Philippines

24 June 2008 -- U.S. President George Bush says the United States will do it all it can to help the victims of the typhoon that struck the Philippines over the weekend. Following talks at the White House with Philippine President Gloria Arroyo, Mr. Bush announced plans to send a U.S. aircraft carrier to the scene.

President Bush says the USS Ronald Reagan and other naval assets are moving into place.

"We are happy to do it. We want to help our friends in the time of need," the president said.

With President Arroyo at his side, Mr. Bush also expressed America's condolences to the victims of the storm and their families.    » read more »

29 October 2007, Washington (By Mary Morningstar) -- Beyonce continues her world tour this week with shows in:
Bangkok, Thailand (October 30);
Jakarta, Indonesia (November 1); and
Macau, China (November 3).

Beyonce is also scheduled to perform in:
Shanghai, China on November 5;
Taguig City, Philippines on November 7;
Seoul, South Korea on November 9 and 10; and
Taipei, Taiwan on November 12.

Beyonce is supporting her latest album B'Day.

In other Beyonce news, a live DVD of her Beyonce Experience summer tour will be released on November 27.

Source: VOANews.com

For Third Consecutive Year, Citi Wins Majority of Internet Bank Awards in Asia

August 28, 2007, Singapore/Hong Kong – Citi has picked up the majority of awards for the World's Best Internet Banks in Asia Pacific from Global Finance magazine. This is the third year in a row that Citi has dominated the Global Finance magazine awards in Asia Pacific, underscoring Citi's continued commitment to invest in technology to meet the evolving needs of its clients.    » read more »

08 August 2007 -- Tropical storm Pabuk has triggered deadly landslides in the Philippines, and has lashed Taiwan as it heads toward China's southeastern province of Guangdong.

Officials in the Philippines say Pabuk bolstered monsoon rains, triggering landslides that killed at least 11 people there.

As the storm passed over the south of Taiwan, it disrupted transportation and electricity, forcing the closure of schools and offices.    » read more »

MANILA, June 26, 2007– The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved a US$50 million loan for the National Program Support for Environment and Natural Resources Management (NPSENRMP). The project aims to help the Department of Natural Resources (DENR) finance and carry out its priority activities to meet its core mandates and strategic goals in managing, conserving and protecting the country’s environment and natural resources.    » read more »

MANILA, June 26, 2006 – A US$5 million grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for the Manila Third Sewerage Project (MTSP) was approved today by the World Bank’s Board of Directors. The grant aims to identify much-needed changes in policies and practices in order to attract private investments in the country’s wastewater sector. It will also help increase the effectiveness of the agencies responsible for water pollution control through improved coordination as well as promote innovative, simple and effective wastewater treatment techniques.    » read more »

World Economic Forum on East Asia Opens

Singapore, 24 June 2007 – While East Asia and the world are confronted with the mounting and increasingly complex challenges of globalization, the region’s leaders are capable of meeting those tests, the President of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, told participants at the opening session of the World Economic Forum on East Asia.    » read more »