The fourth-generation Mazda2 will make its debut at the Paris Motor Show in October.©Mazda (Relaxnews) – Japanese manufacturer Mazda has presented the latest generation of its sub-compact city car, which now boasts a new on-board connectivity system and an updated style. The model is slated to make its public debut at the Paris Motor Show in October. The design of the new Mazda2 is based on the Hazumi concept displayed at the Geneva Motor Show last spring. According to Mazda, the Japanese word “Hazumi” means both “bound” and “spring up” and was chosen to describe a vehicle that is small but “bursting with energy.” The future model will be available with the new Skyactiv-D 1.5 diesel engine with 105hp or with one of the Skyactiv-G 1.5 fuel engines ranging in power from 75 to 105hp. On the inside, the driver and passengers will enjoy the MZD Connect system, which offers access to a range of internet features through a 7-inch screen. Mazda announced that it has just begun producing the vehicle in Japan, where it is marketed as the Demio. The new vehicle will be unveiled to the public at the Paris Motor Show in October before its global launch in the following months. Since the launch of the first Mazda2 in 1996, the car has sold over 2.4 million units. db/ls/lwt
Honda North America shows off their new Asimo RobotHonda’s ASIMO was introduced to much fanfare in 2000 as a multi-functional mobile assistant which resembles a shrunken spaceman.©AFP PHOTO / Timothy A. CLARY (TOKYO–AFP) – A future in which it is difficult to tell man and machine apart could soon become reality, scientists say, after recent robotic breakthroughs in Japan. But as the once-fantastical idea of wise-cracking android sidekicks takes form in laboratories — and the gap between humans and robots narrows — society faces ethical and legal complications as yet undreamed of, they warn. “Already computers have surpassed human ability,” leading Japanese roboticist Hiroshi Ishiguro told AFP. “Robots will be very clever soon.” Science fiction’s rapid slide towards science fact owes much to the likes of Ishiguro, who has an android copy of himself that he sends on overseas business trips in his place. “It saves me time,” he smiled. “The upper torso and lower torso you can pack in two big suitcases. The head is very fragile — it goes as carry-on baggage.” Robots already perform a wide variety of tasks in Japan: they cook noodles, help patients undergo physiotherapy and have been used in the clean-up after the 2011 nuclear meltdown at Fukushima. South Korea deploys jellyfish-terminating robots, while a robot with artificial intelligence able to analyse market trends has become a company director in Hong Kong. One day, predict future-gazers, robots will perform all kinds of household chores, monitor the sick, and even serve up cappuccinos. – Read More …
Julia Barretto (MNS Photo) THE camp of Julia Barretto clarified that the young actress’ decision to change her surname has nothing to do with the failure of his father, Dennis Padilla, to provide them financial support, but just “to prevent confusion”. Padilla became emotional when asked about his daughter’s decision to change her surname from “Baldivia,” his real family name, to “Barretto,” the surname of her mother. Padilla recalled that it was only last month when he started acting on rumors that Julia has a pending petition in court to change her family name. He went to Quezon City Family Court and discovered that the petition was actually filed in August 2013. “Sometimes I would think na hayaan na lang kung ayaw nilang gamitin yung family name ko. Tapos later on, close friends and family, sabi sa akin, ‘Dennis, ilaban mo ‘yung family name mo kasi tatay ka niya, dugo ka niya”, Dennis said. The actor-comedian said he understands the decision of Julia or her mother, Marjorie Barretto, to drop his family name as he admitted that he failed to provide for his children’s financial needs due to his irregular work in showbiz. “May karapatan sila na alisin kasi marami din naman akong pagkukulang. Ever since na nag separate kami [Marjorie], naging unstable yung career ko, political and showbiz, nag lie low ang career ko. Hindi dahil sa kagustuhan ko pero ganun talaga ang daigdig ng showbiz,” he said. “Itong past three years, hindi na talaga ako nakakapagbigay. I explained Read More …
President Benigno S. Aquino III leads the turnover of the food packs and matts to Basey Mayor Junji Ponferrada, and the local officials on Tuesday (November 19) during his visit to Basey in Western Samar. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Department of Agriculture(DA) on Thursday assured that there is enough food supply despite the damages wrought by Typhoon Glenda on the agri sector. At the same time, the DA assured that there will be no price hikes on basic food commodities, especially on rice and vegetables, in the coming days as the country had ample stocks prior to “Glenda’s” onslaught. Agriculture Sec. Proceso Alcala made the assurance during a press briefing after reporting on the damages incurred by the agri sector which was initially placed at Php2.324 billion. He said that although palay incurred Php512.7 million in damages while high value crops losses were estimated at Php481.15 million, these could be easily recovered. “The palay planting season had just started and losses were mostly on palay that have just been recently planted. These could be immediately replaced by planting new seeds that the DA would provide to farmers who were heavily affected,” he said. Likewise, he said that many farmers now has the capacity to easily recover from the effects of the typhoon, or any future calamity for the matter, as majority of farmers and fisherfolk in the country have availed of crop insurance. “We have seen an 800 percent increase in the number of farmers who have availed Read More …
View of Angat Dam from San Lorenzo (Hilltop), Norzagaray, Bulacan. http://en.wikipedia.org/ MANILA (Mabuhay) – After heavy rain from Typhoon Glenda (Rammasun) fell on Luzon Wednesday, water levels at Angat Dam in Bulacan finally rose for the first time in more than two months. PAGASA’s 6 a.m. update showed the water level at Angat was at 166.58 meters, 3.84 meters higher than the 162.74 meters on Wednesday. However, the 166.58 meters is still way below the 180-meter critical level for irrigation water, though it is above the 160-meter critical level for drinking water. Glenda dumped rain over Luzon and Visayas before exiting the Philippine Area of Responsibility Thursday morning. Water level at Angat Dam, which supplies more than 90 percent of Metro Manila’s water needs, had been falling since May. PAGASA said water levels at six other major Luzon dams also rose as of Thursday, including: La Mesa, 78.53 meters from 78.13 meters Wednesday Ambuklao, 741.20 meters frp, 740.22 meters Wednesday Binga, 568.49 meters from 567.70 meters Wednesday Pantabangan, 177.44 meters from 176.81 meters Wednesday Magat, 160.95 meters from 160.48 meters Wednesday Caliraya, 286.32 meters from 286.09 meters Wednesday However, water levels at two dams fell, including: Ipo, 99.73 meters from 100.90 meters Wednesday San Roque, 233.84 meters from 234.40 meters Wednesday (MNS)
The Department of Pathology and Laboratories of the Lung Center of the Philippines was established in 1982. It has been serving both physicians and patients for twenty four years. From basic clinical laboratory examinations, the laboratory has expanded its services and operations over the years. To date, it offers a wide range of laboratory examinations to aid physicians in the diagnosis and management of various disease entities, primarily chest diseases. (photo courtesy of www.lcp.gov.ph) MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP) defended the P70 million it received as funding from the Disbursement Acceleration Program for a stem cell research project. LCP Executive Director Jose Luis J. Danguilan admitted receiving P105 million in total allocations from the DAP, which he said was spent wisely. He said P35 million was spent for the LCP’s pediatric unit while the rest went to stem cell research. The stem cell research program was listed as the 15th item in the Department of Budget and Management list. It was named as the LCP’s Bio-Regenerative Technology Program. The project intends to “fund the Bio-Regenerative Program aimed at harnessing stem cell research and technology to reconstruct new healthy cells, replacing cancer or dead cells.” Danguilan said the equipment bought for both the stem cell and pediatric unit programs have other uses. “To spend the money wisely, it was decided that pieces of equipment needed for the Bioregenerative Program and the Pediatric Unit could also be used by the Department of Pathology and Laboratory, the Department Read More …
Officers of the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) led by general manager Eduardo Chu launch its monthly Manila Bay port clean-up campaign on Monday (July 29, 2013) at the Navotas Fish Port complex in Navotas City. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – A Chinese cargo ship from Hong Kong rescued four Filipino fishermen more than 100 nautical miles off the coast of Palawan Wednesday, the Philippine Coast Guard said Thursday. PCG Port State Control Commander Winchester Florentino identified the rescued fishermen as boat (MBCA John) captain Antonio Bon, RJ Mojico, Jaymar Selin, and Marjohn Aballe, all residents of Paluan, Occidental Mindoro. The fishermen left Mamburao on July 9 toward Palawan. On July 15, one of the boat rigs broke off and capsized the entire boat. “Isang araw at isang gabi rin silang nakahawak lamang sa tumaob nilang bangka (They spent a day and a night holding on to the capsized boat),” said Florentino. On Wednesday morning, the crew of the passing MV Pacific Pioneer spotted the fishermen and rescued them. Florentino said the rescued fishermen were already on their way home to rejoin their families. (MNS)
By Nestor Corrales |INQUIRER.net 5:19 pm | Saturday, July 19th, 2014 Department of Foreign Affairs building INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—Amid Israel’s air attacks on Gaza Strip, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has implemented a mandatory evacuation for Filipinos. “In view of the threats to security posed by the Israel-Hamas conflict to Filipinos in the Gaza Strip, the Department of Foreign Affairs has raised Alert Level 4 (Mandatory Repatriation) in Gaza,” DFA said in statement on Saturday. Meanwhile, alert level 2 (restriction phase) was raised in areas in Israel within 15 kilometers from the border with Gaza, while alert level 1 (precautionary phase) remains raised in the West Bank and in the rest of Israel. The agency said the Philippine embassies in Cairo, Tel Aviv, and Amman are ready to repatriate Filipinos from Gaza in coordination with concerned authorities of Israel, Egypt, Jordan and the United Nations and other international organizations operating in Gaza. It said the DFA continues to closely monitor developments and called for the cessation of hostilities to prevent further loss of innocent lives. RELATED STORIES Alert level 3 raised, voluntary repatriation of Filipinos in Gaza Strip urged Alerts raised in Kenya, Gaza Follow Us Other Stories: PH urges nations to unite to determine those responsible for ‘brutal act’ on MH17 Troops search for seized Germans ‘Tragedy after tragedy’ makes airline ‘toxic’ Filipino-Indon family also dead Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to Read More …
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By Nestor Corrales |INQUIRER.net 3:21 pm | Saturday, July 19th, 2014 A woman lays flowers near a sign reading “Putin kills children” in front of the Embassy of the Netherlands in Kiev on July 18, 2014 to pay tribute to the 298 people who died after flight MH17 of Malaysia Airlines crashed in rebel-held east Ukraine. The Boeing 777 came down in cornfields in the separatist-held region yesterday, spraying debris and body parts for kilometres around, with the United States claiming it was shot down in a missile attack. AFP PHOTO/ SERGEI SUPINSKY MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines on Saturday condemned the “brutal act” of shooting down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine that claimed the lives of 298 people, including three Filipinos. “We convey our profound condolences for all who perished in this tragedy,” the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement. “Those responsible should be made fully accountable for this unconscionable assault on a non-military aircraft that posed no threat whatsoever to any party,” it added. The DFA said the international community should unite to help determine those responsible for the “brutal act” and to take concerted action to help reduce such tragedies all around the world. “States and non-state elements in dispute should exercise restraint, respect international law, and search for the peaceful resolution of disputes,” it said.RELATED STORIES Filipino-Indon family also deadMother, 2 kids on board crashed MH17―DFA PH expresses ‘deepest sympathies’, seeks probe in MH17 crash Follow Us Other Stories: ‘Tragedy after tragedy’ Read More …