Chan Tong-kai blacklisted by airlines and can’t fly to Taiwan: Peter Koon
Chan Tong-kai (center) escorted by Peter Koon (right) when he was released from jail in 2019. Chan Tong-kai, who allegedly killed his girlfriend Amber Poon Hiu-wing in Taiwan, triggering the anti-fugitive protests in 2019, has been blacklisted by airlines and is unable to fly across the strait to surrender himself, Peter Koon Ho-ming said. Koon, who has been relaying messages for 23-year-old Chan, said in a televised interview on Sunday that while Chan's intention to surrender has never changed, both Chan and himself were rejected by airlines and unable to board planes destined to Taiwan. This means that courts in Hong Kong will be authorized to hear the murder case that happened in Taiwan. Although Chan promised to give himself up to Taiwanese authorities, he was never sent to Taiwan to face the murder charge.
Source:The Standard
January 09, 2022 22:46 UTC
Indians held for breaking protocols in puppy party
AHMEDABAD — Every dog must have its day, but one young pup in India landed her human companions in hot water after policemen raided a COVID-19 rule-breaking party staged for the coddled canine. ADVERTISEMENTSocial media footage showed a crowd of people dancing in front of an ornate stage at the party, held in the western city of Ahmedabad, with their defiance of local social distancing rules eventually attracting the attention of authorities. “We got information about a big party going on, so we raided the venue,” police inspector V.D. 160,000 cases“As per COVID protocol, it is necessary to take permission before organizing a party. The organizers are responsible for ensuring social distancing among guests,” he added.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 09, 2022 22:27 UTC
Marcos HQ closed for one more week
THE campaign headquarters of former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. in Mandaluyong City will be closed for another week after 30 of its staff tested positive for Covid-19. A big number of Marcos' staff and UniTeam volunteers tested positive for Covid-19 during a facility-wide reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests conducted on January 7. Marcos' camp on Sunday said the UniTeam headquarter will remain closed for another week "to ensure everyone's safety and protection." Initially, over 30 staff and volunteers tested positive for the virus in the antigen testing conducted on January 3, which prompted Marcos to order the lockdown of the building. On Friday, a comprehensive RT-PCR test was conducted resulting in the discovery of at least 68 staff infected with Covid-19.
Source:Manila Times
January 09, 2022 22:11 UTC
Look at candidates' track record, Lacson urges voters
SEN. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson appealed to voters to put premium on the candidates' track record in electing the next set of national leaders this year. The senator, who is running for president in the May 2022 polls, said "the sense of apathy among Filipino voters these days is palpable." The senator had exposed widespread corruption in government through his privilege speeches in the Senate that led to the prosecution of some personalities. Most of the privilege speeches I delivered ever since were about the reckless spending of public funds, right? Track record is important," he said in Filipino and English.
Source:Manila Times
January 09, 2022 22:07 UTC
Dramatic videos show deadly cliff collapse in Brazil
Scan code to see a video of the collapse that killed at least seven people at Lake Furnas in Minas Gerais state. Previous NextAt least seven people were killed and three were missing after a cliff collapsed onto boats carrying tourists on a lake in Brazil, authorities have said. The latest official toll is "seven dead and three missing," Minas Gerais firefighters' spokesman Pedro Aihara said. Tourists flock to see the rock walls, caverns and waterfalls that surround the green waters of Lake Furnas, formed by the hydroelectric dam of the same name. Dramatic videos shared on social networks catch the exact moment when the cliff fell on the three boats.
Source:The Standard
January 09, 2022 19:15 UTC
South African hospital sees end of Omicron surge
At Steve Biko Academic Hospital in the City of Tshwane, doctors compared 466 infected patients admitted since mid-November 2021 to 3,976 patients admitted before then. The mortality rate during the Omicron surge was 4.5 percent, compared to 21.3 percent in the earlier period, they reported in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases. ADVERTISEMENTOmicron patients were discharged after an average of four days, compared to 8.8 days for patients with earlier variants. Unprecedented speedAt the peak of the Omicron surge, the number of beds filled with infected patients was half of that in the earlier period, and 63 percent of Omicron patients were hospitalized for other reasons, with the virus only detected by mandatory tests. But if the pattern seen in South Africa “continues and is repeated globally … Omicron may be a harbinger of the end of the epidemic phase” of the health crisis, they added.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 09, 2022 17:06 UTC
DOST-funded COVID-19 vaccine mix-and-match study underway
DOST-funded COVID-19 vaccine mix-and-match study underwayBikers and riders line up for a COVID-19 booster shot drive-thru at the Kartilya ng Katipunan in Lawton, Manila on Jan. 8, 2022. MANILA, Philippines — The government-funded study to mix and match COVID-19 vaccines is underway and expected to be completed by the end of the year, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said over the weekend. The study targets to enrol 3,000 participants aged 18 and above in eight sites in Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao. Group B will study the vaccines to be interchanged, and Group C will study the special high-risk group to be given a booster dose. Aside from determining the safety and immunogenicity of interchanging vaccine brands to complete the COVID-19 vaccine series, the study also aims to determine if the high-risk population who already completed the dosing regimen of the Sinovac vaccine would elicit a better immune response after the administration of a booster dose from a different vaccine platform or brand.
Source:Philippine Star
January 09, 2022 16:58 UTC
PH Army: NPA further weakened with death of ranking leader
DAVAO CITY — The military said the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in Mindanao is further weakened with the death of another ranking leader in a clash with government troops in Davao de Oro province on Wednesday. Menandro Villanueva, 69, was killed in an encounter in Barangay Libudon, Mabini town, Davao de Oro on Wednesday evening. Durante added that the Army was tipped about the rebels’ presence in Libudon; hence, troops were deployed there. Villanueva’s death comes two months after the killing of another top rebel leader, Jorge ‘Ka Oris’ Madlos in Bukidnon. ADVERTISEMENTAlmerol said that Villanueva was a native of Silang, Cavite and was among the pioneers of building the NPA in Mindanao.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 09, 2022 16:31 UTC
Marcos gave radio interview before disqualification case hearing
Marcos gave radio interview before disqualification case hearingPhoto shows presidential aspirant Bongbong Marcos speaking at a radio interview aired hours after he was seen by a doctor for "body malaise, febrile episodes and difficulty speaking" due to sore throat. Doctor's certificate issued on former senator Bongbong Marcos' medical condition on January 7, as observed on the morning of January 6. "On the morning of Jan. 6, 2022, [Marcos] proceeded with his scheduled morning interview despite feeling unwell," Rodriguez said, slamming the reports as "disinformation." "Mid-afternoon, however, he went on with another radio interview. This article earlier reported that the radio interview was aired "hours before" the Comelec proceeding.
Source:Philippine Star
January 09, 2022 13:15 UTC
Magnitude 5.9 earthquake strikes eastern Papua New Guinea
An earthquake of magnitude 5.9 struck eastern Papua New Guinea on Sunday, the US Geological Survey said. Related Stories 6.9 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Papua New Guinea FCO: Filipinos Unhurt in Papua New Guinea Earthquake Sign up for our daily newsletterread the followingDo not miss the latest news and information. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 09, 2022 12:24 UTC
Bishop Hill Reservoir virtual tour available: Michael Wong
Citizens are encouraged to explore the Bishop Hill Reservoir via a virtual tour by the Water Supplies Department, Secretary for Development Michael Wong Wai-lun said. Due to the pandemic, the local tour of the Bishop Hill Reservoir in Sham Shui Po which launched in December, was suspended. Writing in his blog on Sunday, Wong said the Water Supplies Department underwent strengthening and tidying works at the Bishop Hill Reservoir after seeking advice from the Antiquities and Monuments Office. Despite the guided tour being suspended, Wong said citizens could still explore the reservoir online through a virtual tour made by the Water Supplies Department. The virtual tour will provide a 360-degree view to the interior of the reservoir, and introduce the reservoir’s history and features, which is now available on the department’s website.
Source:The Standard
January 09, 2022 12:21 UTC
For second straight day, Philippines sets record with 28,707 new COVID-19 cases
For second straight day, Philippines sets record with 28,707 new COVID-19 casesVendors, truck drivers and other essential workers line up to receive their booster shot at the night market in Divisoria, Manila on Jan. 5, 2022. MANILA, Philippines — Just a day after setting a new single-day record, the Philippines on Sunday again recorded its highest number of COVID-19 cases in a day since the pandemic began with 28,707 fresh cases, bringing the national caseload to 2,965,447. VIEW TRACKER: COVID-19 and Vaccination in the PhilippinesAccording to the DOH, 14 labs were not able to submit their data to its system. "Based on data in the last 14 days, the 14 labs contribute, on average, 5.1% of samples tested and 5.7% of positive individuals," it said. A positivity rate of 50% would mean that one in every two tests comes out positive.
Source:Philippine Star
January 09, 2022 08:59 UTC
A big year still a blur for Saso
Reigning US Women’s Open champion Yuka Saso AFP FILE PHOTOYUKA Saso finally had time to reflect on her breakthrough year, and it still felt like a blur. Winning the US Women's Open with a birdie on the third playoff hole at Olympic Club was a life-changer. But when Saso says it's hard to grasp her success, that goes beyond winning the Open for the 20-year-old of Filipino and Japanese heritage. When she returned, Saso tied for fifth in Japan, and then the next four JLPGA events were canceled. Saso doesn't think that will happen to her.
Source:Manila Times
January 09, 2022 04:10 UTC