US core inflation rises, fuels rate hike fears
Jay ClaytonUnderlying US inflation ran at a faster-than-expected monthly pace in August, leaving the door open for additional interest-rate hikes from the Federal Reserve. The so-called core consumer price index, which excludes food and energy costs, advanced 0.3 percent from July, the first acceleration in six months, Bureau of Labor Statistics data showed Wednesday. From a year ago, it increased 4.3 prcent, in line with estimates and marking the smallest advance in nearly two years. Economists favor the core gauge as a better indicator of underlying inflation than the overall CPI. That measure rose 0.6 percent from the prior month, the most in over a year, and 3.7 percent from a year ago, reflecting higher energy prices.
Source:The Standard
September 14, 2023 07:13 UTC
Reality check for man caught molesting in livestream
The livestreamer continued on with her trip to Macau after the incident but returned to Hong Kong yesterday. She told fans on interactive livestreaming platform Twitch yesterday she was taking a ferry from Macau to Hong Kong. She took the train to Admiralty after arriving at Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan about 3 pm. But the man kept getting close to her and said: "I am alone, come with me." Although the woman said she was not alone and refused the man, he continued to touch her and pressed her against the wall.
Source:The Standard
September 13, 2023 19:16 UTC
Puzzling usage prescriptions for 'used to"'
For the first, do we say, "She didn't used to be my trusted associate" ("used" with the "d") or "She didn't use to be my trusted associate" ("use" with no "d")? And for the second, do we say, "The couple didn't used to swim in the community pool" or "The couple didn't use to swim in the community pool"? And for the second, do we say, "Did the couple used to swim in the community pool?" The correct usage for negative "used to" statements is therefore this: "She didn't use to be my trusted associate." For negative "used to" constructions, these grammar contrarians prescribe this form instead: "She used not to be my trusted associate."
Source:Manila Times
September 13, 2023 17:54 UTC
Korean live streamer seeks help from consulate after sexual harassment ordeal
A South Korean female live-streamer who was recently sexually harassed while live-streaming in Central has sought help from the consulate and reported the case to the police on Wednesday. The well-known live streamer visited Hong Kong recently and experienced the shocking ordeal on Monday night. She started a live broadcast after arriving in Hong Kong from Macau on Wednesday saying, “I will go to the embassy (the Consulate General of Korea in Hong Kong), they will help me, also I will find the police”. It was learned that she had filed a report to the Central District Police Station. Many netizens encouraged her, noting that the suspect had been arrested and urging her to stay strong, before the live show concluded.
Source:The Standard
September 13, 2023 16:42 UTC
France orders Apple iPhone 12 sales halted over radiation
FRENCH regulators on Tuesday ordered Apple to halt sales of the iPhone 12 for emitting too much electromagnetic radiation, and to fix existing handsets. PHOTO BY APPLEThe ANFR said it "ordered Apple to remove the iPhone 12 from the French market from September 12 due to the model exceeding the limit" for electromagnetic absorption by the body. ANFR noted that tests that measure the electromagnetic radiation absorbed at a distance of five centimeters was in compliance with the limit of 2.0 watts per kilogram. ANFR said its agents would verify beginning Wednesday that that iPhone 12 models were no longer being offered for sale in France. Regulators in a number of countries have limits on the amount of electromagnetic radiation mobile phones may emit to prevent adverse health effects.
Source:Manila Times
September 13, 2023 12:42 UTC
Influencer gets one in the eye
Hard words for Li Jiaqi, dubbed the "Lipstick King" for his ability to get followers to sink billions of yuan into beauty products, followed a furor on social media. "Many internet celebrities and anchors were humble before making money and became very inflated after making money," CCTV said on its website, but they are "disgusting" and will be "eliminated." Li gets a commission from products he promotes on his livestreams. On Sunday a viewer told Li that prices for domestic make-up products, such as a 79 yuan (HK$85) eyebrow pencil he was pushing, were increasingly expensive. Li responded by saying prices were not rising and told the viewer she couldn't afford the eyebrow pencil because she wasn't working hard enough.
Source:The Standard
September 13, 2023 07:13 UTC
SoftBank chief eyes success with Arm IPO
That values the British firm at up to $52 billion, a healthy gain on the $32 billion SoftBank spent in 2016 to take control of it. TRYING HIS LUCK Japan’s SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son speaks during a press conference in Tokyo on Nov. 6, 2019. After experiencing several setbacks, Son is hoping the initial public offering of chip designer Arm would turn things around for the better. After experiencing several setbacks, Son is hoping the initial public offering of chip designer Arm would turn things around for the better. Booking a gain from the Arm IPO "will help confirm he can deliver positive returns," said David Gibson of MST Financial.
Source:Manila Times
September 13, 2023 04:31 UTC
Harassment video of tourist leads to arrest
The South Korean, right, during one of her trips. Previous NextA waiter was being held by police last night for allegedly sexually harassing a visiting South Korean woman when she was live-streaming in Central. The well-known South Korean live-streamer, may5w, was able to live stream her ordeal and the video has gone viral. The MTR said it did not receive the female passenger's report or request for assistance, but it was aware of the video and informed police. The South Korean live-streamer, who has more than 39,000 subscribers on her YouTube channel and 13,600 followers on Instagram, has not made any response to the incident and arrest.
Source:The Standard
September 13, 2023 02:27 UTC
Court clears Ressa, Rappler in last tax evasion case
Journalist Maria Ressa and Rappler Holdings Corp. (RHC) have been acquitted of their fifth and last tax evasion case, her latest legal victory over the slew of charges thrown at her by the previous administration of Rodrigo Duterte. In acquitting RHC and Ressa, Tomacruz ruled that the PDR transactions were merely investment activities to raise capital. Her decision mirrored those of the other four tax cases filed with and later dismissed by the Court of Tax Appeals, as these cases were hinged on identical facts. ‘Court system works’Smiling as she exited the court, Ressa told reporters that the decision “strengthens our resolve to continue with the justice system, to submit ourselves to the court despite the political harassment, despite the attacks on press freedom.”“It shows that the court system works and we hope that the remaining cases are dismissed,” said the veteran journalist and 2021 Nobel Peace Prize awardee. In 2019, Ressa was also charged in connection with that partnership for violating the Anti-Dummy Law (Commonwealth Act No.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
September 13, 2023 01:30 UTC
Ombudsman wants COA to keep initial audit observations private
Ombudsman wants COA to keep initial audit observations privatePresident Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday announced that he has appointed Martires—his first appointee to the Supreme Court—as the country’s new corruption buster, taking the position vacated by Conchita Carpio-Morales. An Audit Observation Memorandum (AOM) is a written notification by the Commission on Audit (COA) to an agency head or concerned officer informing them of deficiencies in the audit of accounts and/or submission of documents. Government agencies are required to share their yearly reports, audited financial statements, COA findings, and statements on their websites. “When a case is filed and the case is dismissed, the problem is it creates an innuendo that the ombudsman earned,” Martires added. The Office of the Ombudsman received P5-million in confidential fund in 2022 and P31 million in 2023.
Source:Philippine Star
September 12, 2023 20:48 UTC
Marcos birthday wish: A better state of agriculture
MANILA, Philippines — For his birthday wish, “a better state of agriculture” is top of mind for President Marcos. Marcos voiced his birthday wish when asked about it during an interview at the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) central office in Quezon City. Also yesterday, President Marcos approved a two-year moratorium on the collection of amortization and interest from agrarian reform beneficiaries. Marcos signed in July Republic Act (RA) 11593 or the New Agrarian Emancipation Act. Marcos said the completion of the IRR of the New Agrarian Emancipation Act is the best birthday gift he could ever receive.
Source:Philippine Star
September 12, 2023 20:32 UTC
Man arrested after dangling grandson over a balcony as punishment
A grandfather has been arrested on Tuesday for suspected child abuse after dangling his 6-year-old grandson over a balcony as punishment for breaking a glass. The arrest came after a video went viral on social platforms that a boy was seen dangling from the balcony of a village house in Sai Kung at around 8.30 pm on Sunday. The boy was crying in the video as a man scolded him loudly. Police received a report and arrested a 66-year-old man, surnamed Tse, on suspicion of "ill-treatment or neglect by those in charge of child or young person" in Sha Kok Mei village early Tuesday. It was learned that the boy's father was working in the mainland when the incident happened.
Source:The Standard
September 12, 2023 19:33 UTC
No-go zone must be set up to protect whale, conservation urges govt
A conservation organization on Tuesday suggested the government set up some restricted areas to protect the whale spotted in the waters off South District. Taison Chang Kai-tai, the Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society chairperson, said the whale spotted could be a dwarf sperm whale or pygmy sperm whale. Chang stated that the dwarf sperm whale is rather shy and instinctively avoids ships and urged the public to avoid sailing out for whale watching. Chang explained that dwarf sperm whales would aggressively react when caught and bite anything near it, along with spouting ink to scare away enemies. Read more: (Video) Another whale spotted in Hong Kong waters
Source:The Standard
September 12, 2023 14:13 UTC
Shocked
My guess is, on the matter of the rice price caps, the aging bureaucrats at the Department of Agriculture (DA) are to blame. When this badly conceived rice price caps policy begins to unravel, we know who to blame. The net result is that the rice price regime simply sidesteps the price caps and moves on to the new price regime. My bet is that the price caps policy will be superfluous in the end, like a single sandbag put in to stop a flood. In his wildest dreams, the Speaker of the House thinks international rice prices will drop on our say-so.
Source:Philippine Star
September 12, 2023 09:04 UTC
Schroder: 'It's unbelievable'
(UPDATE) DENNIS Schroder could not wrap his head around the fact that Germany is finally a champion in the FIBA Basketball World Cup, where he's also adjudged as the tournament MVP. "It's unbelievable," said Schroeder following Germany's first-ever World Cup conquest through an 83-77 final win over Serbia on Sunday. Germany's Dennis Schroder dunks the ball during the FIBA Basketball World Cup final game between Germany and Serbia in Manila on September 10, 2023. "It's just unbelievable going 8-0 and winning the gold medal. I wish we would get our respect in ... or European Championship, or next year in the Olympics in Paris, I wish that every single game is on TV," said Schroder.
Source:Manila Times
September 12, 2023 04:10 UTC