Alert Level 2 raised at Taal Volcano – The Manila Times
THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Tuesday raised Alert Level 2 at Taal Volcano in Batangas province due to its increasing unrest. This means that there is probable magmatic activity that may or may not lead to an eruption, Phivolcs chief Renato Solidum told The Manila Times. The total number of volcanic tremor events rose to 866 since the onset of increased activity on February 13, 2021, Phivolcs said. In addition to these, the Phivolcs chief said a total of 141 low-frequency volcanic earthquakes have occurred within one-kilometer depth beneath TVI and immediate vicinities. “Overall, seismic activity in the past month indicates increases magmatic and hydrothermal activity at shallow depths beneath TVI,” Solidum said.
Source:Manila Times
March 09, 2021 02:15 UTC
Phivolcs raises Taal Volcano's alert status to level 2
MANILA, Philippines — State volcanologists on Tuesday raised the status of Taal Volcano in Batangas to Alert Level 2, saying it has been exhibiting “increasing unrest.”In an advisory, Phivolcs said the raising of the alert level means “there is probable magmatic activity that may or may not lead to an eruption.”Related Stories Displaced and locked down in same year, Taal Lake folk face bleak ChristmasWith Alert Level 2 hoisted over Taal Volcano, the institute stressed that entry into Taal Volcano Island—a permanent danger zone—remains strictly prohibited. “Local government units are advised to continuously assess previously evacuated barangays around Taal Lake for damages and road accessibilities and to strengthen preparedness, contingency, and communication measures in case of renewed unrest,” Phivolcs said. Increased activityPhivolcs said the total number of volcanic tremor events has increased to 866 since the onset of increased activity on February 13. “Overall, seismic activity in the past month indicates increased magmatic and hydrothermal activity at shallow depths beneath TVI,” it said. Taal woke up from its decades-long slumber in Jan. 12, 2020, unleashing kilometers-high ash column and lava fountain the next day.
Source:Philippine Star
March 09, 2021 00:45 UTC
Elements offers Spring Rewards to spur consumption
To facilitate the recovery of the consumption market, ELEMENTS is rolling out the Spring Quadruple Rewards program. Furthermore, customers with same-day electronic spending of HK6,800 will receive an exciting reward valued at HK$1,000, ranging from a designated shopping voucher to two PREMIERE cinemas tickets. What’s more, those who spend HK$28,000, the reward is valued at HK$8,000 and includes a dining conditional voucher, a fashion and personal care and beauty conditional voucher, and more. They include a dining conditional voucher, a fashion and personal care and beauty conditional voucher, a jewelry and accessories conditional voucher, a designated tenant conditional voucher, ten PREMIERE cinemas tickets, and a designated tenant conditional voucher. Aside from the shopping offers, ELEMENTS also introduces various dine-in discounts with up to 50% off at designated restaurants.
Source:The Standard
March 09, 2021 00:00 UTC
Hikers pan Dragon's Back claw
An ugly claw-like installation was removed from Dragon's Back hiking trail yesterday following criticism that it looked like chicken's feet. Hikers discovered a two-meter orange-red wooden claw with nail tips and a metal base was erected on the popular hiking trail in Shek O Country Park. However, dozens of netizens called this "dragon claw" installation ugly after a hiker posted a photo of it on Facebook on Sunday. "The claw shape is incompatible with the natural landscape on Dragon's Back," a netizen complained. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said yesterday the "claw" was an "experimental installation" made from trees which fell during typhoon.
Source:The Standard
March 08, 2021 19:07 UTC
Customs arrests 22 for selling fake goods
During their operation, officers posed as buyers and smashed 17 online scams that sold counterfeit goods, arresting 22 sellers aged 20 to 69. "These online sellers claimed to be able to contact foreign manufacturers or large suppliers directly," said Henry Wong Chi-yin, commander of the intellectual property transnational unit. Some sellers also pushed their counterfeit goods by selling at 60 to 70 percent discounted prices on genuine items, while others promoted their counterfeit goods through social media live broadcasts. "They sold counterfeit goods in a live broadcast by different methods, including limited-time broadcasts and online bidding," he said. Tse Kwok-keung, head of the intellectual property investigation bureau, said some sellers also reopened social media accounts after being accused of selling counterfeit goods.
Source:The Standard
March 08, 2021 19:07 UTC
Fallout feared from 'bombshell' interview
"Whatever the royal family was expecting from this interview, this was worse," another traditionally "establishment" newspaper, The Times, said. Chris Ship, the royal editor of ITV, which aired the interview in Britain last night, said he was "momentarily paralyzed" by the sheer volume of revelations. There was also criticism of the couple for giving the interview. The Daily Mail, which has been highly critical of Meghan, quoted royal expert Robert Jobson as saying the couple were "self-obsessed." And he called their interview at times "terribly self-indulgent."
Source:The Standard
March 08, 2021 19:07 UTC
Comeback king
Barcelona members have elected Joan Laporta as club president, turning to the man who oversaw one of their most successful periods to lead them out of an institutional and financial crisis. Messi was among Barca players to vote in the election a day after winning 2-0 at Osasuna to go second in La Liga. Laporta's first match in his second spell as president is tomorrow's Champions League last-16 second leg away to Paris St Germain, with Barca trailing 4-1 in the tie. Laporta was first elected in 2003 and presided over a golden period in the club's history which witnessed four La Liga titles and two Champions League triumphs. Bartomeu was arrested last Monday in a Catalan police probe related to allegations of improper management and business corruption.
Source:The Standard
March 08, 2021 19:07 UTC
No worries after Tung tumble
The 83-year-old Tung fell to the floor as he was leaving the stage and walking down the stairs. During a meeting with media executives yesterday, Tung said people do not need to overreact to his fall. Tung recalled his friend, movie mogul Sir Run Run Shaw, once told him to stay healthy by doing exercises and sleeping well as he "would do a lot of great things." "The strength of my legs is great," Tung said, adding he had followed Shaw's suggestion and exercised by lifting his legs in bed every morning. Tung added that Shaw was the first person to tell him that he was going to be the chief executive.
Source:The Standard
March 08, 2021 19:07 UTC
China Tower makes 6.4b yuan in 2020
The net profit of China Tower (0788) surged by 23.1 percent to 6.43 billion yuan (HK$7.65 billion) year-on-year in 2020, with an increased dividend payout from 60 percent to 68 percent. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization, a measure of a company's overall financial performance, went up by 5 percent year-on-year to 58.53 billion yuan. Revenue from indoor distributed antenna system business jumped by 32.7 percent to 3.53 billion yuan. Capital expenditure reached 37.12 billion yuan, more than 30 percent higher than the budget of 28 billion yuan, given relatively strong market demand. The group said the figure will drop by about 19 percent year-on-year to 30 billion yuan this year.
Source:The Standard
March 08, 2021 19:07 UTC
Japan online broker to quit HK, says FT
The owner of Japan's biggest online securities brokerage, SBI Holdings, plans to pull the company's operations out of Hong Kong, says a Financial Times report. Yoshitaka Kitao, chief executive of SBI, said he is moving because "without freedom, there is no financial business," the report said, adding that 100 employees would be affected by the withdrawal. The former Hong Kong-listed company is also reviewing London's status as the optimal financial center in Europe. Kitao said he would rather have an office in Beijing or Shanghai or elsewhere if he wants to do business in China. Japan's manufacturers, retailers and wholesalers were becoming more inclined to relocate operations from Hong Kong to mainland China, he said.
Source:The Standard
March 08, 2021 19:07 UTC
'Act now' signal on HK housing woes
Michael Shum and Kevin XuHong Kong's housing problem needs to be solved, according to Vice Premier Han Zheng - which commentators take to mean that Beijing will start addressing developers' hegemony. "The housing problem in Hong Kong is related to its history and development. China watcher and political commentator Bruce Lui Ping-kuen said Han's remarks implied that Beijing will start getting involved in Hong Kong's housing problem. But Terence Chong Tai-leung, associate professor of economics from Chinese University, said he cannot imagine radical measures - such as price control in the mainland - working in Hong Kong. "Beijing might rent the SAR some land, maybe an island near Hong Kong, so that we can have more land to build public housing," Chong said.
Source:The Standard
March 08, 2021 19:07 UTC
Back to full classes an educated move
Whether it is right to ask all teachers to receive Covid tests is not a question for the ESF to answer. It is a condition set by the Education Bureau that schools must meet if they want to bring all students back to school. In view of the small number of new cases reported every day - and even with the latest vaccine rollout not as smooth as hoped - it is time for normal classes to resume. The ongoing controversy over the ESF's latest decision is understandable, but unwarranted, and its plan for full class resumption is an educated move. Their peers in the UK began attending school in full yesterday, with teachers and students expected to test regularly for Covid.
Source:The Standard
March 08, 2021 19:07 UTC
Bilibili gets ball rolling for US$3b share sale
XINHUAChinese video site Bilibili is looking to pass a hearing with the Hong Kong stock exchange this week for its secondary listing that could raise US$3 billion (HK$23.4 billion), mainland media reported. Bilibili, backed by Tencent (0700) and Alibaba (9988), earlier said revenue for the fourth quarter last year jumped 91 percent to 3.84 billion yuan (HK$4.57 billion). Hong Kong stock listings could surpass last year's pace, driven by an influx of new economy companies and a "homecoming" of Chinese firms, said Bonnie Chan, Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing's (0388) head of listing. And Novotech, a Sydney-based clinical research and testing provider, plans to sell its shares in Hong Kong this year to raise around US$1.5 billion, Reuters' IFR reported. Chan also said the bourse is studying allowing special purpose acquisition companies to list in Hong Kong, but that it needs to be "mindful" of investor protections.
Source:The Standard
March 08, 2021 19:07 UTC
Violent Myanmar spiral worsens
Families join in an anti-coup demonstration in Mandalay as protesters face off with riot police in the capital Naypyitaw. Security forces shot dead three people in Myanmar yesterday, as the military government continued its attempt to stamp out opposition to its February 1 coup. Graphic videos on social media showed protesters backing away from tear gas, responding with rocks, then fleeing after what seemed to be automatic gunfire. The coup and its violent aftermath have led foreign governments and international organizations to impose measures against Myanmar's military leaders. On social media, many filmed incidents of police and soldiers in plain view showed them savagely beating protesters in their custody.
Source:The Standard
March 08, 2021 19:07 UTC
Deaths, complications 'not linked'
SING TAOJane CheungA chronically ill 55-year-old woman who died and two elderly diabetic people now in critical condition after taking the Sinovac vaccine were not directly linked, an expert panel says. The panel also concluded last week that the city's first vaccine recipient death - a 63-year-old man - was not directly linked to the Sinovac jab he had two days before he died on February 28. In contrast to the two previous deaths who were inoculated at the Kwun Chung Sports Centre vaccination clinic, the third man received his jab at a private clinic last Wednesday. Sources said the man died in his sleep. He received the Sinovac jab at Tin Fai Road Sports Center in Yuen Long on March 1.
Source:The Standard
March 08, 2021 19:07 UTC