Are you with me?

MANILA, Philippines — As more and more people become aware that all people deserve to be equal, more and more people are showing support for the LGBTQ+ community. That’s great! Pride Month has never been more alive than it is today. That’s great. There are more and more commercials and campaigns that include queer people in the mainstream: gay people getting married, gay people buying houses, gay people having kids, gay people being accepted by their parents in tearjerking ad spots. That’s great. But — and there is always a “but” — being an ally in 2018 doesn’t just mean waving a rainbow flag and calling it a day. Are they still allies once June is over?

Here’s the thing: people, groups, brands, corporations and politicians who try to be inclusive are good and all, but there has to be meaningful support behind it. Because the LGBTQ+ community is still a minority, and it’s going to take more work to make everyone truly equal. Are they amplifying LGBTQ+ voices, or are they drowning them out instead? Are they fighting for equal rights, or do they only show support when it’s convenient and become silent when issues arise? Are they donating to projects and causes like Pride marches, or are they simply trying to capture the market?

Don’t get me wrong — it’s nice to see rainbows where they didn’t exist before, and it’s nice to be represented, but sometimes you just gotta think: are they with me or just trying to sell to me? Being part of the LGBTQ+ spectrum is not a trend to be followed nor is it some bandwagon that people need to jump on. These are identities, struggles, and lives of real people. As more and more companies and politicians “reach out” and get a slice of the gay pie, it’s going to take a little more digging to see what they’re really getting at.


For example, Primark recently came out (pun intended) with an LGBTQ+ collection in time for Pride, where a portion of the proceeds will go to Stonewall UK, an LGBTQ+ rights charity. Sounds great and all, but Stonewall is not at all affiliated with, and has had issues with, Pride organizations before. Pride organizations in the UK have had to scale down their marches due to lack of funds, and instead of donating to Pride, Primark decides to sell its own merch instead. Here’s the kicker: Primark’s clothes are made in Turkey, where the LGBTQ+ community is still largely persecuted, and in Myanmar, where being gay is outright illegal.

So what can you do to be a better ally? The first thing anyone can do to really make a difference is listen. Listen to what the LGBTQ+ community actually needs, listen to what their goals are — because that’s when you’ll know what you’re doing is productive. Second: take a stand and stick with it. If you’re going to dress up in rainbows and butterflies during Pride Month, don’t sit on the sidelines the other 11 months of the year. Nothing is more flaky than deciding to stay silent when the real issues start to come up. For example, in 2016, Target took a stand with a transgender bathroom policy, allowing their guests and employees to enter the bathroom that corresponded with their gender identity. They stuck with this policy even as they faced boycott.
If you must create products and commercials, make sure to include LGBTQ+ community in its creation. It’s one way to make sure we’re not misrepresented, and it also gives us a platform to shine. Not that you should be giving handouts, but it’s important to have a gay perspective on a gay product, duh. Lastly, donate to the local Pride organization or buy their merch. Organizing Pride marches is a lot of hard work, mostly done by volunteers. Mounting these events requires quite a sum, and raising funds is never an easy task. It’s the one event each year where we celebrate who we are, and it means a lot to many people.

Being a true ally takes work. It’s not just about shouting to the world that you support your queer friends — it means shouting to the world that you support your queer friends and meaning it. Just because you watch RuPaul’s Drag Race or speak gay lingo or take your gay friends shopping doesn’t automatically make you an ally. And just because queer people are getting more and more attention doesn’t mean you can exploit them, or any other minority for that matter. Being an ally means allowing us to be heard; being an ally does not mean joining the conversation only to drown out the people around you. It doesn’t have to be some big gesture every time; sometimes the smallest yet meaningful actions can make a big impact. Happy Pride.

source: philstar.com

Players from Premier League, Spanish league scoring the most

SOCHI, Russia — Players from the Premier League and the Spanish league scored nearly half of the goals at the World Cup in the group stage.

Of the 122 goals in the 48 matches so far, 31 came from players in England’s top league and 29 from players in Spain. Four other goals came from players on teams in those country’s second division.

The Premier League has two of the top scorers: Tottenham striker Harry Kane with five goals for England and Manchester United forward Romelu Lukaku with four for Belgium.

The Spanish league has Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo with four goals for Portugal, Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa with three for Spain and Villarreal midfielder Denis Cheryshev with another three for Russia.

Kane and Lukaku were left out of their teams’ final group match on Thursday as both had already reached the next round. The top five leading scorers will continue playing in the knockout stage.

Players from the French league scored nine goals, one more than players from the German Bundesliga. The Italian league was next with its players scoring seven goals.

The top four clubs releasing players to the World Cup were from the Premier League (Manchester City and Chelsea) and the Spanish league (Real Madrid and Barcelona).

Real Madrid led the club list with nine goals from its players, followed by Barcelona and Tottenham, with eight goals each.

Among the teams with the most players at the World Cup, Bayern Munich was the only one without any goals from its players in Russia. Bayern was the top scoring team four years ago in Brazil, with its players finding the net 18 times.

Major League Soccer has seen two of its players score — Carlos Vela of Los Angeles FC for Mexico and Kendall Waston of the Vancouver Whitecaps for Costa Rica.
A total of 86 players scored in the group stage, which ended with a goal average of 2.5 per match. Four years ago in Brazil, 136 goals were scored in the group stage, with an average of 2.8 per game.

There were nine own-goals in the tournament in Russia, a World Cup record.

The only scoreless game came when Denmark played France in Moscow on Tuesday.

source: philstar.com

Asian stocks dip as trade tensions weigh on US tech sector

SINGAPORE — Asian markets were mostly lower on Tuesday, as moves by the U.S to gain an upper hand on trade with China weighed on the technology sector. Tech stocks have been the pillar of the Wall Street's long-running bull market.

KEEPING SCORE: Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index dropped 0.5 percent to 22,221.33 and South Korea's Kospi lost 0.9 percent to 2,337.60. Hong Kong's Hang Seng shed 1.2 percent to 28,619.21 and the Shanghai Composite in mainland China slipped 0.6 percent to 2,842.22. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 dipped 0.4 percent to 6,186.40. Taiwan's benchmark fell and Southeast Asian indexes were mostly lower.

WALL STREET: Major U.S. benchmarks finished broadly lower. The S&P 500 index dropped 1.4 percent to 2,717.07, its worst loss since April 6. The Dow Jones industrial average fell for the ninth time in 10 days, losing 1.3 percent to 24,252.80. The Nasdaq composite shed 2.1 percent to 7,532.01. The Russell 2000 index of smaller-company stocks slid 1.7 percent to 1,657.51.


TECH DOWNTURN: Stocks tumbled on reports that the Trump administration plans to limit exports of some high-tech products to China, and also limit investment in technology firms by companies with substantial Chinese ownership. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin's suggestion that the investment restrictions wouldn't be limited to China caused stocks to slide further. The market recovered when Peter Navarro, one of President Donald Trump's top trade advisors, told CNBC that there was no plan for investment restrictions and that the administration's probe into alleged technology theft is limited to China. All but one of the 72 technology companies listed on the S&P 500 index closed lower on Monday.

TRADE TENSIONS: U.S. efforts to secure a pole position in trade are seeing some hit back. Iconic American motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson said it would move some production overseas to avoid tariffs the European Union is placing on motorcycles made in the U.S. Those tariffs were a response to taxes the U.S. placed on steel and aluminum from Europe. In less than two weeks, a 25 percent tariff will be imposed by the U.S. on billions of dollars of Chinese products. China will also raise import duties on $34 billion worth of American goods. China and the European Union agreed on Monday to launch a group that will, among other things, preserve support for international trade amid U.S. threats of import controls.

ANALYST'S TAKE: "Fears that China may pull investments in U.S. tech firms have caused a broad drawback. There is a sense that trade tensions could be long drawn and somewhat more antagonistic going forward," said Vishnu Varathan, head of economics and macro strategy at Mizuho Bank.
ENERGY: OPEC countries have agreed to raise the supply of crude oil by 1 million barrels a day. But investors aren't sure if the cartel will carry it out. Benchmark U.S. crude gained 7 cents to $68.15 per barrel in New York. It dipped 0.7 percent to settle at $68.08 per barrel on Monday. Brent crude, used to price international oils, rose 5 cents to $74.60 per barrel in London.

CURRENCIES: The dollar remained at 109.45 yen from late trading Monday. The euro strengthened to $1.1718 from $1.1704.

source: philstar.com

Italy's interior minister in Libya for migrant crisis talks

TRIPOLI, Libya — Italy's firebrand interior minister vowed on Monday to do everything possible to help Libya stem the flow of migrants and develop itself commercially, saying Italy wants Europe to view its former colony as a "great opportunity" and not a problem.

Matteo Salvini made his first official visit abroad to Tripoli, Libya's capital, to hammer home his commitment to ending the migration flows that have fueled anti-migrant sentiment across Europe and brought his xenophobic party to power.

Speaking at a press conference with Ahmed Maiteeg, the deputy prime minister of the U.N.-backed Libyan government, Salvini insisted that new proposals in the European Union to create asylum identification centers for would-be refugees must be located at Libya's southern borders — not in Europe, as France initially proposed.


Salvini also vowed to help Libyan authorities assume control over Libyan territory, including its territorial waters, to prevent migrants from leaving.

Libya was plunged into chaos following the 2011 uprising that ousted and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi and is now split between rival governments — one, backed by the United Nations, based in Tripoli, and the other in the country' east — each supported by an array of militias. Since then, it has been a frequently used as a route to Europe for migrants fleeing poverty and conflict in Africa and the Middle East.

Maiteeg announced that the Libyan coast guard had rescued some 1,000 migrants on Sunday, including dozens of women and children in several different rescues. All migrants were given humanitarian and medical aid, and were taken to a naval base in Tripoli and a refugee camp in the town of Khoms, he said.

Salvini praised the Libyans for the rescue and vowed to halt European aid groups that have been rescuing migrants. Italy is committed, he said, to "blocking the full-on invasion of those associations that would like to substitute the government and authorities and in fact help illegal migrant traffickers."

Salvini has accused these NGOs of operating as taxi services for Libyan-based smugglers. He has closed ports to their rescue ships, and on Sunday, the Italian coast guard declined offers of help from a Spanish NGO to take part in the rescue.
He added that Italy was committed to helping convince Europe that "Libya isn't a problem but is a great opportunity."

"Some European countries see Libya as a great problem," he said. "For us, it could return to be a great opportunity of exchange, development and growth."

He backed Libya's proposal to create a center to study migration.

Maiteeg urged Europeans especially Italy to help, saying that "the European participation should be through a training program."

Before Italy's new coalition government was installed, Italy already worked to bolster the Libyan coast guard's ability to patrol its coasts and to bring back migrants who launched from its shores.

Human rights organizations have criticized the practice, alleging that migrants are abused in Libya and the North African country hardly constitutes a "safe" port of call, as called for by international law.

___
Winfield reported from Rome. Associated Press writer Samy Magdy in Cairo contributed to this report.

source: philstar.com

Federer chases 99th title, faces Coric in Halle final

HALLE, Germany — Defending champion Roger Federer will play 21-year-old Borna Coric in the Gerry Weber Open final as he chases his 99th career singles title on Sunday (Monday in Manila).

Federer reached his 12th final in Halle after beating qualifier Denis Kudla 7-6 (1), 7-5 on Saturday (Sunday).

Coric advanced when fourth-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut retired injured after slipping in their semifinal. The Spaniard was leading 3-2 in the first set.

Federer fired 12 aces and saved six of the seven break points he faced to end Kudla’s 10-set winning streak in Halle. The American had three break points when he was leading 4-3 in the second set, but Federer fought back and finished the set with two successive aces.

“It’s good to know that I always play well when it’s needed,” Federer said.

The 25-year-old Kudla had saved 20 of 21 break points on his way to the semifinals at the grass-court tournament.

Federer, who saved two match points against Benoit Paire in the second round on Thursday, is going for a record-extending 10th title in Halle. It will be his second final in as many weeks.

The Swiss great, who won his 18th grass-court title in Stuttgart on Sunday, is just two match wins away from matching Jimmy Connors’ all-time record of 174 victories on grass.

“It’s a good warmup. I’m on a run,” said Federer, who wasn’t entirely satisfied after committing some simple mistakes. “Perhaps I’m missing the training. I’m playing a lot of matches at the moment.”

After skipping the entire clay-court season for the second year in a row, Federer extended his grass-court winning streak to 20 matches, including Stuttgart and last year’s titles in Halle and Wimbledon. The revitalized 36-year-old only had a longer streak on the surface once before, when he won 65 consecutive matches on grass between 2003 and 2008.

source: philstar.com

Some US migrant children shelters accused of violations: report

CHICAGO, United States — More than a dozen shelters where the US government sent migrant children have a history of allegations of misconduct and violations of care standards, according to a report published Wednesday.

The joint investigation by the Texas Tribune news website and The Center for Investigative Reporting came on the same day that US President Donald Trump reversed a tough policy and ordered an end to separation of migrant children from their parents on the US border.

His backtracking followed domestic and international outrage at the policy.

The new report cited government and other reports for accusations of physical and sexual abuse, and violations of standards for children's safety and care.


The alleged breaches occurred at privately-run shelters where migrant children receive long-term housing.

Texas state inspectors cited violations including a lack of medical attention to injuries and illness, and mistakes in administering medication, the report says.

More than 70 private entities—mostly religious and nonprofit groups—are contracted with the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to take care of migrant children, according to the report.

These are children who arrived in the US without parents, or who were separated from parents by immigration authorities.

Since 2014, 13 shelter operators have faced serious complaints, according to the Tribune report, but only two have lost their contracts with ORR.

The accusations of violations and misconduct dated as far back as two decades—before the ORR contracted with the shelters—and as recently as last month.

Among the offender companies identified was Southwest Key Programs of Texas. 
It operates the converted Walmart supermarket, called Casa Padre, which has been featured by much of the US media in the last few days as holding about 1,500 immigrant children under the Trump administration's "zero tolerance" policy.

The report says Texas inspectors found 246 violations at the company's other facilities, including shampoo dispensers filled with hand sanitizer.

In a statement, the company said deficiencies were found in less than one percent of the standards for which it is evaluated.

"We take each of the deficiencies seriously by self-reporting to invite external investigations, as well as performing our own internal investigations," the company said.

"When called for, staff have been terminated or retrained as we continue to strive for excellence in the services we provide to the children entrusted to our care."

Another Texas-based company, International Educational Services, was one of the two shelter operators whose ORR contracts were not renewed.

It had been cited with more than 100 deficiencies at nine facilities, including "inappropriate sexual contact between staff and children, harsh punishment and lapses in medical care," the report said.

The ORR did not respond to a request for comment.

source: philstar.com

Asian stocks take a breather from trade tensions; markets up

SINGAPORE — Asian markets were mostly higher on Wednesday as traders sidelined tariffs that the U.S. and China have threatened to impose on one another, focusing on positive housing data instead.

KEEPING SCORE: Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index rose 1.2 percent to 22,540.07 and South Korea's Kospi gained 1.4 percent to 2,373.50. Hong Kong's Hang Seng rebounded 1.5 percent to 29,908.50 and the Shanghai Composite in mainland China increased 0.4 percent to 2,918.60. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 climbed 1.1 percent to 6,166.40. Taiwan's benchmark rose but Southeast Asian indexes were mixed.

U.S-CHINA TARIFFS: A burgeoning trade war between the U.S. and China is showing no signs of abating. On Tuesday, China's government called President Donald Trump's threat of new tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods "blackmail" and warned to retaliate with measures of its own. Trump has already announced a 25 percent tariff on up to $50 billion of Chinese products starting July 6. China retaliated by raising import duties on $34 billion worth of American goods, including soybeans, electric cars and whiskey.


POSITIVE HOUSING DATA: The solid U.S. job market has helped to boost demand for new homes. The Commerce Department said housing starts rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.35 million in May, the strongest pace since July 2007. All of May's construction gains came from a 62 percent jump in the Midwest, while building slumped in the Northeast, South and West.


QUOTEWORTHY: "Trade tension is going to dominate market sentiment in the weeks to come. The market is waiting for Beijing to come out with counter measurements to offload more chips," said Margaret Yang, market analyst at CMC Markets Singapore.

WALL STREET: Major U.S. benchmarks finished lower. The S&P 500 index dropped 0.4 percent to 2,762.57 and the Dow Jones industrial average lost 1.1 percent to 24,700.21. The Nasdaq composite dipped 0.3 percent to 7,725.59.

ENERGY: Oil futures recovered losses from the previous day ahead of an OPEC meeting on Friday. Saudi Arabia and Russia are seeking to raise production by 1.5 million barrels per day, but they may not get their way. Benchmark U.S. crude rose 38 cents to $65.28 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract settled at $64.90 per barrel on Tuesday. Brent crude, used to price international oils, gained 32 cents to $75.40 in London.
CURRENCIES: The dollar rose to 110.19 yen from 110.07 yen in late trading Tuesday. The euro ticked up to $1.1579 from $1.1575.

source: philstar.com

Asian stocks tumble after new Trump tariff threat

BEIJING — Asian stocks tumbled Tuesday after U.S. President Donald Trump escalated a dispute with Beijing over technology policy by threatening a tariff hike on additional Chinese goods.

KEEPING SCORE: The Shanghai Composite Index fell 2.3 percent to 2,953.54 points and Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost 2 percent to 29,685.28. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 retreated 0.9 percent to 22,482.89 and Seoul's Kospi lost 0.8 percent to 2,356.57. Markets in Taiwan, New Zealand and Southeast Asia also declined. Sydney's S&P-ASX 200 gained 0.3 percent to 6,123.00.

TRADE TENSIONS: Trump directed the U.S. Trade Representative to prepare new tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese imports, stepping up a dispute companies and investors worry could drag down global trade and economic growth. Trump accused Beijing of being unwilling to resolve the dispute over complaints it steals or pressures foreign companies to hand over technology. China's Commerce Ministry criticized the White House action as blackmail and said Beijing was ready to retaliate.

ANALYST'S TAKE: "President Donald Trump's unwillingness to back down became apparent this morning, once again sinking markets into a risk-off atmosphere," said Jingyi Pan of IG in a report. "Attention now turns to China for the country's response towards the latest accusations from the White House, but mostly signs of further retaliation."


WALL STREET: U.S. stocks finished mixed in trading that ended before Trump issued his latest tariff threat. Household goods companies took some of the worst losses as the Standard & Poor's 500 index fell for the third time in four days. The S&P 500 fell 0.2 percent to 2,773.75. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 0.4 percent to 24,987.47. The Nasdaq composite edged up 0.65 points to 7,747.03. The Russell 2000 index of small-cap stocks rose 0.5 percent to a record 1,692.46. Many investors feel smaller and more U.S.-focused companies are less vulnerable in the event of a major trade dispute.

ENERGY: Benchmark U.S. crude lost 26 cents to $65.59 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose 79 cents on Monday to $65.85. Brent crude, used to price international oils, fell 41 cents to $74.93 per barrel in London. The contract rose $1.90 the previous session to $75.34.

CURRENCY: The dollar declined to 109.98 yen from Monday's 110.54 yen. The euro edged up to $1.1633 from $1.1623.

source: philstar.com

Brazilians disappointed after 1-1 tie at World Cup

RIO DE JANEIRO — Disappointment and frustration swept over Brazilians who gathered at public squares, bars and parks across Latin America's biggest country to watch their national team end up with a 1-1 tie in its opening World Cup match.

In Rio de Janeiro, thousands jammed the downtown Maua Square to watch Brazil's game with Switzerland on large TV screens. People cheered wildly when Brazil made it 1-0. But the mood started declining into glumness once Switzerland scored the equalizer and Brazil failed to get in another goal.

People watching the game in Sao Paulo, Belo Horizonte and other cities in soccer-mad Brazil expressed similar feelings of disappointment.

source: philstar.com

Balanced Brazil reduces dependence on Neymar for World Cup

SAO PAULO — Brazil is still shaking off the embarrassment of losing to Germany 7-1 in its home World Cup.

Since Tite took over as coach in 2016, the five-time world champions have become a winning machine again and were the first to qualify for Russia.

Neymar, who missed the humiliating match against Germany because of injury, has had to recover from a broken foot that kept him out for three months before the trip to Russia.

But there isn’t such a reliance now on the world’s most expensive player. In six games without Neymar, Brazil still won four times, including a friendly against Germany in Berlin in March.


“He will be missed by any team,” Brazil defender Thiago Silva said, “but not having him sometimes helps us consolidate the style we want.”

Indeed, the Brazilians head into the World Cup looking more balanced and with a range of top players available in every position. They were so dominant in South American qualifying that they would still have secured first place without the points secured in six games under Dunga before the coach was fired.

Brazil should be even more dangerous in Russia if Neymar, who sustained the injury playing for Paris Saint-Germain in February, is fully fit.

“Skill wise, he is already the best player in the world,” Brazil great Pele said. “This is his time to shine.”

Here’s a closer look at the Brazil team:

Coach
In less than two years on the job, Adenor Leonardo Bachi — better known as Tite — has turned Brazil from a flop into a title favorite.

A former pupil of defense-minded Luiz Felipe Scolari — the 2002 World Cup-winning coach who also presided over the Germany match — Tite has grown into a fan of Carlo Ancelotti and his well-balanced teams. The two have exchanged ideas since 2014.
Detractors say Tite’s teams are low scoring and that he charms players and journalists into sparing him from criticism. But his title streak at Corinthians from 2011-15 underscores his credentials for the national team job.

Goalkeepers
Alisson Becker wasn’t a household name in Brazil when he started wearing the No. 1 jersey two years ago. Now a starter for Roma, the 25-year-old Becker’s admirers include Italy great Gianluigi Buffon.

Alisson’s skills with both hands and feet made Tite relegate Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson to the bench. He is now being linked with a move to a leading club, including Real Madrid, Liverpool and Chelsea.

The third option is Tite’s most trusted player in the position, Corinthians goalkeeper Cassio.

Defenders
In 12 South American World Cup qualifiers under Tite, Brazil conceded only three goals.

The coach would have preferred to play with a solid back four featuring Paris Saint-Germain duo Dani Alves and Marquinhos, Inter Milan’s Miranda and Real Madrid’s Marcelo. But Alves will miss the World Cup because of injury and will be replaced by Manchester City defender Danilo.

At the pre-World Cup training camp, Tite decided to move PSG central defender Thiago Silva to Marquinhos’ place.

The three other reserves, right back Fagner, defender Pedro Geromel and left back Filipe Luis, are clearly lagging behind the starters.

Midfielders
Philippe Coutinho could replace Renato Augusto, who plays at Chinese club Beijing Guoan and is returning from injury, as the playmaker.

If that happens, Coutinho’s position on the left could be filled by Chelsea midfielder Willian. Fred is also in contention to start if he recovers from an ankle injury.

A more defensive variation would see Fernandinho, who plays with Premier League champion Manchester City, take Augusto’s place. While Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro offers protection to the defense, Barcelona rival Paulinho is a box-to-box player who also provides goals.

Forwards
If Neymar isn’t fit for the World Cup, Tite may have to resort to using Willian or Douglas Costa, who is also returning from injury, in his place.

While Gabriel Jesus was Brazil’s top scorer in qualifying, the Man City player faces competition from Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino.

Tite lacks an old-fashioned center forward, so he chose a speedier player, Shahktar Donetsk’s Taison, for the bench.

Group games
Brazil will have its base in Sochi despite playing no games near the Black Sea resort. The team will face Switzerland on Sunday in its Group E opener in Rostov-on-Don and then play Costa Rica on June 22 in St. Petersburg and Serbia on June 27 in Moscow.

Squad
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Roma), Ederson (Manchester City), Cassio (Corinthians)

Defenders: Danilo (Manchester City), Fagner (Corinthians), Thiago Silva (Paris Saint-Germain), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Miranda (Inter Milan), Pedro Geromel (Gremio), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid)

Midfielders: Casemiro (Real Madrid), Paulinho (Barcelona), Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona), Renato Augusto (Beijing Guoan), Fred (Manchester United), Fernandinho (Manchester City)

Forwards: Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain), Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City), Willian (Chelsea), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Douglas Costa (Juventus), Taison (Shakhtar Donetsk)

source: philstar.com

FULL LIST: 2018 Tony Awards winners

NEW YORK  —  “The Band’s Visit” won big at the recently concluded Tony Award 2018 as they bagged 10 awards including “Best Musical” while “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two” received six awards including “Best Play.”

The musical composed by David Yazbek with book by Itamar Moses bested “Frozen,” “Mean Girls” and “SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical” while the  two-part stage play written by Jack Thorne based on an original new story by Thorne, J. K. Rowling and John Tiffany defeated “The Children,” “Farinelli and The King, “Junk” and “Latin History for Morons.”

Besides Best Musical, “The Band’s Visit” also received nine awards including Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical by Tony Shalhoub, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical by Katrina Lenk, Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical by Ari’el Stachel, Best Lighting Design of a Musical by Tyler Micoleau, Best Sound Design of a Musical by Kai Harada, Best Direction of a Musical by David Cromer and Best Orchestrations by Jamshied Sharifi.

“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two” also received Best Scenic Design of a Play by Christine Jones, Best Costume Design of a Play by Katrina Lindsay, Best Lighting Design of a Play by Neil Austin, Best Sound Design of a Play by Gareth Fry and Best Direction of a Play by John Tiffany.

Special Tony Awards for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre was awarded to Chita Rivera and Andrew Lloyd Webber while the Special Tony Awards was given to John Leguizamo and Bruce Springsteen.

Other winners include: 
Best Revival of a Play: “Angels in America”
Best Revival of a Musical: “Once On This Island”
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play: Andrew Garfield, “Angels in America”
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play: Glenda Jackson, “Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women”
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play” Nathan Lane, “Angels in America”
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play: Laurie Metcalf, “Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women”
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical: Lindsay Mendez, “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel”
Best Scenic Design of a Musical: David Zinn, “SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical”
Best Costume Design of a Musical: Catherine Zuber, “My Fair Lady”
Best Choreography: Justin Peck, “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel”

source: philstar.com

Durant sweetens 2nd straight NBA title with another Finals MVP plum

CLEVELAND —Kevin Durant went back-to-back, twice.

It’s now two straight NBA championships for the Golden State Warriors, and two consecutive NBA Finals MVP awards for the forward who played a huge role in getting them to those titles.

Durant scored 20 points in the Game Four clincher Friday night (Saturday Manila time), a 108-85 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers — but his series will be remembered most for what he did in Game Three. Durant scored 43 points in that game, including a 33-foot 3-pointer in the final minute to all but clinch the win for the Warriors.

Durant averaged 28.8 points in the series, along with 10.8 rebounds and 7.5 assists.

“It’s just about the journey, all season,” Durant said. “Getting up every day, going to work with these guys, it’s amazing. The environment is incredible. It’s good for you to be around guys like this. It helps you become a better basketball player and a better man.”

Durant becomes the 11th player to win Finals MVP twice, joining six-time winner Michael Jordan, three-timers Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Duncan and LeBron James,  and two-timers Kobe Bryant, Larry Bird, Hakeem Olajuwon, Willis Reed and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

He’s also the sixth player to win it in consecutive years, with Jordan, O’Neal, James, Olajuwon and Bryant being the others.

Since 2009 the award has been named for Celtics legend Bill Russell, the 11-time champion who surely would have won the award several times if it existed in his playing days. The Finals MVP was first handed out in 1974.

Durant is one of 30 players to win the award.

source: philstar.com

Facebook data scandal

Facebook says it will end its data partnership with Huawei by the end of this week following a backlash over the Chinese phone maker's access to Facebook user data.

Huawei, a company flagged by U.S. intelligence officials as a national security threat, is the latest device maker at the center of a fresh wave of allegations over Facebook's handling of private data.

Facebook said earlier this week that Chinese firms Huawei, Lenovo, Oppo and TCL were among numerous handset makers that were given access to Facebook data in a "controlled" way approved by the social media giant.

Huawei said Wednesday it has never collected or stored Facebook user data. Huawei spokesman Joe Kelly said in a text message that the arrangement was about making Facebook services more convenient for users. — AP

source: philstar.com

Japanese royal couple on first official US visit

HONOLULU — Prince Akishino, the second son of Japan's Emperor Akihito, and his wife, Princess Kiko, are making their first official visit together to the U.S.

The Japanese royal couple is in Hawaii this week as part of a yearlong celebration of the 150th anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants arriving in the islands.

Akishino and Kiko laid a white wreath with peace lilies on Monday at the National Cemetery of the Pacific in remembrance of soldiers who died during World War II and the Vietnam War.

The couple was accompanied by cemetery director James Horton, and Adm. Phil Davidson, who became last week the commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii, the American military's Pacific headquarters.


They also laid a second white wreath at Ehime Maru Memorial in downtown Honolulu's Kakaako Waterfront Park, which commemorates Japanese lives lost when a U.S. submarine collided with a Japanese ship in 2001.

On Tuesday, the royal couple will plant a tree in Thomas Square, visit the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, and attend dinner with Gov. David Ige at his residence, Washington Place.

The Hawaiian-inspired menu features local ingredients with Japanese touches, such as oysters from Kualoa Farm served with yuzukosho, a Japanese condiment typically made of chilis, yuzu peel and salt.

Other dishes include pipikaula short rib with meat from Kauai, a throwback to a spiced treat similar to beef jerky eaten by Hawaiian cowboys, and steamed moi, called "the king's fish," as only royalty were allowed to eat it, according to Cindy McMillan, a spokeswoman for Ige. The ogo, or seaweed, relish for the fish will contain herbs from the Washington Place garden.

The royals will also taste poke with locally-caught ahi tuna and feast on a dessert of miso-pecan ice cream -- all dishes created by Honolulu chef Chris Kajioka of city restaurants Vintage Cave and Senia.
Emperor Akihito announced in December that he would abdicate the Chrysanthemum Throne at the end of April 2019, after reigning for 30 years. His eldest son, Crown Prince Naruhito, is expected to succeed the following day. Akishino, 52, would then take on the role of crown prince.

Akihito has one daughter, Sayako Kuroda, who married a commoner and gave up her title of princess in 2005. Women are not allowed to ascend the throne.

The royal couple visited Brazil in 2015 and Chile in 2017 to mark the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties.

source: philstar.com

Mattis warns of bumpy road to US, North Korea nuclear summit

SINGAPORE — It will be a "bumpy road" to the nuclear negotiations with North Korea later this month, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis warned Sunday, telling his South Korean and Japanese counterparts they must maintain a strong defensive stance so the diplomats can negotiate from a position of strength.

Mattis was speaking at the start of a meeting with South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo and Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera on the final day of the Shangri-La Dialogue security conference. He said allies must remain vigilant.

"We can anticipate, at best, a bumpy road to the negotiations," Mattis said. "In this moment we are steadfastly committed to strengthening even further our defense cooperation as the best means for preserving the peace."

Plans are moving forward for a nuclear weapons summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on June 12 in Singapore. And Mattis repeated the U.S. position that North Korea will only receive relief from U.N. national security sanctions when it demonstrates "verifiable and irreversible steps" to denuclearization.

Through an interpreter, Song said that this is a great turning point as North Korea takes its first steps toward denuclearization.

"Of course, given North Korea's past, we must be cautious in approaching this," he added that some of North Korea's recent measures "give us reasons to be positive and one can be cautiously optimistic as we move forward."

source: philstar.com