Football: Swanson injury overshadows US victory over Ireland

LOS ANGELEES -- The United States defeated Ireland 2-0 on Saturday in a match overshadowed by an injury to Mallory Swanson just months before the women's World Cup kicks off.

Swanson was stretchered off the field in distress at the end of the first half in Austin after her left knee buckled following a heavy challenge from Ireland's Aoife Mannion.

Play was held up for several minutes and US coach Vlatko Andonovski came onto the field to comfort Swanson as she received treatment before being carted off.

"We don't know the extent of the injury yet," Andonovski said afterward.

"She's getting checked out as we speak, and I'm hoping for good news in the near future... She's getting checked out and we're waiting for the results."

Swanson was reportedly taken to a local area hospital for assessment.

A serious knee injury would place a major question mark against Swanson's fitness for the Women's World Cup, which kicks off in Australia and New Zealand in July.

The US open the defense of their world title against Vietnam in Auckland on July 21.

Swanson, who turns 25 later this month, is one of the stars of the US national team and has been in blistering form this year with seven international goals in five appearances.

The Chicago Red Stars striker also scored seven international goals in 2022.

Swanson's injury came after she had earlier received treatment following a heavy collision with Ireland goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan as the two chased a loose ball.

Ireland defender Mannion was involved in that incident as well, appearing to nudge Swanson off-balance just before she crashed into Brosnan.

Andonovski insisted Swanson had been fully fit to continue playing after the earlier collision with Brosnan.

"If there was any slight chance that she should have not been back on the field we were gonna keep her off, but she felt good," Andonovski said.

"Everything was fine, so it wasn't a head or a brain injury or anything."

Swanson's worrying knee injury took the shine off another clinical victory for the USA, who extended their winning streak to seven straight games thanks to Emily Fox's maiden international goal and a Lindsey Horan's penalty.

Fox's 37th minute opener came after a period of sustained Irish pressure, the US defender gliding across the edge of the penalty area and unleashing a low shot which beat Brosnan to creep in at the bottom corner.

The US made the game safe in the 79th minute, Horan scoring from the spot after being hauled down in the area by Ireland's Diane Caldwell.

A relieved Horan celebrated after the successful spot-kick, which came just weeks after she missed a crucial penalty in Lyon's Champions League quarter-final defeat to Chelsea last month.

Agence France-Presse

Facebook launches dating service in Europe

Facebook Inc said on Wednesday it is launching its dating service, Facebook Dating, in 32 countries in Europe after the launch was delayed earlier this year due to regulatory concerns.

The social media company postponed the rollout of the service in Europe in February after Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner (DPC), the main regulator in the European Union for a number of the world's biggest technology firms including Facebook, raised concerns about the launch.

Facebook Dating announced the launch of the services in the United States in September last year. It is currently available in 20 other countries.

-reuters-

UFC: McGregor gives one million euros for protective hospital equipment

LONDON -- UFC star Conor McGregor has spent one million euros on protective equipment for hospital staff treating patients with the coronavirus in Ireland.

McGregor sent a message to the Republic of Ireland's Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe and revealed the contents on his Twitter page.

Donohoe had written to McGregor asking him to tell his 7.9 million Twitter followers to practise social distancing.

"Today I am purchasing myself, one million euro worth of personal protective equipment to be deployed to all the fighting hospitals in the Leinster region. Our most affected region, to this date," McGregor said.

"St James's, Mater, Tallaght, Beaumont, Vincent's (hospitals). Where we would be without these brave men and women, I do not know. May God bless over them and keep them safe!"

McGregor called on the Irish government to go further in their efforts to fight the virus and implement more stringent lock-down measures.

"I feel like we are moving in the right way, it just feels to me like it is not all the way," he said. 

"I urge all the way! 'All in' is the term we must use here. Bit by bit will cost us lives.

"To see what is happening here in Ireland and all across the globe is heartbreaking to me. I pray. 

"God speed Minister and thank you for the message, and your service to our nation."

Agence France-Presse

Coronavirus detected at Apple's European HQ in Ireland

DUBLIN - A worker at Apple Inc.'s European headquarters in Ireland has tested positive for coronavirus.

The company said it is coordinating closely with local health authorities and they feel the risk to others is low.

In a statement, the tech giant said the employee is now in self-isolation.

"As a precaution, we have asked some of our team members to stay at home while we work with the Health and Safety Executive to assess the situation."

"We are continuing to regularly deep clean all our offices and stores and will take all necessary precautions in accordance with guidance from health authorities."

Apple is one of Ireland's largest multinational employers with 6,000 workers. Ireland has so far reported 24 cases after three more were identified on Monday. 

source: news.abs-cbn.com

2 arrested for 12 billion password sale attempt in Netherlands, Northern Ireland

THE HAGUE - Police arrested two men in the Netherlands and Northern Ireland suspected of trying to sell some 12 billion stolen user names and passwords via an online website, Dutch police said Friday.

A 22-year-old man was arrested in the eastern Dutch city of Arnhem when police raided his house on a tip-off by a Dutch cyber crime unit working with Britain's National Crime Agency, the FBI and the German police.

A second suspect, also aged 22, was arrested in Northern Ireland, Dutch police said in a statement.

During the raid in Arnhem police found professional equipment which made it possible to sell the suspects' offered services via the 'We leak info' website," police said.

The Dutch suspect "is involved in the possession and offering hacked user names and passwords and played a facilitating role in regards to cyber crime," law agents added.

When searched by AFP Friday the website displayed a disclaimer saying: "This domain has been seized" by the FBI in conjunction with the other European law enforcement agencies.

Dutch police declined to give further information, saying the investigation was ongoing.

WeLeakInfo.com allegedly offered unlimited access to all information on its site for two dollars a day or 25 dollars a month, the NOS public broadcaster said.

The information was a collection of leaks and stolen passwords from popular websites and apps such as LinkedIn and MyFitnessPal.

"In theory, you could search hundreds or even thousands of leaked passwords to try and gain access to people's emails, their social media and other accounts," the NOS said.

Dutch and British police in 2018 led an operation in which they shut down a website linked to more than four million cyber attacks around the world.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Victory for nationalism: Johnson's win puts UK's future in doubt

BELFAST/GLASGOW -- The election result was hailed as a victory for English, Scottish and Irish nationalism - and it could spell the end of the United Kingdom.

Boris Johnson's resounding triumph will allow him to take the United Kingdom out of the European Union next month but it could spell the break-up of the union that has bound England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland for centuries.

While Johnson's Conservative Party swept the opposition aside across much of England on his promise to get Brexit done, Scottish nationalists captured 48 of the 59 parliamentary seats in Scotland.

In Northern Ireland, supporters of a united Ireland won more seats than those in the province who want to remain part of the United Kingdom for the first time since the 1921 partition which divided the British north from the Irish Republic in the south.

Throughout the election campaign, Johnson said he was committed to the union and denied accusations that his Brexit deal would create an economic barrier between the British mainland and Northern Ireland.

"At this stage it does look as though this one-nation Conservative government has been given a powerful new mandate, to get Brexit done and not just to get Brexit done but to unite this country and take it forward," Johnson said on Friday after winning his own seat in west London.

But opponents said it was Johnson's appeal to English nationalism with his promise to "Get Brexit done" at the expense of the interests of Scotland and Northern Ireland which had been instrumental in his success.

Both triumphant Scottish and Irish nationalist leaders and defeated opponents saw Johnson's victory as opening the way to the disintegration of the United Kingdom.

"Tonight we have seen that it is likely that Boris Johnson is on course to get a majority and it is clearly a good night for the SNP (Scottish National Party)," said Jo Swinson, leader of the Liberal Democrat Party who lost her own Scottish parliamentary seat to the SNP.

"Some will be celebrating the wave of nationalism that is sweeping both sides of the border."

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said the result was a clear mandate for a second plebiscite on Scottish independence.

Scotland, England's political partner for 300 years, voted against secession from the United Kingdom by 55 percent to 45 percent in 2014. But Scots backed staying in the European Union in the 2016 referendum and Sturgeon argues Brexit means they should have another say on independence.

BORDER POLL

"Boris Johnson may have a mandate to take England out of the European Union. He emphatically does not have a mandate to take Scotland out of the European Union. Scotland must have a choice over our own future," Sturgeon said.

A majority in Northern Ireland also voted against leaving the European Union and anti-Brexit parties took more seats in the province for the first time. Nationalists said the result paved the way towards a vote on whether there should be a united Ireland.

"We are heading towards a border poll, I can't give you a definitive date, but we need to do the spade work now and prepare ourselves," Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said.

"We need to, in an orderly fashion, structure the conversation about a new Ireland and constitutional change. I don't think unionism should be alarmed or frightened, this is a huge opportunity for everybody who lives on this island."

One of those to lose their seat was Nigel Dodds, deputy leader of the Democratic Unionist Party which propped up the minority Conservative government in London after the last election in 2017.

The DUP said it had ultimately been betrayed by Johnson's Brexit deal with Brussels which they said would create an economic border between Britain and Northern Ireland.

"The great irony of all of this is that for decades unionists have looked over their shoulders and decided that Irish nationalists were the great threat ... but actually it’s English nationalism," Mike Nesbitt, former leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, told the BBC.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Split concerns force Durex to recall condoms in UK, Ireland

LONDON - Durex, owned by Reckitt Benckiser, has recalled some batches of its “Real Feel” and “Latex Free” condoms in the United Kingdom and Ireland due to concerns they may burst.

“Our tests have shown that some batches which are currently on the market in UK & Ireland do not pass the requirements for burst pressure towards the end of the shelf life for the product,” Durex said in a statement.

Durex said only a limited number of batches were affected and that customers would be offered a full refund.

“Anyone using affected batches are advised to stop use over concerns they do not meet safety standards,” the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said in a statement.

“There is a risk that the condom might tear or leak reducing its protection from sexually-transmitted diseases and pregnancy.”

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Some Filipinos rue results of Irish referendum on abortion

DUBLIN, Ireland - Some Filipinos here were disappointed over the turnout of the referendum that effectively made abortion legal in this European nation.

Health care assistant Cherry Rivera said the landslide win in favor of abortion was heartbreaking.

“What is there to celebrate? Killing unborn babies? Nothing to celebrate about. It’s a sad day to think people are out there celebrating this victory with no thought of the thousands of children who will never take their first breath. I voted No, Children are a blessing and a gift from the Lord,” said Rivera.

Millions of Irish residents, including Irish-Filipinos, went out to vote on May 25 to either retain or repeal the eight amendment of the constitution that states: “The State acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right.”

"Before the poll, I knew that 'yes' was very popular but I was still hoping for a dramatic turn of events. I somehow, understand where the other party is coming from but the end doesn’t justify the means. I am deeply saddened by the result," said nurse Josephine Caragan O’Roarke.

The eighth amendment – article 40.3.3 of the Irish constitution – which prohibited abortion, will be replaced with a clause stating: "Provision may be made by law for the regulation of termination of pregnancy."

The Irish government is planning to bring legislation before the Dáil (Parliament), providing for abortion on request up to the 12th week of pregnancy, with a 3-day “cooling off” period before medication is administered.

Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said he wanted the new law to be enacted by the end of the year. There will be provisions for medical practitioners to object, although doctors will be obliged to transfer care of the pregnant woman to another doctor.

Despite the results of the referendum, a lot of Filipino Irish, most of whom are working as nurses and health care assistants, vow to not participate in abortion procedures should it finally be enforced in Irish Hospitals.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Donaire, Carl Frampton make weight for world interim title bout

Nonito Donaire Jr. and Carl Frampton both made weight for their World Boxing Organization featherweight interim world title fight at the SSE Arena in Belftast, Northern Ireland. 

Donaire tipped the scales at 125.5 pounds, while Frampton came in at exactly 125 pounds, making their title bout on Saturday (Sunday morning, Manila time) official. 

Donaire, 35, is coming off a unanimous decision win over Ruben Garcia Hernandez, and is looking for another run at the top tier of the featherweight division after most recently holding the WBO super bantamweight championship. 

Frampton, 31, is also looking to get back to the top of the 125-pound rankings after losing his WBO title to Leo Santa Cruz last year. The hometown bet is coming off a unanimous decision win over Horatio Garcia. 

You can catch Donaire-Frampton for the WBO featherweight interim world title on Sunday, April 22, 6:30 p.m. on ABS-CBN S+A channel 23!

You can also catch the fight LIVE on Sunday, April 22, 2:30 a.m. on SKY Sports Pay-Per-View for only P199!

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Ireland stun Wales to seal World Cup playoff spot

CARDIFF - Ireland ripped up the script by beating Wales 1-0 to secure their place in the playoffs for the World Cup finals on Monday.

A night of raw emotion began with both sides needing three points to secure second spot in Group D behind Serbia and ended with Ireland's visiting fans in delirium thanks to James McClean's goal.

Martin O'Neill's Ireland soaked up the expected Welsh pressure in the Cardiff City Stadium and landed a sucker-punch in the 57th-minute with one of their rare attacks.

It proved a body blow from which Chris Coleman's Wales, who started the night above Ireland in second place and still had eyes on top spot, never recovered as their hopes of reaching a first World Cup finals since 1958 evaporated.

Real Madrid forward and Welsh talisman Gareth Bale, missing the crunch clash through injury, could only watch on helplessly in his seat in the stands as Wales suffered their first defeat in 12 World Cup qualifiers.

Ireland finished the group as runners-up with 19 points, two ahead of Wales who paid the price for too many draws earlier in the campaign. Serbia beat Georgia 1-0 to win the group and qualify for the Russia finals automatically.

"So proud. The players were magnificent playing away from home at a very good Welsh side. To win on their territory was a great result for us," O'Neill said.

"That last half-hour seemed an eternity. We withstood pressure but we knew at some stage we would have to try to win the game and we did. The goal was worthy of winning any game."

Wales dominated before halftime without ever really opening up a well-organised Ireland side and Ireland keeper Darren Randolph was rarely tested.

The hosts began the second half with a flourish and James Chester glanced a header into the side-netting.

Randolph then made a superb save to tip Hal Robson-Kanu's powerful header over the crossbar in the 54th minute.

Three minutes later Robson-Kanu's West Bromwich Albion team mate McClean decided the contest as Wales self-destructed.

Wales keeper Wayne Hennessey's poor throw-out put Ashley Williams under pressure and the Everton defender was robbed of the ball by Jeff Kendrick on the right touchline.

Kendrick sprinted forward and crossed low, the ball being expertly dummied by Harry Arter before eventually reaching the unmarked McClean, who finished first time with an unstoppable right-foot drive.

With news of Croatia leading against Ukraine filtering through, it meant even a draw would not be sufficient for Wales to claim one of the eight playoff spots.

Ireland defended superbly for the remainder of the game although Wales were flat. A Welsh goal would have ended Ireland's playoff hopes and their hearts were in their mouths in stoppage time when Aaron Ramsey fired straight at Randolph.

Ireland have not qualified for the World Cup since 2002 and have bitter playoff memories, having been knocked out by a controversial France goal in 2010.

They will learn who they must face over two legs when the draw is made on Oct. 17.

(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Ian Chadband)

source: neews.abs-cbn.com

Tens of thousands march for abortion rights in Ireland

DUBLIN - Tens of thousands of people marched in Dublin on Saturday to demand the loosening of some of the strictest abortion laws in the world ahead of a 2018 referendum on the issue.

Abortion remains a divisive issue in once stridently Catholic Ireland, where a complete ban on the procedure was only lifted in 2013 to allow terminations in cases where the mother's life was in danger.


In 2016 over 3,000 Irish women travelled to England for abortions, according to the British Department of Health, but activists say the real number is far higher.

The government has promised to hold a referendum next May or June, but it has yet to decide exactly what question to put to the Irish people.

The human rights arms of the United Nations and Council of Europe have pressed the government to decriminalise abortion and widen the law to allow for the procedure in cases of fatal foetal abnormality, rape or incest.

But pro-choice activists want a more liberal regime, closer to that of England, which allows terminations to be carried out up to 24 weeks after conception. Opinion polls show a large majority of voters want some change.

"Government ministers have suggested only the most restrictive terms will pass, but I think the people want more than that," said Sarah Murphy, a 26-year-old recruitment professional.

"Ireland is changing. I don't think you would have seen a march like this a few years ago," she said.

Like many at the march she was wearing a black jumper with the word Repeal in white, a reference to a campaign to repeal the eighth amendment of the Irish constitution, which gives the unborn child equal rights to those of the mother.

A panel of citizens called together to advise government on the issue voted overwhelmingly that the eighth amendment should be changed.

An all-party committee in parliament is now considering those recommendations and is due to report to parliament by the end of the year.

Some of the crowd, which marched across the city before assembling outside the office of Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, chanted "Get your rosaries off our ovaries" in reference to the influence the Catholic Church has long had on social policy in Ireland, while others held posters demanding "Repeal now."

The growing pro-choice movement is seen as a sign that the Catholic church, which has dominated Irish life for centuries, is continuing to lose influence.

Ireland was the first country to adopt gay marriage by popular vote in 2015, approving it by 62 percent to 38 percent despite the opposition of the church. (Reporting by Conor Humphries; Editing by Hugh Lawson)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Brexit faces challenges in Northern Irish courts

IRELAND - Britain's departure from the EU faced two separate legal challenges in Northern Ireland's High Court Friday.

Lawyers for one group lodged an application with the court to challenge London's decision to abide by the June 23 referendum result and proceed to leave the European Union.

In a letter last month, the group had asked British Prime Minister Theresa May to allow votes on the issue in both the British parliament and in the Northern Ireland Assembly before triggering the formal process to leave.

The politicians and activists bringing the action want May's government to consider the potential impact on Northern Ireland's peace process before triggering the formal process to leave the EU.

Jones Cassidy Brett, the legal firm representing the group, said: "The various assurances sought by our clients have not been forthcoming and, indeed, the response heightened their concerns about the approach the government was likely to take."

This legal action was initiated only hours after it emerged that the court had agreed to fast-track a separate challenge by a victims' rights campaigner, who argues that Brexit would contravene international agreements underpinning peace in Northern Ireland.

That case taken by Raymond McCord, 62, will be heard on September 5, the first official day the court is due to sit following the summer recess.

His legal team says the promptness of the hearing, and a decision this week to grant public funding to underwrite it, confirm its importance.

McCord believes Brexit would contravene the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which effectively brought an end to the three decades of armed conflict in Northern Ireland.

"I am very concerned about the profoundly damaging effect that a unilateral withdrawal of the UK from the EU will have upon the ongoing relative stability in Northern Ireland," he says in his affidavit to the court.

McCord believes the loss of EU funding towards conflict resolution projects in Northern Ireland could jeopardise the ongoing peace process if not replaced.

His legal costs will be met from public funds, which his lawyer, Ciaran O'Hare of McIvor Farrell Solicitors, said were granted "only in cases of merit, complexity and public importance".

Northern Ireland has its own legal jurisdiction within the United Kingdom, as does England and Wales, and Scotland.

The British government already faces a legal challenge to stop it beginning the process of leaving the EU without an act of parliament.

In the English courts, lawyers at Mishcon de Reya argue that the British government cannot trigger Article 50, the legal process for leaving the bloc, without a parliamentary debate and vote authorising it to do so.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Deadly shooting at boxing weigh-in kills man: report

A man was killed while two others were injured when armed men dressed as police officers opened fire during a boxing weigh-in in Dublin, Ireland.

According to BBC.com, the shooting took place at Dublin's Regency Hotel where a weigh-in for a WBO title fight was taking place.

The attackers were reportedly carrying AK-47 assault rifles.

The video showed that people started scampering to safety after shots were fired.

Police suspect that the shooting may have something to do with local gangs.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

'Best of You' founder shares Filipino connection

MANILA - Get to know more about Irish motivational speaker for budding entrepreneurs, Best of You founder Mike Grogan.

He left his home in Ireland 10 years ago, and has been hopping from one country to the next until the story of overseas Filipino workers inspired him to come to our shores.

A chemical engineer by degree, just six months in since practically being based in the Philippines, the 33-year-old Ed Sheeran lookalike has picked up more Filipino in his vocabulary than any Irishman could in that short span of time and even faith in the Filipino.

Here's how he puts his "Filipino connection" and the need to look for the hero in all of us.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

'Like' isn't enough? Facebook tries new range of emotions

Facebook will begin testing a new feature allowing users in Ireland and Spain to express a range of emotions on posts starting Friday -- but there will be no "dislike" button, the social network said.

Facebook described the new "Reactions" options as an extension of the "like" button, to give people more ways to easily signal how they feel.

Users have for years pressed the world's leading online social network for a "dislike" button to complement the existing thumbs up one, which allows users to express they "like" a post.

"Not every moment is a good moment, and sometimes you just want a way to express empathy," posted Facebook co-founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg.

"These are important moments where you need the power to share more than ever, and a 'Like' might not be the best way to express yourself."

During the trial, users in Ireland and Spain will be able to select six emotions, as well as the like button, as they consider how they feel about posts.

The options for the trial are: "love," "yay," "wow," "haha," "sad," and "angry," and are similar to emojis used in text messaging. Each expression comes with a correspondingly themed emoji.

"Reactions gives you new ways to express love, awe, humor and sadness," Zuckerberg said.

"It's not a dislike button, but it does give you the power to easily express sorrow and empathy -- in addition to delight and warmth."

Chris Toss, Facebook product manager, said Reactions would give users greater ways of engaging with stories and content.

"It's a much broader range of human emotions you can express," he told Irish national broadcaster RTE, speaking from California.

A spokesman had no information on the length of the trial or when it might be extended to Facebook users outside Ireland and Spain.

Toss also said the social network decided a "dislike" button would not add value to the site.

"Liking" something on Facebook also plays a key role in the social network's algorithm, allowing users to see content they regularly engage with and enabling targeted advertising.

The new range of empathy buttons could eventually be used for similar purposes, but not during the trial, according to Toss.

"If you're coming for humorous content and you're saying 'ha ha' to lots of funny cat videos, down the road we might use that to show you more cat videos, but as of the initial test you won't see any of that," Toss said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

WATCH: McGregor nabs title belt form Aldo

The build-up to the UFC 189 main event between Conor McGregor and Jose Aldo has been fraught with fierce stare downs and near skirmishes, and it reached another level during the World Tour's last stop in Dublin, Ireland.

McGregor, cheered on by his raucous hometown fans, was in his element, although Aldo gave as good as he got, even telling the crowd: "I'm the king of Dublin."

McGregor responded by putting his feet up on the table, and, seconds later, reached over Aldo's side of the stage to snatch the UFC featherweight belt, which was placed in front of the Brazilian champion.

Aldo immediately got to his feet and tried to grab his belt back as McGregor held it aloft, though the two men were kept apart by UFC president Dana White.

"You're looking at the King!" McGregor crowed as the Dublin fans went wild.

Aldo, for his part, brushed off the incident.

"I didn't feel anything," said the Brazilian star in an interview with UFC Brasil. "That's the best he can do, because the next time he's in front of me, I will be the (expletive) out of his face."

Nabbing Aldo's belt was the latest of McGregor's stunts during the press tour. In Los Angeles, he taunted the champion, then grabbed the back of Aldo's neck during their stop in Toronto.

UFC 189 is set for July 11 in Las Vegas.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Irish president to make historic state visit to Britain

DUBLIN - President Michael D. Higgins is to become the first Irish head of state to make a state visit to Britain, in another symbolic step forward for relations between the neighbouring countries.

The visit in April will come three years after Britain's Queen Elizabeth made a groundbreaking trip to the republic, which experts said put Anglo-Irish relations on a new footing.

Higgins's visit will be seen as a further sign of progress following the hard-won peace in Northern Ireland, which remains part of the United Kingdom.

Higgins's Aras an Uachtarain official residence confirmed he has accepted an invitation for a three-day state visit.

The details are yet to be fleshed out but the 72-year-old poet is expected to stay at Windsor Castle, west of London, from April 8 to 10.

Though Higgins has visited Britain several times since taking office in November 2011, they were not official state visits, where Britain lays on the pomp and ceremony.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Horse DNA found in burgers at second major Irish plant

DUBLIN - Burgers containing horse DNA have been discovered at a second major plant in Ireland, the country's agriculture department said on Monday, again pointing the finger at Poland as the country of origin for the raw materials.

Food companies such as Tesco and Burger King last month found that beef products supplied by an Irish firm contained horse DNA, a scandal that has hit retailers with a wave of bad publicity and left Ireland's 2 billion euro ($2.7 billion) beef industry reeling.

Results of tests on a Polish meat ingredient at Ireland's Rangeland Foods, a supplier of frozen burgers to restaurants, caterers and pubs including local fast food chain Supermac's, contained 75 percent horse DNA, the agriculture department said in a statement.

"This isn't a huge surprise, it's another depressing saga that has put Irish food in the headlines for all the wrong reasons," Irish Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney told national broadcaster RTE.

"It's not a surprise to me because this is the same product that has been going into Silvercrest," he said, referring to the plant run by Ireland's most powerful beef baron Larry Goodman, the first whose burgers were found to contain horsemeat.

Coveney's department said Rangeland has suspended production pending the outcome of an investigation and the company has indicated that none of the products, which were imported through a meat trader based in Ireland, had entered the food chain.

Rangeland, based in the northern county of Monaghan, exports burgers to Britain, Sweden, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Greece and Cyprus. Coveney said the product containing the horse DNA was destined for the catering industry outside Ireland.

LEGAL ACTION

Initial tests on burgers produced by another Irish company, Liffey Meats, also tested positive for low traces of horse DNA, although further tests came back clear.

The minister said the only two other burger manufacturers in the country had both confirmed they have not used any Polish products, and that their products are 100 percent Irish sourced.

He has also asked the police and the fraud squad to join in the investigation and said the government would take legal action against those responsible if necessary.

Silvercrest - a subsidiary of Europe's largest beef exporter ABP Foods which is based just 6 kilometres (3.7 miles) from Rangeland - has lost its contract to supply both Tesco and Burger King with burgers.

Burger King, one of the most popular fast food chains in Britain and Ireland, said last week its affected burgers never reached any eateries. Tesco withdrew a number of products from its shelves, including one sample where horse meat accounted for about 29 percent of content.

Smaller retail chains Aldi, Lidl and Iceland have also sold beef products found to contain horse DNA.

Poland's veterinary authority found no signs of horse meat in samples from five slaughterhouses that were sending beef to Ireland and is awaiting results from the sixth, state news agency PAP reported on Friday.

Food safety experts say horse DNA poses no added health risks to consumers, but the discovery has raised concerns about the food supply chain and the ability to trace meat ingredients.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

79 Pinoys in Ireland angry over undelivered packages

IRELAND – More than 70 Filipinos are preparing to take their complaints to court after a forwarding company owned by fellow Filipinos failed to deliver their balikbayan boxes on time.

“Masamang-masama ang loob ko syempre kasi yung perang pinambili namin doon pinaghirapan namin at isa pa rin inaasahan ito ng buong pamilya ko,” said one of the victims, Rose Elegado.

Elegado and 78 other Filipinos claimed that it has been more than a year since they sent their balikbayan boxes to the Philippines. However, packages remain undelivered.

They blame the Maharlika Enterprise, an Irish-registered company managed by Joseph John Codamon and partner Armeda Casabar.

“Sana itong Maharlika noon pa sana ginawan mo na ng paraan ito hindi na sana tayo umabot sa ganito na marami nang masyadong apektado,” said another victim Roel Timbang.

The victims learned that the boxes remain inside the warehouse of Maharlika’s business partner in Manila. Their partner allegedly does not want to release the balikbayan boxes until Maharlika settles P480,000 in penalties.

The victims brought their complaints to the Philippine Embassy in Dublin where they were advised to bring their case to the Consumer Protection Agency in Ireland.

In its advisory, the Embassy said it does not tolerate bad business management practices. It likewise reminds Filipinos in Ireland to “engage only the services of sea-freight forwarders that are accredited by the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry-Philippine Shippers’ Bureau”.

“Maharlika Enterprise has been reported to Philippine authorities for appropriate action,” the embassy’s advisory added.

Meanwhile, Codamon agreed to sell his car to pay off the debt but this was not enough. The victims had to shell out additional 100 euros each for the release of all the balikbayan boxes. Roderick Garcia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Facebook data practices under investigation in Europe

Social networking giant Facebook faces complaints from a European group before Ireland’s Data Protection Commissioner over how it manages members’ personal data.

Europe v. Facebook had filed 22 complaints with the Data Protection Commissioner, claiming Facebook may have violated European privacy laws governing how firms manage personal data.

A report on PC World said the complaints concern issues ranging from how Facebook deals with deleted posts and contacts, to what the group claimed to be an unclear privacy policy of Facebook.

The PC World article said the group filed the complaints in Ireland because Facebook’s user agreement says that users outside the U.S. and Canada are entering into an agreement with Facebook Ireland, the company’s European headquarters.

For its part, Facebook has maintained it complies with data protection laws around the world.

The complaints stemmed from members of the group asking Facebook for personal data stored on them by the site. Facebook is required under European law to respond to such requests.

The group published redacted data obtained by some of its supporters to show what kind information Facebook stores.

Accelerated process

On the other hand, the Data Protection Commissioner’s office said the complaints accelerated the investigation process, as it was already planning to audit Facebook.

Ciara O’Sullivan, a spokeswoman for the office, said the Data Protection Commissioner will undertake an investigation of the complaints and also an audit of Facebook.

This will involve visiting the company’s facilities in Dublin and “looking more generally at how they process personal data," O’Sullivan said.

PC World reported the audit will begin in October.

Facebook to 'cooperate'

Facebook said it has regular contact with the Data Protection Commissioner, and “we look forward to demonstrating our commitment to the appropriate handling of user data as part of this routine audit."

It addressed questions that people who requested their Facebook data found that information they thought they had deleted was still present in the file.

“This is mostly likely due to the user removing a post from a specific place on Facebook rather than deleting it, or because we needed to retain information for a limited period for an investigation. We’re continuing to work on ways to make this process as seamless as possible," PC World quoted Facebook as saying.

Facebook also addressed a claim that photo tags are applied without a person’s consent. In August, Facebook changed the tagging feature so that people can choose to approve a tag before the photo shows up in their own profile.

Users can also adjust their privacy settings to turn off “Tag Suggestions," a feature that uses facial recognition to help a user’s Facebook friends to automatically identify and tag the user in their photos.

But data protection officials in Germany do not believe that feature complies with the law. Hamburg’s Data Protection Agency (DPA) contends that Facebook should obtain users’ consent before their biometric data, used to enable the tagging feature, is stored. — TJD, GMA News

Source: gmanews.tv