Talks

IN a bid to generate demand for vaccination services and increase vaccination uptake among residents, the local government of Muntinlupa coordinates with the religious sector and other community groups in a Covid-19 Vaccine Virtual Town Hall Meeting. At least 140 participants from religious groups, community organizations, and Sangguniang Kabataan attended the second Muntinlupa’s Covid-19 Vaccine Town Hall Meetings in partnership with the Department of Health on February 18. During the virtual meeting, Department of Health–Metro Manila Center for Health Development District Manager Officer Dr. Jose Mari Castro discussed Covid-19 management and underscored the importance of vaccines in protecting individuals and communities amid the pandemic. Muntinlupa City Health Office chief Dr. Teresa Tuliao implored to religious group leaders to help promote the vaccination services of the government and encourage their congregation to get vaccinated. Recently, DILG Undersecretary Jonathan ... » Learn More about Munti LGU talks to religious sector, other groups for Covid-19 vaccine demand

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine General Hospital (PGH) has temporarily stopped accepting walk-ins for its outpatient department amid the increase in the number of COVID-19 patients at the hospital and the detection of coronavirus among its personnel, its spokesperson said Monday. PGH spokesperson Dr. Jonas del Rosario said there are now 102 COVID-19 patients at the hospital, as well as 15 healthcare workers inflicted with COVID-19 on the first days of March, including four members of the hospital’s anesthesia department. He added that the South African variant of COVID-19 was also detected among one of the 30 samples sent by the hospital for genome sequencing. He further said that some 80 healthcare workers at the PGH were ordered to undergo quarantine after exposure to COVID-19 patients. “Dahil nga sa tumataas ang bilang ng admissions tapos marami-raming healthcare workers namin ang nagkasakit, at may banta na itong variants na ito na mabilis kumalat, minabuti muna namin na ... » Learn More about PGH temporarily stops walk-in admissions at outpatient department

Hi all, In today's bulletin: Two people were killed and several others injured when Myanmar police fired on protesters in northern Myitkyina town; American and Chinese spacecraft reach Mars in quick succession last month, sparking talk of a space race between the two major powers; Indonesia eases rules to attract foreign investment; and more. Reading this on the web or know someone who might enjoy receiving Asian Insider? Our sign-up page is here . More killed in Myanmar protests as unions call for economic shutdown Two people were killed  and several others injured when Myanmar police fired on protesters in the northern town of Myitkyina on Monday (March 8), witnesses said. This was as shops, factories and banks were closed in Myanmar’s biggest city Yangon on Monday (March 8), after major trade unions called for a shutdown of the economy as part of the uprising against the country’s military rulers who had ousted the civilian government in a Feb 1 coup. ... » Learn More about Asian Insider, March 8: More deaths in Myanmar protests; US-China rivalry extending to space

BACOLOD CITY: Members of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) implemented an asset preservation order or “freeze order” on a property believed to be owned by a drug lord on Wednesday morning. The property is the Nirvana Private Resort located at Greenville Subdivision, Camanjac, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental. Reports from the AMLC showed that the property is valued at around P14 million and allegedly owned by “Rustico and Caren Ygot” from Cebu City. It is the third property of the Ygots that was issued a freeze order by the court based on charges filed by the AMLC. Rustico was believed to be a top member of the Eagle drug group operating in Region 7 (Central Visayas). Police said they have identified at least seven pieces of property allegedly belonging to the Ygot couple. Freeze orders have also been served on two of the assets. Rustico, who was arrested in an anti-illegal drug operation in Bohol in 2010 and was convicted in 2013, was killed in a riot inside the ... » Learn More about AMLC padlocks ‘property’ of drug lord

The Salihara art community center is slated to run a debate competition on literature for high school students. The community, which is known for its literary ecosystem, invites participants to showcase their knowledge by comparing the novel Lusi Lindri (1987) by Indonesian author Y.B. Mangunwijaya to Egyptian author Nawal El Saadawi’s memoir Woman at Point Zero (1975). According to a statement, the two books come from different genres but are similar in theme. Both talk about a woman facing a predicament due to their sociocultural circumstances. Reading the two books will give readers a wider perspective to understand problems that seem similar but are also different. In the competition, one debate team should consist of three students of the same school. Schools can send more than one team and are free to choose names for the teams. To register, participants can fill in forms available on Salihara's website and send them to [email protected] Registration is ... » Learn More about Salihara to get high-schoolers to debate literature

The crunch of Thailand’s insect delicacies may soon be heard all around the world, after Mexico agreed to import Thai cricket products. The crickes have been used in Thai food for centuries. Mexico’s National Food Safety and Quality Service has approved the import of Thai house edible crickets (Acheta domesticus) in the form of powder, reports the National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards (ACFS). “Mexico’s approval … is the first step for Thai edible crickets to penetrate the global market,” said ACFS secretary-general Pisal Pongsapich. He said Mexico’s decision came on Feb 12 after talks with Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, ACFS, the Department of Livestock Development, and the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Los Angeles, which has been actively promoting Thai edible insects in foreign markets. To meet Mexican food standards, crickets must be raised on a closed farm with GAP (good agricultural practice) accreditation. “Consumers in Latin ... » Learn More about Mexico to Import Edible Cricket Products from Thailand

Executive board members the Thai Amateur Weightlifting Association (TAWA) have resigned following a doping allegations story in German Media.  TAWA President Boossaba Yodbangtoey insisted the accusation made by the German broadcaster were untrue. German state broadcaster ARD aired the documentary Secret Doping – the Lord of the Lifters earlier this month. The program also filmed Thailand’s 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Siripuch Gulnoi admitting to using steroids. Boossaba said in a statement that Siripuch was filmed by a hidden camera. Even more only wanted to share her own thoughts by innocently talking about doping abuse in Thai weightlifting. “She was deceived with fake status of the journalist. Who neither identified his real name nor showed his real profession,” she said. The statement said Siripuch was “tricked” into believing that the person was manager of a German weightlifting team. Who was willing to do business with the gym where she worked. Siripuch was so ... » Learn More about Thai Amateur Weightlifting Association Board Resigns Over Doping Claims

If you’ve ever looked at British heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury once, you’ll know that he doesn’t seem like the kind of man who’s frightened easy. It would be far more accurate to suggest that he doesn’t look like the type of man who ever gets frightened at all. Despite that, his great rival heavyweight boxer Deontay Wilder upped the battle of wits between the two this week by proclaiming that the thought of getting back in the ring with him is stopping Fury from getting a good night’s sleep . Wilder is no stranger to making strange our outspoken comments. The American, who holds one version of the world’s heavyweight championship, has spoken in the past of how he dreams about killing one of his opponents in the ring and will tell anyone who listens that he’s the best heavyweight in the world. That’s to be expected of a man who hasn’t lost a single fight, and has developed a reputation for being one of the most savage knockout artists of all time. In his mind, ... » Learn More about Heavyweight Boxer Wilder Claims He Keeps Fury Awake At Night

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo. Screengrab from RTVM video MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Sunday defended President Rodrigo Duterte’s confession that involves sexual abuse, calling it just a “laughable anecdote” the President intentionally made up to dramatize the sexual abuse he suffered from a priest when he was still a minor. “In his inimitable allegorical style of dramatizing the sexual abuse the President suffered when he was a minor, he has made up a laughable anecdote to dramatize the fact of sexual abuse that was inflicted on him and his fellow students when they were in high school,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement. Panelo insisted that Duterte just “purposely added and spliced the story with vulgarity to characterize the behavior of the priest who insisted to hear more sins during their confessions when there were none.” The Palace official issued the statement after Duterte came under fire for sharing to the public the ... » Learn More about Palace says Duterte’s confession of touching maid a ‘spliced story’

BEIJING – The tariff war between Washington and Beijing poses one of the biggest challenges yet for Chinese President Xi Jinping, potentially exposing his political vulnerabilities at a time when the Chinese economy is already slowing. The U.S. effort to win concessions from China on strategic industrial policies has put Xi’s own prestige on the line. In this Wednesday, May 8, 2019, photo, a worker drives an electric cart past a display featuring the U.S. and Chinese flags in a special trade zone in Qingdao in eastern China’s Shandong province. China said Thursday it will retaliate if President Donald Trump goes ahead with more tariff hikes in a fight over technology and trade, ratcheting up tensions ahead of negotiations in Washington. (Chinatopix via AP) It also has cast into question the ruling Communist Party’s social contract with the Chinese people: keeping authoritarian, one-party rule and ruling class privileges in exchange for delivering robust economic growth, ... » Learn More about Trade dispute with US a political challenge for China’s Xi