Oil prices near $52 a barrel on Iraq-Kurd tensions
Crude extended gains from the highest close in two weeks as speculation mounted over potential output disruptions in a region that’s home to Iraq’s oldest producing oil fields. Iraqi soldiers moved late Sunday to take over fields in the northern city of Kirkuk from Kurdish forces. WTI for November delivery advanced as much as 54 cents, or 1.1 percent, to $51.99 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The Kurdish region, meanwhile, relies on a pipeline to the port of Ceyhan in neighboring Turkey to get most of its crude to market. The conduit also transports some 100,000 barrels a day of oil from federal-run fields in Kirkuk.
Source:The Standard
October 16, 2017 12:00 UTC
Central bankers: Inflation to rise soon
WASHINGTON—The world’s top central bankers predicted inflation won’t stay low for much longer as they signaled they will push ahead with plans to gradually tighten monetary policy. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said on Sunday that her “best guess” is consumer prices will soon accelerate after a period of surprising softness, a forecast echoed by European Central Bank President Mario Draghi and Bank of England Governor Mark Carney. China’s factory price inflation rose again in September, official data showed on October 16, indicating the improving domestic demand while the central bank chief said he expects strong growth in the second half despite fears of slowdown. “Modest wage increases and weak inflation relative to the increased momentum of the economy and tightening of the labor market can be explained as a problem,” he said. Though it is also experiencing weak inflation, the United States stands out among advanced economies by moving to raise benchmark interest rates and starting to unwind an asset-purchasing stimulus program.
Source:The Standard
October 16, 2017 12:00 UTC
Stop ‘destabilizers’ plotting vs Duterte
The group reminded Filipinos of their plight before President Duterte ascended the presidency in 2016. “For the longest time, our people have suffered so much injustices and abuses that have made lives miserable. They have resorted to conspiracies and destabilization plots in order to oust the President from power,” according to the MRRD-NECC. “Ironically, these politicians do not have any sterling record to identify them as good public servants, rather, as experts in destabilization and mutiny. His daughter, Davao Mayor Sara Duterte, on Sunday said the threat of destabilization is “as real as terrorism.”
Source:Manila Times
October 16, 2017 11:48 UTC
Chiefs, Knights in crucial match
AdvertisementsThe Chiefs battle the Cardinals at 2 p.m. while the Knights take on the Blazers at 4 p.m.Arellano and Letran are currently sharing the fourth spot with San Sebastian College-Recoletos as all three carry identical 8-9 win-loss records. Lervin Flores and Rence Alcoriza stepped up for the Chiefs in their previous outing, posting 19 and 16 points, respectively. Salado would miss the rest of Arellano’s campaign this season due to a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury, which the explosive guard suffered in their crucial 85-79 win over San Sebastian last week. Both Mapua (3-14) and St. Benilde (4-13) are just out to end their season on a bright note. In the non-bearing game day opener, ousted teams Emilio Aguinaldo College (6-11) and Perpetual (4-12) tangle at 12 noon.
Source:Manila Times
October 16, 2017 11:37 UTC
PH’s Amit rules Guri International 9-Ball
Two-time World 10-Ball champion Rubilen Amit reigned supreme in the women’s division of the 2017 Guri International 9-Ball Championship held at the Guri Sports Complex in Guri City in South Korea. Amit also defeated Lee Woo Jin of South Korea in the first round, Kuo Szu-Ting of Taiwan in the second round and another Taiwan bet Chen Chia-Hua in the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Wei advanced to the finals by stunning world champion Chen Siming of China in the quarterfinals and compatriot Chou Chieh Yu in the Final Four stage. Back-to-back SEA Games gold medalist Chezka Centeno ousted Gao Meng of China in the opening round (9-5) but lost to former world champion Kelly Fisher of Great Britain (5-9) in the second round. Chua took home the KRW 15,000,000 runner-up purse while Liu earned the KRW 30,000,000 champion’s prize.
Source:Manila Times
October 16, 2017 11:37 UTC
Oil firms announce adjustments in pump prices on Tuesday
OIL companies announced a new round of price adjustments on diesel, gasoline, and kerosene on Tuesday, a week after implementing a rollback on petroleum products. AdvertisementsFlying V will raise the price of gasoline by 20 centavos but roll back the price of kerosene by 15 centavos per liter, effective at 12:01 a.m.Caltex, Pilipinas Shell, and Seaoil will increase the price of gasoline but roll back the price of kerosene by 15 centavos per liter effective at 6 a.m., also on Tuesday. PTT Philippines will follow suit on the price of gasoline effective at 6 a.m. on the same day. While Flying V, Caltex, PTT Philippines, Pilipinas Shell, and Seaoil will leave the price of diesel unchanged, Phoenix Petroleum announced a rollback by 40 centavos per liter effective at 6 a.m. on Tuesday. JORDEENE SHEEX LAGARE
Source:Manila Times
October 16, 2017 10:30 UTC
10 drown as Rohingya boat sinks off Bangladesh
AdvertisementsThe boat was carrying an estimated 50 people when it went down in the estuary of the Naf river that divides the two countries, Border Guard Bangladesh area commander Lieutenant Colonel S.M. Ariful Islam told Agence France-Presse. Another 12,000 have entered in the last 24 hours, local border guard spokesman Major Iqbal Ahmed said. One border guard told Agence France-Presse the boat was just 200 yards from the Bangladesh coast when it sank in rough waters. He said the small fishing trawlers were highly vulnerable to accidents as they approached the shore, where they are often buffeted by large waves.
Source:Manila Times
October 16, 2017 10:30 UTC
Final curtain call for Chinggoy Alonzo
THE world of theater and showbiz lost another star as thespian actor Chinggoy Alonzo passed away on Sunday night. The actor enjoyed a stellar career on stage, television and the movies. Alonzo eventually crossed over to the big and small screens, debuting in the film “Buhay Artista Ngayon” in 1979, and TV series “Anna Karenina” in 1996. We will miss you….” Avila worked as production manager at The Met when Alonzo was directing and starring in musicals for the company. As of posting time a statement has yet to be released by the family regarding Alonzo’s cause of death.
Source:Manila Times
October 16, 2017 10:07 UTC
Japan’s Reds plot Shanghai surprise
TOKYO: Japan’s Urawa Reds will look to defy recent history and complete a shock victory over star-studded Shanghai SIPG in the Asian Champions League semifinals on Wednesday. AdvertisementsMeanwhile, Iran’s Persepolis has a mountain to climb on Tuesday as they try to overturn a 4-0 first-leg thrashing away to Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal. “Of course there’s pressure on us not to concede an away goal,” said Reds goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa. “There is the advantage of the away goal (for Urawa),” admitted Villas-Boas, who welcomes back China goalkeeper Yan Junling after suspension. “But we are a team that has scored so many goals and I hope that we are able to score in Japan and cancel out the away goal.
Source:Manila Times
October 16, 2017 09:45 UTC
Leverkusen stumbles to draw against Wolfsburg
BERLIN: Bayer Leverkusen’s poor start to the Bundesliga season continued on Sunday (Monday in Manila), as they twice threw away a lead to draw 2-2 with Wolfsburg. AdvertisementsDominant in the opening half an hour, Leverkusen finally broke the deadlock on 29 minutes. After a flurry of chances just before half time, Liverpool loanee Divock Origi eventually headed the visitors level on 44 minutes. Lucas Alario restored the lead for Leverkusen on the hour mark, but Wolfsburg were level again within 10 minutes. The draw extended Wolfsburg’s winless streak to six games, but coach Martin Schmidt was positive about his side’s performance.
Source:Manila Times
October 16, 2017 09:45 UTC
Icardi hat-trick as Inter reigns in Milan
MILAN: Mauro Icardi scored a hattrick as Inter Milan kept pace with leaders Napoli with a 3-2 defeat of city rivals AC Milan in a fiery Serie A derby clash on Sunday (Monday in Manila). AdvertisementsInter skipper Icardi sealed victory from the spot in the final minute in front of 80,000 spectators at the San Siro to complete his hat-trick after also scoring on 28 and 63 minutes. Milan in freefallAC Milan dropped to tenth place after their fourth defeat piled the pressure on coach Vincenzo Montella. Both Suso and a Joao Miranda header went wide, but Inter took the lead with Icardi picking up a Candreva cross after 28 minutes. Torino are now eighth, with Bologna moving just ahead with a 2-1 derby win over SPAL.
Source:Manila Times
October 16, 2017 09:45 UTC
Davao nails first PFL victory
Davao Aguilas FC struck in opposite halves to seize its breakthrough win at the expense of Ilocos United FC, 2-0, on Sunday at the packed Davao Del Norte Sports Complex in Tagum City. The result also meant that all clubs in the eight-team league now have at least a win. I am very satisfied that in the end, we ended up winning,” said Davao head coach Marlon Maro. Ilocos United failed to climb out of the cellar as the rookies from Vigan absorbed their 17th loss against a lone victory and four draws for seven points. Over at the Cebu City Sports Center, Global Cebu FC edged out JPV Marikina FC, 2-1, to firm up its hold of No.
Source:Manila Times
October 16, 2017 09:45 UTC
Atienza: Medical marijuana to turn PH into ‘zombie nation’
6517, which seeks to provide the public free access to medical marijuana, would in effect be a “backdoor decriminalization” of smoking weed. ADVERTISEMENT“If other countries wish to destroy themselves by enabling medical marijuana, then let them create their own problems. We Filipinos certainly do not want to degenerate into a nation of zombies,” Atienza said. But Atienza claimed that young people, such as depressed teenagers and children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, did not really need access to medical marijuana. The House senior deputy minority leader added that illegal drug traffickers might even use medical marijuana as cover to boost the stimulant’s recreational use.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
October 16, 2017 09:34 UTC
Battle for Marawi: Bitter siege that left a city in ruins
The death of top Islamist fighter Isnilon Hapilon is a rare celebratory moment for the Philippines military, which has been bogged down in a grueling four-month battle to retake the southern city of Marawi. ADVERTISEMENTHere are the key moments in the battle for Marawi that has left more than 1,000 people killed and 400,000 residents displaced, and the city in ruins. They swiftly seized key buildings and took hostages, forcing thousands to flee as troops surrounded the city. October, leaders killed, end in sight? Slowly, street by street and house by house, the militants were pushed back into an increasingly small patch of the pulverised city.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
October 16, 2017 09:33 UTC
US, SKorea begin major navy drill
SEONGNAM, South Korea: The United States and South Korea on Monday launched a joint naval exercise in a fresh show of force against North Korea over its growing missile and nuclear threats. The United States has since ramped up military drills with South Korea and Japan, its two closest allies in the region. “The latest exercise is aimed at maintaining readiness against North Korea’s naval provocation and improving capabilities to carry out joint operations,” a South Korean navy spokesman told reporters. The US navy said earlier that the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier and two US destroyers would take part. But US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Sunday that Trump wanted to deal with North Korea diplomatically and added US efforts to engage Pyongyang were bearing fruit.
Source:Manila Times
October 16, 2017 09:22 UTC