Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump on Saturday blamed opposition Democrats for the death of two immigrant children in US custody, comments set to heighten tensions as the second week of a government shutdown began over his demands for a border wall. “Any deaths of children …

Milan, Italy | AFP | Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as voracious Italian champions Juventus finished 2018 on a high with a 2-1 win over Sampdoria to set a new points record in Serie A before the winter break as Inter Milan’s Senegalese winger Keita Balde scored the only goal in …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Tottenham’s Premier League title hopes took a major hit on Saturday when Wolves beat them 3-1 at Wembley to end their winning run. Spurs took the lead with a Harry Kane pile-driver in the first half but the visitors staged a ferocious comeback through …

Tokyo, Japan | AFP | US boxing legend Floyd “Money” Mayweather said Saturday his focus was on entertaining the fans during his New Year’s Eve fight with Japanese kickboxing prodigy Tenshin Nasukawa near Tokyo. The 41-year-old unbeaten champion has been tempted out of retirement — again — for a one-off …

Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | The World Health Organization chief warned Friday that growing unrest in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo was disrupting efforts to rein in an Ebola outbreak, threatening gains made in fighting the deadly virus. The security situation in the Ebola-hit Beni and Butembo areas has deteriorated …

United Nations, United States | AFP | UN experts are accusing a warlord in the Democratic Republic of Congo of leading horrific gang rapes in South Kivu during which women were held captive in a cave and treated like sex slaves, according to a confidential report obtained by AFP on …

Beijing, China | AFP | Chinese athletes who use performance-enhancing drugs will receive criminal punishments and jail terms from next year, as China cracks down on doping ahead of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, state media reported. China’s sports administration and top judicial authority are drafting rules that would apply …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has restored Manchester United’s attacking elan in the short space of time he has been caretaker manager said defender Luke Shaw. Solsjkaer will be seeking a third successive victory — when they host out of form Bournemouth on Sunday — since …

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Tanzania’s tough-talking president John Magufuli has earned respect by fighting corruption, but international donors are now concerned by crackdowns on human rights. The European Union, Tanzania’s biggest development partner, and the World Bank have recently taken measures to sanction repressive policies. Magufuli’s reputation was boosted …

With professional, politically independent management, a country could earn from its commercial assets COMMENT | DAG DETTER | After World War I ended, Havana emerged as one of the world’s most vibrant cities. During the first half of 1920, rising sugar prices and a favourable global environment meant that credit and …