OTTAWA, Canada (AFP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday that his country’s border with the United States would not fully reopen for at least several weeks, rejecting US President Donald’s Trump overtures to do so sooner. The border — the world’s longest international frontier at 8,900 kilometers (5,500 miles) — was shut to all non-essential travelers on both sides on March 21 in response to the coronavirus crisis. Cross-border trade has continued. “We […]
Other News
Stay-at-home orders sparks scattered protests in US
by Jeff Kowalsky with Chris Lefkow in Washington Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — As US President Donald Trump unveils plans on Thursday for a partial reopening of the country, some Americans are chafing at the stay-at-home orders imposed because of the coronavirus epidemic. There have been scattered protests in several US states this week against lockdown measures aimed at halting the spread of the highly contagious virus. A handful of stay-at-home opponents […]
China under mounting pressure over virus origins
by Shaun Tandon with AFP bureaus Agence France Presse BEIJING, China (AFP) — China on Thursday came under mounting pressure over the coronavirus pandemic from Western powers led by the United States, which said it was probing whether the virus that has infected more than 2.1 million people actually originated in a Wuhan laboratory. The new focus on China’s role came as the world wrestles with a crisis that has killed more than 140,000 people […]
Global stock markets and oil prices slide as virus impact mounts
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Global stocks sank Wednesday as COVID-19 infects the global economic outlook, while oil prices slumped as OPEC-led output cuts were deemed insufficient to soak up a supply glut. Sentiment turned sour Wednesday on grim warnings over the economic impact of the coronavirus, which emerged in China and has so far killed more than 131,000 people and infected more than two million globally. The International Energy Agency said 2020 was […]
UK set to extend coronavirus lockdown as death rate sees spike
by Alice RITCHIE Agence France-Presse LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — The British government on Thursday was expected to extend a nationwide lockdown for another three weeks, while the country’s coronavirus death toll spiked by 861 — a greater increase than in recent days. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is standing in for Prime Minister Boris Johnson as he recuperates after spending a week in hospital with COVID-19, met with ministers and officials to finalize the […]
President Duterte to Filipinos: Observe ECQ rules strictly
(Eagle News)–President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, April 16, called on Filipinos to observe the enhanced community quarantine rules strictly. The President made the call as he noted he himself could not return to Davao because his daughter, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, had imposed a lockdown. “Alam kong lahat sabik na sabik kayo. Ako rin hindi makauwi. Hindi ako pinapayagan ng mayor doon makapunta. Walang eroplanong maka-landing sa Davao City,” Duterte said. He said he himself wanted […]
US coronavirus death toll tops 30,000: tracker
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The confirmed coronavirus death toll in the United States surpassed 30,000 on Thursday, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. The tracker says 30,990 people have now died in the country from COVID-19 since the start of the global health crisis. The US has the highest death toll in the world, followed by Italy with 21,645 dead although its population is just a fifth of that of the US. […]
President Duterte orders DOH to probe nine hospitals for allegedly refusing to accept patients
(Eagle News)–President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, April 16, ordered the Department of Health to probe nine hospitals that allegedly refused to accept patients. President Duterte made the order following reports a 65-year-old man died due to difficulty of breathing in Nueva Ecija after getting the refusal. “Hospital kayo; you are the sanctuary of the sick, you do not choose the ailment of the patient you are accepting,” Duterte said. He did not, however, name the […]
Spain virus death count ‘may be thousands short’
MADRID, Spain (AFP) — Spain’s coronavirus death toll soared past 19,000 on Thursday with another 551 deaths, but questions over the counting method have raised some regional concerns the real figure is much higher. After nearly five weeks of confinement, the rise in deaths and infections has slowed over the past fortnight, with the overnight fatalities taking the toll to 19,130. But regional authorities in Madrid and Catalonia said they each had thousands more […]
Celine Dion salutes ‘heroic’ workers in pandemic fight
OTTAWA, Canada (AFP) — Canadian singer Celine Dion has posted a heartfelt thanks to the “heroic” workers on the frontline in the coronavirus fight, and urged her fans to respect stay-at-home orders. The video shot in the superstar’s kitchen — two versions, in English and in French — had more than 2.5 million views across her social media feeds as of mid-morning Thursday. “Let’s take care of each other and I know we will get […]
Nigeria security forces kill 18 over virus lockdown: rights body
ABUJA, Nigeria (AFP) — Nigerian security forces have killed 18 people in their enforcement of measures to curb coronavirus, a figure higher than the documented toll inflicted by the disease, the country’s human rights body said. Africa’s most populous nation has imposed a total lockdown in megacity Lagos and the capital Abuja and set restrictions in other regions in a bid to contain the virus. According to official figures, coronavirus has so far infected 407 […]
NET 25’s “Letters and Music” adapts to new normal with guests singing from home
https://youtu.be/KLFkDoi3NqY (Eagle News) – With the COVID-19 pandemic and “stay-at-home” orders in place, TV programs have started to adapt with their anchors and guests participating in programs without leaving their homes. NET 25’s musical variety show, “Letters and Music” did just that. Program hosts led by Apple Chiu did their spiels and intros at home and are able to banter with other hosts, while guests sang their songs in the comfort of their own […]





