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Posts published in “National”

Latest new from all over the country.

Price for the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y

Now that Tesla has opened its doors in the country, car buyers will surely have Tesla as their first option, specially if you compare its price with the Chinese brand EVs.

You can go to the Tesla Philippines website if you want to order your own Tesla. I personally would be getting the Long Range (AWD) variant of the Model Y.

via All Things EV;

Just like in other countries, you can order your own Tesla directly online, the company rarely sell thru a distributor or a reseller.

The Model 3 is the EV sedan, while the Model Y is the crossover EV that features the iconic “falcon-wing doors.” Both model will be available in 3 variant; the Rear–Wheel Drive, Long Range AWD and Performance AWD.

The base model for the Model 3 (RWD) will have an estimated range of 513kn, top speed of 201 km/h and with an acceleration of 0-100 km/h in 6.21 secs.

Model 3

  • Rear–Wheel Drive – ₱2,109,000
  • Long Range (AWD) – ₱2,489,000
  • Performance (AWD) – ₱3,099,000

The base model for the Model Y (RWD) on the other hand will have an estimated range of 455km, top speed of 217km/h and with an acceleration of 0-100 km/h in 6.9 secs.

Model Y

  • Rear–Wheel Drive – ₱2,369,000
  • Long Range (AWD) – ₱2,689,000
  • Performance (AWD) – ₱3,299,000

Indiana Fever announces Stephanie White as new Head Coach

Five days after parting ways with Christie Sides, the Indiana Fever announces that their new Head Coach will be Stephanie White.

She will inherit an up and coming Indiana Fever, lead by Caitlin Clark and last year’s Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston.

An Indiana native, Stephanie White earn the moniker Indiana Miss Basketball at Seeger High School in West Lebanon, then in college while in Purdue, led the Boilermakers to the 1999 NCAA National Championship.

Stephanie White spent five seasons in the WNBA, the majority with the Fever, joining the team for their inaugural season in 2000. Her contributions to the franchise are significant, as she ranks among the top 20 in games played, assists, steals, and three-point field goals made.

Stephanie White is a seasoned WNBA coach, spending 17 seasons of experience as a player and coach in the league. She previously led the Indiana Fever, guiding them to the 2015 WNBA Finals and the 2016 playoffs. Her coaching journey also includes assistant roles with the Fever, Chicago Sky, and various collegiate teams, highlighting her diverse experience and strategic acumen.

In addition to their announcement, the Indiana Fever release a tribute video of Stephanie White’s basketball career.

76 more OFW arrived from Lebanon who – DMW

Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) announce that seventy-six overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) with two dependents from Lebanon arrived safely at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City on Sunday, October 20, 2024, aboard Emirates EK 334.

This batch of repatriation brings the total number of 636 OFWs and 32 dependents from Lebanon who have been repatriated under the government’s voluntary repatriation program.

Department of Foreign Affairs’ Level 3 travel advisory for Lebanon still stands even though the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel has escalated after “Hezbollah confirmed that its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, had been killed in an Israeli air strike on residential buildings in Beirut.”

DFA’s Level 3 travel advisory means repatriation is still voluntary for all OFW in the country.

Source: @dmw.gov.ph

PRC announces the October 2024 Physicians Licensure Examination Results

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) just release the result for the October 2024 Physicians Licensure Examination. Out of the 6600 examinee, 3845 passed the board exam, a 58.26% passing rate. PRC also said that they will release the result this Monday, October 21, 2024.

Top performing Schools with more than 100 examinees with at least 80% Passing rate;

  1. UP Manila – 96.97% Passing rate
  2. Cebu Institute of Medicine – 95.31% Passing rate
  3. St. Luke’s Medical Center College of Med – William H. Quasha Mem. Inc. – 95.19% Passing rate
  4. Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila – 95.16% Passing rate
  5. University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Mem Medical Center – 92.92% Passing rate
  6. UST – 89.29% Passing rate
  7. West Visayas State University – La Paz – 87.00% Passing rate
  8. Ateneoi School of Medicine and Public Health – 86.18% Passing rate
  9. Saint Louis Univerity – 83.23% Passing rate

Top 10 Examinees in the October 2024 Physicians Licensure Examination;

  1. Isaac Edron Jones Orig – Davao Medical School Foundation – 89.33%
  2. Rolter Lorenz Mispenas Lee – University of Santo Tomas – 89.25%
  3. Jerickson Rodney Ngo Cua – UP Manila – 89.17%
  4. Nijell Tui Potencioso – Cebu Institute of Medicine – 89.8%
  5. Kiel Christian Dimaculangan Alday – University of Santo Tomas – 88.83%
  6. Ryan Delfin Parungao Encarnacion – UP Manila – 88.33%
  7. Frances Dominique Velasco Ho – UP Manila – 88.00%
  8. Anne Corine Arellano Ramos – FEU Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation – 87.83%
  9. Christian Lloyd Ang Loo – Cebu Institute of Medicine – 87.75%
  10. Chelseah Denise Hernandez Torres – University of Santo Tomas – 87.67%

For the complete list of Physicians Licensure Exam passer, you can click here.

Law removing mother tongue in K-3 to improve education quality — Romulo

Giselle Ombay, GMA Integrated News;

House Basic Education Committee Chairperson and Pasig lawmaker Roman Romulo on Sunday said that the law discontinuing the use of the mother tongue as a medium of instruction from kindergarten to grade 3 could help improve the quality of education in the country.

I can list a number of countries that uses their “mother tongue” or “native language” as a medium of instruction and they are one of the places in the world that have “high quality of education.”

With Republic Act No. 12027, the medium of instruction shall revert to Filipino and, until otherwise provided by law, English.

Meanwhile, the regional languages shall serve as auxiliary media of instruction.

The best solution for this is to just give the teachers a very competitive compensation, a great career development and incentives if they stay in the profession.

Here’s a comparison, in Thailand in English teacher can earn an average salary of THB 35000 (Thai Baht) or around ₱60k per month, while in the Philippines, Filipino English teachers earn an average salary of ₱23,000 per month.

Filipino executed in Saudi Arabia for murder   

Michelle Abad with reports from Bea Cupin, reporting for Rappler;

A Filipino on death row in Saudi Arabia has been executed, the Philippine government said on Tuesday, October 8.

“We regret to confirm the news that a Filipino has been executed in Saudi Arabia for murder,” the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement.

The Philippine government provided legal assistance and exhausted remedies to save the Filipino’s life, including sending a presidential letter of appeal to Saudi Arabia’s King Salman. But the victim’s family refused to accept blood money in return for forgiveness of the Filipino, and so the death penalty was meted, the DFA said.

According to Foreign Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega, the overseas Filipino worker pleaded guilty to the crime. The victim was the OFW’s Saudi Arabian business partner, and the incident happened in 2020.

Philippine Embassy in Saudi Arabia release the following statement;

A very sad moment for all OFW in Saudi Arabia.

The Rappler also reports that according to DFA there are still “nine Filipinos remain on death row in Saudi Arabia.”

Sandiganbayan dismisses P276-M ill-gotten wealth case vs Marcoses   

Rappler;

The anti-graft court Sandiganbayan has dismissed a 37-year-old ill-gotten wealth case against the Marcos family, citing the defendants — which includes Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and wife Imelda — “can no longer be afforded a fair trial” in a “chronology of events” that have contributed to an “inordinate delay.”

Associate Justice Geraldine Faith Econg wrote the 30-page resolution, dated October 4, 2024, noting that the defendants “can no longer be afforded a fair trial.” Associate Justices Edgardo Caldona and Arthur Malabaguio concurred.

So the SC dismisses the case because it was delayed for too long?!

NY Liberty eliminates LC Aces to advance to the WNBA Finals (76 – 62)

ESPN;

Ionescu rebounded from a rare off game to score 22 points, and nearly a year after the Aces ended the Liberty’s dream of a championship, New York returned the favor Sunday afternoon by defeating Las Vegas 76-62 to advance to the WNBA Finals.

It was a masterful performance by the New York Liberties, the team was able to keep their composure and lead despite their key players, Jonquel Jones and Leonie Fiebich, being in the foul trouble for most of the game.

The Liberty was lead by Sabrina Ionescu who scored a team high of 22 points and 7 rebounds, followed by a double-double from Breanna Stewart, who scored 19 points and 14 rebounds. They will face the winner of Game 5 of the Lynx-Sun series this Tuesday, 8th of October. Game 1 of the WNBA Finals is scheduled this Thursday, October 10, 2024 hosted by the NY Liberty in Barclays Center.

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese named as one of the 2024 WNBA All-Rookie Team

Together with the announcement of the Rookie of the Year, WNBA also announced the players for the 2024 WNBA All-Rookie Team, that includes Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, arguably the two most popular of the 2024 rookie class.

  • Caitlin Clark (IND)
  • Rickea Jackson (LAS)
  • Angel Reese (CHI)
  • Kamilla Cardoso (CHI)
  • Leonie Fiebich (NYL)

Marcos signs law imposing 12% VAT on Netflix, Spotify, other digital services   

JM Chavaria, writing for Yugatech;

In a move aimed at bolstering government revenue, the Philippines has introduced a 12% value-added tax (VAT) on digital services offered by foreign firms. This includes popular platforms like Netflix, Spotify, YouTube, and Amazon, among other digital service providers (DSPs) — which have previously enjoyed tax exemptions.

Duey Guison, of Unbox.ph explainsRepublic Act 112023, all services provided by resident and non-resident digital service providers regardless if they have a physical presence in the Philippines are subject to an additional 12% VAT. The law also adds a new provision to the Tax Code, where ‘”digital services delivered by foreign digital service providers are considered performed or rendered in the Philippines if the digital services are consumed in the Philippines.’

The law does not only cover streaming service but basically “most” online service like ecommerce, digital platform or online merchant that caters to the Philippine market even if the company does not have any physical store or office in the Philippines.

In a press release, “Senate President Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero said the bill imposing a 12-percent value-added tax (VAT) on digital transactions will level the playing field for local and foreign digital service providers (DSPs), streamline tax administration and shore up government coffers by at least P80 billion in revenues.”

“Digital service is defined as any service supplied over the internet or other electronic network with the use of information technology and where the supply of the service is essentially automated. These include online search engines, online marketplace or e-marketplace, cloud service, online media and advertising, online platform, or digital goods.”

The law basically covers every companies doing online transaction.

Connecticut Sun defeated Indiana Fever in their First Playoff Game since 2016 (93 – 69)   

Branden Kaneshiro, writing for The Lead;

The Sun cruised to a 93-69 victory in Game One. Led by a triple-double from Alyssa Thomas and 22 points on 63.6% shooting from DeWanna Bonner, the Sun completely outmatched the Fever.

The offensive firepower was not all that went well for Connecticut in game one. The Sun’s defense was their key to victory on Monday. Connecticut was able to contain Mitchell and Clark to 45% and 23.5% shooting, respectively. If the Sun can replicate their defensive success in game 2 (and the rest of the playoffs) they will be a hard team to beat.

It was not just Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell, who had a bad Game 1, as a team Indiana Fever shot 27-67, 40.3%!!! from the field and 6-28, that’s a measly 21.4%, from the three-point line, the Fever did manage to reduce their turnover to just 13 TO.

Game 2 will be this Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at the Mohegan Sun Arena.

German Ambassador Andreas Pfaffernoschke reminds us to be vigilant on “Historical revisionism” regarding the Martial Law in the Philippines   

Ambassador Andreas Pfaffernoschke, as posted on @germanyinphl;

As the country marks the imposition of Martial Law in the Philippines by the Marcos Sr. Administration 52 years ago, we remember the sacrifices made by those who fought for freedom and democracy during this dark period in history.

The distortion of history can pave the way for the return of authoritarianism and the erosion of human rights. It is through a clear understanding of our past that we can build a better future.

Let us honor the memory of those who suffered under Martial Law and work together to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again. By upholding historical accuracy and promoting human rights, we can create a more just and equitable world for all.

#MartialLawAnniversary

On September 23, 1972, then President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. officially proclaim the State of Martial law in the Philippines, it’s formal proclamation is contained in Proclamation No. 1081.

Proclamation No. 1081 started a “14-year period of authoritarian rule, which would include eight years of Martial Law (de jure ending on January 17, 1981, through Proclamation No. 2045), but not de facto : followed by six more years where Marcos retained essentially all of his powers as dictator. Marcos was eventually ousted on February 25, 1986, as a result of the EDSA People Power Revolution.” via wikipedia.

Also on Wikipedia, “This 14-year period in Philippine history is remembered for the administration’s record of human rights abuses, particularly targeting political opponents, student activists, journalists, religious workers, farmers, and others who fought against the Marcos dictatorship. Based on the documentation of Amnesty International, Task Force Detainees of the Philippines, and similar human rights monitoring entities, historians believe that the Marcos dictatorship was marked by 3,257 known extrajudicial killings, 35,000 documented tortures, 737 ‘disappeared’, and 70,000 incarcerations.”

The reasons and justification are also indicated in Proclamation No. 1081.

NNIC takes over NAIA, hits the ground running   

San Miguel Corp;

The New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) has officially taken over management and operation of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and with it, the task of modernizing the 76-year-old gateway.

NNIC, the consortium that includes San Miguel Corporation (SMC) and Incheon International Airport Corporation, has committed to spend P170 billion to execute its phased but ambitious plan to elevate NAIA to world-class standards. This includes plans to increase passenger capacity from 43 million to 62 million annually and air traffic movements from 42 to 48 per hour.

The government stands to gain about P1 trillion in revenues from the PPP project over the 25-year concession period. This includes the 82.16-percent revenue share to be remitted to the government yearly.

Travelers can expect business as usual, with flights, check-ins, and other services proceeding as normal. The plans for NAIA’s modernization, including terminal reassignments and infrastructure upgrades, will be implemented gradually and strategically in the coming months and years.

NNIC has assured the public that the transition will be seamless, with no disruptions to airport operations.

The things that SMC listed for the Immediate Improvements are things that are supposedly being done by the previous management.

PhilHealth to abolish single confinement policy by end of September   

Kaycee Valmonte, writing for Rappler;

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) will soon scrap its single confinement policy.

PhilHealth President Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. told a Senate panel on Tuesday, September 10, that they are committed to making the changes needed “before month-end.”

This is great news to all PhilHealth members.

This means that if a patient was confined due to diarrhea in September and had PhilHealth cover the expenses, the patient has to shoulder the fees if another bout of diarrhea strikes again in October.

Some patients were supposedly told to lie in order to have their hospital bills covered by the state insurer. A mother named Elena Abilar, through a video presented to the Senate panel, recounted her experience with the single confinement rule when her son had pneumonia and had to be hospitalized twice.

PhilHealth did not need to create the “Single confinement policy” in the first place.

Breaking – Police capture Apollo Quiboloy   

Herbie Gomez, writing for Rappler;

Police finally captured fugitive doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy ending a grueling manhunt inside the vast Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) property in Davao City.

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos announced in a Facebook post on Sunday, September 8, the arrest of 74-year-old Quiboloy’s who deems himself as the “appointed son of God” and “owner of the universe.”

After a 4-month hunt and 2,000 police later, Apollo Quiboloy is now in the police custody. BBC “In 2021, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) charged Mr Quiboloy with sex trafficking of children, fraud and coercion and bulk cash smuggling.”

Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. also posted on his facebook account “NAHULI NA PO SI APOLLO QUIBOLOY.”

OCD: 15 dead due to Enteng   

ANNA FELICIA BAJO, writing for GMA Integrated News;

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Wednesday said 15 people were reported dead due to the impact of Severe Tropical Storm Enteng.

This was disclosed by OCD Director of Operations Service Cesar Idio during a situation briefing presided over by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in Camp Aguinaldo.

Meanwhile, 15 were wounded and 21 are still missing, Idio said.

This is just sad.. specially if you know that there are things that our Government can do to prevent this from happening.

Alice Guo arrested in Jakarta, Indonesia   

Benjamin Pulta, writing for Philippine News Agency;

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday confirmed the arrest of former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, also known as Guo Hua Ping, in Tangerang City, Jakarta, Indonesia.

In a statement, the DOJ said Guo was apprehended at 11:58 p.m. on Sept. 3, according to Senior Superintendent Audie Latuheru of the Indonesian Police.

The first question that they need to ask her is “Why did she try to run away/escape?” This stunt just makes her look guilty.

House budget hearing: Sara Duterte’s DepEd accused of ‘rigged bidding’ for laptops   

Dwight de Leon, writing for Rappler;

House lawmakers moved on Monday, September 2, to compel the Department of Education to release all bidding documents in relation to the DepEd Computerization Program in 2022 and 2023, when Vice President Sara Duterte was still head of the agency.

Play VideoHouse budget hearing: Sara Duterte’s DepEd accused of ‘rigged bidding’ for laptops
Batangas 2nd District Representative Gerville “Jinky” Luistro introduced a motion to issue a subpoena duces tecum to DepEd, which the appropriations committee approved without objections.

Sara Duterte-led DepEd built only 192 of 6,300 target classrooms in 2023 – COA   

Bonz Magsambol writing for Rappler;

A Commission on Audit (COA) report showed that the Department of Education (DepEd), under the leadership of Vice President Sara Duterte in 2023, was able to build only 192, or just 3%, of the 6,379 target classrooms.

“Only 192 (3.01 percent) out 6,379 classrooms were completed/constructed in CY 2023 due to realignments because of modifications in the projects’ design. A total of 4,391 classrooms are still under construction, and 550 are yet to undergo various stages of procurement,” the COA report said.

Welp!

United States, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and Japan express their concern and support to the Philippines regarding Chinese Coast Guard “deliberately” ramming the BRP Teresa Magbanua

Australia

New Zealand

United States

Japan

UK Ambassador Laure Beaufils

DepEd’s P5.69-B feeding program: Undelivered milk, expired nutribuns in 2023   

Rappler.com;

MANILA, Philippines – The P5.69 billion School Based Feeding Program (SBFP) of the Department of Education (DepEd) was spoiled by the non-delivery of milk and the serving of stale, even pest-infested, bread in 2023.

State auditors identified at least 21 school divisions in 10 regions where one or all of the following were found:

  • Nutribuns with molds or insects
  • Rotten food
  • Unhygienic packaging
  • Food with doubtful dates of manufacturing and expiry
  • Non-delivery or delayed delivery of food items and pasteurized milk

The findings were for 2023, the first and last full fiscal year that the DepEd was under secretary and Vice President Sara Duterte, although the SBFP has been running for many years.

The SBFP is a program that provides nutritious food to undernourished students in public elementary schools. The food items that children are served include hot meals, bread, fruits, eggs, sweet potato, and pasteurized milk.

That’s ₱5.69 Billions… not millions… down the drain.

Photos: Miss Universe Philippines 2024 Chelsea Manalo in Filipiniana dress for a photoshoot inspired by Fernando Amorsolo’s Painting

Miss Universe Philippines 2024 Chelsea Manalo posed for a photoshoot inspired by Fernando Amorsolo’s painting, “Dalagang Bukid”.

Here are the details of the photoshoot;

DALAGANG BUKID
@manalochelsea
Photography & Creative Direction| Seven Barretto @sevenbarretto
Art Direction & Production Design | @erwnbotin of @botinstudios
Crown & Earrings | @jewelmer
Styling | @parisroxas
Fashion | @saintjacobcasem
Makeup | @carissacielomedved
Hair | @jan.edrosolan
Photography team | @claudevillahrmsa @darielmiraflor @studio7manila
Special thanks to: @jonasempire.ph @paolojarevalo @mau_s_deleon @eljohnmendoza @gemorpilla @themissuniverseph

More photos from the source link below.

Source: @Seven Barretto

Google officially announce the Pixel 9 Smartphone Series

At their annual “Made by Google” event, the search giant officially unveiled the Pixel 9 Series – the latest iteration of their Pixel smartphones. The Google Pixel 9 Series consists of the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL. Spec-wise, all three phones are the same except for differences in size, battery size, RAM, and camera configurations.

Design-wsie, all three phones looks a lot like the iPhone 15, while on its back, the first think that you will notice is the huge camera bump. The front of all three Google Pixel 9 will covered by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 polished back with satin metal frame for the Pixel 9, while the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL will have a Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 silky matte back with polished metal frame.

All three phones feature OLED displays with the same refresh rate of up to 120Hz, HDR support, and full 24-bit depth for 16 million colors. That said, the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro have the same 6.3-inch Actua display, the Pixel 9 Pro has the Super Actua display, while the Pixel 9 Pro XL boasts a larger 6.8-inch Super Actua display. The Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro share a 4700 mAh battery, whereas the Pixel 9 Pro XL utilizes a larger 5060 mAh Li-Ion battery. Google claims that all three phones can achieve up to 100 hours of battery life with Extreme Battery Saver mode enabled.

Both the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL come with 16 GB of RAM, while the Pixel 9 has a slightly smaller 12 GB RAM. Similar to the RAM, the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL share the same triple rear camera configuration: a 50 MP Octa PD wide camera, a 48 MP Quad PD ultrawide camera with autofocus, and a 48 MP Quad PD telephoto camera. In contrast, the Pixel 9 features a dual rear camera setup with a 50 MP Octa PD wide camera and a 48 MP Quad PD ultrawide camera with autofocus.

The Pixel 9 Pro series also supports 8K video recording at 30 FPS, while the Pixel 9 is limited to 4K video recording at up to 60 FPS. The same trend continues with the front camera, as the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL offer a 42 MP Dual PD selfie camera with autofocus (ƒ/2.2 aperture), while the Pixel 9 has a 10.5 MP Dual PD selfie camera with autofocus (ƒ/2.2 aperture).

On the software front, all three phones run Android 14 and incorporate Google AI features like Pixel Studio (image generator), Gemini Live, and Pixel Screenshots, an exclusive app for Pixel 9 that aids in saving, organizing, and recalling important information. Additionally, the phones feature an improved Weather app and Satellite SOS.

Google Pixel 9

  • Display: 6.3-inch Actua display, 1080 x 2424 OLED at 422 PPI, 20: 9 aspect ratio, Smooth Display (60-120Hz), HDR support, Full 24-bit depth for 16 million colors
  • Finish and protection: “Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover glass, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 polished back with satin metal frame, Fingerprint-resistant coating, IP68 dust and water resistance
  • CPU: Google Tensor G4 with Titan M2 security coprocessor
  • GPU: Mali-G715 MC7
  • RAM: 12 GB
  • Storage: 125GB/ 256GB
  • OS : Android 14
  • Rear Camera: 50 MP Octa PD wide camera, ƒ/1.68 aperture, 82° field of view13
  • : 48 MP Quad PD ultrawide camera with autofocus, ƒ/1.7 aperture, 123° field of view13
  • Front Camera: 10.5 MP Dual PD selfie camera with autofocus, ƒ/2.2 aperture, 95° ultrawide field of view
  • Audio : Stereo speakers, 3 microphones, Noise suppression, Spatial audio
  • Battery: 4700 mAh Li-Ion battery with up to 100-hour battery life with Extreme Battery Saver, Fast charging and wireless charging
  • Dimension (H x W x D): 6 inch x 2.8 inches x 0.3 inch
  • Colors: Peony, Wintergreen, Porcelain, Obsidian

Google Pixel 9 Pro

  • Display: 6.3-inch Super Actua display (LTPO), 1280 x 2856 LTPO OLED at 495 PPI, 20: 9 aspect ratio, Smooth Display (1-120Hz), HDR support, Full 24-bit depth for 16 million colors
  • Finish and protection: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover glass, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 silky matte back with polished metal frame, Fingerprint-resistant coating, IP68 dust and water resistance
  • CPU: Google Tensor G4 with Titan M2 security coprocessor
  • GPU: Mali-G715 MC7
  • RAM: 16 GB
  • Storage: 128 GB/ 256GB/ 512GB/ 1TB
  • OS : Android 14
  • Rear Camera: 50 MP Octa PD wide camera, ƒ/1.68 aperture, 82° field of view13
  • : 48 MP Quad PD ultrawide camera with autofocus, ƒ/1.7 aperture, 123° field of view13
  • : 48 MP Quad PD telephoto camera, ƒ/2.8 aperture, 22° field of view, 5x optical zoom
  • Front Camera: 42 MP Dual PD selfie camera with autofocus, ƒ/2.2 aperture, 103° ultrawide field of view
  • Audio : Stereo speakers, 3 microphones, Noise suppression, Spatial audio
  • Battery: 4700 mAh Li-Ion battery with up to 100-hour battery life with Extreme Battery Saver, Fast charging and wireless charging
  • Dimension (H x W x D): 6 inch x 2.8 inches x 0.3 inch
  • Colors: Porcelain, Rose Quartz, Hazel, Obsidian

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

  • Display: 6.8-inch Super Actua display (LTPO), 1344 x 2992 LTPO OLED at 486 PPI, 20: 9 aspect ratio, Smooth Display (1-120Hz), HDR support, Full 24-bit depth for 16 million colors
  • Finish and protection: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover glass, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 silky matte back with polished metal frame, Fingerprint-resistant coating, IP68 dust and water resistance
  • CPU: Google Tensor G4 with Titan M2 security coprocessor
  • GPU: Mali-G715 MC7
  • RAM: 16 GB
  • Storage: 128 GB/ 256GB/ 512GB/ 1TB
  • OS : Android 14
  • Rear Camera: 50 MP Octa PD wide camera, ƒ/1.68 aperture, 82° field of view13
  • : 48 MP Quad PD ultrawide camera with autofocus, ƒ/1.7 aperture, 123° field of view13
  • : 48 MP Quad PD telephoto camera, ƒ/2.8 aperture, 22° field of view, 5x optical zoom
  • Front Camera: 42 MP Dual PD selfie camera with autofocus, ƒ/2.2 aperture, 103° ultrawide field of view
  • Audio : Stereo speakers, 3 microphones, Noise suppression, Spatial audio
  • Battery: 5060 mAh Li-Ion battery with up to 100-hour battery life with Extreme Battery Saver, Fast charging and wireless charging
  • Dimension (H x W x D): 6.4 inch x 3 inches x 0.3 inch
  • Colors: Porcelain, Rose Quartz, Hazel, Obsidian

The Google Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL are available for pre-order today starting at $799, $999, and $1099, respectively. The Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL will be available on shelves at the Google Store and retail partners on August 22. Availability for the Pixel 9 Pro will be announced later.

Carlos Yulo Wins Second Gold Medal in the Artistic Gymnastics Men’s Vault

After bagging the gold medal for the Men’s Floor Exercise, Carlos Yulo took home the gold medal for the Artistic Gymnastics Men’s Vault.

Carlo Yulo scored a convincing 15.116 points, over Armenian Artur Davtan’s 14.966 (silver) and the 14.949 (bronze) of Harry Hepworth from UK.

“Last night I couldn’t sleep. This morning I was so sleepy.. I slept in the bus, I slept after the podium training.” Carlos Yulo said. “I slept before going to the competition area… But I did it today.”

Carlos Yulo’s first vault was a standout, earning a 15.433 points. With a top-tier difficulty score of 6.000, he flawlessly executed a handspring double front half out in pike position, setting a high bar for the competition.

His second attempt, a Kasamatsu double twist, was slightly less perfect, but he managed to control his landing and scored a respectable 14.800 points. Yulo’s final score of 15.116 points is more than enough for him to take home the gold medal.

Russo Brothers to direct the next two Avengers films

Marvel’s Kevin Feige just announced that the next two Avengers films will be directed by none other than the Russo Brothers. The announcement was made at Hall H of the San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC).

Together with the announcement of the Russo Brothers, Marvel also unveil the titles of the two Avengers films that the Russo Brothers will be directing: Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. Both films will be released one year apart, on May 2026 and May 2027, respectively.

Anthony and Joseph Russo, collectively known as the Russo brothers, are credited with four Marvel films: Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. All four Marvel films earned a total of $6.72 billion globally, so it’s not surprising that Marvel is bringing back the Russo Brothers to lead the team for their next two Avengers films.  

Watch iFixit teardown of the new Galaxy ZFlip 6 and ZFold 6

As always iFixit just published their latest teardown video (below) of the just announced Samsung Galaxy ZFlip 6 and ZFold 6. As commented that most of the changes on the new Samsung Foldables are just for aesthetic purpose only and the biggest changes are “under-the-hood,” like the larger battery, faster processor and a better screen.

The whole video is less than 5 mins and if you are in the mobile repair business, this is one video that do not want to miss.

Samsung’s Galaxy ZFlip6 and ZFold6 devices are on the iFixit teardown table today and if they look familiar, well… that’s because not much has changed on the outside. The Flip has a slightly more matte finish and the fold has some brighter screens and a pretty epic camera bump.

But as the majority of upgrades lurk below the surface let’s break out the pro tech and start digging into Samsung’s latest folding devices.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6
Galaxy Z Flip6
Display Main Screen 6.7-inch FHD+
Dynamic AMOLED 2X
120Hz Adaptive refresh rate (1~120Hz)
Infinity Flex Display (2640 x 1080, 22:9)
Cover Screen 3.4-inch Super AMOLED 60Hz Display
720 x 748
306 PPI
Dimension & Weight Folded 71.9 x 85.1 x 14.9mm
Unfolded 71.9 x 165.1 x 6.9mm
Weight 187g
Camera Front Camera 10MP Selfie Camera
F2.2, Pixel size: 1.22μm, FOV: 85˚
Rear Dual Camera 12MP Ultra-Wide Camera
F2.2, Pixel size: 1.12μm, FOV: 123˚
50MP Wide-angle Camera
Dual Pixel AF, OIS, F1.8, Pixel size: 1.0μm, FOV: 85˚
AP Snapdragon® 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform for Galaxy
Memory & Storage 12GB Memory with 512GB internal storage
12GB Memory with 256GB internal storage
Battery 4,000mAh (typical) dual battery
Charging Wired Charging*: Up to 50% charge in around 30min. with 25W Adapter and 3A USB-C cable
Fast Wireless Charging 2.0
Wireless PowerShare
Water Resistance IP48
OS Android 14
One UI 6.1.1
Network & Connectivity 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth® v5.3
Sensors Capacitive Fingerprint sensor (side), Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro sensor, Geomagnetic sensor, Hall sensor, Proximity sensor, Light sensor
Security Samsung Knox with Samsung Knox Vault
SIM Card One Nano SIM and Multi eSIM
Colors Silver Shadow, Yellow, Blue, Mint
Crafted Black, White, Peach

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6
Galaxy Z Fold6
Display Main Screen 7.6-inch QXGA+*
Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Infinity Flex Display (2160 x 1856, 20.9:18), 374ppi
120Hz adaptive refresh rate (1~120Hz)
Cover Screen 6.3-inch HD+
Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display
(2376 x 968, 22.1:9), 410ppi
120Hz adaptive refresh rate (1~120Hz)
Dimension & Weight Folded 68.1 x 153.5 x 12.1mm
Unfolded 132.6 x 153.5 x 5.6mm
Weight 239g
Camera Cover Camera 10MP Selfie Camera
F2.2, Pixel size: 1.22μm, FOV: 85˚
Under Display Camera 4MP Under Display Camera
F1.8, Pixel size: 2.0μm, FOV: 85˚
Rear Triple Camera 12MP Ultra-Wide Camera
F2.2, Pixel size: 1.12μm, FOV: 123˚
50MP Wide-angle Camera
Dual Pixel AF, OIS, F1.8, Pixel size: 1.0μm, FOV: 85˚
10MP Telephoto Camera
PDAF, OIS, F2.4, Pixel size: 1.0μm, FOV: 36˚, 3X optical zoom
AP Snapdragon® 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform for Galaxy
Memory & Storage 12GB Memory with 1TB internal storage
12GB Memory with 512GB internal storage
12GB Memory with 256GB internal storage
Battery 4,400mAh (typical) dual battery
Charging Wired Charging*: Up to 50% charge in around 30 min. with 25W Adapter** and 3A USB-C cable***
Fast Wireless Charging 2.0****
Wireless PowerShare*****
Network & Connectivity 5G*, LTE**, Wi-Fi 6E***, Bluetooth® v5.3
Sensors Capacitive Fingerprint sensor (side), Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro sensor, Geomagnetic sensor, Hall sensor, Proximity sensor, Light sensor
Security Samsung Knox with Samsung Knox Vault
SIM Card Up to two Nano SIM* and Multi eSIM**
Up to two Nano SIM* and Multi eSIM**
Colors Silver Shadow, Pink, Navy*
Crafted Black, White**