HEADS UP: What’s Next for Axie Infinity After the Hype? (Feb. 16)

Here’s a Heads Up from reportr on news you need to know today, Feb. 15:

WHAT’S NEXT

• As the hype subsides, what’s next for Axie Infinity, the online game that has exploded in the Philippines during the quarantine and allowed people to earn money by playing.

ELECTION NEWS

• Leni Robredo placed second in Pulse Asia’s January survey on voter preference for president, but placed fourth when respondents were asked who their second choice was. The pollster said this indicates a “ceiling” on her support base.
• Bongbong Marcos joined the presidential debates of religious leader Apollo Quiboloy’s SMNI network that was missing his top rivals.
• Netizens were amused when vice presidential candidate Kiko Pangilinan caught a tub of pink strawberry Stik-Os from supporters during his motorcade with Robredo in Roxas city.
• Akbayan sought the inhibition of a Comelec commissioner who penned the decision that denied its petition to disqualify presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos.

LIFE KIT

• Til politics do you part? Here’s how married couples are staying together when one spouse is for Leni Robredo while the other is for Bongbong Marcos.

NEWS EXPLAINED

• Here are the governors and mayors of vote-rich provinces and cities who have endorsed presidential candidates for the May 9 elections.

TRENDING NEWS

• For the first time, the Oscars will hand out a fan favorite award which will be decided by votes on Twitter.
• What does it mean when a straight man does drag? RuPaul’s Drag Race just featured it’s first heterosexual cisgender contestant, Maddy Morphosis.

NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW

• President Rodrigo Duterte said Health Sec. Francisco Duque has “done good” in his role as the pandemic enters its third year and with five months left in his term.
• U.S. manufacturing giant 3M said sales of face masks would fall sharply this year as the world seeks a return to the pre-pandemic normal.
• Germany will end most COVID restrictions by March as new infections ease, according to a document seen by AFP. In Europe, the UK, Spain and Denmark have started the process to return to pre-pandemic life.
• A man died in southern Germany after drinking champagne that was laced with the drug ecstasy.
• In Thailand, plastic waste is recycled into amulets blessed by monks to raise environmental awareness.