Binay questions lifting of quarantine requirement for international travelers
The Philippines will reopen its borders to foreign tourists next week, becoming the latest Southeast Asian country to ease restrictions on travel. International visitors, including travelers from the United States, will be welcome to enter on Feb. 10, ending its border closure for the first time in …
Source:Philippine Star
January 31, 2022 03:53 UTC
Celebrate the Auspicious Year of the Water Tiger at Solaire
Celebrate the arrival of the auspicious year of the Water Tiger at Red Lantern. GREET the auspicious year of the Water Tiger with vigor as you celebrate Chinese New Year with abundance fit for the festivities. Lucky Noodles' will echo well-wishes with dishes specially offered to mark the entrance of the majestic Tiger. Choose between the Fortune Hamper, the Gong Xi Fa Cai Hamper, and the Luxury and Fortune Exclusive Hamper, all of which unveil grand indulgences for a prosperous celebration. Manifest the golden year of the Water Tiger with Solaire.
Source:Manila Times
January 31, 2022 03:47 UTC
NATO concerned over Europe’s energy security amid standoff with Russia
ADVERTISEMENTUS officials said on Saturday Russia’s military buildup had been expanded to include supplies to treat casualties of any conflict. Measures include targeting the most significant Russian banks and Russian sovereign debt as well as offering more lethal assistance to Ukraine. ADVERTISEMENT“We are concerned about the energy situation in Europe because it demonstrates the vulnerability of being too dependent on one supplier of natural gas. And that’s the reason why NATO allies agree that we need to work and focus on diversification of supplies,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said. “So there can be nobody who thinks that they will be immune to those sanctions,” Truss said.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 31, 2022 02:05 UTC
Villar pushes amendments to agri-agra law
Villar pushes amendments to agri-agra lawMANILA, Philippines — Sen. Cynthia Villar is pushing for amendments to the Agri-Agra Reform Credit Act to help expand financing for farmers and fisherfolk as well as related micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by making it easier for banks to extend low-cost loans. Villar, who chairs the Senate committee on agriculture and food, sponsored last week the proposed amendments in plenary and urged her colleagues to immediately approve the same. The banks have extended a total of P713.6 billion in agri-agra credit as of end-December 2020, she said. Loans shall now cover all activities to include complementary or agriculture and fisheries related activities to increase agricultural production to improve the well-being of farmers and fisherfolk. The amendments also aim to facilitate access of private companies engaged in agri activities and financing to these loans.
Source:Philippine Star
January 30, 2022 23:11 UTC
Here’s how to spot, avoid phishing – Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
MANILA, Philippines — With incidents of unauthorized transactions in some teachers’ bank accounts, how can users ensure they would not fall victim to a phishing scam? According to a primer of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), phishing happens when unexpected or suspicious emails ask for personal information, details of bank account or credit card, or passwords. Spear phishing is targeted attacks on specific individuals or companies while pharming redirects a user to a fake website where personal or account information would be stolen. Gadget securityTo avoid phishing, the BSP said users must not provide personal information, account details or passwords especially via emails. Some teachers and DepEd employees have disputed the assessment of Landbank that their devices were compromised due to the phishing scam.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 30, 2022 22:27 UTC
Saso shoots 72 in Gainbridge third rnd
FILIPINO-Japanese golf star Yuka Saso shot 72 in the windy third round of the Gainbridge Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) at the Boca Rio Golf Club in Florida on Sunday (Philippine time). With an even-par round, the 20-year-old Saso got a total of 7-under 209 to slip from third to a share of fourth place with Charley Hull of England. Saso, however, managed to level her score with birdies on the 12th and 18th holes. The reigning US Women's Open champion trails leader Lydia Ko of New Zealand by four shots. Ko also carded 72 in the penultimate round for an aggregate of 11-under 205.
Source:Manila Times
January 30, 2022 22:12 UTC
Barty ends drought with Australian Open women's title
The usually so reserved and understated champion just let it all out, yelling "yes, yes." A quick walk to the net to congratulate the Australian Open runner-up, 28-year-old American Danielle Collins. Then back onto Rod Laver Arena to scream out again: "yes, yes." Yes, it had been 44 years since an Australian won a singles title at the Australian Open, quite an anomaly for a country with such a long list of Grand Slam champions. She recovered from 5-1 down in the second set to beat Collins 6-3, 7-6 (2) in the final on Saturday night, becoming the first Australian to win the Australian Open women's singles championship since Chris O'Neil in 1978.
Source:Manila Times
January 30, 2022 22:12 UTC
Helpers shortage not eased amid 'skyrocketing' cases in Philippines: Law Chi-kwong
Law Chi-kwong. The shortage of domestic helpers in Hong Kong has not been eased since cases continue to surge in the Philippines, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Law Chi-kwong said. He also said that many helpers were stranded in the Philippines due to flight bans, after they returned home to spend the Christmas and New Year holidays. In addition, Law said the vaccination rate in Hong Kong is still low, especially the elderly that need to be taken care of. He said the city has to fight for a significant increase in the vaccination rate before gradually relaxing the disease prevention rules.
Source:The Standard
January 30, 2022 21:00 UTC
(Central station) Granny Lana strikes again in tiger outfit
Lana Wong dressed as a mouse in Year of the Rat Previous NextActress Lana Wong Ha-wai demonstrates how you can have fun at the age of 91, as she dresses herself in a tiger outfit before Lunar New Year. The local celebrity usually joins the LNY ritual of burning the inaugural incense stick at Wong Tai Sin Temple, dressed in an animal outfit marking that year's zodiac sign. But due to the pandemic, the ritual has been closed to the public for the second consecutive year. But she dressed up anyway and appeared outside Harbour City in Tsim Sha Tsui on Sunday. She won't go out to join LNY gatherings, but she wouldn't say no if relatives and friends head over to her home.
Source:The Standard
January 30, 2022 19:33 UTC
Overseas Philippines posts prefer automated polls
Overseas Philippines posts prefer automated polls“We have more overseas posts that use the automated system now. MANILA, Philippines — More Philippine posts have opted to use the automated election system (AES) in the upcoming May 9 polls than the manual voting system, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said yesterday. “We have more overseas posts that use the automated system now. A total of 46 Philippine posts will use the AES and another 46 the manual system on May 9. This is compared to the situation during the 2019 elections when 41 Philippine posts used the AES and 42 the manual system of elections.
Source:Philippine Star
January 30, 2022 18:51 UTC
Ugandan ex-minister who backed death penalty for gay people dies
ADVERTISEMENTKAMPALA — A former Ugandan ethics minister who championed a bill to introduce the death penalty for same-sex relationships and sought to regulate what women could wear died on Saturday, officials said. Government spokesman Ofwono Opondo announced the news of Lokodo’s death during a radio program on Saturday. The country’s National Human Rights Commission, where Lokodo served after a decade as ethics minister, expressed “great shock and pain” at losing their colleague. President Yoweri Museveni said Lokodo “served the nation gallantly” and would be missed. Lokodo was best known internationally for drafting legislation that could have imposed the death penalty for homosexual relations in his homeland.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 30, 2022 17:15 UTC
100 teacher-examinees turn positive in antigen tests
CAUAYAN CITY — At least 100 examinees of Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) were not allowed to take the test on Sunday, January 30, at the Cauayan City National High School (CCNHS) and Cauayan North Central School after the results in their antigen tests came back positive. ADVERTISEMENTThe examinees were brought to the isolation units of the schools and were fetched by health workers from their local government units for quarantine. Teachers who have been tasked as watchers and proctors have been checked of their “full vaccination” cards before entering the testing rooms. Gumaru has reminded examinees to observe health protocols until the end of the test. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy PolicyRead Next
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 30, 2022 12:26 UTC
Japan: Pregnant women with coronavirus facing hospital bed shortage
TOKYO — The number of pregnant women infected with the novel coronavirus in Japan has surged amid the spread of the Omicron variant. At some hospitals, beds reserved for infected pregnant women have been fully occupied. As of Friday, the San-Ikukai Hospital in Sumida Ward, Tokyo, was caring for nine pregnant patients infected with the coronavirus. “We’re continually fielding requests to admit infected pregnant women,” said Mie Yamada, head of the hospital’s obstetrics and gynecology department. The Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology and other entities have formulated guidelines to help pregnant women recuperating at home manage their condition.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 30, 2022 11:42 UTC
NBI validating alleged Tiktok threat to assassinate presidential candidate Marcos Jr.
NBI validating alleged Tiktok threat to assassinate presidential candidate Marcos Jr. "If a bomb joke is actionable, so is a threat of assassination, whether true or not." "We made an initial investigation on the matter and referred the same to the NBI Cyber Crime Division and PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group for further investigation," Zamora, a lawyer, said. The threat of assassination against anyone is considered grave threats under the law, Zamora also said. “While report on the assassination plot is concerning, we are not cowered by such threat.
Source:Philippine Star
January 30, 2022 07:21 UTC
WHO’s Asia-Pacific chief probed over racism, misconduct
GENEVA — World Health Organization head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Saturday announced an investigation into a “senior staff” member, the UN agency’s Western Pacific chief, over claims of racism and misconduct. With the cooperation of the staff member, an investigation process is underway,” Tedros said on the final day of the WHO’s executive council meeting in Geneva. The WHO chief didn’t say when the inquiry opened, adding that “there is a limit to what we can say at this time”. On Saturday, several diplomats again called on the WHO to investigate all allegations of misconduct. On Friday the World Health Organization’s main donor countries demanded that it speeds up and broadens reforms aimed at preventing sexual abuse by staff in the field.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 30, 2022 06:48 UTC