Latest news with #Filipino
7NEWS
43 minutes ago
- Business
- 7NEWS
Fast food giants eye Australian consumers as pretzel empire opens its first local store
A proud American institution has opened its doors for the first time in Australia, offering something a little different to most US fast food empires. Auntie Anne's famous pretzels, hotdogs and ice cream delights will be available to Sydneysiders from Saturday, with the first store opening its doors at Westfield Parramatta. And it isn't likely to be the only one, with Popeyes, Jollibee and Firehouse Subs looking for store locations to bring over their popular goods for Australian consumers. Auntie Anne's was started in 1988 when founder Anne Beiler bought a stand in a Pennsylvania farmer's market. She started baking pretzels to help fund her husband's desire to provide free family counselling services for their community. Her husband's dream ultimately came true with the popularity of the now-international pretzels. Executive Director of Food, Beverage and Agribusiness Insights at ANZ, Michael Whitehead, isn't surprised by the interest of the US fast-food chains. 'Australians cannot get enough chicken in our fast-food restaurant — it has become the dominant meat,' he told 7NEWS. 'We will see people flocking to it — trying it — and people from all demographics.' Popeyes chicken, which is known for its 'mouth-watering crunch and juicy fried chicken bursting with Louisiana flavour', is planning to rival Australian favourite, KFC. Red Rooster, Oporto and KFC currently dominate Australia's takeaway chicken market. Popeyes' potential expansion to the local market would be the latest US venture to hit Australian shores, following the likes of Wendy's, In-N-Out Burger and Chuck E. Cheese. Currently, there is no information about where or when Popeyes is planning to open. Popular chain Jollibee is also planning to open in Sydney, with a potential location in Campbelltown according to Delicious. The Filipino fast-food giant offers burgers, named Yumburgers, with chicken. But something never offered by a fast-food giant before is its ready-to-eat spaghetti. Sandwich king Firehouse Subs, meanwhile, is blazing a trail into Australia with plans to open 165 locations across the country over the next decade. The first restaurant will open in south-east Queensland in late 2025, marking the start of the brand's ambitious expansion into the Australian market.
National Observer
2 hours ago
- National Observer
Fitness hearing for Adam Kai-Ji Lo, who is accused of 11 murders at Vancouver festival
The man accused of ramming an SUV into a crowd and killing 11 people at the Vancouver Lapu Lapu Day festival is set to appear in court today, with a judge determining if he's fit to stand trial. RJ Aquino, the chair of festival organizer Filipino BC, says the court proceedings could prove "traumatizing" for victims and members of the Filipino community. He says many have expressed anger and frustration since the April 26 attack and still find it difficult to cope with the tragedy almost three months later. Thirty-year-old Adam Kai-Ji Lo faces 11 charges of second-degree murder, after police announced on Tuesday that three additional charges had been approved. Lo is set to appear at Vancouver provincial court for a two-day fitness hearing where a judge will determine his mental fitness for a trial that could be months away. A media consortium that includes The Canadian Press plans today to challenge a publication ban on the fitness hearing that is being sought by the Crown. Under the proposed ban, evidence arising at the fitness hearing would not be publishable until the ban is lifted or after the end of a criminal trial. Fitness hearing for Adam Kai-Ji Lo, accused of 11 murders at Vancouver festival. However, it proposes that the outcome of the fitness hearing may be reported, as well as the outcome of the application for the publication ban. Aquino says community members of the Filipino community will be watching the hearing closely. He says many people want "speedy closure," but justice takes time. Aquino says Filipino BC will prepare for all possible outcomes, and support for victims' families and community members will continue. "We want to make sure that we're providing the support that the community needs, we're able to continue to be present with each other as we inevitably revisit what had happened through these proceedings." Dozens of people were injured in the attack in East Vancouver, in which a black SUV sped through a street crowded with festivalgoers. Police said in June that seven victims remained in hospital.
Filipino Times
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Qatari, Philippine officials meet in Doha to boost labor cooperation, OFW protection
Philippine and Qatari officials held a meeting in Doha on Tuesday to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation on labor-related concerns, including the protection of overseas Filipino workers. Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Undersecretary Jainal Rasul Jr. paid a courtesy call to Her Excellency Sheikha Najwa bint Abdulrahman Al Thani, Undersecretary of Qatar's Ministry of Labor, to discuss ongoing efforts to improve bilateral labor relations. They were joined by Philippine Ambassador to Qatar His Excellency Mardomel Celo Melicor, Assistant Secretary Venecio Legaspi, Vice Consul Jeffrey Batac, and Labor Attaché Eduard Ferrer. Photo courtesy: DMW/FB 'The two sides exchanged views on issues of mutual concern, including mechanisms for the protection of workers, facilitation of high-level dialogues, and other ways to enhance cooperation in the field of labor,' the Philippine Embassy in Qatar wrote on Facebook. The meeting also covered preparations for a ministerial-level gathering set later this year, where labor officials from both sides will further tackle concerns affecting OFWs in Qatar. The DMW team is in Doha ahead of the 'Bagong Bayani ng Mundo OFW Serbisyo Caravan' on July 25, which brings together 12 Philippine agencies in one venue at Philippine School Doha to provide essential government services to Filipinos in the host country.
ITV News
4 hours ago
- Climate
- ITV News
Bride wades down flooded aisle to her groom as Typhoon Wipha hits the Philippines
Watch bride Jamaica Aguilar and groom Jade Rick Verdillo marry in a flooded church during Typhoon Wipha. A Filipino couple has tied the knot in a flooded church in the midst of Typhoon Wipha. As heavy rain lashed the country, the Barasoain church in the Bulacan province flooded. But bride Jamaica Aguilar and her groom Jade Rick Verdillo were determined to wed, despite the weather. As more than 80,000 people sheltered in emergency centres across the Philippines following floods, landslides and tidal surges, the couple waded down the aisle in knee-deep water. Jamaica's wedding train flowed behind her through the muddy water. 'It's just a test," groom Jade Rick Verdillo said. "Before we got married, we were in this relationship for ten years. We have been through a lot. "This is just one of the struggles that we've overcome.' The couple said they knew there was a risk their wedding would be flooded out, but decided to push through anyway, with some guests still able to make the ceremony. The mother of the groom travelled for 12 hours to attend. Wedding guest Jiggo Santos said it was "an extraordinary wedding". 'You will see love prevailed because even against weather, storm, rains, floods, the wedding continued,' he said. At least three people have died in the Philippines after monsoon rains caused widespread flooding and downed trees. Many government offices and schools in the Philippines remain closed, and residents from several villages have been evacuated. Wipha was classified as a typhoon when it made landfall in parts of China, Hong Kong and the Philippines, but was downgraded to a tropical storm before reaching Vietnam on Tuesday night. In Vietnam, one person was killed, and there were widespread power outages as the storm hit the northern part of the country. Flights were cancelled and airports closed during the worst of the heavy rain and winds.
The Independent
4 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
World champion calls for Manny Pacquiao showdown after comeback draw
Welterweight world champion Rolando 'Rolly' Romero has welcomed a fight with Manny Pacquiao following the Filipino legend's impressive return to the ring. Pacquiao made his comeback at the age of 46 after a four-year absence on Saturday night as he battled to a majority draw with Mario Barrios in their WBC world title clash. Pacquiao's advisor Sean Gibbons claimed his man should have been declared the winner but played down the chances of a rematch after accusing Barrios of going into his shell during the fight. He mentioned Romero as a potential next foe for Pacquiao in the wake of his upset win over Ryan Garcia in May, and the newly crowned WBA titlist is fully on board. 'A Hall of Famer on my resume, who wouldn't want that? That's the easiest way to get into the Hall of Fame, right?' Romero told Boxing Scene when asked about facing Pacquiao. 'We can do it. Everything has to make sense. It's going to be a fan favourite. That makes sense right there.' Pacquiao would not bring a belt to the table if he fought Romero after falling agonisingly short in his bid to regain welterweight gold. But Romero feels he should have got his hand raised and wants to test himself against an all-time great, while insisting that money would not be his main motivation for taking the fight. 'It was a close fight, regardless – not to take anything away from Mario Barrios,' Romero added. 'But I personally saw Pacquiao winning. 'A lot of people had Pacquiao winning. Barrios only clearly won the last three rounds. I feel like Pacquiao was winning the others, stealing some of them with these bursting moments to close rounds. 'It's not about money. Everyone's chasing all that. … I'm not a person who boxes for money, and I think I've proven that enough times.'
