Washington, United States | AFP | Video games have been linked to real-world violence, US President Donald Trump told gaming industry leaders in a meeting Thursday after a school shooting last month reignited a national debate over guns. The talks between Trump and the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) trade group …
Read More »Congolese warlord loses bid against $1 mln damages award
The Hague, Netherlands | AFP | War crimes judges Thursday upheld an order that a former Congolese militia leader must pay $1 million in damages to his victims, after his forces rampaged through a village in 2003. Germain Katanga, 39, a former militia commander from the restive northeastern Congolese Ituri …
Read More »US to upgrade Qatar air ops center despite Gulf crisis
Washington, United States | AFP | The United States has approved a request from Qatar to upgrade the emirate’s air force operations center, officials said Thursday, despite the Gulf diplomatic crisis. Qatar has fallen out with fellow US allies in the Gulf, led by Saudi Arabia and the United Araba …
Read More »FARC withdrawing from Colombian presidential race
Bogota, Colombia | AFP | Colombia’s FARC said Thursday it is pulling out of the country’s presidential race after its candidate, 59-year-old ex-guerrilla leader Rodrigo “Timochenko” Londono, suffered a heart attack. Ivan Marquez, a senate candidate and senior member of the political party formed by the former Revolutionary Armed Forces …
Read More »World Bank hopes Trump ‘careful’ on tariffs
Brussels, Belgium | AFP | The chief executive of the World Bank urged US President Donald Trump on Thursday to be “careful” before imposing steel and aluminium tariffs and weigh up possible effects on global trade. Kristalina Georgieva said Trump should assess the “implications” before going ahead with a plan …
Read More »US, Israel forces ready for evolving threats with major drill
Hatzor Air Base, Israel | AFP | US and Israeli commanders overseeing a major joint air defence exercise spoke Thursday of preparing for evolving threats in the Middle East during the month-long drill. The Juniper Cobra exercise, held every two years since 2001, comes as Israel is increasingly concerned by …
Read More »Arsenal test as murky finances threaten AC Milan
Milan, Italy | AFP | AC Milan’s superb recent run faces a stiff test against Arsenal in the Europa League last-16 first leg in Italy on Thursday amid a backdrop of murky finances which are threatening one of Italy’s most successful clubs. Former AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso has turned …
Read More »World war crimes court set for bumper appeals rulings
The Hague, Netherlands | AFP | In an unusual move, international war crimes judges will rule Thursday on three appeals cases, including one brought by Congolese warlord Germain Katanga who was ordered to pay his victims $1 million in damages. Legal proceedings at the International Criminal Court (ICC) are usually …
Read More »Africa new frontline in anti-tobacco fight: activists
Cape Town, South Africa | AFP | Africa and other developing regions are becoming increasingly significant battlegrounds in the effort to combat the spread of smoking, an anti-smoking campaign group warned on Thursday. But most countries in sub-Saharan Africa have inadequate monitoring of tobacco use, according to the authors of …
Read More »Florida passes bill to restrict guns, arm some teachers
Miami, United States | AFP | The US state of Florida, scene of America’s latest school shooting, on Wednesday passed bill that raises the minimum age to buy firearms to 21 while funding a program that allows some teachers and school employees to be armed. The “Marjory Stoneman Douglas High …
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