Investments department

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has urged Chinese corporations to take advantage of investment opportunities in the Philippines, particularly in the manufacturing sector. During the first Manila Forum for China-Philippines Relations, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said that while several Chinese firms already had a presence in the country, opportunities still abound. As examples, he cited Dito Telecommunity Corp., which is backed by state-owned China Telecommunications Corp., the APF Group Holding Corp., which produces slabs and hot rolled coils in Misamis Oriental province; Florida Blanca Steel Industries, which manufactures steel pipes in Pampanga province for export; and Liangan Power Corp., a renewable energy developer in Lanao del Norte province. “[T]here is still a wide range of investment opportunities available in our country that investors can take advantage of presently. These include [the] manufacturing of e-vehicles, e-bikes and bicycles; light industries … [Read more...] about DTI to China firms: Invest more in PH

Councillor Josh Matlow says he knew his proposed 10 per cent cut to Toronto police would face an uphill battle because of the budget’s “untouchable” status. “It’s the single largest line item in the city’s operating budget and almost every year it goes up,” he said this past week, almost six months after his motion lost a council vote eight to 16 . He remains convinced it was the right thing to do. The move brought greater transparency to the police budget while responding to “clear demands” to reallocate police funds into much-needed community supports — to “prevent crime, rather than just trying to arrest people who commit it,” he says. This year, police services across North American came under unprecedented pressure to change following George Floyd’s death in police custody in Minneapolis. Anti-racism rallies and defunding protests have led some cities, such as Calgary, to look at shifting some police money to social service agencies — but always with pushback. Change … [Read more...] about Why Toronto didn’t defund police in 2020 (nor all those other times)

San Francisco is dealing with its homeless epidemic by spending $16.1 million for 262 tents  — an investment that breaks down to $190 a night or $61,000 per tent per year. The tents will be placed in empty lots around the city, creating what officials are calling “safe sleeping villages.” The city will also provide food and other services. “The annual cost of one spot in one site is 2½ times the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in San Francisco,” the San Francisco Chronicle reported . The report continued: City leaders are under enormous pressure to address the city’s swelling homeless population, which has become more worrisome and visible amid the pandemic as traditional shelters have had to cut their capacity and other services have been disrupted. But several officials said Wednesday that the tent program — which is not eligible for federal reimbursement — is staggeringly expensive and must be re-examined, especially amid the $650 million budget deficit that … [Read more...] about San Francisco Doles out $16.1M to Provide 262 Tents for Homeless Residents

Phuket NEWS Hound – A daily digest of news from around the world compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community. PHUKET: Hainan Airlines is preparing to launch non-stop flights to Phuket from Beijing on July 31, becoming the first and only domestic carrier to offer such a service. According to China Hospitality News, the fourth-largest carrier in China will operate three weekly flights – every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. The flights will depart Beijing at 18:00 local time and arrive in Phuket at 22:50 local time. The return flight will leave at 23:50 local time and arrive Beijing the following morning at 06:15 local time. The route will be operated with Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The non-stop flights will cut travel time by more than five hours, making it much more convenient for air passengers to the tropical island. Phuket is often dubbed ‘The Pearl of the Andaman’. Phuket air traffic rising TTR Weekly Notably, Phuket International … [Read more...] about Phuket wins direct flights from Beijing

PHUKET: Dr Tanwa Apornthip is currently a faculty member at Prince of Songkla University (PSU), Phuket campus. He recently obtained his PhD from the University of Virginia and joined the interdisciplinary graduate school of Earth System Science and Andaman Natural Disaster Management (ESSAND) at PSU. Hailing from a scientific family, Dr Tanwa says he has always looked up to his dad, who pushed himself to study new skills, especially computer-related ones. “Due to my tendency to disorganize my father’s books, I was forbidden to touch them. Nevertheless, I always managed to sneak in and read every single book. Eventually, my needs to learn outgrew my patience to wait for my parents to buy me new books. Bookstores were where I spent my middle-school weekends, reading all that I could,” says Dr Tanwa. “Science was the subject I liked the most. The methodical work ethic of scientists and the logical justification of each scientific theory immediately struck me as one of the most … [Read more...] about Profile: Dr Tanwa Apornthip’s love of science and Phuket