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by Sunday Post Bohol Gov. Chatto negative for drugs but where's Che? Is she a false accuser? Gov. Edgar Chatto has tested negative for illegal drugs or any dangerous substances in separate credible examinations to which his falsely accusing political opponent did not submit herself. Not even a shadow of gubernatorial contender and Carmen Mayor Conchita De los Reyes did turn up for the twin drug tests at the state hospital and police crime laboratories on Monday. Many thought should she refuse examination for reason she only could tell, her mere presence would have saved her from inexcusable flak for her own dangerous gimmick that the governor is "engaged in illegal drug activities." Both the laboratory analyses of the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital (GCGMH) and Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory at Camp Dagohoy proved Chatto to have not indulged in prohibited drugs. As a consequence, the moral authority and ascendancy of the reelectionist govern

First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of North Korea Kim Jong-un came out with two speeches at the party's plenary session here on Sunday. The session focused "on tasks the party faces in making a decisive turn in the process of accomplishing the Juche revolutionary course." The party's strategic priorities will embrace "reconstruction of the economy as well as a qualitative and numeric strengthening of nuclear delivery forces for self-defence purposes," the North Korean leader said at the session after visiting the mausoleums of his father Kim Jong-il and grandfather Kim Il-sun in Kumsusun Palace. He was accompanied by members of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and of the Central National Defence Commission. North Korea "is not eager to use the nuclear weapons as goods for buying American dollars or as a bargaining tool for receiving humanitarian aid," he said. "W

With North Korea churning out military threats, a key concern is that its young leader Kim Jong-un may reach a point of no return in provocative steps, a U.S. congressman said Sunday. Rep. Peter King (R-NY), former chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said North Korea's statements may not be an "empty threat." "Kim Jong-un is trying to establish himself. He's trying to be the tough guy. He is 28, 29 years old, and he keeps going further and further out, and I don't know if he can get himself back in," he said in an interview with ABC News. "So my concern would be that he may feel to save face he has to launch some sort of attack on South Korea, or some base in the Pacific," said King, who now sits on the House intelligence and homeland security committees. He described the North Korean regime as "more like an organized crime family running a territory." North Korea has ratcheted up its threats to launch nuclear

President Park Geun-hye instructed South Korea's military Monday to set aside any political considerations and respond powerfully in the event of North Korean provocations, as Pyongyang has churned out near-daily threats of war on the divided peninsula. Park made the unusually tough remark during a policy briefing at the defense ministry, saying she takes "very seriously" a recent string of North Korean moves and threats, such as the scrapping of a nonaggression treaty, the cutoff of a military hotline and the weekend declaration that inter-Korean ties have entered a "state of war." "The reason for the military's existence is to protect the country and the people from threats. If any provocations happen against our people and our country, it should respond powerfully in the early stage without having any political considerations," Park said. "As commander-in-chief of the armed forces, I will trust the military's judgment on abrupt a

President Benigno S. Aquino III joins the Filipino nation in the observance of the Holy Week and called on the people to emulate the example set forth by Jesus Christ. "Bilang mga tagasunod ni Kristo, nararapat lamang na tayo'y tumulad sa Kanyang mabuting ehemplo," the Chief Executive said in his Lenten message issued on Wednesday. President Aquino asked his fellow Catholics and Christians to remember the great atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the sins of mankind. "Ngayong panahon ng Kuwaresma, ginugunita po natin ang natatanging halimbawa ni Hesukristo sa sangkatauhan. Nagkatawang-tao siya, nagpakumbaba, at iniligtas tayo sa kasalanan; naging huwaran Siya sa landas ng pagbubukas-palad, at wagas na pagmamahal sa kapwa," he said. The Chief Executive emphasized that one of the great messages of the Holy Week celebration is sacrifice. "Wala na nga pong tutumbas sa sakripisyong ipinamalas ni Hesukristo. At kung tutuusin, dahil sa d

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili signed amendments to the country's Constitution on Wednesday, which reduce his authority and tip the balance of power toward the prime minister. The Georgian parliament passed the amendments, which include stripping the president of the right to appoint or dismiss the government without parliamentary approval, on March 25. "Today [on Wednesday] the Georgian president signed amendments to the Constitution, they will be published and will come into force later today," Parliament Speaker David Usupashvili said. The amendments also ban the dissolution of parliament during the period that starts in May, the month before the forthcoming parliamentary elections, and ends with the elected president's inauguration. The signing marks a new victory for billionaire Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, whose Georgian Dream coalition has been locked in a power struggle with Saakashvili's United National Movement after

Thin hot air now lords the climate which creates humid all day long which reminds us that its summer time. Everybody knows that most of our jails all over the country that house more than the capacity of inmates are the most affected during summer because they develop skin allergies and diseases. Skin diseases and allergies borne out of the extreme heat behind bars can now be cured easily. The Quezon City Female Detention (QCFD) of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) based inside Camp Karingal have developed a soap that can cure all kinds of skin diseases especially scabies usually found on inmates. In a rare interview, QCFD Wardress Chief Inspector Elena Rocamora told Philippine News Agency that the soap they have developed comes from "Acapulco plant" which can be found in their backyard inside the compound. "We have lady inmates who are task in taking care of plants including vegetables and other fruit bearing trees," said R

With the cutting and lifting of the bow and "AMR" (Auxiliary Motor Room) sections of the grounded USS Guardian (MCM-5) completed, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Thursday said that the next major salvage step for US Navy salvors will be the final cutting and lifting of the vessel "MMR" (Main Motor Room) section. "The next major milestone of the salvage operation is the final cutting and lifting of the 'MMR' planned for March 30," said PCG Palawan District head Commodore Enrico Efren Villanueva. He added that salvage-related activities for Thursday include the continued non-structural hull cuts for the "MMR" and rigging of "MMR" and stern sections for hull lifts. That part of the hull weighs around 200 to 300 tons. On Wednesday, the "AMR" section of the USS Guardian, weighing around 200 tons, has been successfully cut and lifted around 1: 20 p.m. "AMR successfully cut and lifted then tra

North Korea said Tuesday it had ordered its strategic rocket and long-range artillery units to target US military bases on Guam, Hawaii and mainland America, Reuters reported. The North's KCNA news agency said "supreme command" had ordered the units to assume "combat duty posture No. 1." South Korea's Defense Ministry said, however, that it had seen no signs of an imminent attack. The order is the latest in a series of fiery statements from isolated, nuclear-armed North Korea since joint military drills by the United States and South Korea began on March 11. The North threatened the United States with "pre-emptive nuclear strikes" earlier this month. North Korea is not believed to have the capability to hit the continental United States with an atomic weapon. But the US military's bases in the Pacific area are in range of its medium-range missiles, Reuters reported. Analysts believe a direct North Korean attack is extremely unlike

The Davao Light and Power Company has announced that its three collection offices will be closed on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Black Saturday (March 28, 29 and 30) in observance of the Holy Week. The Davao Light and Power company serves electricity in this city and the neighboring Panabo City in Davao del Norte, Ross Luga, DLPC's assistant vice president for corporate communications and branding, said that payment service in the Ponciano, Bajada, and Panabo offices will resume on Sunday, March 31. Luga also said that payment arrangements, billing inquiries and complaints as well as metering service concerns will be catered on April 1.

Walking on the Great Wall from Jinshanling to Simatai (Beijing): The Great Wall, winding snakelike through the mountains, was meant to be walked. This magnificent 3-hour hike follows China's greatest monument through various states of repair, from freshly restored to thoroughly crumbling, over steep peaks and gentle flats, and through patches of wilderness and rugged farmland, with over two dozen watchtowers along the way.

Getting Lost in the lanes around Beijing's Back Lakes: No other city in the world has anything quite like the hutong, narrow lanes once "as numberless as the hairs on an ox." Now rapidly vanishing, the best-preserved hutong are found around a pair of man-made lakes in the city center. This area is almost the last repository of Old Beijing's gritty, lowrise charm, dotted with tiny temples, hole-in-the-wall noodle shops, and quiet courtyard houses whose older residents still wear Mao suits.

Exploring the Forbidden City's Forgotten Corners (Beijing) : No one fails to be impressed by the grandeur of the Forbidden City's central axis, which is all most visitors see. But the quieter maze of pavilions, gardens, courtyards, and theaters to either side have the greater charm.

The Criminal Investigation Department in Bukit Aman is now heading the investigation into the "intrusion of Sulu terrorists" into Lahad Datu, CID director Datuk Seri Bakri Zinin said. He said the CID team was gathering evidence in Sabah. "Our investigation is exhaustive and covers all angles, even on how the terrorists obtained their weapons and received aid. We are focusing not only in Lahad Datu and Semporna but over a wider area," he told reporters at his office here. Bakri said the challenge the investigators faced in gathering evidence was made even more difficult by the decomposing bodies of the terrorists killed in the government offensive. "Sulu terrorists" from the southern Philippines who entered Sabah on Feb 12 killed eight policemen on March 1 and 2 after dismissing a government offer to lay down arms, Malaysian police said. A government offensive launched on March 5 resulted in the deaths of 62 terrorists. A soldier was also killed in

UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon called for an inclusive and sustainable human development that will bring happiness for people around the world, especially those who lack basic material well-being. "The pursuit of happiness lies at the core of human endeavors. People around the world aspire to lead happy and fulfilling lives free from fear and want, and in harmony with nature," Ban said in his message for marking the first ever International Day of Happiness that falls on Wednesday. "Yet, basic material well-being is still elusive for far too many living in extreme poverty," the UN chief noted. "For many more, recurring socio-economic crisis, violence and crime, environmental degradation and increasing threats of climate change are an ever-present threat." In July last year, the General Assembly proclaimed March 20 the International Day of Happiness, recognizing the relevance of happiness and well-being as universal goals and aspirations in people&

U.S. President Barack Obama said here Wednesday that he prefers to deal with the Iranian nuclear issue in a "diplomatic" manner, which is in the interests of Iran itself. At a joint press conference after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the visiting U.S. president said that "all options remain on the table" and that he prefers a diplomatic solution. Obama said that a nuclear armed Iran would be a threat to the region, to the world, as well as to Israel, urging Iran to meet its obligations. The U.S. president reassured Israel with steady U.S. support over the Iranian nuclear issue. Israel and some Western countries have long accused Iran of secretly seeking the capability of making nuclear weapons, an accusation denied by Tehran. Iran insists its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes. Israel has long threatened to launch pre-emptive strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities if diplomacy and sanctions fail to stop Iran's n

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Thursday that a low pressure area (LPA) will bring heavy rains over Visayas and Mindanao and residents are advised on possible flashfloods and landslides. PAGASA said as of 4 a.m. the LPA was spotted at 180 km southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao Del Sur (8.0°N, 128.0°E) but has a small chance to intensify into tropical cyclone. In case the LPA intensifies into a tropical depression, it will be named "Dante," the fourth tropical cyclone to enter the Philippine area of responsibility this year. PAGASA said the regions of Eastern and Central Visayas, Caraga and Davao will experience cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rainshowers and thunderstorms which may trigger flashfloods and landslides. The Bicol region and the rest of Visayas and Mindanao will be cloudy with light to moderate rainshowers. The weather agency said that Luzon including Metro Manila will continue to

Get your copy of Phils Bar Exam Passers 2013 Results. Issued by the Supreme Court on March 20, 2013 101. BALBA, Zack Hansel 102. BALDOMERO, Ivan Jeffrey 103. BALDOVINO, Aldwin Kenneth 104. BALDOVINO, Alexander 105. BALDOVINO, Tanya Justine 106. BALILI, Neil Aaron 107. BALMES, Irene 108. BALORO, Joemyl 109. BALTAZAR, Ana Lyn 110. BANAYAT-NAS, Hermilia 111. BANDALAN, Jared Anthony 112. BANGHE, Hannah Jane 113. BANZON, Eva 114. BAPTISTA, Joe Allan 115. BARCELONA, Ralph Karlo 116. BARQUEZ, Ma. Elisa Jonalyn 117. BARRIOS, Angelo 118. BASCUGUIN, Maria Jocelyn 119. BASE, Amerissa 120. BASE, Maria Graciela 121. BAUTISTA, Judy-ann 122. BAUTISTA, Krystel Jehan 123. BAUTISTA, Maria Theresa 124. BAYONA, Phoebe Ann 125. BEBER, Dindo 126. BECHAYDA, JR., Jose 127. BEDURAL, Vladimir 128. BENIGIAN, II, Mardovic Dodge 129. BENITEZ, JR., Arcadio 130. BERAY-DE AUSEN, Penelope 131. BERNARDINO, Ramon Felipe 132. BERNARDO, Donna Ametyst 133. B

Get your copy of 2013 Phils Bar Exams Results Official. See more at the sidebar list 51. ANG, Kathleen Mae 52. ANG, JR., Rodolfo 53. ANGELES, Raul 54. ANTIGUA, Perseus 55. ANTONIO, Rafael 56. APALISOK, JR., Simplicio 57. APARTE, Frances Margaret 58. APORTADERA, Mario Leonardo Emilio 59. AQUENDE, Joseph Angelo Wesley 60. ARANAS, Kim 61. ARCEO, Irene 62. ARCEO, Mariam 63. ARCEÑO, Jackielyn 64. ARDIENTE, Arnold 65. ARELLANO, May Kristine 66. ARIAS, Michelle 67. ARMENTA, Joshua 68. ARQUIZA, Arbee 69. ARQUIZA, Carlo 70. ARRIBA, Mona Liza 71. ARRIOLA, Roanne 72. ARTICONA, Mercedes 73. ARTICULO, Mark Anthony 74. ARTUGUE, Arianne 75. ARUGAY, Manuel Adrian 76. ASPIRAS, Janice 77. ASUNCION, Mark Anthony 78. ASUNTO, Daisy Ray 79. ATANACIO, John David 80. AUGUSTO, Davemark 81. AUSAN, Anniefair 82. AUSTRIA, Carlo 83. AUTENCIO, Anthony 84. AUZA, Jannycer 85. AVILA, Aldan 86. AVILA, Rachelle Faye 87. BABIERA, Jan Christian 88

Official List of 2013 Bar Exam Passers of Philippines 1. A JOSE- AGUSTIN, Karren 2. ABASTILLAS, Lemuel 3. ABERIN, Ma. Christine 4. ABES, Royce Nieville 5. ABRENZOSA, Cleofe 6. ABUAN, Ruby Ryza 7. ACEDO, Kristian Josef 8. ACORDA, Jacqueline 9. ACOSTA, Lourdes Mae 10. ACOSTA, JR., Gil 11. ACUÑA, Jose Fidel 12. ADAN, Jan Mari 13. ADAP, Sanawia 14. AGANA, III, Carlos Ivan 15. AGATEP, Pia Augustha 16. AGBAY-ABILAR, Janice 17. AGBON, Ma. Cecelia Esperanza 18. AGOPITAC, Nestle 19. AGUAVIVA, Ava Marie 20. AJES-LAURENTE, Lilibeth 21. ALAMEDA, Abigail 22. ALAWI, JR., Saipal 23. ALBANO, Pia Ursula 24. ALBANO, Ranvylle 25. ALBAS, Dominique 26. ALBINA, Dionel 27. ALBOTRA, Tet Chea 28. ALCANTARA, Austin Claude 29. ALCANTARA, Rickmon Albert 30. ALCERA, II, Hermie 31. ALDOVINO, Marian Mae 32. ALEJANDRE, Pauline 33. ALFELOR, JR., Avelino 34. ALI, JR., Lanang 35. ALIM, Nicolito Jesus 36. ALIVIA, Mikhail Sherard 37. ALMARIO, Ann Th

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) office here on Tuesday confirmed that this mountain resort will have higher temperature averages in the next few days due to the end of the northeasterly winds. Wilson Locando, senior weather forecaster, said the easterly winds will have its advent during the middle of this week which will contribute to make temperatures here at the average of 15 to 27 degrees celsius. Towards the end of the northeasterly winds affecting this part of the country, the PAGASA in the past three days still recorded cool 14 degrees celsius as the minimum temperature. Locando said the cool temperature here even during the dry months of February to May make Baguio and suburbs as very attractive to visitors from the lowlands of the country whose temperatures have distinctly higher than these highlands of Cordilleras. Meanwhile, the announcement of PAGASA on higher temperatures have prompted the Department of Envir

If you think that Guimaras is the only province staging "Pagtaltal" or the enactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the cross during Holy Week in Western Visayas, you got it all wrong. Negros Occidental and its capital city will also stage the same activity during Good Friday on March 29, according to Provincial Tourism Officer Cristine Mansinares. "Thousands of Roman Catholics here are looking forward to it and this has been a tradition every Lent," Mansinares told PNA. The "Pagtaltal" in the metro is organized by the San Sebastian Church and played by its youth core group. Live re-enactment of the "Seven Last Words" on Good Friday can likewise be experienced at the hills of Barangay La Granja in La Carlota City. La Carlota City's own version of "Pagtaltal" dubbed as "Calvary Enactment" is using a community-based and multi-sectoral theatrical approach. The play is often organized by Fr. Jesmar Manato of Sa

South Korea's top 10 conglomerates plan to fill one-third of their new auditor positions with former bureaucrats and law enforcement officials, data showed Monday, a move that critics claim is meant to take advantage of their personal connections for corporate benefits. A total of 66 companies affiliated with the country's family-controlled conglomerates, known as chaebol, have either selected or plan to select 81 new finance managers through an annual general meeting of shareholders, according to the data compiled by the country's online regulatory filing system and the Korea Exchange, South Korea's stock market operator. The number of former officials selected as auditors for the 66 companies reached 25, accounting for 30.9 percent. The former officials included tax officials, prosecutors, and those who worked for the antitrust watchdog Fair Trade Commission, the data showed. Samsung Electronics Co., the world's top smartphone, flat-panel TV and memory chip

South Korea's households and non-profit agencies held the largest amount of excess funds in 2012, since data has been available, as heightened economic uncertainty curtailed their spending, the central bank said Monday. The value of excess funds held by households and non-profit organizations amounted to 86.5 trillion won (US$ 77.6 billion) in 2012, up from 54.9 trillion won the previous year, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK). The 2012 data marked the largest amount since 2003 when the BOK began to compile related data. Excess funds refer to the volume of money that remains after people manage available funds via deposits and stock investments. "The data means that economic uncertainty led more people to refrain from spending even though overall income growth improved from a year earlier," Jeong Yu-seong, the head of the BOK's flow of funds team, said at a press conference. Jeong said that households and others increased the holding of such extra funds as

South Korean banks' overseas borrowing conditions improve d in January compared with about a year ago as the portion of short-term foreign borrowing declined sharply due to growing foreign-currency deposits, the financial regulator said Monday. The outstanding amount of foreign-currency debts held by 12 local banks reached US$ 116.4 billion at the end of January, sharply down $ 9.9 billion from $ 126.3 billion at the end of 2011, according to the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS). The sharp fall in banks' foreign-currency debts came as their short-term borrowing decreased on the back of a rise in foreign-currency deposits, with which banks were able to make a lot of short-term debt repayments, the FSS said. The portion of their short-term foreign debts thus fell to the lowest level since 2008, coming in at 18.1 percent as of end-January, from 50.1 percent five years ago, it said. Banks saw their foreign-currency deposits increase by $ 12.7 billion to $ 68.3 billion o

South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region saw US$ 1.59 billion worth of trade with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)in the first two months of 2013, according to new data. The figure is a 20.8 percent year-on-year increase compared with the corresponding period in 2012, said the Nanning Customs District of China on Monday. The export value from Guangxi to the ASEAN was US$ 1.21 billion, a 30.2 percent year-on-year rise. The ASEAN remains the region's largest trade partner, followed by the United States and the European Union (EU), with which Guangxi respectively racked up a trade volume of US$ 490 million and US$ 390 million in the first two months of 2013, showed statistics released by the customs authorities of Nanning, the regional capital. The ASEAN has been Guangxi's largest trade partner for 13 consecutive years. China and the association's members formed a free trade zone in January 2010. Last year, trade between Guangxi and the ASE

Pope Francis is planning no immediate staff reshuffles in the Roman Curia and asked their staff to carry on their duties. "Holy Father Francis has expressed the desire that the Heads and members of the Dicasteries of the Roman Curia, as well as their Secretaries, and also the President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, continue 'donec aliter provideatur', that is, provisionally, in their respective positions," the Holy See Press Office said in a statement on Saturday, March 16 . "The Holy Father wishes to reserve time for reflection, prayer, and dialogue before any final appointment or confirmation," it said. Meanwhile, Vatican City is preparing to receive numerous foreign delegations that will arrive for the pope's enthronisation on Tuesday, March 19. Over 150 foreign delegations are expected to attend the ceremony. State Duma speaker Sergei Naryshkin will lead the Russian delegation. The U.S. delegation will be headed by Vice

Italy's new parliament on Saturday elected the speakers of the Chamber of Deputies and of the Senate, ending a two-day session on its second official day as the country's legislative body. At the fourth round of voting for each of the equally powerful houses, lawmakers elected the two speakers both belonging to the center-left coalition, the most voted in last month's national elections. In Italy, the speakers of the Chamber of Deputies and of the Senate are the highest positions after the president of the Republic. Laura Boldrini, 52, of Left, Ecology and Freedom party (SEL), the main ally of the Democratic Party (PD), became the speaker of the 630-member lower house. A former journalist for Rai state television with a law degree, Boldrini has worked for 24 years in various United Nation (UN) organizations including the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) of which she was a spokesman from 1998 to 2012. In her inaugural speech, she expressed high hope for &

U.S. President Barack Obama on Saturday called on Congress to support establishing the so-called Energy Security Trust to bolster clean energy research in the U.S. and help shift cars and trucks off oil. "I'm proposing that we take some of our oil and gas revenues from public lands and put it towards research that will benefit the public, so that we can support American ingenuity without adding a dime to our deficit," Obama said in his weekly address from the Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois, where he on Friday touted the 2-billion-dollar Energy Security Trust to reduce dependence on oil and create new jobs. The energy research fund can support scientists devising new ways to fuel cars and trucks with new sources of clean energy "so drivers can one day go coast-to-coast without using a drop of oil", Obama said. According to a "blueprint for a clean and secure energy future" Obama's administration unveiled on Friday, the energy rese

Peace prevails Saturday as Zimbabweans vote in a referendum that may bring positive changes to this southern African country. The draft chapter is a major stepping stone for general elections set for late 2013. It for the first time limits a president to two five-year terms, but is not retroactive, meaning President Mugabe, already the eldest African leader at the age of 89, could continue to rule until he turns 99 in 2023. Mugabe and his family on Saturday cast their votes at Mhofu Primary School in Highfield, where he has voted in all elections since the country's independence three decades ago. The school is just a stone-throw away from his Highfield home which has since been turned into a tourist attraction. Mugabe said the proposed constitution would also provide for the right of Zimbabweans to own their natural resources and that all had equality to life and freedom, including the right to education and health. "We shall not brook those people who want to s

The newly elected Pope explained on Saturday what inspired him to pick the name Francis, which has never been used in papal history before. Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, who was elected the 266th pope on Wednesday, said during an audience with journalists that Brazilian Cardinal Claudio Hummes had told him not to forget the poor when the conclave voted in his favor. "He [Cardinal Hummes] hugged me. He kissed me. He said don't forget about the poor. And that's how in my heart came the name Francis of Assisi," the pope said. He added that St. Francis was "the poor man who wanted a poor church." The inauguration of the new leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics, will be held on March 19. After the inauguration, on March 23, Pope Francis will meet with his predecessor Benedict XVI, who stepped down on February 28, at the papal summer retreat of Castel Gandolfo.

Better chances of achieving a cure for the deadly Hepatitis C brings patients high on hopes as a breakthrough triple therapy treatment is now being offered in the country. With the arrival of boceprevir, Hepatatis C patients, especially those who are genotype 1 will have an increase in their response rates. The standard treatment for the disease is composed of a combination of an injectable drug that enhances an adaptive immune response called peg-interferon and an oral drug that attacks the Hepatitis C virus in the body called ribavirin. For naïve patients (those undergoing treatment for the first time), the triple therapy almost doubles the chance of achieving virologic cure rates (or sustained virologic response (SVR), based on results of a clinical trial. According to UST Hospital-based gastroenterologist, Dr. Joey Sollano, these new combinations give the patient the capacity to shorten treatment. "When they (the patients) have been treated for a year in the past, th

At a glance, many would never have guessed that this petite woman is an occupational therapist. Born in Kuala Lumpur, but brought up in Perak, 25-year-old Nazahiyah Abdullah is one of the three full-time therapists at the Kiwanis Down Syndrome Foundation-National Centre (KDSF-NC) in Petaling Jaya. She is the only occupational therapist there, with the other two being physiotherapists. What does one gain from being an occupational therapist? "I didn't choose occupational therapy as a career. I wanted to study physiotherapy at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), but occupational therapy was offered to me instead. "I had no idea what occupational therapy was. When I went for classes, I began to understand more about occupational therapy," said Nazahiyah, who is known as Naza to family members, friends, and KDSF-NC's colleagues and children. OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY Naza enrolled in UiTM in Shah Alam, Selangor, in July 2006 and graduated four years later with B.Sc

Despite marked progress in curbing the HIV epidemic, a high percentage of schoolgirls are still HIV positive in South Africa, latest figures revealed. Schoolgirls tested HIV positive constitute at least 28 percent of female pupils in schools across the country, according to figures released by Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi at a National Council of Provinces "taking Parliament to the people" event in Carolina, Mpumalanga on Wednesday. Compared with schoolgirls, only 4 percent of boys at schools are HIV positive. "It is clear that it is not young boys who are sleeping with these girls. It is old men. We must take a stand against sugar daddies because they are destroying our children," Motsoaledi said in remarks published by the Sowetan newspaper on Thursday. Motsoaledi said 94,000 schoolgirls fell pregnant across the country in 2011. "Some (pregnant pupils) are known to the department of education, but there is a number which the education department doe

The Iloilo City Health Office (ICHO) here is set to open an adolescent clinic in every district health center every Friday for teenagers and young mothers to seek counseling. This was announced by city health officer, Dr. Urminico Baronda on Thursday after a team of experts from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) based in Washington, DC and from the Department of Health (DOH) central office visited the ICHO to see and observe services for the adolescents and young people. Baronda said that Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog is amenable to the idea of an adolescent center and throws his full support for the establishment of the center right after the election. The city health officer said that a comprehensive training will be conducted for health personnel to man the adolescent center in every city districts separate from the teen centers where the teenagers congregate for fun and sports activities. The visiting USAID team is headed by youth advis

If detected early, chronic kidney diseases can be treated , reducing other complications and the growing burden of death and disability from chronic renal and cardiovascular disease worldwide. This was said Thursday by Dr. Eric Chua, consultant nephrologist of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute during the observance of the World Kidney Day. Chua pointed out the functions of human kidneys and the ways to keep them healthy. Chua explained the human kidneys play a vital role by cleansing body from toxins, excess waters, acids, and medicines being taken. Chua also added the kidneys removes excess sodium, potassium, calcium and phosphorous to keep the body fit and healthy. He said kidneys are responsible for controlling blood pressure by secreting renin. "It can be also a silent killer," Chua warned, noting there are cases that patients did not know they had chronic kidney disease and did not consult a doctor until their condition worsened. Chua recommended peo

The Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta stressed on Wednesday that he would support the most radical measures against those who violate standards regarding food safety. The head of government made the remarks referring to the recent food scandals, especially the toxic milk scandal in the country. "I watch all the signals we receive about safety food and the sanitary-veterinary procedures," he said, stressing that "this is an extremely important field and extremely sensitive." "It is extremely important for me, as prime minister, that this domain may function very well and to show that, both to Romania and to Europe, to all those who benefit from exports from Romania, we have a system that works perfectly," said Ponta, while adding the need of authorities to be strict and to prove credibility and seriousness in taking actions, avoiding at the same time to cause panic. Ponta stressed that it is important not to affect the economic interests of prod

The median approval of U.S. leadership across 130 countries declined to 41 percent in 2012, down by 8 percentage points from 2009, the first year of President Barack Obama's administration, according to a Gallup poll released Wednesday. At the same time, the disapproval rating of U.S. leadership has risen to 25 percent in 2012, up 4 percentage points from 2009, the poll showed. Still, the 41 percent approval rating is higher than the 34 percent at the close of George W. Bush administration in 2008. The image of U.S. leadership continued to be the strongest worldwide in Africa in 2012, where the approval rating stood at 70 percent against 19 percent who disapproved, according to the poll. U.S. leadership remained far less popular in North Africa, except in Libya where the United States helped overthrow the rule of former strongman Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Fifty-four percent of Libyans surveyed before the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi approved of U.S. leadership in

China Monday again called for calmness and restraint as tensions escalated sharply on the Korean Peninsula. At a daily press briefing Monday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said, "Now the situation of the Peninsula is highly complicated and sensitive. China maintains that it shall be in the fundamental interests of the international community to safeguard peace and stability of the Pennisula and northeast Asia." Hua's comments came on the same day as Republic of Korea and the United States kicked off their annual joint military exercises. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea also vowed to nullify an armistice that halted the 1950-53 Korean War from Monday. DPRK cut off a communication hotline with ROK on Monday. DPRK also warned of more and stronger counter-measures if ROK-U.S.joint military drills continued, Yonhap News Agency said. China urged all parties to remain calm and restrained and refrain from any actions that may escalate tensions, H

The majority in the United States still favor a reduction in U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals, but the level of support for that appears less than in the past, finds a Gallup poll released Monday. U.S. President Barack Obama is considering a plan for further reductions in U.S. and Russian nuclear weapons, beyond those agreed to in the 2011 New START treaty. Fifty-six percent of Americans expressed support to a deal to reduce U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals, while 38 percent opposed it, the March 2-3 Gallup poll shows. This is compared to a December 2010 poll, which found that 51 percent of Americans supported the U.S.-Russian nuclear arms reductions, while 30 percent opposed them, Gallup said. But in the past, Gallup found much greater support for the U.S.-Russian or U.S.-Soviet nuclear arms reduction agreements. For example, 82 percent of Americans supported a 2002 agreement signed by the two countries on nuclear reductions. In 1987, 74 percent said they approved of the p

President Benigno Aquino III has written King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia requesting for the deferment of overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Joselito Zapanta's sentence to give his family more time to raise the blood money. The Saudi Arabian government has set March 12 as deadline for the family of Zapanta to pay the blood money. Zapanta has been accused of killing a Sudanese in 2009. Last November, Zapanta was given a four-month reprieve to raise the blood money, even as the victim's family agreed to reduce the amount from P55 million to P44 million. "President Aquino sent a letter dated March 5, 2013 to King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, requesting for the deferment of Mr. Zapanta's sentence to give the latter's family more time to raise the blood money," said Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte in a statement.

Egyptian Minister of Antiquities Mohamed Ibrahim Ali has announced the discovery of 14 ancient stone statues for Goddess Sekhmet in Luxor governorate, official news agency MENA reported Monday. The statues, made from black granite, were unveiled by a German excavation team in the temple of King Amenhotep III , who governed Egypt from 1410 B.C. to 1372 B.C., MENA quoted Ali as saying in a press conference. "For the role of Sekhmet in the reign of Amenhotep III as the goddess of war and destruction, the king was keen to establish dozens of statues to resemble her," Ali said. The statues were transferred immediately for security reasons to another place in preparation for a restoration process, the official added in a statement.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Monday that his country looks forward to working with Brunei on issues like the South China Sea, energy and climate change. "We're very, very much looking forward to working with you on issues with the South China Sea, and issues of energy and climate change," the top American diplomat told visiting Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah in front of reporters before their meeting at the State Department. "He is taking on the important job of being the president of the ASEAN meeting this year," Kerry said of his guest. President Barack Obama is scheduled to welcome the sultan to the White House on Tuesday, as Brunei will host the East Asia summit and U.S.-ASEAN summit in October. "The sultan's visit underscores the strategic importance the president places on the Asia Pacific region and to substantive engagement with our friends and partners in the region," the White House said in a statement last wee

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari are set to officially inaugurate the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project on Monday, Press TV reported Sunday. According to earlier reports, the 7.5-billion-U.S.-dollar project will be inaugurated by the two presidents at a ceremony to be held at the Iranian border city of Chahbahar. Iran has constructed 900 km of the 1,600-km pipeline on its soil, said Press TV, adding that both Iranian and Pakistani firms will undertake the construction of the remaining part in Pakistan. When the project is completed, Iran will export 21.5 million cubic meters of natural gas to Pakistan on a daily basis. Despite strong opposition by the United States and possible sanctions, Zardari said last week that his energy-starved country would pursue the gas pipeline project and would persuade the critics that Pakistan needs energy. Pakistan and Iran have held a series of talks on the project for nearly two decades, b

Iran will start exporting gas to Iraq within the next three months, Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi said on Sunday. Qasemi, who met with his Iraqi counterpart Abdul Kareem al-Luaibi in Baghdad, said the agreement on Iranian gas supplies to Iraq had "reached the stage of final signing." "The launch of gas exports will proceed by stages, First, gas will start to be supplied to Baghdad and then, within another three months, to Basra," official news agency IRNA quoted Qasemi as saying. Iraq is expected to consume about 20-25 million cubic meters of Iranian gas per day. Iran, which has the world's second largest natural gas reserves after Russia, is also close to signing an agreement on gas supplies to Syria via Iraq, Qasemi said. "The signing of this agreement will take place in Tehran with the participation of representatives from the three countries," the Iranian oil minister said. In the summer of 2010, Iran, Iraq and Syria signed a memora

Faced with sluggish jobs growth and failure of the Doha round, the Obama Administration has set in motion an ambitious global round of trade talks covering Europe and much of Asia , which is bound to influence countries like China, India and Brazil, say a media report.

A Jordanian government official confirmed to Xinhua Saturday that the 21 UN peacemakers kidnapped by Syrian rebels arrived in Jordan after they were released. The UN peacemakers will be handed over to the UN organization in Amman later in the day, the official said on condition of anonymity.

The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, "This Man welcomes sinners and eats with them." So to them Jesus addressed this parable. "A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.' So the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. ...Coming to his senses he thought, 'How many of my father's hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your so