METRO MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte is scheduled to deliver the state of the nation address (SONA) today amid health crisis amid COVID-19 cases and econimic slowdown griping the the entire country. HAPPENING NOW: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers his 5th State of the Nation Address at the Batasang Pambansa Complex. | https://t.co/1kzGrOh5YK#WeRiseAsOne#DuterteSONA2020 pic.twitter.com/zjChyb3gu4 — Presidential Comm (@pcoogov) July 27, …

MANILA – More than 80,000 people in the country has now been positive with the COVID-19, the Department of Health announced on Sunday after 2,110 additional new cases were recorded by the agency. The DOH the positive cases has already reached 80,448. Over 60% or 1,345 of the new cases came from the National Capital Region,  Cebu, on the other …

Security was tight outside the US consulate in the Chinese city of Chengdu as workers inside were ready to depart, the day after China ordered it to close in response to a US request that China shut down its consulate in Houston. Tit-for – tat consulate closures have led to a rapid deterioration in relations between the two largest economies …

KUALA LUMPUR – PKR President Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today, that PKR is ready for snap elections if one is called soon. Anwar said that all matters of the general election, the decision will be entirely to the prime minister. However he reiterated that the party is ready. Their machinerary even for Negri Sembilan is now ready for use. …

PETALING JAYA – US investment bank Goldman Sachs and Malaysia has agreed for a US$3.9 billion settlement over the multibillion-dollar 1MDB corruption scheme. According to Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Azi, the group also agreed for the cash payment in order to resolve outstanding charges and claims related to the three bond transactions that Wall Street bank …

Recently, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) launched a campaign to round up hundreds of abandoned cars in the city. This survey marks D-Day, the day City Hall begins to take control of abandoned cars said Deputy Bangkok Governor Sakoltee Phattiyakul as he oversaw the first vehicles to be towed away at 10 a.m. in Suan Luang district. In fact,  Bangkok …

Predee Daochai, co-chair of Kasikornbank and chair of the Thai Bankers’ Association, expected to become Deputy Prime Minister and at the same time serve as Finance Minister, resigned on Friday. In related news, PTT Global Chemical Plc (PTTGC) on Friday told the Stock Exchange of Thailand of the resignation of its director Supattanapong Punmeechaow. The potential minister, now 60 years …

MANILA – The Department of the Interior and Local Government has issued an advisory urging local governments not to issue rally permits during the President Duterte’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday. The advisory issued by DILG was in accordance with health protocols issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases. …

MANILA  – President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered for an investigation on the alleged anomalies in the Philhealth regarding overpriced procurement of an information technology system. pic.twitter.com/3G4ZYhVlNM — Harry Roque (@attyharryroque) July 24, 2020 Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said in a statement that three PhilHealth officials resigned from their respective posts because of corruption allegations within the government agency. Roque …

The University of North Sumatra (USU) conducted a campus lockdown of all activities following a number of lecturers who tested positive for the coronavirus (Covid-19). One of them has died from the coronavirus disease. The campus closure will be conducted for one week, from 27 July to 2 August 2020. The decision was stated in the Circular Letter of Rector …