Shower stalls 60 inch

MANILA –PLDT Inc. saw its net income plunge by 60 percent to P10.49 billion last year after incurring a P48-billion budget overrun, which the telecom giant attributed to “over orders” of 5G technology. Total revenues, meanwhile, were up 6 percent to P205.25 billion for the period. Service revenues climbed by 4 percent to all-time high P190.1 billion last year. “We are looking to increase our revenues by mid-single digit and capital expenditure will recalibrate to between P80 billion and 85 billion,” PLDT president and CEO Al Panlilio said. Capital expenditure amounted to P96.8 billion last year. “Despite the adversities, I remain convinced that PLDT will not only survive but thrive; our core business is strong and our people endured, inspired by our singular mission of safeguarding and enhancing shareholder value,” PLDT chair Manuel V. Pangilinan added. In the meantime, the telco maintains that no fraud or bad faith was involved in its P48-billion budget overrun that dragged … [Read more...] about PLDT 2022 net income down 60%

MOVING ON A forensic review of PLDT’s P48-billion budget overrun showed “no evidence of fraud,” says company chair Manuel Pangilinan. —INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines  -PLDT Inc. is ready to move on from the P48-billion budget overrun issue that dragged its 2022 net income and resulted in multiple class action suits in US as it wrapped up the investigation into the financial fiasco. The telco giant led by tycoon Manuel Pangilinan stressed that “no evidence of fraud, intentional concealment or bad faith conduct on the part of any employee of the company” has been uncovered from the forensic review conducted by external counsel, mirroring the initial probe done previously. The overspending concern was revealed in December, with the company admitting the amount has accumulated for a few years already. PLDT previously said the budget overrun was due to high capital expenditure (capex) level as it ramped up purchases of 5G technology. PLDT uncovers P48-B ‘budget overrun’, … [Read more...] about Capex fiasco slashed PLDT’s 2022 earnings by 60%

Tourists and guests swim in the water of the Szechenyi Spa in Budapest, Hungary, on February 6, 2023. AFP BUDAPEST — Hungary’s grand thermal baths are struggling to stay afloat, buffeted by rocketing energy bills. For many tourists a highlight of a trip to Budapest is a relaxing soak at one of its many ornate bathhouses. The capital boasts an array of spectacular venues, from neo-baroque pools where bathers can play chess to sumptuous art nouveau confections and exotic Ottoman-era hammams. But running the energy-guzzling baths “costs 170 percent more than last year,” said Edit Reffy of Budapest Spas, which operates the city’s bathhouses. While much of the water is naturally hot, the large historic buildings cost a fortune to run and heat. “It’s a daunting challenge,” she told AFP, saying they have had to up ticket prices, reduce opening hours and cover outdoor pools. Prices at historic Budapest baths like the Gellert have been hiked “by more than 30 percent”, said … [Read more...] about Cold shower for Hungary’s famed hot baths

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin As currently structured, the roster of the Cleveland Guardians has efficient, effective contact hitters with plenty of speed. Last year, the young Guardians showed the ability to get on base, get in scoring position, and score. Given the new rules introduced this year for Major League Baseball, “get em on, get em over, and get em in” makes great sense. It’s a plan that will likely work for Cleveland. Several rules changes introduced this spring training have already illustrated quicker games, much better flow and pace of games, and more action on the bases. Pitch Clock and the Guardians: Under Major League Baseball rules, pitchers have 15 seconds between each pitch to release the ball to the plate. With a runner or runners on base, the time changes to 20 seconds. Pitchers may disengage from the pitching rubber twice. If they throw over to first base in an attempt to pick off the runner a third time, they … [Read more...] about Cleveland Guardians Have An Ideal Roster For New Major League Baseball Rules

Mortgage rates declined to their lowest level in a month last week amid concerns about the banking industry, while home loan applications rose for the third straight week. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Market Composite Index, which measures mortgage application volume, increased 3% from the previous week. Refinance applications jumped 5%, while those to purchase a home were up 2%. The MBA indicated that the average rate on a 30-year, fixed-rate conforming home loan (up to $726,200) was 6.48%, down from 6.71%. It hasn’t been that low since the week ending Feb. 10. Yields Down on Banking Turmoil "The drop in rates was related to the recent turmoil in the banking sector, which sent Treasury yields falling," said Joel Kan, the MBA’s vice president and deputy chief economist. He added that because of the dip in loan costs, "borrowers took the opportunity to act." Economists at mortgage originator Freddie Mac have made a similar observation, noting that the … [Read more...] about Mortgage Rates Decline to the Lowest Level in a Month

SOHN HAE-YONG The author is the economic news editor of the JoongAng Ilbo. Korean lawmakers get some of the best treatments in the world. Last year, each member of the National Assembly was paid 154.26 million won ($117,900) before taxes, including salary and activity allowance. In terms of per capita GDP, Japan and Italy are the only countries that give higher salaries to lawmakers than their Korean counterparts. On top of that, lawmakers are provided with extra expenses, including business expenses, gasoline subsidies and trip expenses. Each lawmaker has nine aids. All together, one lawmaker costs 756 million won a year. The money is deposited into the account of lawmakers every month even if they do not engage in parliamentary activities. It is entirely paid by taxpayers’ money. Though lawmakers are paid a salary equivalent to the labor cost of a good medium-sized business, their productivity is very low. The approval rate of bills proposed in the 21st National Assembly is … [Read more...] about [Meanwhile] ‘No work, no pay’ for lawmakers, too (KOR)

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin By Duane Tursi, CEO, Ascension Group International . How can business leaders determine whether a particular growth strategy is applicable to a business’s specific situation? First and foremost, timing is everything. It might feel like it’s always the right moment to take your company to the next level, but knowing when to expand is just as critical as knowing where to start. During times of financial uncertainty, many companies focus on their core competencies and forget that there are still opportunities for development. The quality of businesses today is strong, and organizations of all sizes have healthy balance sheets despite a looming recession. To continue this upward trend, let’s take a look at some key strategies for growth in 2023. Never Waste A Recession You might look at that header and scratch your head, but here’s the thing: Recessions are not all negative. Companies make layoffs, and … [Read more...] about Strategies For Growth In 2023

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin The UK National Health Service (NHS) is the largest nationalized health service in the world, providing healthcare services to around 65 million people. This huge responsibility means that it is constantly exploring new technological solutions that will allow it to work more efficiently and improve patient outcomes. It also handles a huge amount of very sensitive data. Traditionally, this data – consisting of personal health records, clinical data, and public data – has been stored in separate systems spread across hundreds of healthcare and hospital trusts. Its aim is to implement what is known as the NHS Federated Data Platform - to bring all of this information together into a single source where it can be used to improve decision-making and patient outcomes. Inevitably, this will bring many challenges. Healthcare data is some of the most sensitive data that there is, and the task of keeping it secure while still … [Read more...] about Building The World’s Largest Healthcare Data Platform

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin The electric car revolution in Europe requires a swift change of gear if it is to move from a well-heeled, early-adopters' niche to the mass market. European manufacturers still haven’t got the memo; small is beautiful. If this fails, the ramifications will be political as well as economic. Consumers will have to accept that electric cars, even expensive ones, have serious range limitations. Long trips with the family to southern Spain or Italy for the summer holidays using fast motorways are no problems for an internal combustion engine (ICE). But range anxiety from fast-but-legal motorway driving and poor charging facilities present big hurdles for electric vehicles. Given that 90% of motoring is never much more than 30 miles a day anyway, everyday use won't be much of a problem. You can always hire a diesel for those annual trips to the sun or weekend jaunts. Or take the train. Current electric technology produces, … [Read more...] about Troubles Loom If Europeans Are Denied Cheap Electric Cars

A rare peek inside their agricultural empire shows how Stewart and Lynda Resnick are going all-in on the innovative citrus fruit. By Chloe Sorvino , Forbes Staff On a sunny 58-degree day in Delano, California, Zak Laffite walks through groves of trees where he grows a special kind of lemon, and then stops to explain how harvest works. “What we want is the tree to justify how much fruit comes off,” Laffite says. “We don’t want it all to come off at the same time. We basically say, just give me a little bit.”Laffite picks off a lemon. He quickly takes a knife from his pocket and slices open the fruit to reveal the inside: no seeds, with a thin white rim around the edge and a light yellow rind . “We’ll come in here and if the fruit’s this size, it’s ready to come off. If it’s colored up, we’ll get it as well,” Laffite says. That first pick will leave two-thirds of the lemons still on the trees. More lemons are picked off in a couple weeks. Then there’s a third round. … [Read more...] about Seedless Lemons Are The Next Big Bet From The Billionaires Behind Halos, Pom Wonderful And Fiji Water