Inquirer

NEW YORK — ExxonMobil and Chevron both reported a dip in profits Friday on lower refining margins and natural gas prices, but ExxonMobil’s big takeover appears on track to close before Chevron’s. ExxonMobil, which had targeted the second quarter to complete a $60-billion takeover of US shale player Pioneer Natural Resources, reported profits of $8.2 billion, down 28 percent from the year-ago period. Similar results from Chevron showed how the petroleum sector, while off its peak, remains highly profitable, enabling billions of dollars in shareholder payouts. While commodity prices for liquid hydrocarbons rose slightly and ExxonMobil continued to score impressive […]…

Keep on reading: US oil giants’ profits dip as Exxon deal nears finish line

PARIS — France’s national library said Thursday it had removed four 19th-century books from its shelves whose emerald green covers were likely laced with highly poisonous arsenic. The library said handling the books—which were printed in Britain—would probably cause only minor harm, but it was taking them away for further analysis. READ: A day in […]…

Keep on reading: France quarantines ‘poisonous’ books

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said on Friday that it will build a rehabilitation center complex for workers who have experienced occupational hazards. This is part of its Labor Day celebrations, the DOLE said. READ: Free MRT-3, LRT-2 ride for workers on May 1, Labor Day “Magkakaroon po tayo ng signing of memorandum of understanding […] ng anim na partido, na limang national government agency at isang local government agency. Ito po ay tungkol sa pagtatayo ng tinatawag nating workers rehabilitation center complex,” DOLE Undersecretary Benjo Benavidez said. (We will have a signing of a […]…

Keep on reading: DOLE to build workers rehabilitation center complex

  MANILA, Philippines — Thirty nine areas experienced a dangerous heat index ranging from 42ºC to 48 ºC on Friday, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).  Dagupan City, Pangasinan once again recorded the highest heat index at 48ºC, based on Pagasa’s latest computed data as April 26, 5:00 p.m. Meanwhile in Metro Manila, a peak of 43ºC was recorded in Pasay City, specifically in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) area. Heat index refers to the “measure of the contribution that high humidity makes with abnormally high temperatures in reducing the body’s ability to cool […]…

Keep on reading: Pagasa: Dangerous heat index in 39 areas; Dagupan City hits 48ºC

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) committed on Friday to continue promoting cycling, walking, and the use of light electric vehicles amid proposals to modify bicycle and motorcycle lanes in Edsa. According to the DOTr, in line with the National Transport Policy (NTP) and the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 (PDP), it will commit to continue promoting the use of non-motorized transport (NMT) and light electric vehicles (LEVs). “As DOTr seeks to solve the problem of traffic, it is designating and reclaiming road space to provide safe infrastructure for more efficient and sustainable modes of transport such as bike […]…

Keep on reading: DOTr to continue promoting cycling, walking, light electric vehicles

Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories: PH, US ‘working overtime’ to seal intel-sharing pact The Philippines and the United States have agreed to fast-track the long-delayed conclusion of a crucial intelligence-sharing agreement before the end of the year, Manila’s ambassador to Washington said on Wednesday, amid shared concerns over an increasingly assertive China. The renewed push to seal a General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) within the year was one of the outcomes of a meeting between senior Filipino and American officials in Washington this week, Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez said in a press briefing here. 2nd […]…

Keep on reading: INQToday: Metro Manila, 31 other areas to have dangerous heat index on Friday

ISTANBUL — Turkey’s central bank held its key interest rate steady on Thursday but warned it could hike it again as the country’s soaring inflation remains a headache for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government. The central bank’s monetary policy committee decided to keep the policy rate at 50 percent. But it left the door open to raising it again in the future after consumer price growth accelerated to 68.5 percent in March. “Monetary policy stance will be tightened in case a significant and persistent deterioration in inflation is foreseen,” the central bank said. Only 10 days before March 31 local […]…

Keep on reading: Turkey central bank holds key interest rate steady

I was once asked, informally, to comment on a long table of Philippine hardwood that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas wants to believe was used at the inauguration of the Malolos Congress in September 1898. Save for the provenance provided by the seller, it is difficult to tell since the archival photograph of the event […]…

Keep on reading: Aguinaldo table diplomacy

MANILA, Philippines — Bagong Henerasyon (BH) Partylist Representative Bernadette Herrera is pushing for the welfare of Filipino solo parents through active representation, which she said could help the government address their needs as breadwinners, guardians, and caregivers. Herrera said helping solo parents have their voice and needs is part of her advocacy’s next steps. READ: Solo parents get free train rides on Saturday “For the next chapter of our journey, we want to empower solo parents through active representation and lead their call for more accessible and valuable programs and benefits – we want to serve them as the Solon […]…

Keep on reading: Solon pushes for welfare of solo parents through ‘active representation’

Fresh off her appearance in “Expats,” Ruby Ruiz has been cast as the lead of the Australian-Filipino-produced film “First Light,” which tells the story of an elderly nun forced to confront the “muddled ethics” of a religious institution after the death of a construction worker. Ruiz’s casting was confirmed in an exclusive report by the U.S.-based entertainment platform Variety on Thursday, April 25, where she will be joined by Maricel Soriano, Rez Cortez, Soliman Cruz, and Kidlat Tahimik. “First Light” will also mark the directorial debut of James J. Robinson who “brings together artists from Australia and the Philippines” in […]…

Keep on reading: Ruby Ruiz headlines Australian-Filipino co-produced film ‘First Light’