ASEAN NOW News

July 29, 2021

MANILA – President Rodrigo Roa Duterte approved the recommendation to extend the general community quarantine (GCQ) “with heightened restrictions in Metro Manila until August 15, Malacañang announced on Wednesday.

President Rodrigo Duterte approves the recommendation to extended general community quarantine “with heightened restrictions” in Metro Manila and 19 other areas during his Talk to the People at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang Park on Wednesday night (July 28, 2021).

The stricter GCQ has been retained in Metro Manila, after the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) observed an increase in the daily attack rate, two-week average attack rate, and health care utilization rate in the country’s metropolis, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a pre-recorded Talk to the People.

“The Chief Executive extended the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restrictions classification of the National Capital Region beginning August 1, 2021 until August 15, 2021,” Roque said in a press statement.

Apart from Metro Manila, four of its nearby provinces – Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal – will also be placed under GCQ with heightened restrictions from August 1 to 15, Roque said.

Other areas that will be under GCQ with heightened restrictions beginning August 1 include Ilocos Sur, Cagayan, Lucena City, Naga City, Aklan, Bacolod City, Capiz, Negros Oriental, Zamboanga del Sur, Misamis Oriental, Davao City, Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro, Davao Occidental, and Butuan City, Roque said.

Originally, GCQ with heightened restrictions have been imposed in Metro Manila, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Davao de Oro, and Davao del Norte from July 23 to 31.

ECQ retained in 4 areas

Meantime, the province of Iloilo and its highly urbanized city will remain under the most restrictive enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) until August 7, he said.

He added that ECQ status will also be retained in Cagayan de Oro and the City of Gingoog in Misamis Oriental.

The ECQ classification has been imposed in the Iloilo province and its city, as well as in Cagayan de Oro and Gingoog City, due to the apparent spike in the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infections.

MECQ status

The modified ECQ (MECQ), second to the most restrictive quarantine classification, will be imposed in Ilocos Norte, Bataan, Lapu-Lapu City and Mandaue from August 1 to 15, Roque said.

Bataan, Lapu-Lapu City, and Mandaue are currently under modified GCQ (MGCQ) until July 31.

The quarantine status in Ilocos Norte has also been upgraded since it is currently under GCQ with heightened restrictions until end of July.

GCQ sans restrictions

Roque said the GCQ classification sans restrictions will be implemented in Baguio City, Apayao, City of Santiago, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Quezon, Batangas, Puerto Princesa, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Zamboanga Sibugay, City of Zamboanga, Zamboanga del Norte, Davao Oriental, and Davao del Sur from August 1 to 31.

General Santos City, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Sur, and Cotabato City in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao will also be placed under regular GCQ for the entire month of August, he said.

The rest of the country will stay under MGCQ next month.

Duterte approved the IATF-EID’s recommendation quarantine classifications for the month of August.

Duterte said his administration must continue imposing strict measures against Covid-19

He said he was left with no choice but heed the medical experts’ advice. (PNA)

July 29, 2021

Over the past two weeks, hundreds of medals have been awarded to athletes from all over the world.

Here, Philippines officials have only praise for Hidilyn Diaz, the woman who ended the near century-long wait for Olympic gold for a nation that first competed in the Games in 1924.

Diaz is a four-time Olympian and won a silver medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics. This time she won a Gold for the women’s 55kg weightlifting competition in Tokyo.

Many of the winners are also bringing home a cash bonus.

The International Olympic Committee doesn’t give prize money, but many countries reward their medalists with a bonus.

Hidilyn Diaz has been offered a new house and many millions in cash bonuses, and even the President is giving her a cash bonus from his own pocket.

What do other countries award the winners?

U.S. Olympians, for example, earned $37,500 for each gold medal won this year, $22,500 for each silver and $15,000 for each bronze. In team sports, each team member splits the pot evenly.

Other countries, but not all, offer a “medal bonus.”

In Singapore, gold medalists take home $1 million. Silver medalists earn a cool $500,000 and bronze medalists get $250,000. In the 2018 Games, there was just one athlete from Singapore who could capitalize on the big bonus.

The Lottery in the UK helps fund Team GB expenses and here in the Philippines there is a fund for all competitors.

Actual Medal

This year’s gold medal is 85mm in diameter and weighs 556 grams with more than 6 grams of gold plating.

Forbes estimates It has a “podium value” of about $570, based on the price of gold and silver.

While it’s called the gold medal, it’s technically a silver medal plated with gold; only six grams of the medal is made of gold.

If it were made entirely of gold, its value would be about $25,000.

While you can put a price tag on the medals, the prestige that comes with competing for your country on the Olympic stage is priceless.

And of course, in the case of Hidilyn Diaz she will continue to earn through endorsements and advertising for many years.

And all because she can lift weights!!! Well done to her.

July 29, 2021

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte extended his congratulations to Olympic weightlifting champion Hidilyn Diaz in a video call on Wednesday night as she and her team were quarantined at a Pasay City hotel upon arrival from Tokyo.

GOLDEN GIRL IS HOME Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz arrives at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Wednesday night

If it had not been for strict Covid pandemic safety measures, the 30-year-old Diaz would have been mobbed by cheering crowds at Ninoy Aquino International Airport yesterday.

Media coverage severely restricted, and in the end there were only members of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) lining up outside the arrival area, waving Philippine flags to welcome Sergeant Diaz, whom PAF chief Lt. Gen. Allen Paredes promoted to staff sergeant on Tuesday.

In 2016, she also received a spot promotion for bringing home an Olympic silver from Rio de Janeiro.

Diaz will be staying at Sofitel Hotel in Pasay for a weeklong quarantine.

President Duterte, who was also presiding over a Cabinet meeting, said: “Your achievement is the achievement of the Philippine nation. So, we are extremely proud, we cannot express even in words. We should really be shouting ‘Alleluia!’”

“Thank you for patience. I hope the years of toil, the years of disappointment, the years that didn’t go well in the past, just forget them,” the president added.

P3M from his own pocket

Aside from the P10-million reward due to Diaz under the law, the president also said the athlete, being an Air Force officer, would be given a fully furnished house and lot in her hometown of Zamboanga City, in a government housing project for the military and their families.

Duterte also said that out of his own pocket, he would give Diaz P3 million, which she can pick up at the Palace anytime at her convenience.

“Over and above these monetary considerations, it’s always the honor that you brought to the country that counts most,” the president said.

Duterte also said Diaz will be conferred the Presidential Medal of Merit in a future ceremony.

Diaz thanked the president repeatedly during their conversation.

House fundraiser

At the House of Representatives, 10 resolutions honoring Diaz have been filed, while a fundraiser for her and other national athletes has so far reached P4 million in pledges from at least 40 congressmen.

In Zamboanga City, aspiring weightlifters who said they were inspired by Diaz eagerly awaited her return.

“My heart exploded with pride, we cried with happiness,” said Jane Linete Hipolito, 19, who witnessed her idol’s feat online.

“If she was able to make it, we can also do the same,” said the criminology student, who recently brought home a silver medal from a competition in Indonesia.

Many local youths awed by Diaz’s 2016 silver finish have trained in the gym that bears her name and was built from her earnings after Rio.

The gym in Mampang village has accepted about 40 trainees since opening in 2017.

“We are very grateful that she put up a decent gym where we can regularly practice,” said Rosegie Ramos, 17, who now trains there together with her sister Rose Jean, 15.

“We hope to follow in her footsteps,” Ramos said.

July 28, 2021

The government of Laos has instructed the tourism ministry to coordinate with localities around the country to prepare for the reopening of tourism under “new normal” conditions.

The announcement was made during the government’s July monthly meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh and attended by cabinet members.

The Prime Minister instructed relevant sectors to also prepare for the opening of the Laos-China Railway in December.

At the same time, the PM told the transport and tourism ministries to work together to “reopen tourism under the new normal as appropriate in each locality and in accordance with the conditions of the Covid-19 pandemic.”

The news brings hope to many in the tourism industry, which all but ground to a halt as the second wave of Covid-19 spread across the nation during the Lao New Year holiday in April.

With every province under lockdown by May, airlines were grounded and bus stations closed, leaving the tour operators without hope, just as the Lao Thiao Lao domestic tourism campaign had begun making headway.

However, the government’s successful vaccination campaign has seen some 14 percent of the population receive a Covid-19 vaccination, with a plan to reach 50% of the population by year’s end.

Continued relaxation of lockdown measures has allowed interprovincial travel to resume, with airlines and bus companies adhering to strict Covid-19 guidelines for passengers.

Meanwhile, Vientiane Capital has seen a twelve-day streak without community spread.

With the Laos-China Railway due to open in December, conditions could be ripe for the careful and responsible reopening of tourism in Laos in 2022.

July 28, 2021

Vietnam and Laos continued to see a growth in import-export revenue in the first half of 2021 compared to the same period last year.

Vietnamese garment factory

According to the Vietnamese Trade Office in Laos, in the first half of 2021, two-way trade hit over US$671 million, up 36.5 per cent year on year, including Việt Nam’s exports of over $329 million, and imports of more than $341 million, respective rises of 19.1 per cent and 58.9 per cent.

Compared to the first half of 2019 before the COVID-19 outbreak, two-way trade increased 16.6 per cent, with Việt Nam's import revenue rising 49 per cent and exports falling 5 per cent.

In June 2021, two-way trade reached over $100 million, up 22.1 per cent from the same period last year and 18.1 per cent from June 2019.

Garments and wooden products

Vietnam’s key export staples included garment and textile products, vehicles and spare parts, machinery and equipment, and petrol and gasoline.

Meanwhile, Vietnam mainly imported wood and wooden products from Laos, along with ore and minerals, and rubber.

In July, two-way trade is predicted not to rise due to complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic.

July 28, 2021

Retail chains including VinMart and Co. opMart will now operate from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. instead of 10 p.m.

Big C outlets will open 1.5 hours earlier at 7 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. Aeon Malls and Mega Market will also apply the same hours.

Most supermarkets in the city had shelves full of eggs, meat, and vegetables earlier this week, and there were no signs of stockpiling.

Retail chains have been doubling or tripling their supplies to fulfill demand. They also have delivery staff ready in case delivery platforms are banned.

HCMC banned people from leaving their homes except for emergencies after 6 p.m. starting Monday.

This is the latest effort to curb the spread of the fourth wave of Covid-19, in which over 62,100 cases have been confirmed in the city out of 97,400 nationwide.

July 28, 2021

Xeo Chu paints at his home. (Photo: baoquocte.vn)

Xeo Chu, a 14-year-old painter, has joined hands in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in Ho Chi Minh City by donating nearly 3 billion VND (about 130,200 USD) raised from auctions of his paintings.

Xeo Chu, whose real name is Pho Van An, has been painting since he was just four years old.

Xeo Chu was granted the "Khat vong de men" or “Cricket Aspiration” award by The Thao & Van Hoa (Sports and Culture) newspaper of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) for his painting series about nature and life.

Some paintings of Xeo Chu at the auctions. (Photo: baoquocte.vn)

At the age of eleven Xeo Chu, was invited to open his first New York solo show, called “Big World, Little Eyes,” at George Bergès Gallery in SoHo.

Some of his colorful abstractions and landscapes measured as much as 15 feet wide and tagged at upwards of $150,000.

As his fames grows, his paintings are now in great demand.

July 28, 2021

Nguyan Tien Minh at Olympics 2020 Photo by Reuters

After his second straight loss, Vietnamese badminton veteran Nguyen Tien Minh bowed out of the Tokyo Olympics Tuesday night.

Minh’s chance of advancing further in the tournament was already slim after he lost his first game to world number three Anders Antonsen of Denmark.

In his must win second game against Azerbaijani Ade Resky Dwicahyo, Minh, 15 years older than his opponent, lost 14-21, 18-21.

Minh couldn’t hide his disappointment after losing a game he was expected to win.

He has failed to make it past the first round of Olympic badminton in four consecutive events, having made his debut in 2008.

At 38, Minh is the oldest badminton player at the Olympics.

A former world number five, Minh is not hanging up his boots just yet.

He will compete at the SEA Games and Asian Games next year.

July 28, 2021

Cacao farmer Christopher Fadriga of Bago City, Negros Occidental has been recognized as one of the best cocoa producers in the world in the 2021 International Cocoa Awards.

Fadriga produces criollo, the most sought-after cacao variety, at his farm in Barangay Atipuluan. (Photos courtesy of Bago City Tourism Office)

An award-winning cacao farmer from Bago City, Negros Occidental has high hopes of introducing the Negrense brand of cacao and chocolates to the global market.

Christopher Fadriga is one of the only three Filipinos who made it to the roster of best cocoa producers in the world of the Paris-based International Cocoa Awards (ICA) this year.

“The world is ready for our cacao and chocolates, we just need to grow more to meet the demand,” Fadriga said in a statement on Tuesday.

The ICA evaluated 235 cacao bean samples from more than 50 countries, and three from the Philippines were included in the roster of 2021 Best 50.

One of those belongs to Fadriga, who produces criollo, the most sought-after cacao variety because of its superior aroma, flavor, and taste, at his farm in Barangay Atipuluan.

“Our dream is to make Negros Occidental an heirloom cacao-producing province and home of the best-tasting chocolates grown by our passionate next-generation cacao farmers,” he said.

Cacao or cocoa beans are the main ingredient in making chocolates.

Fadriga also said the recognition given to cacao beans grown in the province shows that Negrenses can grow world-class agricultural crops.

“Negros is so blessed with rich volcanic soil and weather. Our highlands are our assets where we can develop other high-value crops like coffee, avocado, citrus, salad veggies, bamboo and so much more,” he added.

Honour for our City

In a statement, Bago City Mayor Nicholas Yulo congratulated Fadriga for his achievement.

“It is truly a great honor for our city as one of its outstanding sons has made a name, not only for himself, but was able to catapult his home city to the chocolate map of the world,” he said.

Yulo said that Fadriga’s feat shows that Bago is not only “the rice bowl of Negros Occidental,” but also one of the world’s best in terms of cocoa production.

“His cacao beans planted and grown from the sweet soil of our city has enamored the discriminating taste of worldwide chocolate makers,” the mayor said.

In the Philippines, Fadriga was chosen as one of the four winners of the 2021 Philippine Cacao Quality Award, which recognizes superior quality and exceptional flavors of diverse cocoa varieties in the country.

The ICA, through the Cocoa Excellence Program, is a biennial global competition recognizing the value of the work of cocoa (cacao) farmers by providing them global recognition and celebrating the diversity of flavors from different origins.

The two other Filipino farmers recognized by the ICA are Arthur Lagoc of Davao City and Carlos Barsicula of San Isidro, Davao del Norte. (PNA)

July 28, 2021

Hidilyn Diaz slept no more than two hours after winning the country’s first Olympic gold medal in women’s -55 kgs class of weightlifting on Monday night.

“I slept at 5:30 a.m., woke up at 7 a.m. and I still couldn’t believe that I won a gold medal,” Diaz told a virtual press conference from the Tokyo Olympics Village on Tuesday morning. “Good morning, thank you, God.”

The Philippines' first Olympic gold medalist is set to return to the country today Wednesday, July 28, two days after she made history when she ruled the women's 55kg division in the Tokyo Games.

Diaz ended the country’s almost a century-old gold medal quest that began in the Paris 1924 Olympics.

“The journey to the Olympic gold medal wasn’t easy, but it was made possible by the people behind Team Diaz, the government, the private sponsors, and the Philippine Olympic Committee [POC] for giving us athletes the opportunity to be here in the Olympics,” the 30-year-old Diaz said.

Diaz lifted 97 kgs in snatch en route to two new Olympic records—127 kgs in clean and jerk and 224 kgs in the total lift—to win the mint.

The pride of Zamboanga City made former Olympic record holder and favorite, China's Liao Qiuyun look bad in winning the gold.

Liao took silver with 223 kgs while Kazakhstan's Zulfiya Chinshanlo bagged the bronze with 213 kg.

“Here’s the lady that we’ve waited for the past 97 years,” POC President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino told the same online press conference. “

An Olympic first timer in Beijing in 2008, an injured participant in London in 2012, and a near-gold winner in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro. That in a nutshell marked Diaz’s four Olympic sorties made successful by his performance on the competition stage of the massive Tokyo International Forum.

Diaz’s gold upped the country’s haul at the Olympics to one gold, three silver, and seven bronze medals—and in these Games’ medal tally board, at No. 20 behind frontrunners US (9-5-8 gold-silver-bronze), China (9-5-7) and host Japan (8-3-5).

Diaz was emotional while waiting for her turn to step on the podium, the whole country was. She was already in tears when Mikee Cojuangco Jaworksi, the International Olympic Committee’s Representative to the Philippines, handed her medal and the winner’s bouquet.

Tolentino and his secretary-general at the POC, Atty. Edwin Gastanes, and Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez and his chief of staff, Marc Velasco, were holding back tears while filming the historic event off stage.

And when the Lupang Hinirang was played and the country’s colors were raised for the very first time in Olympic history, all emotions went loose.

“I got goosebumps all over,” Velasco said, wiping away tears.

Worth a Lot apart from Pride

Diaz’s gold medal is worth a total of P3.3 million in cash—P10 million each from government under the Athletes and Incentives Act, Ramon S. Ang of San Miguel Corp. and Manuel V. Pangilinan’s Smart and PLDT—and a house-and-lot in Tagaytay City courtesy of Tolentino.

Also wins Condo

On Tuesday, the ante was raised with Megaworld of tycoon Dr. Andrew Tan gifting Diaz a P14 million condominium unit at Eastwood City.

Team Diaz—Chinese coach Gao Kaiwen, strength and conditioning coach Julius Naranjo, nutritionist Jeaneth Aro and psychologist Karen Trinidad—stayed long after the venue was cleared, taking selfies and groupies on the stage—along with a handful Filipino reporters who chronicled the most significant feat in Philippine sports history.

“Nothing is impossible, even in this pandemic,” added Diaz in the press conference where she was also joined by chef de mission Mariano “Nonong” Araneta, Gao, Naranjo, and Gastanes.

“We were able to do this amid the pandemic when the risk is there ready to strike anyone of us” she said.

It was already bright in Tokyo when Diaz finally hit the sack at 5:30 a.m. answering calls and messages and trying to get the gold medal-winning accomplishment.

Diaz woke up at 7 a.m. admitting she still had to convince herself that she won an Olympic gold medal the night before.

“I could hardly believe that I won gold,” she said.

Filipino-Japanese Kiyomi Watanabe, meanwhile, lost to Spain’s Cristina Cabana Perez, 1-0, in women’s -63-kg elimination round of judo on Tuesday. (PR)

July 28, 2021

Remedy Alexis Rule from the Philippines competes in the women’s 200m freestyle at the SEA Games in the Aquatics centre in Clark City on December 6, 2019. (Photo by TED ALJIBE / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines—Filipino bet Remedy Rule has qualified for the semifinals of the women’s 200-meter butterfly, after she was placed 15th overall in the heats of the Tokyo Olympics at Tokyo Aquatics Center yesterday.

According to the INQUIRER.net the 24-year-old clocked in at 2:12.23 in Heat 3, where she finished last, to qualify for the semifinals on Wednesday July 28th.

Rule gets another crack at a medal in Tokyo after she didn’t qualify for the semifinals of the women’s 100-meter butterfly, where she is a national record holder.

National Record

Meanwhile Luke Gebbie, failed in his bid to advance in the men’s 100-meter freestyle, but set a new Philippine swim mark.

Gebbie finished with a time of 49.64 seconds, which is a new national record, and wound up 35th out of 71 swimmers in the qualifying heats.

Though he didn’t qualify for the penultimate round, Gebbie managed to beat Singapore’s Joseph Schooling, the Rio Olympics gold medalist in the men’s 100-meter butterfly, in Heat 5.

Schooling clocked in at 49.84 and was 39th overall in the heats.

Only the top 16 for both divisions would qualify for the semifinals.

July 28, 2021

Carlos Yulo has a second chance at an Olympic next Monday.

Although Carlos Yulo failed to qualify for his pet event the Men’s floor exercise, he is now focusing on the Men’s Vault final which takes place next Monday August 2nd at 5.30pm Philippine time.

Yulo’s Japanese coach Munehiro Kugimiya took the blame for Yulo’s performances in his social media posts, but he assures Filipinos fans the whole team is moving forward to next Monday.

Yulo joined the Japanese coach when he was just 16 years old, and he is currently a student at Teikyo University.

The coach said about Carlos next appearance on August 2nd, "Do not give up until the very end. NEVER GIVE UP AND GO FORWARD ALWAYS."

July 27, 2021

With daily new cases in the thousands, HCM City has imposed additional levels of movement restrictions on top of the most severe lockdown since the pandemic began.

As of 6am Monday July 26, Vietnam recorded 2,704 more confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the national tally to surpass 100,000 at 101,113 cases, according to data reported by Saigoneer.

Of all local cases, 97,370 were identified in the current outbreak that started on April 27.

While the number of recoveries has also increased recently, so has the number of deaths.

Yesterday, 1,755 COVID-19 patients recovered, bringing the national number to 19,334 recoveries. So far, Vietnam has recorded 524 fatalities due to the coronavirus.

Curfew announced

To further reduce intra-city movements, city authorities announced a curfew starting from today, July 26. Citizens are strongly discouraged from leaving home after 6pm until 6am the next day.

During restricted hours, only medical emergencies and pandemic prevention efforts are allowed in HCM City.

From this week, municipal traffic police will increase the numbers of stop and search on shippers, according to Chairman of the HCMC People’s Committee Nguyễn Thành Phong.

In the daily pandemic meeting on Sunday, Phong said that there have been cases in which locals borrow branded jackets of ride-hailing companies to leave the house without valid reasons.

Moving forward, he said that logistic firms must submit a list of employed shippers and their operating zones to city departments of commerce and transport.

Registered shippers will have to wear a badge with personal particulars to deliver goods in the city, and the police will check their work apps to ensure that the delivery orders are valid.

For essential services not operating via apps, such as supermarkets and pharmacies, employers must also provide shippers with a similar badge, but shippers for such businesses are only allowed to deliver within their district.

Moreover, shippers are only allowed to deliver goods deemed essentials. Over the weekend, a deliveryman for electronic device chain Dien May Xanh was fined in District 1 as law enforcement officers did not consider refrigerators essential.

Under new regulations, trucks and vans over 2.5 tons are only allowed to travel in the city during the time windows: from 8am to 4pm and 8pm to 6am the next day. Less heavy trucks can travel round the clock, though all trucks must register for a “green lane” travel certificate with a QR code.

July 27, 2021

Back in 2015 Vu Xuan Linh, better known as Quoc Anh, 32, registered to join Mars One, a $6 billion program that will establish a human settlement on Mars. Now it looks likely the project may be delayed.

Vu Xuan Linh

Out of 100 candidates he was the only one from Vietnam.

After half a century of aerospace industry development, 42 spacecraft missions have been sent to Mars.

Mars One is a project initiated by Bas Lansdorp, a Dutch businessman, which aims to take the first humans to Mars and establish a permanent human colony there by 2025.

Bas Lansdorp

The project launched by Bas Lansdorp was scheduled to last from 2013 to 2026 and estimated to cost $6 billion.

Now Lack of Funding

However latest reports seem that the project is currently at a standstill, mainly due to a lack of funding.

Indeed, the start-up had been divided into two companies: Mars One Foundation, which is nonprofit and Mars One Ventures, which for profit.

The latter was bought in 2016 by Swiss financiers, InFin Innovative Finance AG, but unfortunately it went bankrupt.

Unless the project receives sufficient funding, it seems to end for good.

However, the project of a mission to Mars seems to be the goal of several projects and it is reasonable to expect such a mission within a few decades.

Mars One's original concept included launching a robotic lander and orbiter as of 2016, which would be followed by a human crew by 2022.

The crew would become the first permanent residents of Mars with no plan of returning to Earth.

More than 200,000 candidates from 150 countries registered to join the program, while only 50 men and 50 women have been selected for the final selection campaign.

Vu Xuan Linh, better known as Quoc Anh, 32, was the only Vietnamese citizen who registered to join Mars One.

Quoc Anh is described as a clever, dynamic, and ambitious young man.

Anh studied at the Hanoi Technology University, the most prestigious polytechnic school in Vietnam.

But after one year there, he left for Singapore where he studied at the National University of Singapore. After that, he received a master’s degree from Columbia University.

Anh has been working for a foreign-invested technology group since returning to Vietnam.

Anh registered to join the program when he was in the US and heard about it after a press conference was held there.

He said at the time, “I think all boys and girls cherish the dream of conquering space.”

“If you want to fulfill your dream and do something great, you will have to sacrifice other things,” he said, explaining why he wanted to join the program.

Looks like Anh may have to wait a bit longer now to fulfill his dream, unless he can get in touch with Richard Branson or Jeff Bezos and join their space programs.

July 27, 2021

Nguyen Xuan Phuc was sworn in as the new State President of Vietnam on July 26 morning, immediately after lawmakers cast secret ballots to elect him to the new position for the 2021-2026 term during the ongoing first session of the 15th legislature.

Earlier the 14th National Assembly (NA) elected Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Politburo member of the 13th tenure and a deputy of the 14th legislature, as State President for the 2021-2026 term.

While taking the oath of office, State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc pledged his absolute loyalty to the Fatherland, the people and the Constitution, saying he will do his utmost to fulfill the tasks assigned by the Party, State and people.

Nguyen Xuan Phuc was born on July 20, 1954 in the central province of Quang Nam. He was Politburo member of the 11th, 12th and 13th tenures, member of the Party Central Committee of the 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th tenures, and NA deputy of the 11th, 13th, and 14th tenures.

He had held a number of key positions such as Deputy Secretary of the Quang Nam provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Quang Nam provincial People’s Committee, and Minister-Chairman of the Government Office before being elected as Deputy Prime Minister in 2011 and Prime Minister in 2016.

Phuc, 67, won 96.79 percent of the votes cast in the house of 483 in what was formally described as a "reelection."

The president is the head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

In April Phuc had received more than 97 percent of the votes to become the 11th president of Vietnam after his predecessor and Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong stepped down.

President Phuc cited the oath at the swearing-in ceremony that was broadcast live on national television channels.

He said: “Under the nation’s sacred red flag and yellow star, in front of the National Assembly and people across the country, I, State President of Socialist Republic of Vietnam, swear to be absolutely faithful to the country, to the people, to the Constitution, and strive to fulfil the mission assigned by the Party, State and people.”

On behalf of the National Assembly, Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue acknowledged the oath and offered his congratulations and presented flowers to the new President.

In the speech addressed to the nation, the new President affirmed his commitment to work with parliament and the Government to realise the vision of comprehensive development, in which no one is left behind, especially in remote and economic challenged areas.

The President said he would listen to the opinions and aspirations of all classes of people, including intellectuals at home and abroad, and pledged to continue to reform the judiciary sector, build a Socialist rule of law state, strengthen national defence and security capacity, pay attention to the building of a modern and professional People’s Army and People’s Public Security forces that maintains peaceful life for the people and stand ready to resolutely defend the peace, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Fatherland.

Regarding the ongoing serious fourth wave of COVID-19 infections marked by the highly contagious Delta variant, he believes in the strength of the nation and the people’s unity and has confidence in the Government and the commitment of “all of us” to help defeat the outbreak.

On Sunday afternoon, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly submitted the nomination for the new President in the new term, in which Nguyen Xuan Phuc, member of the 13th-tenure Politburo and State President of Vietnam during 2016-21 tenure (officially holding office since 2021 April) and deputy of 15th-tenure National Assembly, was the sole entry.

July 27, 2021

MANILA – The latest batch of the government-procured Pfizer vaccines that arrived Monday evening, will be sent to provinces.

This is now feasible as they are capable of handling jabs that require ultralow temperature, a health official said.

The Philippines received the second tranche of the government-procured Pfizer vaccine on Monday (July 26, 2021) evening at the NAIA Terminal 3 in Pasay City. The latest shipment is part of the 40 million doses of Pfizer procured by the government. (PNA photo by Joey Razon)

A total of 375,570 doses of US-made Pfizer arrived at the NAIA Terminal 3 in Pasay City.

This is the second tranche of the 40 million Pfizer vaccine purchased by the government.

"It will be distributed to the National Capital Region (NCR), Cebu, Davao, and others who have not yet received it before because they are capable to handle the Pfizer jabs now," Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Ma. Carolina Vidal-Taino said in a media interview.

The first shipment of purchased Pfizer vaccine containing 562,770 doses arrived last July 21.

Cebu gets its share too

The Air Hong Kong plane which carried the shipment landed first on Cebu-Mactan International Airport in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu on Monday at 6:23 p.m. to deliver the region's share before it arrived at the NAIA Terminal 3 later that night.

On Tuesday, Davao Region is expected to receive their additional doses.

The latest vaccine arrival brings the country's total vaccine supply to 31,360,700 doses from six manufacturers - Sinovac, Oxford AstraZeneca, Gamaleya, Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson&Johnson.

As of July 25, a total of 17,202,421 doses have been administered -- 6,089,314 are fully vaccinated while 11,113,107 received their first dose. (PNA)

July 27, 2021

MANILA – After over 97 years, that elusive Olympic gold medal has finally been taken by the Philippines.

Hidilyn Diaz became the first Filipino athlete to win it all in an Olympic event after taking gold at the women's 55-kg. weightlifting competition at the Tokyo International Forum in Japan on Monday night.

Diaz, the 2016 Rio Olympics silver medalist, prevailed in a neck and neck showdown with China's Liao Qiuyun in the clean-and-jerk lift as their battle for the gold went down the wire.

Finishing tied with Diaz in the snatch with a 97-kg. maximum lift, Liao lifted 126 kg. in her final lift, forcing Diaz to go for 127 to steal the top spot from Liao.

Diaz, however, smoothly cleared the 127-kg. lift to win it all, also setting an Olympic record in the process.

Olympic record too!

Her 224-kg. total is also an Olympic record.

"I don't know what to say. It's a dream come true. I just want to say that we Filipinos are strong. We Filipinos can compete here at the Olympics. We can do it," a high-spirited Diaz was quoted as saying by Xinhuanet.

The 30-year-old Diaz gave advice to younger Filipino athletes to "please dream high."

"That's how I started. I dreamed high and finally, I was able to do it," she added.

Liao admitted that she was surprised by Diaz's improvement.

"I feel good today. I can lift 123kg at most due to injuries, and never thought of a successful 126kg lift. I didn't expect her strength like this," Liao said.

China's coach Zhang Guozheng echoed Liao's thoughts.

"I didn't expect such a situation," he said. "Liao has gone all out, so it's not a huge pity for her to lose the gold medal. It's just because we did not expect our opponent (Diaz) to be so strong."

Diaz has also assured herself of a total of PHP33 million from various people who pledged monetary rewards to the gold medal winners.

Zulfiya Chinshanlo of Kazakhstan claimed the bronze with a total of 213 kg. lifted.

Muattar Nabieva of Uzbekistan, despite setting the Olympic record for the snatch with a 98-kg. lift missed out on the podium as she could only clear 114 in the C&J for a total of 212.

Malacañang joined the entire nation in celebrating the country’s first-ever Olympic gold medal since it joined the most prestigious quadrennial event in 1924.

“The Palace congratulates Hidilyn Diaz for bringing pride and glory to the Philippines for winning the country's first-ever Olympic gold medal,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.

“Congratulations, Hidilyn. The entire Filipino nation is proud of you. Laban, Pilipinas! (Fight Philippines!),” he added.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar said Diaz’s golden performance showcased the Filipinos’ talent as world-class athletes.

“We are one with the Filipino nation in celebrating the remarkable and historic success of Hidilyn Diaz in the recently held Women’s 55-kg. Weightlifting Competition during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games,” Andanar said.

“This win gave the Philippines its very first Olympic gold medal and showcased (the) Filipinos' talent as world-class athletes.” (PNA)

July 27, 2021

Many sceptics thought the rich professionals had no incentive to turn up in Rio as golf made a memorable return to the Olympics in 2016 after an 112-year absence.

Many including Rory McIlroy decided that the violence over in the country, was not worth the hassle and opted to stay at home.

Well many now envy Justin Rose, who although he has had a stellar career, will perhaps always be remembered as the Gold medal winner in Rio.

Justin Rose celebrates after securing Olympic gold in the men’s golf tournament Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Reuters

And Justin will be part of the Summer Games again this July in Tokyo.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the International Olympic Committee to postpone the entire 2020 Olympics to 2021, and while there will be limits on fan attendance and other player logistics, the IOC is preparing to move forward with the competition.

And surprise surprise even with the Covid Rory has opted to play, as maybe he now understands the power of being an Olympic champion carries for life.

When it is played, both the men’s and women’s Olympic competitions will be 72-hole stroke-play tournaments held at Kasumigaseki Country Club in Kasahata, Saitama, Japan, about 35 miles northwest of downtown Tokyo.

As was the case in Rio, the field in both events will consist of 60 players representing their respective home countries.

SE Asia players

Although SE Asia is represented with Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines sending players, Asia’s best chance is likely to be Japan’s mega star and home favorite Hideki Matsuyama.

But how were the Olympic fields be determined? The short answer is the same way they were supposed to be a year ago.

To help understand the Olympic qualification process, we’ve outlined the rules here.

The same qualification rules apply for both the men’s and women’s Olympics fields.

The top 15 players in the Olympic Golf Rankings (which essentially mirror the Official World Golf Ranking for men) are eligible for the Olympics up to a maximum of four golfers per country.

After the top 15, the field is filled until getting to 60 golfers by going down the Olympic Golf Ranking, with the top two ranked players qualifying from any country that does not have two or more players from the top 15.

The host country, Japan, is also guaranteed at least two golfers in the field. If a player is eligible for a team but decides not to participate, the next eligible golfer from that country can take the spot from the player who has pulled out.

Here then is a country by country breakdown of the men’s fields. The men’s qualifying period ended on June 21, the day after the U.S. Open.

MEN (World Ranking in parenthesis)

Australia
Cameron Smith (28)
Marc Leishman (43)

Austria
Matthias Schwab (118)
Sepp Straka (174)

Belgium
Thomas Detry (94)
Thomas Pieters (107)

Canada
Corey Conners (36)
Mackenzie Hughes (63)

Chile
Joaquin Niemann (31)
Mito Pereira (146)

China
Carl Yuan (291)
Ashun Wu (315)

Chinese Taipei
C.T. Pan (181)

Colombia
Sebastian Munoz (67)

Czech Republic
Ondrej Lieser (231)

Denmark
Rasmus Hojgaard (121)
Joachim B. Hansen (151)

Finland
Kalle Samooja (117)
Sami Valimaki (122)

France
Antoine Rozner (78)
Roman Langasque (186)

Germany
Maximilian Kieffer (193)
Hurly Long (263)

Great Britain
Paul Casey (20)
Tommy Fleetwood (33)

India
Anirban Lahiri (340)
Udayan Mane (356)

Ireland
Rory McIlroy (10)
Shane Lowry (42)

Italy
Guido Migliozzi (72)
Renatro Paratore (180)

Japan
Hideki Matsuyama (16)
Rikuya Hoshino (76)

Malaysia
Gavin Kyle Green (286)

Mexico
Abraham Ancer (23)
Carlos Ortiz (53)

New Zealand
Ryan Fox (178)

Norway
Viktor Hovland (14)
Kristian K. Johannessen (292)

Paraguay
Fabrizio Zanotti (280)

The Philippines
Juvic Pagunsan (216)

Poland
Adrian Meronk (189)

Puerto Rico
Rafael Campos (281)

Slovakia
Rory Sabbatini (167)

South Africa
Garrick Higgo (38)
Christiaan Bezuidenhout (46)

South Korea
Sungjae Im (26)
Si Woo Kim (49)

Spain
Adri Arnaus (147)
Note: Jon Rahm withdrew from the tournament after testing positive for COVID in his final test before traveling to Tokyo.

Sweden
Alex Noren (95)
Henrik Norlander (136)

Thailand
Jazz Janewattananond (129)
Gunn Charoenkul (259)

United States
Justin Thomas (3)
Collin Morikawa (4)
Xander Schauffele (5)
Patrick Reed (9)
Note: Reed replaced Bryson DeChambeau, who withdrew from the tournament after testing positive for COVID before traveling to Tokyo.

Venezuela
Jhonattan Vegas (130)

Zimbabwe
Scott Vincent (239)

July 27, 2021

S.E. Asia is well represented again, and although the South Koreans are most likely to start out favorites, I would not be surprised to see Yuka Saso (8) from the Philippines or Patty Tavatanakit (12) and Ariya Jutanugarn (21) from Thailand, all Major Champions, grab a medal in the end.

Several players have opted not to travel to Tokyo, so Thailand and the Philippines have more than a realistic chance to grab a medal.

Both our players have already won Majors. Ariya Jutanugarn

However, before you may wish to place a small bet on your favorite player, better wait until they actually tee off in case anyone else tests positive to Covid on arrival.

Meanwhile to help understand the Olympic qualification process, we’ve outlined the rules here.

The same qualification rules apply for both the men’s and women’s Olympics fields.

The top 15 players in the Olympic Golf Rankings (which essentially mirror the Official World Golf Ranking for men and the Rolex Rankings for women) are eligible for the Olympics up to a maximum of four golfers per country.

After the top 15, the field is filled until getting to 60 golfers by going down the Olympic Golf Ranking, with the top two ranked players qualifying from any country that does not have two or more players from the top 15.

The host country, Japan, is also guaranteed at least two golfers in the field. If a player is eligible for a team but decides not to participate, the next eligible golfer from that country can take the spot from the player who has pulled out.

Here then is a country by country breakdown of the fields.

The men’s qualifying period ended on June 21, the day after the U.S. Open. Women’s qualifying ended June 28, the day after the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

The men’s competition will be held July 29-Aug. 1; the women’s Aug. 4-7.

WOMEN (Rolex Rankings in parenthesis)

Argentina
Magdalena Simmermacher (399)

Australia
Minjee Lee (14)
Hannah Green (15)

Austria
Christine Wolf (288)

Belgium
Manon De Roey (278)

Canada
Brooke Henderson (5)
Alena Sharp (136)

China
Shanshan Feng (19)
Xiyu Lin (62)

Chinese Taipei
Wei-Ling Hsu (78)
Min Lee (130)

Colombia
Mariajo Uribe (306)

Czech Republic
Klara Spilkova (278)

Denmark
Nanna Koerstz Madsen (52)
Emily Kristine Pedersen (69)

Ecuador
Daniela Darquea (349)

Finland
Matilda Castrren (74)
Sanna Nuutinen (232)

France
Celine Boutier (58)
Perrine Delacour (101)

Germany
Sophia Popov (23)
Caroline Masson (68)

Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Melissa Reid (38)
Jodi Ewart Shadoff (86)

Hong Kong
Tiffany Chan (218)

India
Aditi Ashok (178)

Ireland
Leona Maguire (60)
Stephanie Meadow (122)

Italy
Giulia Molinaro (98)
Lucrezia Colombotto Rosso (405)

Japan
Nasa Hataoka (11)
Mone Inami (27)

Malaysia
Kelly Tan (154)

Mexico
Gaby Lopez (64)
Maria Fassi (180)

Morocco
Maha Haddioui (418)

The Netherlands
Anne van Dam (133)

New Zealand
Lydia Ko (10)

Norway
Marianna Skarpnord (265)
Tonje Daffinrud (419)

The Philippines
Yuka Saso (8)
Bianca Pagdanganan (165)

Puerto Rico
Maria Fernanda Torres (185)

Slovakia
Pia Babnik (301)

South Africa
Ashleigh Buhai (76)

South Korea
Jin Young Ko (2)
Inbee Park (3)
Sei Young Kim (4)
Hyo-Joo Kim (6)

Spain
Carlota Ciganda (32)
Azahara Munoz (84)

Switzerland
Albane Valenzuela (163)

Sweden
Anna Nordqvist (49)
Madelene Sagstrom (72)

Thailand

Patty Tavatanakit (12)
Ariya Jutanugarn (21)

United States
Nelly Korda (1)
Danielle Kang (5)
Lexi Thompson (9)
Jessica Korda (13)

July 27, 2021

Many sceptics thought the rich professionals had no incentive to turn up in Rio as golf made a memorable return to the Olympics in 2016 after an 112-year absence.

Many including Rory McIlroy decided that the violence over in the country was not worth the hassle and opted to stay at home.

Well many now envy Justin Rose, who although he has had a stellar career, will perhaps always be remembered as the Gold medal winner.

Justin Rose celebrates after securing Olympic gold in the men’s golf tournament Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Reuters

And Justin will be part of the Summer Games again this July in Tokyo.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the International Olympic Committee to postpone the entire 2020 Olympics to 2021, and while there will be limits on fan attendance and other player logistics, the IOC is preparing to move forward with the competition.

And surprise surprise even with the Covid Rory has opted to play, as maybe he now understands the power of being an Olympic champion carries for life.

When it is played, both the men’s and women’s Olympic competitions will be 72-hole stroke-play tournaments held at Kasumigaseki Country Club in Kasahata, Saitama, Japan, about 35 miles northwest of downtown Tokyo.

Thailand men are represented by Jazz Janewattananond (129) and Gunn Charoenkul (259)