technology – Page 15 – Author Carlo Carrasco

US State Department Directs Embassies To Enforce Sweeping New Visa Screening Rules

November 10, 2025November 9, 2025carlocarrasco

A new crackdown on visas has officially been launched as the State Department of the United States recently directed American embassies around the world to implement new rules for visa screening under the revived “public charge” rule, according to a Fox News report. This developments follows the February 2025 presidential action titled Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of Fox News. Some parts in boldface…

A State Department cable obtained by Fox News Digital directs U.S. embassies worldwide to enforce sweeping new visa screening rules under the so-called “public charge” provision of immigration law — a move that revives and expands a Trump-era standard officials say was relaxed under President Joe Biden.

The guidance instructs consular officers to deny visas to applicants deemed likely to rely on public benefits, weighing a wide range of factors including health, age, English proficiency, finances and even potential need for long-term medical care.

“Self-sufficiency has been a longstanding principle of U.S. immigration policy,” the cable that went out to U.S. posts across the globe on Wednesday states, “and the public charge ground of inadmissibility has been a part of our immigration law for more than 100 years.“

Any past use of government cash assistance or institutionalization could also be grounds for denial. “You must examine all aspects of the case,” the guidance reads, “including the petition, visa application, medical report, affidavit of support, and any information uncovered in the course of screening and vetting.”

Older visa applicants nearing retirement age are to face particular scrutiny, both for their job prospects and whether they can support themselves once they stop working. “Long-term institutionalization (e.g., at a nursing facility) can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per year and should be considered,” the memo notes.

The new guidance follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump titled “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders.” The cable says the order seeks to ensure “that no taxpayer-funded benefits go to unqualified aliens.“

“The public charge determination is ‘in the opinion of the consular officer,’” the cable reminds, placing the burden of proof entirely on the applicant. Officers are instructed to conduct a “comprehensive and thorough vetting” of each case and to assess “the totality of the applicant’s circumstances” before issuing any visa. “There is no ‘bright-line’ test,” the cable adds. “You must consider all aspects of the case and determine whether the applicant’s circumstances… suggest that he is more likely than not to become a public charge at any time.“

A State Department official told Fox News Digital, “For years, the American taxpayer was held hostage by the Biden administration’s disastrous open borders agenda… The Trump administration has brought an end to the era of mass immigration.“

The State Department is responsible for deciding who receives visas abroad, while the Department of Homeland Security determines who is ultimately admitted to the United States and who may adjust status once inside the country. Although both agencies apply the same immigration law, the State Department’s guidance governs consular officers overseas, giving them broad discretion to deny visas on public charge grounds.

Wow! This is a tremendous change implemented under US President Donald Trump who in turn fulfilled his promise of reforming immigration that includes securing borders, arresting and deporting illegal immigrants/aliens, and now changing rules on visa screening. This is a reform that is very welcome and far too long have there been foreigners – who kept secret their personal hatred towards America – who secured visas to enter the US and cause trouble. As ICE continues to search for illegal immigrants/aliens, the State Department and the many US embassies will do their part to prevent visas from being issued to the wrong people.

This is also a much-needed change from the radical immigration handling of the failed US President Joe Biden. The Democrats and the woke zealots are obviously very angry about this newest development because they really do not care about their fellow American citizens. Considering everything that happened over the past few decades, the Democrats are the one American political party who keep on backstabbing Americans in favor of illegal immigrants/aliens and hateful foreigners who want to trespass into the USA.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you support the State Department’s global visa crackdown?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

AI Eyed For Integration Into Philippine Government Operations

November 9, 2025November 2, 2025carlocarrasco

During the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) recently held in South Korea, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., stated that his administration is pursuing artificial intelligence (AI) and integrate it across the agencies of the Philippine government sooner than later, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…

President Marcos said his administration is determined to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) across government agencies “as much as we can, as soon as we can,” warning that waiting too long would mean missing out on opportunities for innovation and efficiency.

“You’re missing a chance if you wait,” Marcos told reporters here on Saturday evening, Nov. 1.

“AI is going to come. Parang alon ‘yan, eh. Kahit anong gawin mo, mababasa ka (AI is like a wave — no matter what you do, you’ll get wet),” he added.

The President said the Philippines must quickly learn how to use AI “in the best, secure, and benevolent way” to serve the public, warning that failure to adapt could leave the country behind.

“If you do not learn how to swim, if you do not learn how to use AI properly, may iwanan ka talaga (You’ll be left behind),” he said.

According to Marcos, AI’s rapid evolution makes it necessary for governments to study and apply the technology carefully.

“What AI can do one month ago is different from what AI will be able to do one month from now. That’s why people can’t quite understand it — it learns,” he said.

He described AI as “such a powerful tool” that could transform governance, public service, and economic competitiveness.

“You must take advantage of it as quickly as possible. You have to learn how to use it as quickly as possible,” the President said.

He added that other world leaders in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) share the same sense of urgency.

“That’s one of my big takeaways from APEC. All the other leaders as well — they recognize how quickly AI will overwhelm us if we do not learn how to handle it properly,” he said.

Not a one-size-fits-all approach – Asked whether he plans to issue a directive guiding agencies on AI adoption, Marcos said it was too early to impose a blanket policy.

“It’s not yet clear what AI you use for government,” he said.

“Each department has a slightly different AI. We have to learn — we’re still studying,” he added.

The President said the government intends to consult both local and international experts to identify which applications of AI are most useful and which areas require caution.

“We have to talk to the experts — the whole world — and find out what does it do well, what doesn’t it do well,” he said.

Still, Marcos emphasized that AI adoption must be people-centered, helping Filipinos rather than replacing them.

In my opinion, using AI for governance and public service still looks uncertain. Considering how powerful or sophisticated AI has gotten today, it can be prone to abuse by the government. Worse, there is no guarantee right now how to protect human users from getting overwhelmed in the event that AI becomes self-aware and turns rogue against humanity. Just two years ago, GMA Network came up with fake sportscasters (both generated by AI) which caused some controversy here in the Philippines and only reminded people that AI has no soul and no humanity. Apart from being harmful to human workers in the business world, lots of AI applications made errors that affected users in varying ways. AI is currently not so effective in Japan in relation to finding solutions to their rice production problems. Watch and learn from the videos below.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think AI will really be helpful with regards to governance and public service? Do you think Congress should first make a new law and a series of rules covering AI? What safety measures should be taken to protect people in case rogue AI happens? Do you think the AI move is a convenient strategy of the administration to keep people’s attention away from the flood control corruption scandals and the weakening economic growth of the country?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Philippines 3rd Quarter GDP Growth Lands At 4%

November 8, 2025November 8, 2025carlocarrasco

The official economic numbers have been unveiled at last by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and the results are disappointing as the gross domestic product (GDP) growth of the Philippines for the 3^rd quarter of 2025 landed at a disappointing 4%, according to a Malaya Business Insight new report. The results could mean that the Philippine economy could fall short of the 5.5% to 6.5% GDP growth range by the end of this year.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Malaya Business Insight. Some parts in boldface…

The Philippine economy expanded by 4 percent in the third quarter of 2025, a sharp slowdown from the second quarter and the year earlier as public construction spending eased amid stricter validation measures for government projects.

The third-quarter growth rate in gross domestic product (GDP) marks a deceleration from a 5.49 percent rise in the second quarter.

Data released on Friday by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) also showed growth in the third quarter this year lost some momentum from 5.2 percent in the third quarter of 2024.

For the first nine months to September 2025, GDP grew by an average of 5 percent, easing from a rise of 5.8 percent in the year-earlier period.

Department of Economic Planning and Development (DEPDev) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said services and industry, on the supply side, posted weaker growth. He pointed out that Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) civil works went through stricter validation measures.

Q3 growth drivers – National Statistician and PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis Mapa said the main contributors to growth during the July-to-September period were wholesale and retail trade, including the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (up 5.0 percent); financial and insurance activities (5.5 percent); and professional and business services (6.2 percent).

“All major economic sectors — agriculture, forestry, and fishing; industry; and services — posted year-on-year growths in the third quarter,” Mapa said, citing respective increases of 2.8 percent, 0.7 percent, and 5.5 percent.

On the demand side, household final consumption expenditure grew by 4.1 percent year-on-year, while government spending rose 5.8 percent. Exports of goods and services climbed 7.0 percent, and imports expanded 2.6 percent. In contrast, gross capital formation — the measure of investment in fixed assets — fell 2.8 percent, reflecting caution among businesses and slower project rollouts.

Weaker services and industry – In a separate statement, DEPDev Secretary Balisacan, referring to the easing of the supply side, particularly in the services and industry performance in the nine-month period, cited “a sharp contraction in public construction due to stricter validation measures for DPWH civil works, as well as the implementation of new requirements that delayed billings and disbursements for government projects.”

Despite the slowdown, Balisacan pointed out that private construction “remained respectable,” though investment in durable equipment “was subdued.”

Indeed, the latest GDP growth statistics are disappointing. The national government plans to spend more than P1.3 trillion to boost the economy in the 4^th quarter and we will only find out the results of that in early January 2026.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the economy of the Philippines does not have enough momentum to achieve the national government’s GDP growth range for 2025? Do you think the ongoing flood control corruption scandal developments have turned away lots of foreign investors?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Trump Highlights Bright Spots Of US Economy Under His Leadership

November 7, 2025November 6, 2025carlocarrasco

During his speech at a major business forum held in Miami, Florida, US President highlighted bright spots of the national economy that were realized during his administration this year, according to a news report by Breitbart. It should be remembered that Trump was re-elected last year and there was series of economic hardships (including the worst inflation in decades) during the four years of failed US President Joe Biden.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from Breitbart’s news report. Some parts in boldface…

President Donald Trump touted economic bright spots–including rising wages, lowering costs of goods, and falling interest rates–during his speech at the American Business Forum in Miami, Florida, on Wednesday.

Trump noted that under his presidency, miner wages have risen by an average of almost $5,000, construction worker wages have climbed by $2,200, and factory worker wages are up $1,300.

While wages are up, prices on many key goods are falling. Trump touted Walmart’s announcement that the average Thanksgiving Dinner will see a substantial drop this year. As Breitbart News reported late last month, Walmart’s bundle to feed 10 on Thanksgiving will run just under $40, averaging about $4 per person.

This is down from the average of $7 per person under last year’s pricing, when President Joe Biden was commander-in-chief on the heels of the 40-year-high inflation his and Democrat lawmakers’ economic policies brought upon Americans.

Trump also highlighted that egg prices are down 85 percent since March. In comparison, the Biden-Harris administration oversaw a 147 percent increase from the beginning of their administration through August 2024, just months before Trump’s historic election win on November 5, the first anniversary of which was Wednesday.

Other areas of dwindling costs Trump touted included energy prices and the typical new mortgage costs, which have dropped $3,000 this year. Moreover, interest rates are down to the 3.75-4 percent range after a second-quarter point rate cut this year at the end of October, as Breitbart News reported.

Trump touted job statistics as well on Wednesday, noting that 1.9 million more natural-born Americans are employed since he took office, and all new jobs created under him have been through the private sector.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the US economy is on the verge of taking off in connection with the many positive economic developments that happened since Trump returned as President? Are Americans becoming better off economically today than four years prior?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Ban On POGOs Institutionalized

November 6, 2025October 29, 2025carlocarrasco

The ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) has officially been institutionalized recently as Republic Act Number 12312 has been signed into law by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

Back in July 2024, the ban on POGOs was declared and there were some economic effects that followed (click here and here). POGOs are notorious for being connected with varied forms of crime and human rights abuses. It should be noted that even though the ban was in effect, there were still POGO operations uncovered in Parañaque City (click here, here and here) which itself has been a hot spot of criminal activities involving Chinese nationals for many years now.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of the PNA. Some parts in boldface…

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has signed Republic Act (RA) 12312, institutionalizing the ban on Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) and declaring their operations and other related activities illegal.

RA 12312, or the Anti-POGO Act of 2025, signed by Marcos on Oct. 23, repeals RA 11590, which previously legalized offshore gaming operations.

“The State recognizes that the maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty, and property, and the promotion of the general welfare are paramount for the meaningful enjoyment of democracy. The State likewise values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights,” the new law stated.

“To this end, offshore gaming operations in the Philippines are hereby banned and declared unlawful,” it added.

RA 12312 prohibits the establishment, operation, or conduct of offshore gaming in the Philippines; the acceptance of any form of betting for offshore gaming operations; acting as a POGO gaming content or service provider; the creation and operation of a POGO hub; and the introduction, use, or possession of POGO gaming equipment or paraphernalia.

The law orders the permanent cancellation of all licenses previously issued for POGO operations.

All Alien Employment Permits and certificates of exemption and exclusion issued by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), as well as any visa or work permit issued by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) or other visa-issuing agencies to POGO workers, have also been revoked.

“Upon the effectivity of this Act, the DOLE, the BI, and other visa-issuing agencies shall not be allowed to issue any visa or work permit to any person for purposes related to offshore gaming operations,” the law stated.

“The BI shall ensure that any foreign national whose visa is cancelled in accordance with this provision shall be deported directly to the country of his or her birth or citizenship, in coordination with the appropriate embassy or consulate.”

Under RA 12312, all POGOs, as well as POGO gaming content providers, accredited service providers, and local gaming agents whose licenses have been revoked, remain liable for taxes, duties, regulatory fees, and all other charges up to the last day of their operations.

These are due and payable to the government for obligations arising from or in connection with their operations.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is directed to audit persons and entities to determine any outstanding tax liabilities, despite the revocation of licenses and closure of operations.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think there are still POGOs or even tiny POGO-like operations still operating secretly around the country right now?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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I Love Israel: Israel Exploring Opportunities Of Cooperation With The Philippines On Tourism, Cybersecurity And More

November 5, 2025October 28, 2025carlocarrasco

During an important discussion with the Manila Bulletin, Israeli Ambassador to the Philippine Dana Kursh stated that the Jewish state and the Philippines are exploring opportunities of cooperation over important topics such as tourism, cybersecurity, trade and direct flights, the newspaper reported.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…

The Philippines and Israel are exploring “more avenues of cooperation”—including a possible free trade agreement, direct flights between the two countries, and cybersecurity agreements—that will improve the “bond” that has been going strong since World War II, Israel Ambassador to Manila Dana Kursh said on Monday, Oct. 27.

In an exclusive roundtable discussion with The Manila Bulletin, the envoy underscored the importance that Israel puts in the Philippines, citing high-level visits of its ministers for foreign relations, economy, and tourism, as well as its deputy foreign minister.

“That shows that the Israeli government thinks very highly of the Philippines because it is working top down—our Prime Minister said look east and he specifically said also the Philippines and our ministers are coming here to explore more avenues of cooperation,” she said.

“So, this is one time that it relies on the past and it looks at the present and if we are looking at the future there are two things that are important,” she added.

The first, Kursh shared, is the possible free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries, of which discussions on building the mechanisms have already started in July.

“So, hopefully, there will be a free trade agreement. We are now just finalizing things so, we initially started in July and when it’s done, the potential of bond between the two nations will become even more,” she pointed out.

PH, Israel eye revival of direct flights – Another important component of this relationship is the establishment of direct flights.

Noting the big potential of tourism between the two countries, the ambassador lamented the travel advisory currently raised in Israel by the Philippine government.

“We have to move aside is a travel advisory. I know that tourists are still coming despite the travel advisory, but we need to overcome this challenge and God willing, now with the voices, with the wind of peace from our region, I do hope that the DFA will decide, together with other ministries, will decide to lift this,” she said.

Travel Alert Level 2 is currently raised in Israel, which reminds Filipinos to avoid non-essential travel to the country. This includes, among others, tourism visits, pilgrimages, temporary stays with relatives and friends, volunteer work, sports events, entertainment, and similar activities.

After going past that hurdle, Kursh said the two countries can start discussion two possible options for direct flights, with one options having only direct flights on a certain amount of days a week.

The envoy added they have already met with the country’s flag carrier Philippine Airlines on how the direct flights will benefit the company.

“I do hope that more and more Filipinos will come to Israel and vice versa more and more Israelis will come to more than 7,000 mini paradise that we have in the Philippines.”

“So if I’m trying to answer, I think that God willing, within the next year and a half, we’ll be able to reach some progress, or even, but I cannot commit, we cannot commit to what’s going on in Israel, and at the end of the day, because it’s a decision of the airlines, we need to find ways to create the best formula that will be a win-win,” she added.

According to Kursh, there are some 30,000 or 40,000 tourists on both sides, but the “potential is tremendous.”

Cybersecurity partnership – Pointing out Israel’s expertise in technology, Kursh also said that her country has “added value” when it comes to exchanging best practices on innovation and technology, including cybersecurity.

“So, it’s both business and both tourism, we need to provide in our nations, to other next generation, we need to provide them food security and we need to provide cybersecurity and we need to provide them with health, with mental health and physical health and in all those realms and more Israelis and Filipinos can work together to have a better future for everyone,” she added.

This newest development shows the continuing growth of Israel-Philippines ties and Ambassador Kush pointed out the high-level visits of ministers from the Jewish state. In my view, the Philippines and Israel can become greater partners than they are today. Apart from travel, Israelis and Filipinos can help each other out in business, cybersecurity, and trade. We all have to pray that the Philippines and Israel will work together more closely sooner than later.

To my fellow Filipinos reading this, I encourage you to accept the truth that Israel is the land God designated specifically for the Jewish people (read Genesis 35:10-12) and His command must be followed without hesitation. If you want to be blessed further by the Lord, do so by loving and blessing the Jewish people (Genesis 12:1-3). I did my part when I was in Israel. Also, let me remind you all that the ties between the Jews and Christians are truly biblical!

I encourage you all to pray to the Lord God in support of Israel, to love and bless the Jewish people, and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

If you truly believe in Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit and God the Heavenly Father wholeheartedly and you continue to be faithful, you should be aware that Christians are meant to stand united with Israel and love the Jewish people no matter what. You can do your part supporting Israel by donating to Christians United for Israel (CUFI). Do not forget to read the Holy Bible, then pray in tongues to the Lord in the privacy of your room with the door shut.

Always be the fearless and aggressive church of Lord Jesus!

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I Love Israel: Philippines Is A Priority Market For Israel On Tourism

November 4, 2025October 28, 2025carlocarrasco

Following the end of the 2-year war in Gaza and the return of twenty living hostages connected with US President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza and the Middle East, there is now a renewed optimism in Israel particularly on tourism and that includes efforts to revive the travel sector while providing foreigners new opportunities to visit the Holy Land. Israel made clear that it sees the Philippines as a priority market on tourism, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

For the newcomers reading this, I myself had visited Israel on a pilgrimage tour with my local church in 2023. You can read some of my blog posts by clicking here, here, here, here, here and here. My faith in Lord Jesus is uncompromising and I will always stand in support of Israel and its people.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

Israel sees the Philippines as a “priority” market in its efforts to revitalize its tourism sector, its tourism ministry said.

Intense promotions and trade engagement are underway in Asia following the “renewed travel optimism” seen after the Gaza ceasefire deal was signed this October, according to the Israel Ministry of Tourism (IMOT).

The agency, during its participation at the recent Internationale Tourismus Borse (ITB) Asia 2025 travel event in Singapore, underscored Israel’s intent to deepen ties across Asia’s high-growth travel markets and highlighted the destination’s “evolving identity that unites its heritage and modern leisure offerings.”

“The enthusiasm we’ve seen from Filipino travelers and partners at ITB Asia truly reflects how Israel remains a top bucket-list destination for many Filipinos,” Anna Oraiza Aban, marketing manager at IMOT’s Philippine office, said on Friday.

“With visa-free access for Philippine passport holders, we’re confident that more Filipinos will soon turn their dream trips into reality. The strong interest from the market and travel trade inspires us to continue developing experiences that connect deeply with Filipino travelers, whether through faith, culture, or adventure.“

In a briefer, IMOT said insights from ITB Asia 2025 will guide its regional strategy through 2026, with emphasis on joint marketing campaigns, airline collaborations, and education programs to build awareness and drive sustainable visitor growth in Asia.

Israel received 118,200 tourists in August, a 39 percent increase from July. Between January and August, it recorded 814,000 tourist arrivals, up from 672,400 in the same period last year.

“Asia has been a key market for Israel with India, Indonesia, the Philippines, China, and South Korea leading,” IMOT said.

“This steady rise shows Asia’s growing confidence and curiosity in Israel’s mix of culture, culinary, eco-conscious, wellness, and adventure travel experiences,” it added.

This newest development shows the continuing growth of Israel-Philippines ties and I am confident that new travel breakthroughs between Israel and the Philippines plus other nations in Asia will happen. That means better commercial and investment opportunities, and more people in Asia will be able to visit the Holy Land in Israel and witness the Holy Bible come to life during their visit. This also means more Asian travelers – the faithful and those who are still spiritually lost – will have golden opportunities to realize that Lord Jesus is the hope of all nations!

I encourage you all to pray to the Lord God in support of Israel, to love and bless the Jewish people, and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Always be the fearless and aggressive church of Lord Jesus!

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Trump Puts Pressure On Nigerian Government As More Christians Got Killed By Islamists

November 3, 2025November 3, 2025carlocarrasco

Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa with over two hundred thirty million people, is now in the spotlight over the continued killings of Christians committed by Islamists and already United States President Donald Trump officially warned their national government that if the killings continued, America will halt aid and act militarily, according to a news report by Breitbart and other sources (for Trump’s Truth Social post, click here).

To be clear, the rise of Islamists and Islamic terrorists in Nigeria has been growing over the past several years (notably a major tragedy happened in 2014 committed by Islamic terrorists and several abducted girls remain missing). Islamic persecution and violence against Christians in Nigeria has worsened this year and so far the corrupted mainstream news media (which often sides with Islamo-Leftists) provided very little news coverage about the tragedies. Very clearly, there is genocide against Christians in the country and it is indeed very crucial that President Trump made everyone aware of it.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from Breitbart’s news report. Some parts in boldface…

President Donald Trump warned that if the Nigerian government continued to allow Christians in the country to be killed, the United States military “may very well” go into Nigeria “guns-a-blazing.”

In a post on Truth Social, Trump instructed the Department of War to “prepare for possible action,” adding that if the U.S. does attack, “it will be fast, vicious, and sweet.” Trump also threatened to “stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria” if the Nigerian government continues to allow the killing of Christians.

“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities,” Trump said in his post.

Trump continued: “I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians! WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!”

Trump’s warning comes after he previously said that Christians were “facing an existential threat in Nigeria,” and pointed out that “thousands of Christians are being killed” by radical Islamists.

The President also took action to designate Nigeria as a “COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN” and asked Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV) and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) to work together “to immediately look into this matter” and report back to him with their findings.

“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” Trump said in a post on Friday. “I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN’ — But that is the least of it. When Christians, or any such group, is slaughtered like it happening in Nigeria (3,100 versus 4,476 Worldwide), something must be done!”

In response to Trump’s comments about the “mass slaughter” of Christians in Nigeria, Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Maitama Tuggar denied that there was a genocide occurring in the country.

For additional insight about Trump and the Islamists’ persecution of Christians in Nigeria, watch the selected YouTube videos below…

I encourage you all to pray to the Lord for the protection and healing of the Christians in Nigeria who were affected by the violent Islamists. Pray to Him with Psalm Chapter 91 from the Holy Bible to help the Christians in the country. Preach the Word of God and remind everyone that Lord Jesus is the hope of ALL nations. Pray to God for the breakthrough and for further support for President Trump and his administration. Pray to Him to end the genocide against Christians and to bring all the guilty Islamists to justice.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the Nigerian government will not do anything to protect Christians from the Islamic terrorists even as Trump publicly pressure them to act? How many Islamic terrorists do you think there are in Nigeria and how much resources do you think they have to keep on terrorizing people? Who do you think is funding the Islamic terrorists in Nigeria?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 36

November 3, 2025October 29, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!

In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will take a look at another batch of retro gaming print ads – including arcade flyers – from the 1970s to the 1990s.

For the newcomers reading this, Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) looks back at the many print ads of games (console, arcade, computer and handheld) that were published in comic books, magazines, flyers, posters and newspapers long before smartphones, social media, the worldwide web and streaming became popular. To put things in perspective, people back in the 1980s and 1990s were more trusting of print media for information and images about electronic games and related products.

With those details laid down, here is the newest batch of retro gaming print ads for you to see and enjoy…

1. Super Contra North American arcade flyer

*Have you seen many Hollywood action movies of the 1980s? Does this arcade flyer remind you of something?*

After Konami struck gold with Contra in 1987, it was inevitable that sequels and spin-offs will be made. In 1988, they released the follow-up Super Contra in the arcades and to promote it in America, the company came up with artwork that easily gave gamers the impression they are seeing Sylvester Stallone as a fantasized Rambo and another armed guy who might remind them of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character in Commando or Dutch in Predator. To capitalize on the movie references even more, the American arcade flyer had the line “He’s not human. He’s not alien. He’s the predator!!” As it was the 1980s, this creative approach to promotion was not surprising as Konami and its game makers were influenced by Hollywood movies.

2. Double Dragon II: The Revenge North American arcade flyer

*The artwork used in this arcade flyer remains intriguing to look at.*

I never played Double Dragon II: The Revenge in the arcade, but I played it on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). That being said, I was surprised to see how this old North American arcade flyer has the same hand-drawn artwork used on the cover of the NES version. Take note that the arcade game was released in 1988 while the NES port was released in early 1990. I can only guess that Technos decided to use the same artwork not only for convenience but to have a definitive image emphasizing Double Dragon II to gamers wherever they are.

3. Devastators North American arcade flyer

Devastators is another Konami arcade game that had a strong war theme and it was influenced by Hollywood action films of the 1980s. This particular arcade flyer for the North American market is almost identical with the Japanese arcade flyer as both have the same artwork on the front and almost the same visual layout on the rear. The most obvious difference is the use of English text for the North American flyer.

4. Assault North American arcade flyer

Released in American arcades by Atari, Assault is a multi-directional shooter that had a twin-stick control layout (similar with the classic Battlezone) and players experienced intense battles as well as immersive visual effects such as sprite scaling and environment rotation of up to 360 degrees. To promote the game (this originated in Japan by Namco), Atari came up with this arcade flyer that had selected screenshots and descriptive text on both the front and the rear (which showed the arcade cabinet). Assault was a hit with gamers at the arcades and it was not released on consoles until 2009.

5. Sega CD print ad

*Having a socially relevant message can be catchy but it leaves little room for excitement.*

As the Sega Genesis console became a huge commercial success in North America, Sega itself became ambitious about what CD-ROM technology would do for video games. Sega in Japan tasked its Consumer Products Research and Development Labs to create a CD-ROM add-on which resulted in the Sega CD (Mega-CD in other parts of the world) which launched in America in 1992. To promote the add-on towards existing Genesis console owners as well as potential new customers, Sega of America came up with the above 2-page print ad that had a social message on the right and an image of a man standing in front of large monitors (showing Sega CD game footage) on the left. While it looked like an odd way of promoting video game hardware, it still remains catchy to see.

6. Panasonic 3DO print ad

*Panasonic knows how to promote entertainment hardware for people’s homes.*

Still in the field of CD-ROM gaming, Panasonic had competitive presence in video gaming when its Panasonic FZ-1 R.E.A.L. 3DO Interactive Multiplayer (with technology licensed by The 3DO Company) was launched in America in 1993. If you look at the print ad closely, you will notice that the descriptive text emphasized the multimedia entertainment aspect more than video gaming. The dominating artwork used does not come from a particular video game as it was made to emphasize home entertainment in general. It’s not surprising that the Panasonic 3DO and other 3DO machines from other manufacturers failed commercially.

7. Shaq Fu print ad

*The close-up of Shaquille O’Neal’s face on the left made him looked less recognizable.*

Yes, it is true! There was indeed a video game endorsed by Shaquille O’Neal and it was not a basketball game. Shaq Fu is a 1994 2D fighting game with adventure elements and a story in which gamers play O’Neal as martial artist (note: O’Neal himself participated in the game’s production). To promote the game, Electronic Arts came up with a 2-page print ad that had a very odd black-and-white close-up image of O’Neal’s face on the left leaving small screenshots and hard-to-read text on the right (even though there was some vacant space remaining. I remember seeing this ad while reading a video game magazine and the ad ended up looking more like a promotion of O’Neal (already an NBA superstar) than the game itself. By today’s standards, this print ad is an example of a marketing misfire.

8. Kasumi Ninja print ad

*Do you even remember seeing this print ad in magazines?*

Remember the 1990s video game trends of digitized human images and disturbingly violent 2D fighting games sparked by Mortal Kombat? The Atari Jaguar-exclusive game Kasumi Ninja was made to capitalize on those trends and it failed badly. Apart from the low sales of the Jaguar console, Atari as publisher came up with the above 2-page print ad that was not appealing to gamers’ eyes and it had almost no excitement overall. This is another marketing misfire.

9. Parasite Eve North American and Japanese print ads

*Following the successful release of Final Fantasy VII, this ad excited PlayStation gamers and JRPG enthusiasts for Parasite Eve’s 1998 release in America.*

*A stronger horror presentation in this print ad for the Japanese market. There were already a lot of people in Japan who enjoyed horror.*

Starting in the mid-1990s, Squaresoft (now Square Enix) really became aggressive with video game creativity and experimentation as they launched several new projects that eventually got released on PlayStation in the late 1990s until 2000. One of those daring new projects was Parasite Eve which was a role-playing game (RPG) that had visual elements – particularly pre-rendered backgrounds – and a style of exploration that reminded gamers of Resident Evil. The game was a sequel to the Japanese science fiction horror novel of the same name and it involved the creativity of Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi (credited as producer). To promote the game, the 2-page North American print ad had protagonist Aya Brea on the right and the enemy on the left with a cryptic line placed strategically between them. The North American ad clearly stated that the game is a cinematic RPG. By comparison, the Japanese print ad of Parasite Eve has a strong horror vibe which is not surprising because of the novel’s horror elements and the fact that Squaresoft was capitalizing on the popularity of horror-related entertainment in Japan. By today’s standards, Parasite Eve is truly a product of the late-1990s and it has a dedicated fanbase.

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BMI Sees Philippines GDP Growth Slowing Down To 5.2% In 2026

November 3, 2025October 25, 2025carlocarrasco

BMI, a unit of Fitch Solutions, officially lowered its 2026 gross domestic product (GDP) for the Philippines at 5.2% pointing a series of factors such as remittances slowdown, weaker investor sentiment, US tariffs on Philippine goods and the effects of the flood control corruption scandals, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…

Fitch Solutions’ unit BMI has sharply lowered its 2026 Philippine growth forecast to well below the government’s six- to seven-percent target, citing an expected slowdown in remittances, a weaker trade balance, muted investment sentiment, and downside risks to government spending stemming from the flood control fiasco.

“We expect remittance growth to slow due to tighter US [United States] immigration policy and a one-percent remittance tax on transfers from the US starting in 2026,” BMI said in a commentary published on Thursday, Oct. 23.

“A slowdown in remittances will weigh on domestic consumption, which will have an outsized impact on growth given the domestically driven economy,” BMI explained.

Against this backdrop, BMI has slashed its 2026 gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for the Philippines to 5.2 percent, one-percentage-point (ppt) lower than the 6.2 percent it projected previously.

If realized, this would also fall below this year’s growth goal of 5.5 to 6.5 percent, and 2024’s actual pace of 5.7 percent.

Another policy by US President Donald Trump that could drag down the local economy is the 19-percent tariff on Philippine exports, but zero tariffs imposed on select American imports.

This US-Philippines trade setup, according to BMI, “will weigh on the trade balance in 2026.”

Goods exports growth in August was the slowest in 2025 as US tariffs took effect and exporters’ front-loading of outbound shipments ended.

The latest Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data showed that goods exports grew by 4.6 percent year-on-year in August, marking the slowest increase since the 1.9-percent decline in December 2024

BMI also believes investor sentiment will “likely” remain muted next year as “erratic US trade policies will weigh on global investor sentiment and limit foreign direct investment inflows [FDIs].”

Domestically, government spending could bear the impact of a scenario where the ongoing flood control probe leads to the unearthing of more corruption cases tied to infrastructure projects beyond flood control.

“It could lead to even tighter scrutiny on government spending and reduce spending substantially below fiscally programmed levels,” BMI said. Capital outlays had dropped by 10 percent to ₱112.9 billion as of August, according to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

Infrastructure spending is expected to hit ₱1.51 trillion in 2025, ₱1.56 trillion in 2026, ₱1.69 trillion in 2027, ₱1.9 trillion in 2028, ₱2.03 trillion in 2029, and ₱2.2 trillion in 2030.

Meanwhile, BMI retained its 5.4-percent Philippine growth forecast for this year, still below the lowered full-year target.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Are you convinced that due to several internal and external factors, economic growth of the Philippines will be slower this year and next year? Do you agree with BMI’s findings about the Philippine economy?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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