by W.G. Dunlop Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) –A video of a boy tearfully talking about being bullied at school has gone viral and prompted an outpouring of support from Hollywood celebrities, music stars, athletes and others. Keaton Jones’ mother posted the video Friday on Facebook, writing that her son asked to make it after he had her pick him up from school because he was afraid to go to lunch. It has […]
Other News
PHL consulate: No reports of Filipino casualties in New York subway blast
(Eagle News) — There are no reports of Filipinos injured in the subway attack in Times Square on Monday so far. The Philippine Consulate General urged the Filipino-American community to contact 9172940196 should they know of any Filipino or Filipino-American affected by the attack police said was done by Akayed Ullah using a home-made pipe bomb. At least four people, including the Bangladeshi suspect, were hurt in the attack.
On Mideast trip, Putin orders partial withdrawal from Syria
by Raziye Akkoc and Anna Smolchenko in Moscow Agence France Presse ANKARA, Turkey (AFP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with his Turkish counterpart in Ankara on Monday for the last leg of a day-long diplomatic dash, during which he ordered the partial withdrawal of Russia’s troops from the war-torn country. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Putin at his presidential complex in Ankara for a closed-door meeting. This is the eighth face-to-face meeting […]
Over 6,000 firefighters battling southern California blaze
by Veronique Dupont Agence France Presse LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Thousands of firefighters were battling one of the most destructive wildfires in California’s history Monday as it crept relentlessly up the Pacific coast and forced new evacuations. As a wildfire near Los Angeles was brought under control, fire crews were being redeployed to battle the Thomas Fire northwest of America’s second-largest city. Fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters were assisting nearly 6,400 firefighters trying to […]
Bitcoin rises in debut as SEC warns on digital money
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Bitcoin experienced some big swings but finished higher in its debut on a major exchange Monday, while a leading US securities regulator warned investors about the risks of cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin futures for January delivery finished at $18,850.00 near 2115 GMT on its first full day of trading, a bit below session peaks but soaring well past the $15,000 initial price when Cboe launched the platform on Sunday night. The […]
Quake hits Iran-Iraq border region
TEHRAN , Iran (AFP) — A tremor shook Kermanshah province in western Iran near Iraq’s border Monday, causing panic a month after a major quake killed hundreds of people there, state media and officials said. Two hours after the tremor the state broadcaster, quoting the head of the crisis management cell in Kermanshah province, said there were no reports of damage or deaths. The University of Tehran’s seismology center said a 6.0-magnitude quake shook the […]
Israeli minister calls Arab MPs ‘war criminals’
JERUSALEM, Israel (AFP) — Israel’s defense minister on Monday called Arab MPs “war criminals,” a day after he urged a boycott of Israeli Arabs living near the scene of clashes over the US president’s Jerusalem declaration. Avigdor Lieberman was speaking in a televised parliamentary debate on a motion of no confidence in the right-wing government filed by the mainly Arab Joint List alliance. Presenting the motion, Joint List lawmaker Hanin Zoabi said Prime Minister Benjamin […]
After near decade, Beyonce back on top of US song chart
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Beyonce, with little argument one of the top stars in pop music, Monday ended an unlikely drought — nine years since she had a number-one US song. Beyonce hit the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart for her new duet with Ed Sheeran on a remix of the English songwriter’s “Perfect,” a tender guitar ballad. The song sold 181,000 digital downloads in the week through Thursday on the […]
Half of people aged 40-54 have hardened arteries: study
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Half of middle-aged people who have normal weight and don’t smoke or have diabetes may have clogged arteries, researchers said Thursday, urging stronger measures to lower cholesterol. A high level of so-called “bad cholesterol,” or LDL-C, is the main reason why apparently healthy individuals suffer heart attacks or strokes in middle age, said the report in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC). “Atherosclerotic plaques are present in […]
Heavy snow, high winds wreak havoc across Europe
by Danny Kemp with Robin Millard in London Agence France Presse BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP) — High winds and heavy snow in Europe on Monday stranded thousands of travelers, kept schoolchildren at home and even played havoc with international diplomacy. It was the second day running of fierce weather across the continent, with Britain still digging out from its deepest snowfall in four years. The snowed-over runways in Brussels led to about 300 flight cancellations on […]
Trump wants Congress to fix ‘lax’ immigration after NY attack
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump said Monday that a bomb attack by a 27-year-old from Bangladesh on New York’s subway system underscored the “urgent need” for Congress to enact immigration reform. Three people were slightly injured after the attacker’s pipe bomb exploded only partially, while the suspect was sent to a hospital with apparently severe burns and wounds on his torso and hands. “First and foremost, as I have been saying since […]
NBA: Irving out of Celtics-Bulls clash
CHICAGO, United States (AFP) — Boston Celtics star Kyrie Irving will miss Monday’s game against the Chicago Bulls with a thigh injury, the team confirmed. Irving is suffering from a left quadricep contusion, the Celtics said, adding that forward Marcus Morris, who is battling a sore left knee, is also out. Center Al Horford is rated as questionable to start as he nurses a right knee contusion suffered in Sunday’s 91-81 win over Detroit. Irving has missed […]
