Tropical Storm Enteng exiting PAR; rainfall, flashflood, landslide warnings up
[embedded content] MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Storm Enteng is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) Sunday afternoon but is still expected to spawn rains in many parts of Luzon and the Visayas, the state weather bureau said Sunday morning. ADVERTISEMENT In its 5 a.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical […]
Trump allows some unemployment pay, defers payroll tax
BEDMINSTER, N.J. — Seizing the power of his podium and his pen, President Donald Trump on Saturday bypassed the nation’s lawmakers as he claimed the authority to defer payroll taxes and replace an expired unemployment benefit with a lower amount after negotiations with Congress on a new coronavirus rescue package collapsed. President Donald Trump signs […]
Brazil makes grim milestone — 100,000 deaths from COVID-19
RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazil surpassed a grim milestone of 100,000 deaths from COVID-19 on Saturday night, and five months after the first reported case the country has not shown signs of crushing the disease. Crosses, red balloons and Brazilian nation flags are placed in the sand on Copacabana beach in a demonstration organized by […]
2 top PhilHealth execs’ illness bared amid corruption probes
MANILA, Philippines — The head and a senior officer of Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) are unlikely to personally appear at the resumption of the Senate investigation of the alleged irregularities and corruption in the state insurer next week after their health conditions were disclosed on Saturday. Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who had questioned PhilHealth transactions […]
Government prepares for prolonged pandemic
MANILA, Philippines — Much as the Philippines would like to knock out COVID-19, which has brought the economy to a recession, the country’s chief economic manager urged prudence in public spending in case of a protracted pandemic. “When Sen. Pacquiao trains for a fight, he prepares for 12 grueling rounds,” Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III […]
Work to save PH eagles won’t stop for pandemic
MANILA, Philippines — Even before the young Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) soared back to her home on Mt. Apo, hundreds of people were already tuned in to her takeoff. Most of them were far from the actual jungles of Mindanao. Some were more than 1,000 kilometers away, in the urban jungles of Metro Manila, awaiting […]
‘Chalk allowance’ gets blended with teachers’ new needs
MANILA, Philippines — Call it “chalk allowance” no more, since there’s now hardly any need for blackboards. The Department of Education (DepEd) said the so-called chalk allowance given to teachers at the beginning of a school year would just be considered a form of cash allowance meant to help them meet the needs of the […]
‘Dirty Harry’ who made it to Manila City Hall, Senate: Alfredo Lim, 90
MANILA, Philippines — Alfredo Lim, who rose from the world of law enforcement cultivating a tough, “Dirty Harry” image to become mayor of Manila, senator and interior secretary, died on Saturday afternoon at the age of 90. The cause of death was COVID-19, according to Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, who asked for prayers […]
Lawmakers eye creation of Medical Reserve Corps
MANILA, Philippines — There are at least four proposals in the House of Representatives seeking to establish a Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) that would enlist “nonpracticing but qualified” medical workers during national emergencies, said House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Saturday. Cayetano said the proposed MRC would be composed of Filipinos with degrees in medicine, […]
More details on the QC ostrich that died of ‘stress’
MANILA, Philippines — One of the two runaway ostriches seen inside a subdivision in Quezon City reportedly died due to stress and the other bird had been turned over to a government animal shelter, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The death of the huge flightless bird was a tragic ending […]