SC almost an Arroyo court as new justice assumes post
The 15-man Supreme Court is almost an Arroyo court. The President has appointed senior Court of Appeals justice Martin Villarama Jr. to the high tribunal, bringing to 13 the number of justices picked by the chief executive.

Next president to be replaced by Arroyo via Cha-cha - JDV III
The country"s next president won"t be able to warm his seat in Malacañang as he is sure to be replaced by his predecessor, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

House vows to pass P1.54-trillion nat'l budget for 2010
With the country steel reeling from the effects of the global financial crunch and the successive tropical cyclones that hit areas in Luzon, the House of Representatives has vowed to prioritize the passage of the P1.54-trillion national budget for 2010 when Congress session resumes on Monday, November 9.

Durano rejects team-up with Teodoro in 2010
He may be one of those being eyed to team up with administration party standard bearer Gilberto Teodoro Jr. in the 2010 elections. But Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano is not interested.

Palace won't yield to giant firms over oil price cap issue
The Palace will not bow down to the demands of the giants. While Malacañang is duty-bound to respect the decision of the court on the petition filed by Pilipinas Shell against EO 839, it will not change its stand that the price cap that the government imposed on oil products is for the good of the majority.

Arroyo resignation as Lakas head not due to 'kiss of death' tag - Palace
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo"s reported plan to resign as head of the administration Lakas-Kampi-CMD is more of "passing the torch" than an admission of her political kiss of death, Malacañang insisted Saturday.

Tropical Cyclone Santi death toll climbs to 30
The death toll from tropical cyclone Santi (Mirinae) rose to 30 on Saturday, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said.

Arroyo to assure Hillary of clean 2010 polls during RP visit
Malacañang welcomed Saturday a prospective lightning visit of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to the country, saying it is further proof of robust relations between the Philippines and the United States.

DOH lifts lepto outbreak alerts as number of infected declines
Citing a substantial decrease in the number of cases, the Department of Health (DOH) lifted Saturday leptospirosis alerts in areas hit by recent tropical cyclones.

'Ondoy,' 'Pepeng' prompt Palace to extend gun amnesty
Citing the damage caused by tropical cyclones 'Ondoy' (Ketsana) and 'Pepeng' (Parma), Malacañang has extended to November 30 the amnesty period for gun owners to register their weapons.

No partial lifting of oil price caps - Palace
Malacañang on Friday denied reports that it was considering the partial lifting of price caps on oil prices, which it imposed in areas devastated by the recent cyclones in the country.

Nabbed German pleads guilty to smuggling RP corals to the US
A German national charged for violating US, Philippine and international laws on the protection of exotic corals pleaded guilty last month to smuggling 40 tons of the prized sea treasure from the Philippines into the US.

VP aspirants see no threat if Arroyo joins Gibo in 2010
Vice presidential aspirants see no threat in Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. She could heed the call of her allies to seek the second highest post of the land with administration standard bearer Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. without her opponents batting an eyelash.

Palace: No special treatment for Jalosjos' absolute pardon request
A senior Palace official said Friday that Malacañang will not give any special treatment to convicted Romeo Jalosjos' application for absolute pardon.

Arroyo sure to lose if she runs for VP, senator says
While President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo"s allies remain overly convinced that she still has that winning streak, a senator believes that with her popularity slipping deeper into the abyss, the President will no longer win if she runs next year for the second highest post of the land.

A world beyond news: GMANews.TV launches new Lifestyle section
Regular users of this web site will have noticed this already -- there's lots of fresh splashy content about food, music, films, books, travel, even quirky high-heeled shoes and fancy rain boots for those wet streets. And large rare pictures of Cory Aquino's slim daughters together, all made up in stylish black.

BSP warns ATM users vs wolves in sheep's clothing
They"ll look kind and helpful when they approach you. But better watch out. They are the proverbial wolves in sheep"s clothing. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has warned the public against thieves victimizing ATM (automated teller machine) cardholders.

NDCC: 'Santi' death toll climbs to 29, damage nears P500M
The death toll from tropical cyclone "Santi" (Mirinae) rose further to 29 Friday morning while damage to property it caused neared the P500-million mark, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said.

FVR nephew Braganza moves to LP
With the blessing of his uncle former President Fidel V. Ramos, Alaminos City Mayor Hernani Braganza took oath Friday as the newest member of the Liberal Party, explaining that his decision to bolt Lakas-Kampi went beyond party considerations.

"Arroyo can run in 2010 polls without resigning"
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo can run for vice president or congresswoman in the May 2010 polls without stepping down from the presidency, election lawyers said on Friday amid speculations that she will seek political office next year.

No required 'donations' for school Christmas parties - DepEd
Students in public schools are not required to shell out donations for their Christmas party, the Department of Education (DepEd) said Friday.

Consumers told: Don't speculate on pork prices
Instead of speculating on pork prices, save up for it or think of alternatives to pork. This was the advice of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to consumers who may find pork too expensive in the face of a shortage of the commodity during the Christmas season.

Pagasa: Finally, a storm-free weekend
Except for occasional rains due to the northeast monsoon, the Philippines may finally expect a cyclone-free weekend after experiencing stormy ones since late September.

2 Isabela cops in trouble for poking guns at a wedding party
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya - Two members of the Philippine National Police in the northern province of Isabela are in hot water for turning a happy wedding party into a terrifying event after they allegedly poked their guns at guests.

Critics of campaign tax told: Go to Comelec, not the media
Critics of the proposed tax on campaign contributions should voice their complaints to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and not to the media, the poll body said Thursday.

Connivance between BIR, big taxpayers seen
Connivance between the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and several big companies is the reason behind the government"s failure to reach its income targets, according to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo"s adviser on revenue enhancement.

US govt favors extradition of ex-RP police officer linked to Dacer slay
The United States government has found probable cause to extradite former Philippine police intelligence officer Michael Ray Aquino who is being linked to the November 2000 killings of publicist Salvador "Bubby" Dacer, and his driver, Emmanuel Corbito.

Raps filed vs Vicki Belo, 2 others over "botched" butt job
Government agents on Thursday filed a number of charges against celebrity surgeon Vicki Belo in connection with the alleged botched butt augmentation procedure done on a 40-year-old businesswoman in 2002 and 2005.

Nograles to Gordon: Name 2010 poll saboteurs
House Speaker Prospero Nograles on Thursday dared Senator Richard Gordon to identify the congressmen who he said are out to sabotage next year's automated elections.

More suspects in Greenbelt 5 robbery identified
More suspects in last month"s daring robbery inside the posh Greenbelt 5 shopping center in Makati City have been identified by the police following the surrender of one suspect and the arrest of another.

VP or Speaker? Allies start charting Arroyo's future
Retirement from politics could be something remote for Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Eight months before she vacates Malacañang, leaders of Mrs. Arroyo's political party have started planning for the political future of the President. They think it will be best for her to run as congresswoman or even become the running mate of Gilberto Teodoro Jr., the administration party standard bearer.

DENR fines 3 water firms P29.4M for violating Clean Water Act
The Manila Bay is becoming one big septic tank, according to Environment chief Jose "Lito" Atienza. And what"s to blame? Water utilities" supposed failure to mount wastewater treatment facilities in Metro Manila as required by law.

Comelec: Issue on registered centenarians 'only in Taguig'
For the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the issue on the discovery by a group of 691 over-100-year-old voters reportedly registered in Taguig City is an "isolated" case, even as it assured the public on Thursday that the matter has nothing to do with any attempt at electoral fraud.

Manila to hold painting exhibit honoring Cory Aquino
The Manila city government is holding a painting exhibit titled "Democracy in Yellow" as a tribute to former president Corazon Aquino who died a hundred days ago on Sunday.

Arroyo not quitting admin party—Claudio
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo isn't quitting the ruling party, but is merely turning over her chairmanship to administration standard-bearer Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.

Ramos calls ‘good move’ nephew’s move to Aquino camp
Former president Fidel Ramos has given his blessings to the transfer of a nephew and former Arroyo Cabinet member, Alaminos Mayor Hernani Braganza, to the Liberal Party to support the Aquino-Roxas ticket in what could be an indication of the ex-president’s own preference.

New SC justice sworn in
Senior Court of Appeals Justice Martin Villarama Jr. was sworn in Saturday afternoon as the latest member of the Supreme Court.

Back from honeymoon, Roxas hits campaign trail
"Masarap. Kung alam ko lang, noon pa sana ako nagpakasal (It's nice. Had I known it, I would have gotten married long ago)."

Solon distances self from cockfight gamblers
Compostela Valley Representative Manuel “Way Kurat” Zamora said he has nothing to do with a group of cockfighting aficionados seeking the approval of the Commission on Elections as a partylist organization for the 2010 elections.

Shell suit remedy for ‘imagined grievances’—Palace exec
Malacañang has welcomed Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp.'s petition before a local court to stop the executive department from implementing Executive Order 839 putting a cap on fuel prices.

Sagip Pinoy lists qualities of ideal leader
Kilusan Sagip Pinoy, a multisector alliance against poverty and hunger, said Friday that the country’s next president should have experience in managing the economy and the leadership to make economic programs work.

Arroyo critics ridicule VP talks
Suggestions that President Macapagal-Arroyo can run for vice president in 2010 were received with skepticism and even ridiculed by a wary Senate.

GMA political plan known by Dec. 1
Those dying to hear President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declare her political plan should just wait for the Dec. 1 deadline for the filing of certificate of candidacy (CoC), her election lawyer said yesterday.

Gov’t to keep tabs on oil prices
The government concedes that it can't stop oil companies from jacking up fuel prices once the freeze order on fuel prices is lifted, but warns it would keep tabs on their increases.

At least 14 dead after Typhoon Mirinae lashes Philippines
At least 14 people were dead and four missing in the Philippines a day after Typhoon Mirinae roared through the heart of the country, the National Disaster Coordinating Council said Sunday.

Fourth typhoon in month hits Philippines
The fourth typhoon to hit the Philippines in a month came ashore east of the capital, Manila, on Saturday morning, bringing heavy rain, flooding, and washing away shanty houses near the coast.

Typhoon strengthens as it nears the Philippines
As the Philippines tried to recover from the one-two punch of deadly storms, another typhoon strengthened as it rushed toward it Tuesday.

Typhoon nears Philippines as toll rises
A powerful typhoon lumbered toward the storm-battered Philippines on Monday, as the death toll from two devastating storms in the last month climbed to 858.

Bloggers unite on climate change
It is being billed as the largest-ever social change event on the Web and one which its organizers believe will unite the digital world in a wider conversation about climate change.

Irish priest kidnapped during 'evening stroll' in Philippines
An Irish priest was kidnapped Sunday in the southern Philippines, his missionary society said.

Days of flooding, landslides kill 186 in Philippines
Flooding and landslides from tropical depression Parma have killed 186 people in the Philippines, authorities said Saturday.

15 dead as Typhoon Parma whips Philippines
Typhoon Parma crossed the northern tip of the already storm-battered Philippines over the weekend, triggering landslides that killed at least 12 people, local media reported Sunday.

Typhoon Parma slams into Philippines; 3 reported dead
Typhoon Parma crossed the northern tip of the already storm-battered Philippines Saturday afternoon and early Sunday, killing three people, according to local media.

Thousands evacuated in Philippines as typhoon nears
Thousands of Filipinos who live near coastlines and mountainous areas were evacuated Friday as the storm-battered country braced for Typhoon Parma, which is expected to make landfall Saturday.

2 U.S. soldiers killed in Philippines bomb blast
Two U.S. Army Special Forces soldiers were killed by a homemade bomb while supporting anti-terror operations on an island in the southern Philippines, Army officials said Thursday.

Filipinos preparing for worst, 'praying' for best from Parma
Arturo Fidelino couldn't sleep.

Storm-weary Philippines braces for Typhoon Parma
Thousands of Filipinos who live near coastlines and mountainous areas were evacuated Friday as the storm-battered country braced for Typhoon Parma, which is expected to make landfall Saturday.

Scores killed in Philippines floods
The death toll from flooding in the Philippines climbed to 140 Monday as a tropical depression in the Pacific sparked new fears of flooding.

Two U.S. service members killed in the Philippines
Two U.S. service members were killed in the Philippines when their vehicle rolled over a landmine Tuesday morning, military officials said.

Dozens dead in Philippines from tropical storm flooding
At least 51 people have died and at least 21 others are missing after torrential rains and subsequent flooding pummeled the Philippines on Saturday, the government said.

Brilliante Mendoza: Philippines' celebrated and divisive director
Feted by Sean Penn and applauded by Quentin Tarantino at Cannes, Filipino filmmaker Brilliante Mendoza appears to finally live up to his name.

Nearly 1,000 rescued in Philippines ferry accident
Nine people were killed and 957 rescued when a ferry capsized Sunday in the Philippines, leaving crews scouring the waters for survivors, officials said.

Philippines pays reward in militant's arrest
Police in the Philippines have paid an informant in the arrest of a militant tied to the kidnapping of four Americans and dozens of Filipinos.

Josie Natori's stylish evolution
Josie Natori followed her business dreams from the Philippines to Wall Street. But after nine years as a banker, she needed a more creative outlet. In 1977 she launched a lingerie company with an East-meets-West flair. Today her brand includes four intimate-apparel lines, as well as a ready-to-wear clothing collection, home and bath products, eyewear and fragrance. Natori, 62, shared her story with Fortune Small Business in her Manhattan showroom.

Philippines: Dozens die in clashes
At least 44 people, including 23 Filipino soldiers, died Wednesday in fighting between the Philippine military and Islamic militants, the country's armed services said on Thursday.

Bomb blast kills 3 in Philippines
Three people were killed and 37 injured after a bomb exploded Sunday morning in Cotabato City, Philippines, the military said.

Storm kills 8 in Philippines
Eight people were killed and 11 were left missing after tropical depression Nangka triggered flooding, a tornado and a landslide in the Philippines, according to disaster officials.

Philippines landslide kills 26
A landslide slammed into a village in southern Philippines on Monday, killing 26 people, emergency services personnel said.

Kidnapped aid worker freed in Philippines
One of two aid workers still held by militants in the Philippines has been freed, the International Committee of the Red Cross said Saturday.

Philippines debates government promotion of contraception
A debate is stirring in the predominantly Roman Catholic country of the Philippines: should the government provide contraceptives to the public?

Brother of Black Eyed Peas' Apl.de.ap Is Murdered
The younger brother of the hip-hop singer was shot in his native Philippines

Red Cross workers kidnapped in Philippines
Men on motorcycles with machine-guns abducted three workers of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the southern Philippines Thursday morning, officials said.

Philippines: Rebels bomb electricity tower, official says
Separatist rebels bombed an electricity transmission tower in the southern Philippines on Saturday, according to military spokesperson Lt. Stefani Cacho.

Strong earthquake jolts southern Philippines
A strong earthquake jolted the southern Philippines on Thursday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

Ferry capsizes off Philippines, killing 23
A ferry capsized off the coast of the northern Philippines near the town of Aparri, killing 23 people and leaving 29 others missing, authorities said.

Philippines Bomb Blast Hits South
A deadly bomb blast in the southern Philippines' raises the question of how much the nation's splintered insurgencies might be working together

Philippines' Uneasy Peace Broken
Weeks after nearing a peace agreement, the Philippines restive south is hit by a new wave of fighting between the government and separatist insurgents

Filipino Troops Assault Muslim Rebels
Philippine troops, backed by helicopter gunships, regained control of two southern villages from Muslim rebels Monday and pressed ahead with a massive assault to clear 13 others, officials said

Typhoon toll in Philippines could pass 1,000
The official toll from last weekend's typhoon in the Philippines has risen to more than 500 people killed and could go much higher, according to the latest figures from the country's National Disaster Coordinating Council.

Storm hits China after lashing Philippines
Tropical storm Fengshen surged toward Taiwan and southeast China on Wednesday after leaving a path of destruction in the Philippines where the search for more survivors from a capsized ferry has proved fruitless.

Divers yet to find ferry survivors
Philippine divers found bodies but so far no survivors inside the hull of a ferry that capsized in a typhoon, a Philippine Coast Guard official said Tuesday.

Rescuers hold out hope for ferry survivors
Rescuers in the Philippines have refused to give up hope of rescuing some of the more than 800 people missing after a ferry capsized in a typhoon despite rough seas stalling efforts to get inside the vessel.

33 survivors rescued from Philippines ferry
Rescuers have found at least 33 survivors and at least six dead among the nearly 750 aboard a ferry that capsized in a typhoon that battered the southern Philippines, a Red Cross official said Monday.

Earthquake hits Philippines
A magnitude-6.4 earthquake hit the Pacific Ocean off the northern Philippines Sunday morning and was felt as far as southeastern Taiwan, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

Shooting spree in Philippines kills 8
A man strafed several houses during a shooting spree early Monday in a town south of Manila, killing eight people and wounding six others.

Treatable Ailments Kill 10M Children
More than 200 million children worldwide under age 5 do not get basic health care, leading to nearly 10 million deaths annually from treatable ailments

Philippines: No Kidneys for Foreigners
Foreigners will be permanently banned from receiving kidneys for transplant in the Philippines to prevent the country from becoming a major black market Asian center

Easter penitents warned: Whip at your own peril
Exercise caution while you practice devotion.

26 Chinese rescued from sinking vessel
Emergency crews have rescued 26 Chinese crew members whose boat began taking on water off the northern Philippines Sunday night, the state-run Chinese news agency reported.

Typhoons near Vietnam, Philippines
The Philippines and Vietnam stepped up the evacuations of tens of thousands ahead of the landfalls of two separate typhoons expected on Saturday.

Manila Bomb: Terror or Vendetta?
The blast at the Philippines' legislature appears to have targeted a lawmaker at odds with the Islamic terror group Abu Sayyaf. But with political violence in the Philippines so widespread, its real cause may never be known

Market bomb kills 3 in Philippines
Making good on a threat, insurgents in the southern Philippines on Tuesday bombed a busy public market in the city of Tacurong, killing three and wounding 21 others, police said.

CNN Future Summit forum
Bruce Willis did it, with the aid of a large plastic tube and a set of bellows, in "Twelve Monkeys;" Michael J. Fox did it -- three times -- in the "Back to the Future" series; the crew of the Starship Enterprise can't stop doing it (at least 14 times in television episodes alone); while as the "Terminator" Arnold Schwarzenegger also gave it a go, albeit stark naked.

THE WORLD AT RISK
1. Brazil

How startups go global
When working in the tropical sun becomes too much for Ivko Maksimovic, the lanky Serbian heads to one of the Dominican Republic's pristine white-sand beaches. He first gathers up a black hat, mosquito repellent, and a bottle of drinking water.

Arroyo, Imelda aid mudslide effort
Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo arrived Wednesday at the site of the mudslide which is thought to have killed 1,000 people, many of them children.

Your e-mails: Asia
CNN.com asked its readers to share their views on the death of Pope John Paul II, who died Saturday. Here is a sampling from thousands of responses, some of which have been edited:

Terror alert out for Philippines
Australian and American citizens have been warned to postpone all but essential travel to the Philippines because of fears of terrorist attacks.

Survivors rescued after 10 days
As the confirmed death toll from devastating storms in the Philippines rises to more than 840, rescuers have pulled at least four survivors from a building that collapsed in mudslides 10 days ago.

Typhoon hampers Philippines rescue
High winds and heavy rain from the approaching Typhoon Namandol are hampering rescue efforts in the northeastern Philippines where emergency services are struggling with the aftermath of two earlier storms.

Deadly flooding, landslides hit Philippines
Amid fallen trees and coconut leaves, the dead are piled onto a muddy roadside. Surrounding them are survivors, signaling for help.

Hero's welcome for former hostage
The Philippines has laid on a hero's welcome for freed hostage Angelo dela Cruz who returned to Manila on Thursday.

Philippines forces in Iraq to handover duties
Remaining members of the Philippines forces in Iraq will leave the country after handing over their duties to Polish troops Monday morning, according to Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Albert.

Bombings rock Iraq on Baathist coup anniversary
Insurgent fighters launched deadly attacks across Iraq on Saturday, killing a U.S. soldier and at least seven Iraqis in separate attacks.

Filipino 'freed when troops leave'
Militants holding a Filipino hostage say they will free him when "the last Filipino leaves Iraq on a date that doesn't go beyond the end of this month," according to a statement read by the Arabic-language news network Al-Jazeera.

Report: Filipino's captors extend deadline
Militants who took a Filipino man hostage in Iraq have extended their death-threat deadline by 24 hours, hours after relatives were told he had been freed.

Officials 'won't bow to militants'
Bulgaria and the Philippines say they will not bow to demands by suspected insurgents who kidnapped and threatened to kill their citizens in Iraq.

Philippines gym blast kills 12
A bomb has exploded near a gymnasium in the southern Philippines, killing 12 people and wounding several others -- including the town's mayor -- according to a national police spokesman.

ASIA'S RISING EXPORT POWERS Thailand and Malaysia lead the next generation of little Japans. Their rapid
JAPAN blazed the export trail. But soon a new group of champions came roaring down that path -- Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea. Now a second pack of Asian nations is carving out a gr...

AQUINO NEEDS A NEW MIRACLE The plucky housewife-turned-President of the Philippines can take credit for the country's recent ret
THE SHATTERED Philippine economy is finally perking up, thanks largely to President Corazon Aquino. But the recovery is more sluggish and uncertain than it should be, and Aquino bears responsibilit...

Philippines Suffers From a 4th Typhoon
A tropical storm roared toward Vietnam after battering Manila and the surrounding provinces, leaving 14 people dead in a region struggling to recover from previous storms.

Philippines Hit by Typhoon, the 4th Storm in a Month
At least seven people were killed by Typhoon Mirinae, leaving fresh floods and new misery.

Oil and Gas Price Increases Meet Opposition in Philippines
With millions of Filipinos still reeling from the effects of successive typhoons, the price increases by the three largest oil companies in the country were criticized as greedy, callous and predatory.

Estrada Begins Unlikely Comeback in Philippines
The former Filipino president and actor Joseph Estrada returns, at 72, to both movies and presidential politics.

Misery and Illness Persist in Philippine Typhoons’ Wake
Relief workers are concerned about children in evacuation camps in the Manila metropolitan area that remain flooded after successive typhoons.

Bill to Increase Access to Contraception Is Dividing Filipinos
Family planning advocates trying to make birth control more readily available are meeting resistance in the overwhelmingly Roman Catholic country.

A Versatile Boxer Is Fighting Poverty
Manny Pacquiao, considered by many to be the best pound-for-pound boxer, is also a singer and actor, and is making a second try at political office.

Typhoons Hit Small Businesses in Philippines Hard
The back-to-back typhoons that struck the Philippines have devastated small entrepreneurs.

In Typhoons’ Wake, Filipinos Search for Landslide Victims
Successive storms have killed more than 600 people, and the toll is expected to rise as the search continues in mountainous, remote regions.

More than 160 Killed in Landslides in Philippines
Landslides triggered by Typhoon Parma buried dozens of houses, only a week after Typhoon Ketsana killed more than 300.

After Storms, Stagnant Floodwaters Bring Disease in Philippines
Large areas of Manila remain flooded a week after Typhoon Ketsana battered the region, and residents face a host of other problems, including disease and ruined crops.

Choked Floodways Feed Manila’s Typhoon Toll
Devastating typhoons have highlighted the dismal state of infrastructure in the Philippines, where about 20 typhoons and major storms strike every year.

2 U.S. Soldiers and Filipino Marine Are Killed by Land Mine
The three were killed when their vehicle struck a land mine on the troubled southern island of Jolo, the Philippine military said.

Death Toll Hits 240 in Philippine Flooding
Facing criticism over its response to the disaster, the government appealed for international aid.

Death Toll Hits 240 in Philippine Flooding
Facing criticism over its response to the disaster, the government appealed for international aid.