Poi files

FILE – Kai Sotto in a Gilas Pilipinas jersey. FIBA PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—The Adelaide 36ers gave an assurance that there won’t be any scheduling problems once Kai Sotto gets called up for national team duties. Sotto, who has yet to make his debut in the senior Gilas Pilipinas team, announced on Wednesday that he’s joining the 36ers in Australia’s National Basketball League after he left G League Ignite in February of this year. Adelaide general manager Jeff Van Gronigen said the team is used to working with the Boomers in the past as center Isaac Humphries and guard Josh Giddey also play for the national team. “Our club works with the Philippine national team program,” said Van Gronigen in a virtual press conference. “We are used to this, we have many players from within the Australian Boomers national team that are also Adelaide 36ers players. So we are used to working within the FIBA windows, we’re used to communicating with the coaches, we know the coaches very well.” ... » Learn More about Adelaide assures no conflict as Kai Sotto reaffirms Gilas committment

FILE — China´s Xiyu Wang returns the ball to England´s Heather Watson  during their Mexico WTA Open women’s semifinal singles tennis match in Acapulco, Guerrero State, Mexico on February 28, 2020. (Photo by PEDRO PARDO / AFP) Chinese tennis authorities have warned players against going abroad after teenager Wang Xiyu failed to make it to the Australian Open after testing positive for coronavirus. The world number 118 was a wildcard for Melbourne, where the build-up to the year’s first Grand Slam is in disarray because of the pandemic, but she will not now compete following the Covid-19 diagnosis in Abu Dhabi before departing for Australia. The 19-year-old, a former US Open junior champion, said in a statement on Sunday that she did not have any symptoms and was quarantining. The Chinese Tennis Association responded by telling Chinese players overseas to “return to China as soon as possible after the match and avoid staying abroad.” “For competitors who are still in China but ... » Learn More about China tells tennis players to avoid overseas after virus case

FIBA ASIA CUP FILE PHOTO The national government on Friday extended the travel ban on 18 countries with known cases of the new Covid-19 variant for 15 more days, a move that could potentially throw a monkey wrench into the country’s hosting of the Fiba Asia Cup 2021 qualifying games here next month. The Philippines is set to host two tournament groups within a bubble-setup in Clark Freeport beginning Feb. 18. South Korea, Australia—both powerhouse squads, and Hong Kong are among the list of nations barred from entering the country as a precautionary measure against the spread of what experts say a more infectious strain of the virus. Should the restrictions be extended for the third time and to the next month, organizers will be left with little elbow room for the games that are expected to run hitch-free until Feb. 20. Arriving delegates are also expected to follow health protocols, including thorough testing which usually comes with self-isolation until official ... » Learn More about Travel ban complicates Fiba third window hosting

FILE — Jovelyn Gonzaga. INQUIRER PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — After representing the country on the international stage countless of times, Jovelyn Gonzaga has decided to beg off from the national team tryouts this year. Gonzaga revealed her decision in an Instagram post Wednesday evening as she expressed her gratitude to the team and the program. “Maraming salamat sa tiwala, pag-aalaga at pagmamahal (Thank you for the trust, care and love). Thank you. Good luck Philippine indoor volleyball!” she wrote on Instagram. “For now it’s time for me to take a new route. Bigay na natin ‘to sa mas karapat-dapat,” she also said on her Instagram story. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jovelyn Gonzaga (@bionic_ilongga) While she also received an invitation to try out for the national women’s beach volleyball team, Gonzaga told INQUIRER.net it is not a sure thing yet. “Depende pa, nasa schooling pa kasi ako e,” ... » Learn More about Jovelyn Gonzaga waives slot in national team tryouts

FILE PHOTO: Dec 27, 2020; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans stadium employee telling people the need to wear a mask at all times during the first half at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports Three unidentified NBA players tested positive for COVID-19, the league and the National Basketball Players Association said Wednesday. In all, 488 players were tested in the most recent reporting period, which began April 14. In the period from April 7-13, there were no positive tests. Anyone who returns a confirmed positive test, or is identified as having been in close contact with an infected person, is isolated or quarantined until cleared under the rules established by the NBA and the Players Association in accordance with CDC guidance. Field Level Media RELATED STORIES Seven NBA players test positive for Covid-19 in past week Two new COVID-19 positive players as NBA All-Star break ends For more news about the novel ... » Learn More about 3 NBA players test positive for COVID-19

HOME VISIT In this photo taken in February, public school teacher Hazel Broqueza visits her Grade 1 student, Mariana Margate, in the family’s house in Cainta, Rizal, to check on her progress as schools resort to distance learning during the pandemic. Broqueza says Mariana and her brother, third grader Mariano, have failed to participate in online classes at home due to a lack of a suitable mobile phone. —LYN RILLON MANILA, Philippines — The Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives is urging the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to impose a moratorium on increases in tuition and other school payables, and implement a “no-fail policy” in all educational institutions in the country amid the coronavirus pandemic. These are contained in House Resolutions 1721 and 1722 filed on April 20, a copy of which was obtained by media on Thursday. Under House Resolution No. 1721, which seeks for the implementation of the “no-fail policy,” the ... » Learn More about Solons seek ‘no fail policy’, moratorium on tuition increases

MANILA, Philippines — An additional 500,000 doses of CoronaVac, the COVID-19 vaccine developed by China’s Sinovac BioTech, arrived in the Philippines on Thursday afternoon. The procured doses of vaccine arrived at NAIA Terminal 2 at past 5 p.m. on Philippine Airlines flight PR359, according to a report by state-run media PTV. This is the second batch of vaccines to arrive in the country this month after the delivery of 500,000 CoronaVac doses on April 11. READ: 500,000 vaccines from China’s Sinovac arrive in Manila Meanwhile, this is the third batch of CoronaVac purchased by the Philippines. The government has bought about 25 million doses of the vaccine, which should be available by the end of the year. READ: Procured 1-M doses of CoronaVac arrive in PH Carlito Galvez Jr., the vaccine czar, spoke at a Palace briefing on Thursday, saying that the 500,000 doses of CoronaVac are expected to be distributed within one week, with 100,000 of them to go to Metro Manila, ... » Learn More about 500,000 more vaccines from China’s Sinovac arrive in Manila

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Earth Day Thursday urged the public to turn the Philippines into a “climate-resilient” and “climate-smart” nation. He said in a video message that Earth day “reminds us of our inherent responsibility to take care of our planet.” He also reminded the public that a healthy nation depends on a healthy natural environment. “This Earth Day, let us work with renewed vigor to engage our people, our local communities and industries, and all other stakeholders in our efforts to achieve a climate-resilient and climate-smart Philippines,” he said. FILE PHOTO: President Rodrigo Duterte reminds Filipinos “to take good care of our planet.” REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez “As we recover from the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our lives and economy, let us always bear in mind that a healthy nation is anchored on a healthy and sound natural environment,” the President added. The first Earth Day took place on April 22, 1970, to mark ... » Learn More about Duterte on Earth Day 2021: Make PH climate-resistance, climate-smart

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Thursday (April 22) has failed in his bid to obtain leave to challenge Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's action in advising Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah to suspend Parliament during the emergency period. This followed a decision by Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Seri Mariana Yahya, who was sitting as a High Court Judge, in allowing the objection by the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) to the leave application for judicial review filed by the opposition leader. Federal counsel Mohammad Sallehuddin Md Ali said Judge Mariana dismissed the application on the grounds that the court had no jurisdiction to hear the judicial review based on Articles 150(6) and 150(8) of the Federal Constitution. "The advice of the Cabinet and Muhyiddin to Al-Sultan Abdullah to promulgate the Emergency Ordinance is not amenable to judicial review. "The court dismissed the application for leave with ... » Learn More about Anwar fails to obtain leave to challenge emergency ordinance

FILE PHOTO: Vial labelled “AstraZeneca coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine” placed on displayed EU flag is seen in this illustration picture taken March 24, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic BRUSSELS — The European Commission is working on legal proceedings against AstraZeneca after the drugmaker cut COVID-19 vaccine deliveries to the European Union, sources familiar with the matter said. The move would mark a further step in an EU plan to sever ties with the Anglo-Swedish company after it repeatedly cut supplies to the bloc, contributing to major delays in Europe’s vaccine rollout. The news about the legal case was first reported on Thursday by Politico. An EU official involved in talks with drugmakers confirmed authorities in Brussels were preparing to sue the company. “EU states have to decide if they (will) participate. It is about fulfilment of deliveries by the end of the second quarter,” the official said. The matter was discussed on Wednesday at a meeting with EU ... » Learn More about EU prepares legal case vs AstraZeneca over vaccine shortfalls — sources