Other News

MIAA releases list of operational commercial flights for Thursday, March 4

(Eagle News) — The Manila International Airport Authority has released its list of operational commercial flights for Thursday, March 4: MIAA said flight schedules may change at any given time. It  advised passengers to secure confirmation of their flights as only those with the same will be allowed entry into the airport. The government has imposed some restrictions on entry into the Philippines amid the COVID-19 pandemic. President Rodrigo Duterte has rejected proposals to place […]

SpaceX rocket explodes after seemingly successful landing

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — An unmanned SpaceX rocket exploded on the ground Wednesday after carrying out what had seemed to be a successful flight and landing. It was the third straight flub involving the prototype of the Starship rocket, which SpaceX hopes one day to send to Mars. The last two test flights ended in crashes. “A beautiful soft landing,” a SpaceX commentator said on the live broadcast of the test flight, although flames […]

Kuwait forms new govt after disputes with parliament

KUWAIT CITY, Kuwait (AFP) — Kuwait’s ruler Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah greenlighted Wednesday the Gulf country’s new cabinet after the previous one resigned just a month into its mandate amid disputes with parliament. Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah, who was re-appointed as prime minister in January, shortly after the government quit, was again tasked with forming the new one. The cabinet members were sworn in before the emir on Wednesday, reported the official Kuwait News Agency […]

Queen’s husband Prince Philip improving ‘slightly’

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Queen Elizabeth II’s husband Prince Philip was making slight progress after being admitted to hospital more than two weeks ago, his daughter-in-law said on Wednesday. Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, said the 99-year-old Duke of Edinburgh, who was moved to a specialist unit for heart tests on Monday, is “slightly improving”. But she said on a visit to a vaccination center in London that he “hurts at moments”. “We keep our […]

Germany to gradually ease virus curbs from Monday: Merkel

BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday unveiled plans to gradually ease virus curbs in Europe’s top economy, caving to pressure from regional leaders and the public for more freedom after months of shutdowns. Declaring a “new phase” in the pandemic, Merkel said more socializing between households would be allowed from Monday. Book shops, flower stores and garden centers will also reopen nationwide. Further reopenings will be closely tied to local infection […]

Fake Covid-19 vaccines seized in South Africa, China: Interpol

LYON, France (AFP) — Police in China and South Africa have seized thousands of fake doses of Covid-19 jabs, global police organization Interpol said on Wednesday, warning this represented only the “tip of the iceberg” in vaccine-related crime. The Lyon-based Interpol said 400 vials — equivalent to around 2,400 doses — containing the fake vaccine were found at a warehouse in Germiston outside Johannesburg in South Africa, where officers also recovered fake masks and arrested […]

India developer says homegrown Covid-19 vaccine is 81% effective

NEW DELHI, India (AFP) — Indian pharmaceutical firm Bharat Biotech said Wednesday its domestically developed vaccine, criticized for being rolled out before final trials, was found in interim late-stage data to have almost 81 percent efficacy in preventing Covid-19 infection. Questions had been raised by Indian medical experts about the effectiveness of Bharat Biotech’s “Covaxin” after officials authorized it for emergency use in January even though its Phase 3 trials — the last stage before […]

Eight injured in ‘suspected terrorist’ stabbings in Sweden

by Johannes LEDEL STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AFP) — A man attacked eight people Wednesday with a “sharp weapon,” seriously injuring two in the Swedish city of Vetlanda, police said, adding they were investigating a potential “terror motive”. The assailant was taken to hospital after being shot in the leg by police as he was taken into custody following the mid-afternoon attack in the southern city of 13,000 inhabitants. Speaking to AFP, police said the man in […]

Brazil reports 2nd straight day of record Covid deaths

BRASILIA, Brazil (AFP) — Brazil registered a record of Covid-19 deaths for the second straight day Wednesday, with 1,910 lives lost to the pandemic. With a surge in cases currently pushing health systems to the limit in many areas, Brazil has recorded a total of 259,271 deaths, according to the health ministry — the second-highest death toll worldwide, after the United States. “For the first time since the pandemic began, we are seeing a deterioration […]

AstraZeneca vaccine effective in over-80s: study

by Patrick GALEY PARIS, France (AFP) — The AstraZeneca/Oxford Covid-19 vaccine appears to be more than 80 percent effective at preventing severe illness among elderly, at-risk individuals after a single dose, according to preliminary research published Wednesday. The results, which have yet to be peer-reviewed, added to the growing body of evidence that the vaccine — which several countries have advised against giving to over-65s — is both safe and effective in older people. Researchers […]

LeBron out with ankle sprain as NBA All-Star Game looms

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James will miss the reigning NBA champions’ last contest before the All-Star Game break with a sprained left ankle, the club announced Wednesday. James will stay in Los Angeles for treatment and miss his first game of the 2020-21 season on Wednesday when the Lakers play at Sacramento. The 36-year-old playmaker has been nagged by the injury but still managed to deliver 38 points, […]

Iceland braces for potential volcanic eruption

REYKJAVIK, Iceland (AFP) — A small volcanic eruption could be imminent on the southwestern tip of Iceland some 30 kilometres (18 miles) from the capital Reykjavik, authorities said on Wednesday. Tremors signalling a potential eruption were detected on Wednesday afternoon, near Mount Keilir, inactive for the past 800 years, the Icelandic Met Office said. A 5.7-magnitude earthquake was registered in the area last week. “The magma is fracturing and it is so close to the […]