Inquirer Breaking News

    Starbucks Corp suspended COVID-19 vaccine-or-test requirement for U.S. employees that had been mandated by the government, according to a memo sent to workers on Tuesday, following an adverse U.S. Supreme Court ruling. The coffee giant had said earlier this month it would require its around 220,000 U.S. employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or undergo weekly testing. The U.S. Supreme Court last week struck down Joe Biden administration's vaccination-or-testing mandate for large businesses, ruling that the policy overstepped executive authority. "We respect the court's ruling and will comply," Starbucks Chief Operating Officer John Culver wrote...

Keep on reading: Starbucks suspends vaccine, test requirement after U.S. court ruling

    WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden on Wednesday said he had underestimated the extent of Republican opposition to his programs and acknowledged Americans' frustration at the slow pace of COVID-19 testing, but said the United States was on track to meet considerable challenges from the pandemic and inflation. Marking the near one-year anniversary of his presidency, Biden, a Democrat, faced a flurry questions on the country's bumpy COVID-19 response, relations with Russia and the future of American democracy during a rare formal news conference. Promising to confront what he called the unexpectedly "stalwart" opposition of Republicans, Biden promised to take his...

Keep on reading: ‘Our work’s not done,’ Biden says, addressing skeptics at one-year mark

MANILA, Philippines --- The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) flagged on Wednesday what it described to be an industry-wide proliferation of "money mules," or bank account holders exploited by criminal groups as conduits to move around ill-gotten funds. In an advisory, BPI reminded its clients and the public to be extra careful and never share their bank account details amid the increase in cases of "money mules," a form of money laundering punishable by law. This is similar to drug mules although the so-called mules provide financial pipelines for criminals instead of drugs. These money mules facilitate the transfer of illegally obtained money on behalf of someone else, allowin...

Keep on reading: Bank warns of hike in ‘money mule’ cases

  Terrafirma felt it lost something huge when Matt Ganuelas-Rosser opted for free agency. "It's unfortunate that he decided to test the free agency waters just as he was beginning to play an important role in the team," Bobby Rosales, the Dyip's team manager, told the Inquirer on Wednesday. When hoisted against the backdrop of how the athletic defensive swingman landed with Terrafirma in the first place, the Dyip's loss is even bigger. Ganuelas-Rosser was part of the package that Terrafirma acquired when it shipped out erstwhile franchise star CJ Perez to San Miguel Beer. The Beermen also sent guard Gelo Alolino and big man Russel Escoto to the Dyip along with a pair...

Keep on reading: Ganuelas-Rosser, key part of Perez deal, bolts Terrafirma; Munzon returns

Five corporations, which will absorb bad loans and assets of financial institutions badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic have been formed, according to the Department of Finance (DOF). But it said on Wednesday the relatively strong domestic banking system might not need rely too much on these financial institutions strategic transfer corporations (FISTCs). The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which had been tasked to approve and oversee these private asset-management firms under Republic Act No. 11523, or the Financial Institutions Strategic Transfer (FIST) Act, nonetheless pointed to small credit institutions that needed more assistance in offloading their soured loans and ...

Keep on reading: Strong PH banks shun bad asset disposals

The Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) said it was taking control of almost 100 water districts whose performances and services have been poor in the last few years. At the same time, the agency said it was in the process of developing a socialized water rate to help indigent members of the community to avail themselves of water district services. Under Presidential Decree No. 198, LWUA has the authority to take over water districts that have failed to meet their service and expected revenues. It has yet to release the list of water districts that it would temporarily control. A water district is a local corporate entity that operates and maintains a water supply system...

Keep on reading: LWUA takeover of 100 underperforming water districts eyed

The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) continued its sideways movement on Wednesday, dropping lower from the previous session after Wall Street retreated overnight. The benchmark measure fell 1.12 percent, or 82.42 points, to 7,261.54 while the broader all-shares index declined 0.70 percent, or 27.15 points, to 3,855.25. Luis Gerardo Limlingan, managing director at Regina Capital Development, said growing aversion for risky assets was partly to blame. "Philippine shares fell following the sentiment abroad as stocks across the region got battered on Tuesday in a volatile start to the holiday-shortened trading week as rising bond yields, persisting rate pressures and an earnin...

Keep on reading: Tracking Wall Street, PH shares dip

LAUSANNE, Switzerland --- Swiss medical researchers said on Wednesday they have launched an early-stage study to test a next-generation COVID-19 vaccine candidate which would be administered via an arm patch, the latest to look at alternative methods of giving injections. Unlike conventional vaccines that stimulate antibody production, the new PepGNP-Covid19 vaccine candidate focuses on T-cells, which are responsible for cellular immunity, to eliminate cells infected by the virus and prevent it from replicating. British company Emergex Vaccines Holding Ltd developed the potential vaccine, while Unisant medical research center in Lausanne in collaboration with the city's CHUV ho...

Keep on reading: Swiss researchers launch trial for COVID ‘patch’ vaccine

MANILA, Philippines --- The Department of Health (DOH) should fast track the release of the compensation of healthcare workers who tested positive for COVID-19, a party-list group member seeking a seat in the House of Representatives said on Wednesday. Citing data from the DOH, the Act As One second nominee, Marcelino Arias Jr., said more than 3,000 healthcare workers in public and private hospitals had contracted COVID-19. "It's only fair for the government to help them in their growing list of expenses," Arias said in a statement. "It's OK if most of them are asymptomatic or suffer only from mild infections. But what if it's severe? In these trying times, we hope the gover...

Keep on reading: Fast track release compensation of health workers, DOH urged

BRASILIA --- COVID-19 infections continue to accelerate in the Americas, reaching new peaks, with 7.2 million new cases and more than 15,000 COVID-related deaths in the last week, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) said on Wednesday. "The virus is spreading more actively than ever before," said PAHO Director Carissa Etienne told a briefing. In North America, the United States and Canada continue to experience a surge of COVID hospitalizations. The Caribbean is witnessing the steepest increase in COVID infections since the start of the pandemic, the regional health agency said. ATM...

Keep on reading: COVID-19 spreading like never before in Americas, health agency warns

Actor Zanjoe Marudo, who plays lead in "The Broken Marriage Vow," said doing the scene where his character David had to beat up his wife Jill (Jodi Sta. Maria) had been so difficult that his body was still trembling even the morning after they finished shooting it. "It was good that we did the scene when we were already halfway with shooting the entire series. We stayed in Baguio for almost two months. Prior to shooting the scene, I asked my costars if this was possible in real life, that a man could beat up his wife while he is cheating on her. From them, I heard of horrible true stories," Zanjoe told reporters during a virtual media gathering to promote the local adaptation ...

Keep on reading: Zanjoe Marudo ‘traumatized’ by domestic abuse scenes in ‘The Broken Marriage Vow’

LONDON --- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday dismissed calls to resign from opponents and some of his own lawmakers, fighting to save his premiership amid a deepening revolt inside his party over a series of lockdown parties in Downing Street. Johnson, who in 2019 won his party's biggest majority in more than 30 years, is now fighting to shore up his authority after a series of revelations about parties in his Downing Street residence during COVID lockdowns. Johnson has repeatedly apologized for the parties and said he was unaware of many of them. However, he attended what he said he thought was a work event on May 20, 2020, to which staff had been told to "b...

Keep on reading: ‘In the name of God, go’: UK’s Johnson faces demands to resign

With age comes bigger responsibilities and expectations. That's how Althea Ablan, Jillian Ward, Sofia Pablo and Elijah Alejo, the stars of the afternoon drama series "Prima Donnas," feel going into their second season---this time, as young ladies navigating their way toward acting and personal maturity. "We're now at a stage where we're starting to mature, so people will be expecting us to give more and improve our craft. There will be new characters and storylines in the show, so I feel a bit of pressure," Althea, 17, told the Inquirer in a recent virtual conference for the GMA 7 soap, which is now on its third year. "I'm still a baby in my parents' eyes, but they can't hel...

Keep on reading: ‘Prima Donna’ teen stars’ growth, maturity manifest in Season 2 with new love teams to boot

It changes your perspective on everything. It changes you as a person," actor-host Nico Locco told Inquirer Entertainment as he recalled how traumatized he was after two unidentified men forcibly got his cell phone as he was crossing the street over a week ago. The incident happened at night in Makati City. Luckily, Nico wasn't physically hurt. "They attempted twice. They failed the first time. I felt a hand graze my chest. They came back for Round 2 and, this time, I was using my phone, so they got it," Nico recalled. "The first rider popped me in the back of the head twice. I wasn't expecting it so I bent down and that's when they snatched my phone and drove off." He added: "...

Keep on reading: Gold Azeron finds kissing male costar Nico Locco ‘magical’

NEW YORK --- New York state's attorney general has accused Donald Trump's family business of repeatedly misrepresenting the value of its assets to obtain financial benefits, citing what it said was significant new evidence of possible fraud. The accusations by Attorney General Letitia James mark a substantial escalation of her civil probe into the Republican former US president's business, the Trump Organization, and the roles of his adult children. They are part of her effort to force Donald Trump and his children Donald Trump Jr and Ivanka Trump to comply with her subpoenas to testify under oath, which the family has asked a judge to block. Neither Trump nor his children h...

Keep on reading: New York attorney general details possible fraud at Donald Trump’s family business

MANILA, Philippines --- The installation of a vessel monitoring system (VMS) and AN electronic reporting system (ERS) for commercial Philippine-flagged fishing vessels will now be voluntary, according to Michael Andayog, the officer in charge of the Fisheries Regulatory and Licensing Division of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) The issue was tackled on Tuesdays during the virtual consultative meeting with the industry's stakeholders. "We are aiming for voluntary compliance by the commercial vessel. We are tentatively, we have a possible schedule for installation of VMS," Andayog said, speaking in a mix of English and Filipino. "So, more or less voluntary. We ...

Keep on reading: Putting monitoring systems in fishing vessels voluntary – BFAR

MANILA, Philippines --- Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio said on Wednesday that, if elected vice president, she would push for mandatory military service for all Filipinos reaching the age of 18 --- male or female. She said she would use the Office of the Vice President to urge the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Philippines to pass such legislation. "We see this in other countries like South Korea and Israel. It should not just be like ROTC [Reserved Officers' Training Corp' where it's just one subject or one weekend or a month in a year," Duterte-Carpio, said, speaking in a mix of English and Filipino during the Manila Virtual Caravan. "Everyone, o...

Keep on reading: If elected VP, Sara Duterte will push for mandatory military service for all Filipinos

MANILA, Philippines --- A bill that will prohibit employers from requiring employees to report for work or contacting them for work-related purposes during their rest hours has been filed in the Senate. Sen. Francis Tolentino filed Senate Bill No. 2475 Z--- or the proposed Workers' Rest Law --- that seeks to protect employees' rest hours and sets penalties for employers violating the measure. In filing the bill, Tolentino said that, while there were benefits in work-from-home and telecommuting arrangements, the lines between work and personal space and time had "thinned." "For instance, instead of destressing at home from the pressures of work, work is now brought to the...

Keep on reading: Senate bill seeks to penalize employers requiring employees to work during rest hours

MANILA, Philippines---ONE Championship will no longer review the finish of controversial fight results after it disbanded its competition committee. As per reports, the promotion decided to scrap its review body just days after ONE: Heavy Hitters wherein Ekaterina Vandaryeva suffered a controversial split decision loss to Supergirl in their strawweight Muay Thai bout. ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong strongly criticized the decision as he awarded Vandaryeva with a $50,000 performance bonus after the January 14 card at Singapore Indoor Stadium. "Ekaterina easily won that fight, it was not even close," said Sityodtong in a post-fight press conference. "I just don't know what the...

Keep on reading: ONE Championship scraps fight reviews, opts for immediate rematch

MANILA, Philippines---The Philippine boxing team has withdrawn its participation in the Asian Under-22 Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Eight Filipinos in Jere Samuel dela Cruz, Maricel dela Torre, Mark Lester Durens, Ernie Garcia, Junmilardo Ogayre, John Paul Panuayan, Marjon Pianar and Mary Sinadjan were supposed to compete in the event slated from January 20 to 30. "We decided that with the current surge around the world, it was not worth risking the safety of our team," Ed Picson, Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (Abap) president, told INQUIRER.net on Wednesday. "There will be other tournaments. We will just wait until we ...

Keep on reading: PH boxing team pulls out of Asian U22 tilt, eyes Bulgaria meet