World News
Moral Theologians Warn Against Semi-cloning
SINGAPORE, October 22, 2009--Catholic moral theologians have raised concerns after news broke that scientists here have become the first to "semi-clone" an animal by fertilizing an egg with an embryonic stem cell that mimics sperm.
The breakthrough by scientists at the National University of Singapore's Department of Biological Sciences could help treat infertility, according to an Oct. 17 press release on the university's website.
According to this and other local media reports, the scientists have successfully "semi-cloned" a Medaka fish, which they have named "Holly."
Camarines Sur Dragon Boat Team Captures 3 Golds in Singapore Tourney
PILI, CAMSUR (16 October)-The Camarines Sur Dragon Boat team added another feather in its cap by capturing the championship in three categories-International Freestyle, Corporate Club Crew Open and 200 m men open in the prestigious SAVA Sprints International V in Singapore last October 11 and 12.
The SAVA Sprints International V featured teams from Canada, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, England, Japan, United States, Malaysia and several teams from the Philippines.
Death Toll of Indonesia's Quake Rises to 70
JAKARTA, Sept. 6 -- The 7.3-magnitude powerful earthquake jolting Indonesia's West Java on Wednesday had killed 70 people, wounded 966 and caused 32 still missing, the national Antara news agency reported on Saturday.
Rano Harjaya, an official from the coordinating unit of the West Java Disaster Mitigation Service, said that most of the dead, wounded and missing victims were found in Cianjur of West Java.
Bozzone, Bentley Capture Ironman 70.3 Philippines
PILI, Camarines Sur - New Zealand's Terenzo Bozzone and Lisa Bentley of Canada confirmed they are among the world's speediest and toughest multisport athletes by handily clinching the maiden edition of Ironman 70.3 Philippines held at the renowned Camarines Sur Watersports Complex (CWC) here, Sunday, August 23.
This is the very first time a triathlon of international calibre has ever been staged in the country, thus a historical episode in national sports, hosted by Governor LRay Villafuerte and the province government of Cam. Sur.
EU Sanctions Myanmar in Response to Suu Kyi Verdict
BRUSSELS, Aug. 14 -- The European Union (EU) on Thursday stepped up sanctions against Myanmar by adding members of the judiciary responsible for the verdict of Aung San Suu Kyi to the existing list of officials subject to a travel ban and to an assets freeze.
Moreover, the blacklist is extended to cover the assets freeze to enterprises that are owned and controlled by these officials or by persons associated with them, said a statement of the council of the EU, which represents the 27 EU member states.
Caritas in Veritate is Guide for Redefining World Economy, Says Bank President
ROME, August 12, 2009-- The president of Etica Bank in Italy, Fabio Salviato, said this week that the new encyclical by Pope Benedict XVI, "Caritas in Veritate," is a guide for redefining the world economic system.
In an interview with Vatican Radio, the 51 year-old executive and author said the encyclical is a "guide that can enlighten us in this phase of individualization of a new economic and financial system."
He noted that the new encyclical calls for "a cultural change founded upon the centrality of the person."
Pope Deplores Latest Killings of Christians in Pakistan
VATICAN, August 3, 2009-- Pope Benedict XVI deplored the killing of eight Christians in Pakistan by a Muslim mob and urged the minority Christian community not to be deterred by the attack.
The Christians, including four women and a child, were either shot or burned alive Aug. 1 when a crowd attacked the eastern Pakistani town of Gojra, setting fire to dozens of Christian homes. Authorities said tensions were running high in the area, fueled by a false rumor that a Quran, the sacred book of Islam, had been desecrated.
Rich, Emerging Nations Must Bridge Climate Divide: UN Envoy
UNITED NATIONS, July 16 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Industrialized and developing countries must rectify their "formidable differences" if the climate talks in Copenhagen are to bear substantive results, said the director of the UN climate change support team here on Wednesday.
"All countries need to make an effort based on common but differentiated responsibilities," Janos Pasztor told reporters.
Investigation into Jackson's Death Continues
LOS ANGELES, July 11 - The investigation into Michael Jackson's death continued on Friday, with the focus on painkillers the King of Pop may have used, and the doctors who gave them to him, the Los Angeles Times said on its website.
The coroner's office subpoenaed "any and all" of Jackson's medical records, "including radiology and psychiatric records," a source familiar with the investigation told the paper.
One of the subpoenas was served on Dr. Arnold Klein, Jackson's dermatologist, the paper quoted the doctor's attorney as saying.
Obama Sets Afternoon Meeting with Pope
VATICAN, June 24, 2009-- The Vatican confirmed today Benedict XVI will receive in audience U.S. President Barack Obama next month.
The meeting, set for the afternoon of July 10, will be the first between the Pontiff and the new president.
Obama's Vatican visit will take place within the context of his participation in the Group of Eight summit, which will be held July 8-10 in L'Aquila, Italy.
Civil Society Calls for More Resources for Developing Countries
UNITED NATIONS, June 27 (PNA/Xinhua) -- Governments have failed to provide developing countries with the resources they need to deal with the financial crisis, according to an umbrella group of trade unions, civil society and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), which released a report card critical of the United Nations economic conference on the financial crisis here on Friday.
U.S. to Meet June 30 Deadline of Military Withdrawal from Iraq -- Ambassador
WASHINGTON, June 19 -- The United States will, in accordance with its agreement with Iraq, withdraw combat troops from all Iraqi urban areas, U.S. Ambassador to Baghdad Christopher Hill said here on Thursday.
"We signed that (security) agreement and we will absolutely comply fully with it. And that means pulling all combat forces out of the ... cities," Hill told reporters.
Koreas End Talks Sans Agreement, to Meet Again Next Month
SEOUL, June 19 -- South and North Korea failed to reach an agreement at Friday's talks over Pyongyang's demands for wage and rent hikes at a joint industrial venture, but agreed to meet again next month, a Seoul official said.
The two sides will hold a follow-up meeting on July 2, Unification Ministry spokesman Chun Hae-sung said in a briefing.
WHO Expert Meeting Makes No Decision on Pandemic Alert Raise
GENEVA, June 6 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) concluded an emergency expert meeting on Friday without making a decision to raise its pandemic alert level to the highest phase of 6.
At the Emergency Committee meeting, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan noted that the world remains in pandemic alert phase 5 and reaffirmed that WHO will continue to monitor the situation closely in all countries reporting cases of the A/H1N1 influenza, the WHO said in a statement.
Low Visibility Hampers Search for French Plane Debris
RIO DE JANEIRO, June 6 -- The Brazilian Air Force informed on Friday that bad weather conditions on the Air France Flight 445's crash site are making the search for the aircraft's parts more difficult.
According to Brigadier Ramon Borges Cardoso, head of the Airspace Control Department, no debris was located in the past hours, though the aircraft involved in the search are still making their rounds, in order to spot more objects, but the area in which they are able to fly was reduced due to the weather.
City Leaders Worldwide Urge Swift Action on Climate Change
SEOUL, May 19 (PNA/Yonhap) -- Leaders of the world's 80 largest cities that produce a majority of the earth's harmful greenhouse gases opened an international forum in Seoul Tuesday, calling on governments to swiftly chart strategies to fight global warming.
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, who gave the keynote speech during the opening ceremony of the C40 Large Cities Climate Summit in Seoul, warned of fatal consequences unless greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by up to 80 percent by 2050.
India Destroys Stockpile of Chemical Weapons
NEW DELHI, May 15 (PNA/Bernama) -- India has revealed that it has destroyed its chemical weapons stockpile, keeping its promise to the international community to completely eliminate its weapons by March this year.
The IANS (Indo-Asian News Service) reported that India informed the Hague-based Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) that it had destroyed its stockpile on March 26, fulfilling its obligation to the arms control agreement.
UN Secretary General Urges Support for Press Freedoms, Protection of Journalists' Legal Rights
UNITED NATIONS, May 8 -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday called on Member States to uphold press freedoms and support the work of independent media.
Speaking at a United Nations Headquarters event in observance of World Press Freedom Day, marked annually on May 3, Ban said a free press contributed to democracy and stability.
"At a time of economic crisis and other serious threats, it is crucial to support a free and independent media so that people can better understand the events that shape their lives," he said.
WHO Praises ASEAN for Quick Response to H1N1 Virus
BANGKOK, May 8 (TNA) - The World Health Organization on Friday praised the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) countries for quickly instituting their cooperative response to the H1N1 virus outbreak.
Speaking in Bangkok on Friday, Dr. Shin Young Soo, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, commended the region's public health ministers from the ASEAN countries plus China, Japan, and South Korea in Bangkok.
'Angels and Demons' Is Harmless Entertainment, Vatican Newspaper Says
ROME, May 7, 2009-- The newly premiered movie "Angels and Demons" is little more than "harmless entertainment," with many factual errors and little cultural value, according to the Vatican newspaper.
Two dispassionate articles in L'Osservatore Romano May 7 may disappoint the film's promoters, who had sought a conflict with the Vatican of the type that surrounded "The Da Vinci Code" in 2006. Both films are based on books by author Dan Brown.
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