– Congratulations to Angela Merkel for her third term as German Chancellor who was formally re-elected Tuesday by the Bundestag (German Parliament). The 185-page coalition agreement will be signed today by the three government parties, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) with its sister party Christian Social Union (CSU) and the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). They will be a part of the Chancellor’s “Merkel III group”.

– Filipino communities in Belgium are continously raising funds to help the rehabilitation process of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) victims in the Philippines. One of the many organizations, COFAF  (Council of Filipino Associations in Flanders) headed by Ms. Minabelle Siason, marked the celebration of Pasko sa Brugge held in Sint-Lodewijkscollege, Sint-Andries last weekend and was a huge success. According to Ms. Siason, the fund that normally goes to build classrooms in different areas in the Philippines will be diverted to the typhoon victims.