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(File photo) MANILA – Motorists are set to get a sigh of relief as oil companies will implement a big-time rollback effective Tuesday. In separate advisories, Caltex, Cleanfuel, Petro Gazz, PTT Philippines, Seaoil, and Shell said they will reduce diesel prices by PHP2.20 per liter and will also slash gasoline prices by PHP2.10 per liter. Caltex, Seaoil, and Shell will roll back kerosene prices by PHP2.55 per liter. This is the fourth consecutive week that oil firms cut prices of diesel and kerosene products. According to industry experts, the decline in oil prices in the world market was mainly due to a weak demand outlook. Manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI), a benchmark of a country’s manufacturing performance, in the United States, China, and Japan dropped in July. Uncertainties in the global economy also affect demand for petroleum products. On the other hand, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies (OPEC+) agreed to pump more in September by 100,000 barrels per day. Meanwhile, with the price adjustments last week, net increases in petroleum products since the start of the year stood at PHP29.60 per liter for gasoline, PHP39.35 per liter for diesel, and PHP33.35 per liter for kerosene. (PNA) Join our 3 x a week Philippines News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

(File photo) MANILA – Customers in franchise areas of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) can expect lower electricity charges this August as the distribution utility announced to cut rates. In an advisory Monday, Meralco said the overall power rate for August decreased by 20.87 centavos to PHP9.5459 per kilowatt hour from the PHP9.7545 per kilowatt hour last month. This is the second straight month that Meralco implemented such an adjustment. With the adjustment, a typical household consuming 200 kWh a month can expect a PHP42-decrease in the August electricity bill. Meralco said despite the increase in transmission fees, it was offset by lower generation and distribution charges as well as taxes and other charges. “The generation charge for August went down by PHP0.1944 to PHP6.5812 per kWh from PHP6.7756 per kWh last month due to the decrease in charges from Power Supply Agreements (PSAs),” it explained. The distribution charges also went down by PHP0.0360 per kWh this month. Meanwhile, Meralco said it will continue to implement the distribution-related refunds amounting to PHP48.3 billion as ordered by the Energy Regulatory Commission. (PNA) Join our 3 x a week Philippines News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

Undersecretary Dennis Mapa, National Statistician and Civil Registrar General (Photo courtesy of PSA Facebook) MANILA – The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Monday that the country's employment rate for June 2022 remained nearly the same as the 94.0 percent listed in May but higher than the 92.3 percent recorded during the same period last year. Undersecretary Dennis Mapa, National Statistician and Civil Registrar General, said 46.59 million Filipinos who are 15 years old and above were employed in June 2022, higher than the 46.08 million employed in May. With the unemployment rate also remaining the same at 6.0 percent, Mapa said it translates to 2.99 million unemployed Filipinos out of 49.58 million who were in the labor force in June 2022, lower than the registered rate of 7.7 percent in June 2021. He said increased employment rate in the general public administration and activities subsector at 164,000 was recorded in June. " This includes administration, supervision, and operation of military defense affairs; land/sea combat forces of Army, Navy, and Air Force reserve; and auxiliary forces of the Defense establishment. This increased to 37,000. So maybe the Armed Forces has recruited many new soldiers," Mapa said in a press briefing. Among the subsectors, Mapa also took note of agriculture and forestry (1.26 million); education (141,000); mining and quarrying (138,000); and other service activities (132,000). The subsectors which decreased employment include wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (minus 1.22 million); manufacturing (minus 101,000); accommodation and food service activities ( minus 91,000); transportation and storage (minus 90,000); and financial and Insurance activities (minus 55,000). "The way I assess it, this is like the non-essential items that maybe because of the tighter budget, we slightly reduced our consumption (here that is why the number of employed also decreased in these subsectors," Mapa explained. The underemployment rate in June 2022 was down to 12.6 percent from 14.5 percent in May 2022 which translates to a decrease of 780,000 underemployed persons from 6.67 million to 5.89 million. Underemployment is defined as working at less than full-time or regular jobs or at jobs inadequate with respect to training or economic needs. (PNA) Join our 3 x a week Philippines News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

A 24-hour office building (green) in Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by VnExpress/Vu Le A 24-hour office building is coming up in HCMC with the owner targeting multinationals that need to operate simultaneously in various time zones. According to VN Express, CEO of apartment leasing company Sabay Home, Nguyen Huu Thien, said he is building the nine-story facility in Tan Binh District near Tan Son Nhat International Airport. This will be one of the first 24-hour office buildings in Vietnam’s largest city. The building with a total floor area of 3,000 square meters will have sleeping and amusement areas for staff. Thien said he considers it an "experiment" to discover the market reaction. Some customers have put down deposits, including an American marketing firm with 30 employees in Vietnam and an IT firm. Thien charges a monthly fee of $15 per square meter. Even office buildings with co-working space in HCMC do not operate 24/7 though there are coffee shops that do, and people who work at night use them. Nguyen Hong Hai, chairperson of office leasing company VNO Group, said there is no research into 24-hour office buildings in HCMC yet. A niche market like this comes with both potential and risk, and the investor needs to approach a wide variety of customers from various sectors to ensure high occupancy, he said. Good access to the airport and downtown is important since multinational companies are the likely customers, he added. Join our 3 x a week Vietnam News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

Vietnam's new passport (L) in comparison with an old one. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Minh The Spanish Embassy in Hanoi on Monday said it would accept Vietnam's new passport following consultation with Spanish authorities reported VN Express. Vietnam's new passport has already included necessary information in accordance with international regulations, the embassy said. However, it said those who wish to apply for visa need to bring both their new passports and valid identity cards to verify their places of birth. The embassy also warns that Spain's visa on Vietnam's new passport would not be valid for entry into countries that have not accepted the passports, even if those countries are part of the Schengen group. Previously on August 1, Spain denied visas for holders of Vietnam's new passports because they lack information regarding places of birth. Spain's rejection followed Germany's move on July 27 for the same reason. The Czech Republic on August 2 also said it does not recognize Vietnam's new passports due to the lack of birthplace information. The immigration department under the Ministry of Public Security said Vietnam's new passport model complies with international regulations and practices and issues that arise will be prioritized for handling through diplomatic channels. The ministry has said it will investigate regulations to see if it is possible to incorporate place of birth in the new passport. In the meantime, birthplace info would be added to the new passports manually and citizens could go to the local immigration office or Vietnamese representative agencies abroad for this, the ministry added. Vietnamese new passport, with decorations on its pages and covers, has been in use since July 1 this year. The old, green cover passports will continue to be valid till they expire. Join our 3 x a week Vietnam News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

I agree that the Fulham v Liverpool game was at 18.30 hrs in Thailand last Saturday, however if you look at the future games many will start a lot later and when the clocks change in England they become very late kick offs here. The point is as the vast amount of TV revenues come from Asia the Premier League should try to arrage a few more earlier kick offs.

Following on from last week’s post, it seems many of you are keen to stay away from the main touristy attractions and prefer to explore by yourself. So here are another three places to add to your list. Ha Giang: Great forested limestone and granite mountains Ha Giang is a land with many magnificent landscapes: Dong Van Geopark, Quan Ba Twin Ranges, Ma Pi Leng Pass, 16 ethnic brotherhoods with their cultural features and vibrant traditional dresses in residential areas. The beauty of pristine natural scenery of the Rocky Mountains, deep valleys & spectacular rice terraces is a unique point of this; a must-visited & off-the-beaten-path destination for adventure lovers & nature. Along with the magnificence of the landscape, travelers will hear about the rich culture and lifestyle of local ethnic groups living in this Vietnamese highland. Great forested limestone & granite mountains in Ha Giang As rice terraces change their natural color from green to yellow at the beginning of October, it's so lovely to have breathtaking captures of stepped rice fields down the valleys with their numerous golden layers. It is also fascinating to see local ethnic groups happily gathering rice in their colorful clothes, placing it on the sack, and carrying it home. How lovely to see local rice-stepped farming practices with buffalo plowing, harrowing & planting on the high mountain slope terrains. Then you are intrigued by the purple & pink colors of buckwheat flowers blooming everywhere in Ha Giang between late October & early November. Buckwheat is considered a symbolic flower in the northern mountainous regions of Vietnam and its finest beauty that you can only find in Ha Giang province. The only way how to get to Ha Giang is to travel by bus/van/motorbike. The closest airport to Ha Giang is Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi, about 260 km south of Ha Giang. In the future there should be opening a new airport in Lao Cai. Con Dao: prison island In the past, people always thought of frightening jails when discussing Con Dao and felt the agony of history. But in recent years, voted by a popular Travel & Leisure magazine as one of the 10 most stunning and enigmatic archipelagos globally, Con Dao is now being picked as a paradise for leisure travel nature discovery. Firstly, Con Dao's elegance is undoubted, as it is fortunate to have all the best for a beach destination. People also said it is a "compensation" from God for his grim past. Con Dao is the biggest of sixteen islands, with 200 km of perfect coastline with a sparkling emerald sea and fine white sandy beaches. Con Dao Island looks like a mighty hunting sea bear from the air, amidst the USA's unbelievable blue. Con Dao Island Additionally, any tourist who comes to this gorgeous island has the same fresh air sensation and a pristine environment. Natural biodiversity is unspoiled enough that tourists can also see wild animals up in forested mountains, such as beautiful chamois, and all kinds of birds leisurely hopping on the trees. Con Dao Island, the setting for Six Senses Con Dao, is 140 miles (230 kilometers) from Ho Chi Minh City. It takes a 45-minute domestic flight from Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN) in Ho Chi Minh City to Con Dao Airport (VCS), then a 10-minute drive to the resort. Hanoi Old Quarter: the spiritual symbol of Hanoi The Hanoi Old Quarter is a top tourist destination with its stunning architecture, Buddhist temples, and long, narrow-styled shops. If you have ever explored the back streets in Paris you will love the old quarter. It would easily be one of the most unforgettable moments of your journey to Vietnam to experience Hanoi’s Old Quarter's architecture. In this part, the French colonial has made an enormous influence on houses. On several corners in Old Quarter, you will notice a collection of small houses with tile roof blocks after blocks featuring French themes. Each house is just a few meters tall, but about 10 meters long and has two to three floors. Artisans or merchants manufacturing their items in the same places they sell made a cooperative structure for delivering goods to specific streets. For instance, Hang Gai Street offers ready-made and personalized silk garments, embroidery, and silver items. Wherever you wander you will come across interesting sites and some unusual and unique items to take home. Join our 3 x a week Vietnam News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

Apple's CEO Tim Cook. Photo courtesy of Apple Apple CEO Tim Cook said Vietnam is one of four emerging markets for the tech giant that have contributed to the company's success in the second quarter of 2022. In its financial report for the second quarter, Apple announced a record revenue of $83 billion, up 2% year-on-year, despite the volatile market situation. "We set June quarter records in the Americas, in Europe and in the rest of Asia Pacific region. We also saw June quarter revenue records in both developed and emerging markets with very strong double-digit growth in Brazil, Indonesia, and Vietnam and a near doubling of revenue in India," Cook said during the company’s earnings call in late July. He said the company continues to "execute across some significant geographies with low penetration of iPhones between Indonesia, Vietnam and India where we did quite well." The company's strategy is to use its smartphone model to expand its presence, with promotion of other products to follow. "iPhone tends to be the engine for those markets, particularly at the beginning of creating the market there for Apple products." Apple did not specify the growth rate for each region. However, major retail systems in Vietnam have recorded that iPhone is an item that brings in the largest revenues. Among the top 10 smartphones with the highest revenue in the first half of the year sold at electronics retail giant Mobile World, there are four iPhone models, with the top three positions being iPhone 13 Pro Max 128 GB, 13 Pro Max 256 GB and iPhone 11 64 GB. At FPT Shop, a consumer electronics retailer, the best-selling and revenue-generating phone is also iPhone 13 Pro Max. From the beginning of the second quarter of 2022, Apple's authorized retail systems in Vietnam have launched repeated discount programs to stimulate demand during the off-peak period. Popular models such as iPhone 11, 13 Pro Max all saw price reductions of VND2-3 million ($85.51-128.26) in this quarter. A businessman who has monitored the mobile phone market in Vietnam for many years said that the popularity of iPhones in Vietnam was not as low as Tim Cook said it used to be. There were people who bought iPhones from abroad and resold it in Vietnam, therefore, the market valuation statistics Cook stated was not entirely accurate. "For the last 2-3 years, Apple has made many moves to promote users to buy iPhones from its authorized distributors in Vietnam, releasing it soon with the prices similar to those in foreign countries, and at the same time expanding the distribution system, so the growth rate is high. The double-digit growth is completely understandable," said the businessman who did not want to be named. According to an Apple report, sales in the smartphone segment reached $40.7 billion, up nearly 3% from the same period last year. Other than the iPhone, the only other product that increased in popularity was Apple TV Plus. Sales of other products including Mac computers, iPads and wearable devices declined. Join our 3 x a week Vietnam News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

Police officers stand guard in Madrid, Spain, October 3, 2020. Photo by Reuters/Javier Barbancho Spanish media reports say that a provincial court has returned the passports of two Vietnamese nationals accused of sexual assault in Mallorca and ordered them to return home. Spain's Ultima Hora newspaper reported Sunday that the Provincial Court of Palma decided August 3 to return the passports of two Vietnamese citizens accused of "sexually abusing a 17-year-old minor." No additional information was reported about the conclusions drawn by investigators or the court. On June 28, two Vietnamese citizens were arrested on the island of Mallorca in the Balearic Islands, Spain, for allegedly raping a 17-year-old British girl. A spokesperson of the Mallorca police department told VnExpress on July 1 that two Vietnamese men, 42 and 38 years old, had been arrested over sexual assault allegations. He refused to disclose their identities and occupations. According to local media, the two Vietnamese male citizens were an actor and a musician. They appeared in court on June 28 and were granted bail, but their passports were confiscated by authorities. The British girl testified in court, confirming her previous testimony to the police. On June 28, she and her family left Mallorca. According to a source in local law enforcement, the two Vietnamese citizens were staying at the Sant Elm hotel in Mallorca, while the British girl and her family stayed somewhere else. On the evening of June 24, she met and struck up a conversation with two Vietnamese men at a restaurant. VN Express reported that they had an "intimate" conversation before returning to one of the two Vietnamese men's hotel rooms. The girl then reported the "rape" in the hotel room to the local police. After receiving the news, the local civil defense agency's patrol unit went to the hotel to take the British girl to the Son Espases hospital. They also arrested the two Vietnamese men. Join our 3 x a week Vietnam News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his official visit to Manila on Aug. 6, 2022. (Photo by Rico Borja) MANILA – United States (US) Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday assured President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that the US would honor its decades-old commitment to the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT). Blinken made the assurance after he paid a courtesy call on the President at Malacañang Palace to strengthen the ties between the two countries. "We’re committed to the Mutual Defense Treaty. We’re committed to working with you on shared challenges," Blinken said. “What’s so striking to me, Mr. President, is that (we’re) working together on bilateral relations between us, we’re working together in the region, and increasingly, we’re working globally.” Signed on Aug. 30, 1951, the MDT is an accord that stipulates that the Philippines and the US would support each other if either of them was to be attacked by an external party. Blinken described the US commitment to the MDT as "ironclad," adding that "an armed attack on Philippine Armed Forces public vessels or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke the US Mutual Defense commitments under that treaty." Aside from securing the Philippines' maritime domain, he said the US will continue to partner with Filipino fishermen and scientists to preserve its maritime resources, which he said are under threat from illegal fishing. Marcos, meanwhile, said the 70-year-old joint defense pact is in "constant evolution." "The Mutual Defense Treaty is in constant evolution. I’d like to think of it,” Marcos said. “As I spoke with your ambassador sometimes when she came, is that we cannot, we can no longer isolate one part of our relationship from the other. We are too closely tied because of the special relationship between the US and the Philippines, and the history that we share.” He also recognized the assistance and support the Philippines has received from the US over the years, noting that it could no longer be "categorized as one thing or another because they cover such a large scope.” In a statement, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said apart from defense and security cooperation, the President and Blinken also talked about other issues that include renewable energy, climate change mitigation, agriculture, food security, and the coronavirus disease 2019. Cruz-Angeles said Blinken also hailed Filipino nurses in the US, calling them "angels who are caring in so many ways." Among those present in the meeting were US Ambassador MaryKay Loss Carlson, Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink, Director of the Secretary of State's Policy Planning Staff Salman Ahmed, Spokesperson Ned Price, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Thomas Sullivan, and Political Counselor Brett Blackshaw. The US Secretary of State also had a meeting with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo on Saturday. Manalo, meanwhile, is optimistic about the two nations' cooperation, which he said also expands to counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, among others. Asked if a joint patrol in the West Philippine Sea is possible under this administration, Manalo answered in the affirmative but clarified that it would have to be discussed first. "In our view, joint patrols between the Philippines and the United States can take place, they are under the ambit of the MDT and also within the context of the Mutual Defense Support and Security Engagement Board," he said. "So, this is an issue which will be continued to be explored bilaterally. And as I mentioned, there are existing multiple platforms for which discussions of this nature could be held," Manalo added. The bilaterals between the two top diplomats was held virtually after Blinken's meeting with President Marcos. This is Blinken's first trip to the country since assuming office in January 2021. It followed the official visit of Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, the State Department’s second-highest official, in June. (With reports from Joyce Ann L. Rocamora/PNA) Join our 3 x a week Philippines News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo. (File photo) MANILA – Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said the Philippines and Southeast Asian nations cannot afford escalation in the region as tensions simmer between the United States and China over the recent trip of Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan. In a meeting with visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday, Manalo said an escalation could risk creating instability in the region, especially as the world is just recovering from the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. "We can ill-afford any further escalation of tensions in the region, because we are already facing a number of challenges getting our economy back to work, especially because of the Covid-19 pandemic. And we all know that no one country will be able to deal with all these issues on their own," he said. "We look at the United States, a very important ally, our dear friend, as we chart our path forward," he added. Blinken, meanwhile, said Washington DC is" determined to act responsibly" to avoid crisis and conflict in the region. He added that the US "always stands by" its partners as he cited the "deep concerns" expressed by countries, including the Philippines, over the latest developments in the Taiwan Strait. "Maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is vital, not only for Taiwan, but for the Philippines, and many other countries. What happens to the Taiwan Strait affects the entire region. And in many ways, it affects the entire world because the strait, like the South China Sea, is a critical waterway," he said in a post-bilateral presser. "The United States doesn't believe that it's in the interest of Taiwan, the region or our own national security to escalate that situation," he said. He also assured that the US would keep its channel and communication with China open to avoid any miscalculation due to misunderstanding or miscommunication. (PNA) Join our 3 x a week Philippines News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

BACK AT IT. The Navotas National High School in Metro Manila has been implementing limited in-person classes since February. The Department of Education ordered all public and private basic education schools to resume face-to-face classes, five days a week by November 2. (DepEd photo) MANILA – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is hoping for a successful resumption of face-to-face or in-person classes later this month, noting that it will boost economic recovery from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. In his weekly vlog uploaded Saturday, Marcos enjoined local government units (LGUs) anew to be more aggressive in their Covid-19 vaccination and booster drives to ensure the safety of everyone, especially students, once Academic Year 2022-2023 starts August 22. Citing government data, he said some 15.9 million Filipinos have received their first Covid-19 booster shots while over 1.2 million have received their second booster doses. Marcos admitted it is still far from the government’s target of administering at least 23 million Covid-19 booster shots within his first 100 days in office. “We will not get tired of asking our LGUs to be more aggressive in this campaign,” he said. He acknowledged that getting more Filipinos to get their Covid-19 jabs and booster shots is not easy but it is crucial to reopening more sectors. “It might not be that simple, but if our preparation is done right, I am sure this will be successful,” he added. According to Marcos, the resumption of in-person classes will revive economic activities in establishments around schools such as school supplies stores, retail industry, and the like and in public transport. Parents will also have the opportunity to go back to work while their children are in school, which means an increase in the workforce. “If this becomes successful, it won’t only mean the resumption of classes but also the resumption of business, livelihood, and economic development. This would be a huge help to our efforts to reopen the economy,” he said. Marcos reminded industries to continue enforcing minimum public health standards to prevent a spike in Covid-19 cases. “A lot of industries will take part and benefit from this step so we need to make sure that everyone is ready,” he added. Marcos personally visited a vaccination site in Pasig on August 1 to observe and encourage more to receive primary and booster shots. “We have no other defense against this other than the vaccine. Let's not wait for the cases to increase and to become difficult for us to go to work, to leave our homes,” he said in his speech. (PNA) Join our 3 x a week Philippines News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

Liverpool's Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez (left) gets in front of Fulham's English defender Tosin Adarabioyo to shoot and score their first goal during the English Premier League football match between Fulham and Liverpool at Craven Cottage in London on Aug 6, 2022. (Photo: AFP/JUSTIN TALLIS) SINGAPORE: StarHub customers on Saturday (Aug 6) reported issues watching the Premier League broadcast on the season's opening weekend, with many complaining about the quality of the service. CNA reported that angry football fans took to social media to vent their frustrations, noting issues such as broadcast lags, freezes on their screens and poor-quality video and audio. Some users also said they were unable to log on to the StarHub TV+ app. StarHub holds the rights to broadcast the English Premier League in Singapore. Rival previously held broadcast rights telco Singtel for 12 straight years. "What a catastrophic start to the Premier League by StarHub," said Twitter user Archit Singh. "Absolute disastrous move from Singtel to StarHub. Unable to watch a single minute of football and it's 45 minutes already." Another football fan tweeted: "Felt a lot like pirated stream with black screen twice in the 2nd half of Fulham Liverpool." On StarHub's Facebook page, several people said they faced issues reaching a representative for help. "Can't watch, with no info, called hotline, on hold forever," said a Facebook user. An error reported by a StarHub customer. (Photo: Twitter/@eugene_siow) Others called for refunds of their subscription. "StarHub please sort this. You have many months (to) do testing to ensure things run smoothly! It’s lagging not loading ... please refund us and sort this out," said Facebook user Duncan Tan. The broadcast issues appeared to have affected users across Singapore, in locations such as Queenstown, East Coast, Loyang and Punggol. In response to CNA's queries, StarHub said: "We are aware that some of our TV+ customers experienced difficulties streaming the Liverpool vs Fulham game. We are sorry for the inconvenience caused and are working hard to resolve these issues urgently. IPTV service was not affected." StarHub announced in February that it won the rights to broadcast the English Premier League in Singapore for six years starting from the 2022-2023 season. After announcing its price plans for Premier League packages, the telco saw an overwhelming response to its early bird rates for the Premier+ over-the-top service. The response promoted StarHub to extend its promotion for a second time.

Dee Kosh outside the State Courts on Aug 5, 2022. (Photo: CNA/Jeremy Long) SINGAPORE: Former radio disc jockey Dee Kosh, 33, was sentenced to 32 weeks' jail on Friday (Aug 5) for sexual offences involving teenage boys. The YouTuber, named Darryl Ian Koshy in court documents, solicited paid sex from a total of four teenage boys between February 2017 and August 2020. In May, he pleaded guilty to attempting to procure an indecent act from a young person and communicating with a minor to obtain sexual services, in relation to two of the teenage victims. Two other charges related to the other two victims were considered for sentencing. Kosh also admitted to secretly filming himself having sex with another victim, then aged between 23 and 25. Two more charges of making and possessing obscene films were taken into consideration for sentencing. All the victims' identities are protected by gag order. Deputy Public Prosecutor Lim Ying Min earlier called Kosh a "seasoned criminal skilled at avoiding detection" and said his offences were highly premeditated. She sought five to eight months' jail. Defence counsel Johannes Hadi asked for a shorter jail term of two-and-a-half months, arguing that his client was remorseful and highlighting his good prospects for rehabilitation as assessed by a psychiatrist. Previous In sentencing, District Judge Jasvender Kaur highlighted that Kosh brushed off one of the teenagers when the boy repeatedly told him he was underaged. She also said that Kosh took steps to conceal his what he did. This included moving conversations with the victims to Telegram and Snapchat, which offered certain privacy features. She rejected an argument made by the defence that Kosh did so as he wanted to be discreet about his sexuality. The judge said that Kosh was persistent and sought to overcome the resistance of one of his victims by asking him to think of the money he was offering. She also said that Kosh's use of the Internet to commit his crimes was aggravating, and that his social media presence was central to tracking down one of the teenage victims. Kosh had posted a photo of that victim, whom he saw during a video shoot, on social media. He said that he expected to be able to find the boy because of the number of social media followers he had, said the judge. Judge Kaur also addressed the defence's argument that the court should disregard the prosecution's references to Kosh's comments in a YouTube video he made about the case. The video, which Kosh posted on Jan 26, has since been taken down. The prosecution used it to argue that Kosh was not remorseful for his crimes, which is a factor in sentencing. "It is appropriate to consider what the accused said in the video which he posted on Jan 26," said Judge Kaur. "He publicly claimed he assumed (the victim) A1 was 18 years of age and portrayed it as an unwitting contravention of the law. This was a blatant lie." The truth was that the victim had confirmed he was under 16, said the judge, adding that taking all these circumstances into consideration, she would give Kosh's plea of guilt less mitigating weight. Kosh rose to fame on YouTube and was a presenter on radio station Power 98, a position he held during the offences. Power 98 previously said that Kosh has been suspended since being charged in August last year. Before that, he was placed on no-pay leave pending investigations. For the full report go to CNA.

FILE PHOTO: The Supreme Court building on Padre Faura Street in Manila. CATHY MIRANDA / INQUIRER.net The Supreme Court affirmed the dismissal from service of a former employee of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) who had been convicted of the crime of bigamy. According to the Inquirer the DFA employee, who was assigned at the agency’s passport division, assailed the Court of Appeals (CA) rulings that affirmed earlier resolutions by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) dismissing her from the service for her conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude. The employee’s dismissal was spawned by a complaint-affidavit filed before the CSC in September 2002 alleging that the employee and her husband contracted marriage while the husband was still married to another. This prompted the complainant to file a criminal case for bigamy before the Regional Trial Court of Lucena City. The DFA employee and the man pleaded guilty, resulting in their conviction of the crime. In her counter-affidavit, the employee claimed that she had no knowledge of her husband’s previous existing marriage when she agreed to marry him. The CSC found the petitioner guilty of the administrative offense of conviction of a crime of moral turpitude and meted the penalty of dismissal from service. On further appeal, the CA affirmed the CSC’s rulings. In a decision penned by Justice Ramon Paul Hernando, the high court found the employee’s petition “not meritorious,” as it noted that she did not contest that she was guilty of both administrative and criminal offenses. “What she assailed was the CSC’s imposition of the penalty of dismissal from service upon the finding of her administrative guilt,” the Supreme Court said. Punishable offense It added that what the employee had committed was a grave offense that is punishable with dismissal from service upon first commission. The court held that the CA was correct in not appreciating the mitigating circumstances—such as the length of service, first commission and outstanding performance—that the petitioner invoked. The length of service cannot be given weight since the subject administrative offense is a grave offense, punishable by dismissal from services, the Supreme Court said. “Bigamy cannot be taken lightly as its commission reflects the person’s character. It involves moral turpitude as settled in jurisprudence. Petitioner flagrantly disregarded the law … this shows her moral depravity and cast[s] serious doubt on her fitness and integrity to continue in the public service,” the high court said. It stressed that the rules are clear in stating that a first-time offender shall be dismissed from service. Join our 3 x a week Philippines News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

(PNA file photo) MANILA – Several studies have revealed that the country has become one of the world’s largest sources of online child sexual exploitation and abuse cases with a rapid increase in cyber tip reports, aggravated by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic. With Republic Act 11930 or the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) Law, which lapsed into law last July 30, several child rights groups such as the Child Rights Network (CRN) said this marks the dawn of safer online spaces for children. The CRN said the two new laws signaled a victory for all child advocates and champions pushing for a landmark legislation that would protect Filipino children and erase the country's image as one of the most dangerous places for children to access the internet. "It is our fervent wish for Filipino children to safely navigate the virtual space without fear. RA 11930 symbolizes the break of dawn heralding a future where no more children are harmed, abused, and victimized through the Internet," CRN convenor Romeo Dongeto said in a statement on Thursday. Data from the US-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children showed the rapid increase of OSAEC cases in the country during the pandemic, noting a 209-percent increase in cyber tip reports for the Philippines, with 1,294,750 cyber tips in 2020 as compared to 418,422 cyber tips in 2019. A risk assessment report released by the Philippine Anti-Money Laundering Council in 2020 showed that there had been a significant rise in the suspicious financial transactions reported related to the OSAEC in 2020. From the 597 suspicious transaction reports recorded in May 2019, the figures swelled to 5,634 in May 2020. “With children staying more in their homes, online platforms became a basic need for them to continue their education and maintain a sense of normalcy. Coupled with economic difficulties, this situation made it easier for OSAEC perpetrators to prey on children,” the CRN said. The new law, Dongeto said, holistically responds to the advocates' longstanding call for stronger online child safety regulations and makes cyberspace safe for children. With RA 11930 in place, law enforcement authorities can now swiftly pursue violators of the OSAEC Law and effectively tear the veil of anonymity that hides their nefarious acts in cyberspace. The new law enables the government to work in tandem with the private sector by not only blocking child sexual abuse or exploitation materials but also ensuring that technological or other practical safeguards are in place to prevent or detect recruitment and trafficking. "Essentially, RA 11930 plugs fundamental loopholes in existing laws and regulations concerning OSAEC by providing clear definitions that succinctly consider the often-ephemeral quality of OSAEC committed through the viewing or live-streaming of online content that does not need the offender to do any act of downloading or retaining any form of child sexual abuse materials," Dongeto said. Meanwhile, private individuals, especially parents, hailed the passage of the law, which they say is very timely, especially in this digital age. Lea Alim Agustin, an elementary school teacher handling Grade 1 students mostly between the age of 7 and 8 years old, who are very vulnerable to online sexual predators, said the law will give them peace of mind. “As a mother and educator as well, I acknowledge that modern technology is a great tool for learning and seeking knowledge, but with its broad spectrum, there are so many things in the online world that children will not easily understand, therefore, there should be rules in using it. I believe that OSAEC law can help protect our kids, especially against online sexual abuse,” she said. Jovenal Villano, a former educator and a father to a two-year-old child, believes in the importance and timely passage of the OSAEC Law. “I think OSAEC is very essential in our society, especially in the current trend and world of technology today. Since students, children or minors are exposed to the internet almost every day for their online classes, research, and social media, they are really an easy target of those abusers. That's why this law is especially important to be implemented and imposed to minimize or control if not totally eliminate the acts of these abusers,” Villano said. (PNA) Join our 3 x a week Philippines News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

(File photo) MANILA – A 26-year-old man jumped off from the public area at the departure level of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said on Thursday. “The MIAA commiserates with the family of a 26-year-old male from Bgy. Sto. Nino, South Cotabato, who jumped off from the public area at the departure level of NAIA Terminal 1 and landed at the pavement of the arrival area at noon today,” the MIAA said in a statement. The MIAA police said a witness saw the man looking bothered “walking back and forth staring blankly at distance.” Shortly after the witness saw the man go up the ledge and jumped off from the departure area, it added. A subsequent review of CCTV footage corroborated the statement of the witness, according to the MIAA police. “The victim was rushed by the MIAA Medical team to Pasay City General Hospital at 1:14 p.m. where he later expired at 2:45 p.m.,” the MIAA added. (PNA) Join our 3 x a week Philippines News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

Terrorism is perhaps the largest threat to tourist safety in the Philippines and continues to be an ongoing problem. The whole of the far south is a no-go zone: the areas of Mindanao, the Sulu Archipelago, and the Zamboanga Peninsula are all considered extremely dangerous, and travelers are advised to stay away. As far as cities Manila is one of the least safe cities in the world. The areas of Makati that are completely safe day or night are Greenbelt, Ayala, Rockwell, as well as North Makati Avenue. Manila Everywhere else in the city you should practice extreme vigilance. If you do find yourself in a dangerous situation, unfortunately, you cannot rely on the police. What should I avoid in the Philippines? When traveling to the Philippines, here are some of the things you should avoid: Don't insult the country or its people. Don't disrespect your elders. Don't use first names to address someone older. Don't show much of your valuable things in public. Don't get offended too easily. Don't go without prior research. In 2019, the homicide rate for the Philippines was 4.4 cases per 100,000 population. Though Philippine's homicide rate fluctuated substantially in recent years, it tended to increase from 2000 - 2019 period ending at 4.4 cases per 100,000 population in 2019. That said in a recent 2022 Safety Index, the Philippines ranked the 59th Safest country out of 142 countries, above Canada (60), the United Kingdom (63), Australia (75), and the United States (86). Coron for safety Coron So, if you want to book a great holiday then Coron is a safe and tourist-friendly mountainous island sitting at the tip of the Palawan region. It is also one of the most favorite domestic destinations among solo travelers, foreigners, and celebrities. The place is also recognized by many blogs, vlogs, and even magazines as one of the world's top diving sites. Join our 3 x a week Philippines News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

Containers are seen at Cat Lai Terminal in Ho Chi Minh City in December 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Nguyen Transport companies have not reduced tariffs despite the fall in fuel prices since it takes time for the market to adjust, a deputy minister has said. VN Express reported that in response to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's recent query about why prices of consumer goods and services have not fallen though gasoline prices have, Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Xuan Sang said this is because there is typically a lag before transporters reduce tariffs when fuel prices fall. "Fuel prices have not fallen by a large amount and therefore transport companies have not lowered their prices." His ministry has ordered them to cut them soon, he said. Gasoline prices have fallen four times and by a total of 22 percent since June 21. Sang expects transporters to reduce tariffs when fuel prices stabilize. Around 80-90 percent of road transport operators have increased tariffs by 10-15 percent this year to offset the rise in fuel prices, he said. However, sea freight has fallen by 20-25 percent from this year's peak, he added. Chinh ordered government bodies to review the prices of consumer goods and services and penalize anyone found hiking them without justification. Join our 3 x a week Vietnam News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

People wait in line to complete procedures at HCMC's Tan Son Nhat Airport. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran The health ministry has asked localities nationwide to monitor foreign entrants from countries with monkeypox as a prompt response after infections were spotted in the region reported VN Express. Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, China, and Japan are some of the countries where monkeypox has been detected. Per the latest decision, foreign entrants from countries with monkeypox will have their body temperatures checked and be subject to other monitoring measures. Those suspected to be infected with the condition will be isolated and have their biological samples taken for testing. The ministry is yet to issue specific instructions on how foreign entrants from countries with monkeypox should be monitored, or when exactly these measures are to be applied. Vietnam has not recorded any monkeypox cases so far. Last week, Ho Chi Minh City proposed that foreign entrants are asked to complete medical declarations at the border as one of the anti-monkeypox measures. Nguyen Van Kinh, former director of the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, said he believed health facilities are likely to be among the first places where monkeypox cases would be detected, instead of airports, as had happened with Covid-19. Those with the highest risk of infection include direct caretakers of patients and lab workers involved in the testing of biological samples for monkeypox. Besides screening measures at the border, the health ministry has also requested monitoring at different health facilities and added vigilance at certain events in the community. As of July 30, the WHO has recorded over 21,000 monkeypox cases in 78 countries and territories. Seven people have died. Typical symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, muscle pain, skin lesions and rashes. It is transmitted through contact with bodily fluids or lesion material. Join our 3 x a week Vietnam News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

If you are planning a trip to Vietnam, or maybe are working or living there already, then here are three unique places to add to your excursions. 1. Son Doong Cave – the world's largest natural caves Back in 1991, a Vietnamese local man called Ho Khanh first explored the Incredible Son Doong cave, followed in 2009 by a team of British cavers headed by Mr Howard Limbert. Son Doong Cave also stretches 9.00 km in length with parts going up to about 200 meters long, making it about two times wider than the Deer Cave of Malaysia. This cave's unique point is that it is well known as the largest natural cave in the world, home to several million-year-old limestone grottoes, stalactites, and stalagmites. Therefore, located inside Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park (approximately 500 km south of Hanoi), this cave is a must-see for curious travellers who want to discover one of Vietnam's natural jewels during their Vietnam tours and vacations. 2. Ba Na Hills & Golden Bridge: Giant hands lift a bridge Golden Hand Bridge is most recent tourist attraction in Ba Na Hills. This area is a mountain resort that was founded in 1919 by French colonists. It once housed some 200 villas near Da Nang, but only a few ruins remain today. The Golden Bridge has significantly made it on everybody's bucket list thanks to social media, and it is easy to see why! Because of its unique design and beauty, it has become an immediate success. Over millions of tourists come to Da Nang every year to see it in person and enjoy walking experience through this unusual position and architecture. Here you will catch many beautiful photos with uninterrupted views of magnificent scenery. Besides, the Golden Bridge architecture makes you feel like a walk through the hands of gods in the heavens. However, it will be very crowded with thousands of tourists & selfie-stick on hand trying to capture their flawless social media story. It would be best to visit it on weekdays to avoid being too crowded and enjoy the real beauty. 3. Fansipan Peak: magnificent view Fansipan is the highest mountain of Vietnam, situated on Hoang Lien Son's majestic range, within Lao Cai province's territory with 3143m high. It is also the highest mountain in Indochina's three countries and is known as the “Roof of Indochina.” Mount Fansipan has always been a desirable location for many climbers, adventurers, and tourists to conquer, whether on-road or off-road. Notably, the path leading to Fansipan is most beautiful in February, when the flowers bloom on the mountain. The subtle green of hills, colorful floating clouds make the scenery extremely romantic and unique. Moreover, climbers will cross vast green forests, wading through murmuring streams that flow cork forests, even down deep chasms of the slope, climbing over dangerous cliffs. Besides the traditional routes along which visitors must trek through forests to reach the mountain peak, a modern cable car system can help them get to the destination faster while experiencing unforgettable moments looking to primitive jungles and valleys covered by clouds. Also, cable cars take tourists across Muong Hoa Valley, where they can admire the ripening, golden yellow terraced rice paddies. Tourists can also admire a "treasure" of biodiversity in Hoang Lien National Park from Fansipan cable car. So now you have a few unusual places to visit. Join our 3 x a week Vietnam News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Photo at the 55th Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Phnom Penh on Aug 3, 2022. SINGAPORE — Singapore on Wednesday (Aug 3) said it hopes the United States and China can exercise self-restraint and refrain from actions that will further escalate tensions amid concerning "cross-strait developments" reports Today. The 55th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) was convened in Phnom Penh, Cambodia at a time of "significant volatility and insecurity", said Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in a press statement. "The AMM discussed cross-strait developments with concern," said MFA. "Stable US-China relations are vital for regional peace and prosperity. Singapore hopes that the US and China can work out a modus vivendi, exercise self-restraint and refrain from actions that will further escalate tensions." A modus vivendi refers to an arrangement or agreement allowing conflicting parties to coexist peacefully, either indefinitely or until a final settlement is reached. US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday night and left on Wednesday evening, after meeting with Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen. China has condemned the visit, calling it a "provocation" by the United States, and said it would conduct military drills around the island. Singapore's Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan attended the meeting in Cambodia. The meeting had extensive discussions on recent regional and global developments, including the situation in Myanmar, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and cross-strait developments. "Asean noted that no progress has been made on the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus," said the MFA statement. "The decision by the Myanmar military authorities to execute four opposition activists in the week leading up to the 55th AMM was a grave setback for Asean’s efforts to facilitate a peaceful resolution and national reconciliation in Myanmar." "It also disrespected the efforts of the Asean Chair Cambodia and the Asean Special Envoy on Myanmar." Asean also reiterated the importance of the continued implementation of the Five-Point Consensus, said MFA. "Without any progress on this front, further engagement with the Myanmar military authorities would be of limited value." "Asean is exploring ways to engage with all stakeholders in Myanmar," said the ministry. Dr Balakrishnan reiterated Singapore's call for the release of all political detainees, including President Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, and for the Asean Special Envoy on Myanmar to have access to all stakeholders. The AMM also discussed the negative impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, on energy and food prices. "Asean reiterated its call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the resumption of peaceful dialogue among all parties concerned. Asean hoped that grain exports from Ukraine can resume to pre-conflict levels," said the MFA statement.

According to the Da Nang Statistics Office, the revenue of accommodation and catering services in July 2022 reached an estimated VND2,407 billion, up 11.2% over the previous month and up 385.7% over the same period last year. Illustrative image (Photo: DNO) Of this, revenue from accommodation activities stood at VND970 billion, up 15.6% over the previous month, nearly 19.9 times higher than the same period, whilst catering service earned VND1,437 billion worth of revenue, up 8.4% over the previous month and 221.5% over the same period last year. In the January-July period of 2022, revenue from accommodation and catering services was estimated at VND10,998 billion, up 40% over the same period in 2021. In detail, accommodation service revenue reached VND3,686 billion, up 106.0 %; food and beverage revenue reached VND7,312 billion, up 20.5% over the same period in 2021. In July alone, the number of guests served by local accommodation facilities was estimated at 514,800, up 13.1% over the previous month and 15.3 times higher than the same period in 2021. There were 57,500 international visitors, up 42.3% over the previous month, up 12.2 times over the same period. Likewise, the number of domestic tourists was estimated at 457,300, an increase of 10.2% from the previous month and 15.7 times higher than that recorded in the same period in 2021. As accumulated, in the 7-month period, the total number of visitors staying at accommodation establishments was estimated at 1.88 million, a hike of 83% over the same period, and 127,000 of them were international visitors up 44.3% and 1.76 million were domestic travellers, up 86.6%. Join our 3 x a week Vietnam News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

A Vietnam Airlines aircraft lands at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, June 15, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran Vietnamese airlines have been asked to avoid areas near Taiwan in the next two days as China will conduct military exercises around the island. According to VN Express, Dinh Viet Thang, head of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, said that it has received an official notice from Chinese authorities, asking airlines operating in Asia to avoid flying near the island of Taiwan from 11 a.m. Thursday until Friday. CAAV has informed Vietnamese airlines to adjust flight routes. "Airlines can still operate normally and decide on their own to postpone or cancel flights if necessary," Thang said. Vietnamese airlines which operate flights from Hanoi, HCMC to Taiwan have not yet announced flight cancelation or delays. China on Wednesday warned airlines operating in Asia to avoid flying in areas around Taiwan, promoting several Asian airlines to start adjusting their flight routes. Chinese Xiamen Airlines announced adjustments to several flights, citing "flow control" in Fujian. Korean Airlines is planning to re-route some routes to South Asia in order to avoid Taiwan's airspace while Cathay Pacific Airways pilots were advised to carry 30 minutes worth of extra fuel for possible rerouting in Taiwan, Bloomberg reported. Shortly after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi landed in Taiwan Tuesday night for a historic visit, China announced that the Chinese military will hold live-fire drills in six maritime areas surrounding Taiwan and their respective airspace from August 4-7, according to state-run Xinhua News Agency. Pelosi's visit escalated tension between the U.S. and China, with Beijing considering the act as provocative and Washington's betrayal of its "One-China policy." China said Pelosi's visit seriously damages peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, "has a severe impact on the political foundation of China-U.S. relations, and seriously infringes upon China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Reuters reported. Join our 3 x a week Vietnam News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

SAFETY FIRST. A vehicle negotiates a road in Abra after it was cleared of fallen rocks and debris from a magnitude 7 earthquake last July 27. Benguet Governor Melchor Diclas on Wednesday (Aug. 3, 2022) called on motorists to take all necessary precautions when traversing the roads in the province as landslides, rock slides, thick fog and slippery roads make their travel more perilous. (PNA photo courtesy of PDRRMO) LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Governor Melchor Diclas again reminded motorists to take precautionary measures while traveling in Benguet as rains and aftershocks continue to be experienced in the province. "Precaution is needed especially these rainy seasons when driving or traveling anywhere in the province," Diclas said on Wednesday. The governor said Benguet, located in a mountainous area, has slippery roads, especially at this time when rain occurs almost every day, something common in the province during the monsoon season. He said thick fog that is also normal in the province year-round adds to the high risk of travel in Benguet and other parts of Cordillera. He added that the magnitude 7 earthquake that rocked several areas in Luzon, including Benguet, has loosened soil in the mountain slope, made it more susceptible to landslides, especially when drenched by rain. Several landslides continue to occur in the province, the latest on Aug. 1 when a rock fell on the road at the Alno-Bekes provincial road in La Trinidad. “Motorists are also advised to cancel their non-essential travels during rainy hours and at night for their safety,” Diclas said. Benguet has jurisdiction over a big portion of the Baguio-Bontoc Road that leads to Sagada, the Kennon Road which is the shortest route to Baguio City from Metro Manila, the Marcos Highway, the Naguilian Road that connects Baguio to Bauang, La Union, and the Benguet-Vizcaya Road that shortens travel time from Baguio City to parts of Cagayan Valley. (PNA) Join our 3 x a week Philippines News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php