Asia

Philippines to maintain ‘close and friendly’ ties with Biden administration

Editorial Bureau January 20, 2021

MANILA (PHILIPPINES) – The Philippines will maintain “close and friendly” relations with the United States under President-elect Joe Biden, said a top Philippine official said on Wednesday, even as it goes through a strainful period in terms of their decades-old alliance.

Asia

Philippine students take to protest over security forces’ entry in university

Editorial Bureau January 19, 2021

MANILA (PHILIPPINES) – Philippine students and activists protested on Tuesday against the government allowing security forces to do patrolling of the campuses of the country’s biggest university after accusations from authorities that it was a breeding ground for communist rebels. President Rodrigo Duterte’s government has strengthened efforts to prevent

Asia

Philippines, China pledge cooperation for post-pandemic recovery

Editorial Bureau January 16, 2021

MANILA (PHILIPPINES) – Foreign ministers of China and the Philippines on Saturday committed to prioritising post-pandemic recovery efforts as senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi wrapped up a week-long visit to four Southeast Asian countries. Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte in March imposed one of the world’s longest and strictest lockdowns to contain the

Asia

Philippines’ travel ban gets extended, toughens safety measures over COVID-19 variant

Editorial Bureau January 15, 2021

MANILA (PHILIPPINES) – The Philippines on Friday extended a ban on travellers from more than 30 territories and countries by two weeks. These are the places where a more transmissible COVID-19 variant has been found. The restriction also now covers Filipinos from where people want to come home. The flight ban, which has been expanded […]

Asia

Philippines gives approval to Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for emergency use

Editorial Bureau January 14, 2021

MANILA (PHILIPPINES) – The Philippines’ Food and Drug Administration has given approval for emergency use of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech. This is the first to be approved in the country, with the most coronavirus cases in Asia. FDA head Rolando Enrique Domingo said the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which has shown a 95% […]

Asia

Thousands of Filipinos mark ‘Black Nazarene’ feast, pray for end to COVID scourge

Editorial Bureau January 9, 2021

MANILA (PHILIPPINES) – Thousands of Catholic believers in the Philippines maintained social distancing while lining up for Saturday morning masses in Manila to celebrate the feast of the ‘Black Nazarene’, a centuries-old black wooden statue of Jesus Christ believed to work miracles. Authorities cancelled the annual procession with the life-sized image

Asia

Philippines troops, ministers receive COVID vaccine in spite of an absence of approval

Ren Leen December 28, 2020

MANILA (PHILIPPINES) – Some Philippine soldiers and cabinet ministers have already received COVID-19 vaccine injections, officials said on Monday, despite an absence of regulatory approval that the country’s health ministry said was vital to ensure safety. Interior minister, Eduardo Ano, said some cabinet members have already received COVID-19 vaccines and army

Asia

Number of new coronavirus cases in Philippines reaches 1,530

Editorial Bureau November 15, 2020

MANILA (PHILIPPINES) – According to the health ministry of the Philippines, there were as many as 1,530 new coronavirus cases and 41 COVID-19 fatalities on Sunday. In a statement, the ministry said the confirmed cases in the country went up to 407,838 while the death toll had climbed to 7,832. The country has the second-highest […]

Asia

Typhoon Vamco to make landfall in Vietnam on Sunday, leaves 53 dead in Philippines

Editorial Bureau November 14, 2020

HANOI/MANILA (VIETNAM/PHILIPPINES) – Vietnam is bracing for Typhoon Vamco which is expected to strike the country’s central coast on early Sunday. The storm has left 53 dead in the Philippines. Packing winds of up to 165 kph (103 mph), Vamco is forecast to hit a swathe of Vietnam’s coast from Ha Tinh to Quang Ngai […]

Asia

Philippines on a mission to trace the missing after its deadliest typhoon

Ren Leen November 13, 2020

MANILA (PHILIPPINES) – Philippine police and soldiers came together for a search on Friday to trace missing people after Typhoon Vamco killed at least 42 people. Vamco, the 21st and most deadly cyclone to hit the country this year, hit late on Wednesday and early Thursday, even as the country was reeling from Goni, the […]