Inquirer

BACOLOD CITY—A former congressman called on President Duterte to declare a national period of mourning to honor health care workers who died in the line of duty in the battle with COVID-19.   Alfredo “Albee” Benitez, former member of the House of Representatives, said the simple act of flying the Philippine flag in all government offices at half-staff would be a recognition of the sacrifice being made by health workers who persist in caring for COVID-19 patients despite the risks.   He proposed the period of mourning to start on Aug. 17 until Sept. 18.   The start of the month-long commemoration would coincide with the celebration of World Humanitarian …

Keep on reading: Negros Occidental’s Benitez brothers want PH flag flown at half-staff for fallen health workers

The Philippine remake of the Korean drama series “Descendants of the Sun” has been recognized as the Most Popular Foreign Drama of the Year at the Seoul International Drama Awards. GMA shared the achievement on Instagram yesterday, Aug. 10, alongside a poster of its stars Dingdong Dantes, Jennylyn Mercado, Jasmine Curtis-Smith and Rocco Nacino. https://www.instagram.com/p/CDtFkkLpnQL/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Dantes later spoke about the win on his own page and thanked the show’s crew as well. “A proud member of Team DOTS here!” he said. “Congratulations to the men and women behind the show!” https://www.instagram.com/p/CDtGRmzDxLJ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link His co-star Merc…

Keep on reading: PH remake of ‘Descendants of the Sun’ wins at Seoul Int’l Drama Awards

PARIS, France (Updated)— The coronavirus pandemic chalked up another horrific milestone Monday as the world surpassed 20 million recorded cases of infection from the tiny killer that has upended life just about everywhere. The number as of 2215 GMT was 20,002,577 cases, with 733,842 deaths recorded, according to an AFP tally of official sources. In yet another staggering landmark, the death toll is expected to surpass 750,000 in a matter of days as the global health crisis that began late last year in China rages on. As more things once unthinkable became harsh reality — having to wear a facemask in touristy spots in Paris, or reserve a spot on Copacabana beach in Rio via an …

Keep on reading: Global coronavirus infections pass 20 million

MANILA, Philippines — The Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives and other activist groups slammed on Monday the killing of peasant leader Randall “Randy” Echanis, a peace consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, and vowed to stage protests in the coming days. Lawmakers belonging to party-lists Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Kabataan, and the Alliance of Concerned Teachers all issued statements on Monday condemning the killing of 72-year-old Echanis, who was stabbed earlier in his rented home in Novaliches, Quezon City, along with a still unidentified neighbor. The groups issued statements even though the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) had not confirmed …

Keep on reading: Makabayan bloc, groups slam killing of peasant leader Echanis, will stage protests

Gaza City, Palestinian Territories — The Gaza Strip’s rulers Hamas fired rockets into the sea on Monday after repeated exchanges of fire with Israel in recent days, Palestinian security sources and eyewitnesses said. At least eight rockets were seen in the sky, heading toward the Mediterranean Sea, said AFP journalists in the coastal strip, which has been under Israeli blockade for more than a decade. The interior ministry of the Palestinian enclave under Hamas control since 2007 referred to “an act of resistance”. The rockets were a “message” to Israel to let it know that armed groups in Gaza will not “remain silent” in the face of an Israeli blockade and “aggression”, a …

Keep on reading: Hamas fires rockets into sea in ‘message’ to Israel

South Korean actor and singer Park Bo-gum officially released his new song “All My Love” with an accompanying music video that would surely give a sweet treat to fans ahead of his military enlistment. Park’s second single, which has two versions — English and Korean — started its distribution on select digital platforms worldwide on Monday, Aug. 10. The music video of the song’s English version has already been released by Pony Canyon Inc. on YouTube. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=95&v=b15uSDWoCu8&feature=emb_logo[/embed] “All My Love” is a special ballad that Park personally dedicates to his fans, with a sweet message that would “bring healing t…

Keep on reading: Park Bo-gum drops new single, video of ‘All My Love’ ahead of military enlistment

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida — Zion Williamson’s rookie season is ending without a playoff berth. It’s not an uncommon stop on the NBA learning curve. Even for No. 1 draft picks, like Williamson was a year ago, winning takes time. The last player to go from being the top overall selection one year to a playoff-game starter the very next season was Derrick Rose — more than a decade ago. LeBron James needed three years to make the playoffs. John Wall needed four seasons. So did Kyrie Irving, his wait ending in large part because James returned to Cleveland. Williamson is about to learn what that process is like. The New Orleans Pelicans are out of playoff contention, something…

Keep on reading: Zion’s rookie year will end without a postseason berth

PENANG, Malaysia — Malaysia’s former finance minister pleaded not guilty Monday to a second corruption charge related to a $1.5 billion undersea tunnel project and slammed the case as a trumped-up charge by the new government.       Lim Guan Eng, 59, was first charged Friday with soliciting 10% of potential profits in 2011 as a bribe for the project planned in northern Penang state. On Monday, he was accused of abusing his power as Penang chief minister to obtain 3.3 million ringgit ($786,182) as inducement to help a local company secure the construction contract. The project was approved during Lim’s tenure as Penang chief minister from 2008-2018, …

Keep on reading: Malaysia’s ex-finance minister charged again in graft case

ROME — With confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S. hitting 5 million Sunday, by far the highest of any country, the failure of the most powerful nation in the world to contain the scourge has been met with astonishment and alarm in Europe.       Perhaps nowhere outside the U.S. is America’s bungled virus response viewed with more consternation than in Italy, which was ground zero of Europe’s epidemic. Italians were unprepared when the outbreak exploded in February, and the country still has one of the world’s highest official death tolls at over 35,000. But after a strict nationwide, 10-week lockdown, vigilant tracing of new clusters and general ac…

Keep on reading: US tops 5 million confirmed coronavirus cases, to Europe’s alarm

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) reminded on Saturday Assumption Iloilo, a private Catholic school, that Iloilo City had passed an ordinance penalizing acts that discriminate against members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. The CHR issued the statement after the school got flak for tagging “homosexuality” as “immoral” and thus a ground for expulsion, as stated in its handbook for employees and students. But according to CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia, Section IV (2) of Iloilo City Resolution 2016-572 “defines refusal and failing to accept as a student and subjecting a person to terms on the basis of sexual orientation…

Keep on reading: CHR warns Iloilo school: Ordinance penalizes discrimination vs LGBT