The Philippines

Philippines' Mayon volcano alert raised

Manila - Muslimchronicle

The Philippines raised the alert level for the country's most active volcano twice in 24 hours Sunday, meaning that a hazardous eruption is possible within days. A bright glow from Mayon volcano's summit crater indicated the start of lava flow, while steam and ash plumes were produced by three steam-driven eruptions, according to the country's volcanology institute. Mayon's statusRead more

Philippines to protest over China activity

Manila - Muslimchronicle

The Philippines will lodge a diplomatic protest with China after Manila questioned if Beijing had reneged on a pledge not to militarise a disputed South China Sea reef. Beijing claims nearly all of the sea and has been turning reefs in the Spratly and Paracel chains into islands, installing military facilities and equipment on them. Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana Tuesday said ManilaRead more

Philippines wins Fitch upgrade

Manila - Muslimchronicle

The Philippines on Monday was handed a credit rating upgrade from international agency Fitch which raised the nation's sovereign rating by one level, citing continued investor confidence despite a deadly drug war. President Rodrigo Duterte has launched an unprecedented crackdown on drugs that has killed thousands and sparked widespread condemnation of alleged extrajudicial killings from rights groups and Western powers.Read more

Suspends World-First Dengue Vaccine

Washington - Muslimchronicle

The Philippines said Friday it had suspended a landmark public vaccination programme for the potentially deadly dengue virus after its manufacturer warned it could worsen the disease in some cases. French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi announced Wednesday that its world-first dengue vaccine could lead to more severe symptoms for people who had not previously been infected. The Philippines has vaccinated moreRead more

Philippines plans to sue Sanofi

Manila - Muslimchronicle

The Philippines intends to sue Sanofi after authorities suspended the pharmaceutical giant's anti-dengue vaccine in response to the company warning the drug could lead to severe infections in some cases, the health secretary said Thursday. Regulators froze the Philippines' world-first public dengue immunisation programme last week and suspended all sales of the vaccine on Monday after Sanofi said Dengvaxia couldRead more

Google data-saving tool aims

Washington - Muslimchronicle

Google is taking aim at the "next billion" internet users with a way to stop smartphone apps from needlessly burning through costly mobile data allowances. A newly release application dubbed Datally made available free at the Google Play Store this week lets people see when games, social networks or other programs are using internet connections in the background, and thenRead more

Philippines 'prepared for worst'

Manila - Muslimchronicle

The Philippines is prepared for a "worst-case scenario" following warnings that an anti-dengue vaccine administered to thousands of children may worsen the disease in some cases, a health official said Saturday. Department of Health spokesman Eric Tayag said the country had already taken precautions against potential mishaps when it became the first country to use the landmark vaccine in 2016.Read more

Philippine military to upgrade island facilities, not launch land grab

Manila - Arab Today

The Philippines' military said Friday that it plans to upgrade and improve facilities on islands it already occupies in the disputed South China Sea, not embark on a new land grab. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Thursday that he had ordered the armed forces to "occupy all" remote reefs claimed by Manila. Rival claimant Beijing responded Friday with a pledgeRead more

UAE business chiefs clear debts to free prisoners for Ramadan

Dubai - Arab Today

Business leaders are joining a jewellery boss's Ramadan campaign to clear the debts of prisoners who have served their time but remain in jail because they cannot afford to pay fines. "Everyone deserves a second chance," said property developer Parvez Khan, chairman of Pacific Ventures. Mr Khan paid Dh45,550 towards the debts of 40 prisoners from Indonesia, Bangladesh, the Philippines,Read more