University of Perpetual routs Benilde, 110-91, for third victory in row in NCAA junior basketball

February 18, 2024 | 7:21 pm

Games Wednesday
(Filoil EcoOil Centre)
8 a.m.— JRU vs Mapua
10 a.m. — AU vs CSB
12 p.m. — San Beda vs UPHSD
2:30 p.m. — EAC vs SSC-R
4:30 p.m. — Letran vs LPU

THE LONG National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) title quest for the University of Perpetual Help (UPHSD) Junior Altas could end this season.

Eyeing nothing less than a breakthrough championship, UPHSD routed College of St. Benilde (CSB), 110-91, yesterday that kept them at the helm in NCAA Season 99 junior basketball at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

Amiel Acido went on MVP mode and dropped a spectacular 33-point, 10-rebound, five assist and four-steal effort in powering the Junior Altas to their third victory in a row and in a strong position to contend for the title, which would be their first ever if they end up going all the way.

But UPHSD coach John Cleopas liked to take it slow. “I don’t want them to be complacent and not celebrate too much, we want them to stay hungry,” said Mr. Cleopas. “The truth is, we should keep on working hard and respect our opponents.”

Earlier, Colegio de San Juan de Letran downed San Sebastian College, 78-66, and Jose Rizal University (JRU) edged Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU), 85-79.

Just a few days after falling to to the San Beda University Red Cubs, 88-72, the Squires vented their ire on the Staglets in claiming their second win in three starts, the same record the latter wound up with.

The Light Bombers, for their part, drew strength from their mammoth rebounding of Paul Enal and Martin Pineda, who combined for 22 of their team’s 52 caroms, and sweet shooting of Lee Marin, who uncorked 30 points, in seizing their first win in three starts.

It came a couple of days after Messrs. Pineda and Enal plucked 23 and 18 caroms, respectively, when JRU corralled a whopping 79 rebounds, the most by any team in recent years, in a 94-86 defeat to Arellano University. — Joey Villar

The scores:

First Game

JRU 85 — Marin 30, Pineda 12, Enal 11, Almario 9, Castillo 8, Guarino 5, Rivera 5, Pinzon 3, Satparam 2, To 0, Abequibel 0

LPU 79 — Matienzo 16, Melchor 16, Julio 12, Panerio 9, Mulligan 9, Sayaman 7, Timbol 6, Poli 3, Lingoste 1, Dag-um 0, Villa 0, Parinas 0

Quarterscores: 16-16; 40-35; 63-55; 85-79

Second Game

Letran 78 — Silorio 13, Gazzingan 13, Diamante 11, Manalili 11, Navarro 8, Baliling 6, Padilla 6, De Leon 5, Golez 4, Cruz 1, Dela Rama 0, Hugo 0, Reyes 0, Villanueva 0, Alforque 0

San Sebastian 66 — Danag 20, Porcadas 17, Herrera 8, Jimenez 5, Penaverde 5, Bonus 5, Marasigan 4, Jacob 2, Casan 0, Melano 0, Bautista 0, Apostol 0, Bamba 0

Quarterscores: 26-19; 42-34; 62-47; 78-66

Third Game

UPHSD 110 — Acido 33, Valencia 20, Gojo Cruz 12, Daep 10, Callangan 8, Asuncion 8, Ayon 4, Baldoria 4, Pagulayan 3, Borja 3, Bernaldez 3, Diaz 2, Panelo 0, Dela Cruz 0, Cristino 0

CSB 91 — Quines 23, Ison 17, Osis 12, Podador 9, Ortega 7, Sharma 7, Muyuela 3, Nonoy 3, Romero 3, Gomez 3, Tud 2, Abad 2, Natividad 0, Hachuela 0, Peralta 0

Quarterscores: 28-23; 62-49; 88-70; 110-91

TNT eyes PBA 3×3 Season 3 Third Conference crown

February 18, 2024 | 7:20 pm

TNT-TRIPLE-GIGA — TNT TRIPLE GIGA — PBA.PH

MULTI-titled TNT eyes another “grand slam” feather to its cap with nine hungry challengers bent on crashing the Triple Giga party.

The 10 finalists hit the half court of Ayala Malls Glorietta Monday with intense determination to capture the highest honors of the PBA 3×3 Season 3 Third Conference.

The Triple Giga are out to duplicate their clean sweep of the conference crowns of Season 2 and stretch their record run to seventh straight conference.

Tasked to get the job done for the PLDT franchise are Almond Vosotros, Ping Exciminiano, Gryann Mendoza and Chester Saldua, who are seeded into the quarterfinals as incentive for finishing in the Top 4 of the six-leg pre-finals.

The Triple Giga, winner of Leg 5, carry the No. 2 seeding behind Meralco, the winningest team of the conference with triumphs in Legs 1, 3 and 4. Cavitex, the Leg 6 ruler, is No. 3 while Leg 2 kingpin MCFASolver rounds out the Magic 4.

The four elite squads await the four survivors of pool play that begins at 2 p.m.

Fifth seed Blackwater Smooth Razor, No. 8 and Season 1 Second Conference champion Pioneer Elastoseal and No. 9 Terrafirma face off in to dispute the two quarterfinal seats in Pool A while No. 6 San Miguel Beer, No. 7 Purefoods and No. 10 Barangay Ginebra contest the two other Last-8 seats in Pool B.

Meanwhile, the final battle for the PBA Women’s 3×3 Invitational crown serves as a sizzling appetizer to the day’s hostilities.

Top seed Philippine Navy-Go For Gold collides with No. 4 Gilas Pilipinas women’s B in the semifinal opener at 11:30 a.m. followed by the other Final Four duel between No. 2 Uratex and No. 3 Angelis Resort.

Winner proceeds to the winner-take-all championship set at 12:50 p.m. — Olmin Leyba

Iga Swiatek holds off Elena Rybakina to capture third straight Qatar Open crown

February 18, 2024 | 7:18 pm

DOHA — Top seed Iga Swiatek overcame a gritty challenge by world number four Elena Rybakina to take home the Qatar Open title for the third straight year with a 7-6(8) 6-2 victory in Saturday’s final.

The 22-year-old Pole, who raced to her 12^th consecutive match win in Doha, became the first player to capture a singles title at an event in three successive years since Serena Williams triumphed in Miami from 2013-15.

The win also improved her head-to-head record over Ms. Rybakina to 3-2, having lost on all three occasions last year.

Ms. Swiatek endured a slow start as she went 4-1 down in a roller-coaster opening set before the four-times Grand Slam champion slowly found her groove to level things up at 4-4.

After the set went into a tiebreaker, the momentum swung back and forth before Ms. Swiatek wrapped up the 90-minute-long set with a well-executed backhand winner. Ms. Rybakina had taken a medical timeout after hitting her own leg during the opening set and that seemed to hamper the 24-year-old Kazakh as Ms. Swiatek wasted no time to take the second set and secure her first WTA 1000 title of the year.

Despite her defeat, Ms. Rybakina said she had many positives to take from her second final in as many weeks, having won the Abu Dhabi Open last Sunday. — Reuters

Curry rallies to clip Ionescu at All-Star three-point competition

February 18, 2024 | 7:14 pm

STEPHEN CURRY made four of five shots from the right corner to end his round and overtake Sabrina Ionescu to win 29-26 in the special 3-point competition between two prolific shooters during All-Star Saturday Night in Indianapolis.

Mr. Curry accepted the challenge from the WNBA star to engage in the competition and both players were sharp. Ms. Ionescu, a star for the WNBA’s New York Liberty, started on the left side of the court and made nine of her first 10 shots.

She wasn’t able to keep up the sharp pace and went five of 11 from the right side of the top of the key.

Mr. Curry, the Golden State Warriors’ star, didn’t start as fast as Ms. Ionescu but made up ground by hitting all five shots from the right wing before moving past Ms. Ionescu from the right corner.

In the regular 3-point shooting contest, Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks prevailed for the second straight year. He is the first repeat winner since Jason Kapono of the Toronto Raptors won in 2007-08.

Mr. Lillard compiled 26 points in the final round, edging 2022 champion Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks. Both Mr. Towns and Mr. Young had 24 points.

The competition went down to the wire as Mr. Lillard had 24 points as he went to the left corner for the rack of five balls. He missed the first four shots before sinking the winner on his last attempt.

Lillard, Towns, Young and Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers all made 26 in the first round — a four-way tie for the three spots. A 30-second tiebreaker was held and Mr. Haliburton was eliminated.

Lauri Markkanen (25 points) of the Utah Jazz, Jalen Brunson (24) of the Dallas Mavericks, Donovan Mitchell (21) of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Malik Beasley (20) of the Bucks were eliminated in the first round.

In the Skills Challenge, Team Pacers won in a halfcourt shot tiebreaker over Team All-Stars.

Mr. Haliburton sank a halfcourt shot with 20.5 seconds left in the 60-second overtime to give Team Pacers the win. Myles Turner and Bennedict Mathurin were the other members. — Reuters

Trey contests

February 18, 2024 | 7:13 pm

Shooting has been a point of emphasis throughout the National Basketball Association (NBA) in recent memory, so it was no surprise to find two — yes, two — Three-Point Contests take center stage on the penultimate day of All-Star Weekend. A plethora of marquee names graced the first, and all had the capacity to ultimately emerge victorious. And so tight was the competition that such notables as Donovan Mitchell, Jalen Brunson, Malik Beasley, and Lauri Markkanen could not even move past the opening round. The second set-to involved champions Stephen Curry and Sabrina Ionescu, whose remarkable finish in the 2023 shootout of the women’s league gave her the highest score of all time across all confederations.

Naturally, the gravitas of the remaining participants in the official contest necessitated a 30-second tiebreaker to determine the three finalists. The rules most definitely worked against hometown star Tyrese Haliburton, who could not get going fast enough in the shortened timeframe. Given that he likewise scored 26 points in his initial salvo — exactly what Trae Young, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Damian Lillard also put up, he deserved to be in the ultimate round. The NBA would do well to consider an addendum to the regulations allowing for a greater number of contenders in the decider should similar circumstances arise anew.

In any case, Lillard proved true to billing by scoring yet another 26 to beat Young by two for the crown. It bears noting that he had to make his last shot in both the elimination series and the final to succeed in his title defense. No doubt, he benefited from the order; he was the last to shoot in every round by virtue of his status as the reigning champion, and thus knew exactly how many points he needed to post in order to meet his objectives. And when the battlesmoke cleared, he saw fit to repeatedly tap his right index finger to his left wrist to underscore how much he delivered in the clutch. It was Dame Time once more.

To be sure, Curry remains the best of the best beyond the arc. And lest there be any doubts on the matter, he went on to register the highest score of All-Star Saturday while upending Ionescu. The latter, shooting from NBA distance while using WNBA balls, actually made 26 — which would have tied Lillard’s output. Nonetheless, it was still short of the Chef’s 29. And as he celebrated the triumph, it was clear from his disposition that he wasn’t even fazed by the moment. It was just another day in the office for him. Meanwhile, the fans couldn’t have been handed a better ending.

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.

Israeli forces carry out arrests in Gaza hospital

February 18, 2024 | 5:54 pm

Gaza City-Israel war — EMAD EL-BYED-UNSPLASH

CAIRO/JERUSALEM — Israeli forces carried out arrests in Gaza’s largest functioning hospital, health officials and the military said on Saturday, as airstrikes hit across the enclave and rain battered Palestinians taking shelter in Rafah.

Israeli forces raided the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis on Thursday as they pressed their war on Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group that rules the enclave.

“Occupation forces detained a large number of medical staff members inside Nasser Medical Complex, which they (Israel) turned into a military base,” said Gaza Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday pledged to push on with the military campaign and said troops would move into the southern border city of Rafah.

The Israeli military said it was hunting for militants in Nasser and had so far arrested 100 suspects on the premises, killed gunmen near the hospital and found weapons inside it.

Hamas has denied allegations that its fighters use medical facilities for cover. At least two released Israeli hostages have said they were held in Nasser and Israel has released pictures and videos supporting its claim that Hamas operates within medical compounds.

The Israeli incursion into the hospital has raised alarm about patients, medical workers and displaced Palestinians sheltering there.

About 10,000 people were seeking shelter at the hospital earlier this week, but many left either in anticipation of the Israeli raid or because of Israeli orders to evacuate, the Gaza Health Ministry said.

Further south in Rafah, where more than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million population are sheltering, the winter cold added to already dire conditions when wind blew away some tents of the displaced and rain flooded others.

INTERNATIONAL CONCERN
Israeli plans to storm Rafah have prompted international concern that such action would sharply worsen the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Mr. Netanyahu said Israel was intent on taking out Hamas battalions in Rafah — regardless of whether a deal was reached to free the remaining Israeli hostages — and that there will be room to evacuate the civilian population, including in areas north of the city.

“But we need to be sure to do this in an orderly fashion. That’s the directive I gave to the IDF (Israel Defense Forces). The IDF is doing it and preparing it.”

“Yes, there is a lot of opposition in the world, but this is exactly the moment we have to stand and say ‘we will not do half the work or three-quarters of the work.’”

Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh blamed Israel for a lack of progress in achieving a ceasefire deal in Gaza, the group said in a statement on Saturday.

Mr. Haniyeh added that Hamas would not accept anything less than a complete cessation of hostilities, Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and “lifting of the unjust siege,” as well as a release of Palestinian prisoners serving long sentences in Israeli jails.

Israel’s air and ground offensive has devastated much of Gaza and forced nearly all of its inhabitants from their homes. Palestinian health authorities say 28,858 people, mostly civilians, have been killed.

The war began when Hamas sent fighters into Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and seizing 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

At least 83 people were killed in airstrikes across the Gaza Strip since Friday, health officials said, including one person on Saturday in Rafah, an area that borders Egypt and which Israel says is Hamas’ last bastion.

Residents and medics said more died as night fell on Saturday when Israeli warplanes carried several airstrikes on at least seven houses, killing and wounding dozens of people. Hamas media outlets put the number of those killed at 38. The Israeli army spokesperson said they were checking into the reported strikes.

The Israeli military said its jets had killed numerous militants in Gaza fighting since Friday.

Across the border, air raid sirens warning of incoming rockets sounded in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon on Saturday. — Reuters

Zelensky urges leaders to send arms as ‘artificial’ shortage helps Putin

February 18, 2024 | 5:53 pm

ZELENSKIY — UKRAINE’s President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a joint news conference with US President Joseph R. Biden (not pictured) in the East Room of the White House in Washington D.C., Dec. 21, 2022. — REUTERS

MUNICH — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged allies at a global security conference on Saturday to plug an “artificial” shortage of weapons that is giving Russian forces the upper hand on the battlefield and said stalled US aid was imperative.

Addressing the gathering of politicians, diplomats and military officials from around the world, who gave him a standing ovation, Mr. Zelensky mixed gratitude for the support shown by Western countries with urging them for more.

He spoke at a critical juncture in Russia’s nearly two-year-old invasion of Ukraine, with his troops forced to withdraw from the devastated eastern town of Avdiivka.

Ukraine faces acute shortages of ammunition and US military aid has been delayed for months in Congress. “Unfortunately keeping Ukraine in an artificial deficit of weapons, particularly in … artillery and long-range capabilities, allows (Russian President Vladimir) Putin to adapt to the current intensity of the war,” Mr. Zelensky said.

He said that sending additional packages of weapons and air defences to Ukraine was the most important thing its allies could do.

“If your artillery (range) is 20 km (12 miles), but Russia’s is 40 km, there is your answer,” President Zelensky said.

Some European leaders cast a downbeat assessment of Western efforts to help Ukraine.

“We should have supported you much more from the very beginning of this war,” said Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, “because Ukraine cannot win a war without weapons. Words are simply not enough.”

German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said Europe should have started investing more in its defense industry two years ago.

Along with Ukraine, the conference focused on the war in Gaza, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggesting there was “an extraordinary opportunity” in the coming months for Israel to normalise ties with its Arab neighbors.

US FUNDING
Asked about the delayed US aid after a bilateral meeting with Zelensky, US Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, denounced “political gamesmanship” in Congress that had no place in such matters.

US Republicans have insisted for months that any additional US aid to Ukraine, and Israel, must also address concerns about migration.

Meanwhile Donald Trump, frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination, has said he would ask European allies to reimburse the United States for around $200 billion worth of munitions sent to Ukraine.

That has raised concerns by Kyiv and its allies that US funding for Kyiv in its war against Russia would dry up completely if Trump goes on to win a second term in the November US election.

Mr. Zelensky said there was no alternative though to US aid.

“We are counting on the United States as our strategic partner, that they would remain our strategic partner,” he said.

EUROPE MUST UP ITS DEFENsE GAME
The delay in US aid is putting more of a burden on Europe, with Germany the second-largest provider of military assistance to Ukraine. Berlin says it has provided and committed to some 28 billion euros ($30.2 billion) of such aid so far.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz side-stepped questions on Saturday on whether to give long-range Taurus missiles to Kyiv, although he did urge other European capitals to match Berlin’s hike in military assistance.

Speaking to Reuters at the conference, Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said his country was “ready to stand up and be counted” on defence spending ahead of a NATO Washington summit in July.

The country last year set a target for the first time to raise its defence spending to at least 2% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2026, in line with a long-held goal among members of the NATO alliance.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Ukraine must be integrated into Europe’s defence programmes as Russia was “outmassing Ukraine” with soldiers and by “throwing quick and dirty weapons produced in North Korea and Iran.”

The European Commission will present a defence industrial strategy proposal in three weeks, she said, and will also open a defence innovation office in Ukraine.

A potential return of Trump to the White House is fanning fears about US commitment to defending its allies.

Mr. Trump said a week ago that if re-elected later this year he would not defend allies within the NATO western defense alliance who fail to spend enough on defense — although the NATO charter specifically commits members to defending each other in the event of attack.

‘STOP WHINING ABOUT TRUMP’
Trump or no Trump, Europe still has to strengthen its ability to defend itself, Mr. Scholz and others underscored at the conference, dubbed the “Davos of Defense.”

“We should stop moaning and whining and nagging about Trump,” said outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. “We do not spend more on defense or ramp up ammunitions production because Trump might come back.”

“We have to work with whoever is on the dance floor,” said Rutte, frontrunner to succeed Jens Stoltenberg as secretary-general of NATO when he steps down.

Stoltenberg reiterated the importance of not undermining the defense alliance with talk of European defence autonomy.

Talk in particular of a potential European nuclear deterrent that would not involve the United States is “not helpful,” he told Munich delegates on Saturday. And it “would only undermine NATO in a time when we really need credible deterrence.” — Reuters

Trump hit with $354.9-M penalty, 3-year ban in NY civil fraud case

February 18, 2024 | 5:52 pm

NEW YORK — Donald Trump must pay $354.9 million in penalties for fraudulently overstating his net worth to dupe lenders, a New York judge ruled on Friday, handing the former US president another legal setback in a civil case that imperils his real estate empire.

Justice Arthur Engoron, in a sharply worded decision issued after a contentious three-month trial in Manhattan, also banned Mr. Trump, who is running to regain the presidency this year, from serving as an officer or director of any New York corporation for three years. Mr. Trump’s lawyer Alina Habba vowed to appeal.

Mr. Engoron canceled his prior ruling from September ordering the “dissolution” of companies that control pillars of Mr. Trump’s real estate empire, saying on Friday that this was no longer necessary because he is appointing an independent monitor and compliance director to oversee Mr. Trump’s businesses.

Mr. Trump and the other defendants in the case, Mr. Engoron wrote in the ruling, “are incapable of admitting the error of their ways.”

“Their complete lack of contrition and remorse borders on pathological,” Mr. Engoron wrote. “Instead, they adopt a ‘See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil’ posture that the evidence belies.”

The lawsuit brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James accused Mr. Trump and his family businesses of overstating his net worth by as much $3.6 billion a year over a decade to fool bankers into giving him better loan terms. Mr. Trump, who faces criminal charges in four other cases, has called the lawsuit a political vendetta by James, a Democrat.

In posts on his social media platform, Mr. Trump called Mr. Engoron “crooked,” Ms. James “corrupt,” and the case against him “election interference” and a “witch hunt.”

“This ‘decision’ is a complete and total sham,” Mr. Trump wrote. “We cannot let injustice stand.”

Mr. Engoron, who decided the case without a jury, also barred Mr. Trump and his companies named in the suit from applying for loans from any financial institution chartered in New York for three years, which could curtail his ability to obtain credit from major US banks.

The judge said Mr. Trump and his companies’ past run-ins with the law were part of the reason for the stiff penalties. The Trump Organization was found guilty of criminal tax fraud in 2022. Two other entities Mr. Trump ran previously settled allegations of wrongdoing brought by New York state.

Mr. Trump’s adult sons, Don Jr. and Eric, also were defendants in the case. The judge ordered them to pay $4 million apiece. Their lawyer Clifford Robert called the decision a “gross injustice” and said he believes it will be overturned on appeal.

Former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg, who pleaded guilty to tax fraud in a separate criminal case, was ordered to pay $1 million and barred for life from managing any New York company’s finances.

Ms. James said the penalties paid by all defendants totaled more than $450 million, including interest.

“Donald Trump is finally facing accountability for his lying, cheating and staggering fraud,” Ms. James said in a statement. “Because no matter how big, rich or powerful you think you are, no one is above the law.”

PRESIDENTIAL RACE
The judge’s decision could deal a major blow to Mr. Trump’s real estate empire even as the businessman-turned-politician leads by a wide margin in the race for the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic President Joseph R. Biden in the Nov. 5 US election.

During defiant and meandering trial testimony in November, Mr. Trump conceded that some of his property values were inaccurate but insisted banks were obligated to do their own due diligence.

Mr. Engoron criticized Mr. Trump for his behavior during his testimony — and wrote that the testimony hurt his cause.

“Donald Trump rarely responded to the questions asked, and he frequently interjected long, irrelevant speeches on issues far beyond the scope of the trial,” the judge wrote. “His refusal to answer the questions directly, or in some cases, at all, severely compromised his credibility.”

Mr. Trump could be required to deposit his portion of the full judgment plus interest during an appeal. Mr. Trump could also post a smaller amount with collateral and interest by securing a type of loan called an appeal bond. But he may have trouble finding a willing lender after Mr. Engoron found he lied to banks about his wealth.

It is unclear how much access to cash Mr. Trump has, and estimates of his fortune vary, with Forbes pegging his net worth at $2.6 billion. Mr. Trump testified in a deposition last year that he had roughly $400 million in cash. Mr. Trump’s stake in the parent of his social media app Truth Social is worth about $4 billion, based on how the shares of a blank-check acquisition vehicle with which it has agreed to merge trade. Mr. Trump will be allowed to sell shares in the combined company six months after the merger is completed, according to a regulatory filing. US financial regulators greenlighted the deal this week.

While Mr. Trump could also sell of parts of his real estate portfolio to satisfy the judgment, it is unclear how much his holdings are worth, and selling them could take time. Mr. Trump will not be able to use campaign funds to pay the judgment because the case was not related to his campaign or his conduct as a president or political candidate, according to some legal experts. In another civil case, a jury last month found that Mr. Trump must pay writer E. Jean Carroll $83.3 million for defaming her by denying her claim that he raped her decades earlier. Mr. Trump has vowed to appeal. Another jury last year ordered Mr. Trump to pay Ms. Carroll $5 million in a separate case.

CRIMINAL CASES
Mr. Trump is under indictment in four criminal cases, including one in New York related to hush money paid to a porn star. The judge overseeing that case on Thursday set a March 25 trial date. Trump has also been charged in Florida for his handling of classified documents after leaving office and in Washington and in Georgia for his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss.

Mr. Trump has pleaded not guilty in those cases.

During the civil fraud case, Mr. Trump lashed out in the courtroom on Jan. 11 — the day of closing arguments — against the judge and James while proclaiming his innocence. “You have your own agenda,” Mr. Trump scolded Mr. Engoron, who told Mr. Trump’s lawyer “control your client.” The judge during the trial fined Mr. Trump $15,000 for twice violating a gag order against disparaging court staff.

Mr. Engoron ruled in September that Mr. Trump’s financial statements were fraudulent, leaving the focus of the trial on how much Trump should pay in penalties. — Reuters

Navalny was struck down with ‘sudden death syndrome,’ his mother was told at Russian prison

February 18, 2024 | 5:52 pm

KHARP, Russia — Alexei Navalny’s mother was told on Saturday that Russia’s most prominent opposition leader had been struck down by “sudden death syndrome” and that his body would not be handed over to the family until an investigation was completed, his team said.

Mr. Navalny, a 47-year-old former lawyer, fell unconscious and died on Friday after a walk at the “Polar Wolf” penal colony in Kharp, about 1,900 km (1,200 miles) northeast of Moscow, where he was serving a three-decade sentence, the prison service said.

Western leaders led by US President Joseph R. Biden paid tribute to Mr. Navalny’s courage and, without citing evidence, accused President Vladimir Putin of being responsible for the death. Britain said there would be consequences for Russia.

The Kremlin said the West’s reaction was unacceptable and “absolutely rabid.” Mr. Putin has yet to comment on Mr. Navalny’s death.

Mr. Navalny’s 69-year-old mother, Lyudmila, braved Arctic temperatures of minus 30 degrees Celsius (minus 22 degrees Fahrenheit) on Saturday to visit the penal colony where her son perished.

She was given an official death notice stating the time of death as 2:17 p.m. local time (0917 GMT) on Feb. 16, Navalny’s spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, told Reuters.

“When Alexei’s lawyer and mother arrived at the colony this morning, they were told that the cause of Mr. Navalny’s death was sudden death syndrome,” Ivan Zhdanov, who directs Mr. Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation, said on social media platform X.

“Sudden death syndrome” is a vague term for different cardiac syndromes that cause sudden cardiac arrest and death.

It was also unclear where Mr. Navalny’s body was, his team said. His mother had been told that the body had been taken to Salekhard, the town near the prison complex but when she arrived at the morgue it was closed.

NAVALNY’S BODY
When contacted by Mr. Navalny’s lawyer, the morgue said it did not have Mr. Navalny’s body, Ms. Yarmysh said.

Later, they were told by officials that the body would not be handed over until the investigation was complete, though earlier they had been told that the investigation had discovered no traces of criminality.

“Right now we don’t have access to the body and we don’t know for sure where it is, and we demand that the Russian authorities immediately give Alexei’s body to his family,” Ms. Yarmysh said in an interview.

An employee at the only morgue in Salekhard told Reuters that Mr. Navalny’s body had not arrived.

The death of Mr. Navalny, a former lawyer, robs the disparate Russian opposition of its most charismatic and courageous leader as Putin prepares for an election that will keep the former KGB spy in power until at least 2030.

Mr. Navalny’s supporters — including in the West — had cast Mr. Navalny as a Russian version of South Africa’s Nelson Mandela, who would one day walk free to lead the country.

Some Russians, though, dismissed such a view as a classic case of wishful thinking, and pointed to an opinion poll showing that most Russians disapproved of him and that Mr. Putin was vastly more popular.

Russian authorities viewed Mr. Navalny and his supporters as extremists with links to the CIA intelligence agency, which they say is seeking to destabilize Russia. Mr. Navalny always dismissed accusations he was a CIA asset.

DESPAIR AND APATHY
Some Russians laid flowers in Moscow and other Russian cities to honor Mr. Navalny, though overnight hundreds of flowers and candles were removed in black bags.

In central Moscow, several dozen roses and carnations remained in the softening snow on Saturday at the monument to the victims of Soviet repression, which sits in the shadow of the former KGB headquarters on Lubyanka Square.

Vladimir Nikitin, 36, was alone laying a carnation at the Solovetsky Stone, which hails from the islands with the same name in the White Sea where one of the first “Gulag” forced labor camps was founded in 1923 by the Bolsheviks.

“Navalny’s death is terrible: hopes have been smashed,” Mr. Nikitin said. “Navalny was a very serious man, a brave man and now he is no longer with us. He spoke the truth — and that was very dangerous because some people didn’t like the truth.”

At the “Wall of Sorrow” memorial on the avenue named after Soviet physicist and dissident Andrei Sakharov, some Russians laid flowers beside pictures of Navalny. One message read: “We will not forget, nor shall we forgive.”

The OVD-Info protest-monitoring group said more than 270 people had been arrested across Russia at meetings and memorials to Navalny since his death was announced.

Opponents of Mr. Putin said that Mr. Navalny’s death illustrated just how dangerous Mr. Putin’s Russia had become 32 years after the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union ushered in hopes of a better future.

“Alexei didn’t die — he was murdered,” Mr. Navalny’s spokeswoman, Ms. Yarmysh, said. His vision, she said, would live on.

“We lost our leader, but we didn’t lose our ideas and our beliefs.” — Reuters

Okada Manila elevates adventure to new heights with the launch of Thrillscape

February 16, 2024 | 1:30 pm

Okada Manila, dubbed as Manila’s grand icon, continues to expand its diverse offerings with the launch of its latest attraction, Thrillscape. Designed as the ultimate destination for adventure seekers, Thrillscape offers an unparalleled experience with its 32 high-energy obstacles, promising a blend of excitement, a challenge of skills, and fun.

Aimed at providing unique and memorable experiences, Okada Manila’s Thrillscape aims to revolutionize the concept of leisure and fitness. With the tagline “Masters of Skill, Experts of Fun,” Thrillscape is more than an obstacle course; it is a dynamic interactive tag arena where individuals who are at least 4 feet in height can test their agility, push their limits, and challenge themselves to take on a new adventure.

Experience the Thrill: What to Expect at Thrillscape

“Thrillscape bridges the gap in entertainment offerings for young teens and adults, providing a lively, engaging space that encourages physical activity, teamwork, and sheer enjoyment,” said Vikki Aquino, Director of Spas, Recreation & Kids Club at Okada Manila.

The obstacle course is vast and varied, capable of accommodating up to 120 guests simultaneously. With over 30 engaging obstacles, participants can navigate through the different challenges, accumulate points, and experience an exhilarating activity. The obstacle course is designed to be an inclusive space, welcoming individuals of various fitness levels, including aspiring athletes, people looking for adventure, foster bonds, and those seeking a fun way to stay active. “Our athletic coaches are here to guide participants through each challenge, ensuring an exciting, safe, and rewarding adventure. This is not just for individuals but would also be a wonderful group activity among friends and colleagues, and even families,” Ms. Aquino added.

Thrillscape is located at the ground floor of Okada Manila’s Coral Wing, Crystal Corridor. The course is open on Mondays to Thursdays from 12 nn. to 8 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Packages start at P499 inclusive of a band tracker, two games, and use of lockers.

The Thrillscape experience does not end at the obstacles. After a challenging course, participants also have varied options to experience Okada Manila’s range of offerings, including extensive dining options.

About Okada Manila

Okada Manila, Manila’s Grand Icon, is renowned for its world-class facilities and stellar service, combining the best of Japanese culture with the warmth of Filipino hospitality. Okada Manila is a Forbes 5-star rated property, which underscores its exceptional service.

Expansive and luxurious, Okada Manila has 993 well-appointed rooms, the country’s largest gaming floor featuring over 3,000 electronic gaming machines, an expansive Retail Boulevard and an array of restaurants offering a world of flavors. The resort further sets itself apart with an exclusive indoor beach club, and one of the world’s most spectacular multi-color dancing water fountains. All these facets converge to solidify Okada Manila’s status as one of the Philippines’ premier destinations.

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San Miguel-led consortium to operate, upgrade NAIA — DoTr

February 16, 2024 | 12:43 pm

A GROUP led by San Miguel Corp. (SMC) has won the P170.6-billion contract to operate, maintain, and upgrade the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the Department of Transportation (DoTr) said on Friday.

“Today, we are pleased to announce that we will award this project to the SMC-SAP group. The PBAC has just completed the evaluation and made the recommendation approved by the board of MIAA [Manila International Airport Authority],” Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said during a briefing.

To recall, the number of qualified bidders was reduced to three groups from the previous four consortia.

The SMC SAP & Co. Consortium, consisting of San Miguel Holdings Corp., RMM Asian Logistics, Inc., RLW Aviation Development, Inc., and Incheon International Airport Corp., has proposed allocating 82.1% of NAIA revenues to the government.

The Ramon S. Ang-led SMC is also constructing an international airport in Bulacan.

In comparison, the two other qualified bidders, GMR Airports Consortium and Manila International Airport Consortium (MIAC), have proposed revenue shares of 33.3% and 25.9%, respectively.

The GMR Airports Consortium is composed of GMR Airports International B.V., Virata-led Cavitex Holdings, Inc., and Yuchengco-led House of Investments, Inc.

The MIAC consortium is composed of companies owned by the country’s tycoons, namely, Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc., Ayala-led AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp., Andrew L. Tan’s Alliance Global Infracorp Development, Inc., Lucio Tan’s Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corp., Gotianuns’ Filinvest Development Corp., Gokongwei-led JG Summit Infrastructure Holdings Corp., and GIP EM MIAC Pte., Ltd.

The signing of the concession agreement is scheduled for March 15, with the winning bidder expected to take over by September.

Aside from the revenue share, the winning bidder is also required to pay an upfront payment of P30 billion and P2 billion annually, according to the DoTr.

“The project is expected to improve passenger experience at the airport, achieve more efficient operations, and expand airport capacity,” the department said in a statement. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

Discover the ultimate health and independent smart companion: HUAWEI WATCH 4 launches in the Philippines

February 16, 2024 | 12:00 pm

Pioneering the new standard for wearable health and connectivity solutions, Huawei is proud to announce the launch of the HUAWEI WATCH 4, a groundbreaking smartwatch device that takes health monitoring, sports, and lifestyle technology into a new arena with eSim technology that can operate independently even without being tethered to a phone. It is set to create the ultimate personal companion on your wrist available starting this Feb. 23.

Your complete personal health companion complete with health monitoring capabilities

The HUAWEI WATCH 4 offers comprehensive health monitoring capabilities, including ECG analysis and PPG arrhythmia analysis for continuous A-fib and premature beats screening.

It is the only smartwatch equipped with a high-performance ECG sensor module, keeping track of cardiac rhythm, atrial fibrillation, and premature atrial contractions, providing users with timely alerts of major heart health-related risks. Additionally, the watch features arterial stiffness detection, enabling pro-level screening for arteriosclerosis and offering tips to improve cardiovascular health.

The HUAWEI WATCH 4 also introduces the first-ever Respiratory Spectrum Analysis algorithm, allowing users to monitor respiratory health based on cough patterns. With this innovative feature, users can detect early signs of lung function impairment.

With its 8-channel optical heart rate sensor featuring TruSeen™ 5.0+ heart rate monitoring and advanced sleep monitoring with HUAWEI TruSleep™ 3.0, which detects the user’s duration of sleep and present the comprehensive sleep structure of sleep and naps, it can accurately report sleep and wake patterns that can go with your alarm. The feature also includes analysis of light sleep, deep sleep, REM sleep, and awake hours.

Access in real-time your health insights to stay on top of your game

The One-Click Health Glance function provides users with easy-to-understand health reports, measuring seven different health indicators all at once. By utilizing quick multiple health indicators, users can assess various health data items simultaneously, including ECG, heart rate, SpO2, arterial stiffness, stress levels, skin temperature, and respiratory check. The entire process takes just 60 seconds, generating a micro-physical examination report for users to reference and share.

To truly push the limits of smart technology, The HUAWEI WATCH 4 supports Health Trends, allowing users to track medium and long-term changes in various health indicators, such as sleep duration, stress levels, resting heart rate, and blood oxygen. This feature enables users to develop healthier lifestyles by providing personalized insight, and through the Health Community function, users can connect with family members and friends to share health updates and receive alerts regarding abnormal readings.

Inspired design, better experience: Everything in one smartwatch

Users can now enjoy standalone functionality on their smartwatches, allowing them to receive calls, texts, and access apps even when their smartphones are out of reach. With HUAWEI WATCH 4’s fresh UX design in a magazine-style layout, users get an easier viewing of data and active apps, with an upgraded eSIM for independent calls and messaging. — no need to bring phone all the time

The Independent eSIM feature on the HUAWEI WATCH 4 liberates users from the constraints of their smartphones, offering unparalleled freedom and connectivity. Whether you’re on a run, at the gym, or simply on the go, you can stay connected and accessible at all times, ensuring that you never miss an important call or message again.

In addition to its standalone functionality, the HUAWEI WATCH 4 also boasts seamless integration with a variety of popular apps, including Spotify, GCash, Strava, WISH FM, Adidas Running and more. With Spotify, users can enjoy their favorite podcasts and music tracks directly from their wrist, while Strava provides comprehensive tracking and analysis for running and other exercises, empowering users to achieve their fitness goals with ease. Potential consumers can expect to explore safe and secure ways to pay with their HUAWEI WATCH 4 using GCash QRs in the near future.

Furthermore, the HUAWEI WATCH 4 offers an intelligent and intuitive user experience, compatible with both iOS and Android devices. Its fresh new interactions, including open apps and quick bar access based on users’ habits, ensure a seamless and personalized experience for every user.

Enhance your fitness routine with a selection of more than 100 sports modes

With over 100 different sports modes, including running, cycling, swimming, and golf, the HUAWEI WATCH 4 provides professional sports assessments and suggestions to help users better understand the effects of exercise. The watch offers personalized training plans based on users’ physical conditions and running history, empowering them to maintain a healthy lifestyle and improve their athletic performance.

The upgraded Activity Rings function visualizes users’ exercise goals and progress, providing recommendations based on age, gender, weight, and height. The function also summarizes weekly achievements and recommends new goals, encouraging users to develop healthy exercise habits.

Cutting-edge design aesthetics that provide an enhanced user experience

HUAWEI WATCH 4 features a touch of elegance and durability to withstand daily wear. HUAWEI WATCH 4 comes with Black Stainless Steel Case design, with 3D curved glass that brings streamlined aesthetics for a futuristic style.

With tactile feedback and enhanced responsiveness, the rotatable crown offers users an interactive touch experience like never before, allowing seamless navigation and control of various functions with ease.

Crafted with precision and attention to detail, the HUAWEI WATCH 4 features a slim and lightweight design, providing users with ultimate comfort and style. Additionally, the offers a variety of themed watch faces, catering to different preferences and lifestyles.

The HUAWEI WATCH 4 also introduces new smart interactions for a smarter experience, including the HUAWEI Assistant TODAY function, Service Widgets, and seamless communication capabilities. With an ultra-smooth user experience, enhanced sensitivity, and quick application launch, the HUAWEI WATCH 4 redefines convenience and efficiency in smartwatch technology.

Powered by the intelligent dual-core architecture 2.0, the HUAWEI WATCH 4 delivers a seamless and powerful user experience while minimizing power consumption. With the dual mode for strong performance and long-lasting battery life, users can enjoy up to 14 days of battery life in Ultra-Long Battery Life mode, ensuring worry-free usage during long trips.

The watch supports wireless SuperCharge, providing users a convenient and fast-charging experience. Equipped with a multi-dimensional heat dissipation system, the HUAWEI WATCH 4 ensures optimal comfort and performance even during intensive activities.

Pricing and Availability

The HUAWEI WATCH 4 will be available starting February 23 for its first sales price of P22,999 with a free HUAWEI Sound Joy speaker worth P6,999.

Get yours at any HUAWEI store nationwide or through Huawei’s official website. To learn more about the HUAWEI WATCH 4 and other HUAWEI products, visit their website or social media accounts (Facebook | Instagram).

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