Other News

One dead after 5.9-magnitude quake jolts Taiwan

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AFP) — A 5.9-magnitude earthquake that rattled Taiwan on Thursday killed one woman and caused temporary power outages that affected over 10,000 homes, authorities said. Tremors were felt across the island and high-rises in Taipei swayed as the quake struck off the northeastern coast at dawn, waking sleeping residents. A 60-year-old woman was killed outside the capital after a closet fell on her during the quake, the National Fire Agency said. More than […]

US approves $800-million in helicopters for SKorea

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US government has approved the sale of $800 million worth of helicopters to South Korea, the Pentagon announced Wednesday, hours after President Donald Trump said Seoul had agreed to pay more for the US military presence in the country. The Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the State Department had approved the sale of 12 MH-60R Multi-Mission Seahawk Helicopters and extensive associated radar, communications and weaponry equipment. The helicopters […]

Two bodies found in Canada, believed to be teen murder suspects

by Eric THOMAS MONTREAL, Canada (AFP) — Canadian police said Wednesday they had discovered the bodies of two men believed to be fugitive teens who allegedly murdered three people last month — ending a nearly three-week nationwide manhunt. Kam McLeod, 19, and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18, were wanted over the murders of an Australian man and his American girlfriend in their 20s, as well as of a Canadian university professor. Initially, the pair were reported missing […]

Sandiganbayan junks P102-billion forfeiture case vs former President Marcos, wife, others

  (Eagle News)–The Sandiganbayan has junked the P102-billion forfeiture case against former President Ferdinand Marcos, his wife Imelda and others. In junking the case also against Rafael Sison, Placido Mapa Jr., Don Ferry, Jose Tengco Jr., Ramon Monzon, Generosa Olazo, Cynthia Cheong, Ma. Luisa Nograles, Leopoldo Vergara, Jose Africa and Rodolfo Arambulo, the anti-graft court noted the failure of the plaintiff, or the Presidential Commission on Good Government,  to  “prove by  preponderance of evidence any […]

SC affirms libel conviction of blogger who accused Drilon of corruption

(Eagle News)–The Supreme Court has affirmed the libel conviction  of a blogger who accused now-Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon of corruption in social media. In affirming the Sept. 18, 2018 and March 7, 2019 resolutions of the CA that affirmed with modification a Pasay court’s conviction of Manuel Mejorada, the SC said the appellate court correctly ruled that the elements of libel in his posts were sufficiently established by the prosecution. According to the SC, […]

British ministers in US to ‘fast-track’ post-Brexit trade deal

  WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Britain was seeking to fast-track a crucial post-Brexit trade deal with the United States on Wednesday after new Prime Minister Boris Johnson dispatched his top diplomat and foreign trade minister to Washington. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab was due to hold talks with his US counterpart Mike Pompeo at the State Department while the International Trade Secretary Liz Truss has lined up meetings with top American trade officials. With Johnson […]

8chan owner blasts “sinister” moves to shut site down

The owner of the 8chan chat forum has described moves to shut down his website because it hosted hate messages linked to deadly US killings as “sinister” and “cowardly”. In a video uploaded to Youtube on Tuesday, Philippines-based Jim Watkins said the deadly weekend attacks in the American cities of El Paso and Dayton were a tragedy. But Watkins insisted 8chan had not broken any laws, and devoted most of his seven-and-a-half-minute video to criticising […]

Kim sends missile ‘warning’ to S.Korea, US as tensions rise

by Claire LEE Agence France Presse SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) —  North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un says the country’s latest missile launches were a warning to Washington and Seoul over their joint war games, state news agency KCNA reported on Wednesday, as tensions rise on the Korean peninsula. The latest launch by the nuclear-armed North came after the South Korean and US militaries began mainly computer-simulated joint exercises on Monday to test Seoul’s ability […]

DOJ gathering info on online message board 8chan

(Eagle News)–The Department of Justice is gathering information on an online message board that is linked to mass shootings abroad and which is allegedly being run from the Philippines. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said this was before the DOJ would decide whether looking into 8chan–where the gunman in the El Paso, Texas shootings was supposed to have made a post in reference to the killings—was something the National Bureau of Investigation should do. 8chan was […]

4.2-magnitude quake jolts Sarangani

(Eagle News)–A 4.2-magnitude earthquake struck Sarangani on Wednesday, Aug. 7. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the quake, of tectonic origin, hit 142 kilometers southwest of Kiamba at 1:11 p.m. Depth of focus of the quake was 498 kilometers. No damage to property nor aftershocks were recorded.  

Serena again tops Forbes list of highest-paid sports women

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US tennis superstar Serena Williams topped Forbes magazine’s list of the highest-paid women in sports for the fourth straight year on Tuesday. The business publication calculated that the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion earned $29.2 million in the 12-month period ending June 1 — with just $4.2 million of that coming from prize money. Japan’s Naomi Osaka, who burst to international stardom with a stunning upset of Williams in the […]

Asia markets extend losses despite Wall Street gains

HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Asian markets largely extended their losses on Wednesday despite Wall Street registering strong gains as investors remained on edge over escalating US-China trade tensions. Asia’s losses came despite a gain of more than one percent for US indices as Wall Street recovered from a multi-session losing streak that saw the Dow hit its lowest level this year. Equities had tumbled Monday after Beijing allowed the yuan to slide sharply against […]