LISBON: Many Portuguese petrol stations were sold out Sunday after drivers rushed to fill up before a strike by fuel-tanker drivers kicks off at the height of the summer holidays. “Empty” signs hung on pumps in Lisbon and elsewhere across the country a few hours before the strike was to begin at midnight (2200 GMT). “There was enormous anticipation” by car owners, Prime Minister Antonio Costa said, noting that sales had almost doubled in recent days. An internet site that compiles reports from drivers, https://janaodaparaabastecer.vost.pt, said that almost 15% of the country’s 3,000-plus stations were partially or fully sold out. The open-ended strike appeared certain after an ultimate meeting of unions on Saturday failed to satisfy truck driver’s demands for a pay raise. They staged a four-day strike in April, shortly before Easter weekend, that also caused significant fuel shortages. The truck drivers, led by a union founded in November 2018, … [Read more...] about Portuguese petrol stations run dry ahead of strike
Indestructible vs double strike
Australia fight back in Ashes opener after Broad double
England's Stuart Broad celebrates taking the wicket of Australia's Cameron Bancroft on the first day of the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston BIRMINGHAM (UNITED KINGDOM) - Australia rallied to reach 83-3 at lunch on the first day of the opening Ashes Test at Edgbaston on Thursday after England paceman Stuart Broad struck early to remove openers David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.Joe Root's buoyant England side are looking to round off an already memorable season by completing a World Cup and Ashes double.Cheers and jeers rang around the often-raucous Birmingham ground as Broad's double strike left Australia reeling at 17-2 inside eight overs.Chris Woakes then put the Australians in even deeper trouble when he had Usman Khawaja caught behind for 13.But former captain Steve Smith, like Warner and Bancroft making his return to Test cricket after all three batsmen were given lengthy bans for their roles in a ball-tampering scandal, held firm.At lunch he was 23 not out and Travis … [Read more...] about Australia fight back in Ashes opener after Broad double
Double whammy for Generika-Ayala as Araneta hurt in loss vs F2
Double whammy for Generika-Ayala as Araneta hurt in loss vs F2 Luisa Morales (Philstar.com) - July 28, 2019 - 4:22pm MANILA, Philippines – The Generika-Ayala Lifesavers suffered a double whammy in their loss against the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers on Saturday with captain Angeli Araneta suffering an injury in their Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference match. Araneta went down after an awkward fall in the fifth set with the game tied at 12-all. The skipper racked up 11 points prior to her injury. Seen walking with crutches after the game, the extent of Araneta's injury remains to be seen until Monday. “Tomorrow kasi wala ‘yung MRI, so Monday pa siya mache-check. Siguro seven out of 10 ‘yung sakit — hopefully nothing serious lang talaga,” Araneta said in an interview Saturday. She expressed frustration with the outcome of the match, with the Lifesavers just falling short of dropping the … [Read more...] about Double whammy for Generika-Ayala as Araneta hurt in loss vs F2
Dominguez eyes Customs strike team vs garbage imports
Dominguez eyes Customs strike team vs garbage imports (Philstar.com) - July 11, 2019 - 2:01pm MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Finance said Thursday it ordered the Bureau of Customs to study the possible formation of a special strike team to guard against the entry of waste materials that other countries are attempting to dump in the Philippines. In a statement, Finance Secretary Dominguez III said the strike team that he wants at the BOC will be “akin to a special environmental strike force team that will be activated to guard the entry of hazardous materials in the country.” “It's time we put up something like an environmental unit in the Customs (bureau) to really act on this garbage issue,” Dominguez said. Tonnes of Canadian garbage left in the Philippines for years arrived back home last month, putting an end to a festering diplomatic row that highlighted … [Read more...] about Dominguez eyes Customs strike team vs garbage imports
England vs Australia: Three key Cricket World Cup battles
LONDON: England face Australia on Tuesday (Jun 25) in one of the most eagerly anticipated matches at the World Cup so far.Hosts England have lost twice, against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, while Australia are riding high after five wins out of six, with their only defeat coming against India.AFP Sport looks at three key battles in the match at Lord's:WARNER VS ARCHER: TOP-ORDER TUSSLEJofra Archer has given England's attack a new dimension with his raw pace, taking 15 wickets so far to top the charts at the World Cup alongside Australia's Mitchell Starc and Pakistan's Mohammad Amir.The Barbados-born bowler has linked up well with Chris Woakes and Mark Wood to give Eoin Morgan's side impressive firepower and the ability to decapitate the top order.Warner is right back at the top of the international game after returning from a year-long ban for ball-tampering with something to prove.He scored a relatively sedate 89 not out off 114 balls in Australia's first match against Afghanistan and has … [Read more...] about England vs Australia: Three key Cricket World Cup battles