Saudis spoil Socceroos' homecoming party
Saudi Arabia spoiled Australia's homecoming party by holding the Socceroos to a 0-0 draw yesterday and retaining their three-point advantage over their hosts at the top of Group B of Asian qualifying for the football World Cup. The Saudis rode their luck at times in the first 75 minutes but had a flurry of chances towards the end of the contest to snatch a victory and extend their winning streak to 10 matches. "Obviously we wanted the three points to give to the fans, it's been so long," said Australia captain Mathew Leckie. "But we had a great performance and we were just centimeters away from scoring a couple of goals." Restrictions put in place to contain Covid-19 had kept Australia on the road since late 2019 and they had hoped the crowd would help them bounce back from a loss to Japan.
Source:The Standard
November 11, 2021 22:25 UTC
UP professors emeriti oppose removal of books government calls subversive
UP professors emeriti oppose removal of books government calls subversiveMANILA, Philippines — Eminent retired professors of the University of the Philippines on Thursday joined growing opposition to government attempts to remove supposedly subversive materials from university libraries, warning this could lead to "even more repressive measures" in Philippine schools. The UP System Library Council and the UP Institute of Library and Information Studies have also issued statements against the CHED memorandum and of removing "subversive" books. The retired professors reminded CHED of the Martial Law era, "when our campuses and offices were raided by soldiers in search of “subversive” books. Professors and students were imprisoned for their beliefs, and books were burned for their content" and said these should never happen again. Among the books removed from state university libraries are on the peace talks and produced by the National Democratic Front, the group that represents the communist party at these talks.
Source:Philippine Star
November 11, 2021 21:42 UTC
China ruling party leaders pass historic Xi resolution
Xi Jinping's tenure has seen tough policies on Hong Kong. Xi has been heading a pivotal plenary of the ruling party's top figures since Monday in the Chinese capital. The lengthy declaration called for upholding "the correct view of party history," said Xinhua News Agency. "The Party is rewriting its past in order to shape the future around Xi Jinping," said Jean-Pierre Cabestan of the Baptist University of Hong Kong. He predicted that there would be an "even greater form of taboo" on the dark days of Chinese history as a result.
Source:The Standard
November 11, 2021 19:20 UTC
Japan donates cold chain equipment
THE Philippines will receive cold chain equipment donated by Japan through the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) on November 15. In a joint statement, Japan and Unicef said the country's immunization cold chain is vulnerable to shocks due to natural disasters and frequent public health emergencies. "The low coverage of immunization is attributed to various factors, including critical gaps in cold storage capacity at the national and subnational levels, particularly in the Bangsamoro Region," they said. The donation includes cold walk-in rooms, freezers, solar-powered refrigerators, power generators, temperature monitoring devices, spare parts and thermal jackets. Thirty-five provinces, including isolated and disaster-prone areas such as Batanes, Cagayan, Albay, Sulu and Tawi Tawi, will benefit from the cold storage facilities.
Source:Manila Times
November 11, 2021 18:28 UTC
China warns of 'Cold War' tensions in Asia-Pacific
WELLINGTON: Chinese President Xi Jinping warned against a return to Cold War-era divisions in the Asia-Pacific Thursday as tensions mounted over the security of Taiwan. "The Asia-Pacific region cannot and should not relapse into the confrontation and division of the Cold War era." 'Critical historical juncture'But while the Biden administration has identified climate as a key area for potential cooperation with China, tensions have soared over their rival security strategies in the Asia-Pacific region, notably Taiwan. China was ready to work with the United States to improve regional and global cooperation and "properly manage differences," he said. Besides its position on Taiwan, China also claims almost all of the resource-rich South China Sea, through which trillions of dollars in shipping trade pass annually, rejecting competing claims from Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.
Source:Manila Times
November 11, 2021 16:45 UTC
In memory of Dr. Angelo King
The first Dr. Angelo King Memorial Lecture will take place today from 9 to 10:30 a.m. via Zoom event jointly hosted by the Angelo King Foundation Inc. and Adventist Medical Center Manila. This lecture aims to inspire Filipinos to take control of their lives through proper healthful practices that invigorate the human body, strengthen the mental faculty to alleviate human suffering, and ultimately elevate quality of life, as the late philanthropist wished. In addition to the health presentations in the morning, there will be a free online medical consultation from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Registration is still accepted by clicking https://bit.ly/1AKML2021.
Source:Manila Times
November 11, 2021 16:21 UTC
Don't waste chance to save planet – Pope
VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis warned time was "running out" to save the planet while expressing regret at his absence from climate talks in Glasgow, in a letter published Thursday. The summit, he said in the letter to Catholics in Scotland, was "meant to address one of the great moral issues of our time: the preservation of God's creation." The pontiff said in the letter, dated Tuesday but published by the Vatican on Thursday, that he had hoped to take part in the COP26 climate talks underway in Glasgow. The 84-year-old is a staunch advocate for the environment and has called climate change an "unprecedented threat" requiring urgent action. The crunch COP26 summit — in which negotiators are wrangling over ways to limit global warming to 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels — ends Friday.
Source:Manila Times
November 11, 2021 16:19 UTC
HK Covid expert considering Sinovac booster jab in "personal experiment”
Government pandemic advisor Yuen Kwok-yung is considering getting Sinovac for his Covid-19 booster jab in a “personal experiment”. “I wish to do more good for Hong Kong, and there are a lot of Sinovac vaccines remaining,” he said on a radio program on Thursday morning. Yuen suggested citizens who received inactivated vaccines for their first two doses should consider switching to mRNA vaccines – aka BioNTech -- for the third dose for increased amount of antibodies. “The truth is the higher the level of antibodies in your body, the more protected you are from Covid-19. But now there is still insufficient scientific data to show us what is the optimum level of antibodies,” he explained.
Source:The Standard
November 11, 2021 16:04 UTC
Two pilots infected with Delta+
Hong Kong health authorities reported three imported cases on Thursday, and said two pilots whose cases were confirmed on Wednesday involved the more infectious Delta+ mutant strain. As for the two imported cases reported on Wednesday which involved two cargo flight pilots aged 57 and 29, the sample they submitted were found to be carrying the sub-lineage AY.43 of the Delta variant, also known as the Delta+ mutant strain. The center also found a 56-year-old man whose case was reported on Sunday, who carried the Delta+ strain, traveled from the UK on the same flight BA207 with a 62-year-old man. The latter was reported as the first Delta+ case in the city last Friday (Nov 5). A total of 39 cases have been reported in the past 14 days and all of them are imported cases.
Source:The Standard
November 11, 2021 13:51 UTC
DOST: Ivermectin clinical trial protocol for ethics review; study drug compounding ‘now ready’
“Latest protocol is now for ethics review after which will be submitted to FDA for clinical trial approval. Recruitment and patient-in will proceed after obtaining clinical trial clearance,” she told the Manila Bulletin in a Viber message. READ MORE: https://mb.com.ph/2021/10/23/recruitment-of-1464-ivermectin-trial-participants-to-start-in-november/https://mb.com.ph/2021/10/31/dost-eyes-ph-ivermectin-clinical-trials-to-start-on-nov-15/Guevara cited that resources and tools for the clinical trial were ready, including the study drug compounding, the digital trial management suite (DTMS), and the creation of the data safety monitoring committee (DMSC). “Compounding of the study drug is ready. READ MORE: http://Drug developers, public to benefit from PH Ivermectin clinical trials ‘if results are good’, says DOST
Source:Manila Bulletin
November 11, 2021 11:42 UTC
CHR to probe rape, killing of minor in Batangas
CHR to probe rape, killing of minor in BatangasInformation reaching the office of Police Gen. Guillermo Eleazar indicated that the body of the victim was found in a forested area in Brgy. MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights on Thursday said it will launch an inquiry into the rape and murder of a 15-year-old girl in Sta. The Laurel Municipal Police Station found initial indications that she was raped and strangled to death. CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia in a statement condemned the incident as "another violent act against our children," extending condolences to the victim's family and loved ones. "At the same time, protecting the rights of the children remains to be a shared, collective goal regardless of position, power, and affiliation."
Source:Philippine Star
November 11, 2021 10:58 UTC
Take a peek inside newly opened Westin Show Suite at Ortigas
Take a peek inside newly opened Westin Show Suite at OrtigasThe Residences at The Westin Manila Sonata Place is a branded luxury residential place developed by RLC Residences in partnership with Marriott International. MANILA, Philippines — Experience exemplary residential living with hotel-grade luxury amenities and world-class furnishing at the pulse of Metro Manila. The Residences at The Westin Manila Sonata Place is a branded luxury residential place developed by RLC Residences in partnership with Marriott International, offering Filipinos only the most quintessential elements of high-end living at the heart of Ortigas Central Business District. True to its commitment to offering only the best in luxury living, The Residences at The Westin Manila Sonata Place offers Signature Westin furnishing alongside the best branded interior facilities. Interested homebuyers may book a private tour with an RLC Residences’ Property Specialist through this link http://bit.ly/RLCResidences_OnlineAppointment.
Source:Philippine Star
November 11, 2021 10:54 UTC
Philippines' COVID count up by 1,974 more cases
Philippines' COVID count up by 1,974 more casesGiant traditional parols made of capiz shells adorn the center island of Island Avenue in Makati City on November 4, 2021 as the holiday season approaches. MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health on Thursday said 1,974 more Filipinos contracted the COVID-19, bringing the country's total count of infections to 2,811,248. Authorities said 1.0% of the overall caseload remain as active cases. DOH said, too, that two laboratories failed to submit COVID-19 testing output. Active cases : 28,660 or 1.0% of the total: 28,660 or 1.0% of the totalDeaths : 142, pushing the count to 44,866: 142, pushing the count to 44,866Recoveries: 2,388 bringing the number to 2,737,722Alert level system expanded nationwide
Source:Philippine Star
November 11, 2021 10:16 UTC
DFA probes new data leak
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has taken down its online passport tracking system and all its data sources as it began to investigate a possible breach and “to avoid further data broadcasting.”According to the DFA, its Office of Consular Affairs was made aware of a data privacy issue involving the tracking system on Tuesday. However, the DFA did not provide other details, including the number of data that may have been exposed. Launched in September, the Online Passport Tracker is a platform that allows applicants to view the status of their passport application. The DFA assured the public that it “continues to prioritize the protection and privacy of the data it handles in accordance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10173) and is working with the National Privacy Commission in resolving this issue.”“An internal audit will also be conducted to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future,” the DFA said.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
November 11, 2021 09:33 UTC
Duterte says it's legal for employers to reject unvaxxed job applicants
Around the country, the average number of new COVID cases has been relatively stable. But that's not the case everywhere, especially out West in states where vaccination rates are relatively high. So behind...
Source:Philippine Star
November 11, 2021 07:41 UTC