(Reuters) – The United States will bid for the 2024 Olympics, seeking to host the Summer Games for the first time since 1996, the country’s Olympic committee said on Tuesday. Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston and Washington are under consideration as sites and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) said it expects to make a final decision in January. “We’re so lucky to have four great cities … they all have compelling strengths,” USOC Chief Executive Scott […]
Other News
Australia orders sweeping investigation after system fails hostages
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Wednesday ordered a sweeping investigation into a deadly hostage crisis after tough new security laws and the courts failed to stop a convicted felon from walking into a Sydney cafe with a concealed shotgun. Three people were killed, including hostage-taker Man Haron Monis, when police stormed a Sydney cafe early on Tuesday morning to free terrified hostages held at gunpoint for 16 hours. Police are investigating whether the two […]
Pakistan in mourning as parents bury children after school attack
Pakistan woke up to a day of mourning on Wednesday after Taliban militants killed 132 students at a school in the city of Peshawar in a grisly attack which shocked the nation and put pressure on the government to do more to tackle the insurgency. Pakistanis waited to see what their government – long accused of not being tough enough on the Islamists – and the army would do to stem spiraling violence in a nation […]
New York premiere of North Korea comedy canceled after threats
The New York premiere of “The Interview”, a Sony Pictures comedy about the assassination of North Korean President Kim Jong-Un, has been canceled and a source said one theater chain had scrapped plans to show it, after threats from a hacking group. The hackers, who said they were also responsible for seizing control of Sony Corp’s computer system last month, on Tuesday warned people to stay away from cinemas showing the film starring James Franco […]
U.S. rejects Manila’s bid for custody of U.S. Marine accused of murder
The United States embassy in Manila has turned down a request from Philippine authorities to hand over a Marine accused of the killing of a transgender Filipino, a move that could spark anti-American protest in the former U.S. colony. The Marine, Joseph Scott Pemberton, who is being held at a U.S. facility at the main Philippine army base, was charged with the murder of Jeffrey Laude, who was found dead on Oct. 11 in a […]
Russia turmoil sparks flight to safety
(Reuters) – Fears of a full-blown crisis in Russia and oil’s continued slide pushed investors to seek safety on Wednesday, buying core bonds and selling stocks while the ruble failed to halt its prolonged tumble. With only days to go before the end of the trading year, investors were also looking ahead to the U.S. Federal Reserve’s final statement of 2014, due at 1900 GMT (02:00 p.m. EST). Analysts expect it to remove language pledging to wait a “considerable time” before […]
1st Watershed Management Board Created in Laguna Lake
Water is gold. With increased population, consumption and climate change, multi-city alliances will be crucial in managing essential ecosystem services such as water provision. Rapidly-urbanizing landscapes in the CALABARZON region are confronted by challenges on flood and watershed management. In Laguna’s Santa Rosa Sub-watershed, groundwater studies show how rates of extraction will exceed rates for groundwater recharge by 2023. Many shallow wells in lakeside Laguna communities are reported to be depleted, polluted and unfit for […]
President Aquino condemns “barbaric” attack on Pakistani school
President Aquino has condemned Tuesday’s attack on a Pakistani army-run school that left at least 141 dead, mostly children.“Today, we join the world in condemning the outrage perpetrated on innocent schoolchildren, and school officials and personnel in Peshawar, Pakistan,” President Aquino said in a statement released at Official Gazette (www.gov.ph.)“The senseless deaths of so many young lives, and the barbarism of this attack is an affront to all civilized peoples. Such an act of terror […]
International community condemns Pakistan school terror attack
The international community has condemned the atrocious attack on a Pakistani school by militant Taliban that killed 145 people, mostly children, in Peshawar, Pakistan. More than 100 were also wounded in the incident. UNICEF earlier expressed outrage and condemned the attack through their twitter account. It sent its condolences to the families of the victims. UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon also condemned the deadly Taliban attack as “an act of horror and rank cowardice.” The White House […]
Electricity rates to go up in 2015
Power rates will go up by as much as 4 centavos per kilowatthour next year. This was announced by Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Executive Director Saturnino Juan after the ERC approved the feed-in-tariff allowance or “fit-all” for renewable energy projects. The so-called fit-all is given to renewable energy players as incentive to invest in more expensive sectors. The renewable energy players are solar, wind, biomass and hydropower companies. Under the “fit-all” system, renewable energy companies […]
Pemberton arraignment to take place next year
The arraignment of US Marine Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton could take place next year, although a warrant had already been issued for his arrest. According to Justice Undersecretary Jose Justiniano, the possibility of Pemberton being arraigned this year is very unlikely because of the ongoing inventory of cases in various courts before year-end. Because of this, even other court hearings are postponed. The courts, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the United States embassy will […]
New Weather disturbance Seen
New Weather disturbance Seen Aldczar Aurelio of PAGASA reports