KAKAMMPI News

(Agence France-Presse) - December 18, 2020 - 8:53am PARIS — Roughly a year into the pandemic it is clear the new coronavirus is worse than seasonal flu, and a study released on Friday outlined just how much worse, showing a death rate almost three times higher among COVID-19 patients. The research, using French national data and published in the journal The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, underscored the increased severity of illness for people with COVID-19. Researchers compared data for 89,530 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in March and April this year with 45,819 patients hospitalized with seasonal influenza between December 2018 and the end of February 2019. Some 16.9% of COVID-19 patients died during the period of study — which was during a devastating first wave across Europe when doctors had few therapies to turn to for severely ill people. This compares to a death rate of 5.8% among those with influenza. Catherine Quantin, a professor at the University Hospital of D

(Agence France-Presse) - December 20, 2020 - 11:43pm LONDON — European countries banned flights from the UK on Sunday and the WHO called for stronger containment measures as the British government warned that a potent new strain of the virus was "out of control". As the World Health Organization urged its European members to strengthen measures against a new variant of Covid-19 circulating in Britain, the Netherlands imposed a ban on UK flights from 6:00 am (0500 GMT) on Sunday and Belgium said it would follow suit from midnight with ban on planes and trains from the UK. Alarm bells were ringing across Europe -- which last week became the first region in the world to pass 500,000 deaths from Covid-19 since the pandemic broke out a year ago -- after it appeared that a new, even more infectious strain of the virus was raging in parts of Britain. Germany, too, was considering a similar move as "a serious option" for flights from both Britain and South Africa, where

Reuters Posted at Dec 20 2020 08:55 AM KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia said on Saturday it has secured coronavirus vaccine from AstraZeneca PLC, on the heels of news it will receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in February as it grapples with a surge in infections. The AstraZeneca deal, to be signed on Monday, will allow immunization of about 20% of Malaysia's population of 32 million, similar to that of the deal with U.S. giant Pfizer Inc and its German partner BioNTech SE, said Health Minister Adham Baba. The Southeast Asian nation has seen a spike in cases since September, with nearly 92,000 cases of the new coronavirus and 433 COVID-19 deaths. Malaysia expects to receive enough vaccines to inoculate 10% of the population through the global COVAX facility, backed by the World Health Organization, he said in a statement. The government is working to secure more deals to expand inoculation to 70% of the population, Adham said. "What is important is which company can provide us q

ABS-CBN News Posted at Dec 19 2020 07:05 PM Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with staff at a hospital in Ottawa, Canada, on Tuesday after the first Civic Hospital vaccination session. Blair Gable, Reuters Canada is ready to distribute excess doses of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine for other countries once their residents are vaccinated, according to their Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Canada's vaccination campaign is in full swing this week. They aim to ensure that all of their 38 million residents are vaccinated. "As Canada gets vaccinated, if we have more vaccines than necessary, we will absolutely be sharing with the world," Trudeau said in a CTV interview that will be aired on Sunday. On Friday, Trudeau said they will get 125,000 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine per week, equivalent to 500,000 doses per month by January. Canada is also expected to receive 200,000 doses of Pfizer / BioNTech vacccine next week, and 168,000 doses of Moderna

Published December 17, 2020 1:28pm Around 80,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic are expected to return to the country within the first half of 2021, a government official said Thursday. Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) chief Hans Leo Cacdac disclosed the figure during the Laging Handa briefing as the government had already brought home some 370,000 OFWs since the repatriation efforts started early this year. Cacdac also said 420,000 OFWs have so far benefited from the one-time P10,000 or $200 cash aid from the government. “Patuloy lang po ang ating pagpi-payout sa ngayon and hopefully by year’s end ay magkakaroon ng ganap na payout doon sa mga beneficiaries natin, pati doon sa mga padating pa,” he said. The distribution of cash assistance was mandated by the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act and the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act. —Virgil Lopez/KBK, GMA News

Karen Lema, Reuters Posted at Dec 21 2020 03:57 PM MANILA - The Philippines expects to receive 30 million doses of Novavax Inc's COVID-19 vaccine by July next year, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said on Monday, boosting the country's effort to secure supplies to inoculate more than 100 million people. Despite consultations with numerous vaccine makers, the Philippines has so far signed only one supply deal, with the help of its private sector, to acquire 2.6 million shots of a vaccine developed by AstraZeneca. It plans to buy 25 million doses of a vaccine from China's Sinovac Biotech for delivery by March, and aims to secure between four and 25 million doses of vaccines from Moderna and Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc. "Thirty million dosages of the Indian-made Novavax vaccines are assured possibly with no cash advance. It will be available by July 2021," Locsin said in an interview with CNN Philippines. He said the information came from S

ABS-CBN News Posted at Dec 21 2020 01:14 PM MANILA - The killing of an unarmed mother and her son at the hands of a policeman in Tarlac is an "isolated" case, the Philippine National Police said Monday as it condemned the incident. Sonya Gregorio and her son Frank Anthony were shot dead Sunday by their neighbor Police Senior Master Sgt. Jonel Nuezca after an altercation in Paniqui town. The PNP assures the victims' family that it "does not and will never condone any criminal act of our police officers," said its chief Gen. Debold Sinas. "The PNP considers this as an isolated involvement of the person of PSSg (Nuezca). In no way will such incident affect the sworn duty of the 221,000 police personnel to serve and protect our people," he said in a statement. "Again, let me express my sincere condolences to the family of the victims, and I am extending to them any form of assistance within my power as chief PNP to appease their emotions in this

Published December 20, 2020 7:57pm Updated December 21, 2020 5:21am A Filipino doctor based in the United States was among the first to receive the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech. Willard Palustre was twice suspected of getting the illness as he was showing symptoms but didn't test positive for COVID-19. With the grant of emergency use authorization for the vaccine, he was among the first to be inoculated. "It's emotionally, you know, draining, mentally exhausting, physically lalo na and ikaw being a healthcare professional. With the vaccine coming in, medyo nabawasan 'yun. Nabawasan 'yung takot mo because you know sa sarili mo na in the next you know, few months or year, puwedeng ang COVID-19 is memory na lang siya," he said in a report by JP Soriano on GMA's 24 Oras. Four days after receiving the vaccine, Palustre said there were no major side effects and he is set to receive the second shot of the vacci

Published December 17, 2020 12:48pm Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is offering RT-PCR tests for free returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the Middle East during the Christmas holiday season. The free RT-PCR tests will run from December 21 to 31, 2020. PAL said results will be released 24 hours upon arrival. “Land-based OFWs and their dependents departing from Dubai, Doha, Dammam, and Riyadh, and Bahrain may now avail of PAL's own One-Stop Shop (OSS) facility for their complimentary RT-PCR tests upon arrival,” the airline said. The 24-hour turnaround time for the RT-PCR tests leads to a shorter quarantine isolation period of no more than one night, as compared to the two to five days averaged by other testing centers, according to PAL. The carrier said it is offering the special holiday privilege exclusively for OFWs and their dependents as “a way of thanking the country's modern-day heroes.” The Philippine government through the Overseas Workers Welfa

Published December 17, 2020 1:32am Eighty-four more Filipinos abroad have tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), bringing the total to 12,530 on Wednesday, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). “The reported increase is due to belated reports and privacy considerations in one country in the Middle East,” the DFA said. According to the DFA, total recoveries also rose to 8,071 with two new ones while the death toll climbed to 862 after one more patient succumbed to the illness. Meanwhile, there are 3,597 patients still undergoing treatment. Data from the DFA showed a total of 2,590 cases in Asia and the Pacific region with 764 patients still undergoing treatment. A total of 1,805 patients have recovered while 21 have died. In the Middle East or Africa, there were 7,621 cases recorded with 2,404 undergoing treatment. Recoveries and fatalities in the region were at 4,664 and 553, respectively. Europe has, meanwhile, reported a total of 1,544

Published December 16, 2020 8:19pm By MICHAELA DEL CALLAR The Department of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations on Wednesday launched a program aimed at helping tens of thousands of displaced Filipino workers who were forced to return home due to the global pandemic. Called Bridging Recruitment to Reintegration in Migration Governance or BRIDGE, the program seeks to address the impact of COVID-19 on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) through reintegration frameworks and services to be implemented by the Philippine government. “BRIDGE aims for a pronounced positive effect on human mobility. And that will be done by translating our four-decades worth of experience, good and bad, into improved migration policies and practices,” Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin said in a speech during the program’s virtual launch. Since the start of the pandemic early this year, the DFA has brought home around 300,000 Filipino migrant workers from various parts of the globe. Another batch of 80,000 d

Published December 15, 2020, 5:24 PM by Roy Mabasa The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday reported another set of big numbers in the new confirmed COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) cases and new recoveries among overseas Filipinos with 96 and 37, respectively. (MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) The reported spike is due to belated reports it received from one country in Europe. Meanwhile, no new COVID-19 fatality was reported. The total number of COVID-19 cases involving overseas Filipinos since February this year is 12,446. Out of this number, 3,516 are undergoing treatment, 8,069 have recovered and 861 died due to COVID-19 infections. To date, the Middle East and Africa remains the region with the most number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, recoveries, under treatment, and

Published December 15, 2020, 5:36 PM by Mario Casayuran Senator Christopher “Bong” Go today urged the national government to conduct a massive information campaign to educate the public on the ongoing process that government is taking to secure safe and effective coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines for Filipinos. Go, chairman of the Senate health and demography committee, emphasized the need to inform the public on the various modes of procurement — as well as plans on the eventual distribution and use — until expected full recovery through ‘herd immunity’ is achieved when the COVID-19 vaccine roadmap is properly implemented. “Huwag nating pabayaan ang mga ordinaryong Pilipino. Bigyan dapat ng tamang impormasyon ang publiko para hindi matakot at magkaroon ng confidence ukol sa mga vaccines na ito ,’’ he said. (Do not ignore the ordinary Filipinos. Provide the public with accurate information to allay fears and boost their confidence on these vaccines.) Earlier, President Du

Published December 15, 2020, 5:55 PM by Genalyn Kabiling In a bid to promote more efficient public service, President Duterte has directed the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to simplify and shorten the process of filing hospital claims amid concerns about the reported delays in payment. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (TOTO LOZANO / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) The President wanted PhilHealth to hasten the process of availing benefits so the patient would not worry about the matter and instead focus on recovery, according to Presidential spokesman Harry Roque. The latest order was issued the President following the discussion on the reported delay in PhilHealth payment of claims made by health care providers during the Cabinet meeting Monday. PhilHealth officials were asked to explain the reason behind such delay in the meeting with the President and the Cabinet, Roque said. “My plea that this be simplified and yung magawa ng hospitals s

Published October 26, 2020, 5:25 PM by Merlina Hernando-Malipot Displaced overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who wish to apply for unemployment insurance of the Social Security System (SSS) may now do so following the guidelines on the issuance of certification released by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). The POEA said that the certificate is a “requirement for the application for involuntary separation benefit by qualified overseas Filipino workers.” As cited in its Memorandum Circular No. 24, Series of 2020, POEA announced that all qualified OFWs may file their application for certification at the POEA Central Office and any POEA office and One-Stop Service Center for OFWs (OSSCO) in the provinces. “The POEA Welfare and Employment Office will also serve as the central coordinating, monitoring, and supervising unit for the issuance of the certification,” the Administration added. The POEA said that applicants must bring one valid identification card as

Philippine Daily Inquirer / 04:43 AM December 14, 2020 The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) is looking for ways to help recruitment agencies that have temporary closed or shrunk operations due to the lockdowns and slowdown in deployment caused by the pandemic. Bernard Olalia, POEA administrator, said more than 50 recruitment agencies had given notices of temporary closure of their main offices. Some 70 agency branches will also shut down temporarily, he added. Olalia said one measure was the automatic extension of the licenses of recruitment agencies that suspended operations. “We will not only give direct aid to them but provide for automatic extension of their licenses … We will not impose some of our regulations so that we can help them,” Olalia said. The POEA website lists 1,234 recruitment agencies that are active or with valid licenses. —Jerome Aning

Published December 12, 2020, 3:26 PM by Chito Chavez Returning healthcare workers (HCWs) with existing contracts will not be part of the 5,000 cap on the deployment of health workers abroad, an official from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said Saturday. POEA Administrator Usec. Bernard Olalia said during the Laging Handa press briefing that the deployment cap will only apply to new workers. “Yun pong ating sealing na 5,000 ay maga-apply lamang po sa new hires. Sila po ay yung agency or direct hires po natin (The 5,000 cap will only apply to new hires. They are the agency or direct hires),” Olalia said. Olalia explained that there is a sealing or 5,000 cap per annum that will begin on January 1, 2021 and will cover all 14 healthcare workers listed under mission critical skills in the POEA Governing Board Resolution No. 9. This includes medical doctors/physicians, nurses, microbiologists, molecular biologists, medical technologists, clinical analysts, resp

(Philstar.com) - December 15, 2020 - 1:22pm MANILA, Philippines — A former adviser to the National Task Force Against COVID-19 on Tuesday said the government should allay concerns over its seeming preference for Chinese vaccines instead of attacking the character of its critics. Dr. Tony Leachon, a health reform advocate, said this after he once again became the subject of Malacañang's ire for questioning the government's prioritization of COVID-19 vaccines which he said lacked safety and efficacy data — naming Chinese company Sinovac Biotech in specific. "I was just asking a fair scientific question in order to gain the confidence of the people in terms of their acceptance of vaccination," Leachon told ANC's Matters of Fact on Tuesday, adding that it is his role as a health advocate to "tell the truth regarding certain medical aspects of the [COVID-19] response." During a virtual briefing on Monday, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said President

Teachers should be among first for COVID vaccine jabs: UN Agence France-Presse Posted at Dec 15 2020 04:42 AM PARIS - The United Nations agency for education, UNESCO, on Monday called on governments to give teachers priority access to the new COVID-19 vaccines and be treated like "frontline" workers. The call came as the United States, the country worst hit by the virus, kickstarted the biggest vaccination drive in its history by giving the jab to a nurse in New York. "As we see positive developments regarding vaccination we believe that teachers and education support personnel must be considered a priority group," UNESCO chief Audrey Azoulay said in a joint video message with the head of the Education International (EI) teachers' organization, David Edwards. Azoulay and Edwards said when schools and other education facilities were closed to prevent the spread of the virus, "teachers and support personnel remained on the frontline". As classes mov

South China Morning Post Posted at Dec 15 2020 09:04 AM Despite much of the case being subject to a confidentiality agreement, it emerged that a substantial settlement was reached between a business owner and a sex worker, to compensate her for emotional harm and lost earnings. Sex rights activist and national coordinator of the New Zealand Prostitutes Collective Catherine Healy called it a "milestone" case. Get the latest insights and analysis from our Global Impact newsletter on the big stories originating in China. Office of Human Rights Proceedings director Michael Timmins said the settlement was "substantial". Chinese sex workers in New Zealand shunned amid coronavirus fears Timmins said that in taking a civil case, the harassed worker was incredibly courageous and was pleased with the outcome. "The complainant was incredibly brave. It's often difficult for a sex worker to stand up for their rights but in this case the sex worker did, which is e

Issam Ahmed, Agence France-Presse Posted at Dec 15 2020 12:23 PM WASHINGTON - As an anesthesiologist in a slammed emergency department, Raymond Pla has to handle COVID patients' ventilators, one of the riskiest jobs in the pandemic. On Monday he was one of five front line workers at George Washington University Hospital to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. A single word captured what it meant to him: "Hope." The doctor might have felt excited to be among the first in the world to get injected with molecules of synthetic messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA), the cutting-edge technology proven to be 95 percent effective in preventing COVID-19. But given the coronavirus' stark toll -- 300,000 fatalities in the US alone -- that just didn't feel right. "Excitement, in my personal view, doesn't give the appropriate amount of deference and respect and honor to the sacrifice of my colleagues in health care, some of whom have gotten sick, some of whom have

ABS-CBN News Posted at Dec 15 2020 02:33 PM MANILA - The inoculation of Filipinos with China's Sinopharm vaccine in the United Arab Emirates was like a "fiesta," a member of the community said Tuesday. Filipino migrant worker Agnes Marelid said she was vaccinated Monday along with her family and that they have yet to experience any side effects. "Kahapon po ang feeling ko parang fiesta dun sa clinic kasi lahat masaya. Yung mga nagpapabakuna at mga frontliners mismo. They’re so happy about it," she told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo. (Yesterday I felt like I was in a fiesta at the clinic because everyone was happy. Those receiving the vaccines and the frontliners as well.) "And yung mga reaction na na-receive ko sa social media, very positive po ang response na nakuha ko in fact a lot of inquirers as well." (The reaction I received from social media was very positive, in fact a lot inquired.) Many Filipinos volunteered for the vaccine's clinical t

Reuters AMSTERDAM - The Netherlands will enter its toughest lockdown of the coronavirus pandemic this week, as Prime Minister Mark Rutte is expected to announce that schools and shops will be closed for at least a month, Dutch media reported on Monday. Rutte held emergency meetings on Monday about the soaring rate of COVID-19 infections and took the unusual step of inviting the heads of all political parties in parliament to join the talks. He was expected to announce the tighter lockdown measures in a rare television address to the country, broadcast from his office at 1900 local time (1800GMT). Broadcasters NOS and RTL cited government sources as saying that all schools and non-essential shops would be closed until Jan. 19, along with daycare centers, gyms, museums, zoos, cinemas, hairdressers and beauty salons. Supermarkets, banks and pharmacies would be allowed to stay open, NOS and RTL said. This would make the lockdown stricter than the one imposed during the first COVID-19

Published December 14, 2020 3:32pm By JOVILAND RITA, GMA News A Filipino nurse in the United Kingdom who received a shot of a COVID-19 vaccine last week has yet to feel any serious side effects. Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV on Monday, Leo Quijano said that many Filipino nurses in the UK already received anti-COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Pfizer-BioNTech. “So far, this is my pang-apat na araw ko na po after nag-vaccination ako ng COVID-19 vaccine. Wala naman akong nararamdaman so far,” said Quijano, who received the vaccine on Wednesday. Quijano only experienced "very common" side effects of vaccination such as mild body pain, tiredness, and mild fever a day after the injection. The nurse recovered immediately. “A day after ng injection, nagkaroon ako ng mild body pain, tiredness, tsaka mild fever. Pero, nawala rin po the next day because I took some paracetamol,” the nurse said. Quijano, who has been working in the UK for 20 years, wants to spread awareness to

Published December 13, 2020 9:00am Updated December 13, 2020 9:11am By JOVILAND RITA, GMA News A Filipino nurse in the United Kingdom who received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Sunday said the side effects he experienced were not alarming. Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, Edward Angelo Granada said that prior to the vaccination, they were informed of the possible side effects of the vaccine. “Wala naman po,” he said when asked if there is something to be worried about the vaccine considering the side effects that he experienced. According to Granada, he experienced pain on the injection site, heaviness in his arms, and also headache. But he noted that he already recovered from these side effects. “The first two days po since nabakunahan po ako, medyo hindi masyado maganda 'yung pakiramdam especially doon po sa injection site, which is hindi naman po sobrang sakit pero sobrang bigat po sa braso,” Granada said. He admitted that he was very skeptical about receivin

Published December 12, 2020 1:02pm By JAMIL SANTOS, GMA News The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration has approved nearly a hundred recruitment agencies hiring Filipino healthcare workers (HCWs) for overseas jobs following the lifting of the deployment ban. "Tayo po sa POEA ay patuloy pong nagpo-proseso ng HCWs tulad ng nurses, nursing aides at nursing assistants kung saan gusto po nilang magtrabaho sa abroad. Meron na po tayong mga datos, halos mga less than 100 'yung napo-proseso natin na agencies na nagpa-process ng new hires patungo ng UK, Germany at ibang bahagi pa ng mundo," POEA undersecretary Bernard Olalia said Saturday at the Laging Handa briefing. Olalia said the 5,000 workers to be deployed per annum will start in January next year, to be applied to newly-hired healthcare workers. He added that the deployment does not include those returning workers who have existing or live contracts with their employers abroad. After the 5,000-mark is reached,

Louella Desiderio (The Philippine Star ) - December 14, 2020 - 12:00am MANILA, Philippines — More COVID-19 vaccines are expected to be made available in the country following British drug maker AstraZeneca’s approval of a request from the private sector for a second batch of vaccine procurement for donations. In a statement yesterday, presidential adviser on entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion said AstraZeneca approved the second part of the vaccine procurement, which can now be processed. “We are happy to announce that with enough support, and of course, demand coming from the private sector, the second part is now already in the works. The signing we did (a) few weeks ago made it to several headlines and we received several inquiries from the private sector asking for more allocation, hence, a request (for) AstraZeneca to hopefully allow us to have a second batch,” Concepcion said. Last month, a deal was signed by Concepcion with over 30 private sector represe

Pia Lee-Brago (The Philippine Star ) - December 14, 2020 - 12:00am MANILA, Philippines — As the COVID-19 pandemic could also create new opportunities for corruption, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) recommended to member states the creation of a specialized committee to oversee emergency funds and vaccine deployment with a strong anti-corruption mandate to supervise vaccine programs. In its recently published policy paper outlining ways to identify and mitigate corruption risks related to the manufacture, allocation and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, UNODC said the body could also act as a critical oversight body during a public health emergency. “In the context of these significant challenges, it is suggested that member states consider the immediate and long-term response measures to identify and mitigate corruption risks that may compromise the access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines by the population,” the policy paper read in part. It added that

Pia Lee-Brago (The Philippine Star ) - December 14, 2020 - 12:00am MANILA, Philippines — As the COVID-19 pandemic could also create new opportunities for corruption, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) recommended to member states the creation of a specialized committee to oversee emergency funds and vaccine deployment with a strong anti-corruption mandate to supervise vaccine programs. In its recently published policy paper outlining ways to identify and mitigate corruption risks related to the manufacture, allocation and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, UNODC said the body could also act as a critical oversight body during a public health emergency. “In the context of these significant challenges, it is suggested that member states consider the immediate and long-term response measures to identify and mitigate corruption risks that may compromise the access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines by the population,” the policy paper read in part. It added that

Paolo Romero (The Philippine Star ) - December 14, 2020 - 12:00am MANILA, Philippines — The Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance (SIPAG) has launched a search for local organizations that have been working at the grassroots to alleviate poverty and improve the lives of Filipinos. Sen. Cynthia Villar, managing director of SIPAG, said 20 outstanding community groups that have been contributing to the growth of their communities would be cited for their achievements. “This year’s search for poverty reduction is more meaningful, given the challenges that we are facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important to recognize these organizations that continue to give back to the community,” Villar said. Selected organizations will be given P250,000 each. “These cooperatives allow individuals to pool together their resources and expertise to solve problems, identify common goals and address challenges to achieve growth,” Villar said. Early next year, the fou

RIO DE JANEIRO - Instead of a manger in Bethlehem, Jesus will arrive this Christmas in a badly burned clearing in the Amazon rainforest, a black baby born to a black virgin with indigenous cherubs looking on. The symbolically charged nativity scene is already turning heads in Rio de Janeiro's Gloria square, where the nearby Church of the Sacred Heart has a history of using its annual Christmas display to address contemporary issues. There was a lot to choose from in 2020, but the church picked two topics that have become particularly pertinent in Brazil since far-right President Jair Bolsonaro took office last year: racism and rampant deforestation in the Amazon. "This nativity scene is meant to show that people who torch mother nature, people who attack their brothers and sisters because their skin is a different color, don't have God in their hearts," said church spokesman Mauricio Rodrigues dos Santos, 63. The church has been making mangers with a message for t

Philip Pullella, Reuters Posted at Dec 13 2020 02:30 PM VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis urged countries on Saturday to work towards net zero carbon emissions and committed Vatican City - the world's smallest state - to reaching the target by 2050. Francis, who has championed environmental causes since his election in 2013, told a UN climate summit the 108-acre (44-hectare) city-state surrounded by Rome would be doing its bit to fight climate change. "The current pandemic and climate change, which are not only environmentally relevant, but also ethically, socially, economically and politically, affect, above all, the lives of the poorest and most fragile," he said in a video message to the summit. "In addition to adopting some measures that cannot be postponed any longer, a strategy is needed to reduce net emissions to zero," Francis said. He committed the Vatican "to reducing net emissions to zero by 2050," as well as intensifying environmental manage

Agence France-Presse Posted at Dec 14 2020 09:53 AM GENEVA - One in four health centers worldwide lacks access to water, putting around 1.8 billion people at increased risk of contracting the coronavirus, the World Health Organization said Monday. The lack of this basic amenity endangers patients and staff alike at such centers, the WHO said in a joint report with the UN children's agency UNICEF. The study was based on data from 165 countries. "Working in a healthcare facility without water, sanitation and hygiene is akin to sending nurses and doctors to work without personal protective equipment," said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. These elements "are fundamental to stopping Covid-19. But there are still major gaps to overcome, particularly in least developed countries." According to WHO figures, while health professionals make up less than three percent of the population, they account for 14 percent of Covid-19 cases recorded around the world. &

A Filipino medical frontliner who has been working in the United Kingdom for 18 years was among the first Filipinos to receive a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine in the area, according to JP Soriano’s report on “24 Oras.” John Pelayo, a 48-year-old scope coordinator in Chester Field Royal Hospital, was inoculated with the vaccine made by Pfizer-BioNTech when the United Kingdom started its public vaccination. He tested positive for COVID-19 in March with his wife, who is a nurse, and his colleague. “Inoffer po kaagad sa akin ‘yung slot na para makapag-vaccinate. So I was told that do you want the, I can give you a slot in the morning. Would you like it, to have the vaccine?” Pelayo said. PINOY ABROAD Published December 11, 2020 9:40pm A Filipino medical frontliner who has been working in the United Kingdom for 18 years was among the first Filipinos to receive a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine in the area, according to JP Soriano’s report on “24 Oras.” Jo

Published December 11, 2020 11:11am By LUCKY MAE F. QUILAO An Amsterdam-based foundation has appealed the Philippine government for an "inclusive travel policy" that would cover LGBT spouses of Filipinos. The appeal came on the heels of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) decision allowing entry to Filipino foreign spouses and their children starting December 7, regardless of their ages provided they would have a COVID testing at the airport and a pre-booked quarantine facility. But for Chris Sta. Brigida, chairman of the Filipino LGBT-Europe, what constitutes "being a spouse" is a question in IATF's Resolution No. 85. “Kinikilala kasi ng gobyerno sa Europe ang pag-iisang dibdib o kasal ng mga LGBT couples or mas kilala sa tinatawag na same-sex-marriage. Mayroon din kaming marriage certificate na katulad at kapareho sa marriage certificate ng opposite sex couples. Pareho sila ng timbang at pareho sila ng

(Agence France-Presse) - November 30, 2020 - 11:37am WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand's workplace watchdog laid charges Monday over the White Island volcanic eruption last year when 22 people died and dozens more suffered horrific burns. The regulator WorkSafe examined why 47 people, mainly Australian tourists, were on the island in December 2019 when a column of burning ash and steam blasted from a volcanic vent. The eruption threat alert level was raised in the weeks leading up to the eruption and WorkSafe chief executive Phil Parkes said an investigation had found charges were warranted. "This deeply tragic event was unexpected but that does not mean it was unforeseeable," he told reporters. "The victims, both workers and visitors alike, all had a reasonable expectation that they could go to the island knowing that the organizations involved had done all they were required to do to look after their health and safety." Parkes said 10 organizations

Rosette Adel (Philstar.com) - December 1, 2020 - 9:51pm MANILA, Philippines–The Department of Tourism recently launched another online survey on Filipino travelers’ sentiments in the so-called “new normal.” The online travel survey, which is a follow-up to the survey in May 2020, is once again in collaboration with Guide to the Philippines and the Asian Institute of Management (AIM)-Dr. Andrew L. Tan Center. The follow-up online survey formally opened last November 28 and will run until December 4. Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat invites the public to participate in the nationwide survey which can be accessed at bit.ly/phtravelsurvey-travelers. "By sparing ten minutes to answer the survey, you can help shape the recovery of the Philippine tourism industry," Puyat said. In May, the DOT and Aim-Dr. Andrew L. Tan Center also launched a survey to determine the "new normal" of travel and tourism industry. It has then collected feedback from 12,732 re

Alexis Romero (The Philippine Star ) - December 2, 2020 - 12:00am MANILA, Philippines — Minors may soon be allowed to go to malls with their parents as the government continues to reopen the economy while trying to prevent a surge of COVID-19 infections during the holidays. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque yesterday said Metro Manila mayors are expected to come up with a policy that would ease the age-based restriction on movement. Details of the relaxed stay-at-home policy, including the age of minors who will be allowed to go out, will be included in the guidelines to be crafted. “That will be done by the Metro Manila Council and the local governments. Once it is released by the Metro Manila Council, that will be applicable to the entire Metropolitan Manila area,” Roque said at a press briefing. “This will be subject to the guidelines to be crafted by the Metro Manila Council and the different local governments. So we will make sure that children will not be super spreaders.

(Agence France-Presse) - December 2, 2020 - 9:57am PARIS — The global economy may get back to pre-pandemic levels by the end of next year as vaccines help propel recovery, but growth is likely to be uneven, the OECD said Tuesday. Signs that vaccines could now be weeks away from distribution have injected cautious optimism as the year limps to a close with COVID-19 having claimed some 1.4 million lives. "For the first time since the pandemic began, there is now hope for a brighter future," OECD Chief Economist Laurence Boone wrote in her introduction to the organisation's latest review of the global economic outlook. "Progress with vaccines and treatment have lifted expectations and uncertainty has receded," she said, acknowledging that virus containment measures would likely be necessary for some months to come. "The road ahead is brighter but challenging," Boone added. 'Unprecedented' action The Organisation for Economic Co-operation an

ABS-CBN News Posted at Dec 02 2020 08:41 AM | Updated as of Dec 02 2020 08:55 AM MANILA - Minors in areas with low-risk of virus transmission may be allowed to go outside their homes, doctors and scientists said Wednesday. Children below 8 years old who cannot wear masks properly should not be allowed outside, according to Dr. Edsel Salvana, a member of health department's technical advisory group. "Alam naman natin ang mga bata hindi naman talaga sila nakakagamit ng masks nang maayos at mild ang symptoms nila bagamat pwede siyang mapasa kung may matatanda sa bahay at merong chronic illnesses," he told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo. (We know children cannot really properly wear masks and they have mild symptoms but can transmit if there are elderly people at home or those who have chronic illnesses.) "Pwede po talaga magsurge dahil sa mga superspreader na mga bata." (There can be a surge because of superspreader children.) "In places like Batanes, Iloco