MANDALUYONG CITY (PIA) — The continuing modernization of the country’s public transport system reached another milestone with the launch of new buses for the point-to-point (P2P) bus service. These new buses have free onboard WiFi, global positioning system, CCTV, and the tap-and-go payment system, as well as a retractable boarding and alighting ramp—making them accessible to persons with disability. “PWDs, senior citizens, and pregnant women will begin enjoying the convenience and comfort of this new class of […]
Other News
Philippine Muslim rebel tells followers to keep ceasefire
MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — The head of the Philippines’ main Muslim rebel group on Thursday urged his followers to maintain a ceasefire with the government despite failure to pass a bill implementing a peace accord. Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chairman Murad Ebrahim made the appeal in a statement carried on the group’s Facebook page. “In spite of the non-passage of the (bill), the MILF will continue to uphold the peace process and ensure that all […]
EU chief warns ‘lot to do’ for deal to avoid British exit
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP) — European leaders have a lot of work to do at a summit in Brussels to reach a deal to prevent Britain becoming the first country to crash out of the bloc, EU president Donald Tusk warned Friday. British Prime Minister David Cameron urged his counterparts at the start of a two-day meeting to reach a “credible” reform deal that would allow him to hold a referendum on EU membership in June. […]
Australia warns Beijing over threat of conflict in South China Sea
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australia urged China on Friday to refrain from the “militarization of islands” to avoid walking into a conflict, a day after the United States slammed Beijing for deploying missiles in the disputed South China Sea. China said Thursday it had weapons on one of the islands in the strategically important region, which US Secretary of State John Kerry said was evidence of an “increase of militarisation” and a “serious concern”. Prime Minister […]
Asia stocks fall as rally fizzles out
HONG KONG, China (AFP) — The rally in Asia stocks fizzled out Friday, as a renewed weakening in the price of oil dampened sentiment and safe haven assets such as the yen received a boost. US crude fell below $31 a barrel as traders digested news that American stockpiles rose to the highest in more than eight decades. While turbulence in Asian markets has abated this week with losses earlier in the year being partially […]
Volatility dominates talk ahead of South Carolina GOP primary
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, United States (Reuters) — With the Republican race for the party’s 2016 nomination descending deeper into squabbling, South Carolina voters are noticing the increasingly bitter battle now more than ever. The Palmetto State holds its Republican party primary contest on Saturday (February 20), just days after a televised Republican debate on Wednesday when the race erupted into a four-candidate crossfire over which party candidate has the proper experience and is the most […]
Obama to make historic visit to Cuba in March
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Barack Obama will next month become the first US president to visit Cuba in almost a century, championing engagement with the Communist-ruled island and burying one of the last vestiges of the Cold War. The White House hopes the trip will be a “Berlin Wall” moment, crowning a policy they see as being among Obama’s greatest foreign policy achievements. “Next month, I’ll travel to Cuba to advance our progress and […]
EU and Turkey to hold ‘special meeting’ on migration early March: Tusk
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP) — The EU and Turkey will hold a “special meeting” in early March to push forward an aid-for-cooperation deal to curb migrant flows to Europe, European Council President Donald Tusk said Friday. “We agreed that our joint action plan with Turkey remains a priority and we must do all we can to succeed,” Tusk told a press conference after the first day of a European Union summit in Brussels. “This is why […]
Turkey blames Syrian Kurdish fighters for Ankara attack
ANKARA, Turkey (AFP) — Turkey on Thursday blamed Kurdish militants based inside the country and in Syria for a car bombing targeting a military convoy in Ankara that killed 28 people and risked a new escalation of the Syrian conflict. The massive blast struck five buses carrying military service personnel when they stopped at a traffic light in the center of the capital on Wednesday evening. It was the latest in a string of deadly strikes that […]
Teen critically injured in Hawaii tourist helicopter crash
PEARL HARBOR, HONOLULU, HAWAII, United States (Reuters) — A tourist helicopter crashed into waters off the Arizona Memorial visitors center in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Thursday (February 18), critically injuring a 16-year-old boy. Hawaii News Now reported that the Bell-206B chopper was carrying five people on board when it crashed around 10 a.m. local time (2000 GMT) and that good Samaritans pulled the victims to shore. The teen was reportedly under water for several minutes […]
Tokyo stocks open down after another fall in oil prices
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Tokyo stocks opened lower Friday, as a stronger yen dented exporters and Wall Street disappointed. US equities fell on Thursday after a recent rally in oil prices fizzled, offering a weak lead to Japanese stocks at the start of the global day. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange dropped 0.90 percent, or 146.40 points, to 16,050.40 in opening deals, after a 2.28-percent jump the previous day. The […]
Massive California gas leak permanently capped
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — A gas well leak that spewed tons of methane into the environment and forced thousands of Los Angeles residents from their homes has been permanently capped, state officials said Thursday. The announcement confirmed earlier reports by the Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) that a leaking well at its facility in Porter Ranch had been plugged. The news put an end to a four-month-long drama that saw thousands of Porter […]
