Apple workers vote to form first US union
UNIONIZED In this file photo taken on Sept. 19, 2019, the new iPhone 11 are displayed inside the newly renovated Apple Store at Fifth Avenue in New York City. AFP PHOTOSAN FRANCISCO: A majority of employees at a US Apple store have voted to form a union, a first for the tech giant, which has so far tried to discourage unionization attempts. We won our union vote! "They made a huge sacrifice for thousands of Apple employees across the nation who had all eyes on this election. It was not the first time employees at an Apple store have tried to unionize, but it was the first attempt that resulted in a vote.
Source:Manila Times
June 20, 2022 08:24 UTC
Watch for the rising stars in boxing and MMA at SM Southmall this weekend
The UFC Gym, in partnership with SM Supermalls and SM Game Park, showcases the country's up-and-coming fighters at Musclecontest Philippines' 'King of the Fight 9,' an exhibition match to be held at the SM Southmall Events Center from June 18 to 19, 2022. Since debuting in 2009, UFC Gym has opened over 150 locations across the US, Australia, Canada, South America, and Asia. The fitness franchise offers a full range of functional fitness classes, group and private MMA training, group fitness, and personal and group dynamic performance-based training fit for all ages and fitness levels. And on June 18, history will be made as SM Supermalls opens its doors to a UFC Gym in the south of Metro Manila. To know more about SM Supermalls, check out www.smsupermalls.com or like and follow @smsupermalls on all social media platforms.
Source:Manila Times
June 20, 2022 05:16 UTC
Policymakers should rethink entrepreneurship
But more than helping them recover from the pandemic, policymakers should rethink or reimagine entrepreneurship in order to realize the full potential of MSMEs. The paperwork and collateral required may be stumbling blocks to compliance with the magna carta, but that has to be studied. Worse, that magna carta provision also conflicts with existing procurement laws that require bulk orders to realize economies of scale. For this, policymakers should study Israel, which is known as the "start-up nation" because of the success of its MSMEs. Clearly, Filipinos should develop a more sophisticated handle on entrepreneurship and MSMEs.
Source:Manila Times
June 20, 2022 04:11 UTC
Expert warns of significant rebound after Father’s Day
Government medical adviser David Hui Shu-cheong has expressed concern that public gatherings during Father’s Day on Sunday will cause a significant rebound in Covid infections. Speaking on a radio program on Monday, the health expert said the risk of Covid transmission within the city is higher with families gathered during Father’s Day. Meanwhile, the Chinese University professor said the current epidemic situation in Hong Kong is similar to that in Singapore, with both places emphasizing on pushing further up the vaccination rate to create a “protection barrier”. He said the SAR government will have to seek clarification from health authorities on the mainland on whether Hong Kong must achieve dynamic "zero infection" before the borders are to be reopened. Read more: Restaurants fill with citizens celebrating Father's Day despite Covid rebound
Source:The Standard
June 20, 2022 03:27 UTC
SM serves communities for a sustainable future
In 2014, SM Prime achieved an important milestone in the country with SM City North EDSA becoming then the world's largest solar-powered mall. Today, SM Prime is adding eleven more malls with solar roof decks. "As a private enterprise, SM Prime will continue to do its share in addressing climate change for the benefit of communities," he added. Sustainability at SM Prime is at the core of its corporate identity. SM Prime spearheads sustainable practices as well as set records in pioneering programs to consciously protect the environment and strongly focus on resilience in its developments.
Source:Manila Times
June 19, 2022 22:44 UTC
Duterte's daughter sworn in as Philippines vice president
Sara Duterte-Carpio, daughter of outgoing Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, was sworn in as the country's 15th vice president on Sunday, calling for national unity following a divisive election campaign. Marcos also took part in the inauguration ceremony attended by Duterte-Carpio's relatives, allies and supporters. Like her father, Duterte-Carpio trained as a lawyer before entering politics in 2007 when she was voted in as her father's vice mayor in Davao, 1,000 km from the capital Manila. "If we all take a moment to listen to the call to serve and decide to heed the call ... I believe the country will be heading toward a future of hope, security, strength, stability, and progress," said Duterte-Carpio, who will also serve as Marcos' education secretary.
Source:The Standard
June 19, 2022 18:21 UTC
Sara Duterte takes oath as 15th vice president
MANILA, Philippines — Sara Duterte took her oath as the Philippines’ 15th vice president on Sunday, June 19. Aside from being vice president, Duterte will also serve as education secretary under the incoming administration of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., her running mate. The incoming vice president will hold office at the Quezon City Reception House — where outgoing Vice President Leni Robredo held office — and at the Department of Education Central Office in Pasig City. READ: Sara Duterte to hold office at Quezon City Reception HouseADVERTISEMENTDuterte won as vice president after receiving over 32 million votes in the May 9 elections. READ: Sara Duterte is proclaimed as PH’s 15th vice presidentjeSubscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
June 19, 2022 14:25 UTC
Pakistan advocates against hate speech
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has been advocating for an international framework against hate speech and supporting a balanced approach between fundamental freedoms and responsibilities, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said Saturday in marking the International Day for Countering Hate Speech. "This day is an important occasion to renew global solidarity for combating hate speech which is the prime catalyst for hatred, interreligious discord, discrimination, incitement to violence and acts of violence against people and communities," the ministry said in a statement. Pakistan has always been at the forefront of international initiatives for promoting peace, tolerance, and intercultural and interfaith harmony, both at home and abroad, the statement said. As the international community commemorates this day, Pakistan is particularly alarmed at the global resurgence in xenophobia, hatred and acts of violence against minorities, the ministry said. "Pakistan will continue to advance international efforts to protect individuals from hate speech and related xenophobia, negative stereotyping and stigmatization, and will reinforce efforts to promote interfaith and intercivilizational understanding and harmony," according to the statement.
Source:Manila Times
June 19, 2022 13:19 UTC
Analysis: Europe’s summer of discontent reveals travel sector labor crisis
AMSTERDAM/PARIS/DOHA — After 21 years as a service agent at Air France, Karim Djeffal left his job during the COVID-19 pandemic to start his own job-coaching consultancy. But the industry says European aviation as a whole has lost 600,000 jobs since the start of the pandemic. The summer when air travel was supposed to return to normal after a two-year pandemic vacuum is in danger of becoming the summer when the high-volume, low-cost air travel model broke down – at least in Europe’s sprawling integrated market. Willie Walsh, head of the International Air Transport Association, the global airline industry group meeting in Qatar, has dismissed talk of a breakdown in air travel as “hysteria”. For some departing employees, however, Europe’s torrid summer signals a wake-up call for passengers and bosses alike.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
June 19, 2022 09:29 UTC
Macau to hold mass testing after finding 12 cases of Covid
Macau’s government will undertake mass Covid testing of residents over the next three days after finding 12 Covid-19 infections in the community, the first in more than 250 days. Testing would be conducted from noon Sunday to noon June 21, Au said at a briefing in the city. The mass testing comes after the city last week eased quarantine requirements for arrivals from Hong Kong, Taiwan and other places. The number of visitors to Macau plunged 24% in April from a year earlier after a 30% decline in March. Macau is facing significant risk of Covid-19 transmission and outbreak in the community, the government said at midnight on Sunday.
Source:The Standard
June 19, 2022 04:50 UTC
Why the digital transformation of the financial sector matters
Why the digital transformation of the financial sector matters AMID the global Covid-19 crisis, the Philippines saw an increasing number of people transacting through digital platforms, with a 5,000-percent surge in digital payments in 2020. The Manila Times (TMT): Please describe the state of digital transformation in the Philippine financial sector. This unprecedented growth in digital financial services has redefined the Philippines financial sector. TMT: Does the Philippine financial sector need to fast-track the digitalization of its financial sector? Fundamentally, a modern digital financial sector ensures multiple benefits including an enhanced customer experience, greater corporate governance and more efficient data-driven decision making.
Source:Manila Times
June 19, 2022 04:05 UTC
Man arrested after chasing and attempting to knife partition flat neighbor
A 39-year-old man was on Saturday arrested by police in Tsuen Wan after chasing his partition flat female neighbor aged about 60 all the way to a dried seafood store and attempting to knife her. Police received report saying that the two started an argument in the partition flat upstairs and picked a fight very soon. According to live sources, the man once headed back home to retrieve a fruit knife. Yet, he dared not to assault the woman with the knife as the street was filled with spectators. Police later cordoned off the dried seafood store for investigation and reached to the building the duo live at to search for the knife.
Source:The Standard
June 18, 2022 16:39 UTC
Is the Philippines being used by the US & Australian military to spy on China?
A CLOSE encounter between Australian and Chinese military aircraft over the South China Sea has resulted in mutual accusations of provocative and dangerous behavior and raised many questions. China's Defense Ministry responded that "the Australian military aircraft seriously threatened China's sovereignty and security and the countermeasures taken by the Chinese military were reasonable and lawful." There are now news reports that an Australian military intelligence unit has already put up a military forward base inside Zamboanga Philippine military camp (http://maritimnews.com/2022/05/say-no-to-foreign-military-base-in-mindanao/). This technology will enable Australia to aid the US in containing China in the South China Sea. He is currently an adjunct senior scholar at National Institute for South China Sea Studies, Hainan China.
Source:Manila Times
June 18, 2022 12:03 UTC
25 dead, 4 million stranded in Bangladesh floods
SYLHET, Bangladesh — Monsoon storms in Bangladesh have killed at least 25 people and unleashed devastating floods that left more than four million others stranded, officials said Saturday. Floods are a regular menace to millions of people in low-lying Bangladesh, but experts say climate change is increasing their frequency, ferocity and unpredictability. More than four million people have been stranded by flood water,” Hossain said, adding that nearly the entire region was without electricity. Forecasters said floods were set to worsen over the next two days with heavy rains in Bangladesh and upstream in India’s northeast. Before this week’s rains, Sylhet region was still recovering from its worst floods in nearly two decades late last month, with at least 10 people killed and 4 million others affected.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
June 18, 2022 09:29 UTC
Philippines' Marcos names central bank official as next tax chief
Philippine presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr., son of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, gestures as he speaks during a campaign rally in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. (Reuters)The president-elect of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, has appointed a central bank official with expertise in information technology as the next chief of the tax agency, his office said on Saturday. His family faces billions of dollars of unpaid taxes and penalties from the tax collection agency. Her strong IT background will help boost revenue through efficient tax collection, Marcos said. Marcos continues to fill his cabinet with technocrats and former ministry officials ahead of his June 30 inauguration.
Source:The Standard
June 18, 2022 09:10 UTC