Virus sickens 18 more in Mongolia
Mongolia reported 18 more coronavirus patients over the last 24 hours, bringing the national count to 179, the country's National Center for Communicable Disease (NCCD) said today, Xinhua reports. "A total of 369 tests for coronavirus were conducted at four laboratories across the country yesterday and 18 of them were positive," NCCD head Dulmaa Nyamkhuu told a daily press conference. The new patients are Mongolian nationals who returned Thursday from Russia via the border point in the northern district of Altanbulag, Nyamkhuu said. All the coronavirus cases in Mongolia were imported, mostly from Russia. No local transmissions or deaths have been reported in the landlocked country so far.
Source:The Standard
May 29, 2020 06:56 UTC
Leung Ka-wing says RTHK complies with charter
Director of Broadcasting Leung Ka-wing said today that the staff of Radio Television Hong Kong always follow the station's charter, even as the chairman of the Board of Advisers complained there have been incidences of "serious non-compliance," RTHK reports. So far I didn't feel any pressure to leave RTHK," Leung said. He added that he would fully cooperate and support the work of the government's task force, while continuing to uphold the station's editorial independence. We felt that all programmes under RTHK should be under the charter, should all be accurate," Chan said. On Thursday, IT sector lawmaker Charles Mok described the government's decision to set up the task force as an "unprecedented move to control the public broadcaster".
Source:The Standard
May 29, 2020 06:45 UTC
UP women's basketball team creates masks to help indigent members
MANILA, Philippines — The UP Women's Basketball Team is launching a fundraiser to help indigent team members amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Called the "Sister Maroon" program, the cagebelles are selling cloth masks to generate funds to support less fortunate teammates while the health crisis drags on. Related Stories Pinay Futbol creates fundraiser for fallen youth playerWith the help of alumni group Nowhere to go but UP, the team launched a five-piece face mask set that features University of the Philippines' designs. One set, which costs Php 1,000, comes with four 2-layer masks and one 3-layer mask with provision for an additional filter. The first batch of the masks are already sold out but are now available for pre-order.
Source:Philippine Star
May 29, 2020 06:45 UTC
Drilon questions constitutionality of extending Bayanihan law
MANILA, Philippines — Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Friday questioned the constitutionality of extending the validity of the Bayanihan to Heal as One law, which granted President Rodrigo Duterte additional powers to address the coronavirus pandemic in the country. The Bayanihan law will lapse on June 24, while Congress is set to adjourn on June 6. The committees are tackling the bill that seeks to extend the validity of the Bayanihan law for another three months, or until September. “Father Bernas is of the view that when Congress is not in session and is therefore unable to act on emergency situations, the President himself is stripped of his emergency powers,” Drilon said. Also during the hearing, Drilon sought the removal of the penal provisions for quarantine violations under the Bayanihan to Heal as One law should its effectivity be extended until September.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
May 29, 2020 06:45 UTC
Geely Auto raises HK$6.4b in share placement
Geely Auto (0175) said it will place 600 million shares, at the price of HK$10.8 per share. The placing shares represent about 6.51 percent of the issued share capital and about 6.11 percent of the company’s issued share capital as enlarged by the allotment and issue of the placing shares. China International Capital said Geely Auto has was sufficient cash and the demand for financing was small. The arrangement of the placing shares was used for capital reserves, reducing the financial burden caused by research and development. CMB International said raising more capital did not mean there was problem with the company's capital chain.
Source:The Standard
May 29, 2020 06:33 UTC
PLDT says no customer data downloaded in Twitter hack
MANILA, Philippines —Telecommunications and digital service provider PLDT said Friday that no customer information was downloaded when its Twitter account for customer service was hacked on Thursday. “We would like to inform the public that a thorough investigation conducted by our cybersecurity operations group has shown that there is no record of customer data download or exfiltration from the @PLDT_Cares Twitter account,” PLDT Inc. said in a statement. At 12:34 p.m on Thursday, the PLDT Cares Twitter account was hacked by a group that claimed to be Anonymous Philippines. Hackers even posted a tweet calling for fast internet service amid the coronavirus pandemic and threatened they would also infiltrate the Twitter account of Globe Telecom. Expect us,” the hacked account earlier tweeted.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
May 29, 2020 06:33 UTC
865,000 entertainment, audio-visual industry workers displaced by COVID-19 pandemic
MANILA, Philippines — Some 865,000 workers in the audiovisual industry have been displaced by the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in the country. Since 70% to 80% of the industry are freelancers, Diño added that they would need at least six months worth of cash assistance. Diño, however, said the agency would still need more funds to release a second wave of cash aid. “Ang laki ng audiovisual industry at dahil hindi kami nahahagip sa census ng PSA statistics, minsan ay nakakalimutan ‘yung pinagdadaanan at kalagayan ng mga nasa industriyang ito,” she added. (The industry is very big and we are sometimes not included in the census of PSA statistics.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
May 29, 2020 06:22 UTC
Shanghai-based Trip.com suffers 1.5b yuan loss
Shanghai-based Trip.com Group, a leading online travel agency in China, reported 1.5 billion yuan loss from operations in the first quarter of this year due to the coronavirus pandemic in the mainland China. The group's accommodation business was mostly hit with reservation revenue in the first quarter dropping by 62 percent year-on-year to 1.2 billion yuan. Transportation ticketing revenue, packaged-tour revenue and corporate travel revenue fell by 29 percent, 50 percent and 47 percent, respectively. "The virus pandemic has brought significant challenges to the global travel industry. More than 350 destinations at home and abroad, 500 air routes and 10,000 hotels have joined the group's plan to revive the pandemic-hit travel industry.
Source:The Standard
May 29, 2020 06:00 UTC
LIST: What to expect in areas under GCQ, MGCQ
Here’s what to expect under GCQ and MGCQ:Public health standardsUnder GCQ and MGCQ, all residents are required to observe minimum public health standards at all times. As of posting time, DOTr has yet to release the guidelines for public transportation reopening in MGCQ areas. However, the full mass transport guidelines for GCQ areas may be viewed here. As for higher education, the opening of classes in GCQ areas will be based on the higher education institutions’ (HEIs) delivery mode. Face-to-face or in-person classes may be conducted by HEIs in MGCQ areas but with strict compliance to minimum health standards.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
May 29, 2020 05:57 UTC
Mahathir Mohamad ousted from Malay political party
Malaysia's former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has been ousted from his ethnic Malay political party in the latest twist of a power struggle with his successor, but he has vowed to challenge the move. The 94-year-old Mahathir, along with his son and three other senior members, were expelled from the Bersatu party on Thursday. The party has has been split into two camps since intense political wrangling led Mahathir to resign the premiership in February and the king to appoint fellow party member Muhyiddin Yassin as his replacement despite Mahathir's objections. Mahathir's son Mukhriz Mahathir had since challenged Muhyiddin as party president in a vote that's been postponed by the coronavirus pandemic. Mahathir, a two-time prime minister, resigned in protest.
Source:The Standard
May 29, 2020 05:48 UTC
MSD Philippines' cancer awareness campaign wins Anvil Award
MANILA, Philippines — Global healthcare company Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) in the Philippines was recognized for its excellent public relations programs on raising lung cancer awareness at the 55th Anvil Awards held at the Manila Hotel in February. The Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) awarded MSD’s "Hope From Within" with two Silver Anvil Awards for Public Relations Program on a Sustained Basis-Digital Campaign, and Specialized Public Relations Program-Advocacy Campaign. Hope From Within is a multi-stakeholder cancer advocacy campaign led by MSD in the Philippines, aimed at raising awareness and strengthening the fight against the disease through education about early testing and new treatments, such as Immunotherapy. It facilitated and participated in various fora that tackled the challenges of Filipino cancer patients and explored opportunities to redefine cancer care through multi-sectoral collaboration and policy development. The advocacy program was previously awarded a Gold Anvil Award for Immunotherapy in 2017.
Source:Philippine Star
May 29, 2020 05:48 UTC
JD.com, NetEase HK stock sales approved
JD.com and NetEase have won approvals to forge ahead with their Hong Kong share sales that could raise billions of dollars, as political turmoil leaves the city’s status as an international finance center clouded in uncertainty. Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing approved the secondary listing applications by the U.S.-listed Chinese tech companies, according to people familiar with the matter, asking not to be identified discussing private matters. Online gaming firm NetEase filed a preliminary prospectus with the exchange later on Friday, a confirmation that it has received the official green light. NetEase plans to list in Hong Kong on June 11, while China’s No. Representatives for Hong Kong’s stock exchange, JD and NetEase declined to comment.
Source:The Standard
May 29, 2020 05:26 UTC
2 kidnap suspects killed in Rizal shootout
MANILA, Philippines — Two suspects wanted for a 2003 kidnapping incident in Laguna died during an armed encounter with police officers in Rizal on Friday morning. Gen. Jonnel Estomo identified the suspects Rey Rala, alias Bagto, and Mario Patlingrao, alias Melvin. Rala and Patlingrao sensed the presence of policemen which prompted them to open fire. Estomo said they also found that Rala has an arrest warrant for Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act. Estomo added that the two suspects were also involved in gun-for-hire schemes and crimes involving illegal drugs in 2010.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
May 29, 2020 04:52 UTC
WATCH: Matteo Guidicelli gives advice to Alden Richards, Army reservist aspirants
MANILA, Philippines — Kapamilya actor Matteo Guidicelli is happy to hear the news that his friend, Kapuso actor Alden Richards, is planning to join the reserved forces just like he did. All these active celebrities started joining the reserve force, also Alden, he likes to join the Air Force, if I'm not mistaken," Matteo said. Related: Alden Richards considering to join military as reservist"A lot of other celebrities have joined the Army, the Air Force, merong Coast Guard and all these different places," he added. "I feel that this is important to learn to be unified, passion to learn discipline, camaraderie from the reserved force from the military. — Video from ABS-CBN/iWantRELATED: ‘My wife is my life’: Matteo Guidicelli on rumored baby, lockdown life with Sarah Geronimo
Source:Philippine Star
May 29, 2020 04:41 UTC
Australian woman jailed for attempt to assault cops
An Australian woman, 32, who had pleaded guilty to a count of attempted to assault police officer in execution of duty, has been sentenced to three months of imprisonment by the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today. She was accused of dropping a brick from a footbridge at police officers who were dispersing protesters between World Wide House and Exchange Square in Central on November 12 last year.
Source:The Standard
May 29, 2020 04:18 UTC