Virus cases in Philippines surge to 261,216
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines surged to 261,216 after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 3,372 new cases on Sunday.
Category: International
Philippines, China reaffirm commitment to peace in SCS
Duterte: South China Sea disputes must be resolved using international law.
Historic Afghan government, Taliban talks begin in Doha
Peace talks between the Taliban and Afghan government got down to business.
Vaccine trial resumes as virus continues grim march
Clinical trials of one of the most advanced experimental COVID-19 vaccines resumed Saturday after a brief safety pause, as infection numbers continued to march upward in countries across the globe.
BMA touts tourism revival Thai canal plan
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will spend 150 million baht to develop a new 15km canal network in Thon Buri as part of an initiative to revive tourism in Bangkok.
Teargas fired during migrant protests on Greek island
Greek riot police fired tear gas at protesting asylum-seekers on the island of Lesbos Saturday, as thousands demanded help after being left homeless by fires that destroyed Europe’s largest migrant camp.
Britain to trial lower motorway speed limit to cut emissions
Speed limits on stretches of motorways in England are to be cut as a trial measure to reduce air pollution, Highways England announced Saturday.
‘US becoming biggest driver of militarisation in South China Sea’
Wang Yi: The US is becoming the most dangerous factor damaging peace in the area.
South Australia bans single-use plastics
State of South Australia has become Australia’s first state to ban single-use plastics.
New book says Trump admitted playing down coronavirus danger
President Donald Trump admitted that he tried to minimise the lethal threat of the coronavirus early on in the pandemic, according to excerpts reported Wednesday from a new book by veteran US journalist Bob Woodward.
US towns destroyed as firefighters battle wildfires under orange skies
Entire communities have been razed by wildfires raging in the western United States, with officials warning of potential mass deaths under apocalyptic orange skies.
Ex-Goldman banker seeks review of 1MDB charges
A former Goldman Sachs executive is seeking a review of charges in Malaysia linked to the 1MDB scandal.
Malaysia seeks to reroute $10.6bn China ECRL rail project
Malaysia to renegotiate with China and the main contractor to ascertain the cost.
C-19 vaccine trial paused after unexplained illness
Clinical trials of AstraZeneca vaccine are “paused” upon finding unexplained illness.
Trump may have to use own funds for campaign
Trump savaged his Democratic opponent Joe Biden on Tuesday at the start of a tour of swing states, but seemed to concede that his reelection campaign is running out of donors, requiring him to dip into his own pocket.
Two die in blast targetting Afghan Vice President
At least two people were killed and a dozen more wounded in an explosion targetting the convoy of Afghanistan’s vice president Amrullah Saleh in central Kabul early yesterday, officials said.
Kilometre-long slick left by burning tanker in Indian Ocean
A stricken oil tanker off Sri Lanka that has been on fire since last week has left a kilometre-long slick across the Indian Ocean, the country’s navy said on Wednesday, sparking fears of an environmental disaster.
Chinese, Indonesian defence ministers meet
Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe met with Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto on Tuesday to discuss bilateral ties and cooperation between the two militaries
Trump, Biden trade blows in final stretch of race
Trump and his Democratic rival Joe Biden traded tough blows.
California fires burn record two million acres
Wildfires in California have torched a record more than two million acres.
Spain sets Western Europe virus record
Spain has become the first country in Western Europe to pass 500,000 coronavirus infections.
Typhoon hits South Korea after sparking landslides in Japan
A powerful typhoon lashes South Korea after smashing into southern Japan.
Britain’s coronavirus cases verge on 3,000 in 24 hours
UK gov’t said two more people had died after testing positive over the past 28 days.
Trump in ‘different reality’ on racism, says Harris
Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris said Sunday that President Donald Trump is living in a “different reality” when he denies there is systemic racism in America.
India overtakes Brazil with second-highest virus cases
India overtook Brazil on Monday to become the second-worst affected country in terms of coronavirus cases behind the United States, according to an AFP count.
COVID-19 curve flattened in the Philippines
The Philippines has started to flatten the COVID-19 curve but government officials should not be complacent, an expert warned.
Nearly 300 migrants arrive in Indonesia
Nearly 300 Rohingya migrants came ashore on Indonesia’s Sumatra island early Monday, authorities said, in one of the biggest such landings by the persecuted Myanmar minority in the Muslim-majority nation in years.
India tops four million virus cases as pandemic rages
The COVID-19 pandemic situation continues to peak in India.
Several stabbed in Birmingham ‘major incident’: UK police
Multiple people are stabbed in centre of one of Englands largest cities, Birmingham.
Harris doesn’t trust Trump on pre-election virus vaccine
Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris said in comments released Saturday that if a coronavirus vaccine is available before November’s election, she would not take President Donald Trump’s word on its safety and efficacy.
