Analysts tell bloc to keep brave face      HUA HIN, Thailand: Southeast Asian leaders called on Sunday for increased cooperation and urgent reform to deal with the global financial crisis. They made the call as they wrapped up a summit here dominated by their economic woes topped by falling exports.

JAPAN’s biggest bathroom and sanitary wares manufacturer expects sales of high-tech toilets in the Philippines to be “better” this year despite the global crisis.

MANILA, Philippines – Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chairperson Leila de Lima said yesterday the US State Department’s report on human rights practices in 2008 is “a fair assessment” of the Philippines’ human rights record.

MANILA, Philippines – Fisherfolk organizations opposed yesterday the plan of Maynilad Water Services Inc. to tap Laguna Lake as water source.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The US economy contracted at a staggering 6.2 percent pace at the end of 2008, the worst showing in a quarter-century, as consumers and businesses ratcheted back spending, plunging the country deeper into recession.

MANILA, Philippines – It may be the worst of times for other industries. But for contact center companies, it is the best of times.

SAYING Catholics can support the reproductive health bill in good conscience, students of the Ateneo de Manila University have endorsed the immediate passage of House Bill 5043 on family planning in defiance of Catholic bishops and university officials.

SOUTHEAST Asian leaders pledged to cut tariffs, lift trade barriers and open more service industries as the bloc struggles to overcome a global recession that has eroded export demand and boosted protectionist sentiment.

AFTER 258 colleges and universities announced they would increase their tuition this coming school year, 143 private elementary and high schools are looking to increase their matriculation charges by as much as 15 percent, according to the Federation of Private Schools and Administrators.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) : Industry trackers on Wednesday slashed projections of global spending on information technology (IT) and said computer chip makers  could be hit with an unprecedented plunge in revenue.

Property giant Ayala Land Inc. is reviewing its planned business process outsourcing office projects in Davao City and Baguio City amid a slowdown in demand due to the financial meltdown.

Betty Reyes (not her real name), a single mother living in Pasig, stacked a collection of fliers and classified ads on her wobbly desk. While doing so, her son ate instant noodles and pandesal for breakfast. Nearly three months ago, she used to be call center agent working in Ortigas. But after an altercation with…

HUA HIN, Thailand: Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) want to negotiate as a group with the European Union for a proposed free-trade agreement (FTA), Indonesia’s trade minister said Sunday.

HUA HIN, Thailand: Southeast Asian leaders urged Myanmar’s junta to move towards democracy but detained opposition icon Aung San Suu Kyi’s name was never mentioned, officials said at a summit here Sunday.

MORE Filipinos are watching TV and forgoing luxuries amid the hard times, AGB Nielsen Media Research said yesterday.

ASIA’S export-dependent economies have been plunged into their worst crisis in decades as the global recession saps demand for the region’s consumer electronics, cars and semiconductors.

Hua Hin,  Thailand (AFP)  – Southeast Asian foreign ministers called for a planned multi-billion-dollar emergency fund to be boosted as a “matter of urgency” to fight the global downturn, a top official said.

CHA-AM (AP) – Southeast Asian officials on Friday hailed the creation of a regional human rights body as a historic first step toward confronting abuses in the region, but the body will lack the power to investigate or punish violators of human rights like military-ruled Myanmar.

Balanga City – Six officials and security officers of Petron oil refinery in Limay, Bataan were charged yesterday before the provincial prosecutor’s office with alleged obstruction of justice in connection with the death of a 24-year old techniciam who was exposed to hydrogen sulfide gas at the plant’s sour water treating facility six months ago.

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Education (DepEd) warned private schools yesterday that the agency would use its regulatory powers against schools that will not practice self-restraint in imposing tuition hikes for school year 2009-10.

MANILA, Philippines – A US State Department report said corruption and inefficiency in the judicial system have undermined human rights in the Philippines and caused “widespread skepticism” of due process.

MANILA, Philippines – Despite calls from lawmakers to activate the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) to prevent severe power shortage in the future, Malacañang said it would still have to check on the safety aspect of the facility.

WASHINGTON: US authorities launched a new phase of their bank rescue plan on Wednesday including a requirement for so-called stress tests on the “capital adequacy” of troubled major commercial banks.

MANILA, Philippines – Overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in Taiwan may heave a sigh of relief as Taiwan’s economic stimulus package may reduce the risk of further OFW retrenchments, the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) said.

(Second of a series) The 1992 Torres report While he was still at Phivolcs, Dr. Ronnie Torres, a foremost expert regarding pyroclastic flows who is now at the University of Hawaii, warned of volcanism and faulting at the site in a 1992 report, “The vulnerability of PNPP site to the hazards of Natib volcano” (Phivolcs…

MANILA, Philippines – World Bank officials led by country director Bert Hofman told lawmakers yesterday that it was up to authorities to prosecute contractors the bank had banned for collusion in bidding for road projects.

MANILA, Philippines – Groups opposing the proposal to revive the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) formed yesterday a “human banner” to express their protest against the plan and they urged lawmakers to reject the bill that favors the opening of the nuclear plant.

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – A radio broadcaster was shot dead on his way to his radio program in Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental yesterday.

LEXINGTON, Kentucky – A recruiting trip to the Philippines turned into a success when officials from a public school system ventured there in late 2007 looking for teachers.

MANILA, Philippines – About 11 million Filipino adults or 27.9 percent of the adult labor force are unemployed, a recent survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed.