Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton formally announced her second bid to become America’s first woman president though a video posted on her website on April 12. The video, titled “Getting Started,” opens with images of diverse, ordinary Americans – like young mothers, a college graduate, and a gay couple – who talk about life goals they are getting ready for. It says: “Americans have fought their way back from tough economic times but the deck is still stacked in favor of those at the top. Everyday Americans need a champion, and I want to be that champion so you can do more than just get by.” The video ends with a message from Clinton: “I’m getting ready to do something, too. I’m running for president.” Clinton was first lady, senator, presidential candidate, and secretary of state before.

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In a move likely to anger Turkey, Pope Francis uttered the word “genocide” on April 12 to describe the mass murder of Armenians 100 years ago. Speaking at a mass in Saint Peter’s Basilica to mark the centenary of the Ottoman killings of Armenians, the Argentine pope described the “immense and senseless slaughter” and spoke of the duty to “honor their memory, for whenever memory fades, it means that evil allows wounds to fester.” Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their kin were killed between 1915 and 1917 as the Ottoman Empire was falling apart. Many historians describe the slaughter as the 20th century’s first genocide, but Turkey hotly denies the accusation. Some 20 countries have recognized it as genocide as well as the European Parliament. Immediately afterwards, Ankara summoned the Vatican envoy to Turkey to request an explanation.

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A Syrian man, 31-year-old Adulkarim Mohammed Majed, was arrested for human trafficking after complainants were rescued and alleged that he was offering them non-existent jobs in the United Arab Emirates. The entrapment operation was conducted after authorities rescued 4 women illegally detained in Barangay Tetuan in Zamboanga City by a certain Nancy Driz, who allegedly acted as facilitator for the Syrian national. The victims, all residents of Luzon, were recruited through the help of a man alias “Mike.” Agents also arrested 52-year-old Camarudin Nakan Ibrahim alias Kammar inside Medio Hotel in Zamboanga following information from one of the victims.

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The Philippine Bureau of Internal Revenue is extending to June 15 the deadline for filing Income Tax Returns (ITR) electronically after a senator criticized it for introducing the system only a month before the annual April 15 deadline, thus confusing people and threatening them with hefty penalties. Tax chief Kim Henares clarified, however, that taxpayers had been given enough time to comply with the e-filing scheme since it was mandated in 2008. She said the extended deadline applies only to those who will file “No Payment” returns. The April 15 deadline for the manual filing for “No Payment” ITRs will still be in affect, but the bureau will allow its electronic filing to be done until June 15, said BIR commissioner in an interview with the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC).

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“The impact of Abenomics has finally emerged,” and it appears to be a positive one. This was according to Sadakazu Tanigaki, secretary-general of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party, as the party won local elections that were seen as a referendum on Abe’s efforts to boost the economy before upper house elections next year. Candidates backed by LDP and junior coalition partner Komeito were elected in all of the 10 gubernatorial polls held on Sunday across the nation, according to media reports. Efforts to resuscitate Japan’s economic fortunes, dubbed as “Abenomics,” include massive government spending, monetary easing and an overhaul of the highly regulated economy. The scheme kicked off a sharp decline in the yen and a stock market rally.

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Prime Minister Tony Abbott said Australia will block parents who refuse to vaccinate their children from accessing some government benefits. The policy change comes amid a debate over immunization for children, with some parents believing vaccines against deadly diseases are dangerous. Under current Australian laws, parents who have “conscientious objections” about immunization can claim childcare and welfare payments, which include childcare rebates, benefits and family tax benefit supplements – reportedly missing out on up to AU$15,000 (US$11,500) per child annually. Parents unwilling to vaccinate the children on medical or religious grounds will still be allowed to tap into the benefits, although under tighter eligibility requirements.

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The NBA Players Association and reportedly the league itself are looking into the arrest of Hawks forward Thabo Sefolosha in New York. Swiss-born Sefolosha and Hawks teammate Pero Antic of Macedonia were charged with resisting arrest at a New York night club. Both have said they will contest the charges. Sefolosha suffered a season-ending broken right leg and ligament damage somewhere in the process. Videos posted on celebrity website TMZ showed police aggressively trying to restrain him and taking him to the ground.

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Already the most pirated show in television history, HBO’s fantasy epic Games of Thrones was hit by a new leak April 12, just hours before the premiere of its anticipated 5th season. “Sadly, it seems the leaked 4 episodes of the upcoming season of Game of Thrones originated from within a group approved by HBO to receive them. We’re actively assessing how this breach occurred,” the cable TV network said. HBO had decided on the unusual simultaneous global release schedule in 170 countries because the series’ fervent following has made it a hot property. The 2014 season was illegally downloaded more than 8 million times, making it the most pirated show in the world for the fourth year running.

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Philippine cinema’s Superstar, Nora Aunor, was given the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2015 ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards in Malaysia. The honor came months after the president of her own country refused to name Aunor as a national artist despite a nomination and overwhelming vote from the artistic community. At the event, another Filipina, Cherie Gil, won the Best Actress award for her role in the independent film Sonata. She won over 3 actresses from the Philippines – Vivan Valez for Bendor, Barbara Miguel for Nuwebe, and Krystle Valentino for Purok 7 – and Indonesian actress, Prisia Nasution.

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The Philippines’ most pressing problem is inequity despite our surging economy, which is forecast to be the second fastest-growing in the world in 2015. The “yaya meal” at the exclusive Balesin resort, and the “elevator for maids” at a Taguig condominium are part of an unsettling reality in the Philippines, where class consciousness is part of people’s mindset. We put premium on family names, addresses, car models, and club memberships. We consider them achievements more than how people think and innovate to close the economic gap.

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