Photo #1
Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala visits Cagayan Valley region
Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (in top left photo) calls on farmers, fishers, and other agriculture stakeholders in the Cagayan Valley region to come together and work with local government officials to achieve self-sufficiency in rice, corn and other basic food items,... [Read more...]
Photo #2
‘Usaping Balita’ media forum tackles chicken farm gate price reduction
Agham Partylist Rep. Angelo Palmones (left), one of the resource speakers during the “Usaping Balita” media forum at Serye Cafe Filipino in Quezon Memorial Circle, Quezon City on Thursday (Sept. 2, 2010), discusses the reduction of farm-gate price of chicken which... [Read more...]
Photo #3
DOH chief spearheads handing out health advisory on dengue
Department of Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona, together with DOH Chief on Epidemiology Dr. Eric Tayag, distributes health advisory on dengue to Light Rail Transit (LRT) 1 passengers at the LRT station in Monumento, Caloocan City on Thursday (Sept. 2, 2010). (PNA photo by Boy... [Read more...]
Photo #4
DOH Dengue Information Campaign launching at LRT-Monumento station
Department of Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona (2nd from left) leads the ceremonial unfurling of tarpaulin for the DOH Dengue Information Campaign at the Light Rail Transit (LRT) 1 Monumento station in Caloocan City on Thursday (Sept. 2, 2010). Others in photo are LRT 1 Director... [Read more...]
Photo #5
Rainmaker top executive huddles with Makati City Mayor Binay
Andrew L.Sarakinis (2nd from right), vice president Asia Pacific of Rainmaker Systems Inc.,explains some technical terms to Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Jun jun” Binay (extreme right) with other city officials, citing the US market’s continued demand for... [Read more...]
National
6 countries vie for a closer, mutual undertakings to support maritime safety
MANILA, Sept. 2 — Six countries, including the Philippines, vied for a closer cooperation and mutual undertakings to support the maritime safety enforcement and marine environmental protection endeavors of the regular Coast Guard organizations from which they belong during the round table conference at the National Conference of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers held from August 26 to 29 at the Camel Back Mountain Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Speaker assures impeach raps vs Ombudsman to go through process
By Lilybeth G. Ison
MANILA, Sept. 2 — Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. on Thursday assured that the impeachment complaints against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez will go through the process in the committee level at the House of Representatives.
Labor leader hits "exaggerated" report on termination of Filipino maids in HK
By Lilybeth G. Ison
MANILA, Sept. 2 — It's grossly exaggerated!
Foreign
Flood causes 1,710 death, 43 bln dollar loss in Pakistan
By Jamil Bhatti
ISLAMABAD, Sept. 3 (PNA/Xinhua) — The flash floods in Pakistan have left 1,710 people dead, millions homeless and caused a loss of over 43 billion U.S. dollars, the government said Thursday.
UN chief calls for specialization in fighting corruption
VIENNA, Sept. 3 — United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said here Thursday specialized training are urgently needed in the fight against "technical corruption".
Crime rate keeps downward trend in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 3 — Despite the economic downturn, the overall crime rate has been going down in Los Angeles, Police Chief Charlie Beck said on Thursday.
Sports & Entertainment
Venus Williams moves into third round in US Open
NEW YORK, Sept. 2 — World number 4 Venus Williams dispatched Rebecca Marino of Canada 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 to reach the third round of US Open on Wednesday.
(Feature) Open-air cinema tradition remains strong in Greece despite economic crisis
by Maria Spiliopoulou, Liang Yeqian
ATHENS, Sept. 1 — Going to an open-air cinemas is one of the most popular ways to enjoy a night out with friends and family members during summer in Greece.
Thailand event to be Asian Tour finale
BANGKOK, Sept. 1 — The Black Mountain Masters, held at south of Bangkok, has been added to the Asian Tour's 2010 schedule on Wednesday.
Opinions
Mexico to cut CO2 emissions by 50 million tons by 2012: president
MEXICO CITY, Sept. 3 — Mexican President Felipe Calderon announced on Thursday that his country will reduce the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 50 million tons by the end of 2012, thus becoming the first developing country to achieve this goal.
(Feature) 1M cu.m of wastewater dumped at Iloilo River daily
ILOILO CITY, Sept. 2 – The Iloilo River is a virtual waste recipient of all commercial and industrial establishments along its banks in this city. No less than 1-million cubic meter of untreated waste water is being discharged to the river every day, according to the city environment and natural resources office here.
River clean up in Pangasinan scores initial gains
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Sept. 2 — At least 60 percent of the rivers in Binmaley, Lingayen and Bugallon towns had been restored to their original state under the massive river clean up spearheaded by the provincial government.
Travel & Tourism
(Features) Guimaras gears up agri-tourism programs to boost revenues
JORDAN, GUIMARAS, Sept. 2 – The provincial government of Guimaras hopes that its agri-tourism programs will help increase its annual revenues.
US cautions its citizens on India travel during CWG
WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 — Noting that it has no specific information on terrorist threat during the upcoming Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, the US on Wednesday asked its citizens to be alert and cautious of their security during the games period in October.
Indonesia's Garuda airline flies directly to Tokyo
JAKARTA, Sept. 2 — Indonesia's flag carrier, Garuda Indonesia, has started a direct service linking Jakarta and Tokyo, as part of business expansion, a paper said here Thursday.
Provincial
Cop killed in Davao City-bound bus robbery
DAVAO CITY, Sept. 2 – Police are still hunting down at least six persons who fatally shot a police sergeant during a robbery of a Davao City-bound passenger bus Wednesday night along the highway of Barangay Tamugan, Marilog District this city.
1,000 marijuana plants uprooted in Davao del Sur
KIBLAWAN, Davao del Sur, Sept. 2 — A total of 1,000 full-grown marijuana plants were uprooted by a composite team from the 27th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Barangay Kimlawis, Kiblawan, Davao del Sur Wednesday.
Pampanga provincial gov't to forge MOA with Aetas on eco-tourism
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Sept. 2 – The provincial government of Pampanga will allot an initial P3.7 million for the development of two barangays — Nabuclod and Mawacat in Floridablanca town – as the province’s ecotourism center.
Business
London stock market closes slightly higher
LONDON, Sept. 3 — The London stock market closed slightly higher on Thursday with the leading FTSE 100 index up by 4.63 points, or 0.09 percent, to 5,371.04 points.
HP wins bidding war for 3PAR after Dell pulls out
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 3 — Dell Inc. on Thursday said it will not raise offer to buy 3PAR, ending a bidding war with rival Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP) for the data storage company.
Asian market rally lifts Gulf Arab exchanges
DUBAI, Sept. 3 — After the Tokyo Stock Exchange surged to a 16-month high, stock markets in Gulf Arab nations posted modest gains Thursday, as faster-than-estimated growth in U. S. manufacturing bolstered confidence in global economic growth.
Agri-Business
DAF-ARMM distributes machines for organic farming
COTABATO CITY, Sept. 2 – In pushing for organic farming, the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DAF-ARMM) has distributed 61 shredder machines to farmer associations, the DA-ARMM regional office here said.
Pakistan needs international help to avoid losing wheat crop
UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 1 — Without urgent international assistance to save the upcoming wheat-planting season in Pakistan, the food security of millions in the flood-hit nation is at risk, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned Wednesday.
Frozen imported meat flooding Pangasinan now regulated
DAGUPAN CITY, Sept. 1 –The municipal government of Mangaldan has taken steps to control the sale of frozen imported meat to protect the health of the consuming public and the town's meat industry from ruin, according to Mangaldan Mayor Herminio Romero.
Features
University's education extends beyond academics for foreign students
by Al Campbell
VANCOUVER, Sept. 3 (pna/Xinhua) — The University of British Columbia is experiencing a record enrollment of 7,000 international students for its upcoming fall term and the Vancouver-based institution is planning a comprehensive introduction program to ensure the newcomers quickly adapt to their new home.
Interview: Tsang views Hong Kong as Russia's best business partner in Asia
by Zhang Baoping, Zhao Jing
MOSCOW, Sept. 3 (PNA/Xinhua) — Donald Tsang Yan-Kuen, Chief Executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), who was currently on a visit to Russia, said here Thursday that Hong Kong was the "best business partner" for Russia in Asia.
Woman leader unleashes town’s potential in Davao Sur (Feature)
By Jenny Grace M. Mendoza
DIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur, Sept. 2 — A barangay official in Digos City here has paved the way towards developing the area’s home-grown industry — mango.
Health & Lifestyle
Severity of obesity overlooked in U.S.: survey
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 3 — The severity of obesity is overlooked in the United States as many obese or overweight Americans often believe they are thinner than they really are, even when the scales are showing otherwise, a new poll finds.
DOH 7 calls for community involvement in anti-dengue drive as cases rise
CEBU CITY, Sept. 2 – An official of the Department of Health (DOH) 7 has called for community involvement in addressing the dengue problem amid reports of increasing cases of the mosquito-borne disease.
More than 900 animal bite cases recorded in Iloilo City in first half of 2010
ILOILO CITY, Sept. 2 – The Iloilo City Animal Bite Center here has monitored and recorded 998 animal bite cases as of June this year.