Los Angeles, United States | AFP | The divisive final season of “Game of Thrones” smashed the record for most Primetime Emmy nominations by a drama series in a single year, earning a whopping 32 nods Tuesday. HBO’s fantasy epic enraged fans with its bumpy conclusion but still trounced the competition …
Read More »Training journalists in the era of fake news
Paris, France | AFP | As uncannily realistic “deep fake” videos proliferate online, including one recently retweeted by Donald Trump, journalism schools are scrambling to adapt to an era of misinformation — or fake news. Experts discussed how to train tomorrow’s reporters for these new challenges at the World Journalism Education …
Read More »Ukraine mixed-race wrestler tackles prejudice in run for parliament
Boyarka, Ukraine | AFP | Zhan Beleniuk, an Olympic wrestler with Rwandan roots, is seeking to enter Ukraine’s parliament as the first mixed-race MP in a bid to overcome racist attitudes and support the country’s young new leader. The Greco-Roman style wrestler, who won silver for Ukraine at the Rio Olympics, …
Read More »EU nominee von der Leyen faces sceptical parliament
Strasbourg, France | AFP | Was an intense two-week political operation to woo European lawmakers long enough to win German defence minister Ursula von der Leyen the top job in Brussels? The 60-year-old conservative will replace Jean-Claude Juncker as president of the European Commission if she secures a majority in …
Read More »Amazon workers strike as ‘Prime’ shopping frenzy hits
San Francisco, United States | AFP | Amazon workers walked out of a main distribution center in Minnesota on Monday, protesting for improved working conditions during the e-commerce titan’s major “Prime” shopping event. Amazon workers picketed outside the facility, briefly delaying a few trucks and waving signs with messages along the …
Read More »Trump under fire for attacks on Democratic congresswomen
Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump came under fire from Democrats and even some members of his own Republican Party on Monday after launching an extraordinary xenophobic attack on four progressive Democratic congresswomen. “All they do is complain,” Trump told reporters at a White House event featuring …
Read More »Eyeing 2020 vote, Trump doubles down on xenophobic tweets
Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump, shrugging off criticism from Democrats and even some members of his Republican Party, stepped up his extraordinary attack on four progressive Democratic congresswomen on Monday, saying if they’re not happy in the United States, “they can leave.” “All they do is …
Read More »Facebook’s Libra currency under fire
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Facebook’s planned virtual unit Libra, already under heavy attack from US President Donald Trump and global regulators, faces scepticism among the wider cryptocurrency community as well. One theme — besides Brexit — dominated discussion among the movers and shakers from London’s financial technology or …
Read More »Macron to show off Euro defence cooperation at Paris parade
Paris, France | AFP | French President Emmanuel Macron will on Sunday showcase Europe’s defence capabilities by putting European military cooperation at the heart of a Bastille Day parade at a time of growing tensions with the United States. Key EU leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister …
Read More »Tax-weary Greek traders welcome change of government
Athens, Greece | AFP | “Once my taxes are paid, at the end of the day I have 20 or 25 euros left in my pocket,” lamented Greek hairdresser Babis Toumbanos. Like him, there are many entrepreneurs in the country who want the new conservative government that emerged from the July …
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