Twitter Ads expands to over 200 countries, territories

MANILA, Philippines -– Twitter expanded its self-service ads platform from 33 countries to over 200 countries and territories.

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) from Honduras to Hong Kong can now effectively reach target audiences on it social media platfom in 15 languages according to a Twitter statement.

Furthermore, Twitter said that Asia Pacific is the fastest growing region worldwide and the platform expansion provides additional support for SMBs in Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, and the Philippines. In a recent research study from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), 98 percent accounts for SMB enterprises in Asia.

“Small and medium-sized businesses face the most challenges and are least resourced to promote the good work they do,” said Emily Huo, SMB lead for Asia Pacific at Twitter. “With the expansion of the Twitter self-service ads platform, we are excited to help SMBs level the playing field with digital advertising.”

Twitter launched Twitter Ads for SMBs over two years ago. There are now approximately 100,000 active advertisers on Twitter, including SMBs.

source: interaksyon.com

Japan shares clear 18-year peak, dollar firm

SYDNEY - Asia shares were trying to score a sixth session of gains on Wednesday as investors chose to be optimistic on the chances of a Greek debt deal, while the dollar held firm as the prospect of U.S. rate rises came back into view.

Japan's Nikkei led the way as a rise of 0.5 percent cleared a peak from 2000 to reach ground last trod in late 1996.

MSCI's index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan edged up 0.13 percent to bring its gains over the past six sessions to about 2.9 percent.

In China, official efforts to calm jittery investors seem to have steadied sentiment after steep losses last week. Shanghai stocks were up 1.6 percent but trade remained volatile.

Gains on Wall Street had been minor, though still enough to see the Nasdaq to a record peak. The Dow ended Tuesday up 0.13 percent, while the S&P 500 added 0.06 percent and the Nasdaq 0.12 percent.

Risk appetites were whetted after Greece's leftwing government expressed confidence that parliament would approve a debt deal with lenders, despite an angry reaction from some of its own lawmakers.

EU finance ministers meet on Wednesday to discuss whether or not to put the plan to euro zone state heads. If it goes ahead, the Greek parliament could vote as early as this weekend.

Bond investors were encouraged enough to push down yields on Greek 10-year debt by 60 basis points, with yields in Italy and Portugal following.

Yields went the other way in the United States following a string of generally upbeat economic data and comments from Fed Governor Jerome Powell that the economy could be ready for interest rate increases in both September and December.

That was unwelcome news for debt markets which are priced for only one hike this year. Yields on 10-year Treasury notes duly rose to their highest in 1-1/2 weeks at 2.43 percent.

"Markets appear to have interpreted the prospect of a deal between Greece and its creditors as removing a source of uncertainty, which may allow the Fed to commence hiking interest rates in September," said analysts at ANZ.

All of which helped give the U.S. dollar index its biggest daily gain since late May.

The greenback was particularly strong against the euro, which had peeled off to $1.1176 from a $1.1410 top at the start of the week. Against the yen, the euro was down at 138.34, having fallen from 140.

The dollar was also firm at 124.86 yen and well above the recent trough of 122.46.

In commodity markets, oil prices rebounding ahead of U.S. inventory data expected to show strong demand for gasoline.

U.S. crude futures added 11 cents to $61.12 a barrel, while Brent rose 10 cents to $64.55.

Gold slipped on the firmer dollar to reach $1,176.90 an ounce.

source: interaksyon.com

Obama talks about renewed leadership in Asia, pact with PH, China dispute

MANILA, Philippines - Below is U.S. President Barack Obama's statement delivered during a press conference in Malacanang with President Benigno Aquino III on Monday, April 28.

Obama, who is on a two-day state visit to the Philippines, discussed about the U.S. move to renew its leadership in the Asia Pacific. Amid Filipino activists' claim of U.S. "expansionism," Obama also stressed that the U.S. had no intention to either reclaim old bases in the Philppines or build new ones.

Moreover, Obama said the U.S. goverment was reaffirming "the importance of resolving territorial disputes in the region peacefully without intimidation or coercions."

READ OBAMA'S FULL STATEMENT.

Mabuhay!

Thank you President Aquino for your warm welcome and your very kind words. With the President’s indulgence, I want to begin by saying a few words about some terrible storms and tornadoes back home in the United States.

Over the weekend, a series of storms claimed at least a dozen of lives and damaged or destroyed homes and businesses and communities across multiple states with the worst toll in areas in Arkansas. So I want to offer my deepest condolences to all those who lost loved ones. I commend the heroic efforts of first responders and neighbors who rushed to help.

I want everyone affected by this tragedy know that FEMA and the Federal government is on the ground and will help our fellow Americans in need, working with state and local officials, and I want everybody to know that your country will be there to help you recover and rebuild as long as it takes.

Now, this is my first visit to the Philippines as President, and I am proud to be here as we mark the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Leyte Gulf when Americans and Filipinos fought together to liberate this nation during World War II. Now, all these years later, we continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder to uphold peace and security in this region and around the world.

Mr. Benigno, I want to thank you and the Filipino people, not only for your generous hospitality today but for a friendship that has spanned generations. I’d like to add our friendship is deeper and the United States is stronger because of the contributions and patriotism of millions of proud Filipino-Americans.

As I made clear throughout this trip, the United States is renewing our leadership in the Asia Pacific and our engagement is rooted in our alliances, and that includes the Philippines, which is the oldest security treaty alliance that we have in Asia.

As a vibrant democracy, the Philippines reflects the desire of citizens in this region to live in freedom and to have their universal rights upheld. As one of the fastest growing economies in Asia, the Philippines represents new opportunities for the trade and investment that creates jobs in both countries.

And given its strategic location, the Philippines is a better partner on issues such as maritime security and freedom of navigation. Let me add that recent agreement to end the insurgency in the South gives the Philippines a historic opportunity to forge a lasting peace here at home with greater security and prosperity for the people of that region.

I was proud to welcome President Aquino to the White House two years ago, and since then we’ve worked to deepen our cooperation and to modernize our alliances. Our partnership reflects an important Filipino concept: ‘bayanihan’—the idea that we have to work together to accomplish things that we couldn’t achieve on our own.

That’s what we saw last year when Typhoon Yolanda devastated so many communities. Our Armed Forces and civilians from both our countries worked as one to rescue victims and to deliver life-saving aid—that’s what friends do for each other. And Mr. President, I want to say to you and the people of the Philippines, the United States will continue to stand with you as you recover and rebuild. Our commitment to the Philippines will not waver.

Today, I’m pleased that we’re beginning an important new chapter in the relationship between our countries, and it starts with our security with the new defense cooperation agreement that was signed today. I want to be very clear: the United States is not trying to reclaim old bases or build new bases.

At the invitation of the Philippines, American service members will rotate through Filipino facilities. We’ll train and exercise more together so that we’re prepared for a range of challenges, including humanitarian crises and natural disasters like ‘Yolanda’.

We’ll work together to build the Philippines’ defense capabilities, and work with other nations to promote regional stability, such as in the South China Sea. And I’m looking forward to my visit with forces from both our nations tomorrow to honor their service and to look ahead to the future we can shape together.

As we strengthen our bilateral security cooperation, we’re also working together with regional institutions like ASEAN and the East Asia Summit. When we met in the Oval Office two years ago, Benigno and I agreed to promote a common set of rules founded in respect for international law that will help the Asia Pacific remain open and inclusive as the region grows and develops.

Today, we reaffirm the importance of resolving territorial disputes in the region peacefully without intimidation or coercions. And in that spirit, I told him that the United States supports his decision to pursue international arbitration concerning territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

Finally, we agreed to keep deepening our economic cooperation. I congratulated President Aquino on the reforms that he’s pursued to make the Philippines more competitive through our partnership for growth and our Millennium Challenge Cooperation compact. We are going to keep working together to support these efforts so that more Filipinos can share in this nation’s economic progress because growth has to be broad-based and it has to be inclusive.

We discussed the steps that the Philippines could take to position itself for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and I encouraged the President to seize the opportunity he’s created by opening the next phase of economic reform and growth.

Today, I’m announcing that my Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker will lead the delegation of American business leaders to the Philippines this June to explore new opportunities. And I add that we’ve also committed to work together to address the devastating effects of climate change and to make Philippine communities less vulnerable to extreme storms like 'Yolanda'.

So Mr. President, let me once again thank you for everything you’ve done to strengthen our alliance and our friendship. I’m looking forward to paying tribute to the bonds between our people at the dinner tonight and on working with you as we write the next chapter in the relationship between our two countries.

source: interaksyon.com

BPO firm in the market for experienced HR personnel, opens biggest Asia-Pacific facility in QC

MANILA - A business process outsourcing (BPO) company focused on human resources (HR) inaugurated today in Quezon City its biggest facility to serve the Asia-Pacific market.

The 500 seats of the 3,000-square meter state-of-the-art shared service center at the 7th floor of the Techno Plaza 2 building in Eastwood is expected to be filled up with experienced HR personnel by next year, said Mary Sue Rogers, Talent2 global managing director for HR managed services.



The Philippines was chosen as the site of Talent2's largest facility because of the availability of quality HR talents here, Rogers said.

"Philippine HR workers are good in accuracy, dealing with HR issues, dealing with employees with personal problems... The cultural fit and quality of work here is better than in India," she said.

"The Philippines will continue to be a destination where [BPO] clients will want to go," she added.

Talent2 is the only multinational HR service provider based in Asia-Pacific, a region that presents huge opportunities for HR outsourcing, said the company's chief executive John Rawlinson.

"Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing economic region in the world, where talent flourishes. If you don't have an Asian strategy, you don't have a strategy," Rawlinson said.

"China is a huge market, and there are emerging markets like Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. There's big growth here in terms of demand," Rogers said.

A growing segment of the clientele are homegrown Asia-Pacific firms, while the rest are local or regional subsidiaries of multinational companies.

The new Talent2 facility will serve clients from Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines.

"The Philippines is seen not only as a big delivery center but also a big market," Rogers said, adding that the company is serving "several dozens" firms based in the Philippines.

Since the company serves clients within the Asia-Pacific region, working hours are during daytime. "We can attract experienced HR, payroll and finance professionals who are tired of working at night, talents who want work-life balance," Rogers said.

Almost all of the 45 employees at Talent2's former facility in Makati City have been transferred to the new Quezon City site, which now has 130 employees following aggressive hiring during the last three months.

Talent2 mostly hires HR professionals with about five years of experience. "By hiring experienced staff, we can hit the ground running," Rogers said.

The company also has a facility in Cebu, which has about 100 employees.

Talent2 has 38 offices in 31 countries, with a 1,900-strong workforce serving over 4,000 clients in HR advisory, learning, payroll and recruitment.

source: interaksyon.com

Obama, PNoy To Hold Talks

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama will meet with Philippine President Benigno Aquino III on June 8 at the White House as the United States steps up support to the ally locked in disputes with China.

The White House said on Friday Obama looks forward to discussing the strategic, economic and "people to people" ties between the US and the Philippines and their cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.

Obama has said the US needs to deepen its engagement in the fast-growing Asia Pacific region, calling it critical to the nation's security and economic prosperity. The Philippines is a longtime ally of the United States.

The talks are the latest sign of a growing alliance after a rare joint visit to Washington by the Philippine foreign and defense ministers at the end of April.

"The Philippines is a long-standing friend and ally of the United States, and the president looks forward to discussing with President Aquino the close strategic, economic and people to people ties between our two countries, and our cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region," a White House statement said.

"The two leaders will also discuss ways to deepen bilateral cooperation."

The Obama administration has put a renewed focus on Southeast Asia, stepping up ties to the economically dynamic region where several countries are embroiled in territorial disputes with a growing China.

The Philippines has had particularly rocky relations with China. The two countries have both been posting non-military ships in disputed Scarborough Shoal to exert their claims.

The United States has been helping to upgrade the notoriously antiquated Philippine military and Aquino has agreed to let a greater number of US troops rotate through the country.

But both Aquino and the Obama administration have said that they do not plan a permanent military presence in the Philippines, which would be politically sensitive in the former US colony.

Malacañang on Saturday confirmed President Aquino’s visit to Washington.

"We are confirming the announcement of the US government that President Obama will be receiving President Aquino in June," Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said on government radio dzRB.

Valte said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will conduct a briefing on the President's itinerary for his foreign trips this week.

The trip to the White House will follow Aquino's state visit to the United Kingdom from June 4 to 6.

He will be in Washington D.C. until June 10 before making a short visit to Los Angeles on his way home.

Vice President Jejomar C. Binay will also be in Washington D.C. early June to speak before the 5th Global Housing Finance Conference at the World Bank Headquarters.

Binay is expected to meet with World Bank Executive Director Rogerio Studart.

The Vice President is expected back in the Philippines to prepare for his visit to London. (JC Bello Ruiz, AP and AFP)

source: mb.com.ph

"Green Hornet" actor appointed Kaspersky Lab's new Brand Ambassador

Manila, Philippines - Kaspersky Lab, a leading secure content and threat management solutions developer, is proud to announce the appointment of creative genius Jay Chou as its latest brand ambassador for the Asia Pacific, as part of the unique branding strategies of Kaspersky Lab to protect more than 300 million users globally.

Chou hit the international market with the remake of the Green Hornet, where he portrayed the character of Kato (formerly played by Bruce Lee in the TV series).

The Taiwanese actor is also a film director, singer-songwriter, music and film producer, a one-man entertainment juggernaut, who effortlessly combines Chinese and Western music styles in an eclectic mix of R&B, rock, pop and ethnic music. He is also gifted with a personality that wins fans and friends globally.

With his versatility as an artist, Chou earned the respect of millions of Asian and Western artists and fans.

His popularity has also earned him the spot of becoming the Asia Pacific Brand Ambassador for Kaspersky Lab.

Kaspersky Lab's award-winning products, services and technologies have exceptionally high and accurate malware detection rates, meeting Jay Chou's needs as an individual user and as a corporate network owner with important personal and corporate information to keep safe.

Under this partnership, Chou will work with Kaspersky Lab to launch new releases of products for home users and corporate users.

“Jay Chou is an amazing multi-talented entertainer and entrepreneur with a uniqueness, innovativeness and creativity that is an ideal match for Kaspersky Lab. As an individual and corporate user of our products who has a great interest in technology, Kaspersky and Jay Chou is an ideal match. We are excited about this partnership and look forward to much great collaborations with Jay,” said Kaspersky Lab Asia Pacific Managing Director Harry Cheung.

Cheung said that the brand works towards achieving ever higher levels of security and threat management for a safer digital environment and is constantly on the lookout for ambassadors who can take the important message of security to a wider audience.

“Kaspersky has been experiencing tremendous growth over the past few years due to our market leading products and innovative campaigns. We are the only security brand working with high profile brand ambassadors who are able to embody the values and benefits of using our products,” Cheung said.

Chou, for his part, said that like the core values upheld by Kaspersky Lab, he also values quality of service and satisfaction of audiences. He understands that protecting one’s investments from a harsh digital crime is paramount and that all Internet users must also be able to put in place all the necessary precautions.

"I trust Kaspersky Lab fully as updates are speedy and constant. There is no downtime, no security breaches and malware gets dealt with quickly and efficiently. I have the peace of mind of the best protection. Kaspersky is my only choice for IT security protection'' Jay Chou said.

source: mb.com.ph