XI-TRUMP CALL HELPS EASE TENSIONS

President Xi Jinping on Friday urged united efforts between China and the United States to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a phone conversation with US President Donald Trump, Xi said bilateral relations are now at a critical juncture, and both nations stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation and that cooperation is the only correct choice for both sides.

IMF CHIEF KRISTALINA GEORGIEVA: WE HAVE ENTERED RECESSION

The head of the International Monetary Fund said Friday it is clear that the

global economy has now entered a recession that could be as bad or worse

than the 2009 downturn. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said the

189-nation lending agency was forecasting a recovery in 2021, saying it

could be a "sizable rebound." But she said this would only occur if nations

succeed in containing the coronavirus and limiting the economic damage.

With the worldwide economic “sudden stop,” Georgieva said the fund’s

estimate “for the overall financial needs of emerging markets is $2.5

trillion.”

GDP GROWTH SEEN TO SLOW BELOW 1.1%

Worse than during global financial crisis in 2008

MANILA — Analysts are not discounting the possibility that the Philippine

Economy will be worse off this year than during the global financial crisis

in 2008.

In separate reports, bank economists said they expect the Philippines to

book a slower gross domestic product (GDP) growth due to the impact of the

novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.

XI STRESSES KEY ROLE OF G20

Members of the G20 should enhance their coordination in macroeconomic policies to prevent a global recession resulting from the novel coronavirus outbreak, President Xi Jinping said on Thursday.

Xi made the remark while delivering a speech during the G20 Extraordinary Leaders' Summit on COVID-19. The summit, in the form of a videoconference, is the first of its kind under the G20 framework.

3.3 MILLION AMERICANS APPLY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT

More than 3 million people filed for unemployment benefits last week,

sending a collective shudder throughout the economy that is unlike anything

Americans have experienced.

The report, released by the Labor Department on Thursday, provides some of

the first hard data on the economic toll of the coronavirus pandemic, which

has shut down whole swaths of American life faster than government

statistics can keep track.

GOV'T PREPARES TO EXHAUST FISCAL LEEWAY, POLITICAL CAPITAL IN DUTERTE'S 'YOLANDA MOMENT'

MANILA — A decade of fiscal discipline and record popularity are now being

put to good use by President Duterte vowing to do whatever it takes to

sufficiently counter the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak,

setting aside growth ambitions for a crucial crisis response that can make

or break his legacy.

PRESIDENT CONTINUES WITH BUSY DIPLOMATIC AGENDA

President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday that China is willing to bolster coordination and cooperation with all other nations to send a message of solidarity and unity in fighting COVID-19 and to shore up global confidence.

Xi made the remark in a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel ahead of the G20 special summit on the pandemic.

WHITE HOUSE, US CONGRESS AGREE ON $2 TRILLION RESCUE BILL

The White House and Senate leaders of both major political parties announced

agreement early Wednesday on unprecedented emergency legislation to rush

sweeping aid to businesses, workers and a health care system slammed by the

coronavirus pandemic.

The urgently needed $2 trillion pandemic response measure is the largest

economic rescue measure in history and is intended as a weekslong or

monthslong patch for an economy spiraling into recession and a nation facing

a potentially ghastly toll.

PHILIPPINES HAS ECONOMIC 'FIREPOWER' TO FIGHT CORONAVIRUS, SAYS IMF

MANILA -- The Philippines has the economic "firepower" to fight the

coronavirus pandemic and can draw from the International Monetary Fund's

emergency financing, the Washington-based lender said Thursday.

Manila has high international reserves, low public debt, and fiscal space

both to spend more and increase liquidity in the banking system, said IMF

representative to the Philippines Yongzheng Yang.

XI TO ATTEND VIRTUAL G20 SUMMIT ON CORONAVIRUS

President Xi Jinping will attend in Beijing on Thursday an extraordinary virtual G20 leaders' summit on coping with the novel coronavirus, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying announced on Wednesday.

WORLD ON LOCKDOWN: BUSINESS ACTIVITY COLLAPSES AT RECORD PACE

Business activity has collapsed from Australia and Japan to Western Europe

at a record pace, as measures to contain the coronavirus hammer the world

economy, with data for the United States later on Tuesday expected to be

just as dire.

"The coronavirus outbreak represents a major external shock to the macro

outlook, akin to a large-scale natural disaster," analysts at BlackRock

Investment Institute said in a note.

WITH WORLD BUSY FIGHTING CORONAVIRUS, CHINA QUIETLY BUILDS INSTALLATIONS ON PHILIPPINE-CLAIMED REEFS

MANILA — While the rest of the world is busy battling the coronavirus

pandemic, China, where the virus originated, has taken advantage of the

countries’ preoccupation by building new facilities on Philippine-claimed

territories in West Philippine Sea.

On Friday, government-funded Chinese Academy of Sciences launched two

research stations on Fiery Cross (Kagitingan) and Subi Reefs in Spratly

Islands to “help scientists expand their research into deep sea ecology,

geology, environment, material sciences and marine energy,” state-run Xinhua

reported.

PM ADDRESSES THE NATION, DECLARES 21-DAY NATION-WIDE LOCKDOWN

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced a complete lockdown across

the country for 21 days from midnight, asserting that social distancing is

the only way out for the country to fight a decisive battle against

coronavirus outbreak.

In his second national broadcast in a week on the pandemic raging across

much of the world with the number of infections rising in India, Modi made a

fervent appeal to the countrymen not to cross the 'lakshman rekha' of their

homes for the next three weeks.

CHINA OFFERS GLOBAL HELP IN COMBATING COVID-19

President Xi Jinping and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke over phone on Monday night and voiced support for the role of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Xi extended sincere sympathies to the British government and people over their fight against the coronavirus disease. Upon request, he introduced China's epidemic prevention and control measures.

GLOBAL LOCKDOWN TO FIGHT THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Monday said, "The

pandemic is accelerating," Tedros said. "It took 67 days from the first

reported case to reach the first 100,000 cases, 11 days for the second

100,000 cases and just four days for the third 100,000 cases."

More than 6,000 Italians have now died from COVID-19, nearly double the

confirmed number of deaths in China where the virus first emerged late last

year.

Some 1.7 billion people have been asked to stay home in over 50 countries

and territories around the world as governments battle the COVID-19 pandemic

sweeping the globe.

AS COVID-19 GROUNDS CRUISE SHIPS, SOME 10,000 FILIPINO SEAFARERS NEED TO BE

REPATRIATED

MANILA – Some 10,000 Filipino seafarers are in need of repatriation after

COVID-19 halted the operation of cruise ships worldwide, a crew service

agency said Tuesday.

Magsaysay Maritime Corp. is chartering flights for the repatriation of the

seafarers, its chairman Marlon Rono said.

“Naguumpisa na po ang repatriation. Asahan po natin sa darating na mga araw

ay marami po ang uuwi diyan,” he told radio DZMM.

“They are floating in some areas. Alam mo naman ang cruise ship may sariling

doctor, may sariling ospital. They are taken cared of kung may symptoms na

nangyayari.”

XI'S DIPLOMACY PRIORITIZES SOLIDARITY, COOPERATION

President Xi Jinping has used head-of-state diplomacy to call for the building of a community of common health for mankind amid the mounting global public health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, observers said.

China's experiences on epidemic control and its aid to the contagion-affected countries are boosting the confidence of the international community as it strives to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus, and it helps them cope with the challenges arising from the disease, they said.

ABE: OLYMPICS COULD BE POSTPONED

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said postponing the Olympic Games

could become an option if it was not possible to hold it in its "complete

form".

He said the country might have "no option but to consider postponing the

games", but added that cancellation was not an option.

This is a dramatic shift from what he had said earlier last week. He had

then confidently announced that Japan would "overcome the spread of the

infection and host the Olympics without problem".

The Olympics are due to be held in the capital Tokyo this July.

SPECIAL CONGRESS SESSION ON COVID-19

MANILA — Congress is meeting on Monday, March 23, for a special session to,

according to a letter from the Palace, "authorize the president to exercise

powers necessary to carry out urgent measures to meet the current national

emergency relating to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)."

According to a leaked draft bill, Congress may grant the chief executive the

power to take over the operations of any privately-owned public utility or

business affected with public interest.

CHINA SECURITIES WATCHDOG LAUNCHES INDEX SYSTEM FOR STAR BOARD

China's top securities watchdog launched an evaluation index system of science and technology innovation for the country's Nasdaq-style sci-tech innovation board, or the STAR market, to facilitate the innovation-driven economic transformation on Friday.

The launch of the index system aims to better support and encourage enterprises with "hard technology" to be listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange's sci-tech innovation board, according to the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC).

With a structure including three regular indices and five exception clauses, the system will help speed up the application of the country's scientific and technological achievements in production.

The design of the system is both highly operable and flexible, reflecting the direction of the reform on enhancing the inclusiveness of the capital market to technological innovation enterprises, said the CSRC.

US BLAMES CHINA, RUSSIA AND IRAN FOR SPREADING 'DISINFORMATION' ON
CORONAVIRUS

S Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has blamed Russia, China and Iran for
spreading "disinformation" on COVID-19 and carrying out coordinated efforts
to "disparage" American attempts towards containing the fast-spreading
coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking at the White House on Friday, Pompeo described the disinformation
campaigns as being "pretty diffused" and urged Americans to ensure that they
are getting their information from a reliable source and not a "bad actor"
trying to create and flow information that they know is wrong.
"I wanted to talk about the disinformation the people are seeing both on
Twitter and around the world. Some of it coming from government, some of it
coming from other individuals," Pompeo told reporters.

HOUSE SETS HISTORIC TEXT VOTING AT SESSION

MANILA - For the first time, House members are set to vote via text
messaging and online video conferencing to replace floor deliberations to
pass legislation needed to address the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
pandemic.
The House leadership has approved the proposal of Cavite Rep. Elpidio
Barzaga Jr. to allow lawmakers to cast their votes by text during the
special session when they are either currently in self-quarantine or in
their provinces due to the enhanced community quarantine, The STAR learned
yesterday.
He made the proposal, saying it is "impossible for members who are in Bicol,
Visayas or Mindanao to go to Batasan physically."
Barzaga, who heads of the National Unity Party, said he could manage the
long-distance plenary participation of NUP members in the House.
"If a House member questions that before the Supreme Court, I don't think it
will prosper," he added.

NATION SHOWS STRENGTH IN PANDEMIC BATTLE

The strength of China's system, which enables it to pool all available resources to solve major problems, has helped the country address the health crisis caused by the novel coronavirus pneumonia outbreak, observers said.

The all-of-government and all-of-society approach that China has adopted in combating COVID-19 has won international acclaim as it has proved effective and efficient in curbing the spread of the virus, they said.

As China battles the novel coronavirus, its model of central leadership and regional partnerships has functioned well.

Since the start of the outbreak, President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has acted as commander-in-chief in the people's war on the epidemic.

OLYMPIC FLAME ARRIVES IN JAPAN AS CORONAVIRUS THROWS TOKYO GAMES INTO
GROWING DOUBT

A plane carrying the Olympic torch from Greece arrived on Friday on Japan's
northwestern coast ravaged by a 2011 tsunami, but the welcome ceremony will
have no spectators, amid worries the Games could be cancelled over the
coronavirus pandemic.
The flame arrived at Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Matsushima base and will
tour the Tohoku region hit by the tsunami and earthquake, in what the
organizers call a "recovery flame" tour until the official kick-off ceremony
in Fukushima on March 26.
Organizers have repeatedly said the Games, set to run from July 24 to Aug.
9, will go ahead, but as the rapid spread of the virus brings the sports
world to a virtual standstill, fears are growing that the Olympics may be
postponed or cancelled.

DUTERTE TO LGUS: STAND DOWN, FOLLOW GUIDELINES

MANILA — President Duterte has appealed to the nation to follow the
guidelines laid down by the national government for addressing the new
coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and for local government units to be
united in the implementation of measures to contain the disease, including
restricting the movement of people as part of an enhanced community
quarantine.
The entire Luzon is now in “the stage of a lockdown,” meaning everyone
should stay home and avoid unnecessary travel outside their residences,
Duterte said after a meeting with members of the Inter-Agency Task Force for
the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases at Malago Clubhouse in
Malacañang late Thursday evening.

MORE RETURNEES INDICATE OUTBREAK IN CONTROL

Despite the sudden jump in imported infections in the past few days, the number of inbound trips has been 120,000 on average a day since the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus outbreak a pandemic on March 11, which is an 80 percent drop year-on-year, according to the National Immigration Administration.

That a number of Chinese living abroad are returning to China regardless of the huge economic cost and difficulties involved reflect the effectiveness of the prevention and control measures. Compared with its foreign counterparts, the Chinese government's resolute and comprehensive response has met the expectations of the Chinese people.

Therefore, the returnees' choice should be respected provided they fulfill the prevention and control requirements of both China and their host country.

The wrongdoings of a few returnees who hid their symptoms at airports and thus forced their close contacts into quarantine, too, should not prompt the government to close the door to its own people. Albeit the stricter border health and quarantine regulations that criminalize those acts are expected to help prevent such cases.

ITALIAN DEATH TOLL OVERTAKES CHINA AS CORONAVIRUS SPREADS

The death toll in Italy from the coronavirus overtook china’s on Thursday in
a stark illustration of how the outbreak has pivoted toward Europe and the
United States.
Italy, with a population of 60 million, recorded at least 3,405 deaths, or
roughly 150 more than in China – a country with a population over 20 times
larger.
The cumulative positive cases reached 41,035 according to new data released
by the Civil Protection Department.
A lockdown imposed on 12 March in Italy has been extended beyond the
original 25 March end date. Nearly all Italians have been told to stay at
home.

NATIONAL GOVERNMENT CALLS THE SHOTS IN A CRISIS, NOT LGUS — DUTERTE

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte in a public address on early Friday
morning asserted the authority of the national government over local
government units in times of crisis.
In his address, the president appealed to local government units to abide by
the directives set by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management
of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Though he did not mention any names, Duterte also warned that noncompliance
on the part of local government officials could lead to administrative and
even criminal cases filed against erring officials.
"We are in a critical time [and] the national government needs your help
during this time. Do not make this quarantine more difficult for our people
than it already is," the chief executive said.
"You are setting your own standards and making this lockdown more difficult
for all," he added.

XI CALLS FOR COOPERATION IN VIRUS FIGHT

China will strengthen international cooperation on novel coronavirus epidemic control and continue to provide assistance within its ability to countries affected by the epidemic, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said on Wednesday.

Xi made the remark when presiding over the meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee in which members analyzed the epidemic situation at home and abroad and its challenge to economic development.

Given that the epidemic is spreading across the world, Xi said that China should work closely with the World Health Organization, intensify analysis and prediction on global epidemic development, improve measures for dealing with the risk of imported infections and strengthen exchanges and cooperation with other countries.

Globally, the pandemic had caused 194,029 cases of infection as of Wednesday, according to the WHO.

CHINA REPORTS ZERO NEW DOMESTIC VIRUS CASES FOR 1ST TIME

BEIJING - China on Thursday marked a major milestone in its battle against
the coronavirus pandemic as it recorded zero domestic infections for the
first time since the outbreak emerged, but a spike in imported cases
threatened its progress.
The stark reversal comes as nations across the world have shut down in a
desperate effort to contain the pandemic, with more people now infected and
having died abroad than in China.
There were no new cases in Wuhan -- the central city where the virus first
emerged in December -- for the first time since authorities started
publishing figures in January, according to the National Health Commission.
Wuhan and its 11 million people were placed under strict quarantine on Jan.
23, with more than 40 million other people in the rest of Hubei province
entering lockdown in the following days.
The rest of China also enacted tough measures to limit public gatherings.
There were 8 more deaths in China -- all in Hubei -- raising the nationwide
total to 3,245, according to the commission.

A WORD ABOUT HERD IMMUNITY

Last week, the UK’s Government Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance hinted at a strategy that would allow the novel coronavirus to infect 60% of the country’s population so that a degree of “herd immunity” could be achieved. Following widespread criticism, and with Imperial College London projecting a dire scenario if the pandemic remains uncontrolled, the UK has now retracted — and is looking at self-isolation for the elderly.
Herd immunity refers to preventing an infectious disease from spreading by immunising a certain percentage of the population. While the concept is most commonly used in the context of vaccination, herd community can also be achieved after enough people have become immune after being infected.
The premise is that if a certain percentage of the population is immune, members of that group can no longer infect another person. This breaks the chain of infection through the community (“herd”), and prevents it from reaching those who are the most vulnerable.
However, the discussion on herd immunity to fight COVID-19 in the UK has not been based on this conventional definition. The UK government had wanted the entire population to be exposed to the novel coronavirus infection, so that the majority could develop immunity to COVID-19.

U.S. AND CHINA EXCHANGE BARBS OVER COVID-19

A spat between the U.S. and China over COVID-19 escalated on Tuesday as
President Donald Trump angered Beijing by referring to the pathogen as the
"Chinese Virus."
The two countries have sparred over the origin of the virus for days, with a
Chinese official promoting conspiracy theories claiming it was brought to
China by the U.S. Army and American officials using terms seen as
stigmatising a nation.
"The U.S. will be powerfully supporting those industries, like Airlines and
others, that are particularly affected by the Chinese Virus," Mr. Trump
tweeted on Monday night.
He doubled down on the comment on Tuesday while Tweeting about how U.S.
States were being affected, saying: "Some are being hit hard by the Chinese
Virus, some are being hit practically not at all."
Mr. Trump's allies had previously referred to the pandemic as "Chinese
coronavirus", but Beijing said on Tuesday it was "strongly indignant" over
the phrase, which it called "a kind of stigmatisation".
The U.S. should "immediately stop its unjustified accusations against
China," Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said.

FULL SALARIES, BUT NO EARLY RELEASE OF 13TH MONTH PAY FOR GOV'T WORKERS —  DBM

MANILA — The country's biggest employer, the national government, is taking
the lead on sustaining its workers as business got essentially shut off the
main Luzon island under a month-long community quarantine.
"All national government employees are receiving their full salaries even if
they are working from their homes," Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado said in
a text message to Philstar.com.
Contractors and casuals covered by job orders will also get paid as
scheduled, he added.
The assurance from the budget chief to more than 1.36 million state workers
as of May 2019 is a welcome reprieve to employees wary about the potential
repercussions the lockdown brings to their source of income.
The relief is more felt by 159,935 casuals and contractors who according to
data from the Civil Service Commission typically receive fixed payments,
depending on work done, but whose job is currently halted by the lockdown.
Government offices are currently working on skeletal force, meaning not
everyone are required to report to their offices, as a social distancing
measure meant to prevent the further spread of coronavirus disease- 2019
(COVID-19).

PRESIDENT BACKS ITALY'S FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19

China firmly supports Italy's efforts to fight the novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic and is fully confident that Italy will win the battle against the virus, President Xi Jinping said. He made the remark in a phone call with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Monday.

The Italian government has taken a series of resolute measures to prevent and control the epidemic, he said. Xi said that China feels Italy's worry as its own and will send additional expert medical teams to Italy and provide assistance such as medical supplies within its ability.

ANGER IN GERMANY AT REPORT TRUMP SEEKING EXCLUSIVE VACCINE DEAL

German ministers have reacted angrily following reports US president Donald
Trump offered a German medical company “large sums of money” for exclusive
rights to a Covid-19 vaccine.
“Germany is not for sale,” economy minister Peter Altmaier told broadcaster
ARD, reacting to a front page report in Welt am Sonntag newspaper headlined
“Trump vs Berlin”.
The newspaper reported Trump offered $1bn to Tübingen-based
biopharmaceutical company CureVac to secure the vaccine “only for the United
States”.
The German government was reportedly offering its own financial incentives
for the vaccine to stay in the country.
The report prompted fury in Berlin. “German researchers are taking a leading
role in developing medication and vaccines as part of global cooperation
networks,” foreign minister Heiko Maas told the Funke Mediengruppe research
network. “We cannot allow a situation where others want to exclusively
acquire the results of their research,” said Maas, of the centre-left SPD.
The German health minister, Jens Spahn, said a takeover of CureVac by the
Trump administration was “off the table”. CureVac would only develop vaccine
“for the whole world”, Spahn said, “not for individual countries”.

'FOREVER THANKFUL': DUTERTE SALUTES HEALTH WORKERS FIGHTING COVID-19
OUTBREAK

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte hailed health workers on the frontlines
of the battle against the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak as he
assured them of a “more tangible” expression of gratitude in due time.
Duterte said the Filipino nation will "forever be thankful" to the health
professionals leading the fight against the rapidly spreading COVID-19 which
has claimed at least 12 lives in the country.
“Our formalities to our doctors, health professionals and health workers, to
whom we will be forever be thankful,” Duterte said in a public address on
Monday where he placed the entire Luzon under an “enhanced community
quarantine.”
Duterte also instructed the Department of Budget and Management, and the
Department of Health to "find a way to best compensate our health workers."
"In due time, we shall express to them our gratitude in a more tangible way,
when this crisis is over," the President said.

XI LAUDS POST-90S GENERATION'S FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19

President Xi Jinping praised China's post-90s generation for their dedication in the fight against the novel coronavirus outbreak, saying that they demonstrated by actions that they are capable of shouldering great responsibilities.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remark in a letter replied on Sunday to the post-90s Party members of Peking University's medical team sent to Hubei.

FIRST RUSSIAN-TURKISH PATROL ON SYRIAN HIGHWAY CUT SHORT BY PROTESTS

Russia and Turkey cut short their first joint patrol in Syria's Idlib on
Sunday after rebels and civilians opposed to a ceasefire agreement cut off a
main roadway to block its path, according to witnesses and Russian news
agencies.
The patrol on the M4 highway in Idlib province was the result of a March 5
ceasefire accord between Moscow and Ankara, which back opposing sides in
Syria's nine-year war. The ceasefire has largely held since then.
Under the deal, which halted hostilities after an escalation of violence
that displaced nearly a million people, Turkish and Russian forces are to
establish a security corridor on either side of the M4, as well as carry out
joint patrols along it.
But on Sunday hundreds of civilians and rebels cut off the roadway,
rejecting the presence of Russian forces and what they said was an agreement
that did not guarantee their re-settlement after being pushed out by
violence.
"If the patrols happen without people being able to return to their lands,
we oppose them," said Osama Rahal, a military commander with the Syrian
National Army, a Turkey backed rebel group.
Protesters, some waving Syrian National Army flags, climbed atop Turkish
tanks or stood in their path, according to witnesses. Photos posted by the
Syrian Observatory, a Britain-based war monitor, showed people lighting
fires in the street and forming human chains.
The Russian Defence Ministry said the joint patrols were cut short because
of rebel "provocations" and civilians being used as a human shield, forcing
them to take a shorter route, according to Russian news agency RIA.

DUTERTE TO FACE NATION ANEW ON GOV’T EFFORTS TO FIGHT COVID-19 SPREAD

MANILA- President Rodrigo Duterte is set to make new pronouncements on
Monday on the country’s measures to control the spread of the new
coronavirus disease (COVID-19) which has prompted a “community quarantine”
of the capital region.
Duterte will most likely issue the pronouncement during a public address on
Monday afternoon, his former aide Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go told ABS-CBN
News.
Prior to his announcement, the President will first meet with the
government’s inter-agency task force on COVID-19, the Philippine National
Police, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Go said.
Duterte’s new directives comes a day after Metro Manila was placed under
community quarantine as government sought to contain the outbreak which has
claimed 12 lives in the country as of Sunday.

‘FAR-RIGHT TERROR ‘BIGGEST DANGER’ TO DEMOCRACY IN GERMANY’

Far-right terrorism and extremism are the biggest danger facing democracy in
Germany today, the domestic intelligence agency chief said on Thursday,
after the country was hit by several extremist attacks in recent months.

PEOPLE FROM NEARBY CITIES, PROVINCES CAN STILL GO TO WORK IN METRO MANILA:
AÑO

MANILA - People from nearby cities and provinces employed in Metro Manila
can still go to work as they are considered as part of the Philippine
capital's population by day, Department of Interior and Local Government
(DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año said Thursday.

GOVT VOWS TO STABILIZE FOREIGN TRADE

China will work to shorten the negative list on foreign investment and encourage financial institutions to increase foreign trade loans to cope with the impact of the novel coronavirus epidemic and keep steady progress in foreign trade and investment.

AFGHAN GOVERNMENT TO RELEASE TALIBAN PRISONERS AS UN BACKS PUSH TO END WAR

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is preparing to release 1,500 Taliban
prisoners in coming days, according to a decree viewed by Reuters on
Tuesday, as the United Nations backed a U.S.-led push to end Afghanistan's
18-year war.

TRUMP SUSPENDS 'ALL TRAVEL FROM EUROPE' TO US FOR 30 DAYS

WASHINGTON, United States - President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday
the United States would ban all travel from Europe for 30 days to stop the
spread of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

BJP GETS A HOLI GIFT AS JYOTIRADITYA SCINDIA CHANGES COLOURS

The Congress Tuesday lost one of its most prominent national leaders, and
appeared set to lose its government in Madhya Pradesh, too, with four-time
MP and former Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia walking out of the party
along with at least 22 MLAs.

FOREIGN CONSUMER BRANDS RACE TO RESUME OPERATIONS

Foreign consumer brands are racing to resume operations in China after closures related to novel coronavirus pneumonia, as experts expect retail and entertainment to enjoy a robust rebound to make up for pent-up demand.

ASHRAF GHANI SWORN IN FOR SECOND TERM AS AFGHAN PRESIDENT AMID CRISIS

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was sworn in for a second term on Monday as
his rival Abdullah Abdullah held a parallel inauguration that could plunge
the country deeper into crisis ahead of peace talks with the Taliban.

GORDON REVEALS P20M BRIBE TRY TO EXCLUDE FAMILY IN POGO MONEY LAUNDERING PROBE

MANILA - Sen. Richard Gordon on Tuesday said he was offered a P20-million
bribe to avoid summoning to a Senate investigation the family tagged in a
money laundering scheme linked to Chinese-run offshore gaming.

OIL PLUNGES IN ASIA AS PRODUCERS START PRICE WAR

Oil fell by the most since 1991 on Monday after Saudi Arabia started a price
war with Russia by slashing its selling prices and pledging to unleash its
pent-up supply onto a market reeling from falling demand because of the
coronavirus outbreak.

NUMBER OF POGO WORKERS CONTINUES TO RISE

MANILA — More Chinese and other foreign nationals are opting to work in
Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) companies despite stricter
regulations imposed by the government, the Department of Labor and
Employment (DOLE) reported.

GREECE MIGRANT CRISIS: REFUGEE CENTRE ABLAZE AS TENSIONS RISE

A fire has ripped through a refugee shelter on the Greek island of Lesbos as
tensions over a surge in migration from Turkey continue to rise.

PHILIPPINE EPASSPORT SECURE - DFA

MANILA - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) yesterday assured the
public that the country's ePassport system is secured amid reports that some
Chinese tourists are using Philippine passports.

BIDEN RACKS UP MORE ENDORSEMENTS AS SANDERS GOES ON THE ATTACK IN U.S. PRESIDENTIAL RACE

Two former presidential rivals endorsed Joe Biden on Friday in the latest
sign that the Democratic establishment is coalescing around the former vice
president to stop the candidacy of Bernie Sanders, who ratcheted up attacks
on his rival ahead of crucial contests next week.

PALACE: NTC CAN’T GRANT ABS-CBN PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY TO OPERATE WITHOUT FRANCHISE

DOJ says NTC ‘not legally compelled’ to grant provisional authority to
operate
MANILA - It might be illegal for the National Telecommunications Commission
(NTC) to issue provisional authority for ABS-CBN Corp to operate beyond the
expiry of its franchise in May, Malacañang said Friday.

PALACE ADMITS: REFUSAL OF AID FROM DRUG WAR INQUIRY BACKERS AN ‘OUTRAGE REACTION’

MANILA - Malacañang admitted Thursday that the Philippines' decision to shun
aid and loans from countries who supported a resolution seeking a report on
President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs was “more of an outrage reaction.”

GLOBAL GROWTH TO 'DIP BELOW' LAST YEAR'S RATE: IMF CHIEF

The new coronavirus epidemic poses a "serious threat" and will slow growth
in the world economy to below the 2.9 per cent posted last year, IMF chief
Kristalina Georgieva said Wednesday.

SENATE PASSES RESOLUTION FOR ABS-CBN

MANILA - The Senate adopted yesterday a resolution expressing the opinion of
the chamber to allow ABS-CBN and its subsidiaries to continue operating with
the issuance of a provisional permit by the National Telecommunications
Commission (NTC) until Congress decides on the network's application for the
renewal of its 25-year franchise.

DUTERTE: US WANTS STRONGER DEFENSE TIES

MANILA — The United States has been trying to reach out to the Philippine
government for newer and stronger defense ties since President Duterte’s
abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) three weeks ago.

LANKA PARLIAMENT DISSOLVED, PREZ CALLS FOR SNAP POLL

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Monday dissolved Parliament six
months ahead of its schedule and called for a snap election on April 25.
He signed the gazette notification dissolving Parliament from midnight, the
Government Printers Department said. 

CAYETANO OPPONENTS LOSE KEY HOUSE POSTS

MANILA — A minor revamp has been implemented in the House of
Representatives, just days after Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano revealed an
alleged plot to oust him, as three officials close to his perceived
successor were removed from their posts.

ASIAN STOCKS RISE AS CENTRAL BANKS PLEDGE SUPPORT

Share prices in Asia have reversed early losses after Japan's central bank
promised to support markets.
It comes after official data showed that Chinese factory activity fell in
February at the fastest rate on record.

'IT'S A BIG JOB': NEW DRUG WAR CO-CHAIR VOWS TO PRIORITIZE LAW ENFORCEMENT

MANILA - The new co-chair of government's anti-narcotics drive on Monday
said he would prioritize law enforcement, contrary to what his predecessor
had done, in order to "cut the supply" of illegal drugs in the country.

US, TALIBAN SIGN DEAL, NATO TO EXIT AFGHANISTAN IN 14 MONTHS

At a ceremony in Qatar that was also attended by an Indian diplomat, the
United States signed an agreement with the Taliban on Saturday, agreeing to
withdraw entirely from Afghanistan in the next 14 months. 

HOUSE EYES REVISIONS ON VAPES REGULATION

MANILA — Lawmakers are looking at revising regulations on e-cigarettes and
vapes set in President Duterte’s executive order.
Proponents of bills regulating electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS)
products in the House said the final consolidated version of the law is
likely to amend certain provisions of EO 106.

MALAYSIAN TURMOIL TAKES NEW TWIST AS MAHATHIR AND ANWAR ALLY AGAIN

Malaysia's Mahathir Mohamad will stand for the premiership on behalf of the
former ruling coalition, the interim prime minister said on Saturday, less
than a week after he quit and plunged the country into turmoil.

PH, US EYE 'IMPROVED' VFA - ENVOY

MANILA - The Philippines and the United States are in talks for the crafting of an "improved" Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) after Manila moved to abrogate the military pact this month, the country's top diplomat in
Washington said Friday.

MAHATHIR: DECISION LIES WITH PARLIAMENT

Malaysia's interim leader Mahathir Mohamad on Thursday said Parliament will
pick a new Prime Minister next week following the collapse of the ruling
alliance and that snap elections will be called if the vote ends in an
impasse.

DUTERTE FORMALLY BANS VAPING IN PUBLIC PLACES

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte has signed an executive order which
prohibits vaping or the use of e-cigarettes in public places in an expansion
of his earlier nationwide smoking ban.

HIGH-TECH COMPANIES RESUME PRODUCTION IN CHINA

High-tech companies have resumed work and are turning the challenges brought by novel coronavirus pneumonia into new opportunities.

SRI LANKA NOTIFIES UN ABOUT RIGHTS RESOLUTION WITHDRAWAL

Sri Lanka on Wednesday formally notified the UN Human Right Council that it
was withdrawing from the UN resolution on post-war accountability and
reconciliation.

DUTERTE DECLARES STATE OF CALAMITY IN CALABARZON DUE TO TAAL ERUPTION

MANILA- President Rodrigo Duterte has placed the entire Southern Tagalog
region or Calabarzon under a state of calamity due to the risk posed by Taal
Volcano, which erupted last month.

UNCERTAINTY GRIPS MALAYSIA AS MAHATHIR CONSIDERS NEXT MOVE

The political guessing game continues in Malaysia a day after Prime Minister
Mahathir Mohamad's abrupt resignation, prolonging the atmosphere of
uncertainty in the nation of more than 30 million people.

DUTERTE: DEFEND LEGACY OF EDSA REVOLT

MANILA — President Duterte stressed the importance of defending the legacy
of the country’s bloodless revolution that toppled the late dictator
Ferdinand Marcos and installed Corazon Aquino as president.

NOVEL HEROES: IRANIAN BARISTA DOES HIS PART IN WUHAN

Sina Karami from Iran is a barista at a café named Wakanda in Wuhan, Hubei province.

UN CHIEF ISSUES 7-POINT 'CALL TO ACTION' ON HUMAN RIGHTS

The head of the United Nations issued a "call to action" on Monday to
countries, businesses and all people to help renew and revive human rights
across the globe, laying out a seven-point plan amid concerns about climate
change, conflict and repression.

ABS-CBN, ABS-CBN CONVERGENCE SEEK DISMISSAL OF QUO WARRANTO PETITION

MANILA – ABS-CBN Corp on Monday asked the Supreme Court to dismiss the quo
warranto petition Solicitor General Jose Calida filed against its franchise
and that of its subsidiary ABS-CBN Convergence.

THREE-WAY MARITIME STANDOFF EMERGING IN SPRATLYS — THINK TANK

MANILA — A three-way maritime standoff among China, Malaysia and Vietnam is
developing in the disputed Spratly islands in the South China Sea, a
Washington-based think tank reported on Saturday.

BERNIE SANDERS CEMENTS FRONT-RUNNER STATUS WITH NEVADA CAUCUSES WIN

Bernie Sanders has cemented his status as the Democratic front-runner to
take on Donald Trump in November's US presidential election.
He is projected to win Nevada's caucuses, and early results suggest he is on
course for a large victory.

SENATE TO PUSH THROUGH WITH ABS-CBN FRANCHISE HEARING

MANILA - Nothing can stop the Senate committee on public services from
hearing the franchise extension of ABS-CBN Corp. tomorrow, Senate President
Vicente Sotto III said yesterday.

U.S. SAYS PREPARING TO SIGN DEAL WITH TALIBAN ON FEBRUARY 29

The United States is preparing to sign a deal with the Taliban on February
29, building on an agreement on reducing violence across Afghanistan,
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday.

BIR SHUTS FIRST POGO LICENSEE FOR P114 MILLION IN TAX DEFICIENCIES

MANILA - The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Friday said it shut down an offshore gaming operator in Pasay City for failing to pay proper taxes from its 2019 earnings.

'NO REASON FOR OUR PUBLIC SERVICE TO END,' SAYS ABS-CBN PRESIDENT AND CEO CARLO KATIGBAK

MANILA - ABS-CBN Corp. President and Chief Executive Officer Carlo Katigbak
said Thursday the country's largest broadcast network will be given a chance
"in the coming days" to answer allegations and clarify issues, amid threats
and attempts to shut it down.

 TRUMP WANTS TO MAKE DOING BUSINESS WITH CHINA 'EASY'

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday openly vilified proposed restrictions on trade with China, saying that his administration wanted to make doing business with China "easy", including sales of jet engines, instead of resorting to the "always used national security excuse".

IMMIGRATION: NO VISAS FOR LOW-SKILLED WORKERS, GOVERNMENT SAYS

Low-skilled workers would not get visas under post-Brexit immigration plans
unveiled by the government.

POOLED DRUG PURCHASES SET AS GOV'T ENFORCES PRICE CAPS: TRADE CHIEF

MANILA -- The government will pool the procurement of some medicines to
comply with a new directive from President Rodrigo Duterte that capped drug
prizes, his trade secretary said Wednesday.

SILICON VALLEY HEADS TO EUROPE, NERVOUS ABOUT NEW RULES

First came Sundar Pichai, the chief executive of Google's parent company,
Alphabet. Then Apple's senior vice president for artificial intelligence,
John Giannandrea, showed up.

SENATE OKS BILL MANDATING GOOD MANNERS AND RIGHT CONDUCT SUBJECT IN SCHOOLS

MANILA - The Senate on Monday approved on third reading a bill mandating all
public and private elementary and high schools to include a Good Manners and
Right Conduct (GMRC) subject in their curriculum.

RISHI SUNAK, NARAYANA MURTHY'S SON-IN-LAW, IS THE NEW UK FINANCE MINISTER

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has appointed Indian-origin Rishi Sunak as
his new finance minister. He replaced Sajid Javid who resigned from the post
of Chancellor of the Exchequer in a surprise move during the recent
ministerial reshuffle by Johnson.

'THANK YOU, NEXT': TRUMP FINE WITH ENDING DEFENSE PACT WITH PHILIPPINES

MANILA - Contrary to his Defense chief's earlier remarks, US President
Donald Trump admitted that he does not mind the Philippines terminating its
Visiting Forces Agreement with the US.

MINISTRY ADVISES ONLINE CLASSES NOT TO OVERBURDEN STUDENTS

Schools should not add an unnecessary academic burden on primary and secondary students through online classes, the Ministry of Education said on Tuesday night, amid criticism that online teaching has significantly increased the workload of students and teachers.

EU SEEN OPENING UP TRADE TO VIETNAM, CLOSING DOOR TO CAMBODIA

The European Union is expected to open its markets to Vietnam on Wednesday,
while closing its trade doors with Cambodia, rewarding the former for
progress on labour guarantees and sanctioning the latter for human rights
abuses.

‘IT’S NOT ABOUT ME’: NANCY BINAY FAVORS ABS-CBN FRANCHISE RENEWAL DESPITE DIFFERENCES WITH NETWORK

MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Nancy Binay on Tuesday said she would vote for
the renewal of franchise of broadcast giant ABS-CBN if it reaches the
Senate.

WHITE HOUSE PROPOSES $1.5 BILLION FOR INDO-PACIFIC REGION

The Trump administration has proposed $1.5 billion in budgetary allocation
for 2021 fiscal for the crucial Indo-Pacific region, which it said was part
of its efforts to ensure that the region remains "free, open, and
independent of malign Chinese influence".

SYDNEY RAINS: RECORD RAINFALL BRINGS FLOODING AND DOUSES FIRES

The Australian city of Sydney has been hit by its heaviest rain in 30 years,
bringing flooding and travel chaos and forcing thousands from their homes.
The state weather agency said 391.6mm of rain had fallen in the past four
days, and warned of potentially life-threatening flash floods.

XI SENDS CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE TO 33RD AU SUMMIT

President Xi Jinping on Sunday warmly congratulated African countries and their people on the holding of the 33rd African Union (AU) summit in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa.

'NO CONTRADICTION' AMONG OFFICIALS, PANELO INSISTS AMID DIFFERING STATEMENTS
ON VFA

MANILA - Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Sunday insisted there
was "neither contradiction nor inconsistency" among cabinet officials'
statements on the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States.

FASTER DETECTION KEY TO SUCCESS

Addressing medical shortages in Hubei province, the center of the novel coronavirus epidemic, and speeding up overall detection of infections nationwide are key to combating the contagion's spread, health officials said.

NADA, AWAN, WALA! DEFENSE CHIEF SAYS NO DUTERTE ORDER YET TO SEND NOTICE TO TERMINATE VFA

MANILA - 'Fake news.'
This was how Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana described information a
Palace official sent out Friday night on President Rodrigo Duterte's
supposed instruction for the Philippines to officially notify the United
States on its intent to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).

CORONAVIRUS: CHINA DEATHS RISE PAST 800, OVERTAKING SARS TOLL

The death toll from the novel coronavirus outbreak soared to 803 in China on
Sunday, according to official figures, overtaking the global toll for SARS.

XI, TRUMP DISCUSS OUTBREAK, TRADE

President Xi Jinping urged the United States on Friday to evaluate the novel coronavirus outbreak in a calm manner, and reasonably formulate and adjust its measures in dealing with the epidemic.

DEATH OF DOCTOR WHO SOUNDED CORONAVIRUS ALARM SPARKS ANGER AT GOVERNMENT

A Chinese doctor who was reprimanded for warning against a "SARS-like"
coronavirus before it was officially recognised died of the virus on Friday,
triggering a wave of mourning in China and rare online expressions of anger
towards the government.

PHILIPPINES TO SEND VFA TERMINATION NOTICE TO US; DUTERTE TO TALK TO TRUMP

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte has issued orders to send to the United
States a notice to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA),
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Friday.

TRUMP CELEBRATES IMPEACHMENT ACQUITTAL AND BLASTS RIVALS

US President Donald Trump has taken a victory lap one day after his
impeachment acquittal, in a White House tirade against his political
enemies.

DUTERTE TO WATER FIRMS: RETURN THE MONEY OF THE PEOPLE THEN WE TALK

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte announced Thursday that he would be open
to talks with water firms if they return the money they allegedly stole from
consumers in an apparent shift from his hard-line stance on what he had
described as "onerous" water deals.

XI: NATION CAN WIN BATTLE AGAINST VIRUS

China has the confidence and capability to win the battle on the prevention and control of the pneumonia epidemic caused by the novel coronavirus, President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday.

TRUMP ACQUITTED BY SENATE IN IMPEACHMENT TRIAL

U.S. President Donald Trump, impeached by the House of Representatives , was
acquitted by the Senate late afternoon on Wednesday, bringing to a close a
bitter process that lasted close to five months. Senators voted 52 to 48 to
acquit Mr. Trump on the abuse of office charge, with Republican Mitt Romney
voting alongside all 47 Democrats. They voted 53-47 as per party lines to
acquit the president of the charge of obstruction of Congress.

HOUSE PANEL APPROVES DIVORCE BILL

MANILA - A committee in the House of Representatives approved in principle
yesterday the Marriage Dissolution Bill, a measure equivalent to divorce in
other countries.

CHINA'S 'OPTICS VALLEY' READY FOR THE LONG HAUL

The electronics and optical communication equipment manufacturing industry in China is likely to see pressure in the short term as the novel coronavirus outbreak might have an influence on the normal production of related companies in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, but the impact will be temporary, said industry insiders.

INFLATION QUICKENS FURTHER IN JANUARY, SETTING STAGE FOR INTEREST RATE CUT

MANILA -- Inflation accelerated past estimates in January while staying
within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas' target, official data released
Wednesday showed, putting pressure on monetary authority to cut interest
rates, according to analysts.

XI PRIORITIZES EPIDEMIC CONTROL EFFORTS

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, urged concrete efforts on Monday to race against time in combating the novel coronavirus and winning the battle of prevention and control of the contagion.

TURKEY HITS BACK AFTER SYRIAN SHELLS KILL TURKISH TROOPS

President Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that Turkey and Russia should
resolve differences over the conflict in Syria's Idlib without anger, after
a deadly flare-up in violence challenged the fragile cooperation between
Moscow and Ankara.

BREXIT DONE? NOT SO FAST. BRITAIN, EU ENTER NEW TRADE DEAL BATTLE

Just three days after their formal parting, Britain and the European Union
were already at loggerheads Monday over a future trade deal, setting the
stage for months of bluster and bickering over how to refashion their
economic and political ties.

'EVERYTHING IS WELL': DUTERTE ASSURES NATION ON NOVEL CORONAVIRUS RISK

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte assured the Philippines late Monday night
that the two confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus—one of whom died over
the weekend—are nothing to be alarmed about.

PALESTINIANS HAVE CUT SECURITY TIES WITH U.S. AND ISRAEL: ABBAS

The Palestinian Authority has cut all ties with the U.S. and Israel,
including security relations after rejecting a West Asia peace plan
presented this week by U.S. President Donald Trump, Palestinian President
Mahmoud Abbas said on Saturday.

REPUBLICANS PREPARE TO DEFEND TRUMP'S EXPECTED ACQUITTAL

Republicans prepared to defend their expected acquittal of President Donald
Trump, on Sunday's TV talk shows, after their Senate votes to reject witness
testimony at his impeachment trial sparked criticism they were aiding a
cover-up and abdicating their duties.

THOUSANDS DENIED ENTRY AT NAIA

MANILA — Thousands of incoming passengers of various nationalities who came
from China, Hong Kong and Macau were prevented by immigration officials from
entering the country yesterday at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA)
after Malacañang issued a directive banning all passengers coming from the
areas due to the outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus acute respiratory
disease (nCoV ARD).

CHINA'S MILITARY WILL SEND 1,400 MEDICS TO HUOSHENSHAN HOSPITAL

Approved by President Xi Jinping, China's military will dispatch 1,400 medical workers to the newly-built Huoshenshan hospital specialized in treating novel coronavirus patients in Wuhan.

DOJ CHIEF VOWS FAIR IMPACT ASSESSMENT ON VFA TERMINATION

MANILA — The Cabinet cluster assigned to make an impact assessment on the
termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States
vowed to be fair in its recommendations to President Duterte.

CHINA VOWS COORDINATION AS VIRUS GROWS

China vowed on Friday to work with the international community to uphold regional and international health security, and reiterated it has the confidence and capability to win the battle against the novel coronavirus epidemic, which has claimed 213 lives throughout the country as of Thursday.

US REAFFIRM ALLIANCE, BUT NO MENTION OF VFA

MANILA — The Philippines and the United States have reaffirmed their strong
security, cultural and economic ties, days after President Duterte ordered
the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).

CHINA TO CONTINUE WORK WITH WHO, COUNTRIES TO SAFEGUARD HEALTH

China has confidence and capability to win the battle against the epidemic caused by the novel coronavirus, the Foreign Ministry said on Friday after the World Health Organization declared the pneumonia outbreak in China a public health emergency of international concern.

CORONAVIRUS DECLARED GLOBAL HEALTH EMERGENCY BY WHO

The World Health Organization declared the outbreak sparked by a new virus
in China that has spread to more than a dozen countries a global emergency
after the number of cases spiked more than tenfold in a week, including the
highest death toll in a 24-hour period reported Friday.
China counted 9,692 confirmed cases with a death toll of 213, including 43
new fatalities. The vast majority of the cases have been in Hubei province
and its provincial capital, Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak. No deaths
have been reported outside China.
The U.N. health agency defines an international emergency as an
"extraordinary event" that constitutes a risk to other countries and
requires a coordinated international response.
China first informed WHO about cases of the new virus in late December.
Eighteen other countries have since reported cases, as scientists race to
understand how exactly the virus is spreading and how severe it is.
Experts say there is significant evidence the virus is spreading among
people in China and have noted with concern instances in other countries -
including the United States, France, Japan, Germany, Canada, South Korea and
Vietnam - where there have also been isolated cases of human-to-human
transmission.

CHINA VIRUS DEATH TOLL TOPS 200 AS WHO DECLARES GLOBAL EMERGENCY

SHANGHAI - The death toll in China from the new corona virus reached 213 on
Friday, with overall cases worldwide rising rapidly in an outbreak that the
World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global health emergency.
The death toll in Hubei, the Chinese province at the center of the epidemic,
had risen to 204 and there were 9,692 cases of infection nationally as of
Thursday, Chinese health authorities said. About 100 cases have been
reported in at least 18 other countries, with no deaths outside China.
Even as the WHO said cases had spread to 18 countries, Italy announced its
first confirmed cases, in two Chinese tourists.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, told a news conference in
Geneva that recent weeks have witnessed an unprecedented outbreak which has
been met by an unprecedented response.
"Let me be clear, this declaration is not a vote of no confidence in China,"
he said. "Our greatest concern is the potential for the virus to spread to
countries with weaker health systems."

XI: PLA MUST PLAY KEY ROLE AGAINST VIRUS

President Xi Jinping is calling on the People's Liberation Army to shoulder its responsibility and continue contributing to the country's uphill battle to control the recent novel coronavirus outbreak and prevent a pandemic.

EU HOUSE CLEARS DEAL, UK SET TO EXIT TOMORROW

Britain's departure from the European Union was backed by European lawmakers
Wednesday, after a debate that mixed warm words of love with hard-headed
warnings to the country not to seek too many concessions during upcoming
trade talks on a future relationship.

DUTERTE FORBIDS US TRAVEL FOR CABINET MEMBERS

MANILA - President Duterte has barred all of his Cabinet officials from
traveling to America, following his decision to terminate unilaterally the
Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States.

Workload stress caused by changes in regulations has been one of the three main factors impacting the seafarers’ happiness level in the fourth quarter of 2019, just months before the IMO 2020 sulphur cap entered into force.

XI: NATION ENGAGED IN 'SERIOUS BATTLE'

China has full confidence and capability to win the battle against the novel coronavirus pneumonia outbreak, President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday.

TRUMP UNVEILS WEST ASIA PLAN, PALESTINIANS PROTEST

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday proposed creation of a Palestinian
state with capital in eastern Jerusalem, dependent on Palestinians taking
steps to become self-governing, as part of a peace plan to end decades of
conflict in the region.

PH CONSULATE TO BRING HOME PINOYS FROM CHINA'S VIRUS-HIT HUBEI PROVINCE

MANILA - Foreign Affairs Sec. Teodoro Locsin Jr. has ordered the Philippine
consulate in Shanghai to start processing the repatriation of Filipinos in
China's Hubei province, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)
outbreak.

XI ENCOURAGES UNITY AGAINST CORONAVIRUS

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, issued an instruction regarding the novel coronavirus on Monday. In it, he urged Party organizations at various levels, officials and Party members to lead and unite the people to implement the decisions and policies made by the CPC Central Committee, and to rely on the people to win the battle of the prevention and control of the contagion caused by the virus.

CORONAVIRUS: DEATH TOLL CLIMBS TO 106 AS CHINA TIGHTENS MEASURES

China says 106 people have died from the new coronavirus and the cases of
newly infected have almost doubled.

DUTERTE URGED TO WITHDRAW THREAT TO END MILITARY ACCORD WITH US

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte should withdraw his threat to end
Manila's Visiting Forces Agreement with Washington over the cancellation of
his former drug war administrator's US visa, a former senator said Tuesday.

PREMIER LI ARRIVES IN WUHAN TO INSTRUCT EPIDEMIC CONTROL

Entrusted by President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang arrived on Monday in Wuhan, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak, to instruct on epidemic control and prevention.

THREE ROCKETS HIT U.S. EMBASSY IN BAGHDAD, ONE INJURED

Three rockets slammed into the U.S. Embassy in Iraq's capital on Sunday in
the first direct hit reported after months of close calls, as thousands kept
up anti-government sit-ins across the country.

BSP CHIEF: GOV'T DEALS PROBED, 'OVERNIGHT' TAKEOVER 'WILL NOT HAPPEN'

MANILA -- Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said Monday a
government takeover of businesses with alleged onerous contracts "will not
happen overnight" as these will go through legal processes.

XI URGES ALL-OUT EFFORTS TO PREVENT, CONTROL NOVEL CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Saturday urged all-out efforts to prevent and control the novel coronavirus-related pneumonia, extending his sincere sympathies to the bereaved families due to the contagion as well as his heartfelt gratitude to the medical staff on the front line.

IRANIAN FM: TEHRAN STILL WILLING TO NEGOTIATE WITH US

Iran is not ruling out negotiations with the United States even after an
American drone strike that killed a top Iranian general, the country's
foreign minister said in an interview released Saturday.

DUTERTE TO GET FULL HONORS FROM US IF HE VISITS

MANILA - President Duterte will be accorded full honors given to heads of
state if he decides to go to the United States and accept President Donald
Trump's invitation for the Philippine leader and other heads of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to attend a special summit in
Las Vegas, Nevada in March.

CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK: 444 NEW CASES ADDED ON FRIDAY

The Chinese mainland has confirmed 1, 287 cases of novel coronavirus pneumonia and 41 deaths, according to the National Health Commission.

CHINA CORONAVIRUS: DEATH TOLL RISES TO 41, MORE THAN 1,300 INFECTED
WORLDWIDE

China said 41 people have now died from a new coronavirus that has infected
more than 1,300 people globally, as health authorities around the world
scramble to prevent a global pandemic. 

PHILIPPINES STARTS PROCESS OF VFA TERMINATION

MANILA — Taking a cue from President Duterte, the foreign affairs department
has set the ball rolling for the termination of the Visiting Forces
Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the United States.

WE WILL SECURE VICTORY,' XI SAYS

President Xi Jinping vowed on Thursday to build China by the end of this year into a moderately prosperous society that is universally acclaimed by the people and stands the test of history.

BREXIT DEAL OFFICIALLY BECOMES UK LAW, QUEEN GIVES ROYAL ASSENT

Britain’s exit deal with the European Union has officially become a law
Thursday a few days ahead of the country’s departure from the bloc. 

DUTERTE THREATENS TO END VFA IF US FAILS TO 'CORRECT' BATO VISA CANCELLATION

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday threatened to terminate the
Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States unless Washington
"corrects" the cancellation of Sen. Bato dela Rosa's visa in one month.

GLOBAL TIES VITAL TO FIGHT CORONAVIRUS

China stands ready to work with the international community to effectively curb the spread of the pneumonia cases caused by a new strain of coronavirus to uphold global health security, President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday.

BREXIT BILL CLEARS FINAL UK PARLIAMENTARY HURDLE AHEAD OF JANUARY 31 EXIT

Britain moved a step closer to its January 31 exit from the European Union
when the legislation required to ratify its deal with Brussels passed its
final stage in parliament on Wednesday.

JET DISINFECTION, FACE MASKS: AIRLINES RAMP UP DEFENSE VS CHINA VIRUS

MANILA — Airlines in the Philippines stepped up defenses against a new
SARS-like virus from China, introducing jet disinfection, protective
equipment and health checks, representatives said Thursday, as authorities
moved to head off a billowing regional health crisis.

XI URGES KEY TASKS FOR YUNNAN

President Xi Jinping underlined on Tuesday the need for Yunnan province to win the battle against absolute poverty and to step up efforts in environmental conservation, urging it to advance supply-side structural reforms to achieve high-quality economic growth.

TRUMP LAUDS US ECONOMY IN DAVOS, SAYS LITTLE ON CLIMATE WOES

President Donald Trump boasted Tuesday that he's led a "spectacular"
turnaround of the U.S. economy and urged the world to invest in America, but
had little to say about climate change issues that are a focus of this
year's gathering of top business and political leaders in the Swiss Alps.

XI URGES MILITARY TO FOCUS ON IMPROVING CAPABILITIES

President Xi Jinping urged the Chinese military on Monday to strive this year to realize its goals and missions given by the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people.

"We are determined to build a moderately prosperous society and eradicate absolute poverty before the end of this year. We also aim to achieve the goals set for our national defense system and the People's Liberation Army this year. There are numerous tough tasks for us to do," said Xi, who also is general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission.

TRUMP IMPEACHMENT: PRESIDENT'S LAWYERS DEMAND IMMEDIATE ACQUITTAL

President Donald Trump's legal team, representing him at his impeachment
trial, has demanded that he is immediately acquitted by the Senate.
In a brief submitted on Monday, they called the impeachment "a dangerous
perversion" of the constitution.
Meanwhile House impeachment managers submitted their own brief, saying Mr
Trump engaged in "corrupt conduct... to cheat in the next election".
Impeachment hearings will begin on Tuesday at 13:00 (18:00 GMT).
Mr Trump is charged with abusing his presidential power by asking Ukraine to
investigate Democratic political rival Joe Biden - and of obstructing
Congress as it looked into his conduct.
During the course of the trial, Senators will hear arguments for six hours a
day, six days a week. It will be presided over by the US chief justice, John
Roberts.
The trial could, in theory, lead to Mr Trump being removed from office. But
as a two-thirds majority of 67 votes in the 100-seat Senate is required to
convict and oust Mr Trump, and there are only 47 Democrats in the Senate,
the president is widely expected to be cleared.
Mr Trump will be at the economic forum in Davos, Switzerland, when his trial
opens.

PHILIPPINE ECONOMIC GROWTH REVS UP AS TAAL VOLCANO LOOMS

MANILA -- The Philippine economy was tipped to grow at its quickest pace for
2019 in the quarter ended December on the back of faster state spending and
low borrowing costs, analysts said, as the government kept watch on
potential fallout from the Taal Volcano eruption.
Gross domestic product likely grew 6.4 percent in the last 3 months of 2019,
according to the median forecast of 22 economists in a Bloomberg poll.
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia gave a 6.6 percent forecast,
compared to the 6.2 percent expansion posted in the previous quarter.
Taal Volcano, located in the industrial and tourism region of Calabarzon
south of Manila, spewed giant ash columns on Jan. 12 and remained under
watch for a possible hazardous eruption.
"If there are more eruptions, then it may manifest long term and become
significant," Regina Capital head of sales Luis Limlingan told ABS-CBN News.
Official GDP data is due out on Thursday.
On industry and services alone, the volcano could cause P4.3 billion in
"foregone income" in Calabarzon, representing 0.17 percent of the region's
GDP, the National Economic Development Authority said.
If damage extends beyond the 14-kilometer danger zone, to 17 kilometers, it
could swell to P6.7 billion or 0.26 percent of the region's economic output,
it said.

XI VISITS YUNNAN ON INSPECTION TOUR AHEAD OF CHINESE NEW YEAR

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visited southwest China's Yunnan Province Sunday on an inspection tour ahead of Chinese New Year.

IRAN BACKTRACKS ON PLAN TO SEND FLIGHT RECORDERS TO UKRAINE

The Iranian official leading the investigation into the Ukrainian jetliner
that was accidentally shot down by the Revolutionary Guard appeared to
backtrack on January 19 on plans to send the flight recorders abroad for
analysis, a day after saying they would be sent to Kyiv.

TRUMP INVITES DUTERTE TO US

MANILA — Despite the passage of a United States budget provision banning
Philippine officials behind the detention of Sen. Leila de Lima from
entering the US, President Duterte was among the Southeast Asian leaders
invited by US President Donald Trump to a Las Vegas summit to be held on
March 14.

CHINA, MYANMAR HAVE PRODUCTIVE EXCHANGE DURING XI'S VISIT

China and Myanmar exchanged a number of cooperation documents covering such areas as politics, trade, investment and people-to-people communications amid President Xi Jinping's state visit on Saturday.

BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR WORDS, TRUMP WARNS KHAMENEI

President Donald Trump on Friday warned Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei to be "very careful with his words". "The so-called 'Supreme
Leader' of Iran, who has not been so Supreme lately, had some nasty things
to say about the United States and Europe," Trump tweeted of Khamenei's
comments earlier Friday in Tehran.

CREATION OF TAAL COMMISSION PUSHED

MANILA — Lawmakers called yesterday for the creation of a commission or task
force that would oversee the rehabilitation and recovery of areas in
Batangas and Cavite affected by Taal Volcano’s eruption.

XI GREETED WITH GUSTO IN MYANMAR

China is willing to consolidate and deepen its pauk-phaw friendship with Myanmar and jointly build a China-Myanmar community with a shared future, visiting President Xi Jinping said on Friday in Nay Pyi Taw.

IRAN CAN TAKE FIGHT BEYOND ITS BORDERS, SAYS KHAMENEI

The Revolutionary Guards can take their fight beyond Iran's borders, Supreme
Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Friday, responding to the US killing
of a top general and to unrest at home over the accidental downing of an
airliner.

CARPIO: FILIPINOS NEED LEADER WHO CAN ADDRESS CHINA ISSUE

MANILA - Retired Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Friday said
Filipinos need a leader who can address the country’s territorial issues
with China.

TRUMP IMPEACHMENT TRIAL OPENS AS WATCHDOG FAULTS WHITE HOUSE ON UKRAINE

The Senate impeachment trial on whether to remove U.S. President Donald
Trump from office formally began on January 16 even as a congressional
watchdog found that the White House broke the law by withholding security
aid for Ukraine approved by Congress.

DUTERTE'S FORMER ICC ACCUSER DANCES AROUND CASE'S VERACITY

MANILA — The case against President Rodrigo Duterte before the International
Criminal Court’s (ICC) was politically motivated, the lawyer who filed it
said Friday, despite admitting that he "cannot say what is true" or not in
the allegations.

RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT RESIGNS AS VLADIMIR PUTIN PLANS FUTURE

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday that his government
was resigning to give President Vladimir Putin room to carry out the changes
he wants to make to the constitution.

PHILIPPINES, CHINESE COAST GUARDS HOLD JOINT DRILL

MANILA - The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) yesterday held a joint maritime
drill with the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) on search and rescue operations and
firefighting in the waters off Manila.

ON ARMY DAY, CHIEF SAYS SCRAPPING 370 DISRUPTED PAK PLANS

Army Chief Gen M M Naravane on Wednesday hailed the abrogation of provisions
of Article 370 as a "historic step" and said the move had disrupted plans of
the "western neighbour and its proxies", in a clear reference to Pakistan.

XI URGES ALL PARTIES TO WORK TOWARD SOCIALIST GOALS

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, called on the country's non-Communist parties to make new contributions to securing the victory of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and fighting poverty on Tuesday.

IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL: EU LAUNCHES DISPUTE MECHANISM

Britain, France and Germany ratcheted up pressure on Iran on Tuesday to
cease its violations of a landmark nuclear deal, stressing that they want to
resolve differences through talks while starting the clock on a process that
could result in a so-called "snapback" of United Nations sanctions.

MORE FISSURES SPOTTED NEAR TAAL VOLCANO AS MAGMA ACTIVITY CONTINUES —
PHIVOLCS

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology on Wednesday said
that while Taal volcano is having a "generally weaker eruption" at the main
crater, the fissuring of areas around it shows that it is very much active
underneath.

XI URGES MORE EFFORTS AGAINST GRAFT IN GOVT

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, ordered officials on Monday to make consistent efforts against graft to secure victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and fighting poverty.

FIVE COUNTRIES TO DISCUSS ACTION AGAINST IRAN

Five nations whose citizens died when an airliner was shot down by Iran last
week will meet in London on Thursday to discuss possible legal action,
Ukraine's Foreign Minister said.

TAAL 'HAZARDOUS ERUPTION' LIKE 'ATOMIC BOMB' BUT WON'T CARRY SAME ENERGY: 
PHIVOLCS 

MANILA - A hazardous eruption of Taal Volcano will look like an "atomic bomb 
explosion" but will not carry the same energy, a state seismologist said 
Monday. 

XI SENDS MESSAGES TO OMAN'S NEW SULTAN

President Xi Jinping sent two messages on Sunday to Haitham bin Tariq al-Said, the new sultan of Oman — first a congratulatory message about his succession as sultan and second a message of condolence over the death of Sultan Qaboos bin Said.

CHINA SAYS WON'T CHANGE POSITION ON TAIWAN AFTER LANDSLIDE ELECTION

China will not change its position that Taiwan belongs to it and the world
will only ever recognise that there is "one China", Beijing said on Sunday
after President Tsai Ing-wen won re-election and said she would not submit
to China's threats.

TAAL SPEWS LAVA FOUNTAINS

A volcano near Manila spewed lava fountains Monday after belching a massive
cloud of ash that drifted across the Philippine capital on Sunday, forcing
the cancellation of flights and closure of schools and government offices as
authorities warned of a possible "explosive eruption".

IRAN ADMITS IT SHOT DOWN PLANE IN ERROR, APOLOGISES AFTER DENIALS

Iran announced on Saturday that its military "unintentionally" shot down the
Ukrainian jetliner that crashed earlier this week, killing all 176 aboard,
after the government had repeatedly denied Western accusations that it was
responsible.

CHINA URGES INT'L COMMUNITY TO CONTINUE ADHERING TO ONE-CHINA PRINCIPLE

The foreign ministry on Sunday urged the international community to continue abiding by the one-China principle after the Taiwan leadership election.

1ST BATCH OF 14 OFWS FROM IRAQ HEADED HOME

MANILA - Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana disclosed yesterday that the
first batch of 14 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are now at the Philippine
embassy in Baghdad, Iraq and would be processed as part of the government's
ongoing mandatory repatriation operations.

CWC PASSES RESOLUTION ASKING GOVT TO STOP NPR, WITHDRAW CAA

The Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Saturday passed a resolution
demanding a rollback of the Citizenship Amendment Act, which was notified by
the Home Ministry on January 10, and stopping the process of updating the
National Population Register (NPR). T

XI HONORS OUTSTANDING SCIENTISTS

President Xi Jinping presented China's top science award on Friday to Huang Xuhua, the chief designer of China's first-generation nuclear submarines, and Zeng Qingcun, a famous meteorologist.

TAIWAN BEGINS VOTING WITH FUTURE OF ITS DEMOCRACY ON THE LINE

The future of Taiwan's democracy is on the line as the self-ruled island's
19 million voters decide on whether to give independence-leaning President
Tsai Ing-wen a second term.

DUTERTE VOWS TO 'CORRECT' ALL GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS BEFORE STEPPING DOWN

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte vowed Thursday to "correct" all
government contracts before he steps down from office as he sought to
renegotiate water concession deals covering the Philippine capital.

XI SENDS CONDOLENCES TO UKRAINIAN, IRANIAN PRESIDENTS

President Xi Jinping sent his condolences on Thursday to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani over the Wednesday crash of a Ukrainian airliner in Iran that killed all 176 people aboard. 

BRITAIN LAWMAKERS FINALLY CLEAR HISTORIC BREXIT DEAL 

Britain's parliament finally approved Brexit on Thursday, allowing it to 
become the first country to leave the European Union by the end of this 
month, ending years of arguments that toppled two governments and divided a 
nation. 

BLACK NAZARENE BACK AT QUIAPO CHURCH; 'RECORD-BREAKING' TRASLACION ENDS 
EARLIER THAN USUAL 

MANILA - The Black Nazarene procession ended just before 9 p.m. Thursday as 
the image was returned more than 16 hours since the annual Traslacion 
started amid tighter security and stricter regulations. 

XI CALLS FOR UNREMITTING SELF-REFORM EFFORTS

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, called on Wednesday for unremitting efforts to deepen self-reform of the Party to enable the whole Party to remain true to its original aspiration and keep its mission firmly in mind.

TRUMP AVOIDS ESCALATING CRISIS, SAYS IRAN IS 'STANDING DOWN' 

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday Iranian missile strikes on bases 
in Iraq had not harmed any US troops stationed there and damage was minimal, 
an outcome, he said, showed Tehran wanted to prevent an escalation into 
conflict. 

MASSIVE REPATRIATION NOT NECESSARY AS US, IRAN STEP BACK FROM WAR: EX-LABOR 
OFFICIAL 

MANILA - A massive repatriation of Filipino migrant workers in Iraq may not 
be needed as the US pulled back from the brink of war with Iran early 
Thursday, a former labor official said. 

KEY MEETING REAFFIRMS PARTY LEADERSHIP ROLE

A key meeting presided over by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Tuesday reaffirmed the importance of upholding Party leadership over work in all areas and aspects.

IRAN LAUNCHES MISSILE ATTACK ON IRAQ BASE HOUSING U.S. TROOPS 

Iran on Wednesday launched a missile attack on an Iraqi airbase where U.S. 
forces are based, threatening "more crushing responses" if Washington 
carried out further strikes, Iranian state media said. 

IRAN LAUNCHES MISSILE ATTACK ON US BASES IN IRAQ 

On Wednesday morning, Philippine time, Iran claimed responsibility for the 
launch of missile attack on an Iraqi airbase where US forces are based. 

XI URGES BRI EFFORTS WITH KIRIBATI

President Xi Jinping called for joint efforts with the Pacific island nation of Kiribati to build the Belt and Road and expand practical cooperation on Monday.

IRAN SOLEIMANI KILLING: US DENIES IRAQ PULLOUT AMID LETTER CONFUSION 

The U.S. military on Monday told the Iraqi government American troops were 
preparing to pull out of the country but a top U.S. general in Washington 
said the message was sent by "mistake". 

DUTERTE SIGNS 2020 NATIONAL BUDGET INTO LAW 

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday signed into law the 2020 
national budget, averting a repeat of last year's delay that slowed economic 
growth. 

YANGTZE PROTECTION EFFORTS BEAR FRUIT

As the weather turned cold, most plants near Xiliang Lake withered. Little green remained around the fog-shrouded body of water in Xianning, Hubei province, in the Yangtze River Basin.

IRAQI PARLIAMENT PASSES RESOLUTION TO END FOREIGN TROOP PRESENCE 

Iraq's parliament called on Sunday for U.S. and other foreign military 
forces to leave amid a growing backlash against the U.S. killing of a top 
Iranian military commander that has heightened fears of a wider Middle East 
conflict. 

DUTERTE ORDERS MILITARY TO PREPARE FOR POSSIBLE REPATRIATION OF PINOYS IN 
IRAQ, IRAN 

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the military to prepare its 
aircraft and ships for the possible evacuation of Filipinos in the Middle 
East if the tension between the United States and Iran further escalates, a 
Defense official said on Sunday. 

CHINA TO ACCELERATE UPGRADING OF OUTSOURCED SERVICES SECTOR

China will step up efforts to promote the transformation and upgrading of outsourced services, with the view to achieving better structure and higher quality of the services sector, the State Council's executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang decided on Friday.

BLASTS HIT BAGHDAD AREA AS IRAQIS MOURN IRANIAN GENERAL

Several blasts shook the Baghdad area hours after a huge funeral procession
for a top Iranian general, killed by a US air strike there on Friday.

DUTERTE TO AFP: PROTECT FREEDOM, DEMOCRATIC VALUES

MANILA - After several days of not showing up in public, President Duterte
presided over the change of command ceremonies at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon
City yesterday and gave marching orders to new Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP) chief Lt. Gen. Filemon Santos Jr. to protect freedom and
the people's democratic values.

XI HIGHLIGHTS YELLOW RIVER DEVELOPMENT

President Xi Jinping on Friday underscored the importance of heightened efforts in ecological protection and pursuing high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin.

TEHRAN PROMISES 'HARSH RETALIATION', US AND ISRAEL BRACE FOR REVENGE ATTACKS

Iran vowed "harsh retaliation" for a US drone strike near Baghdad's airport
that killed a top Iranian general who had been the architect of its
interventions across the Middle East, and the US announced Friday it was
sending more troops to the region as tensions soared in the wake of the
targeted killing.

DUTERTE TO SIGN 2020 NATIONAL BUDGET ON JANUARY 6

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte is set to sign the P4.1 trillion national
budget for 2020 on January 6, his spokesperson said Saturday.

TOP IRANIAN MILITARY COMMANDER QASSEM SOLEIMANI KILLED BY US AIR STRIKE IN 
BAGHDAD 

A US strike killed top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani and the deputy head 
of Iraq's Hashed al-Shaabi military force at Baghdad's airport early Friday, 
the Hashed announced. 

MAGUINDANAO MASSACRE VICTIMS SEEK TO DOUBLE CIVIL DAMAGES 

MANILA — Relatives of the victims in the Maguindanao massacre will ask a 
Quezon City court to at least double the claim for civil damages that it 
awarded to them, their lawyer said Friday. 

XI'S REMARKS VOICE HK HOPE FOR HARMONY

President Xi Jinping's comments in his New Year's speech about Hong Kong clearly demonstrated the central government's concern for the city and voiced local people's hope for a stable society, the city's opinion and community leaders said.

CARLOS GHOSN FLIGHT PROMPTS TALK OF MORE CURBS IN JAPAN'S STRICT JUSTICE 
SYSTEM 

Carlos Ghosn's daring flight from Japan, where he was awaiting trial on 
charges of financial wrongdoing, has revived global criticism of the 
nation's "hostage justice," but in Japan is prompting talk of reversing more 
lenient curbs on defendants. 

'HAZARDOUS' AIR RECORDED IN PARTS OF METRO MANILA ON NEW YEAR'S EVE 

MANILA -- Air quality in Metro Manila was “hazardous” at the height of New 
Year's Eve revelries, as fireworks lit up the sky, the Department of 
Environment and Natural Resources said Wednesday. 

‘OBJECTIVE ACHIEVED’: MARTIAL LAW IN MINDANAO ENDS, AS NEW YEAR BEGINS 

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Tuesday said the government will end 
martial law in Mindanao at midnight, even as soldiers will remain in the 
region “to sustain peace and stability.” 

XI MAKES COUNTRY'S VOICE HEARD

Under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, China remained committed to multilateralism and championed justice worldwide this year as it strove to push forward major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, according to officials and analysts.

US AIR STRIKES IN IRAQ, SYRIA TARGET IRANIAN-BACKED SHI'ITE MUSLIM MILITIA 
GROUP 

US officials said on Sunday that air strikes in Iraq and Syria against an 
Iran-backed militia group were successful, but warned that "additional 
actions" may still be taken in the region to defend US interests. 

DUTERTE PUSHES 2 DAMS FOR METRO MANILA, WARNS COURTS 

MANILA — A “desperate” President Duterte yesterday ordered the completion of 
two projects designed to ensure enough water supply in Metro Manila and 
nearby areas, saying indigenous people would have to be relocated and no 
court could stop it. 

CHINA'S HIGH-SPEED RAIL LINKS WINTER OLYMPICS CITIES

The high-speed railway line connecting Beijing and Zhangjiakou, the co-host city of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, went into operation Monday, the China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. said.

S ARABIA TO CONVENE OIC MEET ON K-ISSUE 

Saudi Arabia has agreed to convene a meeting of foreign ministers of the 
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Kashmir, according to reports 
in the Pakistan media. 

DUTERTE URGES PINOYS TO 'KEEP NATIONALISM ALIVE' ON RIZAL DAY 

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte urged Filipinos to "strengthen and 
protect" their freedom and keep nationalism alive as the country 
commemorated the 123rd death anniversary of hero Jose Rizal. 

REVISED SECURITIES LAW TO TAKE EFFECT MARCH 1

China's revised Securities Law will take effect on March 1, setting the legal basis for a phase-in registration-based reform across the whole capital market, according to the top legislature on Saturday.

N. KOREA'S KIM HOLDS TOP PARTY MEETING AHEAD OF US DEADLINE 

SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has convened a key meeting of top 
ruling party officials, state media said Sunday, ahead of a year-end 
deadline for Washington to shift its stance on stalled nuclear talks. 

FREE DE LIMA INSTEAD OF THREATENING VISA RESTRICTIONS, US SENATOR SAYS 

MANILA - The Philippine government should free detained Sen. Leila De Lima 
"or provide her [a] fair, public trial" instead of threatening visa 
restrictions on visiting US citizens, US Sen. Patrick Leahy, who is banned 
from entering the country, said. 

CONSTRUCTION OF 3G BEIDOU NEARS FINISH

China plans to complete construction of its third-generation Beidou Navigation Satellite System network by June, including the launch of two new satellites into geostationary orbit by that time, the China Satellite Navigation Office said on Friday.

4 U.S. SURVEILLANCE PLANES FLY OVER KOREAN PENINSULA ON SAME DAY 

A U.S. maritime patrol plane made a late-night flight over the Korean 
Peninsula, only hours after three American surveillance aircraft flew above 
the same area, it was reported on Friday. 

DUTERTE TO DECLINE TRUMP'S INVITATION TO VISIT WHITE HOUSE 

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte will decline United States President 
Donald Trump's invitation to the White House, Malacañang said Friday. 

MINISTRY SAYS PHASE ONE DEAL ADVANCES

China and the United States are working on necessary procedures regarding their phase one trade deal and closely communicating on other follow-up matters, the Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday.

ISRAEL'S PM BENJAMIN NETANYAHU CLAIMS WIN IN PARTY LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed a "huge win" in a vote 
that challenged his leadership of the Likud party. 

PALACE, PNP: NO ARREST IF JOMA SISON COMES TO PHILIPPINES FOR MEETING WITH 
DUTERTE 

MANILA — The Malacañang on Friday said Communist Party of the Philippines 
founder Jose Maria “Joma” Sison will not be arrested if he comes to the 
country for a one-on-one meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte. 

27 AFGHAN PEACE ACTIVISTS ABDUCTED BY THE TALIBAN 

Taliban militants have kidnapped 27 peace activists from a highway in 
Afghanistan's western Farah province, local officials and peace activists 
said on Wednesday. 

BEIJING, TOKYO EYE BROADER COOPERATION

Beijing and Tokyo have agreed to expand cooperation in coping with aging societies and other issues as they seek to foster new areas of bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

NEW YEAR, NEW TAXES; HOUSE EYES 4 BILLS 

MANILA - The principal taxman in Congress vowed yesterday to push for the 
approval next year of four tax bills that would raise an additional P492 
billion from taxpayers and the booming offshore gambling industry over five 
years. 

LEADERS VOW TO JOINTLY TACKLE CHALLENGES

Leaders from China, Japan and the Republic of Korea reaffirmed on Tuesday their commitment to bolster regional economic integration and jointly tackle common challenges such as aging societies, healthcare and environmental protection.

PUTIN ACCUSES POLAND OF COLLUDING WITH HITLER