We trawl the internet for notable Philippine news to keep you updated with what’s happening from this corner of the globe.Here are some of the top headlines from this fourth week of April 2021.Over 150,000 in PH acquire digital skills during Covid-19 pandemicCredit: The SunStarMicrosoft announced it has helped over 30 million people in 249 countries and territories gain access to digital skills, with over 150,000 from the Philippines.The company also said it’s extending its commitment to help 250,000 companies worldwide to make a skills-based hire in 2021.Oriental Mindoro now has its first state university – CHEDCredit: CNN PhilippinesA state college in Oriental Mindoro has successfully attained state university status, the first of its kind in the province.The Commission on Higher Education said the Mindoro State College of Agriculture and Technology has been converted to the Mindoro State University by virtue of Republic Act No.
10596.Kai Sotto signs with Australia NBL’s Adelaide 36ersCredit: Adelaide 36ersFilipino professional basketball player Kai Sotto will play in Australia’s National Basketball League.The move was also confirmed by the NBL club Adelaide 36ers on its social media account.PH sends more patrol vessels to West Philippine Sea as China ships lingerCredit: ABS-CBN NewsThe Philippines has sent more of its maritime assets to the West Philippine Sea to boost and sustain sovereignty patrols amid tensions in the area, a government task force said on April 21.The West Philippine Sea is the country’s exclusive economic zone in the disputed, resource-rich South China Sea, roughly 90% of which is being claimed by China.US: Do not travel to the Philippines due to high COVID-19 infectionCredit: CNN PhilippinesThe US Department of State issued a Level 4: Do Not Travel restriction in accordance with the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The Level 4 list included 100 other countries.Slow-paced Typhoon Bising triggers more rain in Bicol, Eastern VisayasCredit: RapplerHeavy rain from Typhoon Bising (Surigae) continued to affect Bicol and Eastern Visayas early April 19, with the tropical cyclone still moving at a slow pace.The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration said Bising was 250 kilometers east northeast of Virac, Catanduanes, before dawn on April 19.DOH detects more virus variant casesCredit: Richard A Reyes via InquirerHighly infectious variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, were predominant among samples of the disease taken from around the Philippines and analyzed by government health experts.The Department of Health also said that nearly half of the detected variant cases were in Metro Manila and the rest were in seven other regions.
