Fever mentor

October 29, 2024 | 7:03 pm

On paper, the firing of Fever head coach Christie Sides was a shocker. After all, she did just lead the blue, red, and gold to their first playoff appearance in eight years. Not since all-time-great Tamika Catchings burned rubber had they tasted any postseason action, and she played a not insignificant part in their progress. Moreover, she had just finished the second of a four-year contract, and the length of her accord indicated management’s predilection for patience.

Admittedly, Sides was on the hot seat early in the Fever’s campaign. Compelled to go through the toughest curtain-raising schedule in the Women’s National Basketball Association, they managed to win only one of their first nine contests. However, as their campaign normalized, and as she became more familiar with the predilections of her new-look roster starring rookie sensation Caitlin Clark, the victories began to come, and the trickles became enough of a steady stream for them to finish the regular season with a .500 mark.

To be sure, the remarkable progress was due in large measure to the rest Clark was given due to the Olympic break, and the renewed confidence she thereafter displayed. Having plied her trade for nearly a year sans any stoppage, she benefited from getting her sea legs back; her vaunted stamina returned, and she no longer left her shots — particularly those long-range bombs that catapulted her to stardom — short. Little wonder, then, that the Fever led the league in offensive rating down the stretch and heading into the playoffs.

Creditably, Sides knew enough to rejigger her system to make the best use of Clark. She handed the first overall pick in the draft the keys, and then instructed the rest to follow. That said, there can be no glossing over the Fever’s failure to not just move past the first round of the postseason, but to even claim a single match and bring the series back to Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Also, she wound up antagonizing a number of players who chafed at her preference to ride starters at their expense.

Interestingly, president of basketball operations Kelly Krauskopf acknowledged the strides Sides had made and seemed to give her support for the bench tactician in her introductory presser last month. Given that the Fever likewise named a new general manager in Amber Cox vice erstwhile fixture Lin Dunn, perhaps they felt a shakeup on the bench was but fitting. And, no doubt, the fact that six other franchises also let go of their mentors figured into the equation.

If there’s anything the Fever’s upheaval signals, it’s that they will not be happy with anything less than a deep playoff run next year. No more small steps; giants leaps have become the order of the day. Which, in a nutshell, is why they may yet find their best option for the hot seat to be someone who still had a job until yesterday. Indeed, immediate past Sun coach Stephanie White should be their primary target. Having already laid the groundwork by giving Sides the pink slip, they would do well the spread the welcome mat for the only choice that makes perfect sense.

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and human resources management, corporate communications, and business development.

China warns of deep-sea spying devices, underwater ‘lighthouses’ that guide foreign submarines

October 29, 2024 | 6:28 pm

BEIJING — China’s Ministry of State Security said on Tuesday that it had retrieved spying devices both on the ocean surface and in the depths of the sea, including underwater “lighthouses” that could guide the transit of foreign submarines.

The ministry said it had uncovered devices that had been hidden on the ocean floor and were sending back information that could “pre-set the field for battle,” in an article on its official WeChat account, China’s most popular social media app.

Recent sea and air confrontations in the South China Sea between China and the Philippines over competing territorial claims in the highly strategic waterway have raised the risk of an escalation that could eventually involve the US, which is treaty-bound to defend the Philippines if it is attacked.

China has also recently staged war games around Taiwan in which it simulated attacks and deployment of ships and aircraft, drawing condemnation from the democratically governed island’s government and the United States.

“National security forces have seized a variety of special technical devices used for spying on marine information and data, hidden in the vastness of the sea,” the state security ministry said, without specifying where the devices were found.

“Some act as ‘secret agents,’ drifting and floating with the waves, monitoring the situation in our territorial waters in real time. Some act as underwater ‘lighthouses,’ indicating the direction for foreign submarines that have invaded our waters.”

China claims sovereignty over nearly all the South China Sea, including areas claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Beijing has also said it will never renounce the use of force over Taiwan, which rejects China’s sovereignty claims and says only the island’s people can decide their future.

A submarine arms race is intensifying between China and the United States and its allies, analysts say, with Beijing on track to have a new generation of nuclear-powered and -armed submarines in operation by the end of the decade.

“Facing a serious and complicated covert struggle for deep-sea security and the real threat of foreign espionage and intelligence agencies… (the ministry) will firmly defend China’s sovereignty, security and development interests and contribute to the construction of a strong maritime nation,” the ministry said. — Reuters

Washington Post’s Bezos defends decision to end presidential endorsements

October 29, 2024 | 6:27 pm

THE WASHINGTON POST owner Jeff Bezos on Monday defended the newspaper’s decision not to endorse a US presidential candidate after a report that more than 200,000 people had canceled their digital subscriptions following the move.

The decision blocked an endorsement of Democrat Vice-President Kamala Harris, the National Public Radio (NPR) report said, and many people in messages on the newspaper’s website criticized Mr. Bezos, the billionaire founder of Amazon.com and rocket company Blue Origin.

Mr. Bezos, in an opinion piece late on Monday, said “most people believe the media is biased” and The Washington Post and other newspapers needed to boost their credibility.

No candidate was informed or consulted about the decision and that there was “no quid pro quo,” Mr. Bezos said, adding that there was no connection between the decision and a meeting between Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and Blue Origin’s chief executive officer (CEO) on the same day.

“Presidential endorsements do nothing to tip the scales of an election,” Mr. Bezos wrote. “What presidential endorsements actually do is create a perception of bias. A perception of non-independence. Ending them is a principled decision, and it’s the right one.”

The subscription cancellations as of midday represented about 8% of the paper’s paid circulation of 2.5 million subscribers, which includes print as well, reported NPR, which said a series of columnists had resigned their positions in protest.

The Washington Post declined to comment on the report when contacted by Reuters.

In a post on Friday, William Lewis, The Washington Post’s publisher and CEO, said the newspaper would not be making an endorsement of a presidential candidate in the Nov. 5 election, nor in any future presidential election.

“We are returning to our roots of not endorsing presidential candidates,” Mr. Lewis wrote.

“The Washington Post’s decision not to make an endorsement in the presidential campaign is a terrible mistake,” wrote 20 columnists in an opinion piece on the Post’s website, adding that it “represents an abandonment of the fundamental editorial convictions of the newspaper that we love.” — Reuters

Founder of TikTok owner ByteDance is now China’s richest person

October 29, 2024 | 6:23 pm

SHANGHAI — ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming is China’s richest person, with personal wealth of $49.3 billion, an annual rich list showed on Tuesday, although counterparts in real estate and renewables have fared less well.

Mr. Zhang, 41, who stepped down as chief executive of ByteDance in 2021, becomes the 18^th individual to be crowned China’s richest person in the 26 years since the Hurun China Rich List was first published.

He overtook bottled water magnate Zhong Shanshan, who slipped to second place as his fortune dropped 24% to $47.9 billion.

Despite a legal battle over its US assets, ByteDance’s global revenue grew 30% last year to $110 billion, Hurun said, helping to propel Mr. Zhang’s personal fortune.

Third on the list was Tencent’s low-profile founder, Pony Ma, while Colin Huang, founder of PDD Holdings, slipped to fourth place from third last year, even as his firm’s discount-focused e-commerce platforms, Pinduoduo and Temu, continue to show healthy revenue growth.

The number of billionaires on the list dropped by 142 to 753, shrinking more than a third from its 2021 peak.

“China’s economy and stock markets had a difficult year,” said Hurun Report Chairman Rupert Hoogewerf.

The most dramatic falls in fortunes have come from China’s real estate sector, he added, while consumer electronics is clearly rising fast, with Xiaomi founder Lei Jun adding $5 billion to his wealth this year.

“Solar panel, lithium battery and EV (electric vehicle) makers have had a challenging year, as competition intensified, leading to a glut, and the threat of tariffs added to uncertainties,” said Hoogewerf, who is also the list’s chief researcher.

“Solar panel makers saw their wealth down as much as 80% from the 2021 peak, while battery and EV makers were down by half and a quarter respectively.” — Reuters

As UN COP16 nature talks are gridlocked, scientists warn of extinction risks

October 29, 2024 | 6:22 pm

Caparaó_e_a_Mata_Atlântica — Heris Luiz Cordeiro Rocha/CC BY-SA 3.0/Wikimedia Commons

CALI, Colombia — Countries were at an impasse over how to fund nature conservation and other key decisions as the United Nations (UN) Conference of the Parties (COP16) biodiversity summit entered its second week on Monday in the Colombian mountain town of Cali.

With nature in unprecedented decline and species going extinct faster than ever, scientists warned the world’s governments that there is no time to waste.

As of today, roughly 38% of the world’s tree species — totaling 16,425 species — are at risk of extinction thanks to timber logging and clear-cutting to make way for farming, mining, road-building and other development efforts, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).

“We need to take urgent action … if we really want to keep these tree (species) alive,” IUCN Director Grethel Aguilar told a news briefing in Cali.

The summit, which marks the 16th meeting of parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), is tasked with figuring out how to implement 23 goals outlined in the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework aimed at halting and reversing nature loss by 2030.

Chief among those goals is having each country of the world set aside 30% of its land and sea territory for conservation — a target known as the 30-by-30 goal.

By the summit’s end on Friday, negotiators and observers hope to achieve progress on a raft of issues touching on financing, genetic material, Indigenous representation and conservation policy.

“The discussions are going well, but it’s a heavy agenda,” said David Ainsworth, a spokesperson for the secretariat.

While the intensity of these discussions shows countries’ engagement, it is also in some cases is a sign “of a relatively low level of trust” between countries, Ainsworth said. “They have a lot of work to do this week.”

So far, delegates are close to agreeing on a measure to recognize and include Indigenous groups in biodiversity decision-making, including with a new permanent presence for these groups within the official UN CBD process.

But many are watching for COP16 to deliver strong options for funding conservation as a measure of the summit’s success.

Summit talks on how to mobilize the billions of dollars needed to halt biodiversity loss this decade were stuck on Monday, as country delegates debated whether there should be an additional fund created to handle this financing. — Reuters

Israel votes to ban UN aid agency

October 29, 2024 | 6:22 pm

JERUSALEM/CAIRO — Israel’s parliament passed a law on Monday to ban the United Nations (UN) relief agency UNRWA from operating inside the country, alarming some of Israel’s Western allies who fear it will worsen the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Israeli officials cited the involvement of a handful of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees’ thousands of staffers in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel and a few staffers’ membership in Hamas and other armed groups.

“UNRWA workers involved in terrorist activities against Israel must be held accountable,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

The head of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, said the vote opposes the UN charter and violates international law. “This is the latest in the ongoing campaign to discredit UNRWA and delegitimize its role towards providing human-development assistance and services to #Palestine Refugees,” he wrote on social media platform X.

The vote came the same day Israeli tanks thrust deeper into northern Gaza, trapping 100,000 civilians, the Palestinian emergency service said, in what Israel’s military said were operations to eliminate regrouping Hamas militants.

The Israeli military said soldiers captured around 100 suspected militants in a raid on a hospital in the Jabalia camp. Hamas and medics have denied any militant presence at the hospital.

The Gaza Strip’s health ministry said at least 19 people were killed by Israeli airstrikes and bombardment on Monday.

The Palestinian Civil Emergency Service said around 100,000 people were marooned in Jabalia, Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun without medical or food supplies. Reuters could not verify the number independently.

The emergency service said its operations had come to a halt because of the three-week Israeli assault into northern Gaza, where Israel had said it wiped out Hamas combat forces earlier in the year-long war.

CEASEFIRE TALKS
Talks led by the US, Egypt and Qatar to broker a ceasefire resumed on Sunday after multiple abortive attempts. Egypt’s president proposed a two-day truce to exchange four Israeli hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners, followed by talks within 10 days on a permanent ceasefire.

Mr. Netanyahu had said mediators would resume talks in coming days “in a continued attempt to advance a deal.”

Israel has repeatedly said the war will go on until Hamas is eradicated while the Islamist movement has ruled out any end to fighting until Israeli forces leave Gaza.

Gaza’s war has kindled wider conflict in the Middle East, raising concern about global oil supplies, with Israel bombing Lebanon and sending forces into its south to disable Iran-backed Hezbollah, a Hamas ally.

At least 16 people were killed in Israeli strikes on three villages in eastern Lebanon’s city of Baalbek, the Lebanese health ministry said on Monday.

The conflict also triggered rare direct clashes between regional arch-foes Israel and Iran. Israeli warplanes pounded Iranian missile production sites during the weekend in retaliation for an Oct. 1 Iranian missile volley at Israel.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry said Tehran would “use all available tools” to respond.

‘EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY’
Israel continued battering Lebanon on Monday, including an early-morning airstrike on a district in the southern port of Tyre that left seven dead, the Lebanese health ministry said.

Lebanon’s health authority said Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed at least 2,710 people and injured 12,592 others in the past year.

The Israeli military later issued an evacuation order for much of Tyre, including areas that included neighborhoods near a seaside hotel where journalists are usually based.

Footage circulated online of civil defence workers urging people to leave. “For your safety, because of the warning, evacuate immediately!” one shouted into a megaphone attached to a car.

Israel’s expanding evacuation warnings have made ghost towns out of much of southern Lebanon, including Tyre, and the bombing campaign has left many towns in ruins.

Hezbollah carried out attacks on Israeli troops within Lebanese territory and on military targets within Israel.

‘NONSENSE TALK’ OF CEASEFIRE
North Gaza’s three major hospitals, whose officials refused Israel’s orders to evacuate, were hardly operating. At least two were damaged and had run out of medical, food and fuel stocks. At least one doctor, a nurse and two child patients had died.

North Gaza residents said Israel was besieging shelters housing displaced families, ordering them out before rounding up men and pushing women and children to leave.

Only a few families headed toward southern Gaza as the majority preferred to relocate temporarily in Gaza City, fearing they could otherwise never regain access to their homes.

Some said they had written their death notices.

“While the world is busy with Lebanon and new nonsense talk about a few days of ceasefire (in Gaza), the Israeli occupation is wiping out north Gaza and displacing its people,” a resident of Jabalia told Reuters via a chat app. — Reuters

SM Supermalls opens 67^th Cyberzone in Cebu

October 29, 2024 | 4:20 pm

Premier all-in-one tech hub strengthens presence in the Queen City, within SM’s newest mall

“This milestone of expanding our footprint in Cebu, further amplifies the commitment of Cyberzone as the largest and premier tech and lifestyle hub in the Philippines. Cyberzone taps on a wider market segment who continues to search for, utilize, and evolve with more tech and gaming experiences in every life stage”, says Patrick G. Pacla, Vice-President — Operations and Marketing (Sponsorship and Cyberzone), SM Supermalls.

SM J Mall is officially SM Supermalls’ 87^th mall chain in the country. Nestled in Mandaue, Cebu City, J Mall is built on the seamless convergence of nature and lifestyle — touting a prime selection of local and global brands, while boasting state-of-the-art eco-friendly technology, such as a rainwater catchment system.

Like the rest of the J Mall, the 67^th Cyberzone boasts a handpicked selection of the most trusted names in tech. The hub showcases top brands, such as Samsung, Oppo, realme, Huawei, and Apple via the Power Mac Center. When it comes to peripherals and accessories, mallgoers will find no shortage of options at specialty shops like Digital Walker, Gaming Grounds, and Tech101. With the Cyberzone’s array of stores, each one guarantees the latest in tech releases alongside reliable after-sales services.

Now Open to Every Tech Aficionado in Cebu

SM J Mall’s Cyberzone is now open for every tech want and need. When you go to Cyberzone, you can be sure to find world-renowned brands, exclusive deals to get the most out of your purchases, legitimate tech experts to guide you, and the latest flagship releases right as they drop. You’ve got them all at the country’s ultimate tech and gaming hotspot: Cyberzone. #GotITatCyberzone!

Don’t forget to stay updated on the latest and greatest in tech deals by checking out Cyberzone at an SM Mall near you or through the SM Malls Online app. Make sure to also follow SM Cyberzone on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, or by visiting www.smcyberzone.com for all your tech and gaming needs!

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Nicole Cordoves joins Mr. and Ms. Chinatown Global as the first ambassador

October 29, 2024 | 3:00 pm

1--Mr.-&-Ms-OL — To celebrate the 15th anniversary of CHiNOY TV, Mr. and Ms. Chinatown Global is launched with candidates of Chinese descent from around the world. In photo are Fil-Chi Media Productions, Inc. (CHiNOY TV) President and CEO Alvin Kingson Tan (extreme right) together with Mr. and Ms. Chinatown Global team (from left) Creative Director Mika Reins, Pageant Director Frances Cham Chua, and Ambassador Nicole Cordoves.

Next year marks the 15^th anniversary of CHiNOY TV, the premier platform elevating Chinese-Filipino content and celebrating the rich cultural heritage and values of the Chinese-Filipino community. Over the years, CHiNOY TV has spearheaded notable initiatives like the “Chinese by Blood, Filipino by Heart” campaign, which bridges cultures and promotes a harmonious dual identity.

To commemorate this milestone, CHiNOY TV is launching the first-ever Mr. and Ms. Chinatown Global (MMCG), a global cultural movement designed to highlight the diverse backgrounds of its participants, representing their dual cultural identities while promoting inclusivity. MMCG empowers individuals to stay connected to their roots while embracing the country they call home, fostering a deeper understanding of Chinese identity worldwide.

The event took place at Grand House in Wilson Street, San Juan, welcoming key media for an afternoon of culture and celebration. The spotlight was on Nicole Cordoves, a Chinese-Filipino beauty queen and television personality, who will help drive MMCG’s mission of inclusivity, representation, and cultural pride.

Bridging Global Chinese Communities

The first Mr. and Ms. Chinatown Global pays tribute to Chinese heritage while also celebrating the beauty of dual identities across continents. Fil-Chi Media Productions, Inc. (CHiNOY TV) COO Loraine Tan, and President and CEO Alvin Kingson Tan flank Mr. and Ms. Chinatown Global team (from left) Creative Director Mika Reins, Pageant Director Frances Cham Chua, and Ambassador Nicole Cordoves.

Among the many Chinatowns around the globe, none can compare to Binondo in Manila, Philippines — the oldest Chinatown in the world — which makes it the perfect setting for MMCG. Hosting the pageant here honors the rich Chinese-Filipino culture and highlights the important role of Chinese heritage as it integrated into the broader society, making Binondo an ideal setting for this international celebration.

This pageant will showcase male and female candidates of mixed Chinese descent, open to individuals aged 18 to 30 from the Philippines and globally. The media launch represents the initial step in our journey to expand our global presence, celebrating diverse expressions of culture through a shared connection to Chinese heritage.

The Manila screening will be held on Oct. 26th from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Ramada by Wyndham Manila Central in Binondo, Manila.

Nicole Cordoves Takes on Ambassador Role for Mr. and Ms. Chinatown Global

Nicole Cordoves, Ambassador of Mr. and Miss Chinatown Global

Mr. and Ms. Chinatown Global proudly announces Nicole Cordoves as its new ambassador, celebrating her Chinese and Filipino heritage. Nicole first gained recognition as Miss Chinatown 2014 and has since established herself on the global stage, winning titles such as Binibining Pilipinas Grand International 2016 and 1^st Runner-Up at Miss Grand International 2016.

Throughout her career as a beauty queen, television host, and judge on popular shows like It’s Showtime and Drag Den Philippines, Nicole has supported inclusivity and cultural pride, deeply rooted in her Chinese and Filipino identity. As an ambassador, she aims to promote and showcase the rich dual heritage among the contestants.

Each contestant embodies their unique identities as Chinese individuals influenced by their local cultures, including Chinese Filipinos, Chinese Malaysians, Chinese Australians and among others.

Looking Ahead

The Mr. and Ms. Chinatown Global (MMCG) pageant will run from Jan. 12 to 25, 2025, culminating in an exciting Winner’s Night at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, coinciding with the celebration of Chinese New Year. The event celebrates cultural diversity and community engagement.

Stay connected for the latest updates by following Mr. and Ms. Chinatown Global on Facebook and Instagram.

Spotlight is BusinessWorld’s sponsored section that allows advertisers to amplify their brand and connect with BusinessWorld’s audience by publishing their stories on the BusinessWorld Web site. For more information, send an email to online@bworldonline.com.

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A step ahead: The resilience and transformation of SM’s business

October 29, 2024 | 2:15 pm

Shoemart-(Parisian)-top-view-OL — The old Shoemart Parisian shoebox design with the iconic Eiffel Tower; back then, Europe was a symbol of the highest aspiration, hence the name Parisian for Mr. Sy’s first shoe brand.

In the late 1950s, a small shoe store called Shoemart opened in the bustling shopping district of Rizal Avenue in downtown Manila. While this is a well-known chapter in SM’s history, few realize that one shoe brand — Parisian — grew alongside Shoemart, marking a significant milestone in the legacy of its founder, Henry Sy, Sr.

Mr. Harley Sy, Executive Director of SM Investments and Co-Vice Chairman of SM Retail, shared this interesting piece of history. “Shoemart was established in October 1958 and my father’s shoe brand Parisian for ladies was also established in 1958, born from his travels abroad in search of quality footwear for Filipinos. His obsession with shoes was well-known; he believed that comfortable, well-fitting shoes should be an affordable aspiration for everyone,” Mr. Harley recalled.

The Legacy of Parisian

The name Parisian reflects Mr. Sy, Sr.’s admiration for European craftsmanship, symbolized by the iconic Eiffel Tower that adorned the brand’s original shoebox design. Mr. Harley described how his father’s journey mirrors not only the evolution of a brand but also his growth as a retail visionary. “In his travels to Boston which was the shoe capital of the world then, he sought out shoe agents for showroom samples. It was daunting for him to navigate the shoe trading houses, speaking limited English. But many of them eventually started selling to my dad since he was buying in bulk. These were typically small sizes which would fit Filipino feet, leading to his shoe-trading venture,” he explained.

During the local industry’s heyday in the 1950s and 60s, Mr. Sy, Sr. engaged with Marikina’s shoe manufacturers. Mr. Harley fondly recalled that he would hear from Tatang’s people that his father would sample shoes at the Carriedo store after office hours from 10 o’ clock in the evening to 12 midnight.

Shoe stores abroad visited by Mr. Sy in the 1950s

Craftsmanship and Comfort

Mr. Sy, Sr. had specific non-negotiables regarding the shoes he offered. It was during the 1980s that Mr. Harley worked with his father closely at the store and understood more about the anatomy of a shoe. To illustrate this vital lesson, Mr. Harley picks up his casual office shoes. He makes a reverse L sign with his thumb, index and middle fingers and inserts them just above the insole. “Look for the middle part of your finger. The counter of your shoe, or the back part that gives support, should end there at the middle part,” he said as an indicator of shoe comfort.

“This was a learning experience that forged my appreciation for detail and hard work,” he said.

“Tatang would closely look at the shape and fit of every shoe. He would even get a white-tipped drawing pencil or chalk and point to the parts of the shoe that needed to be corrected. These were very important,” Mr. Harley said. “Comfort was paramount. My father had an innate ability to assess fit and quality. He could identify flaws just by looking at a shoe.”

This meticulous attention to detail had been passed down through the generations and all the merchandisers learned from Mr. Sy. “Tatang had the eye of a master shoe craftsman, honed through years of listening to customers and nurturing his passion for shoes,” Mr. Harley noted.

As Mr. Sy, Sr. developed his shoe brand, he envisioned a transformation in retail. Inspired by the emergence of department stores and malls in the US, he was always a step ahead as he introduced innovations that laid the blueprint for SM’s growth. “Shoemart was the first shoe store in Carriedo to have air-conditioning, creating an inviting environment that drew customers in,” Mr. Harley explained.

Parisian Today and Tomorrow: Aspiration, Adaptation, and Evolution

Today, Parisian shoes and bags remain staples in all SM stores, continuously updated to reflect contemporary styles. Since its inception, the SM Store had sold millions of pairs of Parisian shoes.

Felanie Lim, Shoes and Bags Senior Vice-President, elaborates, “We decided to expand Parisian to offer new, high-quality choices while maintaining attractive price points. With categories like Parisian Comfy, Parisian Plus, and our premium line, Parisian Limited, we adapt to evolving market demands.” The brand currently boasts a diverse inventory of thousands of styles ensuring there’s something for everyone.

The relevance of the Parisian brand lies in its ability to inspire, adapt, and evolve. Mr. Harley emphasizes, “Innovation is key to staying relevant. The market is always changing, and we must evolve with it. Tatang was a constant innovator, reinventing himself — from shoes to department stores, malls, specialty stores and to what SM is today. We will continue to adapt to the market’s aspirations.”

The Parisian brand remains a testament to the enduring spirit of SM’s business and poised to meet the aspirations of future generations. Anchored on its legacy of resilience, innovation, and dedication to its customer’s needs and wants, Parisian continues to thrive, working constantly to be a step ahead in the industry.

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China’s Xi pressed Biden to alter language on Taiwan, sources say

October 29, 2024 | 1:16 pm

Joe Biden-Xi Jinping — U.S. President Joe Biden shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping at Filoli estate on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, in Woodside, California, U.S., Nov. 15, 2023. — REUTERS

WASHINGTON/BEIJING/TAIPEI – Chinese President Xi Jinping asked U.S. President Joe Biden last year to change the language the United States uses when discussing its position on Taiwanese independence, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the private conversation.

During last November’s Biden-Xi meeting near San Francisco, Xi and his aides asked Biden and his team to tweak the language in U.S. official statements.

China wanted the U.S. to say “we oppose Taiwan independence,” rather than the current version, which is that the United States “does not support” independence for Taiwan, said the people, who requested anonymity to speak about private diplomatic exchanges they participated in or were briefed on.

Mr. Xi’s aides have repeatedly followed up and made the requests in the months since, according to two U.S. officials and another person familiar with the exchanges.

The U.S. has declined to make the change.

The White House responded to a request for comment with a statement that repeated the line that Washington does not support Taiwan independence. “The Biden-Harris administration has been consistent on our long-standing One China policy,” the statement read.

China’s foreign ministry said: “You should ask this question to the U.S. government. China’s position on the Taiwan issue is clear and consistent.”

Taiwan’s foreign ministry declined comment.

The defeated Republic of China government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war with Mao Zedong’s communists.

The Republic of China remains Taiwan’s formal name and the government says it has no plans to change that given they are already a sovereign, independent state and Beijing has no right to claim Taiwan as its own.

SENSITIVE ISSUE

For several years, Chinese diplomats have pushed the United States to make changes to how it refers to Taiwan’s status, which remains the most sensitive area in U.S.-China relations. The unusually direct and renewed push at the leader level has not been reported previously.

The United States severed official relations with the government in Taipei in 1979 but is bound by law to provide democratically governed Taiwan with the means to defend itself. China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control.

It was not clear why Mr. Xi chose to raise the issue with Mr. Biden, but he has made opposition to Taiwan independence a focus of his time in office and China’s military has significantly ramped up its activities around the island in recent years.

The Biden administration regards the proposed language change as a non-starter.

Taiwan was briefed on the recent overtures at a high level by Washington, said one of the sources.

Leaders in Beijing “would love it if Joe Biden said very different things about Taiwan than he says, no doubt,” said one senior Biden administration official, adding that Mr. Biden would stick with the standard U.S. formulation for talking about Taiwan independence.

During his time in office, Mr. Biden has upset the Chinese government with comments that appeared to suggest the United States would defend the island if it were attacked, a deviation from a long-held U.S. position of “strategic ambiguity.”

A CHANGE THAT WOULD REVERBERATE

A change by the U.S. to say that it opposes Taiwanese independence would reverberate through the trade-rich Asia Pacific and with U.S. partners, competitors and adversaries alike.

Officials from two governments in the region told Reuters they would interpret any such change in wording as a change in U.S. policy toward less support for Taipei’s defense and diplomatic aspirations at a time when Beijing has ramped up military pressure.

China has over the past five years staged almost daily military activities around Taiwan. Earlier this month, Beijing held a day of war games using what Taiwan said was a record 153 military aircraft as part of drills simulating blockading ports and assaulting maritime and ground targets.

Any switch in language could also be seen signaling a shift in U.S. policy from supporting the resolution of Taiwan’s future through peaceful talks to one suggesting the United States stands against Taiwanese aspirations regardless of the circumstances at play.

Opinion polls in Taiwan show most people support maintaining the status quo, neither seeking to join with China nor establishing a new state.

In 2022, the State Department changed its website on Taiwan, removing wording both on not supporting Taiwan independence and on acknowledging Beijing’s position that Taiwan is part of China, which angered the Chinese. It later restored the language on not supporting independence for the island.

The two leaders are expected to speak again before Biden’s term in office ends in January, talks that may come by phone or on the sidelines of next month’s G20 summit in Brazil or APEC summit in Peru. APEC is one of few international forums where both Taiwan and China take part.

The Democratic president will hand over the tense Taiwan issue to his successor, Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris or Republican former President Donald Trump, following the Nov. 5 election. – Reuters

What is ‘Taiwan independence’ and is Taiwan already independent?

October 29, 2024 | 1:11 pm

Taiwan flag — Honor guards raise a Taiwanese flag at the Presidential Palace in Taipei, Taiwan Oct. 10, 2023. — REUTERS

TAIPEI – Chinese President Xi Jinping asked U.S. President Joe Biden last year to toughen the language the United States uses when discussing its position on Taiwanese independence, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the private conversation.

Below are some questions and answers about what is meant by the term “Taiwan independence”:

WHAT IS TAIWAN’S HISTORY AND FORMAL NAME TODAY?

Formerly known as Formosa, the island has been home to indigenous people for thousands of years, before the Dutch and Spanish briefly ruled parts of it in the 1600s.

The Qing dynasty incorporated Taiwan as part of Fujian province in 1684 and only declared it a separate Chinese province in 1885.

Following the Qing’s defeat in a war with Japan, it became a Japanese colony in 1895. In 1945, it was handed over to the Republic of China government at the end of World War Two.

In 1949 after being defeated by Mao Zedong’s communist forces, the defeated Republic of China government fled to Taiwan, and Republic of China remains the island’s formal name. Mao set up the People’s Republic of China, and claimed it was the only legitimate Chinese government for the whole country, including Taiwan, as the successor state to the Republic of China.

WHAT IS TAIWAN’S INTERNATIONAL STATUS?

For decades, the Republic of China in Taipei also claimed to be the legitimate Chinese government, but in 1971 it was expelled from the United Nations in favor of the Beijing government. Currently only 12 countries maintain formal ties with Taipei, mostly small and poorer developing nations such as Belize and Tuvalu.

Most major Western countries and U.S. allies maintain close unofficial ties with Taiwan by recognizing the Republic of China passport and having de facto embassies in each other’s capitals.

The United States severed official ties with Taipei in 1979 but is bound by law to provide the island with the means to defend itself. The United States officially takes no position on Taiwan’s sovereignty under Washington’s “One China” policy.

China says it will not renounce the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control. Beijing has offered Taiwan a “one country, two systems” model similar to Hong Kong, though no major political party in Taiwan supports that.

IS TAIWAN ALREADY AN INDEPENDENT COUNTRY?

Taiwan, whose people elect their own leaders and whose government controls a defined area of territory with its own military and passport, enjoys de facto independence even if that is not formally recognized by most countries.

Taiwan’s government says the Republic of China is a sovereign state and that Beijing has no right to speak for or represent it given the People’s Republic of China has no say in how it chooses its leaders and has never ruled Taiwan.

COULD TAIPEI DECLARE A “REPUBLIC OF TAIWAN”?

It would be very difficult and require first parliament approves a constitutional amendment and then a referendum, rather than a simple declaration by President Lai Ching-te.

At least 75% of lawmakers would need to pass that amendment, and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and main opposition party the Kuomintang (KMT) currently have an equal number of seats.

The DPP, which has been in power since 2016, has not made an attempt to change the constitution. The KMT strongly opposes any attempts to change the name of Republic of China.

WHAT DOES TAIWAN’S PRESIDENT SAY ABOUT INDEPENDENCE?

Chain strongly detests Lai and calls him a “separatist”. Before Lai was elected president he made comments about being a “practical worker for Taiwan independence”. Lai maintains he simply meant Taiwan is already an independent country.

Since taking office Lai has said on several occasions that the Republic of China and People’s Republic of China are “not subordinate to each other“, which Beijing says means he believes the two are separate countries and so he is therefore pushing an independence narrative.

Lai says he is simply stating a fact and that in any case the Republic of China, founded after the overthrow of the last imperial dynasty in 1911, is an older state than the People’s Republic of China which was only established in 1949.

DOES CHINA HAVE A LEGAL FRAMEWORK TO PREVENT FORMAL INDEPENDENCE?

In 2005, China’s largely rubber-stamp parliament passed the Anti-Secession Law that gives the country the legal basis for military action against Taiwan if it secedes or seems about to, but the law is vague and does not give details.

There has been speculation in Taipei that China might use next year’s 20th anniversary of the law to offer greater clarity. China has not confirmed that.

In 2022, Chinese state media raised the possibility of a “reunification law” to give Beijing a further legal framework to bring Taiwan under its control but there has been no further movement towards that to date. – Reuters

CoA, World Bank to collaborate in enhancing accountability processes

October 29, 2024 | 1:10 pm

20241025_203912-OL — Commission on Audit (CoA) officials led by CoA Chairperson Gamaliel A. Cordoba met with World Bank senior financial management specialists led by Patrick Piker Umah Tete to discuss stronger collaboration in enhancing accountability on Oct. 23, 2024 in Makati City.

The Commission on Audit (CoA) and the World Bank held a meeting on Oct. 23, 2024 to forge stronger collaboration in enhancing accountability processes in government and showcasing the CoA’s best audit practices globally.

CoA Chairperson Gamaliel A. Cordoba led the CoA delegation in a meeting with World Bank senior financial management specialists led by Patrick Piker Umah Tete. Chairperson Cordoba said he was looking forward to stronger collaboration with the World Bank especially in the area of digitalization in the conduct of audit. CoA Assistant Commissioners Alexander B. Juliano, Adela L. Dondonilla, Roy L. Ursal and Lito Q. Martin and Director Haide T. Espuelas also participated.

The World Bank acknowledged the CoA’s excellent audit work and noted that as a Supreme Audit Institution, the CoA is leading globally especially with the uniqueness of its Citizen Participatory Audit (CPA) program.

The World Bank wishes to reengage with the CoA to see how the CPA has evolved after being institutionalized and how it limits risk exposure and enhance accountability.

The World Bank and the CoA will also work together to improve audit of World Bank-funded projects, boost internal audit functions across government and other Accounting and Auditing reform initiatives under the Public Financial Management Reform Roadmap.

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