Manila  - The Asian Development Bank said Wednesday that it had approved a 300-million-dollar loan to help the Philippine government improve the integrity and efficiency of its justice system.

The Manila-based bank said the loan would be used to increase budget resources, improve public expenditure management and introduce new internal controls in the judiciary.

"By supporting more competitive salaries and higher budgets, the loan is expected to reduce vacancies among judges and prosecutors, improve information and case management systems, and help cut delays in the justice system," the bank said in a statement.

According to Gartner, the worldwide semiconductor industry has been hit by the softening consumer and business demand as it recorded an estimated revenue decline of US$12 billion for 2008, compared to last year.

The effects of constrained budgets are being felt by the semiconductor companies. Moreover, there has been a tremendous slowdown in demand of products like cars, consumer electronics and Pc's that has led to the lower revenues. Components for sectors ranging from the technology industry to the medical industry are made by the semiconductor industry.

Phnom Penh  - Cambodian foreign affairs officials on Wednesday welcomed the ascent of a new government to power in Thailand but said it needed to take immediate action to resolve an ongoing border dispute between the two countries.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Kuy Kung said the new government was likely to improve relations between the two South-East Asian neighbours despite Thai prime minister-designate Abhisit Vejjajiva's history of strong rhetoric over the Preah Vihear temple dispute.

"We continue to have a good relationship with Thailand, and this will improve with the appointment of Abhisit Vejjajiva as prime minister," Kuy Kung said.

Baghdad, Dec. 17 : US President George Bush emerged unscathed from the shoe throwing incident on Sunday, but White House spokeswoman Dana Perino was not so lucky, as she suffered an eye injury in the ensuing melee when she was hit by a microphone.

Iraqi TV journalist Zaidi's family was quoted by the Dawn as saying that his action stemmed from his hatred of the American invasion of their country.

Seoul  - In a departure from the stand taken by the United States, China has advocated continued deliveries of energy aid to North Korea despite Pyongyang's refusal to allow nuclear inspections, South Korean media reported Wednesday.

Disarmament talks in Beijing ended in deadlock last week over the issue of North Korea's rejection of a compromise on procedures to verify its disablement of its main nuclear facility.

US officials have said that five nations engaged in talks with North Korea that are aimed at dismantling its nuclear programmes - the United States, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia - agreed to delay delivery of energy aid to the communist state after the negotiations broke down.

Washington, Dec 17 : Hollywood actress Jessica Alba is set to appear in the hit NBC sitcom `The Office'.

The `Fantastic Four' star will be the guest star in an hour-long episode of the show to air following the Super Bowl on February 1 on NBC.

In the episode, titled "Stress Relief," some of the office workers secretly watch a bootleg Hollywood movie starring Alba and Jack Black during the workday, reports Usmagazine.

Meanwhile, the 27-year-old actress, who gave birth daughter Honor in June, has shown off her post-baby shape in Campari's 2009 calendar.