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
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
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
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.
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.”
2 DAYS IN A ROW 🥇 Carlos Edriel Yulo just made history! First Filipino athlete to win 2 Olympic gold medals. 🇵🇭 Paris really suits him! 🥹 Binabati kita Carlos – DEUX JOURS DE SUITE 👏 Carlos Edriel Yulo continue d'écrire l'Histoire à Paris en devenant le premier athlète… pic.twitter.com/siDvt6Xg06
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.
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.
Just announced in Hall H:
The Russo Brothers return to direct Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Doomsday, starring Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom. Only in theaters May 2026. #SDCCpic.twitter.com/oqnSwWKnYn
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.
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
US President Joe Biden has announced that he will be dropping out of the coming US Election this November and said that he will “focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term.” President Biden then endorses his VP Kamala Harris for President.
My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term. My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best… pic.twitter.com/x8DnvuImJV
US President Joe Biden also posted on his social media account the official announcement after Democrats and supporters are calling for Biden to withdrawal his reelection campaign.
Here’s the full text of President Joe Biden announcement;
My Fellow Americans,
Over the past three and a half years, we have made great progress as a Nation.
Today, America has the strongest economy in the world. We’ve made historic investments in rebuilding our Nation, in lowering prescription drug costs for seniors, and in expanding affordable health care to a record number of Americans. We’ve provided critically needed care to a million veterans exposed to toxic substances. Passed the first gun safety law in 30 years. Appointed the first African American woman to the Supreme Court. And passed the most significant climate legislation in the history of the world. America has never been better positioned to lead than we are today.
I know none of this could have been done without you, the American people. Together, we overcame a once in a century pandemic and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. We’ve protected and preserved our Democracy. And we’ve revitalized and strengthened our alliances around the world.
It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.
I will speak to the Nation later this week in more detail about my decision.
For now, let me express my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked so hard to see me reelected. I want to thank Vice President Kamala Harris for being an extraordinary partner in all this work. And let me express my heartfelt appreciation to the American people for the faith and trust you have placed in me.
I believe today what I always have: that there is nothing America can’t do – when we do it together. We just have to remember we are the United States of America.
It’s unclear what the main reason is for US President Joe Biden withdraw his candidacy for reelection, but if elected, Kamala Harris could be the first Female US President by the end of the 2024.
I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party—and unite our nation—to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda. If you’re with me, add a donation right now.https://t.co/xpPDkCRhoZ
In a game that will go down as a major upset alert, Team USA escaped with a narrow victory over a determined South Sudan team by a final score of 101 – 100. The win, secured on a buzzer-beating layup by LeBron James, exposed some vulnerabilities for the American squad and served as a wake-up call heading into the upcoming Olympic tournament.
South Sudan came out firing on all cylinders, surprising Team USA with their aggressive defense and hot shooting from beyond the arc. The young African nation connected on 14 of their 33 three-point attempts, keeping pace with a Team USA offense that struggled to find rhythm early on.
Despite boasting a star-studded roster, Team USA looked uncharacteristically sluggish throughout the contest. Their usually potent offense sputtered, connecting on only 7 of their 28 three-point attempts. LeBron James, however, remained a constant threat, finishing the game with a team-high 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists. Followed by Anthony Davis’ double-double, scoring 15 points and 11 rebounds.
With the clock winding down and South Sudan leading by a point 100 – 99, the ball found its way into the hands of the veteran leader. James, showcasing his experience and clutch ability, drove to the basket and converted a contested layup just as the buzzer sounded, sending the American bench into a frenzy.
The win, will keep USA’s undefeated record in exhibition play but raises concerns about their overall performance. Coach Steve Kerr and the rest of the coaching staff will use this game as a teaching moment, emphasizing the importance of staying focus and keeping their defensive intensity as they gear up for the Olympic Group stage this 28th of July.
Team USA’s next and last exhibition game will be this Monday, 22nd of July, against the Germany, who is the current 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup Champions. Serbia and South Sudan are grouped together with the United States and Puerto Rico in the 2024 Paris Olympics Men’s Basketball Tournament Groupings.
Checkout some of the game highlights:
Rejected by Anthony Davis. The stadium is shaking.
Marvel just release the last trailer for Deadpool & Wolverine, which will be in theater this 26th of July. Marvel was careful not to give up the premise of the film even though we can see Deadpool talking to Wolverine to help him save his world.
There are a number of cameo that confirms previous reports like the appearance of an older as Laura / X-23, who we first in Logon. Then there’s Toad, Aaron Stanford, reprising his role as Pyro in X2 (2003) and X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), we can also see Sabretooth from X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
Then there’s clip of Lady Deadpool, though, we still do not know who is playing who, since there have been speculation that Taylor Swift is Lady Deadpool, then there’s the rumor that Ryan Reynolds’ wife Blake Lively will play Lady Deadppool, then there’s this Wiki article that says Taylor Swift will be playing Dazzler. I guess we just have to watch the movie to know for sure.
Deadpool & Wolverine is written by Ryan Reynolds, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, and Zeb Wells. The film will be in theaters this July 26th.
Elon Musk, the Billionaire businessman and investor known for his space company SpaceX and electric automotive company Tesla, Inc’, as well as a high profile purchase of Twitter, now known as X, have openly said that he endorses Trump for President. He made the announcement in a tweet following a failed assassination attempt while campaigning in Pennsylvania.
It’s also worth noting, that Elon Musk donated an undisclosed amount of money to the pro-Trump America PAC. Even though President Joe Biden is favored to win the coming US Presidential Election, Trump’s failed assassination will be an interesting twist and could be crucial to his bid to return to the oval office.
Together with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6, Samsung also announced a number of complementary accessories to enhanced your mobile experience like Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Series.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Series is composed of the Galaxy Buds3 and Galaxy Buds3 Pro, both will retail for $179.99 and $249.99, respectively. Galaxy Buds3 series is available in two colors, Silver and White. For those who will preorder any of the Galaxy Buds3 Series by July 23 will receive a protective Clip Case, which is worth $30.00.
This what Samsung has to say about the Galaxy Buds3 Pro;
To deliver a premium audio experience, Galaxy Buds3 Pro is equipped with advanced hardware, including enhanced 2-way speakers36 with planar tweeter for sophisticated, precise high range sound production, and Dual Amplifiers for a crystal-clear sound experience on the go. And now, thanks to Ultra High Quality37Audio that supports a doubled sampling rate with SSC codec, you can listen to any high-resolution audio source as it was intended and enjoy every sound in superb detail. This level of sound quality extends to phone calls, too. With a pre-trained model based on machine learning, the Buds3 series is now able to restore the original voice of the speaker in various noise environments while also providing a rich and natural call — similar to the high-quality calls of smartphones — with the Super-Wideband38 Call feature.
The Galaxy Buds3 series offers 2 purpose-built design options. Buds3 Pro is a Canal Type for for immersive sound, while Buds3 is an Open Type for people who prefer to use the device in a variety of situations for a long time. Details: https://t.co/wDbkHmaUzy#SamsungUnpackedpic.twitter.com/ldm0wlmQMQ
— Samsung US Newsroom (@SamsungNewsUS) July 10, 2024
Here are the specs of the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Series;
Introducing the all-new Galaxy Z Fold6 and Galaxy Z Flip6. Two foldable phones, infinite possibilities. Galaxy AI is here. Learn more: http://smsng.co/ZFold6_Intro_yt | http://smsng.co/ZFlip6_Intro_yt
00:00 Intro
00:04 Design
00:28 Circle to Search
00:59 Processor
01:50 FlexCam
02:42 FlexWindow
03:24 Note Assist
03:55 Durability
Former Senator Leila de Lima has been cleared of all drug charges filed against her during the term of former president Rodrigo Duterte. Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court Branch 206 granted De Lima demurrer to evidence on June 24, 2024. This is the same court that granted her bail last November 2023 and set her free after almost seven years in detention.
This is what Former Senator Leila de Lima said about her acquittal;
My heart is full with all the love pouring in today after the dismissal of all my cases. Thank you to everyone who believed in my innocence and that one day I will be finally vindicated. Today is that day of sweet and just freedom. Dios mabalos!
This dismissal effectively cleared her third and final drug case. De Lima, a Philippine opposition figure and one of the staunchest critics of then President Duterte, had faced allegations related to conspiracy to commit drug trading during the Duterte administration. Her acquittal marks the end of a long legal battle that spanned several years, making her a free woman.
The roster for the 2024 USA Basketball Women’s National Team have been leaked. In a tweet, Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported that “Indiana Fever rookie sensation Caitlin Clark is expected to be left off the 12-player Team USA women’s basketball roster for the upcoming Summer Olympics”
Sources: Team USA women’s basketball roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics – no Caitlin Clark:
Charania then added and named the 12 players in the roster. Except for Kahleah Copper, Sabrina Ionescu, Kelsey Plum and Alyssa Thomas. All other players have Olympic experience. Fans also pointed out that rookie phenom Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever is missing from the roster. Despite receiving an invitation to the USA Basketball Women’s National Team training camp last April, Iowa Hawkeyes standout Caitlin Clark couldn’t attend due to her team’s Final Four run.
Player
WNBA Team
Position
Napheesa Collier
Minnesota Lynx
Forward
Kahleah Copper
Phoenix Mercury
Guard/Forward
Chelsea Gray
Las Vegas Aces
Guard
Brittney Griner
Phoenix Mercury
Center
Sabrina Ionescu
New York Liberty
Guard
Jewell Loyd
Seattle Storm
Guard
Kelsey Plum
Las Vegas Aces
Guard
Breanna Stewart
New York Liberty
Forward
Diana Taurasi
Phoenix Mercury
Guard
Alyssa Thomas
Connecticut Sun
Forward
A’ja Wilson
Las Vegas Aces
Forward/Center
Jackie Young
Las Vegas Aces
Guard/Forward
The final USA Women’s Basketball roster and list of potential alternates must be submitted to FIBA by June 24th. While no official announcement has been made by the USA Basketball on their official website or social media accounts.
The Boston Celtics are headed back to the NBA Finals! They punched their ticket to the championship series after sweeping the Indiana Pacers in a tightly contested Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals (105-102).
The win capped off a dominant series sweep for the Celtics, showcasing their resilience and championship mettle. The Pacers, however, shouldn’t leave empty-handed. They pushed the Celtics to the limit, especially in a nail-biting fourth quarter of Game 4.
It was a close game, with both teams trading baskets and neither side able to establish a significant lead. The largest lead for either team was 9 points. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 29 points, while Jayson Tatum chipped in with 26 points. Jalen Brown wins the Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals MVP. As for the Pacers, Andrew Nembhard had a monstrous double-double with 24 points and 10 assists with 6 rebounds, while Pascal Siakam added 19 points and 10 rebounds. Pacers missed the services of star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who was sidelined by a left hamstring injury.
The final minutes of the game were a heart-stopping display of clutch plays. With the score tied and seconds remaining, Jalen Brown found Derek White for a 23-foot three-point jumper that sealed the win for Boston. The Pacers had a chance to respond, but their final shot attempt fell short.
With the series win, the Celtics return to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2020, where they lost to the Golden State Warriors. This is a much younger team compared to their previous championship run, but they’ve shown a maturity and composure beyond their years.
They’ll now await their opponent, who will be determined in the ongoing Western Conference Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Department of Education (DepEd) has announced that they will gradually shift the school year calendar start next school year 2024-2025, this is when the school starts in June then ends by April or May. Philippines School was moved to October, instead of June, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, remote learning was also implemented. It was then moved to August in the succeeding year.
Below are the key dates to remember
School Year 2024 – 2025: opening on July 29th and then will end by May 16th.
School Year 2025 – 2026: opening on June and then will end by April or May.
DepEd added that the national activities will be conducted on the following dates:
Palarong Pambansa – July 6 – 17, 2024
National Festival of Talents – July 9 – 13, 2024
National Schools Press Conference – July 9 – 13, 2024
Learners’ Convergence – July 9 – 15, 2024
You can read the full text of DepEd’s announcement below;
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) just announced that Tim Cone will be the as Head Coach for Gilas Pilipinas Men. Together with Tim Cone’s announcement, SBP also announced the 12 players roster for the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, set this February 2024. The 12 players are composed of current PBA and UAAP players, as well as those playing in the Japanese B-League as imports.
Coach Tim Cone is one of the winningest coach in the PBA, a 25 times champion with 38 Finals appearances. He is currently the head coach of the most popular team in the PBA, the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, a gig that he got in 2015.
“Coach Tim accomplished what has not been done in decades with only a few weeks to prepare and multiple challenges in terms of personnel so we’re excited to see what he can accomplish with a long-term program in place especially if such program is supported by all basketball stakeholders.” said SBP President Al Panlilio.
“Earlier this month, coach Tim presented his plans to local leagues from which players will likely be selected from. This program will be put to test this year and adjustments will be made as necessary,” added SBP Executive Director Erika Dy.
The Philippines is also included in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament from July 2 to 7 in Latvia.
WATCH: Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone is present at the PSA Awards, where he discusses his current pool of players for the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers. | via @jeck_batallonespic.twitter.com/W0R3nGazxr
The Raptors gave the Warriors one of their worst loss of the season, behind RJ Barrett’s 37 points game. This is the 4th game of Barrett as a Raptor, who are 3 – 4, since trading OG Anunoby to the Knicks to get RJ Barrett, last Dec. 31st.
This is basically how the game was; the Raptors made 15 of their 33 three-points shot, lead by RJ Barrett, who made 5 of his 8 threes, despite having a great game from Klay Thompson with his 25 points, the Warriors are 14 for 46 from behind the arc with Steph is 0 of 9 from the three-point line, scoring only for 9 points. All Warriors starters are negative in the +/- column.
Aside from Barrett, Chris Boucher scored 17 points and 9 rebounds from the bench, with Pascal Siakam adding 16 points with 6 rebounds and 6 assists. The Raptors were never threaten in the game and at one point, their lead ballooned to 27 points.
Here are highlights of RJ Barrett;
Raptors will be visiting the Lakers on Tuesday night, while the Warriors will be hosting the NO Pelicans on Wednesday night.
Philippine Government has declared that December 26, 2023, will be a non-working Holiday, adding an extra day to an already long weekend and allowing families to spend more time together.
Supreme Court of the Philippines yesterday announced that a total of 3,812 out of the 10,387 who completed all the tests during the three days of the exams passed the 2023 Bar Examinations. For this year’s bar exam have a 36.77%. passing rate, which went down from last year’s 43.47% passing rate.
Below are the Top Bar passers;
Rank
Name
School
Rating
1
BIE, Ephraim Porciuncula
University of Santo Tomas
89.2625%
2
VIVIT, Mark Josel Padua
Ateneo de Manila University
89.1250%
3
FRANCISCO, Frances Camille Altonage
San Beda University
88.9125%
4
TANG, Nathaniel Niño Alipio
Aquinas-UST-LEGAZPI
88.6500%
5
FLORES, David Joseph Austria
De La Salle University
88.5500%
6
SAMANIEGO, Ralph Vincent Salvador
University of the Philippines
88.4750%
7
ANTONIO, Bryan Gerard Tapnio
Ateneo de Manila University
88.3125%
8
BATULAN, Paulo
University of San Jose – Recoletos
88.2500%
BUENCAMINO, Pio Vincent Roura
University of Santo Tomas
88.2500%
9
BAUTISTA, Grace Abigail Morales
Angeles University Foundation School of Law
88.0625%
10
CHAN, Jayson Ong
Saint Paul School of Professional Studies
88.0125%
NON, Zes Trina Bañares
Aquinas-UST-LEGAZPI
88.0125%
11
CALDERON, Maria Sofia Esguerra
San Beda University
88.0000%
12
CRUZ, Cedric Jerome Moya
Bulacan State University
87.9250%
13
OCAMPO, Marvin Joseph Manarang
University of the Philippines
87.9125%
14
RUEDA, Yvette Veronique De Guzman
University of Makati
87.8750%
15
POBAR, Dionisio III Tenorio
University of the Philippines
87.8375%
16
BARRION, Vince Benedict Abu
University of the Philippines
87.8000%
17
GUZMAN, Paolo Luna
University of the Philippines
87.7875%
18
BALISONG, Rockylle Dominique Laureta
San Beda University
87.7375%
19
PANOTES, Claudine De Luna
Arellano University
87.6875%
20
CO, Janel Nathalie Ang
Ateneo de Manila University
87.6625%
SC also published the list of successful examinees on their official social media accounts;
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) confirms that a cybersecurity incident involving the House of Representatives (HOR) website occurred on Sunday, 15 October 2023.
The HOR immediately put the website offline to prevent further unauthorized access and reported the incident to the DICT – Philippine National Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-PH).
CERT-PH is conducting an investigation to determine if sensitive data has been exfiltrated by the threat actor.
Recommendations were likewise provided to the HOR IT Team to prevent future security breaches on their website.
The DICT informs the public that the HOR website shall be online soon with its security vulnerabilities already addressed.
The next stages of the investigation on the incident, which include threat actor attribution and case build-up, shall be pursued by the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, in coordination with our law enforcement agencies.
The DICT reaffirms its commitment to be an active partner of government agencies as they fulfill the primary responsibility of safeguarding their own ICT systems and infrastructure against cyber threats.
By:
Renato A. Paraiso
Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs
DICT Spokesperson
pio@dict.gov.ph
At the sametime, DICT also release a Tagalog version of their statement.
Yesterday, the website of the House of Representative (HoR) was hacked by the hacker group 3MUSKETEERZ, defacing it with the troll face meme captioned it “You’ve been hacked. Have a nice Day! Happy April Fullz Kahit October Palang! Fix your website.” and changed its content with the same messaging.
In the wake of the PhilHealth Hacking, Philippines’ National Privacy Commission (NPC) launches the “Na-leak ba ang PhilHealth Data ko? Portal. The “Na-leak ba ang PhilHealth Data ko? Portal is a tool to check if your personal data is included in the PhilHealth cyberattack last Sept 22.
NPC explained that “Na-leak ba ang PhilHealth Data ko? Portal is a “simplified database search portal designed to help individuals verify the status of their personal information in light of the recent incident involving the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) database, purportedly exfiltrated by the Medusa Ransomware Group, and posted online on October 5, 2023. As of October 13, 2023, the initial batch of data available on the portal pertains to individuals aged 60 years and above, containing an estimated 1 million records out of 8.5 million senior citizens.”
To access the “Na-leak ba ang PhilHealth Data ko? database search tool, visit: https://philhealthleak.privacy.gov.ph, then just provide your PhilHealth Identification Number (PIN) to know if you are part of the leaked database.
PRESS RELEASE
Empowering PhilHealth Data Subjects: Check Your PhilHealth Data Security with NPC’s “Na-leak ba ang PhilHealth Data ko? Portal
To access the "Na-leak ba ang PhilHealth Data ko? database search tool, visit: https://t.co/2dBOZ7bzgW
Malacañang just release the official Philippine Holiday for next year, 2024. It’s the usual list of Holidays except that EDSA Revolution Anniversary was removed from the list of Special Non-working holiday which is celebrated every February.
Malacañang explained that the EDSA People Power Revolution commemoration was removed, since the event has “minimum socioeconomic impact” as it falls on a Sunday. Malacañang moved the commemoration of the EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary to Feb. 24 this year in lieu of Feb. 25, via Proclamation No. 167, as a special non-working day, to be consistent with holiday economics.
The People Power Revolution, also known as the EDSA Revolution or the February Revolution, was a series of popular demonstrations in the Philippines, mostly in Metro Manila, from February 22 to 25, 1986. There was a sustained campaign of civil resistance against regime violence and electoral fraud. The nonviolent revolution led to the ousting of Ferdinand Marcos and his family, including the current President of the Philippines, Ferdinand “Bong Bong” Marcos Jr., who was already in his late 20s at that time, ending of his 20-year dictatorship and corruption, and the restoration of democracy in the Philippines.
Philadelphia 76ers and the NBA’s reigning MVP, Joel Embiid announced that he will play for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The announcement comes after talking to both Team USA executive director Grant Hill and the representatives from the French national team.
I’m really proud and excited about this decision. It was not easy. I am blessed to call Cameroon, France, and the USA home. After talking to my family, I knew it had to be Team USA. I want to play with my brothers in the league. I want to play for my fans because they’ve… pic.twitter.com/6VHSQTKVl3
Joel Embiid who was born in Cameroon and holds both French and American citizenship, to which team he will be playing have been the talk/debate, since Team USA failed to bring home a medal in the last FIBA World Cup and the coming 2024 Paris Olympics. Embiid joins other NBA superstars like LeBron James, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant who have expressed interest in playing for Team USA at the next year’s Olympics.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the Philippine Embassy in Tel-Aviv, Israel just issue an advisory regarding the “State of War alert” issued by Israel.
𝐔𝐑𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐫𝐞: “𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐭” 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐬𝐫𝐚𝐞𝐥
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW, the Philippine Embassy in Tel-Aviv, Israel (PE-Tel-Aviv) and the Migrant Workers Office – Israel (MWO) are closely monitoring the situation of Filipinos in affected areas in the wake of the “State of War alert” issued by Israel’s Home Front Command.
Filipino community (FilCom) leaders are in touch with their members. They report that they remain calm and are accounted for. FilCom leaders remain in contact with the Philippine Embassy and MWO.
Filipinos in Israel are advised to take specific precautionary safety measures and follow the instructions provided by the Israeli Homefront Command.
The DMW and OWWA has set up a 24/7 Task Force Israel Desk for OFWs in Israel and their families. Please call Hotline +63 2 1348 or the following WhatsApp and Viber nos: +63 9083268344 | +63 9271478186 | +63 9205171059.
One OFW family has sought assistance from the DMW. We have contacted the concerned OFW. She is safe and sound.
Please standby for further announcements as the situation develops in Israel.
###
PCG Spokesperson Jay Tarriela has released a statement regarding the Maritime Incident near the Bajo de Masinloc, which resulted in the death of 3 Filipino Fishermen. Here’s the full text of PCG Spokesperson Jay Tarriela statement, which is also posted on his X/twitter account.
PCG Investigates Maritime Incident Involving Capsized Fishing Boat and Casualties
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is currently conducting a thorough investigation into a maritime incident that resulted in the capsizing of a Filipino Fishing Boat (FFB) DEARYN on October 2, 2023. The incident occurred approximately 180 nautical miles from Agno, Pangasinan, after the vessel was hit by an unidentified vessel.
The following individuals have been identified as casualties of the incident:
The eleven (11) fishermen who survived have provided their accounts of the incident. According to their statements, on October 2, 2023, at approximately 4:20 a.m., while FFB DEARYN was moored at their payao, adverse weather conditions and darkness may have contributed to their boat not being detected by the passing unidentified vessel, thus resulting to the incident. They further shared that they used their small service boats to transport the bodies of their fallen companions to Infanta, Pangasinan, as their fishing boat had sustained significant damage.
The PCG is diligently cross-referencing the fishermen’s accounts, along with the date and time, to identify the vessels that passed through the exact location of the incident. Efforts are being made to ascertain the identity of the vessel involved, and once identified, the PCG will reach out to the flag of the vessel and her next port of call for further investigation.
The PCG is committed to ensuring a thorough and impartial investigation into this tragic incident. Updates on the investigation will be provided as new information becomes available. The PCG extends our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of Captain Dexter Laudencia, Boat Crew Romeo Mejeco, and Boat Crew Benedicto Olandria.
President Bongbong Marcos Jr. has released a statement regarding the death of 3 Fishermen near the Bajo de Masinloc. In his statement, the incident is still under investigation and that the commercial vessel that rammed the fishing boat of the 3 fishermen are still unidentified. He is also asking to “allow the PCG to do its job and investigate, and let us refrain from engaging in speculation in the meantime.”.
Here’s the statement that was published on X, formerly twitter;
We are deeply saddened by the deaths of the three fishermen, including the captain of the fishing vessel. The incident is still under investigation to ascertain the details and circumstances surrounding the collision between the fishing boat and a still unidentified commercial… pic.twitter.com/VKe1eUkiIy
It can be recalled that last Monday, October 2nd, three Filipino fishermen died because an unidentified commercial vessel rammed their fishing boat near the Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal). You can read Rappler’s full report on the incident.
PhilHealth has once again release an announcement that they are calling “Urgent Notice to the Public,” this is in connection to the Cyberattack that was made last Sept 22. The health agency reiterates that no member information have been taken and that membership database is intact and unharmed by the cyberattack last Sept 22.
They later reminded the public to be cautious in opening malicious contents online and on social media, which I suppose, is directed to PhilHealth’s employees. The agency is also working with the authorities to catch the perpetrators.
PhilHealth is currently working with multiple agencies that includes Department of Communication Technology (DICT), National Privacy Commission (NPC), Philippine National Police Cybercrime Division, Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) and the National Bureau of Investigation(NBI) to identify the perpetrators of the hacking.
Here’s the announcement by PhilHealth:
#MyPhilHealth reiterates that its membership database is intact and unharmed by the cyberattack last Sept 22.
The Corporation urges the public to be cautious in opening malicious contents online and on social media. It is working with the authorities to catch the perpetrators. pic.twitter.com/bvxgBsJ7Q9
PhilHealth previously posted a Urgent Notice to the Public explaining what information have been compromised in the cyberattack that happened last Sept 22. Below are compromised PhilHealth member’s information;
Name
Address
Date of Birth
Sex
Phone number
PhilHealth ID number
The Health agency also recommended a number of steps that affected PhilHealth Members can take as a precaution.
The hackers demanded a ransom of $300,000 or approximately P17 million as payment to decrypt the files but according to a report by CNN Philippines, “The DICT confirms that some PhilHealth data affected in the Medusa ransomware attack have been published in the dark web after the deadline to pay ransom money to hackers lapsed.”
BREAKING: The DICT confirms that some PhilHealth data affected in the Medusa ransomware attack have been published in the dark web after the deadline to pay ransom money to hackers lapsed.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), through its Cybersecurity Bureau, proactively responded to address a ransomware attack that targeted the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) last September 22, 2023.
Upon learning of the breach, the DICT Cybersecurity Bureau’s National Computer Emergency Response Team (NCERT) went to PhilHealth Head Office and implemented critical security measures which included the disconnection of workstations from the network, prompt coordination with PhilHealth to gauge the extent of the attack, and collection of relevant logs for thorough analysis.
As of September 25, 2023, PhilHealth’s critical web services are only accessible via their IP addresses and currently ongoing comprehensive security scanning. Efforts to restore the functionality of PhilHealth’s DNS server are underway.
The DICT condemns the ransomware attack carried out against PhilHealth in an attempt to illegally access the information of its members. We shall continue to investigate and monitor the acquired logs from PhilHealth’s affected systems. An extensive checklist has been prepared by the DICT to benchmark PhilHealth’s readiness to get their systems online.
The DICT is committed to ensuring the full restoration of security and stability in PhilHealth systems and to safeguarding government systems and infrastructure from malicious cyber threats.
On September 22, 2023, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) was hit by a ransomware attack. The attack was carried out by the Medusa ransomware group, which encrypts files and demands a ransom payment for the decryption key. The hackers responsible for the attack have demanded a ransom of $300,000 or approximately P17 million as payment to decrypt the files.
PhilHealth detected the attack early on Friday and immediately shut down all of its online systems, including its website, portals, and e-claims. The agency is currently working with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and other government agencies to investigate the incident and restore its systems.
Humihiling ng pang-unawa ang #MyPhilHealth sa publiko matapos maapektuhan ang operasyon nito dahil sa information security incident kahapon, Sept 22, 2023.
In a statement, PhilHealth assured the public and its members that their personal and medical information was not compromised or leaked in the attack. However, the attack did disrupt the agency’s operations and caused some inconvenience to its members.
Sa kabila ng information security incident, sinisiguro ng #MyPhilHealth na hindi nakompromiso ang impormasyon ng mga miyembro at patuloy pa ring makagagamit ng benepisyo sa mga accredited health facilities. pic.twitter.com/J1MjCHkXAp
On September 25, PhilHealth announced they are working to restore all of its systems and that its members could now avail of its benefits again. The agency also said that it was implementing additional security measures to prevent future attacks.
