A new Philippine eagle was hatched Sunday at the breeding facility of the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) in Malagos in Calinan district.

Major General Reynaldo Mapagu is the new Army chief, officials from the Department of National Defense said Thursday.

Look who?s coming to watch the Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey title fight at the Cowboys Stadium on March 13.

Human rights group Karapatan on Thursday said there was a ?conspiracy? in the death of interpreter for US soldiers Gregan Cardeño, adding his death was a ?heinous crime? committed right at the barracks of US troops in Marawi City.

Despite the dismissal by the Court of Appeals of a petition for the release of the "Morong 43," the Commission on Human Rights said Thursday that it was committed to pursuing the probe into alleged human rights violations committed against the health workers.

Cartoon Network Enterprises has partnered with Viva Video in the animation firm?s expansion into the home video market.

Sarangani Governor Miguel Dominguez said the declaration of a state of calamity in Mindanao ?will just reinforce the moves of the local government units to mitigate the impact of the El Niño.?

NEW YORK ? Multiple platforms and revenue streams are going to be key for media industry players hoping to survive and thrive in the fast-changing digital landscape, top media executives said here Wednesday.

Manny Pacquiao may have junked the administration in favor of Manny Villar in the coming elections, but Malacañang is rooting for the boxing champion just the same in his title defense this Sunday.

A lawyer of the Ebarle family on Thursday said he poses no objection to the plan to transfer road rage suspect Jason Ivler to the National Bureau of Investigation provided Ivler?s stay at the NBI is only temporary.

The Department of Agriculture is considering imposing a lower suggested retail price for chicken, considering the huge difference between farmgate prices and actual market prices of the commodity.

Controversial actress and TV host Ruffa Gutierrez, who reportedly walked out of gossip show ?The Buzz? last week over a comment made by co-host Kris Aquino, said it's now time they bury the hatchet.

The Department of Justice has cleared the brother of Manuel Jimenez II, father-in-law of Ruby Rose Barrameda-Jimenez, of murder charges over Ruby Rose? death, his counsel said on Thursday.

Catholic bishops on Wednesday implored movie stars not to endorse condoms, saying they must remain good examples and should safeguard ?the morality of the people.?

Though it has been cloudy in recent days, the weather bureau says there is very little chance of rain.

Joshua Clottey holds little fear of Manny Pacquiao?s punching power. Fact is, the Ghanaian is willing to take a few hits just to feel what?s in store for him when they collide on March 13 (March 14, Manila time) at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington City.

Taguig City Mayor Freddie Tinga and his father, former Supreme Court Associate Justice Dante Tinga, filed on Wednesday a libel case against an anti-narcotics agent who accused the two of influencing a court ruling on a drug case.

At least four sections of Edsa will be closed to traffic Friday night for the weekly concrete re-blocking operation of the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Metro Manila Development Authority said Thursday.

The Department of Health (DoH) is planning to conduct a nationwide anti-measles vaccination of children from six months up to six years old, an official said Thursday.

More poll machines have passed laboratory tests and are ready for use in the upcoming elections in May, the automation partner of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Thursday.

The president of the Catholic Bishops? Conference of the Philippines reminded the priests in his diocese on Thursday to refrain from endorsing candidates in the May 10 elections.

Executives of the administration party Lakas-Kampi-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) on Thursday said they are trying to rein in senatorial candidates grumbling about the lack of logistical support, promising them that the party?s support will be all out at the start of the campaign for local officials late this month.

Shedding off gains from the previous days, the peso depreciated Thursday from the close recorded Wednesday in what traders said was a sideways movement as the market absorbs positive macroeconomic developments.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas maintained its key interest rates at historic lows during the policy-setting meeting of its Monetary Board yesterday, but withdrew so-called "crisis-relief" measures earlier implemented to help avert a recession.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has declared a state of calamity in Mindanao, but Malacañang has ruled out any price cap on oil prices under such a declaration, officials said Thursday.

A new investor has offered to acquire the long-dormant Philippine Stock Exchange trading seat of OCBC Securities Philippines Inc., an affiliate of Singaporean financial giant OCBC Group.

They were supposed to be combatants, but Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey appeared more like friends when they met at the final press conference of ?The Event? at the cavernous $1.2 billion Cowboys Stadium Wednesday.

The assumption of Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit as head of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the recent behavior of the Commission on Elections do not inspire confidence that the May 10 polls would be credible and honest, a Liberal Party senatorial candidate has said.

The cloud-seeding operation undertaken by the Department of Agriculture appears to have brought rains to Camarines Sur, Albay and Sorsogon provinces in Bicol.

A board member in Batangas province was shot Thursday afternoon, at the provincial capitol building.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is seeking the help of the Office of the Solicitor General to keep in its custody the vehicle owned by one of three high-profile drug suspects as part of the evidence by the agency, Director General Dionisio Santiago said Thursday.

Anticipating a departure by some of their local members to other political parties, top officials of the ruling Lakas-Kampi-Christian Muslim Democrats party on Thursday said they would conduct a loyalty check.

A Masbate mayoralty candidate?s private security escort was arrested over charges of murder, the provincial police chief said Thursday.

Three people, including a lawyer and his wife, died in a fire that engulfed their house in Barangay (village) Guadalupe here early Thursday, authorities said.

Two men were injured when an explosion occurred in a chemical factory in Pasig City Thursday, fire authorities said.

Despite the Court of Appeals? decision to dismiss the petition for habeas corpus of the 43 health workers accused of being members of the New People?s Army, the Commission on Human Rights will pursue its own investigation into the incident, Chairperson Leila de Lima said Thursday.

(UPDATE) Local stocks inched up closer to the year's high on Thursday, consolidating recent gains alongside an upbeat trading in Wall Street and some favorable domestic economic data.

Fifty-five percent of some 4,000 people who apply for passport every day have availed of the appointment system at the new consular building since Monday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Thursday.

SINGAPORE ? Oil tumbled below $82 a barrel in Asian trade Thursday as investors took profits from a price surge that followed data showing stronger US energy demand.

YANGON ? Myanmar's ruling junta has used new election laws to officially annul the result of polls in 1990 that were won by Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition party, state media said Thursday.

Some senatorial candidates of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD are grumbling over the administration party?s apparent lack of funds, two months before the May 10 national elections.

Liberal Party standard-bearer Benigno ?Noynoy? Aquino III made a public apology while Nacionalista Party (NP) bet Manny Villar appealed for ?understanding? in response to the sharp words the two leading contenders received for skipping a forum organized by a religious sect leader in Davao City on Tuesday.

Senatorial candidate Satur Ocampo, a party-list representative of the militant Bayan Muna, Wednesday denied having any ?organizational links? with the communist New People?s Army (NPA).

Energy Secretary Angelo T. Reyes Wednesday said the government is now banking on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo?s declaring a state of calamity in Mindanao to help solve the worsening power situation in the island.

The Philippines has been elected chair of a United Nations body tasked with promoting the world organization?s goals and enhancing its role in international affairs, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday.

An international electoral watchdog is sending a team to observe if the May 10 automated elections will work in other parts of Asia.

Sen. Loren Legarda said Wednesday that her rival, Sen. Manuel ?Mar? Roxas II, had tried to arrange a deal with her to withdraw from the vice presidential race.

?P1 billion.? Such a staggering ?bribe offer? may be enough to make any presidential candidate sing: Nakaligo ka na ba sa dagat ng pera? (Have you taken a dip in a sea of cash?)

The ?Morong 43? will remain in military detention on the strength of a martial law doctrine, the Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday. Defense lawyers called it an antiquated doctrine.

DALLAS, TEXAS?Filipino ring king Manny Pacquiao said his lightning fast speed would be enough to nullify Joshua Clottey?s size advantage when the two meet here in Texas on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

The possibility amid recent power outages of the first national computerized elections failing to produce a president, whether real or imagined, is sending chills to the financial community.

Yet another glitch in the May 10 automated elections looms.