Author: Agnes Alpuerto

Let’s just assume that this is a normal year, when we can all celebrate the festive December holidays like how we normally do: traveling, eating, partying and just breathing in the cool December air. This month is arguably one of the jolliest months of the year, and the one most of us are looking forward to celebrating. With Hanukkah, Christmas Day, St. Lucia’s Day, Pancha Ganapati, New Year’s Eve and many more being celebrated in this month, the festivities just go on and on. This is usually the time when streets are decorated grandiosely with neon lights and lanterns. Everywhere…

The United States on Friday authorized the emergency use of Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine. The pharmaceutical company has six million doses ready for shipment to different US states badly affected by the pandemic. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) chief Stephen Hahn said, “With the availability of two vaccines now for the prevention of COVID-19, the FDA has taken another crucial step in the fight against the global pandemic”. The FDA previously approved the emergency use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The first batch of the vaccines have already been distributed and used across the country. President Donald Trump tweeted, “Congratulations, the…

Music has saved us all this year. And what better way to say goodbye to 2020 than to listen to this new album from Eminem. The Detroit rap god surprised the world with an unexpected drop of a second album for 2020, “Music to Be Murdered By – Side B”, the companion to his 11th studio album released in January which topped the Billboard 200 chart. Executive produced by Eminem himself and Dr. Dre, the deluxe edition of the album features Skylar Grey, DJ Premier, Ty Dolla, $ign, Dr. Dre, Sly Pyper, MAJ and White Gold. Days before he surprise-released…

It’s been three years since Jonghyun died – but it still feels like yesterday. One of Kpop’s most talented stars and member of SHINee, Jonghyun passed away on December 18, 2017, at the age of 27 after struggling with depression and the pressure of fame. Having made his debut in 2008, Jonghyun quickly rose to stardom and made his own mark with his wide-ranging musical talents. His charisma was palpable every time he performs, and his songwriting skill was widely admired in the Korean entertainment industry. He wrote songs for the nation’s sweetheart IU and for Lee Hi. Before his…

A Swiss court on Thursday banned Russian athletes from competing under their flag at major international sporting events, including the Olympics, as part of the country’s doping sanctions. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld the ban, but cut its duration in half from four years to two. The long-awaited ruling will ban the flag and anthem of Russia from appearing at each of the next Olympic Games and other major international competitions through December 16, 2022. Though cut in half, the ban was hailed by the WADA which implemented the ban last year after investigators found that Russia…

Vanessa Bryant has accused her mother Sofia Laine of trying to “extort a financial windfall” from her through a “disgraceful and hurtful” lawsuit after the death of her husband Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna. According to a documented obtained by USA TODAY, Laine is seeking financial support from her daughter, alleging that she worked unpaid as a longtime personal assistant and nanny for the Byrant family. Laine claimed that prior to the basketball icon’s death, he promised to “take care of” the 68-year-old for the “rest of her life”. “Unfortunately, Kobe Bryant’s promises did not see the light of day…

The US on Wednesday suffered its highest daily coronavirus death toll with 3,580 lives lost. The record-breaking number comes as the country gets ready to ship 5.9 million doses of a new coronavirus vaccine from Moderna that has just gotten endorsement from the Food and Drug Administration panel. US hospitalizations rose for the 19th straight day, heightening the stakes of green-lighting the emergency use authorization for the vaccine developed by Moderna. At the moment, the US has distributed and starting immunization of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Another 232,255 cases were reported on Wednesday, the second highest daily case on record, according…

Star Wars actor Jeremy Bulloch, who played bounty hunter Boba Fett in the original blockbusters has died on Thursday at age 75 in his native England. The actor suffered from health complications, including several years living with Parkinson’s disease. Daniel Logan, who played a young Boba Fett in the Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, paid tribute on social media, sharing a picture of them together. “It brings me tears to announce Jeremy Bulloch has passed away. RIP Legend I’ll never forget all you’ve taught me. I’ll love you forever.” Bulloch spent his final weeks at St. George’s Hospital in…

The United Nations humanitarian aid agency, Unicef, has launched an emergency response to feed children in the United Kingdom, a first in Unicef’s 70-year history. The coronavirus pandemic has greatly affected UK’s economy, and has left many people with less to no jobs. Many families have been struggling for months and are in need of assistance. Anna Kettley, director of programmes at Unicef UK, said: “This is Unicef’s first ever emergency response within the UK, introduced to tackle the unprecedented impact of the coronavirus crisis and reach the families most in need.” The UN agency launched the domestic emergency response…

The World Health Organization said on Thursday that China had welcomed an international team of investigators to probe the origins of the coronavirus in Wuhan. The WHO team is expected to travel to China in the first week of January. Babatunde Olowokure, the WHO’s regional emergencies director in the Western Pacific, told a news conference that the organisation is in talks with Beijing over where the investigators would travel to within the country. Olowokure added that there are ongoing discussions with China, and that it is important for WHO to “get an overall picture of how the investigation will go”.…