Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Saturday, May 13, 2023.
READ: De Lima acquitted of drug trafficking
JAILED former senator Leila de Lima was acquitted Friday on one of two remaining drug trafficking charges filed against her under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, court officials said. The former senator and Justice secretary, 63, and another defendant "are hereby acquitted," said a written copy of the ruling released by Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court Judge Abraham Alcantara. De Lima has been in detention since 2017 and has remained in jail even after a key witness recanted his testimony.
READ: Kuwait stops issuing entry visas to Filipinos
THE government of Kuwait has stopped issuing new entry visas to Filipinos, citing the Philippines' supposed failure to comply with a labor agreement between the two countries, the Department of Foreign Affairs reported on Friday. Kuwait's interior ministry did not specify the particular section in the agreement that the Philippines has violated, the D.F.A. said. In a short statement, the D.F.A. said the suspension of visa issuance would be effective immediately and will be in force until "further notice."
READ: Marcos: PH closer to bringing Teves back
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the government is getting closer to bringing embattled Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr. back to the Philippines after East Timor's "quick" rejection of his application for political asylum. Marcos mentioned East Timor's decision to turn down the asylum request of Teves during a bilateral meeting with East Timor's Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak on the sidelines of the 42nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia on Thursday. During the meeting, Marcos thanked Ruak for the prompt action, saying it would now be easier for authorities to bring Teves back to the country to answer the allegations against him.
READ: Onion prices up to P200/kilo
RETAIL prices of red onions have increased up to 200 pesos per kilo in some markets in Metro Manila, the price monitoring of the Department of Agriculture reported. According to D.A.'s price monitoring on Thursday, May 11, prices of red onions increased by 20 pesos, compared to its highest price from last week which was only 180 pesos. Markets in Metro Manila, including the Marikina Public Market and Guadalupe Public Market in Makati, are selling the commodity at 180 to 200 pesos.
BUSINESS: Growth still likely to fall below target
Topping business, despite better-than-expected first-quarter results, Philippine economic growth could still miss this year's target due to high interest rates, weak global demand and a consumption slowdown, a Fitch Group unit said. In a commentary, B.M.I. Country Risk & Industry Research said it was maintaining its full-year gross domestic product growth forecast for the country at 5.9 percent, below the government's goal of 6.0 to 7.0 percent. The economy expanded by 6.4 percent in the first quarter, data released on Thursday showed, beating consensus expectations of a slowdown to 6.0 or 6.1 percent from the 7.1 percent recorded three months earlier. Seasonally adjusted, G.D.P. growth slowed to 1.1 percent from 2.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2022.
SPORTS: Wushu, poomsae deliver golds for PH
Over to sports, wushu and poomsae athletes delivered gold medals for Team Philippines in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games on Friday, May 12. Wushu artist Agatha Wong, the taekwondo women's team of Nicole Labayne, Aidaine Laxa and Jocel Ninobla as well as Patrick King Perez came through to give the country three more gold medals on a gloomy day for Team Philippines, which is stuck at sixth place in the overall medal tally. Wong ruled the women's taijiquan + taijijian event at the Chroy Changvar Convention Center Hall A. Wong scored a total of 19.263 points as she notched her fifth gold medal in the biennial meet, and gave the Philippines its 28th gold in the ongoing Games. Performing with grace and authority, the 24-year-old wushu artist notched 9.58 points in taijiquan on Wednesday and 9.683 in taijijian on Friday.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Antonio Contreras, Yen Makabenta and Danton Remoto are today's front page columnists. Contreras discusses issues beyond university rankings, Makabenta compares communication or communications, and Remoto checks the situation in Myanmar.
Today's editorial believes that better institutions are key to development aid. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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