Yahoo CEO could get $55M in severance pay in potential sale

SAN FRANCISCO — Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer will walk away with a $55 million severance package if the company’s auction of its Internet operations culminates in a sale that ousts her from her job.

The payout disclosed in a Friday regulatory filing consists of cash, stock awards and other benefits that Mayer would get should she be forced out as CEO within a year after a sale.

Although Yahoo’s board is still evaluating takeover offers, most investors are betting that the company will decide to sell its well-known brand and an Internet business that includes a popular email service and sections focused on sports and finance.

Mayer, a former Google executive, has been unsuccessfully trying to turn around Yahoo for nearly four years. Instead, Yahoo’s long-running slump has deepened during her reign. TVJ

source: technology.inquirer.net

Nuns hit back in battle with Katy Perry over convent

LOS ANGELES—A pair of nuns locked in a legal battle with singer Katy Perry over the purchase of a former convent claim in newly filed court papers that an incorrect translation of a Vatican decree was used to convince a judge to clear the sale of the property.

According to court documents filed this week on behalf of Sister Rita Callanan and Sister Catherine Rose Holzman, the decree, when properly translated, states that the Vatican was still examining the sisters’ claim that they control the prized property in Los Angeles.

They allege that the Archdiocese of Los Angeles had not submitted that information to a judge who earlier this month annulled a separate sale of the former convent by the nuns to a restaurant owner.

The Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary have sought to prevent the archdiocese from selling the complex to Perry for $14.5 million on grounds that they control the property and as such can decide on the buyer.

“Just hours after the court announced its (April 13) decision, (the nuns) learned for the first time that the (archdiocese) actually knew, at least three weeks before the decision, that proceedings remained in (Rome), but failed to inform the court of that crucial fact,” according to the court papers filed this week.

However the archdiocese dismissed the sisters’ claim and said in a statement that the three other remaining members of the order were not in agreement with the two nuns or their decision to sell the property to restaurateur Dana Hollister for $15.5 million.

“As the court ruling stated, the Hollister transaction was not valid,” the statement said. “This was always our concern with the Hollister transaction that basically took possession of the sisters’ property for just $44,000 and a contingent promissory note, without any guarantee that the sisters would ever receive any additional payment of the offer they received.”

A hearing in the case is scheduled June 20.

Perry, who grew up as a born-again Christian but is known for her support of gay rights and sultry songs such as “Teenage Dream,” has visited the nuns and sung for them in a fruitless bid at persuasion.

The Sisters of the Immaculate Heart was once a thriving order but only five sisters remain.

They moved out of the convent several years ago and have struggled to maintain the property.

Proceeds from the sale of the convent would go toward the nuns’ upkeep.

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

OPPO F1 Plus w/ 16MP front cam now available for pre-order

It’s official: OPPO’s camera phone with a 16-megapixel front camera has been finally launched in the Philippines. The F1 Plus, the second device after the F1 in the camera-centric F series, is being touted as the “bigger, better Selfie Expert.”

The global tech giant’s new device retails for P21,990 and is available for pre-order nationwide from April 16 to April 29. Down payment is just P1,000, and you get a free OPPO selfie stick along with the unit as soon as you pick it up starting April 30.

Great selfies whenever, wherever

The F1 Plus has a 16-megapixel front-facing Hi-Light Camera that captures clear, vivid photos in any lighting condition.

Four times more sensitive than standard cameras, the F1 Plus’ Hi-light Camera excels in low-light, back-lit, and night-time photography. The camera also offers twice the dynamic range of cameras without the Hi-Light technology, and captures photos with four times less noise.

“Selfies will always turn out bright and clear no matter the time of the day because of the F1 Plus’ unique sensor technology and wide f/2.0 aperture lens,” said Marton Barcza, OPPO’s product expert. “The F1 Plus also has the highest front camera resolution on the market.”

The phone comes with the new Selfie Panorama and Beautify 4.0 features, and the front-facing Screen Flash. Its custom-built sensor arranges pixels in a unique pattern to create clear and bright photos that are strikingly rich in color.

Sarah Geronimo, OPPO Philippines’ brand ambassador, said all these camera features allow users to “get the perfect shot on the first snap, anywhere and anytime.”

OPPO has likewise upgraded its built-in selfie beautification app with Beautify 4.0. After six months of testing and 150 revisions, Beautify 4.0 is optimized to enhance one’s look in a snap.

By highlighting the user’s best facial features and minimizing flaws, Beautify 4.0 produces natural-looking photos. “You’ll never have to take bad selfies again thanks to Beautify 4.0, which serves like your own styling team,” Geronimo said.

With the Selfie Panorama feature, you can take extra-wide 120-degree shots, as the F1 Plus seamlessly combines three photos to ensure that everyone in the group is in the photo.

“I’m sure everyone will look good in every ‘groupie’ because of the F1 Plus’ easy-to-use Selfie Panorama,” Geronimo said.

Light, thin and comfortable

The smartphone has an elegant frame that’s fit for style-minded users. The F1 Plus has a 5.5-inch AMOLED display with 4th Generation Gorilla Glass. But with ultra-thin 1.66-mm bezels, the F1 Plus looks like a smaller 5.2-inch phone.

“It doesn’t only take great selfies and groupies, it’s a fashion statement, too,” pointed out Geronimo.

“When we designed the F1 Plus, we wanted to create a light, thin, and comfortable device, so our O-Fans can effortlessly carry the smartphone and take photos anywhere they want,” Barcza said. “The frame went through 68 polishing processes before we finally attained what we believe is the perfect grip for a smartphone.”

“With its non-slippery metal surface, users won’t worry about this phone slipping from their hands,” he added.

Fast, convenient, secure

Who says the F1 Plus is only good for taking selfies? With a 4GB RAM and an 8-core processor, this smartphone promises users a faster and smoother experience while gaming, browsing the Internet, or using resource-heavy apps.

The smartphone is fit for people on the go, with a VOOC Flash Charge feature that requires only 30 minutes of charging for its battery to reach 75 percent capacity. The battery also can last up to 14 hours and 5 minutes of constant use.

“‘Charge for five minutes, talk for two hours’ became an iconic slogan for OPPO in China last year. It convinced more than 18 million users so far to say goodbye to dead batteries,” Barcza said. “The F1 Plus is set to bring the convenience and safety of VOOC to even more users around the world.”

The new phone is the first to feature the all-new ColorOS 3.0. This software offers a tidy and refreshing new look, along with increased efficiency and speed.

Overall system speed is now 25 percent faster when compared to ColorOS 2.1, with home screen loading speed increased by 35 percent, and app installation speed boosted by 41 percent.

You can likewise save time with the F1 Plus’ Touch Access technology, which makes unlocking the phone faster and easier. It is OPPO’s first phone to use front-facing fingerprint recognition.

The phone’s advanced ceramic material recognizes its owner’s fingerprint and unlocks the phone in just 0.2 seconds, one of the fastest in the industry.

“The F1 Plus not only captures moments in greater color resolution and detail than ever before, it also brings a smooth and enjoyable user experience,” said Barcza. ADVT.

source: technology.inquirer.net

Ronaldo remains doubtful for 2nd leg vs Man City

MADRID — Real Madrid has been keeping quiet about Cristiano Ronaldo’s injury, and his presence in the second leg of the Champions League semifinals is likely to remain a mystery until just before next week’s game against Manchester City.

Ronaldo underwent new tests on his injured hamstring on Wednesday, but Madrid did not reveal the extent of the problem or how long the Portugal forward will remain sidelined.

He was expected to play in Tuesday’s first leg in Manchester, but watched the 0-0 draw from the bench after failing a physical just before the game.

There have been widespread rumors about the injury, but the only clue since the game has come from a post on Ronaldo’s official Instagram account, which simply said, “Don’t worry be happy,” along with a photo of him smiling. He later also posted photos of him exercising in a gym, including one where he is flexing his muscles.

Before the game in England, television cameras caught him saying that he still wasn’t fully fit.

“I’ll wait for the next match,” he said in Portuguese, apparently while talking to other players. “If it was a final, I would play.”

Spanish media has published various versions of the injury, from a full muscle rupture that will keep him out for the rest of the season to a minor ailment that should heal quickly. The sports daily AS suggested that Ronaldo would undergo “stem cell treatment” to try to recover in time for next week’s game at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid.

Coach Zinedine Zidane spoke only briefly about Ronaldo following Tuesday’s game.

“He felt something and wasn’t comfortable,” Zidane said. “Hopefully he will be fit for the second leg.”

The coach and other team officials had previously downplayed the problem, saying the forward would likely be ready for the first leg.

Ronaldo picked up the injury toward the end of a 3-0 win over Villarreal in the Spanish league on April 20, when he tried a volley inside the area and fell awkwardly. He seemed to be in pain and, after getting up, put his hand on the back of his right leg. Ronaldo walked off the pitch just before the final whistle, leaving the team with 10 men.

It’s almost certain he will miss Saturday’s Spanish league game at Real Sociedad, having been sidelined for last Saturday’s 3-2 win at Rayo Vallecano. His team is one point behind Barcelona and Atletico Madrid with three rounds to play.

Ronaldo had played in every Spanish league game this season, and had scored seven goals in his previous seven matches in all competitions before missing the game against Rayo.

He is the leading scorer in both the Spanish league and the Champions League, where he has 16 goals from 10 games, one shy of the record he set in the 2013-14 season, when Madrid won its 10th European title.

Zidane may also be without forward Karim Benzema, who left Tuesday’s game because of a knee problem that has been bothering him for some time.

“They are two important players and we hope that they are back for the second leg,” Zidane said. “We’ll take it day-by-day and look at it with the doctors.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

New app deletes messages before recipients get to read them

Ever written a text message, clicked send then felt regret afterwards? Or ever discovered an embarrassing screenshot of your drunken escapade, roaming around social media?

Well worry no more, as a new app called ‘Protect you Privates!’ aims to tackle both these social nightmares by allowing users to delete messages, even after they’ve already been sent.

The new security app comes with a built-in function which prevents recipients from taking screen grabs of photos and videos, while also blocking unauthorized sending and leaking copies of messages.

As per reports from UK-based media, Mirror Online, the app comes with end-to-end encryption, including a ‘recall’ button which will delete messages on the users and recipients’ respective phones.

Speed, however, will be key for users, as the process only works if a message remains unopened.

Also, much like Snapchat’s security setting, Protect your Privates will also automatically delete unread messages after either 24, 12 or three hours, depending on the user’s preference.

Meanwhile, the app’s creator Dr. Isaac Datikashvili revealed that he had originally designed the app as a way of securely transferring medical records.

It was only after the overall design process that he saw the potential uses in personal messaging.

For now, Protect your Privates is only exclusive for iOS users, but developers claimed that they are working to extend its services to Windows and Android phones as well. Khristian Ibarrola

source: technology.inquirer.net

Trump, Clinton sweep to victory in Northeastern contests

PHILADELPHIA — Donald Trump swept all five Republican primaries Tuesday, a commanding showing across the Northeast that kept the Republican front-runner on his narrow path to the GOP nomination. His rout was a blow to rivals who are running out of ways to stop the brash billionaire.

Hillary Clinton was dominant in Democratic contests in Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania. She ceded Rhode Island to rival Bernie Sanders, and they were locked in a close race in Connecticut.

With her three victories, Clinton now has 88 percent of the delegates she needs to become the first woman nominated by a major party. She’s already increasingly looking past Sanders, even as the Vermont senator vows to stay in the race until primary voting ends in June.

“We will unify our party to win this election and build an America where we can all rise together,” Clinton declared during a victory rally in Philadelphia, the city where Democrats will gather for their national convention in July.

Sanders spent Tuesday campaigning in West Virginia, where he drew several thousand people to a lively evening rally. He urged his supporters to recognize that they are “powerful people if you choose to exercise that power.”

Still, there were some signs that Sanders’ campaign was coming to grips with his difficult position. Top aide Tad Devine said that after Tuesday’s results were known, “we’ll decide what we’re going to do going forward.”

Trump’s victories padded his delegate totals, yet the Republican contest remains chaotic. The businessman is the only candidate left in the three-person race who could possibly clinch the nomination through the regular voting process, yet he could still fall short of the 1,237 delegates he needs.

GOP rivals Ted Cruz and John Kasich are desperately trying to keep him from that magic number and push the race to a convention fight, where complicated rules would govern the nominating process. The Texas senator and Ohio governor even took the rare step of announcing plans to coordinate in upcoming contests to try to minimize Trump’s delegate totals.

But that effort did little to stop Trump from a big showing in the Northeast.

Cruz spent Tuesday in Indiana, which votes next week. Indiana is one of Cruz’s last best chances to slow Trump, and Kasich’s campaign is pulling out of the state to give him a better opportunity to do so.

“Tonight this campaign moves back to more favorable terrain,” Cruz said during an evening rally in Knightstown, Indiana. His event was held at the “Hoosier gym,” where some scenes were filmed for the 1986 movie, “Hoosiers,” starring Gene Hackman as the coach of a small town Indiana basketball team that wins the state championship.

Trump has railed against his rivals’ coordination, panning it as “pathetic,” and has also cast efforts to push the nomination fight to the convention as evidence of a rigged process that favors political insiders.

Yet there’s no doubt Trump is trying to lead a party deeply divided by his candidacy. In Pennsylvania, exit polls showed nearly 4 in 10 GOP voters said they would be excited by Trump becoming president, but the prospect of the real estate mogul in the White House scares a quarter of those who cast ballots in the state’s Republican primary.

In another potential general election warning sign for Republicans, 6 in 10 GOP voters in Pennsylvania said the Republican campaign has divided the party — a sharp contrast to the 7 in 10 Democratic voters in the state who said the race between Clinton and Sanders has energized their party.

The exit polls were conducted by Edison Research for The Associated Press and television networks.

With his five victories Tuesday, Trump will win at least 82 of the 118 delegates up for grabs in Tuesday’s contests. And he has a chance to win a lot more.

In Pennsylvania, Trump collected 17 delegates for winning the state. An additional 54 are elected directly by voters — three in each congressional district. However, their names are listed on the ballot with no information about which presidential candidate they support.

Those delegates will attend the GOP convention as free agents, able to vote for the candidate of their choice.

Democrats award delegates proportionally, which allowed Clinton to maintain her lead over Sanders even as he rattled off a string of wins in previous contests. According to the AP count, Clinton has 2,089 delegates while Sanders has 1,258.

That count includes delegates won in primaries and caucuses, as well as superdelegates — party insiders who can back the candidate of their choice, regardless of how their state votes.

Clinton’s campaign is eager for Sanders to tone down his attacks on the former secretary of state if he’s going to continue in the race. She’s been reminding voters of the 2008 Democratic primary, when she endorsed Barack Obama after a tough campaign and urged her supporters to rally around her former rival.

Ahead of Tuesday’s results, Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid said that while Sanders has run a “unique and powerful” campaign, he does not believe the Vermont senator will be the party’s nominee.

According to exit polls, less than a fifth of Democratic voters said they would not support Clinton if she gets the nomination. The exit polls were conducted in Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Maryland.

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Duterte: Beheadings must stop; Roxas: Extinguish Abu Sayyaf, save captives

MANILA — Beheadings must stop.  This was the curt reaction of Davao City Mayor and presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte on the beheading of Canadian John Ridsdel by his Abu Sayyaf kidnappers on Monday (Apr. 25).
Duterte, who was in North Cotabato, to facilitate the release of a soldier from the New People’s Army, refused to comment at length on the beheading.

“It’s too early to comment,” he said. “I’m not yet the president of the Philippines. But this has to stop,” he added.

In Negros Occidental, Liberal Party presidential candidate Mar Roxas expressed his outrage over Ridsdel’s beheading.

“The Abu Sayyaf Group must be extinguished,” he told a press conference in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental.

“I am outraged by the horrific murder of Mr. John Ridsel  at the hands of the terrorist Abu Sayyaf. The full force of the state and of the law must be applied to apprehend and bring the perpetrators to justice,” he added.

He said that since the abduction of Ridsel and the other hostages was reported, all means have been sought to free them.

“Let us double our efforts. Let us not give up hope that the others can be rescued,” he said,  as he appealed for the cooperation and support of all in this mission.

“Terrorism is bullying at its most worst  form,” he said. “Why kill a defenseless man just to make a point.”

“Terrorism preys on the weak and defenseless. Where is the courage in hurting let alone killing a defenseless person. It does not make you strong. It does not further your cause. It only leads to fear and subjugation which we know is your true purpose and we will not be cowed by that,” he said.

Roxas extended his condolences to  the family, loved ones and fellow citizens of  Ridsel.

“The terrorists Abu Sayyaf should be should be neutralized and face the immeasurable consequences of their brutality and inhumanity,” he said.

He said the 400 Abu Sayyaf members reported to have massed up on Sulu Island, should not be allowed to escape, and should be finished off.

“There is no room for the brutality exercised by the Abu Sayyaf…they must be extinguished,” he said.

The Abu Sayyaf killed Ridsdel on Monday and dumped his head on a Jolo street, Sulu.

The Abu Sayyaf is still holding another Canadian, a Filipina and a Norwegian resort manager.  SFM

source: globalnation.inquirer.net

Music helps babies learn speech — study

MIAMI, United States — Babies who engage in musical play may have an easier time picking up language skills, suggested a study Monday.

US researchers compared nine-month-old babies who played with toys and trucks to those who practiced banging out a rhythm during a series of play sessions.

They found that the musical group showed more brain activity in regions involved with detecting patterns, an important skill when it comes to learning language.

“Our study is the first in young babies to suggest that experiencing a rhythmic pattern in music can also improve the ability to detect and make predictions about rhythmic patterns in speech,” said lead author Christina Zhao, a postdoctoral researcher the University of Washington’s Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences (I-LABS).

“This means that early, engaging musical experiences can have a more global effect on cognitive skills.”

The study was small, enrolling just 39 babies and their parents, who took part in a dozen 15-minute play sessions over the course of a month.

Twenty of the babies listened to recorded children’s music while they sat with their parents and helped pound out drum beats to music that included waltz rhythms and tunes like “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” a baseball classic.

The other 19 babies also attended active play sessions that used toys and blocks, but without music.

“In both the music and control groups, we gave babies experiences that were social, required their active involvement and included body movements — these are all characteristics that we know help people learn,” Zhao said.

“The key difference between the play groups was whether the babies were moving to learn a musical rhythm.”

When the babies underwent brain scans — known as magnetoencephalography (MEG) — at the end of the month, researchers wanted to see how they differed.

So they had the babies listen to speech and music sounds that occasionally contained a disruption in the cadence, or flow of sound.

Babies in the music group showed stronger brain responses in both the auditory and the prefrontal cortex, which are involved in controlling attention and detecting patterns, the study found.

“Pattern perception is an important cognitive skill, and improving that ability early may have long-lasting effects on learning,” said co-author Patricia Kuhl, co-director of I-LABS.

“Schools across our nation are decreasing music experiences for our children, saying they are too expensive,” added Kuhl.

“This research reminds us that the effects of engaging in music go beyond music itself. Music experience has the potential to boost broader cognitive skills that enhance children’s abilities to detect, expect and react quickly to patterns in the world, which is highly relevant in today’s complex world.”

The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a peer-reviewed US journal.

source: technology.inquirer.net

Mahrez named England’s Player of the Year

Leicester City’s Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez on Sunday became the first African player to be named English football’s Player of the Year, as voted for by his fellow professionals.

The 25-year-old French-born Algerian international, outstanding in Leicester’s incredible charge towards the Premier League title, received the trophy at a lavish awards ceremony in London.

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele Alli was named Young Player of the Year at the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) awards.

Paying tribute to his team-mates, Mahrez, who succeeds Chelsea’s Eden Hazard as the winner of the prize, told the ceremony: “All the credit is for them, seriously.

“And for my manager (Claudio Ranieri) and the staff. Without them I wouldn’t receive this award and I wouldn’t score. It’s the team spirit, and I want to dedicate it to them.

“I’m very grateful to receive this award, it’s a pleasure. It’s extra special because if the players vote for me it’s because they’ve seen I’ve been great this year so I’m happy.

“But it’s more team things. Without my team-mates I wouldn’t get this award.”

Mahrez is the first African to win the award and just the second non-European, after Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez, then of Liverpool, in 2014.

A £400,000 ($580,000, 514,000 euro) signing from French Ligue 2 side Le Havre in January 2014, Mahrez has contributed 17 goals and 11 assists to help put Leicester on the brink of becoming English champions for the first time.

He had scored the opener in the Foxes’ 4-0 thrashing of Swansea City earlier in the day at the King Power Stadium, which left Claudio Ranieri’s side eight points clear of second-placed Tottenham with three games left to play.

– Giggs award -Mahrez was then flown by helicopter to the ceremony as he pipped club colleagues Jamie Vardy and N’Golo Kante as well as West Ham United’s Dimitri Payet, Tottenham’s Harry Kane and Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil to the award.

Alli, 20, held off competition from Kane, Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland, Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho and Everton duo Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley to take the young player gong.

Alli, who won Football League Young Player of the Year 12 months ago, joined Tottenham from third-tier Milton Keyes Dons in 2015 and was expected to be used sparingly in his first season at White Hart Lane.

However, he has been outstanding in midfield for Spurs and has already won six caps for England, scoring once.

He was not there to pick up his award in person as Tottenham play West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League on Monday, but recorded a video message.

“Sorry I can’t be there tonight, but we have a big game tomorrow. Thank you for to everyone who voted for me,” Alli said.

“I feel honoured to win such a prestigious award and thank you to my friends, family and all the staff at Tottenham.”

Manchester United great Ryan Giggs, now the assistant to manager Louis van Gaal, followed in the footsteps of his former manager Alex Ferguson by winning the PFA Merit Award.

Manchester City midfielder Izzy Christiansen won the PFA Women’s Player of the Year award, with Sunderland forward Beth Mead taking home the young player equivalent.

source: sports.inquirer.net

5 low-cost travel destinations

Who doesn’t want an affordable vacation?  Each year, more and more travelers are looking for places that give them a lot more bang for their buck. Finding places where your well-earned dollars are worth a lot more can really make your vacation truly more enjoyable and exciting.

Here are five countries where a dollar equates to a whole lot more when converted to the local currency:

Indonesia

Dollar exchange rate: USD 1.00 = IDR 13,201.11

A whopping exchange rate means that you really get a whole lot more for your hard-earned cash. From safaris to exotic accommodations and even fine dining at a relaxing rice paddy field, there’s a whole lot of fun experiences you can have with this much moolah.

Cambodia

Dollar exchange rate: USD 1.00 = KHR 4,008.02

Cambodia is a great place to get a lot bang for the money you earn. One dollar can net you enjoyable rides to the many Wat temples and sample a wide variety of the local cuisine and so much more. It’s a great place for sightseeing a lot of history.

South Korea

Dollar exchange rate: USD 1.00 = IDR 1,150.46

Who hasn’t wanted to experience the exciting atmosphere of trendy South Korea? Your dollars are worth a lot more in the country, from enjoying the spicy dishes to buying hip clothes and make-up. Make sure to pack some extra bags to carry your haul when flying back home.

Japan

Dollar exchange rate: USD 1.00 = JPY 108.23

With this great exchange rate, you can now enjoy both the quirky and calm sides of Japan without spending so much. Explore the cultural landscape of modern Japan, from the youthful streets of Shibuya to the electronic paradise that is Akihabara. You’ll be able to encounter many fun and amazing activities when you have the right amount of money in your pocket.

Philippines

Dollar exchange rate: USD 1.00 = PHP 46.15

This exchange rate opens your world to a multitude of fun beaches, exciting island-hopping adventures and a lot more. It’s the perfect escape for people who are looking for an affordable adventure in a tropical land without having to spend too much to enjoy themselves.

Have these dollar exchange rates made you feel like taking your very own inexpensive vacation? Take the time to indulge yourself in low-cost travel to these lands where you will definitely get a whole lot more for your hard-earned money.

Mango Tours is a provider of quality, affordable and convenient travel services that include low-priced airline tickets, customized Philippine and International Tour Packages, Cruises, Land Transfers, and more. Visit www.mangotours.com to know more about its latest promos and travel offers

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

White Rabbit candy firm’s ex-chair killed by rock ‘kicked by monkey’

A former chairman of one of China’s most iconic sweet brands died after being hit by a rock that was kicked by a monkey while touring a scenic spot in Henan.

Weng Mao, 67, who used to head the Guan Sheng Yuan Group, famous for its White Rabbit milk candy, was taken to a local hospital but died there later during treatment on Tuesday (April 19), the South China Morning Post reported.

Employees of the scenic sight confirmed after inspection they had discovered that monkeys had kicked off the rocks, according to a police statement sent to Sina.com.cn.

The news went viral on social media in China because of Weng’s association to the White Rabbit brand–or Da Baitu as it is known locally–which has been popular since the 1960s.

Weng reportedly joined Guan Sheng Yuan as a general manager in the early 1990s, and left from the post of chairman at the firm in 2010.

Local media reported that Weng had been enjoying a happy and healthy retirement, and had taken up photography as a hobby.

Yuntai Mountain, where the unusual incident took place, is home to wild monkeys who are known to come down from the clifftops to take food and other belongings from tourists.

A statement released to Chinese media on Friday by the Yuntai Mountain Management Bureau confirmed Weng’s bizarre death.

It read: “The tourist, Weng Mao, was hit by a stone kicked down by a monkey near the pavilion when he was touring Tanpu Valley.”

The statement added that staff had given Weng first-aid treatment before taking him to the People’s Hospital in Xiuwu County.

It said he died in the hospital during treatment due to the seriousness of his injuries.

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Conor McGregor a no-show, and off of UFC 200

LAS VEGAS — Conor McGregor’s seat was vacant, and so now is his spot headlining the big UFC 200 card this summer.

The Irish fighter was a no-show at a press conference Friday promoting the card, and UFC President Dana White said he would not meet Nate Diaz in a rematch on top of the July 9 card in Las Vegas.

“You have to show up to promote the fight,” White said. “It’s part of the job. It’s what we do here.”

Not to be outdone, McGregor tweeted that he respected the fact other fighters traveled to the press conference “but not everyone up there made the company ($)400 million the last 8 months.”

The dispute over promotional duties means UFC’s biggest card of the year will be without McGregor, the wildly popular fighter who lost to Diaz last month in a major upset. Diaz indicated he might not fight, either, though White said he was looking for an opponent for him.

“If it doesn’t happen I’m going on vacation,” Diaz said.

White left a seat on the dais vacant at a press conference at the MGM Grand, though McGregor made it clear earlier this week that he wouldn’t be attending. McGregor posted on Facebook that he couldn’t afford the time he would need to leave his training camp in Iceland for a series of promotional appearances for the card.

But White noted the fight was nearly three months away, and that UFC is spending $10 million to promote the card and needed McGregor to participate in the promotion.

“People (other fighters on the card) came from Poland and Brazil. Is that fair?” White asked. “It sets a bad precedent. These guys came in from all over the world and they’re here.”

McGregor had asked for a quick rematch with Diaz, after moving up in weight to lose to him in a fight he dominated early. The two signed contracts, but McGregor disrupted plans when he refused to travel to Las Vegas from Iceland to promote the bout.

White said he is not angry with McGregor and expects him to fight again, just not on the landmark UFC 200 card that will be held at the new T-Mobile arena on the Las Vegas Strip. He said McGregor could fight the winner of the bout between Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar, which is on the UFC 200 card.

Also on the card is Miesha Tate, who upset Holly Holm last month and will meet Brazil’s Amanda Nunes. White said it is also possible that light heavyweight Jon Jones could meet Daniel Cormier on the card if Jones wins his fight Saturday against Ovince Saint Preux.

McGregor is the biggest pay-per-view attraction the UFC has, but White said the card will have plenty of attractive fights. He said he understands fans want to see McGregor on UFC 200, but that he had to take a stand.

“It’s an unpopular decision, but it’s the right decision,” White said.

The press conference took place before the weigh-in for UFC 197, which features Jones vs. Saint Preux for the light heavyweight title and Demetrious Johnson against Henry Cejudo in a flyweight title bout.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Your journey to thicker, fuller-looking hair starts here

As we get older, our hair gets thinner and loses its inherent healthy, thick state. It is definitely normal but unpleasant and certainly undesirable. So what are the options that men and women can have?

Possibly hair extensions, wigs and complicated surgeries that may or may not give us the results we want.

How about something else?

Truth is, our hair can always be healthy and thick, it’s just a matter of unlocking its potential with the right products and with a professional hair-care product that knows and caters to your needs.

Here is where Nioxin plays its part. It  is a three-step hair-care system that nourishes, treats and thickens hair easily without any risks.

First step involves the cleanser (shampoo) that washes away any substances such as dirt and oil that block the hair follicles.

Second step is to apply a scalp revitalizer (conditioner) that makes hair strong and resistant to breakage, aside from making it smooth and soft to the touch.

Finally, third step is all about treatment with ingredients approved by dermatologists and hair-care specialists that make each hair strand thicker and refreshes the scalp to promote growth.

Made for both men and women, and with six customized systems based on your different hair needs, Nioxin can address your hair-thinning concerns.

The plus side? It can even be something that you can get and do at the comfort of your own home.

Winner of the “Favorite Fine/Thinning Hair Line” award for the past 15 years at the Stylist Choice Awards in the United States, Nioxin provides real results.

With Nioxin you will be able to achieve thicker, fuller-looking hair that is safe and dermatologically tested and approved.

For more information, follow Wella Professionals on Facebook (www.facebook.com/WellaPhilippines) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/wella_ph). For inquires, call 0917-5536587 or 0908-8833775.

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

Prince’s own words describe mixed feelings about the web

LOS ANGELES — Prince had a fraught relationship with the Internet, and mourning fans searching YouTube to remember his greatest years might be disappointed to find out that much of it isn’t there. For good reason: he was adamant about protecting his copyrights, owned the song publishing rights to his music, and vigorously pursued online outlets that used it without permission.

In the wake of his death on Thursday, here’s a quick recap of five things Prince said over the years that describe his view of the role of artists in an era of high technology.


    1.“The Internet’s completely over.”

In a July 2010 interview with Daily Mirror reporter Peter Willis, Prince says he’s releasing his album “20TEN” to Daily Mirror readers as a CD for free. In the interview, he complains that outlets like iTunes don’t pay advances for music and compares the Internet to a passing fad like MTV.

    2. Ringtones? Uh uh.

If you have a Prince song as a ringtone on your phone, you should know his Royal Badness did not approve. In a June 2011 interview with The Guardian’s Dorian Lynskey, Prince says he can’t stand digital music, nor the cacophony of ringtones it enables. “Have you ever been in a room where there’s 17 ringtones going off at once?”

    3. Does he have an iPhone? “Hell, no.”

Prince not only disdains the Internet, he forgoes the tools to access it. Asked in a July 2013 story by V Magazine’s Vanessa Grigoriadis if he owns an iPhone, Prince responds : “Are you serious? Hell, no.” He then mimics a high-voiced woman who has lost hers. He also touts the pleasures of listening to Joni Mitchell on vinyl.


    4. Qualifications. “We were saying it was dead to us — dead energy.”

Prince explains his Internet comment to AP’s Nekesa Mumbi Moody in an exclusive interview at his Paisley Park compound in September 2014, even as he queues up songs on YouTube from artists such as James Brown and FKA Twigs. At the time, his music is on both iTunes and Spotify. Today, major artists from Taylor Swift to Adele to Kanye West are picking and choosing where their music is released, just as Prince did.

    5. “Spotify wasn’t paying, so you gotta shut it down.”

In an interview with Ebony’s Miles Marshall Lewis published in December, Prince explains why he’s removing his music from most streaming services and putting it all on Tidal. But the interview is removed at Prince’s request, according to Billboard and all that remains on Ebony’s website now is Prince’s insistence that artist ownership of the means of distribution is important. “Where we finally get into a position to run things — we all should help.”

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Asian stock indexes mostly lower as oil prices sink

TOKYO  — Shares were mostly lower in Asia on Wednesday, as crude oil prices dipped and mainland Chinese markets were hit by sell-offs late in the day.

KEEPING SCORE: Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 edged up 0.2 percent to finish at 16,906.54 and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 added 0.5 percent to 5,216.00. But most other regional markets fell. South Korea’s Kospi fell 0.3 percent to 2,005.83. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 1.3 percent to 21,164.78, while the Shanghai Composite slipped 2.6 percent to 2,964.89, dipping by over 4 percent before recovering some of those losses.

OIL PRICES: Benchmark U.S. crude fell $1.00, or 2.4 percent, to $41.47 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. At one point it fell by 2.8 percent to $41.30 a barrel. It rose 84 cents on Tuesday. Brent crude, the international benchmark, slipped $1.02 cents to $43.01 a barrel in London.

EUROPE FOCUS: The European Central Bank’s governing council is meeting, and investors are closely watching for what President Mario Draghi might say at the news conference later this week. Doubts persist whether the stimulus measures the bank has taken are really working, such as cutting interest rates and expanding a government bond-buying.

THE QUOTE: “Sentiments will be driven by the ECB President Draghi when he speaks,” said Alex Wijaya, senior sales trader at CMC Markets in Singapore. “In his previous speech, Mr. Draghi hinted that the deposit rate won’t be cut further into negative territory. However with persistent low inflation and the euro now trading at six-month highs, Mr. Draghi could possibly backtrack on his previous statement and consider a further rate cut to fight deflationary pressure.”

source: business.inquirer.net

5 Benefits Of Mortgage Insurance

Mortgage insurance is an insurance vehicle designed to protect the lender in case the owner of the mortgage is unable to pay for their monthly costs. But mortgage insurance can also work to benefit the homeowner as well. And in this latest article, our expert team highlights five of the top benefits of mortgage insurance.

1. Access to Better Interest Rates

    Because of the protection mortgage insurance offers lenders, it then allows the lending company to offer homebuyers access to better interest rates. This works to consolidate the cost of the home for the buyer.

2. Offers Access to the Marketplace for Many Buyers

    Homebuyers who are self-employed or don’t otherwise have access to steady income may also benefit from mortgage insurance. Mortgage insurance ensures that buyers outside the traditional marketplace can qualify for a low cost mortgage while keeping the lender’s interests protected.

3. Mortgage Insurance can be Transferred

    Another advantage of mortgage insurance is that it can be transferred from one property to another. This means that owners looking to purchase a new property can simply save their premiums over time and transfer their insurance to the new property. By maintaining this payment record over time, owners can show lenders they’re trustworthy, potentially limiting their future purchase costs.

4. Allows Buyers to Purchase with a Smaller Down Payment

    The use of mortgage insurance also now means that buyers with only a small down payment can enter the marketplace. Buyers can use insurance through the CMHC and will only have to pay 5% down on their property. This gives first-time buyers and others with limited resources the flexibility to enter the marketplace.

5. May Protect Buyers in Case of Job Loss

    The consistent payment of mortgage insurance premiums can help protect the homeowner in case they lose their income for a short period of time. This could be vital for Canadians with growing families, and offers a way to avoid the stress and financial hardship associated with a period of unemployment. Lenders now offer a series of insurance options to help specifically manage time when homeowners are out of work, ill or otherwise unable to pay their financing costs.

The mortgage insurance product is now offering millions of Canadians access to the wider real estate marketplace, by protecting lenders and safeguarding homes. To learn more on insurance and the benefits it provides to homeowners, contact our expert team today.

source: northwoodmortgage.com

Internet browser Opera launches free built-in VPN for secure surfing

Internet users usually dodge firewalls and conceal an IP address by installing third-party softwares to ensure privacy while surfing.

Now, a browser offers premium and secure internet browsing.

Opera, an internet browser, has invented a developer version of its desktop web browser with a built-in Virtual Private Network (VPN) support. A user can simply flick a virtual switch to enjoy 256-bit encrypted connection that hampers third party sites or government agencies to obstruct internet content a user cannot access and insulate the users’ connection details, according to a report by tech sites Gizmodo and Engadget.

Opera wrote in a blog post, “We are the first major browser maker to integrate an unlimited and free VPN or virtual private network. Now, you don’t have to download VPN extensions or pay for VPN subscriptions to access blocked websites and to shield your browsing when on public Wi-Fi.”

VPN complicates government and third parties to monitor data by directing users’ internet traffic to other countries through servers.

Currently, users of Canada, Germany, and the United States can utilize unlimited amount of data with the built-in VPN. The built-in VPN feature is available for Windows and OS X.

Opera envisions to launch the feature in other countries in the next few months. Gianna Francesca Catolico, INQUIRER.net

source: technology.inquirer.net

Jennifer Aniston is People’s Most Beautiful Woman

NEW YORK  — She’ll be there for you. People Magazine has named Jennifer Aniston its “World’s Most Beautiful Woman” of 2016.

The 47-year-old actress graces the cover of People’s 27th annual “World’s Most Beautiful” double issue.

“I thought, ‘Oh my God,'” Aniston tells People in this week’s cover story upon hearing the news. “There was this sort of very excited, teenage-y kind of moment.”

The actress, who gained fame as Rachel on “Friends,” also tells the magazine that she’s learned to embrace her appearance over the years, and feels her best when she’s healthy and strong. She says she became motivated to take care of herself early in her career, when her agent told her she didn’t get a part because she was too chubby.

“It’s funny, it’s a really quick transition from, not a care, and now all of a sudden, we’ve got to really be mindful of what we put inside our bodies,” she says. “And how we sleep and take care of ourselves. You can get away with a lot in your 20s.”

Asked what she has learned to accept over the years about her appearance, the actress replies laughingly: “Well, I’ve never loved my butt. It’s sort of a thing. I used to have a bubble butt and was teased. Now people are paying money to get things injected.”

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

McDonald’s testing bigger, smaller Big Macs

NEW YORK, United States — McDonald’s is testing bigger and smaller versions of its Big Mac as the world’s biggest hamburger chain pushes to revive its business.

The company says it’s testing a “Grand Mac” and “Mac Jr.” in the Central Ohio and the Dallas areas, and will see how they do before deciding on a national rollout.

The Grand Mac is made with two third-pound beef patties, which may be a way for the company to make its famous burger more substantial as burger competitors have made the regular Big Mac seem skimpy to some. It will sell for $4.89. The Mac Jr. is basically a single-layer Big Mac, and McDonald’s says it’s “easier to eat on the go.” That will sell for between $2.39 and $2.59.

McDonald’s Corp. has been fighting to turn around its business after seeing customer visits decline in recent years. The Oak Brook, Illinois, company has said it needs to move faster to keep up with changing tastes.

Last week, the company held its biannual convention with franchisees in Florida to discuss plans to refresh the business.

The test was first reported in Columbus Business First.

source: business.inquirer.net

California HR firm to pay $1M in back wages to 267 workers

SAN FRANCISCO – A San Leandro, California-based human resources outsource provider will pay $1 million in back overtime wages and damages to hundreds of employees after a U.S. Department of Labor investigation that found widespread Fair Labor Standards Act violations.

The department’s Wage and Hour Division cited TriNet Human Resources Corp. for failing to pay time-and-a-half to 267 employees who worked more than 40 hours per week. As a result, the company will pay back pay wages and damages to workers in amounts ranging from a few hundred dollars to more than $13,000 for one worker. The division also assessed $58,000 in civil penalties for the violations.

In 2012, the company paid $326,000 in back wages and damages after the division found similar violations.

“TriNet falsely believed that raising an employee’s salary exempted them from receiving overtime pay,” said Susana Blanco, the division’s Wage and Hour director in San Francisco. “Hopefully, the company will now pay better attention to the rules going forward and pay its employees the wages they earned.”

TriNet provides human resources outsource solutions to small and midsize businesses. It offers payroll processing, human capital consulting, employment law compliance and employee benefits, including health insurance, retirement plans and workers compensation insurance.

Enforced by the division, the FLSA requires that covered, nonexempt workers be paid at least the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour for all hours worked, plus one and one-half times their regular wages for hours worked beyond 40 per week. Employers also must maintain accurate time and payroll records.  Employers are prohibited from retaliating against workers who exercise their rights under the law.

For more information about federal wage laws administered by the division, call the agency’s toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Wage and Hour’s services are free and confidential. Information also is available at http://www.dol.gov/whd.

source: globalnation.inquirer.net

Axl Rose, back with Guns N’ Roses, to front AC/DC

INDIO, United States—Axl Rose fired up a reunited Guns N’ Roses at the Coachella festival on Saturday as he was announced as the new frontman of an even more veteran hard rock group—AC/DC.

In one of rock’s most long discussed reunions, Rose performed on the festival stage in the California desert with guitarist Slash, who until this month had not joined his former bandmate and on-off nemesis for more than two decades.

Guns N’ Roses added a fresh surprise as Angus Young, the lead guitarist of AC/DC, suddenly appeared on stage late in the set, hours after the Australian rockers named Rose as their at least temporary new singer.

In a preview of the new AC/DC, Rose brought out his classic intense scream for the Australians’ “Whole Lotta Rosie” as Young pranced on stage in his trademark school uniform and let loose with rapid-fire guitar in coordination with Slash.

Yet Rose on his day of triumph projected an awkward image: a recent injury confined him to a chair, with his left leg in a cast. The singer famous for his emotional intensity and races across stage fidgeted in a sort of sedentary, agitated dancing.

AC/DC broke off a North American tour last month after saying that singer Brian Johnson, 68, risked permanent loss of hearing if he kept performing with the notoriously loud band.

The band said Rose would front AC/DC on a 12-show European leg starting on May 7 in Lisbon.

Rose will then return to North America for the arena tour of the reformed Guns N’ Roses, with the 10 postponed AC/DC dates in the United States to be rescheduled later.

Rose, like Johnson, can bring out a punishing grittiness on high notes, but the Guns N’ Roses frontman enjoys a much more versatile vocal range.

Sudden change for AC/DC

AC/DC kept open whether Rose would stay permanently. The band had planned shows only until June at the end of a marathon global tour for its 2014 album “Rock or Bust.”

But the band made clear that Johnson was out, issuing a statement thanking him “for his contributions and dedication to the band throughout the years.”

“We wish him all the best with his hearing issues and future ventures. As much as we want this tour to end as it started, we understand, respect and support Brian’s decision to stop touring and save his hearing,” it said.

Johnson, however, has been quiet in public and has reportedly voiced dismay at his swift exit. US comedian and radio host Jim Breuer said he spoke to Johnson, who felt “kicked to the curb” by his bandmates and did not believe his hearing problems were as serious as described by the group.

Johnson was not an original member of AC/DC, joining after singer Bon Scott died in 1980 after a night of heavy drinking.

The loss of Johnson is the latest major change for AC/DC. Malcolm Young, the rhythm guitarist and brother of Angus, retired before “Rock or Bust” as he suffers dementia.

Drummer Phil Rudd was pushed out after he was arrested on charges of ordering a murder in New Zealand, where he lives.

Long-awaited reunion

Guns N’ Roses became global sensations with 1987’s “Appetite For Destruction,” which remains the best-selling debut album ever.

But the rough living described in the songs was not far from reality and the band suffered frequent friction, with the classic lineup calling it quits after a 1993 show in Buenos Aires.

A reunion had long been thought impossible, with Rose a few years ago calling Slash “a cancer” and refusing to join him at the band’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction.

But Slash and Rose—who are expected to earn millions of dollars for the reunion—briefly locked arms as they bid farewell to fans after their encore, which culminated in flames on stage and fireworks above.

Guns N’ Roses played their best-known hits, from deviant “Appetite for Destruction” anthems to the mega-ballad “November Rain,” but also “Chinese Democracy,” with Slash performing the 1998 title track of the infamously delayed album that came out after his departure.

While the reunion was announced for Coachella, the band played a surprise show on April 1 at the Troubadour, a small Los Angeles club where the group was discovered, and then two shows at a new arena in Las Vegas.

In a noticeable break from the past, the band opened its Coachella set on time.

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Disruptions from twin quakes in southern Japan hit economy

TOKYO — The twin earthquakes that have paralyzed parts of southern Japan are having ripple effects far beyond the disaster zone, with automakers and other manufacturers suspending output in other areas due to disruptions in its parts supplies.

Toyota Motor Corp. says it has stopped production at a factory in Kyushu, where the quakes struck late Thursday and early Saturday, killing at least 42 people and leaving nearly 1,100 people injured.

The shutdown will progress to other plants in Japan through Friday. Output will resume depending on the availability of parts.

Honda Motor Corp. said production at its factory in Kumamoto, the largest city seriously affected by the quakes, would be suspended until Friday.

“Subsequent production plans will be determined according to facility restorations and component supply,” the company said in a statement.

The powerful earthquakes have caused electricity outages and disruptions to water supplies. Roads and airports in the region were affected, with some damaged areas in hard-to-reach mountain areas cut off by landslides that blocked roads and bridges.

Supply chain disruptions will hurt output by various manufacturers, including Toyota, which is cutting its output in Japan by 50,000 in April, according to the financial newspaper Nikkei, or about 8 percent of total production. Tourism will also take a big hit.

“The impact to near-term economic activity looks inevitable, while the comprehensive picture is difficult to gauge now, particularly due to the continued aftershocks,” Masamichi Adachi of J.P.Morgan said in a commentary. Overall, the risk to the outlook for growth is “to the downside” he said.




Some of the worst affected areas are deep in the mountains surrounding Mount Aso, Japan’s largest active volcano, an area renowned for dairy farming. But one of the hardest hit cities was Mashiki, a center for semiconductor fabrication and other manufacturing.

Though much of Toyota’s manufacturing is centered in central Japan’s Aichi prefecture, the company has suppliers scattered across Japan and worldwide. Up to 15 plants could be affected by the quake-related disruptions, according to a statement the company released Sunday.

Japanese share prices fell Monday, though there were multiple reasons for gloom. Apart from the potential impact of the quakes, an effort by major producers to shore up oil prices by freezing output fell apart over the weekend and the Japanese yen surged, in another potential blow to manufacturers who benefit when the yen weakens.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index fell 3.1 percent to 16,307.11. Toyota’s shares lost 1.3 percent, Nissan Motor Co., which also has suspended output at a plant in Kyushu, lost 3.7 percent and Sony Corp. shed 3.5 percent.

source: business.inquirer.net

4 Myths About Down Payments

A leading challenge preventing many buyers entering the home ownership marketplace is their misunderstanding on down payments. Many potential buyers feel that the cost of down payments is too high for their budget. This may mean they wait to purchase a property. But by analyzing down payment options, buyers may find they have more flexibility than they first thought on the road to home ownership. In this article, our expert team will highlight four myths of down payments.

Myth 1: A 20% Down Payment is Required

One of the most widely disseminated myths concerning down payments is the idea that a 20% down payment is required to complete a home purchase. This simply isn’t true. Within the current Canadian real estate marketplace, buyers can begin the purchase process with a 5% down payment on their new home. To avoid having to pay insurance fees, a 20% down payment is required, but a 5% down payment can offer many buyers the ideal path to purchasing real estate.

Myth 2: Down Payment Assistance is Only for First-Time Buyers

While there are many marketplace programs designed to help first-time buyers enter the marketplace, there are a multitude of options for all homeowners seeking assistance for their down payment. For example, many local lenders will offer cash-back down payment mortgages, through which they will pay for the 5% down payment and then offer buyers a mortgage directly, to streamline the purchase process.

Myth 3: There are no Local Programs

The Government of Canada has ensured that down payment financing programs are now available to Canadians across the country, with the goal of helping more people find their ideal home. Consider for example, Ontario, which offers residents in the province up-to $60,000 through its CalHome program. The CalHome program offers loans at a 1% interest rate, and the loan is deferred for 30 years, which means buyers are required to pay back the loan plus the interest 30 years after completing the loan paperwork.

Myth 4: It is Too Expensive to Buy in the Marketplace

A common myth in the current Canadian market is that it’s too expensive to buy a home in Canada. This is simply not true, as lenders offer a range of programs to help buyers enter the marketplace and find homes that meet their budgetary parameters. There are many unique paths to homeownership for the proactive and committed buyer.

To uncover more on the myths of down payments in Canadian real estate, contact our mortgage experts directly!

source: northwoodmortgage.com

Maxine Medina is new Miss Universe Philippines

An interior designer from Quezon City is the new Miss Universe Philippines.

Twenty-five year old Maria Mika Maxene Medina won the title at the 2016 Binibining Pilipinas coronation night on Sunday held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

No less than Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach crowned Medina, who will compete in this year’s Miss Universe pageant.

Wurtzbach, who is currently based in New York as the reigning Miss Universe, flew to the country on Wednesday morning to crown her successor.

Medina defeated 39 other candidates from across the country in a bid to cop a back-to-back victory for the Philippines in the world’s most prestigious pageant.

She was also hailed the Bb. Philippine Airlines.

Kylie Verzosa, a pageant favorite, was named Bb. Pilipinas International. She also took home the Ms. Photogenic, Manila Bulletin Readers’ Choice and JAG She’s Got the Look awards.

Securing the Bb. Pilipinas Grand International title was Nicole Cordovez, who works at the Department of Finance.

Laguna’s bet Jennifer Hammond was declared Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental. She also won Best in Long Gown.

The Bb. Pilipinas Supranational title  went to 19-year-old Joanna Deapera Eden, who also bagged the Best in Swimsuit award.

Nichole Marie Manalo from Quezon City was Bb. Pilipinas Globe. She also won Bb. Creamsilk.

Other winners include Vina Prulla Openiano (Ms. Friendship and Best in Talent) and Angela Lauren Fernando (Best in National Costume).

Among those who made the Top 15 were Vina Prylla Openiano, Riana Agatha Pangindian, Apriel Smith, Roshiela Navarro Tobias, Kimberle Nae Licao,  Dindi Joy Pajares and Edlyn Joy Cay Gamboa.

Binibining Pilipinas, now in its 53rd edition, is the longest-running and most prestigious beauty pageant in the country. It chooses and sends the country’s representatives to major international beauty contests.

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

Chess’ 1st African-American grandmaster enters Hall of Fame

NEW YORK—Maurice Ashley was 14 when he saw a high school friend playing chess and challenged him to a match. He lost badly, but it sparked a love affair that started him playing nearly non-stop ever since.

There were the countless hours competing against the hustlers in city parks, and the serious players at chess clubs in Manhattan. There were the years spent against increasingly tougher competition in college, and ultimately against the best of the best at tournaments around the country and abroad.

All that playing has led the 50-year-old Ashley to some trailblazing accomplishments—the first African-American to be designated as a chess grandmaster, and last Wednesday, the first African-American to be inducted into the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame in St. Louis. He received his honor as the U.S. Chess Championship got underway, with Ashley taking on commentating duties.

When he got the call in January that he was being inducted, for his contributions as a player, coach and commentator, Ashley said tears came to his eyes.

“For me to hear that I’m being inducted for everything I’ve given to the game, that I’ve done to promote the game, that I’ve done to help young people play, and for the inspiration I’ve been, has just been absolutely incredible,” Ashley told The Associated Press in an interview at, where else, at Chess Forum, an all-things-chess shop in Manhattan.

Born in Jamaica, Ashley came to the tough Brownsville section of Brooklyn with two siblings when he was 12, reuniting with the mother who had left her children a decade earlier to carve out a better life, working as a nanny and later in a string of office clerk jobs.

Ashley got serious about chess during his high school years and continued at New York’s City College. From the start, he had one goal.

“I was transported to this world and I wanted to be one of the grandmasters and that’s all I knew,” he said.

The process of becoming a grandmaster is done under the auspices of the World Chess Federation, known by its French acronym FIDE, and involves earning overall points and performing particularly well in chess tournaments.

At the time Ashley became a grandmaster, in 1999, he said there were about 500 or so players with the title. Currently, there are just over 1,500 grandmasters. They come from all over the world, but Ashley is still the only black American to reach that status.

Ashley, who makes a living from the game as a player, coach and author, says he wants to see more African-American players reach the highest levels. “It takes a lot of ground seeding to get players on that path,” he said.

Some of that seeding involves the work Ashley does with school children, including at an after-school program in Ferguson, Missouri.

“Ashley is a great inspiration to younger black players, and to younger players of any race, that they could be a grandmaster too someday,” said Frank Brady, past president of the Marshall Chess Club in New York, one of the oldest clubs in the country.

Overall, Ashley said his experiences in the chess world have been good, with only a few moments in which his race became an issue.

He recalled one incident when he was playing at a club and an older player came by and asked his opponent why he was letting Ashley beat him, using a slur to describe him.

“It hurt. I was angry,” Ashley recalled. “Then he and I played eventually, two tournament games, and I beat him both times.”

That’s what makes chess great, he said.

“Your moves do the talking.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

How Looking for the Right Facial Cleanser Is Like Dating

Since I was teenager I realized that choosing the right facial cleanser is quite a challenge. It’s almost like dating until you find the right partner. You date some for a few days only to find out they flake out at the last minute. Some you date for a few weeks and just before you think you can call it a steady arrangement, you suddenly get a zit and find it’s been doing more harm than good.

You can try your luck as much as you want with the different brands out there in the market and cast your net wide but it still boils down to one thing: You’ve got to know what you want for yourself—your skin has needs and problems only a few can adjust to. So the next time you’re shopping for the right cleanser, keep the following things in mind.

#1 Stick to a good standard
It is easy to get distracted with the boisterous claims different cleansers have on their labels. Amid those huffing and puffing alpha brands, choose the one which has all the basics dermatologists would approve of. An ideal facial cleanser is hypoallergenic, unscented, void of any artificial colors, clinically proven to cleanse without causing damage, contains no parabens, and is preferably made with organically sourced ingredients.

#2 Avoid getting too harsh
Recently, some cleansers have tapped into our fear of bacteria living in our pores and thus, justifies why they’re upping your facial wash game with antibiotics. But according to dermatologists, using cleansers with antibacterial properties might just harm your skin because the harmful bacteria on your skin will eventually become resistant to the antibacterial properties of your cleanser over time. Only those with serious skin problems should use these kinds of soaps prescribed by their attending dermatologist.

#3 Look for the gentle touch
Antibacterial soaps aren’t the only culprits because even commonplace ingredients in the beauty world such as kojic acid and papaya extract aren’t necessarily always good for your skin. Your facial wash should only have mild ingredients and the least amount of preservatives possible to maintain or restore your skin’s natural balance.

#4 When it’s right, it’s for the long haul
Once you’ve found the cleanser that fits the descriptions we’ve given above, you should be set for a long time. The qualities of a good cleanser apply whether you have oily, dry, or combination skin. Changing cleansers frequently will cause more problems and introduce more substances that your skin might not agree with. Hence, choose a cleanser that’s mild enough for dry skin but effective in removing excess oil and dirt like Savonneux.

Savonneux is a facial foam cleanser that can remove makeup and excess oil and dirt without using harmful chemicals or parabens. Its mild formulation is good for all skin types and when used at least twice daily will leave skin instantly refreshed and revitalized. Even if you have changing needs, Savonneux is the type of cleanser that will still be able to adjust to your problems and bring back your skin to its natural and healthy state.

Savonneux Liquid Cleanser. Available in David’s Salon, Bench Pcx and Spirae Derm Store, G/F Glorietta 3. May also be purchased online via spiraederm.com, Zalora, and Lazada.

source: preen.inquirer.net

Microsoft sues US over secret demands for customer data

SAN FRANCISCO — Microsoft is suing the government over a federal law that lets authorities examine its users’ email or online files without their knowledge.

It’s the latest conflict between the tech industry and U.S. officials over individual privacy rights. Law enforcement officials want freedom to view a treasure trove of information — including emails, photos and financial records — that customers are storing on electronic gadgets and in so-called “cloud” computing centers.

Microsoft says the U.S. Justice Department is abusing the 1986 Electronic Communications Privacy Act, which allows authorities to obtain court orders requiring it to turn over customer files stored on its servers, while in some cases prohibiting the company from notifying the customer. Microsoft says those “non-disclosure” orders violate its constitutional right to free speech, as well as its customers’ protection against unreasonable searches.

A Justice Department spokeswoman said the government is reviewing the lawsuit, which was filed Thursday in Seattle federal court.

One former federal official was critical of Microsoft’s position, saying it could lead to warning “child molesters, domestic abusers, violent criminals and terrorists that they’re being investigated.”

The non-disclosure orders must be granted by a judge who has concluded that “notifying these individuals will have an adverse result, which could include messing up an investigation or even endangering the life or safety of individuals,” said Daniel “D.J.” Rosenthal, a former National Security Council and Justice Department attorney.

But Microsoft argues the law sets a vague standard for granting secrecy around digital searches. Authorities are required to disclose most search warrants for information stored in filing cabinets, safes or other physical locations, the company noted in its court filing.

“At the end of the day, when you are being investigated by the government, you should know about the investigation so you can prepare a defense,” said Mark Jaycox of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital rights group.

Microsoft said government demands under the ECPA law are increasing in number for a variety of investigations, including white-collar cases.

“We appreciate that there are times when secrecy around a government warrant is needed,” Microsoft Corp. President Brad Smith said in a statement. “But based on the many secrecy orders we have received, we question whether these orders are grounded in specific facts that truly demand secrecy. To the contrary, it appears that the issuance of secrecy orders has become too routine.”

The Redmond, Washington-based company says authorities used the law to demand customer information more than 5,600 times in the last 18 months. In nearly half those cases, a court ordered the company to keep the demand secret.

Although some orders expired after a period of time, Microsoft said the gag orders were indefinite in about 1,750 cases, “meaning that Microsoft could forever be barred from telling the affected customer about the government’s intrusion.”

As more people store data online, Microsoft argued in its lawsuit that the government is exploiting that trend “as a means of expanding its power to conduct secret investigations.”

In an interview, Smith said the company decided to sue the Justice Department after a case where authorities threatened to hold Microsoft in contempt when it sought to contest a particular secrecy order.

“That caused us to step back and take a look at what was going on more broadly,” he said. “We were very disconcerted when we added up the large number of secrecy orders we’ve been receiving.”

While the lawsuit specifically challenges ECPA’s secrecy provision, Congress has been debating a number of reforms in response to criticism that it’s outdated in various ways.

The House Judiciary Committee this week approved a bill to amend the law so authorities would need a warrant to see email and other digital files that have been stored online for more than 180 days. Currently the law allows access with a subpoena, which can be obtained more easily by satisfying a weaker legal standard.

But a recent amendment to the bill would still allow non-disclosure orders lasting up to six months, which could potentially be extended. Microsoft’s Smith said he’s not optimistic that Congress will pass any reforms this year.

Microsoft rival Apple has been waging a high-profile legal battle over the FBI’s attempt to compel that company’s help in obtaining data stored on iPhones.

“It’s part of the same trend,” said Alex Abdo, a staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union. He said tech companies “have gotten the message loud and clear from the American public, that privacy matters.”

source: technology.inquirer.net

All-flash technology for data analytics seen to boost businesses

The prediction that there will be billions of devices connected in 2020 has been going around for years, signaling the advent of the Internet of Things (IoT). The devices will generate terabytes after terabytes of data which will be stored in the cloud.

Companies are now becoming more and more dependent on data analytics than before. Data analytics give them real-time feedback on consumer behavior, which then translates to adjustments in service or an entirely new marketing strategy.

“I think more intelligence is being put into devices,” said Ronnie Latinazo, country manager of EMC2 Philippines.

EMC offers data storage, information security, virtualization, analytics, cloud computing and other products and services that enable businesses to store, manage, protect, and analyze data. EMC’s target markets include large companies and small- and medium-sized businesses across various vertical markets.

Latinazo quoted industry analyst Gartner Inc. that by 2020, IoT will churn out “44 zettabytes or 44 trillion gigabytes” from only 4.4 ZB in 2013.

“How do companies cope with that growth?” asked Latinazo. “That’s where software-driven enterprises will come to grow and come to be more effective. To keep up with this growth; not only to keep up but also produce competitive advantage over their competitors.”

All-flash

Latinazo sees the emergence of modern-day data centers where companies offering cloud computing solutions will be using “all-flash technology” and moving from traditional storage.

“We think by 2016 the price point between traditional hard disk drives and solid state or all flash drives will come to parity,” he explained. “Given that flash offers much higher or unique value proposition in terms of performance, space, efficiency, etc. when the price points cross, you will see a natural increase adoption of flash technology.”

EMC2 is making a statement that all its new products, especially on the platform side, will be largely based on all-flash configurations. All-flash technology is a solid state storage disk (SSD) system that contains multiple flash memory drives instead of spinning hard disk drives and can transfer data to and from SSD.

One of EMC’s premium products, VMAX, is coming up with a unique version that’s all-flash and promises “to provide the highest and biggest flash offerings in the market.”

“VMAX Enterprise Class products are traditionally positioned to run traditional workloads: ERPs, banking applications, telcos,” explained Latinazo. “It still has the same features that made it a great product but the difference is we will be offering higher performance, more efficiencies, that’s unmatched.”

VMAX All-Flash consolidates mixed block and file workloads that require up to “six-nines” of enterprise availability, rich data services, IBM mainframe and iSeries support and scalable storage growth. It also offers the gold standard replication, recovery, data services and quality of service, reengineered with all-flash to deliver up to four petabytes of storage capacity.

“Aside from the usual reliability and resiliency of VMAX, it also has the ability to provide business continuance and protect the data. It has data services like compression, snaps to make clones or copies and it will allow our famous SRDF (Symmetrix Remote Data Facility) product to run to do remote mirroring.”

Rack-Scale Flash

EMC is also introducing DSSD D5 Rack-Scale Flash, a new flash storage category which offers “breakthrough” performance—for the most performance-intensive, traditional and next-generation use cases that require microsecond latencies such as real-time analytics for Hadoop and Oracle.

“This product is geared for the real-time analytics world,” Latinazo said. “Network bandwidth will not be an issue, latency is like sub-100 millisecond.

“To us, it’s going to be a breakthrough technology that’s going to allow companies now to go into new applications that they couldn’t do before because of performance and scalability limitations,” he explained. “This is what we are trying to address. We say it’s game changing, offers the lowest latency or delay in terms of computing, highest level of efficiency and the architecture is native. You can do more with your existing application by just moving it into this infrastructure without touching your applications.”

Latinazo said this new product would be most useful for telcos and retail companies dependent on consumer behavior. RC

source: technology.inquirer.net

Ruling clears way for Katy Perry to buy hilltop convent

LOS ANGELES — A judge on Wednesday voided the sale of a former Catholic convent to a Los Angeles businesswoman, clearing the way for Katy Perry to purchase the hilltop property.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Stephanie Bowick ruled that attempts to sell the property to the businesswoman by members of an order of elderly nuns were improper.

Perry has sought to buy the hilltop property in the Los Feliz neighborhood for $14.5 million and to relocate an adjoining house of prayer used by priests. Her bid has the approval of Los Angeles’ archbishop but would have to be approved by the Vatican.

The Roman villa-style convent sits on 8 acres.

The “Roar” singer’s efforts to buy the aging hilltop home were stymied when some members of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary opted to sell the convent to entrepreneur Dana Hollister.

Hollister recorded a deed on the property, but Bowick’s ruling rescinds it. She had plans to turn it into a boutique hotel, which drew concerns from some neighbors.

Her attorney Randy Snyder didn’t immediately return messages seeking comment.

Bowick ruled that Los Angeles’ archbishop has to first authorize any sale, and the nuns did not receive his permission before entering into an agreement with Hollister.

Hollister was in the process of renovating the convent when she was sued by the archdiocese last year, sparking months of litigation and highlighting conflict between the nuns and the archdiocese.

In May 2014, at the archbishop’s request, the nuns met with Perry to see if a compromise could be worked out. At least two of the five surviving nuns — who had already searched for Perry’s music videos and weren’t pleased with what they saw — weren’t swayed by the meeting.

The Sisters of the Most Holy and Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary have owned the property for more than 40 years, but they haven’t lived in the convent for several years. Only five sisters, who are in their 70s and 80s, remain, and their order has bickered with the archbishop for years on various issues.

The property was bestowed to them by a devout Catholic who wanted the nuns to keep him in their prayers.

source: entertainment.inquirer.net