Russia has begun its bombing of neighboring Ukraine in a move that would undoubtedly be felt the world over, even in this corner of Southeast Asia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed such operation, prompting world leaders like American President Joe Biden to warn him of possible "consequences".

Biden feared a bloodbath from the Kremlin-launched assault, saying the ensuring loss of lives could be "catastrophic".

The Philippines has been feeling the effects of the Russia-Ukraine tension weeks before the attack, as the uncertainties surrounding the conflict drove up crude cost to just below $100 per barrel. The domino effect? Skyrocketing pump prices of fuel, which have been draining Filipino consumers' pockets.

This notwithstanding, the country appears more prepared than ever to make that long-sought leap into the "new normal", as Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III reckoned that the "time is ripe" for the National Capital Region (NCR) to be downgraded to Alert Level 1.

Duque said that Metro Manila has met all the metrics for this milestone, which is poised to be made official by Malacañang less than three months before the May 2022 elections.

These are among the top stories this busy Thursday afternoon, February 24, 2022.

1) PH COVID-19 Update:  1,745 new cases; 2,045 new recoveries; 188 new deaths

https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/phs-daily-covid-19-cases-still-below-2k/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/doh-not-yet-considering-administration-of-2nd-covid-19-vaccine-booster-shot/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/covid-19-endemic-octa-briefs-the-public-on-how-it-will-be/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/octa-covid-19-cases-are-less-likely-to-overwhelm-hospitals-when-ph-reopens-the-economy/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/doh-metro-manila-ripe-for-alert-level-1/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/green-covid-19-indicators-likely-in-metro-manila-by-next-week-says-octa/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/phapi-private-hospitals-geared-for-surge-in-covid-cases-should-alert-level-downgraded/

2) Remembering EDSA

3) Palace, VP race watch

https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/comelecs-jimenez-shows-marcos-camps-letter-signifying-readiness-to-participate-in-upcoming-debate/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/%ef%bb%bfsharon-cuneta-joins-robredo-pangilinan-in-cebu-plans-to-join-more-campaign-sorties/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/will-bongbong-attend-comelec-debate-no-confirmation-yet-says-spox/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/bongbong-leads-in-campaigns-firm-presl-survey/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/vp-bet-sara-sticks-to-unity-message-in-bacolod-rally/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/all-prexy-bets-to-attend-comelec-debate/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/lacson-missing-sabungeros-case-a-big-slap-to-the-pnp/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/%e2%80%8b%e2%80%8bbongbong-woos-negros-occidental-where-he-lost-in-2016-vp-race/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/mayor-isko-assures-inclusion-of-lgbtqi-community-under-his-presidency/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/lacson-sotto-debates-to-determine-who-are-most-deserving-to-lead-the-nation/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/sotto-protect-the-flames-of-edsa/

4) Election 2022

https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/duterte-backs-legardas-senate-bid/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/comelec-to-get-written-consent-first-before-entering-private-properties-for-operation-baklas/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/ex-lp-solon-garin-explains-why-she-has-chosen-to-back-marcos/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/natl-press-club-protests-comelecs-partnership-with-rappler-to-fight-disinformation-raise-voters-awareness/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/solon-addresses-fuss-over-bongbongs-canceled-iloilo-rally/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/more-public-private-partnerships-needed-to-address-clean-water-supply-woes-binay/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/trillanes-is-bantay-ng-bayan-in-new-campaign-ad/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/voter-registration-would-become-senseless-without-voting-on-may-9-comelec-chair/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/ex-dar-chief-castriciones-joins-mayor-iskos-senatorial-ticket/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/its-time-to-have-a-pro-active-leader-cainta-rizal-mayor-praises-mayor-isko/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/pro-small-business-party-list-touts-top-40-ranking-in-sws-poll/

5) Weather Update

6) On e-sabong controversy

https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/two-more-cockfighting-players-added-in-the-long-list-of-missing-sabungero/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/dela-rosa-wants-cockpit-arena-personnel-management-to-appear-in-next-senate-hearing/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/e-sabong-a-crime-trigger-says-ex-solon/

7) Judiciary Corner

https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/sc-sets-shariah-bar-exams-march-20-and-22/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/nbi-seizes-p2-m-worth-of-ukay-ukay-clothes/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/new-sc-justice-kho-takes-oath-assumes-post/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/ca-affirms-conviction-of-police-officer-as-accessory-in-maguindanao-massacre/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/nbi-arrests-5-persons-in-qc-for-extortion/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/sandiganbayan-acquits-ex-cebu-city-councilor/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/bucor-has-new-chief-of-business-center/

8) Update on OFWs in HK

9) Lawmakers' Corner

https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/go-govt-school-authorities-must-safeguard-the-health-and-welfare-of-students-amid-gradual-expansion-of-face-to-face-classes/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/velasco-sotto-should-endorse-special-session-on-fuel-excise-tax-suspension-to-palace-defensor/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/house-leader-cool-with-releasing-two-pharmally-execs-from-pasay-jail/

10) Business Corner

https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/pag-ibig-fund-profit-jumps-above-pre-pandemic-levels/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/wilcon-turns-around-with-77-profit-hike/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/metrobanks-2021-profits-up-60/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/china-bank-earnings-rose-to-p15-b-in-2021/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/cybercriminals-target-banking-gaming-report/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/ictsi-subic-included-in-mscs-seahorse-service/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/dbp-grants-p1-6-b-loan-to-central-luzon-hospital/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/bdo-profits-surge-51-in-2021/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/tfmc-vows-to-optimize-coco-levy-fund/

11) Metro Roundup

https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/cousins-involved-in-robbery-extortion-nabbed-in-caloocan-city/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/las-pinas-tops-ncr-cities-with-most-number-of-vaccinated-public-school-teachers/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/marikina-city-approves-extension-of-business-tax-amnesty/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/p602000-shabu-seized-9-arrested-in-taguig-pateros/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/san-juan-citys-active-covid-19-cases-drop-to-less-than-20/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/pateros-records-zero-new-covid-19-cases-only-2-active-patients/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/mandaluyong-and-boac-ink-sisterhood-agreement/

12) Provincial Roundup

https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/7-year-old-crushed-to-death-by-concrete-mixer/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/cagayan-tourism-gets-a-boost-as-dpwh-2-jumpstarts-p80-m-boulevard-projects/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/sextortionist-nabbed-in-pangasinan/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/cebu-governor-gets-covid-jab-but-says-vaccination-still-not-mandatory/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/340k-shabu-seized-in-bacolod/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/28-negros-occidental-mayors-back-bbm-sara-tandem/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/police-eye-63-areas-in-central-visayas-as-possible-election-hotspots/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/roxas-city-mayor-mulls-filing-cyber-libel-rap-vs-capiz-administrator/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/pcoo-leads-groundbreaking-for-visayas-media-hub/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/freed-detainee-shot-dead-in-samar/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/patrimonio-takes-over-helm-of-joint-task-force-sulu/

13) World Roundup

https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/biden-says-world-will-hold-russia-accountable-over-ukraine-attack/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/un-chief-urges-russia-to-cease-military-operations-in-ukraine/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/explosions-heard-in-ukraine-capital-kyiv-other-cities/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/russias-putin-announces-military-operation-in-ukraine/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/european-parliament-adopts-tobacco-harm-reduction-perspective/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/virus-hit-hong-kong-invokes-emergency-powers-to-allow-in-china-medics/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/pope-warns-of-increasingly-alarming-scenarios-in-ukraine/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/who-creates-global-training-hub-for-vaccine-treatment-production/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/un-warns-of-dire-global-impact-of-a-russian-invasion-of-ukraine/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/rescue-effort-starts-as-cyclone-emnati-lashes-madagascar/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/queen-elizabeth-ii-talks-to-pm-despite-having-covid/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/italy-to-exit-covid-19-state-of-emergency-on-march-31/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/24/ukraine-imposes-state-of-emergency-to-face-down-russia-threat/