Comcast cites progress of effort to close digital divide

 News
Apr 032013
 
Comcast cites progress of effort to close digital divide

INQUIRER.net US Bureau 7:30 am | Thursday, April 4th, 2013 AFP FILE PHOTO WASHINGTON, D.C.– Comcast released the second progress report on its Internet Essentials program, the company’s major effort at  connecting lower-income Americans to the Internet. “In just 16 months, Internet Essentials has helped put a real dent in the digital divide and connected more than 150,000 low-income families, or 600,000 Americans, to the power of the Internet, most for the first time in their lives,” said Comcast Executive VP David L. Cohen. “That’s approximately the entire population of Washington, D.C. or Boston,” Cohen added. Internet Essentials is the nation’s largest, most comprehensive broadband adoption initiative designed to help close the digital divide. “When it comes to education, the Internet has changed everything,” said Miami-Dade Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho. Children, he said, can do research for their homework, and parents get connected to their child’s school to monitor grades and see their child’s development, Carvalho added. The 2nd Annual Internet Essentials Progress Report covers key program milestones through the end of 2012 milestones, a number of program enhancements and a new award designed to honor top-performing school districts.  Milestones include: Printed and shipped more than 25 million pieces of collateral material for free. Fielded more than one million phone calls in dedicated Internet Essentials call center. Distributed more than 15,000 computers at less than $150 each. Trained 10,000 people in-person about digital literacy and how to use the Internet. Received more than 800,000 visitors to the Internet Essentials and Read More …

KL rejects negotiation to end confrontation with Sulu group

 News
Mar 142013
 
KL rejects negotiation to end confrontation with Sulu group

By Allan NawalInquirer Mindanao 1:29 pm | Thursday, March 14th, 2013 Sultan of Sulu Jamalul Kiram III. AP FILE PHOTO DIGOS CITY, Philippines—The Malaysian government has closed the door to any negotiation to end the crisis in Sabah. The state-run Radio 24 reported Foreign Minister Anifah Aman as saying Malaysia will not entertain any negotiations at this time, including one being proposed by third parties such as the Philippine government. The broadcast was monitored via shortwave radio here. Asked whether Malaysia would allow third party emissaries to travel to Sabah to meet with the followers of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III there, Anifah replied, “If something bad happens to them, what effect would it have on Malaysia’s image?” 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: Features , Foreign affairs , Phil-Malaysian Relations , Sabah claim , Sultan of Sulu 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:

Aquino on top of Sabah situation, says Drilon

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Mar 042013
 
Aquino on top of Sabah situation, says Drilon

By Tetch Torres-Tupas INQUIRER.net 3:30 pm | Monday, March 4th, 2013 President Benigno S. Aquino III. Malacañang Photo Bureau MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino is on top of the situation with regards to the conflict in Sabah, Senator Franklin Drilon, Team PNoy campaign manager, said Monday. At the same time Drilon appealed to the people to stop inserting politics in the Sabah issue. “Campaign rhetoric should take a backseat so that we can properly address the welfare of the 800,000 Filipinos living in Sabah. Already 300 of our countrymen have been deported. We are making this appeal in behalf of our compatriots who are living and earning their living in Malaysia,” Drilon said at a press conference. Aquino has been criticized for being in Pampanga campaigning with Team PNoy senatorial candidates while the exchange of firefight was ongoing in Lahad Datu, Sabah. “Let me tell you from personal knowledge that while the President had to fulfill that commitment of the speaking engagement with the local leaders, he had to leave the stage to go back to the room and continue monitor the situation,” Drilon said. “He continues to govern, he’s on top of the situation and he has a schedule to follow. However, we will repeat, the welfare of 800,000 Filipinos which are caught in this very delicate situation in Sabah will be more than prime interest,” he added. “Let us not muddle an already complicated situation,” Drilon said.

Malaysia’s lease payments for Sabah bolsters sultan’s claim—Gazmin

 News
Feb 222013
 
Malaysia’s lease payments for Sabah bolsters sultan’s claim—Gazmin

By Frances MangosingINQUIRER.net 6:01 pm | Friday, February 22nd, 2013 Sultan of Sulu Jamalul Kiram III, left, joins prayers at the Blue Mosque in Taguig City Friday. AP MANILA, Philippines—Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said Friday Malaysia’s continuing payment of lease for Sabah bolsters the Philippine claim over the territory. “You see, the sultanate is being paid 5,000 ringgit up to now,” said Gazmin, referring to the nominal yearly compensation the heirs to the Sultanate of Sulu receive from Malaysia under a long-standing agreement. “So if you are being paid then there’s claim,” he said in a press briefing. Dozens of followers of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III sailed over to neighboring Sabah island more than a week ago to assert their centuries-old claim over the area. Also among their demands is additional compensation. Malaysian authorities surrounded the group, which is believed to be made up of anywhere between 80 and 400 people, and a stand-off has since been in place while negotiations continue. Kuala Lumpur has given the 300 followers of the sultan led by his brother, Agbimuddin Kiram, until Friday to decide whether to leave on their own, or be rounded up and deported. But Gazmin said that while the claims of royal family could be valid, it is not right to send an armed group to Sabah to reclaim their territory. President Benigno Aquino in his first public comments on the issue Thursday said: “Going there with arms is not the way to resolve this.” “When you brandish arms, Read More …

Filipino among 7 foreigners kidnapped in Nigeria

 News
Feb 182013
 

Associated Press 9:36 pm | Monday, February 18th, 2013 BAUCHI, Nigeria  — A shadow Islamic extremist group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of seven foreign workers in northern Nigeria. In a statement Monday, the group that calls itself Ansaru claimed the kidnapping of the one British citizen, one Greek, one Italian, three Lebanese and one Filipino on Saturday night. Ansaru also threatened that Nigerian and European authorities shouldn’t “act contrary to our conditions.” The short statement offered no conditions, suggesting ransom demands would follow. The kidnapping happened in Jama’are, a town about 200 kilometers (125 miles) north of Bauchi, the capital of Bauchi state. Nigeria’s predominantly Muslim north has been under attack by the radical Islamic sect known as Boko Haram over the last two years. Ansaru is a new group that recently sprung up in the region.

Canadian’s year-old son abducted along with nanny in Pagadian

 News
Feb 072013
 
Canadian’s year-old son abducted along with nanny in Pagadian

By Richel Umel Inquirer Mindanao 5:09 pm | Thursday, February 7th, 2013 ILIGAN CITY, Philippines – A group of still unidentified armed men snatched the one-year old son of a Pagadian City-based Canadian businessman and the boy’s nanny around 6:30 a.m. Thursday. Superintendent Julius Munez, Pagadian City police chief, said the armed men barged into the house of the family of the Canadian trader on Sto. Rosario Road in Dau village and took the boy and the nanny at gunpoint. The boy’s father was not around when the gunmen struck. Munez said police have launched a search and rescue operation to recover the victims.

DOJ urged to take legal action vs US Navy for Tubbataha destruction

 News
Feb 042013
 
DOJ urged to take legal action vs US Navy for Tubbataha destruction

INQUIRER.net 10:51 am | Tuesday, February 5th, 2013 In a photo released by the U.S. Navy, the mine countermeasures ship USS Guardian sits aground in this Jan. 22, 2013 file photo on the Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea in the Philippines. AP Photo/U.S. Navy. Naval Aircrewman 3rd Class Geoffrey Trudell MANILA, Philippines — Militant fisherfolk group Pamalakaya (Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas) filed a complaint Tuesday before the Department of Justice, urging it to take legal action against the US Navy and crew members of USS Guardian. Mara Cepeda and Caitlin Jao

Assad not seeking asylum in PH–DFA

 News
Jan 312013
 
Assad not seeking asylum in PH–DFA

By Tarra Quismundo Philippine Daily Inquirer 1:26 am | Friday, February 1st, 2013 The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday denied a newspaper report that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is seeking asylum in the Philippines amid the escalating violence in his country. Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario categorically denied the story (not in the Philippine Daily Inquirer) that suggested the matter was  discussed at a meeting on Tuesday between Bouthaina Shabaan, a trusted adviser of the beleaguered Syrian leader, and President Aquino. “There was absolutely no discussion on the matter,” Del Rosario said in a text message. “There is no truth to that report that President Assad is seeking asylum in the Philippines. In other words, the unnamed sources gave the wrong information,” Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez, the DFA spokesperson, told a press briefing Thursday. He said Shabaan indeed handed a letter to the President but that the two sides did not talk about the possibility of asylum for Assad in the Philippines. ‘Political solutions’ He explained that Shabaan’s visit was part of Syria’s campaign to inform the international community about “political solutions” that the Syrian government is considering to end its the conflict with rebel forces. Hernandez characterized the meeting as a “sharing of information” on Syria’s plans, adding that Shabaan went on to visit other countries after she left the Philippines. “It’s part of their campaign to the international community that this is how they would like to solve their crisis.  Usually, this is what happens when Read More …

Bridge to connect 2 villages, 2 provinces in Southern Luzon

 News
Jan 272013
 
Bridge to connect 2 villages, 2 provinces in Southern Luzon

By DJ Yap, Tonette OrejasInquirer Central Luzon, Philippine Daily Inquirer 1:20 am | Monday, January 28th, 2013 Two villages in two different provinces in Southern Luzon are named after the same waterway that separates them: the Umiray River. Soon, a bridge costing nearly half a billion pesos to build will connect Barangay (village) Umiray in Dingalan town in Aurora province to Barangay Umiray in General Nakar town in Quezon province, according to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). Philippine and Japanese officials broke ground at the boundaries of the two provinces on Wednesday to mark the start of the construction of the 358-meter, P468-million Umiray Bridge, which would connect not only Aurora and Quezon but also Central Luzon and Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon). In a statement from the DAR, Undersecretary for Support Services Jerry Pacturan said the bridge would allow farmers and traders on both sides of the river to transport their goods with ease, spurring rural development, easing poverty and ensuring food security. Residents of the two Umiray villages spend a considerable sum on moving goods across the river. Hauling costs them P50 to P70 and transport by boat costs them P20. But once the bridge is finished by June 2014, the cost will be reduced to P15, Pacturan said. The bridge will be completed in time for the expiration of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. Exit project Pacturan said the bridge would be a “fitting graceful exit project for the … social justice program” of Read More …

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