Rising temperature may bring down rice production

Kalyan Ray, New Delhi, Sep 2, DHNS: Thursday, September 02, 2010 –> Rice production in vast tracts of India may decline in the coming years because of a steady rise in average minimum temperature.

Asian Development Bank to help keep Philippine kids in school

Judge defers trial of Philippine massacre suspects

Manila – A Philippine judge on Wednesday delayed the resumption of the trial of a mayor and his co-accused for the massacre of 57 people last year. Judge Jocelyn Solis Reyes said the adjournment would allow the court to address motions from the counsel representing the suspects in the murders committed in…

Philippine fire leaves thousands homeless

MANILA, Philippines – Officials say a massive fire has left thousands homeless in two coastal villages north of the capital. Fire Officer…

Aquino orders formation of elite strike force

MANILA, Philippines—President Aquino has ordered the creation of an ‘elite strike force’ that could be quickly deployed anywhere in the country to address crisis situations such as the hostage incident that resulted in the deaths of eight Hong Kong tourists on Monday. Secretary Herminio Coloma of the Presidential Communications and Operations…

Cop sacked for unauthorized presence at hostage site

MANILA, Philippines – The National Capital Region Police Office has relieved a Manila police officer for joining without proper authorization the SWAT assault team during…

PNP chief set to inspect bus in hostage crisis

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine National Police Director General Jesus Verzosa is set to inspect this Friday morning the tourist bus used in the hostage-taking incident last Monday to ensure that all pieces of evidence are preserved.

ASIA: When hospitals become casualties

web BANGKOK, 26 August 2010 (IRIN) – Governments and donors have responded to increasingly frequent and more deadly disasters by boosting funding for response, but investing in preparation, especially in the health sector, is inadequate, say specialists. “Emergency preparedness is an afterthought for many hospitals,” said Jonathan Abrahams, coordinator of the World Health Organization (WHO) Safe Hospitals initiative, which helps countries reinforce medical centres to withstand disasters. The Philippines and Indonesia are two of nine countries working with the Bangkok-based Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) that have emergency preparedness plans in place for their health sectors.

China wants Philippine hostage probe results quickly

BEIJING (Reuters) – China called on the Philippines on Thursday to quickly release the findings of a probe into the death of eight Hong Kong tourists during a bus hijacking earlier this week. “We believe that the most…

Gunmen stop bus in southern Philippines, kill 4

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Gunmen wearing police uniforms stopped a passenger bus in the southern Philippines early Thursday and fatally shot four people, including two police marshals, officials…

ING: BSP likely to keep rates steady

BY JIMMY C. CALAPATI –> With stable money supply growth and moderate inflation, Dutch-based banking giant ING, said that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) will keep policy rates steady

Carpenter murdered in Manila building

MANILA, Philippines – A carpenter was found dead in his room with several stab wounds early Sunday morning in Manila and a fellow worker who was suspected of killing him had gone into hiding, the…

New QC business center to issue permits in 25 minutes

MANILA, Philippines – The Quezon City government on Friday launched a business center aimed at simplifying the processing of applications for business permits and reducing…

40 killed as bus plunges into ravine

BY MARIA ELENA GONZALEZ –> SABLAN, Benguet – At least 40 passengers were confirmed dead as their bus fell into a 35-foot ravine Wednesday. Senior Supt. Wilben Mayor, Benguet police chief, said the accident occurred around 9:20…

Philippines to continue using ‘coconet’ to battle erosion

Manila: The government will continue to use nets made from coconut fibre to buttress public structures and prevent soil erosion and flooding, President Benigno Aquino III said. During a recent palace event on Thursday attended by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials, Aquino said the use of coconut fibre…

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