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Nuclear energy and PSA death statistics

Despite the incoherent rants against the country’s water, telecom, and electricity companies by President Rodrigo Duterte in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) 2020 last week, one good thing in his speech was the absence of reference to climate alarm and the need for more mandates, more subsidies to renewables which would mean more expensive electricity.

Recently, public attention has temporarily shifted from coal-bashing to entertaining nuclear energy including the possible revival of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP). See these recent stories in BusinessWorld:

1. “Clean-energy bloc faults SONA for failing to address coal reduction, quarantine power bills” (July 29)

2. “Duterte signs EO authorizing nuclear energy study” (July 30)

3. “Renewables industry touts ‘untapped’ potential, superior safety vs nuclear” (July 31)

4. “DoE studying small nuclear plants for remote areas” (Aug. 3)

5. “Nuclear power plants seen unlikely to be operational by end of Duterte’s term” (Aug. 3)

For people who oppose fossil fuels (coal, gas, oil) and yet are scared of intermittent, unstable, weather-dependent solar-wind and other variable renewables, nuclear power would be the compromise for them. Many rich and developed countries in the world continue to use nuclear power. France remains the most nuclear-dependent country in the world with 72% of their total electricity generation in 2019 coming from nuclear, followed by Ukraine (54%) and Belgium (47%). For renewables, the Philippines’ 13.1% share to total is largely from geothermal and hydro as wind-solar combined contribute only about 2.5% of total (see the table).

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi’s proposal to have small nuclear plants for remote areas and islands is commendable and wise. Island-provinces like Basilan, Batanes, Camiguin, Catanduanes, Marinduque, Romblon, Siquijor, Sulu, Tawi-tawi, are good candidates to have small, modular nuclear power plants. Even big island-provinces like Palawan, Masbate and Mindoro.

Currently these island-provinces are dependent on big gensets running on diesel (more costly, more polluting) then pass the higher cost via Universal Charge for Missionary Electrification (UC-ME) at P0.156/kWh charged to all electricity customers nationwide. By having small nuclear plants with cheap, stable, 24/7 electricity, these provinces can attract more businesses especially in tourism and agri-business, create more jobs, and that burdensome UC-ME subsidy can finally be abolished and this will help bring down overall electricity cost nationwide.

For the main islands of the country, coal and indigenous gas will remain competitively priced. Global coal prices have been low recently, only about $55/ton from late April to July 2020 versus $70-$110/ton from September 2016 to March 2020. Global gas prices have also been low recently, but liquefied natural gas (LNG) can be costly overall because of the higher cost of storage for liquids (unlike storage for solids like coal) plus the additional cost for re-gasification before the gas power plants can produce electricity.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has updated the death statistics for full year 2019 and preliminary January-June 2020 (https://psa.gov.ph/vital-statistics/id/162811).

The surprising thing from the numbers is that there are significantly less deaths in 2020 especially in the lockdown months from March to June, compared with similar months in 2016-2019. The average deaths per day for January-June are as follows: 1,560 in 2016; 1,573 in 2017; 1,608 in 2018; 1,717 in 2019; and 1,425 in 2020.

The feared “more deaths in 2020 due to COVID-19” compared to previous years so far is wrong and did not happen. Possible explanations are: 1.) under-reporting of deaths in May-June 2020 which will be reported later; 2.) fewer fatal accidents, especially involving motorcycles, less stabbings/shooting in bars due to the community quarantines and curfew; and, 3.) people are more health conscious now, wash hands more frequently, avoid “unhealthy” food and drinks, and so on.

But reasons Nos. 2 and 3 are not justifications for the continuing, indefinite lockdown. The business shutdowns, millions of job losses, economic contraction, high public borrowings, and high taxes later are dangerous and can lead to more poverty-related illnesses and deaths.

 

Bienvenido S. Oplas, Jr. is the president of Minimal Government Thinkers

minimalgovernment@gmail.com

Are there any other matters?

SCHEDULED MEETINGS, even virtual ones, need to be prepared for. A detailed agenda (and the clickable link for the meet) is sent out to attendees to make sure they have useful insights and comments to offer. The agenda provides a list of matters to be taken up. Attached position papers and risk assessments may accompany the items.

Open issues (like a massively unfavorable reaction to an announcement) alerts participants on what positions to take, and scout for irrelevant statistics to divert attention from a catastrophe. There are other crises we should be looking at.

The agenda provides no clue on how much time a specific subject will take up, only the order in which this will be discussed. Sequence has no relation to ranking in importance to the fate of an organization or the amount of time and heated exchange a particular item will elicit. The chair can change the order around, if one presenter is late. He can also skip a topic and move it to next month’s agenda — we need a deeper study on the state of oligarchy in our regional branches.

The last item before adjournment is marked as “other matters.” This surprise number can be anything from unsolicited opinions to a list of redundant executives or the acquisition of a thriving company that is not for sale.

“Other matters” can turn out to be any of the following:

It’s the last item before adjournment. There is nothing else on the plate, and this non-item serves as a closed punctuation mark. The chair looks around the table and intones — There, being no other matters for consideration, do I hear a motion to adjourn?

It prevents attendees from leaving after their own presentations. The possibility of an unknown item which may involve them (Where did he go?) keeps everyone in his seat. The unidentified topic is a red herring forestalling a slow erosion of participants. This last item projects the same allure of a raffle prize available only to those who are still around when the number is called.

It involves a delicate matter and presumes that secretaries routinely peek into the agenda of meetings their bosses attend. An item like sexual harassment in the office or the introduction of a secretarial pool to replace having one secretary per executive can be buried under “other matters.”

It is an announcement not open for discussion or negotiation. A “downsizing” which reduces the number of chairs around the meeting room (or faces in the big screen of a virtual meeting) is tucked under “other matters.” (Okay, time for the photo. Smile.) The untitled item prevents lobbying and tearful requests to defer implementation of the flatter organization, especially for those whose names are not in any boxes.

It is a frivolous subject. The catch-all category can include such items as the theme for the virtual Christmas party ahead (wear federalist uniforms), menu for the next meeting, or the selection of a committee spokesman — he can be Mr. Congeniality when he defends this awful decision.

“Other matters” can be subjects of interest to the chair. There is no substitute for preparedness. The chair brings up office renovation to provide social distancing parameters. The one in charge is caught unprepared for the question. Did you really convert the nursing station for unwed mothers to a stock room for dead files? The minutes will reflect that the one in charge was tongue-tied, as the chair adjourned the meeting.

Other matters can also refer to a hidden agenda. A committee, intended to clarify issues on a company’s worthiness to continue its business, can turn into an avenging angel smiting the Philistines, ignoring testimonies and clarifications. (This company just needs to be crushed like a cigarette butt.)

The corporate assassins may later be confronted with the economic havoc they have unleashed. They offer solutions to the problems they created — sell to a friendly billionaire; let the union run it and give them a price break to acquire control; let the displaced just look for other jobs. (Do we have to think of everything?)

As for the collateral damage on investor sentiment, reduction of tax revenues, the rise in unemployment, and a dip in the GDP from the contribution of a top-100 company listed in the stock exchange, the guilty parties shrug off such attacks as…. “other matters.” Meeting is adjourned.

 

Tony Samson is Chairman and  CEO, TOUCH xda

ar.samson@yahoo.com

Huge explosion rocks Beirut

A MASSIVE explosion at Lebanon’s main port rocked Beirut, overwhelming hospitals dealing with the injured and dying. The blast was so large it blew out windows across the capital and was even heard from Cyprus.

Authorities say it was caused by highly explosive materials at the port, but didn’t say whether it was an accident or an attack. The casualty toll continued to climb through the night, with Sky News Arabia putting the number of dead at 78 in the early morning hours of Wednesday. The health minister had said around 11 p.m. that 67 people were killed and some 3,600 injured.

Video footage showed what appeared to be a fire, followed by crackling lights and then a much larger explosion as an enormous cloud of smoke rapidly engulfed the area around the Port of Beirut. Buildings in the area and miles away were severely damaged, including the electricity company and other government entities.

The price of oil climbed to the highest level in almost two weeks as the blast stoked fears over instability in the region. U.S. benchmark crude futures climbed 1.7%.

The aftermath of the explosion left people rushing for help on foot and motorbikes, some with blood streaming over their faces, outside a Beirut hospital. One hospital said it had taken in 400 people and others appealed for blood donations, saying they’d reached their capacity.

“Beirut has never seen anything like this before,” Beirut Governor Marwan Abboud told reporters near the scene, comparing it to the aftermath of a nuclear bomb. “It is a destroyed city, people lying on the streets, damage everywhere.”

Prime Minister Hassan Diab described the blast as a “major national disaster” and said the depot that was the reason for the blast had been there since 2014.

“I will not rest until we hold whoever is responsible accountable and punish them with the most severe punishment,” he said. “It’s unacceptable that 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate have been stored in a container in a depot for the past six years,” he said during a meeting of the Higher Defense Council.

President Donald Trump said in Washington that U.S. military officials “seem to think it was an attack. It was a bomb of some kind.” He said he “met with some of our great generals and they just seem to feel that it was. This was not some kind of a manufacturing explosion type of event.”

US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo expressed his condolences and said in a statement, “We are closely monitoring and stand ready to assist the people of Lebanon as they recover from this tragedy.”

The explosion took place during the first of a two-day grace period that the government had given citizens before it reinforces a full lockdown with a curfew to contain the coronavirus epidemic after the country saw a major spike in cases in recent weeks.

Traffic was heavy throughout the day as people flooded the capital and other areas. Myriam Sawma, 31, was among the many who left their homes to buy essentials before the lockdown resumed.

“I was at the mall and we heard the first blast and then another and complete white smoke covered the area. People were screaming and running everywhere,” said Sawma, who was at a popular mall in the neighborhood of Ashrafieh.

Beirut and its suburbs are home to many embassies, nongovernmental organizations and most government entities and agencies as well as ministries and headquarters of political parties. The general secretary of the Kataeb Party, Nizar Najarian, was killed in the explosion. He was chairing a meeting for the party at its headquarters, near the site of the blast.

Debris has covered the entire port, damaging trucks and other shipping containers. Black smoke could still be seen billowing into the sky hours after the blast. The port receives handles 6 million tons of shipments a year and is the country’s main port.

TOO MANY CRISES
Lebanon is reeling under its worst financial and economic crisis, with a sharp plunge in its local currency eroding purchasing power and throwing many into poverty and unemployment. The government is in talks with the International Monetary Fund for a $10 billion bailout and has tried to collect aid from Gulf countries, but to no avail.

Gulf countries are wary that any funds would be channeled to Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group that’s listed by those countries and the U.S. as a terrorist group. The foreign minister resigned earlier this week, saying Lebanon could become a failed state. 

A shortage of U.S. dollars has wreaked havoc on an economy almost completely reliant on imported goods. The central bank is using whatever is left of its reserves to subsidize the import of wheat, fuel and medicine and has recently said it would help import essential food items, albeit at a weaker exchange rate.

Apart from the financial crisis, Lebanon was also bracing for a verdict from a United Nations-backed court on Friday in the case of the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. The Special Tribunal for Lebanon has accused four members of Hezbollah of having a role in the killing, which was a turning point in the country’s modern history. The assassination was followed by a series of similar attacks that killed politicians and journalists.

The assassination sparked nationwide protests and forced the collapse of a government as well as the withdrawal of Syrian troops that had stationed in Lebanon after the civil war from 1975-1990, ending its tutelage over its neighbor.

Hezbollah has denied the allegations and said it would not hand over the suspects, describing the court as an Israeli tool aimed at sowing strife. Lebanon and Israel are technically still in a state of war.

Israel immediately said it had nothing to do with the explosion. The Israeli government offered emergency assistance through international intermediaries, the Associated Press reported. — Bloomberg

US health chief to visit Taiwan, likely angering China

TAIPEI — US Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar will visit Taiwan in coming days, his office said on Tuesday, making the highest-level visit by a US official in four decades – a move likely to anger China, which claims the island as its own.

Azar’s visit will probably worsen already poor Beijing-Washington relations, inflamed over trade, the pandemic and human rights, even as Taiwan has welcomed the show of support in the face of unrelenting Chinese pressure.

During his visit, Azar will meet with President Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said, which may infuriate China further.

“Taiwan has been a model of transparency and cooperation in global health during the COVID-19 pandemic and long before it,” Azar said in a statement. “I look forward to conveying President Trump’s support for Taiwan’s global health leadership and underscoring our shared belief that free and democratic societies are the best model for protecting and promoting health.”

His department, describing the trip as “historic,” said Azar would be accompanied by Mitchell Wolfe, chief medical officer of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other members of the administration.

Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said the visit showed the firm US support for Taiwan and the closeness of their relationship.

Taiwan has been especially grateful for US support for its requests to get meaningful access to the World Health Organization during the pandemic.

Taiwan is not a member because of Chinese objections; Beijing considers the island merely one of China’s provinces. Taiwan has denounced Chinese efforts to block its access, though Beijing says the island has been given the help it needs.

The United States, like most countries, has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, having ditched Taipei in favour of Beijing in 1979, but is its main arms supplier and strongest backer on the international stage.

Gina McCarthy, then-head of the Environmental Protection Agency, was the last US Cabinet-level official to visit the island, in 2014. Her position is technically lower-ranking than Azar’s.

Taiwan has won praise for its response to the coronavirus pandemic, having kept its case numbers low due to effective and early prevention steps.

The United States has more coronavirus cases and deaths than any other country.

In April, Azar held a teleconference with Taiwan Health Minister Chen Shih-chung, whom he will also meet on his trip.

US President Donald Trump signed a new law in March requiring increased support for Taiwan’s international role. China threatened unspecified retaliation in response. — Reuters

Global coronavirus deaths exceed 700,000, one person dies every 15 seconds on average

THE global death toll from COVID-19 surpassed 700,000 on Wednesday, according to a Reuters tally, with the United States, Brazil, India and Mexico leading the rise in fatalities.

Nearly 5,900 people are dying every 24 hours from COVID-19 on average, according to Reuters calculations based on data from the past two weeks.

That equates to 247 people per hour, or one person every 15 seconds.

The United States and Latin America are the new epicenters of the pandemic and both are struggling to curb the spread of the virus.

The coronavirus was initially slower to reach Latin America, which is home to about 640 million people, than much of the world. But officials have since struggled to control its spread because of the region’s poverty and densely packed cities.

More than 100 million people across Latin America and the Caribbean live in slums, according to the United Nations Human Settlements Programme. Many have jobs in the informal sector with little in the way of a social safety net and have continued to work throughout the pandemic.

The United States, home to around 330 million people, has also been battered by the virus despite being one of the richest nations in the world.

The U.S. government’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, on Monday said states with high coronavirus case counts should reconsider imposing lockdown restrictions, emphasizing the need to get cases to a low baseline before the fall flu season.

Even in parts of the world that had appeared to have curbed the spread of the virus, countries have recently seen single-day records in new cases, signaling the battle is far from over. Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Bolivia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Bulgaria, Belgium, Uzbekistan and Israel all recently had record increases in cases. — Reuters

Rafa Nadal to skip US Open over coronavirus concerns

NEW YORK — World number two Rafa Nadal confirmed on Tuesday that he will not defend his US Open crown this year at Flushing Meadows as organizers released the singles entry list for the Grand Slam.

Spain’s Nadal had said in June that he had reservations about traveling to the US amid the COVID-19 pandemic and he joins women’s world number one Australian Ash Barty in skipping the tournament due to COVID-19 concerns.

“After many thoughts I have decided not to play this year’s US  Open,” Nadal said on Twitter. “The situation is very complicated worldwide, the COVID-19 cases are increasing, it looks like we still don’t have control of it.

“We know that the reduced tennis calendar is barbaric this year after 4 months stopped with no play, I understand and thank [everyone] for the efforts they are putting in to make it happen. We have just seen the announcement of Madrid not being played this year.

“This is a decision I never wanted to take but I have decided to follow my heart this time and for the time being I rather not travel.”

The Madrid Open, which was scheduled to take place from Sept. 12-20, was cancelled on Tuesday due to the rise of COVID-19 cases in the Spanish capital.

The United States has the highest tally in the world with more than 4.7 million confirmed novel coronavirus cases and nearly 156,000 deaths, according to a Reuters tally.

World number one Novak Djokovic, a three-time champion in New York, headlines the men’s list along with last year’s runner-up Daniil Medvedev and other top 10 players including Dominic Thiem, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev.

Swiss Roger Federer, a five-time US Open champion, will also be absent after the 38-year-old was forced to undergo knee surgery in June that prematurely ended his 2020 season.

Nine of the top 10 women’s players, including 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams and holder Bianca Andreescu, are on the entry list along with 2018 champion Naomi Osaka.

As many as 13 Grand Slam champions are in the women’s draw including Romania’s Simona Halep, the reigning Wimbledon champion and 2018 French Open winner, and this year’s Australian Open champion American Sofia Kenin.

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) said eight additional wildcard entries would be selected in both the men’s and women’s fields.

Organizers said the seedings would be announced closer to the start of the tournament which is scheduled for Aug. 31.

A number of players are also set to take part in the Aug. 20-28 Western & Southern Open in New York, which serves as a warm-up event for the US Open. — Reuters

Luka Doncic dominant in Mavericks win over Kings

LUKA DONCIC capped a 34-point, 20-rebound, 12-assist triple-double with a basket inside to break a tie with 1:57 remaining in overtime Tuesday afternoon as the Dallas Mavericks outlasted the Sacramento Kings for a 114-110 victory.

Tim Hardaway, Jr. had six of his 22 points in the extra session, helping the Mavericks (41-29) win for the first time in three tries in the National Basketball Association bubble.

De’Aaron Fox went for a team-high 28 points for the Kings (28-39), who fell to the brink of elimination in the Western Conference playoff race with a third straight defeat since the restart.

A Buddy Hield 3-pointer gave Sacramento a 102-99 lead with 3:30 left in overtime before Hardaway was fouled on a 3-point attempt and converted three straight free throws for the game’s final tie at 102-all.

Doncic then connected on his go-ahead hoop and Maxi Kleber then hit a 3-pointer with 1:22 to go, propelling the Mavericks to the win.

The Kings got threes from Hield and Bogdan Bogdanovic in the final 10 seconds to close within 112-110, but Trey Burke nailed two free throws with 4.4 seconds remaining to ice Dallas’ win.

The Kings led almost the entire regulation, using nine first-quarter 3-pointers to build a 37-27 advantage after 12 minutes. Hield (three), Fox (two) and Cory Joseph (two) combined for seven of the early threes.

The Mavericks rallied into a 52-all tie on a pair of free throws by Kristaps Porzingis with 2:46 remaining in the half, but then never drew even again until Kleber hit one of two foul shots with 1:52 remaining, squaring the score at 95-all.

The teams combined for seven missed shots and a turnover over the scoreless final 1:52 of regulation. Fox missed three of the shots, including a buzzer-beating 18-footer.

Doncic’s triple-double was his league-leading 16th of the season, while his 20 rebounds were a career-high, eclipsing his previous best of 18 set against New Orleans in December.

Porzingis matched Hardaway with 22 points, while Dorian Finney-Smith collected a career-high 16 rebounds to complement 16 points.

Fox added a team-high nine assists for the Kings, who outshot the Mavericks 41.3% to 36.7%.

Hield added 21 points and Kent Bazemore 16 for Sacramento, while Nemanja Bjelica had a double-double with 12 points and a team-high 13 rebounds.

Jackson out for season

Meanwhile, Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr., the team’s second-leading scorer, will miss the remainder of the season with torn meniscus in his left knee, the team announced.

In his second NBA season, the 20-year-old Jackson averaged 17.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, hitting nearly 40% of his 3-point shots. In the Grizzlies’ three games in the NBA’s bubble near Orlando since the season restart (all Memphis losses), Jackson averaged 25.3 points. — Reuters

Adamson looks to bounce back after tough Season 82

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

FOLLOWING a tough Season 82 at the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, the Adamson Soaring Falcons are looking to bounce back this year, armed with more experience and better understanding of who they are as a team.

Missed the final four last year after making three straight appearances in it previously, the Falcons admit it was a learning experience for them and that they hope to be able to regroup and get back on track.

“Last year was difficult for us precisely because we have a very young team, it was a very young team, no experience but the players showed flashes of brilliance. Hopefully, this year will be different,” said Adamson coach Franz Pumaren in his recent session with the Tiebreaker Vods’ Coaches Unfiltered podcast.

Last year, the San Marcelino-based school ended with a 4-10 record, tied for sixth place with the University of the East Red Warriors.

The Falcons never really got to soar as much as they wanted to, particularly in the pivotal second round of the eliminations where they only got one win in their seven matches.

Mr. Pumaren said it was just unfortunate that they were not able to sustain the momentum they had in the previous years but he remains bullish of being able to steer his team to better compete in Season 83.

Currently the Falcons, the Adamson coach said, are on a break because of the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

While he would have loved to be practicing and training now, he understands the current situation, which is why he is just encouraging his players to keep themselves fit and spend time with their families before they plunge back to their preparation when conditions permit to do so.

Mr. Pumaren said the push remains for them, which is to continue developing their players who would lead them to success.

One player they are looking to work on is 6’2” Ateneo juniors player Joaquin Jaymalin, who has committed to play for Adamson.

“He (Jaymalin) will be a part of our team this season and I’m expecting him to grow an inch or two and he’s been under the radar because of course Ateneo’s been a solid team, probably their rotation is still solid but one thing for sure, he can shoot. I’ve watched him, I think he’s a welcome addition on our part and I’m confident we can develop him to a better all-around,” Mr. Pumaren said.

He is also high on the continued development of guard Jerom Lastimosa, who shared time at the point guard spot in Season 82 with one-and-done player Val Chauca.

“I think everybody will be surprised come next year. I assure you that he will surprise a lot and people will start talking about Lastimosa next year,” said Mr. Pumaren.

Still part of the team are Jerrick Ahanmisi, Aaron Fermin, Lenda Douanga and Joem Sabandal. The team, however, lost in the offseason long-time Pumaren deputy Jack Santiago, who is now the head coach of UE.

The start of UAAP Season 83, hosted by De La Salle University, is still to be determined with COVID-19 still a concern but the league is looking at rolling out early in 2021.

45 LSGH scholar-athletes get to keep their scholarships

WHILE conduct of sports in the country is currently grounded because of the coronavirus disease pandemic, La Salle Green Hills has made sure its scholar-athletes are taken care of by honoring scholarships granted to them amid the tough times.

Competing at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) juniors division, 45 scholar-athletes of LSGH are assured of being able to continue with their studies despite the cancellation of various tournaments.

LSGH Athletic Scholarships are granted to qualified students who are recruited and who have shown remarkable performance in the previous seasons of the NCAA Juniors Tournaments.

They are currently enrolled in the Flexible Lasallian Education through Technology and Collaboration at Home (FLETCH), the learner-driven collaborative experience presented through home-based online learning in the first semester and blended learning in the second and third semester.

The scholar-athletes are part the school’s 700 student-athletes, from grades 1 to 12, in 14 sports including archery, basketball, baseball, badminton, chess, football, golf, karatedo, lawn tennis, swimming, taekwondo, table tennis, track and field, and volleyball.

LSGH Sports Program and Development Office Head Marvin Bienvenida said that the decision to keep their roster of scholar-athletes was the right move, especially since their mission is to make quality education accessible to more people.  

“We take pride in their academic standards and achievements. Having them allows us to stay true to our mission of making education accessible amid these trying times,” Mr. Bienvenida said in a statement.

“By supporting them to continue, they are afforded with the opportunity to further develop themselves, their knowledge, and their skills, which they will use not only to improve their lives but to be of service to God and the society,” he added.

LSGH, however, said that it is suspending the recruitments for this school year to give priority to the current athletes but is eyeing opening different sports clubs open to currently enrolled LSGH students, so it can scout promising prospects.

Current student-athletes from LSGH have been steadily making names for themselves, among them Jalil Taguinod, who is a member of the Philippine National Swimming Team, and footballers Troy Limbo and Kyle Magdato, who competed in the previous Southeast Asian Games

LSGH has produced some world-class athletes throughout the years like legendary Filipino bowler Paeng Nepomuceno and Olympians Luis Gabriel Moreno of archery and Stephen Fernandez of taekwondo. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Tiger, McIlroy and Thomas grouped together at PGA Championship

SAN FRANCISCO — Two former world number ones will play alongside the game’s freshly crowned top player when Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas go out as a group in the PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park this week.

Woods, who has played once since the PGA Tour resumed in June, is seeking his 16th major and fifth PGA Championship title but the 44-year-old is an underdog given concerns about how his surgically repaired back will react to the cool San Francisco weather.

World number three McIlroy won his fourth major six years ago and has said quarantine gave him the chance to focus on again winning the sport’s biggest prizes, starting with the PGA Championship followed by the US Open and Masters in the fall.

Thomas comes into the tournament as the hottest commodity in golf, having won three events this year including the FedEx St. Jude Invitational on Sunday to regain the top spot, which he held for four weeks in 2018.

He is one of the early favorites to hoist the Wanamaker Trophy for a second time after taking the title in 2017.

Another star-studded group comprises twice defending champion Brooks Koepka, last year’s US Open champion Gary Woodland and the 2019 British Open winner Irishman Shane Lowry.

Jordan Spieth, who could complete a career grand slam by adding a PGA Championship, will play alongside ex-world number one Dustin Johnson and 2016 Olympic gold medalist Justin Rose.

The first major of the year, originally scheduled for May before the COVID-19 pandemic hit sports, will play out at the challenging municipal course known for its towering Cypress trees, thick rough, narrow fairways and cool coastal fog in the summer months.

The tournament will take place without fans due to the novel coronavirus. — Reuters

REBEL Fighting Championship adds ‘top guns’ to its fold

SOUTHEAST Asia-based mixed martial arts promotion REBEL Fighting Championship fortified further its organization by adding accomplished individuals to key positions.

In an announcement, REBEL FC, a dynamic fightainment company, said Vivian Xia and Ophelia Yao are now part of its group and will play key roles as the company continues with its push of bringing to the fore the promotion’s brand of mixed martial arts action.

The two will be deeply involved, among other things, in REBEL FC’s vision of having a full-fledged MMA reality show in China.

Ms. Xia joins REBEL FC as sponsorship director. She spent most of her career from 1999 to 2018 — 16 years — at The Nielsen Company, a global marketing research firm headquartered in New York.

With Nielsen she helped build up a sports and entertainment department for the company from 2016 to 2018 as associate director. The new department is responsible for the business and product developments of the sports industry in China.

From 2018, Ms. Xia went on to join OCEANS Sports & Entertainment Inc. as its vice-president. OCEANS is one of the leading sports marketing agencies in China specializing in integrated sports marketing, event organization and promotion, sponsorship development, and building relevant relationships across China’s fast-growing sports industry.

Ms. Yao, meanwhile, is now REBEL FC’s sponsorship manager. She has experience from IMG, a global events and talent management company headquartered in New York,under Endeavor Group Holdings. Endeavor is best known for acquiring UFC in 2016 for $4 billion.

At IMG, Ms. Yao was Sales Support & Client Servicing Manager at IMG Golf Asia, focusing on client relations and servicing for the WGC-HSBC Champions project, building corporate partnerships with Mercedes Benz, WeChat, Dell and TutorABC.

“It is an honor for me and Ophelia to be a witness and participant in innovative sports marketing with REBEL FC’s planned reality show. I think it is an exciting platform to communicate MMA as a professional sport in the language of mass entertainment that will resonate with the mass audience in China. The attributes of MMA conveyed through the reality show can encourage positive thinking and enterprising fighting spirit as well as revitalising national pride in everyone in China,” said Ms. Xia.

REBEL FC was founded in 2013 and has steadily made a name for itself in the MMA scene.

Filipino fighters have been competing in the promotion, among them lightweight fighters Jaypee Espinosa and Reydon Romero, who saw action at “REBEL FC 9: Return of the Champion” in Shanghai in September. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Gargling solution flies off Japan’s shelves after governor touts anti-virus effect

TOKYO — Japanese drugstores were stripped bare of gargling solution by Wednesday, a day after the governor of the western prefecture of Osaka suggested it could help fight coronavirus, triggering panic buying reminiscent of the early days of mask shortages.

Hundreds of thousands of people posted pictures of emptied shelves on Twitter, accompanied by handwritten “Out of Stock” notices, as they canvassed suggestions on how to acquire the coveted antiseptic.

“Anyone else having trouble buying gargling medicine? I’m coming to four misses now,” wrote one user, @shotaro_1117, who posted images of four cleaned-out shelves.

On Tuesday, Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura said a study showed a smaller viral load in the saliva of 41 patients with mild symptoms after regular gargling with a medicine infused with povidone-iodine solution than in those who had not.

“Perhaps we can even overcome the coronavirus with gargling medicine,” he told a mid-afternoon news conference, speaking of the study on those convalescing in regional hotels which was released by an Osaka hospital.

As the Japanese official spoke, shares of Meiji Holdings Co , which sells a popular medicine previously marketed as Isojin, skyrocketed, gaining as much as 7.7% by late on Tuesday.

The shares were down 4% on Wednesday, but more than 1.2 million tweets had employed the hashtag #Isojin by afternoon.

As governments worldwide have struggled to rein in the virus, which has killed nearly 700,000 people and infected more than 18 million, some in authority have seized on any treatment seeming to offer a glimmer of hope.

For example, US President Donald Trump has persistently promoted the unproven drug hydroxychloroquine as successful in treating the virus, and in April, he asked publicly if injecting disinfectant might help.

Japan’s top government spokesman, Yoshihide Suga, said he was aware of the Osaka governor’s comments, including the fact that researchers would try to determine if the ingredient could keep disease symptoms from worsening.

“The government will closely watch developments of the research,” Mr. Suga told a news conference.

Some experts were sceptical, however.

“I think these kinds of claims might even lead to a high number of false negatives for PCR tests,” pharmacist and medical writer Shuichi Aoshima wrote on Twitter, adding that tests after use of the germicide would register lower levels of the virus. “It’s the same as dripping povidone-iodine onto a virus sample.” — Reuters

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