COVID-19 SITUATION: 8/3/2022

                                                                 

The latest in the ongoing COVID-19 situation:

• More contagious, evasive ‘Centaurus’ in PH, says DOH
• Vax decision looms as Merrifield dealt to Toronto

Let's Do The News! (August 3, 2022)

      

                                                 

Your daily round-up of today's news:

- The PH Department of Education seeks additional 16 billion pesos of funds for the repair of schools damaged by the Abra earthquake and typhoons.

- Debris from a Chinese rocket was found near the Mindoro Strait

- Taiwan says its military has increased its alertness level.

- US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi addressed Taiwan's parliament and was due to meet with its president as well as human rights activists in her controversial visit condemned by Beijing.

- The Chinese military is holding live-fire exercises in the East China Sea.

- The US State Department warns Americans traveling abroad that they could face an increased risk of violence after the death of Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri.

- Oscar Piastri rejected Alpine's offer to be part of its Formula 1 team amid contract confusion hours after the announcement that he's part of the 2023 driver lineup.

- Hello Kitty receives a certificate of gratitude from the Japanese Cabinet minister.

- SBS TV series Running Man will have a new PD.

- Veteran sports broadcaster Vin Scully dies at the age of 94.

TTFN.

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: BTS may still be able to perform while doing military service, says minister

 

K-pop boy group BTS might still be able to perform overseas while serving in the military, South Korea’s defense minister said on Monday, as the country debates shortening mandatory military service for K-pop stars to three weeks from about two years.

The issue is coming sharply into focus with the oldest member of band, Jin, turning 30 next year. Under a 2019 revision of the law, globally recognized K-pop stars were allowed to put off their service until 30.

Military service is hugely controversial in South Korea where all able-bodied men aged between 18 and 28 must fulfill their duties as part of efforts to defend against nuclear-armed North Korea.

Over the years, some categories have won exemptions, either allowed to put off service or to do shorter service, including Olympics and Asian Games medal winners and classical musicians and dancers who win top prizes at certain competitions.

Parliament is now debating a bill that would shorten military service for K-pop stars.

Defense minister Lee Jong-sup, speaking at the parliamentary session, said that by allowing BTS to continue performing, the military could serve national interests without affecting the already shrinking pool of personnel resources due to low birth rates.

BTS’ management, Big Hit, did not respond to a request for comment.

“Even if they join the military, there would be a way to give them a chance to practice and perform together if there are scheduled concerts abroad,” Lee said.

“As many people highly value (artists serving) in the military, that may help boost their popularity even more.”

The seven-member band announced a break in June from group musical activities to pursue solo projects, pleading exhaustion.

In April, a Big Hit official said some members were having a “hard time” because of uncertainties over the parliament debate, calling for a decision.

Source: Reuters

UKRAINE CONFLICT: 8/2/2022

     

The latest in the ongoing Ukraine conflict:

• Biden calls on Russia, China to enter nuclear arms control talks
• War in Ukraine: Latest developments
• Sanctions have huge toll on Russian economy, report shows

COVID-19 SITUATION: 8/2/2022

                                                                

The latest in the ongoing COVID-19 situation:

• DOH detects presence of BA.275 in PH; more Omicron subvariant cases reported
• Metro Manila healthcare utilization rate rises to 36.5%, 2 regions above 50%
• DepEd: Non-discriminatory policy in place for vaxxed, unvaxxed staff, students
• Healthcare utilization rate in Olongapo up as COVID-19 cases grow

Let's Do The News! (August 2, 2022)

     

                                                 

Your daily round-up of today's news:

- The DOH states that there's no need to close Philippine borders yet amid the monkeypox threat.

- The DSWD, local government units, and non-government organizations provide over the 25-million-pesos worth of assistance to northwestern Luzon quake victims.

- Former PH President Rodrigo Duterte is eyeing a temporary restraining order against the ICC probe on his war on drugs.

- The Department of Foreign Affairs says that the Philippines is monitoring developments regarding US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Asian visit.

- Over nine hundred firefighters are battling a forest fire in the Czech Republic.

- The bird flu was detected at a turkey farm in northern France.

- Peru reported its first monkeypox casualty.

- The Biden administration announced that the US has killed Al-Qaeda chief al-Zawahiri in Afghanistan.

- Fernando Alonso joins the Aston Martin F1 team for the 2023 season.

- BTS will resume its "Run BTS" variety show after ten months.

- Actress Pat Carroll dies at the age of 95.

TTFN.

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: S.Korea teachers, parents protest plan to lower school entry age to 5

 

South Korean parents and teachers groups protested on Monday against a plan to bring forward school enrollment by one year to age five, saying such young kids were intellectually unprepared and the change would increase difficulty in finding childcare.

The education ministry said last week it would lower the age in stages, beginning as early as 2025, if it gained consensus public support.

The plan was aimed at expanding the labor force by completing people’s education earlier, it said. The labor force is shrinking, because South Korea’s fertility rate is so low.

A coalition of 36 teachers and parents groups staged a rally in front of the presidential office on Monday, calling for the plan to be dropped.

Many parents have opposed it because of the difficulty of finding ways of looking after the children following the early-afternoon end of the school day. In most families, both parents work, and childcare centers generally offer only full-day care.

Parents already face the problem, but not until children go to school at age six.

The teachers’ objections are that five-year-olds are too young to go to school and that the earlier start for schooling will mean even more use of private tutoring as parents compete to get their children ahead.

“Considering cognitive and emotional development, early entry to school is inappropriate, and it is likely to cause side effects, such as intensifying private education and competition for college entrance exams,” the coalition said in a statement.

“It would only increase the burden on parents at a time when many are giving up their jobs to support their children as they enter elementary school.”

In 2019, children began education at age six in 26 of the 38 member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and at age five in three – Australia, New Zealand and Ireland.

The education ministry said it expected to have enough public feedback on its plan by the end of this year and would devise measures to expand childcare and other support before launching a pilot program.

A mother of two infants, who gave only her surname, Oh, said the government should help schools secure more teachers to better take care of children.

“This means schools would play a dual role of education and childcare,” she said.

Source: Reuters