Organ donor withdrawals seemingly done 'for fun'
Previous NextLorraine ChiangFour men - including a 19-year-old student - arrested in connection to the organ donation registry saga could have committed the alleged criminal acts "for fun," police said. The four, aged between 19 and 47, were held for accessing a computer with criminal or dishonest intent, allegedly stealing other people's information to register and withdraw from the organ donation registry. Any person who obtains access to a computer with intent to commit an offense, with a dishonest intent to deceive, with intent for dishonest gain or with a dishonest intent to cause loss to another are liable on conviction to imprisonment of up to five years. On May 22, the Health Bureau said an "abnormally high" 5,785 withdrawals from the organ donation registry were recorded from January to May this year. Tang said the police may make arrests under access to computers with criminal or dishonest intent or even offenses under the national security law.
Source:The Standard
June 05, 2023 19:13 UTC
China to open more science courses at middle schools, include practical experiments in entrance exams
China's Ministry of Education issued guidance on Monday, calling on local governments to open more science courses at middle schools and incorporate experimental operations into high school entrance examinations. Schools, with the aim of promoting students' comprehensive and personalized development and healthy growth, should implement national curriculums of high quality, build a curriculum education system that reflects each school's characteristics, and has a focus on continuous optimization. The guidance also requires local areas to offer science courses and supplement science teachers through various means, including reinforcing interdisciplinary comprehensive teaching, and selecting and promoting a number of excellent cases of interdisciplinary and practical teaching. More importantly, schools are guided to strengthen experimental teaching, emphasize hands-on student experimentation, include the implementation of school laboratory courses in teaching guidance and daily supervision, and incorporate experimental operations into middle school exams. The ministry also detailed that local governments should select a number of science and technology museums, research bases, high-tech enterprises, etc., as primary and secondary school science education practice bases.
Source:The Standard
June 05, 2023 18:56 UTC
Kai reiterates commitment to play for Gilas
Kai Sotto FIBA PHOTO Kai Sotto FIBA PHOTO"I don't get what other people are saying about me not wanting to join; (I'm) not trying to listen to it, but just saying I want to focus on other stuff," he added. The 21-year-old former Ateneo Blue Eaglets' commitment to Gilas Pilipinas' preparation for the upcoming 2023 FIBA World Cup has been questioned due to Sotto's various commitments internationally. The Philippines is co-hosting the FIBA World Cup, along with Japan and Indonesia, which begins on August 25. "I never said no to play for my country because that's my dream ever since I started playing basketball. Gilas is set to resume its training for the FIBA World Cup on Wednesday, June 7, and will leave the country for a series of tuneup matches against Estonia, Finland and Latvia.
Source:Manila Times
June 05, 2023 11:26 UTC
Philippines pitches international law, multilateralism at top Asian defense meet
Philippines pitches international law, multilateralism at top Asian defense meetMANILA, Philippines (Updated 3:50 p.m.) — The Philippines during “Asia’s premier defense summit” stressed the importance of international law and multilateralism as it welcomed support for the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated China's sweeping nine-dash-line claim in the South China Sea. Speaking before analysts, defense and diplomacy officials, and security experts, Defense Officer-in-Charge Carlito Galvez Jr. emphasized the importance of upholding the rule of law and of continuing dialogue with "vital voices" in the international copmmunity. “We realize that right alone, does not make might as it is ultimately your support that will preserve the global order at sea and uphold the universally recognized principles of international law,” Galvez said. READ: G7 declares support for South China Sea arbitral rulingThe Philippines has been dealing with intimidation and harassment by Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea, which China insists is part of its waters. Galvez points to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as a good example of multilateralism that works.
Source:Philippine Star
June 05, 2023 11:00 UTC
Diamond Hill murder suspect sent to psychiatric center as court adjourns case to June 19
The suspect involved in the murder case of two women at Plaza Hollywood in Diamond Hill was sent to Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre after appearing in a Hong Kong court Monday morning. The 39-year-old jobless man, Szeto, was brought to the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Court this morning on two counts of murder. Szeto was arrested on June 2 after he allegedly stabbed two young women multiple times - Lau Kai-hei, 22, and her 26-year-old friend Fong Hiu-tung - with a foot-long knife inside the Diamond Hill shopping mall. Upon the prosecution’s request, Acting Principal Magistrate Cheang Kei-hong adjourned the case to June 19 pending the prosecution obtaining psychiatric reports of the defendant. The defendant did not apply for bail and has been ordered to be remanded at Siu Lam Psychiatric Center until his next court date.
Source:The Standard
June 05, 2023 09:24 UTC
Pamati-an seizes gold, silver in Para Games
(UPDATE) POWERLIFTER Marydol Pamati-an seized a gold and a silver medal in the women's 41-kg class in the 12th Asean Para Games at the National Paralympic Committee Hall in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Sunday, June 4. Pamati-an lifted a total of 216 kg (combined three attempts) to get the gold in total lift. Marydol Pamati-an PSC PHOTO Marydol Pamati-an PSC PHOTOShe could have snatched a second one but settled for a silver after she lost via tiebreak to Indonesian Eneng Paridah even though they both had the best lift of 75 kg. Achelle Guion, a Paralympic veteran, chipped in a couple of silver in the women's 45 kg division. Swimmer Ariel Joseph Alegarbes, the flag-bearer and a triple gold winner in Surakarta, pocketed the silver in the 100 m breaststroke SB14 with a clocking of 1:13.59.
Source:Manila Times
June 05, 2023 04:19 UTC
Cruel joke leads to sacking of insurance manager
Insurance manager Joseph Lam Chok was fired by Prudential for issuing "inappropriate comments" on social media about the horrific murders in Plaza Hollywood. Despite Lam having deleted the Instagram post, commentators on Prudential's statement on Facebook blamed the barrister-turned-insurance manager for being cold-blooded and urged the sector to kick Lam out. A Facebook user, Ringo Pang, said: "I will cease my insurance policies immediately if any of the insurance companies dare to hire him. Lo Candy said online: "Your colleague is making use of such a tragedy to advertise himself, just for boosting his insurance sales. Lam still identified himself as Prudential's senior regional manager on Instagram yesterday.
Source:The Standard
June 05, 2023 02:57 UTC
Philippines COVID-19 positivity rate down 18.6 percent – OCTA
Philippines COVID-19 positivity rate down 18.6 percent – OCTAMANILA, Philippines — The nationwide COVID positivity rate continued to decrease, the OCTA Research group said on Saturday. OCTA fellow Guido David said the COVID positivity rate dropped to 18.6 percent on Saturday from 19.4 percent on June 2. The Department of Health (DOH) recorded 1,337 new COVID cases on June 3. Provinces and regions that posted the most COVID cases were Metro Manila with 389; Cavite, 88; Bulacan, 76; Laguna, 66; Rizal, 58, and Iloilo with 52. Yesterday, the DOH posted 1,272 new COVID cases nationwide.
Source:Philippine Star
June 05, 2023 00:53 UTC
Bayview Park Hotel Manila family treat on Father's Day
FAMILY bonding is all about memories, and Bayview Park Hotel Manila is always there to create those memories worth remembering. Every year, the second Sunday of May is Mother's Day, while the second Sunday of June is Father's Day. Bayview Park Hotel deluxe room overlooking Manila Bay. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOBecause of this celebration, Bayview Park Hotel Manila, tagged as "Your Home By the Bay," offers a long-month treat and promo for the whole family to enjoy and bond with one another and create more fun and priceless memories. For easy and direct booking, get instant confirmation using mobile phone with the app: http://m.facebook.com/appcenter/557935691019132 or email [email protected] and visit http:www.bayviewparkhotel.com/ for more information.
Source:Manila Times
June 04, 2023 22:20 UTC
Fourteen killed in southwest China landslide: government
Fourteen people were killed and five are missing following a landslide in southwestern China's Sichuan province on Sunday, the local government said. "As of 3:30 pm, the remains of 14 victims have been recovered, while five people remain missing," it said. Landslides are a frequent danger in rural and mountainous parts of China, particularly during the rainy summer months. A 7.9-magnitude quake in 2008 left more than 87,000 people dead or missing, including 5,335 school pupils. And around 40 people were working underground when a gold mine in the northwestern Xinjiang region collapsed in December.
Source:The Standard
June 04, 2023 17:32 UTC
World Bank, ADB offer to bankroll govt food stamp program
The World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have offered to finance the Marcos administration's food stamp program that aims to support one million "food-poor" families from 2024 to 2027, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Saturday. The "Walang Gutom (No Hunger) 2027" program will require an annual budget of P40 billion to provide the targeted beneficiaries P3,000 worth of food stamps per month. "But since we have discussions with development partners such as ADB, there are others, like the World Bank. Punay said the DSWD will pilot the program from July to December with a $3 million (P168 million) technical assistance from the ADB. Punay said the credits are not convertible to cash and cannot be withdrawn from an automated teller machine, like the cash grants under the "Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program," a conditional cash transfer program.
Source:Manila Times
June 04, 2023 13:04 UTC
Indian railways minister says signaling system error led to crash that killed over 300 people
The train derailment in eastern India that killed more than 300 people and injured hundreds more was caused by an error in the electronic signaling system that led a train to wrongly change tracks, India’s railways minister said Sunday. The train entered another line, known as the loop line, and crashed into a goods train parked there, PTI said. In 1995, two trains collided near New Delhi, killing 358 people in one of the worst train accidents in India. In 2016, a passenger train slid off the tracks between the cities of Indore and Patna, killing 146 people. Most train accidents in India are blamed on human error or outdated signaling equipment.
Source:The Standard
June 04, 2023 09:37 UTC
China warns 'NATO-like' alliances could lead to conflict in Asia-Pacific
China's defence minister warned Sunday against establishing NATO-like military alliances in the Asia-Pacific, saying they would plunge the region into a "whirlpool" of conflict. Li's comments echoed long-held Chinese criticism of the United States' efforts to shore up alliances in the region and counter China's rise. The United States is a member of AUKUS, which groups it with Australia and Britain. Li sought to paint the United States as the trigger of regional instability, and China as seeking to ease tensions. "It cannot be denied that if a fierce conflict or confrontation occurs between China and the United States, it would bring unbearable pain for the world," he said.
Source:The Standard
June 04, 2023 09:08 UTC
Philippines receives over 390K bivalent COVID doses from Lithuania
Philippines receives over 390K bivalent COVID doses from LithuaniaThe first batch of bivalent COVID-19 vaccine doses, which were donated by the Lithuanian government, arrived in the Philippines late Saturday evening on June 3, 2023. MANILA, Philippines — The first batch comprising 390,000 COVID-19 bivalent doses arrived in the country late Saturday evening, the Department of Health said. Bivalent vaccines are meant to target both the original COVID-19 strain and its Omicron subvariants, which caused a wave of COVID-19 infections in the country late last year. READ: Bivalent jabs to become 3rd booster for HCWs, seniorsThe DOH said it will release separate guidelines for the rollout of the bivalent vaccine to the general population. The latest data available on the DOH website showed that the government has administered over 179.046 million COVID-19 vaccines as of March 19.
Source:Philippine Star
June 04, 2023 07:51 UTC
Watchdog calls for regulation of 'colored smokes' after 20 students fall ill in Bacolod
Watchdog calls for regulation of 'colored smokes' after 20 students fall ill in BacolodMANILA, Philippines — The EcoWaste Coalition called on the government to test and regulate smoke-producing devices called "colored smokes" or "smoke bombs" to ensure public health and safety following an incident in Bacolod City. At least 20 students from Bacolod City College felt dizziness and hyperventilation after colored smoke was used as props during a Physical Education culmination in Bacolod City College (BCC) on Monday. "Regulating colored smokes will help in avoiding smoke inhalation and chemical exposure incidents, which can be dangerous, especially for children and youth, the elderly and people with asthma and chemical sensitivities." One of the students reportedly purchased the product online as props for their performance inside BCC’s activity center. "It is essential that chemicals used to produce colored smoke are non-toxic and are clearly identified on the label.
Source:Philippine Star
June 04, 2023 05:54 UTC