It’s more a case of David and Goliath than “Batman v Superman.” Indeed, while the two conflicting parties grappling for their versions of the truth in HBO’s explosive four-part documentary “Allen v. Farrow” are both Hollywood celebrities, you don’t need to be an expert at rocket science to realize just how powerful one is compared to the other. We’re talking about four-time Oscar-winning writer-actor-director Woody Allen (“Annie Hall,” “Manhattan,” “Hannah and Her Sisters”) and his muse-turned-nemesis actress Mia Farrow (“Rosemary’s Baby,” “The Great Gatsby”). In the ’80s and early ’90s, the fabled couple did 13 films together. Woody, who’s now 85 years old, has made a film every year for 40 straight years, and is now preparing to shoot his 51st film—how prolific can you get? Mia Farrow (right) with Ronan (left) and Dylan—PHOTO COURTESY OF HBO Power couple Woody and Mia were considered a Hollywood power couple until their 12-year romance (they never married and lived in ... » Learn More about ‘Allen v. Farrow’: Docu on 29-year-old sexual abuse case a moral reckoning in the age of #MeToo
College footbal ap poll
Philippine air force helicopter crash kills all 7 aboard
The UH-1H helicopter tried to make an emergency landing after encountering engine problems but crashed in a mountainous area in Impasugong town in Bukidnon province, regional army spokesperson Maj. Rodulfo Cordero Jr. said. Troops secured the crash site and retrieved the bodies of four air force crewmen, including two pilots, as well as an army soldier and two militiamen, Cordero and the army said. Government forces have been undertaking on and off offensives against communist guerrillas in the region and elsewhere in the country after peace talks between President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration and the Maoist insurgents collapsed. The guerrillas have been weakened by decades of battle setbacks, infighting and surrenders but remain a national security threat. The military says about 3,500 New People’s Army guerrillas remain waging one of Asia’s longest-running insurgencies. - AP ... » Learn More about Philippine air force helicopter crash kills all 7 aboard
Duterte fires ex-ambassador
The Philippine president has dismissed his former ambassador to Brazil after she was seen on video physically abusing a Filipino member of her household staff. President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday night he had approved a recommendation to fire Marichu Mauro, revoke her retirement benefits and disqualify her from public office for life. The decision comes as Duterte pushes a campaign against official abuses and corruption in his last full year in power. Mauro was recalled from Brazil in October after the video, reportedly taken from security cameras in the ambassador’s residence in Brasilia and shown by a Brazilian news agency, showed a woman attacking somebody who appeared to be a house keeper. The Foreign Affairs Department in Manila said at the time that the unidentified victim had returned to Philippines and that it was trying to reach her. Mauro has not publicly commented on the allegations. Duterte has been reading the names of government employees and officers ... » Learn More about Duterte fires ex-ambassador
Duterte hints at his ‘president’ in 2022
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Friday teased Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go about a possible presidential bid in 2022. During the joint meeting of national and regional task forces to end local communist armed conflict (Elcac) in Cagayan de Oro City on Friday, Duterte called Go “president” and asked him to “stand up and see if it suits you well.” “Stand up and wave to the people. That’s too low; raise your hand higher,” said Duterte to Go in Visayan. Duterte said Go has been with him for 21 years since he started in 1988 and has never lost an election. “So how long have I been a mayor, how many terms? One, two, three, four, five, six? Seven? So that’s the story there,” Duterte added. The President hinted that Go might be his possible successor after he reiterated that he had no plans of staying in office after his term expires in 2022. Duterte said there were so many corrupt people and “no one dared to bring them down because of fear.” He said since he was no longer ... » Learn More about Duterte hints at his ‘president’ in 2022
Poor internet connection burdens distance learners
The latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey said a measly 39 percent of Filipino families with members studying via online distance learning have “strong” internet connection. The nationwide poll was conducted from November 21 to 25 among 1,500 respondents, aged five to 20. Of the 39 percent, the SWS survey said 26 percent related that their internet connection was “somewhat strong” while 14 percent said it was “very strong.” Forty-six percent of the respondents who said they had strong internet connection were from Balance Luzon (outside Mega Manila), followed by Metro Manila with 36 percent, the Visayas with 38 percent and Mindanao with 30 percent. The SWS survey also revealed that 86 percent of families with members studying through distance learning spent an average of P901 per month on internet service providers. In November 2020, an SWS survey said an estimated 4.3 million or 14 percent of enrolled school-age Filipinos were exclusively studying through online ... » Learn More about Poor internet connection burdens distance learners
Trevor Simsby gets unusual shot at WGC
BRADENTON, Florida: The latest World Golf Championship (WGC) event has gone to nine venues with five title names since it began in 1999. What hasn’t changed is a field that pulls in players from all over the world, some of whom have next to no name recognition. Trevor Simsby took that to another level at the Workday Championship last week. He had never played a Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) Tour event. A member of the Asian Tour, the 28-year-old Californian had not played on any recognized tour in a full year because of the Covid-19 pandemic. And then, he had a week to remember. Along with making a hole-in-one, he tied for 37th to finish ahead of Dustin Johnson and Xander Schauffele. He earned $59,000 ‒ more than he had made in 21 events during his rookie year in Asia. Most bizarre is how Simsby even got into the field for the $10.5 million event at The Concession. Simsby finished his college career at Washington and tried the Korn Ferry Tour and the PGA Tour ... » Learn More about Trevor Simsby gets unusual shot at WGC
New Tokyo Olympic president tries to assure Japan on safety
TOKYO : The new president of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee has begun holding weekly news conferences hoping to win over a doubting Japanese public with the postponed games opening in just under five months. Seiko Hashimoto is trying to assure everyone that the Olympics will be safe and secure, a phrase she repeated a dozen times on Friday night in her inaugural news conference. Polls show about 80% of Japanese think the games should be postponed again or canceled amid the pandemic. “The situation around coronavirus doesn’t go easy on us,” Hashimoto said. “I understand there are a lot of people in Tokyo and in Japan who have concerns about the games in Tokyo this summer. I’d like to share my thoughts and alleviate some of those concerns.” She also needs to ease fears about the torch relay, which is set to begin on March 25 from the northeastern prefecture of Fukushima. The relay involves 10,000 runners and goes to every corner of Japan. The Olympics open on July 23, ... » Learn More about New Tokyo Olympic president tries to assure Japan on safety
Russians believe Covid a bioweapon
MOSCOW: Close to two out of three Russians believed that the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) was a manmade biological weapon and less than a third were willing to get vaccinated, a poll said. Observers say the findings reflect a distrust towards authorities fueled by the lack of transparency during the pandemic and deteriorating relations with the West. According to the survey by the independent Levada Center, 64 percent of respondents said Covid-19 was artificially created and was a “new form of biological weapon,” while 23 percent believed the virus appeared “without human intervention.” The poll carried out in late February among 1,600 respondents also found that the number of Russians willing to get vaccinated against the virus has dropped to 30 percent from 38 percent in December. Among those not wanting to get the vaccine, 37 percent said they feared side effects, 23 percent were waiting for results of clinical trials and 16 percent said they “do not see any sense” ... » Learn More about Russians believe Covid a bioweapon
Czech Rep, Denmark, Austria open up
PRAGUE: People in the Czech Republic can now shop at hardware and bicycle stores, play tennis and go swimming. Italians can visit bookshops and laundries, while younger students are returning to classrooms in Denmark. Austria has reopened smaller stores and Germany will follow suit next week. These nations are among the first in the West to start feeling their way gradually out of the limits on daily life imposed by governments to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Others will want to see what lessons can be learned as they too eye an exit route from lockdown amid growing social and economic pressures at home. Chancellor Angela Merkel announced Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) that Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, was ready to start carefully scaling back some restrictions from next week, though she acknowledged that “we have little room to maneuver.” Yet little by little, daily life in some parts of the continent is starting to get moving again. For professional athlete ... » Learn More about Czech Rep, Denmark, Austria open up
Defending Champions Chiang Rai United have Second Straight Win
Defending champions Chiang Rai United had a second straight win since the resumption of football last weekend. The win lifted them to sixth place in Thailand’s T1 League on Sunday night. Chiang Rai United defeated hosts Nakhon Ratchasima 4-0. The Beetles Bill Rosimar claimed a hat-trick. Akarawin Sawasdee added the other goal to the tally with a strike in the 57th minute. The victory left Chiang Rai United four points adrift of undefeated leaders , True Bangkok United. They rallied to beat Suphanburi 2-1 with a home ground advantage. The win improve their tally to 15 points on Saturday night. It also helped Chiang Rai United to make amends for their inconsistent run in their first four matches of the season. Footballing activities in Thailand were halted for over six months due to covid-19 outbreaks in March. T1 football league bouncing back after covid-19 Meanwhile, former champions SCG Muang Thong United failed to get their first win since the restart. The Kirins were ... » Learn More about Defending Champions Chiang Rai United have Second Straight Win