Dubai airport CEO sees more countries dropping COVID-19 travel testing rules soon
DUBAI — The head of Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s busiest, said on Tuesday he expects more countries to soon start ending rules for vaccinated passengers to be tested for COVID-19. Dubai airport is forecasting passenger traffic to more than double this year to 57 million from 29.1 million in 2021. That is still far below the 86.4 million passengers the airport handled in 2019, the year before the pandemic struck. Al Maktoum will handle some passenger flights that typically operate from Dubai International during refurbishment works at the main hub that will close one of its two runways for 45 days. ADVERTISEMENTAirlines that operated out of the second airport before the pandemic will continue to operate flights there after the 45 days, Griffiths said.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
February 22, 2022 22:23 UTC
Coming home, travel advisory, presidential debates, atbp.
IT is axiomatic that the best part of going away on vacation and leaving home is coming home! To travel to America at the height of the pandemic, you need to be vaccinated — twice within two months, plus a booster shot two weeks prior to boarding time. Coming homeA lesser tension pervades the vacationers coming home from America. And she couldn't cut the minutes allotted to the panelists for questions, particularly professor Carlos. Central to the concept of debates is for the presidential combatants to introduce their platform of government addressing people's concerns.
Source:Manila Times
February 22, 2022 22:04 UTC
To move forward – in trade and productivity
To move forward – in trade and productivityThe Senate failed to concur with the presidential approval of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement or RCEP before it adjourned its final session. This inaction is a symbolic confirmation of why we lag behind some of our forward-thinking neighbors on the expansion of opportunities for trade and productivity to accelerate the economy’s growth. This represents by far the biggest free trade bloc in terms of geography, population size, and potential economic clout. “The RCEP region remains to be a strong bastion of economic activities and opportunities as trade and investment shift to Asia. These sectors are R&D services, construction and professional services (engineering and architecture), higher education services, banking services, and game development services, among others.
Source:Philippine Star
February 22, 2022 17:15 UTC
House urged to condemn, probe arrest of community doctor Natividad Castro
House urged to condemn, probe arrest of community doctor Natividad CastroMANILA, Philippines — Bayan Muna lawmakers are asking the House of Representatives to condemn and investigate the arrest of community doctor and human rights advocate Ma. The red-tagging anti-communist task force as well as government media have highlighted the alleged communist links and have said that Castro was arrested according to procedure. The lawmakers noted that “the vilification, harassment and even extrajudicial killing of community health workers continue under the Duterte administration” even amid the pandemic. Likewise, the lawmakers said Castro was also red-tagged prior to her arrest over kidnapping and serious illegal detention charges, which her family is questioning. The lawmakers said that red-tagging and harassment has “intensified” under Duterte through his notorious anti-communist task force, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.
Source:Philippine Star
February 22, 2022 15:07 UTC
Lacson trains guns on bad roads
MANILA, Philippines — Private contractors and their cohorts in government should be made to account for the bad roads, especially in the countryside, a clear indicator of the prevalence of corruption in public works projects, presidential aspirant Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said on Monday. Lacson lamented how the government poured billions of public funds into road projects, but only to end up wasted as most of these projects get ruined in just a span of six months. Lacson vowed to go after erring contractors should he become the country’s 17th president as his entourage passed by some stretches of badly paved roads from Pangasinan to Santa Rosa in Nueva Ecija. He said paved roads were supposed to last for many years. —MELVIN GASCONRELATED STORYCOA to DPWH: Sanction erring contractorsRead Next
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
February 22, 2022 06:59 UTC
Children get vaccinated as death of baby girl hits home
On Tuesday morning, several dozen people queued up outside Hong Kong Children's Hospital in Kowloon Bay, which houses one of the city's two Children Community Vaccination Centres. Another vaccination center for children is at Yuen Chau Kok Sports Centre in Sha Tin. Children aged 5 to 11 cannot receive BioNTech vaccination in venues other than the Children Community Vaccination Centres. A third center will launch at Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong in Wong Chuk Hang this Thursday (February 24). Separately, online booking for vaccination at the Community Vaccination Centre established on the University of Hong Kong campus is now open.
Source:The Standard
February 22, 2022 05:48 UTC
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Sexual assault responder at Horsham Air Guard Station seeks her job back after judge rules she was wrongfully fired
Marianne Bustin's case was detailed in a 2020 Inquirer report that examined problems at the Horsham base where she worked. A National Guard investigation is in the final stages. Read moreNearly 21 months have passed since Marianne Bustin was terminated from her job of helping to prevent sexual assault at the Pennsylvania Air National Guard base in Horsham. “The question will be how does one resurrect my reputation across the SAPR community?” she asked, referring to sexual assault prevention and response. “It has been, frankly, a very lengthy process,” Houlahan said in an interview, referring to the Horsham investigation.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
February 22, 2022 02:04 UTC
Indonesia's challenge in reviving the G20 for global economic recovery
THE Indonesia G20 presidency is a milestone in the country's active role in shaping the global agenda. Thirteen years ago in 2008, the G20 moved beyond its previous role of economic crisis management and became a global custodian of social welfare by addressing the global financial crisis. As the premier forum for international economic cooperation, G20 leaders reaffirmed their commitment to overcoming the global health and economic crisis, stemming from the pandemic. Anti-protectionismSince the global financial crisis, the relevance of the G20 has been measured by its results across a number of policy areas. A prominent example is the anti-protectionism pledge adopted during the global financial crisis, which was successful in averting trade wars and capital outflows in 2009.
Source:Manila Times
February 22, 2022 02:02 UTC
Discarded masks showing up more on Korea’s beaches–green group
They also run social media accounts to document their trash pickup activities, highlighting the seriousness of ocean pollution. But when the wind blows strong, people lose their masks or drop them and sometimes end up being blown away.”ADVERTISEMENTBut masks are just the tip of the iceberg. To help protect the ocean, Kim said not throwing away trash carelessly is of utmost importance. Reducing the amount of trash will reduce the amount of ocean pollution. “If we improve on this bit, I believe that the amount of ocean pollution will also be reduced,” Kim said.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
February 21, 2022 22:14 UTC
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Was the 2015 Amtrak crash in Frankford a mistake or a crime? A jury will now decide
The 2015 Amtrak crash of Train 188 at Frankford Junction in Philadelphia. Read moreIt was one of the biggest disasters in recent city history: A speeding Amtrak train careened off the tracks and crashed in Frankford in 2015, killing eight people and injuring more than 200. Still, in all that time, one question has remained unanswered: Were Bostian’s actions that day a tragic mistake — or a crime? In 2017, a Municipal Court judge dismissed the case against Bostian, calling the crash an accident and not a crime. Correction, Feb. 21, 2022: This story has been updated to reflect the new expected start date of Bostian’s trial.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
February 21, 2022 22:10 UTC
Discussions start for private hospitals to take over non-Covid patients
(File photo) William Ho Shiu-wei, chairman of the Hong Kong Private Hospitals AssociationPrivate hospitals have started discussions with the Hong Kong government on taking over non-Covid patients in order to vacate beds at public hospitals to fight the pandemic. “The first thing she said is 'It's impractical to ask private hospitals to receive Covid patients. Let's talk about non-Covid patients so that Hospital Authority can vacate some beds (in public hospitals),''' Ho said on Monday. According to initial discussions, the government would like private hospitals to take cover recovering non-Covid patients. Patients can continue to pay prices charges by public hospitals, while private hospitals will charge the government in accordance to the framework under previous public-private cooperation.
Source:The Standard
February 21, 2022 16:03 UTC
Greater Bay Airlines granted five-year licence to operate 104 routes
Greater Bay Airlines has been granted a licence to operate flights to and from Hong Kong, posing new challenges to Cathay Pacific Airways. According to an announcement Monday, the Air Transport Licensing Authority has granted Greater Bay Airlines a licence to operate flights from Hong Kong for five years starting today. Under the licence, the airline is allowed to carry passengers, cargo, or mail over 104 routes at unlimited frequency to and from Hong Kong International Airport. Greater Bay Airlines’ destinations range from mainland cities to those in Japan, Vietnam, and South Korea. Greater Bay Airlines was founded by Hong Kong mogul Bill Wong Cho-bau who also owns the Shenzhen-headquartered Donghai Airlines.
Source:The Standard
February 21, 2022 14:46 UTC
PNP: 1 dead, 2 injured in Quezon helicopter crash
PNP: 1 dead, 2 injured in Quezon helicopter crashPhoto release shows the crash site of the H125 Airbus after the aircraft was earlier reported missing hours after taking off at 6:17 a.m. from the Manila Domestic Airport in Pasay City on February 21, 2022. MANILA, Philippines — Three police crew of a helicopter of the Philippine National Police figured in an aircraft crash in Real, Quezon on Monday morning, of which two were injured while one passed away, the PNP confirmed. Rescue teams from the PNP, Bureau of fire Protection and LGU reached the crash site in Barangay Pandan, Real, Quezon at 8:05 a.m. and evacuated the survivors. Police Patrolman Allen Noel Ona was in critical condition when he was found by paramedic rescuers at the crash site and eventually died while being treated near the crash site. Reports reaching the PNP Command Center said that the crash site was approximately 30 kilometers from the town proper of Real, Quezon where raining weather was prevailing that morning.
Source:Philippine Star
February 21, 2022 12:55 UTC
Warm welcome casts doubt on 'Solid North' narrative, Lacson-Sotto tandem say
Warm welcome casts doubt on 'Solid North' narrative, Lacson-Sotto tandem saySenate President Vicente Sotto III and Sen. Panfilo Lacson file their candidacies before the Commission on Elections on October 6, 2021. MANILA, Philippines — The warm welcome they received in northern Luzon put the narrative of the "Solid North" in doubt, according to Senators Panfilo "Ping" Lacson and Vicente "Tito" Sotto III. According to them, this "disproves the so-called 'Solid North' mentality of voters for one presidential bet." The Lacson-Sotto tandem earlier visited a forum with attendees from the Tricycle Drivers and Operators’ Association (TODA) in Urdaneta City, considered the gateway to Northern Luzon. The "Solid North" vote, according to Rep. Ramon Guico III (Pangasinan), is seen to be vital in bringing the Marcos-Duterte tandem to Malacañang.
Source:Philippine Star
February 21, 2022 08:04 UTC
DOST space tech team bags international plum
DOST space tech team bags international plumMANILA, Philippines — A space technology team from the Department of Science and Technology – Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI) recently bagged an award at the 2nd Hitachi Global Foundation’s Asia Innovation Award 2021. The DOST-ASTI team led by engineer Roel Mallari dela Cruz won an “Encouragement Award,” one of the eight research and development (R&D) teams. Dela Cruz submitted a research titled “Space-based management and monitoring system for watershed protection,” which aims to develop a satellite-based monitoring system for forest and watershed resource management that will enable access to innovation on technologies through remote sensing and geospatial analysis. Under the research, the DOST-ASTI worked with partner-agencies for data-gathering, data-sharing, strategic assessment, mapping initiatives, and forest and watershed preservation. The project seeks to integrate hazard maps and earth observation data appropriate for forest and watershed monitoring as well as aquaculture mapping such as fishponds, fish cages, fish pens, seaweed, oyster/mussels farm site management employing remote sensing and geospatial analysis.
Source:Philippine Star
February 21, 2022 06:39 UTC