AQUINO TO VISIT NEW ZEALAND, AUSTRALIA
PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino 3rd will pay state visits to New Zealand and Australia this month, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced on Wednesday.

President Aquino will visit New Zealand from October 22 to 23 and Australia from October 24 to 26 upon the invitation of New Zealand Prime Minister John Key and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, respectively, to strengthen bilateral ties. XINHUA

Airport official seeks to clear bird sanctuary
MANILA International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Jose Angel Honrado on Wednesday sought to clear an avian sanctuary located between the cities of Parañaque and Las Piñas to prevent birds from coming in at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. He said that if the sanctuary is not cleared, the number of birds coming in will double this year and continue to pose a hazard to airplanes. BENJIE L. VERGARA

Yacht designer murdered in Baguio
JOSEPH ADAMS, the 81-year-old Australian renowned for his winning boat designs in the world-famous Sydney to Hobart yacht race has been murdered at his home in Baguio City, Benguet province, police said on Wednesday. A police report said that Adams’ body was found by a Filipino employee, adding that the Australian had been assaulted by an unknown knife-wielding attacker. AFP

More soldiers get new homes
AT least 81 military men and their families will receive new homes in line with the President’s housing program for soldiers and policemen, Maj. Harold Cabunoc, Philippine Army spokesman, said on Wednesday. He said that the condominium-type housing units are located in Fort Bonifacio and would be formally turned over by the Bases Coversion and Development Authority to Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin today. WILLIAM B.DEPASUPIL

House approves K-12 bill on second reading
THE House of Representatives approved House Bill 6643, also known as the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2012 or the Kindergarten to Grade 12 (K-12) bill, which would add two more years to the basic education cycle, on second reading on Wednesday. Under the measure, secondary education will be divided into two phases: junior high school (four years) and senior high school (two years). LLANESCA T. PANTI