Major Harris was found dead on Thursday, October 21, after being the subject of an AMBER Alert for a week

By Sam Nussey TOKYO (Reuters) - SoftBank Group Corp is in talks to sell the Paris-based robotics business behind its

The head of environmental group Greenpeace has warned against efforts by countries and corporations to “greenwash” their ongoing pollution of the planet at the forthcoming U.N. climate talks

By Soumyajit Saha BENGALURU (Reuters) - Indian shares rebounded from three straight sessions of losses to rise on Friday, as

Manila, Oct. 22 -- The United States, through the COVAX Facility, will deliver another two million doses of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine to the Philippines by next week, US Embassy in Manila Charge d'Affaires Heather Variava said Thursday night. "Yes, we will. In fact, we are really delighted that next week some more, about two million doses from the United States donated thru COVAX will be arriving. So, more is coming," she said in an interview shortly after the arrival of the 813,150 doses government procured Pfizer vaccine at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3. These jabs were delivered via Air Hongkong Flight LD 456. Out of a total of 1,014,390 doses delivered in the country, 100,620 doses arrived in Cebu at around 6:30 p.m. on Thursday while another 100,620 doses are set to be delivered to Davao on Friday. Variava also said Pfizer is one of the safest and effective most vaccines in the US and it has already been used in the vaccination of 10 million children. She said she is happy that more of the life-saving jabs are arriving in the Philippines. "Pfizer is one, of course, of the safest and most effective vaccines we have. We are delighted that more is arriving in the Philippines especially because we're now vaccinating children ages 12 and above. Indeed, we have vaccinated more than 10 million children in the United States with the Pfizer vaccine. My son is one of them in fact. He is a teenager. So it is a very safe and effective vaccine for children," Variava said. Meanwhile, National Task Force against Covid-19 and vaccine czar, Secretary Carlito Galvez. Jr. lauded the efforts of the United States for ramping up the supplies of the vaccines to the country and thanked Variava for taking time to visit hospitals in Manila. Galvez said the initial phase of the children's vaccination is a decisive decision for the government as it would give confidence to Filipinos that not only Covid-19 vaccines are safe but also vaccines for rubella, polio, and measles. Vaccination for children in Metro Manila started in some selected hospitals last October 15. "It would really give more confidence to our people not only for vaccinating the Covid-19 vaccine but all other vaccines like rubella, polio, and also measles. That is why we are very much decisive, very prudent in the execution of our vaccination. For now, we have more than 4,000 children have been vaccinated, and we have only reported very minor adverse effects, I think only four," Galvez added. Galvez said the newly-arrived Pfizer vaccine and those coming in later will be distributed to different cities in the country. "We will start already the rollout vaccination for children for additional 23 hospitals in NCR (Natonal Capital Region) so tomorrow (Friday) is our expansion and the next (October 29) will expand that to other LGUs (local government units) So we are very happy to report the vaccination for children is very very successful initial week," he said. With improving vaccination rates in Metro Manila, Galvez expressed confidence that population protection will be attained by the middle or end of November. "I'm so confident that soon we will be having some sort of normality in Metro Manila considering that Metro Manila has the highest vaccination rate, with more or less 92 percent first dose and more than 80 percent fully vaccinated. And with the vaccination of children coming up for Metro Manila, we (going to) scale up its protection, I believe before the end of November or middle of November, we could already achieve population protection," Galvez said. With Covid-19 vaccine supplies no longer an issue, he said the President has instructed all LGUs and provincial officials to scale up or fast track their vaccination programs to make use of all available jabs. "Right now supply is not anymore an issue. The President (Rodrigo R. Duterte) is a bit worried about the stockpiling of some vaccines (amounting to) 29 million. He instructed all the LGUs, governors, and mayors to fast-track their vaccinations. He said vaccinations should be 24/7 and it should be scaled up in a way we can meet our target the soonest possible time," Galvez said. But besides this, the President is very happy now that the country's vaccine orders are now being delivered along with those being donated. "He is very happy for the US for giving us more than 18 million vaccines because they promise another 2,098,000 vaccines will be coming in next week, and the President is very happy, the generosity of the US and the COVAX is now generating some spirit of compassion and generosity, that most of the other countries are doing some donations like Germany and also I believed Australia will follow suit," he added. Galvez also said the Japanese government will donate another 1.9 million doses of vaccines. Once these jabs arrive, these will increase Tokyo's total vaccine donation to Manila to three million. The vaccine czar added that COVAX Facility is really gaining momentum in saving humanity from the Covid-19 pandemic. "The COVAX Facility is really gaining some ground (in) saving humanity and putting some premium on the global commons, of suppressing or defeating the Covid-19 so that the whole global society will go back to normal," he said. For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at contentservices@htlive.comCopyright 2012. Philippines News Agency

Manila, Oct. 22 -- Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has appealed to the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to issue a Provisional Authority to Operate (PAO) to a new power generator, Isla Norte Energy Corp. (INEC), in the northern island of Bantayan. Garcia on Thursday sought ERC's immediate intervention so INEC could supply the much-needed power supply gap in the island to address its energy woes that have existed for years. She made the call during a meeting at the Provincial Capitol with officials of the ERC, INEC, Bantayan Electric Cooperative (Banelco), Bantayan Island Power Corp. (BIPCOR), and the mayors of Santa Fe and Madridejos towns. INEC executives said during the meeting that they have complied with the necessary documentary requirements for them to be granted the PAO. In a Facebook post, Bantayan's power distributor Banelco informed the island residents that INEC finished its testing and commissioning on October 18 and BIPCOR has resumed providing the power supply. However, the power distributor warned that due to the unreliable equipment of BIPCOR, the island may still experience rotational brownouts. Banelco requires an average of 7.5 megawatts (MW) daily to supply the whole island. INEC, a partnership between Vivant Energy Corp. and Gigawatt Power, Inc., has built a 23.3-MW diesel power plant that would provide the long-term power requirement of the island. It was awarded a 15-year contract to supply Banelco following a successful competitive selection process. Its contract is supposed to start on November 8. However, if the ERC issues a PAO or Certificate of Compliance to INEC, the latter could start supplying power to Bantayan as soon as possible. During the meeting, Garcia said she was "pleading" to the ERC to act on their request so that Bantayan's power situation would improve and residents and businesses do not have to suffer from power outages. She said that ensuring a stable power supply is even "more needed" nowadays as the province focuses on economic recovery. Garcia officially wrote a letter dated Oct. 20, 2021 to ERC Chairperson Agnes Devanadera to air the provincial government's request. For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at contentservices@htlive.comCopyright 2012. Philippines News Agency

Manila, Oct. 22 -- The presidential candidate of the political party Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS) on Friday expressed willingness to "give way" in case Davao City Mayor Sara "Inday" Duterte decides to seek the highest government post. In a virtual forum, PDDS presidential bet Grepor Belgica said his party is still hoping that Mayor Sara would heed the public's clamor for her to join the 2022 presidential derby. Belgica said he would drop his candidacy for president, in case the presidential daughter gives in to the persistent calls for her to gun for the presidency. "Ang totoo po niyan ay nag-appeal po kami sa kaniya (The truth is we made an appeal to her) formally and officially to consider (running for president). And we are willing to give way to her," he said. Belgica said the PDDS, as well as its allied political parties, would give their full support to Duterte's potential presidential run. "We pray that Mayor Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio, with her father's support, runs for president. The PDDS and its allied groups will go all out for her victory in the (presidential) polls," he said. Belgica is the father of Greco, current chair of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission and Jeremiah who is the director-general of the Anti-Red Tape Authority. Despite being the most preferred presidential candidate in the pre-election surveys, Sara has rejected the calls for her to run for president, saying she has already decided to run for her third and final term as Davao City mayor. She, however, still has until November 15 to change her mind about her next year's political plans. Her supporters are still optimistic that she would replace Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa as the standard bearer of the ruling political party, the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino - Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban). Dela Rosa, who made a surprise move when he filed his certificate of candidacy for president during the last day of filing on October 8, is seen as a "placeholder" candidate for Sara. Quizzed if the PDDS is also willing to support dela Rosa's presidential bid, Belgica said the senator still needs to "convince" the party that he could lead the country and continue President Rodrigo Duterte's legacies. "Kung siya (dela Rosa) ang piliin ni Presidente, susuportahan namin. Pero sa ngayon, kailangan kumbinsihin niya kami na talagang kaya niya (If the President picks dela Rosa, we will support him. But for now, he needs to convince us that he is competent)," he said. Dela Rosa is paired with Senator Christopher Lawrence Go, who was originally the PDP-Laban's presidential candidate but decided to run for vice president after Duterte dropped his plan to seek the second top post in the country. Belgica said the PDDS is hopeful that Duterte would pick a "winnable" presidential candidate. He said the party is also considering supporting Go, in case the lawmaker opts to reconsider his nomination as the PDP-Laban's presidential bet. He said Go is qualified to run for president since he also acts as the older Duterte's "data bank." "If she (Sara) declines to run for national office, we pray divine guidance and wisdom be upon President Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte to choose whosoever is trustworthy, such as Senator Christopher Lawrence Go or someone he fully trusts. That is to ensure his manner and kind of governance," Belgica said. For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at contentservices@htlive.comCopyright 2012. Philippines News Agency

Connor McDavid scored twice to eclipse 200 career goals and had an assist, Zach Hyman had two goals and the Edmonton Oilers remained undefeated with a 5-1 victory over the winless Arizona Coyotes

By Koustav Samanta and Sonali Paul SINGAPORE (Reuters) -Oil prices fell on Friday with Brent on track for its first

Stephen Curry hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 56.8 seconds remaining to follow up a 30-footer less than a minute earlier, and his 45-point home opener lifted the Golden State Warriors over the Los Angeles Clippers 115-113

By Natalie Thomas, Barbara Lewis and Jonathan Shenfield LONDON (Reuters) - Overwhelmed, sad, guilty are some of the emotions young

Chris Taylor hit three homers and drove in six runs to help the Los Angeles Dodgers beat Atlanta 11-2, cutting the Braves' lead to 3-2 in the best-of-seven NL Championship Series

By Jessica Resnick-Ault NEW YORK (Reuters) - Private equity firms are looking to sell companies and land they own in

Simultaneously, the northeast monsoon rains are also likely to commence over Southeast Peninsular India from around October 26

WhatsApp will stop working on phones with old operating systems. Millions of people who have these phones will be affected. Check full list of 43 phones provided inside.

Real Madrid winger Eden Hazard has barely played for the club since joining them in 2019 and with pressure mounting at a high rate, former club defender Fernando Sanz explains why he could leave Los Blancos by the end of the season.

Abhijeet Bhattacharya hosted a small birthday party for Kumar Sanu at his residence and the two were joined in by Alka Yagnik and Sonu Nigam.

Sudha Chandran has said that each time she visits an airport, she is asked to remove her artificial limb for security checks. She has urged for a senior citizen's card.

MANILA, Philippines — Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) chairman Prospero de Vera said the commission is eyeing the possible opening of limited face-to-face classes for all programs in low-risk areas by January next year, but said numerous factors are still being studied.“Pinagaaralan pa natin yan. Nagsisimula pa lang tayong gumawa ng guidelines,” De Vera said during Friday’s Laging Handa briefing.(We are still studying that. We are starting to craft the guidelines.)“Ang tinatarget natin diyan ay matapos ang guidelines maybe November, December at titignan natin kung anong kalagayan on the ground by January kung pwede na ito,” he added.(We are aim

Two months after the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan, one of the country’s once-prominent female leaders is visiting the United Nations, not as a representative of her government but as a woman in exile

An Alabama man who avoided execution in February has been put to death for the 1991 killing of a woman abducted during a robbery and then shot in a cemetery

By Kantaro Komiya TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's factory output likely fell in September as supply chain disruptions continued to hit

The British Commonwealth nation in the Caribbean will officially become a republic on 30 November 2021.

Similar protest rallies were held at Agartala in West Tripura and Dharmanagar in North Tripura district.

Matthew Hayden has joined Pakistan as the batting consultant for the 2021 T20 World Cup.