BEIJING, China (AFP) — China believes a mysterious pneumonia outbreak that has struck 59 people is due to a new strain of virus from the family of pathogens that includes SARS, state media said Thursday. The infection was first confirmed on December 31 in Wuhan, a central Chinese city with a population of over 11 million, and initially sparked fears about a resurgence of the highly contagious flu-like SARS. Experts have “preliminarily determined” that a […]
Other News
De Lima defends Robredo, agrees war on drugs a “failure”
(Eagle News) — Senator Leila de Lima defended Vice President Leni Robredo following criticisms of her report that said the drug war was a “massive failure.” “Nakakatawa panoorin ang mga apologist ng Malacañang magkumahog na ipagtanggol ang palyadong war on drugs. Andami na nilang nasabi, pero puro insulto lamang laban kay VP Leni. Wala daw alam si VP Leni sa war on drugs pero sila mismo, hindi nila maintindihan ang sarili nilang datos. Simple lang […]
Burned tigers, rescued kangaroos: Australia bushfire disinformation
by Johnny Lieu Agence France-Presse SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Tiger burns in Australia’s bushfires? It’s a 2012 photo from Indonesia. Young girl rescues koala? Actually an artist’s impression. Social media is packed with powerful images of Australia’s bushfires — but many are fake. As deadly blazes tear across southeastern Australia, false or deliberately misleading images and claims have proliferated online, in languages from Arabic to Hindi. AFP Fact Check works to debunk online misinformation. Here […]
Koenigsegg, a supercar challenging Swedish stereotypes
by Helene DAUSCHY Agence France-Presse ÄNGELHOLM, Sweden (AFP) — For a quarter century, Koenigsegg has been making supercar’s for a niche market typically reserved for Italian luxury brands, while challenging perceptions of Swedish modesty. With brands like Volvo — which introduced the three-point seat belt — and Saab, Sweden distinguished itself in the 20th century as a maker of reasonable priced family-friendly cars that put safety first. But in a workshop in the southern town of […]
Cancelled flights on Thursday, Jan. 9
(Eagle News)-Several flights on Thursday, Jan. 9, were cancelled due to bad weather. Below is a list, according to the Manila International Airport Authority: Cebu Pacific 5J 196 Manila-Cauayan 5 J 197 Cauayan-Manila The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Eastern Visayas will have cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms due to the easterlies affecting the eastern section of Visayas and Mindanao. PAGASA added the rest of Visayas, Palawan and Occidental Mindoro […]
Thunderstorm advisory hoisted over parts of Mindanao
(Eagle News)–A thunderstorm advisory has been hoisted over parts of Mindanao. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said moderate to occasional heavy rainshowers with lightning and strong winds due to thunderstorms are expected over Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Sur, Davao Occidental, Zamboanga City, Basilan and Sulu within one to two hours. PAGASA said these conditions are being experienced in Bacuag, Gigaquit, Claver, Sison, Socorro, Siargao in Surigao del Norte; Boston, […]
Pentagon chief: US has restored ‘level of deterrence’ on Iran
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Wednesday that the United States has reestablished some deterrence toward Iran in the wake of the January 3 drone strike that killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad. “I think at this point with the strikes we took against KH in late December and then our actions with regard to Soleimani, I believe that we’ve restored a level of deterrence with them,” he told […]
NBA fines ‘reckless’ Portis after flagrant foul on Caldwell-Pope
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — New York Knicks forward Bobby Portis was fined $25,000 Wednesday for a nasty foul on Kentavious Caldwell-Pope that saw Portis ejected from the Lakers’ win over the Knicks on Tuesday. The fine announced by Kiki VanDeWeghe, executive vice president of basketball operations, was for “recklessly making contact above the shoulders of an airborne shooter.” Caldwell-Pope was driving for a basket in the second quarter, with the Lakers up by […]
President Duterte signs law increasing gov’t workers’ pay
(Eagle News)-President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law that will increase the salary of government workers, including nurses and teachers. According to a photo release from Malacañang, the President signed the Salary Standardization Law of 2019 on Wednesday in the Palace. Under the new law, the salary adjustment would be given in four tranches starting January 2020. This would end in 2023. Under the law, employees under Salary Grades 10 to 15 will get the […]
Remains of OFW killed in Kuwait arrive in PHL
(Eagle News)-The remains of the Overseas Filipino Worker killed in Kuwait have arrived in the country. The Department of Foreign Affairs said the remains of Jeanelyn Padernal Villavende, who was reportedly killed by her employer’s wife last month, arrived on Wednesday afternoon. The employer and the suspect are in jail, as authorities pursue a case against them. The DFA said it has hired a lawyer in Kuwait for the Villavende family to ensure that justice […]
Rains expected in parts of PHL today
(Eagle News)–Rains are expected in parts of the country today, Jan. 9. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Eastern Visayas will have cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms due to the easterlies affecting the eastern section of Visayas and Mindanao PAGASA said the rest of Visayas, Palawan and Occidental Mindoro will experience partly cloudy to mostly cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers due to localized thunderstorms. Moderate to strong winds from the northeast […]
Quake hits near Iran nuclear plant, injuring seven
TEHRAN, Iran (AFP) — A magnitude 4.5 earthquake on Wednesday rattled an area less than 50 kilometers (30 miles) from Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant near the country’s Gulf coast, a US monitor said. The quake, which had a depth of 10 kilometers, struck 17 kilometers south-southeast of Borazjan city at 6:49 am (0319 GMT), the US Geological Survey said on its website. State news agency IRNA said the earthquake was felt in Bushehr. There […]
