from BurjDubai.com
Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Emaar will officially inaugurate Burj Dubai on January 4, 2010, the 4th Anniversary of the accession of His Highness Sheikh Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
A day of pride and celebration for Dubai, UAE and the world over, the day will mark the start of a new chapter in global history.
And then there were 8 presidential candidates
Comelec lets Estrada run, drops Perlas
MANILA, Philippines—Eight, 8 and 158.
These are the numbers of certificates of candidacy (CoCs) for president, vice president and senator, respectively, that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has initially approved for the national elections in May.
These figures were trimmed from the 99 presidential aspirants, 20 vice presidential hopefuls and 158 senatorial wannabes who filed CoCs from Nov. 20 to Dec. 1.
Comelec Chair Jose Melo Tuesday identified those running for president as follows: Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III (Liberal Party), JC de los Reyes (Ang Kapatiran) and former President Joseph Estrada (Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino).
Sen. Richard Gordon (Bagumbayan), Sen. Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal (Independent), former Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro (Lakas-Kampi-CMD), Bro. Eddie Villanueva (Bangon Pilipinas) and Sen. Manuel Villar (Nacionalista Party).
That the Comelec excluded some people—including environmentalist Nicanor Perlas, who filed a CoC for president as an independent, and gay activist Danton Remoto, who filed a CoC for senator also as independent candidate—did not mean that they were nuisance candidates.
Melo said the poll body did not approve the CoCs of other people because it appeared that they did not have the capacity and resources to launch a national campaign, one of the requirements mandated by the Comelec.
The short-listed candidates for vice president are Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay (Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino), Dominador Chipeco (Ang Kapatiran) and Bayani Fernando (Bagumbayan).
Sen. Loren Legarda (Nationalist People’s Coalition), actor Edu Manzano (Lakas-Kampi-CMD), Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II (Liberal Party), broadcaster Jay Sonza (Kilusang Bagong Lipunan) and former Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Perfecto Yasay Jr. (Bangon Pilipinas).
Read the full Story on Enquirer.net
‘Bayanihan’ or the spirit of working together will be celebrated once again in the year-end programme. It will be a celebration of the heroic deeds not just of the leaders and members of the more than 60 Filipino organisations accredited with the Philippine Consulate General but also of the ordinary Filipino workers in the UAE, who contributed for the cause.
Robert Ramos of the National Association of Mapua Alumni, chairman of the Organising Committee of the Filipino Community, told Khaleej Times that this year’s celebration will be somewhat different from last year because it will highlight the innate goodness and helpfulness of every Filipino in the UAE, particularly those based in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.
Now on its second year, the Bayanihan Festival this year carries the Theme, ‘Together We Made A Difference’.
The event will be a whole-day affair of fun games and exciting presentations of martial arts, cheering squads, dance exhibition, public speaking and songs.
It will start at 8am with a mini-bazaar and a special show to be presented by TV personalities from Manila.
Ramos said Philippine schools in Dubai and the Northern Emirates will participate in the cheering squad presentation while the other units will render their own performances.
The event will be free, although there will be a Dh5 fee park entrance.
'Shocking'
The Dubai government said in a statement that the request to delay debt repayments also applied to property developer Nakheel, a Dubai World subsidiary.
"It's shocking because for the past few months the news coming out has given investors comfort that Dubai would most probably be able to meet its debt obligations," said analyst Shakeel Sarwar, of SICO Investment Bank.
Dubai is one of the seven self-governing emirates or states that make up the United Arab Emirates.
Analysts say the Dubai government has paid the price for a flamboyant economic model centred on foreign capital and giant construction projects.
Questions are now being raised about Dubai's ability to repay its debts, said the BBC's Middle East correspondent Jeremy Howell.
Some have speculated it is likely to turn to the more economically conservative Abu Dhabi emirate to bail it out.
Global credit rating agency Standard & Poor's, which rules on a company's or government's ability to repay its debts, said the announcement "may be considered a [debt] default".
Our correspondent said: "Standard & Poor's and Moodys immediately downgraded all six state-backed corporations in Dubai, downgrading some to junk status."
Junk is the term commonly used to describe bonds that are rated below investment grade by ratings agencies.
The Dubai World announcement was made on the eve of the Eid al-Adha Muslim festival, which will see many government agencies and companies close in Dubai until 6 December.
Dubai - Westwood saved his best to the final round as he shot a course-record eight-under 64 for a four round total of 23-under 265.
It earned him $1.25 million to overtake Rory McIlroy in the Race to Dubai, winning a bonus prize of $1.5 million.
"This is definitely the biggest moment of my career today," he said.
Image from YahooLAS VEGAS (AP)—A 21-year-old Michigan poker professional who chose cards over college won the World Series of Poker main event in Las Vegas early Tuesday, winning $8.55 million and becoming the youngest player to win the tournament in its 40-year history.
Joe Cada of Shelby Township, Mich., turned over a pair of nines early after 46-year old Darvin Moon called his all-in wager with a suited queen-jack, setting up an about-even race for most of the chips on the table.
But a board of two sevens, a king, an eight and a deuce didn’t connect with either player’s cards and gave Cada the win.
Dubai Airshow is organised by F&E Aerospace, in conjunction with Dubai Airports, the Government of Dubai and in collaboration with the UAE Armed Forces.
"They need education to be successful in life. It's just giving them what others gave to me," he says.
Photo Courtesy of AP
