RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) — Hundreds gathered Thursday for the first concert in the Saudi capital since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic to watch performances by Syrian diva Assala Nasri and Kuwaiti crooner Nabeel Shuail. Before stiff rules were brought in a year ago to stem the spread of coronavirus, the ultra-conservative kingdom had started to ease decades-long restrictions on entertainment, as part of efforts to improve its image and attract tourists. “This is […]
Other News
PAGASA declares start of rainy season
(Eagle News) — The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration on Friday, June 4, declared the start of the rainy season. In a statement, PAGASA said the passage of “Dante” and the occurrence of widespread rainfall in the last five days confirm this. As a result, the weather bureau said the probability of “near to above normal rainfall conditions is high in the next two months” until July. It said breaks in rainfall events, […]
“Dante” re-enters PHL as tropical depression; Batanes under signal no. 1
(Eagle News) – Tropical cyclone “Dante” which exited the country early Friday, June 4, re-entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) , and is now affecting Batanes which is under signal number 1. Batanes will be experiencing “strong winds” during the passage of Dante, PAGASA said in its 5 p.m. bulletin. The center of Tropical Depression “DANTE” (CHOIWAN) was estimated based on all available data 210 kilometers West Northwest of Basco, Batanes or 185 […]
UK regulator approves Pfizer jab for 12 to 15-year-olds
LONDON, United States (AFP) — Britain’s medicines regulator said Friday the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is safe for adolescents aged 12 to 15 after a “rigorous review”, following similar assessments in the European Union and United States. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved the two-shot jab following clinical trials among younger age groups, saying the vaccine had met the “expected standards” of safety, quality and effectiveness. A government committee on vaccination will now decide […]
Use of face shield with face mask more effective in preventing COVID infection, says DOH expert
Dr. Salvaña cites study in India that covered community health workers (Eagle News) – A member of the Department of Health’s advisory group vouched for the reliability of wearing face masks together with face shields to prevent transmission of COVID-19, as well as being infected with the virus. Dr. Edsel Salvaña, a member of the DOH’s Technical Advisory Group (DOH-TAG), said that the use of face shield together with a face mask has been […]
Train kills nine railway workers in northwest China
BEIJING, China (AFP) — Nine railway workers were killed in northwest China on Friday after they stepped into the path of a train, state media reported. About 50 workers were doing maintenance on a closed section of a line in Jinchang city when some of them walked onto an open track as the train approached, according to broadcaster CCTV. The railway department has expressed its condolences and pledged to investigate how the accident occurred. The […]
Nepal reports first ‘black fungus’ death
KATHMANDU, Nepal (AFP) — Nepal has reported its first death from mucormycosis or “black fungus”, the highly deadly infection affecting thousands of coronavirus patients in neighbouring India. Health ministry spokesman Krishna Prasad Poudel told AFP that there are now at least ten cases in Nepal, which like India has been hit by a huge Covid-19 surge. The 65-year-old man who died was being treated at the intensive care unit at a hospital in western Nepal […]
Chile limits use of AstraZeneca after clot case
SANTIAGO, Chile (AFP) — Chile on Thursday became the latest country to limit use of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, linked to rare blood clots, when a 31-year-old man developed thrombosis after being immunized. Pending further investigation and as a “preventative and proactive measure,” the shot will in future be administered only to people 45 and over, the health ministry of the South American country said. It did not give details on the condition of the […]
PHL reports 7,450 additional COVID-19 cases
(Eagle News) — COVID-19 cases in the Philippines reached 1,255,337 after the Department of Health reported 7450 additional cases. The DOH said of the total cases, 60794 were active. Of these, 93.9 percent were mild, 2 percent asymptomatic, 1.3 percent critical, 1.6 percent severe, and 1.15 percent were moderate. Recoveries rose to 1,173,006 including the additional 2382 recoveries. The death toll is now at 21537, including the 181 additional ones. The DOH has said COVID-19 […]
ASEAN envoys in Myanmar for talks with junta chief
YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — Envoys from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations arrived in Myanmar Thursday for talks with junta leader Min Aung Hlaing, as the coup-stricken nation enters its fifth month of crippling unrest. Myanmar has been in chaos and its economy paralysed since the February coup, with more than 800 people killed in a brutal military crackdown on dissent, according to a local monitoring group. Erywan Pehin Yusof, Brunei’s second minister for foreign […]
Davis says, injuries ‘a big factor’ as Lakers NBA title defence folds
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Anthony Davis limped out of the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers’ season-ending loss to the Phoenix Suns on Thursday, a sight that the star forward and teammate LeBron James said summed up their season. “I think health played a big part in the position we were in,” Davis said after the Suns beat the Lakers 113-100 to wrap up a 4-2 triumph in their best-of-seven Western conference first-round playoff […]
DOST: Clinical trials in mixing and matching vaccines to start in July; 3,000 participants targeted
Safety and efficacy of using diffrent vaccines as 1st and 2nd dose to be known (Eagle News) – Some 3,000 participants are targeted for clinical trials set for July that will focus on mixing and matching vaccines for first and second doses to be able to determine if this is safe and effective for Filipinos. The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said that the clinical trials will use a total of five vaccines, […]





