Manchester, United States | AFP | Bernie Sanders won New Hampshire’s high-stakes Democratic primary on Tuesday, according to US network projections, leaving rivals including party stalwart Joe Biden in his wake as he staked his claim to challenge President Donald Trump in November. Sanders, the flag-bearer for the party’s progressive wing, …
Read More »Seven years after stepping down, Benedict fuels ‘two popes’ headache
Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | Seven years after his surprise resignation, Benedict XVI — weakened by age but still intellectually spry — appears unable to remain in the shadow of his Argentinean successor Francis, creating the appearance of “two popes” at odds. On February 11, 2013, at the age …
Read More »WHO warns of ‘very grave’ global virus threat
Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | The head of the World Health Organization on Tuesday warned the novel coronavirus was a “very grave threat” for the world as he opened a conference to combat the epidemic. “With 99% of cases in China, this remains very much an emergency for that country, …
Read More »UK set to back high-speed railway despite soaring cost
London, United Kingdom | AFP | British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was set Tuesday to announce his plans for the HS2 high-speed railway, with reports suggesting he will stick with the long-running project despite soaring costs. HS2, which would quicken rail journeys between London in southeast England and cities to the …
Read More »Digital lifeline for refugees in Bulgaria — and beyond
Sofia, Bulgaria | AFP | Single mother-of-two Sara Faizi from Afghanistan faced a dead end when she arrived in Bulgaria in 2018: the former bank branch operations manager needed a job but neither spoke the local language nor had any contacts. An energetic Bulgarian, Iva Gumnishka, 25, and her social enterprise …
Read More »Three-way tie in Irish general election: exit poll
Dublin, Ireland | AFP | Ireland’s three main parties are tied neck-and-neck following Saturday’s general election according to an exit poll, leaving the question of who will control the next government hanging in the balance. Prime Minister Leo Varadkar’s incumbent Fine Gael party, their centre-right rivals Fianna Fail and left-wingers Sinn …
Read More »Top hopefuls Buttigieg, Sanders under fire in Democratic debate
Manchester, United States | AFP | White House hopefuls Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg — riding neck-and-neck in the polls ahead of the next Democratic primary contest — come under sustained attack on the debate stage from rivals seeking to challenge Donald Trump in November. Buttigieg, a former mayor of South …
Read More »Trump impeachment witnesses lose their jobs
Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump on Friday fired two of the highest profile witnesses in his impeachment probe, sparking accusations that he is on a campaign of revenge. Trump recalled his ambassador to the European Union, Gordon Sondland, just hours after Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, a …
Read More »Republican veteran Romney stands alone after Trump vote
Washington, United States | AFP | He said he expected to be “vehemently denounced” and it did not take long. When Republican Party veteran Mitt Romney voted for US President Donald Trump to be removed from office at his impeachment trial, the backlash was fast and furious. Trump has now lashed …
Read More »In sickness and in health: mass wedding defies virus fears
Gapyeong, South Korea | AFP | Thousands of couples — some in facemasks — tied the knot in a mass Unification Church wedding Friday, despite concerns in South Korea over the spread of the coronavirus outbreak. The church founded by Sun Myung Moon — revered as a messiah by his followers …
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