MANILA, Philippines — Barangay (village) 847 in Manila will be under a 48-hour hard lockdown starting June 1 after the village recorded more than two confirmed cases of coronavirus disease COVID-19 infections, the city government said Saturday. Manila Mayor Isko Moreno signed Executive Order 24 which enforces a lockdown on Barangay 847 “as the city’s… Keep Reading

  WASHINGTON — The European Union on Saturday urged U.S. President Donald Trump to rethink his decision to cut American funding for the World Health Organization amid global criticism of the move, as spiking infection rates in India and elsewhere served as a reminder the global pandemic is far from contained.   Trump on Friday… Keep Reading

MANILA, Philippines — The University of the Philippines (UP) released on Saturday the list of passers of the UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) for the Academic Year of 2020-2021, the university’s Office of the Student Regent said. “UPCAT 2020 results are now out! Iskolar ng Bayan, hinihintay ka na ng UP at bayan! (UP and… Keep Reading

MANILA, Philippines — Over five waterspouts were seen over Laguna de Bay on Saturday afternoon, the Muntinlupa City government said Saturday. A video from Muntinlupa Councilor Arlene Hilapo, which was shared by the Muntinlupa government’s official Facebook page, show some waterspouts over the lake before vanishing. “5 buhawi sa aplaya Alabang sa Lawa ng Laguna!… Keep Reading

Romania’s Prime Minister Ludovic Orban has been accused of breaking his own government’s coronavirus restrictions after a picture emerged of him smoking and drinking inside his office with several cabinet members. In the smartphone photo, Orban is pictured smoking a cigarette surrounded by four cabinet members, none of whom are wearing masks or practicing social… Keep Reading

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Interior and Local Government asked local officials to ramp up their efforts as parts of the country prepare to shift to general community quarantine (GCQ) amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Interior Secretary Eduardo Ao said Saturday. Metro Manila will now be under GCQ starting June 1, nearly three months after the enhanced… Keep Reading

  UNITED STATES — SpaceX’s historic first crewed mission to the International Space Station was set to proceed as scheduled on Saturday, NASA said, although uncertainty remained over weather conditions. “We are moving forward with launch today,” NASA chief Jim Bridenstine said in a tweet. “Weather challenges remain with a 50 percent chance of cancellation.”… Keep Reading

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has recorded a total of 17,224 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases but only 252 are recent or “fresh cases” of the disease, the Department of Health (DOH) said Saturday. Of the 17,224, the total reported cases were 590 with 338 “late cases” or backlog data from the DOH. The latest data… Keep Reading

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani announced Saturday that collective prayers will resume in mosques, even as confirmed new coronavirus infections rise again after a decline. “It has been decided to open the mosques across the country… giving worshippers the chance to perform their daily prayers while respecting the required (hygiene) rules,” Rouhani said in a televised… Keep Reading

DAVAO CITY—-Three vehicles of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on humanitarian evacuation mission were stopped at a police and Army checkpoint in Lianga, Surigao del Sur on Friday. Captain Al Anthony Pueblas, spokesman of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, said the convoy was “intercepted” in Barangay Payasan at around 10 a.m. “They… Keep Reading

LEGAZPI CITY—A 56-year-old village health worker coordinator in San Jose town in Camarines Sur became the 74th case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Bicol on Saturday (May 30). According to the Department of Health (DOH) in Bicol, the woman tagged as Bicol#74 was a close contact of a nurse in Naga City. The nurse… Keep Reading

MANILA, Philippines — The Mandaluyong government has required tricycle drivers to test negative for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) before they will be allowed back on the city’s streets. In a statement on Friday night, the Mandaluyong Public Information Office (PIO) announced the protocol after more than 200 tricycle drivers tested positive for novel coronavirus, which… Keep Reading

It is no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic will have a long-lasting effect on the country–and the rest of the world–and public transportation will not be returning to what it used to be anytime soon. Even if jeepneys will still not be allowed when Metro Manila enters a general community quarantine (GCQ) period starting June… Keep Reading

DIGOS CITY—Eight of the nine cases of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in this city are health workers, Mayor Josef Cagas disclosed. Cagas, in a statement, said the health workers are employees of the Davao del Sur provincial hospital. From only two, the city’s count of COVID-19 cases increased to nine on Friday. The additional… Keep Reading

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of National Defense, through Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, welcomed the approval through two House committees of a proposed bill that is seen to bolster the government’s anti-terrorism policies despite its controversies. The House Committees on Public Order and Safety and on National Defense and Security adopted on Friday Senate Bill 1083 or the… Keep Reading

MANILA, Philippines — The recent decrease in the recorded coronavirus disease (COVID-19) “fresh cases” in the country showed an accurate picture of the situation in the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) said Saturday. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire issued the statement after 46 fresh cases were reported by the DOH on Friday. “Kung itong… Keep Reading

  MANILA, Philippines — As public transportation in general community quarantine (GCQ) areas is set to resume under a limited capacity, commuters can expect the MRT-3 line to have more trains that will also run faster starting June 1. “Dahilan sa nagawa na ho namin yung ibang mga rail replacement, mae-experience niyo na ho sa… Keep Reading

To demonstrate what “League of Legends: Wild Rift” is all about in a May 29 gameplay reveal, design lead Brian Feeney will answer a series of questions about the game and the studio’s plans for it. Livestreamed through YouTube, the event’s start time equates to 8 a.m. Pacific Time, 11 a.m. Eastern Time, 3 p.m.… Keep Reading

MANILA, Philippines — The Saturday flight that came from Wuhan City in China’s Hubei Province did not carry any passenger but only transported cargo, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) clarified Saturday. “Only cargo flights are allowed to mount (between) China/Philippines/China. Royal Air flight that landed Naia (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) this afternoon… Keep Reading

LICAB, Nueva Ecija —- A 40-year-old policeman was gunned down by an unidentified assailant here on Friday afternoon, the police said. The victim, whose rank was not immediately disclosed, was identified as Rodel Umengan, who was assigned to the Morong Police Station in Bataan but a resident of Barangay Sta. Maria here. Initial investigation said… Keep Reading

MANILA, Philippines — Curfew hours will be maintained even as most areas in the country will be placed under a less stringent general community quarantine (GCQ) on June 1, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Saturday. “They remain,” Roque confirmed in a text message to INQUIRER.net when asked if curfew hours in GCQ areas will be… Keep Reading

CABANATUAN CITY —- A journalist in Aurora province was allegedly targeted for extortion by a man who claimed to be a rebel group member, police said. Jason Francisco de Asis, 46, a stringer for TV5 and Philippine News Agency (PNA), told the police that a certain “Kumander Dante” of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New… Keep Reading

JOHANNESBURG — South Africa says it has a backlog of nearly 100,000 unprocessed tests for the coronavirus, a striking example of the painful shortage of testing kits and reagents across Africa as cases steadily rise. “This challenge is caused by the limited availability of test kits globally,” the health ministry said in a statement overnight,… Keep Reading

MANILA, Philippines — There will be no financial assistance to given by the government to low-income families this June as the country shifts to more relaxed quarantine measures, Malacaang said Saturday. “Tong buwan ng Hunyo, dahil lahat na tayo ay nasa general community quarantine (GCQ) na ay wala pong ayuda (This month of June, because… Keep Reading