Other News

Catalan leaders sign independence declaration but put it on hold

by Daniel Bosque with Patrick Galey in Madrid Agence France Presse BARCELONA, Spain (AFP) — Catalan leaders signed a declaration of independence from Spain on Tuesday but immediately put it on hold and called for talks with Madrid on the country’s worst political crisis in decades. As Spain headed into the unknown, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy was to chair an emergency cabinet meeting early Wednesday to discuss the central government’s response. In a speech to […]

Nearly 700,000 UK nationals affected by Equifax breach: company

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Nearly 700,000 British consumers may have had personal data compromised in the massive breach at Equifax, the US credit reporting agency said Tuesday. “Although our UK business was not breached, the attack regrettably compromised the personal information of a range of UK consumers,” the company said in an emailed statement. The company, which last month announced one of the most potentially damaging data breaches affecting some 145 million Americans, said the […]

Wal-Mart lifts Dow to record; Spanish stocks slide

by John Biers Agence France-Presse NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — A strong forecast from retail behemoth Wal-Mart propelled the Dow to a fresh record Tuesday, while  the Catalan political crisis in Spain weighed on European equity markets. Wal-Mart Stores surged 4.5 percent after projecting fiscal 2019 sales would rise at or above three percent following a deeper push into e-commerce. The retail giant also announced a $20-billion share repurchase program. Wal-Mart’s gain helped lift the Dow […]

Joy and confusion after Catalan leader’s ‘independence’ speech

by Adrien Vicente and Diego Urdaneta Agence France-Presse BARCELONA, Spain (AFP) — When she heard Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont utter the word “independence” Merce shed tears of emotion — whereas Sergio scowled with disdain. Puigdemont’s Barcelona speech whipped up plenty of fervor among both supporters and rivals, but elation was mixed with confusion. There was joy among thousands of Puigdemont backers, who stood draped in Catalan flags at the foot of Barcelona’s triumphal arch, as they followed his […]

15 dead as wildfires torch California wine country

 by Julie Charpentrat with Glenn Chapman in San Francisco Agence France-Presse SANTA ROSA, United States (AFP) — Firefighters battled wildfires in California’s wine region on Tuesday as the death toll rose to 15 and thousands were left homeless in neighborhoods reduced to ashes. “The homes are gone, they are like dust,” said Jack Dixon, a personal trainer who lives in Santa Rosa, a city of 175,000 in Sonoma County. “It is just like we were nuked.” Dixon told […]

Filipino doctor denies involvement in NY jihadist plot, to fight extradition, says lawyer

    MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — A Filipino doctor accused of wiring money for a foiled jihadist plot targeting New York’s subway and Times Square rejects the allegations and has vowed to fight US extradition, his lawyer said Tuesday. Russell Salic and two others have been charged with involvement in the plan to stage the attacks in the name of the Islamic State group during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in 2016. On Tuesday, his […]

News in photos: Fast-moving wildfires tearing through California’s wine country

  More than a dozen fast-moving wildfires tearing through California’s wine country have killed at least 10 people, destroying hundreds of homes, authorities said Monday. Fanned by winds of over 50 miles (80 kilometers) an hour, the blazes have forced more than 20,000 people to evacuate in the country’s heaviest populated state since they began Sunday night. California’s fire service said about 73,000 acres (30,000 hectares) have been ravaged by the major infernos. At least […]

Malawi leader vows probe as vampire scare forces UN out

  BLANTYRE, Malawi (AFP) –Malawi President Peter Mutharika on Tuesday vowed a thorough investigation after seven people were murdered by vigilantes in a vampire scare that has driven UN staffers out of the affected region. Since mid-September, vigilantes have slaughtered seven people suspected of trying to obtain and drink human blood as part of magic rituals. The vampire rumors sweeping the country’s southern region have forced authorities to impose a night-time curfew, restricting movement to […]

Trangia camp to ask DOJ to exclude evidence gathered from frat library

Lawyer denies mother and son planned to escape; says they had “return ticket” to PHL (Eagle News) — The camp of Ralph Trangia, a primary suspect in the death of hazing victim Horacio Castillo III,  want the items recovered by the police from the Aegis Juris fraternity library where the rites took place excluded as evidences. This is according to lawyer Rowell Ilagan, who was with his clients Trangia and his mother Rosemarie upon their arrival at the […]

Malacanang says CA rejection of DOH secretary Ubial, regretful

  (Eagle News) — Malacanang views with regret that Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial again failed to get the nod of the Commission on Appointments, saying the Department of Health chief “epitomized” President Rodrigo Duterte’s “malasakit” or concern for the public. “We regret the Commission on Appointments’ non-confirmation of Department of Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial,” said Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella. “We are deeply grateful for Secretary Ubial’s service to the Health Department and for epitomizing […]

Transport groups to hold 2-day transport strike on Oct. 16-17

(Eagle News) — Militant transport groups are set to hold another two-day transport strike next week in connection with their continuous protest of the government’s so-called jeepney modernization program. In a press conference, Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (PISTON) announced that the two-day transport strike is set on October 16-17. If this pushes through, this is their third strike for this year. PISTON National President George San Mateo said that aside from […]