Bicolana Gabriela demands immediate release of head
LEGAZPI CITY —- The regional chapter of women’s rights group Gabriela demanded the immediate release of their head, who… Keep Reading
6 Bicol towns record first cases of COVID-19, region’s tally nears 200
LEGAZPI CITY – Six Bicol towns have recorded their first patients of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as the region recorded 24 new cases, its highest single-day increase to date, according to the Department of Health. The new cases raised the total number of known cases in the Bicol region to 190. All but one of… Keep Reading
Russia, China veto UN extension of cross-border aid in Syria
UNITED NATIONS —Russia and China on Tuesday vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that would have extended authorization for cross-border humanitarian aid in Syria for a year. Germany and Belgium, two of the council’s non-permanent members, had drafted the resolution, which would have allowed aid to continue to pass through two points on the Turkish… Keep Reading
Gov’t ‘very careful’ MRT-3 passengers don’t get Covid-19: PRRD
Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (File photo) MANILA – President Rodrigo R. Duterte said the government is “very careful” in ensuring the health and safety of passengers of the Metro Rail Transit – Line 3 (MRT-3). Duterte made this statement after MRT-3 operations were temporarily suspended for five days starting Tuesday following the increasing number… Keep Reading
MRT-3 personnel positive for COVID-19 now at 202
MANILA, Philippines — The coronavirus disease has infected four more depot personnel of the Metro Rail Transit-3 (MRT-3), increasing the number of those infected to 202, the Department of Transportation said Wednesday. In an update from Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope Libiran, of the 202 infected workers, 181 are depot personnel, 15 are ticket sellers,… Keep Reading
Duterte thumbs down bid to further open up economy
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte does not agree with the proposal to further open up the economy, saying the government does not have the funds to address a further increase in cases of coronavirus infection. He noted that countries which have opened up their economies such as the US, Brazil, Japan and South Korea… Keep Reading
‘Bato’ says US Embassy called him to fix his cancelled visa
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Wednesday bared that the US Embassy in Manila had called him regarding his visa following the phone call between President Rodrigo Duterte and US President Donald Trump last April. “After mag-usap si President Duterte at si President Trump tinawagan ako ng USEmbassy na asikasuhin ko yung… Keep Reading
Oil down with more Covid-19 cases in key US states
ANKARA – Crude oil prices were down on Tuesday as the rising number of new coronavirus (Covid-19) cases in some key US states is dampening the outlook for oil demand in the country. International benchmark Brent crude was trading at USD42.66 per barrel at 0648 GMT for a 1.02-percent loss after closing Monday at USD43.10… Keep Reading
PRRD to Filipinos: Follow conditions for non-essential travel
President Rodrigo Duterte MANILA – President Rodrigo R. Duterte has advised Filipinos to strictly follow the conditions imposed for non-essential travels abroad amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. Duterte made the remarks in a taped public address aired on state-run PTV-4 early Wednesday after the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious… Keep Reading
Magnitude 4.8 quake hits Cabangan, Zambales
MANILA, Philippines — A magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck Cabangan, Zambales on Wednesday morning, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). Information from Phivolcs showed the tectonic quake occurred at 8:28 a.m., with its epicenter located seven kilometers northwest of Cabagan town. It had a depth of 55 kilometers. Intensity IV was felt… Keep Reading
9 Jolo cops under restrictive custody in Camp Crame — PNP
MANILA, Philippines — Nine policemen allegedly involved in the deathof four soldiers in Jolo, Sulu last June 29 are now under the restrictive custody of the Philippine National Police in Camp Crame to face the National Bureau of Investigation’s probe on the shooting incident. “Nine police non-commissioned officers of Jolo Municipal Police Station who figured… Keep Reading
Nothing to fear if you're not a terrorist: Duterte
President Rodrigo Duterte (Presidential Photo) MANILA – Law-abiding citizens have nothing to fear about the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 or Republic Act 11479 because it will only be used to defend the nation from terrorism, President Rodrigo Duterte said. In a taped public address aired early Wednesday, Duterte said the law targets terrorists, especially those… Keep Reading
Fair, warm weather to prevail Wednesday
MANILA – The country will experience fair and warm weather on Wednesday, with the easterlies still affecting the eastern section of the Visayas and Mindanao. Aldczar Aurelio, the weather specialist of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said there is no low pressure area surrounding the Philippine area of responsibility. Despite the… Keep Reading
Commuters appeal for earlier bus trips along EDSA on second day of MRT3 suspension
Some commuters want the bus trips along EDSA to start as early as 4 a.m. to avoid getting late for work, according to reports on GMA News Unang Balita on Wednesday. Read More Keep Reading
At libel trial, Depp blasts Amber Heard’s ‘sick’ abuse claim
LONDON — Johnny Depp said Tuesday that ex-wife Amber Heard had made “sick” claims of abuse and falsely branded him a monster, as the actor testified in a U.K. libel case that hinges on who was the aggressor in the celebrity couple’s violent, toxic relationship Depp is suing British tabloid The Sun over an April… Keep Reading
P6.8M shabu seized in Bulacan drug bust; 2 foreigners, 1 Filipino fall
MANILA, Philippines — Suspected shabu (crystal meth), valued at P6.8 million, was confiscated in a buy-bust operation in Bulacan on Tuesday night, where two foreign nationals and a Filipino were arrested. An initial report from Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) spokesperson Derrick Carreon on Wednesday identified the suspects as Zhicheng Lu and Feiyue Shi, both… Keep Reading
Cloudy skies, afternoon rainshowers on Wednesday
MANILA, Philippines — The country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies on Wednesday with isolated rainshowers due to localized thunderstormsmostly in the afternoon or evening, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration. In its 4 a.m. weather bulletin, Pagasa said the easterlies or warm winds coming from the Pacific Ocean continue… Keep Reading
PH cannot afford total reopening of economy: Duterte
President Rodrigo Duterte (Presidential Photo) MANILA – The Philippines cannot follow other countries’ move to completely reopen the economy amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday. In a taped public address aired on state-run PTV-4 early Wednesday, Duterte said he can only order the gradual reopening of the Philippine… Keep Reading
Lacson warns terrorists ‘will strike at every opportunity’
MANILA, Philippines — “They will strike at every opportunity.” Such was the warning of Senator Panfilo Lacson after U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had pointed out that the coronavirus pandemic “highlighted vulnerabilities to new and emerging forms of terrorism.” “The only timing that the terrorists know is their own. This is what I have been telling… Keep Reading
Makati bans drinking liquor outside residences
Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay MANILA – Residents of Makati City are prohibited from drinking liquor and other alcoholic beverages outside their houses whenever a state of calamity, public health crisis, and other related emergencies are declared in the city, Mayor Abigail Binay announced Tuesday. The city council has approved Ordinance 2020-152, effective July 14,… Keep Reading
Agri-tech project in PH resumes at 90% capacity
Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian MANILA – The Philippine-Sino Center for Agricultural Technology – Technical Cooperation Program Phase III has resumed at 90 percent capacity, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said Tuesday. “Ninety percent of the Chinese and Filipino staff are now working on the program that has resumed (at) 90 percent capacity, with no confirmed… Keep Reading
SBP awaits approved basketball practice protocols
MANILA – The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is waiting for a copy of the approved guidelines for the resumption of basketball team practices at the professional level. Executive Director Sonny Barrios said on Tuesday that such protocols are needed for the national sports association to map out its next plan of action. “We cannot… Keep Reading
Twins joined at head separated at Vatican pediatric hospital
ROME — Doctors at the Vatican’s pediatric hospital said Tuesday they have successfully separated conjoined twins whose skulls were fused back-to-back, an exceedingly rare surgery for an equally rare congenital defect. The twins, Ervina and Prefina Bangalo, were born June 29, 2018 in Mbaiki, Central African Republic with their heads attached and sharing critical blood… Keep Reading
Mexican president to talk trade with Trump as virus rages
MEXICO CITY —Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador heads to Washington on Wednesday to talk trade with Donald Trump, against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic and the US leader’s bid for re-election. It will be Lopez Obrador’s first foreign visit after 18 months in the job and will see him meet a president known… Keep Reading
Hong Kong set to become a new Tibet, says exiled leader
NEW DELHI —Hong Kong is heading toward the same fate as Tibet after China imposed a new security law that criminalizes calls for independence, the leader of the exiled Tibetan government has told AFP. Lobsang Sangay said China was deceiving Hong Kong the same way it cheated Tibetan people in 1951 when it promised autonomy.… Keep Reading
Microsoft, Zoom join pause on Hong Kong data requests
SAN FRANCISCO —Microsoft and Zoom on Tuesday joined other major internet firms that have stopped considering requests by Hong Kong’s government for information on users in the wake of China’s imposition of a sweeping new security law. Microsoft and Zoom said they are pausing consideration of data requests by officials or police in Hong Kong,… Keep Reading
US notifies UN of withdrawal from World Health Organization
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has formally notified the United Nations of its withdrawal from the World Health Organization, although the pullout won’t take effect until next year, meaning it could be rescinded under a new administration or if circumstances change. Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, said he would reverse… Keep Reading
Duterte calls Maria Ressa a ‘fraud’
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte called Rappler CEO Maria Ressa a “fraud,” even threatening the veteran journalist that she would someday have a taste of her own medicine. “Ressa is a fraud. Believe me. Give us time. [It’s] too early for you to enjoy your awards. You are a fraud. We are just compiling… Keep Reading
Chinese woman in scuffle with Makati traffic enforcers arrested
MANILA, Philippines — A Chinese woman was arrested after arguing with traffic enforcers and hitting them with an umbrella at the intersection of Jupiter Street and Makati Avenue in Barangay Bel-Air in Makati. The incident was captured in a video that went viral on Facebook social media on Tuesday. Later on, she vented her ire… Keep Reading
Law-abiding citizens need not fear anti-terrorism law – Duterte
MANILA, Philippines — Law-abiding Filipinos have nothing to fear about the anti-terrorism law, President Rodrigo Duterte said in a taped address aired early Wednesday. Only terrorists, he said, should worry about the controversial law, which some critics fear would violate human rights. “For the law-abiding citizen of this country, I am addressing you with all… Keep Reading
Cebu City remains under ECQ because hospitals are already overwhelmed – Duque
MANILA, Philippines — Cebu City remains under an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), the highest quarantine restriction level placed by the national government, as hospitals are already overwhelmed. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said this during President Rodrigo Duterte’s briefing early Wednesday morning, noting that the quick case doubling time — or the amount of time… Keep Reading