Three Wanda executives in trouble
Three senior executives of Dalian Wanda Group have landed in hot water with authorities, spurring fresh concerns over the conglomerate. Liu Haibo, the senior vice president of Wanda Group, was taken away by the police, state-owned The Paper reported, citing unidentified people. The report didn't offer further details and a representative for Wanda didn't comment when reached by Bloomberg News. Liu has been at Wanda for more than a decade, working as vice president in its former commercial properties unit, and later as a senior vice president at headquarters. Meanwhile, Caixin Global reported that two other Wanda executives are under investigation over a project in eastern China.
Source:The Standard
August 09, 2023 15:14 UTC
The climate-friendly cows bred to belch less methane
Burps are the top source of methane emissions from cattle. The company this spring began marketing semen with the methane trait in 80 countries. Selecting for the low methane trait could lock in lower and lower emissions for successive generations, she said. '”Semex is not initially charging extra for the methane trait, said Michael Lohuis, Semex’s vice-president of research and innovation. Juha Nousiainen, senior vice-president at Valio, a Finnish dairy, warned that breeding cattle to burp less methane could create digestive problems.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
August 09, 2023 14:01 UTC
Uncertainty still surrounds Kai's status with Gilas
(UPDATE) KAI Sotto's status with Gilas Pilipinas is still up in the air as far as coach Chot Reyes is concerned. "The last we've heard, he's going to see again his doctor on Thursday and then make a decision," Reyes told Martie Bautista of News5. Kai Sotto AFP PHOTOSotto has yet to join Gilas' practice since arriving some three weeks ago following his NBA Summer League stint with the Orlando Magic. In that same sports program, he said he's had six sessions of rehab on his back and is looking forward to completing it so he could rejoin Gilas' practice. Reyes and Gilas are scheduled to resume practice on Wednesday, just a day after arriving from Guangdong, China.
Source:Manila Times
August 09, 2023 13:51 UTC
China to lift ban on group travel to Japan as early as Thursday - Nikkei
File PhotoChina plans to lift a ban on group travel to Japan as early as Thursday, the Nikkei newspaper said on Wednesday. The Chinese embassy in Japan said in writing to Japan's foreign ministry that the ban would be lifted, Nikkei said, citing several sources.
Source:The Standard
August 09, 2023 12:45 UTC
TNT foils Cavitex’ hat trick aspiration
TNT foils Cavitex’ hat trick aspirationMANILA, Philippines — TNT spoiled the party of hat trick-seeking Cavitex in the PBA 3x3 Season 3 First Conference, wresting the Leg 6 title via a 21-17 clincher yesterday at the Ayala Malls Trinoma. Samboy de Leon drained a clutch two-ball while Almond Vosotros drove the dagger layup and two free throws as the Triple Giga reasserted themselves in the final leg of the season-opener. Gryann Mendoza fired seven points to go with eight rebounds and two assists while Vosotros and De Leon scored six apiece and Ping Exciminiano chipped in two in the championship thriller. With this victory worth P100,000, TNT prevented Leg 4 and 5 winner Cavitex from becoming the first team to win three consecutive legs in the three-year-old league. Bong Galanza shot seven, Dominick Fajardo had five, Jorey Napoles netted four and Tonino Gonzaga scored one as the Braves settled for runner-up honors and P50,000 this time.
Source:Philippine Star
August 09, 2023 03:46 UTC
Romance and finance
August is more like a love month to me. We need both the romance and financeHaving been married for over three decades now (Aug. 12, 2023 marks our 34th anniversary), I think realizing that marriage is an economic partnership and that romance or what we call “falling in love” are both needed in a sound marriage. Ours started with friendship then love that has been nourished with sound economic partnership through shared money values. Both romance and finance should be present in healthy doses to have a sound marriage. I wish to share with you two videos that tackle the romance and finance of marriage.
Source:Philippine Star
August 09, 2023 03:08 UTC
Can Gilas win one?
Can Gilas Pilipinas uplift the masses of basketball-crazed Filipinos in this month's 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup by winning at least a game? Gilas Pilipinas FIBA PHOTOThe Philippines has been assigned to Group A together with Italy, Dominican Republic, and Angola. Gilas will make its 2023 FIBA World Cup debut against Dominican Republic on Aug. 25. Looking at the Philippines' classification matches, it looks like Gilas' best bet in getting a W in the 2023 FIBA World Cup is against Angola. Short of a last-second decision from the power-that-be on FIBA, it looks like Brownlee is out for the 2023 FIBA World Cup as Clarkson is already considered the naturalized player for Gilas.
Source:Manila Times
August 08, 2023 17:42 UTC
Gilas buildup shifts to higher gear
Gilas Pilipinas FIBA PHOTOThe Philippines finished the pocket tournament with a 3-1 record. The only difference is, Dominican Republic won't have veteran NBA big man Al Horford and Chris Duarte, according to reports that came out last week after being included in its preliminary extended roster. The 31-year-old Clarkson will have at least a little over two weeks to get reacquainted with Gilas' offense and defensive systems. Reyes added there's still a lot of work to do in terms of keeping everyone in sharp form. From there, Gilas will play Montenegro and Mexico just a few days before the opening of the FIBA World Cup.
Source:Manila Times
August 08, 2023 16:27 UTC
Motor taxi study underscores need to organize transport cooperatives
Motor taxi study underscores need to organize transport cooperativesThis December 22, 2019 photo shows gthousands of Angkas riders gathering to protest the 10,000-rider cap imposed on the company by regulators. Guadiz said that once a law is enacted to include motorcycles as public utility vehicles, the Office of Transportation Cooperatives under the Department of Transportation can allow riders to organize as transport cooperatives. “In the future, transport cooperatives may apply to be accredited TNCs that will have their own platform,” Guadiz said during his presentation. The TWG’s initial findings are based on a survey of 1,524 motorcycle taxi riders from three major ride-hailing platforms: Angkas, Joyride and MoveIt. The motorcycle taxi study was initiated by the DOTr in 2019 to evaluate the safety of motorcycles-for-hire in ride-hailing platforms.
Source:Philippine Star
August 08, 2023 14:44 UTC
Singapore PM Lee reassures public amid political scandals, inflation
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Tuesday sought to reassure the public after a spate of political scandals rocked his ruling party in recent months and amid continuing worries over inflation in the city-state. "Let there be no doubt: my government is determined to keep our system free of corruption and wrongdoing," he said in a televised address, wearing a shirt with Singapore's national colours of red and white. Singapore's yearly core inflation rate - which excludes private road transport and accommodation costs - eased to 4.2% in June from 4.7% in May. Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) chief Ravi Menon said last month that Singapore's inflation would ease significantly thanks to a tight monetary policy stance, but the central bank would "not switch from inflation-fighting mode to growth-supporting mode". The MAS left monetary policy settings unchanged in April, after tightening five times in a row since October 2021, reflecting concerns over the city-state's growth outlook.
Source:The Standard
August 08, 2023 11:57 UTC
India bars makers of military drones from using Chinese parts
NEW DELHI — India in recent months has barred domestic manufacturers of military drones from using components made in China over concerns about security vulnerabilities, according to four defense and industry officials and documents reviewed by Reuters. The U.S. Congress in 2019 banned the Pentagon from buying or using drones and components made in China. But the ban on Chinese parts has raised the cost of making military drones locally by forcing manufacturers to source components elsewhere, government and industry experts said. Sameer Joshi, founder of Bengaluru-based NewSpace Research and Technologies, a supplier of small drones for India’s military, said 70% of goods in the supply chain were made in China. To fill these gaps, India announced in June that it would buy 31 MQ-9 drones from the U.S. for over $3 billion.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
August 08, 2023 07:38 UTC
South Korea begins evacuating thousands of scouts ahead of typhoon
BUAN, South Korea — South Korea on Tuesday started evacuating thousands of teenage participants at the World Scout Jamboree from a campsite in the southwest of the country to safer areas mainly around the capital ahead of an approaching typhoon. ADVERTISEMENT“This is the first time in more than 100 years of World Scout Jamborees that we have had to face such compounded challenges,” Ahmad Alhendawi, Secretary General of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, said in a statement. More than 1,000 buses are being deployed to move the 36,000 scouts remaining at the campsite from more than 150 countries, according to officials. Typhoon Khanun (locally named Falcon in the Philippines), which has already wreaked havoc in southern Japan, is expected to hit southern areas of South Korea on Thursday before tracking up the peninsula, according to weather forecasters. Eight cities and provinces including Seoul and Gyeonggi Province will host the scouts for the rest of their stay in South Korea, with 4,000 participants due to remain in North Jeolla Province where the campsite is located, the Yonhap news agency reported.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
August 08, 2023 07:14 UTC
China tells Philippines to remove grounded warship in South China Sea
A Chinese Coastguard vessel patrols near the BRP Sierra Madre, a marooned transport ship which Philippine Marines live on as a military outpost, in the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, part of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. (Reuters)China told the Philippines on Monday to remove its grounded warship from the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea after blocking two Manila supply ships with water cannons over the weekend as both sides asserted their claims of the area. The Philippines in 1999 intentionally grounded the warship to stake its claim to the Second Thomas Reef, a submerged reef that is part of the Spratly islands in the South China Sea. Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Monday that the country continued to assert its sovereignty and territorial rights despite challenges in the South China Sea. China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea and the Spratly Island, which consists of many islets, reefs banks and shoals and lie in the center of South China Sea and along major shipping lanes.
Source:The Standard
August 08, 2023 03:26 UTC
Supremos must stop terminal decline
Unless the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal is properly connected to other parts of Hong Kong, the dream plan to make the terminal the home port for major passenger ships will remain nothing more than a noble fantasy. The need to upgrade transport links to the terminal cannot be over stressed. That is a concrete step to making Hong Kong a cruise hub, but more needs to be done in light of the setbacks at the terminal last week. The city was inundated with negative publicity when passengers complained it was almost impossible to leave the pier while they were expected to stop in Hong Kong for seven hours. Yeung and Lam must work together to make the Kai Tak terminal accessible.
Source:The Standard
August 08, 2023 01:10 UTC
Today’s secret to success
Today’s secret to successBehind every fortune, so says the French novelist Honoré de Balzac, is a crime. This is because today’s world is now defined largely by two things. Gravitas: engaging your audienceThus, a company’s growth, and ultimately its success, are now largely driven by how the world sees it and how it engages with its audience. She now wants to bring this newsroom knowledge to help individuals, organizations and companies come up with content that matters. I’ll work with you to define your target audience, create engaging content and distribute it through the right channels.
Source:Philippine Star
August 07, 2023 17:30 UTC