Saturday, July 18, 2026


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DOH: 200K na kaso ng flu naitala

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 Naitala na ng Department of Health (DOH) ang 200,000 kaso ng ILI (Influenza-like illnesses), kabilang ang COVID-19.

Sa pahayag ni Health Undersecretary Eric Tayag, ang kasalukuyang DOH information officer, kinumpirma niya na mas malaki ang bilang kaysa sa karaniwang 90,000 na naitatala na “respiratory illnesses” tuwing taglamig. “Dati rati nasa 90,000 lang sa panahon na ito. Pero hindi naman lahat ng ito ay influenza, may ilan dun na tinesting namin ay COVID pala, ‘yung iba ay influenza,” ayon kay Tayag sa panayam ng TeleRadyo.

Ang ulat ay nagmula sa lumalaking pangamba sa mataas na kaso ng ILI sa Hilagang China, na mino-monitor ngayon ng DOH. Hinikayat din ng ahensya ang mga magulang na agad na ipa-check-up ang mga anak, lalo na ang mga sanggol na may edad tatlong buwan pababa, na nagpapakita ng sintomas ng ILI.

“Ang nakababahala dito sa China ay sapagkat kahit hindi magkalapit na lugar ay may mga ganun silang kaso sa mga bata at marami ang nao-ospital. Ngayon ang pinagsususpetsahan nila ay isang uri ng bacteria, microplasma pneumoniae subalit hindi ito nakukumpirma. Patuloy ang testing,” saad pa ni Tayag.

Sa kabila ng mga ulat, iginiit ni Tayag na kailangan pa ring maghanda ang Pilipinas at kailangan agad na maisailalim sa test ang pagkakasakit ng mga bata, lalo na sa ubo at sipon. 

Kaugnay nito, inirerekomenda ng isang eksperto sa infectious diseases na isuot muli ng mga Pilipino ang face masks kapag nasa pampublikong lugar.

Gayon pa man, iginiit ni Dr. Rontgene Solante, ang pangulo ng Philippine College of Physicians, na hindi dapat mag-panic ang publiko. Nilinaw niya na wala pang tiyak na impormasyon kung ito ay magreresulta sa panibagong pandemya.

₱2M halaga ng pekeng sigarilyo, nasamsam sa buy-bust sa Laguna

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SAN PABLO CITY, Laguna. Arestado ang isang babae matapos mahulihan ng halos ₱2 milyon na halaga ng pekeng sigarilyo sa isinagawang buy-bust operation ng mga awtoridad noong Biyernes, Nobyembre 24 sa lungsod na ito.

Ayon kay Police Lt. Col. Vicente Cabatingan, hepe ng San PAblo City Police Station, ang 49-anyos na babaeng suspek na hindi pinangalanang ay nasakote sa Barangay Concepcion, sa ilalim ng sa nasabing operasyon.

Ayon sa ulat ni Cabatingan na nakumpiska sa suspek ang kahon-kaho ng pekeng sigarilyo na pinaniniwalaang mga Chinese national ang supplier nito.

Sasampahan ng kaso ng paglabag sa Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines ang suspek at mananatiling bukas ang imbestigasyon ang insidenteng ito.

Talks are underway to extend Israel-Hamas temporary ceasefire to release more hostages

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Both parties express a desire for further releases of hostages, with Hamas holding hostages in exchange for Palestinians incarcerated in Israeli jails. The current ceasefire is set to expire on Tuesday at 7 am, raising concerns about a potential return to the intense fighting and bombardment that has inflicted significant damage on Gaza, resulting in numerous civilian casualties and a humanitarian crisis.

The third release of prisoners, including mostly Israeli hostages held by Hamas, occurred without major issues on Sunday night. However, both Israel and Hamas have raised concerns about the lists of hostages and Palestinian prisoners scheduled for release on Monday. Qatari mediators are working to address these concerns.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while expressing a reluctance to end the ceasefire, has pledged to resume the military offensive in Gaza once the truce concludes. Netanyahu welcomes the possibility of an extension, proposing the release of 10 additional hostages daily in exchange for freedom for 30 Palestinian prisoners, as agreed in the original deal.

U.S. President Joe Biden has committed to remaining personally engaged to ensure the deal’s full implementation and to work towards extending the ceasefire. There is optimism among senior Israeli officials that the truce, resulting from complex indirect negotiations involving the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt, will be prolonged.

To date, 62 of the 240 hostages held by Hamas have been released, one by Israeli forces, and two found dead in Gaza. The conflict was triggered by Hamas breaching the perimeter fence around Gaza on October 7, resulting in over 1,200 deaths, mostly civilians. Between 13,000 and 15,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive, with approximately two-thirds being women and children.

Qatar emphasizes the need for Hamas to find additional hostages for a ceasefire extension. Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani suggests that at least 40 women and children are believed to be detained in Gaza by unidentified factions.

While the truce has allowed aid to reach Gaza, agencies warn that more is needed to address the consequences of the conflict. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are seeking shelter in overcrowded facilities, and despite increased humanitarian aid, dire conditions persist.

The UN notes an improvement in aid delivery under the truce, but the quantities remain below pre-conflict levels. Details emerge about the conditions of hostage detention, including shortages of food and medicine, cramped accommodation, and, in some cases, underground confinement. Hostages’ families urge prioritizing releases, adding complexity to Israel’s leaders’ dilemma as they balance the military offensive with the goal of freeing all captives.

Batangas boosts local farmers and fishers’ sales with Christmas bazaar

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BATANGAS CITY. Leveraging the heightened demand during the Christmas season, the provincial government in Batangas is championing the promotion of local agricultural products to uplift the livelihoods of Batangueño farmers and fisherfolk.

The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg) has initiated “Barakahan sa Kapitolyo” (Camaraderie at the Capitol), a holiday bazaar featuring locally grown goods sold fresh at farmgate prices.

The bazaar commenced on Friday and is scheduled to continue until December 24.

Rod Bautista, head of OPAg, shared with the Philippine News Agency on Sunday that the project enables local producers to directly sell their products to consumers, eliminating the need for intermediaries.

“The OPAg tracked more than PHP3 million gross sales earned by our farmers, fishermen, and other local producers in the province,” he stated.

Bautista mentioned the participation of numerous food producers from various towns, including Bauan, Cuenca, Ibaan, Laurel, San Jose, San Juan, San Pascual, Rosario, and the City of Lipa.

He highlighted the availability of the highly sought-after maliputo fish (giant trevally) at reasonable prices in the bazaar. Maliputo is an indigenous fish found in Taal Lake.

“We are opening this project to the public so tourists can see what Batangas has to offer. This will strengthen the (provincial) economy, innovate local products, and give the province its identity,” Bautista emphasized.

Hamas releases third group of hostages as US expresses hope of truce extension

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The third exchange of hostages and prisoners between Hamas and Israel occurred as the US expressed hope for a truce extension in Gaza.

Israel reported that 17 hostages were released by Hamas, including a Russian national and three Thai nationals, all of whom were women or children. In return, 39 Palestinian prisoners, also women and children, were released from Israeli jails.

The day witnessed emotional moments, such as the release of a girl orphaned in Hamas’s attack in Israel, and aid reaching the north of Gaza, devastated by Israeli bombardment.

US President Joe Biden welcomed the release of a four-year-old US-Israeli dual national, expressing hope for the truce’s extension. Israel indicated its willingness to resume its campaign after the truce but expressed openness to extending it if it facilitated the daily release of 10 hostages as per the original Qatari-brokered deal. Hamas, however, suggested an extension would depend on efforts to increase the number of Palestinian detainees released by Israel.

The truce, marking the first significant pause in the seven-week conflict, faced challenges due to a lack of trust between Israel and Hamas. Accusations were exchanged regarding aid delivery and adherence to the terms of the release. The war in Gaza, marked by the deadliest Israeli-Palestinian violence in decades, resulted in significant destruction and displacement. International pressure led Israel to agree to release at least 150 Palestinian prisoners and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. However, challenges persist as both sides navigate a delicate balance between military objectives and releasing captives.

Kibbutz Nir Oz rejoices as Filipino caretaker abducted by Hamas is released

Kibbutz Nir Oz, a tranquil Israeli farming community, faced a brutal attack by Hamas on October 7, prompting the issuance of a statement on Friday expressing joy over the release of a Filipino caretaker who had been taken hostage during the assault.

In the statement provided to Breitbart News, Kibbutz Nir Oz conveyed:

“Kibbutz Nir Oz welcomes the return of Gelienor ‘Jimmy’ Pacheco, a 33-year-old Filipino, who was abducted from Nir Oz on October 7.

Jimmy was the dedicated caregiver of the late Amitai Ben Zvi from Nir Oz, who tragically lost his life in his home during the heinous attack.

The Ben Zvi family issued the following statement:

‘We are excited about Jimmy’s release and will do our best to ensure he is reunited with his family as soon as possible. We are also excited to see hostages being released and are anxiously awaiting the return of all of them.’

Apart from Jimmy, five other foreign nationals were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz. Information on the release of these additional foreign nationals is not currently available.

Hamas claimed the lives of eleven Thai farmworkers at the kibbutz, and one Tanzanian agricultural student was taken hostage, meeting a tragic end in captivity.

On Tuesday, Breitbart News visited Nir Oz and bore witness to the aftermath of the devastating events firsthand.”

Breitbart News contributed to this report.

Tatlong engkwentro: 7 ang patay, 2 ang sugatan

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PINAMALAYAN, Oriental Mindoro. Pito ang patay, kasama ang limang pinaniniwalaang miyembro ng New People’s Army (NPA), at dalawang sundalo ang nasugatan matapos ang sunud-sunod na labanan sa bayang ito.

Ayon sa pahayag ng Philippine Army noong Sabado, Nobyembre 25, naglunsad ng combat operations ang 203rd Infantry Brigade sa Sitio Tugas sa Barangay Sabang nang maka-engkwentro ang mga ito ng 15 miyembro ng NPA.

Dalawampung minutong nagsagupaan ang mga sundalo at rebelde, kung saan nasawi ang tatlong miyembro ng NPA. Naganap ang ikalawang engkwentro sa parehong lugar, kung saan isang NPA ang napatay at dalawang sundalo ang nasugatan.

Sa ikatlong engkwentro, isa pang miyembro ng NPA ang nasawi. Kasunod nito, narekober ng mga sundalo ang siyam na high-powered firearms.

Breaking News: Isang Filipino kasama sa mga hostage na pinalaya ng Hamas

Kasama ang isang Pilipino at 10 Thai nationals sa mga hostage na pinalaya ng Hamas kagabi mula sa Gaza, bilang bahagi ng hiwalay na kasunduan sa pagitan ng Israel at ng Palestinian group.

Ang pagpapalaya sa isang Pilipino at mga Thai hostage ay labas ng kasunduang truce sa pagitan ng Israel at Hamas, kung saan 13 na Israel ay pinalaya kapalit ng 39 na bilanggong Palestino.

Ayon kay Majed al-Ansari kahapon, spokesperson ng foreign ministry sa Qatar na may mahalagang papel sa mediation, ang mga Thai nationals at isang Pilipino ay kasama sa kabuuang 24 na bihag na pinalaya.

Ang Pilipino at mga Thai nationals, aniya, ay “kasalukuyang papunta sa labas ng strip” kasama ang International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Hindi sila sakop ng kasunduan ng truce sa pagitan ng Hamas at Israel, at nagsara ng pulong ang Qatar at Egypt sa hiwalay na kasunduan sa Hamas para sa kanilang paglaya, ayon sa mga opisyal ng Thailand.

Ang grupo ay dinala sa Rafah at dadalin sa Karem Abu Salem crossing na tinatawag na Kerem Shalom ng Israel, sa silangan ng Rafah crossing sa pagitan ng Egypt at Gaza Strip, ayon sa Ministry of Foreign Affairs ng Thailand. Ihahatid sila sa Hatzerim Air Force base at dadalhin sa Shamir Medical Centre, sa timog-silangan ng Tel Aviv.

“Sa ngayon, hindi pa alam ang mga kasarian at mga pangalan ng Pilipino at mga Thai na ito,” ayon sa pahayag ng ministry.

Hindi pa alam ang tumpak na bilang ng Pilipinong nabihag ng Hamas noong Oktubre 7 ngunit tinatayang hindi bababa sa 23 ang nabihag na Thai workers.

Lab-grown, meat without the animals set to hit the market

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Lab-grown meat, produced without the need for slaughtering animals, has received regulatory approval for sale for the first time. The innovative “chicken bites” created by the US company Eat Just have successfully passed a safety review conducted by the Singapore Food Agency. This marks a pivotal moment in the meat industry, raising prospects for a future where all meat is cultivated without the necessity of taking animal lives.

Eat Just’s chicken bites, cultivated in bioreactors and combined with plant-based ingredients, could revolutionize the way meat is produced, significantly reducing the environmental impact of industrial livestock farming. The move comes as part of a broader initiative to address climate and nature crises, offering a cleaner, drug-free, and cruelty-free alternative to conventional meat.

While the initial availability of the lab-grown meat will be limited, with sales starting in a Singaporean restaurant, Eat Just anticipates future scalability, eventually making the product more affordable compared to traditional chicken. The cells used in the process are derived from a cell bank, eliminating the need for chicken slaughter, as they can be obtained through live animal biopsies. The nutrients supplied to the growing cells are entirely plant-based.

Despite the use of foetal bovine serum in the Singapore production line, which is largely removed before consumption, the next production line is expected to employ a plant-based serum. This shift aligns with the company’s commitment to sustainable and cruelty-free practices, even though it was not available during the initial approval process two years ago.

The global meat industry currently faces significant challenges related to the environmental impact of industrialized meat production. Approximately 130 million chickens and 4 million pigs are slaughtered daily for meat, contributing to a substantial portion of Earth’s mammalian biomass. Lab-grown meat offers a promising solution by addressing ethical, environmental, and health concerns.

Although current lab-grown meat production requires a relatively high amount of energy and, consequently, carbon emissions, manufacturers believe that scalability will lead to significantly lower emissions, as well as reduced water and land usage compared to conventional meat.

Josh Tetrick, CEO of Eat Just, views the regulatory approval as a pivotal milestone in the food industry, envisioning a future where the majority of meat is produced without harming animals or the environment. However, challenges remain, particularly in consumer acceptance of cultured meat. Tetrick acknowledges the need for transparent communication to help consumers understand and embrace this innovative approach.

While other companies, including Memphis Meats, Mosa Meat, and Aleph Farms, work on textured lab-grown products such as steaks, major players like Tyson and Cargill have also entered the domain. The recent approval in Singapore may serve as a catalyst for the global adoption of lab-grown meat, signaling a transformative shift in the future of food production.

WHO: Seasonal germs at hindi unusual pathogens ang sanhi ng laganap na respiratory illness

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Ipinahayag sa mga health authorities ng China sa World Health Organization (WHO) noong Huwebes na ang pagtaas ng kaso ng mga batang may pneumonia o respiratory illness sa northern China ay dulot ng karaniwang seasonal germs at hindi ng bago o hindi kilalang pathogen.

Matapos humingi ng karagdagang impormasyon sa China noong Miyerkules tungkol sa pag-akyat ng pediatric disease, nagkaroon ng teleconference ang WHO kasama ang mga lider mula sa Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention at Beijing Children’s Hospital kung saan ibinahagi ng mga opisyal ang hiniling na detalye, ayon sa pahayag ng organisasyon.

Ayon sa mga opisyal ng Tsina, nakita nila ang pagtaas sa bilang ng mga batang nagpapatingin sa doktor o nire-rehistro sa ospital dahil sa mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia, isang karaniwang impeksyon na kadalasang nakakaapekto sa mga bata. Maaring gamutin ito ng mga antibiotic.

Simula pa noong Oktubre, tumaas din ang bilang ng pagpunta sa doktor at ospital dahil sa RSV, adenovirus, at flu, ayon sa mga opisyal. Ang ilan sa mga pagtaas na ito ay tila mas maaga kaysa sa karaniwan, ngunit sinabi ng WHO na “hindi nila ito inaasahan.”

Katulad ng nangyari sa ibang bansa matapos ang pag-alis ng mga restriksyon ng Covid-19, nakita ang maagang pag-usbong ng respiratory illnesses.

Sa isang teleconference noong Huwebes, sinabi ng WHO na iniulat ng mga opisyal ng Tsina ang pinaigting na surveillance ng respiratory illnesses na maaaring nagiging dahilan ng pagtaas sa iniulat na mga kaso ng sakit.

Ayon sa WHO, iniulat ng mga opisyal ng Tsina na wala pang mga pagbabago sa uri ng mga sintomas na nararanasan ng mga tao na nagpapahiwatig na ang mga sakit na ito ay anuman kundi mga viral at bacterial respiratory infections na dumadapo tuwing taglamig.

Kahit sa pagtaas ng mga kaso, sinabi rin ng Tsina na hindi pa rin puno ng pasyente ang kanilang mga ospital.

Ang WHO ay patuloy na nagmomonitor ng datos mula sa mga surveillance system ng CHina mula pa noong kalagitnaan ng Oktubre, noong una nitong mapansin ang pag-akyat ng respiratory illnesses sa mga bata sa hilagang Tsina.

Ayon sa ulat ng media, mayroong “malawakang pagkalat ng hindi na-diagnose na respiratory illness sa ilang lugar sa Tsina,” ayon sa International Society for Infectious Diseases’ Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases, o mas kilala bilang ProMED. “Hindi malinaw kung kailan nagsimula ang outbreak na ito dahil kakaiba para sa maraming bata na maapektuhan ng ganito kabilis,” ngunit iniulat na ang pagkalat ng sakit ay dahil sa mga hawahan sa mga paaralan.”

Sa pagtaas na ito ng respiratory illnesses, ipinapayao ng WHO ang mga tao sa China na gawin ang kanilang makakaya upang mabawasan ang pagkalat ng nakakahawang sakit, kasama na ang pananatili sa bahay kapag sila ay may sakit, pagsusuot ng facemask kung kinakailangan, at ang madalas na paghuhugas ng kamay.

Hindi inirerekomenda ng WHO na baguhin ng mga magbabakasyon ang kanilang mga plano o kumuha ng anumang partikular na precautions kapag bumibisita sa China, maliban sa pag-iwasan ng pagbyahe kung sila ay may sakit.

Sinabi ng WHO na itutuloy nito ang maingat na pagmomonitor sa sitwasyon, mananatiling may malapit na ugnayan sa mga national authorities sa China, at magbibigay ng mga update kapag nararapat.

May ambag ang CNN sa ulat na ito.