Fil-Image Innovators

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!
www.thefourmen.info

"Why did it take me so long to recognize my dad’s adventurous soul?"

Read "My dad, the adventurer" http://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/family/31417-my-dad-the-adventurer

If Gary Granada only knew how, he would have taken up arms instead of singing songs.

Then his many small-scale masterworks like “Bahay,” “Kanluran” and the more recent, also poignant and resonant “Minsa’y Isang Bansa” would have been sorely missing in the rich repertoire of Filipino music. http://rplr.co/144faEJ

Who is Lucifer? 5 Descriptions of Satan Before He'd Become the Devil

Most, Christians don't know who the Devil was in his youth, before Lucifer became this red, horned, goofy monster from hell who wields a trident and whisper temptations into people's ear in competition with an angel. These believers are not to blame, because the tradition that holds the story of Satan is one that's orally transmitted and only rarely mentioned in the Bible. The tale of this dashing young prince is lavishly told in the Qur'an.

Who is Lucifer? 5 Descriptions of Satan Before He'd Become the Devil Most, Christians don't know who the Devil was in his youth, before Lucifer became this red, horned, goofy monster from hell who wields a trident and whisper temptations into people's ear in competition with an angel. These believers are not to blame, because the tradition that holds the story of Sat...

Shout out to all the daddies and daddies-to-be! :)

Happy Father's Day!

Man of Steel - World Premiere Highlights from RAM Watch red carpet coverage of the MAN OF STEEL World Premiere from New York City, and see interviews with cast members like Henry Cavill, Amy Adams and more.

Father’s Day story hits actor Marvin Agustin hard The story hit home. Actor-businessman Marvin Agustin was moved by Russell Molina’s “Tuwing Sabado,” which he read before kids on the Inquirer Read-Along session on the eve of Father’s Day.

World Bank cuts China's economic growth forecast

(Lets continue to contribute to the collapse of the Chinese and Taiwanese Economy. Boycott China! Boycott Taiwan -Shiro)

The World Bank has slashed its growth forecast for China's economy this year to 7.7% from 8.4%, warning of a potential "sharp" slowdown triggered by a fall in investment.

The projection is lower than the 7.8% expansion the country recorded in 2012, which was its weakest in 13 years, and comes as a slew of data indicate the economy is struggling to pick up pace.

"The main risk related to China remains the possibility that high investment rates prove unsustainable, provoking a disorderly unwinding and sharp economic slowdown," the World Bank said.

It tipped growth to pick up to around eight percent next year and in 2015 -- unchanged from the bank's pervious forecast -- as "global conditions improve."

Chinese household debt is around two to 3 times higher than the level before 1997 when the Asian Financial Crisis hit, the report said.

While the headline inflation rate is mild, price pressures remain in certain rapidly growing segments of the economy, including real estate, it added.

"Ensuring strong and stable consumption through raising household incomes to sustain growth is a priority in China," it said, adding more investment should be directed into agriculture, human capital and services and increased efficiency of investment.

The government should also try to reduce non-performing assets at Chinese banks, most of which are state-owned, that have piled up "during years of investment-led growth".

In April, China announced unexpectedly weak growth of 7.7% for the first quarter, surprising analysts who had expected expansion to accelerate in 2013 after showing strength at the end of last year.

Other recent indicators have raised alarm bells, with exports showing almost no growth last month, while industrial output expanded at a slightly slower pace than April and big ticket investment growth also eased.

A survey by British banking giant HSBC showed China's manufacturing activity measured 49.2 in May, an eight-month low, and below the 50 mark that indicates contraction.

The World Bank's forecast cuts followed a recent lowering by the International Monetary Fund to 7.75% from the previous 8%


SOURCE: http://www.rappler.com/business/economy-watch/31259-world-bank-cuts-china-s-economic-growth-forecast


-junx

Vietnam acquires 2 submarines from Russia


MANILA, Philippines - The much-awaited arrival in August of the Philippines’ second warship BRP Ramon Alcaraz from the United States has been matched by Vietnam with its acquisition of two submarines from Russia.

On the other hand, a US lawmaker has been reportedly calling on Washington to sell conventional submarines to Taiwan.

“We are not girding to go to war with any country. Our capability upgrade program is only aimed at building a credible territorial defense for the country,” a senior security official said over the weekend, referring to an apparent arms race in the Asia-Pacific region.

Defense and security monitoring showed that two diesel-electric Kilo-Class submarines are to be turned over to the Vietnamese Navy this September by Russia’s Admiralty Shipyard under Vietnam’s $2-billion Project 635.

Meanwhile, Taiwan-based Central News Agency reported last Thursday that New Jersey Rep. Robert Andrews wrote US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, asking him to find ways to support Taiwan’s acquisition of diesel electric submarines.

“Yes, we are lagging behind in terms of military capability but on the positive note, our Navy will get another ship with the scheduled arrival of BRP Alcaraz to guard and defend the country’s maritime sovereignty” the official stressed.

BRP Alcaraz lifted anchor at South Carolina last week on her voyage to the Philippines after undergoing almost a year of refurbishment and retrofitting of its weapons.

The high endurance cutter was acquired by the Philippine Navy last year under the Excess Defense Article Military Assistance Program of the US.

Formerly called USS Dallas, the second Hamilton-class cutter is expected to be deployed in areas in the West Philippine Sea where China had been building up its presence.

The US delivered its first Hamilton-class cutter to the Philippines in December. Renamed BRP Gregorio del Pilar, the vessel – the Philippine Navy’s biggest – is now patrolling the West Philippine Sea, particularly near Recto Bank.

The Philippines, Brunei, China, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan have territorial claims in the Spratly archipelago.

To date, 18 Chinese surveillance vessels have been monitored in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. Three of these ships have taken up position near Ayungin Shoal.

CLEAREST LAKE
>asakura /

These are the first photos ever taken of the clearest lake in the world. In the water of Blue Lake in New Zealand's South Island you can see for around 76 metres - in distilled water you can see 80 metres. These images of the newly discovered lake were taken by Klaus Thymann of Project Pressure, who worked with the New Zealand Department of Conservation.

Read more: http://bit.ly/11hW1xc via The Guardian
[SA]