March 6, 2013 Edition

Filipinos, especially the Tausugs or Orang Suluk, are anxious about their safety in Sabah, following violent clashes between Filipino gunmen and Malaysian security forces there. Thousands of Filipinos living in Sabah have already acquired citizenship and have been issued an IC or a Malaysian identification card. But Filipinos have noted instances of discrimination ever since the Lahad Datu standoff that began February 9.

Read more on Rappler 

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez died Tuesday, March 5, after months of battling cancer. An emotional Vice President Nicolas Maduro, his anointed successor, announced the news to the world, and said the army and police have been deployed “to accompany and protect our people and guarantee the peace.” Leaders in Latin America expressed their condolences, while the United States said this could lead to better diplomatic relations. Maduro will be interim president and an election will be called within 30 days, according to the Venezuelan foreign minister.

Read more on Rappler

Also read these related stories on Rappler:
Chavez death: LatAm leaders mourn, US hopes for better ties
Venezuela says election to be called within 30 days 

Until cardinals hole up in the Sistine Chapel to elect the new pope, a decree requires them to meet daily – bound by secrecy – to discuss conclave preparations as well as other pressing issues. The Vatican said 142 cardinals – including Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle, a papal contender – attended the first General Congregation on Monday, March 4. Of this number, 103 belong to the group of 117 cardinal electors.

Learn more about this secret meetings in this piece by Paterno Esmaquel II.

Tensions in the Korean peninsula continue to simmer, as North Korea on Tuesday said they might nullify the 1953 armistice agreement that put an end to the Korean War. The secretive state’s official KCNA news agency said this could happen if new sanctions will be imposed on the country over its recent nuclear tests, which drew the ire of many countries.

More on CNN 

Breaking records continues to be a feat of some stocks. On March 6, Tokyo and Manila took off from the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which powered to an all-time high trading past the 14,200 mark exactly 4 years after hitting bottom in the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Tokyo stocks was up 1.32% by end of the morning session, while Manila stocks inched closer toward the 7,000 milestone on morning trade.

A massive winter storm hit the northern United States on Tuesday grounding 2,600 flights, closing down hundreds of schools and making roadways and highways impassible. At least four people were reportedly killed in accidents on icy and snow covered roads and highways. More than a dozen states from Minnesota to Virginia were in the path of the huge storm. The National Weather Service said. “Consider only traveling if in an emergency,” the weather service warned. The National Weather Service also warned that the system could develop into a more powerful storm as it passes into mid Atlantic states.

Malaysian forces are now searching for members of the Royal Sulu Army after a military assault on the group Tuesday, March 5. “Follow-up action and house-to-house searches are being carried out carefully to ensure the safety of the policemen and soldiers,” state news agency Bernama quoted police as saying. This comes as a leader of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) said more fighters are on their way to Sabah as reinforcements.

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Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo crowned his first match back at Old Trafford with a decisive 69th minute goal over Manchester United to settle the match 2-1. It was a bittersweet win for Ronaldo who last played on this field the opposing team, United nearly 4 years ago. Real Madrid’s victory moves them forward to the Champion’s League Last 8 . Victory – which an uncharacteristically humble Real manager Jose Mourinho said was undeserved – was gained against a United side reduced to 10 men with over half-an-hour to go when Nani was given a straight red card for a high tackle on Alvaro Arbeloa.

Read more on Rappler 

BlackBerry launched their latest flagship smartphone the BlackBerry Z10 in the Philippines Wednesday, March 6. Announced back in New York in January the BlackBerry Z10 is the first smartphone to run BlackBerry’s new smartphone operating system – the company’s latest effort to regain users lost to iOS and Android. The phone will be available in black and white models beginning March 19 with a suggested retail price of P29,900.

Read more on Rappler 

“Good, old-fashioned revenge”, Iron Patriot, and the Mandarin. These are just some of the things fans are looking forward to in Iron Man 3 whose latest trailer was recently published exclusively by Yahoo!. The movie is loosely based on the Extremis storyline in the comics, where Iron Man gained the ability to control his armors through his nervous system.

New cast members include Ben Kingsley (Mandarin), Guy Pearce (Aldrich Killian), and Rebecca Hall (Maya Hansen). Director Shane Black will be taking the reins from Jon Favreau who directed the last two installments. Iron Man ranked number 1 in the box office on its opening weekend while Iron Man 2 had the highest opening for a movie in 2010.

Iron Man 3 is set for international release in April.