Indonesia hunts for survivors as quake death toll hits 60 – The Manila Times
MAMUJU: The death toll from a powerful earthquake on Indonesia’s Sulawesi island has jumped to 60, authorities said on Sunday, with thousands left homeless as rescuers raced to find anyone still alive under mountains of rubble. The official death toll stood at 60 — up from 46 on Saturday — but the count could still climb. They said they were running low on food, blankets and other aid, as emergency supplies were rushed to the hard-hit region. In 2018, a 7.5-magnitude quake and a subsequent tsunami in Palu on Sulawesi left more than 4,300 people dead or missing. And on December 26, 2004, a 9.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Sumatra and triggered a tsunami that killed 220,000 throughout the region, including around 170,000 in Indonesia.
Source:Manila Times
January 17, 2021 08:37 UTC
525 Filipinos abroad added in DFA's COVID-19 count after surge in cases
525 Filipinos abroad added in DFA's COVID-19 count after surge in casesMANILA, Philippines — Foreign affairs officials last week saw more than 500 Filipinos abroad added in its COVID-19 count, bringing the total to 13,543. Officials also reported 34 new infections on January 12, the third highest increase for the week. The Americas now account for 806 infections, 533 recoveries and at 194 deaths, continue to have the second highest fatality count. India (10.5 million), Brazil (8.4 million), Russia (3.5 million), and the United Kingdom (3.3 million) follow in the list of the Top 5 countries with the most cases. At home, COVID-19 infections soared beyond 500,000 on Sunday, January 17, making the Philippines' count the 31st highest in the world.
Source:Philippine Star
January 17, 2021 08:15 UTC
Fil-Malaysian freestyle baller wears Filipino heritage with pride
MANILA, Philippines — The concept of Filipino pride is usually connected to supporters of an athlete or an artist with Filipino heritage — with the fans being the ones beaming with pride. So it's a welcomed change of pace when it is the other way around, with the person itself greatly acknowledging their Filipino heritage. Related Stories Fil-Malaysian freestyle baller captivates Pangasinan hometownSuch is what drives Filipino-Malaysian freestyle baller Scalia Nethanial, who has strong ties in his hometown of Basista in Pangasinan. The only Filipino endorser of Puma Malaysia, Nethanial makes sure to flaunt the other half of his heritage every time he gets the chance. A five-time freestyle basketball champion in Malaysia, Nethanial puts giving back to his Filipino roots at the forefront of his every day grind.
Source:Philippine Star
January 17, 2021 08:15 UTC
Coronavirus cases in the Philippines breach 500,000
MANILA, Philippines (Updated 4:17 p.m.) — The Department of Health on Sunday afternoon reported 1,895 new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases, bringing the number of total cases to 500,577. Of the total, 24,691 are still classified as active cases, or patients who have neither recovered nor passed away and are recovering in hospitals or quarantine facilities. Of these figures, around 91.1% were mild and asymptomatic cases, while 5.3% were critical while 3.0% were severe. "Always remember the proper usage of face masks and face shields, our physical distancing, and washing and sanitizing hands often. Where most cases were reportedDavao City (GCQ): 107 casesQuezon City (GCQ): 106 casesIsabela (MGCQ): 65 casesPampanga (MGCQ): 63 casesBulacan (MGCQ): 62 casesWhat's new today?
Source:Philippine Star
January 17, 2021 08:03 UTC
Australian Open arrivals hit by 3 Covid-positive tests – The Manila Times
Three cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) have been detected from charter flights carrying tennis players, coaches and officials to Melbourne for the Australian Open, forcing 47 players into strict hotel quarantine. The Australian Open starts on February 8. Health authorities said two positive Covid-19 cases emerged from a charter flight from Los Angeles. The third positive test was from a flight from Abu Dhabi in the past 24 hours, Tennis Australia said. South Australia health officials “confirmed that there is no one who has an active Covid-19 infection in the entire tennis cohort based in Adelaide,” the Australian Open said Saturday on Twitter.
Source:Manila Times
January 17, 2021 08:03 UTC
HSBC "had no choice" but to freeze his accounts: Ted Hui
Exiled former lawmaker Ted Hui Previous NextHSBC group chief executive Noel Quinn told exiled former lawmaker Ted Hui Chi-fung the bank had no choice but to freeze his and his family's bank accounts. Hui, who is in exile in Britain since December, uploaded a picture on Facebook of the email from Quinn sent him last Monday. The bank had the legal responsibility to freeze his account in accordance to police instructions, Quinn told him in an email. Hui said the bank did not give him any formal explanation since his accounts being frozen a month ago. He later said on Facebook that his and his family's accounts in HSBC have been frozen.
Source:The Standard
January 17, 2021 07:30 UTC
Elderly home resident won't be inoculated in one go, Lam Ching-choi said
Authorities won't vaccinate all elderly home residents in one go as it wants more time to observe the jabs' side effects, Elderly Commission chairman Lam Ching-choi said. Lam, also an Executive Council member, said authorities still maintain the goal of launching vaccinations after Lunar New Year. He cited expert opinions that elderly residents at care homes are highly vulnerable to the virus and after balancing the risks of infection and side effects after vaccination, it is best to inoculate them with whichever vaccine arrives in town the earliest. But authorities will send out-reach teams to elderly homes and evacuate each individual’s health condition before administering the jabs, he said, adding inoculation will not be done in one go, so health officers can monitor potential adverse effects. He said medics will stay at care homes for at least 30 minutes after administering shots.
Source:The Standard
January 17, 2021 07:18 UTC
Suzara to lead new Philippine volleyball governing body?
MANILA, Philippines — Is Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Comiittee (Phisgoc) chief operating officer Ramon “Tatz” Suzara the new president of the new volleyball group the Philippine Olympic Committee is forming? Also attending the meeting were Ariel Paredes, which represented the Philippine Superliga and the Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc., Ottie Camangian of the Philippine Volleyball Federation and Ricky Palou and Tony Boy Liao of the Premier Volleyball League. “Volleyball is already unified at last and the true winner here is Philippine volleyball,” said Tolentino, who was accompanied by secretary-general Atty. The FIVB requested the POC to supervise the creation — through general elections — of the national sports association. The international body withdrew its recognition of a Philippine federation since 2016.
Source:Philippine Star
January 17, 2021 07:07 UTC
Commissioner tells pro chessers: 'Make history but be responsible'
MANILA, Philippines — Attorney Paul Elauria, the Commissioner of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines, enjoined the 250 players who comprise the country’s first pro chess league to conduct themselves with an air of professionalism and responsibility during simple online opening rites on Opening Day, January 16. “Being a professional is not a right,” stressed Elauria. PCAP conducted its inaugural draft a month later, both online and live at the Quezon City Sports center. “We cannot act without regard to those affected by our deeds,” added the bespectacled commissioner. “People will look up to us as role models, idols, and an inspiration in the field of chess.
Source:Philippine Star
January 17, 2021 07:06 UTC
Mike Magpayo leads UC Riverside to sweep of California Polytechnic
MANILA, Philippines — Filipino coach Mike Magpayo continues to enjoy success as the head coach of the UC Riverside Highlanders in the US NCAA. This after UC Riverside scored two big wins against Big West Conference opponents Cal Poly Mustangs during the weekend. With clear momentum on their side, UC Riverside reasserted their dominance the next day, fashioning out a 70-53 win to move up to 6-3 in the season. The 41-year-old's UC Riverside is currently fourth in the Big West with a 3-1 conference record. Magpayo is the first-ever coach of Asian descent to be a head coach in the US NCAA Division I.
Source:Philippine Star
January 17, 2021 06:45 UTC
HK's unemployment rate may hit a 16-year high: Paul Chan
Paul Chan Mo-po said the coronavirus kept the labour market under pressure. Hong Kong’s unemployment rate may hit a 16-year high as the pandemic hits the catering and retail industries hard, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said. On his blog today, Chan said the coronavirus kept the labour market under pressure. “Lunar new year was supposed to be the peak season of retailers and restaurants but was affected by the pandemic. As for the coming budget plan, Chan considers citizens’ needs under Covid-19 and will plan for the future, analyzing the change of consumer behaviours and business models with the improvement of technology.
Source:The Standard
January 17, 2021 06:00 UTC
Grizzlies beat Sixers in Morant's return; Pistons add to Heat's woes
MANILA, Philippines — The Memphis Grizzlies took their fourth win in a row in Ja Morant's first game back from injury after outlasting the Philadelphia 76ers, 106-104, as the NBA season continued on Saturday (Sunday, Manila time). Six other Grizzlies scored in double digits to aid Memphis in the balanced team victory. Meanwhile, the Detroit Pistons handed Erik Spoelstra and the Miami Heat their third loss in a row, 120-100. A third quarter where the Pistons outscored the Heat, 38-19, helped them pull away for the win. In the last game of the day, the Portland Trail Blazers fended off the Atlanta Hawks, 112-106.
Source:Philippine Star
January 17, 2021 05:26 UTC
Australia unlikely to open border in 2021 — health official
Australia unlikely to open border in 2021 — health officialSYDNEY — Australia's international borders are unlikely to open to travelers this year despite the rollout of coronavirus vaccines, a top health official said Monday. Health department secretary Brendan Murphy, a key adviser in Australia's virus response, said free-flowing travel to and from the country was not expected to resume in 2021. Related Stories Australia orders citizens not to travel abroad"I think that we'll go most of this year with still substantial border restrictions," he told public broadcaster ABC. "Even if we have a lot of the population vaccinated, we don't know whether that will prevent transmission of the virus. The country has secured access to both the Pfizer and Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines, with the rollout scheduled to begin in late February but still awaiting approval from medical regulators.
Source:Philippine Star
January 17, 2021 04:41 UTC
Indonesia hunts for survivors as quake death toll hits 56 – The Manila Times
MAMUJU, Indonesia: The death toll from a powerful earthquake on Indonesia’s Sulawesi island has jumped to 56, authorities said on Sunday, with thousands left homeless as rescuers raced to find anyone still alive under mountains of rubble. The official death toll stood at 56 — up from 46 on Saturday — but the count could still climb. The quake’s epicenter was 36 kilometers (22 miles) south of Mamuju and it had a relatively shallow depth of 18 kilometers. In 2018, a 7.5-magnitude quake and a subsequent tsunami in Palu on Sulawesi left more than 4,300 people dead or missing. And on December 26, 2004, a 9.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Sumatra and triggered a tsunami that killed 220,000 throughout the region, including around 170,000 in Indonesia.
Source:Manila Times
January 17, 2021 04:21 UTC
Harden posts triple-double in Nets debut; Spurs handle shorthanded Rockets
Harden became the first-ever player to drop a 30-point triple-double in a team debut. Meanwhile, Durant posted a season-high 42 points for the Nets, who are continuing to miss its other star in Kyrie Irving. Harden's former team, the Houston Rockets, weren't as successful in their outing on Saturday with a 91-103 loss against the San Antonio Spurs. Sans Houston newcomer John Wall, an undermanned Rockets team fell to a Spurs side led by DeMar DeRozan's 24 points. Five different Raptors finished in double-digit scoring with Norman Powell leading the way with 24 points.
Source:Philippine Star
January 17, 2021 03:22 UTC