THE Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP) is so far the only third higher education institution (HEI) in the Philippines to have successfully passed the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) University Network-Quality Assurance (AUN-QA) Institutional Assessment. Overall, TIP said in a media release that it was the 10th educational institution of the time assessed in the Southeast Asian region to garner this assessment. Register to read this story and more for free . Signing up for an account helps us improve your browsing experience. OR See our subscription options.
PM Modi meets Indian expats at labour camp in Kuwait
Column: Brady Corbet’s epic movie ‘The Brutalist’ came close to crashing down more than onceThe Prime Minister insisted the UK will back Ukraine “for as long as it takes” as he made a speech at the Lord Mayor’s Banquet in London, but for the first time acknowledged the conflict could move towards a negotiated end. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has in recent weeks suggested he is open to a possible ceasefire with Vladimir Putin’s Russia. Kyiv and its European allies meanwhile fear the advent of Donald Trump’s return to the White House could result in American aid being halted. President-elect Trump has said he would prefer to move towards a peace deal, and has claimed he could end the conflict on “day one” of his time in power. As he attempts to strike up a good relationship with the incoming president, Sir Keir revealed he had told Mr Trump the UK “will invest more deeply than ever in this transatlantic bond with our American friends in the years to come”. In his speech at London’s Guildhall, the Prime Minister said there is “no question it is right we support Ukraine”, as the UK’s aid to Kyiv is “deeply in our self-interest”. Allowing Russia to win the war would mean “other autocrats would believe they can follow Putin’s example,” he warned. Sir Keir added: “So we must continue to back Ukraine and do what it takes to support their self-defence for as long as it takes. “To put Ukraine in the strongest possible position for negotiations so they can secure a just and lasting peace on their terms that guarantees their security, independence, and right to choose their own future.” Mr Zelensky told Sky News over the weekend he would be open to speaking with Mr Putin, but branded the Russian president a “terrorist”. He also suggested Ukrainian territory under his control should be taken under the “Nato umbrella” to try to stop the “hot stage” of the war with Russia. In a banquet speech focused on foreign affairs, the Prime Minister said it was “plain wrong” to suggest the UK must choose between its allies, adding: “I reject it utterly. “(Clement) Attlee did not choose between allies. (Winston) Churchill did not choose. “The national interest demands that we work with both.” Sir Keir said the UK and the US were “intertwined” when it came to commerce, technology and security. The Prime Minister added: “That’s why, when President Trump graciously hosted me for dinner in Trump Tower, I told him that we will invest more deeply than ever in this transatlantic bond with our American friends in the years to come.” He also repeated his commitment to “rebuild our ties with Europe” and insisted he was right to try to build closer links with China. “It is remarkable that until I met President Xi last month there had been no face-to-face meeting between British and Chinese leaders for six years,” the Prime Minister said. “We can’t simply look the other way. We need to engage. To co-operate, to compete and to challenge on growth, on security concerns, on climate as well as addressing our differences in a full and frank way on issues like Hong Kong, human rights, and sanctions on our parliamentarians,” he added. The Prime Minister said he wants Britain’s role in the world to be that of “a constant and responsible actor in turbulent times”. He added: “To be the soundest ally and to be determined, always, in everything we do. “Every exchange we have with other nations, every agreement we enter into to deliver for the British people and show, beyond doubt, that Britain is back.” Ahead of Sir Keir’s speech, Lord Mayor Alastair King urged the Prime Minister and his Government to loosen regulations on the City of London to help it maintain its competitive edge. In an echo of Sir Keir’s commitment to drive the UK’s economic growth, the Lord Mayor said: “The idealist will dream of growth, but the pragmatist understands that our most effective machinery to drive growth is here in the City, in the hands of some of the brightest and most committed people that you will find anywhere in the world.”
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Costs Don't miss out on the headlines from Costs. Followed categories will be added to My News. It is the most festive time of the year, but it can also be the most “stressful”, especially for a family of three living off $80,000. Rachel Green, 32, has been planning for the cost of Christmas for months, but now that December has arrived, she’s still anxious. Ms Green, who lives in Queensland, described Christmas as a “stressful time” and a period where she has to plan everything in advance. She has a young child and is pregnant with her second, and they’re all relying on her partner’s $80,000 salary. “My husband earns $1220 a week. After covering our bills and mortgage, we’re left with around $60 each week,” she told news.com.au. The 32-year-old said it feels almost “impossible” to plan ahead for Christmas and budget because everything is so expensive. “We’ve tried to stick to a strict budget, buying one or two items each week to prepare for Christmas, but we’re still not where we want to be financially,” she said. Ms Green explained why Christmas is stressful. Picture: Instagram/AussieFrugalFamily She said their mortgage right now is really high. Picture: Instagram/AussieFrugalFamily MORE: Home loan trap taking years to escape It has also been a tough year for the family. Earlier this year, Ms Green was trolled for sharing their mortgage stress online. “Our mortgage repayments have gone from under $400 to almost $650. It’s a crazy amount extra to pay when everything else has gone up too,” she previously told news.com.au Online, she explained how tough it is to fork out $650 a week on their mortgage, and instead of people offering her sympathy, she was met with judgment. “Sounds like you’ve overextended yourself. Sell your house and sell your car,” one wrote. “Maybe don’t have children! If you can’t even afford it,” one said, with another slamming the family for using charity services they claimed other people “need more”. Ms Green is not alone in her stress. It’s been an expensive year for Australians. The median rental price nationwide has soared past $600, the official cash rate has held for over a year, and conversations about inflation and shrinkflation have been ongoing. The young family survive off one income. Picture: Instagram/AussieFrugalFamily Ms Green shares her frugal tips online. Picture: Instagram/AussieFrugalFamily MORE: Sign RBA is creating ticking time bomb The financial stress is impacting everyone. Non-bank lender, MONEYME , conducted a survey that found 43 per cent of households earning between $100,000 to $149,000 and 37 per cent of households earning between $50,000 to $99,000 plan to spend more this Christmas than the last. Since Aussies are expecting to spend more, they are trying to make cuts where they can. Thirty seven per cent plan to reduce their grocery spending and forgo traditional Christmas staples like oysters, prawns, red meat, and turkey. Ms Green isn’t surprised by these trends. She thinks about money all the time. In fact, she runs a popular social media account called AussieFrugalFamily , where she documents how she budgets. “Even people who are usually financially comfortable are feeling the squeeze this year. Many Christmas items that were once staples are now considered luxuries,” she said. Ms Green said one relief has been that she’s not hosting Christmas. She’ll be going to her mum’s and everyone is expected to bring a plate, so not one person gets lumped with the Christmas lunch cost. “We’re not cutting back completely. We’re trying to be smarter about our purchases,” she said. “For instance, instead of fresh prawns, we’re buying frozen ones to thaw the night before.” “We’ve also divided the food responsibilities among family members. If everyone contributes, we can still enjoy the traditional Christmas feast without overspending.” Aussies are cutting back this Christmas but still spending more. Picture: Instagram/AussieFrugalFamily Ms Green said that people should also consider going to food banks to get through Christmas. “Many of these places actively encourage people to shop with them. You can save money on your Christmas food bill while supporting a charity. It’s a win-win,” she said. She’s also got a game plan for once Christmas is over and wants to take advantage of the yearly sales. “If you have some funds left, hit the shops after Christmas. There are great sales on items like meat and seafood, which can be frozen for New Year’s, Australia Day, or even meals throughout the next few months,” she recommended. “The freezer is your best friend when it comes to saving money.” Clayton Howes, CEO at MONEYME , said that it is clear Aussies are doing it tough this Christmas. “The festive season is a time for family and giving but its clear many Aussies – particularly Millennials and Gen Z – are feeling the financial pinch this year,” he said. “This survey shows that some Aussies are forgoing luxuries to help ease the cost of living pressures, but are determined to have a joyful celebration with loved ones, despite it being a tough year financially.” More Coverage ‘Completely false’: Cops hit back in 28yo case Claudia Poposki ‘Chained to my desk’: 28yo quits $170k job Mary Madigan Originally published as ‘Stressful’: Proof Aussies are doing it tough this Christmas More related stories Designers Surprising Aussie fashion trend revealed Buy-now pay-later giant Afterpay has revealed some surprising Aussie fashion trends in its latest Afterpaid report, with one colour dominating 2024. Read more Costs HECS balances slashed from today If you can actually remember your MyGov login, you should probably take a squiz at how much HECS you owe after tonight. Read more
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