SM says 'martilyo' gang behind mall robbery

MANILA, Philippines (3rd UPDATE) – A robbery incident took place inside SM North EDSA in Quezon City on Sunday night, December 15, causing commotion in the mall.

A statement by SM Premier Mall Vice President for Operations Steven Tan said the incident involved the "martilyo (hammer) gang," which is known for targeting jewelry shops.

In a phone interview, Tan said the group robbed one store, but no one was hurt.

Tan also denied there was shooting involved like what social media posts had claimed.

He added that the police are now on top of the situation and the mall has resumed normal operations.

Hours after the incident, President Benigno Aquino III and Interior Secretary Mar Roxas visited the crime scene to personally check the situation, ABS-CBN News reported.

Earlier tweets claimed people ran towards the mall's exits as gun shots were heard at the mall's department store.

Source: rappler.com

Apple wins court battle against Samsung

South Korea's Samsung on Thursday lost its latest claim in a long-running global copyright battle against bitter rival Apple, a surprise blow to the electronics giant in its home market.

A court rejected Samsung's claims that some Apple products had infringed on three of its patents covering messaging technology for mobile devices.

It's the first time a South Korean court has ruled against Samsung in its battle with Apple. Samsung described Thursday's ruling as "preliminary" and indicated it would continue its battle at home.

"We are disappointed by the court's decision. As Apple has continued to infringe our patented mobile technologies, we will continue to take the measures necessary to protect our intellectual property rights," Samsung said in a statement.

South Korea's Samsung on Thursday lost its latest claim in a long-running global copyright battle against bitter rival Apple, a surprise blow to the electronics giant in its home market

The ruling dealt a blow to Samsung's efforts to build its case over patents covering the designs and functions of smartphones.

Snubbed by taxi drivers? call 4592129

Manila, Philippines -- Commuters who may fall prey to “snobbish” taxi drivers in trying to catch a ride at the airport or malls this holiday season have a new hotline number to call.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) launched a new hotline for passenger complaints: 4592129.

In cooperation with the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP), the LTFRB inaugurates its new call center hotline that operates 24 hours a day and seven days a week to entertain commuter calls.

“To ensure that the public can easily report erring drivers who refuse to carry them to their destinations, overcharging and other malpractices, LTFRB signed a Memorandum of Agreement with AAP with its call 24/7, 365-day center services.”

Paul Walker Dead at 40 In Fiery Car Crash

Paul Walker -- best known for his role in "The Fast and the Furious" movies -- died Saturday afternoon after a single-car accident and explosion in Southern California ... TMZ has learned.

The accident happened in Santa Clarita -- north of Los Angeles -- and according to multiple sources connected to Paul ... the actor was in a Porsche when the driver somehow lost control and slammed into a post or a tree ... and then the car burst into flames.

Several of our sources -- some who are still at the scene of the accident -- tell us Paul and another person in the car were killed. Law enforcement is still on the scene, and we're told the L.A. County Coroner's Office is on the way.

At this point, it's unclear what caused the accident, or who was behind the wheel when it happened.

Paul was 40 years old.

Sources close to Paul tell us he was in Santa Clarita for a car show to support the Philippines typhoon relief effort, and had been taking friends out for rides in his new Porsche GT. The accident happened during one of those test spins.

Story developing ...

Source: TMZ

ABS-CBN suspends Korina Sanchez for 1 year?

Contrary to what Korina Sanchez announced recently on her DZMM program Rated Korina, the multi-awarded and veteran broadcaster is actually suspended by her mother network ABS-CBN for an entire year following a conflict with CNN reporter Anderson Cooper, Inquirer’s Bandera wrote.

Bandera cited a source saying that there “then came a much bigger sanction” following early reports that ABS-CBN suspended Sanchez for a week (only). Something that the host denied.

If this report is correct, it means that the public will not be seeing or hearing Sanchez in TV Patrol and DZMM until the latter part of 2014.

Sanchez has been a subject of internet hate following a tiff with Cooper. Her donation for Yolanda victims were mocked and rendered useless by netizens calling the anchor epal.

Source: http://www.talk.ph

Dramatic U.S. humanitarian effort in Philippines aids Asia "pivot"

By Manuel Mogato and Aubrey Belford

MANILA/TACLOBAN, Philippines (Reuters) - The U.S. military's response to the devastation wrought by one of the world's most powerful typhoons has been breathtaking.

About 50 U.S. ships and aircraft have been mobilized in the disaster zone, including 10 C-130 transport planes, 12 V-22 Ospreys and 14 Seahawk helicopters air-dropping supplies from an aircraft carrier.

The accelerating relief efforts underscore a fast-expanding U.S.-Philippine military alliance that could grow even stronger in the wake of the catastrophe as the United States pursues its "pivot" towards Asia.

As U.S. ships deliver food, water and medicine, they are also delivering goodwill that could ease the way for the United States to strengthen its often-controversial military presence in one of Southeast Asia's most strategic countries.

"It is not that the United States used assistance to promote rebalancing, but that rebalancing enabled to the U.S. to respond so decisively," said Asia security expert Carl Thayer.

The Philippines is one of Washington's closest allies in Asia and a crucial partner in President Barack Obama's strategy to rebalance U.S. military forces towards the region to counter the rising influence of China.

The United States sent the nuclear-powered USS George Washington aircraft carrier to lead relief efforts after Typhoon Haiyan killed at least 3,900 people on November 8, leaving many survivors dazed and without food and water for days.

Korina Sanchez Suspension Rumors Surfaced Online After Rift with CNN’s Anderson Cooper

Korina Sanchez have been suspended by ABS-CBN after her rift with international journalist Anderson Cooper of CNN. This is the hottest rumors that surfaced online on Sunday, after PhilStar reported about the long days of absence by Korina Sanchez on TV Patrol.

For the past few days, Korina Sanchez was not seen in the Philippines most popular news segment on prime time TV, ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol. According to some sources cited by PhilStar, Korina Sanchez is currently in vacation.

PhilStar also cited that the vacation of Korina Sanchez according to their sources was the effect of Korina’s statement against Anderson Cooper on his radio program at DZMM. Korina Sanchez was also lambasted online with her reactions to Copper’s reporting.

Anderson Cooper also replied with what Korina have stated on her radio program and even answered the allegations made by Korina Sanchez with a replay of his report in Tacloban City, aside from challenging Sanchez to come to Tacloban to proved his report.

The CNN journalist Anderson Cooper is now considered as hero in the Philippines especially on social media because of his truthful reporting and his commendation of the Filipino spirits who survived despite the huge devastation suffered from super typhoon Yolanda.

According to some netizens, the last time that they saw Korina Sanchez reports for TV Patrol was on Thursday wherein she traveled to Ormoc City to report the aftermath of the typhoon. She didn’t appear on the evening news after that report, she was instead temporarily replaced by Bernadette Sembrano.

Source:http://philnews.ph

Typhoon Haiyan: No medicine, little aid at Tacloban clinic

Tacloban, Philippines (CNN) -- The cries of the suffering carried through a small, cramped one-story clinic in typhoon-ravaged Tacloban where the medicine was all but gone Thursday, but the number of wounded in the hard-hit Philippine city continued to grow.

The clinic at the airport in the decimated capital city of Leyte province is one of the few places where those injured in Super Typhoon Haiyan and its aftermath can turn for help, what little help there is six days after the storm. 

"We don't have any medicines. We don't have any supplies. We have IVs, but it's running out," Dr. Katrina Catabay told CNN.

"Most of the people don't have water and food. That's why they come here. Most of the kids are dehydrated. They are suffering from diarrhea and vomiting."

Help is coming, on military and civilian transports, by air and by sea. But much of it has been piling up at airports.

Read more at CNN

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Video Tribute to Typhoon Yolanda Victims

A typhoon is a mature tropical cyclone that develops in the western part of the Pacific Ocean between 180° and 100°E. This region is referred to as the northwest Pacific basin.[1] For organisational purposes, the northern Pacific Ocean is divided into three regions: the eastern (North America to 140°W), central (140°W to 180°), and western (180° to 100°E). The Regional Specialized Meteorological Center (RSMC) for tropical cyclone forecasts is in Japan, with other tropical cyclone warning centers for the northwest Pacific in Honolulu (the Joint Typhoon Warning Center), the Philippines and Hong Kong. While the RSMC names each system, the main name list itself is coordinated amongst 18 countries that have territories threatened by typhoons each year. The Philippines use their own naming list for systems which approach the country.

Within the northwestern Pacific there are no official typhoon seasons as tropical cyclones form throughout the year. Like any tropical cyclone, there are six main requirements for typhoon formation and development: sufficiently warm sea surface temperatures, atmospheric instability, high humidity in the lower to middle levels of the troposphere, enough Coriolis force to develop a low pressure center, a pre-existing low level focus or disturbance, and low vertical wind shear. The majority of storms form between June and November whilst tropical cyclone formation is at a minimum between December and May. On average, the northwestern Pacific features the most numerous and intense tropical cyclones globally. Like other basins, they are steered by the subtropical ridge towards the west or northwest, with some systems recurving near and east of Japan. The Philippines receive a brunt of the landfalls, with China and Japan being impacted slightly less. Some of the deadliest typhoons in history have struck China. Southern China has the longest record of typhoon impacts for the region, with a thousand year sample via documents within their archives. Taiwan has received the wettest known typhoon on record for the northwest Pacific tropical cyclone basin.

Source: wikipedia.org

PNoy appeals for sobriety in reporting fatality figures from Typhoon Yolanda

President Benigno Aquino III on Sunday night appealed against reporting unconfirmed casualty figures from Super Typhoon Yoland, particularly those in Leyte.

Radio dzBB reported that Aquino, who visited Yolanda-hit areas including Tacloban City, met Sunday night with concerned officials at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council when he made the appeal.

Tacloban City after typhoon Yolanda (Image source: cnn.com)

News reports have cited fatality figures as high as 10,000.

Meanwhile, official numbers from the NDRRMC released Sunday night set the number of confirmed fatalities at 229. The injured now number 45, with 28 still missing. 

Typhoon likely killed 'hundreds' in Philippines: govt

A super typhoon likely killed hundreds of people in and around one Philippine town, a government minister who toured the area said Saturday.

AFP News - This NOAA image shows Super Typhoon Haiyan taken by the Japan Meteorological Agency's MTSAT at 0630Z on November 7, 2013

"I think hundreds," Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla said on ABS-CBN television when asked how many people had died in the coastal town of c and surrounding villages that he visited on devastated Leyte island.

Palo and the neighbouring city of Tacloban were struck by devastating storm surges early Friday as Super Typhoon Haiyan began scything through major central islands, disaster officials have said.

The government earlier said more than a hundred people were believed to have been killed in Tacloban.

Whistleblowers' convoy meets accident on the way to Senate

The whistleblowers of the multi-billion pork barrel scam had a scare on their way to the Senate, Thursday morning.

In a report by ABS-CBN News’ Jay Ruiz, on their way to the Senate, the vehicle they were riding met an accident on the corner of Rajah Sulayman and service road of Roxas Boulevard as a Nissan Urban Van hits a speeding Toyota Corolla Altis.

Authorities from the Witness Protection Program who were escorting them got out of the vehicles with their guns cocked and ready thinking it was attempt to hurt the whistleblowers.

It turned out to be a simple vehicular accident and no one was injured. The vehicles were however sustained damage due to the collision.

The group of the whistleblowers arrived in the Senate at around 9:25 a.m. 

Merlina Suñas, former employee of businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles, project coordinator, and a president of one of Napoles’ NGO said they are ready to face the businesswoman before the senate.

Napoles and the group of whistleblowers were summoned before the Senate for Blue Ribbon Committee’s hearing of the pork barrel scam.

Source: http://anc.yahoo.com/news

Tom Cruise shuns ‘abandonment’ claims

Tom Cruise contends he’s “extremely close” to his daughter in new court documents.

The 51-year-old actor is currently embroiled in a $50 million court case he initiated against the publishers of Life & Style and In Touch magazines over a cover story they ran claiming he “abandoned” Suri, his daughter with ex-wife Katie Holmes.

TMZ reports the actor has just filed legal documents in the proceedings, defending his relationship with the seven-year-old.

"I have in no way cut Suri out of my life - whether physically, emotionally, financially or otherwise,” he allegedly writes, adding, “Even during the times when I was working overseas and was not able to see Suri in person, we were (and continue to be) extremely close."

Tom’s divorce from Katie was finalised in July 2012, less than two weeks after their split was announced.

Under New York state law, details on their settlement agreement remain sealed.

Tom’s filings now offer for the first time detailed insight into what really happened between the actor, Katie and Suri that summer.

“As my numerous emails with Suri's mother during this time period demonstrate, I was a constant presence in Suri's life,” he reveals.

"While I'm sure my daughter misses me when I am not with her (as I miss her), she is a very happy child, and we have a wonderful relationship and cheerful phone calls."

In his multimillion dollar suit against Bauer Publishing, Tom argues the company’s tabloids defamed him by running the article.

His lawyer, Bert Fields, previously confirmed the star will give any damages awarded in the case to charity should he receive a favourable ruling.

Source: http://ph.omg.yahoo.com

Possible super typhoon may hit PHL on Thursday

Weather forecasters have advised residents of the Bicol and Eastern Visayas regions to prepare for a cyclone approaching from the east that may have the makings of a super typhoon.

The US Joint Typhoon Warning Center said Tuesday morning that the cyclone, internationally codenamed Haiyan, may grow progressively more powerful until at least Nov. 7, Thursday.

On Tuesday morning CNN made a forecast that Haiyan could be at super typhoon strength by the time it strikes the central Philippines. The CNN forecast said the super typhoon could hit the Bicol region. 

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center of the United States Navy said in a forecast Tuesday morning that the next cyclone approaching the Philippines could have peak near-center winds of 130 knots and gusts of 160 knots when it hits the country late Thursday or early Friday. US Navy/JTWC

GMA News' resident meteorologist Nathaniel Cruz shared with GMA News Online on Tuesday that as early as now, disaster preparedness officials must advise residents of Bicol and Eastern Visayas that Haiyan could hit their areas at typhoon strength at the very least.

PAGASA defines a super typhoon as one having maximum winds greater than 200 kph.

PAGASA: 'Wilma' may reintensify, coming new cyclone may threaten Eastern Visayas

After weakening into a low-pressure area, the weather system previously known as Tropical Depression Wilma may reintensify into a cyclone as it moves away from the country, state weather forecasters said Tuesday.

PAGASA forecaster Fernando Cada said the LPA was estimated at 190 km northeast of Puerto Princesa City, and may become a cyclone anew once it reaches the Philippine Sea.

"Sa analysis natin itong Wilma may chance mag reintensify into a tropical depression pero nakikita natin dito na sa Philippine Sea na ito, 'pag lampas sa area ng Palawan," Cada said in an interview on dzBB radio.

On the other hand, Cada said PAGASA continues to monitor the approach of a tropical storm from the east.

He said the tropical storm, internationally codenamed Haiyan, may become a typhoon before entering the Philippine area of responsibility Wednesday night or early Thursday.

The Hidden Risks of ink tank-based Printers

Avoid #HiddenRisks when buying a printer! Spread the word!:) 

Ink Tanks: Uncover the Hidden Truths. On the surface, ink tank printers seem like a good idea. However, when you look a bit closer you'll start to uncover plenty of issues. Spread the word!

Taxi Modus Operandi

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Born With Two Vaginas: Not So Rare

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“I thought it was amazing and it’s definitely an ice-breaker at parties,” she said. “If women want to have a look, I’m quite happy to show them, it’s not something I’m embarrassed by.”

Jones has a septum or dividing wall between her two vaginas, which occurred during her own development in the womb, say her doctors. The condition occurs in about one in 3,000 women, according to the World Health Organization. Women can have children, although they are more apt to require a C-section section, as babies are often born breech.

A variety of uterine or mullerian anomalies occur in about 1 in 200 births, according to Berghella. “You do the math – probably more than 100 million women in the world have it.” 

“The reproductive tract is made of two tubes next to each other all the way from the vagina to the fallopian tubes,” he said. “They are supposed to fuse at the level of the vagina so they are only one. For whatever reason — it’s unknown — the two tubes don’t fuse and you have double. There are more than 10 variations and sometimes you have two uteruses.” 

Facebook now has 351 million active users in Asia

Facebook’s (FB) newest figures for Q3 2013 are out, showing strong numbers that beat expectations with $2.02 billion in total revenue.

The revenue figure for Asia rose to $278 million in Q3, up from $154 million at the same point last year.
Facebook’s monthly active users in Asia are also up, now standing at 351 million. That’s up from 277 million a year ago. Facebook Q3 figures for Asia, 01

While Facebook’s average revenue per active user in Asia is up, it’s still dwarfed by the whopping $962 million that Facebook makes from just the 199 million active users in the US and Canada.

The NextBigWhat blog crew notes that Facebook’s earnings teleconference mentioned that developing markets like India and Turkey likely have more spam/fake or duplicate accounts than the global average. Duplicate accounts maybe constitute between 0.8 and 2.1 percent of the active users on Facebook, while spammers might make up between 0.4 and 1.2 percent of its worldwide active user-base.

Source: yahoo.com

Did you change your profile picture to a giraffe?

Does anyone recognize this riddle? This post has been spreading like wildfire all over Facebook and chances are, you probably woke up wondering why your Facebook wall is filled with pictures of giraffes. Those poor souls unfortunately got the answer wrong and decided to play along with the riddle. 

 

But where did this post come from?

Online blogger Vernon Chan seems to think that this has some connection to a story from BBC back in 2012. A nine-month-old baby called Millie Elizabeth Josephine Thompson died from choking on food. Distraught, her parents set up the Millie’s Trust to raise awareness in Paediatric First Aid.

In a separate incident, a zoo called Chester Zoo celebrated the birth of a Rothschild giraffe, the world’s most endangered sub-species of giraffe on March 25, 2013. The zoo decided to name the rare giraffe calf, Millie, in memory of Millie Thompson, and Millie's Trust now supports Chester Zoo in efforts to raise funds for Millie the giraffe's upbringing.

We still don't see the connection to the riddle though, and neither does he. However, it does make for a decent story to tell your friends over lunch, and spread awareness about a good cause too!

Oh, and what's the answer to this riddle? Naw, we won't spoil it for you. Go ahead and think about it (it's obviously none of the options provided in the riddle), and put your answer in the comments! 

Source: yahoo.com

Philippine earthquake creates miles-long rocky wall

A deadly earthquake that struck the Philippines last week created a spectacular rocky wall that stretches for kilometres (miles) through farmlands, astounded geologists said Thursday.

Dramatic pictures of the Earth-altering power of the 7.1-magnitide quake have emerged as the government worked to mend the broken central island of Bohol, ground zero of the destruction.

A "ground rupture" pushed up a stretch of ground by up to three metres (10 feet), creating a wall of rock above the epicentre, Maria Isabel Abigania, a geologist at the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, told AFP.

"Our people have walked five kilometres (three miles) so far and not found the end of this wall," she said, as experts from the institute surveyed the damage.

"So far we have not gotten any reports of people getting swallowed up in these cracks. The fault runs along a less-populated area."

A photograph on the institute's website showed part of the rock wall grotesquely rising on farmland behind an unscathed bamboo hut.

Another house was shown lodged in a crack of the Earth, while a big hole on the ground opened up at a banana farm.

Renato Solidum, head of the institute, said the ground fissures from the quake, which killed 198 people on Bohol and two nearby islands, were among the largest recorded since the government agency began keeping quake records in 1987.

"Most of our other quake records show a lateral (sideways) tearing of the earth, though we've also had coral reefs rising from the sea," he said, citing a 6.7-magnitude earthquake that hit the central island of Negros last year.

The Philippines lies on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire made up of chains of islands created by volcanic eruption that are also frequently hit by earthquakes.

President Benigno Aquino told reporters Thursday the institute had assured him the worst was over, though Bohol would continue to be hit by aftershocks over the next few weeks.

"There is no immediate danger" either from the aftershocks or from the ground fissures, said Aquino, who slept in an army tent there overnight Wednesday in solidarity with the survivors.

Source: msn.com

60-year-old legendary singer Freddie Aguilar admits to dating 16-year-old girl

Marami ang naging curious sa batambatang ka-date ng legendary folk singer na si Freddie Aguilar sa 5th Star Awards for Music noong Linggo, October 13, sa Solaire Resort and Casino, Pasay City.

Tumanggap si Freddie ng Lifetime Achievement Award noong gabing iyon.

Click here for the full story.

7.3 quake hits Bohol and nearby provinces

A 7.3 magnitude quake was recorded near Bohol Tuesday morning.

The US Geographical Survey said that the quake was recorded two kilometers south of Nueva Vida Sur in Carmen town at 8:12 a.m. Philippine time.

It had a depth of 33 kilometers.

Residents in nearby province Cebu also posted on Twitter that they also felt the earthquake there. No other details were available as of posting time.

Source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Marilyn Monroe plastic surgery files to be sold

Medical files proving that screen icon Marilyn Monroe underwent cosmetic surgery including on her nose and chin are to be sold at auction next month, auctioneers said Tuesday.

The files going under the hammer include X-rays of the "Some Like It Hot" sex symbol who died aged 36 in 1962, as well as doctors' notes which show she had an ectopic pregnancy five years before her death. "Rumors regarding Marilyn Monroe's plastic surgery continue to astonish the media and public," and exactly what procedures she underwent has "long remained a mystery," said Julien's Auctions in Hollywood.

"Because her looks were so natural, it was hard for many to believe the reports that in 1950 Monroe had undergone her first plastic surgery."

But it said the files "clear any doubt of Monroe's early plastic surgery procedures and cast new details on the actual procedures that would transform (Monroe) during a time when plastic surgery was not a popular procedure." The medical records refer to Monroe by various aliases, including Marilyn Miller. She saw Dr. Michael Gurdin from July 1958, and her chief complaint was "chin deformity."

1.           US actress Marilyn Monroe in 1962

Pork Barrel

Pork Barrel

3 girls crush wailing puppy to death

MANILA, Philippines—A new “crush video” is making the rounds on social media showing three girls in shorts stepping on a wailing puppy until it died.

The barefoot women, whose faces were shown on the video, are allegedly Filipinas.

It caught the attention of the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), which has launched a search for the women and other people involved in the production of the video.

“If someone can actually give us the names and addresses of the people in the video, we can file the case immediately,” the animal welfare group said, adding it has forwarded the video to the Bureau of Animal Industry-Animal Welfare Division.

“Crush videos” are sexual fetish films in which small animals are maimed or killed through extreme brutality. Cruelty to animals is punishable under Republic Act 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act of 1998.

“Crush videos” first surfaced in the Philippines in 2011 as scantily clad girls crushing to death small animals were sold as fetish films online.

A couple in Bacnotan, La Union was caught that year for hiring girls aged 12 to 18, who tortured and killed animals in crush films sold for P100 to P1,000 per video.

Source: http://technology.inquirer.net

Chito Miranda And Neri Naig Video Scandal Part 2

The second part of the video scandal

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Miss World 2013

The new Miss World, Megan Young, from the Philippines stands after winning the crown during the Miss World 2013 finals in Nusa Dua, on Indonesia's resort island of Bali on September 28, 2013

Click here for more Miss World 2013

Image Source: http://ph.omg.yahoo.com

Alcohol deaths of UK women in 30s see 'worrying rise'

Alcohol-related deaths of women born in the 1970s have "disproportionately increased" in the last decade, according to a study of three cities in England and Scotland published Friday.

Researchers called for urgent action to tackle what they said was a "worrying trend" in rising deaths from alcohol misuse by women in their 30s and 40s, unseen among men of the same age group.

The study, undertaken by the Glasgow Centre for Population Health and published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, was based on research in three cities: Glasgow, Manchester and Liverpool.

It looked at all alcohol-related deaths from 1980 to 2011 among people born between 1910 and 1979.

Overall, alcohol-related deaths were three times higher in Glasgow in the late 1980s than in Manchester and Liverpool and increased in all three cities until the early 2000s when it levelled out.

Women born between 1970 and 1979 were the exception to this trend, however, with death rates continuing to rise.

Researchers said that women born in that decade were dying from alcohol-related causes at an earlier age than women born before 1970 and in "notable numbers" during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

The report comes a day after the government dropped plans to introduce minimum price levels for alcohol in England and Wales.

The Scottish government wants to introducing minimum unit pricing north of the border despite a legal challenge from the Scotch Whisky Association.

Researchers urged policymakers to act to reverse the trend, saying the findings should act as a "warning signal" to prevent further tragedies.

iPanel Online Market Research

About iPanel Online

Company Background

The iPanel Online Market Research Co., Ltd. was founded in 2004 in Shanghai. We are one of the earliest online market research samples providers in China. We recruit volunteers through internet to realize our projects and the validity of their membership is guaranteed by our advanced technology. The quality of the sample is one of the most important principles that we adhere to. Our integrity and the quality of our work are the key to our survival and development. Today, we are confident and proud to say that iPanel has become one of the largest sample providers in Asia-Pacific regions and that we are ready for bigger challenges.

Business scope

With the help of an advanced sample collecting technology and a quality member database control system, we invite panelists from all over the world to realize our online survey. Through our efforts, our membership range has covered China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, Vietnam，Philippines...etc.

Core Team

Rita SONG: CEO, one of the main founders of the company. She has 10 years’ experience in Internet and software development and currently serves as the company's CTO.

From 2004 to 2008 she was the Technical Director in AIP Shanghai Co.,Ltd, involved in the development of the Panel management system, contributing to AIP’s later becoming Asia’s largest samples supplier.

Jason JIANG: Technical Director, one of the main founders of the company. Graduated from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, he has 10 years’ experience in IT management and development.

Technical Development Manager in Cardinfo Co.,Ltd from 2005 to 2008. During his tenure, he led the team developing online payment system and value-added consumer card management system.

Click here to register.

Source: ipanelonline.com

Apple customers frustrated by lengthy iOS 7 download delays

There have been widespread complaints from Apple users about the latest software for iPhones and iPads amid lengthy delays in downloading the new features.

An Apple iPhone with iOS 7 software, left, is displayed next to an iPhone with the older iOS 6 operating system. Photograph: Mark Lennihan/AP

Customers took to Twitter to complain about problems in downloading iOS 7 on to their mobile devices after the update came online at 6pm BST.

The new operating system overhauls the look of iPhones and iPads and brings in a number of new navigation features – the biggest change in the look of the software since the iPhone was launched in 2007.

Some users claimed the download – which required a Wi-Fi signal – was taking a number of hours to complete.

Washington Navy Shootings

A former US naval reservist opened fire at a base in the heart of Washington on Monday, killing 12 people and exchanging fire with police before losing his own life.

Aaron Alexis - reportedly the man who carried out the shootings in Washington Navy Yard. FBI mugshot of the man who carried out the shootings. 

Aaron Alexis

Source: msn.com

How Did Wal-Mart's IPhone Discount Defeat Apple's Price Controls?

Wal-Mart Stores (WMT) plans to sell the newest iterations of iPhones at a discount, a pricing strategy that Apple (AAPL) has managed to squash for years. The cheaper iPhone 5c will be sold at the world’s largest retailer for $79 along with a standard two-year service contract, 20 percent less than anywhere else in the U.S. The higher-end iPhone 5s will sell for $189, $10 cheaper than its typical sticker price with a service contract.

In the world of smartphone retail, this marks something of a breakthrough. Apple for decades has excelled at making sure the prices for its gadgets were as simple and as stripped down as the products themselves—a level of control achieved through a fairly aggressive combination of carrot and stick known as “price maintenance.”

Apple typically sets a minimum advertised price with retailers that isn’t a requirement but is a strong suggestion. The tech giant then promises to kick in a tidy financial incentive in the form of marketing dollars if the retailer keeps its gadget prices at that level or above. There have even been reports of Apple cutting off supplies to stores that strayed below the sticker-price threshold. The system ensures that small retailers won’t be undercut by big-box stores willing to squeeze margins or even take a loss. It also helps make sure every retailer is on a par with the prices in Apple’s own retail stores. VIDEO: AT&T, T-Mobile Offer iPhone 5C No Money Down Deals

Blobfish voted 'world's ugliest animal

The unfortunately named blobfish, the world's most miserable-looking fish who is now in danger of being wiped out. The blobfish has already acquired a reputation for looking sad thanks to its miserable mush. The bloated bottom dweller, which can grow up to 12 inches, lives at depths of up to 900m making it rarely seen by humans. But thanks to increasing fishing of the seas Down Under the fish is being dragged up with other catches. Despite being unedible itself, the blobfish unluckily lives at the same depths as other more appetising ocean organisms, including crab and lobster.

Source: yahoo.com

Muslim rebel attack shuts down Philippine city

A group of 100 heavily-armed Muslim rebels opposed to peace talks launched a major attack that shut down a bustling southern Philippine city Monday, authorities said.

Followers of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) leader Nur Misuari entered the coastal area of Zamboanga city by boat at dawn, triggering clashes that left at least one soldier dead and six wounded, the military said.

A police sniper gets into position to confront MNLF rebels in Zamboanga City in the Philippines on September 9, 2013. A group of 100 rebels arrived by boat and took 20 civilians hostage, shooting dead a soldier and wounding six others

Fighting later spread to the city itself, with the rebels taking 20 civilian hostages to thwart government forces.

"The main target by the MNLF in encroaching Zamboanga City is to raise their banner of independence at city hall," city mayor Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said.

"As of now there are an estimated 20 people that have been held hostage," she said.

The long-running Muslim insurgency in the Philippines has left more than 150,000 dead, and led to a proliferation of armed groups that have left parts of Mindanao in a constant state of lawlessness.

Misuari's faction of the fractured MNLF, which he founded in the early 1970s, has made a renewed call for an independent Islamic state in the mainly-Catholic Philippines.

The government has been mired in troubled peace negotiations with rebel groups -- last month Misuari again declared he was breaking away from the government because he believed they were sidelining his group.

While some within the divided MNLF respect the peace process others, including Misuari's wing, are opposed to it.

Loud shots could be heard Monday around Zamboanga, a former colonial Spanish port with a population of nearly a million and one of the busiest commercial hubs on southern Mindanao island.

Daiana Menezes

Daiana Menezes-Benaldo is a Brazilian actress, model,and television host based in the Philippines and working for the GMA Network. Menezes is best known as one of the hosts of Eat Bulaga!. 

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Source: Wikipedia

Wally, EB Babe Yosh sex scandal goes viral

MANILA, Philippines – The Internet sizzled anew over an alleged sex video of comedian Wally Bayola and sexy dancer EB Babe Yosh. 

The new sex scandal erupted exactly a month after a “private video” of Parokya ni Edgar Chito Miranda and girlfriend Neri Naig was posted and feasted on by netizens.

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Source: inquirer.net

Search suspended for 171 missing in Philippine ferry disaster

Stormy weather forced Philippine rescuers to suspend a search Saturday for 171 people missing after a crowded ferry collided with a cargo ship and quickly sank, with 31 others confirmed dead.

A Philippine navy boat guards a cargo ship with its bow destroyed on August 17, 2013, after it collided with the ferry St Thomas Aquinas the night before off the town of Talisay near the Philippines' second largest city of Cebu. Philippine rescuers searched on August 17 for 171 people missing.

The St Thomas Aquinas ferry was carrying 831 passengers and crew when the vessels smashed into each other late on Friday night in a dangerous choke point near the port of Cebu, the Philippines' second-biggest city, authorities said.

Coastguard and military vessels, as well as local fishermen in their own small boats, frantically worked through the night and Saturday morning to haul 629 people out of the water alive.

But when bad weather whipped up the ocean mid-afternoon on Saturday, authorities suspended the search with 171 people still unaccounted for.

"It rained hard... with strong winds and rough seas," navy spokesman Lieutenant Commander Gregory Fabic told AFP.

Web pulsates as Chito Miranda, Neri Naig ‘sex scandal’ deepens

Chito Miranda has become a trending topic on Twitter as netizens scour the web for a sex video allegedly involving the Parokya ni Edgar frontman and celebrity girlfriend Neri Naig. 

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Chito Miranda - Neri Naig Sex Scandal (HD version)

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Adam Levine Engaged To Model

Adam Levine is engaged.

The Maroon 5 singer and "Voice" coach, 34, has proposed to his girlfriend, model Behati Prinsloo, 24, a rep for the star told Access Hollywood.

"Adam Levine and his girlfriend Behati Prinsloo are excited to announce they are engaged to be married," Adam's rep told Access in a statement on Tuesday. "The couple recently reunited and Adam proposed this weekend in Los Angeles."

Adam and Behati started dating a year ago, but briefly split.

Behati is a Victoria's Secret Angel. She hails from Nambia.

Source: yahoo.com