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PFL teams Stallion, Kaya ready to get back into action

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

THE Philippines Football League (PFL) finally kicks off its long-awaited new season on Oct. 25 with pioneer teams Stallion Laguna FC and Kaya FC-Iloilo expressing their excitement and readiness to get back into action.

The remaining clubs which have been part of the league since its inception in 2017, officials of Stallion and Kaya said the feeling is great to get the action going once again after the coronavirus pandemic threatened to wipe out the PFL’s fourth season altogether.

“It’s great to be playing once again. We are looking forward to getting the competition going and everybody is working hard to get in shape,” said Stallion coach Ernest Nierras at the league’s virtual season launch press conference last week.

The PFL was supposed to start its new season in March, but was pushed back several times because of the pandemic.

Things opened up for the league after it was allowed by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to start training, along with the Philippine Basketball Association, after submitting health and safety protocols for a return.

It continued to work with pertinent government agencies after, paving the way for the season to start with games to be played solely, and without fans, at the Philippine Football Federation National Training Center in Carmona, Cavite.

For the successes it had in the last couple of seasons of the PFL, including winning the Copa Paulino Alcantara in 2018, Kaya has been installed as one of the favorite teams for the league title.

But for Kaya general manager Paul Tolentino, they are not putting too much weight on what they accomplished in seasons past, recognizing that the new season at hand is a whole new tournament bearing different circumstances.

“We have to prove ourselves from the start. What we did in the past seasons is done and does not count for anything. Everybody starts from zero and you have to earn it every single match all the way to the end,” Mr. Tolentino said.

“We’re looking forward to the challenge and eager to play. We are excited for the matches and give the fans what they like,” he added.

NEW ENTRANTS
Messrs. Nierras and Tolentino also welcomed the entry of new clubs like United City Football Club (UCFC), Maharlika FC, and Azkals Development Team to the PFL, seeing them as giving added dimension to the league.

“We’re expecting a good season with the entry of the new teams. They have put up good and interesting teams,” said Mr. Nierras.

“UCFC is like a new club, but the roster is 80 to 90% holdovers from the previous team under Ceres. On paper, they will still be favorites. We will have to see obviously if that continuity has transferred over to the new ownership, but I expect them to be a tough challenge to take on—one that we are looking forward to,” Mr. Tolentino, for his part, said, referring to United City which took over the spot of three-time PFL champion Ceres-Negros FC, which decided to leave the league at the height of the pandemic.

“In terms of Maharlika and ADT, both teams are very interesting and tricky because we know little about them. So, we have to watch their matches closely so we will know exactly what we are going up against. But both have exciting players, both have young and upcoming players who are eager to prove themselves. So, we are going up against teams that will be competitive.”

Another team competing in PFL Season 4 is Mendiola FC 1991.

Stallion and Kaya will play each other on opening day.

Denice ‘The Menace’ Zamboanga welcomes grand prix route to prove worth as contender

HER worth as a title contender for the ONE Championship women’s atomweight division questioned, Filipino mixed martial arts fighter Denice “The Menace” Zamboanga said she is accepting the challenge to earn a shot by way of a grand prix format.

Unbeaten in three fights to date in ONE, 23-year-old Zamboanga (5-0) has positioned herself as one of the fighters to watch out for to challenge long-time champion “Unstoppable” Angela Lee (10-2) of Singapore, something the former said she is looking forward to doing so, even calling out Ms. Lee for a title shot.

Unfortunately, the Singaporean champion is going to be out for a while since she is pregnant with her first child with husband Bruno Pucci and is due to give birth next year.

Given the situation, Ms. Zamboanga floated the idea of Ms. Lee vacating the title to give others the opportunity to fight for it.

Ms. Lee took exception to it, saying she is not giving up the atomweight title because she earned it and that those who want to have the belt have to battle for it.

She went on to issue a challenge to Ms. Zamboanga, saying “I think that Denice should have to face the top 10 girls first to truly prove herself as the number one contender, and the ONE Atomweight World Grand Prix Championship is the perfect way to do that.”

The setup details for a grand prix in the division have not been finalized yet but Ms. Zamboanga expressed her readiness for it if that is what would take for her to reach her world title goals.

Under the grand prix, fighters have to go through a series of bouts with the last person standing in the end declared the champion.

“I am so pumped for this tournament. I’m looking forward to competing for this ultra prestigious title. This will be the most challenging competition that no female fighter in ONE Championship history has ever faced,” she said.

Adding, “To all the other female fighters who will be competing, it will be an honor to face you all in this tournament. A lot of people want to see me and Angela fight, so I will get the Grand Prix belt and then I’m on to the Atomweight World Title at the end of 2021.”

Ms. Zamboanga’s last fight came in August where she was a first-round submission (keylock) winner over Thai Watsyapinya Kaewkhong.

ONE Championship is set to next play on Oct. 30 in Singapore with ONE: Inside the Matrix, featuring four world title bouts, headlined by that between reigning ONE middleweight and light heavyweight world champion “The Burmese Python” Aung La N Sang of Myanmar and middleweight top contender Reinier “The Dutch Knight” de Ridder of the Netherlands.

Also set to see action there is Team Lakay’s Eduard Folayang against Australian Antonio Caruso. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

NFL roundup: Titans stay unbeaten with OT win

DERRICK Henry rushed for 212 yards and two touchdowns, and host Tennessee blew a two-touchdown lead Sunday, only to rally for a 42-36 overtime (OT) win over lowly Houston to remain undefeated.

The Titans (5-0) amassed 601 yards, with quarterback Ryan Tannehill passing for 364 yards and four touchdowns to complement Henry. Tannehill engineered a nine-play, 76-yard drive in the waning moments, and his 7-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Brown with four seconds left forced overtime.

In the extra period, Henry had a 53-yard reception before his 5-yard run ended it.

Deshaun Watson passed for 335 yards and four touchdowns to lead the comeback for Houston (1-5). But Texans interim coach Romeo Crennel made a late dubious decision that proved fatal. When Watson threw a 1-yard touchdown to Brandin Cooks with 1:50 left, the Texans led 36-29. But a failed two-point conversion opened the door for the Titans, and they kicked it in over their last two drives.

GIANTS 20, WASHINGTON 19
Linebacker Tae Crowder returned a fumble 43 yards for a go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter, and New York (1-5) held on for a win over the Washington Football Team (1-5) in East Rutherford, NJ

Cam Sims scored a touchdown with 36 seconds left to pull Washington within one point, and head coach Ron Rivera decided to go for a two-point conversion rather than settling for an extra point to even the score. The gamble failed as quarterback Kyle Allen threw an incomplete pass on the two-point attempt.

The sequence preserved the game-winning score for Crowder, a rookie from Georgia who received the “Mr. Irrelevant” designation as the 255th and final pick of the 2020 National Football League (NFL) Draft. He made headlines for a much more positive reason as he quickly reacted to Allen’s fumble in the pocket to score with 3:29 remaining.

BUCCANEERS 38, PACKERS 10
Ronald Jones II rushed for 113 yards and two touchdowns as host Tampa Bay (4-2) sent Green Bay crashing from the unbeaten ranks.

Bucs quarterback Tom Brady contributed an efficient 17-of-27 performance for 166 yards and two scores, including the 91st touchdown pass of his career to tight end Rob Gronkowski. The 12-yard connection with 1:02 left in the first half capped a 28-point, second-quarter Bucs’ outburst that shaped the game’s remainder.

Brady and Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers were standing on the sidelines in baseball caps before the NFC battle ended. Rodgers was battered after a sharp first two possessions, finishing 16 of 35 for 160 yards, with two interceptions, for the Packers (4-1).

FALCONS 40, VIKINGS 23
Matt Ryan threw for 371 yards and four touchdowns, and the defense secured three interceptions as visiting Atlanta recorded its first victory of the season by beating Minnesota.

The Falcons (1-5) scored 23 unanswered points to open the game, their first under the direction of interim coach Raheem Morris, who replaced the fired Dan Quinn this week. Younghoe Koo kicked field goals of 50, 21 and 47 yards during the run. Julio Jones had eight catches — two for touchdowns — for 137 yards.

Minnesota (1-5) did much of its damage with 16 fourth-quarter points. Quarterback Kirk Cousins completed 24 of 36 passes for 343 yards and three touchdowns, but also had three first-half interceptions that Atlanta turned into 17 points for a 20-0 halftime lead.

RAVENS 30, EAGLES 28
Lamar Jackson threw for one touchdown and ran for another as Baltimore bolted to an early lead before holding on to beat host Philadelphia.

Jackson completed 16 of 27 passes for 186 yards and added 108 yards on just nine carries for the Ravens (5-1), who won their third in a row. Kicker Justin Tucker contributed three field goals.

Carson Wentz hit on 21 of 40 throws for 213 yards with two touchdowns for Philadelphia (1-4-1), which dropped its second straight game. Wentz nearly pulled out a dramatic finish by leading two touchdown drives in the last 3:48. He scored from 1 yard with 1:55 to pull the Eagles within two points, but his 2-point conversion run to tie the game was snuffed out at the line of scrimmage by Matthew Judon. The Eagles fell to 0-3 at home and were booed for most of the day.

STEELERS 38, BROWNS 7
James Conner rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown as host Pittsburgh dominated AFC North rival Cleveland to improve to 5-0 for the first time since 1978. Cleveland (4-2) had its four-game winning streak snapped.

Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger was 14 of 22 passing for 162 yards, including a 28-yard scoring pass to James Washington. Chase Claypool and Benny Snell Jr. also each ran for a touchdown. Minkah Fitzpatrick had an interception return for a touchdown.

The Steelers’ defense dominated. The Browns, who entered as the NFL’s top rushing team, were held to 75 rushing yards, and Cleveland was 1-of-12 on third-down conversions.

BEARS 23, PANTHERS 16
Nick Foles threw for one touchdown and ran for another as Chicago never trailed in defeating host Carolina.

The Bears (5-1) managed only 261 yards of total offense in picking up their third road victory of the season. Foles completed 23 of 39 passes for 198 and also threw one interception. David Montgomery added 58 yards rushing and Cairo Santos kicked three field goals.

Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was 16-for-29 for 216 yards with two interceptions for the Panthers (3-3), who had 303 yards of total offense as their three-game winning streak was snapped. Mike Davis had 52 rushing yards and a score for Carolina, which played its fourth game in a row without injured running back Christian McCaffrey (ankle).

LIONS 34, JAGUARS 16
Rookie D’Andre Swift rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries to lift visiting Detroit over Jacksonville.

Matthew Stafford passed for 223 yards and a touchdown for the Lions (2-3), while Kenny Golladay caught four passes for 105 yards. Stafford completed passes to 10 different receivers.

Gardner Minshew passed for 243 yards and a touchdown and also had a rushing touchdown for the Jaguars (1-5), who have lost five straight.

COLTS 31, BENGALS 27
Philip Rivers passed for 371 yards and three touchdowns and Julian Blackmon came up with a critical late interception to lift Indianapolis over visiting Cincinnati.

Rivers completed 29 of 44 passes and put the Colts (4-2) ahead to stay with a 14-yard touchdown to Jack Doyle with 14:55 remaining. Indianapolis pushed the lead to 31-27 with 4:03 left on a 40-yard field goal from Rodrigo Blankenship.

The Bengals (1-4-1) had a chance to steal the win late, but Blackmon intercepted Cincinnati rookie quarterback Joe Burrow at the Colts 19-yard line with 46 seconds left to seal it. Burrow passed for 313 yards and scored on a one-yard touchdown run, posting his fourth 300-yard passing day in six games. But it wasn’t enough at the Bengals saw their winless road streak extend to 17 games.

BRONCOS 18, PATRIOTS 12
Brandon McManus kicked a franchise-record six field goals — the longest from 54 yards — to lift visiting Denver over New England in a game originally scheduled for Oct. 11 due to several COVID-19 cases in the Patriots’ organization.

Phillip Lindsay rushed for 101 yards in his return to the lineup from a toe injury, and Drew Lock completed 10 of 24 passes for 189 yards and two interceptions in his first game since suffering a right-shoulder injury on Sept. 20. Tim Patrick had four catches for 101 yards for Denver (2-3).

Quarterback Cam Newton ran for 76 yards and a touchdown and went 17-for-25 passing for 157 yards, with two interceptions, for the Patriots (2-3). James White finished with eight receptions for 65 yards.

DOLPHINS 24, JETS 0
Ryan Fitzpatrick threw three touchdown passes as host Miami won its second straight game, defeating winless New York.

It was Miami’s first shutout over New York since the 1982 postseason, and the game also marked the NFL debut of rookie first-round pick Tua Tagovailoa, who went 2-for-2 for 9 yards in garbage time for Miami (3-3).

New York (0-6) is the only winless team in the NFL, and Sunday’s loss amped up the pressure on Jets coach Adam Gase — formerly of the Dolphins — who is considered on the hot seat to be fired. — Reuters

Golf: After 233 tries, Kokrak claims first-ever PGA Tour win at CJ Cup

AMERICAN Jason Kokrak fired off eight birdies in a flawless final round for his first-ever Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) Tour victory at the CJ Cup in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, clinching his maiden title on the 233rd try.

The 35-year-old outclassed a crowded field of elite performers, carding an eight-under-par 64 at the Shadow Creek Golf Course, draining a 20-foot putt on 10, one of 11 putts he made from further than 10 feet away through 72 holes.

“With the greens being firm, fast, and quite a bit of break around these holes, if you don’t have the right speed, you’re not going to make a lot of putts,” said Kokrak, who had four consecutive birdies on the front nine and credited his caddie with helping pick “great reads.”

“Game plan was simple, to hit fairways,” said Kokrak. “I made some nice putts on the front nine and a couple par saves here and there, but I couldn’t be happier.”

The tournament, typically part of the PGA Tour’s Asian swing, was moved to the Las Vegas venue due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and featured a crowded field of top talent warming up for the Masters next month, including four-time PGA Tour winner Xander Schauffele, who finished second.

Schauffele carded a near-flawless 66 with a single bogey on 16, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a disappointing two-over-par third-round performance, “a rookie move” that lost him the lead.

“For me, personally, just to know that my really good golf is that good, it will get me a three-, four-shot lead out here, it’s nice to know that I do have it in me to do it,” said the 26-year-old American. “Hopefully, I learn next time and I can create an opportunity.”

Elsewhere in the field, 29-year-old Briton Tyrrell Hatton (65) and three-time PGA Tour winner Russell Henley (70) finished tied at third. — Reuters

Role of sales ops expands, becomes more critical amid COVID-19 — report

Sales operations (sales ops) has become increasingly critical since COVID-19, according to a report by customer relationship management (CRM) firm Salesforce. 

“During a time of upheaval in which norms don’t apply, operational efficiency and data-driven decision-making take on special importance,” reads State of Sales 2020.

Sales ops is the unit within a sales team responsible for systemizing and optimizing the performance of sales representatives. They do this through tasks such as lead management, process optimization, and data modeling, analytics, and reporting.

Seventy-five percent of sales ops professionals say that they gained new responsibilities at work since the start of COVID-19. 

In the Philippines, 96% feel that sales ops is becoming a much more strategic line of work, believing that it plays a critical role in business growth and continuity. Over 50% of sales ops professionals experienced an increase in involvement in strategy planning, performance analysis, strategy coordination, and technology management compared to 2019. Forty-nine percent and 48% experienced an increase in involvement in sales training management and cross-functional workstream management, respectively.

Technology management has become increasingly relevant, with 81% of sales ops professionals saying that they implemented changes faster this year than they did in 2019. Video conferencing, artificial intelligence (AI), mobile sales applications for employees that allow them to access product data in real time, CRM platforms, and sales prospecting tools are the top five tools that have become more valuable since then.

“In high-performing organizations, sales ops is not just a connector between different people and processes within the sales team; it’s also a bridge to important contacts on other teams, like account-based marketers, customer service leaders, and more,” said Salesforce in its report.

State of Sales 2020 analyzed data collected from May 13 to June 30 of this year. Close to 6,000 sales professionals from North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, were interviewed, including 200 respondents from the Philippines. — Mariel Alison L. Aguinaldo

Crowdfunding platform simplifies self-publishing process for aspiring writers

Aspiring authors can join the Spark Books Accelerator Program, a crowdfunding program that simplifies the self-publishing process, and connect with resources—editors, layout artists, proofreaders, etc.—who can help bring their work to life. 

Launched by the Spark Project, the accelerator program uses a similar model as the local crowdfunding platform that matches creators with backers who are willing to pitch in money for ideas they find compelling and worthwhile.

The first book under Spark Books is Respark, written by the Spark Project co-founder Patrick “Patch” Dulay. The first-time author admitted struggling through the writing process, despite having friends—published writers—guiding him through it. Apart from the crowdfunding component, the accelerator program supports creators, step-by-step, through the process of writing and publishing a book. 

An author that self-publishes a book typically has complete creative control, higher book royalty rates, and full autonomy over the publishing process. 

“I’m a guinea pig for this program,” said Mr. Dulay. “It is a one-stop shop for aspiring authors. This process will serve as a learning exercise for me and a template we can use for other aspiring authors out there.”

Spark Books is starting with self-published books, with plans to expand to other forms of creative work. A listing fee of P2,500 is needed to be featured on the website and get a project started. The Spark Project also collects a percentage fee from the total amount raised in a campaign. The overall out-of-pocket investment will vary from author to author, depending on what other expenses they think they need.

“The beauty of crowdfunding is that it [offsets expenses]. Our goal is for the whole process to pay for itself,” said Mr. Dulay. — Patricia B. Mirasol

NGCP turns over housing project for Valenzuela City residents

On October 15, NGCP, together with Gawad Kalinga, formally turned over to the City Government of Valenzuela the first batch of low-rise dwellings in Disiplina Village, Lingunan, Valenzuela City, a joint in-city housing project for informal settler families.

As the power grid operator, NGCP worked with the City of Valenzuela to relocate residents previously living within the transmission right-of-way corridor to prevent any accidents from happening due to their proximity to the high voltage power lines. This is also in line with the enactment of the Republic Act 11361 or the Anti Obstruction of Power Lines Act, which aims to ensure the uninterrupted flow of power by prohibiting construction of structures and conducting any activity within or along the power line corridor.

The entire housing project, which costs over PhP 282 million, is comprised of 22 three-storey low-rise buildings with 792 units, and is scheduled for completion by 2021.

Back in February 2019, NGCP, the Valenzuela City LGU, and Gawad Kalinga broke ground on the 2.5-hectare property of the city government for the establishment of the in-city relocation site. The entire housing project, which costs over PhP 282 million, is comprised of 22 three-storey low-rise buildings with 792 units, and is scheduled for completion by 2021.

Five buildings were completed in October and formally turned over in a simple ceremony at the Disiplina Village attended by representatives from NGCP led by Vice President and Head of Central Projects Office Mark Joseph Andeo, Gawad Kalinga led by Executive Director Daniel Bercasio, and LGU officials headed by Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian. Congressman Wes Gatchalian, and Sec. Eduardo del Rosario of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development were also among the guests.

Five buildings were completed in October and formally turned over in a simple ceremony at the Disiplina Village attended by representatives from NGCP led by Vice President and Head of Central Projects Office Mark Joseph Andeo, Gawad Kalinga led by Executive Director Daniel Bercasio, and LGU officials headed by Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian. Congressman Wes Gatchalian, and Sec. Eduardo del Rosario of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development were also among the guests.

“NGCP and the City of Valenzuela, together with Gawad Kalinga, worked hand in hand to give residents of the city a safer living environment, away from the dangers posed by living near or under high voltage transmission lines. Disiplina Village is the product of collaborative efforts to serve the community in order to protect them and give them a safer place to live in,” said NGCP.

Under the prevailing laws, the abatement of nuisances per se, such as buildings and structures underneath transmission lines, is primarily the obligation of the local government. “NGCP extended its help and its resources to Valenzuela City to expedite the relocation.  We felt that if our help was needed to make things happen and ensure the safety of the residents, we had to find a way to get this done,” the company said. “Hindi sa lahat ng pagkakataon, iaasa natin sa gobyerno ang lahat ng kilos. It’s simple good corporate citizenship.”

NGCP Vice President and Head of Central Projects Office Mark Joseph Andeo gives a message on behalf of NGCP President and CEO Anthony Almeda.

The five newly constructed buildings with a total of 180 units will be given to residents of Barangay Mapulang Lupa and Ugong previously residing along the transmission line corridor of NGCP’s San Jose-Quezon 230kV Line.

NGCP is a Filipino-led, privately owned company in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the country’s power grid, led by majority shareholders and Vice Chairman of the Board Henry Sy, Jr. and Co-Vice Chairman Robert Coyiuto, Jr.

Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian gives his message of thanks to NGCP and Gawad Kalinga, and addresses the residents of Disiplina Village Lingunan.

The future of a post-pandemic workplace through Lorette Theron

Many would see a psychologist as someone who engages in talk therapy. They are indeed out there, but that’s not always the case.

People who work in the field of psychology specialize in different areas like consumer, engineering, community, to name a few. There’s also a study in psychology that focuses on workplace behavior — and industrial-organizational (I/O) psychologist Lorette Theron is one of them.

An I/O psychologist shares his or her expertise to make an organization grow through talent selection and workplace productivity, among others. For Lorette, an I/O psychologist is crucial in making companies move forward in uncertain times.

“He or she needs to be able to integrate many aspects, work with individuals, groups and organizations while putting on many hats,” Lorette shares.

According to Lorette, being updated with business and social environments, and developments in I/O systems are important qualities in the industry. In an email interview with The Philippine STAR, she shares about her career path, I/O psychology and tips on how companies can thrive amid the pandemic.

Getting into the I/O industry

Based in South Africa, Lorette has 20 years of experience under her belt. She has always been drawn to understanding people and how can they grow into the best version of themselves, especially in the workplace.

“I had quite an interesting journey. I initially studied clinical/counseling psychology and then qualified as a psychometrist,” she says, looking back.

In the early 2000s, psychometrists were still unfamiliar to the public. Many organizations at that time were looking for applicants with HR qualifications instead.

“So, I ended up teaching English in Taiwan for three years. Upon my returnto my home country, I worked as a psychometrist for an I/O psychologist in the medico-legal practice. During this time, I decided to change my career and studied toward I/O Psychology instead and then qualified as an I/O psychologist,” Lorette adds.

Compared to other psychologists, an I/O psychologist focuses more on the abilities of a professional. Lorette explains that it’s also about helping employees and organizations grow into the best version of themselves.

“In my view, the I/O psychologist focuses on the untapped potential of an individual and, overall, the field is more positive than looking for abnormalities in people,” she explains. “He or she needs to be able to integrate many aspects and work with individuals, groups and organizations. Other psychologists usually find a niche that they refine for individuals and groups.”

Moving forward in times of crisis

According to the American Psychological Association, I/O psychologists are crucial in helping organizations move forward in the new normal. Lorette echoes this thought, stating that it’s their responsibility to develop a more flexible working environment.

“The recruitment and selection of employees will change, new competencies will emerge, the psychological contract between employer and employee will change, there will be a bigger emphasis on work-life balance, the mental well-being of the employee will become a priority,” she explains. “Developing authentic leadership and instilling trust through supportive management can reduce stress and increase engagement and productivity.

For Lorette, an effective leader in times of crisis has the following qualities — making clear decisions, seeing opportunities in adversity, creating innovative solutions in ensuring the organization’s stability, providing structure to employees and responding adequately.

“Qualities that are deemed ineffective are impulsivity, over-emotional responses, irrationality, indifference or wishing the problem away,” she adds.

The pandemic can be considered as a test for leaders in companies worldwide. However, it’s also the time for companies to discover methods on how they can grow while ensuring the safety of every employee.

“There are immediate factors, such as the safety of employees and the appointment of decisive roles (such as crisis managers) that need to be in place based on logical-analytical reasoning,” Lorette says, as she discussed the factors of making effective decisions in times of crisis.

“There also needs to be the long-term impact and the transformation of the business in a time of crisis that needs to be taken into account. For instance, how can the organization grow and learn from this,” she adds.

At the same time, teamwork and employee engagement are key factors for workplaces to thrive amid difficult times. “By developing an understanding of oneself and others in your team, behaviors and thoughts become more transparent, criticism can be constructive, and each person can contribute their part towards the goal or overall strategy,” Lorette shares.

As we move towards an uncertain future, Lorette sees the office as an experience instead of a place to work. The workplace will also evolve as a balance between home, virtual and physical.

“Employees will be able to choose to work from home or go to the office, while the office needs to provide what the WFH does not provide,” she adds. “The physical office will still have a purpose for collaboration, learning, connection, socializing and essential roles. People will come together for high-intensity sessions and the design of the workspace will adapt.”

As organizations continue to evolve in this environment, Lorette is confident that leaders will come to master the essential mindsets and qualities needed to make the new workplace a significant contributor to the economy.

Catch Lorette Theron in “Leading in Turbulent Times – Discover and Develop an Effective Mindset,” a 60-minute webinar presented by The People at Work and BusinessWorld on Oct. 28. Register now at https://bit.ly/36wQP4f before all the tickets run out.

 

Irish regulator probes Facebook’s handling of children’s data on Instagram

Instagram’s profile and account settings will be the focus of an inquiry that examines whether the social media company is adhering to the regulator’s data protection requirements.

Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) has launched two inquiries into Facebook Inc. after concerns were raised about the social network giant’s handling of children’s personal data on Instagram.

The DPC, the main data privacy regulator in the European Union, received complaints from individuals and had identified “potential concerns” in relation to the processing of children’s personal data on Instagram, Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle told Reuters in an e-mailed statement.

Both inquiries were launched last month, Mr. Doyle said in the statement.

Facebook did not immediately respond when contacted by Reuters on Sunday.

The Telegraph, which first reported the inquiry, said Instagram made the e-mail addresses and phone numbers of users under 18 public.

The Irish regulator launched its probe following a complaint by David Stier, a US data scientist, the Telegraph added.

The first inquiry looks to establish if Facebook has the legal basis to process the data and whether it employs adequate protections and/or restrictions on Instagram.

“This inquiry will also consider whether Facebook meets its obligations as a data controller with regard to transparency requirements in its provision of Instagram to children,” Mr. Doyle said.

Instagram’s profile and account settings will be the focus of the second inquiry, examining whether the social media company is adhering to the regulator’s data protection requirements.

Ireland hosts the European headquarters of a number of US technology firms, making the DPC the EU’s lead regulator under the bloc’s General Data Protection Regulation’s  “One Stop Shop” regime introduced in 2018.

The new rules give regulators the power to impose fines for violations of up to 4% of a company’s global revenue or 20 million euros ($22 million), whichever is higher. — Aishwarya Nair/Reuters

Healthcare workers, high-risk people will get priority for COVID-19 vaccine in New York — governor

NEW YORK — New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Sunday that healthcare workers and high-risk populations, including some long-term care residents, would get priority in his state to receive a COVID-19 vaccine when one is approved and available.

According to the five-phase preliminary plan for New York’s vaccine administration program, some details of which Mr. Cuomo announced at a news briefing, healthcare workers in patient-care settings, long-term care facility workers, and some long-term care residents would be among the first to receive a vaccine.

In the second phase of vaccine rollout, first responders, school staff, other public-facing frontline workers and people whose health conditions put them at extreme risk would get priority for the vaccine.

In Phase 3, it would be administered to people over 65. All remaining essential workers would receive the vaccine in a fourth phase, and healthy adults and children would receive it in a fifth phase.

Prioritization would also vary by geographic location based on the prevalence of the virus, Mr. Cuomo said.

“This is a larger operational undertaking, I would argue, than anything we have done during COVID to date,” he told reporters.

The program will likely seek to deliver some 40 million doses of a vaccine to state residents, as New York’s population is around 20 million and the vaccines in development may require two doses to be effective, Mr. Cuomo said.

He said the state had sent the drafted plan to the federal government, along with questions on what funding the federal government would provide for the effort.

“States cannot do this on their own,” he said.

A New York state task force will carry out its own review of coronavirus vaccines authorized or approved by the federal government due to concerns of politicization of the approval process, according to Mr. Cuomo, a Democrat who has blasted President Donald J. Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

“I think that will give people added surety in the vaccine,” Mr. Cuomo said on Sunday. — Gabriella Borter/Reuters

China’s economic recovery quickens as consumption returns

BEIJING — China’s economic recovery accelerated in the third quarter as consumers shook off their coronavirus caution, although the weaker-than-expected headline growth suggested persistent risks for one of the few drivers of global demand.

Gross domestic product (GDP) grew 4.9% in July–September from a year earlier, official data showed on Monday, slower than the 5.2% forecast by analysts in a Reuters poll but faster than the second quarter’s 3.2% growth.

“China’s economy remains on the recovery path, driven by a rebound in exports. Consumer spending is also headed in the right direction, but we cannot say it has completely shaken off the drag caused by the coronavirus,” said Yoshikiyo Shimamine, chief economist at Dai-ichi Life Research Institute in Tokyo. “There is a risk that the return of lockdowns in Europe and another wave of infections in the United States will hurt consumer spending and trigger more job losses, which would be a negative for China’s economy.”

The weaker-than-expected headline figures weighed on China’s yuan and mainland stock benchmarks and capped broader market gains in Asia.

The world’s second-largest economy grew 0.7% in the first nine months from a year earlier, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said.

Policymakers globally are pinning their hopes on a robust recovery in China to help restart demand as economies struggle with heavy lockdowns and a second wave of coronavirus infections.

China has partially emerged from a record slump caused by coronavirus shutdowns in the first months of the year.

NBS spokeswoman Liu Aihua warned that growth remained patchy.

“Internally, the economy is still in the process of recovery,” she told a brieing in Beijing. “Some or most of the indicators have not returned to the normal growth level, and some of the cumulative growth rate has also declined.”

On a quarter-on-quarter basis, GDP rose 2.7% in the third quarter, the NBS said, compared with expectations for a 3.2% rise and an 11.5% rise in the previous quarter.

But despite the headline disappointment, analysts were encouraged by a broader upturn in consumption and continued factory strength.

Retail sales grew 3.3% in September from a year earlier, speeding up from a modest 0.5% rise in August and posting the fastest growth since December 2019. Industrial output grew 6.9% after a 5.6% rise in August, showing the factory sector’s recovery was gaining momentum.

Fixed-asset investment rose 0.8% in the first nine months from a year earlier, returning to year-to-date growth for the first time this year.

In the property sector, investment rose 12% in September from a year earlier, the fastest pace in nearly 1-1/2 years, providing a key support for broader investment.

The government has rolled out a raft of measures including more fiscal spending, tax relief and cuts in lending rates and banks’ reserve requirements to revive the coronavirus-hit economy and support employment.

While the central bank stepped up policy support after widespread travel restrictions choked economic activity, it has more recently held off on further easing.

The International Monetary Fund has forecast an expansion of 1.9% for China for 2020, which is close to the central bank’s own projection of 2%.

That would make China the only major economy expected to report growth in 2020, albeit at the slowest annual pace since 1976, the final year of of Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution.

CONSUMERS STEP UP
China’s retail spending has lagged the comeback in factory activity this year as heavy job losses and persistent worries about infections kept consumers at home, even as restrictions lifted.

However, recent indicators suggest consumer activity is now turning around.

In the travel sector, domestic passenger flights in September beat their COVID-19 levels, a sign that that segment of the market is approaching a full recovery, even as international borders remain largely shut.

Auto sales marked a sixth straight month of gains in September while Ford Motor Co’s China vehicle sales jumped 25% in the third quarter from a year earlier.

The breakdown of GDP showed final consumption accounted for 1.7 percentage points growth, while capital formation accounted for 2.6 percentage points and net exports contributed 0.6 percentage points to the expansion, NBS said.

The coronavirus outbreak, which caused China’s first contraction since at least 1992 in the first quarter, is now largely under control in the country, although there has been a small resurgence of cases in the eastern province of Shandong.

“The single most important thing for the Chinese economy in the coming months is whether service consumption can catch up,” said Larry Hu, head of China economics at Macquarie Capital in Hong Kong. — Gabriel Crossley and Kevin Yao/Reuters

Global coronavirus cases surpass the 40 million milestone

Worldwide coronavirus cases crossed 40 million on Monday, according to a Reuters tally, as the onset of winter in the northern hemisphere fuelled a resurgence in the spread of the disease.

The Reuters tally is based on official reporting by individual countries. Experts believe the true numbers of both cases and deaths are likely much higher, given deficiencies in testing and potential under-reporting by some countries.

The Reuters data shows the pace of the pandemic continues to pick up. It took just 32 days to go from 30 million global cases to 40 million, compared with the 38 days it took to get from 20 to 30 million, the 44 days between 10 and 20 million, and the three months it took to reach 10 million cases from when the first cases were reported in Wuhan, China, in early January. Record one-day increases in new infections were seen at the end of last week, with global coronavirus cases rising above 400,000 for the first time.

There were an average of around 347,000 cases each day over the past week, compared with 292,000 in the first week of October.

The United States, India, and Brazil remain the worst affected countries in the world. COVID-19 cases in North, Central, and South America represent about 47.27% or nearly half of global cases.

Around 247 cases are seen per 10,000 people in the United States. For India and Brazil, those numbers stand at 55 cases and 248 cases per 10,000 people respectively.

New cases are growing at over 150,000 a day in Europe, as many countries including Italy, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Poland, Ukraine, Cyprus, and the Czech Republic have reported record daily increases in the number of coronavirus infections.

Europe currently accounts for over 17% of the global cases and nearly 22% of the deaths related to the virus worldwide.

Parts of the UK were put into lockdown as Prime Minister Boris Johnson bid to contain a second wave of infections through local measures.

France imposed curfews while other European nations are closing schools, canceling surgeries, and enlisting student medics.

President Donald J. Trump called for a big economic stimulus as US infections surpassed eight million, with record spikes in several states.

States across the Midwest are seeing a rise in coronavirus cases, with new infections and hospitalizations rising to record levels.

India’s cumulative tally of coronavirus infections stood at 7.43 million on Saturday, with the number of active infections slipping below 800,000 for the first time in 1.5 months.

Iran, the Middle Eastern country hardest-hit by the coronavirus, extended restrictions and closures in the capital Tehran into a third week on Saturday as its death toll rose above 30,000.

Since the pandemic started, over 1.1 million people have died due to COVID-19, with the global fatality rate hovering around 2.8% of the total cases.

An official at the World Health Organization has said the global death toll from COVID-19 could double to 2 million before a successful vaccine is widely used and could be even higher without concerted action to curb the pandemic. — Shaina Ahluwalia and Roshan Abraham/Reuters

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