Miami, United States | AFP | Inspired by the folding technique of origami, US researchers said Monday they have crafted cheap, artificial muscles for robots that give them the power to lift up to 1,000 times their own weight. The advance offers a leap forward in the field of soft robotics, …
Read More »Kelly, Hayworth and other American women who married royalty
Washington, United States | AFP | US actress Meghan Markle, who is to wed Britain’s Prince Harry next year, will become the latest American to marry into a royal family. Here’s a brief look at five other American women who became princesses or queens: – Grace Kelly – Actress Grace Kelly …
Read More »Obamas ‘delighted’ by British royal engagement
Washington, United States | AFP | Barack and Michelle Obama said Monday they were “delighted” to learn of the engagement of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, whose Invictus Games the former presidential couple has actively championed. Britain’s royal family announced earlier Monday that the one-time playboy royal would marry his …
Read More »Trump administration eyes easing student debt protections
Washington, United States | AFP | Thousands of students who ran up unpayable debts at for-profit schools are anxiously waiting to see if US President Donald Trump’s administration does away with anti-fraud protections put in place by his predecessor Barack Obama. Some 95,000 cases of former students seeking forgiveness of …
Read More »Over 180 women claim sex assault at US massage chain: report
Washington, United States | AFP | More than 180 women have reported being sexually assaulted when they were customers of Massage Envy, the largest chain of massage spas in the United States, according to a BuzzFeed News investigation. The report published over the weekend comes amid a wave of sexual assault …
Read More »South Africa’s new export is Miss Universe
Las Vegas, United States | AFP | Beauties from across the globe converged in Las Vegas Sunday, where Miss South Africa was crowned Miss Universe. Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, 22, edged out her rivals from Colombia and Jamaica to take the crown. Nel-Peters, a graduate in business management, said her disabled half-sister has …
Read More »Trump renews support for embattled Senate candidate
Washington, United States | AFP | President Donald Trump on Sunday redoubled his support for embattled Senate candidate Roy Moore, ignoring the allegations of sexual harassment plaguing Moore’s Alabama campaign and branding his opponent as weak on crime, the military and immigration. In an early-morning tweet, Trump added that for …
Read More »Ivanka Trump, Chelsea Clinton, defend Obama daughter over video
Washington, United States | AFP | Both sides of the US political divide are defending Malia Obama’s right to privacy after a video went viral showing the eldest daughter of former president Barack Obama apparently smoking. Chelsea Clinton and Ivanka Trump were among the numerous defenders of Malia, 19, on …
Read More »Putin signs ‘foreign agent’ media law
Moscow, Russia | AFP | President Vladimir Putin on Saturday signed into law new rules on international media organisations present in Russia being termed “foreign agents”, following US pressure on the Kremlin-backed RT television channel. Already approved by both houses of parliament, the legislation was published on the Russian authorities’ …
Read More »Trump condemns ‘horrible and cowardly’ mosque attack in Egypt
Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump condemned as “horrible and cowardly” a bomb and gun attack Friday that killed more than 200 people at a mosque in Egypt and called his counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to offer condolences. “The world cannot tolerate terrorism, we must defeat …
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