Tuesday, 22 December 2020

Mining fed boss nabbed for gold smuggling

HARARE: Zimbabwe police on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) arrested the boss of a miners' federation, previously CEO of the football association, for allegedly seeking to smuggle six kilograms of gold overseas.

Henrietta Rushwaya, 53, president of the Zimbabwe Miners Federation changed into busted at the main worldwide airport in Harare with the valuable mineral in her bag as she checked in for a flight to Dubai.


Police stated the gold is valued at around $366,000 (310,000 euros). In a tweet, the police said Rushwaya changed into nabbed after "scanners at the airport checkpoint indicated that there has been some thing in her hand bags."

"Searches found out that the suspect had 6.09 kilograms of gold which had now not been legally and properly cleared with customs and relevant offices for export," police said. "This is a suspected smuggling case," they added.
The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) has implemented stricter accreditation and tracking of category societies for secure operations of all Philippine registered ships.
Marina issued Memorandum Circular No. MS-2020-01, which revised the rules at the accreditation of local classification societies (LCS) and entities for the cause of class of ships inside the domestic change.
Marina stated it'd conduct a random audit of LCS to verify its compliance with the satisfactory management device and countrywide regulation. An extra audit would be carried out to LCS on every occasion their classed ships got concerned in a totally critical maritime twist of fate.

LCS have to follow accreditation to Marina with a corresponding charge of P100, 000, that is valid for 5 years.
In case, the certificates of accreditation (COA) is suspended, withdrawn or canceled, the ships that had been issued with the elegance certificate ought to accept reasonable time, however now not to exceed six months, to switch to every other LCS with legitimate COA after the failure of the said LCS to correct or rectify findings.

The LCS is responsible for informing the Marina, at least three days previous to the conduct of the activity of the independent frame auditors.

In case of switch, LCS must have approaches at the switch of class, whether losing or gaining.

"Should the employer decide to switch from one LCS to any other, the dropping LCS ought to right now turn- over all the facts of the ship involved to the gaining LCS," the MC read.


The losing elegance should transmit within 15 days from notice from shipowner to the gaining elegance the ships' data consisting of fantastic recommendation which changed into no longer but complied.

Marina said new certificate for the ship should be issued by using the gaining LCS most effective after all overdue surveys have been satisfactorily finished and all late pointers or overdue conditions of class formerly issued in recognize of the deliver had been finished as distinct with the aid of the losing LCS.

The LCS became obliged to submit quarterly reviews and documents, which consist of an updated list of technical employees involved in class services, technical advisory, technical committee or elegance rule approving body. The accomplishment document ought to include preliminary surveys, renewal surveys, the once a year survey, and sophistication transfer.

The LCS should straight away tell the administration through any manner viable, of any risky occurrences, injuries, equipment or structural breakdowns or disasters that require instant restore or repair by way of a given due date that they may be aware of on a deliver.
Marina stated COA can be suspended if corrective actions had been not completed in the agreed schedules, which must now not typically exceed 3 months.

The COA ought to be withdrawn three months after a suspension under those occasions which include no action taken by means of LCS or after constantly failing to close out non-conformances referred to above.

Marina said failure to conform with any provision of this Circular can be fined P100, 000 for a primary offense, P100, 000 plus suspension of COA for six months for second offense, and cancellation of COA for a 3rd offense. Marina delivered that if LCS were located to be supplying classification services without a legitimate COA, it will likely be fined P300, 000 in keeping with deliver.

Monday, 21 December 2020

FB solidifies grip on gaming business

SILICON VALLEY: Facebook on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) positioned its spin on cloud gaming by way of letting players instantly hop into an array of cell video games at the social network without downloading apps — but gained't be offering the service for Apple iOS gadgets.


Vice president of play Jason Rubin stated that Facebook is not spinning off a cloud gaming carrier along the traces of Google Stadia and Microsoft xCloud, which provide console-best titles hosted on line.

The new Facebook capability is designed to permit players begin games on the social community then switch to downloaded cell apps with out dropping any development it wouldn't synch with iPhones due to "manipulate" exerted by using Apple, in step with Rubin.

"Unfortunately, we're no longer launching cloud video games on iOS, so only Android and net gamers will revel in included cloud games on Facebook at the same time as we paintings on opportunity options for iOS," Rubin stated in a blog put up.
"Apple treats video games in a different way and keeps to exert manage over a totally valuable aid. "

Excluding iPhones and iPads from the Facebook cloud video games providing is the ultra-modern dig at Apple for its tight grip on the App Store, which is the sole source of content material for the organisation's coveted cell gadgets however takes a 30 percent reduce of transactions.

Some developers say Apple takes too huge a chunk of the revenue and continues inflexible rules which could hamstring services competing with the ones of the iPhone maker. Fortnite-maker Epic Games has taken Apple to court docket over the practice.

Apple has argued its App Store grants billions of bucks to unbiased builders, and that its practices are reasonable as compared with other virtual marketplaces. Only those gambling with Android-powered cellular devices or through web browsers will be able to combine with cloud games on Facebook for now, Rubin said.


Games made available in the cloud at Facebook may be accessed right away within the software or in browsers, in line with Rubin. Some 200,000 humans in line with week played cloud-streamed video games at Facebook in the course of a tribulation run in a few areas, in line with Rubin.

"We love console and PC gaming and both codecs might be round for a long time," Rubin stated. "We consider cloud gaming will growth—no longer update—the options to jump into great games."

Gaming at Facebook dates returned to its early days whilst "Farmville" by Zynga become an obsession for many users.

Sunday, 20 December 2020

FB solidifies grip on gaming business

SILICON VALLEY: Facebook on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) put its spin on cloud gaming by way of letting players right away hop into an array of cell games on the social community without downloading apps — however received't be providing the service for Apple iOS devices.


Vice president of play Jason Rubin stated that Facebook isn't always spinning off a cloud gaming carrier alongside the lines of Google Stadia and Microsoft xCloud, which give console-first-class titles hosted on-line.

The new Facebook functionality is designed to let players start games at the social network then transfer to downloaded cellular apps with out losing any progress it wouldn't synch with iPhones due to "manage" exerted with the aid of Apple, in keeping with Rubin.

"Unfortunately, we're now not launching cloud games on iOS, so only Android and net gamers will revel in incorporated cloud video games on Facebook while we work on alternative options for iOS," Rubin stated in a blog submit.
"Apple treats video games in a different way and keeps to exert control over a very treasured resource. "

Excluding iPhones and iPads from the Facebook cloud games supplying is the modern dig at Apple for its tight grip on the App Store, that is the sole supply of content material for the corporation's coveted cell gadgets however takes a 30 percentage reduce of transactions.

Some developers say Apple takes too huge a bite of the revenue and maintains rigid rules that could hamstring services competing with the ones of the iPhone maker. Fortnite-maker Epic Games has taken Apple to court over the practice.

Apple has argued its App Store grants billions of dollars to impartial builders, and that its practices are reasonable as compared with other digital marketplaces. Only the ones playing with Android-powered mobile devices or through web browsers could be able to combine with cloud games on Facebook for now, Rubin said.


Games made to be had inside the cloud at Facebook can be accessed right away in the software or in browsers, according to Rubin. Some 2 hundred,000 people in keeping with week played cloud-streamed games at Facebook at some point of a trial run in some regions, in step with Rubin.

"We love console and PC gaming and both codecs could be around for a long time," Rubin said. "We consider cloud gaming will growth—no longer update—the alternatives to jump into fantastic video games."

Gaming at Facebook dates returned to its early days when "Farmville" by using Zynga changed into an obsession for lots customers.

Saturday, 19 December 2020

SEC issues guidelines for conversion to one person corporation or ordinary stock corporation

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued the hints on the conversion of groups either to a one man or woman enterprise (OPC) or to an normal stock corporation (OSC) through SEC Memorandum Circular 27, Series of 2020 (SEC MC 27, s. Of 2020). This is in line with Sections 131 and 132 of Republic Act No. 11232 or the "Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines" (RCC), which allows the conversion from an OSC to an OPC, and an OPC to an OSC respectively. SEC MC 20, s. Of 2020 took effect on Oct. 16, 2020.


SEC MC No. 27, s. Of 2020 is divided into 3 elements: the primary part relates to conversion from OSC to OPC; the second element, conversion from OPC to OSC; and the 1/3 component on provisions common to each kinds of conversion. Below are a number of the salient functions of SEC MC 27, s. Of 2020.

Conversion from OSC to OPC

A herbal character of felony age, a believe, or an property (single stockholder) may observe for the conversion of an OSC to an OPC if he has obtained all of the OSC's extremely good capital stocks and has received the required certificate authorizing registration or tax clearance from the Bureau of Internal Revenue. The conversion can also then be processed as an modification of the articles of incorporation (AOI) through the submission of the required files to the SEC (Section 1, SEC MC 27, s. Of 2020).
Once the SEC problems the certificate of submitting of the amended AOI reflecting such conversion to an OPC, the OSC's AOI and Bylaws shall be deemed superseded (Section 2, SEC MC 27, s. Of 2020) and the OPC converted from an OSC shall prevail the latter and be legally accountable for all of the latter's great liabilities as of the date of approval of the conversion (Section 4, SEC MC 27, s. Of 2020). Please take observe that the unique SEC registration wide variety will nonetheless be retained however the company name will endure the OPC suffix (Section three, SEC MC 27, s. Of 2020).

Conversion from OPC to OSC

Once the shares in an OPC ceases to be entirely held by using a unmarried stockholder, a conversion to an OSC may additionally come into vicinity. This may be achieved after due observe to the SEC of such facts and of such circumstances leading to the conversion, and after compliance with all of the requirements for an OSC. The fee determines, after assessment of the documentary requirements, if such conversion is relevant (Section 7, SEC MC 27, s. Of 2020).

Following the switch/s of stocks in an OPC wherein there at the moment are as a minimum two stockholders in what turned into once the OPC, a note of conversion of an OPC into an OSC will be filed with the commission within 60 days from such switch/s of stocks. The duration for filing the notice will be found despite the fact that the conversion might be carried out for, or will take area, afterward (Section 8, SEC MC 27, s. Of 2020).


However, if the awareness is filed beyond the 60-day length from the switch of shares, the conversion into an OSC may also nonetheless be authorized however is already concern to prior payment of penalty if found answerable for the violation of Section 132, when it comes to Section 158 of the RCC on administrative sanctions, after due observe and listening to (Section 10, SEC MC 27, s. Of 2020).

The OPC's AOI will be deemed outmoded once the SEC problems the certificates of filing of the amended AOI reflecting such conversion to an OSC (Section 11, SEC MC 27, s. Of 2020) and the OSC transformed from an OPC shall be successful the latter and be legally liable for all the latter's amazing liabilities as of the date of conversion (Section thirteen, SEC MC 27, s. Of 2020).

The certificates of filing of amended AOI and bylaws shall nevertheless endure the authentic SEC registration number. Please note additionally that the "OPC" suffix ought to be removed (Section 12, SEC MC 27, s. Of 2020).

Provisions commonplace to both varieties of conversion

Below are the commonplace provisions to both types of conversion:

The signatory or signatories in the AOI of the transformed enterprise need to truly kingdom that they voluntarily agreed to the conversion applicable to them (Section 15, SEC MC 27, s. Of 2020).

The motive of the nature of the conversion from an OSC to OPC will be deemed as optional; while for the conversion from an OPC to OSC, this is taken into consideration obligatory, unless when the winding-up and dissolution are appropriate (Section sixteen, SEC MC 27, s. Of 2020).

In case of opposition or dispute bobbing up from the conversion, the aggrieved birthday celebration can also file a established petition for cancellation of the issued certificates with the SEC's Company Registration and Monitoring Department (CRMD), at the floor of fraud in the procurement, according with the SEC's relevant laws and other guidelines or issuances (Section 18, SEC MC 27, s. Of 2020).

Friday, 18 December 2020

Is the government underestimating infections?

In principle, we should be glad that a central database on the epidemic has been created. They unloaded a teenager who showed them how to do it. And we become so paranoid that we want to look for communications specialists among laboratory workers, " says Alek Tarkovsky, president of the Digital Center Foundation.



While the number of people hospitalized due to COVID-19 is falling, and all signs in heaven and earth indicate that there will be no need for a "National Quarantine," the debate over data on the epidemic is raging on professional and social media. All this is due to the deterioration of the economy, among other things. In connection with the quarantine, the question of work is acute,and many move to the online sphere, knowing that you can earn additional income, as
deltamarket broker does  many professions in connection with the pandemic were called into question.

So far, district and regional sanitary and epidemiological stations have published on their websites data about their region-the number of detected infections, deaths, recoveries, hospitalizations, quarantines and people under epidemiological surveillance. They did this because it was their job to prepare the reports they submitted to the Ministry of Health. It was in the SEZ that the laboratories reported on the number of tests carried out and positive results. The health resort, in turn, published daily data across Poland on social networks.


All this information was summarized and published on one sheet m.in 19-year-old Michal Rogalski. he did it as a social activity. its aggregated data and graphs have been used by the media, as well as by research groups dealing with the epidemic.

What happened to the thousands of infections?


Before the data disappeared from sse websites, rogalski found discrepancies between the number of infections reported locally in mazowiec and those reported by the ministry of health. We were talking about tens of thousands of cases that were not in the data of the Ministry. The case was all the more important because at the time, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki declared a "national quarantine" if the number of infections in Poland rose above a certain level. If you add up these "lost infections", then this is how it should be.

Morawiecki announced, however, that infections are falling and there will be no blockage. this has raised suspicions among many social media users that the authorities are manipulating the numbers. The Ministry attributed this to errors and delays in reporting and reporting them by various methods. However, suspicions were further heightened when it became clear that partial data had disappeared from the pages of the GSE-acting Chief Health Inspector Krzysztof Sachka banned their publication. On the same day, the official Central Data Service started working in the evening. This did not allay my suspicions.

The central database was made possible by the introduction of the EWS system, in which laboratories directly report test results, and sanitary and epidemiological stations-on quarantine information. Previously, sanepid-before the pandemic, the most underfunded and least digitized government agency-inserted them into Excel spreadsheets. However, the new public database is incomplete compared to the data collected by volunteers. In addition, according to biqdata, some private laboratories have not yet received keys to the EWS database, and therefore the data provided is incomplete.

In EYE. press, we write that the data that should first be considered when analyzing the course of the epidemic is primarily data on hospitalizations, patients in serious condition and deaths. the number of detected infections is less significant, because it depends on too many factors-the adopted testing strategy, the percentage of positive results, and delays in reporting.

And we talk about digitalization, the availability of public data, conspiracies and distrust of government with Dr. Alki Tarkovsky, a sociologist and president of the Digital Center Foundation, which has been promoting the principle of open access to data and other public resources for a decade.

Digitization – somehow we will climb up


Milada jendrysik: We met 10 years ago when you were a digital expert in Prime Minister Tusk's team of advisers. the plans for digitalization of the state were ambitious at that time, and the future was bright. And a little on this plan ended. After 10 years and 10 months of the epidemic, the Ministry of Health has finally spat out a central database on it-so far incomplete. Previously, the best database on COVID-19 was managed by 19-year-old Michal Rogalski.

Alek Tarkovsky: Digitization is still not so good. On the one hand, open data is well known. There is a page dane.gov.pl from which you can download multiple databases.

Finally, the pandemic has accelerated the digitalization of healthcare-an electronic prescription has appeared, and an electronic patient bill is being distributed. And here is EWS, a database of infected and quarantined people, from which data about the epidemic is downloaded to the site gov.pl, almost just started to fully function.

What has been implemented in recent years is the participation of citizens in the legislative process-for political reasons. Let's agree that previous governments had problems with this, but everything was going in the right direction. New platforms for social consultations are being developed. Over the past five years, this process has completely collapsed. It is clear why-if even the parliament does not process the laws correctly, then where can citizens make any comments?

Nevertheless, in fairly objective ratings of open data, we somehow climb up, although the availability of this data is still average. However, in the former digitization department, which is now included in the CPRM, there is a great awareness of this problem. It has not yet reached other institutions, but the process continues.

The slogan of open data has always been, in my opinion, non-political, in any case, it was the policy of the authorities-the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management, for example, lived with forecasts and refused to publish their data. But this was not a "big" policy, but a certain culture of the organization.