Ramadan 2017

Health officials in Yala Province in Southern Thailand are working night and day in their battle against Covid-19 during Ramadan. Above all in the hope Muslims will be free to celebrate at the end of their holy month of fasting. During daylight hours health officials were touring villages, informing residents about testing scheduled for after sunset. Yala in Thailand’s deep south has been a hotbed of covid-19 virus infections, with 126 confirmed cases. Its case numbers are behind only Bangkok, Phuket and Nonthaburi. The province is conducting comprehensive tests, what is termed active case finding, in all districts. Furthermore targeting risk groups such as those who have been in contact with people returning from neighbouring countries. Ramadan, which started on April 24, has posed a challenge for health officials. Who decided not to do swab tests during the day, when Muslims are fasting. Ramadan to end with the Hari Raya festival Muslims are not supposed to eat until ... » Learn More about Health Officials in Southern Thailand Fighting Virus During Ramadan

PHOTO: Bangkok, the world city attracting the most overnight stays Where is the world traveling and where are they staying overnight? There is a big move towards Asia in the latest figures out of the MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index 2017 . Travel and tourism in Asia Pacific is showing no signs of slowing down, with the region dominating visitor arrivals once again. Asia Pacific destinations are also tracking the highest amount of international overnight visitor spending among its top 10 cities. Bringing in $91.16 billion USD in travel expenditure in 2016, Asia Pacific outpaced Europe ($74.74 billion USD), and North America ($55.02 billion USD). Ranking the world’s 132 top destination cities, the Index analyzes visitor volume and spend for the 2016 calendar year and provides a forecast for annual growth, insights on the fastest growing destination cities, and a deeper understanding of why people travel and how they spend around the world. “As the fastest ... » Learn More about Top 10 World Cities for Overnight Stays 2017

Bimby and mom Kris Aquino. Image: Instagram/@krisaquino Kris Aquino defended her children after they became targets of damaging comments online over the past week. “I am not blind, and I am not stupid… in a span of a week my children have been used to trigger me,” the host-actress stated in an Instagram post today, March 7. View this post on Instagram A post shared by KRIS AQUINO (@krisaquino) “Kuya Josh with zero factual basis was said to have impregnated a girl. Bimb has been repeatedly targeted with bullying because people are insisting he is gay,” she said. “Regarding Kuya Josh, name us and show us the girl. About Bimb, he is 13 years old, [I] know my son doesn’t identify as being gay BUT in the event he ever does, he will still be my son.” “The bullying you are doing is a reflection of your homophobic attitudes that are no longer welcome in 2021,” she declared. Bimby was subjected to comments about his ... » Learn More about Kris Aquino calls out homophobia directed at Bimby: ‘Leave my children alone’

Gabbi Garcia with her YouTube Gold Play Button. Image: Instagram/@gabbi Actress-singer Gabbi Garcia has marked a new online milestone as she received the YouTube Gold Play Button after gaining over 1 million subscribers. “WE DID IT GUYS! [My] gold play button is finally here!!! Thank you again from the bottom of my heart!!! [Love] you all!!!” Garcia announced on Instagram yesterday, Sept. 15 Garcia currently has around 1.08 million subscribers on her YouTube channel, which she started in 2017. She posts a variety of content, ranging from song covers to house tours, and takes on other topics. To mark the special occasion, Garcia held a “Wine Night” livestream last night on her channel together with boyfriend Khalil Ramos. Aside from drinking wine, of course, the young artist unboxed the Gold Play Button for the first time live in front of fans. Garcia told Ramos that it is “our milestone” as she notes that they built the channel together. Garcia also revealed that ... » Learn More about WATCH: Gabbi Garcia receives YouTube Gold Play Button, unboxes award before fans

As the son of the Queen of All Media Kris Aquino, Bimby Aquino-Yap has been raised in the spotlight. He has occasionally joined his mom’s media appearances and online videos, attracting attention himself with his own commentary. Kris admitted in a video featuring their home that “it’s not easy to be my kids” given that their life is constantly scrutinized. Bimby noted that some comments on social media were critical of him. “People think like I’m a homosexual.” Instead of addressing his sexuality, Kris turned the discussion into one against homophobia. “Don’t be homophobic, right?” “Yeah,” Bimby agreed. “That’s the whole message and whatever your choice in life is, that’s your choice.” To the camera, Bimby said, “Why would you judge a child?” “Don’t judge a child and don’t make the decision for the child,” said Kris. “It’s because we’re still learning about ourselves and puberty hasn’t struck for me yet,” added Bimby. He has since ... » Learn More about Kris Aquino, Bimby clap back at homophobic comments on Bimby’s sexuality

Actor Daryl Sabara proposed to singer Meghan Trainor on her birthday on Friday—and she said yes. Trainor, 24, shared a video of the touching moment on Instagram as he went down on one knee in a tunnel of lights. Her song “Hopeless Romantic” played as she tearfully accepted the engagement ring. The couple was then embraced by loved ones at the end of the tunnel. “For my 24th birthday, the love of my life @darylsabara made all of my dreams come true,” she wrote. “I’m still in shock. I’ve never been this happy! Thank you Daryl, my family and friends for making me feel like a real princess.” In his caption, Sabara, 25, called the “All About That Bass” singer his “soulmate.” “Thank you for changing my life forever and thank you for saying yes! You are the most beautiful fiancé in the world,” he declared. The actor is best recognized as his 9-year-old self in “Spy Kids.” The couple has been dating since 2016. Trainor told Cosmopolitan in an interview that ... » Learn More about WATCH: Meghan Trainor gets engaged to ‘Spy Kids’ actor Daryl Sabara

BANGKOK: The escalation of violence in Myanmar as authorities crack down on protests against the Feb 1 coup is raising pressure for more sanctions against the junta, even as countries struggle over how to best sway military leaders inured to global condemnation. The challenge is made doubly difficult by fears of harming ordinary citizens who were already suffering from an economic slump worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic but are braving risks of arrest and injury to voice outrage over the military takeover. Still, activists and experts say there are ways to ramp up pressure on the regime, especially by cutting off sources of funding and access to the tools of repression. The UN special envoy on Friday (Mar 5) urged the Security Council to act to quell junta violence that this week killed about 50 demonstrators and injured scores more. “There is an urgency for collective action," Christine Schraner Burgener told the meeting. “How much more can we allow the Myanmar military ... » Learn More about Escalating violence ups pressure for Myanmar action

After claiming his second stage victory of the 2020 Tour de France, praise continues to greet every effort from 21-year-old Tadej Pogacar from Slovenia. Despite competing at the event for the first time in his career, excellent performances have ensured that not only does he look certain to claim the youth title, he remains within touching distance of his compatriot Primoz Roglic, who maintains overall leadership of the General Classification after Stage 15. During what looks set to become a golden era for Slovenian professional cycling, both riders have excelled throughout the Tour this year. Although they represent different teams, with Roglic racing with Team Jumbo-Visma and Pogacar with UAE Team Emirates, their endurance and stamina have been unrivaled thus far. In reality, few eyebrows have been raised by how much the Slovenian duo have dominated the general classification. Pogacar was always tipped to perform well this year, given the young rider is highly regarded as ... » Learn More about Slovenia Duo Dominating at the 2020 Tour De France

A left foot placed toward a sandbag followed by a double-punch from left and right fists, 8-year-old Manus Boonjamnong stood before the mid-sized leather sandbag practicing. Not knowing that one day he would be an Olympic legend. Manus Boonjamnong was introduced to boxing as a sparring partner for his friend, he was hooked. Little Manus would slip away from his parents for practice every day with his neighborhood coach, and his younger brother, Manon, later joined the activity. Manus Boonjamnong was Ratchaburi province’s representative for the National Youth Games when he was 14 years old. Despite having little interest in the games due to a lack of local support, his father pushed him forward and encouraged him to run every day. Manus Boonjamnong’s  Rollercoaster life After more than 10 hours on the train to Songkhla, a far southern province of Thailand, Manus became laser-focused on one goal: a gold medal. Achieving this, he was also the games’ “best boxer” and ... » Learn More about The Rollercoaster Life of Thailand’s Olympic Boxing Legend Manus

The public health department office in Southern Thailand’s Yala Province has verified 40 new covid-19 cases after thorough testing. The cases include those recently returned for Ramadan from neighbouring countries. Provincial health department chief Songkran Maichum said on Sunday that intense testing since April 20 had uncovered 40 new cases, now confirmed in lab results. Four new cases were found in Muang, 24 in Yaha, seven in Bannang Satar and five in Raman districts. Dr.Songkran said the new cases would cause some hospitals, including Yaha Hospital, to approach their full capacity. “The quicker we find them, the better it is for health officials,” he told the Bangkok Post . Also adding that officials will be mobilized to prevent the virus spreading out of control. People at risk of infection were Muslim pilgrims returning from religious activities in Malaysia, Indonesia and Pakistan. Also those working in Malaysia and attendants of Islamic religious events in the ... » Learn More about Covid-19 Cases Spike in Southern Thailand’s Yala Province