Washington, United States | AFP | The Syrian regime remains able to conduct chemical attacks, though only at a limited level, the Pentagon said Thursday following last week’s international cruise missile strikes on chemical targets. General Kenneth McKenzie, director of the US military’s Joint Staff, said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime …
Read More »US urges Nigeria to change tactics against Boko Haram
Gwagwalada, Nigeria | AFP | Nigerian forces battling Boko Haram jihadists need a change of mindset to overcome an evolving guerrilla threat, US military officials said this week on the sidelines of an African security summit. Boko Haram’s tactics — from improvised explosive devices to hiding within the local population …
Read More »Chicago restaurant staff get $2,000 tip
What is a reasonable tip at a restaurant? Chicago, United States | AFP | For most Americans, the answer is likely — at most — 20 percent. But how about 260 percent? For one patron at a Chicago restaurant, a normal tip was not enough to show his appreciation after …
Read More »US, Britain warn of Russian campaign to hack networks
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Russian government-sponsored hackers are compromising the key hardware of government and business computer networks like routers and firewalls, giving them virtual control of data flows, Britain and the United States warned Monday. The operation was “to support espionage, extract intellectual property, maintain persistent access to …
Read More »Facebook confirms it collects data beyond users
San Francisco, United States | AFP | Facebook, embattled in a scandal over the mishandling of user data, confirmed Monday that it also collected information from people beyond their social network use. During heated hearings in Congress last week, CEO Mark Zuckerberg had already explained that Facebook collects data beyond …
Read More »Trump’s lawyer in court: the feds, the porn star, the Fox anchor
New York, United States | AFP | Donald Trump’s legal battle with his own Justice Department led to an extraordinary courtroom showdown Monday between his personal lawyer, one of America’s most prestigious prosecution offices and a lavender-clad porn star fueling the media circus. The high-stakes hearing before a federal judge …
Read More »New York Times, New Yorker win Pulitzer for #MeToo watershed
New York, United States | AFP | The New York Times and The New Yorker won the Pulitzer Prize for public service on Monday for explosive reporting that brought down Harvey Weinstein and spawned a cultural watershed on the issue of sexual harassment. The prestigious prize was awarded to the …
Read More »Facebook takes out ads to tout new EU data protection law
2447, Germany | AFP | Facebook took out full-page ads in European newspapers Monday to trumpet tough new EU legislation that promises “more data protection for you”, as the company seeks to win back trust following a damaging privacy scandal. The new law, set to come into effect on May …
Read More »US, Nigeria hold military summit in Abuja
Abuja, Nigeria | AFP | Military top brass from across Africa on Monday kicked off a conference co-hosted by the United States aimed at boosting cooperation between countries fighting extremist groups. The African Land Forces Summit brings together “land force chiefs from across Africa for candid dialogue” to improve security, …
Read More »NASA’s new planet-hunter to seek closer, Earth-like worlds
Tampa, United States | AFP | NASA is poised to launch a $337 million washing machine-sized spacecraft that aims to vastly expand mankind’s search for planets beyond our solar system, particularly closer, Earth-sized ones that might harbor life. The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, or TESS, is scheduled to launch Monday …
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