News Roundup 07 August 2022
Aug 07, 2022 • 5 min Read
DOH records 4,701 new COVID-19 cases | PHILSTAR.COM – The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday recorded 4,701 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the nationwide tally to 3,795,008. Its latest data also showed that active cases rose to 37,189, compared to Thursday’s tally of 34,213 cases. The total recoveries reached 3,697,045 while deaths stood at 6,774. The agency maintained, though, that the country remains at low risk case classification with a daily average attack rate of 3.13 cases per 100,000 population. DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said, “We have less than 1,000 cases of severe and critical admissions nationally, and that majority of the cases admitted are mild and asymptomatic.” For the past two weeks, the regions with the most number of cases were the National Capital Region (15,041), Calabarzon (9,852), Central Luzon (4,775), Western Visayas (2,735) and Central Visayas (2,132).
US to work with PH in resolving rights issues, says Blinken | INQUIRER.NET – The United States will “work collaboratively” with the Philippines to defend the rule of law and protect human rights and freedom of expression, according to visiting US State Secretary Antony Blinken. “These values are critical to our alliance and they’re essential to building the future that the people of the Philippines want and deserve,” said Blinken, who arrived on Friday evening from Phnom Penh where he attended a ministerial meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. He made the remark in an online press briefing from Malacañang with Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo on Saturday after the US official met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Manalo, for his part, affirmed that the Philippines and the United States agreed to maintain a dialogue on the subject of human rights after the US House of Representatives approved a measure that would block security assistance to the Philippine National Police (PNP) unless measures were taken to investigate human rights abuses by the police and punish those responsible. Under the amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act for 2023, no aid could be granted to the PNP unless Blinken certifies that the Philippine government has made improvements in addressing human rights issues. “Recognizing that democracy, whether in the Philippines or the United States, will always be a work in progress, we agreed to maintain open lines of communication. We’re discussing human rights issues that demonstrate our commitment to dialogue on this matter,” said Manalo, who had just been released from confinement after catching COVID-19.
Chinese and Taiwanese warships shadow each other as drills due to end | INQUIRER.NET – Chinese and Taiwanese warships played high seas “cat and mouse” on Sunday ahead of the scheduled end of four days of unprecedented Chinese military exercises launched in reaction to a visit to Taiwan by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Pelosi’s visit last week to the self-ruled island infuriated China, which regards the island as its territory and which responded with test launches of ballistic missiles over the island’s capital for the first time and the cutting of some areas of dialogue with the United States. About 10 warships each from China and Taiwan sailed at close quarters in the Taiwan Strait, with some Chinese vessels crossing the median line, an unofficial buffer separating the two sides, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. The island’s defense ministry said multiple Chinese military ships, aircraft, and drones were simulating attacks on the island and its navy. It said it had sent aircraft and ships to react “appropriately.” A commentator on Chinese state television said on Sunday night that the Chinese military would now conduct “regular” drills on the Taiwan side of the line, saying the “historic task” of China’s reunification “can be realized”. As Chinese forces “pressed” the line, as they did on Saturday, the Taiwan side stayed close to monitor and, where possible, deny the Chinese the ability to cross, said the person with knowledge of the situation who declined to be identified. “The two sides are showing restraint,” the person said, describing the manoeuvres as high seas “cat and mouse”. “One side tries to cross, and the other stands in the way and forces them to a more disadvantaged position and eventually return to the other side.” Taiwan said its shore-based anti-ship missiles and its Patriot surface-to-air-missiles were on stand-by. The defense ministry said its F-16 jet fighters were flying with advanced anti-aircraft missiles. It issued photographs of Harpoon anti-ship weapons being loaded on another. Taiwan said on Saturday its forces scrambled jets to warn away 20 Chinese aircraft, including 14 that crossed the median line. It also detected 14 Chinese ships conducting activity around the Taiwan Strait. The Chinese exercises, centered on six locations around the island, began on Thursday and were scheduled to last until midday on Sunday, the official Xinhua News Agency reported last week. There was no announcement from China on Sunday on whether the exercises had ended and Taiwan said it was unable to verify whether China had stopped them as scheduled. Nevertheless, Taiwan’s transport ministry it was gradually lifting restrictions on flights through its airspace, saying notifications for the drills were no longer in effect. But it added that Taiwan would continue to direct flights and ships away from one of the drill zones off its east coast until Monday morning. China’s military has said the sea and air joint exercises, north, southwest and east of Taiwan, had a focus on land-strike and sea-assault capabilities. The United States called the exercises a significant escalation in China’s efforts to change the status quo.
