Philippines

  • World NewsChina donates US.5 million worth military equipment to Philippines

    China donates US$19.5 million worth military equipment to Philippines

    Last week, China allocated the Philippines US$19.5 million in military equipment as part of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s vow to help the Philippines government with not only anti-narcotics and anti-terrorism efforts, but also disaster relief missions. China has helped the Philippines modernise its military in recent years by sending high-capacity weaponry and equipment to support ongoing missions despite tensions in…

  • World NewsPhilippines’ Typhoon Rai destroyed 1.5 million houses in total – IFRC

    Philippines’ Typhoon Rai destroyed 1.5 million houses in total – IFRC

    New figures from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) show the entire scope of the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Rai, locally called Odette, when it hit the Philippines last month, causing damage to 1.5 million homes, which was more than any previous typhoon in recent decades. The Philippine Red Cross is bolstering its shelter…

  • World NewsSingapore crowned most “Instagrammable” place in the world – Big 7 Travel

    Singapore crowned most “Instagrammable” place in the world – Big 7 Travel

    If you’re in Singapore, get out your camera. The Southeast Asian country was just named the most “Instagrammable” place in the world by the England-based publication Big 7 Travel. The publication noted its annual hashtag tally, which is now in its fourth year, that Singapore has many photographable spots “from the renowned Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay to…

  • Bangkok NewsThai baht rises as officials consider resumption of Test & Go

    Thai baht rises as officials consider resumption of Test & Go

    Thailand saw strength in its currency “baht” today as expectations are high for the relaxing of quarantine for vaccinated visitors under “Test & Go” quarantine exemption scheme. Registration for the entry scheme was closed last month, but the Public Health Ministry is proposing the scheme be reopened again. The Public Health Minister says that if approved by the Centre for…

  • World NewsAung San Suu Kyi is “indispensable” for Myanmar peace talk, says Philippines FM

    Aung San Suu Kyi is “indispensable” for Myanmar peace talk, says Philippines FM

    The Philippines, amongst other neutral ASEAN members, made a strong statement on solving the Myanmar crisis yesterday as its foreign minister urged the 10 member bloc to invite the deposed leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, to any peace talks, citing she’s the key figure in restoring democracy to the turmoiled Southeast Asian nation, regardless of her conviction. The Philippines Foreign…

  • World NewsPhilippines sets “no vaccine, no ride” policy for Manila public transportation

    Philippines sets “no vaccine, no ride” policy for Manila public transportation

    If you’re in the Philippines, you’ll need to show your vaccination certificate to use public transportation in the country’s capital Manila. The Southeast Asian country’s new “no vaccine, no ride” policy prohibits those who are unvaccinated against Covid-19 from riding public transportation in Manila starting next week. The controversial restriction was enacted after a fresh wave of Cvoid-19 cases skyrocketed…

  • World NewsNearly 30,000 Covid-19 cases reported in the Philippines in a single day

    Nearly 30,000 Covid-19 cases reported in the Philippines in a single day

    The Philippines reported 28,007 new Covid-19 cases in a single day, three times bigger than Thailand’s number yesterday, reaching over 3 million in total since the pandemic began in March 2020. A total of 52,511 patients have died so far. The Southeast Asian country’s hope to end the pandemic is now long gone, despite its vaccine efforts, following the uptick…

  • World NewsDuterte orders the arrest of unvaccinated people who violate stay-at-home rule

    Duterte orders the arrest of unvaccinated people who violate stay-at-home rule

    Amid a surge in Covid-19 infections in the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte is coming down hard on the unvaccinated. The government recently tightened restrictions in Manila and several provinces, including banning unvaccinated people from leaving home unless for exercise or to purchase essentials. According to an AFP report, Duterte has gone as far as to sanction the arrest of anyone…

  • World NewsPhilippines president says he will never apologise for deaths during his “war on drugs”

    Philippines president says he will never apologise for deaths during his “war on drugs”

    Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte says he’ll never apologise for the deaths during his bloody war on drugs campaign where, according to government data reported by Reuters, around 6,200 drugs suspects were killed in police sting operations since Duterte took power in June 2016. “I will never, never apologise for the deaths… Kill me. Jail me. I will never apologise for…

  • World NewsTravellers who break Philippines quarantine rules face US,000 fine or 6 months in jail

    Travellers who break Philippines quarantine rules face US$1,000 fine or 6 months in jail

    The Philippines has issued a warning to incoming travellers that those who break quarantine rules might face fines of up to 50,000 Philippine pesos (US$1,000) or six months in prison as it prepares to deal with the new strain of Omicron in the wake of a spike in Covid-19 cases. During a television interview yesterday, President Duterte’s spokesperson, Karlos Nograles,…

  • World NewsTyphoon Rai death toll raises to almost 400, 83 still missing in the Philippines

    Typhoon Rai death toll raises to almost 400, 83 still missing in the Philippines

    Following the destruction caused by Super Typhoon Rai in the Philippines last week, the death toll has risen to 397 and 83 are still missing, according to the official figure released by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council today. Almost 561,500 people have been displaced and 1,147 individuals injured as rescuers from the ground, adding that over half…

  • World NewsPopular Philippines surf spot devastated by Typhoon Rai

    Popular Philippines surf spot devastated by Typhoon Rai

    Restrictions in the Philippines were lifted for the holiday season, businesses were expecting an upturn in tourism on the surfing island in the southern Philippines. But Super Typhoon Rai hit the tropical paradise in Siargao, ripping its palm trees, houses, and electricity poles last Thursday with wind speeds of 195 kilometers per hour. Locals, including many Filipino families who came to…

  • World NewsFour killed, dozens injured as Typhoon Rai batters central Philippines

    Four killed, dozens injured as Typhoon Rai batters central Philippines

    In this year’s strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines, four people were killed and dozens more were injured. Super Typhoon Rai, also named “Odette” by the country’s authorities, has battered the central islands of the archipelago. As the storm swept over the Pacific Ocean, 18,000 people have yet to return home out of the more than 300,000 people who sought…

  • World NewsPhilippine island hit by Typhoon Rai, more than 45,000 people forced to evacuate

    Philippine island hit by Typhoon Rai, more than 45,000 people forced to evacuate

    Super Typhoon Rai, named “Odette” in the Philippines, ripped through the archipelago’s eastern island of Siargao, forcing tens of thousands of people to flee their homes. Flights have been cancelled as well as land and sea trips in the area. More than 45,000 people have been evacuated to government shelters in Eastern Visayas, which includes six provinces, as the 15th…

  • World NewsPhilippines prepares for reopening as quarantine lifted for 44 countries

    Philippines prepares for reopening as quarantine lifted for 44 countries

    Following the headline on Tuesday that the Philippines is waiving quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated visitors from 44 “green list” countries, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) is reportedly gearing up for the eventual reopening of Philippine borders to international tourists, despite a steady decline in Covid-19 cases in the country. According to the Manila Times, the Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente…

  • World NewsInternational Criminal Court pauses probe into Philippines president’s bloody war on drugs

    International Criminal Court pauses probe into Philippines president’s bloody war on drugs

    The investigation into Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody war on drugs has been temporarily suspended by the International Criminal Court. The ICC launched the probe into alleged human rights violations during the president’s campaign against illegal drugs where thousands have died since Duterte took office in June 2016. The Court has reportedly halted the investigation to review a deferral request…

  • World NewsStudents in lower-risks area return to classrooms as the Philippines reopens schools

    Students in lower-risks area return to classrooms as the Philippines reopens schools

    Thousands of the Philippines students returned to school on Monday for the first time in nearly two years as a hundred public schools in lower-risk areas have started a two-month pilot program to hold courses in person. As approved by President Rodrigo Duterte, a total of 100 public schools will participate in the two-month pilot program. On Monday, 30 private…

  • World NewsCovid-19 subsiding in Philippines drops capital region to Alert Level 2

    Covid-19 subsiding in Philippines drops capital region to Alert Level 2

    As Covid-19 infections start to slow in the Philippines, Metro Manila and the capital region will reduce their restriction rating to Alert Level 2 out of 5. The easing will be in effect until November 21 as vaccination rates are increasing and daily infections are subsiding. The country is still reporting close to 2,000 infections per day, though yesterday say…

  • Thailand video newsThailand off UK’s red list, Singapore plans “travel lane” with US | Thailand Top Stories | October 8

    Thailand off UK’s red list, Singapore plans “travel lane” with US | Thailand Top Stories | October 8

    Thailand off UK’s red list, Singapore plans “travel lane” with US | Thailand Top Stories | October 8 | Caitlin gives us a quick update on the national Covid-19 situation as well as the top headlines in Thailand and Southeast Asia: Thailand off the UK’s red list, Guests evacuate quarantine hotel after fire, Riot police officer shot in the head…

  • World NewsICC opens investigation into Philippines President Duterte

    ICC opens investigation into Philippines President Duterte

    Draconian laws in the Philippines’s war on drugs may be catching up with President Rodrigo Duterte as the International Criminal Court just approved a formal investigation into possible crimes against humanity under his regime. The ICC reviewed materials and announced the decision to pursue Duterte yesterday. Judges have approved the request by prosecutors to look into possible crimes against humanity…

  • World NewsDuterte approves lockdown measures for Manila

    Duterte approves lockdown measures for Manila

    The president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, AKA Rody, or “The Punisher”, or “Duterte Harry”, has approved lockdown measures in the capital of the Philippines, Manila, today. The move is an effort to thwart the spread of the Delta variant and to protect the country’s medical system. Earlier in the week, Duterte expressed his lack of enthusiasm for lockdowns, framing…

  • Thailand NewsThai government mulls over regulations for locally-made AstraZeneca exports

    Thai government mulls over regulations for locally-made AstraZeneca exports

    The Thai government is looking into regulations for exporting the locally-made AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, possibly limiting the volume shipped overseas. The consideration comes as Thailand battles its most severe wave of Covid-19 and the emergence of the highly transmissible Delta variant. The number of active cases continues to hit record highs. With a limited supply of vaccines, health officials have…

  • World NewsVolcano eruption in the Philippines, thousands evacuated

    Volcano eruption in the Philippines, thousands evacuated

    The public is reminded that the entire volcano island is a Permanent Danger Zone One of the world’s smallest active volcanoes, the Taal Volcano in the Philippines, is forcing tens of thousands of residents to evacuate after it started blasting out a kilometre high plume of gas and steam yesterday. The alert went out that that the volcano, which is…

  • World NewsAstraZeneca working with Southeast Asia countries after delays from Thai plant

    AstraZeneca working with Southeast Asia countries after delays from Thai plant

    Following reports from several Southeast Asian countries regarding delays in deliveries of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine from the Thailand manufacturing plant, the British-Swedish pharmaceutical company now says it is working with the governments to make sure the vaccine is supplied “as quickly as possible.” Malaysia, Taiwan and the Philippines have announced that they expect delays of the AstraZeneca vaccine from…

  • World NewsPhilippines confirms delay in imports of AstraZeneca doses from Thailand

    Philippines confirms delay in imports of AstraZeneca doses from Thailand

    The Philippines has announced that the arrival of a first batch of AstraZeneca vaccines being imported from Thailand has been delayed. The delivery of the vaccines, manufactured in Thailand and ordered by the Philippines, has now been pushed back by several weeks. According to a Bangkok Post report, the development gives rise to questions about Thailand’s distribution plans for Southeast…

  • World NewsOver 190,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine touch down in the Philippines

    Over 190,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine touch down in the Philippines

    The Covid-19 vaccine rollout in the Philippines just got a significant boost, thanks to the arrival of at least 193,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine. The much-needed supply was donated by Covax, a global initiative set up to ensure equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines. Thailand declined to join Covax when given the opportunity, preferring to strike deals with manufacturers directly.…

  • World NewsThailand joins other Southeast Asian countries with hospital bed shortages amidst Covid crisis

    Thailand joins other Southeast Asian countries with hospital bed shortages amidst Covid crisis

    As Southeast Asian nations are struggling to control new waves of Covid-19, Thailand is joining its neighbours in running out of hospital beds for patients. Last Friday, the government warned that beds could run out in as little as 6 to 8 days, unless the situation is brought under control. Malaysia and the Philippines are also struggling to provide the…

  • World News1 person dead, thousands forced to flee as “super typhoon” strikes the Philippines

    1 person dead, thousands forced to flee as “super typhoon” strikes the Philippines

    Super typhoon Surigae has hit close to coastal areas in the eastern provinces of the Philippines, with 1 person killed and tens of thousands forced to evacuate. It’s understood the deceased person is a 79 year old man, who was struck by a falling coconut tree and sustained a severe head injury. Over 109,000 people have been forced to flee…

  • World NewsFrom the beautiful to the bizarre: 6 Christmas traditions from around Asia

    From the beautiful to the bizarre: 6 Christmas traditions from around Asia

    Wherever you find yourself on Christmas Day this year, it’s sure to be slightly different to previous years – or even extremely different, depending on how severe the Covid-19 situation is in your location. But in happier, more normal times, these 6 Asian countries have their own unique ways in which to celebrate the holiday. Eating KFC in Japan Did…

  • Thailand NewsThailand’s English level drops for the third year – English Proficiency Index

    Thailand’s English level drops for the third year – English Proficiency Index

    English skills in Thailand have dropped for the third year in a row with an English language proficiency score considered to be “very low.” In the past year, Thailand’s ranking dropped from 74 out of 100 countries to 89, according to the 2020 English Proficiency Index by EF Education First. The index is based on test results from 2.2 million…