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Comelec nagbabala hinggil sa money ban sa barangay at SK elections

Binigyang-diin ng Commission on Elections (Comelec) ang kanilang paalala ukol sa pinapatupad na “money ban” sa mga Barangay at Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), na may hanggang P500,000 na limitasyon.

Ayon kay Comelec Chairman George Garcia, maaring magdulot ito ng agam-agam ukol sa posibleng paggamit ng pera para sa vote buying, maliban na lamang kung mayroong malalakas na ebidensya na magpapatunay ng ibang layunin.

“Walang problema kung magwi-withdraw ka sa bangko, kung treasurer ka o mayroon kang kadahilanan,” ayon kay Garcia.

Sa mga nalalabing araw ng kampanya para sa BSKE, mariing pinapakiusap ng Comelec sa mga botante na huwag tanggapin ang anumang alok na pera mula sa mga kandidato, kahit pa ito ay may kaakibat na pangako sakaling manalo ang mga ito.

Sa kasalukuyan, inihayag ni Garcia na ang karamihan sa mga kandidato ay sumusunod sa mga regulasyon ng pangangampanya na itinakda ng Omnibus Elections Code, at ito ay kanilang pinupuri.

Noong Biyernes, nagkasundo ang Comelec, Department of Health (DOH), at Philippine Red Cross (PRC) upang tiyakin ang emergency at health assistance para sa lahat ng mga botante, mga government employees, at mga kasapi ng electoral boards.

Netanyahu announces extended and challenging phase in Gaza conflict

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JERUSALEM. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a significant announcement on Saturday, stating that the ongoing Gaza war has entered a new phase characterized by the deployment of ground forces into Gaza and an escalation of attacks from land, air, and sea. Netanyahu cautioned that this new phase would be both prolonged and arduous.

The intensification of Israeli military operations in Gaza has resulted in a disruption of communication networks in the besieged enclave, effectively isolating its 2.3 million residents from the outside world. Simultaneously, it has granted the Israeli military greater control over the narrative in this evolving phase of the conflict.

To underscore this, the Israeli military released images of tank columns advancing in open areas of Gaza, with many situated near the border. Warplanes carried out extensive strikes on numerous Hamas tunnels and underground bunkers. These underground sites have become a prime target in Israel’s mission to dismantle Hamas’s capabilities following the group’s incursion into Israel three weeks ago.

The escalation in military operations has amplified domestic pressure on Israel’s government to secure the release of dozens of hostages taken during a Hamas attack on October 7. Desperate family members met with Netanyahu to express support for a potential exchange of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, an idea that was suggested by the top Hamas leader in Gaza.

Netanyahu emphasized Israel’s commitment to bringing all the hostages back but refrained from discussing calls for a cease-fire. He highlighted that the expanding ground operation was an essential component in achieving this mission, citing the sensitive and secretive nature of these efforts.

“The second stage of the war has clear objectives: to dismantle the military and governmental capabilities of Hamas and secure the return of the hostages,” Netanyahu declared during his first public interaction with journalists since the war’s commencement. He did not address the topic of a cease-fire.

The Israeli Prime Minister acknowledged the need for a comprehensive investigation into the “debacle” on October 7, in which over 1,400 people lost their lives. He indicated that all parties, including himself, would need to provide answers.

While the Israeli military has incrementally expanded its ground operations within Gaza, it has not yet described its actions as a full-scale invasion. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the chief military spokesman, mentioned an organized plan that involves staged escalation rather than an overwhelming offensive. Prior to this phase, Israeli troops had conducted brief nightly ground incursions into Gaza before returning to Israel.

Throughout the past three weeks, Palestinian militants have launched thousands of rockets into Israel. The death toll in Gaza has continued to rise, with the latest count exceeding 7,700 people since the war’s initiation. A significant number of casualties have been women and minors, as reported by the Gaza Health Ministry.

Communication disruptions have had a dire impact on the health network in Gaza. Residents are unable to call for ambulances, forcing emergency teams to respond to the sounds of artillery barrages and airstrikes. An estimated 1,700 people remain trapped beneath the rubble, a situation compounded by the inability to communicate distress calls.

With funeral rites becoming increasingly scarce, Palestinians in Gaza are being denied a traditional means of mourning and closure. Overcrowded cemeteries have compelled families to exhume long-buried bodies and deepen existing graves.

Over 1.4 million people in Gaza have fled their homes, with nearly half seeking refuge in U.N. schools and shelters due to repeated warnings by the Israeli military. Many have not evacuated to the south because Israel has also targeted so-called safe zones, where conditions have become increasingly dire. Food and water supplies are running out, and electricity has been disrupted since the start of the war.

Humanitarian organizations have stressed that the aid allowed into Gaza from Egypt in the past week is far from sufficient. Gaza hospitals are struggling to obtain fuel for emergency generators that power life-saving equipment.

The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees has lost contact with most of its staff, making coordination of aid efforts extremely challenging.

The intensified air and ground campaign has also raised concerns about hostages being taken into Gaza. On Saturday, hundreds of relatives in Tel Aviv demanded that the government prioritize the return of their loved ones over military objectives.

Hamas’ top leader in Gaza, Yehiyeh Sinwar, expressed willingness to release all hostages immediately if Israel releases all Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, an offer that was dismissed by Hagari, the Israeli military spokesman, as “psychological terror.”

Meanwhile, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi stated that his government is working to de-escalate the conflict through talks with the warring parties regarding prisoners and hostages. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed surprise at the escalation of the conflict and its devastating effects on Gaza.

As impatience grows among many, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed hundreds of thousands at a pro-Palestinian rally in Istanbul, announcing preparations to declare Israel a “war criminal” for its actions in Gaza. This has prompted Israel’s foreign minister to order the return of Israel’s diplomatic mission from Turkey for a reassessment of diplomatic ties.

The overall death toll in Gaza and Israel surpasses the combined toll of all four previous Israel-Hamas conflicts, estimated at around 4,000 lives. The conflict has also raised concerns about the potential for a broader regional war, with Arab nations, including U.S. allies, expressing alarm over the possibility of a ground invasion.

AP contributed to this story.

Last new Beatles song ‘Now And Then’ to be unveiled after 60 years

NEW YORK. Six decades after the world first succumbed to Beatlemania, and with two of the legendary quartet no longer with us, a groundbreaking achievement in artificial intelligence is set to give fans the gift of one last “new” Beatles song.

The upcoming track, titled “Now And Then,” is scheduled to be released on Thursday, November 2nd, and will be part of a single release, alongside “Love Me Do,” the very first Beatles single that graced the airwaves in 1962 in England, according to the announcement made on Thursday.

The origins of “Now And Then” date back to unreleased demos written by the late John Lennon. These demos were previously used to create the songs “Free As a Bird” and “Real Love,” both released in the mid-1990s. This time, it was Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison, who were originally involved in the same recording sessions, working to complete “Now And Then.”

However, technological constraints of the time prevented its completion. Director Peter Jackson, with the aid of artificial intelligence, managed to overcome these challenges by isolating Lennon’s original vocals from a late 1970s piano recording. This newfound clarity enabled McCartney and Starr to finalize the song last year.

The surviving Beatles each contributed their talents to this track. Harrison’s nearly three-decades-old guitar recording was incorporated, while Starr added a fresh drum part. McCartney enriched the song with his bass, piano, and a slide guitar solo, paying homage to Harrison, who passed away in 2001. McCartney and Starr also provided backing vocals.

McCartney collaborated with Giles Martin, the son of the late Beatles producer George Martin, to create a string arrangement for the song. To add an extra layer of authenticity, backing vocals from the original Beatles recordings of “Here, There and Everywhere,” “Eleanor Rigby,” and “Because” were seamlessly woven into the new track.

In an emotional announcement, McCartney marveled at hearing John’s voice once more, “crystal clear.” He added, “It’s quite emotional. And we all play on it, it’s a genuine Beatles recording. In 2023 to still be working on Beatles music, and about to release a new song the public haven’t heard, I think it’s quite an exciting thing.”

Olivia Harrison, George Harrison’s widow, noted that her late husband had felt the technical limitations of the 1990s made it impossible to release a song that met the band’s standards. With the recent improvements, she believes “he would have wholeheartedly” joined Paul and Ringo in completing the song today if he were still alive.

A 12-minute film recounting the story behind the new recording will be made public on the day before the song’s release, providing fans with a glimpse into the creation process.

Additionally, later this month, extended versions of the Beatles’ compilations “1962-1966” and “1967-1970” will hit the shelves. Surprisingly, “Now And Then,” despite its release long after 1970, will find its place in the latter collection.

The surviving Beatles have consistently treated fans to new projects over the years, from album remixes featuring studio outtakes to Peter Jackson’s “Get Back” film. These releases have usually been timed to resonate with nostalgic fans during the holiday season. This year, it’s the grand finale with a new Beatles song.

In a recent interview with The Associated Press, Ringo Starr expressed the significance of this release: “This is the last track, ever, that you’ll get the four Beatles on the track. John, Paul, George, and Ringo.”

Opisyal ng DA pinasisibak ng ombudsman dahil sa maanomalyang sibuyas deal

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Inirekomenda ng Office of the Ombudsman ang pagsuspinde at pagtanggal sa puwesto kay Department of Agriculture (DA) Assistant Secretary for Consumer Affairs Kristine Evangelista kaugnay ng diumano ay maanomalyang transaksyon sa pagsusupply ng sibuyas sa Kadiwa stores ng DA.

Noong Agosto, nauna nang pinasuspinde ng Ombudsman si Evangelista, kasama ang iba pang opisyal ng DA, dahil sa paglabag sa Anti-Graft and Corruption Practices Act at Procurement Law. Ito ay dahil sa kakulangan sa suplay ng sibuyas sa mga pamilihan, na nagdulot umano ng manipulasyon sa presyo nito, at sa hindi malinaw na pagbili ng sibuyas mula sa Bonena Multi-Purpose Cooperative sa Food Terminal Inc. (FTI).

Kasama rin sa nasuspinde si DA Administrative Officer V Eunice Biblanias, DA OIC-Chief Accountant Lolita Jamela, FTI Vice President for Operations John Gabriel Benedict Trinidad III, at FTI Budget Division Head Juanita Lualhati.

Ayon sa desisyon ng Ombudsman, napatunayan na si Evangelista ay nagkasala sa kasong grave misconduct at conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service. Si Trinidad ng FTI ay napatunayan din na guilty sa gross neglect of duty at conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service.

Naharap naman sa mga kaso ng grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, at conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service sina DA Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban at FTI President Robert Tan. Ngunit ang mga ito ay absuwelto sa kasong administratibo dahil sa kakulangan ng ebidensiya na nagdidiin sa kanila.

Nakita rin ng Ombudsman ang probable cause para idiin sa kaso si Evangelista at Trinidad, kasama ang iba pang indibidwal, dahil sa pinaniniwalaang pagsasabwatan. Gayunpaman, ibinasura ng Ombudsman ang kasong kriminal laban kina Panganiban, Tan, Jamela, Biblanias, at Lualhati dahil sa kakulangan ng probable cause.

Ayon pa sa Ombudsman, ang mga akusado ang naging sanhi ng “artificial shortage” sa sibuyas.

Israeli military accuses Hamas of using Gaza hospitals for tunnels and operations centers

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JERUSALEM. Israeli military officials have accused Hamas of using the main hospital in Gaza as a cover for its tunnels and operational centers. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, Israel’s chief military spokesman, stated during a news conference, “Hamas has turned hospitals into command and control centers and hideouts for Hamas terrorists and commanders.”

He presented photographs, diagrams, and audio recordings as evidence of Hamas utilizing the hospital system, specifically Al Shifa Hospital, to conceal various command posts and entry points into Gaza’s extensive tunnel network. Hagari added, “Hamas terrorists operate inside and under Shifa hospital and other hospitals in Gaza.”

In response to these allegations, Hamas official Ezzat El-Reshiq, a member of the movement’s political bureau, stated on Telegram, “There is no basis in truth to what was reported by the enemy army spokesman,” accusing Israel of spreading lies as “a prelude to committing a new massacre against our people.”

These accusations come as Israeli forces have gathered outside Gaza and conducted raids in preparation for an expected ground offensive following a deadly Hamas attack on Israel, which claimed the lives of approximately 1,400 people. Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire have caused extensive destruction in the enclave, resulting in over 7,000 casualties, according to figures from the Gaza health ministry.

It’s important to note that the veracity of Hagari’s statements cannot be independently confirmed. The Israeli military has previously accused Hamas of establishing leadership and operational centers in residential areas, as well as in proximity to schools or hospitals.

Meanwhile, U.N. officials have called for a pause in the fighting to allow humanitarian aid into the enclave, where more than 1 million people have been displaced. They have also warned that they may have to suspend operations if fuel supplies are not delivered.

Israeli officials have alleged that Hamas is utilizing fuel reserves stored in hospitals for its own terrorist infrastructure. Hagari remarked, “There is fuel in hospitals in Gaza, and Hamas is using it for its terrorist infrastructure.”

Reuters contributed to this story.

Kandidatong chairman, kritikal matapos pagbabarilin

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GENERAL LUNA, Quezon. Isang barangay kagawad na kumakandidato para sa pagka-kapitan ang nasa kritikal na kalagayan matapos pagbabarilin ng dalawang hindi pa nakikilalang lalaki na sakay sa motorsiklo.

Naganap ang insidente pagkatapos niyang magbahay bahay para sa kanyang kampanya kagabi sa Sitio Central 1, Barangay Malaya sa nasabing bayan.

Ang biktima na kinilalang si Ruben Ilagan, 63-anyos ay kasalukuyang ginagamot sa RAKK Hospital sa Gumaca, Quezon matapos tamaan sa dibdib ng hindi pa nalalamang kalibre ng baril.

Batay sa ulat ng pulisya, natapos ang kampanya ng biktima at pauwi na ito bandang 9:20 ng gabi nang biglang pagbabarilin siya ng mga hindi nakikilalang salarin na sakay sa isang motorsiklo na nag abang sa madilim na bahagi ng nasabing lugar.

Matapos ang krimen, agad na tumakas ang riding in tandem gunmen papuntang direksyon ng Lopez, Quezon.

Pope orders reopening of priest’s adult abuse case, removes statute of limitations

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ROME. Pope Francis has directed the Vatican to reopen the case of a well-known priest-artist accused of sexual, psychological, and spiritual abuse of adult women. Additionally, he has removed the statute of limitations on their claims, as announced by the Vatican on Friday.

This decision marks a significant shift for the Holy See, following public outcry from victims and their advocates regarding the handling of the case of Rev. Marko Ivan Rupnik, a former Jesuit renowned for his mosaic artwork displayed in churches and basilicas worldwide.

The controversy has posed challenges for the Jesuits, the Vatican, and Pope Francis himself, as it raised suspicions that Rupnik received favorable treatment from the Holy See, given the involvement of Jesuits in the investigation. The sex crimes office had initially declined to prosecute Rupnik, citing the age of the claims against him.

The Vatican statement revealed that Francis’ abuse prevention commission identified “serious problems” in the initial handling of Rupnik’s case, particularly the “lack of outreach to victims.” Notably, church authorities had previously refused to acknowledge women with claims against Rupnik as “victims.”

As a result of this directive, the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, responsible for addressing abuse-related crimes in accordance with church law, will conduct a review of the case and has lifted the statute of limitations to facilitate further proceedings.

Rupnik, a Slovene priest, was excommunicated by the Vatican in May 2020 for using the confessional to absolve a woman with whom he had engaged in sexual activity, considered one of the gravest offenses in the Catholic Church’s legal code.

However, when nine additional claims, dating back 30 years, were presented a year later, the sex crimes office refused to waive the statute of limitations. The office also opted not to investigate him for other allegations, including false mysticism, which are not subject to time constraints.

The Jesuit order expelled Rupnik this summer after more adult women came forward with allegations of sexual, psychological, and spiritual abuse, which were found “very highly credible” by the Jesuits. However, the Vatican’s canonical norms in place at the time of the alleged abuse prevented harsher punishment.

Pope Francis had previously denied playing a direct role in Rupnik’s case but reaffirmed his decision not to waive the statute of limitations for cases involving adults, as he had done for abuse of minors.

The recent gestures and statements by Pope Francis had raised questions about his stance on the case and the alleged victims. The church’s historical response to women reporting abuse by priests had often involved blaming the women, portraying them as mentally unstable, or minimizing the events as mere “mistakes” or “boundary violations.”

Five of Rupnik’s alleged victims broke their silence, penning a signed open letter criticizing such attitudes from Rupnik’s superiors and asserting that church pledges of “zero tolerance” for abuse were mere “publicity stunts.”

PNP naka-alerto para sa BSKE at Undas

Nagdeklara ng full alert status ang Philippine National Police (PNP) kaninang madaling araw para sa Barangay at Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) 2023. Alas-12:01 ng madaling araw, ibinaba ang abiso sa 187,000 puwersa ng pulisya sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa upang tiyakin ang kaligtasan, kaayusan, at kapayapaan ng halalan.

Hiniling ni PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda, Jr. sa kanyang mga tauhan na palaging maging handa at alerto sa anumang reklamo na kanilang matatanggap, lalo na sa mga lugar na itinuturing na nasa ilalim ng red category.

Mahigpit niyang ipinagbilin ang pagbibigay ng prayoridad sa pagseserbisyo at pag-aalaga sa kaligtasan ng publiko.

Sa ilalim ng Full Alert status, ipapatupad ang No Day Off at No Leave Policy upang masiguro ang matagumpay na pagpapatupad ng magkasunod na okasyon.

Kasabay nito, pinasinayaan ni Acorda ang Monitoring and Action Center sa Kampo Crame. Sa tulong nito, mas magiging mabilis ang pag-a-access ng media sa mga impormasyon kaugnay ng eleksyon. Ito rin ay naglalayong maiwasan ang pagkakaiba-iba at kalituhan sa mga ulat at impormasyon na natatanggap ng PNP at Commission on Elections (Comelec).

China’s former premier Li Keqiang passes away at 68

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BEIJING. China’s former Premier Li Keqiang, who held a significant role as the country’s top economic official for a decade, passed away on Friday at the age of 68 due to a heart attack.

Li, who served as China’s second-highest leader from 2013 to 2023 and was a prominent advocate for private businesses, had seen his authority diminished as President Xi Jinping consolidated power, tightening his grip on the economy and society.

According to CCTV, Li had recently been resting in Shanghai before suffering a heart attack on Thursday. He passed away at 12:10 a.m. on Friday.

A proficient English-speaking economist, Li was once considered a contender to succeed former Communist Party leader Hu Jintao in 2013. However, he was overlooked in favor of Xi Jinping. Xi’s consolidation of power left Li and others on the party’s ruling seven-member Standing Committee with limited influence.

Despite being a champion of improving conditions for entrepreneurs, Li’s efforts faced headwinds as the ruling party under Xi increased the dominance of state-owned industries and tightened control over various sectors, causing unease among foreign companies.

Li was removed from the Standing Committee during a party congress in October 2022 and officially left office in March 2023, although he was still two years away from the informal retirement age of 70.

On the same day, Xi Jinping secured a third five-year term as the party leader, defying the tradition of his predecessors stepping down after a decade. This marked a shift towards centralized leadership and potentially extended Xi’s tenure for life. Li Qiang, the party secretary for Shanghai, assumed the No. 2 position but lacked Li Keqiang’s national-level experience.

Li Keqiang took office in 2013 when the ruling party was grappling with a slowdown in the construction and export booms that had fueled double-digit growth in the previous decade. He vowed to promote growth based on domestic consumption and service industries, emphasizing the need to open state-dominated sectors and encourage state banks to lend more to entrepreneurs.

Li was perceived as a potential figure to revive market-oriented reforms akin to those initiated by then-supreme leader Deng Xiaoping in the 1980s. However, he was known for his easygoing style, which contrasted with the forceful impatience of Zhu Rongji, the premier from 1998 to 2003, who implemented far-reaching reforms that resulted in the removal of millions of jobs from state-owned industries.

Li was believed to have supported the “China 2030” report, jointly released by the World Bank and a Cabinet research body in 2012, advocating substantial changes to reduce state industry dominance and promote market forces.

Li’s tenure witnessed a boost in the nationalistic approach and a tightening of control over information, leading to the closure of independent think tanks such as the Unirule Institute.

Under Xi’s leadership, the government intensified anti-corruption efforts and imprisoned hundreds of officials, but their commitment to economic reforms wavered. Key market-oriented changes were left unimplemented, and the influence of state-owned banks and companies grew stronger.

China’s rapid increase in debt, both by companies, households, and local governments, added to economic risks. In 2020, Beijing implemented tighter controls on real estate debt, contributing to a significant decline in economic growth, which reached a low of 3% in 2022, marking a three-decade low.

Li Keqiang’s tenure was marked by several disasters, leading to the moniker “Three Fires Li.” However, he escaped personal blame despite these unfortunate events.

Li was also at the helm of China’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which involved stringent control measures, international travel restrictions, and city lockdowns.

In one of his last official acts, Li announced a relaxation of anti-virus controls in November 2022 after the economy experienced a 2.6% contraction in the second quarter of that year.

Li was born in 1955 in Anhui province, and his early political career saw him rising through the ranks of the Communist Youth League. He earned his Ph.D. in economics in 1994 from Peking University.

Li is survived by his wife, Cheng Hong, a professor of English, and their daughter.

Inaasahan ang rollback sa presyo ng kerosene at diesel ngunit bahagyang tataas ang gasolina

Inaasahang ang bababa ang presyo ng mga produktong petrolyo. Ayon kay Department of Energy-Oil Industry Management Bureau Assistant Director Rodela Romero, maaaring bumaba ang presyo ng diesel mula P1.20 hanggang P1.40 kada litro, habang maaaring mabawasan ang presyo ng kerosene mula P1.00 hanggang P1.20 kada litro.

Gayunpaman, inaasahan naman ang bahagayang pagtaas sa presyo ng gasolina, na maaaring magkakahalaga ng P0.25 hanggang P0.50 kada litro.

May malaking impluwensya sa presyo ng petrolyo ang pagpapalakas ng US dollar, na may negatibong epekto sa presyo ng langis sa kasalukuyan.

Karaniwang inaabisuhan ng mga kumpanya ng langis ang publiko ng anumang pagbabago sa presyo tuwing Lunes, at ito’y ipapatupad sa mga gasolinahan simula sa susunod na araw.

Noong Martes, Oktubre 23, tinaasan ng mga kumpanya ng gasolina ang presyo ng diesel ng P1.30 bawat litro, habang nagkaroon ng P0.95 pagtaas bawat litro sa gasolina. Bukod dito, tumaas rin ng P1.25 ang presyo ng kerosene.