Al-Qaeda-linked fighters attack UN base in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia -- Al-Qaeda-linked bandits detonated several bombs and breached the main UN compound in Somalia's capital Wednesday, sparking gun battles that killed at least 12 people.

A UN official said at least three foreign and one Somali staff members were believed to be among the dead.

Monsoon floods kill 102 in India, strand pilgrims

LUCKNOW, India -- India's prime minister said Wednesday that the death toll from flooding this week in the northern state of Uttrakhand had surpassed 100 and could rise substantially.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke on his return from an aerial survey of the area, pegging the death toll at 102.

Garcia to Sandigan: Junk suspension petition

MANILA -- Incoming Cebu congresswoman Gwendolyn Garcia asked the Sandiganbayan on Wednesday to junk a motion filed by government prosecutors seeking for her suspension pending the trial of her graft and technical malversation charges.

4.4 magnitude quake hits Quezon, Metro Manila

MANILA -- State seismologists monitored Wednesday a 4.4 magnitude earthquake hitting Polillo Island in Quezon province at 7:05 p.m.

The tremor, which was tectonic in origin, was felt at intensity 3 in Quezon City and Infanta, Quezon; and intensity 2 in the cities of Makati, Taguig and Muntinlupa.

Ombud records officer fired for asking bribe

OMBUDSMAN Conchita Carpio Morales dismissed a records officer for demanding P30,000 from a police official seeking clearance from the agency for promotion purposes.

Dismissed from the service was Juan Dita dela Cruz, Administrative Officer III of the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices, for victimizing Police Senior Superintendent Pedro Ramos in 2007.

Pagasa chief quits post

MALACANANG on Wednesday respected the decision of Nathaniel Servando, administrator of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), to quit his post.

"We respect Dir. Servando's decision to pursue an alternative career path. We thank him for his long years of dedicated public service,” said Presidential Communication Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma in a text message.

Radiologic, X-Ray Technologist licensure exams results out

THE Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) released the Radiologic and X-Ray Technologist licensure exams results two days after they were given in June of this year.

Out of 1,122 examinees of the Radiologic Technologist Licensure exam, only 637 or 56.77 percent passed, while out of 138 examinees of the X-Ray Technologist exam, only 31 or 22.46 percent passed.

Incoming senators told to correct campaign expenditure report

THE 12 newly-elected senators will not be able to assume office if they will not correct on or before June 30 the deficiencies found in their Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCEs).

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Christian Lim said Sonny Angara, Francis Escudero, JV Ejercito, Gregorio Honasan, Loren Legarda, Aquilino Pimentel III, Grace Poe, Antonio Trillanes, and Cynthia Villar did not file the necessary copies of receipts they issued to contributors. Lim is the head of the poll body's campaign finance unit.

UN, US ask Filipinos not to leave Golan Heights

MANILA -- The Philippines' top diplomat said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and US Secretary of State John Kerry have appealed to Manila not to withdraw more than 300 Filipino peacekeepers from the Golan Heights to avoid "maximum volatility" in the restive Middle East region.

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said Wednesday the diplomats made the appeal to him in separate recent talks.

Government rejects calls not to relocate informal settlers

PUBLIC Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson said Wednesday that the government would no longer heed any call of some local government units (LGUs) to suspend the transfer of informal settlers to other places four months before the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls.

Some LGUs had requested not to transfer informal settlers who were clogging the major waterways in Metro Manila before the May 13 elections.