Current wave of Covid infections to end within this month, health expert predicts
A health expert predicted on Wednesday that the city’s fifth wave of Covid infections will end within April. Speaking on a radio program, infectious disease expert Wilson Lam Wai-shun from the Hong Kong Medical Association said despite the city now recording a downward trend in Covid infections, authorities must take action to prevent the next wave of outbreaks. He expected that the current wave of infections will end within this month. Lam stressed that any relaxation of the measures, including the shortening of the quarantine period for vaccinated inbound travelers, would increase the risk of a new Covid wave. Meanwhile, when asked about the newly discovered hybrid Covid variant XE, Lam said it was still too soon to talk about its influence as there was limited research on it.
Source:The Standard
April 06, 2022 09:42 UTC
Mabuhay Vinyl Corp Notice of Annual Stockholders' Meeting
NOTICE OF ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS' MEETING OF MABUHAY VINYL CORPORATIONTo All Stockholders:Notice is hereby given that the Annual Stockholders' Meeting ("Meeting") of Mabuhay Vinyl Corporation (the "Company") will be held on 28 April 2022, 3:00 p.m. Stockholders may attend and participate by remote communication or by appointing a proxy, such as the Chairman of the Meeting. If you will be appointing a proxy, kindly date, sign, and deliver your proxy form to the Corporate Secretary at Mabuhay Vinyl Corporation, 22F The Salcedo Towers,169 H.V. The guidelines for registration and for participation by remote communication is attached to this Notice and posted on the Company website. Go to the Mabuhay Vinyl Corporation website via this link: http://www.mvc.com.ph/investor-relations/asm2022/;2.
Source:Manila Times
April 06, 2022 06:04 UTC
World Bank: War shocks to drag on Asian economies
The report forecasts slower growth and rising poverty in the Asia-Pacific region this year as "multiple shocks" compound troubles for people and for businesses. Growth for the region is estimated at 5 percent, down from the original forecast of 5.4 percent. The region saw a rebound to 7.2 percent in 2021 after many economies experienced downturns with the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Countries like Malaysia may suffer outflows of currency and other financial repercussions from those changing policies, the World Bank said. That is likely to affect many Asian countries whose trade relies on demand from China.
Source:Manila Times
April 05, 2022 22:39 UTC
'Several dead' in Hungary train crash
BUDAPEST: Several people died in a train crash in Hungary on Tuesday after a van drove onto the rails at a crossing causing the train to derail, Hungarian police said. "Several were injured in the accident and several died at the scene," the police said in a statement, without providing further details. The accident happened near Mindszent, 140 kilometers (86 miles) southeast of Budapest just before 07 a.m. (0500 GMT). According to a statement by the Hungarian state railway MAV, the van entered the level-crossing despite the stop sign showing. "There were 22 passengers on the train, two were seriously injured, eight suffered minor injuries, several of the van's passengers were killed," said the statement.
Source:Manila Times
April 05, 2022 13:51 UTC
Suzuki opens new dealership in Kawit
The new dealership of Suzuki Philippine in Kawit, Cavite boasts of a 360-square meter showroom. The Suzuki Auto Kawit dealership is NXT Mile Motors' first in collaboration with Suzuki. Suzuki Auto Kawit adheres strictly to the corporate standards of the brand. The Suzuki Auto Kawit is now officially open for business. For daily updates on Suzuki, please like Suzuki Auto Ph's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SuzukiAutoPh, follow them on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SuzukiAutoPh and Instagram at @suzukiautoph.
Source:Manila Times
April 04, 2022 22:23 UTC
Bangsamoro chief to Muslims: Set aside politics during Ramadan
ADVERTISEMENTOn Friday evening, the moon sighting groups assigned by Mufti Abuhuraira Udasan of the Bangsamoro Darul Ifta, failed to sight the moon crescent, prompting the Bangsamoro Darul Ifta to decide that Ramadan would begin on April 3. Across Mindanao, more than 13 million Filipino Muslims, started the observance of Ramadan with a 14-hour fast. During Ramadan, Muslims eat two important meals, said Anwar Emblawa, a government employee. During the entire fasting month, Muslims refrain during daylight hours from eating and drinking, smoking and sex, and will aim for general restraint in thought, word and deed. Bangsamoro Interim Chief and Moro Islamic Liberation Front chair Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim greeted his fellow Muslims and urged them to set aside differences in their political views as they observe the holy month of Ramadan.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
April 04, 2022 22:12 UTC
Another draw forces So, Nakamura finals tiebreaker
Wesley So agreed to a quick draw with fellow American Hikaru Nakamura to arrange a playoff tiebreaker in the FIDE Grand Prix finals in Berlin, Germany Sunday. Photo from chessbase.comSo and Nakamura drew after only 14 moves of a Ruy Lopez Berlin via repetition of moves to force the two tiebreaker matches using rapid time control Monday. But regardless of the outcome, So would still end up third overall while Nakamura is the uncontested first. 2 after topping the second leg in Belgrade Serbia also last month. It went to Nakamura and Rapport.
Source:Manila Times
April 04, 2022 17:27 UTC
DSE exam to go ahead as scheduled on April 22, special Covid venues set
Hong Kong’s education chief on Monday announced that the city’s university entrance examination will go ahead as scheduled on April 22. Meanwhile, Yeung said the Education Bureau will set up special examination venues at the community isolation facility at Penny's Bay for Covid-positive candidates or those needing quarantine. Speaking at the same press briefing, education officials said the Penny’s Bay facility will in mid-April start to admit candidates if necessary. Candidates were encouraged to contact authorities before 6.30am on examination day if they tested positive in the morning, to allow authorities sufficient time to arrange designated Covid taxis to bring them to the special venues. Separately, the health officials reminded candidates that they must perform rapid Covid tests before going to the examination center on each examination day, they also candidates not to neglect their positive Covid results to avoid infecting other candidates or invigilators at the venues.
Source:The Standard
April 04, 2022 12:40 UTC
Mass rapid tests could screen out tens of thousands of infections: govt epidemic adviser
Family doctor Edmund Lam Wing-wo, also a government adviser on Covid vaccines, said on Monday that a mass rapid testing exercise at home could screen out tens of thousands of Covid infections, putting hundreds of transmission chains to a stop. The SAR government previously urged all residents across the city to screen themselves for Covid-19 using rapid test kits for three days in a row next week to help authorities identify hidden infections in the community and better assess the true extent of the pandemic. People were encouraged to test themselves from April 8 to 10 using kits delivered to their homes by the government, and report any infections to the authorities within 24 hours. Meanwhile, medical and health services sector lawmaker David Lam Tzit-yuen, worried that citizens’ efforts in the mass rapid testing scheme would go to waste if people do not actively participate in it. He noted that people would be able to get an isolation order from authorities after reporting their positive rapid test results, which could be useful for citizens’ future vaccination or applying for sick leave.
Source:The Standard
April 04, 2022 11:12 UTC
China removes key audit hurdle
BloombergChina modified a decade-long rule that restricted offshore-listed firms' financial data sharing practices, potentially removing a key hurdle for US regulators to gain full access to auditing reports of the majority of the 200-plus Chinese companies listed in New York. The revised draft rules deleted the requirement that on-site inspections should be mainly conducted by Chinese regulatory agencies or rely on their inspection results, the China Securities Regulatory Commission said in a joint statement with other regulators Saturday. The CSRC will provide assistance during the process through a cross-border regulatory cooperation mechanism. Meanwhile, all companies listed directly or indirectly overseas will be responsible for properly managing confidential and sensitive information and protecting national information security, according to the statement. The revisions, pending public feedback until April 17, show "China has always been open to cross-border audit cooperation," the CSRC said in a Q&A statement, adding that the move will provide support for "safe and efficient" cross-border cooperation including joint inspections.
Source:The Standard
April 04, 2022 04:36 UTC
COL Financial Group Inc Notice of Annual Stockholders' Meeting
COL FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.24/F East Tower, Tektite Towers (formerly PSE Centre),Exchange Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City PhilippinesCOL Financial Group Inc Notice of Annual Stockholders' MeetingNotice is hereby given that the Annual Stockholders' Meeting of COL Financial Group, Inc. ("COL", the "Corporation, or the "Company"), will be conducted virtually on April 27, 2022, Wednesday, at 2:00 p.m. through https://shareholders.colfinancial.com. AdjournmentOnly stockholders of record at the close of business on March 16, 2022 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, said meeting and any adjournment thereof. Given the current circumstances, stockholders may only attend the meeting by remote communication. The meeting will be streamed live, and stockholders who wish to attend the meeting must register at https://shareholders.colfinancial.com on or before April 11, 2022. Stockholders who wish to cast their votes may vote electronically in absentia using the same platform, or through proxy by appointing the Chairman of the meeting.
Source:Manila Times
April 04, 2022 03:50 UTC
Tax experts clear BBM
Former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.TAX and legal experts are convinced that presidential candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. cannot be faulted for his family's failure to settle its estate tax liabilities. Last December, the BIR sent a letter to the Marcos heirs demanding that they pay the tax dues. "That is why the estate has a separate TIN [tax identification number]," Abella, a tax law professor and bar reviewer, said. One jurist faulted the government for going after the Marcos estate. Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel 3rd wants the BIR investigated for failing to collect the tax due on the Marcos estate.
Source:Manila Times
April 04, 2022 02:22 UTC
20 killed in attack on Burkina Faso gold mine – locals
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso: About 20 civilians were killed in a night attack on a gold mine in Burkina Faso's restive north, local sources said on Saturday (Sunday in Manila). Another local source put the death toll at 22, adding that "women and children" figured among the victims. On March 12, 11 people were killed in an attack on an informal gold mine in northern Burkina Faso. This came two days after a similar attack on another gold mine near the Niger border that claimed some 10 lives. Nearly 80 people have been killed in the last three weeks in attacks blamed on jihadists.
Source:Manila Times
April 03, 2022 22:01 UTC
Quiboloy co-accused to help pin him down
Fake marriages, visasThe fraudulent immigration documents were supposedly used for the fake marriages and visas of the KOJC members to make their stay in the United States valid. “In addition to pleading guilty, De Leon agreed to cooperate in the government’s case,” the DOJ said without giving details of what she may do to help build or strengthen the case against Quiboloy and others. The US justice department said the federal court would soon set a hearing for De Leon to formally discuss her guilty plea. “Once she pleads guilty, De Leon will face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison,” it said. “Many of the workers were moved around the United States to solicit donations as CJF ‘volunteers,’ who were also called ‘full-time miracle workers,’” it added, citing the indictment documents.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
April 03, 2022 04:33 UTC
Fil-Am in Quiboloy fraud scheme pleads guilty
Pastor Apollo Quiboloy. Quoting the indictment, the US Department of Justice said that many of the workers were "moved around the United States to solicit donations as CJF 'volunteers,' who were also called Full Time Miracle Workers." "These workers fundraised for KOJC nearly every day, year-round, working very long hours, and often sleeping in cars overnight,'" it said. The US Department of Justice also indicated that the case of fraud filed against Quiboloy, de Leon and their accomplices was a "superseding indictment" that is linked to the sex trafficking scheme also involving the influential pastor. Quiboloy, who remains at large, is believed to still be in the Philippines, according to the US Justice department.
Source:Manila Times
April 03, 2022 00:01 UTC