The steady uptick in the COVID-19 infections in the Philippines signals the start of the peak of cases, the Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) said on Monday. "Right now, (we see) that the number of cases is continuously increasing," Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told a television interview. "We can see that this is really the start in the peak in the number of cases." Vergeire said the Southeast Asian country is seeing a trend similar to what happened in September 2021 and January 2022. The Philippines reported the highest single-day tally on Jan. 15 this year, with 39,0

The European Union's executive arm on Friday recommended making Ukraine a candidate for EU membership, a first step on what was expected to be a long road forthe war-torn countryto join the 27-nation bloc. The European Commission delivered its proposal to award Ukraine candidate status after a fast-tracked analysis of answers to a questionnaire. The Ukrainian government applied for EU membership less than a week after Russia invaded the country. “Ukrainians are ready to die for the European perspective,” commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. “We want them to live with us, the E

After leading the Ireland team through a successful era, former Ireland captain William Porterfield announced his retirement from international cricket on Thursday, calling time on a 16-year career. He was appointed as Ireland captain in 2008 and led his team over 250 times. "It's been an honour to represent my country for 16 years. It's something I had always wanted to do since I was a child," Porterfield said in an official statement released by Ireland Cricket. Andrew Balbirnie, the current Ireland captain, said Porterfield would be "a huge loss."

Italian luxury sportscar maker Ferrari has outlined an electrification strategy that calls for 40% full-electric and 40% hybrid models by 2030. CEO Benedetto Vigna confirmed Thursday that the first electric car will be presented in 2025, with the first deliveries the following year. Now, just four Ferrari models, or 20% of the range, are hybrid cars. Its first hybrid model was the limited edition La Ferrari launched in 2013, capitalizing on Formula 1 technology. Vigna, a former technology entrepreneur who joined Ferrari as CEO nine months ago, said the electrification strategy is ``highly r

A minister in Pakistan's newly elected government faced criticism Wednesday following his plea to the nation to drink less tea to help save on imports amid a deepening economic crisis. Pakistan is among the world's top tea importers, a hugely popular drink among both the rich and the poor in this country of 220 million people. The government has to spend about $600 million dollars from the central bank's hard currency reserves for tea imports annually. A Pakistani is believed to drink at least three cups of tea a day on average, the nation's caffeinated drink of choice. Prime Minister Shahbaz

Mexico's government wants citizens to produce more of their own food in a move toward self-sufficiency and lower prices in key products. The idea isn't new, but the ravages of the pandemic, climate change and the market turmoil created by the war in Ukraine have given it new urgency. The government wants to head off food insecurity in a country where 44% of its population lives in poverty and where 27.5 million tons of corn are produced, but more than 40 million tons are consumed. Some farmers are hopeful about additional government financial help and subsidized fertilizer. Others are suspic

The Biden administration is lifting its requirement that international air travelers to the U.S. take a COVID-19 test within a day before boarding their flights, easing one of the last remaining government mandates meant to contain the spread of the coronavirus. A senior administration official said the mandate expires Sunday at 12:01 a.m. ET, saying the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has determined that it's no longer necessary. The official, speaking Friday on the condition of anonymity to preview the formal announcement, said that the agency would reevaluate the need for the te

A Former Pakistan president General Pervez Musharraf has been hospitalized for the last three weeks due to a complication of his ailment and is going through a difficult stage where recovery is not possible and organs are malfunctioning, his family said on Friday. In a message posted on Musharraf's Twitter handle, his family said that he is dealing with Amyloidosis and prayed for ease in his daily living. "He is not on the ventilator. Has been hospitalised for the last 3 weeks due to a complication of his ailment (Amyloidosis)," noted the Musharraf's family in a message shared on Twitter. Gen

Authorities say a man has opened fire at a business in western Maryland, leaving three dead before the suspect and a state trooper were wounded in a shootout. The Washington County Sheriff's Office said in a news release that three victims were found dead Thursday at Columbia Machine Inc. in Smithsburg and a fourth victim was critically injured. The release says the suspect then fled in a vehicle and was tracked down by Maryland State Police. The sheriff's office says the suspect and a trooper were wounded in an exchange of gunfire. Both were being treated for their wounds.