Chongqing Angel Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital has been cooperating with illegal surrogacy agencies, a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo said on Sunday. The Weibo post on the hospital was one of the top trending items on Monday, drawing hundreds of comments. "This industry always seems to have existed," said one comment by a user called Wensheng. Another user called XJ said: "This is an industrial chain, not something that can be accomplished by one person." It suspended a hospital and judicial institute in Wuhan in November after they were accused of surrogacy and issuing fake paternity results.
Source:The Standard
May 06, 2024 14:31 UTC
Philippines to host 1st UN 'gastronomy tourism' event in JuneThe Cebu lechon was also recently featured in Netflix’s original series “Street Food.”MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will host the first United Nations forum on gastronomy tourism for the Asia-Pacific region in June, a two-day event that seeks to raise awareness on the potential for culinary delights to boost a country's tourism industry. Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said that the gastronomy tourism forum will "showcase how significant food is to our culture, and highlight our gastronomic delights and the Filipinos who excel in this craft." The United Nations defines gastronomy tourism as a type of tourism activity which is "characterized by the visitor's experience linked with food and related products and activities while travelling." The DOT is set to feature the Philippines' two main gastronomy tourism programs, the Philippine Eatsperience and the Philippine Experience Program (PEP). The PEP recognizes the "pivotal role of food and gastronomy in shaping the country’s tourism landscape."
Source:Philippine Star
May 06, 2024 14:31 UTC
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Monday the country will not use water cannons or any offensive weapons in the South China Sea. The last thing the Philippines wants to do is to raise tensions in the strategic waterway, Marcos told reporters. Last week, Manila protested Beijing's use of water cannons against Filipino vessels at a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, describing it as harassment and "dangerous manoeuvres", after a rise in tensions in recent months. China claims sovereignty over much of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. An international tribunal in 2016 said China's expansive claim had no legal basis, a decision Beijing has rejected.
Source:The Standard
May 06, 2024 09:40 UTC
Two additional residential care homes for the elderly, located in Foshan and Shenzhen respectively, have been registered under the Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong (GDRCS) starting today. The scheme provides an option for the Hong Kong elderly on the waiting list for subsidized care and attention places to choose to live in Guangdong care homes. The two newly added care homes are operated under partnerships formed by city's private organizations and mainland elderly service operators. One of the care homes located in Nanhai District of Foshan, sized over 120,000 square feet and offering 326 beds, of which 200 will be reserved for Hong Kong elders. Yeung, a resident of the care home for almost a year, expressed her satisfaction with the facilities and life there.
Source:The Standard
May 06, 2024 07:32 UTC
Marcos orders agencies to create masterlist of government-owned landsPhoto from the Office of the Press Secretary shows housing units in Naic, Cavite. MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the creation of an inter-agency coordinating council that will complete an inventory of all government-owned lands for its strategic use. 21, the government will use the masterlist to ensure the efficient and effective allocation and utilization of the country's land resources, including idle lands owned by the government. Last year, the president issued Executive Order 34 that reserves vacant government lands for housing projects that offer socialized housing schemes for families with no permanent home. These projects fall under the Pamabsansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino program, the government's flagship national housing project.
Source:Philippine Star
May 05, 2024 20:47 UTC
That came in a joint appeal by 15 medical groups, including the Hong Kong Paediatric Society, the Hong Kong Society for Infectious Diseases and the Hong Kong Geriatric Society, along with Legislative Council members David Lam Tzit-yuen and Rebecca Chan Hoi-yan. They emphasized the "absolute necessity" of vaccinations for high-risk individuals in order to prevent severe illness, hospitalization and even death. "They can also bring viruses back home, putting high-risk individuals at risk." The medical professionals stressed the importance of parents and caregivers taking high-risk individuals to get vaccinated against both seasonal flu and Covid-19 as soon as possible to safeguard their health. The girl passed away on April 29 after being infected with influenza A, marking the third death of a child due to seasonal flu within a two-week period.
Source:The Standard
May 05, 2024 19:14 UTC
China's National Committee for Disaster Reduction has issued an emergency notice recently to require all relevant departments to make comprehensive efforts to thoroughly investigate and address the hidden risks of disasters in infrastructure such as highways during the flood season. The collapse trapped 23 cars under nearly 18 meters of road, covering approximately 184 square meters. Also, for railway lines, special attention should be given to inspecting risks of disasters such as flash floods, mudslides and landslides. For tourist attractions, particular attention should be given to inspecting safety hazards such as large-scale amusement facilities, flash flood channels, rock collapses, and loose mountain slopes, according to the notice. Beginning on Saturday, there will be a surge in return travel for the May Day holidays across different regions, resulting in heavy traffic on expressways and major national and provincial highways.
Source:The Standard
May 05, 2024 18:22 UTC
'This charade must stop:' DND denies backing 'new model' with ChinaGilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. holds his first press briefing as the newly appointed secretary of the Department of National Defense (DND) in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on June 07, 2023. MANILA, Philippines — The Department of National Defense has denied greenlighting a supposed "new model" between the Philippines and China as claimed by the Chinese Embassy on Saturday, describing the embassy's statements as a "charade" that "must stop." The Chinese Embassy said that the supposed "gentlemen's agreement" or the "new model" was meant to be a confidence-building measure to avoid conflicts and had "nothing to do with each country's sovereign positions." Rebuffing China, Teodoro said that he had barred all contact between teh DND and the Chinese Embassy since the courtesy call of Ambassador Huang Xilian since July 2023. "During the said courtesy call, there was no discussion or briefing on any "gentleman's agreement" or "new model", which is contrary to the Chinese Embassy's pronouncements," Teodoro said.
Source:Philippine Star
May 05, 2024 17:08 UTC
SRINAGAR, India: A member of India's air force was killed and four more injured when suspected rebels ambushed a military convoy in Indian-administered Kashmir, an official statement said, as campaigning for national elections continues in the disputed territory. The convoy was attacked by an unknown number of armed militants who sprayed automatic rifle fire towards at least one air force truck in the mountainous Poonch area, 200 kilometers south of the main city of Srinagar, the air force said in a statement. Five air force personnel were hit in the firefight late Saturday and "one Air Warrior succumbed to his injuries later," it said, identifying the dead man as a corporal. In April, three suspected rebels were killed and a police officer and three soldiers wounded in three separate clashes across the territory. Voting in India's six-week-long national election, which started last month, will end on June 1.
Source:Manila Times
May 05, 2024 16:06 UTC
Ralph Layco, a young man born and raised in General Santos, was fortunate to have a father like Hector who operated a successful steel fabrication business. Growing up under the guidance of his father, Ralph learned the value of passion and determination in achieving one's goals. These lessons would eventually inspire him to create New Bold University, a concept born out of his own personal experiences and the realization that many others shared similar needs. Get the latest newsdelivered to your inbox Sign up for The Manila Times newsletters By signing up with an email address, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Source:Manila Times
May 05, 2024 09:24 UTC
CONSUMER groups and tobacco harm reduction advocates in the Philippines welcomed the US Food and Drug Administration Center for Tobacco Products' (FDA-CTP) commentary, concluding that smoke-free products have lower health risks than cigarettes. The FDA-CTP commentary, titled "Nicotine e-cigarettes: Considerations for health care providers," noted that "non-combustible tobacco products, such as e-cigarettes, generally have lower health risks to the user than combusted tobacco products." It discusses the considerations health care providers should take when talking to adults about the relative risks of different tobacco products. "With smoke-free products, smokers could significantly reduce their exposure to toxic chemicals." The commentary stressed that youth should not use any form of tobacco products.
Source:Manila Times
May 05, 2024 04:05 UTC
Writing in his blog on Saturday, he added that some 76 percent of vehicles have set up automatic payments for the toll fees as well. Lam noted that the service provider has designed a delicate software to enhance its efficiency in identifying the license plates and has stepped up training for frontline workers. The government will continue to closely monitor the work of the service provider in charging the toll fees, he added. The government is now preparing future arrangements at full speed for Tai Lam Tunnel, the private operation right of which is set to expire next May. By then, all government tunnels will implement the HKeToll scheme, Lam said.
Source:The Standard
May 04, 2024 21:02 UTC
The Commission on Higher Education (CHEd), the University of the Philippines, and 15 State Colleges and Universities (SCUs) sign a memorandum of agreement on Friday, May 3, 2024, where UP Los Banos College of Agriculture would hold free online review classes for at least 500 students taking the licensure exam. Video by Red MendozaGet the latest newsdelivered to your inbox Sign up for The Manila Times newsletters By signing up with an email address, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Source:Manila Times
May 04, 2024 20:03 UTC
Jay Tarriela, spokesman for the National Task Force-West Philippine Sea, presents the results of a Marine Resources Assessment conducted on Pag-asa Island in March. In a press conference on Saturday, May 4, 2024, Tarriela, along with Jay Batongbacal, a maritime law expert, and Dr. Jonathan Anticamara of the University of the Philippines Institute of Biology, said that the island near the WPS was in a 'degraded' state with low coral and fish diversity and abundance. While the findings did not explicitly identify China as the responsible party, 'only China has access, with its Coast Guard and Maritime Militia frequently observed swarming the area,' said Tarriela. Video by John Orven Verdote
Source:Manila Times
May 04, 2024 19:59 UTC
South and Southeast Asian countries have been coping with a weekslong heat wave rendering record high temperatures that have posed a severe health risk. In the Philippines, India and Bangladesh, officials have told students to stay home and do their lessons remotely. Schoolchildren eat ice lollies sitting on a scooter on a hot summer day in Lucknow, India, Friday, May 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) A schoolgirl takes a drink on a hot summer day in Lucknow, India, Friday, May 3, 2024. A boy plays in the Arabian Sea on a hot summer day in Mumbai, India, Thursday, May 2, 2024.
Source:Manila Times
May 04, 2024 18:10 UTC