Covid cases will increase with border reopens, but no more entry closures: expert
Government adviser David Hui Shu-cheong said that an increase in imported Covid infections is expected after the resumption of cross-border travel, but the city will not reset the lifted Covid restrictions. Speaking in a radio programme on Sunday, Hui believed Covid has become an endemic disease and there is no need to resume social distancing or entry curbs. "I would suggest the current quotas on commuters travel between both sides to be relaxed after one to two weeks' of the monitoring period if there is no significant increase in Covid cases with severe symptoms or deaths," he said. In addition, Hui suggested the government consider allowing people to go outdoors without wearing a mask in the summer. "People taking part in indoor activities such as concerts and taking public transportation would still be required to wear masks," he added.
Source:The Standard
January 08, 2023 16:38 UTC
Excitement in the return of cross-border commercial activities
Tourists were welcomed back by restaurants and stores at the border checkpoints after three years of little business due to the suspension of cross-border travel. "Today's income increased by 70 to 80 percent compared to the daily figure during the pandemic," said a restaurant operator at Futian Port. "I hope the upcoming Chinese New Year will bring more income from cross-border travellers," a staff member at a delivery service point at Futian Port said. Tang Ping-keung, Hong Kong's security chief said the city is prepared to proactively combat smuggling activities or fake goods traders. The authorities are also working with the mainland government to deploy enforcement actions on those illegal activities, Tang added.
Source:The Standard
January 08, 2023 06:04 UTC
To achieve full resumption of cross-border travel within short period: John Lee
The Chief Executive said the government would strive to achieve a full resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the mainland within a short period. "The goal is to get back as quickly as possible to the pre-epidemic normal life," Lee said, "We want cooperation between the two sides[of Hong Kong and the mainland] back on track." He said all the relevant border control points were in good operation and the public could travel smoothly. A total of 9,000 travellers left Hong Kong via Lok Ma Chau to enter China as of 11am on Sunday, security minister Chris Tang Ping-keung said. According to Xinhua, Shenzhen and Hong Kong will review the first phase of border reopening in a week.
Source:The Standard
January 08, 2023 04:28 UTC
Flood victims get P40 million aid
Flood victims get P40 million aidMANILA, Philippines — Relief assistance worth P40 million has been provided to victims of flooding caused by heavy rain spawned by the shear line during the Christmas weekend, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The DSWD said 161,145 families or 645,097 residents of 1,044 barangays in Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen, Caraga and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao were affected. Humanitarian aid worth more than P2 million was also provided to residents displaced by heavy rain caused by a low-pressure area in the Visayas and Mindanao. The DSWD said more than P2.8 million was provided as augmentation to concerned local government units in Oriental Mindoro and Palawan. It said 1,285 families or 4,544 people affected by rain spawned by the northeast monsoon in Cagayan and Isabela also received relief assistance.
Source:Philippine Star
January 08, 2023 03:58 UTC
The bigger you are, the bigger you lose
The bigger you are, the bigger you loseHere is a featured article from Business Insider, and I encourage you to follow the site. As individuals accumulate more wealth, they have more to lose. His wealth this year has shrunk by $140 billion, bringing his net worth to roughly $130 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Larry Page and Sergey Brin, the cofounders of Google’s parent company Alphabet, lost roughly $91 billion in 2022. Still, this recent event reminds us that their profits are humongous when they profit, but when they lose, their losses can also be enormous.
Source:Philippine Star
January 07, 2023 20:42 UTC
Forex reserves climb to $96 billion in December
Forex reserves climb to $96 billion in DecemberLast month’s gross international reserves (GIR) were higher than the lowered $93 billion projection of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for 2022. Last month’s gross international reserves (GIR) were higher than the lowered $93 billion projection of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for 2022. It was also the highest since the $97.44 billion in August as the buffer increased over the past three months after declining to $93 billion in September. After hitting an all-time high of $110.12 billion in 2020, the forex buffer steadily declined to $108.79 billion in 2021 and $96.01 billion in 2022. The BSP now expects the GIR to settle at $93 billion instead of $100 billion this year.
Source:Philippine Star
January 07, 2023 20:41 UTC
China reopening may add almost one percent to Australia economy
Travelers wearing a protective suit walks outside Beijing Railway Station in Beijing, China January 7, 2023, as the annual Spring Festival travel rush starts. A gradual restoration of tourist and student arrivals to 2019 levels may add 0.5% and 0.4% to GDP respectively, he added, given that China is the largest consumer of Australian tourism and education exports. On Wednesday, China signaled the end of a two-year ban on importing Australian coal, fueling sentiment that its restrictions on wine, lobsters and other commodities could be next to ease. The improved outlook has lifted Australia’s stock and currency markets with the Aussie nearing its highest since mid-September earlier in the week. “Perhaps the most important implication from the recent improvement in trade relations is that it reduces the risk of government-imposed bans/restrictions on services exports and paves the way for a recovery in both tourism and education exports from early 2023,” Kennedy wrote.
Source:The Standard
January 07, 2023 17:59 UTC
Trio returns to Hong Kong after beating drug charges and life imprisonment in the Philippines
Kwok Kam-wah, Lo Wing-fai, and Chan Kwok-tung (from second left to right) return to Hong Kong from the Philippines on Friday, January 6, 2023. The incident occurred in July 2016 when Lo Wing-fai, Kwok Kam-wah, Chan Kwok-tung and Leung Shu-fook were boarding a ship in the Philippines to travel to mainland China. After a trial, all four were acquitted of making drugs, but were found guilty of possessing drugs and sentenced to life imprisonment. The three extended gratitude towards the Central Government, the SAR government, and Chinese embassy in the Philippines, and the Foreign Ministry's office in Hong Kong. They appealed to the governments in Beijing and Hong Kong to closely monitor Leung's situation and provide necessary assistance so that he can become a free man again and reunite with his family.
Source:The Standard
January 07, 2023 06:36 UTC
Tesla driver dies after crash on Tuen Mun Road, cause of death yet to be confirmed
A 38-year-old driver died after his Tesla Model S crashed into the curb and then a sign on Tuen Mun Road in the early hours on Saturday. The driver sustained no apparent injury but was certified dead after he was rushed to hospital, raising suspicions on what exactly led to his death. The Tesla was traveling towards Tsuen Wan on Tuen Mun Road around 3.36am today. The driver surnamed Chan suspectedly lost control of the vehicle at the section of road near Rainbow Garden and crashed the electric car into the curb. The actual cause of death for Chan has yet to be confirmed, pending an autopsy.
Source:The Standard
January 07, 2023 06:11 UTC
Asian markets wobble after strong start
HONG KONG: Asian investors struggled Friday to maintain the week's positive momentum as they eyed sharp losses on Wall Street that came after forecast-beating jobs data that suggested the Federal Reserve (Fed) will have to keep lifting interest rates. Regional markets have enjoyed a strong start to the year, largely thanks to optimism over China's reopening and signs it is toning down its tough talk on a number of issues domestically and geopolitically. Thursday's data make the release of a key non-farm payrolls report later in the day much more important. Asian markets fluctuated after all three main indexes on Wall Street fell more than 1 percent. Both main contracts rose Friday but they are both down almost 10 percent on the week.
Source:Manila Times
January 07, 2023 04:14 UTC
Without a soul
The following materials deal with forecasting future business trends. “It’s difficult to make precise predictions about the future of business, especially when looking as far ahead as 2023. One of the biggest trends in business over the past few years has been the rise of automation and artificial intelligence. However, a discerning, experienced, and knowledgeable reader can quickly point out that this artificial intelligence platform has provided an article that churns out facts but does not have a “soul” in it. That is the soul part of training, teaching, writing, and presentations that cannot be compromised.
Source:Philippine Star
January 07, 2023 03:56 UTC
French winter sport events cancelled over 'lack of snow'
LYON (AFP) — Several winter sport events in France have been cancelled, postponed or moved because abnormally warm temperatures have stripped mountain slopes of their snow covering, organizers have said. People ski on the remaining snow at the Luchon-Superbagneres ski resort, southwestern France, on January 5, 2023. Only those at the highest altitudes in the French Alps have managed to keep most ski runs open. In Contamines, further north along the Swiss border, the Telemark World Cup due to be held this month has been postponed to February. The Font-Romeu Freestyle Skiing World Cup, originally planned for January 12 to 14, has also been postponed.
Source:Manila Times
January 06, 2023 22:16 UTC
Samsung sees Q4 profit plunge
SEOUL: Samsung Electronics said Friday it expected its fourth-quarter operating profits to plunge 69 percent as the global downturn causes a sharp decline in demand for memory chips and smartphones. The South Korean tech giant said operating profits for the October-December period likely slumped to 4.3 trillion won ($3.4 billion), a stinging year-on-year drop from 13.87 trillion won. In a statement, Samsung said fourth-quarter profits were "well below current market expectations," blaming the performance on macroeconomic issues, spurred by central banks around the world raising interest rates. The widely expected fourth-quarter drop is the second consecutive margin squeeze for Samsung, which saw a 31.39 percent fall in operating profits in the third quarter year on year. But the global economy is now facing multiple challenges including soaring inflation, rising interest rates and a growing threat of a broad debt crisis.
Source:Manila Times
January 06, 2023 22:15 UTC
PLDT, Smart deliver award-winning service in 2022
PLDT, Smart deliver award-winning service in 2022In the first half of the year, global benchmarking firm Ookla cited Smart’s wireless network for being the Philippines' Fastest and Best Mobile Network in its report covering Q1-Q2 2022. MANILA, Philippines — For delivering top-notch network services in 2022, leading integrated telco network PLDT Inc. (PLDT) and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) have been cited by various international award-giving bodies throughout 2022. According to Ookla, Smart is also the fastest mobile network for Apple, Samsung and Android devices, based on Ookla’s analysis of Speedtest Intelligence® data for Q3 2022. This fiber infrastructure also supports Smart's mobile network, which covers 97% of the population with 3G, LTE and 5G. Smart SIM registrationSubscribers can stay connected to Smart's award-winning network by registering their SIM now.
Source:Philippine Star
January 06, 2023 21:08 UTC
Self-defense requires rational equivalence, not material commensurability
The trial court held that my action is an incomplete self-defense because it was not commensurate to repel the aggression. Yet, the Court recognized that in self-defense or defense of a relative, the instinct for self-preservation will outweigh rational thinking. In these circumstances, Leo had the right to repel the unlawful aggression in order to protect himself and his father. Moreover, the law requires rational necessity, not indispensable need. The accused may be given the benefit of any reasonable doubt as to whether or not they employed rational means to repel the aggression.
Source:Manila Times
January 06, 2023 19:30 UTC