WORLD

Prague, Czech Republic | AFP |  Three decades after staging mass protests that freed them from communism, Czechs and Slovaks are hitting the streets again, bitter over pervasive corruption and politicians with roots in that era. The Velvet Revolution of 1989 saw unprecedented protests and a general strike end four decades …

Washington, United States | AFP | President Donald Trump on Tuesday took credit for an American economic renaissance but was greeted by another salvo from US industries that blame his trade wars for jeopardizing employment, wounding business and burdening consumers with higher costs. But Trump doubled down, threatening to jack up …

Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday said it had prequalified an Ebola vaccine for the first time, hailing a “critical step” towards its licensing, access and roll-out in countries most at risk of outbreaks. “This is the fastest vaccine prequalification process ever conducted by WHO,” …

Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP |  British billionaire and Virgin founder Richard Branson apologised on Tuesday for posting a picture on Twitter he admitted “clearly lacked diversity” as he launched his new entrepreneurship development centre in South Africa. On Monday he tweeted a picture of himself and eight others captioned …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Hillary Clinton said Tuesday it was “shameful” that the British government had not published a delayed parliamentary report into possible Russian interference in British politics ahead of December elections. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government has previously rejected claims it was suppressing the report to avoid a scandal ahead of …

Akranes, Iceland | AFP |  After more than half a century, revving engines in the tough off-road sport known locally as “torfaera” still draw crowds who love the noise and daring drivers. It’s late summer and Akrafjall mountain, which looms over the small town of Akranes, has been turned into a …

Vienna, Austria | AFP | Belarus’s isolated leader Alexander Lukashenko on Tuesday visits Austria, marking his first trip to an EU member in more than three years as he seeks closer ties amid tensions with Russia. Lukashenko will meet Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen in his first official visit to …

New York, United States | AFP | Boeing on Monday said it expects the 737 MAX airplane, which was grounded after two crashes killed 346 people, to resume flying in January, delaying its return by one month. In a statement, the group said it still hopes to receive certification next month …

Hartlepool, United Kingdom | AFP | In places like eurosceptic Hartlepool in northeast England, long-held party allegiances being reshaped by Brexit could trigger a political earthquake at next month’s election. The former shipbuilding and steel hub on Teesside, which voted by almost 70 percent to leave the European Union in the …

Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump on Monday hailed the resignation of Bolivia’s leftist leader Evo Morales as a sign to “illegitimate” regimes and praised the role of the country’s military. “These events send a strong signal to the illegitimate regimes in Venezuela and Nicaragua that democracy and the will of …