Philippines braces for Delta variant in Southeast Asia

Today on Rappler – the latest news in the Philippines and around the world:

PH seeks more oxygen tanks as Delta variant sweeps through Southeast Asia

As the highly-transmissible COVID-19 Delta variant sweeps through Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia and Thailand, the Philippine government is in talks with manufacturers to procure more oxygen tanks.

Duterte says he’ll run for vice president to be immune from suit

President Rodrigo Duterte says he will possibly run for vice president in 2022 to make himself ‘immune’ from being held legally accountable. In the same speech, Duterte also makes light of the role of a vice president.

Aetas acquitted in first known anti-terror law case

An Olongapo court junks the first known anti-terror law case against Aetas Japer Gurung and Junior Ramos. The court says it was a case of mistaken identities, and the warrantless arrest of the two was unlawful.

Athlete COVID-19 infections rise in Tokyo as Olympics nears

Tokyo Olympics organizers on Sunday, July 18, report three new cases of coronavirus infection among athletes. Organizers earlier decided to ban spectators from venues in a bid to stem an increase of COVID-19 infections.

Filipino beauty queens grace cover of Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam

Four Filipino beauty queens, Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, Miss World 2013 Megan Young, Miss International 2016 Kylie Verzosa and Miss Earth 2015 Angelia Ong grace the July 2021 cover of Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam.

Governments used Israeli spyware to monitor journalists, civilians – report

Governments around the world used a spyware called Pegasus – to spy on civilians including journalists and human rights activists. The device of a journalist or activist is infected through app vulnerabilities or malicious links. The Pegasus spyware is then able to exfiltrate all data on the device. – Rappler.com