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by Carole Landry Agence France-Presse UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) – Greece and Macedonia return to the United Nations on Wednesday seeking to end a 27-year dispute over the former Yugoslav republic’s name, with hopes of a compromise after a change of government in Skopje. Greece’s objections to the use of the name Macedonia since the Balkan country’s independence in 1991 has hampered the tiny nation’s bid to join the European Union and NATO. UN envoy Matthew […]
LIBREVILLE, Gabon (AFP) – Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema has rejected opposition claims that one of its activists died in custody after being tortured, and that some 200 of their number are under arrest. In an interview late Tuesday with French radio station RFI and France 24 television, Africa’s longest-serving president confirmed the death in custody of an opposition activist but put it down to ill health. “I think there are about 20 people” currently under […]
FRANKFURT AM MAIN, Germany (AFP) — Germany’s Volkswagen said Wednesday it sold a record number of vehicles in 2017, putting it on track to hold on to the title of world’s largest carmaker two years after its “dieselgate” emissions scandal. Some 10.74 million vehicles from VW or its subsidiaries ranging from Porsche and Audi to Skoda and Seat rolled out of dealerships last year — an increase of 4.3 percent over the previous year, the […]
by Daniel Bosque with Michaela Cancela-Kieffer in Madrid Agence France Presse BARCELONA, Spain – Catalonia’s parliament met Wednesday for the first time since it was dissolved following a failed bid to break from Spain in a session that will see separatists start the process to get sacked regional leader Carles Puigdemont back into power. Pro-independence parties are in the majority after winning regional elections on December 21 called by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to try and put […]
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AFP) — A Malaysian sultan has been given a life-size replica of Fred Flintstone’s car from the classic cartoon, although the modern update has an engine so he won’t tire out his regal feet. Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar of Johor, one of Malaysia’s most powerful and wealthiest state rulers, received the belated birthday gift from a fellow high-ranking royal this week. The model of the car from “The Flintstones,” the sultan’s favorite […]
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) – Former South Korean president Lee Myung-Bak on Wednesday denounced as “political revenge” a corruption probe into allegations his office accepted bribes from the country’s spy agency. The rare statement from conservative Lee, who stepped down in 2013, came after two of his closest aides were arrested and as his impeached ally and successor Park Geun-Hye stands trial for corruption. South Korean presidents have a tendency to end up in prison — or […]
LAVAL, France (AFP) – French police raided the headquarters of dairy giant Lactalis on Wednesday over a baby milk salmonella scare that has sickened dozens of children and led to a major international recall. Dozens of police were searching the company’s offices in Laval, western France, as well as its factory in nearby Craon which was the source of the tainted milk. Lactalis has recalled baby milk from 83 countries, with anger growing after it emerged […]
(Eagle News) – The Department of Justice has directed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to probe deeper into the possible violations of the Constitution and other laws by online news site Rappler. Through Department Order No. 17, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II tasked the NBI, through Director Gierran, to conduct a “case build-up” against Rappler, and to file the “appropriate cases against those found liable.” The order dated January 17, 2018 takes effect […]
The Manila Regional Trial Court has ordered the re-arrest of three Communist leaders following the termination of peace talks between their group and the government. In a five-page decision made public on Wednesday, Branch 32 Presiding Judge Thelma Bunyi-Medina granted the Department of Justice’s and the Office of the Solicitor General’s motion for the recommitment of Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, and Adelberto Silva, and the cancellation of their bail. The court said it “finds no reason to […]
STRASBOURG, France (AFP) – European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said on Wednesday he would welcome any British attempt to rejoin the EU after Brexit, as Brussels jumped on speculation about a second referendum. Juncker’s comment about possible re-accession comes a day after European Council President Donald Tusk said that the bloc’s “hearts were still open” if Britain decided to change its mind about leaving the EU. Top EU officials have made a series of remarks about […]
by Elaine Yu Agence France-Presse HONG KONG, China (AFP) – Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong was jailed for the second time Wednesday for his role in mass pro-democracy protests as concern grows that prison terms for young campaigners are shutting down debate in the semi-autonomous city as Beijing increases control. Wong, 21, who became the face of the 2014 Umbrella Movement, was handed a three-month sentence on a contempt charge for obstructing clearance of a major […]
(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed a retired policeman to the board of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and re-appointed Sheriff Abas as chief of the Commission on Elections. Anselmo Pinili, the President’s former special envoy on transnational crime, replaced Jorge Corpuz, who resigned citing “health reasons.” Pinili’s term of office will expire on June 30, 2018. Abas, meanwhile, was re-appointed after the Commission on Appointments did not act on his appointment in November […]
