the beginning of February, the Rozhen National Astronomical Observatory (NAO) will start a scientific observation programme using its new robotic telescope, NAO Director Nikola Petrov told BTA here on Tuesday.

Astronomers from Hungary, Germany, France, Poland, Serbia, Italy, India, Japan, Russia and the United States have collaborated with their Bulgarian colleagues at Rozhen before, but now the new 1.5 m aperture telescope will allow them to carry out observations remotely.

The NAO astronomers are finishing trial observations with the new telescope, which was inaugurated in July 2023.

The tests show that the device performs no worse than the 2 m aperture telescope at Rozhen, Petrov said.

The AZ 1500 telescope was supplied under a project financed through the National Research Infrastructure Roadmap 2020-2027, coordinated by the Ministry of Education and Science.

It was manufactured by Austrian company ASA Astrosysteme GmbH.

With its latest-generation technology, the device has enabled the
observatory in the Rhodope Mountains (Southern Bulgaria) to retain its status as a leading astronomical complex of Southeastern Europe, Petrov said.

The new telescope will be used mainly for photometric observations.

It will capture objects in the visible light spectrum. After additional instruments are installed, it will be used for spectral observations as well.

AZ 1500 has significantly expanded the observation activities of Bulgaria’s main astronomical observatory while at the same time relaxing the operating agenda of Rozhen’s largest, 2 m aperture telescope.

With the new device at their disposal, the Rozhen astronomers will continue to observe both Solar System objects (asteroids, comets etc.) and galaxy-level objects.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will hold service caravans across the country in celebration of the Araw ng mga Kasambahay (Day of Household Workers) in recognition of their valuable contribution to nation-building.

The agency, through the Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns (BWSC), led the national celebration at the Occupational Safety and Health Center in Quezon City on Thursday.

Under the slogan #SerbisyoParaKayK, various services were offered by DOLE and its partner agencies, such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Social Security System, PhilHealth, PagIBIG Fund, and the Philippine National Police. Skills trainings were also offered under the slogan #ParaSaFutureNiK to equip the kasambahay with skills towards alternative employment opportunities.

In a statement, the DOLE said that these activities aim to bring various government services closer to the kasambahay and at the same time, educate them and their employers about their rights and responsibilities u
nder the Batas Kasambahay.

It also underscored that ensuring kasambahay’s safety in their place of work is core to its mandate and will be its lasting contribution sa isang matatag, maginhawa, at panatag na buhay sa Bagong Pilipinas.

It noted that all services and skills training sessions were offered free of charge to participating kasambahay.

Unique to this year’s celebration is the conduct of Araw ng mga Kasambahay Serbisyo Caravan across the 16 regional offices of the labor department, including its different field, provincial, and satellite offices.

Under the slogan #ParaKayKSaBarangay, the DOLE and its partner agencies will provide the same services to kasambahay at the local and barangay levels, and will engage various local government units in the country.

The DOLE regional offices are expected to hold the service caravans from Jan. 18 to 31.

The Araw ng mga Kasambahay is held annually every Jan. 18 – the date of the signing of Republic Act 10361 or the Domestic Workers Act, popularly referred t
o as ‘Batas Kasambahay’.

It is a landmark legislation that acknowledged domestic work as similar to those in the formal sector and recognized the invaluable contribution of kasambahay to the economy.

The law likewise strengthened safety nets and protocols to protect the kasambahay in their place of employment.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Heavy rains caused by the shear line have so far affected 44,888 families in the Davao Region, the National Disaster Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported on Thursday.

The agency, in its latest situational report, said the number is equivalent to 187,108 persons in 109 barangays in the provinces of Davao De Oro, Davao Del Norte, Davao Occidental, and Davao Oriental.

It added that 1,190 families or 6,709 individuals are being served in 36 evacuation centers while another 525 families or 2,198 persons are being aided outside.

The NDRRMC also said some PHP2.9 million worth of assistance have been provided to the affected population in these provinces.

The Office of Civil Defense earlier said affected families include those displaced and those not needing transfer or removal from their residence.

As of this time, the NDRRMC has yet to receive reports of any casualties and damage caused by the shear line.

Four flooded areas were reported in Davao de Oro along with 30 in Dav
ao Del Norte.

Meanwhile, eight “rain-induced” landslides were also reported in Davao de Oro.

Source: Philippines News Agency

BUTUAN CITY: Dinagat Islands Governor Nilo Demerey Jr. visited South Korea on Wednesday to ensure the deployment of additional seasonal workers from the province this year.

During the visit, Demerey had an audience and a meeting with Yecheon County Mayor Kim Dong Han and Agricultural Administrator Yong-Jun Kwon.

‘The meeting was focused on the security, shelter, and other benefits of our seasonal workers who will be deployed this year,’ he said in a statement on Thursday.

Demerey was accompanied by Provincial Board Members League of the Philippines National Executive Vice President Dick Carmon during the visit.

Also on Thursday, he met with representatives of employers coming from the agriculture and fishery sectors in South Korea.

‘Initially, more than 200 seasonal workers will be sent to South Korea this year, but the number will still increase as many residents in the province are eager to work and study here,’ he said.

Working and learning are essential under the program to replicate the knowledge t
he workers gain in the province, Demerey said, especially on the new and advanced technologies in agriculture and fishing.

At least 240 seasonal workers are currently undergoing a 15-day basic Korean language tutorial in Dinagat to enable them to communicate effectively with their Korean employers, colleagues, and the communities where they would be assigned to work.

Last year, 472 seasonal workers from the province completed their six-month work and learning experiences in South KoreaDinagat Islands Governor Nilo Demerey Jr. visited South Korea on Wednesday to ensure the deployment of additional seasonal workers from the province this year.

During the visit, Demerey had an audience and a meeting with Yecheon County Mayor Kim Dong Han and Agricultural Administrator Yong-Jun Kwon.

‘The meeting was focused on the security, shelter, and other benefits of our seasonal workers who will be deployed this year,’ he said in a statement on Thursday.

Demerey was accompanied by Provincial Board Members League of the
Philippines National Executive Vice President Dick Carmon during the visit.

Also on Thursday, he met with representatives of employers coming from the agriculture and fishery sectors in South Korea.

‘Initially, more than 200 seasonal workers will be sent to South Korea this year, but the number will still increase as many residents in the province are eager to work and study here,’ he said.

Working and learning are essential under the program to replicate the knowledge the workers gain in the province, Demerey said, especially on the new and advanced technologies in agriculture and fishing.

At least 240 seasonal workers are currently undergoing a 15-day basic Korean language tutorial in Dinagat to enable them to communicate effectively with their Korean employers, colleagues, and the communities where they would be assigned to work.

Last year, 472 seasonal workers from the province completed their six-month work and learning experiences in South Korea.

Source: Philippines News Agency

ANKARA: Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka advanced to Round 3 of their respective races for the men’s and women’s titles at the 2024 Australian Open on Wednesday.

The men’s world tennis no.1 beat Australian Alexei Popyrin in 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4) and 6-3 sets.

Serbian tennis legend Djokovic will face Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry in Round 3.

Sabalenka eliminates Brenda Fruhvirtova

The reigning women’s singles champion, Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, eliminated Czech teenage qualifier Brenda Fruhvirtova in 6-3 and 6-2 sets on Wednesday.

“For someone who’s 16 years old, she’s doing an incredible job,” the Belarusian said about her young opponent, “I wish I would be on this level when I was 16. She’s an unbelievable player and I’m pretty sure she’ll keep going, keep working and will be at the top very soon.”

Current women’s world no.2 Sabalenka will take on Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko in the next round.

Source: Philippines News Agency