Sudanese army suspends ceasefire talks
KHARTOUM – Sudan’s army suspended talks with a rival paramilitary force on Wednesday over a ceasefire and aid access, raising fears the six-week-old conflict will push Africa’s third largest country deeper into a humanitarian crisis. Eyewitnesses reported on Wednesday that the RSF had expanded its footprint within central Khartoum’s Mogran district. CHALLENGING NEGOTIATIONSCommenting on the Sudanese army’s withdrawal from the Jeddah talks, Mohamed El Hacen Lebatt, African Union spokesperson on the crisis in Sudan, said: “It is not surprising. Before the ceasefire deal was renewed, an army source said the army had demanded the RSF withdraw from civilian homes and hospitals as a condition for an extension. After the five-day extension was agreed, talks continued on the truce terms.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
June 01, 2023 02:51 UTC
Ayala boss Cezar Consing: I’m still standing
Ayala boss Cezar Consing: I’m still standingHow has it been for Cezar “Bong” Consing, the man who made history less than a year ago when he was appointed as the first president and CEO of Ayala Corp. who is not a member of the Zobel clan? “I’m still standing,” Mr. Consing said in jest but almost deadpan. An Ayala veteranThe veteran executive though is no stranger to being the boss and neither is he new in the sprawling Ayala business empire. Who knows, maybe Mr. Consing, the silent worker that he is, is already working on similar initiatives. It’s challenging and gratifying at the same time,” Mr. Consing said at the end of our quick chat.
Source:Philippine Star
May 31, 2023 23:41 UTC
China takes 'appropriate' action in row with India over journalists
China said on Wednesday it had taken "appropriate" action in response to India's unfair treatment of Chinese journalists, in the latest episode to highlight tense relations between the big Asian neighbours. The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that China and India had ejected nearly all of each other's journalists in recent weeks. Citing people familiar with the matter, the newspaper said India had this month declined to renew the visas of the last two Chinese state media journalists in India. China and India have been uneasy neighbours for decades following a war on their disputed Himalayan frontier in the early 1960s. Mao said the status of Indian journalists in China would depend on India's support for Chinese journalists.
Source:The Standard
May 31, 2023 21:42 UTC
Curtains close on Senate’s first regular session
During the session, Zubiri trumpeted that the Senate approved 31 bills and more than 70 resolutions during its first year. The proposed MIF — Marcos’ pet bill — seemed to be the grand finale of Congress’ first regular session since both the Senate and the House of Representatives were heavily fixated on passing the measure before they go on a break. ADVERTISEMENTChamber’s eyeZubiri pointed to another aspect of the Senate’s performance, which the “scoreboard does not reveal.”“The courage to investigate abuses. The first regular session of the 19th Congress witnessed a heap of Senate investigations on an array of issues – agricultural smuggling, human trafficking, political killings, and other anomalies that lawmakers did not sweep aside. Senate work continuesAlthough Congress has adjourned sine die, Zubiri promised that the Senate would “still be hard at work.”“The heartbeat of lawmaking will continue.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
May 31, 2023 20:17 UTC
Telecom giant sees roaming recovery
NowTV is currently the only pay TV channel in Hong Kong after i-Cable Communications (1097) returned its license earlier this year. When asked about whether HKT will further expand its businesses in the Greater Bay Area, Li said HKT can only provide some non-core services, as the mainland telecom market is dominated by the three state-owned giants. HKT now offers digitalization solutions for the mainland subsidiaries of Hong Kong companies. Li said this service has a good start but accounts for a small part of total revenue. Li added that PCCW has used AI to provide support to enterprises, though has no plans to use it for retail customers.
Source:The Standard
May 31, 2023 19:10 UTC
PH debt hits record P13.91T
(UPDATE) CONTINUED borrowings and a weaker peso saw the national government's outstanding debt rise to a new record high of P13.91 trillion in April, the Bureau of the Treasury reported on Wednesday. For the month alone, P54.24 billion was added to total outstanding debt due to the "net issuance of external debt and local currency depreciation against the US dollar," the Treasury said in a statement. "This was slightly offset by the P2.47-billion effect on onshore foreign currency-denominated securities caused by peso depreciation against the US dollar," the Treasury added. "On the other hand, third-currency adjustments against the US dollar trimmed P12.30 billion from the peso value of foreign currency debt," it added. "These were tempered by the impact of local currency depreciation amounting to P3.95 billion," the Treasury said.
Source:Manila Times
May 31, 2023 17:39 UTC
Butler is Miami's man for 'moments of truth'
Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra has used an array of adjectives to describe Jimmy Butler over the course of his team's remarkable postseason campaign. It was the latest in a lengthening list of towering performances from Butler, the 33-year-old forward who has invariably been the cornerstone of Miami's odyssey through the playoffs. But as Spoelstra emphasises, Butler's influence on Miami's fortunes goes far deeper than raw on-court statistics. "You have to have a guy that you can hold on to, particularly in those moments of truth," Spoelstra said of Butler. Speaking in the wake of Miami's first round upset of Milwaukee, Spoelstra said Butler was the embodiment of the Heat's dogged approach.
Source:Manila Times
May 31, 2023 16:59 UTC
Lazada’s Pauline Castro: Paving a new path for women in technology
Lazada’s Pauline Castro: Paving a new path for women in technologyCastro noted that Lazada's commitment to innovation is evident in its approach to seamlessly merging shopping with entertainment and social experiences by offering a wide Beauty assortment at the best prices, exclusively from local and international brands. Castro, who handles Lazada's content and UX optimization, said that in her experience, she considers barriers in the technology industry as “empowering” because tech itself provides women greater flexibility. Because of the flexibility of the technology we provide, you can juggle it alongside your other important tasks,” Castro told The Philippine STAR in an exclusive interview. Castro highlighted one of Lazada's most innovative features, LazBeauty. When asked about the advantages of being a woman in technology, Castro cited empathy as a key value that she can bring to the industry.
Source:Philippine Star
May 31, 2023 14:19 UTC
Sudanese army suspends ceasefire talks, diplomatic source says
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — Sudan’s army suspended talks with a rival paramilitary force on Wednesday over a ceasefire and about enabling humanitarian access, a Sudanese diplomatic source said, raising fears of fresh bloodshed in the more than six-week-old conflict. ADVERTISEMENTResidents reported heavy clashes in southern Khartoum and in Omdurman across the River Nile until late on Tuesday. The RSF said in a statement late on Tuesday it was committed to the ceasefire “despite repeated violations” by the army. Before the ceasefire deal was renewed, an army source said the army had demanded the RSF withdraw from civilian homes and hospitals as a condition for an extension. After Bashir was toppled in an popular uprising, the army and RSF leaders staged a coup in 2021 before they due to hand leadership to civilians.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
May 31, 2023 14:08 UTC
Hot tip as Hong Kong sweats
Hongkongers sweated and fretted as the temperature climbed to 35 degrees Celsius in various districts, prompting the first extreme heat special weather tip from the Hong Kong Observatory since the service was launched Friday. SING TAO Previous NextThe Hong Kong Observatory yesterday issued its first extreme heat special weather tip as temperatures climbed to 35 degrees Celsius in several districts, including at the Sheung Shui basketball ground which hit 40 degrees. The extreme hot weather was due to the outer subsiding air of Typhoon Mawar affecting the coast of southern China. The observatory advised citizens to keep track of their health condition, drink more water, take heatstroke prevention measures and seek medical advice if they feel unwell. Monitoring stations in some districts recorded an Air Quality Health Index of 10+ - indicating a serious health risk.
Source:The Standard
May 31, 2023 12:15 UTC
A heart-wrenching cry for help
This tragic case was a cry for help and, sad to say, many families are trapped in a similar crisis situations. There are also many families in which elderly parents suffering from chronic diseases or immobility are looked after by single children. While it would be impossible to group the various family situations under one category, they do share one thing in common: these people need help. The Tuen Mun father was in need of help but he made the wrong choice when he tried to end what increasingly appeared to him to be endless pain. The authorities must do more to help these carers, of whom it is estimated there are at least 300,000 in the city.
Source:The Standard
May 31, 2023 03:40 UTC
First Asian Para Tenpin Bowling Championships Unveiled in HK
The first Asian Para Tenpin Bowling Championships is being held at Belair Bowling Center in Shatin from 26 to 31 May. The event was co-organized by the Asian Bowling Federation and the Hong Kong Sports Association for the Physically Disabled, sponsored by the Arts and Sports Development Fund of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau as well as supported by the Hong Kong Tenpin Bowling Congress and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Participating countries and regions include China, India, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand and Hong Kong. He hoped this competition could provide a favourable environment for players from all over the world to play to their strengths; and that Hong Kong athletes could strive for good results with home advantage. Hong Kong has sent a total of 16 athletes to participate in this competition.
Source:The Standard
May 31, 2023 00:01 UTC
NBA Finals: It's Heat vs Nuggets
Turns out, the NBA Finals are starting in the Mile High City after all. 8 seed, will take on the Western Conference champion Nuggets in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. The Heat got there by winning Game 7 of the East title series in Boston on Monday night. The Heat are in the finals for the seventh time and seeking their fourth championship; the Nuggets are in the finals for the first time in franchise history. Malone will try to win an NBA title for the first time, and if Denver prevails he'll become the 36th coach in league history to win a championship.
Source:Manila Times
May 30, 2023 23:49 UTC
2 PNP officials tagged in P6.7 billion shabu cover-up
2 PNP officials tagged in P6.7 billion shabu cover-upMANILA, Philippines — Two lieutenant colonels have “a lot of explaining to do” after they were tagged by relieved Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) chief Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo as among the main players in the alleged cover-up surrounding the seizure of 990 kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu. “Ibañez and Gonzales have a lot of explaining to do,” Dela Rosa later said of the two in a press briefing after the hearing. Sy is allegedly a “bodegero” of a drug lord detained at the Sablayan prison and penal farm in Occidental Mindoro, Dela Rosa said. Sy may be a “source of shabu” in Mayo’s drug dealings, Dela Rosa added.
Source:Philippine Star
May 30, 2023 20:46 UTC
Man held for rape
Man held for rapeMANILA, Philippines — Police arrested on Monday a 27-year-old man who allegedly raped a woman at a high-end condominium in Barangay Sto. After their binge drinking, the victim slept on the floor while their companions took a nap in other areas of the unit. The victim recounted to investigators it was then Sagum raped her. Acting on the woman’s complaint, operatives of QCPD Station 15 conducted a follow-up operation and arrested Sagum in Barangay Pag-ibig sa Nayon on Monday. The suspect is being held on charges of rape.
Source:Philippine Star
May 30, 2023 20:28 UTC