Stockholm, Sweden | AFP | Swedish prosecutors will need to decide on Friday on whether to charge rapper ASAP Rocky, whose detention in Stockholm on suspicion of assault during a street brawl has created a furore among his fans and fellow artists. Since his detention in early July, fans and …
Read More »Empty nets as overfishing and climate change sap Lake Malawi
Senga Bay, Malawi | AFP | On the shores of Lake Malawi, a crowd eagerly awaits the arrival of a white and yellow cedarwood boat carrying its haul. The crew of six deliver a single net of chambo, sardine and tiny usipa fish from the boat, just one of 72 vessels …
Read More »Thousands converge on Sudan square for ‘martyrs’ rally
Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | Thousands of Sudanese demonstrators converged Thursday on a prominent square in Khartoum in a march to honour comrades killed in the months-long protest movement that has rocked the country. The rallies came a day after protest leaders and army rulers inked a power-sharing deal to form …
Read More »Senegal, Algeria set for rematch in Africa Cup of Nations final
Cairo, Egypt | AFP | Sadio Mane’s Senegal and an Algeria side captained by Riyad Mahrez will attempt to secure their place in Africa Cup of Nations history in Friday’s final in Cairo. Senegal, the 2002 runners-up, are desperate to end a long wait for a first continental title, while …
Read More »Pacquiao battling age, hungry Thurman in title showdown
Las Vegas, United States | AFP | Twenty-four years after first climbing into a professional boxing ring, Manny Pacquiao will attempt to defy the march of time here Saturday when he battles undefeated American Keith Thurman for the WBA welterweight crown. The 40-year-old Filipino icon clashes with Thurman at the MGM …
Read More »Facebook’s Libra prospects dim, but cryptocurrencies roll on
Washington, United States | AFP | Facebook’s planned global digital coin Libra has run into a wall of opposition in Washington that could prevent its launch as envisioned, but analysts say cryptocurrencies are likely to make gains around the world nonetheless. The plan by Facebook and its partners has generated skepticism …
Read More »Trump fires up base as impeachment bid blocked in Congress
Greenville, United States | AFP | A fired-up Donald Trump took aim once more at Democratic lawmakers who “hate” America as he hit the campaign trail Wednesday, hours after an opposition bid to impeach the US president over “racist” attacks was shot down in Congress. Egging on a sea of supporters …
Read More »Netflix shares slide on disappointing subscriber growth
San Francisco, United States | AFP | Netflix shares plunged in after-hours trade Wednesday after its quarterly update showed weaker-than-expected subscriber growth for the streaming television sector leader. Netflix said it added 2.7 million new subscribers worldwide in the April-June period, well below expectations, as the sector prepared for offerings …
Read More »Swiss specialities: chocolate, cheese and … wine?
Rivaz, Switzerland | AFP | When foreigners think of Swiss specialities that might excite their taste buds, world-renowned chocolate and cheese likely come to mind. Swiss wine? Not so much. But the global reputation of Switzerland’s winemakers may be set for a boost, backed by a new export promotion strategy …
Read More »Hebrew opera takes on Israeli-Palestinian conflict at French festival
Aix-en-Provence, France | AFP | It features an Israeli prime minister, Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike, a hit squad and a Shin Beth spy chief. But this is not another story on the intractable Israeli-Palestinian conflict but an opera unusually with a libretto in Hebrew, the official language of Israel. “The …
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