MANILA, Philippines – Now that we have finally enacted the Enhanced Fiscal Regime for Large-Scale Metallic Mining (under Republic Act No. 12253), I want to explain why I fought so hard for one particular element of this law: transparency.
As governor of Albay, I stood firmly against irresponsible mining. I was a supporter of Alyansa…
https://business.inquirer.net/551622/the-wealth-beneath-our-soil-should-serve-the-filipino-people
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) —
A former Wyoming library director who was fired amid an uproar over books with sexual content has become the center of a heated debate on free speech and censorship.
The controversy began when several parents raised concerns about certain titles available to young readers, leading to widespread discussions in the community and local media coverage.
Supporters of the director argue that removing books from library shelves infringes on intellectual freedom, while opponents believe some materials are inappropriate for children.
As the debate continues, the incident highlights broader national conversations about the role of libraries, parental control, and access to information in public spaces.
https://wtop.com/education/2025/10/wyoming-library-director-fired-amid-book-dispute-wins-700000-settlement/
Jordy Bos used to watch Feyenoord highlights. Now, at just 22 years old, he is one of the stars of the show. The Socceroos left-back is dominating for his boyhood club, playing under his former idol, and is just eight months away from potentially featuring in his first World Cup.
Bos, one of the pivotal pieces of the Socceroos’ future, is only just scratching the surface of his promising career. Dutch powerhouse Feyenoord, managed by former Arsenal, Manchester United, and Netherlands striker Robin van Persie, currently sit at the top of the Eredivisie table.
Since joining the Rotterdam giants in July, Bos has become the first Australian to win the Eredivisie Player of the Month award. He has also impressed fans by scoring two sublime goals. The former Melbourne City sensation is reaping the rewards of a carefully managed plan to develop his career and play regularly in Europe.
Even Bos admits he can’t believe how well things have gone since his transfer from Belgian club Westerlo, where he battled two bad hamstring injuries last year.
“When I first went there, I didn’t really know what to expect,” Bos said. “But obviously it’s a big club, so it’s always going to be hard. Before I got there, I heard that the left-back was a little bit injured so I got to play my first game for the Champions League qualifications. From there, it just kept going and then when the other left-back got back, I kept my spot a bit.”
Bos, a Melburnian of Dutch descent, comes from a family of Feyenoord fans.
“Living in Australia when I was younger, it was hard to watch the games, but I remember my dad would always put the highlights on and stuff, so we would watch that,” he said. “It’s a huge deal for my family as well. The ones that live in Holland, I think they were just as excited as I was when they heard about the news. So it’s crazy for them as well, and they always want to come watch the games and stuff like that. So it’s pretty unreal and playing for them is just an honour.”
Bos is also pinching himself that he gets to play under club great Robin van Persie.
“It’s really cool,” he said. “Watching him when I was younger as well and he’s such a big player and icon in the football world. And seeing him in real life and talking to him, and having him there, it’s pretty surreal. I really enjoy it.”
Currently, Bos has joined the Socceroos for upcoming matches against Canada in Montreal on Saturday and the United States in Colorado next Wednesday. These matches provide another chance for him to cement his starting left-back role, especially with stalwart Aziz Behich among the A-League players not selected in this squad.
With a strong World Cup on the horizon and continued impressive performances for both club and country, Bos knows more opportunities could come his way.
“Either Premier League or Bundesliga — probably one of those two,” he said when asked about his future ambitions. “But for right now, obviously, just focusing on where I am. But that’s probably the goal.”
https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/soccer/socceroos-bos-living-the-dream-at-boyhood-club-c-20278623
Pride. Reckoning. Aspiration.
As an American, you can experience all of these feelings at the same time: holding pride in our progress, reckoning with our problematic past, and aspiring for a better future.
This is at the heart of New America’s Us@250 initiative—an effort to deepen our understanding of national identity by expanding the American narrative to include the rich, complex histories of all of us.
Ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026, join New America this fall for robust conversations on these themes with policymakers, visual artists, community organizers, and more.
Together, we’ll explore the truths and contradictions about ourselves and our country through poetry, film, comedy, story, and music.
We’ll also ask big questions: Given the nation’s history, who might we become if we truly live up to its founding ideals? Who belongs here, and who will be welcome? And how can we make the promise of America available to all?
https://www.newamerica.org/new-america/events/the-us250-experience/
MANILA, Philippines – Debt or “utang” is not just a financial tool anymore. It has become the lifeline that keeps many Filipino families afloat.
With consumer spending making up about 70 percent of the economy, every peso that is spent helps keep the economy moving. When households continue to buy, businesses thrive. However, when they cut back, the effects ripple throughout the economy.
https://business.inquirer.net/551330/why-the-psychology-of-utang-matters-for-the-economy
At an event held in Kobe in September, more than 800 people gathered to sell or buy zines of all kinds. The atmosphere resembled a creative bazaar where each booklet reflected its maker’s imagination.
One artist presented a zine focused on a single Japanese character, deliberately written in an unreadable way to spark conversation with readers. The charm of zines lies in their complete freedom—there are no rules for layout, format, or content. Photography, essays, and illustration all coexist under one creative umbrella.
Zines also serve as a haven for enthusiasts of niche interests. Yoshida, one of the creators, compiled matchbox labels distributed at pachinko parlors during the Showa era. Though the designs may appear dated, he regards them as valuable historical artifacts documenting vanished storefronts.
“I probably have Japan’s largest collection of pachinko match labels,” he said with pride. Such topics would likely never pass a publisher’s filter, yet in zines, personal passion takes the lead—a key factor behind their appeal to both creators and readers.
“What makes zines fascinating,” said one customer, “is that they capture the creator’s character without being overly polished. It feels like pure self-expression.”
Among the many creators was first-class architect Chisato Otake, whose zine features imaginary floor plans. Her inspiration came from frustration in her day job.
“I often think, ‘If only I could design this kind of house,’ but clients’ needs don’t always align,” she explained. To bring her ideas to life, Otake selects real plots from real estate sites and designs homes according to professional building codes, even when the plans are purely imaginative.
“If I’m going to fantasize,” she said, “I may as well design a luxury property worth hundreds of millions of yen.” Her next project will focus on rooms, inspired by a period when she was bedridden and unable to work.
“It wasn’t about living a perfectly curated lifestyle,” she said, “but I’d like readers to feel a sense of empathy.” Though her architectural drawings are beautiful, Otake emphasizes that zines let her share vulnerability—something professional work rarely allows.
As digital media dominates communication, some wonder why zines continue to thrive. For many, the tactile nature of paper is irreplaceable.
“You can staple, clip, or decorate it however you want. That physical interaction is part of the fun,” said one participant. Because online content is so fleeting, people are rediscovering the appeal of printed matter.
Bookstores, too, are taking notice. One major retailer reported that zine sales now account for about 10 percent of total revenue.
“At first, it was just a small shelf,” said the manager. “But sales picked up quickly, so we expanded to three full shelves.” In an industry struggling with declining print sales, zines have become a new reason for people to visit bookstores.
As readers flip through each handmade page, they find themselves drawn deeper into the creator’s world—one that cannot be replicated on a screen.
https://newsonjapan.com/article/147172.php
Yitzhak Goldknopf’s remarks have sparked outrage amid ongoing controversy in Israel regarding the issue of haredi conscription. As the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continue to face severe manpower shortages, the country approaches the second year of war, intensifying the debate over military service exemptions.
Goldknopf made the controversial comparison between arrested haredi draft dodgers and hostages, a statement that many have condemned as “disgraceful.” The backlash reflects the deep divisions surrounding the conscription of the haredi community, with national security concerns heightened during a time of conflict.
Yitzhak Goldknopf at a United Torah Judaism meeting at the Knesset, Jerusalem, May 19, 2025.
Photo credit: Oren Ben Hakoon/Flash90
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-869633
Dynasties don’t endure because they are richer, luckier, or more charismatic. They endure because they run on a different operating system.
On Sunday, the family shares a meal. On Monday, the same people sit across a board table with roles, rights, and rules that are crystal clear.
When pressure spikes—whether due to succession, acquisitions, or other challenges—this structured approach ensures stability and continuity.
https://business.inquirer.net/550878/the-secrets-behind-family-business-empires-no-one-will-tell-you-2
If you have heard reports of a rather sweaty woman in gym gear running around the streets of Saffron Walden brandishing a crisp £50 note and cursing under her breath, that was me.
After the gym, I had stopped off at the health food shop to stock up on a few things, giving the assistant the £50 tucked into my leggings. The assistant refused my money.
“But surely it’s legal tender,” I cried, “you can’t refuse it!”
She didn’t budge, saying that head office had told them not to take £50 notes because of fakes.
Off I went to the butcher’s shop opposite, where I know the staff, asking if they could break the note. Same again—no £50 notes accepted. But they suggested I try a bank.
Not such a bad idea. However, my bank, Barclays, closed long ago and now there are only two banks left in town.
So, I ran to Nationwide, where there was a long queue. Explaining the problem, I asked the waiting customers if I could ask the cashier to change the note. They all said yes, of course.
One gentleman took one look at my Queen’s-headed note and said with great confidence that it wasn’t a fake. That felt like a small victory.
There was so much chatter that the cashier stepped out to take a look at the offending note. He agreed it was genuine. Yeah, another victory.
“But are you a Nationwide customer?” he asked.
It felt like a trick question — and it was. Nationwide does not change money if you are not a customer.
As you can imagine, by then I was ready to raise an Essex peasants’ revolt against shops that don’t take money and banks that don’t change banknotes.
As luck would have it, one of the kind ladies in the queue opened her wallet, checked her cash, and offered to change my £50.
My first call is to the Bank of England.
**Can vendors refuse to take cash?**
Yes, says the press officer, they can. Even though cash is legal tender, it’s a concept with a narrow technical definition in law related to contracts, and no one is obliged to accept it in exchange for goods.
But why is cash usage shrinking so fast?
Is it because vendors find cash messy to deal with? Are business owners being forced by payment giants to go digital so they can be charged more? Or do people simply prefer using cards or, increasingly, mobile payment apps?
Probably a bit of each — chicken and egg.
Whatever the reason, cash is under the kibosh.
It made up just 9 per cent of payments last year, compared to being used for half of all transactions a decade ago. It is predicted to fall to 4 per cent over the next ten years.
Yet here’s the thing: what happens in emergencies?
Imagine if a cyber hack or indeed cyber warfare brings down the banks? Or if there are blackouts, as happened in Spain and Portugal recently? Or other crises, such as another lockdown or war?
Being resilient is why countries such as Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands have warned their citizens to always keep cash in reserve. They are also introducing new legislation ensuring vendors must accept cash.
The European Central Bank (ECB) is also alert to the dangers.
All households have been advised by the ECB to store cash at home in case digital systems fail — because they will.
In contrast, the Bank of England does not have the mandate to give such warnings; that’s up to the Government.
Interesting, though, that its Governor, Andrew Bailey, told a recent Citizens’ Panel in Wolverhampton that he always carries cash with him in case of emergencies.
Does that include any £50 notes, I wonder?
https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/comment/article-15164391/MAGGIE-PAGANO-Cash-king-right-Wrong.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
MANILA, Philippines – Ramon Fernandez, Atoy Co, and Vergel Meneses led a group of former personalities who graced the opening of the PBA’s 50th anniversary season on Sunday.
The event drew about 40 to 50 ex-players, coaches, and officials, according to the PBA.
The busy day began with the Leo Awards held at Novotel Manila, followed by the opening ceremonies celebrating this milestone season.
https://sports.inquirer.net/643111/pba-ushers-in-50th-season-with-legends-in-attendance
