Quash standoff

TORONTO (NYTIMES) - For a time, Cortland Cronk, 26, was Canada's most famous - and infamous - coronavirus patient. Cronk, a travelling salesman went viral after testing positive in November and recounting his story of being infected while travelling for work to the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. He was called a virus-spreader, a job-killer, a liar and a sleaze. Online memes painted him as the Grinch, since subsequent outbreaks led to restrictions against Christmas parties. Many people, including a newspaper columnist, made elaborate fun of his name. He also received threats; so many that he fled his hometown Saint John, New Brunswick, for Victoria, British Columbia - a city on the opposite end of the country, 3,600 miles away. "They were acting like I purposely got Covid," Cronk said from his new apartment. "I had hundreds of death threats per day. People telling me I should be publicly stoned." Many Canadians believed it was just rewards and that his case formed a cautionary ... » Learn More about A year into pandemic, Covid-shaming has become fervent in parts of Canada

It was a boisterous and lively Chinese New Year dinner that dragged on for five hours, with guests shuttling between tables to chit-chat and pose for wefies with one another, recalls case 130 of a celebration he and his wife attended at Safra Jurong on Feb 15. "The atmosphere was upbeat and people were happy," the 66-year-old, who would give his name only as Mr Tan, tells The Sunday Times. The dinner would later be identified as a coronavirus cluster, and was once the nation's largest one with 47 cases linked to it. Never did the Tans - seated at table 28 - expect it to turn into a nightmare that saw them struggling to survive in the intensive care unit (ICU) and having multiple therapy sessions to relearn how to walk and talk. But the couple count themselves lucky, as someone at the same function also contracted the coronavirus but never recovered. The 70-year-old man - case 128 - tested positive for the virus on March 6 and died of complications on April 14. The Tans, who ... » Learn More about A dinner where death lurked: Couple who became part of Safra Jurong Covid-19 cluster landed in hospital, and survived

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net MANILA, Philippines — After a dragging standoff, Alaska finally parted ways with Vic Manuel after it sent the star big man to Phoenix in a trade approved by the PBA on Tuesday. The Aces also gave up the rights to the seventh and 19th overall picks in the March 14 Rookie Draft. In exchange, Alaska acquired veteran playmaker Brian Heruela, the rights to the sixth and 16th overall selections plus a 2021 first-round pick. The 33-year-old Manuel demanded a trade last January and got his wish with the Fuel Masters among one of his preferred destinations. It has been a busy offseason for Phoenix, which recently traded controversial forward Calvin Abueva to Magnolia for guard Chris Banchero and a pair of draft picks. Manuel averaged 15.9 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists for the Aces in last season’s Philippine Cup bubble. RELATED STORY After trade demands, Vic Manuel to stay with Alaska ... » Learn More about PBA: Alaska trades Vic Manuel to Phoenix

Alaska big man Vic Manuel is staying with the Aces. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—Vic Manuel’s offseason saga is finally over and the big man has decided that he will be staying put in Alaska. As per the PBA’s official website, Manuel is set to sign a new contract with the Aces ending a month-long debacle that saw the power forward flirt with joining other clubs. Danny Espiritu, Manuel’s agent, said that only Manuel’s signature is needed to finalize the deal. “We are almost done on a (new) contract for Vic,” said Espiritu Wednesday. “In a matter of days, maybe next week, we will sign the deal.” Espiritu did not expound on the deal but the report said that Manuel is expected to sign a max contract of P420,000 per month excluding bonuses. Those terms ultimately made Manuel decide to stay with the Aces after his previous contract expired in December of 2020. The Aces initially offered Manuel a two-year contract but the 33-year-old wanted a three-year deal. ... » Learn More about After trade demands, Vic Manuel to stay with Alaska

FILE – Alaska Aces big man Vic Manuel looks to pass the ball during a game against the Magnolia Hotshots. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net MANILA, Philippines—Vic Manuel could very well leave Alaska for either Phoenix, San Miguel, or NLEX, if he gets his wish. The 6-foot-4 power forward is in a contract standoff withAlaska and he revealed that he’d like to join either one of the three franchises in an interview with former Cebuana Lhuillier head coach Beaujing Acot’s Sports All In. “Before I played professionally, San Miguel was my favorite team,” said Manuel in Filipino. Growing up, Manuel said he’s idolized Olsen Racela, Danny Ildefonso, and Dondon Hontiveros. Interestingly, Manuel played with Hontiveros in Alaska from 2014 to 2017 and played under Ildefonso when the former two-time MVP became the Aces’ big man coach in 2017. There’s also one person that Manuel wants to play with if he gets to move to the Beermen—2013 MVP Arwind Santos. “I’ve always told ... » Learn More about Vic Manuel wants to join Phoenix, San Miguel or NLEX

YANGON: Police in Myanmar on Saturday (Feb 27) escalated their crackdown on demonstrators against this month’s military takeover, deploying early and in force as protesters sought to assemble in the country's two biggest cities. Myanmar police also fired rubber bullets to disperse protesters in Yangon, after the country's ambassador to the United Nations broke ranks to make an emotional plea for action against the military junta. The country has been shaken by a wave of pro-democracy protests since a military coup toppled civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Feb 1. Authorities have gradually ramped up the use of force to suppress dissent, using tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets to disperse some protests. Live rounds have been used in isolated cases. #Myanmar police have been using this kind of #Flashbang (Sound grenade) to disperse the pro- #democracy protesters in Yangon this two days. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar pic.twitter.com/XjTAtS7zcT — Naung Kham ... » Learn More about Myanmar police fire rubber bullets, crank up pressure on protests as UN envoy breaks ranks

HONG KONG: The Hong Kong government and China's foreign ministry branch in the city hit back on Friday (Jun 12) at a report by Britain criticising Beijing's move to impose national security legislation on the global financial hub, saying the report was "inaccurate and biased". The British government said the proposed security law was a clear violation of China's international obligations and a breach of the "one country, two systems" formula that has governed the former British colony since its handover to Chinese rule in 1997. READ: Hong Kong security law like 'anti-virus software': Beijing official READ: Hong Kong police arrest 53 during fresh protests, more rallies planned "There is still time for China to reconsider, to step back from the brink and respect Hong Kong’s autonomy and respect its own international obligations," British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab wrote in the foreword to his government's six-monthly report on Hong Kong. Raab said a solution to the ... » Learn More about Hong Kong government rejects UK criticism of new security law as biased

Journalist Lady Ann Salem and trade unionist Rodrigo Esparago walk out of the Mandaluyong detention facility exactly a month after the illegal possession of firearms and explosives case against them was dismissed by the Mandaluyong RTC. Photo by Tetch Torres-Tupas MANILA, Philippines—The Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court has ordered the release of journalist Lady Ann Salem and trade unionist Rodrigo Esparago, a month after the illegal firearms and explosives case against them was dismissed. Last Feb. 5, the Mandaluyong City Regional Trial Court Branch 209 granted Salem and Esparago’s motions “to quash the search warrant, suppress the evidence, and declare the illegally seized items as inadmissible.” The court said, “there are not enough facts and circumstances which would lead a reasonably direct and prudent man to believe that an offense has been committed and that the objects sought in connection with the offense are in the place sought to be searched.” Salem and Esparago ... » Learn More about Mandaluyong court orders release of ‘red-tagged’ journo, trade unionist

PARIS — Google plans to invest $1 billion on partnerships with news publishers worldwide to develop a “Showcase” app to highlight their reporting packages, CEO Sundar Pichai said in a statement Thursday. “This financial commitment — our biggest to date — will pay publishers to create and curate high-quality content for a different kind of online news experience,” Pichai said. Google has locked horns with publishers repeatedly in recent years over its reluctance to pay for displaying articles, videos, and other content in its search results, which has become a vital path for reaching viewers as print subscriptions fade. It is currently in a standoff with several European media groups, including Agence France-Presse, over its refusal to comply with a new EU law governing digital copyrights. The US giant said it should not have to pay to display pictures, videos or text snippets alongside search results, saying it drives hundreds of millions of visits to publishers’ websites each ... » Learn More about Google to invest $1B in deals with news partners, says CEO

Protesters clash with police as they try to move containers placed outside the 1st Infantry Regiment on Sunday. (Photo by Wichan Charoenkiatpakul) A rally by pro-democracy protesters outside the 1st Infantry Regiment in Bangkok turned violent on Sunday as police fired rubber bullets, water cannon and tear gas at demonstrators trying to approach the barracks. Demonstrators held up shell casings to show that rubber bullets had been fired at them. There were no initial reports of injuries, but an ambulance was seen driving towards Veterans General Hospital. Riot police decided to use water cannon to break up the rally after some demonstrators removed shipping containers laid out to keep them away from the barracks on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road. They also fired tear gas at the protesters, who hurled bottles and other objects back at them. Objects could be seen flying from both sides. After a brief but violent clash, the demonstrators moved back to the area outside Veterans General ... » Learn More about Rubber bullets, tear gas fired as rally turns violent