00:00 Lightly greetings one and all.
00:01 William Thio here, homegrown and happy to bring you development obtaining of later around
00:06 the planet.
00:08 Russian President Vladimir Putin is finishing the year with a strong kick in his foreign
00:13 relations agenda, with visits to the Desert Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates beginning
00:18 tomorrow Wednesday.
00:20 Over the summer, the Russian strongman flew to China to share in the celebration of China's
00:25 10th year of its highly touted Belt and Road Initiative.
00:29 Putin is making this trip to rekindle bilateral ties with Crown Prince Mohammed Salman of
00:35 Saudi Arabia and leaders of the UAE.
00:39 In addition, Putin is expected to discuss matters on energy security, regional peace,
00:44 and to include the war between Israel and Hamas that many fear would spill over to other
00:50 Arab countries in the region.
00:54 It has stood over half a millennium, or over 600 years, since its construction or completion
01:00 in 1345, and its tragic defacement and being nearly razed to the ground over four years
01:07 ago was a worldwide source of concern and cooperation to see its reconstruction.
01:13 Hence it was announced the Notre Dame Cathedral would officially open to tourist viewing and
01:18 public worship on December 8, 2024, or exactly a year from today.
01:25 Restoration of the UNESCO Heritage Site, an iconic tourist site which draws approximately
01:31 12 million a year, has hit several snags since that day when millions watched in horror how
01:36 raging flames toppled its steeple to the ground.
01:40 But a new spire has begun to emerge against the French skyline and is expected to be in
01:45 full complete status by the summer when Paris hosts the Summer Games.
01:50 President Emmanuel Macron is expected to pay a visit and inspection of Friday, the feast
01:56 of the Immaculate Conception, for whose memory the historic edifice was built.
02:02 The Iron Dome system that has been in Israel's defense arsenal, U.S. kindness is not only
02:09 a lifesaver to millions of Jews, but a game-changer in the war against Hamas since 2014, catching
02:16 and neutralizing nearly all of the rockets fired from Gaza to Israel by Hamas and other
02:22 extremist groups.
02:23 The American Avenger air defense missile system deployed in the Ukraine is also a standout
02:30 in thwarting Russia's airstrikes.
02:32 VOA's Anna Kostyshenko reports.
02:38 This Ukrainian fighter who goes by the callsign "Festool", a former furniture maker from
02:43 Kyiv, operates this American anti-aircraft missile complex known as "Avenger".
02:49 "We have knocked down the Shahed drones as well as missiles already."
02:55 In February 2023, this fighter, among many others, was sent abroad to receive training
03:02 on the Avenger air defense system.
03:05 Normally, he says, this kind of training takes months, but he had only two weeks.
03:11 One of the reasons for such speedy learning is that Russia's shelling is extremely intense.
03:25 In March 2023, the first Avengers went online in Ukraine.
03:30 Military press officer Vitaly Georgiev says they are protecting both civilian and military
03:36 targets.
03:37 "Russians attack not only the military facilities, but also critical infrastructure and civilian
03:44 population.
03:45 So, almost all air defense systems are used to defend these facilities and civilian buildings
03:51 as well."
03:55 Before Russia invaded Ukraine, Avengers were never used against drones, says Festool.
04:01 Because of that, he and his comrades are constantly in touch with their U.S. colleagues to share
04:06 this new experience and the new practical application of Avengers.
04:10 "They didn't have such trouble with drones like we do.
04:17 Normally, these Stinger missiles are used to hit the enemy's airplanes and helicopters."
04:25 The full deployment of the combat complex takes only 15 minutes, from the moment the
04:30 alarm sounds to the first shot.
04:33 It only takes two people, the driver and the gunner, to operate this system.
04:38 Anna Kostyuchenko for VOA News, Ukraine.
04:44 At this juncture, we turn to our colleague in PTV Pine City Studios for the latest developments
04:50 in the Cordilleras.
04:51 "In the Arabian Philippines, the local government of Baguio is working to organize the World
05:01 Aids Day, which is a campaign to help those who are in need of medical care.
05:12 The city's health services officer, Dr. Celia Flor-Brillantes, said that the number of people
05:26 living with HIV in Baguio City is increasing.
05:31 She also said that the city's health services officer, Dr. Mariela Tuman, is one of the
05:44 advocates for volunteer organizations to fight HIV.
05:48 "In the Philippines, 50 cases a day.
05:53 And I just knew this morning, from 15 to 20 a month of our HIV cases, we can see it here
06:09 in the city of Baguio."
06:10 "And Baguio City is very lucky because we have four treatment hubs.
06:18 We have HSO, BGH, Balay Marvi, and DOH.
06:25 We are very lucky because our government is bringing the services closer to the people."
06:33 "The 18-day campaign to end violence against women was launched by the Baguio City Police
06:41 Office and the city's health services officer, Dr. Celia Flor-Brillantes."
06:49 The BCPO Women and Children Protection Desk reported that 70 cases of HIV have been listed
06:55 in the city.
06:56 It is estimated that the number of HIV cases has been reduced to 22.
07:03 The latest case of HIV was reported by the RA 9262, Anti-Violence Against Women and Their
07:09 Children Act of 2004, which listed 40 cases.
07:16 The number of victims is estimated to be between 18 and 30.
07:20 The police are reporting that the number of cases has been reduced to two.
07:28 The BCPO Women and Children Protection Desk reported that the campaign is being launched
07:33 by the city's health services officer, Dr. Celia Flor-Brillantes.
07:40 "The police are doing their best, especially the lower units because they are the ones who
07:46 are in the spotlight of the people in the barangay.
07:50 Their seminars and lectures are effective.
07:53 Of course, our multimedia guiding in posting, distribution of IAEC materials, dialogue in
08:02 meetings, and inter-agency coordination."
08:08 "We are very happy to have you here, PTV Cordillera, and Anna Sunduhan, of Bag-Tarabigui."
08:15 Thank you, Anna, and that's a wrap for this evening.
08:19 We look forward to bringing you the late breakers for tomorrow at the same time, same channel.
08:24 Always bear in mind to work hard, dream big, give thanks, count your blessings while you
08:29 catch the news right here.
08:31 William Theo wishing you all a restful evening.
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