Low pressure builds up near Aurora
MANILA, Philippines — A low pressure trough has been seen east of the country, but is not expected to develop into a tropical depression, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Tuesday. ADVERTISEMENTAs of 4 p.m. on Tuesday, the weather system was estimated at 690 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora province. The trough, which is not affecting any part of the country, is expected to dissipate in the next 24 to 36 hours, said Pagasa weather specialist Ana Clauren. Localized thunderstorms, meanwhile, may also cause isolated showers in Metro Manila and the rest of the country. Last month, Typhoon “Ambo” (international name: Vongfong) struck central Philippines, the first cyclone to hit the country this year.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
June 02, 2020 20:37 UTC
57 face raps over cash aid mess in Visayas
CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines — At least 57 people, including 12 village chiefs, in Central Visayas are facing charges for alleged anomalies in the distribution of the first tranche of cash aid under the government’s social amelioration program, a police official in the region said. Accordingly, there were relatives of these officials and unqualified recipients who received the cash aid,” said Maj. Ronald Allan Tolosa, deputy chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Central Visayas. ADVERTISEMENTAmong those charged by the CIDG on Monday and Tuesday were four village chiefs in Cebu province, three in Cebu City, two in Lapu-Lapu City, one in Mandaue City, one in Bohol province and one in Negros Oriental province. 11469 (Bayanihan to Heal as One Act) were filed in prosecutors’ offices in the region.At least 20 people were also charged with perjury after receiving the cash aid although they were unqualified. “These people received the cash aid maybe because of favoritism,” Tolosa said.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
June 02, 2020 20:15 UTC
PH polls still billionaires’ playground
The general elections in 2022 will remain the playground of billionaires, thanks to a bill raising five-fold the amount that may be spent in a campaign by presidential candidates, an opposition lawmaker warned on Monday. A study by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) found that 19 senatorial candidates spent a combined P2.4 billion in pre-campaign ads in 2018, way before the May 2019 polls. Level playing fieldPCIJ said it determined the figure using the rate card of media agencies monitored by Nielsen Media. ADVERTISEMENTBrosas argued that instead of raising campaign spending limits, the government should work toward fairer mechanisms. “In truth, there must be tighter rein on campaign election spending to make electoral campaigns more democratic.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
June 02, 2020 20:03 UTC
Ruling strips lawmakers of immunity
Previous NextMandy ZhengThe Court of Appeal has ruled that lawmakers are not immune from criminal prosecution if they behave in a disorderly manner during Legislative Council meetings. In 2018, West Kowloon Court acting principal magistrate Ada Yim Shun-yee adjourned Leung's case indefinitely, saying lawmakers are exempt from Legco's provisions against disturbances. But Poon argued in the written judgment that this privilege should not be "put above the law." "[Lawmakers] are not immune from civil or criminal proceedings merely by reason of their status." Poon also expounded on the "non-intervention principle" between the legislature and the Judiciary, as Leung's barrister Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee argued that lawmakers' disorderly conduct should be handled by Legco.
Source:The Standard
June 02, 2020 19:13 UTC
Octopus embraces Apple Pay as cross-bank withdrawals go cardless
Octopus cards are available on Apple Pay for payments and top-ups, Octopus Cards Limited announced yesterday, but is only available for adults, the elderly, and personalized Octopus on-loan cards. Octopus sales and marketing director Rita Li Yuk-yi said most of the benefits of the physical Octopus card would be available on Apple Pay Octopus cards, including the Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme. The Apple Pay Octopus card can be topped up with a Hong Kong-issued credit, debit, or prepaid card of Visa, Mastercard, and UnionPay, with a maximum store value of HK$3,000. Once the physical card is added to the Apple Pay, the balance in the physical card will also be transferred digitally. On the first day of the launch, around 5000 users were not able to add their Octopus card to the Apple system, an Octopus spokesman said.
Source:The Standard
June 02, 2020 19:13 UTC
Lam heads to Beijing with HK feedback
Carrie Lam will be accompanied by John Lee to Beijing, where they will meet top officials. "There are people who support, there are people who do not," he said of the national security law. "Obviously, I will reflect what is happening in Hong Kong and what I have heard." On officials the SAR party are meeting in Beijing, Lee noted that was being arranged by the central government. She hit at what she said were double standards in some countries' responses to the national security law, saying: "They are very concerned about their own national security, but on our national security they look through tinted glasses."
Source:The Standard
June 02, 2020 19:13 UTC
China puts curbs on structured deposits
REUTERSChinese regulators are trying to counter surging demand for high-yielding structured deposits from companies that are looking to park funds borrowed at low rates. Banks in China have been aggressive in marketing structured deposits, which combine traditional deposits with higher-return investment products to lure in more funds. The outstanding volume of structured deposits stood at 12 trillion yuan (HK$13 trillion) in April, according to official data. The loan extension support would help banks extend loan principals for about 3.7 trillion yuan, the central bank added. In the mainland property market, China Evergrande (3333) said contracted sales in the first five months surged 17.8 percent year-on-year to 272.7 billion yuan.
Source:The Standard
June 02, 2020 19:13 UTC
They declare us dead, but we're still here
They declare us dead, but we're still hereThe "death of Hong Kong" has now been announced at least seven times. 2003: Western media says Article 23 "will end Hong Kong." The Zombie City of Hong Kong: the community Westerners keep announcing is dead, but somehow we're all doing pretty well, considering. And it may be a clue as to why Hong Kong is lagging behind in technology. * * *The recording at the moving walkway in Tsim Sha Tsui East station keeps repeating: "Be a safe escalator user!
Source:The Standard
June 02, 2020 19:13 UTC
Ex-chief justices weigh in on security law
Andrew Li and Yang Ti-liang, inset, hope the security law will adopt common law principles. SING TAO Previous NextTwo former chief justices have called for the new national security law to adopt common law principles. Former chief justice Andrew Li Kwok-nang also weighed in, saying the law should be consistent with seven common law principles, such as it not being retrospective. Investigatory powers must be governed by Hong Kong law," Li said. "When we control the criminal prosecutions here in Hong Kong, it is to be free from any interference," she said.
Source:The Standard
June 02, 2020 19:13 UTC
Mean machines to grease MTR wheels
MTR is introducing five robot "smart trainees" to replace humans in customer service and facility maintenance. Finder-T, Guider-T, Checker-T and two Cleaner-Ts were unveiled yesterday and will report for duty at Kai Tak station in the third quarter. "These 'smart trainees' are still in the learning phase and their software and functions requiring continuous testing and adjustment," said chief of operations, Sammy Wong Kwan-wai. Using image recognition and AI, the robot will alert staff for follow-up if any abnormalities are found. "MTR has been making use of new technology and equipment to assist staff in daily routine tasks and enhance efficiency," operations director Tony Lee Kar-yun said.
Source:The Standard
June 02, 2020 19:13 UTC
Prioritize athletes ‘once vaccine is ready’ ‒ Tolentino – The Manila Times
We will prioritize sports, of course, because of the Olympics, but, so far, wala pang guidelines dun (there are still no guidelines),” said Tolentino. So, pupunta tayo doon kung talagang merong vaccine (That’s just a limited head count if based only on the number of delegates and all qualified athletes. “Hopefully, we’re all praying that early next year or late this year, magkaroon na ng vaccine (there will be a vaccine). He also discussed his proposal to the Vietnam SEA Games (SEAG) Organizing Committee to lobby for kickboxing, arnis, obstacle sports and dance sports to be part of the 2021 biennial meet. Nandito pa (Regarding the SEA Games, there hasn’t been a turnover.
Source:Manila Times
June 02, 2020 19:08 UTC
Looters targeting luxury brands
Looters with armfuls of boxes rush out of Balenciaga and Nike stores. REUTERS, AFP Previous NextNew York came under a curfew after looters raided stores in central Manhattan, targeting some of the city's top retailers and upmarket fashion stores. Michael Kors on Fifth Avenue was among the luxury outlets hit, along with Nike, Balenciaga, Lego and electronics shops across Midtown. Stores in the south of Manhattan suffered a similar fate, with the flagship Macy's department store also targeted by looters. South Korea's Foreign Ministry said it has confirmed 79 cases of property damage at stores run by Korean Americans across the United States.
Source:The Standard
June 02, 2020 19:07 UTC
Pay freeze a blessing in disguise
It's so strange to hear the Hong Kong Chinese Civil Servants' Association saying they were upset by the Executive Council's decision to freeze civil servants' pay this financial year. In other words, the pay freeze amounts to a de-facto pay rise for the civil service - unless the unionists promise they would agree to a drastic pay reduction after the next pay trend survey that is bound to reflect this year's terrible pay conditions. In 2021, private-sector wages will continue to come under pressure and create a dampening impact on the civil service pay review in 2022. On the other hand, he must also consider whether the community would react strongly if civil service wages were not lowered accordingly. Having decided to freeze civil service wages now, the government will be in a better position to strike a balance later.
Source:The Standard
June 02, 2020 19:07 UTC
Edward Chow passes on
China Aircraft Leasing Group yesterday announced the death of independent non-executive director Edward Chow Kwong-fai. Chow died unexpectedly on Monday after being admitted to hospital for an operation. The board expressed its sincere gratitude to Chow for his valuable contribution to the company and conveyed its condolences to his family. Chow was also a current affairs commentator and a popular columnist on The Standard, whose "Thinking Out Loud" articles appeared every Friday. Having for the first time missed a column after being admitted to hospital, he told his friend he was confident he could continue writing his Friday articles from his bed.
Source:The Standard
June 02, 2020 19:07 UTC
Trump vows military response to muzzle 'domestic terror acts'
Law enforcers restrain a protester and push back another near the White House as Donald Trump poses with a Bible at a church. "I am dispatching thousands and thousands of heavily armed soldiers, military personnel and law enforcement officers to stop the rioting, looting, vandalism, assaults and the wanton destruction of property," Trump said. He slammed the previous night's unrest in Washington as a "total disgrace" and called on governors to "dominate the streets." Trump added: "If a city or state refuses to take the actions that are necessary to defend the life and property of their residents, then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them." "We here in Europe, like the people of the United States, we are shocked and appalled by the death of George Floyd," Borrell said in Brussels.
Source:The Standard
June 02, 2020 19:07 UTC