PHILIPPINE export earnings from abaca fiber improved at the end of November 2014 amid higher production, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Apr 222015
Apr 222015
It is possible. Before we delve into the idea of triple taxation, a brief discussion on double taxation is necessary. Generally, tax treaties afford taxpayers with relief from double taxation. The Philippines currently has tax treaties with 42 other states. To date, 39 of these treaties are in force (the treaties with Kuwait and Nigeria being the most recent additions). All these treaties are bilateral in nature and, as such, may only allow so much relief as its two signatory states can afford — relief from their respective taxing powers, and logically so.
Apr 222015
“China is the only place on Earth that we have excess inventory,” says Elon Musk, blaming “speculators” for ordering cars amid the early media hype and then not taking delivery. (Relaxnews) – Tesla on Friday reported record quarterly sales of its premium electric car, the Model S. But it’s by no means the only company carving out a bigger share of the electric car market by targeting affluent drivers. Tesla is on a roll. Its electric cars may well come with a premium price ticket and a restricted range, when compared to its gas-powered rivals in the executive sedan segment, but on Friday it reported it has delivered 10,030 cars during Q1 of the year, which is not only a record for the company, it is a 55% increase over 2014’s Q1 figures. And unlike a lot of companies trying to break into the electric vehicle market and tempt car buyers away from fossil fuels, Tesla only has one model – the Model S in its range. The Nissan Renault Alliance is currently the global leader in cumulative EV sales — 200,000 vehicles and counting. Those numbers, however, are down to having a range of models that includes small vans and single-seat vehicles as well as the Nissan Leaf and its cousin, the Renault Zoe – all of which are pitched at different people in different regions with differing levels of disposable income. In January, Nissan reported that it had sold more than 30,000 Nissan Leaf models in the US Read More …
Apr 222015
Cesar Millan will impart lessons on handling dogs during his May 28 show at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Apr 222015
Lea Salonga (MNS Photo) Fresh from her stint on “The Voice of the Philippines” Season 2, Tony award winner Lea Salonga showed off her coaching skills anew to aspiring teen theater actors at Council Rock High School South in Pennsylvania. Video clips of the class posted on YouTube by Corey Axler showed Lea performing a medley of “Les Misérables” tunes. She then noted, “The less work that you show you’re doing, the better. No singer should look like they’re having a tough time getting the notes out.” The Broadway star shared her secret to overcoming nerves by ignoring the audience. “You see that ‘Exit’ sign? Look at (that) and at no one else. And think about (a person you wish were with you at that moment)… In your mind, all the stuff that you used to do together… Whatever it is, think about (it) really, really, super clear in your head. And when you look at the exit sign, you see his face and you sing to him,” she said. Lea also spoke to the students one by one after each performed a song in front of the class. She told a student identified as Libby Tofig, who sang “Still Hurting” from “The Last Five Years,” to try and draw emotion from the hurt brought about by the end of a relationship – before letting her perform for the second time. “This is one of the songs that is acted more than (sung), and so I’m noticing that you are Read More …
Apr 222015
The eagerly-anticipated May 2 welterweight unification showdown in Las Vegas promises to be the most lucrative fight in boxing history. “I am very excited,” Pacquiao said Wednesday at the Wild Card gym in Hollywood. “My training and my conditioning is good. I can feel it. I am ready.” Photo: Benny Uy Los Angeles, United States, AFP, Tuesday 4/21/2015 – Manny Pacquiao’s teleconference call on Monday was abruptly halted just minutes after it began with promoter Bob Arum delivering an obscenity before telling organizers to shut it down. “Oh (expletive),” Arum said after the moderator said the first question would come from Michael Marley of Examiner.com. “Do this call some other time. Let’s reorganize and do this call some other time, please.” Pacquiao and trainer Freddie Roach commented briefly before the call was taken over by Arum who had said earlier he wasn’t happy with the idea of it. “We are ready to go. We had a great training camp and good sparring partners,” Roach said of the mega showdown with Floyd Mayweather on May 2 at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino. Asked how his training was going Pacquiao simply said, “very good.” Reporters were then told Pacquiao had boxed 12 rounds in a sparring session on Saturday. There was no mention of tickets for the fight which are still not up for sale with the mega fight just two weeks away. The contracts with the MGM also remain unsigned and there is no word on the closed circuit television. Read More …
Apr 222015
Members of Bayan Muna hold a picket in front of Chinese consulate in Makati on Friday April 17 to protest against China’s reclamation activities in Panganiban Reef, part of the disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea. Recent satellite pictures showed the Chinese constructing facilities in the area. (MNS Photo) MANILA, Apr 21 (Mabuhay) – President Benigno Aquino III does not see the need to convene the National Security Council (NSC) amid China’s recent actions in disputed areas in the South China Sea, Malacañang said Tuesday. Asked via text message if there is a necessity for Aquino to meet the NSC to tackle China’s aggression, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte replied, “In the President’s view, not at this time.” Valte added that the Cabinet’s security cluster – which is composed of defense, military and police officials – regularly tackles the Philippines’ territorial dispute with China in its meetings with Aquino. “I am not aware of any discussions regarding convening the NSC at this time to take up the West Philippine Sea dispute,” the Palace official said. The NSC is chaired by the president. Its other members are the Vice President, the Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff, the NSC director-general, the executive secretary, the secretaries of foreign affairs, national defense, interior and local government, justice, and labor and employment. “The security cluster discusses the WPS as a regular item in their agenda as warranted, with the relevant departments present,” she added. On Monday, Senator Francis Escudero urged Aquino Read More …
Apr 222015
Vice President Jejomar Binay hits back at his accusers during a televised press conference at the PICC in Pasay City on Thursday, September 18. Binay denied receiving kickbacks from the construction of the Makati City Hall Building II and from other projects in the city during his term as mayor. (MNS photo) MANILA, Apr 21 (Mabuhay) – Makati City Rep. Mar-len Abigail Binay on Tuesday said her father is a “unifying leader” and will become a “unifying president” if elected in 2016. The Vice President has been vocal about his plan to run for president in 2016 and said the allegations of corruption against him are all part of a plan to derail his presidential bid. In a statement, Abi dismissed as inaccurate a newspaper report attributed to her which stated that “the Binays will not forgive their critics if Vice President Jejomar Binay gets elected to the presidency.” Abi clarified she wasn’t speaking on her family’s behalf when she said in a television interview that she can’t forgive their critics. She said a transcript of her interview with Pinky Webb on ANC will show that she was only speaking for herself when she answered the host’s question on whether she can forgive Senator Antonio Trillanes IV for his attacks against her family. Abi said: “It was an emotional moment for me; I was speaking from the heart. I only expressed my true feelings about Senator Trillanes, who has been throwing baseless and malicious accusations at our family with utter Read More …
Apr 222015
Senator Grace Poe offers flowers at the tomb of her father, Fernando Poe Jr., at the Manila North Cemetery on Sunday (Dec. 14, 2014), the 10th death anniversary of the acknowledged Filipino movie king. (MNS photo) MANILA, Apr 21 (Mabuhay) – Amid reports of a possible Roxas-Poe tandem in 2016, Senator Grace Poe on Tuesday said there has been no formal offer for her to run as the Liberal Party’s vice presidential bet in next year’s elections. Poe, an independent allied with President Benigno Aquino III’s Liberal Party, kept mum on the possibility of becoming the running-mate of Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, the party’s presumed standard-bearer. “There had been no formal offer from them,” Poe said in a text message. Poe made the remark when asked to comment on LP member Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice’s statement that the party has been wooing her since November to run alongside Roxas in 2016. “I cannot comment on the possibility [of a Roxas-Poe tandem] because Secretary Mar himself has not publicly declared his intentions,” Poe said. Roxas has so far been tight-lipped on his political plans for 2016, saying in past interviews that he would rather focus on his work in the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). Poe, the daughter of the late actor Fernando Poe Jr., who ran and lost in the 2004 presidential election, received the highest number of votes in the 2013 senatorial race. Her ratings in presidential surveys have been steadily rising over the past few months, Read More …
Apr 222015
Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano MANILA (Mabuhay) – Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday threatened to block the 2016 budget of the Land Transportation Office if it will not declare a moratorium on the “No Plate, No Travel” policy. “We remind the LTO that it collected more than P17.16 billion in 2013, and P11 billion collected from Road User’s Tax,” Cayetano said in a statement. “The failure of DOTC (Department of Transportation and Communications) and LTO to serve their mandated tasks is inexcusable and unacceptable, yet they have the temerity to invoke the law penalizing victims of their inefficiency,” he added. The senator reiterated his call for a 30-day moratorium on the implementation of the LTO policy. “Walang mawawala sa LTO at sa gobyerno kung sa loob ng 30 araw ‘wag muna ipatupad ang no plate no travel policy. Ito ay habang inaantay ang supply ng plaka at nirerepaso ang systema ng pag-rehistro at pag-kuha ng plaka,” Cayetano said. “Threatening vehicle owners with stiff penalties for a problem LTO created is grossly unfair and must stop. At the same time, a moratorium will allow the LTO enough time to set its house in order by fully servicing backlogs of vehicle owners and car dealers,” he added. Cayetano filed Senate Resolution 1288 to investigate the issues surrounding the unavailability of plate numbers and driver’s licenses. “Government agencies’ tact of causing inconvenience and punishing the public for their inefficiency and incompetence must stop,” he said. P10,000 fine Under the Read More …