Good morning. It’s officially Friday! On this day in 1937, former president Joseph ‘Erap’ Estrada was born.

Stocks

Peso hits near low against the dollar

Local News

🚢 Bracing for Impact: China on Alert as US-Philippine Drills Set Sail

By Tobias Bautista

Amidst the looming shadow of US-Philippine military exercises set to kick off next week, China braces itself, with analysts suggesting the possibility of deploying forces for “up-close reconnaissance”. The annual Balikatan ("shoulder to shoulder”) drills, scheduled from Monday until May 10, will venture into disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) waters, interpreted as a US show of support for the Philippines amidst maritime disputes. Anticipating encroachments into contested waters, analysts foresee China remaining vigilant, closely monitoring developments. With simulated island retakes and precise strikes on the agenda, the exercises hint at preparations for potential conflicts in the West Philippine Sea or Taiwan. The participation of over 16,000 US and Philippine service members, alongside French troops joining for the first time, underscores the drills' significance. Utilizing new military bases, the US aims to bolster its presence in the region, signaling readiness for possible conflicts. As tensions simmer, all eyes remain on the West Philippine Sea with geopolitical stakes running high.

World News

☁ Google’s Storm: 28 Employees Terminated Amid Cloud Contract Protests

By Tobias Bautista

Google terminated 28 employees following protests against its cloud contract with the Israeli government. The company cited disruptions to work and facility access as policy violations. The terminated employees were investigated individually, with Google stating it would continue to investigate and take action as necessary.

In response, Google workers affiliated with the No Tech for Apartheid campaign called the terminations a "flagrant act of retaliation." They emphasized their right to peaceful protest regarding labor conditions.

The protesting faction argues that Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion contract with Google and Amazon, supports the development of military tools by Israel. However, Google maintains that the contract is not directed at sensitive or military workloads.

This incident is not the first time Google has faced internal dissent. In 2018, protests led to the shelving of Project Maven, a military contract involving aerial drone imagery analysis.

🕵️‍♀️ Spying on You

by Titus Bautista

2 men, identified as Dieter S and Alexander J, were arrested by German authorities on Wednesday in the town of Bayreuth, state of Bavaria. It was alleged that Dieter was exchanging information with the Russian Secret Service, that started in October last year. Dieter’s undercover work, which Alexander joined in March of 2024, involved scouting military infrastructure and documenting transport of military goods. Back in December 2014, Dieter was a fighter in one of the armed units of Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), a Moscow-backed region that broke away from Ukraine, until September 2016.

Now why is all this important in Europe’s biggest war? Remember, it’s war time. Germany happens to be one of biggest suppliers of military aid to Ukraine. “It is a particularly serious case of alleged spy activity for Putin’s regime.”, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said. One of facilities the 2 men were spying on included the Grafenwoehr army base - a site where Ukrainian soldiers receive training to US Abrams tank. “Our security authorities have prevented possible explosive attacks that were intended to target and undermine our military assistance to Ukraine”. If you’re into tactics, you’ll know why Germany is so keen on protecting this kind of information. This would make a good plot for a war movie… if only innocent lives were not at stake.

Tech

📞 Later Apple, Huawei’s on the Line

by Tobias Bautista

In a frenzy of tech anticipation, Huawei unleashed its latest gems to the masses: the Pura 70 smartphone series. It's the latest chapter in Huawei's quest for smartphone supremacy, blending sleek design with top-notch performance.

As Huawei fans queued up outside stores in Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, hoping to get their mitts on the Pro and Ultra versions of the Pura 70, one thing was clear: these phones were hot property. Literally. Well, maybe not literally, but they were certainly flying off the virtual shelves faster than you can say "upgrade."

But what's the secret sauce inside these shiny new gadgets? Rumors swirled about a mysterious chip, possibly the Kirin 9010, which promises to be an upgrade from its predecessor. Some brave souls even dared to dismantle their phones on livestream, much to the delight of Huawei aficionados everywhere.

But beyond the tech specs and chip chatter lies a deeper story: Huawei's defiance in the face of adversity. Despite U.S. export restrictions and trade tensions, the Chinese tech titan is flexing its muscle with homegrown innovations like HarmonyOS, aiming to break free from Android's shackles and carve its own path in the smartphone world.

So, whether you're a die-hard Huawei fan or just curious about the latest tech trends, the Pura 70 series is a reminder that innovation knows no bounds, even in the face of geopolitical drama.

Sports

🏀 Sixers secure Playoff spot, Bulls put on a show against Hawks

By Koby del Rosario

In the battle for rights to compete in the Eastern Conference Playoffs, all four Play-In teams showed out with all of their might.

For the No. 7 versus No. 8 game, the Philadelphia 76ers squeaked past the red hot Miami Heat, 105-104, to set up a first round meeting against the New York Knicks. Reigning MVP Joel Embiid and this season’s MIP frontrunner Tyrese Maxey were their usual productive selves with 23 and 19 points apiece. But, it was swingman Nicolas Batum who stepped up and produced 20 points with six threes in the win.

Unfortunately for South Beach, the coming of playoff Jimmy may have to be postponed to a later date. He suffered a hard fall late in the first quarter that had him clutching his right knee. The All-Star continued to play, and still tallied 19 points and five steals on 40 minutes for the game. It’s been announced, however, that Butler will have to sit out a few weeks after an MRI revealed that he is expected to have received an MCL injury.

The Chicago Bulls then emerged from the Atlanta Hawks during their No. 9 versus No. 10 play-in as MIP candidate Coby White was untouchable, notching 42 points, nine rebounds, and six assists. The 131-116 victory arranges a final Play-In game between them and the Heat for the opportunity to play the first-seeded Boston Celtics in the first round.

In the loss, star guard Trae Young scored 22 markers and dished out 10 dimes while swingman Dejounte Murray poured in 30 points.

This coming Saturday morning Philippine time, the final Play-In games will be played for the last spots to compete in the 2024 NBA Playoffs.

News Roundup

• Watch out for flight delays as the “red lightning alert” nears

• The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is crafting a roadmap to revive the fashion, textile sectors.

• Despite a peso slump of 57:$1, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) says it’s not a worry because it’s a case of a strong dollar, not a weak peso

• A lake in Mexico’s 'magical town’ is turning into a bed of rock due to drought, deforestation, and water theft.

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