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When 2020 started, most of us envisioned this to be our year---full of milestones and firsts---but when the pandemic hit, plans were cancelled, events were postponed, and travels were rescheduled to a much later time. Suddenly, we were working and learning from home and our "see you on the weekend" quips turned to "see you when things get back to normal." For weeks and even months on end, it felt like we were losing our grip on our lives, not being able to go outside and partaking in our normal routine of work, school, and social life all at the confines of our homes. Coping with the separation and isolation of the lockdown would have been impossible if not for the internet, which...

Keep on reading: Recreate. Better Days: Globe launches its New Campaign in Shaping the Future

WASHINGTON ---President Donald Trump reeled Monday on the eve of his first televised debate against challenger Joe Biden after a bolt-from-the-blue report showed he has been avoiding paying almost any federal income tax for years. The scoop from The New York Times, reporting that Trump paid only $750 in federal income tax in 2016 and 2017, and none at all for 10 of the previous 15 years, was a shot to the jugular of the self-described billionaire. Trump, who portrays himself as a hard-nosed businessman on a mission to drain the Washington swamp, dismissed the Times story -- which the newspaper says is based on examination of his long-secret tax returns. "The Fake News Media,...

Keep on reading: Tax bombshell throws Trump on defensive ahead of debate

President Rodrigo Duterte and actress Angel Locsin have topped the list of "most admired" men and women in the Philippines in 2020. This is the second year that both ranked first together in YouGov's "World's Most Admired" list. Duterte received an "admiration score" of 19.67%, while the Darna star has a score of 15.03%, as per YouGov's report on Sept. 23. Among the most admired Filipinas are second and third placers Catriona Gray and Sarah Geronimo, Liza Soberano who comes in sixth, Marian Rivera at number 10, and Vice President Leni Robredo who ranks 15th. Female international personalities admired by Filipinos include Taylor Swift, Angelina Jolie, Emma Watson, Opra...

Keep on reading: Duterte, Angel Locsin ‘most admired’ man and woman in PH—survey

Multiple people died during a hostage situation that unfolded in Salem, Oregon, Monday afternoon, officials said.

BEIJING --- Cathay Pacificfaces a long, bumpy ride ahead before it can end an "unsustainable" level of cash burn, its CEO told China Daily. The embattled carrier suffers from a net cash outflow of up to HK$2 billion each month to support its sagging business, which Cathay Pacific CEO Augustus Tang Kin-wing described as "unsustainable" in an interview. According to Tang, Hong Kong's flagship airline now carries only 1,500 passengers per day, compared with 100,000 "in any previous normal year". "The cash burn will continue to be significant until the number of passengers return to a certain level," said Tang, adding that he doesn't have a target for the passenger numbers. T...

Keep on reading: Embattled Cathay Pacific faces continued ‘cash burn’

BEIJING --- It's been eight months since 38-year-old Nan Hanrui has been to her parents' home in Myanmar due to the outbreak of COVID-19 earlier this year. Living in Ruili city, Yunnan province, where two imported cases from Myanmar were recently identified, she said she worries a lot about her parents. Nan, who married a Chinese man in 2002 and now has a daughter and a son, is a member of one of the 95 families resulting from cross-border marriages in Yinjing village in Yunnan, which has a 4,060-kilometer border with Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos. Last week, two COVID-19 cases, both illegal immigrants, were detected. This led to massive coronavirus testing and required home quaran...

Keep on reading: Coronavirus disrupts life in cross-border village of China and Myanmar

Xian Lim has teased fans with a new project he has been working on together with actors Marco Gumabao and Kylie Verzosa. Lim shared via Instagram last Sunday, Sept. 27, that they have begun attending workshops for the still-untitled project to be directed by RC delos Reyes. "Feels great to be with good company! I got to work with Marco as my bro in 'Corpus Delicti' and Kylie in 'Love the Way You lie!' We're all excited to work together!" he said. https://www.instagram.com/p/CFox8nrsU-V/ Lim's announcement came with photos of them during the workshop with Jose Jay Cruz, who was also Lim's acting coach for his first film ever, "Bakit 'Di Ka Crush ng Crush Mo." "It feels ...

Keep on reading: Xian Lim, Marco Gumabao, Kylie Verzosa working on new project together

CAUAYAN CITY ---- After more than six months of being free of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the island province of Batanes recorded its first case on Monday, local officials said. Dr. Rio Magpantay, Department of Health regional director, on Tuesday said the patient is a locally stranded individual (LSI) who went home in Batanes on Sept. 22 via a Philippine Air Force chopper. Although asymptomatic, the man was isolated at the Batanes Resort while his condition is being "strictly observed and managed." All identified close contacts and other LSIs were placed under quarantine and are being strictly monitored by the provincial COVID-19 task group. ZB...

Keep on reading: Batanes coronavirus-free no more

BANGKOK --- Another beauty queen came under the spotlight on Monday after the manager of Miss Universe Thailand favorite Chayathanus 'Cheraim' Saradatta was found to be doubling up as an employee of the organizing company. The news was uncovered when a phone number on Chayathanus' Instagram account turned out to be that of her manager, who was also working for organizers TPN 2018. The revelation sparked a stream of criticism, with fellow contestants saying Chayathanus was taking unfair advantage. Recently, Piyaporn Sankosik, executive director of TPN 2018, said: "We give Cheraim a chance to quit on her own. If she leaves now, she will have a chance to run again next year. Th...

Keep on reading: Miss Universe Thailand contestants find a ‘spy’

MANILA, Philippines --- The Department of Health (DOH) will review the Chinese scientists' findings that mother's milk could prevent the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) or treat patients infected with the disease. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Tuesday that it has long been the advocacy of the DOH to inform the public that breast milk provides protection to babies from certain diseases. "If ever, there is this article and that they are saying that babies will be immune from COVID-19 because of breastmilk, we will not be surprised because as we have said, breastmilk has a lot of goodness in it and we advocate for it because it gives protection from ...

Keep on reading: DOH to review Chinese findings that breast milk can prevent, cure COVID-19

BANGKOK --- The Thai government has extended the visa amnesty for foreigners stranded in Thailand to October 31 after it expired on September 26. The Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration on Mondayannouncedthe Interior Ministry had extended the amnesty for foreign visitors unable to return to their countries during the pandemic. The announcement comes after Immigration offices in Bangkok and Pattaya were reportedly overwhelmed with people trying to extend their visas on Friday (September 25). Last week, Immigration said that 150,000 foreigners were staying in Thailand under the visa amnesty. Stranded foreigners who wish to stay in Thailand after October 31 must submit ...

Keep on reading: Thailand’s visa amnesty extended until Oct. 31

MANILA, Philippines --- At least 85 percent of Filipinos remain worried about contracting COVID-19, results of the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed. Of the 1,249 adult Filipinos surveyed from September 17 to 20, 2020, 85 percent of them were worried about getting COVID-19. Of the figure, 63 percent "worried a great deal" and 22 percent were "somewhat worried." Only 9 percent worried "a little" while 7 percent were "not worried" about testing positive for the coronavirus. The results released on Monday showed little changes from the survey conducted in July which also showed that 85 percent of Filipinos worry about catching COVID-19. In September, SWS said th...

Keep on reading: 85% of Filipinos still worried about contracting COVID — SWS

  MANILA, Philippines --- The government will still have to study whether it can provide additional incentives to health workers who will go on duty this Christmas and take care of coronavirus disease patients, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Tuesday. "There is this regular incentive that we give that if you go on duty for example Christmas Day or any holiday, you get this additional incentive. Aside from that, of course, the bonuses, Christmas bonuses will be provided by the government as well," Vergeire told ABS-CBN News Channel. "Maybe for this specific season because of our situation, maybe the government can also grant additional incentives but th...

Keep on reading: Additional incentive for health workers this Christmas still needs gov’t study — DOH

MANILA, Philippines --- Anti-drug enforcers have so far arrested over 1,000 high-value targets this year, including 33 elected officials and 11 uniformed personnel. During the Senate hearing on the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Director General Wilkins Villanueva said 1,121 high-value targets were nabbed from January to July in 2020. Based on the table Villanueva presented to senators, the arrested high-value targets included 33 elected officials, 11 uniformed personnel, 54 government employees and 57 foreign nationals. Those apprehended also included 16 drug group leaders or members, one armed group member and one celebrity. Authorities also arrested 29 pers...

Keep on reading: 33 elected officials among 1,121 HVTs arrested in 2020 — PDEA

BANGKOK --- The Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) approved on Monday entry into Thailand for more groups of foreigners. Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesperson for the CCSA, said the meeting was presided over by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. The CCSA has agreed to allow sportspersons who will compete in a closed area to enter Thailand for tournaments. The first group will be international cyclists participating in the royal marathon cycling event. The badminton world tour is being held in Thailand in January 2021. Non-immigrant visa holders, such as business people who do not have any type of work permit, are now allowed entry, but they must have savings...

Keep on reading: More foreigners to be allowed entry into Thailand

Angel Locsin warned the public of a fake video circulating and which claims that she will be running for senator under the Liberal Party (LP). "[Mag-ingat] sa mga maling propaganda (Be careful with wrong propaganda)," she said on her Twitter page yesterday, Sept. 28. Locsin also included a screenshot of a woman's post about the video, whose thumbnail shows photos of the actress and President Rodrigo Duterte superimposed above a crowd. The woman, with the handle @ValleryDeVANZ, added that the actress' fans were supposedly spreading the video on Facebook. https://twitter.com/143redangel/status/1310516003378405376 "Sino ang gumagawa at bakit may effort gawin ito?" Locsin asked. "[Mag-...

Keep on reading: Angel Locsin warns of fake video stating she will run for senator

SEOUL --- South Korean girl group BLACKPINK became the second most-subscribed musician on YouTube on Tuesday, its management agency said. The official YouTube channel of BLACKPINK saw the number of its subscribers surpass 48.8 million, pushing down the American DJ Marshmello to No. 3, according to YG Entertainment. Justin Bieber topped the list with 57.2 million subscribers. The group's popularity on the global video-sharing platform hiked after it dropped its hit song "How You Like That" in June, a pre-release for its upcoming album, titled "The Album." In July, it rose to fifth place in terms of YouTube subscribers among worldwide singers, and No. 1 for a female artist,...

Keep on reading: BLACKPINK becomes no. 2 global artist by YouTube subscribers

MANILA, Philippines --- A locally stranded individual (LSI) is Batanes' first confirmed COVID-19 case, the province's provincial government announced Tuesday.   https://www.facebook.com/BatanesProvincee/posts/1021617308301856?_rdc=1&_rdr   In a statement released on the LGU's official Facebook page, The Batanes government said that the LSI arrived in Batanes last Sept. 22 via an aircraft of the Philippine Air Force. The LSI's COVID test results turned out positive on Monday, the LGU added. As of Sept. 28, the Philippines has 307,288 COVID-19 cases, with 252,665 recoveries and 5,284 deaths.   JPV...

Keep on reading: LSI is Batanes’ 1st COVID-19 case

WASHINGTON--- South Korean boy group BTS' recent hit "Dynamite" has returned to the top spot on Billboard's main singles chart, helped by the recent release of remixes, Billboard reported Monday. On Billboard's latest Hot 100 chart dated this Saturday, "Dynamite" finished first and was trailed by the former No. 1 song "WAP" by Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion. "Holy" by Justin Bieber featuring Chance the Rapper and "Laugh Now Cry Later" by Drake featuring Lil Durk placed third and fourth, respectively. The full chart will be updated Tuesday, measuring all-genre US streaming, radio airplay and sales data. "Helping 'Dynamite' in the week ending Sept. 24 were four new remi...

Keep on reading: BTS reclaims top spot on Billboard singles chart after 2 weeks at No. 2