July 2013 – Page 27

DNA flaw boosts cancer risk from diabetes—study

General

Jul 142013

DNA flaw boosts cancer risk from diabetes—study

Agence France-Presse 5:24 am | Monday, July 15th, 2013 In this Friday, March 2, 2012, file photo, DNA samples are processed at the New York State Police Forensic Investigation Center in Albany, New York. A DNA flaw may explain why people with Type 2 diabetes are more prone to blood cancers than the rest of the population, a study said Sunday, July 14, 2013. AP PHOTO/MIKE GROLL PARIS—A DNA flaw may explain why people with Type 2 diabetes are more prone to blood cancers than the rest of the population, a study said Sunday. Doctors have long known that Type 2 diabetes is associated with leukemia and lymphoma, but the reasons for this have been unclear. Researchers in France and Britain, looking at blood samples from nearly 7,500 people, including 2,200 patients with Type 2 diabetes, suggest the answer lies in cellular mutations called clonal mosaic events (CMEs). These are defects that result in some cells having extra copies—or, alternatively, missing copies—of large stretches of genetic code. Reporting in the journal Nature Genetics, the researchers said that in the general population, CMEs are usually very rare in young people but become more common with aging. Among people aged over 70, around two percent have these mutations, which gives them a tenfold higher risk of developing blood cancer, previous research has found. But among people with Type 2 diabetes, CMEs were four times more common than otherwise healthy people, the new study found. They also had a far higher rate of Read More …

Japanese culture in the spotlight in ‘Japan Unlimited’

Entertainment

Jul 142013

Japanese culture in the spotlight in ‘Japan Unlimited’

MANILA, Philippines – The Embassy of Japan in cooperation with the Japan Foundation Manila and various organizations has lined up a variety of exciting activities for July and the rest of the year in celebration of the Philippines-Japan Friendship Month and the 40th year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation. In 2006, during the Golden Jubilee Celebration of the diplomatic relations between Japan and the Philippines, July 23 was designated as the official date for the Philippines-Japan Friendship Day and July as the official month for the Philippines-Japan Friendship Month. Seven years have passed since its inauguration, and the celebration for the Philippines-Japan Friendship Month this 2013 is now bigger than ever. This year also marks the 40th year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation with the theme “Thoughts Connected, Future Connected.” Through the years, ASEAN and Japan have forged close cooperation towards peace, stability, development and prosperity in Asia. J-Pop anime singing contest The Embassy of Japan in the Philippines is bringing back the much-awaited J-Pop Anime Singing Contest for its fifth installment. This will be a chance for Japanophiles and music enthusiasts to display their talents. Lifestyle Feature ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 After receiving and screening entries from all over the Philippines, 10 finalists have been chosen: Alexyz Arcilla, Diana Tabitha Caro, Melrick James L. Celajes, Sheena Stacey Gonzales, Hikari, Incognito, Infinity, MAI, Pebbles Montales, and Vinar Takumi. They will perform on July 20, starting at 1 p.m., at the SM Cinema Center Stage, SM Mall Read More …

Energy experts set fuel biz training

Economy

Jul 142013

MANILA, Philippines – Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) wanting to join the highly lucrative and stable fuel-related business sectors can now have free training at the PetroBusiness Pavilion of the Franchise Asia Philippines (FAP) 2013, which will be held at the SMX Convention Center Manila on July 19 to 21. The special seminars for SMEs will be conducted by energy experts invited by FAP 2013 organizer Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) to guide new and aspiring petro industry players in learning the tricks of the trade and steering their franchised businesses to success – from startup to managing the onstream operations. 7-Eleven president and FAP 2013 international expo chairman Victor Paterno said experts from Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Seaoil, Total and Unioil had also been called upon to present business models and concepts during the seminars. Co-presented by BPI Family Ka-negosyo, PLDT SME Nation and Sun Cellular, the FAP 2013 will feature unlimited business opportunities in both fully established and upcoming franchise concepts for every sector and investment level industrywide. Interested participants in the petrobusiness seminars are encouraged to register early because of the limited availability of seats. For more details, call PFA (632) 6870365 to 67 and (63917) 8320732, or e-mail pfa@pfa.org.ph).

LTCP goes full blast despite birth pains

Economy

Jul 142013

LTCP goes full blast despite birth pains

MANILA, Philippines – The Land Registration Authority (LRA) said its land titling computerization project (LTCP) continues to go full blast to give its target clientele the optimum security and benefits of state-of-the-art information technology at the soonest possible time. LRA deputy administrator Ronald Ortile said the installation of the LTCP system in cooperation with the agency’s private partner, the Land Registration Systems Inc. (LARES), “is 93 percent complete, with 134 RDs already live and connected to LRA central office.” Reacting to reports of delay in the release of certain documents being sought by land owners from the RDs in the provinces, Ortile noted that “the delays may be likened to birth pains since we are introducing a new and ultra-modern concept in land titling services.” Moving to a new system also involves the challenge of training existing employees, which may be a contributing factor in delays experienced by specific RDs. While staff training continues, LRA has conveyed its plan to augment manpower in different RDs to help address isolated cases of delay. But with the refurbished RD offices in place, the public can enjoy the full benefits of the LTCP that could translate into utmost convenience for land owners and other parties availing themselves of LRA’s online services made possible by the computer system. Ortile said land owners could actually save time and money by using the LRA’s A2A service. “If a client based in Quezon City wants to obtain a CTC of a land title stored in an RD located Read More …

IMF issues warning on capital outflows

Economy

Jul 142013

MANILA, Philippines – On what seemed to be a reverse of what it warned about months back, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) now wants emerging markets, such as the Philippines, to prepare for capital outflows. “In emerging market economies, the focus should be on boosting potential growth while dealing with the capital outflows, which may follow from the exit of the US from quantitative easing (QE),” IMF chief economist Olivier Blanchard said last week. “We have to accept the fact that as monetary policy normalizes in the US…some of the investors which had gone to emerging market countries in particular will want to repatriate (back their funds),” he explained. His statements were made on a press briefing held by the IMF last Tuesday to mark the release of its World Economic Update. The transcript of the briefing was posted on the IMF website. In the past, the multilateral agency had warned against capital inflows, which had seen Asian currencies rising in value to the detriment of exports as well as concerns of asset bubble formations. This time around, Blanchard said, the already slowing growth in developing nations will come under threat once the QE, the $85-billion monthly bond buying program in the US, tapers off later this year as indicated. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Based on the IMF’s latest projections, emerging markets are projected to grow 5.4 percent this year and the next, slower than the 5.3 percent and 5.7 percent for 2013 and 2014 Read More …

MPTC allots P3 B for road construction

Economy

Jul 142013

MANILA, Philippines – Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), a unit of infrastructure conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), has set a P3-billion capital expenditure program for its road construction projects this year. MPTC president and CEO Ramoncito Fernandez, in an interview with The STAR on the sidelines of the 6th NLEX (North Luzon Expressway) Tara Na sa Norte Tourism and Travel Fair, said a big chunk of the budget, or P1.7 billion, would go to the Segment 9 project which involves a 2.4-kilometer stretch from Valenzuela City to MacArthur Highway. The project is expected to be completed by the middle of next year. Fernandez said these expansion projects would promote tourism, particularly in the northern part of Luzon where most of their facilities are located. MPTC unit Manila North Tollway Corp. (MNTC) operates the 84-kilometer NLEX and was recently awarded by the state-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) the right to operate and maintain the 94-kilometer Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTex) for 33 years. “Our educated guess is that tourism has been playing a good part in the traffic increase in NLEX through the years,” he said. For the first half, traffic volume at NLEX rose five percent to an average 172,000 vehicles daily compared to the same period in 2012. The five percent growth is expected to be sustained by the end of the year. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Fernandez said this is significantly higher or double the historical growth of two to four percent Read More …

Petilla to seal Angat deal

Economy

Jul 142013

MANILA, Philippines – Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla hopes to seal a compromise deal with the Korean company that won the bidding for the Angat hydropower plant before the end of the year. “Hopefully by the end of the year, we can come up with a win-win solution,” Petilla said. Korea Water Resources Corp. (K-Water) is currently negotiating to bring down the $440.88-million price tag on the facility, citing the state of the facility as well as several changes the government put in the agreements signed by both parties. “What we’re looking for is a win-win solution for everybody and that includes all the players – PSALM (Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp.), DOF (Department of Finance), K-Water, MWSS (Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System) and DOE (Department of Energy),” Petilla said. K-Water won the bidding that PSALM conducted in 2010 for the 218-megawatt plant, which sources its power from the Angat Dam in Bulacan. In 2010, K-Water topped the bidding that PSALM conducted for the 218-megawatt plant, which is fueled by water from the Angat dam in Bulacan. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 In a recent letter to PSALM, K-Water said it wants to “achieve the same level of benefits expected” in its 2010 bid for the power plant and wants the plant’s auxiliary units four and five to be included in the takeover. The auxiliary units in question are owned by MWSS. On the back of these complex issues, K-Water wants to reduce the purchase price of the Read More …

6 Chinese nabbed for illegal mining in Agusan del Sur

News

Jul 142013

6 Chinese nabbed for illegal mining in Agusan del Sur

By Chris V. PanganibanInquirer Mindanao 10:16 pm | Sunday, July 14th, 2013 SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — Six Chinese nationals were arrested on Saturday night for their alleged involvement in illegal mining operation near Mt. Magdiwata watershed that destroyed the waterways of a river in a remote village of this town. Police could not yet ascertain the identities of the suspects since only two of them presented identification cards from the Bureau of Immigration that already expired last May. Another Chinese national known as Jason Lu, believed to be the “big boss” and co-financier, managed to escape. Two local residents who worked with them positively identified the suspects, now detained at the town jail, after they accompanied operatives to raid their residence at the town center. Senior Inspector Ephraim Detuya, local police chief, said they would file on Monday formal charges against the Chinese nationals for violation of the mining act while awaiting information from the immigration bureau about their status in staying in the country. The arrest came after a two-day raid by a joint team of police and staff of Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office at the illegal mine site in Mati village that contaminated and depleted the source of potable water and irrigation for rice fields in nearby Maligaya village. The team confiscated a backhoe used to excavate and destroy the riverbed and banks, a power-generating set, steel pipes used to suction water, sand and gravel towards the mine tailings pond and other mining equipment. Read More …

20 hurt as portion of wooden arena in Zamboanga City collapses

News

Jul 142013

20 hurt as portion of wooden arena in Zamboanga City collapses

By Julie S. AlipalaInquirer Mindanao 5:12 pm | Sunday, July 14th, 2013 ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – At least 20 persons were hurt when a portion of the Gallera de Ayala here gave way during a derby on Saturday night. Senior Superintendent Jose Chiquito Malayo, the city police chief, said 19 were slightly hurt while another suffered a fractured bone in the left leg. Malayo said a portion of the left wing of the wooden arena collapsed. Lawyer Cesar Jimenez, owner of the Gallera de Ayala, said the 10-year old arena was renovated in April before it was leased out to a new management. “It’s an accident and we allow the police to do the investigation,” Jimenez said. Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines. Tags: accidents , collapse , Features , Gallera de Ayala , Regions Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Inquirer’s Reader’s Advocate. Or write The Readers’ Advocate:

Wealth sharing deal between PH gov’t, future Bangsamoro entity finished

News

Jul 142013

Wealth sharing deal between PH gov’t, future Bangsamoro entity finished

By Ryan D. RosauroInquirer Mindanao 3:42 pm | Sunday, July 14th, 2013 A handout photo taken on July 13, 2013 and released by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) shows (Front, L-R) GPH peace panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, Malaysian facilitator Tengku Dato Ab Ghafar Tengku Mohamed and MILF peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal signing the wealth-sharing annex and joint statement at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur. AFP PHOTO / OPAPP OZAMIZ CITY, Philippines — After toiling some 12 hours on their sixth day of talks, negotiators of the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) finally hammered a wealth-sharing arrangement between the central government and the future Bangsamoro political entity. The Office of the Presidential Assistant on the Peace Process said the wealth-sharing deal between the central government and the future Bangsamoro Entity was completed at 10:30 p.m. Saturday. This happened more than 12 hours after the negotiators convened at 9:40 a.m. The deal covers taxation powers for the Bangsamoro government; assured fund transfers from the central government to the Bangsamoro government through block grants; and sharing of revenues from the use of natural wealth, like energy sources and metallic minerals. The breakthrough comes after a four-month lull in the peace process, and could move the parties closer to crafting a comprehensive agreement that contains the totality of measures that address the four-decade Moro rebellion in Mindanao. Wealth-sharing is one of the four annexes to the preliminary Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) Read More …

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