Monday, August 25, 2008 (Philippines)

China’s basketball star Yao Ming joins thousands of other athletes during the closing ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympics at the National Stadium. “The world learned more about China, and China learned more about the rest of world,” International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge said.(Ap photo) PRESIDENT Arroyo again prodded the public works department to begin building an approved bridge project in Mandaue City that will connect Canduman and Caban-calan, when she visited its site yesterday. But with bidding still to be done, Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane said work on the 40-meter bridge is expected to begin in November yet. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) still has to reevaluate its initial budget of P48 million, though, to factor in an increase in oil prices. [full story]