After an American novelist drew ire by calling Manila the "gates of hell," a popular Brazilian author pacified Filipinos anger by telling them they knew the way to heaven.
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Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - The Philippine economy's first-quarter performance was likely "on track" to hitting the government's 6- to 7-per cent growth target for the year, Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said on the sidelines of the 34th National Conference of Employers.
- Albay governor’s ‘bangka’ good to go Tinig Ng Botante
- Insular Life’s new premiums grow by 178% in first quarter MB
Insular Life reported yesterday that it continues to post record-breaking results in 2013. New business premiums for the first quarter from its agency force surged to P2.4 billion for a growth of 178 percent over the same period in 2012. New policies sold likewise increased by a hefty 48 percent.
- Sixth night of violence in Sweden, but police say capital calmer Reuters
By Mia Shanley STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Community patrols and a beefed-up police presence helped to calm violence around Stockholm overnight on Saturday but 20 to 30 cars were still torched in poor immigrant suburbs and serious incidents were reported outside the capital for the first time. The rioting in Stockholm abated after a week of masked youths vandalizing schools and police stations, setting cars alight and hurling stones at firefighters, police said. "It was much calmer - rocks weren't
- British police arrest man after spy claim in soldier case Reuters
By Peter Griffiths LONDON (Reuters) - British police arrested a man under anti-terrorism laws at BBC headquarters after an interviewee said security services tried to recruit one of the two men arrested after a soldier was hacked to death in a London street. Michael Adebolajo, 28 and Michael Adebowale, 22, are under armed guard in hospital after being shot and arrested by police on suspicion of the murder of 25-year-old Lee Rigby, a veteran of the Afghan war, on Wednesday. ...

By Lavinia Mo HONG KONG (Reuters) - The new H7N9 bird flu virus can be transmitted between mammals not only via direct contact but also in airborne droplets, and may be capable of spreading from person to person, Chinese and American researchers have found. A study published in the journal Science and presented at a briefing in Hong Kong on Friday found that three ferrets - an animal often used for research on flu - that were in the same cage as ferrets infected with H7N9 had contracted the
- EU steps up quest to solve youth unemployment Reuters
By Barbara Lewis BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European leaders have decided youth unemployment and the risk of social breakdown are among the toughest challenges they face and finding solutions will be a top priority for the coming months. In a letter released late on Friday, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said youth unemployment was one of the most pressing issues for the 27-member European Union. ...
- French soldier stabbed while on patrol near Paris Reuters
PARIS (Reuters) - A French soldier patrolling a business neighbourhood west of Paris was stabbed in the neck on Saturday by a man who quickly fled the scene and is being sought by police, President Francois Hollande said. The soldier was patrolling in uniform with two other men as part of France's Vigipirate anti-terrorist surveillance plan when he was approached from behind around 1800 p.m. and stabbed in the neck with a knife or a box-cutter. Hollande, in the Ethiopian city of Addis Ababa,
- Two freight trains collide in Missouri, 7 injured Reuters
REUTERS - Two freight trains collided at a rail intersection in southeastern Missouri on Saturday, triggering the collapse of a highway overpass when several rail cars derailed and struck a support pillar, authorities said. None of the seven people hurt - two aboard the trains and five people who had been in cars on the two-lane overpass - suffered life-threatening injuries, Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter said in a statement. ...
Smart Flexibundles to be available to postpaid subscribers starting May 26 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Newsroom
- Globe unveils what it calls 'the best-ever MySuperPlan' Yahoo! Southeast Asia Newsroom
- Officially official: HTC One, coming to PH stores May 24 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Newsroom
FEATURED BLOGS
Albay governor’s ‘bangka’ good to go
By Reynard Magtoto, VERA Files Legazpi City—After assuring Bicolanos that no one will be left behind in Albay’s surge to prosperity, reelected Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda said he is ready to “paddle the boat” to fulfilling his vision for the … Continue reading → More »
Comelec proclaims 14 party-lists
By Mikha Flores, VERA Files The Commission on Elections proclaimed on Friday 14 winning party-lists that are assured of at least one seat in the 16th Congress after obtaining two percent of the total votes cast for all party-lists in the … Continue reading → More »
Q and A with MILF chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim: “Within this year we will start building our political …
By Carolyn O. Arguillas, Mindanews and VERA Files DARAPANAN, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao – The May 13 synchronized national, regional and local elections marked the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s first foray into electoral politics, albeit only partly, as a “testing ground,” … Continue reading → More »
First time MILF voters’ top senatorial choice: “Anak ni King”
By Carolyn O. Arguillas, MindaNews and VERA Files DARAPANAN, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao – “Anak ni King.” “Anak ni Idol.” Movie actor Fernando Poe, Jr. is nearly nine years dead but he is still “King” or “Idol” for members of the … Continue reading → More »
Comelec blames weak telecom signals for transmission delays
Some 18,000 precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines covering about 23 percent of the total clustered precincts experienced transmission problems on Election Day because of weak signals, Commission on Elections Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said on Thursday. “It is not … Continue reading → More »
Former Comelec exec bares ‘intel’ funds
By Mikha Flores, VERA Files First it was the source code for the PCOS machines they were quarrelling about. Now former colleagues, Commission on Elections Chairman Sixto Brillantes, Jr. and Augusto “Gus” Lagman are squabbling about intelligence funds. Lagman, who … Continue reading → More »
Comelec threw efforts of PWDs to waste—NCDA exec
By Darlene Cay, VERA Files Efforts of persons with disabilities and advocates in promoting the right of PWDs to suffrage went to waste in last week’s midterm elections, no thanks to the Commission on Elections, the executive director of National … Continue reading → More »