‘Tentative’ signs of improvement PARIS (AFP)– The Group of Seven major economies are going deeper into reverse but fragile signs that the slowdown is easing are beginning to emerge in a few countries, the OECD said on Friday.

A virus contracted through oral sex is the cause of some throat cancers, say US scientists. HPV infection was found to be a much stronger risk factor than tobacco or alcohol use, the Johns Hopkins University study of 300 people found.

MANILA, Philippines—The estimated 40,000 overseas Filipino workers in France, mostly caregivers privately employed by families, are keeping their jobs despite the layoffs in many parts of the world caused by global recession, new French Ambassador to the Philippines Thierry Borja De Mozota has said.

The Social Security System (SSS) is inviting its members, both local and overseas contract workers, who lost their jobs due to the global financial crisis to come to a one-stop-shop, multi-agency job fair on May 14 to 16, 2009. It will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the HK Sun Plaza, Financial…

Remember the good old days, way back in 2006, when the streets were paved with credit-gold as far as the eye could see and credit cards rained from the sky? Even the credit-destitute were treated like kings by the credit card companies and courted with lavish offers of unlimited credit.

Since 2007, escalating food prices have created budget turmoil, trade imbalances and inflation and provoked panic and social unrest in some countries. Despite bumper harvests of rice and wheat in 2008 that may have alleviated some of the concern, economies are now grappling with a worsening global economic crisis. Is the evolution of lower prices…

China’s state quality watchdog said baby skin powder manufactured by German housekeeping and healthcare products maker MAPA has been removed from shelves in China for allegedly containing asbestos.

The domestic automotive market improved remarkably in March with industry sales growing by 19 percent to 10,746 units from 9,027 units in February—just 1 percent less than the quarterly showing last year of 28,907 units sold from this quarter’s strong 28,564 units.

MANILA, Philippines – Thirteen people were killed and 12 others were injured when a boiler overheated and exploded in a styrofoam packaging factory in Sta. Maria, Bulacan, police said yesterday.

MANILA, Philippines–The desktop and notebook PC market in the Philippines saw a 12.8 percent market share decline in fourth quarter of 2008, research firm International Data Corp. said.

An international human rights group yesterday accused the mayor of Davao City of giving “tacit support” to death squads behind the killing of 800 people over the past decade. New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte “continues to deny the undeniable” by refusing to investigate the killings. “The words and…

Traffic pollution was identified as a significant problem. Exposure to traffic pollution could affect the development of babies in the womb, US researchers have warned.

MANILA – AT LEAST a dozen factory workers were killed and five were injured when a boiler overheated and exploded in the northern Philippines, local government officials and police said on Wednesday.

(RTTNews) –  A European Union delegation visiting the Philippines has announced an aid of 10 million euro ($13.4 million) to support agriculture and improve food security in the Southeast Asian country.

MANILA, Philippines – There are five stages of hurt in the healing process: Denial, Bargaining, Anger, Depression and Acceptance.

MANILA, Philippines – Economic growth in the Philippines is expected to further slow to 1.9 percent this year, marking its worst performance since the Asian financial crisis more than a decade ago, the World Bank said yesterday.

MANILA, Philippines – The government announced they will continue to give tax incentives to the logistics industry because of the crucial role it plays in all functions of companies.

MANILA, Philippines – Various groups have banded together to form a new organization called One Organic Movement that will work for the development of organic agriculture in the Philippines.

MANILA, Philippines – Treasury bill (T-bill) rates fell across the board during yesterday’s auction due to easing inflation concerns of market investors and a healthy appetite for government debt papers, National Treasurer Roberto Tan said yesterday.

One of the best e-mails I got in recent days asked: do you know how the Apostles died? The answers are verifiable historically or from church accounts:

MANILA, Philippines – Four government agencies have attested that the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) does not rest on an active fault.

MANILA, Philippines – Customers of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) will pay an additional 54.55 centavos per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity this month (April) due to higher generation charge brought about by the summer heat.

Int’l watchdog says crime rate increasing faster than population   AN international human rights watchdog on Tuesday directly linked the Davao City killings to police and local officials saying that these officials are providing the training and armaments needed by the Davao Death Squad.

Three government agencies attest that there is no active faultline beneath the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, or within the BNPP area, supporting claims that there is no danger in reviving the mothballed nuclear plant.

TOKYO: Developing nations in East Asia face a sharp slowdown in economic growth and a “painful surge” in unemployment that will prevent millions of people escaping poverty, the World Bank warned Tuesday.

The number of Filipinos without jobs is likely to worsen until 2010 as the domestic economy is seen to grow at a slower pace because of declining demand for export products, the World Bank warned on Tuesday.

Officials also eye cutsin economic targets   The World Bank on Tuesday downgraded the country’s economic growth this year to 1.9 percent because of weak remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) that could dampen consumer spending.

BERLIN: As demand booms for ever dwindling stockpiles of rare metals used in high-tech appliances, industries and countries are scrambling to secure their supplies, according to German research.

Survey finds preponderance of service companies   MAJORITY of privately held businesses in the country conduct relatively shorter planning periods compared with most firms around the world, according to an international business report.

Cebu distributors seek similar increase   THE Philippines’ largest electricity distributor jacked up its rates in its franchise, blaming the increase on rising temperatures that have driven up power consumption.