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PHOTO FROM DOST MANILA, Philippines — Vice President and presidential aspirant Leni Robredo has said that any reintroduction of the mandatory use of face shields should be based on science. “Ano ba iyong sinasabi? Sinabi ng WHO (World Health Organization) na hindi ni-rerecommend na gawing mandatory siya, so sa akin, anuman iyong desisyon, kailangan naka-base sa ano ba iyong pagtingin ng experts tungkol dito,” Robredo told reporters. (The WHO has said that it does not recommend making it mandatory, so to me, whatever their decision is, it should be based on what the experts think about it.) National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said during a taped briefing with President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday that mandatory face shield policy would be implemented again once the Omicron variant of COVID-19 enters the Philippines. Meanwhile, the WHO has maintained that face shields are not yet recommended despite the threat posed by the ... » Learn More about Make face shield decisions based on science, Robredo says

WHEN heavy rain exceeds half an hour, residents at Valencia Apartment in Shah Alam become anxious. Drains on both sides of Jalan Jujur 25/30 and Jalan Tokoh 25/28 in Taman Sri Muda, Section 25, would overflow. Student Muhd Azin Ismail, 17, said many times cars stalled and their drivers would have to call a mechanic. University lecturer Manan Ngah 65, said flash floods in the area were a three-decade-old problem. “The matter has been brought to the attention of Shah Alam City Council (MBSA), Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) and elected representatives, but no solution has been found,” he said. Manan added that during continuous rain, there was backflow from the roundabout at Persiaran Budiman into the monsoon drains along Jalan Gemilang 25/1 that caused water to flow into Jalan Tokoh 25/28. Rajes Ramalingam, 37, said the close proximity of Sungai Klang at Jambatan Taman Sri Muda did not help. “This is also a low-lying area,” he added. Ravi Jeyaram, 55, said ... » Learn More about Flooded roads a fact of life for apartment folk in Shah Alam

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - The Omicron coronavirus variant detected in southern Africa could be the most likely candidate to displace the highly contagious Delta variant, the director of South Africa's communicable disease institute said on Tuesday. The discovery of Omicron has caused global alarm, with countries limiting travel from southern Africa for fear it could spread quickly even in vaccinated populations and the World Health Organization saying it carries a high risk of infection surges. "We thought what will outcompete Delta? That has always been the question, in terms of transmissibility at least, ... perhaps this particular variant is the variant," Adrian Puren, acting executive director of South Africa's National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), told Reuters in an interview. If Omicron proves even more transmissible than the Delta variant, it could lead to a sharp spike in infections that could put pressure on hospitals. Puren said scientists should ... » Learn More about Omicron variant could outcompete Delta, South African disease expert says

KUALA LUMPUR: The odds were against Kuala Lumpur but they rose to the occasion to prove everyone wrong. In a battle between David and Goliath, KL lifted the Malaysia Cup title for the fourth time after beating Super League champions and fancied Johor Darul Ta’zim 2-0 in the final at the National Stadium here yesterday. Winger Zhafri Yahya and captain Paulo Josue came alive in the second half by scoring the goals in the 65th and 72nd minutes respectively as the City side ended their 32-year wait for the title. And it was special as they have pulled it off on the competition’s 100th year anniversary. The Southern Tigers, as predicted, dominated proceedings with their customary possession play in the first half but they were frustrated by KL’s defensive discipline. Despite the resilience shown by KL, JDT created a few chances with Brazilian striker Bergson Da Silva having the best shot in the eighth minute when he capitalised on a loose clearance from J. Partiban and unleashed a ... » Learn More about Underdogs KL beat giants JDT to end 32-year wait for Cup title

GENOA, Italy (Reuters) - Genoa coach Andriy Shevchenko says he wants to block out his emotions as he prepares to face former club AC Milan as a manager for the first time in Serie A on Wednesday. The Ukrainian became one of Milan’s all-time greats during a seven-year spell at the club between 1999 and 2006, firing them to the Champions League, Serie A, the Coppa Italia and winning the 2004 Ballon d’Or. Shevchenko was appointed Genoa coach on Nov. 7, his first club job, and comes face-to-face with his former employers in just his third game after picking up a draw and a defeat so far. “I will definitely be excited, but I am trying to block out my emotions,” he told a news conference. “This is part of my job. I am a professional and I promised the Genoa fans that I will do my best for them. Now I am thinking about doing everything possible to make life difficult for Milan. “I will always support Milan, but not against Genoa.” Shevchenko faces a relegation battle, with ... » Learn More about Soccer-Genoa’s Shevchenko trying to block emotions ahead of AC Milan reunion

(Reuters) - Former Argentina and Colombia coach Jose Pekerman has been appointed to manage Venezuela, the Venezuela Football Federation (FVF) said on Tuesday. Venezuela are the only South American country never to reach the World Cup finals and sit bottom of the 10-team qualifying group with seven points from 14 games. Venezuela are currently 10 points adrift of fourth-placed Colombia and Peru in fifth. With the top four teams qualifying automatically for Qatar, Pekerman has little chance of taking his new charges to the Qatar 2022 finals but said he arrived “filled with hope.” “I know I am in the right place,” the 72-year-old Argentine told reporters on Tuesday. Pekerman is one of the region’s most experienced and highly respected coaches, with time spent at club sides in Argentina, Chile and Mexico. He has also managed Argentina, who he led at the 2006 World Cup, and took Colombia to the World Cup quarter-finals in Brazil in 2014. He will be Venezuela’s fourth coach ... » Learn More about Soccer-Argentine Pekerman takes charge of Venezuela

ROME (Reuters) - Genoa have appointed former Ukraine coach Andriy Shevchenko as their manager on a deal until 2024, the Serie A club announced on Sunday. The former AC Milan striker, who won the 2004 Ballon d’Or after helping the Rossoneri to Serie A and Champions League triumphs, replaces Davide Ballardini following his sacking nL1N2RX0EH on Saturday. “Genoa announced that Andriy Shevchenko has reached an agreement to guide the Grifone until 30 June 2024,” read a club statement. Shevchenko, 45, led Ukraine to the European Championship quarter-finals for the first time this year, where they were eliminated by England in Rome. He announced his departure nL1N2P809F from the role in August after five years in charge, and Genoa will be his first club job. The Serie A team are 18th in the standings after 12 games, having picked up one win all season. (Reporting by Alasdair Mackenzie; Editing by Ken Ferris) ... » Learn More about Soccer-Genoa name former Ukraine coach Shevchenko as manager

PRAGUE (Reuters) - The women's World Cup qualifier between the Czech Republic and Belarus was postponed on Tuesday due to three positive tests for COVID-19 among the visiting team, a Czech FA spokesman said. The Czechs, who sit in third place in Group C behind the Netherlands and Iceland, were supposed to play the Belarusians, fourth in the group, at 5:00 p.m. local time (1600 GMT). "The visitors tested negative before they arrived, but then another round of tests was done, in line with the regulations, and three tests came back positive," Michal Jurman said. "We don't know whether the game could be played on Wednesday, or we will have to wait for the next qualification window," he said. (Reporting by Robert Muller; Editing by Ken Ferris) ... » Learn More about Soccer-Czech-Belarus women’s World Cup qualifier postponed over COVID-19 cases

(Adds Blinken comment, paragraph 12) RIGA/MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia would pay a high price for any new military aggression against Ukraine, NATO and the United States warned on Tuesday as the Western military alliance met to discuss Moscow's possible motives for massing troops near the Ukrainian border. President Vladimir Putin countered that Russia would be forced to act if U.S.-led NATO placed missiles in Ukraine that could strike Moscow within minutes. Ukraine, a former Soviet republic that now aspires to join the European Union and NATO, has become the main flashpoint between Russia and the West as relations have soured to their worst level in the three decades since the Cold War ended. "There will be a high price to pay for Russia if they once again use force against the independence of the nation Ukraine," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken echoed Stoltenberg, saying: "Any escalatory actions by Russia would ... » Learn More about Putin hits back as NATO warns Moscow against attacking Ukraine

MILAN (Reuters) -AC Milan slipped to their second successive Serie A defeat when Sassuolo stunned their opponents in the San Siro after coming from behind to earn a 3-1 victory on Sunday. The hosts raced into an early lead after skipper Alessio Romagnoli headed home from a corner in the 21st minute, and Milan looked on course to get back to winning ways in the league following last weekend's loss at Fiorentina. However, Sassuolo, who beat Juventus away from home last month, turned the match on its head, with Gianluca Scamacca's stunning strike and Simon Kjaer's unfortunate own goal giving them a 2-1 lead inside 33 minutes. Even with veteran striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic leading the line, Milan struggled to issue a response, as Domenico Berardi made sure of a thoroughly deserved victory for Sassuolo with a superb solo goal in the 66th minute. Romagnoli's red card in the 77th minute effectively ended Milan's hopes of getting anything from the match. They remain second in the ... » Learn More about Soccer-Milan stunned by Sassuolo to slip to second successive league loss