Philippines, Saudi ink ‘historic’ agreement on HSWs

MANILA -- The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and the Philippines signed Sunday the Agreement on Domestic Worker Recruitment in a simple ceremony at the Hilton Jeddah hotel in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The deal was signed by Philippine Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Labor Minister Engineer Adel Bin Mohammed Fakeih.

Fire hits coconut oil mill in Iligan City

A FIRE hits Granexport Manufacturing Corporation, a coconut oil mill located in Kiwalan, nine kilometers from Iligan City proper.

Radio reports said firefighters had difficulty containing the blaze, which started around 5 p.m., burning the firm's copra warehouse.

Brillantes wants 2013 barangay, youth elections postponed

MANILA -- Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sixto Brillantes said Monday the poll body will not oppose any move to postpone the October 2013 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.

He said the Comelec needs time to resolve all the remaining issues stemming from last week's electoral exercise.

Aquino welcomes new Egypt's envoy

MANILA -- President Benigno Aquino III welcomed the new envoy of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the Philippines who called on him in Malacañang on Monday.

Egypt's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Mahmoud Mostafa Ahmed met with Aquino at the Music Room of Malacañang to present his credentials before settling down to work as his country's representative.

Palace denies joint probe with Taiwan

MANILA (Updated) -- Malacañang clarified Monday that there was no Philippines-Taiwan joint investigation authorized by the government with regard the May 9 incident that resulted in the death of a Taiwanese fisherman.

Brillantes keen to reuse PCOS for 2016 polls

MANILA -- Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sixto Brillantes said Monday that he will push for the continued use of the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines in the 2016 general elections.

"I think we can still use this for another one," he said.

SKorea analyzing NKorea's 4 projectile launches

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea is analyzing whether projectiles North Korea fired into its eastern waters over the weekend are short-range missiles or a new type of artillery the country may be developing, officials said Monday.

North Korea fired what Seoul officials called a short-range projectile Sunday, a day after conducting three similar launches. South Korean officials earlier said the weapons fired on Saturday were guided missiles, but later clarified that they may not be missiles, referring to the objects as "projectiles."

China asks NKorea to release fishing boat, crew

BEIJING — China is urging North Korea to release a Chinese fishing boat whose owner says it was seized by gun-toting North Koreans earlier this month and held for ransom, in the latest irritant in relations between the neighboring allies.

The seizure of the Liaoning-based boat adds to China's frustration with North Korea over its recent tests of nuclear and rocket technologies in defiance of international efforts to curb the country's nuclear ambitions.

Cebu's Public Enemy 1 falls

CEBU CITY (Updated) -- Joavan Fernandez, the number one public enemy in Cebu province, was arrested Monday morning in a resort in Moalboal town, 12 days after he bolted from detention in Talisay City.

A tip from a concerned citizen led to the arrest of Joavan in a resort in Barangay Saavedra, Moalboal, 85.4 kilometers southwest of Cebu City.

Ms Olongapo crowned Miss Philippines Earth 2013

MANILA -- A 25-year-old marketing head from Olongapo City won this year's Miss Philippines Earth, besting 46 other candidates in the prestigious pageant held Sunday night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Angelee Claudett delos Reyes, who is said to be a beauty pageant veteran, wowed the judges not just with how she carried herself during the competition, but with her answer to the final question: “If you could add another criteria to pick a beauty queen, what would it be?”