Spotlight | ABS-CBN News

Xi, Biden break ice with phone call, but can they dial down tensions?

Sarah Zheng and Eduardo Baptista, South China Morning Post
Feb 12 02:24 PM

Analysts say conversation is a first step in getting ties on the right track, but Washington is expected to continue taking a tough line on Beijing. US messaging emphasized concerns raised on economic practices, human rights and Taiwan, while China focused on cooperation and dialogue. Read more »

US CDC says masks must fit tightly – and two are better than one

The Conversation/Reuters
Feb 11 10:35 PM

On Feb. 10, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new mask guidelines based on a study of how mask fit affects the wearer’s exposure to airborne particles. With more transmissible COVID-19 strains emerging around the world, it is important to properly use the right kinds of face masks. Read more »

Who will sanction Parlade over online rants?

Chiara Zambrano, ABS-CBN News
Feb 11 09:38 PM

Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade - the Philippine senior military officer who is gaining infamy for his tirades on social media against those he accuses of being communists – wears two hats for the government that is now making it unclear who could sanction him for his online vitriol. Read more »

Coronavirus: China’s COVID-19 origin theory includes pig heads and frozen fish

Simone McCarthy and Linda Lew, South China Morning Post
Feb 11 01:31 PM

The WHO investigation team puts forward cold-chain transmission as a lead despite skepticism. Beijing has used the theory to support its claims that the virus may have not originated in China. Read more »

WHO Wuhan COVID-19 mission over but much more work still to do

Simone McCarthy, South China Morning Post
Feb 11 12:50 PM

A World Health Organization (WHO) mission to China to investigate the origins of COVID-19 has ended without a clear answer, but research further afield could help fill in some of the gaps, according to members of the team.   Read more »

'Napakalaking loophole': Why politicians get away with premature campaigning

Rose Carmelle Lacuata, ABS-CBN News
Feb 11 05:34 AM | Updated Feb 11 05:35 AM

Premature campaigning is usually frowned upon by Filipinos, but the Commission on Elections said many politicians are able to skirt around the law.   Read more »

New AFP Chief Sobejana: The left-handed warrior and the fight against the Left

Chiara Zambrano, ABS-CBN News
Feb 10 07:46 PM

Get to know the new military chief Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, his plans for the military and his relationship with the Left.  Read more »

THROWBACK: 'Dura' at 'ipit' modus

ABS-CBN News
Feb 10 04:04 PM | Updated Feb 10 04:32 PM

Nagbabala ang pulisya sa publiko laban sa mga istilo ng mga kawatan na pambabaling sa pansin ng mga pasahero sa mga pampublikong sasakyan upang sila ay manakawan.   Read more »

ALAMIN: Pre-medication at iba pang agam-agam kaugnay sa COVID-19 vaccine, tinalakay

Aleta Nieva Nishimori, ABS-CBN News
Feb 10 01:23 PM | Updated Feb 11 02:54 AM

Sa panayam ng TeleRadyo, Miyerkoles ng umaga, kay Dr. Rommel Crisenio Lobo, vice chair ng National Adverse Events Following Immunization Committee, sinagot niya ang ilang katanungan hinggil sa pagbabakuna kontra COVID-19. Read more »

UK, South African, Brazilian: a virologist explains each COVID variant

Reuters
Feb 10 09:15 AM

But what exactly are these variants, and how concerned should we be?   Read more »

After coup, Myanmar’s journalists watch and wait, warily

Johanna Son, Reporting ASEAN/VERA Files
Feb 09 09:52 PM

The absence of a declared crackdown on the media in Myanmar does not mean normalcy, much less safety for professional journalists. The haziness of it all is, by itself, a sword of Damocles hanging over their heads Read more »

China urged to trace coronavirus before promoting 'vaccines diplomacy'

Kyodo News
Feb 09 09:33 PM

Calls are growing for China to take adequate responsibility to identify the origins of the novel coronavirus, first detected in its central city of Wuhan, before trying to boost its global clout through "vaccine diplomacy." Read more »

COVID-19 vaccine journey: from manufacturer to recipient

Vivienne Gulla and Kristine Sabillo; infographic by Pamela Ramos, ABS-CBN News
Feb 09 09:23 PM | Updated Feb 11 11:09 AM

The government's planned distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to intended recipients. Read more »

Coronavirus: Time to wear a better mask, experts say

Issam Ahmed, Agence France-Presse
Feb 09 02:17 PM

WASHINGTON - As new, more transmissible variants of the coronavirus spread, experts say it's time to consider using a medical-grade respirator, or wearing a surgical and cloth mask together. Read more »

COVID SCIENCE: Death risk higher from UK virus variant; vaccine in pregnancy may protect newborns

Nancy Lapid, Reuters
Feb 09 06:52 AM

The following is a roundup of some of the latest scientific studies on the novel coronavirus and efforts to find treatments and vaccines for COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus. Read more »

Boxing: Ryan Garcia's trainer not in favor of Pacquiao fight

ABS-CBN News
Feb 07 06:33 PM

If trainer Eddy Reynoso has his way, Ryan Garcia will focus on a potential showdown against Gervonta Davis, rather than chase his "dream match" against Manny Pacquiao. Read more »

Cash injection urged to help poor fight COVID-19 during vaccine wait

Emma Batha, Thomson Reuters Foundation
Feb 07 04:31 PM | Updated Feb 07 04:34 PM

LONDON - More than 80 percent of people in some developing countries have lost income due to COVID-19, economists said on Friday, warning that soaring poverty could hamper efforts to control the disease in nations where mass inoculation may be a long way off. Read more »

Doctors warn of long-lasting COVID aftereffects among youths

Kyodo News
Feb 07 11:08 AM

Doctors have warned that many coronavirus patients, especially younger ones, are suffering aftereffects for a long time despite subsequently testing negative for the virus and are calling on the government to take countermeasures. Read more »

US, allies should seize on China’s big weaknesses to curb its global ambitions- think tank

Liu Zhen, South China Morning Post
Feb 06 01:27 PM

The United States and its allies should seize on China’s three main military weaknesses and divert the People's Liberation Army to spread its resources to immediate land, near-sea and offshore disputes to stop it from going global, a US think tank suggested.   Read more »

WHO chief urges 'massive scale-up' in vaccine production

Agence France-Presse
Feb 06 01:08 PM

The uneven distribution of vaccines is putting progress made against the pandemic at risk, the WHO chief warned. Read more »

Climate change may have had 'key role' in pandemic: study

Patrick Galey, Agence France-Presse
Feb 06 02:56 AM

Climate change may have played a "key role" in the transmission of COVID-19 to humans by driving species of pathogen-carrying bats into closer contact, research showed Friday. Read more »

THROWBACK: Ifugao's lipog or rice wine maker

Local Legends
Feb 05 04:07 PM

Ifugao's rice wine making practices across generations.  Read more »

Ailing newspapers abandon newsrooms, as pandemic deepens woes

Thomas Urbain, Agence France-Presse
Feb 05 04:23 AM

Many journalists say the loss of the newsroom has changed the nature of their work and worry that newspapers may not re-establish newsrooms even after the pandemic. Read more »

What happens to Myanmar if the US imposes new sanctions?

Amber Wang, South China Morning Post
Feb 04 01:51 PM

The Southeast Asian country is no stranger to restrictions from foreign powers, so will fresh ones make any difference? Unrest in Myanmar could spook Chinese investors, observer says. Read more »

COVID SCIENCE: One vaccine dose might be enough for COVID-19 survivors

Reuters
Feb 04 07:49 AM

COVID-19 survivors might only need one shot of the new vaccines from Moderna Inc and Pfizer/BioNTech , instead of the usual two doses, because their immune systems have gotten a head start on learning to recognize the virus, according to two separate reports posted this week on medRxiv ahead of peer review. Read more »