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TEL AVIV, Israel (AFP) — Israel received its first batch of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine on Wednesday, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declaring the pandemic’s end was “in sight” and vowing to get the first jab. “This is a great celebration for Israel,” he said on the tarmac at Ben Gurion airport, near Tel Aviv, as a fork-lift truck started unloading the cargo from a red and yellow DHL air freighter. The shipment was the first […]
(Eagle News) — COVID-19 cases in the country breached the 444,000 mark on Wednesday, December 9, after the Department of Health reported 1,387 additional cases. The DOH said of the 444,164 total cases, 6 percent or 26,545 cases were active. Of these, 85.2 percent were mild, 6.6 percent asymptomatic, 5.2 percent critical, 2.7 percent severe, and 0.31 percent moderate. The areas with the most COVID-19 cases reported today were Batangas with 71, Quezon City with […]
(Eagle News) — Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez has tested positive for COVID-19. In a statement on Wednesday, December 9, Lopez said the result was based on a swab test he took over the weekend after exposure to an individual who tested positive on Tuesday, Dec. 2. He said he was so far, however, asymptomatic and was now “in full isolation.” Lopez is the fourth Cabinet official to test positive for COVID-19. The others were Interior […]
(Eagle News) — The bicameral conference committee approved on Wednesday, December 9, the final version of the proposed 2021 national budget. Pictures from Senator Sonny Angara’s office showed him, Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Pia Cayetano, and Representatives Eric Yap, Bernadette Dy, and Mikee Romero physically present at the meeting where the approval was made. Other lawmakers were present via videoconferencing. With the approval, both the Senate and the House of Representatives are expected to ratify […]
(Eagle News) — The speed of Metro Rail Transit-3 trains is now back to 60 kilometers per hour. The MRT-3 said with the return to the speed last felt in September 2013, the average time between trains is now cut to only 3.5 to 4 minutes (20 trains at 60 kph) from the previous 8 to 9.5 minutes (20 trains at 30 kph). That means travel time from North Avenue station to Taft Avenue is […]
(Eagle News) — Three more Filipinos abroad have tested positive for COVID-19. The Department of Foreign Affairs said with the additional cases, the total COVID-19 cases among overseas Filipinos rose to 11695. One additional recovery pushed the total to 7578. No additional death was reported, which means the death toll among overseas Filipinos remains at 847. The Middle East and Africa are still the regions with the most COVID-19 cases, recoveries and deaths, with 7544, […]
(Eagle News) — Eight volcanic earthquakes were monitored at Kanlaon in 24 hours. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said also monitored at the volcano, which remains on alert level 1, were steam and sulfur dioxide emissions. PHIVOLCS said the emission of white steam-laden plumes was weak. Sulfur dioxide emission was measured at an average of 336 tons on November 24. PHIVOLCS said a slight inflation of the lower and mid slopes since June […]
(Eagle News) — The Manila International Airport Authority has released its list of operational commercial flights for Wednesday, Dec. 9: MIAA said flight schedules may be subject to changes. The government has eased restrictions on travel, with domestic flights now allowed but subject to the travel requirements imposed by the local government unit that has jurisdiction over the area of destination. The Department of Tourism has said it was eyeing subsidizing half of the cost […]
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Three-time reigning NBA scoring champion James Harden reported to the Houston Rockets training camp Tuesday with coach Stephen Silas confident he can build a successful relationship with the superstar guard. Harden was tested for Covid-19 as part of the NBA’s safety protocol and could practice with the Rockets ahead of their pre-season opener on Friday at Chicago. “That’s pretty much all I know,” Silas said. “Him getting tested in Houston […]
GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — US pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson said Tuesday it plans to provide 500 million doses of its vaccine for poor countries once results of clinical trials are announced by the end of January. It plans to sell the vaccine at cost price and will provide the doses to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the group’s scientific director Paul Stoffels told a virtual round table in Geneva. The vaccine is currently undergoing final-stage […]
BANGLORE, India (AFP) — Traces of heavy metals such as lead and nickel have been found in samples taken from 550 people stricken by a mystery illness in a southern Indian town where some victims have collapsed in the street, officials said. The government has rushed medical experts to Eluru in Andhra Pradesh state to investigate the illness, which first appeared Saturday. One man died after showing the symptoms of seizures, nausea and chronic pain. […]
by Nina LARSON GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — Pfizer chief executive Albert Bourla said Tuesday he understands concerns around the speed at which pharmaceutical companies have produced Covid-19 vaccines, but insisted that no corners had been cut. As Britain on Tuesday became the first Western country to start a mass coronavirus vaccine campaign, using the new Pfizer-BioNTech jab, Bourla said people should feel confident that it is safe and effective. “We didn’t cut any corners,” he […]
