SPORT Andrew Bogut's Golden State Warriors lose NBA thriller to Spurs

 

Chicago Bulls stun Miami Heat in game one

Chicago Bulls stun defending champions Miami Heat on the road in game one of their second round playoff series.

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Golden State centre Andrew Bogut, right, and San Antonio's Kawhi Leonard go after the ball during game one of their NBA playoff series. Picture: Darren Abate Source: AP

GOLDEN State suffered a heartbreaking 129-127 defeat to the San Antonio Spurs in game one of the second round of the Western Conference playoffs today.

A three-pointer by Manu Ginobili with 1.2 seconds left proved to be the game-winner, finishing off a Warriors squad that led by as much as 18.

The Warriors got 44 points and 11 assists from Stephen Curry, who played 58 minutes. But the Warriors' defence couldn't stop the Spurs onslaught. San Antonio point guard Tony Parker scored 16 of his 28 points after the third quarter to lead the Spurs to the come-from-behind victory.

The Spurs closed the fourth quarter on an 18-2 run to send the game to overtime.

In today's other game, Nate Robinson led the injury-hit Chicago Bulls to a stunning 93-86 upset win over reigning champions Miami Heat in the opening game of their NBA second round series.

"We've been hit all year with a lot of different things, but I like the mental toughness of our team," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. "This is just one game."Robinson finished with 27 points and nine assists for the Bulls, who snapped the Heat's 27-game winning streak during the regular season and have now handed them their first loss in their last 13 games.

Robinson played with 10 stitches in his mouth after hitting his face on floor. He left the game to get medical attention but returned later.

"It was just a hustle play that went wrong," Robinson said. "You have to play through it."

James had 22 of his 24 points in the second half for Miami, which lost its third game in its last 44 going back to February 3.

Miami will also host game two on Wednesday in the best of seven series.

The Heat, who had been idle for the past week, looked rusty down the stretch and the Bulls scored the last 10 points.

The Heat's superstar trio of James, Wade and Chris Bosh combined for just 12 points in the opening half, their lowest first-half total of the season.

The Bulls bottled up James late in the fourth as they appear to have developed a formula this season for beating the mighty Heat.

"Our offence was not as fluid and efficient as it normally is, and you have to give credit to their defence for that. We need to show more poise, patience and aggressiveness," Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra said.

After Chicago ended Miami's 27-game winning streak during the regular season, James complained about the Bulls physical play, especially the defence of Kirk Hinrich and Taj Gibson.

James didn't have to contend with injured Hinrich on Monday, but he did have his hands full with the rest of the Bulls' balanced attack.

On top of missing Hinrich and injured former MVP Derrick Rose, Luol Deng also didn't play against Miami with complications from a spinal tap procedure.

Deng, 28, underwent the spinal tap last week to rule out meningitis.

The complications from the procedure led to further problems. Deng reportedly had to return to a Chicago emergency room on Sunday morning after being released from the hospital Saturday.

Injuries aside, the Bulls showed their depth as five players finished in double figures, including forward Gibson who came off the bench to score 12 points.

Jimmy Butler had 21 points and 14 rebounds, while Joakim Noah added 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Bulls, who held a commanding 46-32 advantage on the glass and a 17-8 edge in second-chance points.

Since the 2005-06 season, the teams have met in the playoffs four times, including a Chicago series sweep in 2007. The Heat won in 2006 and 2011.

AFP

China sends large fleet to disputed islands

China has sent one of its largest recorded fishing fleets to disputed islands in the South China Sea, state-run media said on Tuesday, amid tensions over Beijing's assertion of its claims in the region.

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Kalayaan island in the Spratlys, a chain of islets in the South China Sea. (AFP/Kayalaan Municipal office/File - Kayalaan Municipal Office)

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BEIJING: China has sent one of its largest recorded fishing fleets to disputed islands in the South China Sea, state-run media said on Tuesday, amid tensions over Beijing's assertion of its claims in the region.

A flotilla including 30 fishing vessels set sail on Monday for the Spratly Islands, an archipelago disputed between China and other countries including Vietnam and the Philippines, the China Daily reported.

The fleet left China's southern province of Hainan for a 40-day trip to the region, the report said, and includes two large transport and supply ships.

Chinese fishing boats regularly travel to the Spratlys, parts of which are also claimed by Taiwan and Brunei, but the fleet dispatched Monday was as large as one described as the biggest ever launched from the province when it set off last year.

China will make "every effort to guarantee the fleet's safety," the report quoted an official from the department of ocean and fisheries as saying.

China and neighbouring countries have long used fishing fleets and maritime patrols to assert their territorial claims, and have upgraded their naval forces in recent years as tensions over claims in the South China Sea have risen.

The Philippines and Vietnam have complained that China is becoming increasingly aggressive in its actions in the area -- such as harassing fishermen -- and also through bullying diplomatic tactics.

The waters around the Spratlys are rich in fishing resources and it is believed they could hold large oil and gas reserves.

Mother Lily’s children out of wedlock FUNFARE By Ricky Lo (The Philippine Star) |

Regal Matriarch Mother Lily Monteverde with Pres. Noynoy ‘P-Noy’ Aquino…

Unless somebody surfaces at the last minute and waves a “birth certificate” claiming that he or she is,ehem, “one of them,” as of press time yesterday (6:30 p.m.), Regal Matriarch Mother Lily Monteverde has publicly recognized 15 “children” out of wedlock (as in mga anak sa labas) in addition to her and (Father) Remy Monteverde’s five legitimate children (Winnie, Roselle, Meme, Dondon and Goldwyn).

No, Mother Lily didn’t give birth to her other children; she very simply claims them as her own.

You guessed it: All 15 are running in the May 13 elections and they swear by Mother Lily’s legendary “Magic Touch” — you know, that her anointed ones believe in their hearts that they are assured of victory. Mother Lily’s “regal” batting average is beyond reproach.

As I was saying, it was Mother Lily who recognized the power of the movie press in spreading the platform of candidates because, as you must have known by now, movie stories are read by people from both the AB and CD crowds, even by those in far-flung places. Mother Lily first did it in 1992 for then presidential candidate Fidel V. Ramos for whom she hosted a movie presscon and a victory dinner for President-Elect FVR. Other candidates followed suit, all of whom Mother Lily has embraced as her children.

During the campaign season, the children seek out their adoptive mother for help, as children of any color, any race and any belief usually do in times of need. Mother knows best.

She could win hands down if ever she run for a public office but Mother Lily would rather stay in the background, acting as the wind beneath her children’s wings, basking in their victory and without expecting anything in return. It’s a mother’s unconditional love.

Entertainment ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

What makes Mother Lily an effective endorser, with the highest credibility quotient among showbiz endorsers (bar none!), doing so without being paid (unlike star endorsers who earn millions by simply raising the hand of a candidate…easy does it, see?) and, in fact, spending her own money by hosting movie presscons for them, gratis et amore?.

And what are her criteria in taking a candidate under her wings?

“I only support senatoriables who I believe can help the country. I endorse only those whose values and principles are remarkable. Some of them have approached me, some are truly good friends. I like to help that’s why I am doing this,” said Mother Lily who calls every one of her (political/adoptive) children “anak.”

Here are Mother Lily’s mga anak sa labas (at random, since she plays no favorites):

• Pres. Noynoy “P-Noy” Aquino who touched Mother Lily’s heart when he visited her at home after she was diagnosed with an early-stage lung cancer.
• Sen. Loren Legarda (consistent topnotcher in surveys): An original anak way back when, who remembers Mother Lily even in off-campaign seasons.
• Former Sen. Dick Gordon: He’s Mother Lily and her daughter Roselle’s partner in Red Cross projects.
• Grace Poe: Mother Lily has known her since she was a child because Grace’s parents did movies for Regal.
• Bam Aquino: “A goal-oriented person who lets his work speak for itself.”
• Risa Hontiveros: Whose initials are stamped on the widely-debated RH Bill that she helped pass.
• Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte: Whose family is the Monteverdes’ long-time friends.
• Sen. Chiz Escudero: As far as Mother Lily is concerned, he can’t go wrong.
• Former Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar: The “wonder woman” who has initiated innovative projects with Water Lily (made into bags, baskets, etc.).
• Nancy Binay: Said to be the silent political strategist of her father, Vice Pres. Jojo Binay.
• Sen. Antonio Trillanes: Mother Lily would love to film his colorful life story.
• Former Cagayan Rep. Jack Enrile: “I believe he can put food on every Filipino family’s table.”
• Sen. Allan Peter Cayetano: “I will never forget when he brought me a bouquet of get-well-soon flowers.”
• Sen. Koko Pimentel: At yesterday’s presscon, he served fresh buko, as if to say, “Drink coco, think Koko!”
• Sen. Gringo Honasan: Like Father Remy, a proud native of Sorsogon (where Father Remy’s dad was known as Copra King).

New sex 'superbug' may be more infectious than AIDS

WASHINGTON: Doctors are warning of a new sexually-transmitted superbug which they fear could ultimately prove to be even more deadly than AIDS.

The antibiotic-resistant strain of gonorrhoea - now considered a superbug - was discovered in Japan two years ago.

Experts have warned that the bacteria's effects could match those of AIDS.

"This might be a lot worse than AIDS in the short run because the bacteria is more aggressive and will affect more people quickly," said Alan Christianson, a doctor ofnaturopathic medicine.

Even though nearly 30 million people have died from AIDS related causes worldwide, Christianson believes the effect of the gonorrhoea bacteria is more direct, 'CNBC News' reported.

"Getting gonorrhoea from this strain might put someone into septic shock and death in a matter of days. This is very dangerous," Christianson said.

"It's an emergency situation. As time moves on, it's getting more hazardous," said William Smith, executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors.

This gonorrhoea strain, HO41, was discovered in Japan two years ago in a 31-year-old female sex worker who had been screened in 2009.

Since it resists current antibiotic treatment, the strain has been placed in the superbug category with other resistant bacteria, such as MRSA and CRE.

These superbugs kill about half the people they attack, and nearly one in 20 hospital patients become infected with one, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Though no deaths from HO41 have been reported, efforts to combat it must continue, Smith said.

"We have to keep beating the drum on this. The potential for disaster is great," he said.

Cops seize firearms, ammunition from Negros mayor's house

Police seized a cache of high-powered firearms and ammunition from the residential compound of a Negros Occidental town mayor during a predawn search Thursday.

The Philippine National Police used a search warrant to inspect the compound of Pulupandan Mayor Magdaleno Peña, radio dzBB reported.

Peña was not at home at the time the raid was conducted, but may face charges of illegal possession of firearms, Western Visayas police head Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. was quoted in the dzBB report as saying.

Among the high-powered firearms seized from the house were an AK-47 assault rifle, an M-16 rifle and a shotgun, along with a cal-.45 pistol.

The PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group was still conducting an inventory of the firearms and ammunition found in the raid as of Thursday afternoon, the dzBB report said.

Police have been intensifying their efforts against illegal firearms as the campaign period for the May 13 elections is in the homestretch. — BM, GMA News

Bersih's Ambiga turns up at MCA event

Lu Wei Hoonq

6:51PM May 2, 2013

For the first time today, Bersih co-chairperson S Ambiga attended a function organised by the ruling BN coalition BN, with MCA Cherasparliamentary candidate Teoh Chee Hooi.

Speaking to a 50-strong crowd at the Cheras MCA service centre this afternoon, Ambiga stressed on the eight demands of Bersih during her entire speech, and also criticised MCA-controlled English dailyThe Star.

She said that The Star has been playing up on political violence on its front page and that this was equivalent to creating fear among the citizens.

"It shouldn't do that. The press has to be more responsible... The Star can change its policy from now and do the right thing," she said in response to a question from the audience.

Last Saturday, The Starpublished a report titled ‘Surge in political violence', in which instances of political violence that took place between the BN and Pakatan parties were also compiled.

Pointing out that the press does have a great influence, Ambiga urged The Star and the other mainstream media to stand with the people and report the truth during the election.

"To be fair, it is not the reporters' problem. I think they do stand up. If 20 of you say, ‘Sorry, we are not going to allow our reports to be abused in this way,' then maybe something will change."

Speaking to a 50-strong crowd at the Cheras MCA service centre this afternoon, Ambiga stressed on the eight demands of Bersih during her entire speech, and also criticised MCA-controlled English dailyThe Star.

She said that The Star has been playing up on political violence on its front page and that this was equivalent to creating fear among the citizens.

"It shouldn't do that. The press has to be more responsible... The Star can change its policy from now and do the right thing," she said in response to a question from the audience.

Last Saturday, The Starpublished a report titled ‘Surge in political violence', in which instances of political violence that took place between the BN and Pakatan parties were also compiled.

Pointing out that the press does have a great influence, Ambiga urged The Star and the other mainstream media to stand with the people and report the truth during the election.

"To be fair, it is not the reporters' problem. I think they do stand up. If 20 of you say, ‘Sorry, we are not going to allow our reports to be abused in this way,' then maybe something will change."

She also urged the National Union of Journalists to stand up and defend the interests of journalists.

"We must draw the line when there is a misrepresentation. We must draw the line when the report turns out to be a lie."

Ambiga also said that she had stopped buying The Star for a long time, except for the weekends, "as I couldn't get The Malay Mailthen", to which the crowd broke out in laughter.

Regarding allegations that MCA had put up slanderous advertisement against its opponent DAP, Teoh said he will bring up the matter to the party central leadership.

However the final decision, he added, is up to the leadership.

He also concurred with Ambiga that journalists should not report based on personal emotion.

‘BN shouldn’t use 1Malaysia logo’

During the question and answer session, a member of the audience alleged that the BN has abused the 1Malaysia logo, to which Ambiga agreed.

Owing to the government funding to build up the 1Malaysia programme and activities, Ambiga said BN should not use it to campaign, saying “It is our money!”

She also slammed the Election Commission for failing to take action against vote-buying.

Despite it being an MCA event, there were fewer party members compared to activists and members of the public.

The audience threw tough questions at Teoh, but the latter responded with smile.

However, there was a minor scuffle when the audience did not agree with Teoh’s statement on whether MCA is afraid of Umno.

“If there is fair play, you should let me speak,” he said, while urging the audience to calm.

Questioned later, Ambiga was surprised that there had been no tough question to her from MCA members as expected.

“I thought I would be under the spotlight and I am happy to take tough question from the floor.”

However, she appreciated Teoh’s invitation and hoped they could could have another round of discussions.

Unperturbed at possible party action

Asked about the small turnout of MCA members, Teoh explained that most of the members have been going campaigning.

Despite being a BN candidate, he agreed that there should be clean and fair elections, but not street demonstrations.

As such, he said he is unperturbed on whether the party leadership would take action on him for inviting Ambiga.

Canadian faces child prostitution charges in Cambodia

A Canadian man reportedly from Vancouver faces child prostitution charges in Cambodia after he was arrested last weekend at a hotel in Siem Reap, where he was allegedly found with a 14-year-old girl as well as pornography and erectile enhancement pills.

Police received a tip and on Friday raided the room of Vijai Indra Kumar at the Hilton Angkor resort in Siem Reap, the Phnom Penh Post reports.

Police told the newspaper the 14-year-old girl was cowering naked in the bathroom.

"We found many obscene discs and medicine to make someone strong during sex," said Chea Heng, deputy chief of the provincial anti-human trafficking and children protection office.

Kumar appeared in court on Saturday.

On a previous visit to Siem Reap, Kumar was picked up by police but not charged after what police believed was suspicious contact with a young bookseller, Heng said.

Kumar has been charged with preliminary child prostitution charges, the provincial deputy prosecutor told the Post.

Kumar's wife of 47 years, Shanti, told the CBC she was shocked by the charges. She told the broadcaster her husband travels to Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos on solo trips every year.

http://www.torontosun.com/2013/05/02/canadian-faces-child-prostitution-charges-in-cambodia

Legarda: New York condo duly declared; fellow Team PNoy bet behind smear drive

By Cathy Yamsuan

Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines — Having had enough, re-electionist Sen. Loren Legarda has lashed out at a publicist she identified as “Willie F.” who she claimed had been hired by a fellow senatorial candidate to dislodge her from the top spot in surveys.

Legarda called a press conference at the Team PNoy headquarters in Makati City to respond to allegations that she had failed to include in her statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) a Park Avenue apartment in New York City and a mansion reportedly worth hundreds of millions of pesos in Forbes Park.

The senator initially presented a certification signed by her lawyers indicating that the New York apartment had been listed in her SALN since 2007 when she won a fresh term after losing the  vice presidential race to fellow broadcaster Noli de Castro in 2004.

Legarda said the property was purchased while she was still married to former Batangas Gov. Antonio Leviste. Their marriage has been annulled.

A greater part of the news conference, however, centered on how Willie F. had allegedly sent to journalists “column feeds” about her supposed efforts to conceal the New York property and her eventual decision to reveal it only in her 2011 SALN submitted at the height of the impeachment trial of then Chief Justice Renato Corona last year.

It would be recalled that Corona’s failure to include significant assets such as condominium units and dollar deposits in his SALN convinced senator-judges to convict him of culpable violation of the Constitution and other offenses.

“The certification I have in my hand, prepared by my lawyers, is clear: The SALN I filed on June 30, 2007 includes the New York property subject of the black propaganda, described as ‘Other Investment’ in Annex A,” Legarda’s prepared statement said.

She noted that in that SALN, she disclosed the property having an amount of P7,175,000 “equal to one-fourth of the total investment in the acquisition of apartment amounting to P28,700,000.”

“Beginning December 31, 2007 up to December 31, 2010, the same property was also included in the SALN described as `Equity in Real Property,’ also one-fourth of the total P 28,700,000,” the statement said.

“As of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2012 the New York property was also included in my SALN described as `Real Property-USA,’’’ it added.

Legarda named Philippine Star columnist Domini Torrevillas and Alvin Capino of Business Mirror as just two of the columnists who alerted her about e-mails supposedly sent by Willie F. with a request that these be used.

Legarda provided reporters with photocopies of an e-mail message apparently forwarded to her by Torrevillas.

Dated “1 May 2013,” the e-mail said: “Dear Domini, Hope you can use this for your col (sic) … Best regards, Willie F.”

The column feed is titled “Is Legarda the lady (sic) Corona?”

“Hindi ko po alam kung sino o baka naman kilala po nyo. Nakalulungkot na ang black propaganda nanggagaling po sa isang PR (public relations officer) ng isang senatorial candidate,” Legarda told reporters.

Her voice suddenly shaking, the senator added: “Kailangan na akong magsalita at di maaari na kung sinong malinis ang siyang binabato. (I have to speak out and somebody who is clean should not be hit.) The number one senator does not run away.”

Legarda said that apart from her, this rival was also targeting a third senatorial candidate who was also doing well in the surveys until recently.

“The other target is slowly going down because of their efforts,” she noted.

Reporters peppered Legarda with questions about Willie F. and his client.

Legarda would not reveal their identities on camera, only hinting that her rival was a male reelectionist senator who also spread wild rumors about President Aquino’s mental health during his presidential run in 2010.

“He is known in the media as ‘Boy Kuryente (bum steer),’” she added. Apparently, the moniker was coined when the senator’s allegation against Mr. Aquino was later debunked.

Legarda said she had a talk with the President before calling reporters. “Thank you for your patience, Loren,” she recalled the President telling her on the line.

She said she reminded the President that the other candidate also spread nasty rumors about his mental health when he ran for president in 2010.

Legarda added that Sen. Franklin Drilon, who managed the Team PNoy senatorial campaign, had given her permission to use the Makati headquarters after she told him of what the other candidate had been doing.

It would be recalled that Legarda first revealed the alleged effort to pull her down from first place in surveys after her appearance in the first Inquirer Senate Forum held in Diliman, Quezon City.

She told the Inquirer at the time that another candidate among those enjoying a comfortable ranking in the surveys was behind text messages maligning her.

Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/401289/legarda-new-york-condo-duly-declared-fellow-team-pnoy-bet-behind-smear-drive#ixzz2SDLTh3Sa 

Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook

Fire guts LP's Maguindanao headquarters

By John Unson

COTABATO City, Philippines - Fire razed the campaign headquarters of the Liberal Party in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao on Wednesday night.

The owner of the building, government health worker Rissie Jumalon Torres, had earlier relocated outside of Maguindanao after allegedly receiving threats from groups trying to convince her to shut down the LP campaign headquarters.

Sultan Kudarat’s municipal fire chief, Mojaherin Gampon, said the fire that struck the LP headquarters in Barangay Bulalo, a thickly populated area in Sultan Kudarat and, subsequently, also razed two other houses.

Gampon said they have yet to determine the cause of the fire.

Senior Inspector Robert Papa, chief of the Sultan Kudarat municipal police, told Catholic station dxMS on Thursday via telephone that Torres had indeed reported having received threats from people in connection with having leased her property to an LP candidate for mayor of the municipality.

“She only had it recorded. She did not execute any sworn statement, or filed charges against those that allegedly threatened her,” Papa told dxMS.

The property of Torres was rented by Musib Salipada, LP’s official bet for mayor of Sultan Kudarat pitted against Shameem Mastura of the United Nationalist Alliance.

The provincial chairman of UNA for Maguindanao, Hadji Tucao Mastura, said the fire could have been deliberately staged to derail his candidacy for the top elective post in the province.

Mastura, who is incumbent mayor of Sultan Kudarat, said he has ordered the local police to provide security to the occupants of the LP campaign headquarters owing to the possibility they could be blamed if something happens to its occupants.

“It’s fabricated. There seems to be pre-emption (of the incident),” Mastura said in a separate phone interview with dxMS here.

Are Facebook Users Peaking? Beware of the Missing Mobiles

By Tom Gara

“Facebook profits rise despite drop in US users”

That was a pretty serious sounding headline over at the Guardian yesterday, which led into a story with some big numbers:

“Facebook has lost 10 million users in the US and seen no growth in monthly visitors in the UK over the past year, according to data from market research firm Nielsen.

Research shows that the number of unique visitors to the Facebook website from computers, smartphones and tablets has fallen from 153 million in March 2012 to 142 million in March this year, having peaked at 158 million last August.”

Those numbers are hinted at in other recent stories suggesting Facebook’s user base might be peaking, but as the Guardian points out, Facebook has said “the number of users accessing from personal computers is falling, while traffic from mobile devices is surging.”

It might be tempting to read declining logins to Facebook.com as declining Facebook usage — and we all love a good how-the-mighty-are-falling story — but in this case, beware of misreading the numbers. Website use might be heading down, but that’s because of the huge shift to mobile currently taking place.

And as Nielsen itself says, the numbers quoted in this Guardian story actually refer to traffic to Facebook.com from PCs, not phones. While some mobile users still log in through the browser on their phone, Nielsen measures that traffic separately, and says those users are well outnumbered by the 99 million people who checked in through Facebook’s smartphone apps in the U.S. in March 2013. That is up from 62 million a year ago, and those extra 37 million well outnumber the 11 million fewer logins to the website.

So while some web traffic numbers might be down, it’s a mistake to read this as a peak in usage. The company is undergoing an amazing boom in mobile usage, highlighted by its quarterly results released today. From the WSJ’s Evelyn Rusli:

Twelve months ago, the social network barely had a mobile business. On Wednesday, Facebook disclosed how that has changed: Nearly one out of every three dollars it produces now comes from advertising on smartphones and tablets.

The shift came as the Menlo Park, Calif., company posted a 38% revenue rise to $1.46 billion in the first quarter from a year earlier, as net income rose 6.8% to $219 million.

In particular, Facebook’s mobile-ad sales jumped 22% to $374 million from the prior quarter. The company said mobile-ad sales now form 30% of advertising revenue, up from 23% in the fourth quarter and 14% in the third quarter. Results were also buoyed by new targeting tools for advertisers and other new ad products.

Here’s a graph of the mobile-only usage over time, via Matt Lynley’s liveblog of the Facebook earnings call over at Digits.

And even daily active users, the most engaged of Facebook users, are still growing everywhere, in both developed and emerging markets:

See also:
Facebook Earnings: Profit Rises Amid Growth in Mobile – WSJ
Live Recap: Facebook Reports First-Quarter Results – Digits

Android Tablets Edge Out iPad: IDC

Eric Zeman | May 02, 2013 10:55 AM

The global tablet market saw incredible growth year-over-year, jumping 142.4% during the first quarter of 2013. Tablet makers shipped 49.2 million devices, which, according to analyst firm IDC, is more than they shipped during the entire first half of 2012. Apple remained the number one tablet vendor throughout the first three months of the year, but the iPad's overall share of the tablet market has dropped sharply from a year ago.

Apple shipped 19.5 million iPads, giving it 39.6% of the 49.2 million tablets shipped during the period. There's no denying that Apple shipped more tablets than any other hardware vendor. Though Apple saw growth in the number of shipments, increasing 65.3% from 11.5 million in the year-ago period, iOS's dominant position in the tablet market crashed from 58.1% to 39.6%. 

Google's Android platform is now the dominant operating system on tablets worldwide.

Android tablet vendors shipped an aggregate 27.8 million devices, giving Android 56.5% of the tablet market in terms of the operating system. Those same vendors shipped only 8 million tablets in the year-ago period. Android saw 247.5% growth year-over-year.

Microsoft's Windows 8 and Windows RT platforms together saw shipments of 1.8 million, giving them a combined presence of just 3.7% of the market.

[ iPad's diminutive little brother is winning the popularity contest with consumers. Read iPad Mini Eating iPad's Lunch. ]

Looking at the individual hardware makers, it is no surprise to see Samsung in second place behind Apple. Samsung shipped 8.8 million tablets, giving it 17.9% of the market. Samsung saw impressive 282.6% growth from the year-ago period, when it shipped only 2.3 million tablets.

Asus fills out the third spot, with 5.5% of the tablet market, no doubt thanks to continued strong sales of the Nexus 7. It shipped 2.7 million tablets during the first quarter, rising 350% from the year-ago period when it shipped just 0.6 million tablets.

Amazon ranks fourth, with sales of 1.8 million tablets, giving it 3.7% of the market. It, too, saw growth, swelling 157.1% year-over-year.

Microsoft ranks fifth, with sales of about 900,000 and 1.8% of the market.

IDC's numbers differ a bit from those recently shared by competing analyst firm Strategy Analytics. Strategy Analytics broke things down differently, as it chose to largely ignore what it calls "white-box" tablets in its main analysis.

White-box tablets are low-end devices made by one company but sold with another company's brand on the box. Strategy Analytics says the bulk of the white-box tablets sold around the world run Android. It chose to instead compare "branded" tablets from known manufacturers such as Apple, Samsung, ASUS, Microsoft and others in its report. With the white-box tablets off the table, Strategy Analytics says Apple's iPad still maintains the top position in terms of hardware sales and operating system. When you put the white-box tablets back in the picture, though, Strategy Analytics allows that, indeed, more Android tablets shipped than iPads during the first quarter.

The bottom line here is that Google's Android operating system was on the majority of tablets shipped during the first period of the year, putting Apple's iOS-drive iPad firmly in second place.

S&P raises Philippines to investment grade, second after Fitch

By Rosemarie Francisco and Karen Lema

(Reuters) - Standard & Poor's raised the Philippines' credit rating to investment grade on Thursday, the second debt agency to do so in less than two months, putting the Southeast Asian country on track to attract more foreign capital flows which are challenging policymakers.

S&P upgraded the Philippines' foreign long-term debt by one notch to BBB minus, and foreign short-term debt to A-3, with a stable outlook, citing the country's strong external profile, moderate inflation and declining reliance on foreign currency debt.

Most foreign funds are only allowed to hold investment-grade assets rated by either S&P or Moody's Investors Service. The influential JPMorgan Asia credit index (JACI), for example, considers investment grade debt classified by the two agencies.

"Inflows have already been quite strong and are likely to remain a challenge for policymakers as foreign players become more aware of the Philippines as a viable investment destination," said Eugene Low, an economist at DBS in Singpaore.

The upgrade came just a little over four months after S&P raised its rating outlook for Philippine debt to positive from stable in late December, and as the debt watcher downgraded its outlook for the country's larger neighbour Indonesia to stable from positive, citing concerns that much-needed economic reforms were losing momentum in Jakarta.

"There is more evidence of structural economic improvement in the Philippines than in Indonesia in recent years," Credit Suisse economist Robert Prior-Wandesforde wrote in a note.

"Also, the Philippines' so-called macro vulnerability indicators are generally better than those of Indonesia - the exception being on public finances."

Fitch Ratings raised the Philippines' credit rating to investment grade in late March, a first for the Southeast Asian nation, in a move expected to boost investment and lift the country's long-term growth potential.

With investment-grade status from two of the major agencies, the sovereign now becomes eligible to be part of the Barclays U.S. Investment-Grade and Global Aggregate and Asia Pacific IG Aggregate indices, as well as other investment-grade indices from Citigroup.

It is still unclear what weighting the Philippines will have in the key indexes, but tens of trillions of dollars are benchmarked against the Citi and Barclays indexes. Funds that benchmark against the indices will have to buy Philippines government bonds if they don't already own them. <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Full S&P statement link.reuters.com/qet77t

Philippine CDS gap over rival Indonesia at all time high

r.reuters.com/wax86t

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CAPITAL INFLOWS

Foreign capital inflows are already posing challenges for many policymakers across Asia as global investors flock to the region in search of higher returns.

Shielding the peso currency and the economy from the impact of such large inflows have strained the central bank's resources.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando Tetangco said in a statement the S&P upgrade "undoubtedly cements the Philippines' status as an economy with one of the brightest prospects globally," adding that further inflows, particularly foreign direct investments, should increase the country's productive capacity and create more jobs.

He told reporters at the Asian Development Bank annual meeting in India that managing capital flows and inflation were the BSP's key priorities, with the central bank keen to use non-interest rate tools to tackle inflows.

In its statement, S&P said the current and previous governments' improved fiscal flexibility, foreign debt reduction programmes, deeper domestic capital market and recent revenue gains were factors for the ratings upgrade.

"The upgrade on the Philippines reflects a strengthening external profile, moderating inflation, and the government's declining reliance on foreign currency debt," said Standard & Poor's credit analyst Agost Benard.

S&P expected the country to achieve a near-balanced external position helped by persistent current account surpluses driven by strong remittances from Filipinos working abroad, he added.

But S&P noted the country's low revenue base and relatively high, though declining, costs of commercial external debt, as well as other structural impediments to higher growth.

President Benigno Aquino, who took office nearly three years ago, has successfully passed a sin tax reform that raised taxes on alcohol and tobacco, but tax administration remains a challenge. He wants to achieve record economic growth of 8.5 percent under democratic rule before he steps down in 2016 by creating more jobs and increasing income levels in a country where nearly a third of its 96 million people live below the poverty line.

"It is further indicative of sustained confidence in the Philippine economy, of our collective resilience, optimism, and growing potential, amidst global economic uncertainty," Edwin Lacierda, presidential spokesperson, said in a statement.

Philippine bonds were up by half a point due to a U.S. Treasury rally and with the upgrade, they added another half a point on average. The 2037 bond was last seen at 122.75.

Philippines' 5-year credit default swaps (CDS) tightened 2-3 basis points to 84/87 after the upgrade announcement.

The peso closed at the day's high of 41.05 per dollar, after trading weaker for most of the day and against 41.155 on Tuesday.

One-year non-deliverable forwards (NDFs), which have been trading below the spot rate since November and thereby implying expectations for further appreciation in the peso, moved to 40.85 per dollar after the S&P move, from 40.9 before.

Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said the upgrade was a vote of confidence on the Philippines and reaffirmed the country's underlying fundamentals, which have seen investors push prices of its bonds and stocks sharply higher.

"For now, we must redouble our efforts to remove the remaining constraints to our growth if we are to reach even greater heights. The Philippine government will continue to focus on infrastructure development, on creating a larger fiscal space to support social investments, and on further opening up the economy," Purisima said.

The Philippine government expects Moody's, which still rates the country a notch below investment grade, to follow suit. (Additional reporting by Vidya Ranganathan, and Christopher Langner and Umesh Desai of IFR; Editing by Kim Coghill)