Miami, United States | AFP | When coral reefs come in contact with plastic trash in the ocean, their risk of becoming diseased skyrockets, said an international study out Thursday. Researchers examined more than 120,000 corals on 159 reefs — some polluted with plastic, others not — from Indonesia, Australia, Myanmar …
Read More »Trump proposes US citizenship plan for 1.8 mn undocumented immigrants
Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump’s administration on Thursday unveiled a sweeping new immigration plan to Congress that offers 1.8 million young unauthorized immigrants known as “Dreamers” a path to citizenship over 10-12 years. In a comprehensive reform that will be formally presented next week, Trump …
Read More »Oldest human fossil outside Africa is dug up in Israel
Miami, United States | AFP | The oldest remains of a modern human outside Africa have been dug up in Israel, offering evidence of what genetic studies have already suggested — that humans migrated out of Africa some 50,000 years earlier than previously thought. Facial fragments, including a jawbone and …
Read More »‘Trump ordered Mueller’s firing but reversed course’
Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump ordered the firing of Russia investigation special prosecutor Robert Mueller last year but the White House counsel’s threatened resignation pushed him to reverse course, US media reported Thursday. Mueller is leading the probe into allegations of collusion between the US …
Read More »US calls for South Sudan arms embargo after failed truce
United Nations, United States | AFP | The United States on Wednesday called for an international arms embargo to be imposed on South Sudan following the failure of the latest ceasefire aimed at ending the four-year war. US Ambassador Nikki Haley told the Security Council that President Salva Kiir’s government …
Read More »Sex and the White House: from Clinton to Trump
Washington, United States | AFP | Two decades ago this week US president Bill Clinton declared that he “did not have sexual relations with that woman.” As it turned out, he did — and he was impeached for lying about his trysts with Monica Lewinsky. Today, another US president is accused …
Read More »Elton John announces final tour
New York, United States | AFP | Pop legend Elton John on Wednesday announced a final tour, saying he intends to stop traveling to spend more time with his family. The 70-year-old British entertainer, revealing his plans at a gala New York event, said he planned to “go out with a …
Read More »Elton John to ‘go out with a bang’ on final tour
New York, United States | AFP | Elton John announced Wednesday that he is retiring from touring, with the consummate showman saying he wants to devote himself to his children — but after a final, massive swing around the world. The 70-year-old British entertainer, revealing his plans at a gala …
Read More »World powers step up pressure on Syria, Russia over chemical attacks
Paris, France | AFP | Two dozen countries agreed Tuesday to push for sanctions against perpetrators of chemical attacks in Syria, with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson saying Russia “ultimately bears responsibility” for such strikes. Twenty-four nations approved a new “partnership against impunity” for the use of chemical weapons, just …
Read More »Snake blood, flaming bricks: Mattis gets bizarre Indonesian send off
Jakarta, Indonesia | AFP | A soldier tore apart a snake with his teeth and his comrades headbutted flaming stacks of bricks as Indonesia’s special forces treated visiting US defence secretary Jim Mattis to an unusual display on Tuesday. Mattis — whose own nickname is “Mad Dog” — seemed impressed by …
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