Maya loan releases hit P34 B

Maya Bank has disbursed over P34 billion in loans as of end-March, with 59 percent of its borrowers accessing credit for the first time through the lender.

Residential, mall growth boost FLI profit

The real estate developer of the Gotianun clan kicked off the year with a 14 percent increase in profit, picking up growth momentum from the residential and mall segments.

Caritas Financial Plans faces possible liquidation

Pre-need firm Caritas Financial Plans Inc. (CFPI) may be liquidated over the next few months after the government placed it under receivership.

Gov't urged to hike, fast-track power investments

The government should increase its investments in the power generation infrastructure and accelerate energy related projects to address the country’s thinning electricity supply, a think thank said.

Market slips from last minute selling

The local stock market yesterday closed the week in the red, as investors went on a selling spree as a response to the news that interest rates may be brought down soon.

Ayala exits Manila Water

Sells remaining stake to Razon for P14.5 B

Timberwolves force Game 7

The Minnesota Timberwolves overwhelmed the Denver Nuggets 115-70 on Thursday to force the defending NBA champions to a decisive Game 7 in their Western Conference semifinal series.

SMB SURVIVES ROS SCARE

The battle-scarred Beermen were made to sweat by youthful but tough Rain or Shine before escaping with a 101-98 win and taking a 1-0 running start in the PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series yesterday.

Lone wolf' charged with assassination attempt on Slovak PM

Slovak authorities charged a man Thursday with attempting to assassinate Prime Minister Robert Fico, saying he acted alone in a politically motivated attack that left the longtime leader in serious but stable condition.

S. Africa makes mockery of heinous genocide case

THE HAGUE AP) Israel told the United Nations’ top court yesterday that a case brought by South Africa about its military operation in Gaza makes a mockery of the heinous charge of genocide.”

Putin pushes trade on final day of China trip

Russian leader Vladimir Putin was in the northeastern city of Harbin yesterday, the fi nal day of a visit aiming to promote crucial trade with China and win greater support for his war effort in Ukraine.

Court orders arrest of 27 Cebu NGO workers

Twenty-seven members of a nongovernment organization in Cebu have been ordered arrested for allegedly financing communist rebels.

Bucor denies whitewash of probe

Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gregorio Catapang Jr. yesterday denounced allegations of a possible whitewash in the investigation of strip searches on female visitors of inmates at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.

Migz: Senate to study divorce bill

The Senate will study the divorce bill, which the House of Representatives passed on second reading on Wednesday.

Zubiri to ask telcos: Boost signal in Pag-asa

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri is planning to talk to telecommunications companies to help boost their networks’ signal here.

DOTr to unconsolidated PUVS: Accept gov't livelihood programs

Department of Transportat ion (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista is urging unconsolidated public utility vehicle (PUV) operators and drivers to avail themselves of the government’s livelihood programs as it starts its anticolorum drive.

Queen Maxima to visit Phl, to push financial inclusion

Queen Máxima of the Netherlands is scheduled to visit Manila next week in her capacity as United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA).

Phl to buy 5 Japan-made coast guard ships

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is set to acquire five new patrol boats from Japan for P23.85 billion.

PCG detains vessel with 7 Chinese crew

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is holding a tanker off Zambales after its seven Chinese crewmembers – who initially did not respond to identification calls – failed to present required documents.

China Coast Guard empowered to detain SCS 'trespassers'

China is now looking at detaining for 60 days without trial suspected violators of its exit and entry laws covering what it considers its territorial waters, including almost the entire South China Sea.

Sandigan ruling on JPE plunder cases out in June

A decade since its filing, the plunder case against Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile, his former chief of staff Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes and detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles will finally be decided next month.

Strong core businesses underpin GT Capital Q1 performance

Conglomerate GT Capital Holdings Inc. delivered higher earnings in the first quarter, bolstered by the strong performances of its core businesses.

Positive foreign, local news buoy stocks

The stock market bounced back on positive cues abroad coupled with expectations on earlier interest rate cuts.

BSP keeps rates on hold as expected

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) hit the pause button for the fifth straight policy meeting as it kept the benchmark interest rates steady yesterday, but it may start cutting borrowing costs as early as August if a sustained downtrend in inflation becomes fully evident.

LOPSIDED DUEL OR MAY MAYHEM?

Moments after Rain or Shine followed defending champion San Miguel Beer to the PBA Philippine Cup semis, coach Yeng Guiao immediately turned on the mental game.

US: Gaza Strip pier project completed

The US military finished installing a floating pier for the Gaza Strip yesterday, with officials poised to begin ferrying badly needed humanitarian aid into the enclave besieged over seven months of intense fighting in the Israel-Hamas war.

Xi rolls out red carpet for Putin

BEIJING (AFP) - Leaders Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin framed their nations' ties as a stabilizing force in a chaotic world as they met yesterday in Beijing, where the Russian president is seeking greater Chinese support for his war effort in Ukraine and isolated economy.

Missing beauty pageant bet: Raps vs ex-cop junked

The charges filed against a former police major and a driver tagged in the disappearance of beauty pageant candidate Catherine Camilon have been dismissed.

NCR wage board sets pay hike consultations

The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in the National Capital (NCR) has set public consultations for the next round of pay hikes.

Solve vote-buying problem first, Comelec told

Instead of granting the Commission on Elections additional powers that could regulate candidates' use of social media, the Comelec should focus on addressing the perennial problem of vote-buying first, Lanao del Norte Rep. Khalid Dimaporo said Wednesday.