Ukraine war and the world
But the war in Ukraine overhangs this summer in Europe. As war does, the best and the worst in people rampage in images that bring forth emotions, good and bad, causing a terrible unease. The wheat that they need to make up for shortages is locked up in Ukraine, or being taken somewhere else. From initial moves, the governments that comprise the G7 and NATO are reinforcing their unity in addressing the war in Ukraine. The Ukraine war is a needless and retrogressive step.
Source:Manila Times
July 01, 2022 04:09 UTC
China’s Xi presides over muted Hong Kong handover anniversary
HONG KONG — Chinese leader Xi Jinping presided Friday over tightly choreographed celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover from Britain, with once annual demonstrations silenced and a massive security presence in force. “After the storms, Hong Kong has been reborn from the fire and emerged with robust vitality,” Xi said upon arriving by high-speed train on Thursday afternoon. But Xi insisted Thursday that One Country Two Systems would guarantee “long-term stability and prosperity in Hong Kong”. The centerpiece is a huge Chinese national flag sided with a slightly smaller Hong Kong flag, each occupying half of a soccer pitch. “It’s clear that the hands of interference of those anti-China forces who scheme to destabilize Hong Kong have been cut off by the national security law for Hong Kong,” said an editorial in the state-run tabloid Global Times.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
July 01, 2022 03:04 UTC
Chef with 'clear and active role' at protest hit with 43-month term
Scenes from the Wan Chai protest on October 6, 2019. Previous NextEunice LamA 33-year-old chef was sentenced to a prison term of three years and seven months at the district court yesterday for rioting and violating the mask ban during a 2019 protest. Derek Chan Chun-ling earlier pleaded guilty to both counts of rioting and breaching the mask ban before judge Lily Wong Sze-lai. Chan was an "active" participant and "had a clear role" at the time, Wong said, adding his crime was consequently greater than other protesters present who received lighter sentences. Chan was influenced by the heated atmosphere at the time, the defense said, arguing he only acted on impulse and wasn't fully armed.
Source:The Standard
July 01, 2022 01:18 UTC
Health expert questions city’s border control measures against Covid
Epidemiologist Benjamin Cowling from the University of Hong Kong on Thursday raised questions over the necessity of the city’s border control measures against the coronavirus, saying that the BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants of Omicron have already entered communities. He questioned if it is really necessary for Hong Kong to maintain its strict border control measures. Cowling noted that the border control measures are supposed to stop the virus from entering one city - when that specific place has recorded zero local infections. “With Hong Kong now recording over 100 imported cases daily, and that the sub-variants of Omicron already spreading in our society, is it really necessary for the border control measures to remain in place?” he asked. The epidemiologist also noted that shortening the hotel quarantine period for inbound travelers from seven to five days would not bring significant risks to the city’s Covid situation.
Source:The Standard
June 30, 2022 15:13 UTC
Xi says Hong Kong 'reborn of fire' as visit begins
Chinese President Xi Jinping said Hong Kong had been "reborn of fire" as he began his two-day visit to Hong Kong on Thursday by stepping off a high-speed train at the West Kowloon station. The director of Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong, Luo Huining, and former chief executive Leung Chun-ying are also seen at the platform greeting the president. After removing his mask, Xi starts by saying “The whole Chinese nation is celebrating this happy occasion with Hong Kong residents. During these five springs and autumns, I have been paying attention to Hong Kong and thinking of Hong Kong.”“My heart and that of the central government have been with our compatriots in Hong Kong,” he said. "In the past period, Hong Kong has experienced more than one serious test, and overcome more than one risk and challenge," Xi said.
Source:The Standard
June 30, 2022 13:34 UTC
New Palace Museum head as doors set to open
Winnie Tam, right, is the new chairwoman of the museum, which opens on Saturday.REUTERS, SING TAO, AFP Previous NextFormer Bar Association head Winnie Tam Wan-chi will be at the helm of the Hong Kong Palace Museum, which opens on Saturday. "Under his leadership, the Hong Kong Palace Museum has successfully been completed without any budget overruns or delays, which is an exemplary record for projects in recent times," Tang said. The Hong Kong Palace Museum's board is responsible for formulating its vision and mission, as well as strategies, policies and guidelines concerning museological matters. Two new bus stops will be added outside the Hong Kong Palace Museum and M+. It will travel between the Palace Museum, M+ and the cultural district's west entrance.
Source:The Standard
June 30, 2022 01:15 UTC
Wrong to nurse a grudge against Chan
Ho was barking up the wrong tree when he chastised Chan the other day, holding her responsible for the tragic outcomes of local Covid outbreaks that have claimed thousands of lives, mostly among the elderly. Ho based his criticism of the outgoing minister on the hypothesis that if Chan - a nurse by profession - had been a doctor, the outcome of the Covid outbreaks would have been less severe. It may be difficult to apologize because, usually, only people who are brave enough to admit their own mistakes are capable of saying, "Sorry, I'm wrong." Although there were bird flu and swine flu outbreaks, none was comparable to the severity of the current pandemic. I am not suggesting that Chan has played her role particularly well, but I believe that she has given all she can.
Source:The Standard
June 30, 2022 01:14 UTC
Aborted take-off involving two aircraft on same runway 'a result of distraction': investigation
The Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) on Wednesday published the report on the investigation into a severe incident of aborted take-off on an active runway that involved two aircraft. At 9.07pm on December 23, 2017, a Hong Kong Airlines A330-343 passenger aircraft was given take-off clearance by Air Traffic Control (ATC) and began take-off roll on the South Runway of Hong Kong International Airport. The flight crew of the passenger aircraft noticed the transmission and immediately aborted the take-off. The occurrence was classified as a serious incident according to the criteria of the International Civil Aviation Organization. The investigation identified that the take-off clearance was inappropriately issued to the passenger aircraft as a result of distraction.
Source:The Standard
June 29, 2022 16:45 UTC
Change is the only constant
Replacement of defective laptops and loading of counting or canvassing programs on the election site would be as easy as 1-2-3. Thus, procurement from a single supplier with SLCC is eliminated, making SLCC not applicable anymore. (Read: "JCOC & DoST support Filipino-made election system, Comelec sees it promising" https://www.manilatimes.net/2016/08/16/featured-columns/columnists/jcoc-dost-support-filipino-made-election-system-comelec-sees-it-promising/280361). ), simplified election operations, compliant with ideal ladderized canvassing vis Batas Pambansa 881, tactical logistical handling, and most of all — transparency through public counting! Hence, it appears that the execution of a federal election system could be patterned in the HES.
Source:Manila Times
June 29, 2022 16:12 UTC
When even the passive voice won't do
THERE are times when we'll find both the active voice and the passive voice falling short of giving us the desired emphasis for a statement. Emphasizing the direct object ("luscious fruits") from the doer's ("we") standpoint: "What we brought to Eve were luscious fruits." "What were brought by us to Eve were luscious fruits." "What we did was to bring luscious fruits to Eve." Emphasizing all the elements: "What happened was that we brought luscious fruits to Eve."
Source:Manila Times
June 29, 2022 11:15 UTC
'Where mind meets machine'
As an emerging trend Industry 5.0 will change our life in many ways. It is noted that "when AI systems are left to function without human assistance, they can occasionally make mistakes or even completely fail." A case in point is "the fatality caused by a self-driving car making AI systems vulnerable for adversarial situations." These systems embodied in Industry 5.0 are expected to incorporate greater human intelligence — how high would be the level of collaboration between man and machines, Industry 5.0 will show us. (The Fifth Industrial Revolution: where mind meets machine) (https://www.thenationalnews.com › opinion › comment) There would hopefully be a balanced collaboration between smart machines and us human beings.
Source:Manila Times
June 29, 2022 11:15 UTC
Three-day hotel quarantine plus four-day medical surveillance upon entering HK: health expert
The quarantine period for inbound travelers should be shortened to three days, plus four days of medical surveillance at home, microbiologist Ho Pak-leung said. The city’s current measures require foreign arrivals to be isolated in designated hotels for seven days. Ho said people under medical surveillance should be barred from restaurants, bars, beauty salons, and fitness centers but could go to their place of work in a “point-to-point” system. Those undergoing quarantine or medical surveillance should wear a location-enabled bracelet to facilitate tracking by the authorities. In addition, Moderna’s bivalent vaccine has been proven to be effective against Omicron BA.4 and BA.5.
Source:The Standard
June 29, 2022 11:06 UTC
Central shooting: One more nabbed, 17 arrested so far
Police have arrested another man in connection with the gang attack and shooting near Lan Kwai Fong in Central earlier this month, with the total number of arrested persons in connection with the violence now reaching 17. In a statement, the force said a 20-year-old non-ethnic Chinese man was arrested on Tuesday for conspiracy to wound with intent. It also noted that two men arrested earlier this week in connection to the case were due to appear in Eastern Court on Wednesday. They were among six men arrested earlier this week in connection with the shooting. Read more:(Video) Shooting in Central district sees three injuredCops gun for triad catch with $250,000 offer
Source:The Standard
June 29, 2022 09:47 UTC
‘No finality yet’: Rappler to appeal SEC shutdown order
MANILA, Philippines — Rappler is prepared to exhaust legal remedies after the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) affirmed its revocation order against the media organization, its chief legal counsel Francis Lim said on Wednesday. ADVERTISEMENTREAD: SEC has ordered Rappler shutdown, says CEO RessaLim, however, said Rappler “strongly disagrees” with the decision as it plans to file a petition for review to the Court of Appeals (CA). “We have 15 days from yesterday to file a petition for review or what a layman knows as appeal to the CA. The lawyer further stressed, “There are powerful, factual and legal grounds to reverse the decision of the SEC which we are now discussing. ADVERTISEMENT“Until our courts of law say that we have to close down by ultimately upholding the SEC decision, it’s business as usual for us,” he said.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
June 29, 2022 06:14 UTC
Militants hit soldiers’ presence in Aklan capital
It cited the deployment of soldiers in the subvillages of Barangay Poblacion on C. Laserna Street in the town center. The soldiers were allegedly showing photographs of Calaor and Tugna to residents and inquiring about their whereabouts. Gen. Marion Sison, commander of the Army’s 301st Infantry Brigade, confirmed the deployment of soldiers at Barangay Cawayan in New Washington town and at Barangay Poblacion in Kalibo. In our previous deployments in other communities, we have heard the same lies from similar organizations and other antipeace, antidevelopment and antipeople groups,” Sison added. ADVERTISEMENTBut House Deputy Minority leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate said the presence of soldiers in the provincial capital was meant to harass leaders and members of progressive organizations.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
June 29, 2022 02:46 UTC