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PARIS - World number one Carlos Alcaraz survived a third-set wobble to cruise past fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece 6-2 6-1 7-6(5) on Tuesday and earn a spot in the French Open last four. For almost three sets Alcaraz played jaw-dropping tennis, having pulverized his opponent, who staged a brief comeback to force a tiebreak in the third. The 20-year-old will now face third seed Novak Djokovic in a mouth-watering semifinal on Friday with the Spaniard chasing a second Grand Slam title after winning the US Open crown last year and the Serbian veteran on course for a record-breaking 23rd men's singles major. "This match is what everyone wanted to watch and it is going to ...

Keep on reading: French Open: Carlos Alcaraz books semis showdown with Novak Djokovic

MANILA -AirAsia Philippines targets to double its aircraft fleet by next year amid the resurgence of passenger movement following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions that grounded flights a few years ago. Capital A CEO Tony Fernandes, in a statement on Tuesday, said the budget carrier was leasing and acquiring new aircraft to meet this goal. Currently, it operates 16 aircraft. In addition, the low-cost airline plans to add wide-body aircraft units to boost passenger capacity. The AirAsia Group, in total, has an order book of over 400 aircraft in the pipeline. The company also reported that it has been registering growth in the past month, noting that its load factor reached 91 perc...

Keep on reading: AirAsia PH plans to double aircraft fleet

MANILA, Philippines --- The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Wednesday said the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) may be privatized as early as the first quarter of 2024, depending on the process of awarding the contract to the government's chosen concessionaire. To recall, the DOTr and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) submitted their joint proposal for the NAIA solicited Public Private Partnership (PPP) Project to the National Economic and Development Authority on Friday, June 2. "That is a very tough and tight schedule, maybe we can say that the first quarter of next year [2024], it is doable, that there will be a conclusion, meaning to say, an awar...

Keep on reading: Naia may be privatized by Q1 of 2024; P141B in investment needed – DOTr

PARIS-Novak Djokovic overcame a first-set blip to beat Russian Karen Khachanov 4-6 7-6(0) 6-2 6-4 and reach the French Open semi-finals on Tuesday, staying on course for a record-breaking 23rd men's singles Grand Slam title. The twice Roland Garros champion could not find a weakness in the 11th-seeded Khachanov's serve at first, but once he took the second set tiebreak there was no looking back for the Serbian. He will be closely watching Tuesday's night match between world number one Carlos Alcaraz and fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, whose winner will be the last man standing between him and a seventh French Open final. On a court Philippe Chatrier gradually being covered by...

Keep on reading: Novak Djokovic springs into French Open last four

Denver coach Michael Malone doubled down on his demand that the Nuggets play with more discipline as they seek to regain the upper hand over the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals. A furious Malone had questioned his players' effort and discipline after their Game 2 defeat in Denver, and he said the players were in full agreement. "Our players owned it," Malone said after the team trained in Miami ahead of Wednesday's Game 3. "I asked them after the game, Why did we lose tonight. And they told me we didn't play hard enough. They told me we weren't disciplined enough." Malone had already warned after the Nuggets won game one that a lackluster defensive effort had allowed Miami too ...

Keep on reading: NBA: Nuggets coach Michael Malone hammers home need for discipline

Underdog Miami's chances of overcoming the odds and beating the favored Nuggets will hinge on big man Bam Adebayo's success in containing dynamic Denver center Nikola Jokic, his teammates said on Tuesday. The series shifts from high-altitude Denver to the humid beaches of Miami after the Heat pulled off a gutsy fourth quarter comeback win on Sunday to even the series 1-1. "Bam has been playing incredibly well this entire playoffs, for sure this series, and this one he got the toughest matchup by far on the defensive side of the ball," Heat forward Jimmy Butler told reporters on Tuesday. "And on the offensive end, he's doing everything for us. We need him to continue to be th...

Keep on reading: NBA: Bam Adebayo key to Miami Heat’s title aspirations

SINGAPORE - The dollar edged lower on Wednesday as traders assessed the odds of a rate hike by the Federal Reserve next week, while the Aussie scaled a fresh three-week high in the wake of a rate increase and a decidedly hawkish stance by its central bank . The Australian dollar peaked at $0.6690 in early Asia trade, its highest since mid-May, buoyed by lingering effects of the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) quarter-point interest rate increase to an 11-year high on Tuesday. The decision and the RBA's hawkish policy statement had sent the Aussie rising 0.8 percent in the previous session, with governor Philip Lowe warning of more tightening on the cards because inflation was sti...

Keep on reading: Dollar adrift as traders assess Fed options; Aussie buoyant

MANILA, Philippines---Naturalized players Jordan Clarkson, Justin Brownlee, and Ange Kouame bannered the 21-man Gilas Pilipinas pool for the Fiba World Cup 2023 in August. The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas unveiled its pool for its historic hosting of the World Cup late Tuesday evening. NBA star Clarkson, who played in the fourth window of the Asian Qualifiers last August, will be part of the team's buildup with fellow naturalized players Brownlee and Kouame. Brownlee also had an impressive stint for Gilas, debuting in the final window last February and bringing back the Southeast Asian Games gold to the Philippines last month in Cambodia. Kouame, meanwhile, helped the ...

Keep on reading: Jordan Clarkson, Justin Brownlee lead Gilas’ 21-man pool for Fiba World Cup

TOKYO - Oil prices steadied on Wednesday after the previous session's losses, as demand concerns owing to slow global economic growth were offset by fears of tighter global supply following Saudi Arabia's pledge to deepen output cuts. Brent crude futures were up 9 cents, or 0.1 percent, at $76.38 a barrel at 0039 GMT. The U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 11 cents, or 0.2 percent, to $71.85 a barrel. Both benchmarks eased about 1 percent on Tuesday, paring some of Monday's gains that were driven by top crude exporter Saudi Arabia's surprise pledge over the weekend to reduce output by 1 million barrels per day (bpd) to 9 million bpd in July. "The market has digested...

Keep on reading: Oil prices steady as fears over supply tightness counter demand woes

Your iPhone is a nifty device that is a staple of daily life, containing essential apps and sensitive information. However, some folks may try to steal it, risking your privacy and safety. Fortunately, there are many ways to promote iPhone security by adjusting your settings. That means you don't need to pay for premium apps and third-party tools. Follow these steps for a few minutes to ensure your favorite gadgets are safe. Otherwise, someone could use your data for identity theft, scams, and other nefarious activities. This article will discuss the iPhone security settings that can keep your smart device safe against theft. These include using stronger passwords and activating bu...

Keep on reading: The iPhone Security Settings For Theft Protection

NEW YORK - The top U.S. securities regulator suedcryptocurrency platformCoinbaseon Tuesday, the second lawsuit in two daysagainsta majorcryptoexchange, in a dramatic escalation of acrackdownon the industry and one that could dramatically transform a market that has largely operated outside regulation. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday took aim atBinance, the world's largestcryptocurrency exchange. The SEC accusesBinanceand its CEO Changpeng Zhao of operating a "web of deception". If successful, thelawsuitscould transform thecryptomarket by successfully asserting the SEC's jurisdiction over the industry which for years has argued that tokens do not constitute...

Keep on reading: US steps up crackdown on crypto with lawsuits against Coinbase, Binance

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil---Satin-voiced Brazilian songstress Astrud Gilberto, who died at 83, shot to fame in the 1960s with "The Girl from Ipanema," the song that did more than any other to export bossa nova to the world. Here are five fast facts about the late singer's most famous song. 'Garota de Ipanema' The song---"Garota de Ipanema," in the original Portuguese---was written in 1962 by poet-lyricist Vinicius de Moraes and pianist-composer Tom Jobim. "Vinicius and Tom," as the duo became known, were regulars at a bar called the Veloso, in the Rio de Janeiro beachside neighborhood of Ipanema. The song was inspired by a 17-year-old local girl, Heloisa Pinheiro, who wo...

Keep on reading: 5 things about ‘Girl from Ipanema’

OPPO releases its 2022 Sustainability Report on the World Environment Day this year. Starting in 2020, OPPO has published a Sustainability Report each year to publicly disclose its plans and practical progress towards sustainability goals.The report highlights the significant progress that OPPO has made in five key areas of sustainability, including: operation and compliance, environment protection, caring for employees, virtuous innovation and ecosystem engagement, reinforcing OPPO's commitment to sustainability as a corporate global citizen. Virtuous innovation: making technology accessible and beneficial to all people As a global technology company operating in over 60 countries...

Keep on reading: OPPO release 2022 Sustainability Report on the World Environment Day

Tito and Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon and the original Dabarkads of "Eat Bulaga" are moving to TV5, as they signed an agreement with Mediaquest Holdings, Inc. Mediaquest Holdings Inc. confirmed TVJ and their fellow hosts' move in a press statement on Wednesday, June 7, which adds another chapter to TVJ's longstanding career in the entertainment industry. "I'm honored that these pillars of the Philippine entertainment industry have agreed to work with us. Our partnership strengthens our ability to continue to deliver the best for Filipino viewers here at home and all over the world. I'm happy that Tito, Vic, and Joey will now call TV5 their home." Mediaquest president and CEO Jane Ba...

Keep on reading: TVJ, fellow Dabarkads moving to TV5, seal agreement with Mediaquest Holdings Inc.

The European Union is considering a mandatory ban on member states using companies that might pose a security risk in their 5G networks, including China's Huawei Technologies Co Ltd , the Financial Times reported on Tuesday. The move comes as a response to increasing concerns in Brussels about certain national governments delaying action on the matter, the officials told the newspaper. The EU's internal market commissioner Thierry Breton informed telecoms ministers at a meeting last Friday that only a third of EU countries had implemented Huawei bans in critical areas, the report said. EU and Huawei did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment....

Keep on reading: EU considers mandatory ban on using Huawei to build 5G – FT

SYDNEY -Australia'scentralbanktightened monetary policy thisweekbecause of upside inflation risks toan already drawn-out return ofinflationto target, Governor Philip Lowe said on Wednesday, after raising interest rates to an 11-year high of 4.1 percent. Some further tighteningmaystill be required to bringinflationto heel but that would depend on how the economy andinflationevolve, said ReserveBankof Australia (RBA)'s Lowe said at the Morgan Stanley Australia Summit in Sydney. The RBA has projected headlineinflation- which is at about 7 percent now - to return to the top of thebank's target of 2 percent-3 percent by mid-2025, a slower path than many other economies as Lowe wants...

Keep on reading: Australia’s central bank says hike this week due to inflation risks, warns more may come

MANILA -Taipan Lucio Tan's Philippine National Bank has extended a P600 million credit line to Metro Zamboanga Hospital and Medical Center Inc. to support its expansion. The 10-year term loan will be used to finance the ongoing construction and completion of its hospital building. Metro Zamboanga Hospital will thus be the first eight-story hospital with a helipad in the Zamboanga Peninsula region. "PNB is ready to help our country -- including the provinces -- improve the quality of life for the communities through our financing projects," PNB provincial commercial banking group head Aaron Astor said in a statement on Tuesday. "This is especially true for industries that thr...

Keep on reading: PNB extends P600M credit line to Zamboanga hospital operator

MANILA -The Department of Energy (DOE) has doubled the increment of renewable energy (RE) installations under its Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) policy in the main grid to 2.52 percent beginning this year in a bid to accelerate the agency's goal of increasing the share of renewables in the Philippine energy mix. This means that the increase in the share of RE in the supply portfolio of off-taker distribution utilities (DUs) must have a growth rate of 2.52 percent every year. Under the recently issued Department Circular No. 2023-05-0015, Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said all mandated participants in the country's three island grids were covered by the new rate. Mandated...

Keep on reading: Higher renewable energy growth mandate takes effect

MANILA -Customers of ports tycoon Enrique Razon Jr.'s MORE Electric and Power Corp. in Iloilo City got a refund of their bill deposits totaling around P4 million, the company announced. In a statement, MORE Power said three customers formally received around P2,500 during a ceremony held in their office recently. The remaining 841 qualified customers will receive their refund until December this year, according to MORE Power. "Since we don't have any intention of using [the bill deposits] for our operation, why keep it when it is already due for return, for the refund to customers?" said MORE Power president and chief executive officer Roel Castro. A bill deposit is a payment...

Keep on reading: MORE Power starts Iloilo consumer deposit refunds

MANILA -The Ayala Group's real estate investment trust (REIT) arm AREIT Inc. is raising its capital base as it moves closer to completing its biggest-ever acquisition of malls and offices from controlling shareholder, Ayala Land Inc. In a stock exchange filing on Monday, AREIT said it submitted an application to the Securities and Exchange Commission to increase its authorized capital by over a third to P40.5 billion. AREIT plans to issue shares to Ayala Land and affiliates in exchange for P22.5 billion worth of the coveted malls and offices within the Ayala Center complex in Makati City and other areas. The company announced on Monday the execution of a deed of exchange with Ay...

Keep on reading: Ayala’s AREIT moves to take in P 22.5B worth of malls, offices