Food parcels have been issued in certain areas instead of the vouchers, with some taking to Twitter to express outrage over the amount of food provided.

World
UAE
Philippines

World leaders welcome Biden with praise, pleas, and parting shots at Trump

When Joe Biden is sworn in Wednesday as the 46th United States president, he will take the reins of a country in crisis. But his task on the global stage will be daunting too. [...]

US accuses China of 'genocide' of Uyghurs and minority groups in Xinjiang

The US has officially determined that China is committing genocide and crimes against humanity against Uyghur Muslims and ethnic and religious minority groups who live in the northwestern region of Xinjiang. [...]

China builds massive Covid-19 quarantine camp for 4,000 people

China is rushing to build a massive quarantine camp that can house more than 4,000 people, after an outbreak of Covid-19 this month that has left tens of millions of people under strict lockdown. [...]

UAE leaders congratulate Biden on inauguration as US President

President Khalifa wished Biden success. [...]

As it happened: Joe Biden sworn in as 46th US President

Biden took the oath on the same very steps alongside Kamala Harris, who was sworn in moments earlier as the first woman vice president. [...]

How world leaders are reacting to Biden's inauguration

Biden will order that all federal employees wear masks and make face coverings mandatory on federal property. [...]

DOJ junks complaint vs Senator Koko Pimentel over alleged quarantine breach

Cites three grounds for dismissal (Eagle News) — The Department of Justice has dismissed the complaint filed against Senator Koko Pimentel over his alleged quarantine breach in March 2020. A statement from the DOJ said the Office of the Prosecutor General junked the complaint filed by lawyer Rico Quicho a month later on three grounds: the complaint was fatally defective, Pimentel is not a public health authority required to report medical conditions, and there was […] [...]

Galvez: PHL to get up to 40 million free COVID-19 vaccine doses from COVAX

(Eagle News) — The Philippines will get up to 40 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from the Gavi COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access facility or COVAX, vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. announced on Thursday, Jan. 21. Galvez announced the development in a televised briefing. While he did not specify which vaccine this was, he said it was “most likely” the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine. “Siguro meron po tayong 30 to 40 million na doses for free para […] [...]

PNP reports 13 more COVID-19 recoveries

(Eagle News) — Thirteen more police personnel have recovered from COVID-19. The Philippine National Police said with the additional recoveries, the PNP COVID-19 recovery total rose to 9154. Thirty-eight additional cases, however, pushed the PNP COVID-19 tally to 9683. Of these, 501 were active. No additional deaths were reported, which means the PNP COVID-19 death toll remains at 28. The police are among the country’s frontliners amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The government has said uniformed […] [...]