Other News

Japan’s Abe heads for New York for first talks with Trump

by Kyoko HASEGAWA TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japan’s premier Shinzo Abe headed to New York Thursday for talks with Donald Trump, the first leader to meet with the president-elect whose campaign pledges provoked anxiety over US foreign policy. The brash billionaire is set to receive Abe at his Trump Tower headquarters on Thursday evening, in an encounter that will be closely watched for hints on long-standing security pacts that he has called into question. “I’m […]

NBA: Curry, Durant fire Warriors over Raptors

TORONTO, Canada (AFP) — Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant had 30-point games to fire the Golden State Warriors to a fifth consecutive victory on Wednesday in a 127-121 win over the Toronto Raptors. Reigning NBA MVP Curry finished with 35 points and seven assists after the Warriors held off a furious late fightback from Toronto to claim the win. The Warriors appeared to be cruising to victory after opening up an 18-point lead in the […]

Prince William warns of looming threat of extinction

HANOI, Vietnam (AFP) — Britain’s Prince William on Thursday delivered a dire warning on the fate of the world’s endangered wildlife, telling a major conference in Hanoi that vulnerable species are being killed at a “horrifying” rate. Vietnam is a global hub for the illicit trade of contraband animal products, including ivory, rhino horn, pangolin, tiger and bear parts. The communist country is both a top consumer and popular transit route for illegal products from […]

Duterte gov’t gets “very good” SWS satisfaction rating, as drugs war nets “excellent” marks

  (Eagle News) — The administration of President Rodrigo Duterte got a “very good” +66 net satisfaction rating in the latest survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) where even his illegal drugs campaign — much criticized by human rights groups and political opponents — got an “excellent” satisfaction rating of 78 percent. The results of the survey which were first published in Business World, the SWS’ media partner, showed that the over-all performance of the Duterte […]

Defeated U.S. candidate Clinton says – ‘Fight for our values’

      WASHINGTON, DC, Unites States (Reuters) Defeated Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton called on Wednesday (November 16) for a renewed fight for a more-inclusive United States despite disappointment over an election loss that laid bare national divisions. In her first public remarks since conceding to Republican Donald Trump last week, Clinton said that many Americans were asking whether his victory meant the United States was still the country they thought it was. “The […]

NBA: Porzingis erupts as Knicks outgun Pistons

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Kristaps Porzingis exploded with a career-best 35 points to steer the New York Knicks to a 105-102 win over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday. A devastating second quarter spree where the 21-year-old Latvian poured on 10 unanswered points was the highlight of a superb display as the Knicks improved to 5-6. It was the eighth game of Porzingis’s career featuring a haul of 25 points or more and he […]

PHL economy up by 7.1% in first 3 months of Duterte gov’t

  (Eagle News) — The country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew year-on-year by 7.1 percent in the third quarter of 2016, which comprised the first three months of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. The growth in the Philippine economy was notable as it was higher than the growth rates of 7.0 percent in the second quarter of 2016, and 6.2 percent in the third quarter of 2015. With […]

Brazil authorizes Irish Olympic chief’s release on bail

Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL (AFP) A Brazilian judge on Wednesday ruled that Irish Olympic Committee (IOC) president Patrick Hickey, awaiting trial over an alleged ticketing scam, could be released on bail and leave the country. Judge Juliana Leal de Melo, who serves on a court overseeing amateur and professional sports, said authorities would return the 71-year-old’s passport upon payment of the 1.5 million real ($435,000) bail so that he could have “medical treatment,” the Rio state […]

Clinton says election exposed deep divisions in US

by Gregory FEIFER WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — In her first public appearance since conceding to Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton on Wednesday said the US presidential vote has exposed deep divisions, in the “greatest country in the world.” “Over the past week, a lot of people have asked themselves whether America is the country we thought it was,” the former Democratic candidate told an evening benefit event in Washington. “The divisions laid bare by this […]

NBA: LeBron absence felt as Pacers down Cavs

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Paul George scored 21 points as the Indiana Pacers took full advantage of the absence of LeBron James to defeat the NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers 103-93 on Wednesday. George also weighed in with 11 rebounds while teammate Jeff Teague added 20 points as the Pacers improved to 6-6 as the Cavaliers suffered only their second defeat of the season to go to 9-2. NBA Finals MVP James had been rested […]

Trump win casts pall of uncertainty over Asia

  by Ben Dooley Agence France Presse BEIJING, China (AFP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s vague and ambiguous foreign policy positions have cast a pall of uncertainty over whether American influence will decline in Asia, or if it will remain a force to be reckoned with, analysts say. The real estate tycoon-turned-politician frequently savaged China on the campaign trail, even calling it America’s “enemy” and pledging to stand up to a country he says views the […]

Obama to pass torch to Merkel on farewell visit

by Deborah COLE and Jerome CARTILLIER BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — US President Barack Obama pays a farewell visit Thursday to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, widely seen as the new standard bearer of liberal democracy since the election of Donald Trump. On the last leg of his final European tour as president, Obama will underline shared values, try to ease fears about the future of the transatlantic partnership and thank Merkel for her friendship during his […]