Other News

International Women’s Day in Madrid draws 40,000 protesters

MADRID, Spain (AFP) — Around 40,000 protesters took to the streets of Madrid on Wednesday to mark International Women’s Day and call for an end to domestic violence. Gathered in the central square, the protesters carried posters reading “Justice” and “We are not all here” — in reference to victims of violence who have lost their lives. Municipal officials estimated at least 40,000 people had rallied in Madrid, and smaller protests were held in Barcelona […]

20 teenage girls killed in Guatemala shelter fire

SAN JOSE PINULA, Guatemala (AFP) — The death toll from a fire in a government-run children’s shelter in Guatemala rose to 20 late Wednesday after a girl aged around 14 succumbed to burns, the hospital treating her said. All those killed in the blaze at the Virgin of the Assumption facility outside Guatemala City were teenage girls between 14 and 17 years old, officials said. The fire broke out early Wednesday in the wing housing […]

US skeptical about N. Korea talks, says Kim Jong-Un not ‘rational’

UNITED NATION, United States (AFP) — The United States on Wednesday voiced skepticism about calls for talks with North Korea, saying leader Kim Jong-Un was behaving irrationally and would likely not respond to diplomatic advances. “We are not dealing with a rational person,” US Ambassador Nikki Haley told reporters following a closed-door meeting of the Security Council to discuss North Korea’s latest missile launches. In a reference to China, which is calling for a return […]

CIA blasts WikiLeaks for publishing secret documents

by Paul HANDLEY / Rob Lever Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The Central Intelligence Agency on Wednesday accused WikiLeaks of endangering Americans, helping US rivals and hampering Washington’s fight against terror threats by releasing what the anti-secrecy site claimed was a trove of CIA hacking tools. A CIA spokeswoman would not confirm the authenticity of the materials published a day earlier by WikiLeaks, which said they were leaked from the spy agency’s […]

Neanderthal used ‘aspirin’ for tooth pain: study

by Pascale MOLLARD / Mariëtte Le Roux Agence France-Presse PARIS, France – Nearly 50,000 years before the invention of penicillin, a young Neanderthal tormented by a dental abscess ate greenery containing a natural antibiotic and pain killer, analysis of his teeth revealed Wednesday. The male, who lived in El Sidron in what is now Spain, ate an antibiotic fungus called Penicillium and chewed on bits of poplar tree containing salicylic acid — the active ingredient […]

As Brexit looms, Britain forecasts strong economy

by Roland JACKSON Agence France-Presse LONDON, United Kingdom – Britain’s economy will grow far stronger than expected this year, finance minister Philip Hammond said in a budget update Wednesday, as the government prepares to trigger Brexit. Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May has vowed to activate Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty in the next three weeks, sparking a painful two-year divorce process — and tense talks over the terms of Britain’s departure from the […]

Iraq forces hunt for bombs, jihadist holdouts in Mosul

by Tony Gamal-Gabriel with Delil Souleiman in Manbij Agence France-Presse MOSUL, Iraq – Iraqi forces worked to clear bombs and flush out any remaining jihadists in retaken areas of west Mosul Wednesday to set the stage for an offensive against the Old City. Supported by US-led air strikes, the forces have made steady progress in their battle to seize Iraq’s second city from the Islamic State group, announcing the recapture of three more areas on […]

QC Prosecutor’s Office recommends no bail for Angel Manalo

    (Eagle News) — The Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office recommended no bail for Felix Nathaniel “Angel” Manalo on Wednesday, March 8, after it found probable cause for the charges of illegal possession of firearms filed by the police against him on Friday, March 3. In his two-page resolution, Quezon City senior assistant state prosecutor Nilo Penaflor, also found probable cause for the filing of criminal charges against Victor Erano “Jem” Hemedez, Manalo’s nephew, who […]

Manila sends message of “strong protest” to US TV drama showing fictional PHL President

  Manila on Tuesday “strongly protested” an American television drama which shows a fictional Philippine president making a sexual advance on the US secretary of state. In the trailer for the latest edition of “Madam Secretary”, the lead character punches “the Philippines’ unconventional new president” in the face and gives him a bloody nose in reaction to his unwanted pass. “I clobbered a world leader instead of saving a major regional agreement,” the secretary of […]

CGMA, 10 other lawmakers to be removed from chairmanship posts after “No” vote on death penalty bill

QUEZON City, Philippines (Eagle News) — Pampanga Representative and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo may be removed from her Deputy Speaker status after voting “no” to the passage of the bill reimposing death penalty. Aside from Rep. Arroyo, 10 more lawmakers may be removed from the chairmanship of various House committees for opposing the measure. In the vote of the House of Representatives on the third and final reading of the […]

EO on smoking ban still unsigned

QUEZON City, Philippines (Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte admitted that although he already has a draft of the Executive Order banning smoking inside government agencies and in public places nationwide, he is still studying it further and has not yet signed the order. Duterte said that he is being careful on signing the executive order and admitted that he is still undecided on some provisions. “I’m measuring the resistance, whether I can compromise, for […]

VW chief seeks to regain trust after ‘Dieselgate’

by Estelle PEARD Agence France-Presse GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — Volkswagen is on track for dealing with the recall of cars involved in the “Dieselgate” emissions scandal but, longer-term, needs to regain the trust of its customers, its chief executive Matthias Mueller said Tuesday. His comments came as the EU and European consumer protection agencies hiked pressure on VW to fully compensate European clients over the affair. The Dieselgate scandal erupted in September 2015 when VW […]