Photo #1
Lakas-Kampi-CMD senatorial bet Rey Langit bares programs in ‘Straight to the Point’ forum
Lakas-Kampi-CMD senatorial aspirant and Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP)-Metro Manila Chairman Rey Langit (extreme left) says he will advocate for greater press freedom and serve as the “voice of transparency” if he is elected to the Senate in the May... [Read more...]
Photo #2
PGMA shakes hands with Dr. Alfonso Uy, president of the Federation of the Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo shakes hands with Dr. Alfonso Uy, president of the Federation of the Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc., before she hosted a luncheon meeting with the business group leaders Monday (Feb. 8, 2010) at the Bahay Pangarap in... [Read more...]
Photo #3
PGMA shows off a copy of the MOA between the Philippines Science and Technology Advisory Council of Silicon Valley and the Philippine Academy of Science and Engineering
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo shows off a copy of the Memorandum of Agreement between the Philippines Science and Technology Advisory Council of Silicon Valley (RP-STAC-SV) and the Philippine Academy of Science and Engineering (PASE) after it was presented to her during the... [Read more...]
Photo #4
Lakas-Kampi-CMD senatorial bets discuss plans and programs in ‘Straight to the Point’ forum
The plans and programs of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD senatorial candidates top the topics discussed during the “Straight to the Point” forum held at Kopiroti Restaurant on Tomas Morato Avenue in Quezon City Monday (Feb. 8, 2010). Lawyer Raul Lambino (right), one of the ruling... [Read more...]
Photo #5
National Volleyball Open in Imus, Cavite
Imus, Cavite Mayor Manny Maliksi (left photo) officially declared open the National Volleyball Open Championship on Feb. 7, 2010 at the municipality’s covered courts with seven teams led by powerhouse Philippine Airforce, Philippine Army and University of Perpetual Help... [Read more...]
National
DOTC to revive rail system going to Rizal Park
MANILA, Feb. 9 — The Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) plans to revive the proposal to construct a rail system going to Rizal Park in Manila from Quezon City.
EU, RP desire “earliest” signing of cooperation agreement
By Gloria Jane Baylon
MANILA, Feb. 9 — The Philippines and the European Union (EU) desire to have a signing of the proposed Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) “at the earliest opportunity,” following the two-day fourth round of negotiations in Manila last week.
Filipino worker’s remains retrieved in Haiti Sunday
By Gloria Jane Baylon
MANILA, Feb. 8 —The death of a Filipino supermarket worker in Haiti has been officially confirmed with the recovery early Sunday of her body from under the rubble of her workplace, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Monday.
Foreign
Moderate earthquake hits southern Mexico: USGS
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 — A moderate earthquake measuring 5.7 magnitude hit Oaxaca, Mexico, on Monday, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said.
Moderate quake strikes eastern Indonesia
JAKARTA, Feb. 9 — A moderate earthquake with a magnitude of 5.1 rocked eastern parts of Indonesia on Tuesday morning, the country's Meteorology and Geophysics Agency reported.
Lebanese president: Israel has no valid pretext to attack
BEIRUT, Feb. 9 — Lebanese President Michel Suleiman said Monday that no one in Lebanon is planning to wage any aggression on Israel and Israel does not own any valid pretext to launch any attack, the country's state-run National News Agency reported.
Sports & Entertainment
Billiards: Filipinos finish second in World Team Pool Cup
By Lily O Ramos
MANILA, Feb. 8 — You can't win them all.
PBA: ‘Rocket’ takes off
MANILA, Feb. 8 — He is not nicknamed "The Rocket" for nothing. After all, JC Intal beat other fine players like James Yap of Purefoods for the Player of the Week award for the period of February 1 to 7 and helped Barangay Ginebra enter to the semi-finals after a tumultuous battle against Talk N Text.
ABL: It’s RP Patriots vs Indons in ABL finals
MANILA, Feb. 8 — Indonesia’s Satria Muda BritAma earned the right to face the Philippine Patriots in the first-ever finals of the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) by downing the Singapore Slingers, 86-76, in their knockout match Sunday at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
Opinions
Countries to finalize conservation plan for migratory sharks
By Catherine J. Teves
MANILA, Feb. 8 – Delegates from the Philippines and other countries are meeting in Metro Manila to finalize a conservation and management plan (CMP) for boosting international cooperation on protecting endangered migratory sharks from possible extinction.
DPWH sees positive impact of 'El Nino' on gov't projects
By Lily O Ramos
MANILA, Feb. 8 — Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Victor Domingo sees positive "El Nino" phenomenon impact on government infrastructure projects.
Group calls for codification of environmental laws
MANILA, Feb. 8 – An environmentalist group urges lawmakers to codify the country's environmental laws to streamline and group them as a regulatory tool which authorities can enforce more effectively.
Travel & Tourism
Egypt's tourism revenue down 2.1 pct in 2009
CAIRO, Feb. 9 — Egypt's tourism revenue, a key source of the nation's coffer, hit 10.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2009, down 2.1 percent compared with the previous year, the tourism minister said Monday.
Construction of China Pavilion at World Expo completed
SHANGHAI, Feb. 8 — Construction was completed Monday on the China Pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, with fireworks, floating balloons, red lanterns and ribbons, and deafening gongs and drums to celebrate the occasion.
Cambodia's tourism on steady growth, report shows
PHNOM PENH, Feb. 8 — Cambodia's tourism sector has been on steady growth over the past five years, according to a report released on Monday by the government.
Provincial
BJMP-PNP Davao probe inmate shooting inside jail
DAVAO CITY, Feb. 9 – The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Regional Investigation Division of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) and the Talomo Police Station here is conducting an investigation on an inmate who was shot dead Sunday afternoon by a jail guard.
(Metro News) QC cops kill carjackers in shootout
MANILA, Feb. 9 -– Operatives of Quezon City Police District (QCPD) shot dead three suspected carjackers in a shootout before dawn Tuesday in Barangay Bahay Toro, Project 8, Quezon City.
40 4Ps beneficiaries receive awards during DSWD anniversary celebration in Davao
DAVAO CITY, Feb. 9 – At least 40 beneficiaries of the "Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program" (4Ps) from Cluster 3, here received awards during the recent 59th founding anniversary celebration of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Business
PLDT taps EMC's mid-range solutions to strengthen data infrastructure
MANILA, Feb. 9 –- EMC, the world leader in information infrastructure solutions, has announced that the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT), selected EMC to strengthen its information infrastructure in order to drive its market position as the preferred full-service provider of voice, video and data.
Davao Region has highest RP inflation rate at 4.7% in 2009
DAVAO CITY, Feb. 9 – The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) has posted Region 11 an inflation rate of 4.7 percent, the highest among other regions in the country.
NEDA targets 6.5% growth this year for Davao Region
DAVAO CITY, Feb. 9 — The strong services sector has sustained the economic growth of Davao Region last year amidst the global crisis, the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) regional office here reported.
Agri-Business
Agricultural development tops Teodoro’s agenda
By Lilybeth G. Ison
MANILA, Feb. 8 — Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. said on Monday agricultural development would be his chief priority to ensure the country’s food security and spur its economic development.
DA Bicol to revitalize 3 indigenous crops
By Mike dela Rama
LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 8 – The Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to revitalize Bicol region’s three major commercial crops namely pili, abaca and coconut in the provinces of Albay, Camarines Norte, Sorsogon, Camarines Sur and Catanduanes.
120 mango stakeholders to gather in Davao Sur to revitalize industry
DIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur, Feb. 8 – At least 120 mango stakeholders of the Davao Region will convene on Feb. 11 at Crisbelle Hotel here in a bid to revitalize the commodity that has been helping the local economy afloat.
Features
Analysts say China should not yield to Obama's hardline on yuan
by Liu Jie, Ma Shukun and Jiang Tingting
BEIJING, Feb. 9 — As the U.S. President Barack Obama vowed to get "much tougher" with China on exchange rates and trade, economists from Beijing said China should not give in to increased U.S. pressure that stems from its domestic problems.
News Analysis: Lebanon, Syria, Iran and Israel, a smoking gun?
by Mohamad Ali Harissi, Ren Ke
BEIRUT, Feb. 9 — The accusations come almost every day from Israeli officials: Iran is seeking a nuclear weapon; Hezbollah is smuggling weapons into the south of Lebanon, with the help of Syria. These claims turned during the last days into a verbal battle mainly between Syria and Israel.
Feature: Conflicts producing internal refugees in Afghanistan
By Zhang Ning
KABUL, Feb. 8 — Conflicts between Afghan-NATO troops and the Taliban have been producing a number of internally displaced people (IDP) in and around the country's capital city of Kabul.
Health & Lifestyle
Nearly 110,000 gets A(H1N1) flu jabs in Macao
MACAO, Feb. 9 — A total of 109,708 people in Macao have been inoculated with the A(H1N1) vaccines so far, according to the figures released on Monday by Macao's Health Bureau.
Researchers find older mothers more likely to have autistic kids
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 9 — Children born to older moms are more likely to develop autism, U.S. researchers suggest.
Good heart health would lead to big savings for Canada: report
OTTAWA, Feb. 9 — Canada could save 76.4 billion Canadian dollars (about 71.46 billion U.S. dollars) between 2005 and 2020, an average of about five billion Canadian dollars a year in health savings, if some of the targets set out by the Canadian Heart Health Strategy and Action Plan (CHHS-AP) are met, according to a Conference Board of Canada report released Monday at a press conference in Ottawa.