Photo #1
President Aquino awards citation certificates to the participating agencies in the Philippine Business Registry System
President Benigno S. Aquino III awards citation certificates to the participating agencies represented by Social Security System President & CEO Emilio de Quiros Jr., Bureau of Internal Revenue Deputy Commissioner for Information Systems Group Lilia Guillermo, Home Development... [Read more...]
Photo #2
President Aquino leads the launching of the Philippines Business Registry System at the DTI-NCR Area 2 Office
President Benigno S. Aquino III, along with Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo, observes the monitor during the launching of the Philippines Business Registry System (PBRS) at the DTI-National Capital Region Area 2 Office in Makati City on Friday (Jan.... [Read more...]
Photo #3
MMDA’s 2011 major accomplishments and 2012 priority programs tackled at CNEX Forum
Metro Manila Development Authority Assistant General Manager Cristina Velasco (left) discusses MMDA’s major accomplishments last year and its 2012 priority programs during the Communication and News Exchange (CNEX) Forum at the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Bldg.... [Read more...]
Photo #4
President Aquino addresses the 1st Anniversary Forum of Arangkada Philippines
President Benigno S. Aquino III addresses the 1st Anniversary Forum of Arangkada Philippines at the Grand Ballroom of the Marriott Hotel in Pasay City on Thursday (Jan. 26, 2012). The Forum is an undertaking of the Joint Foreign Chambers and other top investors and business leaders... [Read more...]
Photo #5
Farinas exchanges pleasantries with defense panel members
Rep. Rodolfo Farinas (standing) of the the House of Representatives prosecution team exchanges pleasantries with some members of the defense panel before the start of the 7th day of the impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona on Thursday (Jan. 26, 2012)... [Read more...]
National
NHMFC grants housing loan moratorium to 'Sendong' victims
MANILA, Jan. 26 –National Home Mortgage Finance Corp. (NHMFC), a government housing agency, extends loan moratoriums for private homeowners displaced by tropical storm “Sendong.”
PNP recognizes newly-promoted police personnel
MANILA, Jan. 27 – A total of 20,917 newly promoted Philippine National Police (PNP) uniformed personnel were given recognition on Friday before the Flag Lowering Ceremony.
ITF hails PHL decision to ratify ILO Convention 185
MANILA, Jan. 27 – The London-based International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) has hailed the Philippine government's decision to formally ratify the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 185.
Foreign
Average Russian bribe tripled in 2011
MOSCOW, Jan. 27 -– The size of the average bribe in Russia more than tripled in 2011, the Interior Ministry's economic security department reported.
At lest 5 killed in inter-communal clashes in eastern Kenya
MOYALE, Kenya, Jan. 27 — At least five people have been killed and dozens wounded in inter-communal clashes in eastern Kenyan town of Moyale, police confirmed on Friday.
Abducted Norwegian UN worker freed in Yemen: official
SANAA, Jan. 27 — An abducted Norwegian United Nations worker was set free late Thursday in Yemen after he was held captive by Yemeni armed tribesmen for nearly two weeks, Yemeni security officials said on Friday.
Sports & Entertainment
Only Lazio bids for CSKA midfielder Honda – club
MOSCOW, Jan. 27 — Lazio is the only team to have lodged a bid for CSKA Moscow's Keisuke Honda, his club told RIA Novosti on Friday.
Rene Herrera has bright chance to make it to London Olympics
By Eddie G. Alinea
MANILA, Jan. 27 — Steeplechaser Rene Herrera looks to have the tract in joining long jumper Maristella Torres in carrying the country’s colors in must sport athletics in this year’s Olympic Games in London.
Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines hopeful for potential Visayas boxers
DUMAGUETE CITY, Jan. 27 – The Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) is optimistic it will be able to discover potential boxers from the Visayas to join the national pool of boxers and to represent the country in international competitions.
Travel & Tourism
New Year to boost tourist arrivals from China to Cebu
CEBU CITY, Jan. 26 -– More than 1,000 Chinese tourists are expected to arrive in Cebu this week to join the Chinese New Year festivities in the city and province.
Thai tourism sector asks for bigger budget to boost business
BANGKOK, Jan. 26 — The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) plans to ask the government for a budget of 8.6 billion baht (274 million U.S. dollars) in fiscal 2013, or 78.9 percent up from fiscal 2012, to promote Thai tourism.
Mayor: Zambo City winning the war against tourism setbacks
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Jan. 26 – Mayor Celso Lobregat took pride in his State of the City Report Wednesday that Zamboanga City was winning the war against the numerous setbacks, misperception and sometimes unwarranted negative publicity that beset this city in 2011.
Health & Lifestyle
Female soldiers, Davao employees get shots vs infectious disease
CAMP PANACAN, Davao City, Jan. 27 – A total of 84 female soldiers and 12 female civilian employees were vaccinated in line with the gender and development (GAD) program of the military to protect them from the transmission of human papillomavirus (HPV).
PNP opens Crame Hospital for Bicutan blast victims
MANILA, Jan. 27 – The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Friday it offered the facilities of the PNP General Hospital in Camp Crame, Quezon City for victims of the Bicutan explosion that need further medical attention.
Roundup: Gulf Arab region struggles to ease hospitals shortage
DUBAI, Jan. 27 — At Arab Health Congress in Dubai which ended Thursday, hospitals across the world demonstrated their features and plans to expand within the Gulf Arab region where the fast growing and aging population has triggered an increasing demand for health services.
Provincial
Power firm builds school building in Alicia, Isabela
ALICIA, Isabela, Jan. 27 — The SN Aboitiz Power Magat, Inc. (SNAP-Magat) has turned over a school building in Barangay Bagong Sikat here to provide comfort for displaced elementary pupils.
Santiago City rehabilitates housing for wayward teenagers
SANTIAGO CITY, Isabela, Jan. 27 -– The housing for the Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL) at Barangay Balintocatoc in this city will be rehabilitated with the P2.5 million aid from Senator Francis Pangilinan to be received by the city government next month.
Two LGUs receive checks for winning in last Sinulog
CEBU CITY, Jan. 27 – The Cebu provincial government has awarded the cities of Carcar and Toledo the same cash prize they received during the Sinulog Festival last Jan. 15.
Business
S. Korean economy to see slower export growth in 2012
SEOUL, Jan. 27 — South Korea's finance ministry and central bank on Friday shared views that the country's export growth will slow this year due to external uncertainties such as Europe's debt crisis.
China estimated to have invested 60 pct of foreign reserves in sovereign debts
By Kim Young-gyo
HONG KONG, Jan. 27 — China is estimated to have invested about 60 percent of its foreign exchange reserves in foreign sovereign debts, a financial expert said Friday.
Regulator OKs Hana Financial's KEB takeover
By Lee Minji
SEOUL, Jan. 27 — South Korea's financial regulator approved Hana Financial Group Inc.'s takeover of the Korea Exchange Bank (KEB) on Friday, clearing the way for the No. 4 banking group to seal a long-delayed deal with Lone Star Funds.
Agri-Business
Santiago City agriculture office pushes organic farming
SANTIAGO CITY, Isabela, Jan. 27 – The City Agriculture Office (CAO) is encouraging farmers to use organic fertilizers that will help save from the skyrocketing prices of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides in the market today.
Ukraine's winter grain at risk of frost damage
KIEV, Jan. 27 — Freezing temperatures and a lack of snow cover threatens about 30 percent of Ukraine's winter grain crop, a government meteorologist said on Thursday.
US remains top export market of PHL tuna, official says
DAVAO CITY, Jan. 26 – An official of the South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries, Inc. (SFFAII) revealed that the United States remains to be the top export market of Philippine tuna.
Features
Thief caught by his own undoing (Feature)
By Ben Cal
MANILA, Jan. 24 -– He may be elusive as an eel but this incorrigible thief was caught because of his own foolish undoing.
Feature: Heavy snowfall worsens traffic mess in Kabul
By Abdul Haleem and Yangtze Yan
KABUL, Jan. 25 — The continued snowfall over the past days has worsened the traffic chaos, especially in the Afghan capital of Kabul.
Feature: Davos wakes up again to global business brainstorming
By Liu Yang
GENEVA, Jan. 25 — Almost like migration, each year at the beginning of the year, political leaders, business tycoons and academia gather at a tranquil Swiss Alpine town, Davos, for the biggest entrepreneurial brainstorming event of the year.