NY’s polluted water claims dolphin

NEW YORK (AP) ­- A wayward dolphin that meandered into a polluted urban canal, riveting onlookers as it splashed around in the filthy water and shook black gunk from its snout, died Friday evening, marine experts said. The deep-freeze weather hadn’t seemed to faze the dolphin as it swam in the Gowanus Canal, which runs 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) through a narrow industrial zone... 

Rotting whale

MALIBU, California (AP) – A whale carcass rotting near celebrity homes in Malibu is causing a gigantic cleanup problem as authorities try to decide who’s responsible for getting rid of it.  Read More »

P1B worth of crops damaged

Manila, Philippines – Disaster officials were shifting yesterday from rescue work to a massive clean-up of Metro Manila and nearby provinces following nonstop rains that left tons of muck and debris from floods littering the city. “We are now into clean up and relief operations. Generally speaking, flood waters in Metro Manila are already receding,“ said civil defense chief... 

In Limlight: 2 evac centers

Manila, Philippines – CLIMATE change… monsoon surge… low pressure area deteriorating into a storm… whatever it is, our islands have never been so vulnerable as now. But what’s being done for the hapless victims of typhoons and floods?  Read More »

Let’s rally behind the President

Manila, Philippines – THE ongoing dispute between the Philippines and China involving Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal or Panatag Shoal, is an issue that transcends political and other differences among Filipinos.  Read More »

2 die in mining tunnel

Two people died when a deluge of huge volume of seawater penetrated a mining tunnel in the gold-rich town of Paracale in Camarines Norte yesterday morning. Chief Inspector Ernesto Coron, chief of police of Paracale town, said the two were trapped inside and later drowned in the 20-meter deep mining hole in Barangay Palanas. He identified the fatalities as Christian Banal and Bendencio... 

90 whales stranded on beach

NELSON (AFP) – A pod of 90 pilot whales beached themselves at the top of New Zealand’s South island Monday in the same area where seven whales died in a mass stranding earlier this month, officials said. Regional conservation department manager John Mason said staff and volunteers would attempt to keep the whales cool until the late night high tide when it was hoped they... 

New seawall

Manila, Philippines – Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim has inaugurated the newly constructed seawall barrier aimed to protect the poor residents of Baseco compound against river overflow during high tide or the rainy season. The barrier, according to city engineer Armand Andres, is 2.5 meters high and is 180 meters long. Above the seawall is a steel fence which Lim ordered built to protect... 

Bangkok’s complex flood defenses tested

BANGKOK, Thailand – The complex network of flood defenses erected to shield Thailand’s capital from the country’s worst floods in nearly 60 years was put to the test early yesterday as coastal high tides hit their peak. No major breaches were immediately reported. Fear gripped Bangkok early in the day as tides along the Gulf of Thailand crested at about 9 a.m. and pushed the city’s... 

Floods inch closer to Bangkok

BANGKOK, Thailand – The main river coursing through Thailand’s capital swelled to record highs yesterday, briefly flooding riverside buildings and an ornate royal complex at high tide amid fears that flood defenses could break and swamp the heart of the city. Ankle-high water from the Chao Phraya River spilled through one sandbagged entranceway of Bangkok’s treasured Grand Palace...