U.S. officials have determined that North Korea was indeed behind the cyber attack on Sony Pictures, according to CNN. The movie studio said on Wednesday (December 17) that it had decided to cancel the December 25 theatrical release of its North Korea comedy “The Interview.” The decision came after several major U.S. theater chains pulled out of showing the film following threats from hackers. “I think that when the threat moved from the virtual world to the physical world, that’s when […]
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Putin: Russia economy will be cured but offers no remedy
President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday Russia’seconomy would inevitably rebound after the ruble’s dramatic slide this year but offered no remedy to a deepening financial crisis. Under pressure to show he has a plan to fix the economy, Putin told an end-of-year news conference the actions of the central bank and government had been “adequate” in a crisis he blamed on external factors. But hinting at internal divisions, he said more measures were needed and the central […]
Three dead in Japan as weather dumps snow, triggers tidal surges
Japan’s Meteorological Agency called on people to exercise more caution after three people died across the nation, as a low pressure system dumped heavy snows in some parts of Japan and triggered a tidal surge flood in others. At least two people died while shovelling heavy snow, one in Niigata prefecture and another in Akita prefecture, according to Kyodo News Agency. Another died in a pile up caused by snow on the road. In Niigata prefecture, a full metre (3.2 feet) of snow […]
9 injured in stampede in Valencia City, Bukidnon
At least nine individuals were reported injured, with three of them brought to the hospital, following a stampede in Valencia City gymnasium in Bukidnon. In her report in Agila Probinsya, Eagle News Correspondent Christine Balaquit said the stampede happened during the distribution of cash assistance for those under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the government. The accident occurred around 10:40 Wednesday morning, December 17. The stampede started when some people mistook a lunch […]
Obama announces U.S. to restore diplomatic ties with Cuba
President Barack Obama announced the United States would restore diplomatic relations it severed with Cubamore than 50 years ago, drawing resistance from lawmakers opposed to reconciling with the communist-run island. After 18 months of secret talks facilitated by the Vatican and Canada, Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro agreed by phone on Tuesday on a prisoner exchange and the opening of embassies in each other’s countries. In a television speech on Wednesday, Obama announced the end of what he […]
Oil falls below $59 as OPEC, Russia keep pumping
Brent crude oil fell below $59 a barrel on Wednesday, near 5-1/2-year lows, as major oil producers signaled that they would maintain output despite a supply glut and faltering demand in Russia and Europe. Core Gulf OPEC members have said they are prepared to wait as long as a year for the market to stabilize, undercutting hopes they will step in to stem crude price losses. Oil prices have almost halved over the last six months as increasing volumes […]
Pakistan in mourning as parents bury children after school attack
Pakistan woke up to a day of mourning on Wednesday after Taliban militants killed 132 students at a school in the city of Peshawar in a grisly attack which shocked the nation and put pressure on the government to do more to tackle the insurgency. Pakistanis waited to see what their government – long accused of not being tough enough on the Islamists – and the army would do to stem spiraling violence in a nation […]
New York premiere of North Korea comedy canceled after threats
The New York premiere of “The Interview”, a Sony Pictures comedy about the assassination of North Korean President Kim Jong-Un, has been canceled and a source said one theater chain had scrapped plans to show it, after threats from a hacking group. The hackers, who said they were also responsible for seizing control of Sony Corp’s computer system last month, on Tuesday warned people to stay away from cinemas showing the film starring James Franco […]
U.S. rejects Manila’s bid for custody of U.S. Marine accused of murder
The United States embassy in Manila has turned down a request from Philippine authorities to hand over a Marine accused of the killing of a transgender Filipino, a move that could spark anti-American protest in the former U.S. colony. The Marine, Joseph Scott Pemberton, who is being held at a U.S. facility at the main Philippine army base, was charged with the murder of Jeffrey Laude, who was found dead on Oct. 11 in a […]
Russia turmoil sparks flight to safety
(Reuters) – Fears of a full-blown crisis in Russia and oil’s continued slide pushed investors to seek safety on Wednesday, buying core bonds and selling stocks while the ruble failed to halt its prolonged tumble. With only days to go before the end of the trading year, investors were also looking ahead to the U.S. Federal Reserve’s final statement of 2014, due at 1900 GMT (02:00 p.m. EST). Analysts expect it to remove language pledging to wait a “considerable time” before […]
1st Watershed Management Board Created in Laguna Lake
Water is gold. With increased population, consumption and climate change, multi-city alliances will be crucial in managing essential ecosystem services such as water provision. Rapidly-urbanizing landscapes in the CALABARZON region are confronted by challenges on flood and watershed management. In Laguna’s Santa Rosa Sub-watershed, groundwater studies show how rates of extraction will exceed rates for groundwater recharge by 2023. Many shallow wells in lakeside Laguna communities are reported to be depleted, polluted and unfit for […]
International community condemns Pakistan school terror attack
The international community has condemned the atrocious attack on a Pakistani school by militant Taliban that killed 145 people, mostly children, in Peshawar, Pakistan. More than 100 were also wounded in the incident. UNICEF earlier expressed outrage and condemned the attack through their twitter account. It sent its condolences to the families of the victims. UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon also condemned the deadly Taliban attack as “an act of horror and rank cowardice.” The White House […]
