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ADB: Region’s chipmakers can still bid to capture AI-driven memory demand

REUTERS

SOUTHEAST ASIAN chipmakers need to raise capacity to meet rising global demand for advanced memory chips for artificial intelligence (AI) applications, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said.

In the Asian Development Outlook, the bank noted that the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand account for a tiny share of memory chips and microprocessors relative to the leading exporters, Taiwan and South Korea.

“These economies may still benefit from the AI-driven demand for specific microchips, given their specialization in downstream services such as assembly, testing, and packaging, critical to the global semiconductor value chain,” according to the report.

The Philippines is looking to benefit from US CHIPS (Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors) and Science Act of 2022, which seeks to allocate $52.7 billion in federal subsidies to support chip manufacturing in friendly countries.

The Philippines needs to leverage its partnership with the US to establish its own front-end semiconductor facilities to meet global demand, according to the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation, Inc. (SEIPI).

“Back when US Secretary (of Commerce Gina) Raimondo was here, she said that the US will triple the semiconductor volume in the Philippines. She was referring to the back-end as assembly, test, and packaging. But what we really want to have is the front-end semiconductor wafer fab for strategic reasons,” SEIPI President Danilo C. Lachica said via telephone. 

He said geopolitical tensions and the recent earthquake in Taiwan could pose supply disruptions on semiconductor wafers, which the Philippines imports.

The Philippines’ back-end semiconductor industry, which focuses on assembly, testing, and packaging, is also expected to benefit from subsidies to be provided by the CHIPS Act.

According to the ADB, China’s semiconductor export growth slowed in 2023 after global demand for photovoltaic cells dropped. An embargo on chip-making equipment exports to China could also hinder the latter’s production of microprocessors and memory chips.

“Southeast Asia’s economies provide younger, more abundant, and lower wage workers that can attract investments from large semiconductor manufacturers in East Asia as they diversify their production base,” the ADB said.

The Philippines must also come up with a “customized package” to encourage investment in Philippine semiconductors.

“We have high operating costs in power, logistics, water, cooling water, and even labor… so the package has to be customized according to the needs and interests of the potential investors in a wafer fab,” Mr. Lachica said.

The Philippines must also consider investing in renewables to lower power costs and restore the 5% gross income earned (GIE) tax incentive. “We had some capital flight, we had some investments that were changed because of that,” he said, referring to the tax incentive.

George N. Manzano, an associate professor of economics at the University of Asia and the Pacific, said improving logistics would help develop the Philippines as a semiconductor hub.

“Human resources… will be important, depending on the kind of semiconductor stage is going to be set up,” he said in a Viber message.

Mr. Lachica also called on the Commission on Higher Education to improve the engineering and applied science curriculum, Mr. Lachica said.

The Philippines only accounts for 3% of the region’s total semiconductor exports, according to the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO).

AMRO senior economist Andrew Tsang said the Philippine government, higher education institutions, and industry must collaborate to match semiconductor workers’ skills with industry demand.

“To enhance its competitiveness, besides attracting FDI (foreign direct investment) to bring in new technology and expertise, the Philippine workforce needs to be upskilled with appropriate training to enable technological adoption,” Mr. Tsang said in an e-mail.  

Meanwhile, AMRO expects global semiconductor sales to rebound this year, coming from a four-year low of a 9.4% contraction.

“The forthcoming recovery is partly driven by the ‘replacement cycle’ — the time it takes to replace old equipment, particularly items bought during the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to AMRO’s latest ASEAN+3 Regional Economic Outlook. 

More than 80% of the world’s semiconductor manufacturing come from high-income and developing economies in East and Southeast Asia, ADB said. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

MB receives LGU applications to borrow P48.9B in H2 2023

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas main office in Manila. — BW FILE PHOTO

LOCAL GOVERNMENT units (LGUs) sought Monetary Board opinions (MBOs) to borrow P48.9 billion in the second half of 2023, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said.

In a statement, the central bank said it received a total of 159 requests for MBOs during the period.

“The total number of LGU requests and total amount were higher by 15.2% and 13.5%, respectively, compared with the 138 requests received amounting to P43.1 billion in the first semester of 2023,” it said.

Some P22.6 billion worth of opinion requests were generated by 20 cities, followed by 123 municipalities seeking opinions on P15.9 billion, 11 provinces proposing to borrow P10.3 billion, and five barangays requesting clearance to take on P109.3 million worth of debt.

The requesting LGUs were mainly from Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol, the Western Visayas, the Central Visayas and Soccsksargen.

In terms of opinions issued, it said that “the MB rendered its opinion on 143 LGU proposed borrowings totaling P45.0 billion. The said MB issuances were for 125 requests received in the second semester of 2023 and 18 requests received in first semester of 2023,” the BSP said.

“The remaining 34 requests received in the semester under review are awaiting the submission of complete information and/or documentary requirements by the borrowing institutions,” it added.

Some 61.4% of the proposed loans were intended for infrastructure projects, such as farm-to-market roads, bridges, public markets, and multi-purpose buildings.

“Meanwhile, some LGU borrowings (19.5%) were intended for the acquisition of lots and/or site development for the eventual construction of various buildings/facilities as well as permanent working capital for the acquisition of palay from small farmers, and acquisition and installation of various e-governance systems.”

The remaining 19% of loans was used to acquire heavy equipment and procure vehicles.

Under the law, LGUs are required to request MBOs on the “monetary and external sector implications of their proposed loan/s prior to undertaking any credit operation.”

“This provision of the law stems from the BSP’s role as the government’s advisor on official credit operations. This process enables the BSP to monitor trends in public sector debt and assess their impact on the monetary sector and external payments position of the economy.” — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson

Energy efficiency recertification seen boosting compliance with RA 11285

MOREPOWER.COM.PH

THE proposed recertification of energy efficiency practitioners will help them comply with their obligations under the Republic Act (RA) No. 11285 or the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act, according to the Philippine Energy Efficiency Alliance, Inc. (PE2).

“It would help energy efficiency practitioners remain true to their mission of helping the recently increased range of DEs (designated establishments) in the commercial, industrial and transport sectors comply with their obligations under RA 11285,” PE2 President Alexander D. Ablaza said in a Viber message.

“The recertification requirements demonstrate a linkage of EE practitioners’ work not only with DEs but also with the reporting and audit requirements of DEs,” he added.

The Department of Energy (DoE) drafted a department circular seeking the continuous implementation of the certification process for energy efficiency practitioners.

Energy auditors (EAs) and energy managers (EMs) should be certified with a validity of three years.

“The DoE was able to develop the training regulations for CEAs and CEMS which governed the initial phase of the certification,” according to the draft circular.

“Energy efficiency practitioners are still a scarce resource that need to be built up through time if the economy aspires to shave off up to 182 Mtoe (millions of tons of oil equivalent) by 2040 in energy savings due to energy efficiency improvements on the premises of DEs,” Mr. Ablaza said.

Mr. Ablaza said policy measures should be put in place to help the government monitor and ensure that certified energy efficiency practitioners are engaged in activities and not displaced and lost to other economic sectors.

“The PE2 generally supports the intent of the draft DoE department circular which imposes recertification requirements for certified energy managers, certified energy auditors, and certified energy conservation officers,” he said.

Mr. Ablaza has said that energy efficiency initiatives are needed to be acknowledged alongside renewable energy as an “energy resource” which also needs to put efforts into. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

CSB blasts JRU in straight sets to keep the NCAA volleyball lead

CSB LADY BLAZERS — NCAA.ORG.PH

Games Monday
(Filoil EcoOil Arena)
7:30 a.m. — LPU vs AU (men)
10 a.m. — LPU vs AU (women)
2 p.m. — Letran vs EAC (women)
4 p.m. — Letran vs EAC (men)

KNOWING he will lose four of his cogs to graduation this year, College of St. Benilde (CSB) coach Jerry Yee has intentionally shuffled his rotation to prepare his young guns when their time to take over arrives.

It has paid dividends as the Lady Blazers chalked up their third straight win at the expense of the Jose Rizal University (JRU) Lady Bombers, 25-13, 25-12, 25-20, on Sunday to repossess the solo lead in NCAA Season 99 women’s volleyball at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.

Michelle Gamit, Jade Gentapa, Gayle Pascual and Cloanne Mondonedo, the four CSB regulars playing their final season, all significantly contributed despite splitting minutes with their successors.

It equally produced solid performances from the younger guys including Wielyn Estoque, who had eight points, as well as Chenae Basarte, who will take over as top setter when Ms. Mondonedo’s sun sets.

The result also extended CSB’s unshakeable streak to 32, which included a pair of mighty 11-game championship sweeps and seven just moments before the season was cancelled four years ago due to the pandemic.

Mr. Yee, however, isn’t taking note of their magnificent win rampage.

“We try not to mind those, we don’t even count,” said Mr. Yee.

The Lady Bombers dropped to 1-2. — Joey Villar

Securing a competitive advantage in the insurance industry

IN BRIEF:

• During tumultuous times, stakeholders expect insurers to deliver more value through greater protection, holistic solutions, and personalized experiences.

• By incorporating trust and “impact by design” into the company’s strategies, insurers attract more loyal customers, increase profitability, and reinforce relationships with partners and regulators.

Stiff competition, shifting regulatory policies, and increased investor expectations have elevated the importance of trust and transparency in today’s insurance industry. Investors are seeking not only greater coverage that spans years or decades but also ethical practices and long-term viability. This trend underscores the current investor climate where discernment is especially airtight, promoting healthy and sustainable practices within the industry.

However, this development comes with its own set of challenges for insurers, including developing robust risk management mechanisms and adopting newer technologies across a range of services. Amidst growing competition, the main challenge for most insurers will be transforming their organizations into “preferred partners” instead of mere product providers.

These trends and insights were highlighted in the EY Global Insurance Outlook 2024; furthermore, this comprehensive report explores purposeful strategies to help insurers achieve sustainable performance given the ever-evolving nature of the industry.

The report provides salient insights, giving insurers the following key points of action to secure a competitive advantage.

PRIORITIZE TRUST
Trust is the bedrock of the insurance industry — the core of every interaction, communication, and policy. Moreover, trustworthiness actively guides product development, customer-facing process automation, ecosystem partner evaluation, and technology adoption.

Consumers will trust firms that provide the right advice, create the right solutions, and provide products and services that deliver tangible societal value. According to the EY Global Insurance Survey 2021, most consumers (79%) trust insurers that demonstrate genuine commitment to environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles when making purchasing decisions. Additionally, 43% prefer purchasing from companies that positively contribute to societal welfare, despite higher costs. 

By incorporating trust into the company’s strategies, insurers can attract loyal customers, increase profitability, and reinforce relationships with partners and regulators.

ENSURE TRANSPARENCY AND PRIVACY
While insurers should take advantage of generative AI (GenAI) to reduce the savings and protection gap and satisfy new customer demand, companies should also be mindful of its actual and perceived risks. This gap refers to the shortfall between what individuals have saved for their future needs and what they should ideally have to adequately protect themselves or their assets against various risks, such as health issues, job loss, and damage or loss of property.

The EY European Financial Services AI Survey 2023 showed that privacy (31%) ranks as the top concern among European Insurance executives around the ethics of GenAI followed by discrimination, bias, and fairness (26%); and transparency and explainability (21%).

More than just legal and regulatory requirements, transparency and privacy are key components to establishing and maintaining client trust. Because data privacy is a significant public concern, companies must secure investor information and maintain transparency regarding its use and access.

REDESIGN, SIMPLIFY, AND PERSONALIZE YOUR PRODUCTS
Given the industry’s dynamic nature, prioritizing customer-centricity has emerged as the strategic “north star” for all insurance companies. This involves providing customized products that are convenient to procure, cost-effective, and augmentable with supplementary services and personalized recommendations. 

Prioritizing the needs and preferences of customers requires companies to undergo a holistic transformation across various aspects of their operations. This includes updating technology infrastructures, redesigning product portfolios, and restructuring organizational setup to better engage and serve new and existing customers.

Precise customer knowledge is the foundation for more personalized service and richer experiences delivered via preferred channels. According to EY Tech Horizon Global Survey 2022, 9% of global insurers plan to use AI and data science to drive product innovation through new offerings and personalization.

INNOVATE WITH DATA FOR VALUE
Revisit existing data from a new perspective, one that delivers value-driven solutions to your investors and partners. During tumultuous times, stakeholders want insurers to deliver more value through comprehensive policies, holistic solutions, and personalized experiences.

EMBRACE ‘IMPACT BY DESIGN’
The “impact by design” principle harmonizes the interests of the planet, people, and profit in developing products, services, or solutions that deliver societal value. Incorporating this into the company’s strategy leads to stronger customer acquisition and loyalty, higher employee satisfaction, and improved access to capital.

Nowadays, compliance-driven thinking and expanded philanthropic endeavors are imperative. Specifically, product innovation, new business models, and purposeful investments can help insurers unlock growth as they safeguard themselves against climate risk, promote financial well-being, and encourage physical and mental health.

ENGAGE REGULATORS TO ADDRESS PROTECTION AND SAVINGS GAPS
Proactively addressing consumer protection and savings gaps with authorities and regulators demonstrates the commitment of an organization to building trust and confidence in the market, shaping a more favorable business environment for everyone.

MEASURE TRUST EFFECTIVELY
To evaluate investor trust or perception, organizations must first establish specific metrics. Quantifying trust allows the company to track progress, identify pain points, and cultivate integrity among stakeholders.

Having a high degree of trust is a hallmark of the world’s top insurance brands. The most trusted insurers have a larger and more loyal client base, increased profitability, and more lucrative relationships with partners and regulators.

As highlighted in the 2024 EY Global Insurance Outlook, firms that don’t address today’s historically low levels of customer trust will be vulnerable to rising competition from outside the industry, including firms from the technology, automotive, retail, consumer goods, and banking sectors. An insurance industry that lacks trust will struggle to build strong customer relationships and grow its market share.

STRENGTHEN DATA SECURITY
GenAI promises to revolutionize risk assessment, claims processing, marketing, sales, and other essential business functions. Consequently, senior leaders must take the time to establish robust governance models and policies that ensure the responsible and ethical use of AI. Identifying the full range of risks, which includes data breaches and reputational issues, and designing the right framework for managing them are the top priorities.

Data security is non-negotiable for stakeholders, so strong safeguarding measures are necessary to increase investor confidence in the brand.

If insurers don’t deliver what the consumers want — precisely when, where, and how they want it — customers will take their business elsewhere.

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional advice where the facts and circumstances warrant. The views and opinions expressed above are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of SGV & Co.

 

Bernalette L. Ramos is an assurance partner and the insurance sector reader, and Charisse Rossielin Y. Cruz is a business consulting partner and the insurance sector deputy leader, both of SGV & Co.

Scheffler takes charge at Masters; Woods struggles

AUGUSTA, Georgia — Scottie Scheffler birdied his final hole to emerge from a packed leaderboard and grab a one-shot lead over Collin Morikawa after the third round of the Masters while Tiger Woods endured his worst major round as a professional on Saturday.

Mr. Scheffler, who used a back-nine eagle to get his round back on track, carded a one-under-par 71 on a firm and fast Augusta National layout to reach seven under on the week and in position to win a second Masters.

With a win, Mr. Scheffler would become the 18th player to win the Masters multiple times and the first to accomplish the feat since Bubba Watson in 2014.

“Being patient out there I think is really important,” said Mr. Scheffler. “Especially on a day like today. It was a frustrating day to be playing this golf course. It was so challenging.”

Mr. Morikawa, who is seeking the third leg of the career Grand Slam of golf’s four majors, began his day with three consecutive was alone in second place after a three-under-par 69 that was one shot off the day’s low round.

Max Homa (73), who along with LIV Golf’s Bryson DeChambeau (75) held a share of the halfway lead with Mr. Scheffler, was a further shot back in third while Ludvig Aberg (70) of Sweden was three shots off the lead in his major championship debut.

Mr. DeChambeau, who struggled with his putting most of the day, drove it into the trees at the par-four 18th, pitched out to the fairway and then holed out from 77 yards for an unlikely birdie that put a spring in his step.

“I just figured was easier than putting,” joked Mr. DeChambeau.

Mr. Scheffler had dropped out of the lead after a shaky start to the back nine where he followed a double-bogey at the par-four 10th with a bogey at the 11th.

But an unflustered Mr. Scheffler joined Mr. Morikawa atop the leaderboard with a 31-foot eagle putt at the par-five 13th where his approach shot looked ready to settle some 10 feet from the hole before it suddenly gathered speed rolled away.

“I didn’t know whether or not it was going to get there, and it kind of just nudged right over the edge and went in,” said Mr. Scheffler. “So it was exciting, and it was nice to be able to steal a couple shots there on 13 and get back in the tournament.”

Mr. Scheffler then picked up another stroke at the par-five 15th where he got up and down for birdie after his approach shot from 238 yards sped right off the back of the green and then offset his bogey at 17 with an eight-foot birdie at the last.

Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard, who like Aberg is seeking to become the first Masters rookie to win a Green Jacket since 1979, was leading after three birdies around the turn but then made five consecutive bogeys to slide down the leaderboard.

STRUGGLING WOODS
Tiger Woods, fresh off his Masters record-setting 24th made cut, began his third round seven shots behind the leaders and hoping his injury-ravaged body would hold up and allow him to move into contention.

But Mr. Woods looked worn out from playing 23 holes on Friday and suffered an unwanted personal milestone with a 10-over-par 82 that tied the day’s highest round.

“Just hit the ball in all the places that I know I shouldn’t hit it,” said Mr. Woods. “And I missed a lot of putts. Easy, makeable putts.”

Following a three-putt bogey at the par-three fourth, Mr. Woods drained a fist pump-inducing birdie putt from 19 feet at the fifth before he suddenly started to unravel.

Mr. Woods bogeyed the par-three sixth after his tee shot landed behind the green, made a double-bogey at the seventh where he chipped into a bunker, carded another double at the eighth and a bogey at nine where his approach found another sand trap.

The 15-times major winner then mixed five bogeys with a lone birdie on the closing stretch.

Rory McIlroy, who began the day 10 shots off the lead and seeking a low score to boost his hopes of completing the career Grand Slam of golf’s four majors, carded a one-under-par 71.

“All I can do is come here and try my best. That’s what I do every time I show up. Some years it’s better than others,” said world number two Mr. McIlroy. “I’ve just got to keep showing up and try to do the right thing.” — Reuters

Man City goes top after thrashing Luton; Spurs crash

REUTERS

LONDON — Champions Manchester City turned up the heat on their Premier League title rivals with a 5-1 home win over relegation-threatened Luton Town to move top of the table on Saturday.

With Arsenal and Liverpool both playing on Sunday, Man City marched above them with a rampant display to move to 73 points from 32 games. Arsenal (71) host fourth-placed Aston Villa while Liverpool (71) welcome Crystal Palace.

It was a statement win by Man City in their chase for an unprecedented fourth successive English title and more evidence that any team finishing above them will have to be near-perfect between now and the end of the season.

Tottenham Hotspur’s hopes of finishing fourth and ensuring a Champions League berth were dealt a blow as they were hammered 4-0 at Newcastle United who moved into sixth place to boost their own European hopes.

Manchester United dropped to seventh as they drew 2-2 at Bournemouth in the late kickoff, Bruno Fernandes twice equalizing to earn his side a point.

At the bottom, Brentford eased away from trouble with a 2-0 home win against Sheffield United for whom time is running out.

Nottingham Forest missed the chance to do the same as they were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Wolverhampton Wanderers. Forest are in 17th place, one point above third-from bottom Luton Town and six ahead of 19th-placed Burnley who drew 1-1 at home to Brighton and Hove Albion.

City needed 65 seconds to go ahead against Luton with Erling Haaland’s wayward volley smashing into the face of Luton’s Daiki Hashioka and into the net.

Luton hung in grimly but Mateo Kovacic’s strike made it 2-0 before Mr. Haaland converted a penalty for his 20th league goal of the season.

Jeremy Doku and Josko Gvardiol were also on target for City, with Ross Barkley grabbing a consolation for Luton.

PRESSURE ON
“The only way is to win our games and put the pressure on. Luton is a difficult game, okay we scored five goals. This is the only message we can do,” Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said.

Tottenham could have moved three points above Villa in the scrap for fourth place but were blown away by a clinical Newcastle who struck twice in two first-half minutes as Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon punished poor defending. Mr. Isak made it 3-0 to take his league tally for the season to 17 and Fabian Schar added a fourth late on.

Tottenham dropped to fifth below Villa on goal difference.

“Newcastle were good, credit to them, I thought they were really good today. We just didn’t really get a grip of the game at all,” Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou said.

Manchester United allowed Bournemouth 20 goal attempts and were lucky to trail only 2-1 at halftime to Dominic Solanke’s 17th league goal of the season and an effort by Justin Kluivert after Mr. Fernandes had equalized with a volley.

Mr. Fernandes netted a second-half penalty to make it 2-2 but United could not snatch a first win in four league games and stayed 10 points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa.

“The second half was much better, the good thing is we fought back twice,” manager Erik Ten Had said.

Brentford moved up to 14th as Thomas Frank’s side ended a winless run of nine Premier League games thanks to an own goal by Sheffield United’s Oliver Arblaster and Frank Onyeka’s first for the club.

Matheus Cunha scored twice for Wolverhampton Wanderers in his first start for two months to deny Forest a vital three points in their bid to stay up. Mr. Cunha gave Wolves the lead with a superb solo goal, before the excellent Morgan Gibbs-White equalized on the stroke of halftime and Danilo put Forest in front.

A mistake by goalkeeper Matz Sels, however, allowed Cunha to earn his side a point.

Burnley will also rue a missed opportunity as they were held 1-1 by Brighton — an embarrassing own goal by goalkeeper Arijanet Muric costing them the three points.

Substitute Josh Brownhill put the home side ahead but Burnley’s joy was short-lived as Mr. Muric allowed a Sander Berge back pass to roll under his foot. — Reuters

A lot riding on the line when Lakers visit Pelicans in regular-season finale

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) plays for the rebound against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. — GARY A. VASQUEZ-USA TODAY SPORTS/REUTERS

THE NEW Orleans Pelicans can secure the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference playoffs by beating the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.

The Lakers can clinch the No. 8 spot and strengthen their position for the play-in tournament by winning.

A lot is at stake for both teams as they meet in the regular-season finale in New Orleans.

New Orleans (49-32) won at Golden State, 114-109, on Friday to complete a sweep of a four-game road trip after losing the final four games of its most recent homestand.

“You’ve got to take care of what you can take care of,” said Pelicans guard CJ McCollum, who had 28 points against Golden State. “Prepare for another tough game … and try and get one before the playoffs start.”

The Pelicans still can claim the final playoff spot if they lose, provided seventh-place Phoenix (48-33) loses at Minnesota on Sunday.

Mr. McCollum made 8 of 13 3-pointers against the Warriors, including five during a game-changing second quarter in which New Orleans outscored Golden State 45-22 to turn a nine-point deficit into a 14-point halftime lead.

The Pelicans held off repeated second-half charges by Golden State. The victory gave New Orleans the best road record in the NBA this season (28-14), which also is a franchise best.

But now the Pelicans need a victory at home, where they have lost five of their past six, to guarantee that they can avoid the play-in tournament, which they participated in the last two seasons.

“One job,” Mr. McCollum said of the task.

New Orleans hopes that forward Brandon Ingram, the team’s second-leading scorer (20.9 points per game), can return Sunday after being out since March 21 because of a hyper-extended knee. The Pelicans are 7-5 during his absence.

The Lakers (46-35) welcomed back their second-leading scorer — forward Anthony Davis — in a 123-120 victory at Memphis on Friday night. Mr. Davis, who averages 24.6 points, had 36 along with 14 rebounds after missing a loss against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday because of an eye injury.

Mr. Davis said he had “no issues” with the eye against the Grizzlies. “I felt pretty good out there,” he said.

LeBron James scored 37 points, including six in the final minute, and had nine rebounds for L.A, which moved past the Warriors and the Sacramento Kings into the eighth spot. From the No. 8 spot, Los Angeles would have to win one of two games to advance to the playoffs rather than facing a single-elimination game in the 9-10 match-up.

“Every game matters. Every seed matters,” Mr. James said. “Wherever you fall, you can’t play in the past. Seeds matter, and wherever you fall, you take that challenge.” Mr. James played 40-plus minutes and Mr. Davis played 42-plus minutes against Memphis.

L.A. is 2-1 in three lopsided games with New Orleans this season. The Lakers won 133-89 in the semifinals of the NBA In-Season Tournament on Dec. 7 in Las Vegas and 139-122 on Feb. 9 in Los Angeles. The Pelicans won 129-109 on New Year’s Eve in New Orleans. — Reuters

Djokovic’s challenges

To argue that Novak Djokovic hasn’t had a great year so far would be an understatement. Already a third into the season, he remains without a title to his name, keeping his career tally at 98. Considering that he had a sterling 2023 that included seven championships, two in Grand Slam stops, conventional wisdom figured he would continue his dominance of the sport. Instead, all he has to show through four tournaments are two semifinal-round appearances and two more even earlier flameouts.

To be fair, Djokovic has had to deal with a variety of ailments, including a wrist injury in the run-up to his failed bid to defend his Australian Open title. There is also his advancing age to consider; he’s turning 37 next month, and for all his extraordinary longevity, he has been visibly laboring in contests. For comparison, it’s significant to note that erstwhile wunderkind Roger Federer had likewise suffered a precipitous drop in performance at around the same career stage.

Given Djokovic’s continuing challenges, it’s fair to discount his bid for a fourth French Open crown. For one thing, clay isn’t his best surface. For another, his mental state seems less than optimum, especially in light of his parting of ways with longtime coach Goran Ivanisevic. Yesterday, for instance, he could not help but lash out at a rowdy spectator en route to bowing to 10th-ranked Casper Ruud at the Monte-Carlo Masters; never mind that he hadn’t so much as given up a set to the Norwegian in five previous encounters. That he was bothered enough by extraneous noise to court a code violation in the face of his countless pronouncements on getting strength from adversity underscores his fragile condition.

The good news is that Djokovic has a month to get his act together before setting foot at Roland Garros. Up next: the Madrid Open next week, where he aims to do better — make that much better — than he has to date. Whether it’s doable isn’t in question; his track record affords him the benefit of the doubt. Whether it’s realistic, however, is another matter altogether.

 

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.

Iran launches retaliatory attack on Israel with drones, missiles

AN anti-missile system operates after Iran launched drones and missiles towards Israel, as seen from Ashkelon, Israel, April 14, 2024. — REUTERS

JERUSALEM/DUBAI — Iran launched explosive drones and fired missiles at Israel late on Saturday in its first direct attack on Israeli territory, a retaliatory strike that raised the threat of a wider regional conflict, as the US pledged “ironclad” backing for Israel.

Sirens wailed and Reuters journalists in Israel heard distant heavy thuds and bangs from what local media called aerial interceptions of explosive drones. Authorities said a 7-year-old girl was critically injured.

US President Joseph R. Biden, who spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said he would convene a meeting of leaders of the Group of Seven major economies on Sunday to coordinate a diplomatic response to what he called Iran’s brazen attack.

Six months into an Israeli-Hamas war in Gaza and amid growing risks of a greater regional war, Axios quoted a senior White House official as saying Mr. Biden also told Mr. Netanyahu the US would oppose any Israeli counterattack against Iran.

The UN Security Council was set to meet at 4 p.m. ET (2000 GMT) on Sunday after Israel requested it condemn Iran’s attack and designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization, according to a schedule released late on Saturday.

Israel’s military spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, said Iran launched dozens of ground-to-ground missiles at Israel, most of them intercepted outside Israeli borders. They included more than 10 cruise missiles, he said.

The Iranian salvo of more than 200 drones and missiles caused light damage to one Israeli military facility, Mr. Hagari said.

The Israeli military later said it was not advising any residents to prepare to take shelter. This revision of an earlier alert appeared to signal the end of the threat.

Israel’s Channel 12 TV cited an unnamed Israeli official as saying there would be a “significant response” to the attack.

Iran had vowed retaliation for what it called an Israeli strike on its Damascus consulate on April 1 that killed seven officers of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including two senior commanders. Tehran said its strike was punishment for “Israeli crimes.” Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for the consulate attack.

“Should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran’s response will be considerably more severe,” the Iranian mission to the United Nations (UN) said, warning the US to “stay away.” However, it also said Iran now “deemed the matter concluded”.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said America did not seek conflict with Iran but would not hesitate to act to protect US forces and support defense of Israel.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned Iran’s attack, saying he was “deeply alarmed about the very real danger of a devastating region-wide escalation.”

Russian Deputy UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy said on the Telegram social media app that in addition to a letter from Israel, the Security Council had received one from Iran asserting its attack was within the UN Charter framework governing the right to self-defense.

“The latter warns that if Israel responds, Iran will respond in a more powerful and decisive manner,” Mr. Polyanskiy said.

Mr. Biden, who on Friday had warned Iran against an attack, cut short a weekend visit to his home state of Delaware and returned to Washington to meet with his national security advisers, including his secretaries of defense and state, in the White House Situation Room. He pledged to stand with Israel.

“Our commitment to Israel’s security against threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad,” Mr. Biden said on X after the meeting.

The war in Gaza, which Israel invaded after an attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, has ratcheted up tensions in the region, spreading to fronts with Lebanon and Syria and drawing long-range fire at Israeli targets from as far away as Yemen and Iraq.

Drones were also reportedly launched against Israel by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group, British maritime security company Ambrey said in a statement.

Those clashes now threaten to morph into a direct open conflict pitting Iran and its regional allies against Israel and its main supporter, the United States. Regional power Egypt urged “utmost restraint.”

While Israel and Iran have been bitter foes for decades, their feud has mostly unfolded via proxies or by targeting each other’s forces operating in third countries.

US and British warplanes were involved in shooting down some Israel-bound drones over the Iraq-Syria border area, Israel’s Channel 12 reported. The US military knocked down dozens of drones and missiles bound for Israel, three US officials said.

Mr. Biden said he had directed the US military to move aircraft and ballistic missile defence destroyers to the region over the course of the past week.

“Thanks to these deployments and the extraordinary skill of our service members, we helped Israel take down nearly all of the incoming drones and missiles,” he said.

ESCALATION
Mr. Netanyahu convened Israel’s war cabinet at a military headquarters in Tel Aviv, his office said.

Israel and Lebanon said they were closing their airspace on Saturday night. Jordan, which lies between Iran and Israel, had readied air defenses to intercept any drone or missile that violated its territory, two regional security sources said.

Residents in several Jordanian cities said they heard heavy aerial activity.

Syria, an ally of Iran, said it was putting its ground-to-air defense systems around the capital and major bases on high alert, army sources there said.

The European Union, Britain, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Mexico, the Netherlands and Norway condemned Iran’s attack.

Biden’s Republican rival in November’s presidential election, Donald Trump, briefly referred to the airstrikes at a rally in Pennsylvania, criticizing his Democratic rival.

“They’re under attack right now,” Trump said. “That’s because we show great weakness. This would not happen, the weakness that we’ve shown, it’s unbelievable, and it would not have happened if we were in office.”

Israel had been bracing for an Iranian response to the Damascus consulate strike since last week, when Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Israel “must be punished and shall be” for an operation he called equivalent to one on Iranian soil.

Iran’s main ally in the region, the Lebanese Shi’ite group Hezbollah that has been exchanging fire with Israel since the Gaza war began, said early on Sunday it had fired rockets at an Israeli base. — Reuters

Iberians hit the beaches as temperatures rise 10°C above normal

Tourists take pictures in front of the Guggenheim Museum during hot weather in Bilbao, Spain, April 13, 2024. — REUTERS

BILBAO/LISBON — People in Bilbao in northwestern Spain normally spend April dodging the showers but on Saturday many hit the beach as temperatures were up to 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) above normal.

The Portuguese were also hitting the beach near Lisbon as temperatures rose to as high as 29°C.

Many people swapped umbrellas for ice cream as temperatures reached 21°C in Bilbao and were expected to hit 27 °C elsewhere on Sunday, Aemet, the state weather forecasting agency said.

“Temperatures, both on Saturday and Sunday, will be between 5 and 10 degrees Celsius higher than normal in much of the country, and between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius [higher] in the northern third of the peninsula and the Canary Islands,” Aemet said in a post on the social media site X.

Temperatures more often experienced in summer months were being recorded in April, Aemet said.

In Portugal, temperatures were also higher than usual for this time of the year, according to weather agency IPMA on Saturday.

In the central region of Santarem, temperatures are expected to reach 31°C.

However, by next week temperatures in much of Spain will dip again, particularly in northern Spain, Aemet said. — Reuters

Sydney knife attacker had mental health issues, police say

STOCK PHOTO | Image by kjpargeter from Freepik

SYDNEY — The man who fatally stabbed six people in Sydney had mental health issues in the past and there was no indication ideology was a motive in the attack in one of the city’s busiest shopping centers, police said on Sunday.

The attacker, identified by police as 40-year-old Joel Cauchi, was known to police in the neighboring state of Queensland, and police have spoken to his family after Saturday’s attack, according to police from both New South Wales and Queensland.

Mr. Cauchi’s family recognized him and contacted police on Saturday after seeing news reports of the killings.

“The family when they viewed footage of the event on TV thought that may well have been their son and they reached out to authorities,” said Queensland Police Assistant Commissioner Roger Lowe.

Witnesses described how Mr. Cauchi, wearing shorts and an Australian national rugby league jersey, ran through the Westfield Bondi Junction mall with a knife.

He fatally stabbed six people and injured at least 12 before he was shot dead by Inspector Amy Scott, who confronted him solo while he was on the rampage.

Some shoppers and staff at the mall in Sydney’s east tried to stop him and crowds sheltered in shuttered shops. “This was a terrible scene,” New South Wales Police Assistant Commissioner Anthony Cooke told reporters.

“There is still to this point, nothing that we have, no information we received, no evidence we have recovered or intelligence that we have gathered that would suggest that this was driven by any particular motivation, ideology or otherwise.”

Mr. Cauchi had been diagnosed with mental health issues when he was 17 and had been in contact with police frequently in the past four to five years, said Queensland police officer Mr. Lowe. Mr. Cauchi had not been arrested or charged with any crimes in Queensland, he added.

Mr. Cauchi led an itinerant lifestyle, had recently been sleeping in his car and had only infrequently stayed in touch with his mother via text messages, Mr. Lowe said.

Attacks such as Saturday’s stabbing are rare in Australia, a country of about 26 million people with some of the world’s toughest gun and knife laws.

Mr. Cauchi had recently moved to Sydney. Police said they had searched a small storage facility he had been renting but found no major evidence to indicate an attack was coming.

Five of the six people killed were women, and the male victim was a shopping center security guard, police said.

Those taken to hospital with stab wounds included a nine-month-old baby, who was in a serious but stable condition, police said on Sunday. The baby’s mother, Ashlee Good, died in hospital from her injuries, her family said in a statement.

There was a heavy police presence on Sunday at the mall, which was closed to shoppers, with nearby streets closed off. A mound of floral tributes to the victims began to grow, with mourners arriving every few minutes.

“The individual stories of those who have been killed, the complete strangers rushing in to help as well as acts of courage and bravery mean that – whether you know the individuals who have been killed or not — you’re grieving today,” said New South Wales state Premier Chris Minns.

“The entire state will get behind those families in the days ahead as they recover and go through the inevitable grief of such a horrifying event.”

Britain’s King Charles, who is Australia’s head of state, posted on the royal family’s X account: “Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of those who have been so brutally killed during such a senseless attack.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he had also received condolence messages from all over the globe, adding that the attack had highlighted the bravery of ordinary citizens.

“We have seen the footage of ordinary Australians putting themselves in harm’s way in order to help their fellow citizens. That bravery was quite extraordinary,” said on Sunday. “It’s the best of Australians amidst this tragedy.” — Reuters

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