SUMMARY
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- North Korea: Rocket won’t pose danger to Philippines
The much talked about North Korean rocket is set to launch anytime between April 12 to 16 to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of North Korea’s founding leader Kim II-Sung. While governments prepare for the worst, North Korea has assured the world that its latest rocket will take a “safe trajectory” and that debris from the launch pose no danger to countries in the region, including the Philippines.
Read more on Rappler - Arroyo’s arraignment today
Detained former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, her husband Miguel Arroyo, and former Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. will all be arraigned today, April 11, before the Sandiganbayan on corruption charges related to the NBN-ZTE project. Lawyers for both Mr. and Mrs. Arroyo have indicated that their clients will be there today to enter a plea. The former president faces graft charges for allegedly using her influence to push for the approval of a $329-M US offer from Chinese firm ZTE Inc. to implement the national broadband network project, more commonly referred to as the NBN-ZTE deal.
Read full story on Rappler
Read the backgrounder here - Obama wants Congress to pass ‘Buffet Rule’ tax
In what the Republic opposition sees as a campaign move, President Barack Obama is calling on the US Congress to pass a new law that will impose a 30% tax on people in the United States who earn more than $1-M annually. Obama calls the plan the “Buffet Rule”, naming it in honor of billionaire Warren Buffet, who has stressed in the past that rich people like him pay less taxes compared to middle class taxpayers. Many wealthy taxpayers earn from what is called investment income, which is only taxed 15%. The plan is scheduled for a vote on April 16, but many believe it will be difficult to get through Congress.
Read details on Time.com - Despite UN deal, violence in Syria continues
Hopes of an end to the war in Syria amidst a United Nations supported deadline for withdrawal of troops and weapons are dim. The agreement negotiated by UN and Arab League special envoy to the Syrian crisis Kofi Anan required Syrian troops to withdraw and stop the use of heavy weaponry by Tuesday, April 10. That deadline has passed with violence still ongoing, in which 11 people were reported killed Tuesday. Meanwhile, Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid Muallem insists that troops have been withdrawn and that “armed gangs” are responsible for the continued violence.
Read the full story on BBC - President signs 2010 Census, Palace explains delays
It took President Benigno Aquino III one year to approve the latest national census. But the Palace was quick to defend this move, saying that were a number of inaccuracies that the President had to order the National Statistics Office to redo the report. Prior to his approval of the census, the President was criticized for his apparent inaction on the matter.
Full story on Rappler.com - 18 people killed in suicide attacks in Afghanistan
At least 18 people were killed and 27 others were wounded after two separate suicide attacks on government facilities in western and southern Afghanistan. CNN reports many of the dead were police officers. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attacks. Time reports that militants have been targeting Afghan and NATO security forces in order to stop the US from building up Afghan forces, leading up to a pull out of foreign troops by the year 2014.
Read story on CNN
Read story on TIME - Malaysia tries to fix indefinite detention act
The Malaysian government has proposed a new law that would allow for people suspected of being guilty of security-related offenses to be detained for a maximum of 28 days only without being charged. The legislation, which will be taken up by Malaysian Parliament next week, is an improvement of the current law, the Internal Security Act, that allows for indefinite detention without trial.
Read details on the New York Times - Pinoy boxer in the running for the Olympics
After failing to qualify for the 2008 Olympics, Davao native Charly Suarez now is the remaining Filipino in the running for a slot in boxing at the 2012 London Olympics. Suarez beat Kyrgystan’s Abdlay Uulu Anarbay 14-5 during their match Monday, April 9, to advance in the Asian Olympic Qualifying event. Suarez will need to win two more fights before he advances to the Olympics. The only Pinoy boxer to have qualified so far is 17-year-old Mark Anthony Barriaga.
Read details on Rappler - Will Facebook ruin Instagram?
Two days after the reported purchase of mobile photo-sharing app Instagram by Facebook for $1B, people are still talking about it. You can’t blame them. Back in 2006 when YouTube was bought by Google for $1.6B, it was big news also. While Facebook and Instagram have committed that the product will remain the same, and that it will be developed as an independent product, many users are still afraid that Facebook will ruin Insagram. Tech blog Gizmodo put together a list of 4 simple steps that Facebook needs to adhere to.
- It’s Dame Grand Cross Camilla from now on!
In honor of her 7th year wedding anniversary to Prince Charles of Wales, Camilla Parker Bowles was given the highest female rank in the Royal Victorian Order, ‘Dame Grand Cross’, by Queen Elizabeth II. Public acceptance of the Duchess of Cornwall has improved over the years, following her much publicized relationship with Prince Charles when he was still married to Princess Diana.
Read details on TIME
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