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https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/human-trafficking/apollo-carreon-quiboloy

FBI-wanted pastor Apollo Quiboloy's account as well as the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) Facebook page have been terminated. SMNI News is their last remaining holdout online.

Press Release September 4, 2023

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday said that she agrees with Vice President Sara Duterte when the latter said that her office could "live without" the P500 million confidential funds they are requesting for 2024, after Duterte admitted to using confidential funds this year for free bus rides, tree plantings and other programs unrelated to security matters.

"Masaya ako na mismong si Vice President Duterte na ang nagsabi na kaya nilang mabuhay ng walang malaking confidential funds sa 2024. There is no good reason why the Office of the Vice President (OVP) should have confidential fund allocations that are larger than the combined confidential budgets of our top security agencies," Hontiveros said.

During a Senate Finance subcommittee hearing, Hontiveros showed that the OVP's proposed P500 million confidential funds - which have less auditing and reporting requirements than regular public funds - "tower over" the combined P438.2 million confidential and intelligence funds allocated for both the Department of National Defense (DND) and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA).

"There is something fundamentally wrong when the OVP alone has a confidential fund of half a billion pesos while the NICA itself, which is the government's primary intelligence arm, has confidential and intelligence funds of only P341.2 million. Alam naman natin kung kanino talaga dapat napupunta ang confidential at intelligence funds - sa DND, NICA at iba pang responsable para sa national security, law enforcement at border protection," Hontiveros said.

Duterte, during the same hearing, admitted that the OVP has been using its confidential funds for 2023 for the "safe, secure and successful" implementation of initiatives with no direct relation to national security, like the construction of a vice presidents' museum and an OVP permanent office as well as free bus rides, tree plantings and feeding programs.

Hontiveros pointed out that the initiatives do not fall under the exclusive list of programs in which confidential funds may be used, as laid out in COA-DBM Joint Circular No. 2015-01. The circular, she said, requires that confidential funds be used only for the purchase of information and or expenses "necessary for the formulation and implementation of programs, activities and projects relevant to national security and peace and order."

"As important as free bus rides and tree buildings are, these are not projects involving national security for which confidential funds should be used. Hindi iyan pwedeng maging justification para sa napakalaking confidential funds. Pwede namang pondohan ang mga proyekto na yan gamit ang regular funds ng ahensya," the senator said.

Hontiveros then urged her colleagues in the Senate to take up the Vice President on her word that she and the OVP can fulfill their functions without the hundreds of millions in confidential funds.

"Kayang kaya ng OVP na pagsilbihan ang Bayan ng hindi gumagamit ng confidential funds na halos hindi naau-audit at narereport sa publiko. As I have said before, let's leave the security and intelligence work to the experts," Hontiveros concluded.

Foxconn subsidiary FIH, the owner of about 15% of HMD bonds, has published its financial report for 2022.

HMD’s revenues have dropped, prompting FIH to cancel investments in more Nokia-branded smartphones and phones. FIH also asked HMD to divest some products such as headphones.

HMD’s fundraising in 2022 was unsuccessful. HMD’s Board has extended the Series A2 financing round and hopes to close the round in 2023.

"Marcos: In line with the long-standing tradition of giving the Office of the Vice President parliamentary courtesy, I move to terminate the briefing for the Office of the Vice President.

Manuel: I object.

Castro: We object.

Zamora calls for a show of hands on whether to approve the motion.

Zamora: We have 21 members of the Committee on Appropriations manifesting for the approval of the motion. The Chair declares for the motion to terminate the presentation of the budget approved.

Castro: Madam Chair, may we have a manifestation?

Zamora tells Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo, senior committee vice chairperson: Madam Chair, we already have terminated the presentation and the—

Castro: Point of order, Madam Chair, may I explain my vote why I do not like the hearing of the Office of the Vice President to be terminated? I know we have the right as a Minority bloc, Madam Chair. So may we explain why we vote no?

Zamora: With all due respect, this representation would like to request the honorable Castro to just please submit the manifestation to the Committee on Appropriations.

Castro: I object…Hindi natin inaasahan ang ganitong proceedings. Meron tayong issue na dapat pakinggan at dapat masagot ng Office of the Vice President. Kailangang maipaliwanag ang ₱125 million. At sinabi naman sa statement ni Vice President Duterte na mag-e-explain. So I have the right to explain why I voted no. Kailangang malaman itong ₱125 million na not-confidential fund pero ginastos ng Office of the Vice President na kung saan [mic turned off]."

There’s also a new Bing widget that lets you access the chat from the homepage.

Here’s the official changelog:

• New – Start a Bing Chat conversation from anywhere in the Launcher you find search.
• Bing is your A1-powered copilot and can provide helpful answers to your questions.
• Bing Chat functionality is available in regions supported by Bing Chat.
• Bing Chat functionality requires Android 8.0 and up
• Bug fixes.

1. On my Threads profile, I changed my featured link to be my Mastodon profile URL.
2. Then, on my Mastodon profile, I changed one of the featured links to be my Threads profile URL.
3. After I saved that change, my Mastodon profile showed a green verification checkmark next to my Threads profile URL. Success!