June 10, 2012 Edition

Pacquiao loses in controversial split decision

Manny Pacquiao suffers his first loss since 2005. Timothy ‘Desert Storm’ Bradley takes the WBO World Welterweight title via split decision. Pacquiao is aggressive early on and never let up overwhelming the defense of Timothy Bradley. In his In the post fight interview, Pacquiao takes his loss with humility and says, “That decision is already done and I give the credit to him.”

Even Floyd Mayweather Sr. says Pacquiao should have won the fight. Bob Arum had this to say, “I’ve never been so ashamed to be part of boxing as I am tonight.” Pacquiao says he is willing to fight Bradley again.

Read more on Rappler
Pacquiao-Bradley post-fight analysis

Rappler’s resident analyst Carlos Cinco says: To Bradley’s credit, he was the aggressor throughout most of the fight, but it was hardly effective. Unfortunately, the judges gave him the nod and most likely felt that Pacquiao did not do enough to create a separation between himself and his opponent. Still, the fight was far too close for comfort. I felt Manny Pacquiao fought at a controlled, albeit slower pace, but landed the stronger more effective blows.

Read more on Rappler.
DOH identifies 4 dengue hotspots

Residents of 4 Metro Manila barangays should brace for a higher risk of dengue, the Department of Health (DOH) says Saturday, as the rainy season began. The DOH warns that the following areas could be dengue hotspots, based on the agency’s records: Barangay Commonwealth in Quezon City, Barangay Pinagbuhatan in Pasig City, Barangay Tañong in Malabon City and Barangay 176 in Caloocan City.

Read more on Rappler
Obama backs PH on freedom of navigation

US President Barack Obama welcomed Philippine President Benigno Aquino III to the White House. In a statement, the two leaders “underscored the importance of the principles of ensuring freedom of navigation, respect for international law, and unimpeded lawful commerce.” Aquino and Obama calls for diplomacy to resolve territorial disputes “without coercion or the use of force.”

Read more on Rappler.
Filipina wins ballet tilt

25-year-old Candice Adea, a principal dancer of Ballet Philippines, wins First Prize, Senior Women’s Division, at the Helsinki International Ballet Competition, one of the most prestigious ballet competitions in the world. Her partner, Jean Marc Cordero, also a principal dancer of Ballet Philippines, was a semi-finalist. He won a Special Jury Award for Best in Pas de Deux Technique (partnering). The competition drew 69 dancers from 28 countries.

Read more on Rappler.
China to launch manned spacecraft in June

China will send 3 astronauts to space on a spacecraft this June. It’s the latest step in a program aimed at giving the country a permanent space station by 2020.

The astronauts on board Shenzou-9 will manually dock with the Tiangong-1 module currently orbiting the Earth. After the space rendezvous, the astronauts will move temporarily into the Tiangong-1 (Heavenly Palace), where they will perform scientific experiments.

Read more on Rappler.
Sectarian violence hits Myanmar’s west

Police and army reinforcements have been deployed to Myanmar’s Rakhine State — which borders Bangladesh — to quell the violence after villagers’ homes were set ablaze early Saturday. Unrest flared Friday when at least 4 Buddhists were killed in riots in Rakhine, which is home to large numbers of Rohingya, a Muslim group described by the United Nations (UN) as one of the world’s most persecuted minorities. Government officials blame “armed” Muslim Rohingya from a “neighboring country” for the unrest.

Read more on Rappler
Doctors risk lives in secret hospital

CNN takes a look at one of Syria’s secret field hospitals and talks to one of its doctors, Dr Kasem. CNN writes: Dr. Kasem is aware that every patient could be his last. He and his hospital have endured rocket attacks. But he will not stop. The medical oath he took demands that he do all that he can to save lives.
Al Qaeda affiliate offers camels for Obama’s head, hens for Hillary’s

The al Qaeda affiliate in Somalia mocks the $33 million reward offered by the US FOR seven of its top leaders. It is offering its own bounty for President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton – 10 camels for Obama and 20 chickens for Clinton. “Anyone who helps the Mujahideen find the whereabouts of Obama and Hillary Clinton will be rewarded with 10 camels for the information leading to Obama and 10 hens and 10 cocks for Hillary,” the leader of Shabaab said in a statement.

Read more on ABC News.
Zhang Ziyi scandal raise few eyebrows in China

The story grabbed headlines around the world when the rumor broke out that movie star Zhang Ziyi was paid to have sex with disgraced Communist Party leader Bo Xilao. But the Daily Beast reports, the story raised few eyebrows in China. There’s a widely held perception in China that many beautiful actresses, singers, and dancers sleep their way to success. The staf of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Memoirs of a Geisha angrily denies the rumors.

Read more on The Daily Beast.