Other News

Palace commends Ateneo’s dismissal of student in viral videos

Notes that probe of the others involved in bullying still ongoing (Eagle News)–The Palace has commended Ateneo for its dismissal of the student seen physically and emotionally assaulting other boys in viral videos, reiterating bullying should not be tolerated nor condoned in any way. In a statement on Sunday, Dec. 23, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo noted, however, that the probe “as regards the rest of those involved” has yet to be concluded. As for the parents […]

Asia stocks fall despite Mnuchin’s weekend triage

HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Asian stocks fell in early trade Monday despite a weekend call by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to top US banking executives aimed at stemming market panic which saw Wall Street experience its worst week in a decade. The Dow and the Nasdaq ended Friday with their biggest weekly drop since the start of the global financial crisis as investors took fright over a government shutdown in Washington, President Donald Trump’s […]

PTA wants indefinite ban on student seen bullying in viral videos

(Eagle News)—The Philippine Taekwondo Association wants an “indefinite ban” on the now-dismissed Ateneo Junior High School student who was seen bullying another in a viral video. In a statement on Monday, Dec. 24, the PTA said it wants the boy, a member of the Ateneo taekwondo varsity team before he was dismissed after the video went viral, banned indefinitely from “all sanctioned events not limited to taekwondo-related events, belt promotions, tournaments, or facilities of member-institutions […]

Oil market likely to rebalance early 2019: OPEC ministers

KUWAIT CITY, Kuwait (AFP) — Oil ministers from leading OPEC nations said Sunday they expect prices will arrest their recent slide and rebalance early next year, when a deal on new production cuts takes effect. Oil prices have shed more than 36 percent since early October to trade at $54 (47 euros) per barrel, due to fears of oversupply and weak global demand. But president of OPEC and UAE Energy Minister Suhail al-Mazrouei said that […]

Trump voices support for Indonesia after tsunami’s ‘unthinkable devastation’

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump on Sunday offered a message of support after a volcano-triggered tsunami left 281 people dead and hundreds more injured in Indonesia’s Sunda Strait. “Unthinkable devastation from the tsunami disaster in Indonesia,” the Republican leader tweeted. “More than two hundred dead and nearly a thousand injured or unaccounted for. We are praying for recovery and healing. America is with you!” He joined the chorus of world leaders […]

Death toll from Indonesia tsunami rises to 281: disaster agency

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — The death toll from a volcano-triggered tsunami in Indonesia has risen to 281, with more than 1,000 people injured, the national disaster agency said Monday, as the desperate search for survivors ramped up. “The number of victims and damage will continue to rise,” said agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho. Hundreds of buildings were destroyed by the wave, which slammed into the coast of southern Sumatra and the western tip of Java about […]

Pres. Duterte insists on Road Board abolition in talk with Arroyo, describes Board as “milking cow” for corrupt politicians

  (Eagle News) – President Rodrigo Duterte confirmed that he had talked with House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo where he had discussed his firm stand to abolish the controversial graft-ridden “Road Board” which he described as a “milking cow” for corrupt politicians. Duterte also pointed out that House Majority Floor Leader Rolando Andaya had seemed to misunderstand before his position on the Road Board when he claimed the President did not want the Road Board […]

Order for US military withdrawal from Syria signed: Pentagon

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The order has been signed for the withdrawal of American troops from Syria, where they have been deployed to assist in the war against the Islamic State jihadist group, a US military spokesperson said on Sunday. “The execute order for Syria has been signed,” the spokesperson told AFP, without providing further details. US President Donald Trump has declared the jihadist group “largely defeated,” and made the surprise decision to bring […]

‘Aquaman’ makes a big splash to top N.American box office

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — New Warner Bros. release “Aquaman” made the biggest waves in North American theaters over the weekend with $67.4 million in ticket sales, industry tracker Exhibitor Relations estimated Sunday. That put it well ahead of two other new holiday-timed releases, as Disney’s “Mary Poppins Returns” took in $22.2 million for the three-day weekend, flying slightly higher than Paramount’s “Bumblebee” at $21 million. Together, the three helped boost the year’s domestic […]

Macron calls for order after ‘yellow vest’ attack on police

by Clare BYRNE Agence France Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — French President Emmanuel Macron called for “order” on Sunday after a sixth weekend of “yellow vest” anti-government protests that saw dwindling participation and a violent attack on police in Paris. Speaking during a visit to the Saharan state of Chad where he was visiting French troops serving in a counter-terrorism force, Macron said: “There must be order now, calm and harmony. Our country needs it.” […]

President Duterte says PAF chief Kintanar to head PHL Coconut Authority, to protect P100-B coco farmers’ funds

  (Eagle News) — Philippine Air Force Chief Lt. Gen. Galileo Gerard Kintanar Jr. will be the new head of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA). This was announced by President Rodrigo Duterte as Congress crafts a law for the return of the multi-billion Coco Levy Fund to Filipino coconut farmers. In his speech during the PAF change-of-command at Villamor Air Base on Friday, Duterte said that the Coco Levy Fund is now more than P100 […]

Trump moves up defense chief’s exit to January 1

by W.G. Dunlop Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Donald Trump on Sunday announced he will replace Defense Secretary Jim Mattis with his deputy Patrick Shanahan, speeding up the Pentagon chief’s planned exit days after he quit, citing key policy differences with the US president. Mattis, 68, had said he would leave at the end of February to allow a smooth transition for the next chief of the world’s top military power, but […]