HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Hong Kong stocks sank more than one percent at the start of business Tuesday after Moody’s cut the city’s credit rating, blaming the government’s response to months of sometimes violent protests. The Hang Seng Index fell 1.20 percent, or 346.53 points, to 28,449.38. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.32 percent, or 10.00 points, to 3,085.79 and the Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China’s second exchange, dropped 0.25 […]
Other News
Cancelled flights due to bad weather
(Eagle News)–Several flights on Tuesday, Jan. 21, were cancelled due to bad weather. The Ninoy Aquino International Airport said the following flights were cancelled: (5J) Cebu Pacific 5J 504 Manila to Tuguegarao 5J 505 Tuguegarao to Manila The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said light rains are expected in parts of the country as the northeast monsoon affects Luzon.
Hontiveros: Families affected by Taal volcanic activity should receive P30,000 in cash assistance
(Eagle News)–Families affected by the Taal eruption should receive ₱30,000 in cash assistance, Senator Risa Hontiveros said on Tuesday, Jan. 21. Hontiveros issued the statement after President Rodrigo Duterte urged Congress to pass a P30-billion supplemental budget for Taal evacuees. “Mahalagang i-earmark na sa supplemental budget ang direct cash assistance na pwedeng ipamigay sa mga pamilyang apektado. Pwede nang aksyunan ng Pangulo ang para sa cash grants. Gamitin na ang pwedeng gamitin sa current budget. Kailangang […]
Mexican troops repel border-storming migrant caravan
by Gabriela COUTINO / with Henry MORALES in Tecun Uman, Guatemala Agence France-Presse Ciudad Hidalgo, Mexico (AFP) — Hundreds of Central Americans from a new migrant caravan tried to storm into Mexico Monday by fording the river that divides the country from Guatemala, but National Guardsmen fired tear gas to force them back. The Central Americans, from the so-called “2020 Caravan” of around 3,500 undocumented migrants, gathered on the Guatemalan side of the Suchiate River […]
Prince Harry leaves UK to rejoin Meghan and Archie in Canada: reports
LONDRES, United Kingdom (AFP) — Prince Harry left the UK to rejoin his wife Meghan and son Archie in Canada Monday, British media reported, as the couple start a new life after their shock exit from the royal fold. “The Duke of Sussex is understood to have left the UK for Canada on Monday evening following one of his final official engagements as a working royal,” Britain’s Daily Telegraph newspaper reported. Harry boarded a 5.30 […]
Charges against Huawei exec ‘fiction,’ defense says at start of extradition hearing
by Michel COMTE Agence France-Presse VANCOUVER, Canada (AFP) — The Chinese telecommunications executive whose arrest in Vancouver badly strained Canada-China relations went to court on Monday to fight extradition to the United States, with her lawyers calling the accusations against her “fiction.” Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of tech giant Huawei and eldest daughter of its founder Ren Zhengfei, is wanted by US authorities for alleged fraud. Meng made no comment as she rushed […]
Trump brief assails impeachment, demands immediate acquittal
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump’s lawyers submitted a trial brief Monday calling his impeachment by the House “a dangerous perversion” of the US constitution and demanding his immediate acquittal by the Senate. Almost simultaneously, House impeachment managers responded to an earlier Trump filing, saying the president had engaged in “corrupt conduct… to cheat in the next election” and that the Senate should remove him from office “following a fair trial.” The dueling […]
Taal still on alert level 4 as it continues intense seismic activity
(Eagle News)–Taal volcano continued its intense seismic activity on Tuesday, Jan. 21, a sign the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said likely signifies continuous magmatic intrusion beneath the edifice, which may lead to further eruptive activity. In its latest bulletin, PHIVOLCS said 718 earthquakes have been recorded in the volcano, which is still on alert level 4, since the afternoon of January 12, 176 of which registered at magnitudes 1.2 to 4.1 and were […]
DFA to Filipinos: Refrain from bringing animal products to South Korea
(Eagle News)-The Department of Foreign Affairs has reiterated South Korea’s restriction on the bringing of animal products to the country. The DFA issued the advisory anew through the Philippine Embassy in Seoul after the South Korean government handed down an entry ban of five years to a traveler who came to the country on Oct. 21. This was after the traveller failed to pay the fine amounting to ₩5,000,000.00 (P219,907.87) for bringing in pork sausages […]
DOTr eyes completion of MRT-3 rehab by third quarter of 2021
(Eagle News)-The Department of Transportation is targeting to complete the rehabilitation of the Metro Rail Transit 3 by the third quarter of 2021. The Department of Transportation said so far, new air-conditioning units have been installed in the coaches, bringing the total number to 94 out of 120 units that were acquired by maintenance provider Sumitomo-MHI-TESP. The 120 new units are on top of the 60 units that were installed under the management of the […]
3.3-magnitude quake hits Oriental Mindoro
(Eagle News)-A 3.3-magnitude earthquake struck Oriental Mindoro on Tuesday, Jan. 21. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the quake, which struck at 4:27 a.m., had its epicenter 15 kilometers northeast of Naujan. It had a depth of focus of 17 kilometers. No damage to property nor aftershocks were expected.
Light rains forecast in parts of N. Luzon as northeast monsoon affects country
(Eagle News)-Light rains are expected in parts of Northern Luzon as the northeast monsoon affects the country. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said cloudy skies with light rains will be experienced over the provinces of Aurora, Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, Kalinga, Mt. Province and Ifugao. Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains, on the other hand, are expected over Batanes, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Abra, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union […]
