Howler monkeys drop dead during Mexico heat wave
MEXICO CITY, Mexico — Howler monkeys are dropping dead in Mexico and authorities said Monday that they were investigating whether extreme heat was killing the endangered species.
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Drop in Angat water level slowing down
MANILA, Philippines — The drop in the water elevation in Angat Dam is slowing down again due to heavy downpours that occurred over Metro Manila and nearby areas in the past two days, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) said yesterday.
Philippines urges China to allow scrutiny of disputed South China Sea shoal
MANILA: The Philippines challenged China on Monday to open Scarborough Shoal to international scrutiny after it accused Beijing of destroying the shoal's marine environment.Maritime tension has been rising in the South China Sea between Manila and Beijing, as the Philippines has accused China of using water cannon and blocking manoeuvres through disputed shoals and reefs.
Philippines blames China for loss of giant clams in disputed shoal and urges environmental inquiry
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippines blamed Chinese fishermen on Monday for a massive loss of giant clams in a disputed shoal controlled by China’s coast guard in the South China Sea and urged an international inquiry into the amount of environmental damage in the area.
Duterte execs skip House hearing on 'secret deal' with China
MANILA, Philippines — A joint committee of the House of Representatives agreed to issue a show cause order against former Cabinet members under then-President Rodrigo Duterte after they failed to attend the first hearing on the former president's alleged secret deal with China.
Zobels sell remaining MWC holdings to Razon for P14.5-B
Ayala Corp [AC 620.00 ?1.3%; 131% avgVol] [link] disclosed that its subsidiaries, Michigan Holdings and Philwater Holdings, would sell their combined holdings in Manila Water Company [MWC 26.60 ?1.5%; 123% avgVol] to Trident Water Company Holdings (TWC), which is owned by MWC’s current owner, Enrique Razon. The combined value of the two sales to TWC is P14.5 billion. The block of shares coming to TWC through Michigan Holdings was already processed and paid for (~P12.9 billion), and the remaining P1.6 billion worth of shares from Philwater Holdings will be purchased in installments over the next five years. AC confirmed that it will have no post-transaction common share interest in MWC, and that its voting stake will be “nil”. MB BOTTOM-LINE: In a weird way, the transfer of ownership and control of MWC from the Zobel Family to the Razon Family is one of the few lasting “achievements” of the Duterte administration. I put “achievements” in quotation marks because it’s not clear how the President’s overreach into the public markets benefitted anyone other than the obvious (MWC’s current owner). As longtime readers of MB will know I have a deep respect for Mr. Razon’s business acumen and operational quality, but I don’t know that MWC customers have necessarily felt any change as a result of this transfer, and I don’t know that minority shareholders have felt any change either. So maybe it was just Mr. Razon in the right place at the right time while Duterte rode the media waves of threatening the Zobels with death and dismemberment? Yeah, it was a weird time.
Despite rains, extreme heat seen in 36 areas today
MANILA, Philippines — At least 36 areas can still experience “danger” heat index of between 46 and 42 degrees Celsius today, despite the rains being experienced in many areas in the country, according to the two-day forecast of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Pinoys to continue fishing in Panatag
MANILA, Philippines — Filipino fisherfolk will not be cowed and will continue to fish in Panatag Shoal despite China’s empowering of its coast guard to detain for 60 days without trial anyone or any vessel found trespassing in what it considers its territorial waters.