Huge Tonga volcanic eruption caused ‘significant damage’
WELLINGTON — A massive volcanic eruption in Tonga that triggered tsunami waves around the Pacific caused “significant damage” to the island nation’s capital and smothered it in dust, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Sunday. “We’re working hard to see how we can assist our Pacific neighbors after the volcanic eruption near Tonga.”The United States was “deeply concerned for the people of Tonga,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, pledging support for the island nation. By 0300 GMT Sunday, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii said the threat from the eruption had passed. The volcano’s eruption lasted at least eight minutes and sent plumes of gas, ash and smoke several kilometers into the air. This referred to the 19th century eruptions of Indonesia’s Krakatau and Alaska’s Novarupta, the most powerful volcanic eruption of the 20th century.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 16, 2022 12:22 UTC
(Video) Nine cars raced inside Kai Tak Tunnel
At least nine cars raced inside Kai Tak Tunnel and crossed the double white lines while overtaking other vehicles. According to a 19-second video which went viral on Sunday, nine private cars were going in high speed on the right lane. They crossed the double white lines to their left, and then shifted back to the right lane after overtaking a cab. The driver who filmed the video joked that the last vehicle was "polite", as it flashed turning signals when changing lanes. Nine luxurious sports cars were seized.
Source:The Standard
January 16, 2022 11:57 UTC
Unvaccinated barangay chiefs told: Resign, take a leave or face arrest
“One of our goals is to create what we’ve termed a one-car community.” In Paris, one of the first cities to champion the idea of the 15-minute city—urban planning that makes it possible to take care of...
Source:Philippine Star
January 16, 2022 09:20 UTC
Warriors rout Bulls, Sixers stay hot
3) of the Golden State Warriors is defended by Coby White of the Chicago Bulls during a game at United Center on Friday, Jan. 14, 2022 (January 15 in Manila) in Chicago, Illinois. The loss to the Bucks was the Warriors' fourth in their last five games. Rookie Jonathan Kuminga finished with 25 points and Jordan Poole scored 22 for the Warriors, who pulled away early to win their 10th consecutive game over the Bulls, including five straight in Chicago. Jaylen Brown scored 21 points and Jayson Tatum added 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Celtics. Payton Pritchard came off the bench to score 17 points and Robert Williams tallied 12 points and 14 rebounds.
Source:Manila Times
January 16, 2022 04:11 UTC
Learn from Dengvaxia vaccine controversy, gov’t told
MANILA, Philippines — As the government prepares to start the vaccination of children aged 5 to 11, a lawmaker urged health authorities to learn the lessons of the 2016 Dengvaxia vaccine mess and take appropriate preventive measures. The Dengvaxia inoculation began in 2016 during the Aquino administration and involved giving a new dengue vaccine to 830,000 schoolchildren at a cost of almost P4 billion. The deaths of some children who received the dengue vaccine caused an outcry and criminal complaints were lodged against former government officials. Salceda said the government should conduct stronger screening of children receiving COVID-19 jabs, a comprehensive public communications campaign and informed consent for parents. “Fake vaccination cards will not save you from COVID-19.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 16, 2022 02:06 UTC
Philippines confirms community transmission of Omicron, cases hit record
(Reuters)The Philippine health ministry confirmed the local spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant around Manila on Saturday, as infections hit a record high for a third straight day. "We are seeing community transmission of the Omicron variant in the capital region," Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told a public briefing. The community transmission of the Omicron variant is characterized by a steep rise in cases, Vergeire said, adding that infections may peak from the end of this month to mid-February. The ministry reported 39,004 new Covid-19 infections on Saturday, while active cases also hit a record, at 280,813. With more than 3.16 million cases and nearly 53,000 deaths, the Philippines has the highest Covid-19 infections and casualties in Southeast Asia after Indonesia.
Source:The Standard
January 15, 2022 22:10 UTC
Another all-time high: PH records 39,004 new COVID-19 cases
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday reported 39,004 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the number of active cases in the country to 280,813. Based on the DOH’s report, 98 percent or 38,271 of the new infections were recorded within the last 14 days. This brings the total confirmed cases at 3,168,379Meanwhile, the positivity rate is at 47.1 percent out of the 78,774 tests conducted on Jan. 13. Now in use nationwide are 48 percent of ICU beds, 48 percent of isolation beds, 51 percent of ward beds, and 22 percent of ventilators. In Metro Manila, occupied ICU beds are now at 55 percent, isolation beds at 52 percent, ward beds at 69 percent and 26 percent of ventilators.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 15, 2022 21:16 UTC
Global vaccine-sharing program reaches milestone of 1 billion doses
BRUSSELS — The COVAX global vaccine-sharing program has delivered 1 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses, one of the organizations that manage it said on Saturday. Supplies to poorer nations have long been very limited because of the lack of vaccines, as wealthier states secured most of the doses initially available from December 2020. ADVERTISEMENTBut in the last quarter shipments have exponentially increased, allowing COVAX to reach the milestone of 1 billion doses shipped to 144 countries, said Gavi, which co-leads the program alongside the World Health Organization (WHO). The program began delivering vaccine doses in February 2021. The latest WHO data shows 67% of the population in richer nations have been fully vaccinated, compared with only 5% in poorer nations.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 15, 2022 21:13 UTC
Farmers see Lacson-Sotto as hope to regain ‘stolen’ livelihood
Farmers see Lacson-Sotto as hope to regain ‘stolen’ livelihoodLocal farmers said Lacson-Sotto helped them as they pleaded for help defending their livelihoods amid challenges brought about by the pandemic and rampant agricultural smuggling. Local farmers said Lacson-Sotto helped them as they pleaded for help defending their livelihoods amid challenges brought about by the pandemic and rampant agricultural smuggling. The farmers thanked Lacson and Sotto for shining a light on their plight. “It’s only proper that local products are the ones flooding the markets and being bought by Filipino consumers,” Lacson said. “Let’s raise the dignity of our local farmers by patronizing and buying their products.
Source:Philippine Star
January 15, 2022 17:36 UTC
CHR welcomes emergency employment program
CHR welcomes emergency employment programCHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia noted the announcement of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), which earlier announced that emergency employment for approximately 200,000 workers is being prepared. MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) welcomes the government’s plan to provide emergency employment program for workers displaced due to the raising of the pandemic alert to Level 3 in Metro Manila and in other parts of the country. CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia noted the announcement of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), which earlier announced that emergency employment for approximately 200,000 workers is being prepared. The program will provide 10 days of employment for the displaced workers who are primarily from the tourism sector and restaurant businesses, the labor department said. Estrada was principal author of the Apprenticeship Training Act which aims to provide skills training and access to employment, particularly the youth.
Source:Philippine Star
January 15, 2022 17:31 UTC
Over 2,700 undelivered passports ready for pick-up
Over 2,700 undelivered passports ready for pick-upA total of 2,739 passports processed from July 7 to Nov. 30, 2021 are now available at the designated claiming sites, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Affairs Brigido Dulay said. MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) yesterday said thousands of undelivered passports are ready for pick-up at its consular offices. A total of 2,739 passports processed from July 7 to Nov. 30, 2021 are now available at the designated claiming sites, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Affairs Brigido Dulay said. Dulay said the passports were undelivered due to wrong addresses, no response or lack of authorization from the owners when it was delivered. He reminded those who have unclaimed passports to reach out via email to the designated claiming site first to verify its availability.
Source:Philippine Star
January 15, 2022 17:17 UTC
Wu Xing by Clark Marriott brings best of Chinese cuisine to diners
Clark Marriott General Manager Goeran Soelter, Wu Xing Restaurant Manager Shie Techico and Chef de Cuisine Raymond Yeung. "We are bringing authentic and traditional Peking Duck to northern Luzon. Now people have more reasons to make the trip to Clark Marriott," Clark Marriott General Manager Goeran Soelter said. He paid extraordinary attention to detail in developing the menu for Wu Xing, traveling across China to draw from the best regional styles. "Traditional Chinese cuisine was developed through almost 500 years of Chinese history.
Source:Manila Times
January 15, 2022 10:38 UTC