San Francisco, United States | AFP | Mark Zuckerberg rose to wealth and fame with a mission of connecting everyone through Facebook, but now faces the wrath of users outraged he isn’t doing more to defend their data. The latest crisis laying siege to the leading online social network has …
Read More »Israeli police arrest ultra-Orthodox Jews in draft protest
Bnei Brak, Israel | AFP | Israeli police on Thursday said they arrested 20 ultra-Orthodox Jews who threw stones at officers and blocked a main artery near Tel Aviv, in protest against the military draft. A police statement said that protesters cut off the north-south highway 4 in the predominantly …
Read More »UN, AFP launch prize to honor slain Mexican journalists
Mexico City, Mexico | AFP | The UN and AFP launched an award Thursday to honor journalists who risk their lives to cover human rights abuses in Mexico, in tribute to two celebrated reporters murdered last year. The Breach-Valdez Prize will honor journalists who follow in the footsteps of their …
Read More »Bale nets hat-trick as Wales smash sorry China 6-0
Nanning, China | AFP | Ryan Giggs’ first game as Wales coach got off to a flying start Thursday with a 6-0 demolition of China as Gareth Bale scored a hat-trick. The Real Madrid forward scored his 29th international goal for his country to become the highest scoring Welsh player …
Read More »Trump suspends metal tariffs for key US trade partners
Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump on Thursday authorized the suspension of controversial tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from key trade partners including the European Union. Trump shocked the world with his sudden announcement earlier this month of a 10-percent levy on aluminum and 25-percent …
Read More »UN presses Liberia to kickstart war crimes prosecutions
Monrovia, Liberia | AFP | A top UN official on Thursday asked Liberia to implement the recommendations of a truth commission dating back to 2009 which included prosecuting eight ex-warlords for alleged crimes against humanity. Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed told a conference in Monrovia it was “critical to implement the …
Read More »Bolt’s coming! Star to train with Dortmund on Friday
Berlin, Germany | AFP | Athletics legend Usain Bolt, who has ambitions to start a football career at 31, will train with Borussia Dortmund on Friday, the Bundesliga club confirmed. “Bolt is coming!” tweeted the German club on Thursday, while the Jamaican sprint star wrote “BVB, get ready for Friday …
Read More »EU leaders urge privacy protection amid Facebook row
Brussels, Belgium | AFP | EU leaders will Thursday press tech giants to protect personal data in the wake of the scandal over information harvested from Facebook, draft summit conclusions said. The Brussels summit is tackling the row over the misuse of Facebook data by British firm Cambridge Analytica, which …
Read More »Panic as crocodile blocks hospital entrance in Zimbabwe
Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Wildlife authorities in Zimbabwe shot dead a large crocodile that strayed into the northern town of Hwange and blocked entry to a hospital, an official said Thursday. The crocodile took up position outside the main gate to St Patrick’s hospital and charged at anyone trying …
Read More »Freed Boko Haram girls in Abuja for debrief and president meeting
Abuja, Nigeria | AFP | More than 100 schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram were in Nigeria’s capital on Thursday, a day after their surprise release that fuelled rumours about how their freedom was won. A total of 104 of the 110 students seized from the school in Dapchi, in the …
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