London, United Kingdom | AFP | Global energy demand will surge by a third over the next two decades on advancing prosperity, but Indian demand growth will eclipse that of flagging giant China, Britain’s BP forecast Thursday. “The demand for energy is set to increase significantly driven by increases in prosperity …
Read More »Face tattoos: a trend that is here to stay?
New York, United States | AFP | Face tattoos, once limited to only a very small group of people, have gained new popularity thanks to today’s rappers — but some artists are reluctant to make such a permanent change to a client’s appearance. In New York’s East Village, some of …
Read More »US report calls car imports national security threat: source
New York, United States | AFP | A US Commerce Department report has concluded that American auto imports threaten national security, setting the stage for possible tariffs by the White House, a person familiar with the matter said Thursday. The investigation, ordered by President Donald Trump in May, is “positive” …
Read More »A year after US school massacre, gun control remains elusive
Miami, United States | AFP | On Valentine’s Day of last year, a 19-year-old armed with a military-style assault rifle walked into his old high school in Parkland, Florida and slaughtered 17 people. That spasm in America’s epidemic of gun violence gave new impetus to the debate on controlling firearms, …
Read More »From saviour to mafia-fighter: girl power comes to Berlin filmfest
Berlin, Germany | AFP | With strong female lead roles from a saviour of street kids to a fiery mafia-fighter and an inspiring figure with Down Syndrome, directors have given girl power a firm place at this year’s Berlin film festival. Films at the event, which is also welcoming an …
Read More »Airbus pulls plug on costly A380 superjumbo
Paris, France | AFP | European aerospace giant Airbus said Thursday it would end production of the A380 superjumbo, the double-decker jet which earned plaudits from passengers but failed to win over enough airlines to justify its massive costs. The firm said it would stop deliveries in 2021 of the A380, …
Read More »US and China open trade talks in Beijing
Beijing, China | AFP | US and Chinese negotiators kicked off two days of high-level trade talks in Beijing on Thursday hoping to resolve a festering dispute that has cast a shadow over financial markets and the global growth outlook. Pressure to seal an accord ahead of a March 1 deadline set by Donald Trump …
Read More »US taxpayers face bitter surprise after Trump’s tax cuts
Washington, United States | AFP | Some taxpayers are getting a bitter surprise this year as their usual annual tax refunds have shrunk — or turned into tax bills — even though President Donald Trump loudly promised the largest tax cut “in American history.” And with tax season underway, thousands of unhappy taxpayers have been …
Read More »Trump blasts Venezuela over blocked US aid shipments
Washington, United States | AFP | President Donald Trump warned Venezuela on Wednesday that “all options” are on the table and demanded that far left leader, Nicolas Maduro, unblock US aid shipments to the country. Again stressing that he had not ruled out military options, Trump said he was “sad” about the “turmoil” in the …
Read More »Maduro makes ‘terrible mistake’ in blocking Venezuela aid: Trump
Washington, United States | AFP | President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Venezuela’s leftist leader Nicolas Maduro is “making a terrible mistake” by blocking US humanitarian aid. Trump said it was “sad” that the oil-rich Latin American country is in “turmoil” and said Washington has still not ruled out sending troops to the region. …
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