France wine regions

Andi Eigenmann, Philmar Alipayo, their kids Lilo and Koa, and the couple’s children from their previous relationships, Ellie and Kanoa. Image: Instagram/@andieigengirl Andi Eigenmann, her kids and fiancé, celebrity surfer Philmar Alipayo, fulfilled one of their family’s travel goals as they went on a vacation in France. The actress treated fans to moments from their first day in Hendaye, one of the communes in France, through her Instagram page yesterday, Aug. 14. “This Basque town is the first place on our travel bucket list,” she said. “After four years and [plus two] kids, we finally made it! Making the feeling even much sweeter.” Eigenmann and her family walked the streets of Hendaye, tried out oysters, and ate croissants in an outdoor restaurant. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Andi Eigenmann (@andieigengirl) Alipayo also had a father-and-son moment with Kanoa, the surfer’s son from his past … [Read more...] about Andi Eigenmann, family tick off France from bucket list: ‘We finally made it!’

- A + A KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 15): Capital A Bhd’s airasia Super App has launched an intercity food delivery service, leveraging on its low-cost carrier services to fly delicacies from Penang to Klang Valley. With a fee of RM5.99 per order, all fresh meals will be air-flown in strict hygienic conditions, with the last order at 5pm one day before the delivery day, airasia said in a statement. Users can order up to 30 days in advance, it said. The unique feature among food delivery services allows airasia to champion local merchants who can now tap on airasia’s ecosystem to reach a much wider audience, said airasia food regional head Tan Suan Sear. The service is currently available on Wednesday, with plans to add frequency and to include other states in Malaysia, moving forward. “We have successfully launched the same intercity food delivery service in Thailand, where popular delicacies from Phuket are flown into Bangkok to great fanfare and interest of the diners,” … [Read more...] about airasia launches food delivery via flight from Penang to Klang Valley

- A + A (Aug 15): Solar equipment is piling up at the US border in an indication the passage of a law targeting forced labour in China’s Xinjiang region is having a major impact on trade flows. Modules with capacity of more than three gigawatts have been held by US customs since June, Roth Capital analysts including Philip Shen said in a note that cited an industry contact. That’s the same month that the US Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act went into effect. Nine to 12 gigawatts of modules could be detained by year end, and many top Chinese manufactures have stopped exporting to the US, according to Roth Capital. That’s likely to make it tougher for Washington to drive an expansion of renewable power capacity following the passage of a historic climate bill last week. The US is the second-largest solar market, but is heavily reliant on imports. China, by far the largest market, dominates the global supply chain, with Xinjiang a key region. Beijing has repeatedly … [Read more...] about Solar panels piling up at US border on Xinjiang forced labour law

This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly, on August 8, 2022 - August 14, 2022. - A + A THE recent Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report on the RM9.13 billion procurement of littoral combat ships (LCS) by Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (BNS) questions the actions of former Boustead Heavy Industries Corp Bhd (BHIC) managing director Tan Sri Ahmad Ramli Mohd Nor and LCS project director Anuar Murad. Ahmad Ramli, who was also chairman of the LCS Steering Committee, appointed committee members without the approval of, or discussion with, BHIC’s board members. The PAC report adds that Anuar, who was also BHIC defence and safety director, issued various letters of award (LoA) and variation orders (VO) with the support of Ahmad Ramli, allowing lax management to prevail. BNS is 20.77% controlled by BHIC and 68.85% by Boustead Holdings Bhd, with armed forces fund Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera (LTAT) holding 10.38% and the Minister of Finance … [Read more...] about Ahmad Ramli, Anuar Murad in the thick of LCS issue

- A + A ALOR SETAR (Aug 15): Two company owners pleaded guilty in the Sessions Court here on Monday (Aug 15) to charges of using forged documents to qualify them for public cleaning tenders in 2019, and were fined a total of RM150,000 for the offence. Judge Harmi Thamri Mohamad meted out the fines on Mohd Rumzan Othman, 68, and Anuar Abdul Aziz, 39. Mohd Rumzan, who faced two charges, was fined RM50,000 on each count, in default of six months’ jail, while Anuar, with only one charge, was fined RM50,000, in default of six months’ jail. Mohd Ruzman was charged with dishonestly using a forged document, namely Maybank Islamic account statements of MRR Enterprise for October to December 2018, as genuine in the tender application for the privatisation of solid waste collection and public cleaning management for the northern region. The offence was committed at the E-Idaman Sdn Bhd office here from Jan 16 to 22, 2019. On the second count, he was charged with … [Read more...] about Two company owners fined for using forged documents to apply for tenders

- A + A (Aug 15): Myanmar’s deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi was sentenced to six more years in prison on Monday in a judgement that could further anger supporters of the 77-year-old Nobel peace prize laureate. A special court inside a prison compound in the capital Naypyidaw found her guilty of four corruption charges related to a charity named after her late mother, according to people familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the proceedings aren’t public. It’s the fourth round of criminal verdicts against Suu Kyi since the military seized power in a 2021 coup and brings her total jail term to 17 years, extinguishing any chance of her staging a political comeback, while the junta remain in power. Mandalay Region High Court Judge Myint San ruled that Suu Kyi caused the State to lose more than 24.2 billion kyat (US$13 million) by leasing land in Naypyidaw to build the headquarters and related projects of Daw Khin Kyi Foundation, a … [Read more...] about Ex-Myanmar leader Suu Kyi said to get six more years in prison

- A + A KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 15): Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), the parent company of Malaysia Airlines, has selected the Airbus A330neo aircraft as part of the flag carrier’s medium-haul fleet renewal programme. Powered by the latest Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, the 20 A330neo planes will join the carrier’s fleet of six long range A350-900s and gradually replace its 21 A330ceo aircraft, MAG said in a statement. Malaysia Airlines will operate the A330neo aircraft on its network covering Asia, the Pacific and the Middle East, said MAG, adding that the carrier will configure the A330neo fleet with a premium layout seating 300 passengers in two classes. MAG made the announcement at an event in the capital, attended by its chief executive officer Izham Ismail and Airbus chief commercial officer and head of international Christian Scherer. The group on Monday (Aug 15) signed memorandums of understanding for the purchase of 10 A330neo aircraft from Airbus and the … [Read more...] about Malaysia Airlines to acquire 20 A330neos for widebody fleet renewal

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. MANILA, Philippines – Newly installed Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. on Monday defended the major reshuffle that affected at least 70 senior officials, including his second and third in command. The change in PNP hierarchy transferred Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia from deputy chief for administration to chief of the Area Police Command (APC) in the Visayas, and Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. from deputy chief for operations to chief of APC Western Mindanao. READ: PNP major revamp surprises some officials “Kailangan pag-aralan natin what is best for the organization (We need to study what’s best for the organization), and I think the only thing I had in mind when I did that was for Vic [Danao] and Rhodel [Sermonia] to have the opportunity to have regions that they are going to supervise wherein they can also shine in their own respective fields, considering that they are very competent in … [Read more...] about PNP chief defends major revamp in police hierarchy

Weather satellite image from Pagasa’s website MANILA, Philippines — The combined effects of a low-pressure area (LPA) near Luzon and the southwest monsoon, locally known as “habagat,” will continue to bring rain over most of Luzon on Tuesday. This was the forecast of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) with its senior weather specialist Chriz Perez saying the LPA was last spotted 270 kilometers west of Calayan, Cagayan, and that it is not expected to escalate into a storm. “Inaasahan ang pinagsamang epekto ng LPA sa nakararaming bahagi ng Luzon, maliban na lang sa Bicol region kung saan magiging mainit hanggang maalinsangan pero may tiyansa rin ng isolated rainshowers dakong hapon at gabi,” he said. (The combined effects of the LPA is expected in most parts of Luzon, except for the Bicol region where it will be hot to humid but there is also a chance of isolated rain showers in the afternoon and evening.) Pagasa also said … [Read more...] about Rain to continue in most parts of Luzon due to LPA, southwest monsoon

MANILA, Philippines — Dengue infections in the country have breached the 100,000-mark for 2022 after the Department of Health (DOH) on Monday said it has so far logged 102,619 cases as of July 30, 2022. “Cumulatively, cases this year are 131 percent higher compared to the reported cases during the same period in 2021 [which was at] 44,361,” said DOH in a statement. According to DOH, most cases were reported from the following regions: Central Luzon – 18,664 Central Visayas – 10,034 Metro Manila – 8,870 Meanwhile, in the recent four-week period from July 3 to July 30, 23,414 cases were recorded, with the following regions posting the most infections: Central Luzon – 5,838 Metro Manila – 2,689 Calabarzon – 2,369 During this period, 9 out of 17 regions (Regions Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Metro Manila) exceeded the epidemic threshold in the past … [Read more...] about Dengue cases in PH jump past 100K in 2022, 131% higher than last year