Other News

SSS increases pensions, funeral grants

The Social Security System (SSS) revealed today the terms of its new 10-percent across-the-board pension increase for work-related claims under the Employees’ Compensation (EC) Program and the doubled EC funeral grant, which now stands at P20,000. Both increases will be implemented retroactively, with September 2013 as the date of effectivity. SSS Vice President for Benefits Administration, Agnes San Jose, said in a statement that the pension hike covers about 17,200 active EC pensioners under SSS […]

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The search for Philippine Eagles of the Mingan Mountains

 Text and photos by J Kahlil Bohol Panopio | Haribon Foundation  We received a report last February that there was a recent sighting of a juvenile Philippine eagle in the Mingan Mountains of Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija. This led to the formation of a team to validate the sighting and document the presence of Philippine Eagles in the area. Figure 1. The Mingan Montains in Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija where its lowland dipterocarp forest is a habitat […]

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Iraq counter-attacks against ISIL with airborne commando assault on Tikrit

(Reuters) – Iraqi forces launched an airborne assault on rebel-held Tikrit on Thursday, landing three helicopters with commandos in a stadium for what appeared to be their boldest counter-attack yet against Sunni insurgents who have rampaged through the north. Eyewitnesses said battles were raging in the city, hometown of former dictator Saddam Hussein, which fell to Sunni Islamist fighters two weeks ago on the third day of a lightning offensive that has given them control […]

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Militants take Iraqi gas field town, president calls parliament session

(Reuters) – Militants took a town an hour from Baghdad that is home to four natural gas fields on Thursday, another gain by Sunni insurgents who have swiftly taken large areas to the north and west of the Iraqi capital. Iraq’s presidency said a session of parliament would be held on July 1, the first step to forming a new government that the international community hopes will be inclusive enough to undermine the insurgency. The overnight offensive […]

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GoPro’s IPO priced at $24 per share: underwriter

(Reuters) – Wearable sports camera maker GoPro Inc’s GPRO.O initial public offering was priced at $24 per share, an underwriter said, valuing the company at up to $2.96 billion. GoPro’s IPO raised about $427.2 million, after the offering of 17.8 million class A shares was priced at the top end of the expected range of $21-$24 per share. The San Mateo, California-based company sold 8.9 million shares in the IPO, while the rest were offered […]

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Kerry tells Russia to disarm Ukraine separatists ‘in hours’

(Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called on Russia on Thursday to disarm separatists in Ukraine within “the next hours” as the European Union prepared to discuss deeper sanctions against Moscow. Washington and other Western powers have stepped up pressure on Russia to take concrete action to defuse the conflict in easternUkraine, where a ceasefire between Russian-speaking rebels and government forces has appeared to be crumbling. “We are in full agreement that it is critical for Russia to show […]

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Malaysia jet most likely on autopilot when it crashed, Australia says

(Reuters) – Malaysia Airlines (MASM.KL) Flight MH370 was most likely on autopilot when it crashed into the Indian Ocean further south than previously thought, Australian officials said on Thursday, as they charted the next phase of a so far fruitless search. The new analysis comes more than 100 days after the Boeing(BA.N) 777, carrying 239 passengers and crew, disappeared on March 8 shortly after taking off from Kuala Lumpur bound for Beijing. Investigators say what little evidence they […]

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China says Philippines stirring tensions after Aquino expressed support for Japan

(Reuters) — China on Wednesday (June 25) accused the Philippines of creating tension in the region and urged Manila to show “sincerity” in upholding stability after President Benigno Aquino welcomed Japan’s more assertive military policy. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made it clear on Tuesday (June 24) he wanted an early agreement with his ruling party’s dovish junior partner to ease constitutional curbs that have keptJapan’s military from fighting abroad since World War Two. Aquino said after meeting Abe on Tuesday that “nations of […]

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Philippines says China’s new official map shows “unreasonably expansive claim”

MANILA, Philippines — China’s newly unveiled official map, which includes an expanded claim in the South China Sea, violates the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), a Palace official said on Thursday.China appears to have extended its maritime claims from the original nine-dash line to a ten-dash line, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said during a press briefing. “To put it simply, dinrowing lang nila ‘yon. Lahat naman ng drawing […]

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Hope for the Philippine Eagle and the Forests

As the environment month of June comes to a close, the Haribon Foundation enjoins the whole country and the international community in celebrating the discovery and validation of the presence of a pair of adult Philippine Eagles and one juvenile in Mt. Mingan straddling the provinces of Nueva Ecija and the inclusion of the Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wild life Sanctuary on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) World Heritage List. These two […]

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Government-led tree cutting hounds Philippine Arbor Day

June 25 is designated as Philippine Arbor Day, a day for planting trees and ornamental plants and other form or relevant activities to promote a healthier ecosystem. Arbor Day is a holiday where individuals and groups are encouraged to plant trees. It originated in Nebraska City in the United States in 1872. Proclamation No. 643, s. 2004, declared June 25 as Philippines Arbor Day. It calls for the active participation of all government agencies, including […]

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