HEADS UP: What are NFTs or Non-Fungible Tokens? (May 19)

Here's a Heads Up from reportr on news that you need to know today, May 19:

TECH EXPLAINED

• What are NFTs or non-fungible tokens and how are they changing art, sports memorabilia and viral videos? We look at the case of “Charlie Bit My Finger,” one of the original trending videos on YouTube.

POLITICS EXPLAINED

• What is Ex-Senator Antonio Trillanes up to when he declared his intention to run for president? It’s part of the larger effort to unite, rather than divide the opposition.

NEWS YOU CAN USE

• Here’s how much you need to pay at NLEX after new toll rates took effect yesterday
• Economic frontliners will soon get vaccinated for COVID after Malacanang expanded the delivery to priority groups.

TRENDING NEWS

• Ateneo de Manila University has apologized for a “tone deaf” Twitter reply that bolstered its reputation as an elitist institution. 
• San Pablo, Laguna’s dancing foodpanda riders on TikTok are back with a new viral video, this time featuring their work rivals from Grab.

NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Taal is under a state of “elevated unrest” meaning there’s a possibility of a steam-driven eruption, PHIVOLCS said.
• Citing the threat of COVID variants, President Rodrigo Duterte advised the public to brace for the worst. He also ordered priority vaccine access for the poor.
• Herd immunity this year is “not impossible” even with short supply of vaccines globally, said Sec. Carlito galvez, the immunization czar.
• The Philippine Red Cross said it would not sell Moderna vaccines, clarifying a statement from its president, Sen. Richard Gordon.
• The Common Station that will connect Metro Manila’s train lines, including the subway, is halfway done based on progress photos from the Department of Transportation.
• Following its Metro Manila debut at the start of the week, President Duterte signed a fresh 25-year franchise for telco upstart DITO.
• The NLEX-SLEX connector will be finished this year, good news for those who regularly cross Metro Manila north to south.