Latest news with #120
The Star
5 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Beijing offers childcare subsidies to boost fertility
Beijing rolled out an annual childcare subsidy of 3,600 yuan (about RM2,120) until age three, as authorities look to spur a flagging birth rate with fewer young people choosing to have children. The high cost of childcare and education as well as job uncertainty and a slowing economy are among the concerns that have discouraged many young Chinese from getting married and starting a family. Subsidies will start from this year, with partial subsidies for children under three born prior to 2025, in a policy expected to benefit more than 20 million families of toddlers and infants, the official Xinhua news agency said on Monday. The plan is an 'important national livelihood policy' and direct cash subsidies would help 'reduce the cost of family childbirth and parenting', the National Health Commission said. Demographers and economists said while the move was positive, the amount was likely too small to incentivise people to have children. The country's population fell for a third consecutive year in 2024, with experts warning of a worsening downturn, after decades of falling birth rates following a one-child policy adopted from 1980 to 2015, coupled with rapid urbanisation. In the past two years, provinces nationwide have started handing out childcare subsidies in amounts that vary considerably, from 1,000 yuan (RM589) a child to up to 100,000 yuan (RM58,940), including housing subsidies. The government will fund the new national policy instead of local authorities, Xinhua said. Zichun Huang, China Economist at Capital Economics, said the sums involved were too small to have a near-term impact on the birth rate or consumption. 'But the policy does mark a major milestone in terms of direct handouts to households and could lay the groundwork for more fiscal transfers in future.' A nationwide scheme may offer some coordination and signal greater central commitment, said demographer Emma Zang, a professor at Yale University, but called for greater efforts. 'Without sustained structural investment in areas like affordable childcare, parental leave, and job protections for women, the effect on fertility is likely to remain minimal,' she added. — Reuters
GMA Network
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
My Chemical Romance in PH: Ticket prices and seat plan revealed
Article Inside Page My Chemical Romance is performing in the Philippines this 2026! Here's the ticket and seat plan guide. Get ready, Philippines! My Chemical Romance is officially coming to the country as part of their Southeast Asian tour in 2026. The iconic rock band will take the stage at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan on April 25, 2026. PULP Live World has unveiled the official seat plan and ticket prices for the much-anticipated concert. Choose from 11 ticket tiers, with prices ranging from PhP2,120 to PhP21,200, inclusive of ticketing charges. Here's the full breakdown: Upper Box B Regular - PhP2,120 Upper Box B Premium - PhP3,180 Upper Box A - PhP4,770 Lower Box B Regular - PhP6,890 Lower Box B Premium - PhP7,950 Lower Box A Regular - PhP11,130 Lower Box A Premium - PhP13,250 Standing B - PhP14,840 VIP Seated - PhP15,900 Standing A - PhP18,550 VIP Standing - PhP21,200 Tickets officially go on sale on September 7 at 12 noon via PULP Tickets Online, as well as SM Tickets and TicketNet outlets nationwide. A special pre-sale will take place on September 6, from 12 noon to 10:00 p.m., exclusively via PULP Tickets. In June, My Chemical Romance dropped a deluxe edition of their iconic 2004 album Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge. The re-release features newly remixed versions of fan-favorite tracks such as "Helena," "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)," and "The Ghost of You," all reworked by renowned producer Rich Costey. My Chemical Romance performed in the Philippines for the first time back in 2008 as part of their The Black Parade Asian tour. MEANWHILE, HERE ARE OTHER CONCERTS HAPPENING IN THE PHILIPPINES IN 2025:
Time of India
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Asia's tallest Murugan statue to be set up at Thindal temple
Erode: Ministers Sekar Babu and S Muthusamy on Sunday said Asia's tallest Murugan statue would be set up at the Murugan Temple at Thindal. "Benefactors are coming forward to finance the construction of the 186ft tall Murugan statue at Thindal. " Muthusamy said the statue would be made of cement. "The plinth will be 3.5ft tall and it will be made of black granite. The hill, where the statue will come up, is 50ft tall. Hence, the statue will look taller than its actual height. The infrastructure will be planned to accommodate five times the current number of devotees visiting the temple." Sekar Babu said the Dravidian model govt under the leadership of chief minister M K Stalin was committed to renovating temples. "During our governance so far, 3,325 temples, 125 of them Murugan temples, have been consecrated. By the end of this year, the number of temples consecrated is expected to reach 3,500." The HR&CE minister said 46 temples, including Thiruparankundram Arulmigu Subramania Swamy Temple, first in the line of six abodes of Murugan, would be consecrated on Monday. He said the govt had allocated a record subsidy of Rs1,120 crore to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (HR&CE) department since it assumed office. He said the Palani temple would get a facelift at a cost of Rs416 crore, while Tiruchendur temple would be renovated at a cost of Rs98 crore. Work on installing lifts at Marudhamalai and Swamimalai temples is currently in progress. He said the work on renovating Tiruchendur temple was likely to be completed by October. "Road work for Tiruttani temple and Siruvapuri temple is also underway at a cost of Rs67 crore and Rs57 crore, respectively."
The Sun
17-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Penang retirees lose over RM1m in investment scams
GEORGE TOWN: Two retirees lost over RM1 million after falling victim to online investment scams recently, according to Penang police. Penang police chief Datuk Hamzah Ahmad said in a statement that in the first case, the Seberang Perai Tengah District Police Headquarters received a report from a 55-year-old man on June 12, alleging that he had been scammed by an online investment company for RM827,120. 'In early April, the victim came across an investment advertisement on Facebook promising high returns and subsequently got in touch with a WhatsApp. 'The victim was promised a seven per cent return on each investment made,' he said, adding that the man was told to download the company's app to register as a member and invest through the platform. Hamzah said the victim made 22 fund transfers into six different company accounts between April 19 and May 26. 'He realised he had been scammed after being unable to withdraw profits totalling RM23,241,952 as shown on the investment app and subsequently lodged a police report,' he said. In a separate case, he stated that a 56-year-old retired factory technician lost RM321,250 after falling victim to another online investment scam, adding that the victim lodged a police report on June 12 at the Seberang Perai Utara District Police Headquarters. Hamzah stated that around December of last year, the victim came across an investment advertisement on Instagram that promised high returns. He then contacted a female suspect via WhatsApp, who promised a 30 per cent return within three months. He said that on March 21, the victim made the first fund transfer of RM20,000 through the company's app, and within less than three months, he received RM14,150 in profits. 'He made 11 additional fund transfers between March 27 and June 3 into four different company accounts linked to the scheme, but realised he had been scammed after he could not withdraw RM280,000 in purported profits and was instead asked by the suspect to pay an RM120,000 withdrawal fee,' he added. He said investigations are ongoing, and both cases are classified under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
The Sun
17-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Two retirees lose over RM1m to online investment scams
GEORGE TOWN: Two retirees lost over RM1 million after falling victim to online investment scams recently, according to Penang police. Penang police chief Datuk Hamzah Ahmad said in a statement that in the first case, the Seberang Perai Tengah District Police Headquarters received a report from a 55-year-old man on June 12, alleging that he had been scammed by an online investment company for RM827,120. 'In early April, the victim came across an investment advertisement on Facebook promising high returns and subsequently got in touch with a WhatsApp. 'The victim was promised a seven per cent return on each investment made,' he said, adding that the man was told to download the company's app to register as a member and invest through the platform. Hamzah said the victim made 22 fund transfers into six different company accounts between April 19 and May 26. 'He realised he had been scammed after being unable to withdraw profits totalling RM23,241,952 as shown on the investment app and subsequently lodged a police report,' he said. In a separate case, he stated that a 56-year-old retired factory technician lost RM321,250 after falling victim to another online investment scam, adding that the victim lodged a police report on June 12 at the Seberang Perai Utara District Police Headquarters. Hamzah stated that around December of last year, the victim came across an investment advertisement on Instagram that promised high returns. He then contacted a female suspect via WhatsApp, who promised a 30 per cent return within three months. He said that on March 21, the victim made the first fund transfer of RM20,000 through the company's app, and within less than three months, he received RM14,150 in profits. 'He made 11 additional fund transfers between March 27 and June 3 into four different company accounts linked to the scheme, but realised he had been scammed after he could not withdraw RM280,000 in purported profits and was instead asked by the suspect to pay an RM120,000 withdrawal fee,' he added. He said investigations are ongoing, and both cases are classified under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
