Photo #1
President Aquino attendance to Stephen Bosworth Memorial in Makati
President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his message during the memorial for Stephen Bosworth Sunday, February 28, 2016 at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Makati. Stephen W. Bosworth, former U.S. ambassador to the Philippines, who helped shepherd the transition to democracy... [Read more...]
Photo #2
Photo of the late President Elpidio Quirino’s funeral
The transfer and re-interment of President Elpidio Quirino’s remains will be held on Monday (February 29, 2016) at Libingan ng mga Bayani Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City. (PNA photo courtesy of PIA/NCR) lgi/fom Read More →
Photo #3
Presidential candidate Duterte at Camp Darapanan, Maguindanao
PDP-Laban standard bearer Rodrigo Duterte (2nd from left) during his visit at Camp Darapanan, Maguindanao on Friday (Feb. 26) to urge leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to forego plans on disrupting the peace currently being enjoyed in Mindanao. The MILF, for... [Read more...]
Photo #4
Family bonding at Manila Bay
A man tries to carry his son on his back while his wife watches them swim and play on Sunday (Feb. 28, 2016), ignoring the city ordinance prohibiting people to swim on the contaminated waters of Manila Bay. (PNA photo by Oliver Marquez) lgi/fom Read More →
Photo #5
The Natural Beauty of Pasig River
Reviving the beauty of the famous and historical landmark of the Filipinos — the Pasig River, thru the joint efforts of the government and private sector. (PNA photo by Oliver Marquez) lgi/fom Read More →
National
Duterte vows to deal decisively with crime, rice cartels
MANILA, Feb. 21 — If elected to the presidency in the coming May 9 elections, PDP-Laban standard bearer Rodrigo Duterte vowed on Sunday to eliminate crime and rice cartels within the first few months of his six-year term.
LTFRB wants review of MC on student fare discount
By Azer N. Parrocha
MANILA, Feb. 21 (PNA) — A squabble between a student and a bus conductor has prompted a transport official to call for a review of the Memorandum Circular (MC) that requires public utility vehicles (PUVs) to grant a 20 percent fare discount to students.
Solon wants to exempt tricycle drivers from the MVUC charge
MANILA, Feb. 22 — As a humanitarian consideration in view of the rising cost of living, a lawmaker has filed a measure seeking to exempt motorcycles with sidecar from payment of the Motor Vehicle Users Charge (MVUC).
Foreign
Roundup: Death toll in N. India riots rises to 12 as gov't appeals for end of violence
NEW DELHI, Feb. 22 — At least 12 were killed in riots across the northern Indian state Haryana over the past one week, with officials and local community leaders appealing for an end to the violence on Sunday.
Bangkok Airways flight PG924 bomb threat cleared – Reports
MOSCOW, Feb. 22 — Airport security officials cleared a Bangkok Airways plane bound from the Thai capital to Phuket after conducting a bomb search, national media reported Sunday.
Palestinians want to join world to end conflict with Israel
RAMALLAH, Feb. 22 — The Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with US Secretary of State John Kerry in Amman Sunday and told him the Palestinian leadership is working with the international community to hold an international peace conference to find a 5+1 formula and end the conflict with Israel.
Sports & Entertainment
Shell imparts fuel saving tips, strengthens 'Do More Campaign'
MANILA, Feb. 21 — Major oil company Pilipinas Shell shared recently the benefits of "Do More Campaign" to the student participants of the Shell Eco-Marathon (SEM) Asia 2016 in an event called "Fueled to Do More" held in Bonifacio Global Center (BGC) Amphitheater in Taguig City.
S. African Olympic delegation urged to take precautions against Zika
JOHANNESBURG, Feb. 21 — Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi on Saturday urged the South African delegation for the Rio Olympics to take precautions against the Zika virus.
New 'King Kong' begins filming in Vietnam
HANOI, Feb. 22 — The movie Kong: Skull Island begins filming in Vietnam Monday.
Travel & Tourism
DOT-Bicol says Catanduanes’ tourism industry showing more vigor
By Danny O. Calleja
LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 15 (PNA) — With an increase of 19.77 percent in tourist arrivals in the third quarter of last year compared to the same period in 2014, the tourism industry in the Bicol island-province of Catanduanes is showing more vigor, according to the regional office of the Department of Tourism (DOT) here.
DOT, hotel owners vow to adapt green practices into tourism
By Azer N. Parrocha
MANILA, Feb. 15 (PNA) — Green practices will soon be adapted into tourism, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Monday after announcing a joint commitment to ensure a more environment-friendly hotel industry.
Chinese, Thai passengers drive growth at Cambodian airports
PHNOM PENH, Feb. 15 — Passengers from china and Thailand are driving double-digit annual growth in Cambodia's airport traffic, local media reported on Monday, citing a report from the Center for Asia Pacific Aviation.
Health & Lifestyle
Deputy PM calls on agencies to prepare for Zika threat
HA NOI, Feb. 22 — Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has authorized ministries, sectors, and localities to take measures to deal with possible cases of the Zika virus to Viet Nam.
WHO assures IOC president that Zika virus is no threat to Rio Olympics
LILLEHAMMER, Feb. 22 — Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Margaret Chan believes that the organizers of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro will not experience major problems due to the Zika virus outbreak in Brazil, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach said Sunday.
Americans are overdosing on anti-anxiety drugs
MOSCOW, Feb. 22 — More people are using and abusing anxiety medications in the US than ever before. The reasoning behind this trend is unclear.
Provincial
Iloilo’s Lambunao town gears to opens PHP4.6-M slaughterhouse
ILOILO CITY, Feb. 22 — The newly-constructed PHP4.6-million slaughterhouse of Lambunao town in Iloilo is just waiting for a permit from the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) to start its operation.
Alert up in Koronadal City as 2016 NSPC opens
KORONADAL CITY, Feb. 22 — Police authorities placed the city and the neighboring areas under heightened alert in connection with the 2016 National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) that will formally open here Monday afternoon.
200 farmers in San Remigio, Antique now into native chicken production
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, ANTIQUE, Feb. 22 -– Two hundred farmers in the municipality of San Remigio, Antique are now into native chicken production after they were identified as initial beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional Office VI Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).
Business
Free trade agreements to encourage innovation
HANOI, Feb. 22 — Existing and future free trade agreements are expected to promote innovations in the business community to enable firms to compete not only at home, but also on international markets.
China treasury bond futures open mixed Monday
BEIJING, Feb. 22 — China's five-year treasury bond futures opened mixed on Monday, with the contract for settlement in March 2016 opened 0.03 percent higher at 100.87 yuan (about USD15.48).
Chinese yuan advances to 6.51 against USD Monday
BEIJING, Feb. 22 — The central parity rate of the Chinese currency renminbi, or the yuan, gained 21 basis points to 6.5165 against the US dollar on Monday, according to the China Foreign Exchange Trading System.
Agri-Business
Aussie fruit exports to Asia at risk if fruit fly comes to Tasmania — experts
MELBOURNE, Feb. 22 — Australia's Tasmanian fruit exports to Asian markets could be under threat if climate change brings the fruit fly into the island state.
Russia wants to increase agriculture exports to China, Southeast Asia
DUBAI, Feb. 22 — Russia is interested in increasing agricultural exports to china and Southeast Asia, Agriculture Minister Alexander Tkachev said Sunday.
Iran's world quality pistachios worry US growers
TEHRAN, Feb. 21 — American pistachio farmers are worried about competition from their sanctions-free Iranian rivals who no longer face limitations for exporting their products to the United States, NPR reported.
Features
(NewsFeature) FPH kicks off 'Good Tours' for power plant visits
By Juzel L. Danganan
MANILA, Feb. 21 (PNA) — Lopez-led First Philippine Holdings Corporation (FPH) launched its newest program "Good Tours", to allow group visits to its power plant sites.
Feature: Kiss competition staged in Serbian town on Valentine's Day
VRNJACKA BANJA, Serbia, Feb. 15 — Hundreds of people gathered on Sunday at the resort town of Vrnjacka Banja in central Serbia to watch an annual kissing competition.
Feature: Japanese judo coach to have key role for Brazil at Olympics
TOKYO, Feb. 11 — A Japanese judo instructor working for Brazil's national team is bringing cultural and technical experience to her pupils as they ramp up their training program with just six months to go before the opening of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
