In two weeks, Samsung’s own iPadversary will go on sale – the Galaxy Tab.

The device will be first available in Europe by mid-September. It has a 7-inch screen – relatively smaller than iPad’s, which is 9.7 inches – and uses Google’s Android software.

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If you think gay marriages are not getting any kind of special treatment, think again, as SAS Scandinavian Airlines is planning to host the world’s first gay wedding in the air.

The wedding will be onboard an Airbus A340 between Stockholm and New York on December 6.

Robin Kamark, chief commercial officer of SAS, said in a press statement that this is but a natural celebration of love. The airline is the national air carrier of three of the most liberal and progressive countries in the world, especially when it comes to LGBT rights.

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Manila, Philippines- Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima announced that the Aquino administration is looking at initially setting aside P15 billion next year for the planned multi-billion pesos Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) initiative.

The finance department chief said the initial share of the government in the PPP initiative will be spent on land acquisitions or “right of way,” which will pave the way for more private investments in the country’s infrastructure.

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Manila, Philippines- Amid the inevitable increase in fares, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has raised the subsidy of Metro Rail Transit (MRT) for next year by P2.18 billion.

Budget and Management Secretary Florencio B. Abad, said the 2011 subsidy allocation of P7.3 billion from P5.12 billion this year will effectively increase the government subsidy per passenger to P47.77 from P45.

But still, Abad said the government plans to align the MRT fares with the cost of riding an air-conditioned bus, which is between P20 to P25.

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Financing in the form of official development assistance (ODA) and those backed by government guarantees will likely prevail as the “initial model” in lending to renewable energy projects.

“Renewable energy projects are financed mainly via official development assistance or those with many years of track record,” noted First Metro Investment Corporation (FMIC) president Francisco Sebastian, citing the experience of other countries.

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The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has filed smuggling charges against five of the agency’s employees who were implicated in the smuggling of rice into the country that deprived the government of P183 million in revenue.

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A Hong Kong policeman was held at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminal 1 yesterday for trying to bring out of the country eight empty shells from the M-16 rifle and caliber .45 pistol allegedly used by dismissed police officer Rolando Mendoza in his killing rampage in the final moments of the Aug. 23 hostage crisis that left him and eight of his hostages dead.

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The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will soon meet with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to discuss whether or not a total gun ban should be re-imposed in connection with the Oct. 25 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls.

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