Blue cross blue shield prices

The consumer price index (CPI), a gauge of headline inflation, fell 1.17% year-on-year in February, marking the 12th straight monthly decline since March 2020. According to Phusit Ratanakul Sereroengrit, director-general of the Trade Policy and Strategy Office, the decline was largely because of the government measures to reduce the cost of living via electricity and water bills, effective from February to March. In addition, prices of raw food, especially rice, glutinous rice and fresh vegetables, dropped significantly following the increase in supply and relatively low prices compared with the previous year. Other items, except fuel prices, mostly moved in line with supply and demand. Fuel prices increased for the first time in 13 months, owing to higher global oil prices, he said. Core inflation, which strips out volatile energy and food categories, rose by 0.04% year-on-year in February. For the first two months, the CPI fell -0.75% and core inflation was 0.12%. Mr ... » Learn More about Consumer prices still declining

It is not often that you look at a company that has just announced losses of nearly US$900 million (S$1.2 billion) for the year past and think that it probably is doing the job it is meant to do. Swiss Re, the giant reinsurance firm, has done just that, sliding from a profit of US$727 million the year before. The Zurich-based company, with a history that goes back to 1863, is a breed of insurer that provides backup cover for primary insurers, a shock absorber, so to speak, in a world where shocks are increasingly commonplace. Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month Latest headlines and exclusive stories In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months* Subscribe now *Terms and conditions apply. ... » Learn More about As global shocks rise, Swiss Re has a shield

Boxing – Boxing Programme Feature Programme Promoting the World Heavyweight Championship between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali Mandatory Credit:Action Images/File Photo Many events stake a claim to be considered among the sporting clashes of the century and few live up to the hype but any shortlist of contenders for the greatest of all time must include the first fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. To be worthy of this recognition such battles must withstand the test of time and refuse to fade from memory or meaning. They are not fleeting displays of magnificence but monolithic moments that are part of the sporting historical record remembered for more than a winner and loser. For boxing that moment came at Madison Square Garden on March 8, 1971 when unbeaten heavyweights Ali and Frazier fought in what remains, just as it was advertised that night 50 years ago, the “Fight of the Century.” “It was a magical night that I will never ever forget,” recalled legendary ... » Learn More about Ali, Frazier ‘Fight of the Century’ still packs a punch 50 years on

About a week after the circuit breaker period began on April 7, residents of Sims Urban Oasis condominium saw a startling sight: Their swimming pools, which usually appear blue, had turned emerald green. The change in colour was due to algae forming at the base of the pools, which were on the ground floor of the estate in Sims Drive. A week after its management corporation was alerted, it received the nod from the National Environment Agency (NEA) on Sunday for the estate's pools to be cleaned. The following day, pool cleaners brushed and vacuumed the bottom of the pools to remove the algae. The condominium's residence manager Mark de Souza told The Straits Times on Wednesday that maintenance of the pools had stopped on April 6, in keeping with the circuit breaker measures. According to previous NEA guidelines, only water treatment was allowed every fortnight, and this included increasing the free chlorine concentration in the pools to help manage algae growth. Mr ... » Learn More about Closed pools in condo turn green due to halt in maintenance

“Ang Probisyano” stars join the ABS-CBN prayer vigil. Image: Instagram/@cocomartin_ph, @johnprats The cast of the hit action TV series “Ang Probinsyano,” led by main actors Coco Martin and Yassi Pressman, participated in the media conglomerate ABS-CBN’s prayer vigil to appeal for the  renewal of its franchise, which will soon expire. The actors supported their home network by wearing white outfits and displaying a tied ribbon with the media company’s colors blue, green and red, yesterday, Feb. 21. ABS-CBN stars, staff and other employees came together in front of their main building in Quezon City to show their solidarity with the company and to defend the perceived attack against press freedom. TV host Korina Sanchez took a few snippets from last night’s vigil and placed them in a collage as seen in her Instagram post yesterday. Candles lit the streets beside the network’s building as a sea of employees showed support. Sanchez called them “heroes” and also used the hashtags ... » Learn More about ‘Ang Probinsyano’ stars join ABS-CBN prayer vigil for franchise renewal

In New Jersey, at a timber farm turned shelter for women who have suffered domestic violence, Gloria's struggles, like those of many abuse victims, have worsened with the coronavirus pandemic. From Argentina to Singapore, virus-induced confinement has caused an increase in violence cases and their severity and made it more difficult to report abuses and help victims, activists say. Gloria, a 56-year-old New Yorker who is too afraid to give her surname, arrived at the Strengthen Our Sisters shelter six months ago, several months into the pandemic. Before joining the center, which houses about 80 women and children in seven houses, Gloria first had to quarantine for two weeks, completely alone. Sitting in her pink- and red-painted bedroom, which is decorated with teddy bears, hearts, a Christmas tree, and a picture of Jesus, Gloria describes her ex-partner as "a monster" who beat her and forced her to work for him in exchange for drugs. "He had me isolated with him, without my ... » Learn More about Amid virus, a ‘shadow’ pandemic for domestic abuse sufferers

Gretchen Ho. Image: Instagram/@gretchenho Television host and volleyball star Gretchen Ho has nothing but gratitude for ABS-CBN as she moves on to a new home with TV5. To mark her official transfer to the Kapatid network, Ho took to Instagram yesterday, Jan. 26, to pay tribute to her first home since she got out of college. “I have been working with ABS-CBN for a good [seven to eight] years, but as a UAAP (University Athletic Association of the Philippines) athlete I consider my tenure so much longer than that,” she said. Tingnan ang post na ito sa Instagram Isang post na ibinahagi ni Gretchen Ho (@gretchenho) Ho’s tribute aptly came with several photos of her journey with ABS-CBN over the years, starting from being covered by the network as an Ateneo de Manila University volleyball player to hosting different Kapamilya programs. “I have nothing but gratitude for the network that helped our sport grow leaps and ... » Learn More about Gretchen Ho leaves ABS-CBN for TV5, expresses gratitude to her first network

SINGAPORE - Since he was seven, Mr Jack Goh, 33, has been visiting hospitals every three weeks to receive blood transfusions, and he has to do this for life. The private-hire driver has thalassaemia major, a blood disorder in which the body does not produce enough haemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells. According to the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention's website, when there are not enough healthy red blood cells in the body, not enough oxygen is delivered to all the other cells. This may cause a person to feel tired, weak or short of breath. This condition is called anaemia, and those with thalassaemia may have mild or severe anaemia. Severe anaemia can damage organs and lead to death. Mr Goh, who is single, said that without regular blood transfusions, he will fall sick, lose his appetite and feel fatigued. He said: "I cannot continue with daily activities without enough blood. I feel very fortunate there are these blood donors. If not, I won't be ... » Learn More about Fewer donors in 2020, but blood collected at 5-year high

Mr Robert Chew started donating blood 51 years ago and he has not stopped since. The last time the 69-year-old stepped up to the plate was on Dec 19 - the 183rd time he has voluntarily made this life-saving contribution. The semi-retired businessman is among Singapore's oldest and top blood donors, said the Singapore Red Cross which recruits and maintains the register of blood donors. Mr Chew started donating blood almost by chance. It was back in 1966. Then 18, he had just completed his studies at Victoria School and was mulling over his career move. "I did not have to do national service, but I was thinking of joining the police force," he recounted. NS was introduced in Singapore only the following year. One day, he was cycling from his home in Balestier to his father's fruit import and distribution business when he spotted a banner near his father's shop in New Bridge Road. "The banner said, 'Donate blood, save lives'. It got me thinking about donating blood." ... » Learn More about The Lives They Live: Now 69, he’s donated blood since he was 18

A Honda logo is pictured as cars are displayed outside a Honda showroom of company’s headquarters in Tokyo on November 6, 2020. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP) TOKYO, Japan  – Honda launched the world’s most advanced self-driving car licensed for the road on Friday, releasing an initial batch of 100 models in Japan. The Legend is capable of adaptive driving in lanes, as well as passing and switching lanes under certain circumstances. The car also features an emergency stop function in case a driver is unresponsive to handover warnings, and Honda touts extensive safety testing. “Approximately 10 million patterns of possible real-world situations were simulated during system development, and real-world demonstration tests were conducted on expressways for a total of approximately 1.3 million kilometres (800,000 miles),” it said in a statement. Experts said the limited rollout would help determine whether there is sufficient demand for more autonomous vehicles. Vehicle autonomy ... » Learn More about Honda launches advanced self-driving cars in Japan