December 10, 2012 Edition

Suffering one of the biggest losses of his life from Mexican arch rival Juan Manuel Marquez, phenomenal boxer Manny Pacquiao said it was “a lucky punch” that knocked him out in the 6^th round. Interviewed Sunday evening on television, he said he was happy with his performance and discounted claims he was not focused enough during his training. “I did my best. We have to accept that we cannot win all the time,” he said. Pacquiao was hospitalized after the match and said the hospital did not find anything wrong with him. After being knocked down in the 5^th round, Marquez unleashed a hard right in the final second of the 6^th round. It was that punch that sent Pacquiao to the floor.

Read the full story on Rappler. 

A related story on the victory of Juan Manuel Marquez is also on Rappler. 

The initial story about Pacquiao’s loss is on Rappler. 

The Philippine Azkals drew 0-0 with the Singapore Lions on Saturday, December 8, in the first leg of the AFF Suzuki Cup semifinals. Playing for the first time on home ground in the semis, the Azkals were lethargic in the first round but improved substantially in the second. Despite numerous chances to score, the Singaporeans failed to get through Ed Sacapano, the man of the match. The Azkals renewed vigor in the second half was still unable to break the well-organized Singaporean defense. They will meet in the field again on Wednesday, December 12, for the second leg of the semis in Singapore.

Read the full story on Rappler. 

Over 37,000 families are now living in 173 evacuation centers in 9 regions – Palawan, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Caraga and Soccsksargen. The numbers are equivalent to over 177,000 individuals, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. Half of them are concentrated in evacuation centers in the Davao region. Close to 70,000 are cramped in 3 evacuation centers in Compostela Valley. Typhoon “Pablo” is estimated to have affected 5.41 million Filipinos in the southern part of the country, killed over 500, and left at least 800 missing. Survivors have appealed for help as foreign governments have pledged to offer more assistance.

Read the full story on Rappler. 

“Miss Saigon” is returning to the stage in 2014, with producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh at the helm. Mackintosh himself toldPhilippine Star columnist Ricky Lo that he just needs to find a theater for his successful West End production. “When we did the show in London 25 years ago, we spent over a year looking for the cast. I hope that in the next 18 months it would be back in London,” Mackintosh said. “Miss Saigon” conducted auditions 3 weeks ago in Manila, and Mackintosh said he hopes the auditions will be faster this time. Because he has been busy promoting the film, “Les Miserables,” Mackintosh told Lo he has not had the chance to review the tapes of the Philippine auditions. “Miss Saigon” will celebrate its 25^th year in 2014.

Read the full story on Rappler. 

Opposition leaders in Egypt rejected a move by President Mohammed Morsi to annul a decree that gives him more powers. Issued on November 22, it strips the judiciary of any right to challenge his decisions, and triggered protests. The opposition declared that protests will continue on Tuesday, December 11, even as Islamists vowed to hold counter demonstrations. Morsi had announced a vote on a new constitution would push through on December 15. The spokesman of the opposition National Salvation Front said they reject the referendum which they foresee as leading to more division and sedition. Morsi’s critics have accused him of acting like a dictator, but he defended his actions, saying he is merely safeguarding the revolution that ousted strongman Hosni Mubarak. The Egyptian judiciary, according to Morsi’s supporters, consists of remnants of the Mubarak regime. The situation remains tense in Egypt, according to the BBC.

Read the full story on BBC News. 

Advocates of the Reproductive Health bill in the House of Representatives have become more confident the controversial measure will pass the legislative grinder. Nominal voting done thrice on killer amendments introduced by those opposing the bill showed the RH bill advocates had the edge. “The voting pattern rejecting all killer amendments to the RH bill introduced by critics is irreversible as succeeding nominal voting registered wider margins of victory for the RH advocates confirming the results of the viva voce voting,” Albay Rep Edcel Lagman, the bill’s sponsor, said. But the antis said they lost the last vote – the one which prevented Palawan Rep Dennis Socrates from speaking against the bill – because their congressmen from the Visayas and Mindanao had to attend to constituents affected by Typhoon “Pablo.” They said they have 136 votes to reject the bill.

Read the full story on Rappler. 

The owners of an Australian radio station met on Sunday, December 9, and promised to review processes — after a nurse caught in the middle of a prank call involving British royals – killed herself. The chair of London’s King Edward VII’s Hospital wrote the executives of Southern Cross Austereo, owners of radio station 2Day FM, to protest the prank call that resulted in Jacintha Saldanha killing herself. She was duped by the station’s two presenters who misrepresented themselves as Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles. Because no receptionist was on duty, Saldanha, a 46-year-old mother of two, answered the call and put them through to a colleague who divulged details about the Duchess of Cambridge’s recovery from morning sickness. The call was pre-recorded and broadcast to listeners in Sydney. The owners of the radio station said the outcome was “unforeseeable and very regrettable.”

Read the full story on Rappler. 

More details are available from BBC News. 

The widely revered Nelson Mandela, the father of democratic South Africa, “looks well after a restful night,” the spokesperson of President Jacob Zuma said on Sunday, December 9. The 94-year-old Mandela, according to the BBC, is known to be frail with a fading memory. But visitors have described him to be in good spirits. He was admitted to the hospital on Saturday for tests and is said to be in the hands of a competent medical team in Pretoria. Mandela retired from public life in 2004 and has not been as visible. He served as South Africa’s first black president between 1994 and 1999 and was the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. In January 2011, he was treated for a serious chest infection and was brought to the hospital February 2012 for a minor procedure related to an abdominal problem.

Read the full story on BBC News. 

After more than 600 dead and close to 800 still missing, the United Nations is launching a global appeal for aid on Monday, December 10, for victims of Typhoon “Pablo.” UN Humanitarian Coordinator Luiza Carvalho will outline plans for an immediate aid package, including long-term support for areas hardest hit by the super typhoon. UN spokeswoman Imogen Wall told Agence France-Presse the priority needs are “food, water and shelter but there’s also a big emphasis on helping people’s livelihood.” Crops were wiped out by strong winds and floods, and agriculture in the badly hit areas needs rehabilitation. The announcement comes on the heels of earlier pledges by Japan and the US to extend aid to disaster-stricken areas.

Read the full story on Rappler. 

Lionel Messi scored his 86th goal for 2012 and set a new world record Sunday, December 9, for most goals scored in a calendar year. The 25-year-old Argentine beat German Gerd Mueller’s 40-year-old record of 85 goals set in 1972 as he netted a 2-1 win over Real Betis. Playing for Barcelona, the soccer superstar recovered from a midweek injury on his left knee that caused him to be carried off on a stretcher. But the injury turned out to be not as bad as he feared. He has scored 74 goals for Barcelona and 12 for Argentina this year. He is favored to claim a 4thFifa world player of the year title. He has two more league matches and one King’s Cup tie to add to his tally of 86 goals. But the modest soccer great said, “My goal when the year began was to try to achieve everything again, with the team, in the league, the (King’s) Cup, the Champions League. I always start with that idea in mind.”

Read the full story on Rappler. 

Read more on BBC News. 

More details are available on CNN.