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WASHINGTON --- U.S. President Joe Biden signed 15 executive actions shortly after being sworn on Wednesday, undoing policies put in place by his Republican predecessor, Donald Trump, and making his first moves on the pandemic and climate change. Signing several actions in front of reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday afternoon, Biden said there was "no time to waste" in issuing the executive orders, memorandums, and directives. "Some of the executive actions I'm going to be signing today are going to help change the course of the Covid crisis, we're going to combat climate change in a way that we haven't done so far, and advance racial equity and support other underserved ...

Keep on reading: Biden rolls back Trump policies on border wall, climate, health, Muslims

Standing out next to established style icons like Michelle Obama and Lady Gaga was always going to be a tough gig. But on a day of block colors and monochromatic looks, Vice President Kamala Harris' stepdaughter, Ella Emhoff, stole the fashion limelight at Wednesday's presidential inauguration.

MANILA, Philippines --- Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III on Thursday welcomed the dismissal of a complaint against him over his alleged quarantine breach last March. "That decision is unassailable and correct. Tama naman 'yan," Pimentel told reporters in a Viber message, referring to the decision of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to dismiss for lack of probable cause a criminal complaint filed against him by lawyer Rico Quicho. https://twitter.com/inquirerdotnet/status/1352116186452946944 "The complaint criminally charged me for violation of [non-penal] DOH issuances which are not even addressed to me. How can something non-criminal all of a sudden become criminal when you ...

Keep on reading: ‘Unassailable, correct,’ says Koko on dismissal of quarantine breach complaint

Anti-government and anti-fascist protesters vandalized a Democratic Party office and scuffled with police in Portland, Oregon on Wednesday, protesting the inauguration of President Joe Biden and demanding an end to police violence and imperialism. Police said they arrested eight people on suspicion of criminal mischief, possession of a destructive device, riot, and reckless burning. Social media video showed men dressed in black, their faces covered, breaking windows and the glass door at the Democratic Party of Oregon business office, spray-painting an anarchist symbol over the party sign. "We don't want Biden. We want revenge for police murders, imperialist wars, and fasci...

Keep on reading: Anti-fascist protesters vandalize Oregon Democrats’ office on Biden inaugural day

MANILA, Philippines --- Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque sees the proposed measure that will institutionalize the agreement between the Department of National Defense and the University of the Philippines (UP) that bar the presence of military and police personnel in its campuses as a "reasonable proposal." "We've always respected the prerogative of our legislators to legislate national policies. Sa akin po, that seems to be a reasonable proposal but that has to be enacted po into law," Roque, a UP alumnus, and a former professor said in a televised press briefing Thursday. Senate Bill No. 2002, filed by Senators Sonny Angara, Nancy Binay, Grace Poe, and Joel Villanueva, s...

Keep on reading: Bill institutionalizing UP-DND accord a ‘reasonable proposal’ — Roque

WASHINGTON --- President Joe Biden's press secretary held her first news conference on Wednesday, seven hours after Biden's inauguration, vowing to bring truth and transparency back to the government. Jen Psaki, who served as the chief spokeswoman at the State Department under former President Barack Obama, told reporters she had a "deep respect for the role of a free and independent press in our democracy." Marking a contrast to former President Donald Trump and his top aides' treatment of what they called "the fake news media," Psaki pledged professional, civil exchange. "There will be moments when we disagree, and there will certainly be days where we disagree for extensi...

Keep on reading: Biden White House pledges data, transparency, respect for free press

MANILA, Philippines --- President Rodrigo Duterte still trusts Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno who is facing a graft complaint before the Ombudsman over an alleged anomalous contract for the production of national identification cards, Malacaang said Thursday. Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque vouched for Diokno's integrity and expressed confidence that he will be able to answer the allegations. "Kung maalala niyo, si Governor Diokno until fairly recently was in the Cabinet enjoying the full trust and confidence of the President. In fact, he trusted him so much that he promoted him to become Central Bank Governor," Roque said in an online briefing. ...

Keep on reading: Palace: Diokno still enjoys Duterte’s trust despite graft complaint

Sports trailblazers Billie Jean King, Megan Rapinoe and Lewis Hamilton were among those hailing the inauguration of U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday, saying they hoped the new administration can foster a more inclusive society. Former President Donald Trump was critical of athletes who used their platforms to highlight issues such as police brutality, especially when those protests took the form of kneeling during the playing of the U.S. national anthem. "Let us not waste this opportunity to reckon with our past, and move forward justice and equality," Megan Rapinoe, twice a World Cup winner with the U.S. women's team, said on Twitter. h...

Keep on reading: Global sport hails new Biden-Harris administration

MANILA, Philippines --- Even the seat of power is not spared from the enduring problem of glitchy internet connection in the country. On Thursday, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque 's press briefing in Malacaang -- which, ironically, was dedicated to discussing the report of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) on the services of telco firms -- was briefly interrupted because of apparently poor internet connectivity. In the middle of the question-and-answer portion, Communications Undersecretary Rocky Ignacio, who has been designated to read out questions sent by the media, and a reporter hooked into the teleconference meeting were suddenly disconnected from the bri...

Keep on reading: Internet connection problem cuts off Palace briefing on telco services

  MANILA, Philippines --- The government should conduct "practice runs" of Covid-19 vaccination to simulate how ready the country's health infrastructure is in giving shots to millions of Filipinos, Senator Joel Villanueva said Thursday. Villanueva, chair of the Senate committee on labor, said that the test runs would also allow the government to "fix kinks, plug manpower shortages, and give a realistic idea on how long would it take to inject a certain number of people." "This is an important 'dress rehearsal' we cannot do without," he said in a statement. "Kung wala pong 'Take 2' ang mass vaccination, hindi ba dapat choreographed na ito [If mass vaccination does no...

Keep on reading: Villanueva: Gov’t should conduct vaccination practice runs

Kristaps Porzingis collected 27 points and 13 rebounds and Trey Burke came off the bench to score 22 points to lift the Dallas Mavericks to a 124-112 victory over the host Indiana Pacers Wednesday. Tim Hardaway finished with 19 points in the win.On Monday, Hardaway missed all 12 of his shooting attempts in a loss to the Toronto Raptors. https://twitter.com/dallasmavs/status/1352106009397964800 Luka Doncic recorded his 30th career triple-double with 13 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists for the Mavericks, who snapped a season-high three-game losing streak. Malcolm Brogdon scored 26 points, Domantas Sabonis added 25 and Jeremy Lamb had 10 in his first game since sustaining ...

Keep on reading: Porzingis, Doncic carry Mavs past Pacers

MANILA, Philippines --- The Department of Justice (DOJ) has dismissed for lack of probable cause the complaint against Senator Aquilino Pimentel for violating Republic Act No. 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events Act of 2018. Private lawyer and former law dean Rico Quico, in his complaint filed last year, said Pimentel violated RA11332 and other regulations of the Department of Health when he escorted his wife to the Makati Medical Center (MMC) despite being on his 10th day of quarantine for having symptoms of COVID-19. READ: Complaint filed vsKokoPimentelover quarantine breach "The Office of the Prosecutor General, DOJ, resolved to dismiss t...

Keep on reading: DOJ dismisses quarantine violation complaint vs Koko Pimentel

MANILA, Philippines --- It is President Rodrigo Duterte's "personal decision" to keep his vaccination against Covid-19 private, and so, it does not need further explanation, Malacaang said Thursday. "That's his personal decision. I don't think he has to explain," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an online briefing. Roque earlier said Duterte will adopt the route taken by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and husband Prince Philip, who were vaccinated against the new coronavirus privately. READ: Duterte okay to get Covid-19 vaccine but in private, says Palace The President, in August 2020, said he is willing to become the first recipient of the Covid-19 vaccine to...

Keep on reading: No more explanation: It’s Duterte’s ‘personal’ choice to be vaccinated in private – Palace

The press got its first glimpse of President Joe Biden's Oval Office on Wednesday, showing how in a matter of hours the office has visibly transformed in both dramatic and subtle ways to reflect the taste and politics of the officeholder.

  MANILA, Philippines --- Senator Lito Lapid has filed a bill that would integrate the construction of internet infrastructures with all existing government road projects that use the same right-of-way to reduce excavations for the laying down of cables, wires and similar facilities. Senate Bill No. 1990 seeks to establish an internet infrastructure integration program in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). The program, according to Lapid, is designed to reduce the cost and accelerate the deployment of internet connectivity and minimize the number and scale of repeated excavations for the maintenance of internet infrastructure in roads. "Batid natin a...

Keep on reading: Lapid wants internet infra integrated with gov’t road projects

Human rights lawyer Tara Murray had hopes of somehow witnessing Kamala Harris' vice-presidential oath in person.

LUCENA CITY ---- At least 24 families from the towns of Infanta and General Nakar in northern Quezon province were evacuated midnight on Wednesday after flash floods hit their homes caused by a river that overflowed due to continued heavy rains. Melchor Avenilla Jr., head of the Quezon provincial disaster risk reduction and management office, reported that at least 13 families composed of 74 individuals were pre-emptively evacuated at the village hall of Barangay Banglos in General Nakar. In neighboring Infanta town, at least 44 individuals from 11 families sought temporary shelter at the barangay hall of Katambungan. "The evacuees have already returned home since (Thursday) mor...

Keep on reading: 24 families flee flash floods in Quezon province

  MANILA, Philippines --- Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday urged the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and power companies to extend its "no disconnection" policy for low-income consumers until the end of the government-imposed general community quarantine (GCQ). "Habang hindi pa humuhupa ang pandemya, patuloy pa rin sana ang pagiging maluwag ng distribution utilities (DUs) tulad ng Meralco pagdating sa pagbabayad ng kuryente," Gatchalian, chair ofthe Senate energy committee, said in a statement. (While the pandemic has not yet subsided, I hope distribution utilities (DUs) like Meralco will continue to be lax when it comes to paying for electricity.) "Humanita...

Keep on reading: Gatchalian to ERC, power firms: Extend ‘no disconnection’ policy until GCQ ends