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HONOR 90 5G with 200MP Flagship Camera debuts in PHL at P24,990

Pre-order your HONOR 90 5G and get a free JBL Flip 6 worth P7,499 until supplies last

Global technology brand HONOR today announced the launch of the HONOR 90 5G in the Philippine market. Featuring an impressive 200MP Flagship Camera with an industry-leading Quad-Curved Floating Display with eye-comfort technology, the HONOR 90 5G packs groundbreaking hardware and software to empower the always-on generation to capture their everyday adventures in outstanding detail and share these great vibes to closed ones.

“HONOR is bringing a new powerful and innovative device to cater to the needs of our consumers.  Whether you’re a professional seeking on-the-go productivity, an avid content creator capturing life’s fleeting moments, or simply someone who values the convenience of modern technology, the new and powerful HONOR 90 5G has been designed to be your ultimate companion,”  said Stephen Cheng, HONOR Philippines Vice President.

HONOR 90 5G: Powerful and Versatile Camera for Capturing Exquisite Photos and Videos

The all-new triple camera system consists of a 200MP Main Camera with a 1/1.4-inch sensor, a 12 MP ultra-wide and macro camera with a 112° field of view and a 2MP Depth Camera that helps the camera more accurately gauge distance. Supporting multi-frame fusion, noise reduction algorithm and pixel binning to achieve the light-capturing performance that is equivalent to having large 2.24µm pixels(16-in-1), the 200MP Main Camera produces excellent high dynamic range (HDR) photos and detailed, bright shots in low light situations.

The HONOR 90 5G also introduces the new Portrait Mode, which helps users effortlessly create exceptional portraits with well-defined facial features, accurate skin tones and an authentic bokeh effect that naturally blends the background with the subject. For added flexibility, the Portrait Mode also supports capturing at 2X zoom to deliver imaging results that better highlight the subject in frame.

At the front, the 50MP Front Camera captures stunning selfies that are brimming with detail, making the HONOR 90 5G an ideal choice for budding content creators.

Designed to help vloggers streamline their workflows, the HONOR 90 5G also employs artificial intelligence (AI) for video denoising and video mode recommendations, as well as for AI Vlog Assistant that enables users to generate a social media-ready 15-second video with just a few taps. The HONOR 90 5G achieves omnidirectional noise reduction with a signal-to-noise ratio of 20dB, which is close to a professional recorder, allowing users to capture clear human voices without other noise disturbance.

Immersive Viewing Experience on Display 

Equipped with a 6.7-inch Quad-Curved Floating Display, the HONOR 90 5G supports a high resolution of 2664×1200, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut and up to 1.07 billion colors, bringing visual content to life in stunning colors and vivid clarity. Furthermore, the HONOR 90 5G supports a peak HDR brightness of 1600 nits, which allows for improved display readability even under bright light.

The display is fast and responsive with an adaptive screen refresh rate of up to 120Hz which is dynamically adjusted according to the displayed content to strike the optimal balance between visual fluidity and battery life. In addition, with HDR10+ support and HDR certifications from Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, the HONOR 90 5G ensures that users can enjoy an exceptional multimedia experience whether they are on the road or in the comfort of their homes.

Reflecting HONOR’s commitment to human-centric technology, the HONOR 90 5G is equipped with industry-leading eye comfort features. Receiving the TÜV Rheinland Flicker Free Certification and achieving the risk-free dimming level, the HONOR 90 5G is perfect for today’s entertainment-hungry generation who spend long hours viewing and watching content on their smartphones. The display supports the industry’s highest Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) Dimming frequency of 3840Hz, effectively minimizing the strain it puts on users’ eyes when it is set at low brightness. The display also features Dynamic Dimming which simulates natural light to alleviate eye fatigue, as well as HONOR’s Circadian Night Display technology which filters blue light and promotes natural melatonin secretion to improve user sleep quality at night.

Sleek and Stylish Design Inspired by Artisanal Craftsmanship 

Inspired by haute couture and craftsmanship seen in luxury jewelry, the HONOR 90 5G exudes class with its 7.8mm thin and 183g lightweight body. The smooth, rounded edges wrapping the smartphone make it as much a joy to hold as to behold, and the Deeply Reinforced Glass provides users with peace of mind knowing their smartphone is built to last. At the rear, HONOR 90 5G features the iconic N Series classic Dual Ring Design, with rounded elements crafted with precise cutting techniques to produce a brilliant shine that adds an extra touch of elegance to the smartphone.

Incredible Battery Life Matched by Fast Performance

The HONOR 90 5G is embedded with a large 5000mAh battery to support all-day use. On a single charge, the smartphone can provide up to 19.5 hours of continuous local video streaming. When its battery is low, users can take it back up to 45% with 66W HONOR SuperCharge in just 15 minutes, keeping downtime at a minimum. Fast and battery efficient, the HONOR 90 5G is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Accelerated Edition, which has a 20% better GPU and 30% better AI performance compared to its predecessor. The internal temperature is kept in check by a 147% larger vapor chamber, facilitating efficient heat dissipation that allows the HONOR 90 to stay cool to the touch even under load.

A Truly Personalized Experience with HONOR MagicOS 7.1

Running the latest Android 13-based HONOR MagicOS 7.1, the HONOR 90 5G packs a raft of enhanced smart features like Magic Text, providing a smart life experience and enhancing productivity to the maximum.

Magic Text intelligently recognizes text on an image and allows users to perform actions directly with important information. For example, when Magic Text identifies a phone number, users can tap on it and choose an action from the menu, including calling, texting, and saving the number. Magic Text can also identify email addresses and website links for faster access to relevant services. You can enter the text recognition and scanning mode right away once through the digital viewfinder.

Pricing and Availability

The HONOR 90 5G is available at a price point of P24,990 in a range of fashionable color options including Midnight Black, Emerald Green, and Diamond Silver. Pre-order starts from Aug. 16 to 25, 2023 where you can get a FREE JBL Flip 6 worth P7,499 at select HONOR Outlets and Online Partner Stores Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok Shop.

HONOR Fans can also avail the HONOR 90 5G via Home Credit for as low as P1,002 per month on a 0% interest installment payment.

Leading credit card providers BDO, BPI, Citibank, Eastwest, Metrobank, PNB, and Security Bank also offer 0% interest, payable up to 12 months.

For more updates and announcements, you may visit HONOR’s website www.hihonor.com or social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. To check out HONOR’s complete list of retail stores, go to bit.ly/HONORPhysicalStores.

 

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Philippines sees risk of conflict over Taiwan as a ‘major concern’

A globe is seen in front of Chinese and Taiwanese flags in this illustration, Aug. 6, 2022. — REUTERS/DADO RUVIC/ILLUSTRATION

The Philippines seeks to bolster its ability to address threats while underlining the need to strengthen ties with allies while pursuing an independent foreign policy, under a six-year national security policy published on Tuesday.

The 48-page National Security Policy document, which President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr recently approved, highlighted “sharpening strategic competition between the United States and China” and “heightened rivalries among the major powers” as contributing to a “more tense geopolitical landscape”.

“Major concern is also seen in the Cross-Straits relations that has the potential to be the flashpoint in the region,” the government said in the document, published by the National Security Council, referring to the Taiwan Strait.

“The Philippines is concerned about its economic stability, a potential influx of refugees, and the welfare of overseas populations.”

Beijing, which claims self-ruled Taiwan as its own, has been staging military exercises in the waters off the island to press its claim of sovereignty. The United States and allies such as Japan criticise such pressure on Taiwan.

“Any military conflict in the Taiwan Strait would inevitably affect the Philippines given the geographic proximity of Taiwan to the Philippine archipelago and the presence of over 150,000 Filipinos in Taiwan,” the government said in the document.

The Philippines’ northernmost islands are 190 km (118 miles) away from Taiwan.

The plan also covered government food and energy security priorities and noted that the South China Sea “remains a primary national interest”.

“The divergences of claims … claimants’ methods of asserting their positions, continue to pose strategic challenges” that endanger territorial integrity and people’s rights, said the Philippines, which is in dispute with China over parts of the sea.

To achieve energy security, the government said it would explore development of offshore reserves, including in the South China Sea, to help reduce dependence on imports.

Ties with China have grown tense under Mr. Marcos, as the Philippines pivots back to traditional ally the United States.

The Philippines would strengthen a Mutual Defense Treaty with the US, along with other existing mechanisms with regional partners, to “achieve a credible defense capability”, it said. — Reuters

Sotto cleared to join Gilas

JORDAN CLARKSON (6) high-five official in big man Kai Sotto (11). — FIBA

As Scottie Thompson returns from hand injury

THE REMAINING piece of the Gilas Pilipinas pool to the FIBA World Cup (WC) — all 7-foot-3 of him — is officially in.

After issues over his medical condition, towering Kai Sotto has been finally cleared to join the Nationals in their WC journey, Samahang Basketbol (SBP) ng Pilipinas President Al Panlilio himself announced.

“He’s been cleared to play so that’s good news. We look forward to seeing him play,” Mr. Panlilio said during the special session of the PSA Forum at the Meralco Function Hall yesterday.

Doubts were cast on Mr. Sotto’s stint in the Aug. 25 to Sept. 10 hoops showcase due to back injury, which had hounded him since the NBA Summer League.

The SBP and Gilas wanted to make sure the 21-year-old slotman is at 100 percent before signing him up for the WC. Initially, the SBP required an MRI result from Mr. Sotto’s camp.

“We didn’t see any MRI results. What we wanted to do, to also put closure, really move forward and just focus on the game, was for our doctors to meet,” said SBP brass.

“The doctor of Kai and our doctor, Dr. Randy Molo, met and they cleared him. Obviously, what Kai (Sotto) needs to do in the next few days is to really improve his fitness ‘coz he’s not been playing. I think that’s one aspect of the game that he needs to work on. (But) I can see he was working hard.”

Mr. Sotto stayed behind while the pool played in a pocket tournament in China but rejoined the Nationals when they entered the final stretch of buildup at the PhilSports Arena last week.

Mr. Sotto’s clearance as well as Scottie Thompson’s return from hand injury augured well for 16-strong pool as it fine-tunes its schemes in the next 10 days before battling the Dominican Republic in the opener.

“Scottie is fit, (it’s) just a matter of getting back into the groove,” said Mr. Panlilio.

The Jordan Clarkson-headlined Philippine quintet is set to play tuneup matches against Ivory Coast (Friday), Montenegro (Aug. 20) and Mexico (Aug. 21) as final test before the worlds. — Olmin Leyba

Philippines shoots for record FIBA gate-attendance in WC

OWNING the FIBA gate-attendance record is well within reach for the Philippines.

With 10 days to go, the country brims with confidence and enthusiasm that it could erase the standing record of 32,616 fans in the 1994 FIBA World Cup finals in Toronto, Canada that featured Team USA against Russia.

“We’re really confident that we will surpass that,” Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) President Al Panlilio said during yesterday’s special Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum for the country’s FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 hosting at the Meralco Function Hall.

The Philippines will attempt to smash that record on Aug. 25 at the 55,000-seater Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan when it turns on the lights and rolls the red carpet for the biggest basketball show on the planet.

Gilas Pilipinas goes up against the Dominican Republic on the opening day of the 32-team World Cup, which will also feature a pre-show event starring the country’s best local artists led by Sarah Geronimo-Guidicelli.

As of yesterday, SBP deputy event director Erika Dy said that there are already 28,000 tickets sold for the Aug. 25 twin-bill also pitting Angola versus Italy to complete Group A with still ample time to reach the magic number. It’s part of the federation’s hosting readiness that is already at 95 percent.

But Mr. Panlilio, with the SBP needing only 5,000 more tickets to breach the milestone, has his sights locked way beyond that mark.

“We want to achieve the 50,000 mark, at least. That’s the reason why we decided to keep a game in Philippine Arena. That’s the objective. To put the Philippines on the map in terms of gate attendance,” Mr. Panlilio beamed as Gilas plays its next games against Angola and Italy at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“I think if we can breach 50,000. I’m not saying it wont be surpass but it will be very difficult to do so. Records are always meant to be broken but we’re hoping we can reach that. Our aspirant number is beyond 50,000.”

The standing record at the Philippine Arena for any sporting event is 54,589 fans tallied by the PBA in Game 7 of the 2023 Commissioner’s Cup between crowd darling Barangay Ginebra and guest team Bay Area earlier this year.

To achieve the feat, SBP shared that it has already hired 400 buses to transport fans with pick-up points at the Cloverleaf Balintawak, One Ayala in Makati, Bonifacio Global City, Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), Araneta, Trinoma and SM North in Quezon City, SM Baliwag in Bulacan and SM Clark in Pampanga.

Now, the ball is on the Filipinos’ court to deliver the ever-incomparable fandom and support at home after displaying it all around the globe in different sporting events including Team Philippines. — John Bryan Ulanday

Brazil’s Neymar set for Saudi’s Al Hilal after PSG agree deal

BRAZIL forward Neymar is headed for Saudi Arabia after Pro League side Al Hilal agreed a two-year deal with Paris St Germain (PSG), Saudi state media reported on Monday.

There was no immediate comment from the Ligue 1 champions, owned by Qatar Sports Investments, but French newspaper L’Equipe said the deal could net 31-year-old Neymar €160 million ($175 million).

The transfer fee was reported to be about €90 million plus add-ons and subject to completing a medical.

Sources close to the operation told Reuters that Neymar was having a medical in Paris on Monday and was expected to arrive in Riyadh on Wednesday to be presented to fans at King Fahd Stadium.

Al Hilal, managed by Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, play Al Fayha on Saturday with Neymar expected to wear the number 10 shirt.

Neymar, who joined PSG in 2017 from Spanish club Barcelona for a world record transfer fee of €222 million ($243 million), missed PSG’s league opener against Lorient on Saturday due to a viral infection.

The Brazilian was contracted to stay in the French capital until 2025 and has 118 goals in 173 appearances, capturing numerous trophies including five Ligue 1 titles, but is no longer considered a key player in coach Luis Enrique’s squad.

Multiple sources said he had hoped to return to Barcelona on a loan agreement but the Spanish side’s financial issues had made that unaffordable. — Reuters

Leyte Colleges too much for Capiz State U

ILOILO CITY — Leyte Colleges (LTC) hardly broke a sweat in dispatching Capiz State University, 25-13, 25-7, 25-8, to top Pool B in the women’s volleyball tournament of the 2023 Reserved Officers’ Training Corps. (ROTC) Games at the University of San Agustin Gymnasium here in IloIlo City on Tuesday, Aug. 15.

Coming from a three-set win over Iloilo Science and Technology University last Monday, the Tacloban-based squad proved too much to handle for the Capiz cadets in the match that only lasted less than 37 minutes.

LTC coach Bob Montejo hopes his squad can extend its winning run and earn a ticket to the national finals which is tentatively set in Manila in October.

“They’re doing their best. Our team is trying to cope up, hopefully, to [end] at No. 1 spot. It depends now on the setup but we’re trying our best,” said Mr. Montejo who got six points from Sig Dacillo in the lopsided win.

Meanwhile, Iloilo Science and Technology University won via forfeiture as the Salazar Colleges of Science and Institute of Technology came late in the venue.

In the third game, University of Negros Occidental Recoletos trounced Negros Oriental State University, 25-10, 25-11, 31-29.

The plot thickens

The plot thickens. The Sixers’ decision to no longer offer James Harden as trade bait in light of the depressed market has him seething. Both developments are, to be sure, not wholly unexpected. What got longtime pro hoops habitues scrambling for information was his public pronouncement against the franchise’s general manager. “Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of,” the 10-time All-Star said during an Adidas event he showcased in China. For maximum effect, he repeated his statement: “Let me say that again: Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of.”

Considering previously strong ties between the two, Harden’s de facto declaration of war underscores Morey’s precarious situation. He wouldn’t have pandered to the crowd, which heavily cheered his utterance casting in an even more negative light a notorious personality in China, unless he was on solid footing. Heck, he purportedly went against the advice of agent Troy Payne, who rightly believed that the former Most Valuable a player awardee would be best served by burning rubber instead of holding out. Which, on surface, indicates that he’s willing to sit out of training camp, and beyond, at point of reprisal.

So what has Harden riled up? Why did he cast Morey as a liar? The obvious reason is that he was promised a max contract in exchange for agreeing to a sweetheart discount last year, only for the Sixers to renege on it in the face of his poor performances under pressure in the postseason. Wink-wink arrangements are, needless to say, illegal under existing rules. So if that’s really what happened, then he has leverage that he can use to finally be rid of the Sixer. If not, then he’ll be exposed as all bark and no bite.

Perhaps Harden was enjoined to speak out precisely to strengthen his bargaining power. Otherwise, he would have been at the mercy of the Sixers. Not that he isn’t already, and he won’t be for the foreseeable future. After all, his real power lies not in the threat of a sheathed weapon; it’s in actually wielding it. All the same, no one’s coming out roses. For all his maneuvering, he’s also casting himself as an immature baller on the downside of a spotty career. Maybe it will ultimately land him elsewhere, but at what cost to his reputation? If it’s shot now, look how it will be as the next chapter unfolds.

 

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.

PLDT advances transparency on ESG metrics in its 2023 S&P Global CSA participation

Demonstrating its commitment in aligning business with sustainability strategies, PLDT Inc. (PLDT) (PSE: TEL) (NYSE: PHI) participated anew in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA). The integrated telco’s completion of its 2023 Sustainability Report underscores strategic efforts to evaluate and boost environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance.

The S&P Global CSA is an annual evaluation of ESG practices covering over 10,000 companies worldwide, with criteria that are both industry-specific and financially material. Results provide significant guidance for companies to benchmark and align with metrics of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI).

PLDT reported on key ESG metrics aligned with its four pillars: Connection, Concern, Conservation, and Commitment. “Sustainability is one of our strategic pillars and key drivers of performance. It is hence imperative for us to constantly measure ourselves against established standards and ensure that we align with global best practices,” said Alfredo S. Panlilio, President and CEO of PLDT and its wireless subsidiary, Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart).

In the 2022 S&P Global CSA ratings report, PLDT attained an overall score of 59 – highest among Philippine telcos and a significant gain from the prior years’ scores of 51 and 47. This measures company performance in terms of governance, social, and environmental indicators, providing relevant sustainability-oriented insights and benchmarks among shareholders and investors.

“The goal is to continuously improve on both our performance and transparency measures, particularly as we work on tightly aligning our business and sustainability objectives. These are all key to achieving our ambition for regional leadership in ESG,” said Melissa Vergel de Dios, PLDT First Vice President, Chief Sustainability Officer, and Head of Investor Relations.

Reinforcing sustainability and brand value

PLDT’s participation in the 2023 S&P Global CSA follows the company’s top rankings in a recently released study from Brand Finance, the world’s leading independent brand valuation and strategy consultancy firm.

PLDT posted the highest Sustainability Perceptions Value (SPV) among all brands listed in Brand Finance rankings at US$222 million. Among the initiatives cited as having contributed to PLDT’s high SPV is its decarbonization roadmap, underpinned by its deployment of renewable energy solar panels in key company facilities, and expansion of digital infrastructure to democratize access to communications.

The same Brand Finance report also named PLDT as the Most Valuable Filipino Brand in the Philippines, with a 2% annual increase in brand value to US$2.6 billion. Besting other brands in telecommunications, banking, and food service, PLDT was cited for its consistent focus on innovation as a driver to improve customer service and propel the nation towards becoming a financial and technology hub.

 

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Trump, 18 advisers charged for 2020 election overthrow scheme

Former US President Donald J. Trump — REUTERS

WASHINGTON — Former US President Donald Trump was hit with a fourth set of criminal charges when a Georgia grand jury issued a sweeping indictment accusing him of trying to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joseph R. Biden.

The charges, brought late on Monday by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, add to the legal woes facing Mr. Trump, the front-runner in the race for the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential election.

The sprawling 98-page indictment listed 19 defendants and 41 criminal counts in all. All of the defendants were charged with racketeering, which is used to target members of organized crime groups and carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.

Mark Meadows, Mr. Trump’s former White House chief of staff, and lawyers Rudy Giuliani and John Eastman were among those charged.

“Rather than abide by Georgia’s legal process for election challenges, the defendants engaged in a criminal, racketeering enterprise to overturn Georgia’s presidential election result,” Ms. Willis said at a press conference.

Mr. Trump and the other defendants have until noon EDT (1600 GMT) on Friday, Aug. 25, to surrender voluntarily, rather than face arrest, Ms. Willis said. She said she intends to try all 19 defendants together.

“This one-sided grand jury presentation relied on witnesses who harbor their own personal and political interests,” Trump lawyers Drew Findling, Jennifer Little and Marissa Goldberg said in a statement.

“We look forward to a detailed review of this indictment, which is undoubtedly just as flawed and unconstitutional as this entire process has been,” Trump lawyers added.

The 13 felony charges against Mr. Trump matched those listed on a document that was briefly posted on the court website earlier in the day and reported by Reuters before it disappeared.

Lawyers for those named either declined to comment or did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In a Jan. 2, 2021, phone call, Mr. Trump urged Georgia’s top election official, Brad Raffensperger, to “find” enough votes to reverse his narrow loss in the state. Mr. Raffensperger declined to do so.

Mr. Trump’s supporters stormed the US Capitol four days later in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent lawmakers from certifying Mr. Biden’s victory.

The indictment cites a number of crimes that Mr. Trump or his associates allegedly committed from before the Nov. 3, 2020, election until September 2022, including falsely testifying to lawmakers that election fraud had occurred and urging state officials to alter the results.

It says the defendants tried to subvert the US electoral process by submitting false slates of electors, people who make up the Electoral College that elects the president and vice president.

BREACHING VOTING MACHINES
It alleges that defendants breached voting equipment in a rural Georgia county, including personal voter information and images of ballots.

Prosecutors also said the defendants harassed an election worker who became the focus of conspiracy theories.

The indictment reaches across state lines, saying that Mr. Giuliani, Mr. Meadows and others called officials in Arizona, Pennsylvania and elsewhere to urge them to change the outcome in those states.

The indictment mentions 30 other co-conspirators, though they were not named or charged.

Mr. Trump has denied any wrongdoing. In a statement before the indictment was released, his campaign accused Ms. Willis, an elected Democrat, of being a “rabid partisan” who was trying to undermine his reelection bid.

“It is a dangerous effort by the ruling class to suppress the choice of the people,” the statement said.

Mr. Trump has already pleaded not guilty in three criminal cases.

He faces a New York state trial in March 2024 involving a hush money payment to a porn star, and a federal trial beginning in May in Florida for allegedly mishandling federal classified documents. In both cases Mr. Trump pleaded not guilty.

A third indictment, in Washington federal court, accuses him of illegally seeking to overturn his 2020 election defeat. Mr. Trump denies wrongdoing in this case as well, and a trial date has yet to be set.

Georgia, once reliably Republican, has emerged as one of a handful of politically competitive states that can determine the outcome of presidential elections.

Mr. Trump persists in falsely claiming he won the November 2020 election although dozens of court cases and state probes have found no evidence to support his claim. 

NOT HURTING HIS CAMPAIGN
Strategists said that while the indictments could bolster Republican support for Mr. Trump, they may hurt him in the November 2024 general election, when he will have to win over more independent-minded voters.

In a July Reuters/Ipsos poll, 37% of independents said the criminal cases made them less likely to vote for him.

Attorney Willis’ investigation drew on testimony from Trump advisers including Mr. Giuliani, who urged state lawmakers in December 2020 not to certify the election, and Republican state officials like Mr. Raffensperger and Governor Brian Kemp, who refused to echo Mr. Trump’s false election claims.

While many Republican officials have echoed Mr. Trump’s false election claims, Mr. Kemp and Mr. Raffensperger have refused to do so.

Mr. Raffensperger has said there was no factual basis for Mr. Trump’s objections, while Mr. Kemp certified the election results despite pressure from within his party.

Mr. Trump has been mired in legal trouble since leaving office.

Apart from the criminal cases, a New York jury in May found him liable for sexually abusing and defaming the writer E. Jean Carroll and awarded her $5 million in a civil case. A second defamation lawsuit scheduled for January seeks $10 million in damages. Mr. Trump denies wrongdoing.

Mr. Trump is due to face trial in October in a civil case in New York that accuses him and his family business of fraud to obtain better terms from lenders and insurers.

Mr. Trump’s company was fined $1.6 million after being convicted of tax fraud in a New York court in December. — Reuters

New COVID vaccines are on the way as ‘Eris’ variant rises

REUTERS

NEW YORK — A new COVID vaccine is due out next month, but health experts and analysts say it is likely to be coolly received even as hospitalizations from “Eris,” a variant of the Omicron form of the coronavirus, rises around the country.

Some public health experts hope that Americans will welcome the new shot as they would a flu jab. But demand for the vaccine has dropped sharply since 2021 when it first became available and more than 240 million people in the US, or 73% of the population, received at least one shot.

In the fall of 2022, by which time most people had either had the COVID virus or the vaccine, fewer than 50 million people got the shots.

Healthcare providers and pharmacies such as CVS Health will start next month to offer the shot, updated to fight the Omicron version of the virus that has been dominant since last year.

They will be fighting declining concern about the virus, as well as fatigue and skepticism about the merits of this vaccine, Kaiser Family Foundation Director of Survey Methodology Ashley Kirzinger said.

“Public health officials, if they want to see a majority of adults get these annual vaccines, they’re going to have to make the case to the American public that COVID isn’t over and it still poses a risk to them,” Ms. Kirzinger said.

The top reason vaccinated people gave in KFF surveys earlier this year for eschewing annual shots was they believed they had protection from the virus because of previous shots or infections, she said.

COVID-19 vaccine makers have pared back expectations for this fall’s vaccination campaign, with Pfizer — the largest maker of mRNA shots with BioNTech — recently warning that it might need to cut jobs if it does not do well. Its biggest rival, Moderna, conceded demand could be as few as 50 million shots.

Last year, Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccine sales topped $56 billion worldwide; analysts project around $20 billion for this year.

Jefferies analyst Michael Yee said he does not expect the autumn campaign to reach last year’s.

“Take a look at what happened last winter. It was 50 million in the US, and it seems likely to be lower than that, given that there’s less concern about COVID this year than last year,” Mr. Yee said. 

POST PANDEMIC VACCINE
The COVID public health emergency ended in May and the government has handed much of the duty of vaccinating America to the private sector. Over 1.1 million people in the United States have died from COVID, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

CDC Director Mandy Cohen said last week in a podcast that she expects the shots – which still need to be authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and recommended by the CDC — to be rolled out in the third or fourth week of September. She suggested Americans should view these shots as an annual measure to protect oneself, in line with the annual flu shot.

As with the flu, Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna and Novavax, have created versions of the COVID vaccine to try to match the variant they believe will be circulating this fall. The shots are aimed at XBB.1.5, a subvariant that is similar to EG.5 and also a sub-lineage of the still dominant Omicron variant.

COVID-19 related hospitalizations are up more than 40% off of recent lows hit in June, but are still more than 90% below peak levels hit during the January 2022 Omicron outbreak, according to CDC data.

THE EVIDENCE
Some doctors suggest that annual shots should be targeted at the elderly and other high-risk people, who are most likely to have dire outcomes if they catch COVID-19.

Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious diseases specialist at Vanderbilt University and a liaison to the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization practices, said it is possible that the ACIP could make a weaker recommendation for younger, healthier people. That could also affect demand.

“Should children really receive this booster?” Mr. Schaffner said. “Should the average person with no underlying illness who is a younger adult receive this vaccine or should this vaccine now be a more targeted vaccine?”

The CDC recommended children get a single dose of last year’s updated vaccine for those aged 6 and older.

Dr. David Boulware, an infectious diseases specialist at the University of Minnesota, said that according to research he has published, people who are boosted have less severe symptoms for a shorter duration.

“When you look at what you can do to reduce your duration of illness, even if you do get sick, being boosted is going to be the best way to do that,” he said. — Reuters

Argentina devalues peso, raises rates after shock primary vote

REUTERS

BUENOS AIRES/LONDON — Argentina’s government devalued its currency by nearly 18% on Monday while the benchmark interest rate was raised by 21 percentage points to 118%, the central bank said, as financial markets reeled the day after a shock primary election result.

Congressman Javier Milei, a far-right libertarian who wants to axe the central bank and dollarize the economy, shook up the presidential elections on Sunday, winning 30% of the vote, the largest share with over 97% of ballots counted.

It was a huge shake-up in a ballot that acts as a dress rehearsal for the national election in October. Markets had been betting on a strong performance by more moderate candidates. Some investors noted that regardless of the ultimate winner, the balance of power looks likely to shift to the right.

“We think Argentine USD sovereign bonds present an attractive risk-reward profile, given their depressed valuations, positive correlation to commodity prices, and the potential political regime change,” said Alejo Czerwonko, CIO for Emerging Markets Americas at UBS Global Wealth Management.

The official FX rate will be fixed at 350 pesos per dollar until the October elections, the central bank said. The parallel informal peso dropped near 10% to a record low of 675 per dollar before ending at 665 according to Eikon data.

“The move to devalue the currency will help to bring it closer to fair value,” said William Jackson, chief emerging markets economist at Capital Economics.

“But the fact that the peso will be held steady until the election, rather than be allowed to fall gradually (as has been the policy up till now) will just result in the currency becoming severely overvalued again in the coming months.”

Investment bank JPMorgan recommended staying “market weight” on Argentina’s government bonds as the financial landscape “is set to deteriorate further.”

Goldman Sachs said in a note that the exchange rate policy “adopted in the future is even more important than the decision taken today to devalue.”

YEARS OF CRISIS
Argentina’s markets have long been wobbly as the country endured years of economic crisis. Inflation has been running at over 100% and four out of 10 Argentines live in poverty.

After a similar primary election shock result in 2019, bonds and the currency crashed and remain in distressed territory. The government has been unable to unwind capital controls used to support the pesoas Latin America’s third-largest economy grapples with sky-high inflation and falling central bank reserves. Gross reserves stand at $23.8 billion but private analysts say net reserves, discounting liabilities, are in the red by over $8 billion in the red.

Sunday’s win by Mr. Milei adds another unknown factor that could dent market confidence, though he faces a tough fight in October and a likely November run-off. The rock-singing economist will compete in a three-way race in October against former security minister Patricia Bullrich, who won the conservative Together for Change nomination, and Peronist coalition candidate and Economy Minister Sergio Massa.

A candidate needs 45% of the Oct. 22 vote to win outright or 40% and a 10-point lead over second place. If there is no outright winner, as seems likely, a head-to-head vote between the top two candidates will be held in November.

“What we are left with is a much more uncertain scenario than the one we expected,” said Ricardo Delgado, director of the Argentine economics consultancy Analytica.

Argentina is the largest debtor to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with a $44-billion programme approved last March to refinance a 2018 loan.

“We welcome the authorities’ recent policy actions and commitment going forward to safeguard stability, rebuild reserves and enhance fiscal order,” said IMF director of communications Julie Kozack in a statement.

The cash-strapped economy had to tap Chinese swap line and get a loan with Qatar to repay debt owed to the Washington-based IMF. Further disbursements are now delayed even though the country recently reached a staff-level agreement with the Fund to unlock about $7.5 billion. That agreement still needs approval of the executive board, which will meet to discuss it on Aug. 23. — Reuters

China’s livestreaming attracts young hopefuls as competition grows

SHOPPERTAINMENTLIVE.COM

SHANGHAI — Only a few months after beginning her career as a livestream sales host in January, Zhang Jinyu, 28, a former model and blogger with a master’s degree in fashion management, had clocked hundreds of hours of broadcasting time working with brands such as YSL Beauty.

A day in the life of a livestreaming host like Ms. Zhang can include more than six hours of talking almost non-stop to camera, time spent on hair, make-up, and on post-broadcast debriefs.

Despite the demanding schedule, Ms. Zhang is one of millions of young Chinese people, who are facing record youth unemployment of more than 21%, attempting to forge livestream sales success stories on platforms such as Alibaba’s Tmall and Taobao and Bytedance’s Douyin — TikTok’s Chinese sister site.

“For livestreaming, the threshold to enter the industry is very low. I can pick up my phone and I’m livestreaming,” Ms. Zhang said.

“How to stand out is difficult. This industry is highly competitive, but if you can persevere, you can get better and better. I think whether I can stand out is only a matter of my mentality and my ability.”

Ms. Zhang is not alone in her determination to make livestream hosting a career.

A survey of more than 10,000 young people on social media platform Sina Weibo last month found that more than 60% of them said they would be interested in working as internet influencers or livestreaming hosts.

The livestreaming industry employed 1.23 million hosts as of 2020, according to iResearch, and a pandemic era boom in livestream sales helped the industry to generate $480 billion in business in China last year.

To facilitate an increasingly professional and competitive livestreaming landscape, agencies have sprung up to train stables of young hosts and connect suitable anchors with brands.

Ms. Zhang works with Shanghai-based agency Romomo, an arm of brand partner Buy Quickly, which helps link companies such as Lancome and Under Armor UAA.N with its 150 full-time hosts.

“Today, livestreaming is one of the most important methods of communication for the international brands we work with,” said Romomo Vice President Shining Li. “It doesn’t just increase sales, but also helps brands to promote their brand values and products in a very efficient way.”

Indeed, the way brands approach livestreaming in China has also quickly evolved. From an initial focus on massive sales via deep discounts, story-telling and longer-term consumer engagement has increasingly become the goal.

For livestream host Shi Jianing, 28, building a relationship with the consumers she communicates with during broadcast sessions for brands such as Hugo Boss is key to sales success.

“We’re like friends with the consumers,” she said. “If you can communicate with some personal affinity, that builds a kind of trust, and that relationship makes the consumer want to carry out the sale.” — Reuters

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