vivo’s newest budget smartphone can be pre-ordered on April 10-15, with free True Wireless Earphones Playing games like Mobile Legends or League of Legends on smartphone has become one of the ways Filipinos pass time, especially with the lockdown still keeping many at their homes most of the time. As smartphones get more upgraded and […]
Category: Hot News
A taxing question for multinationals leaves stocks unscathed
LONDON — A global minimum corporate tax rate could deal a major blow to the multinationals which some governments allege shift billions of dollars in profits every year to low-tax havens, as well as triggering a fundamental reassessment of corporate earnings. The chances of such reform rose this week as Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen threw […]
Asia’s rising coronavirus cases a worry as vaccine doubts cloud campaigns
Singapore — India, South Korea, and Thailand faced mounting coronavirus infections on Thursday, undermining cautious hopes that Asia might be emerging from the worst of the pandemic as worries about safety threatened to delay vaccination drives. India reported a record 126,789 new cases, the third day this week tallies have surged to more than 100,000, […]
Booming market for fake COVID-19 vaccine passports sparks alarm
Fake coronavirus vaccine passports are being sold online for “peanuts” in a fast-growing scam that has alarmed authorities as countries bet on the documents to revive travel and their economies, cybersecurity experts said. From Iceland to Israel, a number of countries have started to lift lockdown restrictions for people who can prove they have been […]
Details of sweeping effort to counter China emerge in US Senate
WASHINGTON — Leaders of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee introduced major legislation on Thursday to boost the country’s ability to push back against China’s expanding global influence by promoting human rights, providing security aid, and investing to combat disinformation. The draft measure, titled the “Strategic Competition Act of 2021,” mandates diplomatic and strategic initiatives […]
Singapore deputy PM unexpectedly steps aside as future premier, in succession setback
Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat will step aside as the designated successor to current premier Lee Hsien Loong, in an unexpected decision that disrupts the city-state’s succession plans. “We need a leader who will not only rebuild Singapore post-COVID-19, but also lead the next phase of our nation-building effort,” Mr. Heng said in […]
Pru Life UK receives four Golden Arrows for solid corporate governance
Leading life insurer Pru Life UK was bestowed four Golden Arrows awards by the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD), marking another milestone in the company’s history of good performance on the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard (ACGS). “In a step-up from the three Golden Arrows awards we were presented in 2018, we are very honored to […]
STADA Philippines shows resilience with triple-digit growth in 2020
Newly-established pharmaceutical player STADA Philippines showed resilience amid the coronavirus pandemic by achieving triple-digit sales growth of 478% in 2020. Fueling the growth is the expansion of the STADA Philippines portfolio, with the banner acquisition of the FERN-C line (consisting of the established, 15-year-old vitamin c brand FERN-C, and two children’s vitamin products — FERN […]
Eye candy: getting high at California’s Sugar Rush theme park
CRAVING for candy without the calories? Feast your eyes on a whirl of giant lollipops, cupcakes and all things sweet at Sugar Rush, a pop-up theme park in Los Angeles. Pop a free treat into your mouth at the end, after walking through with a mask. “I’m in love with this place. The minute I […]
POEA extends the deadline for recruiter status reports on OFWs
THE Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said it is moving its deadline to the end of the month for recruitment and manning agencies to file status reports on their deployed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). In POEA Advisory No. 37 dated March 31, the POEA said it will give allow time for Philippine Recruitment Agencies (PRAs) […]
BSP warns vs investment scams using gov’t agencies
THE CENTRAL BANK warned the public about investment schemes that use its name to lure investors into “too good to be true” offers. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said in a statement on Thursday that some fraudsters have been presenting fake documents which they claim to be under the custody of the central bank […]
EDC, UK-based BGCI extend ties to conserve over 600 tree species
ENERGY Development Corp. (EDC) extended its existing two-year partnership with Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) for two more years to conserve an additional 600 tree species in a virtual signing of the agreement. Some 200 Philippine endemic tree species and 470 near-endemic species found in two or three more countries will be included in the […]
Pianists compete for prestigious prize with just a camera operator to listen
LONDON — In a hall at London’s Royal Academy of Music, pianist Yuanfan Yang performed pieces by Frederic Chopin, Franz Liszt and Joseph Haydn with just a camera operator as his audience. The 24-year-old is taking part in the Leeds International Piano Competition, hoping to win over a jury that will see his performance by […]
Rice farmer training program graduates top 25,000
RICE FARMERS and dependents who completed training programs offered by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) have totaled 25,904 to date, TESDA said. The various training programs offered in field schools are authorized by Republic Act No. 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law, the goals of which include upgrading rice-planting know-how among farmers […]
Monetary Board approves FMIC’s surrender of quasi-bank license
THE CENTRAL BANK has approved First Metro Investment Corp.’s (FMIC) voluntary surrender of its quasi-banking license, with the firm to continue operating as an investment house. The BSP’s Monetary Board approved the voluntary surrender through Resolution No. 355 dated March 25, according to Circular Letter No. 2021-027 signed by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy […]
Filminera, Phil Gold win environmental awards
TWO COMPANIES jointly operating a gold mining project in Masbate province in the Bicol Region have been recognized for their efforts in achieving environmentally and socially responsible operations. Filminera Resources Corp and Philippine Gold Processing and Refining Corp., the two firms behind the Masbate Gold Project, received four awards in the recent Presidential Mineral Industry […]
Women’s Month and empowerment principles
To culminate Women’s Month, a signing event of the UN Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs) was held at the end of March. The UN WEPs is a roadmap to business sustainability and growth. It is a framework of seven principles that provide guidance for companies to promote transformative change towards gender equality and women empowerment in […]
From trash to plants at Robinsons Malls
PLANTITOS and plantitas received plants, seeds, and organic compost in exchange for their plastic bottles in a plant exchange held at Robinsons Magnolia last month. Robinson Malls has partnered with the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) to help and save Mother Earth through a series of exchanges where a bit of trash gets the giver […]
Avon sees rise in demand for essential products
AVON Philippines’ intimate apparel and essential products sales are growing as demand for the company’s make-up and fragrance products remains low during the pandemic. “Very interesting and somehow [surprising] at a certain moment: it’s intimate apparel, which is actually a category that was growing for us, particularly in quarter four last year,” Avon Philippines General […]
Intel brings delayed technology to server, ready for ‘huge build-out’
INTEL CORP., the world’s largest chipmaker, said it’s offering a revamped version of its Xeon range in time for what it sees as the “biggest build-out of technology infrastructure in human history.” The company has struggled with updating its manufacturing — a key part of improving the ability of processors — and is now bringing […]