Link celebrates 15th anniversary of its listing in Hong Kong
Link Real Estate Investment Trust celebrated today the 15th anniversary of its listing in Hong Kong. The company’s manager Link Asset Management Limited held a lighting ceremony at its office at The Quayside, Ngau Tau Kok. In his speech, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po congratulated Link on its anniversary: “The Hong Kong SAR Government is determined to expand Hong Kong REIT market, broadening investors’ choice, adding diversity and liquidity to our financial market. “Congratulations to Link REIT on its 15th Anniversary,” Securities and Futures Commission Chairman Tim Lui said. This will help promote sustainable, long-term market development and build Hong Kong as a premier global asset and wealth management centre," he said.
Source:The Standard
November 25, 2020 12:48 UTC
European Central Bank predicts bank profits to remain weak next year
Profits at European banks will not return to pre-pandemic levels before 2022, the region’s central bank warned today in its latest financial stability review, CNBC reports. Lenders in the eurozone have struggled to make sizeable profits over the last decade following the 2008 global financial crisis, with stronger regulatory scrutiny and low interest rates. “Bank profitability is expected to remain weak,” Luis de Guindos, vice president at the ECB, said in a statement. If a bank presents consistently low profits that could hurt its ability to lend money to businesses and individuals. However, interest rates — which are what banks charge for lending money — are expected to remain low as the ECB continues with its ultra-loose monetary policy.
Source:The Standard
November 25, 2020 12:45 UTC
Government launches 8888 text hotline
MANILA, Philippines — Citizens can now report corrupt and incompetent government personnel through text messaging. The Office of the President has added a text service platform to the 8888 Citizens' Complaint Center, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Wednesday. Reports about graft, corruption, and slow and inefficient delivery of government services as well as requests for assistance can be sent via text message to 8888 free of charge. You are now one text away," Roque said. The 8888 Citizens' Complaint Hotline was institutionalized through Executive Order no.
Source:Philippine Star
November 25, 2020 12:33 UTC
Sauces and paste from Singapore's Kwong Cheong Thye pulled from shelves
Several kinds of paste and sauces, including Laksa Paste, Sambal Belachan Chilli Paste, Crispy Chilli, Chilli Crab Sauce, by Singapore's Kwong Cheong Thye, imported by Tropical Trading Company have been withdrawn from sale by Hong Kong health authorities because they may contain an allergen which had not been declared on the label. The Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said consumers who are allergic to fish, which is a known allergen, are advised not to consume the products. The trade was directed to stop using or selling them. Tropical Trading Company, had imported some of the affected products into Hong Kong and has started a recall. The Singapore Food Agency has on November 21 ordered Kwong Cheong Thye to recall five cooking sauces and pastes due to undeclared fish allergen.-Photo: CNA
Source:The Standard
November 25, 2020 12:33 UTC
Meghan Markle reveals miscarriage in July – The Manila Times
NEW YORK: Meghan Markle has revealed she suffered a miscarriage in July this year, writing in the New York Times on Wednesday of the deep grief and loss she endured with her husband Prince Harry. In the piece in the Times, the 39-year-old wrote that she had just changed her son’s diaper when she felt a sharp cramp and fell to the ground. Their withdrawal in March came after reports Markle was deeply unhappy with life inside the royal family and fed up with media intrusion. '”Between ten and 15 percent of known pregnancies end in miscarriage, according to the US mother and childcare non-profit March of Dimes. “These photos are only for the people who need them.”Markle’s use of the New York Times to speak about her miscarriage has echoes of Angelina Jolie’s 2013 op-ed in which she revealed her decision to have a preventative double mastectomy.
Source:Manila Times
November 25, 2020 11:48 UTC
Neymar keeps PSG on course in Champions League with Leipzig win – The Manila Times
PARIS: A nervy Paris Saint-Germain were outplayed for long spells but held on after an early Neymar penalty to beat RB Leipzig 1-0 on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) and revive their Champions League campaign. Yet Neymar’s 11th-minute spot-kick proved enough for a PSG side struggling with injuries and suspensions, as Leipzig failed to convert any of the chances that came their way. Crucially, PSG has the head-to-head advantage over Leipzig, thanks to an away goal, if the two teams end level on points. Neymar rolled the ball home from 12 yards for his first Champions League goal of the season on what was his first start in almost a month after injury. There was no contact.”Alongside Neymar, Kylian Mbappe saw his European goal drought go on — Ligue 1’s leading scorer has still not scored a Champions League goal in 2020 in eight appearances.
Source:Manila Times
November 25, 2020 11:48 UTC
Unicef, partners plan vaccine distribution – The Manila Times
Etleva Kadilli, director of Unicef Supply Division, highlighted the importance of the partnership to ensure capacity for the massive undertaking. “This invaluable collaboration will go a long way to ensure that enough transport capacity is in place for this historic and mammoth operation. In the coming weeks, Unicef is also assessing existing transport capacity to identify gaps and future requirements, said the agency. “The procurement, delivery and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines is anticipated to be the largest and fastest such operation ever undertaken,” it added. Unicef is leading efforts to procure and deliver vaccines from manufacturers that have agreements with the Covax Facility.
Source:Manila Times
November 25, 2020 11:48 UTC
Taguig City distributes tablet computers to students, teachers
MANILA, Philippines — The government of Taguig City has distributed tablet computers to students and faculty of the Taguig City University (TCU) to help them with distance learning. According to the local government, it has distributed 8,667 and 267 tablets to TCU students and full-time and part-time teachers, respectively. The students may use the devices to conduct research, do self-paced virtual learning, or even seek part-time employment,” the city government said in a statement. The teaching hub may also be used by the faculty to prepare videos for synchronous and asynchronous sessions, it added. “Ultimately, we want our students at TCU and in the whole public school system to learn, even when the setup is different.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
November 25, 2020 11:48 UTC
DBP funds Southern Luzon cancer treatment facility – The Manila Times
STATE-OWNED Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) has signed a P481-million term loan agreement with Global Care Cancer Institute, Inc. (GCCII) to finance the construction of a three-storey cancer treatment facility in Bay, Laguna, a top official said. DBP President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel G. Herbosa said that the financing was granted under the DBP Strategic Healthcare Investment for Enhanced Lending & Development (SHIELD) program that aims to improve the delivery of quality health care services in the country. “DBP is one with GCCII in its mission to deliver better and affordable cancer treatment to our countrymen in Southern Luzon,” Herbosa said. As of June 2020, DBP SHIELD has lent out a total of P11.07-Billion to 89 borrowers in various parts of the country. “In this extraordinary time where we gear-up for a certain level of normalcy, DBP vows to continue its support to developmental initiatives that would intensify the delivery of improved quality health services for every Filipino,” Herbosa said.
Source:Manila Times
November 25, 2020 11:48 UTC
Service suspension of three Student Health Service Centres
Starting from Friday, services of three Student Health Service Centres under the Department of Health in Kowloon Bay, Tai Po and Yuen Long will be suspended. The services are adjusted in order to deploy more healthcare manpower to support anti-epidemic work and meet operational needs, said a spokesman from the department. As for the nine other Student Health Service Centres, limited annual health assessment services will continue to be provided. Limited Special Assessment Centre services will also be provided to students who require further follow-ups. These include assessment services provided by clinical psychologists, dietitians, optometrists, audiologists and scoliosis related services.
Source:The Standard
November 25, 2020 10:52 UTC
WHO says virus cases in Europe are slowing down – The Manila Times
LONDON: The World Health Organization says the coronavirus pandemic has “slowed down” in the past week although death rates continued to rise, with more than 67,000 new deaths reported. The UN health agency said in its latest epidemiological update Wednesday that even though there was a “downward trend” in the number of cases in Europe, the region still has the biggest proportion of new cases and deaths globally. WHO noted that Africa reported the highest increase in new cases and deaths, driven by South Africa, Algeria and Kenya. In the past week, WHO said, the number of new cases reported in Europe dropped by about 6 percent after a 10 percent decline the previous week, suggesting that lockdowns across the continent are effectively slowing transmission. Myanmar reported a 74 percent jump in cases last week, with more than 11,000 new cases and a 36 percent increase in deaths, at 188.
Source:Manila Times
November 25, 2020 10:41 UTC
(Policy Address) Government’s HK$600m relief a timely help amid tourism hardship
Hong Kong Travel Agent Association chairman Freddy Yip Hing-ning said the HK$600m relief for the industry has “hit the spot”, especially when the Employment Support Scheme is about to end. He hopes authorities could up their disease prevention measures including implementing mandatory citywide virus testing to attract travelers back to Hong Kong. “In the long run, these measures should clear all cases in the city, enabling cross border travels,” said Yip. A spokesman from Wing Lee Cross Border Bus Company said they welcomed the new relief measures, but stressed that not all Cross Border Bus Company has travel agent licenses, meaning those may not benefit from it. While a spokesman from the Eternal East Cross-Border Coach Management said authorities are not doing enough to support the industry.
Source:The Standard
November 25, 2020 10:30 UTC
Lacson calls for need to look into ‘redundant’ PITC
MANILA, Philippines—Senator Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday stressed the need to investigate the Philippine International Trading Corporation’s functions, which he called a redundant agency. The PITC, essentially, has a similar function to the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management, which makes it redundant. But funds with the PITC become idle and are returned to the Treasury,” he said. Lacson added that the Senate should revisit the functions of the PITC, an agency that was formed through Presidential Decree 252 in 1973. Moreover, money deposited into the coffers of the PITC will never be realigned even if, Lacson said, the heads of the government branches would like to.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
November 25, 2020 10:07 UTC
Robredo office releases letters between OVP and DepEd on learning hubs issue
“To support students in making the most of the current distance learning modality, my Office has undertaken the establishment of Community Learning Hubs. Issues about supposedly limited in-face tutorials in OVP’s learning hubs in Pasig City were raised in a briefing on Tuesday, where Briones distanced from the project. Robredo’s spokesperson Barry Gutierrez then insisted that the community learning hubs were coordinated with DepEd, even claiming that the department considered it a good initiative. ADVERTISEMENT“The Community Learning Hubs initiative was coordinated with the Department of Education, at both the national and local levels, every step of the way. There is also proper coordination not just with local DepEd Divisions but also local government units to ensure a safe and effective learning environment,” he added.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
November 25, 2020 09:44 UTC
MTR 20pc rebate and price reduction on frequent user tickets extended
The “20 percent Rebate for Every Octopus Trip” will be extended for three more months till late March 2021, and a flat reduction of HK$100 for users of Monthly Passes will be provided for six more months till June 2021, the MTR Corporation announced today. The MTR Corporation will shoulder the remainder, depending on the actual MTR patronage during the initiative effective period. Jeny Yeung Mei-chun, Commercial Director of MTR Corporation said, “As a Hong Kong-rooted company, MTR with all its staff are dedicated to keep Hong Kong moving. The Corporation hopes to continue to ride out the hardship with Hong Kong by extending the fare discounts. We hope that the Hong Kong economy will recover when the pandemic is over.”
Source:The Standard
November 25, 2020 09:44 UTC