Economic officials and business leaders believe the country no longer deserves to be branded the “sick man of Asia” after its economy grew more than 6 percent for a third consecutive year.

Foreign trade groups are backing efforts in Congress to open local investment houses to foreign capital. Investment houses are currently among sectors in local business that the Constitution restricts foreign capital to 40 percent at most.

Alexandra Olson / The Associated Press NEW YORK—Global freedom has suffered a disturbing decline with 60 percent of the world’s population, or 2.6 billion people, living in countries that are not completely free, according to a report released Wednesday.

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria—Nigerian troops Sunday repelled Islamic extremists who attacked from four fronts on Maiduguri, the biggest city in northeast Nigeria, with several civilians killed by aerial bombs and grenades and mortar shells on the ground.

TOKYO—The Japanese, who inhabit one of the safest countries in the world, have been reminded in brutal fashion that the world is a dangerous place.

The Philippines is considered among the biggest beneficiaries of falling crude which just recently passed a record low of below $50 per barrel. The low oil prices will support the growth momentum of the country that momentarily slowed down as a result of stalled public spending that was believed to be the backlash of a Supreme Court ruling that declared …

Riza Lozada (Conclusion) “Rationalizing fiscal incentives is good economics’, but poor politics,” Diokno said. “Why can’t the Aquino III administration that is committed to the ‘straight path’, to doing what is right, do the right thing?” he asked.

Mass-housing proponent 8990 Holdings Inc. booked a 74-percent increase in net income for the third quarter to P1.02 billion from P589 million a year ago on the back of a sustained 60-percent gross and a 45-percent net margin for the past three quarters. 8990 is traded in the PSE under the ticker name House.

Jonathan Fahey New York—At some point this will end, perhaps even soon. The price of gasoline will not fall to zero.

Activists blame police for the death of Shaimaa el-Sabagh, a 32-year-old mother of one from the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria. The government says it is investigating.