Day: February 18, 2022

KUALA LUMPUR— Data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) are showing a growing momentum in air travel as restrictions are lifted, with a sharp 11 percentage point increase for international tickets sold in recent weeks in proportion to 2019 sales.

Nonetheless, “while recent progress is impressive, the world remains far from 2019 levels of connectivity,” said IATA director general Willie Walsh.

According to the data, on a seven-day moving average, the number of tickets sold stood at 49 per cent in the period around February 8 over the same period in 2019, and in the January 25, it was 38 per cent over the period in 2019, with a 11-percentage point improvement between the January and February periods.

“It was the fastest such increase for any two-week period since the crisis began,” said IATA in a statement Thursday.

An IATA travel restrictions survey for the world’s top 50 air travel markets revealed the growing access available to vaccinated travellers; 28 markets were open to the vaccinated, without having to go through quarantine or pre-departure testing requirements,

“Meanwhile, 37 markets were open to vaccinated travellers under varying conditions (18 having no restrictions, others requiring testing or quarantine or both),” it said.

These numbers underscore the spate of relaxations announced around the world, including in Australia, France, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Sweden.

Walsh said 13 of the top 50 travel markets still do not provide easy access to all vaccinated travellers, including major economies like China, Japan, Russia, Indonesia, and Italy.

IATA continues to seek removal of all travel barriers, including quarantine and testing for those fully vaccinated with a World Health Organisation-approved vaccine. It is also seeking quarantine-free travel for non-vaccinated travellers with a negative pre-departure antigen test results.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

SHAH ALAM (Selangor, Malaysia)— The Malaysian second stringers smashed minnows Kazakhstan 5-0 to advance into the Badminton Asia Team Championships (BATC) 2022 semi-finals, as well as qualify for the Thomas Cup.

Despite resting top singles shuttlers, Lee Zii Jia, Ng Tze Yong and Leong Jun Hao as well as top doubles pair, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, who helped Malaysia hammer Singapore 5-0 on Wednesday, the youngsters managed to live up to the occasion by trouncing Kazakhstan, which is better known for other sports like boxing and weightlifting.

The 22-year-old Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin, 22, got the ball rolling at the Setia City Convention Centre here, defeating 29-year-old Artur Niyazov 21-11, 21-12.

Another youngster, Lim Chong King doubled the score by beating Khaitmurat Kulmatov 21-11, 21-11, while the youngest member in the team, Jacky Kok Jing Hong, 20, confirmed the winning point for Malaysia, thrashing Makhsut Tajibullayev 21-8, 21-4.

The remaining last two doubles matches were like a stroll in the park for Malaysia, as Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun won against Jangir Ibrayey-Ilya Lysenko 21-5, 21-5 in just 17 minutes, while Goh Sze Fei- Nur Izzuddin Mohd Rumsani defeated Andrey Shalagin-Tajibullayey 21-8, 21-4 in 15 minutes to conclude with the perfect 5-0 win.

In another Group B fixture, Singapore overcame Japan 3-2.

Malaysia and Japan will face off Friday, while Singapore will take on Kazakhstan to decide the group winners and another spot for the semi-finals.

The Malaysia’s national women’s team had also cruised into the semi-finals after winning 3-2 against defending champions Japan on Tuesday and India on Wednesday.

The draw for the last four stage is expected to be held on Friday night.

The top four teams (men’s and women’s) in BATC will automatically qualify for the 2022 Thomas and Uber Cup finals to be held in Bangkok, Thailand in May.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

PASAY CITY– Six (6) Filipino nationals arrive from Ukraine today at NAIA Terminal 3 via Turkish Airlines flight 84.

The Philippine government, through the Philippine Embassy in Warsaw, provided funding assistance to the six Filipinos who voluntarily requested to be repatriated to the country.

The Department continues to monitor the situation in Ukraine’s borders while the Philippine Embassy in Poland remains in touch with the Filipino community inside Ukraine.

The Philippine Embassy in Warsaw, which is in active coordination with its Philippine Honorary Consulate General in Kyiv, is also cooperating closely with the Philippine Consulate General in Istanbul to facilitate this repatriation. This is to ensure that government assistance is available to the group at all transit points.

Four of the six repatriates boarded international flights from Kyiv while two (2) took their flights from Lviv.

“We are urging all Filipinos in Ukraine to contact the Philippine Embassy in Warsaw and the Philippine Honorary Consulate General in Kyiv if they would like to request for repatriation assistance from Ukraine,” stated Philippine Ambassador Leah Ruiz.

Source: Republic of Philippines Department Of Foreign Affairs

The Police have arrested a 49-year-old man for his suspected involvement in a case of criminal intimidation and voluntarily causing hurt with a dangerous weapon.

On 17 February 2022 at about 8.40pm, the Police were alerted to a case where a 41-year-old man was purportedly assaulted by a 49-year-old man with a knife along Block 420A Clementi Avenue 1. The 41-year-old man suffered injuries on his right arm and wrist, and was conveyed conscious to the hospital. Preliminary investigations revealed that the victim and assailant were not known to each other.

The 49-year-old man then boarded a taxi to Clementi Police Division and was seen holding a knife and standing outside the Police station. On duty Police officers approached the man, and he was observed to be shouting incoherently. Despite the officers’ repeated instructions to drop the knife, the man refused to comply with the verbal warning and charged towards one of the officers, while armed with a knife. As there was imminent threat to the officer, he then fired one shot at the man with his service revolver. The man was then detained by the officers. The 49-year-old man suffered a gunshot wound on his left arm. He was conveyed conscious to the hospital and is currently in a stable condition.

The 49-year-old man will be charged on 18 February 2022 for the offences of criminal intimidation and voluntarily causing hurt with a dangerous weapon. The offence of criminal intimidation carries an imprisonment term of up to two years or a fine, or both. The offence of voluntarily causing hurt with a dangerous weapon carries an imprisonment term which may extend to seven years, or with fine, or with caning.

The Police will not tolerate criminal acts which display a blatant disregard of the law and we will spare no efforts to bring those responsible to justice.

Commander of Clementi Police Division, Assistant Commissioner of Police Marc E, expressed his appreciation to the officers for their bravery and devotion to their duty and said, “The officer assessed that his life was in imminent danger from the knife-wielding man and therefore opened fire. The officers ensured that the threatening situation was brought under control quickly with no danger to the public. Police officers risk their safety on a daily basis and this incident showed that officers have to react to the evolving situation quickly to prevent further harm to the public, while using the appropriate level of force.”

Source: Singapore Police Force