Twitter, Inc. on Tuesday opened free access to its new application programming interface (API) software for academic researchers, enabling them to study public conversations on its platform, but is not providing data from suspended accounts as part of the product.

YIELDS ON term deposits offered by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Wednesday tracked US bond rates as the market waits for clarity on a planned stimulus package in the world’s largest economy.

THE PESO appreciated against the greenback on Wednesday on the back of data showing a wider December trade deficit.

SHARES closed lower on Wednesday as investors await the release of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) data and on rising coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases nationwide.

THE PHILIPPINES has filed a diplomatic protest against China after it passed a law allowing its coast guard to fire at foreign vessels in the South China Sea.

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte has appointed Lt. Gen. Cirilito E. Sobejana, the commanding general of the Philippine Army, as the new chief of staff of the Armed Forces, the presidential palace said on Wednesday.

THE PHILIPPINES on Wednesday updated its testing protocols for foreign travelers to ensure the detection of new coronavirus strains.

THE ECONOMY’S rebound in 2021 is expected to be larger than those of its regional peers because it will be coming off a low base in 2020 due to the prolonged lockdown, Oxford Economics said.

THE FLAGSHIP ‘Build, Build, Build’ (BBB) program is addressing the Philippines’ infrastructure deficit in telecommunications and transportation, but is less responsive to the needs of social programs, a government think tank said.

WEAK GROWTH in the wake of the pandemic may not create jobs fast enough, potentially worsening inequality, according to the Institute of International Finance (IIF).

ONE OF US President Joe Biden’s first moves upon arriving in the Oval Office has been to require international travelers get a negative COVID-19 test before departing, then quarantine on landing; Britain too is considering tighter measures for arrivals. Both basic protective moves are long overdue. They are also an acknowledgement that carefree trips are still many months away.

It is sad that the Masungi Georeserve in Baras, Rizal is now the subject of controversy, considering its operator’s effort to reforest hundreds of hectares in the Sierra Madre range. The private company running the popular eco-tourism park has also been helping protect the Upper Marikina watershed against quarrying and logging, to help mitigate flooding in Metro Manila.