Filippine

MANILA, Philippines --- There are now 55,293 COVID-19 patients in the Philippines as of Friday with the detection of 6,812 more cases, the Department of Health (DOH) said. According to the DOH, the active cases make up 4 percent of all the 1,385,053 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country since last year. Of this number, 1,305,608 have recovered, including 2,867 additional patients who have recuperated from the disease. Meanwhile, 116 more patients have died, bringing the country's COVID-19 death toll to 24,152, or 1.74 percent of the total number of cases. The DOH said 11.6 percent of 51,005 people who were tested for the coronavirus also yielded positive results on Wedn...

Keep on reading: PH’s COVID-19 patients now 55,293 with 6,812 more cases

MANILA, Philippines --- A delayed administration of the second dose of the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine will not affect the efficacy of the Russian-made vaccine, a member of the Vaccine Expert Panel said Friday. Dr. Rontgene Solante, also the head of the Adult Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine unit at the San Lazaro Hospital, said the second dose of the vaccine will still be safe for as long as the interval is not extended to six months or beyond. "Hindi natin papayagan na walang second dose. So kung madelay man 'yan as long as the delay is not after six months or after a year, that will [not] be dangerous," Solante said in an online media forum on Friday. (We cannot a...

Keep on reading: Vax expert: Delayed Sputnik V second dose will not affect vaccine efficacy

In a bizarre case, an alleged exorcism being conducted inside a home-improvement store in Pennsylvania, USA, was broken up by police. Police responded to reports of "disorderly people" at the lumber aisle of the retail store in Lackawanna County on June 21, as seen in a June 23 post on Dickson City Police Department's Facebook page. The Dickson City cops reportedly broke up the "exorcism for the dead trees" at around 3:26 p.m. No further details were released. The odd report seemingly garnered the attention of netizens, with hundreds asking via the post's comments section for more information and even looking for footage of the alleged exorcism. The post has so far gained ov...

Keep on reading: ‘Exorcism for dead trees’ conducted inside store selling lumber broken up by police

      MANILA, Philippines --- Allies of former President Benigno S. Aquino III hoped he would get better and stronger after his health deteriorated so "we did not expect that it would come to this," Senator Francis Pangilinan, a close ally of the late leader, said Friday. "Nagulantang. Nabigla. Hindi namin inaasahan [Startled. Shocked. We did not expect it] We did not expect that it would come to this. We knew he had a medical condition, we knew he was going through dialysis but hindi namin inisip na [we didn't think it would lead to this," Pangilinan said in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel. "We all assumed that this was just temporary. He will get ...

Keep on reading: Pangilinan hoped for ‘stronger’ Noynoy Aquino amid health woes

On the day he became the head coach of the Indiana Pacers, Rick Carlisle endorsed Jason Kidd as his replacement with the Dallas Mavericks. Carlisle on Thursday was hired for a second stint as Pacers head coach after resigning in Dallas last week, one day after general manager Donnie Nelson was fired by owner Mark Cuban. "It's hard to put an exact finger on it," Carlisle told ESPN about a Kidd-Mavericks pairing. "It's just a feeling that I had that it would be mutually beneficial. My hope is that Jason Kidd will be the next coach of the Mavs because he and Luka (Doncic) have so many things in common as players." ESPN reported Thursday that Kidd has emerged as a front runner f...

Keep on reading: Ex-Mavericks coach Carlisle endorses Jason Kidd as replacement

  MANILA, Philippines --- Several lawmakers filed a resolution expressing the House of Representatives' "profound sympathy and sincerest condolences" on the death of former president Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino.   The resolution, filed mostly by members of the Liberal Party in the House, states that Aquino "championed good governance reforms, anti-corruption and transparency" during his presidential term from 2010 to 2016.   "During his six-year presidency, President Aquino advocated flagship government programs such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Bottom-up Budgeting Process, and universal health care services that benefitted mil...

Keep on reading: Reso expressing House’s condolences after death of ex-president Noynoy Aquino filed

Health and safety is everyone's top priority, especially during these times. With everyone cooped up at home, maintaining good cleaning habits can help prevent the spread of germs. The problem is, some germs and bacteria are just too stubborn and won't go away easily -- especially on some items which are not that easy to clean. GERMUMUS hiding in plain sight Though many of us have turned into clean freaks recently, there are still some areas in our home that may require extra cleaning and sanitizing attention. We may not always see it, but germs may be living in these areas without you knowing it. Mattress and bed sheets. A place that offers us comfort and relaxation at the en...

Keep on reading: Keeping things squeaky clean at home? You might be missing these spots

Ben Simmons and his agent engaged the Philadelphia 76ers to open dialog about his future with the franchise, ESPN reported Thursday. The 24-year-old All-Star could be on the move after a poor shooting performance in the playoffs prompted head coach Doc Rivers to offer an ominous answer as to whether the 76ers could win a title with Simmons at point guard. ESPN said Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul met with 76ers general manager Elton Brand and president of basketball operations Daryl Morey during the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. The goal, per the report, was not to formally request a trade or demand any action but to align on the team's view of the situation. Morey said the 76er...

Keep on reading: Agent talks Ben Simmons trade with 76ers–report

The Indiana Pacers on Thursday named Rick Carlisle as their head coach for a second time. Carlisle, 61, will sign a four-year, $29 million contract, per ESPN. "Rick is a proven winner with a championship and will be a Hall of Fame coach," said Kevin Pritchard, Pacers president of basketball operations. "He has demonstrated throughout his career an ability to build something with sustainable success. He has great respect for our franchise and our fans from his previous times here. We are very happy to welcome him back to Indiana." Carlisle will take over the role from Nate Bjorkgren, who was fired June 9 after one season as head coach. Bjorkgren guided the team to a 34-38 rec...

Keep on reading: Pacers bring back Rick Carlisle as head coach

The NBA's Last Two Minute Report for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals said that Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo should have been called for a 10-second violation on each of a pair of late-game free throws. "Antetokounmpo (MIL) takes longer than ten seconds to release his free throw attempt," the report reads for two foul shots Antetokounmpo took with 5.3 seconds remaining Wednesday in the Bucks' 116-113 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. They were the only calls marked as incorrect on the report. Had the game officials called the violation properly, in the league's view, then neither free throw would have counted. Antetokounmpo was sent to the line with the Bucks t...

Keep on reading: NBA says refs missed Giannis Antetokounmpo’s FT violations

    JOHANNESBURG, South Africa - Africa is facing a vicious coronavirus resurgence, with unprecedented hospital admissions and fatalities pushing health facilities to the brink as the continent falls far behind in the global vaccination drive. With just under 5.3 million reported cases and around 139,000 deaths among its nearly 1.3 billion people, Africa is still the world's least-affected continent after Oceania, according to an AFP tally. So far African nations have been spared disasters comparable to Brazil or India. But the pandemic is resurging at an alarming rate in at least 12 countries, with continental cases expected to hit a record peak in around th...

Keep on reading: ‘Brutal’ COVID-19 third wave hits Africa as vaccination slows

  MANILA, Philippines --- President Rodrigo Duterte is already fully vaccinated against COVID-19 after receiving two doses of the Sinopharm vaccine, Presidential Security Group Commander Brig. Gen. Jesus Durante III said Friday. "Si Pangulo po ay vaccinated na po siya, at napakahalaga po nito, para lalo namin siyang maingatan, lalo na magagawa niya nang maayos at tuloy-tuloy ang kaniyang tungkulin, upang makapaglingkod sa ating mga kababayan," Durante said in an interview with state-run People's Television Network. (The President is already vaccinated and this is really important so we can protect him while he continuously does his job in serving the Filipino people.) ...

Keep on reading: Duterte already fully vaccinated vs COVID-19, says PSG chief

Marvel's new trailer for "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" has revealed a lot more about the film's plot since its first trailer dropped last April. For one, the trailer confirms that Simu Liu's character, Shang-Chi, is trying to avoid being the successor of his father, Tony Leung's Wenwu a.k.a. The Mandarin, as leader of the Ten Rings. The two-minute clip posted on YouTube earlier today, June 25, also teases the power of the Ten Rings, which has been revealed as an artifact/weapon that Shang-Chi's family has been using for ages. Michelle Yeoh's Jiang Nan, the mother of Shang-Chi, also shows off her martial arts skills in the new trailer. At one point, she even goe...

Keep on reading: WATCH: New ‘Shang-Chi’ trailer shows Abomination’s return, teases power of the Ten Rings

    MANILA, Philippines --- Private schools and non-Department of Education (DepEd) public schools may already start their classes for school year 2021-2022, the education department announced Friday. DepEd made the announcement through an advisory dated June 23 and signed by Education Secretary Leonor Briones. A copy of the advisory was shared with the media on Friday. The advisory, however, stressed that only distance learning mode is allowed and that face-to-face classes are still prohibited.     "The Department of Education announces that pending the approval of the new general school opening and school calendar, private school...

Keep on reading: DepEd: Private schools may now start classes for S.Y. 2021-2022

  MANILA, Philippines --- The country may not experience a surge in COVID-19 cases despite many Filipinos receiving doses of the vaccine developed by the Chinese firm Sinovac Biotech, a member of the Vaccine Expert Panel said Friday. Dr. Rontgene Solante said the Philippines may not suffer the same fate as other countries that are reportedly battling a surge in infections despite the use of the Sinovac vaccine as other brands are also included in the local vaccine rollout. "I'm looking at it this way na we can achieve [protection], even if 60 to 70 percent [of the population ang] makuha natin, since hindi naman tayo purely Sinovac lang. Marami ring other platform," he t...

Keep on reading: PH may not see COVID-19 surge despite use of Sinovac vaccine — expert

  TOKYO, Japan - Japan's prime minister on Friday dismissed claims that the country's emperor is "concerned" the Tokyo Olympics could spread the coronavirus, saying the comments were the opinions of an imperial household representative. On Thursday, Yasuhiko Nishimura, the head of the Imperial Household Agency that manages royal affairs, told reporters that Emperor Naruhito is "very worried about the current infection situation of COVID-19", Japanese media reported. Nishimura said he believed the emperor "is concerned that while there are voices of anxiety among the public, the holding of the Olympics and Paralympics... may lead to a rise in infections". He noted tha...

Keep on reading: Japan PM insists emperor not ‘worried’ about Olympics

  MANILA, Philippines --- Sinovac and Moderna are both not yet ready to apply for an expansion of their respective vaccines' emergency use authorization (EUA) for persons aged below 18 years pending more data from their clinical trials, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Friday. "Tinanong na rin po namin yung ibang mga vaccines katulad nga po ng Sinovac at Moderna kung sila ay mageexpand din kasama po yung mga bata," FDA chief Eric Domingo said in a televised briefing. (We have asked other vaccine developers like Sinovac and Moderna if they will also expand their EUA to include younger people.) "Pero pareho, both companies po ay hindi pa daw po sila ready ma...

Keep on reading: FDA: Sinovac, Moderna not yet ready to apply for aged below 18 vaccine use

  HONG KONG - Equities and oil prices rose again Friday, building on the week's global rally, after US lawmakers and the White House agreed a rare bipartisan deal on infrastructure that will provide another huge cash injection into the world's top economy. The advance came after the S&P and Nasdaq chalked up more records in New York as traders turned their attention back to the strong recovery from last year's collapse and away from the expected taper of ultra-loose Federal Reserve monetary policy. Optimism across trading floors was already buoyant after a string of central bank officials soothed worries that they will take away the punch bowl too quickly. But bu...

Keep on reading: Asian markets, oil rally as US spending deal boosts recovery outlook

MANILA, Philippines --- Covaxin, the COVID-19 vaccine developed by India's Bharat Biotech, can now be imported to the Philippines after it was granted a full emergency use authorization (EUA) by the Food and Drug Administration. Although it was approved for emergency use in April, FDA chief Eric Domingo explained Covaxin only secured a full EUA now after Bharat Biotech submitted the certificate of the good manufacturing process to the agency. "Bagamat pumasa na sila doon sa kanilang inspection for good manufacturing practice, di pa nila na-submit yung actual na certificate kaya hindi sila maaaring mag-angkat at magamit ang bakuna hanggang ma-submit nila lahat yun. Pero na-submi...

Keep on reading: Covaxin gets full EUA, can now be imported to PH – FDA

    MANILA, Philippines --- The first 1,500 doses of the 200,000 doses of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine purchased by the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) will arrive in the country on Saturday, the organization's chairman, Senator Richard Gordon, said Friday. "This weekend. Tomorrow. Yun ang sabi sakin ng staff ko dito [That's what my staff told me] and I trust them," Gordon said during a forum hosted by the Ateneo de Manila '57, '61, '65 Alumni when asked when the first batch of Moderna vaccine doses the PRC ordered will be delivered to the country. The said batch was initially supposed to be delivered on June 23, according to the senator...

Keep on reading: PH Red Cross to receive 1st batch of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on June 26 — Gordon