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Five groups target NAIA takeover
Five companies have signified their intention to take over the operations and management of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport or NAIA a few weeks after the Department of Transportation or DoTr opened the bidding for the P170.6-billion project. In a text message to the Daily Tribune on Wednesday, the DoTr confirmed that five potential bidders have bought bid documents for the project. As of 13 September, the interested companies include San Miguel Corp. or SMC, Spark 888 Management Inc., and Asian Airport Consortium. Two others who submitted bids — Manila International Airport Consortium or MIAC and GMR Group — have previously vied for the NAIA rehabilitation. MIAC is composed of Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc., AC Infrastructure Holdings Corporation, Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corporation, Alliance Global — Infracorp Development Inc., Filinvest Development Corporation, and JG Summit Infrastructure Holdings Corporation along with Global Infrastructure Partners. Super consortium in running In 2018, the government awarded the Original Proponent Status for the NAIA rehabilitation to a “super-consortium” formed by seven of the country’s biggest conglomerates: Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc.; AC Infrastructure Holdings Corporation; Alliance Global Group Inc.; Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corporation; Filinvest Development Corporation; and JG Summit Holdings Inc. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. It was, however, terminated. Thus, Megawide Construction Corp. and partner GMR Infrastructure Ltd. also submitted an unsolicited proposal to upgrade and rehabilitate the highly congested NAIA. Despite the substantial progress, the much-needed NAIA rehabilitation was back to square one after the previous administration also rejected the proposal. According to the MIAA, the Megawide consortium failed to convince the government of its financial ability to support the project. Meanwhile, the SMC., an Asian conglomerate led by businessman Ramon S. Ang, is currently taking on the P740-billion New Manila International Airport in Bulacan. Award out by December Previously, the DoTr conveyed that the contract may be awarded to the winning bidder as early as December if the government stays on schedule. The National Economic and Development Authority or NEDA, chaired by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., approved the solicited bid to privatize the operations of NAIA. NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the project will help address the long-standing issues at the country’s main air hub such as congestion and limited aircraft movements that usually cause inconvenience to passengers. The DoTr and the Manila International Airport Authority submitted a joint proposal to the NEDA Board to privatize the operations and management of NAIA within 15 years. The project is expected to improve the overall passenger experience and increase the current annual passenger capacity of NAIA to at least 62 million from the current 32 million. Previously, Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista floated the possibility of closing down the airport — only if nearby airports become operational. Bautista explained that the government can have the option to close NAIA if airports in adjacent provinces like Cavite and Bulacan are ready to accommodate the travel-hungry tourists in the country — both local and international. “If there will be new airports, then the government can decide to close the Manila International Airport or MIA because it can be a valuable government asset. On the other hand, it is possible to continue its operations because of its prime location in the Metro,” Bautista told reporters. “So yes, it is possible to close, it is also possible not to close MIA,” he added. Bautista also assured that in case the airport continues its operations, SMC’s Bulacan Airport can still drive up profits despite the competition. The post Five groups target NAIA takeover appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Armenia holds drills with US amid rift with Russia
The United States and Armenia opened military drills on Monday, the latest sign of Yerevan drifting from Moscow's orbit as Russia's invasion of Ukraine reshapes post-Soviet relations. The exercises come amid mounting frustration in Armenia over what it sees as Russia's failure to act as a security guarantor amid mounting tensions with its historic rival Azerbaijan. Exercise Eagle Partner opened with some 85 US soldiers to train around 175 Armenian soldiers through September 20, according to the US Army Europe and Africa Command. Armenia's defense ministry said the exercises aimed to "increase the level of interoperability" with US forces in international peacekeeping missions. The US military said the drills would help Armenia's 12th Peacekeeping Brigade meet NATO standards ahead of an evaluation later this year. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Armenia's decision not to conduct drills with the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) alliance and instead work with the United States required "very deep analysis". "Of course, we will try to comprehend and understand all this. But in any case we will do so in close partnership dialogue with the Armenian side," he said. The United States brushed off the Kremlin critique and pointed to Russia's wars with both Ukraine and Georgia. "I think that given Russia has invaded two of its neighbors in recent years, it should refrain from lecturing countries in the region about security arrangements," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters. He said that the United States has had security cooperation with Armenia since 2003 and called the latest drill "a routine exercise that is in no way tied to any other events." But Moscow last week summoned Armenia's ambassador to complain about "unfriendly steps" the country was taking. The ministry said Armenia's envoy was given a "tough" rebuke but insisted that the countries "remain allies." "It sounded more like a threat to Yerevan than a description of reality," said Gela Vasadze, an independent political analyst. "In fact, Russian-Armenian relations have reached a strategic impasse," he told AFP. 'Weakened Russia' In Yerevan, residents expressed frustration over Russia's lack of military and political support as tensions with Azerbaijan flared again. Mariam Anahamyan, 27, told AFP that Armenia had made a mistake by "pinning its hopes on the Russians". "So now let's try with the Americans. The consequences may be bad but not trying would be even worse," she said. For Arthur Khachaduryan, a 51-year-old security guard, "Russia failed to keep its commitments during the war and has even made our situation worse." He was referring to a brief but bloody conflict in 2020 for control of Nagorno-Karabakh, a separatist region in Azerbaijan. Russia brokered a ceasefire and deployed 2,000 peacekeepers to the Lachin corridor, which connects Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh. But Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan recently said Moscow was either "unable or unwilling" to control the passage. His government has accused Azerbaijan of closing the road and blockaded the mountainous region, spurring a humanitarian crisis in Armenian-populated towns. Pashinyan also recently claimed that Armenia's historic security reliance on Russia was a "strategic mistake". Bogged down in its invasion and isolated on the world stage, "weakened Russia is rapidly losing influence in its Soviet-era backyard", said independent analyst Arkady Dubnov. "Armenians are frustrated with Russia, which failed to help them during the Karabakh war and its aftermath," he said, adding that Moscow "also seems to be lacking a clear plan, strategy in the Caucasus". 'New allies' Nagorno-Karabakh was at the centre of two wars between Azerbaijan and Armenia. In the 1990s, Armenia defeated Azerbaijan and took control of the region, along with seven adjacent districts of Azerbaijan. Thirty years later, energy-rich Azerbaijan, which built a strong military and secured the backing from Turkey, took revenge. After the 2020 war, Yerevan was forced to cede several territories it had controlled for decades. The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh remains volatile and Armenia has accused Azerbaijan of moving troops near the region recently, raising the spectre of a fresh large-scale conflict. The European Union and United States have taken a lead role in mediating peace talks but have so far failed to bring about a breakthrough. "The Kremlin has no resources -- neither the will -- to help Armenia and is letting Azerbaijan and Turkey to pursue their objectives," Dubnov said. "In that situation, Armenia is trying to forge strong new alliances." The post Armenia holds drills with US amid rift with Russia appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Drunken disaster
There is wisdom in the advice to drink liquor moderately. Putting spirit in the head instead of the stomach can lead to drunken misbehavior. When two men who toured Paris’ Eiffel Tower on the night of 13 August decided to have extra fun in the famous attraction, they went during closing time to an area off limits to visitors, unnoticed by security guards. In a spot between the 330-meter-tall steel structure’s second and third floors, the Americans indulged in alcohol while stargazing. They got so drunk that they could not get themselves off their perch and dozed off. The following morning, guards doing checks at the site before opening time found the sleeping interlopers. Firefighters, including a specialist unit for recovering people from dangerous heights, had to be called in to recover the intruders, a police source said, according to Agence France-Presse. Both men were brought to the police station for questioning, while Sete, the Eiffel operator, said it would file a criminal complaint. In another case, the owner of a rental swimming pool in Pansol, Calamba, Laguna almost sued a group of visitors for allegedly trashing their place on 14 August. Owners of Jeremias Resort and the men caught by the resort’s CCTV cameras agreed to a settlement, with the vandals paying P30,000 in damages. A viral video from Kath Llarenas as reported by a TV news outlet shows four men throwing into the swimming pool monoblock chairs, tables, bottles, a griller and a water dispenser. The renters, who celebrated a friend’s birthday, made a big mess of the place, including the restrooms, Pep reported. In an interview, one of the men admitted that they drank too much alcohol. “We weren’t able to control ourselves so that was what happened,” he said. Despite their apology and payment of damages to the resort owners, their employers, who learned about the incident, later fired them. WJG @tribunephl_wjg The post Drunken disaster appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Public told enough rice ’til yearend
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told the public that the country's rice situation is "manageable and stable" to protect grain production and stocks from the effects of the El Niño phenomenon. In a statement released on Wednesday, the Malacañang said that Marcos met with the Private Sector Advisory Council and the Philippine Rice Stakeholders Movement (Prism) on Tuesday, 8 August, to discuss rice production in the country. “The rice situation is manageable and stable. There is enough rice for the Philippines up to and after El Niño next year,” said Marcos, who is also the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA). For context, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration earlier said that the El Niño phenomenon might persist until the first quarter of 2024. In the same meeting, the DA and Prism told Marcos what they thought the country's rice supply would be like until the end of 2023. DA Undersecretary Merceditas Sombillo said that the closing stock is expected to be 1.96 million metric tons (MMT) in 2023, which is enough to last 52 days. Sombillo also said that the Philippine Statistics Authority's prediction of the finishing stock, which is that it will be 2.12 MMT and last for 57 days, is an even better case. Prism lead convenor Rowena del Rosario-Sadicon, for her part, told the public that they shouldn't worry because the country has enough rice to last until the end of the year. "We don't need to panic about anything else. Let's stay calm. It's very important that we are united in our objective to stay positive about this. We have enough rice,” Prism lead convener Rowena Del Rosario-Sadicon said in the statement released by the Palace on Wednesday. A report earlier this month found that the National Food Authority (NFA) did not have enough rice on hand to help the Philippines get through disasters. The report said that as of the end of June this year, the NFA's backup stock was 1.22 million bags, which is 60,819.95 MT. This is only enough rice for two days at a daily rate of 679,670 bags, which is 33,983.5 MT. A government official said that, based on daily usage, a safe buffer stock should last for nine days. An NFA report showed that the agency's stock is good for 47 days based on its average daily sales of 26,085 bags. The news also pointed out that NFA's stock is only a small part of the total amount of rice in the country. The rest is made up of homes and businesses. The post Public told enough rice ’til yearend appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
ICC keep out
The position of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to end any engagement with the International Criminal Court since it is a waste of time and government resources is appropriate since the same position was taken by two magistrates of the tribunal. Judge Marc Perrin de Brichambaut, the presiding officer of the ICC pre-trial chamber, and Judge Gocha Lordkipanidze, who both voted against continuing an investigation into the war on drugs, opined that the Court could not exercise jurisdiction over the Philippines since the country had withdrawn from the Rome Statute before former Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda requested authorization to commence an investigation. “In the present situation, it would be counter-productive and a waste of the Court’s resources to allow an investigation to proceed, only to declare later in the proceedings, when a challenge is made with respect to a specific case arising from this very situation, that the Court has no jurisdiction,” the dissenting judges said. President Marcos put a period to the ICC debate on Friday, saying the government would no longer be in touch with the international tribunal after it rejected the Philippine government’s plea to suspend its investigation into former president Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drugs campaign. “We will no longer negotiate with the ICC. Just as we were saying from the start, we will not cooperate with them in any way, shape, or form,” Marcos stated firmly. “So, I suppose that puts an end to our dealings with the ICC.” Moreover, Marcos said his administration would “continue to question” the ICC’s jurisdiction in investigating the Philippines’ drug war. “Why would the issue be raised in The Hague? It should be discussed here. That’s it. We have no appeals pending. We have no more actions being taken,” the President said. Last March, the ICC denied the Philippines’ plea to suspend its investigation “in the absence of persuasive reasons in support of ordering suspensive effect.” Before the statement of Marcos, the government submitted a notice of appeal in February and an appeal brief in March to suspend the probe after the ICC authorized its prosecutor, Karim Khan, to investigate alleged crimes committed during the war on drugs of the previous administration. In March 2018, then-president Duterte ordered the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute that created the ICC after former prosecutor Fatou Bensouda continued with his preliminary examination. The Philippines formally cut ties with the ICC on 17 March 2019, exactly a year after the revocation of the Rome Statute. In September 2021, the ICC launched a formal inquiry into the drug war but suspended it two months later after the Philippine government vowed to re-examine the cases in question. The ICC prosecutor in June 2022 requested to reopen the inquiry as it was “not satisfied” with what the Philippines was doing. According to the two dissenting justices, the issue of jurisdiction was not properly addressed in the ICC proceedings. They said: “While the Pre-Trial Chamber had already made similar findings on jurisdiction in its previous Article 15 decision, which are referred to in the Impugned Decision, Article 15 of the Statute does not foresee the participation of the State concerned in the relevant proceedings, and the Statute does not provide for the possibility of a State to file an appeal against a pre-trial chamber’s ruling in the context of Article 15 proceedings.” The dissent indicated that “the Philippines was neither a party nor a participant in the Article 15 proceedings in this situation. It is only in the context of Article 18 proceedings that the Philippines had the opportunity to raise the issue of the Court’s jurisdiction.” The point raised by the magistrates was that the appeal was made on a different provision of the Rome Statute which was not properly addressed by the pre-trial chamber. “As such, we consider that the Philippines’ challenge regarding the Court’s jurisdiction is properly raised on appeal and the Appeals Chamber should have addressed it on the merits,” according to the dissenters. The ICC may have some deeper agenda in proceeding with the probe considering that even its judges believe that what will be undertaken is a waste of time. Closing the door on the prejudiced tribunal was the correct move in protecting the nation as a sovereign state. The post ICC keep out appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sara, Teodoro to inspect Palaro site
by Neil Alcober Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte, together with Marikina City Mayor Marcelino Teodoro, will conduct an ocular inspection next week, 21 July, to determine the city’s readiness in hosting this year’s Palarong Pambansa. “We’re working doubly hard to prepare all the facilities based on the specifications and standards required by the technical working group of the Palarong Pambansa and, at the same time, to simply validate all the preparations are in place,” Teodoro told this reporter in an interview on Thursday. “We’re also hoping by that period the oval track of the city is already finished and complete,” the Marikina mayor added. Teodoro also said that they hired a Malaysian consultant to inspect all the facilities and to provide specifications requirement. “We’re almost 100 percent ready for the Palarong Pambansa 2023. But, of course, there are adjustments. It’s a working progress in terms of the number of delegates that will be coming because clusters 1 and 2 are still ongoing — there are still pre-qualifying games being done for Central Luzon, and we’re waiting for that,” the mayor added. Teodoro also assured that the minimum public health standards will be strictly implemented during the conduct of the said sporting event. “We’re establishing medical stations as well as treatment medical facilities,” he said. Teodoro also said that the city government has set aside funding for the athletes who sustained injuries during the games and for their hospitalization in case they get infected with Covid-19. “This is the first undertaking in the Palarong Pambansa that the local government will be providing fund in the amount of P5 million for injuries and medical contingency of the athletes,” he said, adding that they signed an agreement with various hospitals in the city. Teodoro also said that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will be attending the opening ceremony. The Eastern Police District, headed by P/Brig. Gen. Wilson Asueta, has already set up security measures to ensure public safety and peace and order during the conduct of this year’s sporting event. “We have already coordinated with the Philippine National Police. EPD Director General Asueta was with us in the meeting for the final security arrangement,” Teodoro said. “They will also augment our security personnel in the city as well as for the traffic management. They will be assigning some PNP personnel to manage traffic during the conduct of the Palarong Pambansa,” the mayor added. The PNP, according to Teodoro, has also tightened its VIPs security arrangements. “They did a threat assessment and found no major problem ensuring that no untoward incident will happen,” he said. There will be side events like dragon boat competition and e-games such as mobile legend during the conduct of the Palarong Pambansa, Teodoro said. The mayor added that there will be a closing concert to be held at the Marikina Sports Complex, solidarity meeting for all the regions, and a three-night mayors’ night. This year’s Palarong Pambansa 2023 will kick off on 31 July 2023 at the Marikina Sports Center. This will be followed by actual games (games proper) on 1-5 August at the assigned playing venues until its closing ceremonies on 5 August. This year, the Palarong Pambansa will feature a total of 37 sports including athletics, swimming, basketball, volleyball, football and taekwondo. The games are expected to draw over 10,000 athletes from all over the Philippines. The post Sara, Teodoro to inspect Palaro site appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Paris court gives Canada-based professor life for 1980 synagogue bomb
A Paris court on Friday sentenced a Lebanese-Canadian sociology professor to life in prison in absentia for the 1980 bombing of a synagogue in the French capital that left four people dead. The court followed the prosecutor's request for the maximum possible punishment against Hassan Diab, now 69 and a resident of Canada, a decision that was met with silence in court. Some victims and their families could be seen embracing at the end of three weeks of proceedings during which the suspect's box remained empty throughout. Prosecutors had said in their closing arguments Thursday that there was "no possible doubt" that Diab, the only suspect, was behind the attack. Diab, speaking to reporters in Ottawa, called the verdict "Kafkaesque" and "not fair." "We'd hoped reason would prevail," he said, adding that he expects Canada not to send him back to France to serve the sentence. In the early evening of October 3, 1980, explosives placed on a motorcycle detonated close to a synagogue on the Rue Copernic in Paris's chic 16th district, killing a student passing by on a motorbike, a driver, an Israeli journalist, and a caretaker. Forty-six others were injured in the blast. The bombing was the first deadly attack against a Jewish target on French soil since World War II. No organization claimed responsibility but police suspected a splinter group of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. French intelligence agents in 1999 accused Diab of having made the 10-kilogram (22-pound) bomb. They pointed to Diab's likeness with police sketches drawn at the time and handwriting analyses that they said confirmed him as the person who bought the motorbike used in the attack. They also produced a key item of evidence against him -- a passport in his name, seized in Rome in 1981, with entry and exit stamps from Spain, where the attack plan was believed to have originated. In 2014, Canada extradited Diab at the request of the French authorities. However, investigating judges were unable to prove his guilt conclusively during the investigation and Diab was released, leaving France for Canada as a free man in 2018. Three years later, a French court overturned this earlier decision and ordered Diab should stand trial on charges of murder, attempted murder, and destruction of property in connection with a terrorist enterprise. Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said at a press conference after the verdict was announced that "we will look carefully at next steps, at what the French government chooses to do, at what French tribunals choose to do". "But we will always be there to stand up for Canadians and their rights," he said. Denials Most of the evidence presented against Diab was based on intelligence sources, and his lawyers had again argued the case should be thrown out. "I'm in front of you to avoid a miscarriage of justice," celebrity defense lawyer William Bourdon told the court Thursday, saying that an acquittal was "the only judicial decision possible". Diab has claimed he was sitting exams in Lebanon at the time of the attack, backed up by statements from his ex-partner and former students. His conviction means he will now again become the subject of an arrest warrant, which risks stoking diplomatic tensions between France and Canada after his first extradition took six years. David Pere, a lawyer for some of the people present in the synagogue at the time of the bombing, said his clients were "not motivated by vengeance nor looking for a guilty person's head to stick on a pike... they want justice to be done". Diab has won some backing from NGOs, including Amnesty International, who said his assertion that he was in Lebanon at the time of the attack was credible The post Paris court gives Canada-based professor life for 1980 synagogue bomb appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
North Korea to defy coronavirus with huge parade
Nuclear-armed North Korea is expected to parade its latest and most advanced weapons through the streets of Pyongyang on Saturday, as the coronavirus-barricaded country celebrates the 75th anniversary of leader Kim Jong Un’s ruling party. Saturday is expected to see thousands of goose-stepping soldiers packed into Pyongyang’s Kim Il Sung Square, named for North Korea’s founder, under the gaze of his grandson Kim Jong Un ED JONES AFP/ MANILA BULLETIN South Korea’s unification minister told parliament on Thursday that a “large-scale parade” was anticipated, and satellite imagery on the respected 38North website has also suggested the cavalcade could be huge. The anniversary comes during a difficult year for North Korea as the coronavirus pandemic and recent storms add pressure to the heavily sanctioned country. Pyongyang closed its borders eight months ago to try to protect itself from the virus — which first emerged in neighbouring China — and has still to confirm a single case of infection. Last month, troops from the North shot dead a South Korean fisheries official who had drifted into its waters, apparently as a precaution against the disease, prompting fury in Seoul and a rare apology from Kim. Nevertheless, Saturday is expected to see thousands of goose-stepping soldiers packed into Pyongyang’s Kim Il Sung Square, named for North Korea’s founder, under the gaze of his grandson, the third member of the family to rule the country. A procession of progressively larger armoured vehicles and tanks is likely to follow, culminating with whatever missiles Pyongyang wants to put on show. The North is widely believed to have continued to develop its arsenal — which it says it needs to protect itself from a US invasion — throughout nuclear negotiations with Washington, deadlocked since the collapse of a summit in Hanoi in February last year. Now analysts expect a new submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) or an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of reaching the US mainland to appear — maybe even one with multiple re-entry vehicle capabilities that could allow it to evade US defence systems. The anniversary of the Workers’ Party means North Korea “has a political and strategic need to do something bigger”, said Sung-yoon Lee, a Korean studies professor at Tufts University in the United States. Showcasing its most advanced weapons “will signal a big step forward in Pyongyang’s credible threat capabilities”, he said. But unlike on many previous occasions, no international media have been allowed in to watch the parade, and with many foreign embassies in Pyongyang closing their doors in the face of coronavirus restrictions, few outside observers will be present. It is not clear whether state broadcaster KCTV will air the event live — some past parades have not appeared on television until the following day. But the South’s government has detected signs that Kim is to give a speech at the parade, Yonhap News Agency reported Friday citing unnamed sources. – Masks and missiles? – At the end of December, Kim threatened to demonstrate a “new strategic weapon”, but analysts say Pyongyang will still tread carefully to avoid jeopardising its chances with Washington ahead of next month’s presidential elections. Showing off its strategic weapons in a military parade “would be consistent with what Kim Jong Un promised”, while “not provoking the US as much as a test-launch of a strategic weapon”, said former US government North Korea analyst Rachel Lee. The messaging of the parade “will be heavily domestic — on party accomplishments, unity around the leader, and improving the economy before the Eighth Party Congress”, she added, referring to a meeting of the Workers’ Party due to take place in January. But Harry Kazianis of the Center for the National Interest warned that with thousands of people involved, it could turn into a “deadly superspreader-like event” unless “extreme precautions” were used. The impoverished nation’s crumbling health system would struggle to cope with a major virus outbreak, and he added that such protective measures seemed “pretty unlikely”. “Clearly masks and missiles don’t mix.”.....»»
Nasdaq ends at record; Dow rallies
Wall Street stocks jumped Friday, with the Nasdaq racing to yet another record as progress on a coronavirus vaccine offset worries about spiking US case levels. At the closing bell, the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index stood at 10,617.44, up 0.7 percent, notching its sixth record close in seven sessions. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose […] The post Nasdaq ends at record; Dow rallies appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Column: Johnson back to winning now after brief knee concern
By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer It only looks as though Dustin Johnson barely has a pulse on the golf course. One moment made him a little nervous. It wasn't the tee shot that rolled toward the railroad tracks and barely crossed the out-of-bounds line, right after he had taken a two-shot lead in the final round of the Travelers Championship. It wasn't even the tee shot two holes later that was headed for the water until it landed softly enough to stay dry, even though his feet got wet hitting the next one. That's just golf. Good or bad, he moves on. No one has a shorter memory. What caused concern was his knee. Johnson missed three months at the end of last year recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his right knee to repair cartilage damage. He lost another three months when golf shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic. And then as he worked overtime getting ready to resume, the knee started acting up. He called his partner, Paulina Gretzky, on the Tuesday before the Colonial and said he was coming home. The next day the knee felt better, so he stuck it out and missed the cut. “I was nervous,” Johnson said Tuesday. “I had an MRI when I got home, and everything with my surgery had healed great. It was just a strained tendon.” Whether it was time away from golf and then an abundance of practice, Johnson isn't sure. “Obviously,” he said, “everything is better now.” Johnson won the Travelers Championship for his 22nd victory worldwide, ending a drought of 490 days that matched the longest of his career. It was more exciting than it needed to be, which often is the case with his entertaining brand of golf. After going out of bounds on the 13th, he answered with a 15-foot birdie putt and then got a rare break for him — Johnson's ledger remains heavily skewed toward misfortune on the course — when his ball stayed out of the water. One victory doesn't always signal he's on his way. One shot did it for Butch Harmon, his swing coach who was watching from Las Vegas. With a one-shot lead playing the 18th, Johnson smoked his driver 351 yards, setting up a flip wedge and two putts for the win. “He was leaking oil a little on the back nine,” Harmon said. “His bounce-back is incredible. But the key to me was knowing he had to drive it well on 18. I told him when I talked to him later, that was the part I appreciated the most. Yeah, that was just like Oakmont.” The drive on the daunting closing hole at Oakmont in Pennsylvania, reputed to be the toughest course in America, is what Johnson considers one of the signature shots of his career. It sealed his victory at the 2016 U.S. Open, which remains his only major title. Johnson turned 36 last week. There is still plenty of time to fix the one area of his resume that — with his talent — is sorely lacking. What also got Harmon's attention was where Johnson won. The TPC Riverland Highlands in Connecticut is a par 70 at 6,841 yards, hardly known as a course for big hitters. Johnson played the two par 5s in just 2 under for the week and still shot 19-under 261, his sixth straight victory with a score of 19 under or better. His 22 victories have come on 18 courses. He has won at sea level (Doral) and mile-high altitude (Mexico City). He has won on courses that reward power (Crooked Stick) and shot-making (Riviera). Pebble Beach; the TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee; Kapalua and Chapultepec in Mexico City are the only courses where he has won twice. Johnson wasn't aware of this. “I think it shows my game is suitable for any course,” he said. “I like a variety of golf courses. And a lot of these courses that I didn't like then, I've grown to like now.” He paused before adding with a laugh, “And I wasn't hitting it as straight.” If there are “horses for courses,” this might make him mostly a thoroughbred. He's not alone in that department, of course. Rory McIlroy, the current No. 1 player in golf, has won 26 times on 22 courses around the world, with his only repeat victories at Quail Hollow, TPC Boston and both courses in Dubai (Emirates and Jumeirah Estates). Ditto for Tiger Woods, even if it doesn't seem that way. Woods has eight victories at Torrey Pines, Firestone and Bay Hill. He has five victories at Augusta National, Muirfield Village and Cog Hill. They are among 19 courses where he has won multiple times. That's mainly because Woods wins a lot. Phil Mickelson has 47 wins worldwide on 25 courses, with multiple wins on 14 courses. “Being able to adapt is a huge deal, play on different golf courses,” Bryson DeChambeau said. “That's what I'm trying to learn how to do. I think that will happen down the road if I just keep playing good golf, but being able to adapt in different situations and play in different conditions, win everywhere, is pretty impressive." When he's on his game, when he's healthy, Johnson is as impressive as anyone. A winner again, he plans to spend two weeks at home in Florida before returning for the Memorial. He hasn't won there yet......»»
One new COVID-19 case in Talisay City for May 31
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Talisay City is closing May with one more case of coronavirus disease in the city this Sunday, May 31, 2020, Mayor Gerald Anthony Gullas has announced. Gullas said the new patient, PT 33, was a 45-year-old man from Barangay San Roque. The mayor said the detection of PT33’s case was due […] The post One new COVID-19 case in Talisay City for May 31 appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Ombudsman junks case vs suspended Tabuk City, Kalinga mayor
Tabuk City, Kalinga province Mayor Darwin Estranero will be back to work on April 1 after the case filed against him in connection to the alleged overpricing of medical equipment for his town was dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman......»»
ED attaches asset worth Rs 70 lakh in bank fraud implicating Hyderabad-based Jasleen Enterprises
New Delhi [India], March 28 (ANI): The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has attached an immovable property valued at Rs 70 lakh in a bank fraud case involving Jasleen Enterprises headquartered in Hyderabad. The Hyderabad division of the ED attached the fixed asset in accordance with the stipulations outlined in the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) of 2002. ED initiated investigation on the basis of First Informati.....»»
Emergency protocols in case of bridge collapse sought
Emergency protocols in case of bridge collapse sought.....»»
DOJ charges 2 alleged NPA financiers with terrorism financing
According to the DOJ, the case stemmed after reports that Dumlao and Tolentino possessed firearms and ammunition without a clear source of income or apparent purpose......»»
Philippine scientists harassed by China helicopter
Another case of harassment at sea by the Chinese has been reported – this time near Pag-Asa Island last Saturday – involving a helicopter, which hovered dangerously close to a group of Filipino scientists doing research work on a sand bar called Sandy Cay, causing minor injuries......»»
Philippine scientists harassed by China helicoper
Another case of harassment at sea by the Chinese has been reported – this time near Pag-Asa Island last Saturday – involving a helicopter, which hovered dangerously close to a group of Filipino scientists doing research work on a sand bar called Sandy Cay, causing minor injuries......»»
Second graft case filed vs Magalong
Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong is facing another graft case before the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the allegedly anomalous improvement and rehabilitation of a P50-million multipurpose building in Barangay Irisan......»»
Southeast Asian Police, Prosecutors Join Forces to Fight Scamdemic
Bangkok - Police and prosecutors across Southeast Asia are forging new ways of working together to thwart and pursue the sprawling criminal networks behind the online scam centers that have quickly taken root in the region, experts involved in the effort have told VOA.In a few short years, scamming hubs bilking billions of dollars out of victims across the globe have set up shop in Cambodia, Laos, the Philippine.....»»
SC allows UN expert to act as friend of the court in Maria Ressa s cyber libel plea
Irene Khan, United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur for freedom of expression and opinion, has been allowed by the Supreme Court (SC) to sit as an "amicus curiae" to the court in the appeal for the cyber libel case of Rappler.com chief executive officer Maria Ressa and former researcher Reynaldo Santos......»»