As It Happens: Omicron variant
Omicron variant+ Follow StoryHealth officials said Sunday they had detected the Covid Omicron strain in Australia for the first time in two passengers who were tested after flying into Sydney from southern Africa. Both passengers came from southern Africa and arrived in Australia on a Qatar Airways flight via Doha, NSW Health said in a statement. They tested positive for Covid shortly after arriving, leading to an urgent analysis for possible infection by the heavily mutated Omicron strain. — AFPAustralia bans flights from nine southern African countries on Saturday, tightening its borders to prevent the entry of the new Covid-19 Omicron variant. — AFPThe EU health agency warns that the Omicron variant poses a "high to very high" risk to Europe, The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) notes in a threat assessment report that there was still "considerable uncertainty related to the transmissibility, vaccine effectiveness, risk for reinfections and other properties of the Omicron variant."
Source:Philippine Star
November 28, 2021 08:02 UTC
Senators tell Mago: ‘Tell the truth’
Senators tell Mago: ‘Tell the truth’“May you find the strength and the wisdom to tell the truth,” said Sen. Francis Pangilinan to Mago at the conclusion of Friday’s Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearing on the Pharmally scandal. MANILA, Philippines — Senators are encouraging resigned Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. official Krizle Grace Mago to tell the truth. “May you find the strength and the wisdom to tell the truth,” said Sen. Francis Pangilinan to Mago at the conclusion of Friday’s Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearing on the Pharmally scandal. Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Mago was indeed pressured during her appearance before the Senate Blue Ribbon committee last Sept. 24 as she claims, to tell the truth, and not to lie. During the Sept. 24 hearing, Mago said she particularly acted on the instructions of Dargani.
Source:Philippine Star
November 28, 2021 05:19 UTC
Hong Kong steps up quarantine requirements due to Omicron fears
Starting Sunday, Hong Kong authorities have stepped up quarantine and testing requirements for Hong Kong residents arriving from eight southern Africa countries to guard against Omicron, a new Covid-19 variant. Upon completion of the seven-day quarantine at quarantine center, they will be allowed to undergo another 14-day quarantine at a designated hotel which they have reserved. They are also required to undergo testing on the 9th, 12th, 16th and 19th day and another compulsory testing in a community testing center on the 26th day of arrival at Hong Kong. Two confirmed cases involving Omicron were reported in Hong Kong last Tuesday. "Although there are not any direct passenger flights arriving Hong Kong from the eight places in southern Africa concerned currently, we noticed the presence of the Omicron variant in a number of places globally.
Source:The Standard
November 28, 2021 05:01 UTC
Kaymer to take 3 months off for birth of child
Martin Kaymer AFP FILE PHOTO1BERLIN: Two-time major winner Martin Kaymer is taking three months off for the birth of his first child, he told a German golf magazine on Thursday (Friday in Manila). Kaymer expects to become a father in January at home in Germany and says he's looking to live in Florida with his family after the baby is born. "Our child will be born in Germany, and I won't play any tournaments for three months and only start again in March," Kaymer told Golf Magazin. Kaymer won the PGA Championship in 2010 and the US Open in 2014 but hasn't won a tournament since. Kaymer is ranked 118th in the world and placed 49th in the European Tour's Race to Dubai this season.
Source:Manila Times
November 28, 2021 04:07 UTC
Go hails release of health workers' funds
SEN. Christopher "Bong" Go on Saturday disclosed that President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the release of additional budget to compensate health care workers (HCWs) who contracted Covid-19 and ensure that those serving on the frontlines will have the appropriate benefits and financial support they will need in fulfilling their duty. "As health care workers continue their life-saving work, it is incumbent upon the government to show our gratitude by providing them the appropriate allowances and benefits. In line with this, Go reiterated his appeal for the immediate passage of Senate Bill 2421, a measure that he authored and co-sponsored, to provide a fixed monthly allowance for health care workers during the ongoing state of emergency due to the pandemic. The measure takes into consideration a previous bill that Go has filed and provides a Covidly-19 Risk Allowance in lieu of the special risk allowance and other financial compensation granted under Republic Act (RA) 11494, also known as the "Bayanihan 2." Specifically, it gives all HCWs deployed in "high risk areas" a monthly allowance of P9,000, while those in "medium risk areas" and "low risk areas" will be provided P6,000 and P3,000, respectively.
Source:Manila Times
November 28, 2021 03:15 UTC
Inquirer again named Best Business News Source
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Daily Inquirer was named Best Business News Source at the 30th annual awards conferred by the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (Ejap), earning the distinction for the sixth time in a row since the category was created in 2011. Three Inquirer business reporters were also adjudged the best in their respective areas of assignment. ADVERTISEMENTThe Ejap award for best news source is given to media organizations whose reporters garnered the most number of awards for best coverage in their beats. Best coverageInquirer reporters Karl R. Ocampo won her first Ejap award for best coverage of the agriculture and mining sectors, Ben O. de Vera was named best finance beat reporter, while Miguel R. Camus was recognized as the best in the telecommunications and transport beat. The Inquirer’s business section is led by Tina Arceo-Dumlao (business editor), Daxim L. Lucas (business news editor), Doris Dumlao-Abadilla (business features editor) and Ira Pedrasa (desk editor).
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
November 28, 2021 02:57 UTC
Suspected Omicron case found in Germany, regional minister says
BERLIN — The Omicron variant of COVID-19 has probably arrived in Germany, a minister in the western state of Hesse said on Saturday after mutations were found in a passenger arriving from South Africa. The new variant has been found at a time when Germany and many other European countries are grappling with a surge in coronavirus cases. Germany recorded 67,125 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases said, and more than 100,000 people have died with COVID-19. Germany is declaring South Africa a virus-variant area, meaning airlines are allowed to fly only Germans to Germany from South Africa, a source told Reuters on Friday. Earlier, Dutch health officials said they had detected 61 COVID-19 cases among people who flew from South Africa on Friday and are trying to establish whether any were infected with the Omicron variant.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
November 28, 2021 00:03 UTC
Robredo says she backs NTF-ELCAC mandate, but 'careless' remarks put it in bad light
Robredo says she backs NTF-ELCAC mandate, but 'careless' remarks put it in bad lightVice President Leni Robredo meets with the new AFP Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Andres Centino and the AFP Joint Staff on November 26, 2021. MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo said she supports the mandate of the President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial anti-communist task force, but the “careless” statements of its members put the body in bad light. And I want to emphasize today that I am all for the mandate and functions of ELCAC,” Robredo said. But the “careless statements” of some members of the NTF-ELCAC have cast the entire task force in bad light, Robredo said. Senators, including those allied with Robredo, slashed the budget of the anti-insurgency task force, leaving it with only P4 billion budget for next year.
Source:Philippine Star
November 27, 2021 23:34 UTC
Marcos DQ ruling may take longer – Comelec
A ruling by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on the disqualification case against presidential candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. may take longer following the poll body's decision to resolve pending motions. Under normal circumstances, the parties would have been asked to submit their respective memoranda within three days after the preliminary conference. The November 26 preliminary hearing refers to the petition to cancel Marcos' certificate of candidacy (CoC) filed by Fr. The petitioners pointed out that Marcos' conviction perpetually disqualified him from seeking public office because this is one involving moral turpitude. Tomas law dean Nilo Divina, the Marcos case is bound to collapse because the petition "appears to be defective in form and offers insufficient legal basis to obtain its desired judgment."
Source:Manila Times
November 27, 2021 22:20 UTC
Omicron coronavirus triggers more travel curbs worldwide
Britain detected two cases of the new Omicron coronavirus variant on Saturday, even as Australia and other countries joined nations imposing restrictions on travel from southern Africa in an effort to stop its spread. The variant was first discovered in South Africa and had also since been detected in Belgium, Botswana, Israel, and Hong Kong. Dutch authorities said that 61 out of around 600 people who arrived in Amsterdam on two flights from South Africa on Friday had tested positive for the coronavirus. ADVERTISEMENTTravel curbsThe two linked cases of the new Omicron coronavirus variant detected in Britain were connected to travel to southern Africa, health minister Sajid Javid said. Officials in the western German state of Hesse said the Omicron variant has probably arrived in Germany after mutations were found in a passenger arriving from South Africa.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
November 27, 2021 21:25 UTC
Juico: We have to finish investigation
But someone leaked the internal investigation to the media and some people in Obiena's camp are making things worse, Juico said. According to Juico, the Patafa board just acted on a complaint by Obiena's Ukrainian coach Vitaly Petrov with regards to his alleged non-compensation. Juico stressed that Patafa tried to keep the investigation private, but someone leaked it to the media and the issue has been blown out of proportion. We can always talk, but we have to finish the investigation. As I said, let us finish the investigation so that we will know what are the metes and bounds of our discussions.
Source:Manila Times
November 27, 2021 18:08 UTC
Turning truth into power can change the world
What the wise and erudite professor acknowledged was that this writer was the founder of the US bases conversion campaign in 1983. There were many supporting organizations joining the base conversion campaign en masse and taking control of it. Having researched military bases conversion projects in the United States, I had ideas to propose. The base conversion campaign caught on and the rest is history. With help from friends, supporters and Attorney Sergio Cruz from Olongapo City to his eternal credit, I won my case against deportation.
Source:Manila Times
November 27, 2021 17:50 UTC
DOH records 188 new COVID-19 deaths
MANILA, Philippines — The country’s COVID-19 death toll is now at 49,205 after the Department of Health (DOH) recorded 188 new COVID-19 deaths. The DOH said the country’s current positivity rate is now at 2.4 percent, which is well within the World Health Organization’s positivity rate of 5 percent. Meanwhile, global COVID-19 infection now stands at 260.8 million including 5.1 million deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins University Case Tracker. The DOH said the country’s current positivity rate is now at 2.4 percent, which is well within the World Health Organization’s positivity rate of 5 percent. Meanwhile, global COVID-19 infection now stands at 260.8 million including 5.1 million deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins University Case Tracker.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
November 27, 2021 16:26 UTC
Sara makes pitch for Bongbong in Cebu
CEBU CITY — Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte on Friday urged Central Visayas town mayors to support her and presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in the 2022 elections. In a speech at the Parklane Hotel in Cebu City, Duterte said there should be “no Sara only nor a Bongbong Marcos only in the choices.”ADVERTISEMENT“It should be both as she could not work well with other presidents,” she said. The appearance of the tandem in Cebu was also seen as a pitch for the support of One Cebu, the largest political party in the province with its 3.2 million voters. Among the vice presidential aspirants, Garcia said Duterte had the edge because her daughter, Liloan Mayor Christina Frasco, is Duterte’s spokesperson. One Cebu was credited for helping Duterte win in Cebu province over former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas in the 2016 polls.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
November 27, 2021 15:33 UTC
Martin's Kansas suffer upset; Padilla, UPenn wins over fellow Fil-Ams
Martin's Kansas suffer upset; Padilla, UPenn wins over fellow Fil-AmsMANILA, Philippines (Updated 12:35 p.m.) — A 17-point outing from Fil-Am Remy Martin was not enough for the Kansas Jayhawks to avoid the upset axe against Dayton, 74-73, at the HP Field House in Kissimmee Florida on Friday (Saturday, Manila time). Despite the Jayhawks leading the game at halftime by double digits, 45-35, the Dayton Flyers roared back in the second half. Elsewhere, Kayla Padilla and UPenn came out on top in a battle of Fil-Am guards against UC San Diego, 60-55. This despite the usual volume scoring of Padilla was absent against the Fil-Am duo of Julia Macabuhay and Brianna Carlos. UPenn improved to 3-1 while UC San Diego fell to a 2-1 slate.
Source:Philippine Star
November 27, 2021 14:53 UTC