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OLONGAPO CITY---The city has again registered single-digit active COVID-19 cases on Wednesday (Oct. 20), the fifth time in the last six days, local data showed. Only five new infections were registered on Wednesday, bringing to 184 the total active cases. At least six more virus-infected patients were also cleared of COVID-19 on the same day, pushing the number of recoveries to 4,911. It reflected a 91-percent recovery rate out of the 5,393 infections logged since last year. One new fatality was also added to the city's death toll after a 76-year-old man succumbed to the viral disease. Olongapo has one of the lowest active and accumulative COVID-19 cases among the local g...

Keep on reading: Olongapo posts another day of single-digit active COVID-19 cases

CNN's Larry Madowo speaks with African Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka. He has released his first book in almost half a century, which explores themes of rebellion and abuse of power in a country similar to his native Nigeria.

MANILA, Philippines --- A low-pressure area (LPA) was spotted inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) which will bring rain to Eastern and Central Visayas as well as the Caraga, Northern Mindanao and Davao regions on Friday, the state weather bureau said. According to Pagasa weather specialist Ariel Rojas, the LPA was last detected 825 kilometers east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte as of 3 p.m. Meanwhile the rest of Visayas and Mindanao specifically, the Socksargen, BARMM and Zamboanga Peninsula, are likely to have better weather, but chances of thunderstorms remain, especially during the afternoon and evening. Rojas also warned that thunderstorms will b...

Keep on reading: LPA spotted east of Surigao City

LUCENA CITY---President Duterte inaugurated on Thursday, Oct. 21, the P685-million 7.42-kilometer bypass road project in Sariaya town in Quezon province.   "Today, we add another milestone in our build, build program ... This achievement affirms the administration commitment to improve the quality of life of Filipinos by pursuing strategic infrastructure projects across the country," Duterte said in his speech at past 4 p.m., after unveiling the marker on the stage under a tent put up on the side of the new road.   He said the new four-lane road that includes four bridges, aims to improve connectivity, increase people's mobility, create jobs, and disperse econom...

Keep on reading: Duterte inaugurates P684-M bypass road project in Quezon

The New York Knicks edged past the Boston Celtics with a thrilling 138-134 double-overtime victory at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday.

South Korea failed to put a dummy satellite into orbit on Thursday after the first launch of its domestically developed three-stage Nuri rocket, the country's President Moon Jae-in announced on Thursday.

Cristine Reyes looked back on what it was like for her to grow up in an "unloving environment" as she recalled the "hurtful" words her mother had told her as a child. In an interview with Filipino-American entrepreneur Liza Florida for the latter's "Eight Billion Podcast" on YouTube yesterday, Oct. 20, the "Starstruck" alum recounted how she constantly felt "unwanted" while growing up. Reyes added that she was in a "loving" adopted family before her biological mother took her back when she was 6 years old. Despite her mother having a "big house," Reyes felt she was not welcome in her own home. "Ever since I moved to my biological mom, I felt that I didn't have a voice. So as...

Keep on reading: Cristine Reyes opens up on her trauma from abuse, painful childhood

GOHEUNG, South Korea --- South Korea's first domestically built space rocket blasted off on Thursday, but failed to fully place a dummy satellite into orbit, delivering mixed results for a test launch that represents a major leap for the country's ambitious space plans. The three-stage KSLV-II Nuri rocket, emblazoned with the national flag, rose on a column of flame from its launchpad at Naro Space Center at 5 p.m. The Nuri, or "world", rocket is designed to put 1.5-ton payloads into orbit 600 to 800 km (370 to 500 miles) above Earth, as part of a broader space effort that envisages the launch of satellites for surveillance, navigation, and communications, and even lunar pr...

Keep on reading: S.Korea’s Moon vows ‘Korean space age’ after mixed rocket test results

MANILA, Philippines --- The Department of Finance (DOF) should start considering suspending the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, Senator Panfilo Lacson said on Thursday. In a statement, Lacson said that the law contained provisions that allow the government to suspend the imposition of excise tax on fuel under certain conditions, like when fuel prices are already causing an undue burden on the public. "The TRAIN Law that we passed a few years ago provides that the [DOF] may suspend the implementation of the increase of the excise tax on fuel upon the recommendation of the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) under certain conditions," Lacson sa...

Keep on reading: Lacson wants DOF to suspend TRAIN law as oil prices rise

MANILA, Philippines---Manila HeiHei showed its class and dispatched Pasig Kingpin, 21-6 (5:19), in the finals to claim the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 Invitational championship Wednesday at Laus Events Centre. Mac Tallo powered Manila in the title match pouring in 13 points and scored seven of his team's first eight points as they started the game on an 8-1 run. Both Tallo and Chico Lanete also did the dirty work on the defensive end limiting brothers Ryan and Nikki Monteclaro to just one point apiece in the game. Zach Huang then took his place in the paint in place of the injured Mike Nzeusseu, who hurt his hand in the semifinals against ARQ Builders-Cebu. "Happy that thi...

Keep on reading: Manila Heihei wins Chooks 3×3 Invitiational

MANILA, Philippines --- Presidential aspirant and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno on Thursday vowed to reduce the tax on fuel and electricity by 50 percent should he win the highest elective position in the upcoming polls. Moreno made the promise during a town hall meeting attended by some 100 farmers in Barangay Banaba in Tarlac City.The Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer was also joined by his running mate Willie Ong, and the party's senatorial candidates Samira Gutoc, Carl Balita and Jopet Sison. "Mas gugustuhin ko na bawasan ang buwis kaysa kunin ng buwis nang malaki 'tas nanakawin lang ng mga pulitiko para sa lokohan sa ayuda, lokohan sa kalsada. Ngayon, hawak ninyo ang pera," Mo...

Keep on reading: Isko Moreno vows to cut tax on fuel, electricity by 50 percent

Canadian athletes looking to compete for Team Canada at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics this February will need to be fully vaccinated in order to make the team and participate in the Games.

MANILA, Philippines---The French navy for the first time joined Philippine-US maritime exercises recently, which could mark France's efforts to expand contribution to regional security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.   France took part in the maritime training activity Sama-Sama (Filipino for together) as an observer, along with Japan, which was joining for the second time. The exercises were held online from Oct. 10 to 15 to promote regional security cooperation, maintain and strengthen maritime partnerships and enhance interoperability among operating forces.   "France is in the Indo-Pacific region," said US Navy Capt. Tom Ogden, head of the Singapore-ba...

Keep on reading: France joins PH-US exercises for the first time

CAMP GEN. ALEJO SANTOS, Bulacan---A fugitive in Central Luzon had been arrested in the City of San Jose del Monte (SJDM), police said Thursday, Oct. 21.   Col. Manuel Lukban Jr., Bulacan police director, identified the suspect as Jhon Patrick Seville Perez, alias "King-King."   Lukban said Perez, who has three counts of robbery, was arrested around 8 a.m. in Barangay Poblacion I.   Perez is the main suspect in a series of armed robberies on April 18 in two convenience stores and a gas station in SJDM. One of the store employees had positively identified Perez.   Lukban said Perez was under the custody of the SJDM police station.   lzb...

Keep on reading: Robbery suspect nabbed in Bulacan

WELLINGTON --- New Zealand's first indigenous Mori woman to be named Governor-general, Dame Cindy Kiro, was formally sworn into the largely ceremonial role in parliament in Wellington on Thursday, pledging to reach out to migrants and marginalized citizens. Speaking to a small audience at the swearing-in ceremony, Dame Cindy said she was proud of her dual Maori and British heritage. The Governor-general carries out constitutional and ceremonial duties in the former British colony on behalf of the British monarch, who remains the country's official head of state. "Communities develop resilience when people feel connected, have a sense of belonging, and have a place to stand," Da...

Keep on reading: New Zealand swears in first indigenous woman as governor-general

Cristiano Ronaldo's second coming at Manchester United has already produced two memorable moments with late winners against Villarreal and Atalanta to edge the Red Devils towards the last 16 of the Champions League. However, Ronaldo's return has also come at a cost with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men increasingly looking like a disjointed bunch of talented individuals rather than a team. United was on course for a fifth defeat in eight games when Atalanta led 2-0 at half-time at Old Trafford on Wednesday. A stirring second-half fightback eases the pressure slightly on Solskjaer as United went from bottom of Group F at the break to top by full-time. Ronaldo completed the comeb...

Keep on reading: Ronaldo salvage job masks Manchester United’s failings

The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) has agreed in principle on how to handle the changes that are being demanded by players after allegations of sexual misconduct engulfed the league, interim CEO Marla Messing said on Wednesday.

MANILA, Philippines --- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has so far lodged 153 diplomatic notes against Chinese actions in the country's waters this year. The 153 notes verbale filed this year are part of the 211 total protests lodged by the Philippines against China since President Rodrigo Duterte took office in 2016, Assistant Secretary Eduardo Meez of the DFA Office of Public and Cultural Diplomacy (OPCD) told reporters Thursday. "China responded to 151 NVs (notes verbale)," he added. In Manila's latest action against China's activities, the DFA protested the "unlawful" issuance of over 200 radio challenges and other "provocative acts" by Chinese government shi...

Keep on reading: 153 protests filed vs China actions in PH waters in 2021 — DFA

MANILA, Philippines --- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will hold a voting simulation on Saturday in San Juan City in preparation for the May 2022 national and local elections. Comelec will hold the simulation in San Juan Elementary School using four classrooms as polling precincts, and three classrooms as holding areas. A total of 3,564 test voters will join the simulation on Saturday, Oct. 23, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. "While we definitely expect these health and safety protocols to impact voting hours and the number of voters that may be allowed to vote at a given time, we are confident that this activity will help us to streamline the overall voting experience," Comelec ...

Keep on reading: Comelec to hold voting simulation on Oct.13

  JERUSALEM -- The Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is highly effective at preventing infection and symptomatic disease from the Delta variant among 12- to 18-year-olds, research conducted in Israel shows. The findings, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, will likely provide further reassurance the shot is effective against the variant among younger people as the U.S. drug watchdog considers authorizing use of the vaccine on children as young as five. The study found the estimated vaccine effectiveness against documented COVID-19 infection in adolescents was 90%, and 93% against symptomatic COVID-19, on days seven to 21 after the second dose. Israel's C...

Keep on reading: Pfizer vaccine very effective against Delta variant in adolescents in Israel – study