Good Day! Here are the top stories of The Manila Times for Tuesday, November 24, 2020.

The Department of Health or DoH said the coronavirus disease 2019 or Covid-19 in the country has reached a plateau, averaging less than 2,000 cases per day.

A coronavirus disease 2019 or Covid-19 vaccine, developed by drug firm AstraZeneca and Oxford University has shown 70 percent effectiveness in trials, involving 23,000 people, they said in a statement on Monday.

Read: AstraZeneca Covid vaccine 70% effective

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Malacanang denies that Duterte will run for vice president in 2022.

Read: Palace denies Duterte to run for VP in 2022

The Department of Trade and Industry or DTI and the Department of Health or DoH will issue a joint order, listing the price range for coronavirus disease 2019 or Covid-19 tests and test kits in the next few days.

Read: Price cap on Covid tests known in 2 days

On Monday, the United States donated eighteen million pesos worth of defense equipment, including precision guided munitions, to the Philippine military to boost its fight against terrorists.

Read: US turns over $18M defense equipment

In contrast, after 107 years, the College of the Holy Spirit in Manila will close its doors by the end of School Year 2021-2022.

Read: College of the Holy Spirit Manila to close in 2022

In Imus City, a Police official assigned to the Southern Police District or SPD in the National Capital Region was killed by unknown suspects early on Monday in Lakersfield Subdivision and Alapan Road in Barangay Alapan 1-B in Cavite.

Read: Police captain killed in Imus City ambush

In Beijing, Chinese authorities are testing millions of people, imposing lockdowns and shutting down schools after multiple locally transmitted coronavirus cases were discovered in three cities across the country last week. In Toronto, Canada’s biggest city entered lockdown on Monday in the latest bid to curb Covid-19.

Read: China tests millions after virus spikes

In business, the Philippine economy will likely contract by more than 8 percent this year and is expected to start to recover in the latter part of 2022 at the earliest, a former Cabinet official said on Monday.

Read: Former NEDA chief sees 8.5% GDP plunge

And in basketball, Gilas Pilipinas braces for a cohesive Thai squad. In golf news, Streb nearly holes out in the playoff to win at Sea Island.

Read: Gilas Pilipinas braces for cohesive Thai squad

Yen Makabenta and Ramon T. Tulfo are the featured columnists on the front page of The Times. Makabenta argues how Covid has been used for authoritarian rules, election change and global reset. Tulfo talks about prosecutors who uphold press freedom.

Read: Covid used for authoritarian rules, election change and global reset

In The Times editorial, in the ongoing legal battle between Leonen vs Calida, a test of wills bears lessons for our public life. Find out how.

Read: Leonen vs Calida: Test of wills bears lessons for our public life

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With Aric John Sy Cua and EJ Gomez, this is Dafort Villaseran reporting. Have better days ahead!