Two workers were trapped mid-air at the Golden Centre in Central on Wednesday after a gondola they were in got stuck on the 10th floor with its controller malfunctioning following a power failure. The workers were stuck on the exterior of the building on Des Voeux Road Central at around 11am when the gondola malfunctioned, leaving the two stranded in mid-air. It was said that the controller of the gondola was unresponsive following a power failure, with the workers unable to get themselves back to safety. The duo was later rescued and brought to safety through an aerial ladder mounted on a fire truck. This is the second gondola incident within a month in the Central district, with two workers trapped in cleaning gondola at Standard Chartered Bank Building on April 20.

Nearly 20 blue chip firms have so far submitted applications to use the yuan trading counter which is expected to be launched by the end of June, according to Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (0388). However, southbound trading will still need to be conducted through the existing process of exchanging RMB to HKD. He said the counter will be a "game changer" for southbound trading. Currently, investors trading Hong Kong stocks via the Stock Connect exchange yuan for the local currency, with the exchange rate not confirmed until the following day. Aguzin noted that once the yuan counter for southbound transactions is introduced, it is expected that "vast majority" of transactions will be denominated in yuan.

Chris Newsome FIBA PHOTO(UPDATE) MERALCO veteran Chris Newsome said last year's failure to secure the gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games men's basketball is enough motivation for Gilas Pilipinas to make an all-out effort in reclaiming the region's basketball throne that the country has held for decades. "It's something we can't take for granted because every team has been leveling up their skills and their players," he said. "Competition has definitely been rising in Southeast Asia and we definitely can't take it for granted. "We've got a good mixture of veterans and young guns here," said the 32-year-old former PBA Rookie of the Year. Newsome will be making his SEA Games men's basketball debut since first seeing action in the SEA Games 3x3 tournament, which he helped win the gold in the 2019 edition held in Manila.

The Philippine response to bulk demand for foreign workers was to create a new office to manage foreign labor migration. A macro-economic consequence of this new development was the strong shift of the country’s income profile in relation to domestic productivity. Nearly 10 percent of incomes earned by Filipino factors contributes to world output (because they worked abroad), not to domestic output. This is why I view the OFW phenomenon as a perverse form of creating employment abroad. Those countries that have succeeded in developing a home based domestic employment program have done better than us.

K-pop boy group Tomorrow X Together (TXT) is set to return to the Philippines for a solo concert in August. As part of its world tour dubbed "Act: Sweet Mirage," TXT will delight Filipino "MOA" fans at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan on August 13. Kpop boy group 'TXT' INSTAGRAM PHOTO/TXT_BIGHITOFFICIALLocal concert promoter Live Nation PH shared on Twitter, "Filo MOA, Get ready for Tomorrow X Together World Tour in Bulacan! The group made its debut in 2019 with the EP "The Dream Chapter: Star," which topped Billboard's World Album list. The group was named best new male artist at the MAMA Awards the same year.

The four-year-old reptile is a Siamese crocodile, which is an endangered species originated from Southeast Asia. Siamese crocodiles are protected species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Wild Siamese crocodiles are rare and usually found in breeding environments. "We believe we are able to provide suitable care to the Siamese crocodile," Chuk said, adding that the park has been breeding a similar-sized crocodile. "We will consider keeping the crocodile if Siamese crocodiles become a part of education and conservation projects," Chuk added.

El Niño Alert: PAGASA says phenomenon of hot, dry weather now more likelyA farmer checks the dry soil on his farm in this 2019 file photo. MANILA, Philippines — The state weather bureau issued Tuesday an El Niño Alert, indicating a high chance the weather phenomenon associated with dry spells and drought will develop within the next two months. In a statement, PAGASA said the probability of El Niño developing during the June to August season has increased to 80%. PAGASA said that El Niño increases the likelihood of below-normal rainfall conditions, which could result in dry spells and droughts in some areas of the Philippines. PAGASA earlier urged the public to conserve water as El Niño can deplete water supplies.

One post in April warned of an alleged plot by Muslims to “multiply their population to take control of India”. A forecast issued the same year from the Pew Research Center said that India’s Muslim community would grow to 311 million by 2050. But despite their growing share of the national population, Muslims would remain a small minority in a country of 1.7 billion people by mid-century, according to the US-based think tank’s projections. One Facebook post sarcastically greeted news that India’s population had overtaken China’s by thanking Muslims “for producing 5-10 children” each. Quraishi, has written extensively on the spread of disinformation about the country’s Muslim birthrate.

HSBC (0005) is projected to have more than doubled its pre-tax profit in the first quarter of this year from 12 months ago. The bank is also expected to announce the resumption of a quarterly dividend of between 8 to 10 US cents (62.4 to 78 HK cents) today. HSBC said last month that the planned disposal could be delayed or fail as interest rate hikes increase the buyer's capital requirements. Net interest income is forecast to rise to around US$9 billion while the net interest margin is expected to reach 1.66 percent by investment banks. A US$2 billion share repurchase may be carried out this year, said Goldman Sachs, who maintained a buy rating for HSBC with a target price of HK$75.

MANILA, Philippines — All workers can avail of free train rides at the Light Rail Transit 2 and Metro Rail Transit 3 in line with the celebration of Labor Day today, Monday. According to the Department of Transportation (DOTr), workers can avail the free rides from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. by just showing their company ID or government-issued ID to security personnel at train stations. ADVERTISEMENT“The Libreng Sakay (Free Ride) is MRT-3’s simple way to show the line’s tribute to all the workers who support our country’s economy. May this bring them joy and a little comfort on their special day,” said Assistant Transportation Secretary Jorjette Aquino, who is also the MRT-3 officer in charge. “The PNP will assist in all lawful and peaceful activities in commemoration of Labor Day,” he said.

A man plunged to death by jumping off a building after attacking his wife with a wooden rod in Tseung Kwan O early Monday morning. A 71-year-old man surnamed So attacked his 65-year-old wife, surnamed Lee, at their Hau Tak Estate apartment at around 3 am after tempers flared. Lee was struck on the head, and after a short while, So jumped out from the kitchen windows of the apartment. The police have not discovered a suicide letter and seized the 50-cm-long wooden stick used in the assault, listing the case as an assault and suicide case. Below is a list of 24-hour hotlines that ensure people can get help in time:The Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong: 2389 2222The Samaritans: 2896 0000Suicide Prevention Services: 2382 0000Richmond Fellowship of Hong Kong – Justone: 3512 2626Caritas Family Crisis Support Centre: 18288

Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said China has agreed to discuss fishing rights in the South China Sea, as he pushed for a "direct communication line" with Beijing on maritime differences. China has agreed to "sit down" and talk about Filipinos' fishing rights in the South China Sea, Marcos said, adding he has asked the Philippine Coast Guard and the Department of Foreign Affairs "to put together...a map of these fishing grounds" that will be presented to Beijing. The Philippines accused China's coast guard on Friday of "aggressive tactics" following a recent incident during a Philippine coast guard patrol close to the Philippines-held Second Thomas Shoal, a flashpoint for previous altercations located 105 nautical miles (195 km) off its coast. The United States has urged China to stop harassing Philippine vessels in the South China Sea, while Beijing said it was willing to handle maritime differences with countries of concern through friendly consultations, while warning Washington against interference. China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, with a "nine-dash line" on maps that stretches more than 1,500 km (930 miles) off its mainland and cuts into the exclusive economic zones of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia.

The pace of rate hike is the fastest in 40 years and the largest in such a short time. One more move shoul be enoughMany investors in the bond market are anticipating a final 25-basis point hike at the upcoming meeting. The FOMC’s latest “dot-plot” forecast indicates only one more rate hike this year. As the Fed approaches its last hike, there is a possibility that the US dollar may remain weak, which could provide further support for the pound and euro. Very dangerousDespite the recent slowdown in inflation and the possibility that this could be the Fed’s last rate hike, it would be risky for the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to change its monetary tightening policy ahead of the Fed.

Plastic manTo be human now is to be partly plastic. An article last week from the New York Times was about how we have ingested plastic nanoparticles into our bodies. “There is plastic in our bodies; it’s in our lungs and in our bowels and in the blood that pulses through us,” the NYT article begins. According to Ocean Conservancy and McKinsey (2015), the Philippines is the third-ranking contributor to plastic pollution in the world, with at least 2.7 million metric tons of plastic waste generated every year. But we are partly plastic now, so maybe that’s why many of us can’t help being… plastic.

ORMOC CITY — A construction worker died after touching a live wire of the Samar Electric Cooperative 1 while painting a roof in Barangay Hamorawon, Calbayog City, Samar at about 4:20 p.m. on Saturday, April 29. ADVERTISEMENTInitial investigation showed that Bolasa accidentally touched a live wire of the Samar Electric Cooperative 1. The victim’s body was brought to a local funeral house for the conduct of a post-mortem examination. RELATED STORY:Boom truck operator electrocuted in Northern SamarJPVINQUIRER.net wants to hear from you! Your subscription has been successful.