January 2, 2009 Major News Summary

Taxi posibleng magbaba ng pasahe

Posible umanong mag baba ng pasahe ang mga taxi ngayong taon dahil sa patuloy na pag baba rin ng halaga ng 'liqui fied petroleum gas (LPG).

Quake hits Central Visayas

A Magnitude 4.7 quake was recorded in Central Visayas Thursday night, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).  USGS said the tremor occurred 8:36 p.m. It said the earthquake's epicenter was located 50 kilometers east southeast of Tagbilaran in Bohol province and 100 km south southeast of Cebu City.  It said it had a depth of 504.6 kilometers.  A 5.3-magnitude earthquake hd struck General Santos City on Tuesday, according also to USGS, but there were no reports of casualties or damage.

27 hurt in General Santos City blast

A grenade exploded at the city's Oval Plaza as hundreds of people were celebrating the end of the year late evening Wednesday.

1 dead, 276 wounded in New Year 

One person was reportedly killed due to fireworks while 276 others were wounded in the New Year celebrations.

Fewer firecracker injuries due to rains

Rainy weather "dampened the excitement" of people who celebrated New Year's Eve, resulting in a lower number of injuries caused by fireworks and stray bullets than in previous years.

Pinoys work in UK as students first'

Filipino nurses still have the chance to fill the nursing gap in the United Kingdom by going there and enrolling in schools first.

UAE to ban expats from bringing kin

Some foreign workers holding low-paid jobs in the United Arab Emirates will be banned from bringing over their families to the Gulf state under new visa regulations.

6 hurt in Lanao del Norte strafing 

Alleged members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fired at a passenger jeep in southern Philippines and wounded six people.

1 killed in MILF attack on police post

A civilian was killed in an attack staged by suspected Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) forces on a police detachment in Shariff Kabunsuan Wednesday night.

NPA may free army officer next week

The New People's Army has pledged anew to release First Lieutenant Vicente Cammayo, the junior army officer that communist fighters captured in Compostela Valley last year, during the first week of this month as an "act of goodwill."

CPP to NPA: Expand revo war in '09

The Communist Party of the Philippines has urged its armed wing, the New People"s Army, to expand its revolutionary war in celebration of its past victories and to broaden its areas of influence.

NPA madudurog sa 2010 - Phil. Army

Positibo ang Philippine Army na matatamo ng tropa ng pamahalaan ang misyong durugin ang grupo ng mga rebeldeng New People's Army (NPA) sa bansa bago ang 2010 sa pagtatapos ng termino ni Pangulong Arroyo.

Palace dispels talks of Cha-cha train 

Reacting to critics' claims that moves to amend the Constitution will go on full steam in 2009, Malacañang on Thursday said preparations for the conduct of clean and credible elections in 2010 remains one of the priorities of the administration.

Common 2010 bet saves Lakas-Kampi 

House Speaker Prospero Nograles is calling all pro-administration parties to field a common standard bearer for 2010 presidential elections, as negotiations to merge Lakas-CMD and Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) near collapse.

SC closely watched in 2009--Puno

With the high profile cases it will handle this year, the Supreme Court is anticipating it will have its share of public scrutiny in 2009.

Glo in Palace after Baguio holidays

After a week-long vacation in Baguio City, President Arroyo returned to Malacañang Thursday.

DA: Pass farm-friendly measures

The Department of Agriculture is backing the congressional approval of at least eight farm-friendly measures, including the proposed amendments to the Agri-Agra law that would help pump more loanable funds into the farm and fisheries sector.

NEDA calls for antitrust law

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) wants Congress to draft antitrust legislation to discourage oil companies and others, especially public utilities, from distorting market competition, such as by forming cartels.

GSIS expects income hike in 2009 

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), the state pension fund for government workers, expects to further boost its net income for 2009 despite the global financial turmoil.

Solon urges endosulfan ban in 2009

A senator has reminded the Fertilizers and Pesticides Authority (FPA) of its promise to enforce a a total ban on endosulfan in 2009.

61 die, 200 hurt in Bangkok fire 

A fire raced through a two-story nightclub packed with hundreds of well-heeled New Year's revelers early Thursday, killing at least 61 people as they stampeded to escape the raging flames.

Israeli raids kill Hamas leader

Israel killed a top Hamas commander on Thursday in the biggest blow yet against the Islamist leadership as dozens more air strikes on Gaza took the death toll from the six-day blitz above 400.

Iraq takes back Green Zone from US

Iraq's prime minister says the handover of the heavily fortified Green Zone and the presidential palace is the most visible sign his country has regained its sovereignty.

20 Afghan police ambushed in Taliban

Taliban militants ambushed a group of Afghan police while they were eating lunch in a remote and dangerous part of southern Afghanistan, killing 20 officers and one of the policeman's mother.

Pope:  Change financial system

Pope Benedict XVI challenged world leaders on Thursday to make major changes to the global financial system, saying short-term answers to the financial crisis weren't sufficient.

Three Pacman bouts lined up in 2009

Manny Pacquiao, his promoter Bob Arum hinted, is open to three fights this year. The Filipino superstar is locked on to face Britain's Ricky Hatton on May 2 in Las Vegas, and is hoping to land an even bigger fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. later on.

Pacquiao will be sorry if he fights MJ

A close aid of the retired Floyd Mayweather Jr. believes Manny Pacquiao should abandon the idea of facing the former World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight champion.

BF denies Shaina 'enhancement'

There is no truth to rumors that Shaina Magdayao underwent breast augmentation surgery, according to the young actress's rumored boyfriend, John Prats.

Didith Reyes's life made into a film

Kung noong nakaburol si Didith Reyes sa Holy Family Chapel sa Mt. Carmel Church sa Quezon City noong Disyembre 2008 ay digital film ang balak gawin ng Viva Entertainment batay sa kanyang buhay, ngayon isang 34mm feature film na ang nais likhain ng produksyon ngayong taong ito.

G. Gordon Liddy  - "Obviously crime pays, or there'd be no crime."