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TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japanese prosecutors on Thursday arrested the country’s former justice minister — a close ally of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe — and his lawmaker wife over allegations of vote-buying during her electoral campaign last year. The scandal is the latest headache for Abe, who has seen his approval ratings sink over his handling of the coronavirus crisis and faced criticism over alleged attempts to name a favoured candidate to the role of […]
(Eagle News)–The Department of the Interior and Local Government has recommended the imposition of disciplinary action against 20 barangay officials in Metro Manila for alleged violation of quarantine protocols. In a statement, Interior Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs Martin Diño said the five barangay chairs from Caloocan City; five from Quezon City; two from Parañaque City; and one each from Mandaluyong, Las Piñas, Manila, Makati, Pasay, Taguig, Marikina, and Muntinlupa were referred to the Ombudsman pursuant […]
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japan’s government on Thursday urged citizens to install the country’s first coronavirus-tracing app when it launches this week, pledging that the system would not invade users’ privacy. The smartphone app, which like those in many countries relies on Bluetooth tracking and the permission of users, will launch on Friday. “This is an important tool to protect your lives, so please install it,” Yasutoshi Nishimura, the minister in charge of the government’s […]
Funds to be used for education and health grants for poor families (Eagle News) — The Philippine government obtained additional funds to address the COVID-19 pandemic with a “fresh US$500-million financing package from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).” The Department of Finance said that this will “help support the country’s immediate budgetary requirements” particularly in funding the Pantawid Pamilya program for poor families, as the virus crisis continues to take its toll on the […]
by Jing Xuan Teng and Laurie Chen BEIJING, China (AFP) — Travel restrictions were placed on nearly half a million people near Beijing on Thursday as authorities rush to contain a fresh outbreak of the coronavirus with a mass test-and-trace effort and lockdowns in parts of the Chinese capital. Another 21 cases of the virus were reported in the past 24 hours in Beijing, the National Health Commission said, taking the total number to 158 […]
NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan (AFP) — Kazakhstan’s 79-year-old former president and official ‘Leader of the Nation’ Nursultan Nazarbayev has tested positive for the coronavirus, a statement on his official website said Thursday. “Currently, the First President of Kazakhstan is in self-isolation. Unfortunately, the last test… for the coronavirus infection showed a positive result. There is no cause for concern,” the statement said. The statement said that Nazarbayev is “continuing to work remotely.” Strongman Nazarbayev, who turns 80 […]
(Eagle News)–Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Thursday, June 18, denied he had pushed for the removal of Dr. Tony Leachon as consultant to the National Task Force Against COVID-19. According to Roque, it was President Rodrigo Duterte himself who noticed Leachon’s comments critical of the country’s COVID-19 efforts, and “noted that you (Leachon) should not be doing what you’re doing.” He said the President, however, “did not say that he should resign kasi lahat namin […]
(Eagle News) — Japan continued to help the Philippines amid the virus pandemic, as the Philippines and Japan signed two loan agreements worth a combined P75.5 billion (about 154 billion yen) for two big-ticket projects in the Visayas and Mindanao under the “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program. The loan agreements were signed on Tuesday, June 16, as the approval of the loans for the two projects were fast-tracked through high-level consultations between the Philippines […]
(Eagle News)–A heavy rainfall warning has been hoisted over parts of Mindanao. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said a yellow warning level has been raised over Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur due to the Intertropical Convergence Zone. This means, PAGASA said, that flooding is expected in low-lying areas near river channels, and landslides in mountainous areas. Moderate rains to occasionally heavy rains are being experienced over Davao Oriental […]
(Eagle News)–Around 100 policemen from two regional offices will be deployed to Cebu City to help enforce the enhanced community quarantine there. In a statement, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said 50 police personnel each from the Police Regional Offices in Western Visayas and Eastern Visayas will be sent to the city upon orders by PNP Chief Archie Gamboa. He said this was upon the recommendation of PNP Deputy Chief for Operations and concurrent […]
(Eagle News) — The Department of Health said it welcomes the investigation of the Office of the Ombudsman on Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, and other health officials on the department’s handling of the department’s COVID-19 response. The DOH said it will “comply with all directives from the Office of the Ombudsman.” “DOH officials will willingly cooperate with the authorities to ensure utmost transparency throughout the duration of the investigation and beyond,” the DOH said […]
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — The London statue of British wartime leader Winston Churchill that was controversially boxed up after anti-racism protests will be uncovered for a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron, the mayor’s office said Wednesday. “The covering around the Winston Churchill statue will be removed for the visit of President Macron to London,” said a spokesman for mayor Sadiq Khan. Other monuments to Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi, and the Cenotaph war […]
