Latest news with #BNO
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GMA Network
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
Does AZ Martinez think Ralph De Leon sent her romantic signals? Actress answers
Does AZ Martinez think Ralph De Leon sent her romantic signals? AZ appeared on Wednesday's 'Fast Talk with Boy Abunda' alongside her PBB duo, River Joseph, and she was asked about the varying interpretations of Ralph's behavior towards her, with some saying that he was romantic towards AZ. 'For me po, wala po talaga akong nakitang signal. I didn't get any mixed signals at all talaga kasi ever since after 'yung boys' night out, 'yung sa loob ng bahay ni Kuya, he cleared up everything to me,' AZ said. (For me, I'm not seeing any signals, I didn't get any mixed signals at all because ever since the Boys' Night Out inside the PBB house, he cleared up everything to me.) She appreciated Ralph's directness and how honest and straightforward he was with her about how he really feels. 'After the BNO, kinausap niya ako na he just wants me to know na may mga nasabi siya sa loob, 'yung confessions, gano'n niya. Pero he doesn't want me to think that there's more meaning to it,' AZ said. (After BNO, he talked to me. He just wants me to know about something while inside the house, in the confessions. But he doesn't want me to think that there's more meaning to it.) Per AZ, she was OK with the clarification. When asked if she was heartbroken over Ralph, AZ said no and explained the broken heart gesture she did was merely a joke. When asked if she liked Ralph, AZ said, 'I'm not sure if tatawagin kong like. Pero there were moments na kinilig din ako sa kanya. Kinilig. And I admire him for how he is.' (I'm not sure if it constitutes a like. But there were moments when I was kilig with him. I admire him for how he is.) AZ and Ralph are being shipped by the AzRalph fans because of their chemistry and frequent moments inside the PBB house. They started out as the RAZ duo, and their closeness eventually led to them getting teased often. Both of them later denied having feelings for each other, but how they acted towards each other when they got drunk made fans wish that the ship would sail. Following their exit from PBB, the two captured their first-ever selfie together outside the house, sparking kilig vibes among fans anew. They also made fans kilig with their first TikTok entry together, hopping on the "Lasik" trend song. In a previous interview, Ralph said he and AZ are 'very good friends' for now. — Carby Basina/LA, GMA Integrated News
Korea Herald
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Belgian National Orchestra to make Korea debut, reuniting with pianist Paik Hae-sun after 34 years
BNO and pianist to tour six cities in Korea The Belgian National Orchestra will make its long-awaited Korean debut this fall. From Sept. 24 to 30, the ensemble will present six performances across the country, beginning at Seoul Arts Center. The program will feature Paik Hae-sun, one of Korea's most iconic pianists and a renowned educator, in a long-anticipated reunion with the orchestra after 34 years. Paik will join the BNO and conductor Antony Hermus to perform Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5, the 'Emperor.' Their last collaboration dates back to 1991, when Paik was a finalist at the Queen Elisabeth Competition, performing Tchaikovsky's "Piano Concerto No. 1" and Patrice Challulau's "Vers La Cite Du Chagrin" under the baton of Ronald Zollman. The BNO, which serves as the resident orchestra of Brussels' BOZAR Centre for Fine Arts, is a longtime partner of the Queen Elisabeth Competition. Paik placed fourth at the 1991 Queen Elisabeth Competition, which is still the highest result for a South Korean pianist, matched only by Han Ji-ho in 2016. While Korean musicians have taken top prizes in violin, voice and composition categories, the piano division remains elusive. Paik, now 60, made history as a laureate of nearly every major international competition she entered, became the first Korean pianist to sign with EMI ClassicsCand was appointed to the faculty of Seoul National University at age 29. The tour will feature a traditional repertoire, opening with the overture to Mozart's "La Clemenza Di Tito," which was composed in the final year of his life. The second half will feature Brahms' "Symphony No. 1." Dutch conductor Hermus, who took over as music director of the Belgian National Orchestra in 2022 following Hugh Wolff's tenure, will be returning to Korea for the fourth time. He previously led the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra in 2016, 2018 and 2019. Both Hermus and Paik are deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of musicians. Hermus holds visiting posts at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam and the National Master of Orchestral Conducting program, and regularly teaches at the Sibelius Academy and the Royal Northern College of Music. Paik serves as chair of the piano department at the New England Conservatory and continues to mentor young talents, including 2025 Long-Thibaud winner Kim Se-hyun. The BNO traces its origins to the Brussels Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1931 by Belgian conductor Desire Defauw (1885-1960). In 1936, the ensemble was renamed the Belgian National Orchestra, which is considered its official founding year. The Korean tour will include stops at Andong Arts Center in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, on Sept. 25; Gyeonggi Arts Center in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, on Sept. 26; Gongju Culture and Arts Center in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province, on Sept. 27; Daegu Concert House in Daegu on Sept. 28; and Goyang AramNuri in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on Sept. 30 as part of the DMZ Open Festival.
HKFP
27-06-2025
- Politics
- HKFP
Man under post-jail supervision order files legal challenge after being blocked from leaving city to study abroad
A Hong Kong man under a post-prison supervision order after being convicted of 2019 protest offences has filed a legal challenge against authorities for barring him from leaving the city to study abroad. To Kai-wa on Wednesday filed an application for a judicial review at the High Court against the Correctional Services Department's (CSD) decision, which blocked him from leaving Hong Kong during his post-release supervision, according to local media reports. Judicial reviews are considered by the Court of First Instance and examine the decision-making processes of administrative bodies. Issues under review must be shown to affect the wider public interest. To, who was jailed for five and a half years in 2021 for biting off part of a police officer's finger during a protest, was released from prison on October 25, 2024. But he remained under the CSD's supervision order, which is effective until August 26, 2026. He applied in January this year to the CSD's Supervision Case Review Committee to leave for the UK after receiving a conditional offer to study law at the University of Birmingham. But the committee rejected To's application in April and later rejected his appeal. According to To's court filing, the CSD's committee said To did not 'demonstrate sincere remorse and reflection' and had not undergone 'full rehabilitation and deradicalisation.' The committee also said that since To holds a British National (Overseas) (BNO) passport, he could apply for British citizenship during his studies there and abscond from the supervision of Hong Kong authorities. The committee said the British government had interviewed a person who was wanted for endangering national security and breaching a supervision order, an apparent reference to pro-independence activist Tony Chung, who fled to the UK in December 2023 while he was under post-release supervision. Chung, formerly the convenor of the now-disbanded pro-independence group, was sentenced to three years and seven months in jail in 2021 after pleading guilty to inciting subversion and money laundering. He is among 19 overseas activists wanted by Hong Kong police for alleged national security offences. The committee said it believed that the British authorities would not extradite To back to Hong Kong in the case of him breaching his supervision order. It said To could remain in Hong Kong to study instead of going abroad. In his court filing, To's lawyers said the committee's decision had excessively restricted To's freedom of movement protected under the law. They argued that studying law abroad would improve To's understanding of the rule of law, and therefore would contribute towards the protection of national security and his rehabilitation. To was not admitted into law programmes in the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the University of Hong Kong, whereas the City University of Hong Kong had yet to inform him of his application results, his lawyers said. That means To may not be able to study law if he has to stay in Hong Kong, they added. The lawyers also argued that To's BNO status and the case of a breach of supervision order by another person were irrelevant considerations for the CSD in To's case. They asked the court to handle the application before August 22 so that To could confirm his enrolment at the university before September 4.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oil ETFs Down Despite Surging Middle East Tensions
Oil prices dropped on Monday, even as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East escalated sharply since the weekend. WTI crude surged as much as 4% overnight following reports that the U.S. had bombed Iranian nuclear facilities. But those gains quickly reversed, with prices last down more than 4% midday. The United States Oil Fund (USO) and the United States Brent Oil Fund (BNO), which track oil futures contracts, declined around 3% during the session. Even reports that Iran had launched missiles at U.S. military bases in the region failed to spark a lasting rally in crude. Traders have been closely monitoring developments in the Iran-Israel conflict, particularly after the U.S. became more directly involved with its weekend strikes. One of the biggest concerns is the possibility that Iran could attempt to close the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow chokepoint through which more than 20 million barrels of oil pass daily. However, analysts view that scenario as a last resort. Iran itself relies on the strait to export crude, primarily to countries like China, and any disruption would risk significant blowback. The U.S. and its allies are expected to respond aggressively to any attempt to block the waterway. While the conflict adds a layer of uncertainty to oil markets, traders remain cautiously optimistic that global supply will remain largely unaffected. WTI and Brent are up 16% since the start of June, but they've lost 1% year to date as ample supply continues to cap broader gains. FactSet data as of June 23, 2025. Price returns over one year are annualized. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has raised production multiple times this year, keeping a lid on prices. Still, USO and BNO are up more than 7% in 2025, as the two oil ETFs benefit from favorable futures market dynamics, such as backwardation and yield earned on collateral held in Treasury | © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved
Sky News
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Govt urged to keep citizenship promise to Hong Kongers - after threat to double timeline
The government should honour its promise to Hong Kongers to gain settled status after five years - not a proposed 10 years, MPs have urged. People who fled Hong Kong for the UK on the British National Overseas (BNO) humanitarian visa say they have been left in limbo after the immigration white paper last month said the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain (settled status) would be extended from five years to 10 years. The government has said it is consulting on whether Hong Kongers will be included in that extension, but has not given a timeline for when it will decide. Hong Kongers have been able to come to the UK under the BNO visa since 2021, with the promise of gaining the right to work and live without any limits (settled status) after five years, then to apply for British citizenship a year later. MPs with large Hong Kong populations in their constituencies are calling for the government to honour its initial promise. They say changing it could undermine confidence in the UK's immigration system and that the country has a "duty" to welcome those fleeing repression. Lord Patten, the last governor of Hong Kong and patron of campaign group Hong Kong Watch, said "rewriting the terms of the promise would be disastrous for the UK's legitimacy on the world stage". Hong Kongers have told Sky News they have had sleepless nights since the announcement, with many concerned about the government's commitment to them and the financial implications of having to pay international university fees for their children because of their status. Govt is breaching relationship Stella, 50, from Sutton, moved to the UK in 2021 and her two sons are set to go to university from next year, when they should have settled status and pay home fees, but will have to pay international fees for five years if the period is doubled. She said: "This was a binding relationship, we uprooted everything in Hong Kong, packing up our whole life was not an easy thing, the cultural and language barriers, the UK economy isn't good - there are many challenges, but we've been so dedicated to integrating and planting our roots here. "Now the government is trying to breach the original relationship, it's made us feel very uncertain. "I agree on strengthening the border but why don't they concentrate on illegal immigrants? We contribute financially and socially, BNO holders should not be the target group." My son's fencing career is at risk Kolman, 55, came to the UK in 2022, and said extending the five years could be the difference between his son being able to compete for Team GB in fencing or not. "My son is at uni now and was invited to join the national team but, because of his status he can't, but he could in a couple of years with settled status," he said. "If it gets extended to 10 years, he may already be in the last chapter of his sporting life." 1:50 UK integrity will be same as Hong Kong Ivan, 50, from Sutton, came to the UK in 2022 with his wife and two sons and said he was anxious and his son might have to go to university in Hong Kong because of the international fees. He said: "I am disappointed. The reason I came to the UK was the loss of integrity of the Hong Kong government, but if the settled status period is doubled with such short notice, I think the integrity of the UK government will be the same as the Hong Kong government. "The terms were quite clear. "My quality of sleep is really bad recently as I'm so anxious, my whole plan will be destroyed, I've just bought a house in Sutton. My biggest concern is the university fees and the NHS fee, which is a lot of money." UK has duty to Hong Kongers James Naish, the Labour MP for Rushcliffe near Nottingham, said the UK "has a duty to welcome those fleeing repression in Hong Kong". "To fail to maintain the five-year pathway for BN(O) visa holders would potentially permanently damage the government's standing with Hongkongers, hundreds of thousands of whom have placed their trust in the UK and uprooted their lives to seek a safe haven in Britain," he added. A vital lifeline Nadia Whittome, the Labour MP for Nottingham East, said the five years to settled status had "provided a vital lifeline to those fleeing repression" and said it "isn't fair" to change the time period now. "A 10-year wait for settled status would have huge practical implications for people who are eager to rebuild their lives in our country," she said. "We must honour the terms that Hong Kongers, and other migrants, have arrived on." Moral targets Clive Jones, the Lib Dem MP for Wokingham, said: "This isn't about migration targets, it's about moral targets. "Changing the rules halfway through undermines confidence in our immigration system. "We lose our credibility if we fail to protect those we welcomed, and we gain nothing by disrupting the lives of those already contributing." A Home Office spokesperson said: "We are committed to supporting members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK and those who may come here in future.
