SUMMARY
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- Syria accepts UN peace plan
The Syrian government has accepted the plan proposed by United Nations special envoy Kofi Annan to end bloodshed in the country. The 6-point plan offered by Annan includes granting access to humanitarian agencies, beginning a dialogue with opposition groups, and releasing detainees. According to estimates by the United Nations, over 9000 have been killed due to the conflict in Syria. While the government blames violence on terrorist groups, reports from inside Syria suggest that the government is actually engaged in mass murders in an attempt to stop dissidents who want to overthrow the government.
More on Rappler and CNN.
Background on Syrian conflict on Simplify Reality. - North Korea won’t stop rocket launch
The 3-day 2012 Nuclear Security Summit came to a close in Seoul Tuesday, March 27 after bringing together world leaders from over 50 countries including the Philippines to discuss nuclear issues. In the sidelines of the summit US President Barack Obama warned North Korea of “consequences” if it continued its planned long-rage rocket launch next month but North Korea insists that the reason for the rocket launch is to put a satellite into orbit. A North Korean official was quoted as saying the launch was “a legitimate right of a sovereign state” and was “essential for economic development.”
Read more on Christian Science Monitor - Pacquiao’s Next Fight is with BIR
A day after the press conference where he accused the Bureau of Internal Revenue of harassment and singling him out, World Boxing Champion and Congressman Manny Pacquiao continues to face criminal charges for obstructing a tax investigation into his earnings. The government has said it will continue its probe on Pacquiao. Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima meanwhile denied the allegations of harassment and said the government was only doing its job. If found guilty Pacquiao could face up to two years in Jail.
Read the full story on Rappler. - PNoy wants major infra projects fast tracked
After failing to deliver on its promise of 10 roads, airports and ports in 2011, President Benigno Aquino III has said there is a need to speed up the pace of evaluating what it calls big ticket infrastructure projects given its direct impact on tourism and economic growth targets. The President allayed fears about the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) scheme saying the target for 2012 is to roll out 8 PPP projects.
Read More on Rappler - Pope Benedict XVI visits Cuba
14-years after the historic trip of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Cuba for the first time Monday, March 26 pressing the country’s communist leadership for legitimate reforms and denouncing the ills of capitalism. The pope received a lukewarm reception upon his arrival in Cuba but thousands came to hear him hold mass at Santiago’s main plaza, Monday night. In response Cuban President Raul Castro noted that the country has never failed to share with those who have less but that country is determine to chart its own path.
Read More on the Huffington Post - Corona to law graduates: Rally behind me
Speaking to graduates at a commencement exercise where he was the guest of honor, Chief Justice Renato Corona reiterated his innocence and said that he will keep fighting for democracy even if he has everything to lose. Corona then called on law graduates to rally behind him in upholding an independent judiciary against those he claims want to crate a “compliant and malleable judiciary.” The #CoronaTrial is currently on a 6-week break, and will resume on May 7.
Read More on Rappler - 645 Towns without Fire Stations
Despite a law that requires each provincial capital, city, and municipality to have at least one fire station, a recent report in time for “Fire Prevention Month” reveals that a total of 645 towns across the Philippines do not have fire stations and/or fire trucks. Lawmakers are seeking new congressional probes into the matter. As an interim solution the DILG has assigned several cities and municipalities as Central Fire Stations.
Read more on Rappler - First Solo trip to Ocean’s deepest point
For the first time in history a man has gone solo into the depth of the Challenge Deep in the Mariana Trench, the ocean’s deepest point. The man is none other than Avatar, and Titanic Director James Cameron. Riding a state-of-the-art submersible vessel that took 7 years to build Cameron went down 35,756 feed below the ocean’s surface to take 3D video footage and collect samples. Cameron described the area as “a very lunar, very desolate place.”
Read more and watch the first footage he shot on The Verge - Madonna taps social media to promote new album
Madonna launched her new album MDNA Monday, March 26th but instead of just going on the usual promo circuit, the material girl took to social networking sites Facebook and Twitter to talk to fans. Madonna visited Facebook’s headquarters for a live chat, and for a limited engagement answered questions on Twitter via a @MadonnaMDNAday account. Over 43,000 people followed the account to join the chat. In the Philippines the UP Pep Squad was selected to perform a routine to commemorate the worldwide release of the album.
Read More on Forbes.com
UP Pep Squad performs at Madonna album launch via Manila Bulletin
RollingStone MDNA Review
Madonna MDNA Twitter Account - Facebook’s relationship status study
Have you ever gone from single to in a relationship and/or vice versa on Facebook? Well Facebook recently conducted a study based on relationship status changes by users from 2010 to 2011 and it found that different times of the year affect the beginning and ending of relationships.The study shows that Valentine’s Day and Christmas are the best days to find love.
Read more on Yahoo Philippines
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