Russian and Western diplomats have signaled a desire for calm as the dust settles from the fall of ex-President Viktor Yanukoych’s government. Efforts are also underway to help the country stave off imminent bankruptcy. As Ukraine’s interim government sought to grapple with the threat of economic collapse on Tuesday, weeks of disagreement between major powers gave way to a more conciliatory tone. EU and US diplomats visited the country, while Russia appeared to soften its […]
Other News
Northeast Monsoon Brings Light Rains
The northeast monsoon affects Luzon and Visayas while trough of low pressure area affects eastern Mindanao. The whole country will experience fair weather with partly cloudy and cloudy skies with some areas experiencing isolated rain and thunderstorms.
Amazon Releases 100 “must read” Books Before You Die
100 Books Everyone Should Read Editors from Amazon has released a list of their 100 “nust read” books before you die. “With 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime, we set out to build a road map of a literary life without making it feel like a homework assignment,” Sara Nelson, Editorial Director of Print and Kindle Books at Amazon. Most of the books are century classics or recent bestsellers and the oldest in the […]
Apple issues fix for glaring security flaw on Mac computers
SAN FRANCISCO Tue Feb 25, 2014 3:28pm EST (Reuters) – Apple Inc has issued fixes for a security flaw in its Macintosh computers that allows hackers to intercept data such as email, patching a major and embarrassing glitch that came to light several days ago. The security update for users of Apple’s OS X computer operating software follows a fix issued for iPhones last week, meaning all Apple device users now have access to the […]
360 million newly stolen credentials on black market: cybersecurity firm
By Jim Finkle BOSTON Tue Feb 25, 2014 6:36pm EST (Reuters) – A cybersecurity firm said on Tuesday that it uncovered stolen credentials from some 360 million accounts that are available for sale on cyber black markets, though it is unsure where they came from or what they can be used to access. The discovery could represent more of a risk to consumers and companies than stolen credit card data because of the chance the […]
Online music going for a song, says U.S. bill seeking more cash for composers
WASHINGTON Tue Feb 25, 2014 6:23pm EST (Reuters) – Songwriters need to make more money when their music is played on online services like Pandora and elsewhere, according to a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday by a Republican congressman. The measure, introduced by Representative Doug Collins of Georgia, would give songwriters more leeway in arguing for higher royalties before a special court that mediates disputes over payments. The proposal is […]
U.S. insurers say proposed Medicare cuts less than feared
By Caroline Humer Tue Feb 25, 2014 12:46pm EST (Reuters) – U.S. health insurers including Humana Inc said on Monday that the government’s proposed cuts to privately run Medicare programs appear to represent a funding decline of around 4 percent, less than the possible cuts of 7 percent or deeper that analysts had been expecting. Shares of most insurers rose on Monday, with Humana leading the pack, up 9.2 percent at $112.29 on the New […]
Pakistan launches new strikes near Afghan border; warns militants
By Jibran Ahmed and David Brunnstrom PESHAWAR, Pakistan/WASHINGTON Tue Feb 25, 2014 5:16pm EST (Reuters) – The Pakistani military launched new air strikes targeting militant hideouts in the North Waziristan tribal region on Tuesday, killing at least 30 people, and a senior government official warned of a big offensive unless the Taliban showed they were serious about negotiations. Pakistani fighter jets have been pounding targets in the region since the government’s efforts to engage Taliban […]
Ukraine wants fugitive president to face Hague court
By Timothy Heritage and Natalia Zinets KIEV Tue Feb 25, 2014 6:35pm EST (Reuters) – Ukraine’s parliament voted on Tuesday to send fugitive President Viktor Yanukovich to the International Criminal Court, while his acting successor expressed concern about “signs of separatism” in Russian-speaking Crimea. A resolution, overwhelmingly supported by parliament, linked Yanukovich, who was ousted by the legislature on Saturday and is now on the run, to police violence against protesters which it said had […]
Bitcoin exchange Mt. Gox goes dark in blow to virtual currency
By Ruairidh Villar, Sophie Knight and Brett Wolf TOKYO/ST LOUIS Tue Feb 25, 2014 6:47pm EST (Reuters) – Mt. Gox, once the world’s biggest bitcoin exchange, abruptly stopped trading on Tuesday and its chief executive said the business was at “a turning point,” sparking concerns about the future of the unregulated virtual currency. Several other digital currency exchanges and prominent early-stage investors in bitcoin responded with forceful statements in an attempt to reassure investors of […]
White House: U.S. Planning Possible Withdrawal Of All Troops From Afghanistan
(Reuters) — U.S. President Barack Obama has told the Pentagon to prepare for the withdrawal of all troops from Afghanistan by the end of the year in case the long-delayed Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) remains unsigned. White House spokesman Jay Carney said Obama conveyed the message to his Afghan counterpart, Hamid Karzai, in a phone call Tuesday (February 25). Carney says Obama told Karzai that Washington will leave open the possibility of concluding a BSA with Afghanistan later this year, but that the longer it is delayed, […]
US expels 3 Venezuelan diplomats in response to expulsion of 3 US embassy staff in Venezuela
(Reuters) –United States Department of State spokesperson Jen Psaki addressed the expulsion of three Venezuelan diplomats from Washington, DC, on Tuesday (February 25). The U.S. government decision was in reprisal for President Nicolas Maduro’s expulsion of three American embassy staff accused of fomenting unrest that has killed at least 13 people. “They have been allowed 48 hours to leave the United States,” said Psaki. “We have indicated, and have indicated for months, our openness to develop a more constructive relationship with Venezuela, but again, recent […]