Homes burned as winds push California fire into desert floor
Trees and other vegetation are consumed by the Bobcat Fire in Juniper Hills, Calif., Friday, Sept. 18, 2020. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) JUNIPER HILLS, Calif. — Strong afternoon winds intensified a wildfire burning for nearly two weeks in mountains northeast of Los Angeles, prompting authorities to issue new evacuation orders Saturday for desert communities that […]
Trump backs proposed TikTok deal with Oracle, Walmart
FILE – In this July 21, 2020 file photo, a man opens social media app ‘TikTok’ on his cell phone, in Islamabad, Pakistan. President Donald Trump said Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020 he’s given his “blessing” to a proposed deal between Oracle and Walmart for the U.S. operations of TikTok, the Chinese-owned app he’s targeted for […]
Virus measures targeted by protesters despite case spikes
A protester holds up a placard in front of police officers during a “Resist and Act for Freedom” protest against a mandatory coronavirus vaccine, wearing masks, social distancing and a second lockdown, in Trafalgar Square, London, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) LONDON — Demonstrators took the streets of London, Tel Aviv and other […]
Tropical Storm Beta spurs hurricane worries for Texas
This GOES-16 GeoColor satellite image taken Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020, and provided by NOAA, shows Tropical Storm Beta, center, in the Gulf of Mexico. A hurricane watch is in effect Saturday for coastal Texas as Tropical Storm Beta gains strength. A storm surge watch and a tropical storm watch are also in effect for the […]
Health professionals welcome retention of 1-meter distancing
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has decided to retain the 1-meter physical distancing requirement for passengers on public utility vehicles (PUVs), drawing praise from health professionals who said the decision would help prevent at least 700 new coronavirus infections and at least seven deaths daily. “The President’s decision is to keep the 1-meter social […]
Roll out the (cheaper) barrel: DOST offers PH winemakers an option
MANILA, Philippines — Oak barrels are the best, but local makers of tropical fruit wines may soon get quality yet affordable alternatives to give the wine industry the needed boost. The Department of Science and Technology-Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI) is pilot-testing wine barrels made from the local plantation tree species big-leaf mahogany […]
He survived, his parents didn’t: PGH spokesperson transcends COVID pain
MANILA, Philippines — The spokesperson for the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) believes that his 13-day confinement there for COVID-19 has not only given him a “deeper understanding” of the disease but also made him “a more sensitive doctor.” Thus, Dr. Jonas del Rosario said, his updates to the media would no longer be mere “statistics,” […]
Military appointees a ‘dangerous’ trend, warns political science expert
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte’s “very narrow recruitment pool” led to the appointment of officials from the military to key civilian positions, and this has become “dangerous” to the government, a political expert said on Saturday. “Duterte ascended [to] the presidency without [a] political base,” said former political science professor Temario Rivera. ADVERTISEMENT This, […]
Senators eye extra powers for Duterte to cut red tape, sanction officials
MANILA, Philippines — Senators plan to grant President Duterte temporary authority to quickly cut red tape in government and sanction erring officials in a bid to entice more foreign investors into the country. Senate President Vicente Sotto III said the senators had agreed to pass a new measure instead of amending the Ease of Doing […]
PH Covid cases up to 283K with 3,962 new infections–DoH
THE Philippines logged 3,962 new cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) on Saturday, the Department of Health (DoH) said. This figure raises the total number of infections to 283,460, of which 68,645 are active. Of the active cases, 96.4 percent are mild and asymptomatic, 2.5 percent are critical and 1.1 percent severe. Metro Manila […]